A Regular Week....

Tuesday, Sept. 18th

Today is the last day of our four day weekend and after 3 days of non-stop fun activities (horseback riding, school beach party and zip lining), the kids have requested to stay home and hang out despite the fact that today is going to be a county-wide no electricity and no water day (that's why there is no school today).  So, we stayed home despite not having any A/C....we just hung by the pool, played games, did some reading and ate good snacks.....we even made cookies!  All in all a great regular day off and lazy day (as the kids call it).

Wednesday, Sept. 19th - Friday, Sept. 21st

The rest of the school week was just a regular school week for the kids.  We get up around 6:30 or 7:00 and leave by 7:45 to have everyone at school by 8:00am.  I drop off the big boys at the south campus first, then double back and drop off the little kids.  I can drop them at the drop-off area where Marissa's teacher, Mr. Dodge greets cars and helps the kids out of the car, but Marissa and William still want me to walk them in and help them get their lunches into the refrigerator, etc.  That way I get to collect good hugs and kisses, too!

Friday, Sept. 21st - Sunday, October 23rd

On Friday night, Zack went to Jack Lavey's house for a sleepover with several other boys, while the rest of us hung out ordering our favorite pizza from Cara Pizza.  Then, on Saturday afternoon we met Jack's mom, Tracy and his siblings (they also have 3 boys and a girl originally from Chicago on their 4th year in CR) at nearby Playa Prieta and played in the water for a few hours before the afternoon rains came.  Notice how crowded the beach is......so amazing and it is always like this! 

The kids....Jack, Sam (Matthew was at home), and Kate with Dominic, Zack, Marissa and William....that is the Catalina Islands in the background and our new favorite restaurant and beach spot,

Lola's is just around that land mass on the right.

Kate, William and Marissa

The boys....

 

The big and little boys.....

 

The kids....

The big boys....

After our beach excursion we had an impromptu dinner at the Lavey's home up in an area called "Pacific Heights" and overlooking Playa Flamingo.  The view from their home was breathtaking, but because of the storm, not worth taking a photo.  Next time.  After some movie watching and XBox games, Jack came home with us for a second sleep over.  On Sunday, the boys and I headed out to Tamarindo for some surfing with Zack and Jack both tying their new boards on the roof of our car.  Marissa went with Kate to Lola's for some swinging and beach time.  But alas, the water was flat as high tide was not until 6:00pm (and it is DARK at 6:00pm)...so again, we just played in the warm water (that was again warmer than the air!) before showering off at Iguana Surf and heading back before the afternoon downpour (and I mean downpour!).  Big electrical storm this time with thunder that shook the whole house.  The kids are still trying to get used to this and I am trying to be brave for them and pretend that it does not bother me either.  But, it only lasted an hour or so and then the loud thunder was gone.