Pura Vida

Time often helps with perspective. We've been home from Costa Rica for almost 2 weeks and I realize the adjectives I use to describe our trip have evolved in that time. At first, whenever someone asked me how our trip was, I'd promptly answer "it was hard!". And it was. Traveling with a spirited and very busy little 20-month old was not easy. But now, I can better reflect on what a fabulous country Costa Rica is - the people are so kind and generous. Costa Rican adults and children adored our curly, blond "gordito" (chubby little boy). The scenery is, of course, gorgeous. And my parent's little house and windsurfing community is very cool. Plus, getting out of the country helps remind Matt & I how much we love exploring new places and cultures. And, as always, I like to tell myself how these adventures help teach Silas the very important skill of being flexible in new situations. That being said, I still can't categorize this trip as "relaxing" (despite the fact that we had 4 adults to manage one toddler and my folks have comfy hammocks lining their very scenic deck where you can gaze into the lush rainforest valley and watch parrots, toucans, monkeys and butterflies passing by.)

SO - here are the trip highlights (from Silas' perspective):

1. Seeing a cow poo. Nothing particularly special about this cow, except that we were very, very close and he made a big poo. This was definitely the number one highlight. He's still talking about it!


2. Swimming in the gigantic, gradually deepening wading pool at our resort at Playa Panama.
3. Seeing a capuchin monkey in the tree on our float trip down the Rio Tinorio. He kept asking for "more, more, more!"
4. Having so much quality time with his Ma-mo and Papa. (Sorry Papa - guess the photographer didn't make it into any photos!)


5. Watching his "Elmo movie" a lot! We've been having respiratory issues every time he gets sick (could be asthma...but they don't officially diagnose until after 2 years old). Anyhow, we had to lug his breathing machine along and give him breathing treatments twice a day. So that plus 4 total airplane rides equals (relatively) lots of Elmo!

Now...not that I enjoy dwelling on the negative, but I thought it might be interesting to mention some of the things that did not make it onto the Silas Top Five list:

• The beach at Playa Panama. Kinda like the San Diego experience this summer. Though, in his defense, there were ferocious little bugs nipping at you if you stood still on the sand.
• Sleeping on a mattress on the floor. This was the first time he tried to sleep without a crib or pack-n-play. It bombed. BIG TIME. For days and days. Luckily, Matt & my dad eventually rigged up an ingenious mock-crib by sliding the mattress underneath the bed and stuffing the extra space under the headboard with pillow and blankets to make a small sleeping area. Then we propped a suitcase against the open end with a very heavy Adirondack chair pressed against it. Can you pictures this crazy contraption? Happily for all of us...it worked and we all enjoyed sleeping again.


• Playing in the rain. It rained nearly all day for our last 3 days. We did play in the "Arizona rain"earlier in the trip. But real Costa Rica rain is a whole different story!
• Watching Matt get his first windsurfing lesson on Lago Arenal. (We both missed it due to a much needed nap-time.)


• Seeing the Arenal volcano in all its un-obscured grandeur. (No small feat - especially in the rainy season and because it started spewing more rocks and lava right after we left so they stopped allowing visitors into the National Park!)
• Observing mama and baby "cocodrillos" in their natural habitat on our river trip. Though, again, in his defense, he probably didn't see them very well.



• Enjoying the overall awesomeness of all the incredible plants & wildlife that reside in Costa Rica.

Oh yea...now back to that perspective thing. Today I can say, without a doubt, that we are so lucky to get to go on such a special trip as a family. It was really neat to experience the world my parents live in everytime they escape to Costa Rica. It is truly a beautiful, magical place and we've got memories (and stories) to last a lifetime! Pura Vida, as they say in Costa Rica. The Good Life!

PS - For all you Facebookies out there who don't check-in all the time...I posted a few more photos from our trip on my Facebook profile too :)