Friday, Our Last Day In Costa Rica:(

We got up for a leisurely breakfast on Friday morning.  We decided to take it easy and go visit with some of our favorite people we've met on our adventure.  Here are the fairies having their breakfast on the deck.

Here are some other fairies who decided to join our fairies for breakfast.  These fairies decided to eat leaves and coffee beans, Fairy1 and Fairy2 did not.  After our meal we headed to Nosara for some farewells.

This is Robin from Robin's cafe.  She had the best ice cream, crepes, and awesome healthy food.  We ate at her cafe more than any other.  Fairy1 skyped from her cafe several times.  Robin was being bashful in the picture when I told her what it was for.  She was honored to be on our family blog.....very modest.

Joanne owns the Zen Cafe.  We discovered he place about a week after our arrival.  She had only been in business for a week and really had it all put together.  She served up all kinds of yummy fresh juices and raw treats.  On Wed nights she has Indian night....for those of you not aware, the fabulous 4 love Indian food. Joanne was super friendly and full of life.

Nelson was Fairy1's first surf instructor.  By the end of our trip he had her walking on her board, surfing backwards and doing other tricks.  She thinks surfing is her "thing".  Fairy1 fell in love with surfing with the help of Nelson.

Eventhough we fell in love many times over on our trip, I think Nelson wins the prize (Fairy1 agrees).  He has a smile that could warm NH up in a second.  He made us laugh while we surfed and when we had to say goodbye he made us cry.  We can't wait to see him next Nov!

Since we didn't get a picture of Oscar the fairies thought we should post this picture of his nose print he left on our car window.  One day Oscar greeted Fairy2 by smooshing his face on her window and every time we got into the car she said "look there is Oscar's nose".  Oscar was a total comedian.  Always entertaining.  He was also a very skilled instructor and helped MomT over come her fear of getting past the break zone. MomT had a lifelong phobia of big crashing waves and he guided her in conquering this fear.  Thanks Oscar!!!

Kristen was our Art teacher.  She grew up in Mass and moved to Costa Rica 3 years ago.  She kept the kids fully engaged for the 2 or 3 hours of class.  Twice a week the kids went to class to create a unique masterpiece.  So nice to have art classes on vacation.

To all of our spanish teachers we give you a big GRACIAS!  MomT enjoyed asking how to say things in spanish while shopping for food.  Whenever she asked it was always reciprocated with the question on how to say it in english.

It would take me weeks maybe even months to list all of the people who touched our hearts.  DadD and MomT agree that the best part of our trip was how comfortable and loved our children felt in Costa Rica.  There was not one moment when our children were frowned upon for being kids, children are cherished jewels in this country. As Fairy1 put it "the people don't have much but they are happy".

After our trip to Nosara Fairy2 had her last playdate with her little friend.  She gave Fairy2 a little shell to take home and Fairy2 gave her friend a fish bone she found on the beach and a card.

FYI This is the fruit which gives us our favorite food group...cocoa!  It looked like a cross between a squash and a papaya.

Last night at the casita.  We loved eating outside and knew soon we would not be able to do so, well not without getting frost bite.

Off to bed early for our trip home the next morning.

Our Last Hoorah Surfing

We started off the day just hanging out and getting ready for our last surfing session.  Fairy1 was going to skype with her class.  She couldn't wait to tell her class about the Long-nosed Bat that visited MomT and Fairy2 while they were sleeping last night.  DadD was called in once again to do the job of gently encouraging the little critter to return to the wild.  MomT loves wildlife, she just doesn't appreciate them in the room while she is sleeping.  The bat was cute and very small but the flapping and squeaking was not easy to sleep to, at least for MomT.  Fairy2 once again slept through everything as always.

Here is Fairy1 during her last skype.  She was full of information regarding the wild creatures we have encountered.

Mid morning traffic

A little review and warm up before getting into the water with her very favorite tico.

She was grinning ear to ear knowing she had him all to herself for 2 solid hours. 

Pesto pasta on the beach BABY

nice form

Nelson, we are really going to miss you.

We have been so lucky to have had our two amazing instructors Nelson and Oscar.  We tried to get them to come home with us but they didn't think NH sounded fun this time of year.  No need to fret, we have loved our vacation here and are already thinking about our visit next year.

Fairy2 swimming in the ocean

 

Family Portrait by Oscar our instructor

Back to the house for some swimming in the pool and some hangin.

Now it is time for dinner and more chocolate torte.

Buenos Noches.

Dec 8th DadD's Big Day

On Wed after DadD's yoga class we headed to Guiones for some more surfing.  MomT and Fairy1 both went out for an hour and then DadD got 2 hours in the water. The fairies then played in the waves and really enjoyed eachother.

Giggly girl won't look at mommy.

OK when I say jump JUMP!

JUMP!

OK I think we are ready to go out a little deeper.

When DadD was done surfing he was tired...he is a year older after all. 

Next we grabbed some lunch and then dropped DadD off for his 90 minute massage.  Tammy with the magic fingers was sick so she wasn't able to do the massage so he ended up with someone else.  He was so tired I don't think it mattered who rubbed his body.

While we were waiting during the massage we plugged Fairy2 in for a while.  She needed a little down time and a smoothie.  She ended up not drinking much of the smoothie, it was too cold.

Kindle time at the Zen Cafe.

At the spa....please just leave me here and pick me up later.

Next we went to an awesome boutique and got DadD some new surf trunks and secretly picked up a birthday cake.  The couple who owned the boutique have a daughter who is an amazing baker.  She was our Costa Rican version of Zora.  Tall beautiful german/turkish girl who looks like she should be on the runway and happens to be an awesome baker...my north country friends can picture this I am sure.

DadD with his girls.  Fairy2 loves parties......and chocolate.  Here she is making her vampire fangs face. 

Happy Bday Bubba.

The spa where he had his massage is also a hotel and restuarant.  They have a different sushi menu every day depending on what is fresh. The plantain shrimp tempura with avocado called the Tico Roll was our favorite.  Fairy1 got her own gluten free version:)  The sushi really hit the spot.

FYI a tico is a male costa rican and a tica a female.

The fairies went to see some howler monkeys hanging in the trees near the hotel's pool after dinner.  They are getting really good at imitating the monkeys.

The last birthday gift of the day.  DadD has no idea of what is inside.  The fairies can't wait to surprise him.  Fairy2 is obsessing over the candles and when she is going to get CHOCOLATE.

Hurry daddy, open it quicker we can't wait any longer.

flourless walnut almond chocolate torte

a brownie on steroids x 1000

What do you think he is wishing.  Unfortunately his wish for his vacation to last another month will not be granted.....this year.

PS  the night before a scorpion had to  be delicately removed from the room where MomT and Fairy2 sleep. It was pretty big but supposedly the bigger the less harmful.  Ha! big scorpions are pretty creepy. The creatures seem to be drawn to MomT.  Or maybe she is the only one noticing them.  Either way she has had to contend with a gecko sleeping over her head on the ceiling every night.  He chirps when she goes to bed and then every once in a while to let her know he is still thinking about her.

The Last Day With Our Buddies From Home -Tuesday

On our drive down to Nosara we encountered this truck etc.  Fairy2 asked me to post this picture on the blog for the boys at her preschool.  At the beginning of our trip her teacher sent an email from the kids in her class.  One child's comment was "Are there any worker guys there?".  Well here are some worker guys for him.

The kids played in the pool most of the day at our buddies's compound. DadD was on kid duty.  MomT and MomBuddy did a little shopping before we dropped the kids off for their last art class.  After art we headed to Robin's Cafe for her most amazing ice cream, it is made fresh.  We decided the mayan chocolate (with cocoa nibs in it) mixed with the coconut was our favorite.

After ice cream we walked to the beach for one last romp on the beach together with our buddies.

So sad we won't see eachother at the beach tomorrow. We are lucky to live close to our buddies when back in the North Country.  See you in the white stuff.

Feliz Compleanos DadD!

It is DadD's birthday.  He started his day off with a yoga class at Pachamama.  We are heading down to the beach so he can surf followed by a massage.  The woman who is giving the massage is supposedly the master.  We overheard someone say that Tammy (that's her name) made her cry.  After the massage we are going to have sushi, one of his favorites.  I will post more later today.

Can't Get Enough of the Ocean

Monday morning we got up and headed down to Guiones for DadD's surf lesson.  The rest of the gang went to meet the buddies from home for a morning frolicking in the surf.  The little ones floating in a warm pool of water at low tide.  Life is so good.

In the water the entire time.  Nice action shot.  Don't worry they aren't having too much fun.

I am so glad I decided to love the ocean.

Free surfing from her buddies dad.

Yippee so happy to be on a board again.

After our glorious morning on the beach we went back to have a nice tasty lunch.  The kids headed to art class and the moms headed to yoga.

Great Kiskadee in a tree above pool.  This beautiful bird came down to the pool for a little drink.  Good thing they dont put much chlorine in the pools.

Lineated Woodpecker spotted at Treetops after yoga class.  MomT and MomBuddy from home went to the Yoga Institute for a restorative yoga class.  MomT was delighted to have an Iyengar instructor....felt like home.  The instructor lived in Tahoe for a while and knew some of MomT's old coworkers at the hospital.  Go figure!

Next it was home for dinner and a night of listening to some crazy wind.  Everyone looks tired this morning (Tues).
 MomT went to an early morning yoga class ahhhhh.  MomT and Fairy1 won't be able to surf today because of the wind.  Fairy1 is very disappointed.  We will go and do a little shopping and hang with the buddies before they head north for the rest of their trip.  Tomorrow is DadD's birthday.  He has quite the itinerary for his big day.

Playdates Abound

Here we are at our local San Juanillo Beach with our new friend...playdate #2 for Fairy2.  We hung out under the trees and watched the kids play in the ocean all morning. 

A little splash time with MomT.

DadD with the Fairy bookends.  Fairy2 just loves swimming in the ocean.  She loves swimming period.

After lunch we headed down to Nosara to hang with our buddies from home.  We went to the beach for sunset and then headed out for dinner.

Here's the gang at dinner.  Happy bunch of kids. 

The ice cream with fresh peaches was so good it required two spoons to eat it.

The big girls sitting in high chairs at the restaurant.

We got home late and brought Fariy1's buddy with us for a sleepover.  Here they are reading a bedtime story to eachother.  Sweet.

A Day At the Beach

No surfing today.  We got to the beach and it was too close to high tide for us beginners to head out.  This did not cramp our style.  Who wouldn't enjoy this beautiful beach?

Playa Pelada looking North.

Playa Pelada looking South.

Fairy1

Awesome beach with lots of shady trees for when you need some shade to eat some watermelon.  You do need the trees, the sun is really strong here.

hhhmmmmm what do you think is in that hole?

BLOWHOLE!  It may have been too much of a high tide to surf but the blowhole only blasts during high tide.  What a bonus.

The body surfing was awesome too.

They spent the whole time in the water....again.

OK since the big kids are in the crazy waves we should just play together.  These two are figuring out they have more fun when they play with eachother instead of being rejected by the big girls.

Oh were you watching us.....we weren't really playing with eachother.  Fairy2's latest comment is that she isn't really so into boys right now. 

Daddy downtime......they must be talking business.  They look pretty serious.

View from La Luna Restaurant where we had our lunch.  Located on the beach we were just playing on.  How convenient.

Siesta before lunch.

Yum another awesome meal....so much for getting a little snacky.  Check out DadD's big honkin steak.

She has Daddy's eyes.

Speaking of eyes, what the heck happened to your eyebrows again. Fairy2 has been doing some eyebrow grooming.

Fairy2 took this and thought MomT's facial expression was funny.  I guess that is what happens when you talk while a picture is being taken.

Kindle time. AHHHHH.

When we got back from the beach and the fairies hit the pool.  Fairy2 had a playdate with a little friend she made who lives near our rental.  Cute Cute Cute!  They are supposed to play again in the morning.  Hopefully I will remember to take their picture together.  It is so nice for Fairy2  to have someone to play with, Fairy1 has been spoiled with playmates the entire trip.

Time for bed soon.  Buenos noches.