Ahhh, Costa Rica

We just got back from our big trip. It started off with a visit from Grammie, which the kids enjoyed immensely. Of course, one of the many highlights was a trip to WalMart...I should add that Vincent completed his float tests and was able to become a dolphin, for which we are very very proud. Anyway, then we headed down to Costa Rica with Grammie in tow and enjoyed a generally uneventful flight except for Julian's crying himself to sleep for about 10 minutes, but, you will see, this was nothing compared to our return flight...

We started our Costa Rica sojourn with a great lunch with the extended Flores family. It was the first time for my granmother, Yaya, to meet Baby J, so it was nice. That night we had some great chicharrones - yummmmmmmm. Then another lunch at the Flores-Bravo, where we had some really tasty eats. We stayed late and then went over and visited with Yaya and had some great Rosti-Pollo. The next day was a trip to the Mall (topped off with some Pops ice cream). Yes, there is an underlying theme...Then, we packed up and went to San Mateo, where my Tio Javier built an awesome vacation house with a pool. The location was great for hitting up the beach - we made it to a butterfly farm, Jaco, and Puntarenas from there.


All of our excursions were usually followed by a nice dip in the pool. Shu came on Thursday and was able to join in the fun at Puntarenas, where we got to play with sea snails and a nice little crab.

Then, Saturday, we headed to Punta Leona. I was reunited with a bit of my past...it's one of the best beaches in my book... Vincent and Jules both got to experience some of the best of the best - napping in a hammock by the beach, great grilled food, a boat ride, and searching for sea creatures. Both beaches in Punta Leona are chock full of hermit crabs. Then, when the tide is low, you can go look at tons of little pools with little fish, tiny crabs, sea slugs, etc. Paula really did an awesome job of catching stuff for V. It was great spending time with the Cappellas.

Then, we headed home through rain and thunder and wonderful traffic. We got to spend so great time with my grandma and great aunt right before heading out to our flight. And then, all havoc broke loos one the plane ride home. Sure, it started out innocently enough, but then we ended up with V peeing as soon as he fell asleep on take off, then, after a nice 2 hr nap from BOTH boys, Jules honored me, his mama, with the biggest poo of his life that leaked out of his diaper and all over me and my nice little pair of white shorts. I found myself in the bathroom scrubbing my clothes down...it was nasty, disgusting, yuck yuck yuck. So, Shu had pee and a little poo and I had a lot of poo. Thank God for the little blankie and spare set of PJ's that we had with us. Note to self, when packing a backpack for a flight with children, spare the space filled with yuquitas for something slightly more practical, like TWO changes of clothes and a gallon-sized jug of sanitizer : )