Everyday life....and #42 Eating Camote

Mom says: There are some things about our everyday life here in Costa Rica that I absolutely never want to forget..... and so I wanted to capture them here on the blog. Each of these things makes me smile ear to ear! 

1.  Joshua's ever growing list of birds he has spotted in Costa Rica! I love this hand written list that Joshua continues to add to of the birds he has seen while we have lived here... The list continues to grow daily!

2. Mason has developed a love for coloring since we have lived here... and you can usually find him surrounded by markers working on his next masterpiece! 

3. Daily morning walks have been a gift to me during our time here. These pictures were taken on the path we walk. The bottom picture is Ethan in front of a strangling fig tree.... one of our favorite trees.

4. Art! Art abounds in our home in Costa Rica... Wether it is Joshua inventing new birds, Ethan's fabric art, or Amelia's "books" that she draws... there is something artistic always happening in our home. I love that. 

Invented by Josh

Invented by Josh

Invented by Josh

The Quetzel by Ethan

Macaws by Ethan

Arenal by Ethan

5. Learning..... These months in Costa Rica have been the most incredible months of learning for our family.... And all of our walls are covered with evidence of all that we are discovering... from goal setting to extraordinary roles to learning about countries and cultures....

Our school crates

6. Reading.... As I packed to come to Costa Rica I hesitated with the massive amount of reading books I was packing. I figured we would return home with more than half unread - but I wanted to the kids to have options on what they read. I am thrilled that we actually have run out of books (they have all been read) and I have had to ask visitors to bring books with them to supplement. Someone in our home always has a book in their hands. 

7. Directions... Every (and really, I do mean every) time we leave home to go somewhere (even to the corner market) Amelia is outside ready to give us directions. We ask how to get somewhere and she kindly guides us with the same directions each time. "Turn right, then left, then go straight!" I love this routine we have.

8. Bird Watching.... Anywhere we go we are ready to spot a bird... and there have been many times we have quickly pulled the car over on the road and the boys have jumped out with binoculars in hand to peer at a bird they have spotted.

looking for birds...

9. Games.... We have spent hours playing risk, life, cards, chess.... you name it... we have played it.

10. Chez Christof... Our favorite restaurant just a short walk from our home. The kids and Christian have date breakfasts here weekly.... and the pastries are amazing! I have had beautiful breakfasts here with Julie, Suzy, and Rita.... very precious memories.

Christmas cookies at Chez Christof

11. Juggling.... Ethan has learned to juggle while in Costa Rica and he is awesome! He made these juggling balls from balloons and rice... I love watching him juggle!

 Rings!

 Balls!

Scarves!

12. Toby. Our neighbors have this sweet miniature black Chihuahua named Toby. He comes to hang out at our home just about every day. He is so sweet. 

13. Sunsets.... We have been spoiled with the most beautiful sunsets... and we never tire of them. I think we have over 500 pictures just of sunsets... Even Mason watches for them now and calls our attention to their beauty.

13. Guitar and Euklele... Maddie and Joshua now both play well and music constantly fills our home, or our car, or the beach, or our hotel room... we don't go anywhere with out the instruments and I am so glad... I love hearing them play!

14. Sandcastles, sand art, sand chairs..... We have played A LOT in the sand. I am always excited to see what new sand art will be created when we are at the beach (which gratefully is all the time!)

Here are some of my favorites:

15. Big Brahma!

                                     

15. And finally.... enjoying new foods. Thanks to our scavenger hunt, we had a list of lots of new foods to try and we have really enjoyed figuring out how to prepare them and trying them... most we have really liked. Here is #42 on the scavenger hunt... camote.