MORE CR!

Another "normal" week in Costa Rica. Last Wednesday when my friend was helping me with spanish at her house, a tractor hit our car, just the sharp corner of the bulldozer part, enough to put a nice dent in the side above the driver's side tire. While she was battling back and forth with the men about whether they wanted to pay up or have us call transito, I was intently listening, impressed with myself at how much I was understanding! Apparently these guys wanted to do whatever to avoid transitio (immigrants from Nicaragua, I guess), and agreed to pay the money. I, of course, figured we'd never see a dime, and just chalked it up to another CR expense...add it to the tab! However, the guys came through and they paid Zach yesterday, $120, for something that would cost $1000 in the US.

The Tamarindo Marathon was held on Saturday, starting at 5:00am. All the Tamarindo streets were closed for some time so we took the morning to relax, and enjoy the low tide. Zach and I tried to sign up for the 10K at the last minute, but all the races were full. Most runners come from San Jose and surrounding areas, or other countries. The working class here wouldn't dream of running (why, when you've just practiced manual labor- yard work, housekeeping, or ditch digging- for the last 8-10 hours????) Zach and I went for our own run on the beach, and then got together with friends in the afternoon, a family with two children whom our kids know from school. Martin and Carolyn are from Texas originally, but have spent the past year in Australia and are now spending a year here! Saturday night Zach and I had dinner at KaHiki's. After a week of cooking, going out for dinner is such a treat for me. I was giddy eating an arugula, strawberry and walnut salad. We shared a greek platter, and had the spicy red curry chicken! So delicious.

On Sunday, Zach was called as the Elder's Quorum President of the branch, and I as the ONLY Young Women's advisor. I am looking forward to having to push harder to more quickly learn spanish so I can be a part of this great calling. Later that night, we were anticipating Zach's parents arriving sometime after 5:30 or 6:00 in the evening. They never showed up, and Zach and I calmly "knew" they had just hit bad weather, in the dark, and decided to pull off and stop at a hotel. They would be here first thing in the morning, leaving early with the sunrise. By 8:00am, we were getting worried, and by 10:30, we had called transito, policia, and the US Embassy! They pulled into the driveway a short while later, explaining that the road out of SJ was closed from a landslide and they had been forced to drive south. After dark and much rain, the stopped, exhausted, and the front counter refused to allow them to use the computer to send us a quick email. Just getting used to CR more and more everyday. I can say that even though cell phones are such a convenience, it is so easy to become addicted, and THAT I do not miss at all! Even with no stoplights, people on bikes, folks walking in the middle of the road, people passing each other all the time on single lane/no shoulder roads, muddy roads, etc, I feel safer on the road, and also feel like a safer driver here!

So Zach's folks are here, and we were saying last night how this feels like the first visit we've had with them where we are not moving, having a baby, or needing help with some big project....tranquilo! So we swam in the ocean after school yesterday, and his parents got to see everyone's surfing skills. It will nice for everyone to just relax this week....

A few funny words from the kids this week:

Jed while counting: "...dieciocho, diecinueve, veinte, veinti-one, veinti-two, veinit-three....."

Tia: while having burgers with friends last week: "...these pickles are really spicy!" Tia had put 4 or 5 on her burger, jalapenos, that is!

Tia: My child who has never, ever liked melted cheese on anything...when I make homemade pizza hers is just sauce with toppings, quesdillas- NEVER, she just does't like it..... "I don't know why, but I just feel like really thick, really cheesy pizza right now!"

For a nice grand finale, our cravings for those things we miss and love so much at home have been satisfied this week! Zach's words, "this is better than Christmas" as we tore into a box from Zach's parents of HEALTHY peanut butter, PB pretzels, popcorn, goldfish, and dark chocolate chips! YUM!

Kids and Zach enjoying oreos!!! What a treat from our friends in CA!

Thank you Amy, Erik and kids!

Rainy day fun! Kaylee, Tia, Ethan and Dad played out on the beach in the

pouring rain. The kids were trying to build a dam by a little "estuary" by our house.

Because the tide had been so so low earlier in the day, we had many dead fish

wash up at high tide. Zach spent his time in the rain, moving the fish from our house

to another part of the beach....stink up someone else's area, right?

A funny sign at the grocery store. No towels, no bare feet, and no thongs! Shirts not necessary!