Rubbermaid Tubs & Water Equals Hours of Play

Where did I put that bottle of sunscreen? I quickly reached for it today before the boys sported their swimming trunks and darted outside. Yesterday after spending three hours in the sun, we all needed a little bit of protection as the sun shone brightly again today. Glorious sun!

Rubbermaid tubs deserve a mention here...I remember that early morning back in July, when Mike and I were frantically packing at the 11th hour. The taxi to take us to O'Hare was arriving in three hours (4:30 a.m.) and we were staring at my sister's living room full of our 'stuff'. We quickly decided what was staying behind, the other 'essentials' were packed into four tubs that made the flight with us on the airplane. Great suitcase alternatives and they meet the approved dimensions for most airlines. Other uses, just in case you are wondering...
1. Great for building forts (and an added bonus, you can store all the sheets and towels one uses to construct the fort in the bin after your little ones tire of fort building (at least for the day)

2. Impromptu games of "Pop goes Michael, John, or Mommy".

3. Swimming Pools - It is this use that put a smile on my face yesterday and today as I remembered how much the kids enjoyed the little pool we had back on Tuttle Avenue. Throw in a couple of plastic water bottles, yogurt containers, funnels and measuring cups, and hours of fun quickly follow. While Mike buried himself in school work yesterday (Sunday), I enjoyed some relaxing in the sun as the boys frolicked in their 'tubs'. Their play was uninterrupted - mom didn't have to intervene once - what a welcomed change. They delighted in getting their hands wet and warming them in the sweet sun. We pulled the patio table and bench out into the yard and ate our lunch, picnic style. What fun!

We also enjoyed our version of a beanbag toss (I have two change purses) from Guatemala that we've filled with small change - they make great bean-bags - we had a blast!

After the fun in the sun, we ventured with Dad to school as he had to make copies of some material for the upcoming week. A quick detour into the Dairy to enjoy an ice cream and then up a side road as I wanted to check out a street that leads up around the Monteverde Institute. It was there that we ran into a family that we had previously met on one of our hikes -- they were in their car scouting out house rentals as they were preparing to move from San Jose. Andres is the Assistant Manager for one of the big hotels in town. Edda, his wife, came out of the house, holding 5 month old Luna, while 4 year old Javier, greeted us at the stairs, chatting us up in Spanish. "Ah, yes, Edda, how are you?" I said in Spanish. She welcomed us and invited us in - a quick tour of the house, and the boys were off playing, while we sat on her balcony basking in the sun in the late afternoon. I look forward to building a friendship with this family. She is eager to make new friends as I am as well. The boys laughed together and chased after Javier's new puppy, Kala. It is this spontaneity that I love.

Another high-light of our long weekend - WE FOUND A BABYSITTER! SWEET! Denise, a 9th grader, came over to the house Saturday monring and spent 1 1/2 with the boys - they loved her and showered her with goodbye kisses and hugs as she left for home through the pasture gate. Mike and I are thrilled as we have not had a chance to enjoy a night out without kids since we arrived end of July. Jude, my partner in crime, on various projects for the school, has invited us over for dinner on Sunday night. She and her husband, Theo, rent a house going toward San Luis and plan to live out their lives here in the Monteverde area.

Today, I spent some time again with Jude to prepare for another meeting this Wednesday with the School Director to update him on the progress of our project.

Good Day, Sunshine!

Signed: S

Poco a Poco

Little by Little indeed!
Friday was a tough day, I knew the minute our feet hit the trail to the school that it was going to be a challenging afternoon. As I escorted the boys into their classroom, Michael had a strong hold on my legs…John followed suit which was uncharacteristic for him…’monkey see, monkey do’ perhaps. After 30 minutes of trying to get the boys comfortable so I could slip out, we decided that best if I ask for help from the teachers and leave it with them. Not a pretty site as I left (Mike could here the well-known scream of John from his classroom just across the patio and upstairs, talk about a concentration buster!). Michael settled down quickly with a book, John however fell asleep after about 20 minutes of screaming. I found him fast asleep still on some pillows when I returned several hours later to collect them. Miss Melody and Miss Elioth assured me that it is a process and it will take time for the boys to adjust (little by little) – clearly they are needing a nap in the afternoon (which they are not getting as school begins at noon), especially since we are all rising at 5 or 5:30 a.m. Miss Melody shared with me that they may have the kids start out in the play-yard this coming week which will be more of a diversion then having the parents escort them into the classroom. I can now understand why the teachers at Seton Montessori in CH met the child at the car and requested that the parents not get out of their vehicles. As Miss Elioth reminded me….poco a poco! Bless the teachers!

We received the packages from my mom and dad Friday – so it is about an 8 day journey to send something from the states (not too bad). I actually saw the packages in route as I was walking the kids that morning – a motorcycle with three packages on the back (I thought to myself, could this be our packages?). The boys were so excited to receive packages that they carried them all the way home from school and busted them open as soon as we set foot in the house. Happily, the tree swing is back up – and holding strong. The peanut butter granola bars; a huge hit and we’ve already broken in the Old Maid, Matching game and Go Fish Cards 100 times over. Thanks Pop and Chop!

Friday night it was off to La Colina Lodge for a dinner with other members from the community. It was a great night, delicious food and AH, a nice cold margarita to boot! The kids had fun with the other little ones watching TV in the lobby (first in a month) and chasing the 40+ animals. The boys thought it a real adventure walking home at 8 p.m. in total darkness only to the light of our two flashlights. The darkness here is like no where else…black as black can be.

Up early on Saturday and at the Farmers Market by 8 a.m. A delightful couple from Vermont was kind enough to lift us to the market – they have been here for 7 years, and are in the process of buildng a house. Their initial thought was to visit for several months... years later here they still are….apparently this place gets under your skin.

We had a very impromptu dinner with our neighbors (the School director, his wife and little girl) – It was nice to connect and to get to know them better…a very peaceful / gentle couple The boys were very rambunctious and unfortunately saw the inside of their bedrooms a couple of times that night.

We attended an afternoon tea on Sunday at school given by the boy’s teachers – it was a nice event where we were able to learn more about the structure of the classroom, their methods and to meet the other students and their families. Each family was asked to bring a snack / drink to pass – lots of yummie treats to fuel the boys for the afternoon. I was simply proud that I understood the entire presentation and enjoyed talking afterward with some of the parents. The boys got into an impromptu game of soccer in the play-yard. I am hopeful that this coming week will be less of a challenge for the boys and that they will want me to get out of their hair so they can settle into their class and get down to business. I think the Sunday get-together helped build confidence and forge relationships with their teachers. A very peaceful and calming place. It is so nice to have time to visit and converse and not be 'by the clock', continually checking calendars or blackberries to see what's next on the To Do List. Everyone continues to be very welcoming.

I continue to enjoy my hour of running and sacrifice fashion as is quite evident in this lovely pic! An old sheet ripped by yours truly to keep the sweat out of my eyes. One plus on living here is that I have not worn a stitch of make-up in a month – so I am sure the little I brought with me will expire before I break it out! Although I do continue to shave my legs – there are a few things I just can’t part with yet.

For those of you that think you shouldn't save your zip lock bags...you really should. Zip lock bags and any bag for that matter are real treasures here. I now wash them out and hang them up with the laundry to dry outside. re-use..re-use...re-use. Most, if not all products we've purchased, for example, coffee, cereal come in bags with no re-seal ability (and tear all the way down when trying to open) so we re-use any bag that can hold up to the wash and rewash and the outside elements.

Signed: S