It's me!!

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the comments while I have been away! I have had all the posts updated automatically so they have been pretty cut and dry. But this time it's me and I'm writing this while I look at my girls playing by the pool and then I can look over to my right and see the waves of the Pacific crash on the beaches of Jaco, Costa Rica! It's really cool! I have really enjoyed this trip, but I cannot wait to get home and spend some time with Ronnie and Ethan...I have missed them both VERY much! I am also looking forward to some time without teenagers...this summer will be very short!
I know I'm rambling, but I don't have too much to talk about. I do want to say congratulations to Ronnie's sister...she and her family welcomed a new boy to the crew yesterday! I can't wait to meet him.
Well, I am going to go, but I want everyone to know I love you guys and I'll be home soon!

Melissa

Day 7

Today is a relaxing day. First we go out to Manuel Antonio beach, one of the best in the world, to see various exotic plants and animals. Then we get the rest of the day to explore the beach on our own!! The tour is drawing to a close.

Day 6

Today is still up in the air, so to speak. The guide has an activity that he feels will be more beneficial than what was previously planned. We will talk about it on tour and decide as a whole group.

Our hotel for the next two nights is Balcón del Mar. The plus side of traveling today? We are at the BEACH! My first trip to the Pacific!

Day 5

First thing today we are going to be "green" and plant a tree. Apparently all EF tours do this while in this area. Let's hear it for dirty hands!

Then we will walk for an hour and a half to get to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest where the kids will do a zipline canopy tour before we go for lunch.

This afternoon some groups opted to do a horseback tour, but my group will be relaxing and enjoying some free time.

Later in the afternoon the tour guide is going to take us to Santa Elena City to show us some of the local areas rather than tourist hot spots.

Day 4

Today we leave the hotel around 7 in order to travel to an area known as Monteverde. En route we stop at Tom's Bakery, where the streudals are delicious we've been told!

This afternoon we stop at a school called La Cruz. We will watch a performance given by the students and then we will have time to converse with them.

We will be staying at Hotel El Bosque tonight and tomorrow night.

Day 3

We have an early morning today and must be at Lake Arenal by 8:00 in order to being a 2 hour long kayaking adventure! I'm sure I will be tired, hot, and sore by the end of this day! After we are done on the lake we are hiking to see La Fortuna Waterfall. It should be beautiful as we will have to tackle over 300 steps to get to it! After all this physical labor we will surely be ready for our lunch!

After this we head to a coffee house, Down to Earth, that is owned by our tour guide's friend. Soon afterwards we spend the afternoon relaxing in the thermal waters of Baldi...waters that are heated naturally by the volcano. Ahhhh...I'm looking forward to it already.

Until tomorrow!

Day 2

Good morning! Today is a fun-filled day in Costa Rica!

We begin the day with a trip to the INBioparque. After guided tours we will head to the Poás Volcano. Once we are finished taking in nature for the day we will travel to the northeastern part of the country. We will be staying at the hotel Eco-Arenal tonight and tomorrow night. After arrival we will have time to explore the area on our own, but we have an early morning tomorrow!

Costa Rica Bound

Hi everyone! Hope you all are doing well. I am scheduling posts over the next few days while I am in Costa Rica in order to let you all know what I am scheduled to be doing at the time. I hope you enjoy reading about what we have planned.

At this time I should be en route to Atlanta, Georgia. Our flight should leave around 4:19 and land at 5:42. We are scheduled to leave the US at 7 and arrive in Costa Rica at 9:01 (our time here). There is a 2 hour time difference so we will be landing late, getting to the hotel and crashing.

We will be staying at Hotel Villa Tournon tonight.

A Quick Post

We are back from our mini vacation in the mountains. I will try to post pictures tomorrow. Have a great day. I'm off to get ready for VBS now.

Runny Babbit

My brother...a.k.a. Big 'Ole Brandon to Ethan has a new pet to share with my son. Ladies and gentlemen...meet Roscoe.

Plans

Not much has been going around here. I'm just patiently waiting for the kiddos to finish exams so I can start to enjoy my summer. We're getting things started this weekend with a camping trip to the mountains. The main event is Saturday when we go to Tweetsie RR to meet Thomas the Train. We're hoping that Ethan really enjoys it. I'll share pictures when we get back. Sunday starts VBS and I'll be teaching the 2 and under class. Should be lots of fun... Then on the 24th I'll be leaving for Costa Rica for 9 days. I am SUPER excited about the trip...there's just too much going on to get ready for it. When I get back it will almost be the 4th of July. Any plans anybody? All I know is that we'll probably be fishing with Heather, Daniel, Hailey and Caleb somewhere. So that's about all for now. Take care and leave a comment!

Diaper Cake

We had a shower for one of my friend's and his wife at work today. They are expecting a little girl in July. Our building handled the shower so I made the diaper cake.

Here are the proud parents to be...

Here is Ms. Nina. She was amazed at the cake.

--I just LOVE her!!--

And the cake. I think it turned out really well!!