So we had waffles for breakfast!!!
6.20.2009
I heart waffles
I looooovvveeee waffles. I have a waffle maker somewhere, in some box in one country or another but I have no idea where... so my mom brought me one of my grandpa's old waffle makers, at least she thinks it was his, point is, its old, its retro, and it works, so I will take it!!!!
So we had waffles for breakfast!!!
So we had waffles for breakfast!!!
McD's is in the hood
So several months back there were rumors that Liberia was going to get a McDonalds... this was big news, big big news. While living in the states I couldn't tell you the last time I went to McDonalds...not really a big deal, we didn't really eat much fast food and when we did it was most definitely Taco Bell. Fast forward to living in Costa Rica... while the San Jose area has many of your standard spoiled american fare, our area in Guanacaste does not. We do have a Burger King, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut and Subway, but thats not the point... Mc D's is certainly a big deal around here.
So about a month ago my friend Kate calls and says she smelled McD's french fries on the bus and asked the lady if it was opened yet...she got an affirmative and we quickly made plans to go!!! While driving to Liberia Kate informs me that she didn't actually see the McDonalds bag and now wasn't exactly positive that it was opened...so as we are driving into town we notice that the construction is still taking place and therefore we would not be enjoying McNuggets and fries that evening... so we opted for Burger King instead, no worries, it was still an excuse to get out of the house and out of Bagaces, so life goes on.
Then a couple weeks ago Kate tells me that her students said McD's was to open that Friday...it was real this time. And it was...our very own McDonalds has opened in Liberia people! Jaxon, Riley and I all enjoyed a not so healthy dinner of chicken nuggets and fries, both boys got a Cajita Feliz or happy meal and a toy, and Jax attemped going up the climbing tunnel to go down the slide and got scared again... the kid was traumatized at burger king last year when he was trying to go up and an entire bus load of young boys invaded the play area leaving him shaken inside, he will probably end up clausterphobic b/c of it...
So about a month ago my friend Kate calls and says she smelled McD's french fries on the bus and asked the lady if it was opened yet...she got an affirmative and we quickly made plans to go!!! While driving to Liberia Kate informs me that she didn't actually see the McDonalds bag and now wasn't exactly positive that it was opened...so as we are driving into town we notice that the construction is still taking place and therefore we would not be enjoying McNuggets and fries that evening... so we opted for Burger King instead, no worries, it was still an excuse to get out of the house and out of Bagaces, so life goes on.
Then a couple weeks ago Kate tells me that her students said McD's was to open that Friday...it was real this time. And it was...our very own McDonalds has opened in Liberia people! Jaxon, Riley and I all enjoyed a not so healthy dinner of chicken nuggets and fries, both boys got a Cajita Feliz or happy meal and a toy, and Jax attemped going up the climbing tunnel to go down the slide and got scared again... the kid was traumatized at burger king last year when he was trying to go up and an entire bus load of young boys invaded the play area leaving him shaken inside, he will probably end up clausterphobic b/c of it...
6.15.2009
Vacation Photo Montage
Anna and I took 800 photos between the two of us in the 11 days they were here... Needless to say I cannot possibly put them all in my blog, so I made a photo montage... which only covers a hundred and so b/c the program didn't have a song long enough to cover all 9 minutes of the photos, at any rate, go spend about 4 minutes watching awesome vacation photos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mFhschzgoI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mFhschzgoI
Hegwer vacation part 2
And the visit continues...
Sunday was Riley's birthday, I just made a quick cake from a box but he still managed to shove it in his face!! Anna brought some leftover party supplies from Carter's birthday so that was nice, it made it feel like the real thing!!
Monday morning we got ready and loaded up the cars, whew what a chore, great job Aaron and Cory whoot whoot!! We got to Bagaces and unloaded, drove around and showed Anna and Cory our little town of Bagaces, which took all of 5 minutes:) That afternoon I took Anna and Cory out riding, we decided on a short ride which was a good thing b/c on the way home we were met with one of the most pounding rain storms ever, we got 4 inches in an hour or so, and 15 minutes of it we were riding. Needless to say we were soaked, like buckets of water to ring out of our clothes... and unfortunately we had their camera which after drying for 4 days still isn't working properly...
Tuesday we were going to go to the waterfall outside of town but that is a difficult hill to climb down dry, so after the rain from the day before we opted to go up the mountain to Guayabo and go to the hot springs. There are two hot springs up there, Thermal Mania, which my mom and I took the boys to before, and Yoko, which we decided to try this time. It was very nice, the food was actually really good and we were the only ones there on a Tuesday afternoon, however, it was much hotter than Thermal Mania and we couldn't stay in the water very long at all. The boys went down the water slide a few times and we all got in for about 15 minutes but it was just too hot. It would be great to go at night, beautiful views of the volcano but next time I go with kids I will go back to Thermal Mania.
Wednesday we decided to just hang out at the house and chill which was nice. Everyone got some much needed rest vegging and relaxing in the pool. That afternoon it rained again and the boys had a blast playing in the water for an hour or so.
Thursday our friend Joy came over and watched the little ones while we took Jax and Griffin on a river floating trip. It was about 2 hours and we saw a ton of wildlife. We saw 2 crocs and 3 babies, 2 familis of monkeys, howlers and white faced, a family of coatis, which look like a cross b/t a raccoon and an anteater, funny little animals, a ton of birds, huge iguans, Jesus Christ lizards that run on water and I am sure there was more... the kids enjoyed going over the little rapids! The guide brought a cooler of snacks and at one point we stopped and he sliced open a juicy pineapple and we all feasted, it was delish! After the boat trip we had lunch at one of our favorite places, La Pacifica then headed home to rest. After nap time we let the bigs (thats Jax and Griffin) ride horses for a bit which was fun as always!!
Friday morning was it... I had to take them back to the airport and they got to Denver safe and sound. It was such a fantastic trip. We did have quite a few power outages while they were here but we managed to survive!
To my favorite Hegwers - thank you soooo very much for visiting us on your vacation. I know you guys don't get to get away very often and I just loved having you and the kids here with us and being able to share in your much needed vaca. I can't wait to see you in September. XOXOXO.
Sunday was Riley's birthday, I just made a quick cake from a box but he still managed to shove it in his face!! Anna brought some leftover party supplies from Carter's birthday so that was nice, it made it feel like the real thing!!
Monday morning we got ready and loaded up the cars, whew what a chore, great job Aaron and Cory whoot whoot!! We got to Bagaces and unloaded, drove around and showed Anna and Cory our little town of Bagaces, which took all of 5 minutes:) That afternoon I took Anna and Cory out riding, we decided on a short ride which was a good thing b/c on the way home we were met with one of the most pounding rain storms ever, we got 4 inches in an hour or so, and 15 minutes of it we were riding. Needless to say we were soaked, like buckets of water to ring out of our clothes... and unfortunately we had their camera which after drying for 4 days still isn't working properly...
Tuesday we were going to go to the waterfall outside of town but that is a difficult hill to climb down dry, so after the rain from the day before we opted to go up the mountain to Guayabo and go to the hot springs. There are two hot springs up there, Thermal Mania, which my mom and I took the boys to before, and Yoko, which we decided to try this time. It was very nice, the food was actually really good and we were the only ones there on a Tuesday afternoon, however, it was much hotter than Thermal Mania and we couldn't stay in the water very long at all. The boys went down the water slide a few times and we all got in for about 15 minutes but it was just too hot. It would be great to go at night, beautiful views of the volcano but next time I go with kids I will go back to Thermal Mania.
Wednesday we decided to just hang out at the house and chill which was nice. Everyone got some much needed rest vegging and relaxing in the pool. That afternoon it rained again and the boys had a blast playing in the water for an hour or so.
Thursday our friend Joy came over and watched the little ones while we took Jax and Griffin on a river floating trip. It was about 2 hours and we saw a ton of wildlife. We saw 2 crocs and 3 babies, 2 familis of monkeys, howlers and white faced, a family of coatis, which look like a cross b/t a raccoon and an anteater, funny little animals, a ton of birds, huge iguans, Jesus Christ lizards that run on water and I am sure there was more... the kids enjoyed going over the little rapids! The guide brought a cooler of snacks and at one point we stopped and he sliced open a juicy pineapple and we all feasted, it was delish! After the boat trip we had lunch at one of our favorite places, La Pacifica then headed home to rest. After nap time we let the bigs (thats Jax and Griffin) ride horses for a bit which was fun as always!!
Friday morning was it... I had to take them back to the airport and they got to Denver safe and sound. It was such a fantastic trip. We did have quite a few power outages while they were here but we managed to survive!
To my favorite Hegwers - thank you soooo very much for visiting us on your vacation. I know you guys don't get to get away very often and I just loved having you and the kids here with us and being able to share in your much needed vaca. I can't wait to see you in September. XOXOXO.
6.14.2009
Riley trying to walk!!
Here is a quick video of Riley's new venture into walking... enjoy:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wXCJesVIA8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wXCJesVIA8
6.07.2009
Hegwer vacation part 1
The long awaited vacation has finally arrived!!! Our dear friends Anna, Cory, Griffin and Carter are finally here. The trip has been in the works for some year and a half and it has been well worth the wait!!
They arrived on Monday and I picked them up around 7:30 from the airport and came to the beach house in Playa Hermosa. The house they found to rent is absolutely perfect for all of the kids, nice open floor plan, beautiful pool, in a safe gated community, etc. etc.
Tuesday morning we spent the morning hanging out at the house and swimming in the pool. We cooked the breakfast outside on the grill since the power went out about 10 minutes after I put it into the oven!! After breakfast we headed to the beach with our 4 kids, 8 towels, wagon of toys, shovels, buckets, trucks, beers, snacks and the regular must not leave for the beach without sort of goods. The beach in Hermosa is super kid friendly, gentle waves and you can walk out forever before you aren't able to touch anymore. We heart Hermosa.
Wednesday was another relaxing day. Aaron headed back to Bagaces to get the braces off (whoot whoot!!) and we tried taking some family photos of our Hegwers! Then spent more quality time with the swimming pool.
Thursday was the long awaited boat trip. This particular trip I had been on a couple times before and never tire of it. We went out on a bit smaller boat than planned but we made it work. The boat guys were a bit perplexed when they discovered our intentions of bringing two strollers on the boat but they rolled with it and it worked out well...nothing like the gentle rocking of the ocean to put some babies to bed!! We went to two different snorkeling spots and saw a lot of fish, rays and standard snorkeling stuff, played on the beach a bit, saw some caves, and had an awesome day cruising around the pacific.
Friday we spent the morning walking and shopping around Playa Coco. Coco is a great place for eating, hanging out and the like, not so much for the beach, stick to Hermosa for that. Anyway, Anna scored some deals and got lots of goods. After which, Aaron braved the unthinkable, he watched all FOUR kids while Anna, Cory and I went zip-lining. Okay they were napping but I am certain he could have handled it. The ziplining was a ton of fun, Anna and I did one each superman style!! Afterward they had a cage of monkeys we were able to play with. Before going I had read that you are able to see monkeys there but that statement did not do this experience justice at all. We went inside the cage with 2 guides, and played with 5 white faced and 2 spider monkeys. It was incredible. They gave us handfuls of seeds and the monkeys just jumped right on our arms, legs, heads, whatever and played for nearly an hour. One spider monkey would lift his arms like a baby and you could lift him up and he would lay his head down and cuddle, it was so amazing. Best $5 I have EVER spent. Here is a link to the photos I posted to facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1243948803&k=R6AT5WWYTX6M5BD1QB65VTSSQWK
Friday evening we got a babysitter and went to a restaurant called Gingers. Its Asian mostly but the whole menu is tapas (appetizers) and they recommend 3 things each, it was a great way to taste a little of everything and complemented my cosmo's quite nicely!!! Incidentally I haven't had alcohol other then beer or wine for nearly two years until this week and it sure made me giggly!!
Saturday was the much anticipated surf lesson day. We took a babysitter with us and cruised over to Tamarindo, which is a great beach for surfing, partying and the like, not so kid friendly but it was fine for our purposes. Anna, Cory and I took a 2 hour lesson and each got up on a few waves. It was exhausting but a ton of fun. I highly recommend board shorts to any females wanting to surf, at least for the first time, I am pretty sure the photographers on the beach got some unwelcome shots of my white ass.
And now its Sunday...RILEYS BIRTHDAY!!!! Its another chill day at Casa Manana. Anna and I took a trip to Coco to finish her shopping and we had lunch and I made a cake. I am so thrilled to have friends here so we can have a little celebration for Riley. We will chill the rest of the day today and pack up the house and head to Bagaces tomorrow. I am sad to leave this beautiful place but excited to show them our neck of the woods.
So far the trip has been fantastic!! The boys play so well together and we are all having a blast. Well I am off to frost the cake!! Enjoy the pics:)
They arrived on Monday and I picked them up around 7:30 from the airport and came to the beach house in Playa Hermosa. The house they found to rent is absolutely perfect for all of the kids, nice open floor plan, beautiful pool, in a safe gated community, etc. etc.
Tuesday morning we spent the morning hanging out at the house and swimming in the pool. We cooked the breakfast outside on the grill since the power went out about 10 minutes after I put it into the oven!! After breakfast we headed to the beach with our 4 kids, 8 towels, wagon of toys, shovels, buckets, trucks, beers, snacks and the regular must not leave for the beach without sort of goods. The beach in Hermosa is super kid friendly, gentle waves and you can walk out forever before you aren't able to touch anymore. We heart Hermosa.
Wednesday was another relaxing day. Aaron headed back to Bagaces to get the braces off (whoot whoot!!) and we tried taking some family photos of our Hegwers! Then spent more quality time with the swimming pool.
Thursday was the long awaited boat trip. This particular trip I had been on a couple times before and never tire of it. We went out on a bit smaller boat than planned but we made it work. The boat guys were a bit perplexed when they discovered our intentions of bringing two strollers on the boat but they rolled with it and it worked out well...nothing like the gentle rocking of the ocean to put some babies to bed!! We went to two different snorkeling spots and saw a lot of fish, rays and standard snorkeling stuff, played on the beach a bit, saw some caves, and had an awesome day cruising around the pacific.
Friday we spent the morning walking and shopping around Playa Coco. Coco is a great place for eating, hanging out and the like, not so much for the beach, stick to Hermosa for that. Anyway, Anna scored some deals and got lots of goods. After which, Aaron braved the unthinkable, he watched all FOUR kids while Anna, Cory and I went zip-lining. Okay they were napping but I am certain he could have handled it. The ziplining was a ton of fun, Anna and I did one each superman style!! Afterward they had a cage of monkeys we were able to play with. Before going I had read that you are able to see monkeys there but that statement did not do this experience justice at all. We went inside the cage with 2 guides, and played with 5 white faced and 2 spider monkeys. It was incredible. They gave us handfuls of seeds and the monkeys just jumped right on our arms, legs, heads, whatever and played for nearly an hour. One spider monkey would lift his arms like a baby and you could lift him up and he would lay his head down and cuddle, it was so amazing. Best $5 I have EVER spent. Here is a link to the photos I posted to facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1243948803&k=R6AT5WWYTX6M5BD1QB65VTSSQWK
Friday evening we got a babysitter and went to a restaurant called Gingers. Its Asian mostly but the whole menu is tapas (appetizers) and they recommend 3 things each, it was a great way to taste a little of everything and complemented my cosmo's quite nicely!!! Incidentally I haven't had alcohol other then beer or wine for nearly two years until this week and it sure made me giggly!!
Saturday was the much anticipated surf lesson day. We took a babysitter with us and cruised over to Tamarindo, which is a great beach for surfing, partying and the like, not so kid friendly but it was fine for our purposes. Anna, Cory and I took a 2 hour lesson and each got up on a few waves. It was exhausting but a ton of fun. I highly recommend board shorts to any females wanting to surf, at least for the first time, I am pretty sure the photographers on the beach got some unwelcome shots of my white ass.
And now its Sunday...RILEYS BIRTHDAY!!!! Its another chill day at Casa Manana. Anna and I took a trip to Coco to finish her shopping and we had lunch and I made a cake. I am so thrilled to have friends here so we can have a little celebration for Riley. We will chill the rest of the day today and pack up the house and head to Bagaces tomorrow. I am sad to leave this beautiful place but excited to show them our neck of the woods.
So far the trip has been fantastic!! The boys play so well together and we are all having a blast. Well I am off to frost the cake!! Enjoy the pics:)
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