Some New Things

We've had a whole lot of new things going on lately! I decided to blog about all of them at once so that I'm all caught up....

New Camera

We got an awesome new camera for Christmas and we're having fun playing with it. If you can't take great pictures in Costa Rica, where can you?

New Endeavors

We've missed eating bbq a lot...so Will decided to try to make a smoker in the ground. It didn't sound too complicated, but we never got it to work. So sad.

New Games & Friends

Our kids enjoy playing with Sam & Bethany on a regular basis. Check out all of them plugged in.

New Muscles

This little guy is growing so fast. He is driving me crazy with his new clothing issues though. He hates loose shoes, tight socks, long-sleeves and pants. Thank goodness he can wear shorts & t-shirts every day.

New Sounds

We are still hearing fireworks regularly at night. We've gotten used to it sounding like bombs are going off everywhere. Check this out from our balcony! When I say fireworks, I mean for-real fireworks.

New Weather

We made it through rainy season, and now it's dry season. Dry season in Costa Rica means 80 degrees and sunny all the time. It's pretty great and such a nice change for us. The rain did wash away all the trash & smells on the street so that gets kind of gross.

New Restaurants

Fernando took us to Donde Alcides for dinner one night up the mountain. The view was beautiful and the meat was so good. Such a fun restaurant.

New Car

We just bought a 1998 Toyota 4Runner! I absolutely love it and have a new-found freedom. It's the kind of excitement of a 16-year-old getting their license.

New Procedures

Emma had to have two teeth pulled and she was the bravest I've ever seen her. It was no big deal at all to her. She is my hero. In Costa Rica, they have a Tooth Mouse who puts a surprise under your pillow at night, not a Tooth Fairy.

New Pool

The kids rigged up a baby pool on the balcony to play in. They are having a blast with it. It's the little things.

New Office

Here is Will's new office at ESEPA Seminary. I think it used to be a closet. He had to get furniture for it, and I think he did a great job fixing it up. Will taught his first class yesterday on Spiritual Disciplines (in English with a translator).

New School

Today, Emma started second grade at a new school. In Costa Rica, their school year is February through November. Emma has been frustrated with her lack of Spanish and she just wasn't learning it at her English-speaking school with a bunch of North Americans. So we have decided to try Colegio Metodista (Methodist School).

This is an intense school. Check out all her folders: Science, Homework Assignments, Grammar/Oral Language, French, Math, Reading, Spanish, Mandarin, Tests & Quizzes

Here are all her school books

Emma on her first day at Metodista in her cute uniform

Loves her new jacket

She was so excited she couldn't sleep last night and woke up at 3:30am asking if it was time to wake up yet. The bus was supposed to come get her at 6:00am because her school starts at 7:00am. Here she is looking for her bus. By 6:35 the bus still wasn't there, so I called....he didn't realize that school started today. Luckily we have a car now and Will jumped in the car and took her.

She will kill me for telling this, but I have to. She got off the bus this afternoon and it looked like she had been holding back tears. She ran inside and asked for me to unbutton her pants quickly so she could go to the bathroom. Her pants button sideways on a flap in the front, and it turns out that she never could unbutton her pants by herself at school to go to the bathroom. The girl went the whole day without using the bathroom! So, her tears were over the bathroom situation...not school.

She told us all about school and that she really liked it. She's excited and ready to go back on Monday (today was just an introduction half day). She did have a bit of an overwhelmed look on her face...it was a look similar to the look we had our first week in language class in August. I asked if she understood anything the teacher said, and she said no. I'm going to ask her that every day and see how long it takes her to pick it up. I'm sure she will put us all to shame in just a few months.

I'm so happy and relieved she had a great first day! She even played with 4 girls at recess and sat with them at lunch. I think my worst nightmare was picturing her sitting by herself at lunch. We all remember that fear don't we?

Now if only that bus will show up on Monday...