The Year of Beans

Keeping cool. Chloe shields herself from the impending splash of Tristan's cannonball.

The aftermath of a second degree burn on Logan's foot after walking on the hot street in front of our apartments. He now owns a pair of shoes.

Hot tarmac isn't the only danger lurking on campus! One of Landon's volunteers spotted this boa constrictor while following toucans a couple of days ago. She said they first noticed the 9 foot serpent because it was lying on the side of the street and hissing at people as they went past. Taking my role as homeschooling mom seriously, I made sure to teach the kids a few things about snakes. I actually threw out the word "exothermic" in my lesson, which surprised me for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I didn't know I even knew that word. Secondly, I realized how much I stink at teaching toddlers.

Not the real thing, but close enough for Logan.

Another night, another bra. I no longer hang my bras on the crib.

Tristan and Chloe pose by a moth.

Jocelynne attacks the pinata I made (my first one - cut me some slack. It's supposed to be a heart) to celebrate our one year anniversary in Costa Rica. I think I'll always look back on this year as the year of beans. Black beans, red beans, garbanzo beans, refried beans. . . . Beans for lunch and beans for dinner. I've even had beans for breakfast here. And I love them more than ever!

Joss' first time climbing a tree. Look how happy she is. :)

Chloe and Jocelynne playing on a cement frog in the city park. We often play here while waiting for the bus.

Other news from this week: a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit the west coast of Costa Rica on Wednesday. I didn't actually feel it, since we're about 120 miles east and south of the epicenter. But we saw power lines creaking and swaying, which Tristan thought was pretty cool. We were all out for a walk, looking for the boa constrictor when it happened.

Snakes, quakes and volcanic eruptions! Pura vida.