Good morning again! Peacefully waking dada by jumping on him and knocking on his head.

Did you milk my cow? Yes ma’am. Did you milk her well? Yes, ma’am. Well then how did you milk her? Squish squish squish. That is the song i was singing on the way there thanks to my elementary school music teacher, Dr. Pepper. Anyway, cows are a milking in the mountains and it was an adventure.

The girls were fantastic the whole drive there and holding hands while Sabs was trying to conk (she never did)

When we got there we walked up to the front desk to see if we could take the 11am tour which was in about 1/2 hour and it was available so we paid and walked around while we waited.

After about 1/2 hour it was time to get our tour started. We were all ready to hop on this hefty tractor to drive to the destinations when out of nowhere they hollered for us to come to another side. We left the crew of families heading to the tractor and walked over where one other family was standing. The owner introduced us to our tour guide who was going to take us on our W A L K I N G tour for a gazillion miles around the huge property. Normally we can hack a good hike with the girls b/c we did that all over Italy a few months ago, however, Sabs was on no nap and letting us all know very vocally how she was feeling. I looked at Will with the “we may or may not survive this face” and he asked if there was another way we could do the tour. The other family with us was a super nice Tico family who had a 4 1/2 yr old son named Riccardo. The lady told us we could go a shorter way and just walk slower since the tractor that was kindly ushering everyone was full. Apparently people booked this in advance and we had no clue. Anyways, we decided to give a shot and I lugged Sabs on this (not so very short) hike around the farm. She basically screamed her way through it as i creatively attempted to breastfeed and walk with her at the same time. There was no where to sit b/c we were in the middle of a jungle trail. Will had Sophie on his shoulders and slipped on a muddy trail, miraculously not dropping her as he hit the ground. Since that ended well, it was quite entertaining to watch from behind. His flip flop popped out of the hole and got stuck in the mud. Oh this hike was very interesting.

The other family was so cool and understanding we spoke to them in spanish and they spoke to us in english. We really got on very well and the mom was so helpful and understanding towards my beast of a baby who was going bizerk. We  got out of the jungle trail and the tractor pulled around to pick up the chosen ones and chariot them off to the strawberry patch. I looked at Will and told him that i felt like we were on the Titanic and we were the poor people who werent given the life boats. Luckily, we made it with some good laughs along the way. As soon as we got to the strawberry patch Sabs perked up and ate her way through it. From there on it was all about the horses and cows so she was happy as can be (which is when all these pics were taken).

Sophie and Riccardo really hit it off once we got out of the jungle (obviously there are no pics from our jungle hike b/c i was walking and bfeeding a crazy baby, and Will was balancing Sophie on his shoulders). Really all i would have taken a picture of was some plants and a sloth in the distance (who i didnt get to see b/c Sabs flipped out). I told Will next time we should just pay for the tour and tell them we’ll meet them at the strawberry patch because really once we got there it was a lot of fun. Some pics below 🙂

Here is the tractor we never made it on. This is Will and Sabs smiling foolishly before the tour thinking this was going to be our ride.

Sophie and Riccardo

Horseyyyy (Sabs happy place)

Time to milk a cow! Sabs ran up to go first and loved it. She cried when we pulled her away to let Sophie have a turn. Sophie did it once and then wanted to wash her hands. I dont think she’ll be milking a cow anytime soon. Riccardo was too scared to even try.

I have video of Pookie milking the cow but apparently no pics. Sorry pooks but i do have evidence that you gave it a go. After milking the cow, Will and Sabs were the only ones brave enough to taste the milk. I actually tasted it after Will convinced me and it would have been ok if it wasn’t so warm. Sabs took a gulp and let out a big Ahhhhh when she was done with a nice milk mustache. Everyone was cracking up. It was like something out of a a milk commercial. Her second sip wasn’t so successful. She spit that one right back out (apparently she came to her senses).

After the milk tasting we went into this house part where they showed us how to make cheese. They set up a platter of fresh cheese and strawberries to end up the tour. This went over much better than the milk tasting of course.

The girls fell asleep immediately after we got in the car. We decided to drive to the Poas volcano since we were close and Will has been trying to get us all to go there for some time now. I told him to drive and park and I would sit with the girls while he ran up to get the great view of the volcano. It was cloudy and foggy as usual and of course he ran all the way up to see nothing but a big cloud. Here is the pic he sent me. Glad he can check that off his bucket list now (also glad i waited in the car).

We went to Freddo Fresas for some lunch when the girls woke up. Sabs was crazy hyper after her nap so we ended up taking the food to go and making our way back to the hotel. A little movie on the ipad, some cuddles and night night all! Super fun day with lots of funny memories made.

Good morning!!

Multiplaza time!! The Multiplaza has a bunch of toy stores that have play centers inside them. We took the girls to about 4 different places to run and play. They made friends wherever there were friends to be made. Sabs is a little bull and just stomps right in with no fear. Pooks is not shy to practice her spanish and just keeps just trying when they dont understand her. We were listening to a conversation she was having with another girl who only spoke spanish and it went as follows:

Sophie: Hola, este es Sophie (this means hi, this is sophie. the correct way to say it is me llamo Sophie).

Other girl: Stare

Sophie: Este es S O P H I E

Other girl: Stare

Sophie; Este es Soooooophie

Other girl: stare and smile

Sophie: (finally satisfied with the smile) Este es mi friend. (this is my friend. What she meant to say is do you want to be my friend).

Girl: stare and smile

Sophie: Este es hide and seek

Other girl: stare and smile

Sophie: One…two…three…(covering eyes)

Other girl: runs and hides

ahhh, the international language of child. Off they went for the next 45 min or so, running, playing hide and seek, and chase. Sophie didn’t give up trying to communicate in spanish. She just chatted away usually starting her sentence with Este es, and then completing it in english. The girl never quite understood but when we got in the car Sophie told me her friend spoke english too. I said oh she did (knowing she didn’t) and she said, yes i told her to hide and she hid (hahahaha). Kids wear their emotions on their sleeves and it is much easier for them to communicate without words. It really is beautiful to watch and also to witness Sophie’s resilience and fearlessness when communicating. She has really been expanding her vocabulary lately and it is all beginning to come together for her. I think this is her year to conquer a bit of this language. Yesterday we went downstairs to leave for the beach and the monkeys were out shaking the trees so we ran back in to get them bananas. Jadyel came out to play and instead of saying, Hey Jadyel look monkeys, Sophie said, Hola Jadyel, monos!! She then said Venga Jadyel (which means come) and a few minutes later she said, Venga aqui Jadyel (which means come here). He understood exactly what she was saying and followed all her little spanish commands. Pretty cool! So now on to some pics 🙂

After a fun filled afternoon we ate some food and then went off to the July 4th celebrations. It was super duper fun! Incredible firework show, dj playing music, kids dancing, and the most fun all…running through the spouting water fountains!

So i have a bunch of videos i need to upload of our little weekend in the city but i’ll start with some pics. We had such a fantastic time! Here are a few days combined b/c I am a bit pressed for time and can’t sort out when we did what. Our journey to SJ was fun and easy. We caught the 5pm (also known as the sunset ferry) and saw a friend from Santa Teresa on the ferry who entertained the girls while chatting with us. Once we got to SJ we rolled straight into Applebees (apple balloon) for some dinner before heading to hotel. The girls got their crayons and balloons so all was good in the world. After dinner we went to the hotel, took some showers, girls did their usual run around the room exploring and we all conked out getting ready for the next day’s adventures.

Good morning…gallo pinto! The girls favorite breakfast is Gallo Pinto at this hotel (rice and beans). They just guzzle it down. This morning they also had pancakes and doughnuts (obviously a win for Sophie).

After breakfast the girls always love to go to the workout room and play with all the machines. Sabs favorite is by far the water cooler. She will just stand there refilling and drinking her water over and over. We always weigh ourselves at this hotel since we dont have a scale so here is a little weight update (for the girls of course)…

Sabs 23 months: 28 pounds

Pookie 5 yrs old: 39 pounds

Next stop the Movies!

We went to see Inside out, or Intensamente in espanol. Both girls sat through the entire movie and loved it. Sabs ate about 1/2 container of popcorn and yelled Bravo when the movie was over b/c everyone was clapping. Ironically our old neighbors from Santa Teresa were sitting right behind us and we had no clue. She has a baby a month older than Sabs (who was not with her) and she said she was staring at Sabs almost the whole time b/c she couldnt believe how she just sat and watched the entire movie. This was actually Sabs 3rd movie.

After movies we played at the playground, jumped on the trampoline, then headed to Indian restaurant for some lunch (and another playground complete with some peacocks), and wrapped up with some gelato (and another playground). Sabs figured out how to climb up the stairs and go down the slide all by herself. She just did this over and over and was so proud of her little self (as she should be). She would yell out WEEEEEE.

Today when the girls wanted to paint, I said SURE, follow me…then set them up with all their goodies in the shower! No muss no fuss. Paint faces, walls, floors, bodies, (everything but paper of course), then turn on the water and wash it all down!

Followed by homemade ice pops!

Oh the indoor/oudoor shower/tico sprinkler provides endless fun. I gave the girls two big bowls filled with soap and some sponges. They said they were going to clean their toy car. That lasted just until they realized they could sit in the bowls and this is what entertained them for the next 15 minutes or so.

Today we picked up some bakery pizza and headed to the beach for a picnic. They are having a huge protest in town and all entry/exit points are blocked to leave the peninsula. We have a flat tire on the car and were planning on going to the gas station to get it fixed while Elaina cleaned the house, but word was the gas station line was insanity b/c everyone was stocking up on gas due to the protest. Anyway, we opted to stay away from the madness, take the quad, relax, and head to the beach. It proved to be the right decision because two horses walked right up and let the girls pet and feed them. Sabsy was so excited, she just kept running back and forth from one to the other and yelling HORSEY!! We had to watch Sabs b/c she really has no fear and gets so excited. She was holding their faces and even leaned in and gave one a kiss. Pookie was busy feeding them grass and creating some imaginary story about their relationship, and how they adored her, and where they came from, and where they’re going, etc…lol. I have some video so I will upload after. It was a magical afternoon.

Oooh how i just adore Jadyel and so do the girls. When we go downstairs he comes running out holding toys that he always hands to each of the girls. He then sits down and waits for them to sit and they all play. He is just the sweetest little thing and I have such a soft spot for him. Sabi can now say Hola Jadyel and Ciao Jadyel. She says it every time she sees him or hears the quad coming home. Sweet peas. Today while they were playing, Sabs pet his head and then gave him a kiss on the cheek. Angel face.

Sabs really loves Chi Chi. She kisses him on the lips! That is love, because if you have smelled Charles recently you would know that it might smell better to kiss his butthole. He looks like a pup still and is such a little handsome fella, but oh his smell is another story. Still it is so sweet to watch this little partnership they have and to see how they love each other. Here are some pics from this morning.