Ziplining in Costa Rica

The next few posts will be highlights of Cas and my trip to Costa Rica - which according to my dad, will be pointless since they'll be blog posts without Collin and Maya.  We were so thankful to take our first kid-free trip since Maya was born - and not just an hour drive for a weekend get-away but a whole week out of the country!  We had a trip planned to Costa Rica for years, and finally all the stars aligned for us to spend an adventure-filled week in the rainforest and beach.

Our first full day in Costa Rica, after a windy road, car-sick-inducing trip to La Fortuna from the airport, was in the volcano/rainforest area.  Thanks to tripadvisor, I booked us on a 7:30am zipline tour, as I heard the 10am tour was always full.  And we were the only ones!  We had three tour guides - one just taking photos - and the two of us.  Of course we bought the personalized cd to document our adventure.

Before the adventure began -

On the drive to the first platform, the guys pointed out toucans in the trees.  

The ziplines started off short and not too fast, easing us into the adventure.  I'm not a huge fan of heights, but the only part that made me nervous about the ziplines was standing on the platforms.  

Posing before the next one - there were 13 ziplines from 25 - 430 meters long.  

It was overcast - typical of our stay in La Fortuna - but lush from all the rainfall!  When we were looking at the weather forecast before we left, it showed 80% chance of rain every day.  Instead, we had rain on our first driving day, and then a short shower once or twice in our time there.  

After cable 8, when you were feeling confident about the ziplining, there was an optional Tarzan swing.  I had read all sorts of reviews about it - and everyone said they were glad they did it.  It was also described as gentle bungee jumping and a huge adrenaline rush.  Not normally things I gravitate to.  When I would think about the Tarzan swing, I could feel my heart rate pick up - even before we had arrived in Costa Rica.

Of course I made Cas go first.  A forty foot drop, and his first yell had a tinge of fear in it that made me re-think the plunge.

My nervous face before I'm even at the edge!  

After the first swing down, then it was fun!

Pretty sure I'm still shaking here, but we were both glad we did the Tarzan Swing - and I have no need to do it again!

A few more ziplines and we were done for the morning - all before 9am!  

Friday afternoon park time

We're taking advantage of parks before it gets miserably hot in Texas, so after picking up Collin from school on Friday, we headed to a neighborhood park.  Maya thought it was a scream - 

Blurry photo but happy swinging -

This girl wanted to go as high as her big brother - bigger push, mama!

Sporting her brother's baseball cap -

Practicing the monkey bars -

Silly sliding head first.  Glad he's getting braver but now he's setting a less-than-ideal example for Maya!

Pigtails and cool shades

Last Sunday for church, we put Maya in a dress that Grammy gave us, along with two matching hair clips.  Obviously the two clips necessitated pigtails and pigtails necessitated pictures before church!

 Collin looking perfect, Maya with her hand in her mouth -

Collin's smile fading, Maya improving -

Maya spot on, Collin over it - it's very rare to get 2 for 2!

Loaded up on stickers from Trader Joe's

We went to a great birthday party at a park, complete with relay races and games.  Collin's first sack race - 

Maya cheered on the races and then went to town on her cupcake -

Collin's first solo attempt of the monkey bars - 

Her dress was stained for lunch, but I thought she looked adorable in the diaper cover and bow -

Maya received a baby crib for her birthday, and she loves rocking her babies and turning on the mobile.  The first night, we put it right by her crib and when Cas went to check on her late at night, found the doll crib in her crib . . . taking over half her sleeping space . . . and we're still not sure how she got it in there with her!

My conversation dropping Collin off at school:
E:  It's cloudy today buddy, I don't think you'll need your sunglasses.
C:  I don't need them for the sun, I need them to look cool

Children's Museum with Great Grandma Betty

I took the Friday before Memorial Day off, but most of our friends were heading out of town for the long weekend.  And my mom was out of town.  Luckily, my grandma kept me company, joining Maya and me at the Children's Museum.

First we had to drop off Collin, whose class was visiting the aquarium, so I got one photo of my grandma, "B" and Collin in front of the school.

On to the museum, where Maya was full of wonder playing with the balls, telephones, climbing obstacles, music and toys.

My little hoarder.  This is how Collin used to be with cars - he'd use his shirt as a sack to collect all the cars.

Watching with delight as the balls flew in the air -

Playing in the truck -

Ball pit fun -

Butterfly kisses for B -

Silly girl, eyes full of sparkle -

Taking the musical push toy through the tunnel -

Playing peek-a-boo with B at the other end -

One of the best moments of my day.  I love how my kids love my grandma.  We stopped by her house Tuesday, then she followed us to a nearby park, and then followed us to our home for dinner.  The entire 90 seconds between her house and the park and the park and our house, Maya kept asking, "B coming?"  She was so happy to spend the afternoon with her grand-grandma.   "Come on, B," she'd say as she led her all over the park.

This is one of the outfits my mom made, and she got compliments on it all day.  

Laughing, and tickling, on the padded steps -

Our last stop was the waterworks outside.  She loved moving balls from one section to another.

 Intensely building some piping . . . and soaking herself and anyone in her vicinity in the process.

Great morning with my grandma and my girl!

Happy 2nd birthday, Maya

Cas and I arrived home the night of Maya's 2nd birthday from a week in Costa Rica, and we had time to sing her happy birthday and put her to bed.  But the following Saturday, we had a party for her.  First we had to stock up at Target - 

Then balloons and ice at HEB -

And then party time.  We had a pool party, and in typical two-year-old fashion, Maya didn't get into the pool until everyone else was getting out for dinner and cupcakes.  

I had asked my dad to serve as lifeguard, and he took his job VERY seriously.  But since the kids out-numbered the adults, we were thankful he was vigilant.  

Maya never left the top step, but was exuberant with her kicking and splashing -

Back inside, trying out her new car.  She's a big fan, calling it "Maya's car" all day long.  

Birthday cupcake - where she, Collin, and many of their friends only ate the icing.  

Sugar-filled mouths -

Maya continues to delight our family.  She's nurturing, mischievous, silly, opinionated, smart, and loving.  At two years, here is what she is into:

• She loves babies - both real ones and dolls.  She cannot go to bed without one and normally three dolls, and she knows she can take Eric, Collin's doll, at naptime but not bedtime.  
• She loves to sing, and also loves to take selfie videos singing.  For the last 2 months, she's been stuck on "Happy Birthday."  
• She loves to color and chalk - much more than Collin did at this age.  
• Like her brother, she loves to read.  She reads to herself, reciting phrases off commonly read books.  And she loves to cuddle up and read throughout the day and before she goes to bed.  
• She loves raisins (upon waking, she says, "good morning mama.  raisin?  two?"), milk, eggs and onions, pasta, snack food, and chocolate.  She'd rather sit in my lap and eat off of my plate, despite the fact that the exact same food is cut up in toddler-sized bites on her plate.  
• Most of all, she loves her brother, dogs and family.  When Collin woke up the other morning, she squealed with delight and danced in the living room.  This afternoon at a park, Collin bumped his head, and Maya immediately climbed up the playscape to him to give him a hug.  

We are so, so thankful God graced us with this wonderful girl as our daughter!