Costa Rica 1

We took the kids to Costa Rica over spring break this year and had such a great time. The kids were the best little travelers with lots of enthusiasm and lots of patience.

 Oxcart factory tour. We learned about making and painting the beautiful oxcarts seen around Costa Rica.

 Ginormous wheel

 I had no idea how nice the hotels would be. I packed shampoo and all kinds of things thinking we would be without essentials and A/C. Yeah... not so much. We were all given "welcome drinks" as we arrived at each hotel and it just got better from there.

 The kids got VERY used to lots of food options and unlimited quantities at every meal. Our kitchen at home looked SO boring when we got home. Just looking at this picture makes me miss all the fresh fruit cut up and arranged so pretty at every meal.

 One of the kids favorite parts was spotting the huge iguanas all around the country.

 We loved all the Catholic churches scattered around everywhere we traveled. Because we were there over spring break there were purple swaths of fabric draped over most of the crosses we saw in people's yards or around town.

 We all had to tease Campbell for looking like the ultimate tourist for most of the trip.

 more welcome drinks

 Griffin enjoying the volcano view

 Each hotel had a variety of pools and hot tubs. So, the kids spent all day traveling and touring and then swam all evening.

 

 As far as seat companion on the bus, Quinny got rotated through each member of our family (except Griffin). The only thing she brought to entertain herself the whole trip was a spiral bound notebook and a pencil. Don't know how that escaped my notice. So, on the first day I drew tons of pictures in her notebook and she spent the rest of the trip coloring the pictures in with emery's markers.

 On our wildlife cruise we stopped at the Nicaragua border and then went about 20 feet over the border before turning around. So, we've been to Nicaragua too.

 The 20+ pools at the hot spring were another fun day. No USA regulations here. Some of the pools were boiling hot. There were 3 water slides that were insanely dangerous and fast. One of the grandpas went down the mild slide and the lifeguard ended up jumping in to save him. Then the lifeguard walked away to go change or something... but people were still allowed to go down the slides. hahaha
Quinn snuck up to the top with her floaty on and was able to go down one of the slides a few times.

 Another beautiful pool

 We found a chocolate factory by our hotel and got a little tour and a cocoa fruit to eat. The seeds are coated with sweet, slimy stuff that you can suck off.

 Emery was a huge help getting Quinn ready each morning. The 3 girls shared a hotel room and Griffin stayed in our room. The girls appeared outside our room ready to go each day right on time.

 Walking palm

 Looking up at a broccoli tree

 Griffin was terrified after crossing the first hanging bridge so he tried to dive off the trail every time we approached the other bridges on our hike. He powered through by making sure there was no one too close in front of him when he stepped on the bridge so he could just head straight to the other side without delay.

 Quinn even took the time to inspect little trails of leaf-cutter ants.

 last bridge!

 Arenal Volcano provided a beautiful backdrop for the few days we were in the area.

 I think Quinn started getting carried away with all this food... getting her second plate before she's done with the first? The kids always wanted to try every flavor of juice also.