BOB AND DEBBIE, COME ON DOWN...YOUR THE NEXT CONTESTANT ON ' PURA VIDA LIFE!'

The following pics are in no particular order, what a great 1o days!

Brody and Brooklyn have become really good friends, truly :)

Taking pics all the time down here, so they are getting great at posing!

Pool at our condo

Condo roof top overlooking Playa Tamarindo

Bob and Debbie took a day trip to Arenal Hot Springs...JEALOUS!

Enjoying the music of Mexico....in Costa :)

Weekly trip to the Mandarina juice bar.

It's a bird, it's a plane...no wait, it's Bob actually caught on camera smiling!

I think it was the goodness of a tropical Mandarina smoothie that induced this spontaneous smile:)

Happy Grandparents

Debbie took the kids on a treasure hunt!

Just after Tom got set apart, excited member in the middle :)

Waterfall

Brooklyn was sad because the water was too cold :(

Debbie jumped off the dock into freezing Lake Tahoe last summer...no such luck today.

50 different shades of green

Happily wrapped up in a towel

Go Bob!

"This is ffffffrrrrreeeeezzzzzzing!"

Soooooo CUTE!

Hiking to the Waterfall...an adventure in itself!

Debbie enjoying the luxury of our KIA :)

Playa Avellanas, good surf session and great sunset!

This is how they do swings

On our way out on the town!

Playa Tamarindo - right in front of our condo

Soaking up the shade!

The anticipation was more than Brody and Brooklyn could bare, they awaited the arrival of Grandma and Grandpa Burton as though it was Christmas and Santa was on his way! Funny thing is, the next morning when the kids woke up they thought Santa had come. There were so many gifts for the kids from Bob and Debbie and Carol and Dave, we couldn't resist pulling out the palm tree and surrounding it with all the lovely surprises. :) Special thanks to Shauna for picking me up the cutest gym shorts ever, and Chandra for sending down the book and skirt, mom for making multiple stops to get my long list, and Bob and Debbie for carting it all down here!

We wanted to show Bob and Deb a good time, so we took them to a waterfall, to yummy resteraunts, to the gym, to church on Sunday where Tom got called, sustained, and set apart as the new Branch President...to the beach, shopping....

It was a total surprise when they extended him the call, but a tender mercy that Bob and Debbie were in town. Bob is currently serving at the end of his 5th year as Bishop of his ward in Bountiful, and so he was a really great support for Tom while the shock settled in.

The fun didn't stop there. The same day Tom received the call, we arrived home from church looking forward to a Sunday nap. When I entered I was greeted by a mini flood in the condo. Immediately I was fearful that I was reliving the St. George incident, (when Brody washed his hands in the master bath tap and left it running, consequently th e entire bathroom and room below were flooded.) To my great relief a pipe under the master bathtub had broken and the entire tub and separated from the base and was floating on a great deal of water. It sounds bad, I know, but it is so much better than footing a $$$ bill for a little hand wash. It looked like an earthquake had occurred in their... Bob was visiting, but even his bathroom breaks weren't capable of this kind of destruction. A few hours later the mess was cleaned up,a and two days later we could use the tub again. It was no big deal, but it did put a little damper on the day. ( I couldn't resist :))

Bob made his daily run to Langosta Beach for an illegal dip in the Barcelo Pool. (I'm going to have to ask my Branch President about swimming in hotel pools when not a guest...Tom?)

Debbie made us yummy banana bread, and took the kids on a treasure hunt. Now they are making regular requests for a treasure hunt, which is just code for "shopping."

I asked Brody and Brooklyn what their favorite part of having Grandma and Grandpa here was and they said, "The Monkey Park, swimming, and Mandarina (for smoothies)." I am trying to keep up with their smoothie appetite by making them at home, but there is something special about the blue chairs, tropical presentation, and the vita-mix, that make Mandarina the preference by a long shot. I would like a Vita-mix for my birthday. Perhaps with the new blender, a few pineapple stems, clear cups, and a straw, I can save some serious $$$.

Brody and Brooklyn had a lovely time swimming, reading, and having treats with their grandparents. Good food, good friends, good times! Their company and generosity made the week one we will remember forever! We were sad when they left, but we are looking forward to another visit after Christmas. Next up on the 'Pura Vida Life'....Ryan Baughman, come on down!

A SPECIAL PART OF THIS ADVENTURE....

Yoga On The Beach

I have had the opportunity to try many new things since arriving in Costa Rica. Surfing, Spanish, homemade tortillas, gallo pinto, arroz con pollo....and teaching Yoga. It has been so fun and challenging and I have enjoyed every minute. I teach Ashtanga Yoga, and had the opportunity to take some classes at the Nosara Yoga Institute on one of our weekend trips. I am hoping to go there for a teacher training next year. For now, I am enjoying the many physical and mental benefits of a regular yoga practice.

And The First Contestant on 'Pura Vida Life' is....Owen Dellinger!

Pirates Cove

Playa Langosta - The sky looks ominous, but we actually had sun all day :)

Owen Sipping on a coconut!

Look at these boys' tan lines, and this was the beginning of his trip!

Owen was our first visitor from the U.S! We had a great time...beach, gym, BBQ, repeat! I had so much fun with my big brother. It is rare that I get to have him to myself, and I really enjoyed it. He is always brining lots of laughter, good food, and good discussions. He also helped me get my Pura Vida Personal Training going. We went and did some Yoga on the beach and he got some pretty cool pics. Thanks Owees, we all hope to see you soon!

Next up...Bob and Debbie, come on down, you are the next contests on...Pura Vida Life!

It's Been So Long...So Very Long! (if you know what movie that is from, you are probably Cindi :))

I haven't posted a blog for a very long time, but a very lot has happened! Get ready for one very long paragraph!

Mid August I returned home to Utah to teach a cheer camp, and move High Altitude Kid's facility to a new location. The trip to the airport could be an entry all in itself, but to paraphrase...

• pretty sunset

• accident on a single lane road makes for a very long drive
• dinosaur park rest stop results in a very fearful Brooklyn

• hilarious hotel with cold shower produces an angry mommy moment

• safe departure and flight home

The business trip to Utah included...

• Work, work, work, more work, did I say work, and then I did some work, and then there was work to be done....you get the picture.
• Brooklyn getting to see friends and family. She was reassured that everyone was still there as we left them. I think she had been experiencing some anxiety that they were all gone forever. :(

• Cafe Rio
• I had the chance to see my little sister Cindi and her new baby Rowen, who is an adorable miniature Jordan. (not that Jordan isn't adorable:)) We didn't have much time to go out, but just spending some time together was very nice.

• My Uncle Leon and Aunty Liz were visiting from South Africa. We got to hang out, eat yummy South African treats, catch up on all the family back home, and look at wedding pictures. I felt blessed to have a chance to reconnect with my South African roots!
• I went to the Balloon Festival in Eden with my family and Liz and Leon. The world's largest hot air balloon was set in motion in the form of the energizer bunny.

• Carl's Jr.
• Did Sunday dinner and a little last minute shopping with Lindsay and Debbie. We made it to my favorite ice cream stop in Bountiful, and I got to hear in person the exciting announcement that Lindsay is expecting! Congratulations :)

At Grandma Debbie's

At the end of my trip I left a tearful sister and business partner, once again, but this time not because she was going to miss me, because there was so much work ahead. As it turns out, there is much more work than we could have ever imagined when Tom and I planned this adventure...hang in there girl, your amazing, I love you!!!

• I made the trip with Brooklyn and Elliot, a full day of traveling, both ways, and not one temper trantrum or melt down! The way home was a red eye, with a 3 hour layover in Denver. Everything was closed, so we just rode the train back and forth between terminals. Brooklyn said it felt like the Tower of Terror ride in Disneyland. We were glad to have something to pass the time. Elliot and Brooklyn slept the entire last leg of the flight, but sleep evaded me. At one point, I found myself trying to get comfortable on the FLOOR! I must have been really desperate.

• I finally arrived home to my gorgeous, and even thinner, husband whom I missed very much. Of course he and Brody had two weeks of male bonding, but he reassured me I too was missed. The two of them really took advantage of their time together. They went to a movie in Liberia, where Brody was completely indulged and ate treats until he actually vomited. We usually only save that kind of a binge for Christmas, Easter, and Halloween, but I think being on vacation from mommy is equal to one of those holidays, as far as eating habits go. They spent a few days at the beach, Brody graduated from Kindergarted (again), and they went to a volcano and hot springs. Sounds pretty rough! It was the longest Tom and I have ever been apart, and we have no plans to be separated from one another for that long ever again! I was also greeted at the airport by my brother Owen, which brings me to my next point....Our first visitor!

This Week In the Life of the Burtons

School, the beach, surfing, dinner parties, exercise....TRANTULAS!!!!!!!

Property that was developed for building, but now stands vacant as protected area. BEAUTIFUL spot right on the beach of Playa Grande.

Brooklyn and Brandon dancing at William's birthday dinner. Notice Brooklyn's sweaty face :)

BBQ pork for an army, that's how they do it here, tons of meat.

This Tarantula walked right out onto the dance floor for a Salsa lesson. He's lucky Elle wasn't crawling near him, or I would have made him Tarantula Salsa!

Biggest Spider I have ever seen out of a tank! This particular one doesn't bite, but his pee is poisonous. On your skin, it will only burn, but if it lands in an open wound....get yourself to the hospital!

Enjoying a Sunday Mango :)