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 :)

Friends for Dinner

Our Little Church Building

Our Friends - William and Kenya

We are enjoying making friends here in Costa Rica. We invited William and Kenya over for dinner on Sunday, and they graciously accepted our invitation. We had a lovely time. Most conversation was in Spanish, but Kenya speaks English fluently and so we were also able to enjoy conversation. They love to work out, and so Kenya had lots of questions about form and what exercises were best for her. Tom went and worked out with them this morning, so soon he will be as buff as William :)

I am studying very hard, every day. I make more progress with my Spanish on Sundays than any other day. Yo estudio para dos horas todos los dias. Yo aprendo mucho! Yo necesito practicar mas. Manana! Hasta Luego mi amigos y amigas :)

First Day of School - EDUCARTE

Uniforms - they tried to make them uni-sex, but ????

Brooklyn's class combined with another class for 30 min. of English Lessons

Educarte Campus

First Day of School! Uniforms, a swimming pool, an outdoor lunchroom, and Spanish are just a few of the many things my children will experience at Educarte, a primary private school here in Costa Rica. Although Brody’s shorts are something from the Stockton to Malone early days, we are glad to be saving time on laundry. Hopefully his legs will get a little, much needed, sunshine. Children from all over the world, attend here. Italy, Argentina, Germany, U.S., Costa Rica, Venezuela, and France, are just a few of the many countries represented. Classes are taught in half Spanish and half English, and most children can understand Spanish entirely within 3 months of attending. I am so excited for Brody and Brooklyn, and secretly wish I could sit in on all of their classes! Swimming lessons are part of the curriculum and take place every Monday. SWEET! Supplies are a little scant, nothing like what we have access to here in the states. My mom would be delighted with all the wall space and empty shelves! When Bob and Debbie come to visit, we will be needing them to bring a suitcase full of supplies for the new first grade teacher…. When we came down here for Tom to work on his Master’s Degree, we were counting on a lot of volunteer experience, and just praying he could find a job. Well, Educarte is not only the new home for our children, but it is also Tom’s new place of employment!!! They have hired him to teach 1st grade English. :) Last night, when he was preparing for his lesson, we were doing a run through on the corn starch experiment. (If you have never done it you are in for quite a treat! Just put 2 cups corn starch with 1 cup water, mix and play! It is a really neat experiment.) He was a joyful kid, and I knew that my oldschool hubby was back, just like our college days. Days filled with learning and fun, and hard work, (if you were around for the UPS era you know what I mean,) when he was most happy and energetic and made a room light up. From experience some of us may question Tom's abillity to teach - Lindsay with snowboarding, and me with Spanish - rest assured his impatience is limited to the two of us. :) He was born to teach, and his enthusiasm has a real effect on people. One of the owners and director of the school said to me, “I knew I wanted him to work here right when I met him!” I am so happy that he gets the opportunity to do what makes him happy. We are truly blessed. As for me, 7:30 am to 2:00 pm with an empty house? I have Elle all to myself, and although she might miss the noisy mornings, I am really looking forward to having quiet time to focus on our business back at home. There is a lot to do, and this will be the first time EVER that I will have silence when I sit down at the computer or take a business phone call. Hooray! Not to mention, I’m sure I will make it out to the pool for a little R & R :) I also got a job at the gym, teaching spinning and beginning Yoga. One of the teachers is leaving October 1st, and my timing could not have been better. I will start when she leaves. Instructors make $10/hour, which is still more than my hubby makes, so I will have to get some P.T. clients to make ends really meet. We are all praying for a successful fall at HAF.

Overall, I know that God is directing our path here, just as He did at home. I see His hand in all things, and I hope that we can repay our debt by serving others. There is a lot of opportunity down here, and I hope we can make some sort of a positive difference. Thanks for all the support back home, we miss you and we couldn’t have done it without you! Happy 24th y'all!

Seven Things I Hate About You

Catarata (Waterfall)

This is the first of many waterfalls we plan to visit in Costa Rica. If you are planning to visit us, you will definately enjoy the experience of swimming under this waterfall. It is beautiful, free, close, has an easy approach, and has an awesome sandy beach...you could spend the whole day here! We can't wait to share it with all of you :)

PLAYA GRANDE

Playa Grande, is the beach directly to the North of Tamarindo. It has a bigger wave than Tamarindo, so naturally Tom had to get on it. It was a wonderful beach for the kids to play on. They ran up and down the beach collecting sea shells, and only stopped to eat muffins and apples. Elle takes naps quite nicely on the beach with the soothing sounds of the ocean. Tom and I both thought we got stung by Jelly Fish, but they were actually tiny bites of the Sea Lice. Invisible little buggers that bite you, it burns like the dickens, but fades quickly. A small sacrifice to enjoy the natural beauties of this Country!

LOOKING DOWN THE BEACH TO THE SOUTH

LOOKING DOWN THE BEACH TO THE NORTH

BROOKLYN ENJOYING THE SHALLOW WATER

BEGGING FOR MORE FOOD, HE ACTUALLY EATS HERE!

ELLE TAKING A NAP UNDER OUR UMBRELLA...ELLA, ELLA, ELLA, AY, AY. UNER MY UMBRELLA, ELLA, ELLA, ELLA, AY :)