Costa Rica!

Earlier this year and old neighbor and friend of Jon's was so very kind as to bestow on this small family free tickets on Continental airlines. So the day after Christmas we packed up our shorts and swimsuits, threw the christmas tree out the back door, and headed to the airport. We only had four full days down in Costa Rica, but they were full of fun, hearty laughs, and many animal spottings. We failed to bring our camera on our little river rafting expedition, so we don't have proof of our sightings, but we think it was pretty cool to see a small colony of bats sleeping on the rock wall, to eat a snack below a troup of howler monkeys, and to spot gigantic iguanas and lizards sunning on the banks. Not as excited about the caimon (alligator cousin) that was as large as me, but it looked lazy in the afternoon heat, so I didn't totally freak out. We also got up our courage for a full day of adventure that included horseback rides, mud spa treatments, hot springs (not so relaxing if while sitting in them a monkey poops on your head- right Eli?) and then the dreaded zip line(s). There were too many of them, I think. Both the boys started out doing them on their own, but when on the third zip Theo's finishing move was to crash into the tree, he got 'taxied' for the rest of the ride. Eli also chose a taxi (you get hooked on to a guide) for the long rides, but finished out the last few lines under his own power. They were both much more fearless than me. It was a treat to watch them.