It's Been A While...

For those of you that faithfully read this, I think this is the longest I've gone without posting anything. Please forgive my negligence.

The weekend school got out, Gera helped lead a short term missions trip to two different indigenous villages in Talamanca for what OM (Operation Mobilization) calls Festival de Sonrisas.

The day after he got back, we flew to the U.S. for the first time as a family for Christmas. It was great to see the family, catch up with friends, play in the snow, and experience the cold weather. However, we both breathed a huge sigh of relief when we walked out of the airport (without jackets) into the nice, sunny, humid, warm Costa Rican weather. It's 53 pics so grab something to drink and enjoy!

When we arrived home, we hit the ground with our feet running. Gera left for a business trip early the next morning which left me with the unpacking. The following Monday was the first day of school for me. Needless to say, it took a while and we still have suitcases (although empty) in the hallway.

Then we had three college students come and spend a week with us. They are from Northwestern in Iowa and were passing through on their way to Guatemala. Although we didn't get to spend as much time was we would have liked, it was fun to show them the different parts of Costa Rica.

Gera took them up Pico Blanco, one of the taller mountains in the valley.

They got a nice action shot of Katy.

The weekend they left, Gera left as well. He was the tour guide for two amiable fellows who wanted to see Costa Rica. And boy did they see it. Gera lived one of his dreams driving down the Pacific coast stopping at all the beaches along the way, starting at Playa Panama down to Manuel Antonio. They also drove through Arenal, Alajuela, Heredia and the suburbs of San Jose.

The following weekend , which was last weekend, some good friends of ours, Joel and Irene, got married. It was fun to share their special day with them and catch up with some old friends.

It was a short but beautiful ceremoy outdoors.

The two pretty girls.

It was so hot that day that we got Katy's new pool out, filled it and cooled off a bit.

Daddy was being brave and showing Katy that it was okay to get your face wet.

The following day, a Sunday, was election day in Costa Rica. The atmosphere is very festive. You can see the traffic jams caused by the more outspoken supporters flying their flags to show which party they support.

Of course, we also watched the Super Bowl. We went to a friend of ours house, but didn't get the camera out. I will say that Gera and Katy sported their Packer jerseys while I decided to wear the colors of the team I was rooting for...blue and white.

Life seems to have slowed down a little bit now. I have two more months of work before my maternity leave kicks in. When I think of all the planning, packing and organizing I have to do (both at work and here), I get a little overwhelmed. Gera is hitting the books hard as his final tests are coming up in a little over a month. Every night he's putting in at least 2 hours of studying.

I think that summarizes it all...for now.