Feb 2009- Highlights

We attended Lincoln school Community Day, a charitable event to raise money for school projects and scholarships for students to attend Lincoln. There were carnival rides, sports activities, talent show and an art fair which each student participated in. It was great fun and a beautiful day to spend outdoors!

Above, Tatum and best pal Elena

McKenna, Marie Paula and Valeria before getting on a ride.

McKenna and Stacey take a spin.

Isabel, Elena and Tatum, all 1st grade classmates enjoying a spin.

Mary Beth, Taty and McKenna....champions of the tug of war as the girls beat the boys!

getting ready for tug of war, the kids vs the teachers......of course the kids won!

Valeria and Taty

We attended a Saprissa Soccer match with our friends Carolina, Alberto, Marie Paula and Valeria. It was a chilly night, we all enjoyed the fun company and the guys watched the game :)

Carolina adores Gabi, the feeling is mutual!

1st time Brad's worn a jacket in CR!

Alberto and Marie Paula

Valeria, McKenna and Marie Paula

The girls went home from school one friday with friends, Ava and Talia, for a sleepover. The next day we met up with them at a local art festival in nearby town Barva. The festival was showcasing sculptors and their sculptures along with a Spanish restaurant cooking paella over an open firepit in the town center. Our friend Max, Talia and Ava's dad, was part of the paella cooking crew for the day so it was fun to taste his creation which was wonderful!
Art festival in Barva...here's a sculpted family bench

artist at work

Barva art festival bust sculpture

Barva artist gallery

Barva church

Great live music

Beginning step of simmering the spices for the paella over a roasting firepit. It was so fun to watch the paella progress step by step!

steaming stage with leaves covering the surface.

Starting to serve up the paella

Ava, Tatum, Talia and McKenna enjoying paella at the Art Festival!

Max and Darlene- Max is from Spain, he's the paella cook

After an afternoon of viewing sculptures, Gabi crashes.

Brad holding our new Costa Rica license plates....finally we're retiring the California plates, actually they've found a spot in the living room.

Tatum with her Lincoln hat that she designed before heading off to school for the school parade.....hoping she can keep her tall hat on! The girls' school is named after President Lincoln so there were many celebrations for President's Day here...more so than in the States!

Tatum and next door neighbor Valleria are best buddies and enjoy being in the same class. Valeria's Lincoln hat has flare indeed!

Tatum, Sueji, and Isabel sporting their Lincoln hats in class.

Sisterly play time- Taum and Gabi :)

Lisa attending a "fun & reflection" activity in McKenna's 4th Grade class- McKenna is a very bright, expressive, energetic young girl!