Life on the Beach

We are loving life here on Samara Beach! There are times when I go crazy because of all the mosquitoes, but that's really the only downside. We love the weather, the water, the beautiful jungly mountainsides, the people, and most of all the relaxed and happy lifestyle. "Pura Vida" is a phrase people say here meaning "pure life". 

We spend our time playing on the beach, relaxing on the porch, going on walks around town, and hanging out with our lovely new friends! We met Cassie and Angelo through an acquaintance and they found us the house we are renting, helped us know what to bring down here, and have welcomed us into their circle of friends. We are so glad to have some friends already because usually that's the hardest part of moving! We've gotten to know a few couples, some from the US, some from other countries (Sweden and Italy). They all have young kids and the husbands all are computer software guys like Sean! So we feel like we've been able to settle right in and feel at home.  

We decided a couple days ago to try out a school for the boys called Mareas International Homeschool, and they have been really enjoying it. We'll try it out for a couple weeks and then send them to the other private school here and see which one we like more. It's like a whole new world for me to have them gone at school all day till 3! I have so much time now with just baby Elora, and it's been so great to be less busy with kids during the day! The boys learn spanish, they play a lot and learn all kinds of cool things. I get to go to Yoga and Pilates, walk along the beach, relax, run errands, and hang out with Sean. I think it has helped me and the boys to enjoy our time we do have together even more! I miss them when they're gone and they miss me, so when I get them from school, we just focus on having fun together and enjoying our time together. When I pick them up from school, we go play in the ocean and sing songs and laugh. I love it! Usually I'm so tired in the afternoons and I get impatient with them. It's nice to feel like I have some personal time in the morning, and then I can focus more positive attention on the boys in the afternoon.

We pretty much spend the day in our swimming suits. It's really hot and humid, plus we are always getting sandy and wet so even if we do get dressed, we just have to change our clothes soon after. I'm wishing we'd brought less clothes and more swim suits! Elora's usual outfit is just a diaper :) 

Look at all those chunky parts for squeezing! Babys are just so squishy, I love it!

 We spent a day at Carillo Beach just to the east of Samara beach with a bunch of friends.

 Anna is from Sweden and Cassie is from the US. We had such a fun time hanging out!

 Sean speaking Nerd Talk with the guys

 This is the main room of our house. It's not a very good picture with all that artificial light, but you can see the beach right from our front window! So pretty!

 Elora hanging out at the German Bakery we found. We are going back there tonight for an evening of German food and song! There are people from all over the world here: Germany, France, Canada, etc, so its a very lively and charming town.

 Peter in his new school class. They learned about the solar system and how people have different jobs. It's so fun to hear the boys talk about what they learned at school.

 Sean and Peter walking around in the jungle. They discovered a really yummy restaurant that serves delicious Ceviche (fish dish) and Casado (beans, rice, meat, salad, and plantain dish), and also a smoothie shop! We also found a bakery/ice cream store next to the boys school, so we frequent those places!

 Huge iguanas live all over the place here. We have one that sticks his head out of the peak of our roof in the mornings, and there are a few that run around in our yard. Our landlord told us to throw our organic scraps into the yard at night and the iguanas will "do a good job taking care of them", so no wonder they get so big!

 Our beach. Isn't it lovely? You know you want to come visit us!

 Jackson and Peter could play in the water ALL day. I always have to think of a really compelling reason why we have to go back to the house to get them out of the ocean. It's incredible how versatile playing in sand and water can be when you have two little boys with big imaginations! They always have some game going on that they invented...Sound like Sean?

 Our house is the one in the middle through the trees.

 Sean took me to lunch yesterday at this little restaurant in the trees. I like how they hang bundles of fruits and vegetables from the rafters to store them. It's a very beautiful and useful decorating method!

 Our smiley girl! She has two little teeth on the bottom and loves to chew on EVERYTHING (even sand). She'll be 10 months old in a week! I can't believe it. She is so content, patient, beautiful and sunshiney. We love her!

 This is the view from our front porch! In the back yard we get howler monkeys in the back yard, big red squirrels in the front yard (eating the coconuts), and iguanas all over the place outside. Inside the house we get geckos, big red ants, moths, centipedes, crazy looking spider thingys with claws, and worst of all mosquitoes. We've only been here for a week and we've already used up two bottles of bug spray.

 This is our fabulous porch complete with rocking chairs, bug spray, and an ocean view. What more do you need for a happy life?

There are often people riding horses up and down the shore.

We miss our families and friends back home! Hope everyone is doing well. Pura Vida!