WHAT???

2 feet of snow in one day?  Are you kidding me?  We were so sure spring was here.  We woke up to a sea, no, an ocean of white.  Where we once actually saw a tuft of grass and actual dirt on the driveway; there was no trace of a road to speak of.  We couldn't even tell where the sidewalk or the road - was!

I am telling you, I really could live in the tropics.  Yeah, I know, people here say, "Oh, you'd miss the snow and the four seasons."  Yeah, well, just try me.  I swear it would take years - YEARS - for me to actually miss snow and cold and wind and ice and shoveling and getting stuck and frost bit and wearing 8 pounds of clothes just to keep warm.  I'm done I tell you - DONE!

That one way ticket to Costa Rica idea is looking better and better . . .
And yes - I am totally serious.
Like I said -just try me!  :)

Athletes and Mathletes . . .

How do you juggle 8 basketball games in 2 weeks, daily swimming practices, a math competition, four days of dance, school, work and sanity?  Well, mostly, you don't.  The sanity part, that is.  But, it's the middle of February, so we are seeing a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.  It's a very faint light, but it's there.  It is.  I know it.  

Kudos to Noah for making 2 three point shots, 1 two point shot and playing really well in one of the games last week.  He's been doing well this season.  However, the last couple games, the entire team has struggled.  We have four games left, so they are hoping to redeem themselves and save their winning record.  Go Knights! 

High Five's to Ez for getting 6th overall in the regional Mathcounts competition and qualifying for the state meet.  Yeah!!  He was up against 4 kids from the same team who's parents all happen to be Math professors at South Dakota State University.  One of which went to Nationals last year - all of which are 8th graders and they have no social life because they spend all their waking hours doing math problems (the coach says) Not that we're bitter or anything . . .

Big news:  IT'S MELTING!!!   Praise God!  The temps have been above freezing now for 5 days IN A ROW!!  It's like winter has become the Wicked Witch of the West and we are glad to see her go. (hated that movie, but the the analogy was fitting) Now mind you, there is still a good couple of feet of snow yet to melt, but the roads are clear and dry and we can actually see the bricks of our sidewalk and patio!!!  And there is blue sky!  And sun!  HURRAY!   Hey - let us get excited.  It's a big thing for us up here.  Even though we all know it's the annual January thaw that just happens to be in February and we know it won't last - but we're taking it.  Yeah, the forecast is for snow this weekend - so come on - let us relish in our little bubble while it lasts . . . 

Also big news - I have finally made corn tortillas and they are edible.  We will not talk about the many times I tried and failed to make them in the past.  But this time - I learned from an expert.  While in Costa Rica, this beautiful lady made corn tortillas every morning and I watched her very carefully.  There is a secret to it and I finally figured it out.  It's water. Yeah, I know!   Keeping it moist and keeping your fingers moist while you shape them on wax paper made all the difference.  A few veggies, some rice and beans topped with a huge dollop of guac  -  Sheer happiness on a plate.  I'm hungry.  See ya!     

The sand was black . . .

Oh.  My.  Goodness.   Gary and I just spent a week in the beautiful country of Costa Rica.  I know - Costa Rica's not exactly your typical paradise vacation destination like Cancun or Jamaica, but it was everything I thought a tropic holiday would be like, and so very much more.  Why Costa Rica?  Well, partly because this was a really great tour I have wanted to go on for some time and partly because it was all inclusive - meaning no added fees.  Everything was a one lump payment, room, food, excursions, bus rides - everything.  And it was in the tropics - hot - sunny and safe.  So- what better way to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary?  None.  It couldn't have been much better.  It was fabulous.  Stupendous.  A dream come true.  Everything about it - the sun, the sand, the temperature, the food, the people, the exchange rate . . .  Perfect.  Think I'm going a little bit overboard here?  Yeah, well, maybe I should get out more . . .

You get off the plane, in your cold weather clothes to this whoosh of hot tropic air.  Fantastic!  For me, this trip was the ultimate test of fearful survival.  I faced nearly every fear I have been harboring in my life.  The plane ride, zip line, snorkeling, the dead snake on the bus,  the scorpion in one of the guest rooms, and the ocean current - just to name a few.  I can not say I conquered any of them, but I did work through them without dying, fainting or throwing up.  Pretty big accomplishment in my book.

 The zip line was in the jungle, above the trees, 85 plus feet in the air.  To say I was scared would be a most severe understatement.  To my shame, I got stuck half way through the first section and had to be 'rescued' by a local.  The rest of the lines I rode tandem, because I was nearly hyperventilating.  And you know the cartoons with the knees knocking - mine really were.  If I couldn't see the ground, the ride was a blast.  I love the speed and the scenery, but when the trees broke away and I could see the river or dirt path below, I started to loose it all over again.  But - the last line I went by myself (really, I did) and actually liked it.  So there.  Would I do it again?  Um, maybe.  And that's a really big maybe.

The other highlight was the snorkeling.  Gary and I had never been, and that was utterly remarkable.  Indescribable.  The colors of the fish seemed like they would glow in the dark.  Vivid blues and yellows, and the variety.  Amazing.  Gary saw 2 octopus, and we saw many strange ocean creatures we had no idea what they were.  On the beach we saw hundreds of little baby hermit crabs.  So cute.  We also saw lots of monkeys,(spider, howler and white-faced) lizards, (including the really big male that sat on the steps to our room and wouldn't let us pass) really colorful birds, (cool way to wake up) and so much more.   To see God's creation up close, was so wonderful.  We were in awe.  I would go back in a heart beat.  You need to check out my daughter's photo blog to see the pics.  http://yakarphotography.blogspot.com/

For Gary and I, it was literally the first time we had ever been away from the children for a vacation.  When India and Noah were wee tots, we went overnight twice, a few hours away, but that has been it.  So, this was a tad bit out of my comfort zone.  But, I was surprisingly okay.  Really.  Ask Gary.  I was a bit stressed the first day, but island fever must have taken over and I was pretty relaxed for the rest of the week. Thank God for Skype!  Knowing that the kids were ok - even through three blizzards, hazardous driving conditions and 50 degree below zero temps - well, talking with them each night helped a lot.  They had fun, we had a spectacular time so all was grand.  Next time, and yes, there will be a next time, we'll take them with.  They would love it.  We did - for sure.

So we had a 130 degree temperature swing from there to here one day, and I for one, didn't want to leave.  I would have much rather had the kids sell everything, hop on a plane and we could just live out our days in the sun.  Yeah, I know - reality has a way of getting in the way of ideas like that.  But hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

So, now that we are back, (and we are glad to be back with the kids) we are trying to adjust.  And it's tough!  So, I am already plotting on a return trip.  And it must be soon.  Before it fades from my aging memory.
Besides, we have to let India meet her future husband that we found for her down there . . .  :)

Pura Vida!!!