Elsie doesn’t just say water, she says “WAAAAAAA waa” and Costa rica was filled with it …
the beach
the over protective mother …
Dad explaining tides
of course the pool (dad, coaxing her in)
But her favorite Waaaa Waaa was the warm pool
with the jets on, oooo
Sweet innocent little Elsie meet Nicholas (Bam Bam) Johnston.
Finally Elsie and Nicholas are at an age where they actually play together (yes mom, I know its only parallel play, but it seems as if they are interacting to me) and we were pretty excited about the vacation. I find it exciting and terrifying to be with Scott – he is aggressively fearless with nicholas, which leads to mark following in his footsteps with elsie. I prepared for the trip by starting some anti-anxiety meds so I could give Elsie a calm collected front.
When we met in the airport and houston Nicholas instantly said Baby Elsie and she was immediately under his spell. Nicholas would run and Elsie would follow, Nicholas would stop to let her almost catch up and then off again … here are some great shots of the kids in Costa Rica …
At the beach collecting shells, finding crabs and watching the waves
Scott takes niko out to body surf, mark follows with elsie
We all watched Scott as he did some surfing …
Nicholas did some surfing in the pool …
Elsie had more success outside the pool, next step water!
Up and Down in the fountain (notice nicholas smiling and elsie’s shocked look)
Pool time: Nicholas floated a bit in the mini-raft
Elsie decided she wanted to do it too … (hard work)
maybe outside the pool…
ok finally a try in the water
In and out of the bath …
enjoying a jacuzzi bath
Pretending to be sleepy
During the trip nicholas showed elsie how much fun it is to throw things – elsie quickly picked it up. Here they are scheming about what they could throw off the balcony…
When we caught on they fake a cuddle (already smarting us out!)
What a duo!
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Note: you might notice how well matched the chillin’s are in many of these photos … that is no accident. 
We have been having great weather in Costa Rica … we expected some showers and some weather from the hurricane’s but we seemed to have come in at the right time. Our house is on a fantastic (secluded) beach so the first morning we woke up and decided to take a walk down before breakfast.
Here is Elsie walking in the water for her first time …
She was a bit hesitant, but Niko wasn’t
Both kids were extremely impressed with the stamina of the waves … we hear over and over “WOW, here comes another one, here come another one”
Elsie got some courage up to venture into the water herself …
Eventually all of the clothes were wet and Niko did what any smart kid would do, strip down and streak the beach …
After breakfast we spent the rest of the day napping, and playing in the pool. The sound of waves, airconditioning and pool exhaustion make for some loooong naps.
We have a couple of new Costa Rican pals…
We had a great night in San Jose and enjoyed the breakfast at the Hampton Inn before heading to the airport.
We arrived at 12:00 for a 1:30 flight – they told us we couldn’t check in until 1:00 (we were in a tiny cessna to Tambur) and there was talk of a weather delay (outside it was pouring rain). Elsie and Niko pulled out their toys and made the best of it …
First we played with Niko’s bugs …
We chatted with the desk agents …
Niko ran in circles and Elsie tried to catch him…
Niko took a cat nap…
then Scott invented the most fun game ever … try to get past the security ropes.
After much yelling and running we pulled out Finding Neee-mo. This was elsie’s first time to see it and she was in awe (Niko just wished she would be quiet)
There was finally a break in the weather and we jumped on the plane, Elsie took the window seat on dad’s lap so she could get a great view…
We arrived to the airport and were greeted by Hansel our tour guide/house manager. He loaded up the luggage and we headed to the houseo. We ut did ourselves this year … this place is amazing.
Elsie was so tired she headed right for a nap, but Mark jumped into the pool …
the house is amazing (love the bed complete with towel sculpture!)
So we made it to Casa Pacifico … now we are ready to relax.
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P.S. I am actually only on a dial-up modem, so my post schedule and photos may be a bit delayed. We also found out that our Mac Laptops don’t even have a modem, so I am stuck using the house PC which makes uploading photos extremely slow and painful …
Well we are off for our annual tropical anniversary vacation with the Johnstons! This year we headed to Costa Rica for a week in Tambor. We often use Luxury Link to search our locations we want to travel to and this year we tried out the luxury link auction – success! (you know mark, just like Ebay he watches the auction and bids at the last possible time!).
We will be enjoying Casa Pacifico in Tango Mar for the week!
Yesterday we headed out to the airport with what we considered to be a light load (we would soon find out that scott and julie packed everything into just one suitcase making us again look like overpackers!). We flew to Houston Texas where we met with great excitement Niko (cuco), Julie (JuJu) and Scott (cott). Niko immediately gave us hugs and kisses and shared his bugs with “baby elsie”.
We all boarded the flight to San Jose (funny johnstons were able to fly from San Jose, CA to San Jose, CR!) sitting next to each other. (Good Job Mark and Julie!). The flight was great – we had a nap, some snacks, videos, dad had a margarita, mom had some wine – by the way Continental was amazing, we had snacks and dinner provided on the flights!. Just as we started our descent, we got some news that there was fog in San Jose, we would hold for a bit and if it didn’t clear we would need to divert to Nicaragua for more fuel. A few minutes later the pilot said it looked clear and we went in for a landing … just as I could see the blue lights on the run way … acceleration and we aborted the landing. Back up to the holding pattern. Twenty minutes later we tried again and as we came through the thick fog, the pilot went for it … the ground seemed to come a bit earlier than he expected and he slammed on the breaks (I squeezed Elsie, stomach in my throat and mark reached over to me and said breath!) – the plane broke into applause!! We were here!
We entered the terminal to find a maze of people standing in line for immigration – with two tired and somewhat irritable kids, the line seemed daunting. This was the disneyland line from hell … Niko kept saying “all the people, all the people”. After about 15 minutes in line a Costa Rican man came up to us and escorted us to another area. Once we gathered with a few other people, he escorted us to the front of immigration (past the loooong maze) to the special needs line – along the way he grabbed any families with small children. First Experience in Costa Rica SUCCESS! In the end it benefited all – as both kids were on the brink of meltdowns.
We had a van waiting to shuttle us to the Hampton Inn where Julie had secured us rooms with cribs. We were off to bed! This morning we take a small plane over to Tambor where we can settle in for the week (and you will be overloaded with Costa Rica photos!
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Interesting notes: We are in the Mountain Time zone and like clockwork Elsie slept until 7:00 am, we woke up turned on the TV and it has our Denver News Channel. I am writing this while elsie takes her re-rack (morning nap).
My parents came down for Easter and we all headed up to Beaver Creek for a long ski weekend. The Grammie and Grampa were very happy to have both of their bunnies together (Elsie did not care for the rabbit ears, saffie on the other hand was quite pleased to be a bunny!)
Elsie prefers the role of jockey – Go grammie, go!
Our first ski day was at beaver creek where Mark had us skiing moguls till our legs gave out …
We met up with Josh, Amy, Saffie and Elsie for Apres Ski at the Park Hyatt – Elsie brought her pink uggs but decided to switch shoes with grammie for a bit
For the second ski day we headed to Vail with Josh! It was a perfect spring skiing day – sadly we forgot that mountain sun and reflective snow = sun burn! We all paid the price the next day. Tuesday we headed back to vail for a quick lunch/tour before we had to get back to the real world …
I am sad to see the ski season go, if anyone wants to buy me a mountain house – please send me a note!
Tonight we are off to Vegas to celebrate many things … the launch of Google Sites, Julie being cancer free for 2 years and my 30th birthday (actually I am re-turning 30 this year since I was preggers last year and pretty lame). Joining us on the trip Scott, Julie, Drew, Vivian, Josh, Amy, Heidi and Jason.
This is a adults only trip so we are leaving the chillin’s behind … we are flying grammie and grampa down to watch Elsie and Saffron and Pat Johnston is coming down to watch Niko. I am a nervous wreck – why? Because I am me – a nervous wreck about anything!
Even though it is clear that my parents have successfully (well at least with me) raised 2 children I still felt necessary to over arm them with information about Elsie.
I created the Elsie User Guide …
the user guide is complete with 8 pages of information including special “Mom says” notes. In the guide you will find information on
Cheers to Grammie and Grampa who will be caring for my prized possession while we are out on our first adults only vegas extravaganza! I am sure they will do great!
Well the week is ending (so sad) so we spent our last day lounging around on the beach, swimming, more surfing for the boys and then a delicious lobster dinner flown in from Maine. Yum
Here is a photo run down of the day …
First a photo shoot for Niko (Surfer) and Elsie (Flutterbug)
Then we headed to the beach, swimming for Niko, Scott, Julie, Mark and Me …
while the little bean slept in the shade
Scott killed a coconut
Niko played in his own plunge pool
Once awake we tried more beach for elsie, she’s not that in love with the water
We wanted to wash Elsie off so we headed to the outdoor shower
not a big fan of water in the face
some cuddles will do the trick
Scott attempted to surf off of our beach (it was scary) – the break was crap, and he had to swim 14 miles off shore – there are definitely sharks out there!
The boys packed it up and headed up to hanalei to surf
the girls stayed back with the miniatures for nap time (next year Jul and I will have an activity that we do while the boys stay back for nap time – spa’ing perhaps?). Elsie practiced her hula girl look with a flower behind the ear.
When the surfers returned Mark cooked up some yummy mussels
Scott cooked up the lobsta
And we had a huge feast
We headed to bed. We woke up at 4:00 to see if Josh and Amy had delivered their baby – and yes, hooray Miss Saffron Richau was born 8lbs 1oz, with a dark head of hair. We can’t wait to meet her (photos when we get them!).
We had a final breakfast and packed up – Mark and I don’t leave until a red eye tonight so we are off to do a bit of shopping. Scott, Jul and Niko are off to the mainland.
We have had an amazing time and can’t wait for next year – Greece perhaps! Here is a final shot of team vacation before we headed home.
On Wednesday morning the boys headed out for a marathon surf morning … Jul and I held down the fort with the babies. We played, had some naps, and were preparing to take the kids to the beach. The sun was beautiful – by the time I had all of the beach gear set up the boys walked in (Mark is battered and bruised and wishing he was a better swimmer). Jul and I passed the babies off and headed to the beach in time for a huge downpour! We cowered under the shade structure I had put up and waited it out … 7 minutes later we were having some sun time.
Mark brought Elsie down to finally get her whole body into the ocean .
here I am convincing her it will be fun
now starting the dip, not paying attention to the surf
a wave gets us both, we are not happy
now dad, tries, with us both watching the waves
hoping our laughter will make her enjoy the water … it doesn’t
she prefers the beach (dressed as the little mermaid)
chewing on dad’s hands
writing in the beach
We headed up for cocktail hour and got ready for our second night out, adults only
(note to CPS, she only had a little taste of beer)
Tonight we tried the south island (the beach house near poipu – or as scott says Poipoi). We went out near the beach for some sunset poses
and literally stuffed ourselves, but still *thought* we had room for dessert
It was a lovely night. More sun and beach tomorrow!
A coworker of mark’s suggested we visit the fern grotto in Kauai so tuesday was our day to take the tour. The boys spent the morning surfing at a new beach that was much more difficult than the first day – Jul and I spent the morning with the kids down at the beach. After lunch we dressed Niko and Elsie in their matching rompers and headed off to the river for the trip.
When we arrived they told us to buy some beverages because it was HOT at the Fern Grotto – uh oh, already Mark and Scott were skeptical and starting to sweat. We boarded the river boat and headed out …
here are the cute matching rompers
Niko relaxed with some snacks:
Elsie hung with mom and dad:
When we arrived at the Fern Grotto we had to walk about 200 yards back to a wooden platform that overlooked a large cave covered in Green ferns. It was not spectacular. It was just a fern covered cave and it was extremely hot. They asked how many had been to the grotto before, 50% of these people had been and decided to come back – why, I have no idea.
I snapped this photo, we turned around and headed back to the river boat.
I had the bean on my shoulders for the walk back, she has lots to learn from nicholas on how best to ride on shoulders (note to elsie – mom’s hair should not be used as reins or put in to your mouth!)
