Costa Rica: The beginnings of a hotel snob

Spoiled.  It happens quite easily.  I was never a hotel snob.  Give me the least expensive room in a good location that is clean and I'm satisfied.  But after spending four days at a Four Seasons, I can see how easy it is to become accustomed to traveling in that extra treat of luxury.  Aside from the gorgeous surroundings and beautiful rooms... the food was amazing... the pools were fun, but not crowded in a spring break sort of way... the beaches were nice, clean and quaint... and a lot of small details that really made you feel special.  So, I'm still not a hotel snob, I haven't logged enough time for that.  But I can see how it happens, and now I have this great experience to compare things too.  Like the RUI... place didn't get a fair shot!  :) 

There is many, many things to post about this Costa Rica trip, so this is only the beginning.  Here are some pictures enjoying the Four Seasons...

The view from our private balcony (we had half a villa with two rooms and large outdoor patio all to ourselves)

Dinner at Sunset on the Beach

Stephanie and Robyn chillin' pool side (see the pretty beach that is so close in the background?)

A picture from the lower pool area towards the second upper pool area.  Look at the trees... beautiful!

Paul with his fancy super zoom lens.  This not-so-secret bird watcher and wild animal lover was happy here!   (More on that later).

Calling Room Service... Breakfast on the balcony.  This is the life!

Appreciation

Last month we had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Costa Rica with Intercall's Gold Club (a trip earned for 2009 performance).  We spent Sunday-Wednesday with Intercall staying at the Four Seasons.  We spent Wednesday through early AM Saturday at the RUI all-inclusive and extended the trip with good friends, Paul and Steph (from Seattle fame) and the Dubinskys.  Fun, Fun!  But before giving you any of the details in the next few posts about our awesome vaca, I have to give a big thank you to "Grandma" Paula for flying to Houston and watching both our kids for the week.  I know it's a big job and exhausting, and she did amazing.  We really, really, really appreciate it.  I'll be sure to pay if forward when I have grandbabies of my own. 

Big Baby Blues

I was just reminded that I need to make a quick note in my blog (aka my journal) about some of Vivian's latest accomplishments or happenings.  Plus, it gives me an excuse to share more pictures of my baby! :)

-  First two teeth on the bottom FINALLY broke through on March 29, 2010.  age - 6 months

-  Crawling - April 19, 2010 - the day she turned 7 months!

-  Sleeping through the night... if you consider 7pm - 3:30am (8.5 hours) with a quick feed and back down again until 6:00 or 7:00... then yes she is.  But if you are the person getting up with her at 3:30 then you probably wouldn't consider that sleeping through the night... so the answer is... kind of, but not really. 

-  She likes to blow "raspberries".  She does it all the time and if you do it to her... she does it back to you. (picture below)

-  She's a snuggler... yay!

-  She still likes to be held... a lot.

-  She's still out little "chunk", but I think she's starting to get longer.  Look below for picture proof she's got some perfectly wonderful baby chunk!

-  Her giggle is one of the two best sounds ever... tied with the sound of Braden's laugh.  You cannot not smile when you hear it. 

-  And to my dearest Miss Vivian... I love, love your big blue eyes!

Discovery

There are days when being a parent is long and exhausting.  But if that's what is was like all the time then people wouldn't keep having babies!  Tough days seem to slip from a parents memory when they get the chance to clearly see things through their eyes, most often when they are learning or discovering things.   Just this weekend Vivian had a new discovery of her own...

And as my daughter was fascinated with this new phenomenon, simple green grass...

 It felt a bit familiar...and I remembered when my son first discovered this too...

Braden - June 2007 - 6 months

Photo Shoot

This past weekend was filled with amazing weather.  Yesterday I checked the ground throughly for fire ants and when I saw it was all clear I put Miss Vivian on a blanket to let her enjoy some time playing in the yard in some shade.  I'm still working on figuring out things with my new camera.  You may notice some pictures are more shaded, but I kept them anyway because I couldn't resist some of her darling expressions.  She was a fantastic model and cooperated well.  I could take pics of this babe all day!

Like Father, Like Son

A Texas Tradition

Texas... a great big state with a lot of hometown pride... and many traditions.  One of them is each spring when the wildflowers bloom, most notably the Blue Bonnets.  We live about 90 minutes from one of the best places in the state to see them and take photos, so two weeks ago I packed up the kids and they did a great job while I messed around with my new camera to get some good shots.  Here are a few of my favorites. 

And my favorite... totally captures they way she adores him and the way he is always trying to make her laugh.

Dallas: Pretty Sunday

Our final day in Dallas turned out to be really nice out (well not in the AM when the guys went golfing, it was pretty windy and made it cool).  By the time we made it to the Dallas Arboretum it was fabulous!

Ahh... the Blue Goose.  Last time I was there (2002), I was living in Dallas and as Ben put it, "Monica ordered margaritas like they were free... before she would finish one she would order the next... one after another, after another... after another".  Good times. 

We made an appearance for brunch and how times have changed.  This time we rolled with 6 adults and 5 kids.  It was nice to go there and drive through the neighborhood.

Mitzi and Braden.  She was a wonderful play buddy for Braden, she was able to keep up with him, and helped me out as an extra set of hands while Chad was golfing.

Viv getting ready to take a nap

Sabrina and Ellyson enjoying some time in the park

Stealing kisses from my favorite little boy

 Braden giving Ben a preview of toddlerhood... where they just keep going and going and going.  Ben ran him around for awhile... helped him with that long nap Braden took driving back to Katy!

Braden and the girls!  He LOVES Reece and Addison (he's still talking about them every day). 

Jessica and I... Babywearing

This weekend at the Arboretum was an event "Dallas Blooms".  So, there was a big crowd of people there to see all the tulips and Japanese tree blossoms.  The open area had a pan flute player, it was a really nice atmosphere.  Here are a few shots I got of flowers.  Maybe not all the exciting for some people, but now that I have the nicer camera I like the way they came out!

Dallas: Special Introductions

An exciting part of our Dallas trip last weekend was introducing our kids with their cousins, Reece (5 1/2) and Addison (born three weeks before Big B).  Braden has been talking about them non-stop since we got back, he had so much fun.  And the girls were taken with Vivian and so sweet with her!  Another special little lady we got to meet was Ben and Jessica's precious little lady, Ellyson (born in December).  Of course it was wonderful for all the adults to get together and to talk... but it was just as exciting to see the start of these friendships.  We moved around a lot when I was a kid until I was about 10 years old... so that's how far my oldest friendships go, and I didn't grow up with cousins.  How wonderful that my kids get a totally different experience and can say "I've known them for as long as I can remember".  It makes me smile.

Big B, Reece and Addie

Addison with her mom, Christine and Vivian.  I love this picture, it captures such a sweet and innocent moment.

Fantastic "kids" table for eating meals.  It allowed us adults a chance to eat and talk!

Reece and Viv

Dress up time!  Princess Addison giving Viv some love.

Jessica and I with our little ladies and a switch-a-roo of babes. 

A little background: Jessica and I met back in June of 2002, when we both had our first day at our new job working for Tri Delta Excutive Office in Arlington.  How fun that we made our way to Texas and can watch our daughters grow up together!  (PS... in case you didn't know, Jessica wound up marrying Chad's friend from high school, Ben... and their wedding officiant was Layne... and he is Chad's cousin.  Nothing better than friends that are like family and having family that are your friends!)

Eek!  How cute is Ellyson!  Love her style!

WARNING:  If you are on the verge of catching Baby Fever you might need to avoid this picture... this sweet babe will put you over the edge!

This is the start of something special!