Kids and the Outdoors

My Trip to Costa Rica Part 1: The Adventure

August 9, 2012 by melissa

Yes, yes, I’m FINALLY getting around to posting some pictures of our trip to Costa Rica.

Three weeks I spent there.

Three weeks traveling the country, just hanging out in the neighborhood with family and even a couple of late nights partying like I did “back in the day.” You know, when I could sleep in. (Except I didn’t sleep in with the kids so one night with 1.5 hours of sleep was no fun but so worth it.

To say our trip was amazing doesn’t do it justice. But to say it was a cake walk is a big fat lie too.

The kids were tough. By tough I mean some days I wasn’t even sure they were my kids. But luckily my family loves them no matter what. And so do I. It helps that they’re cute too.

So I decided to divide my Costa Rica pictures up into two posts. Today’s all about adventure, baby!

Beware- it’s a barrage of pictures.. but they are beautiful!

Our First Few Days

The kids loved being at the airport. That’s what Little Roo was most excited about but he actually got a little scared on take off and just cuddled me. We scored and he slept the entire first flight.

After a day with family, we drove hours away with my cousin and her 3 year old for four days at the beach. We visited four beaches- Conchal, Flamingo, Tamarindo and Langosta. Conchal was the most beautiful but the waves were the most kid-friendly at Tamarindo.

Monteverde

The roadtrip of the century was to Monteverde, the Cloud Forest. We drove for hours to get there, do a thing or two, then drive back. With cranky kids. But at least we got to see amazing hummingbirds (like 20 at once!) and take a hike through the forest that included walking on wobbly bridges high above the ground.

The highlight was climbing 20 feet up a hollowed-out tree. Big Roo and I spidermanned it up with our cousins while Daddy Roo and a sleeping Little Roo took the easy way. (The butterfly picture is actually from a different place but Big Roo’s smile is the result of a blue butterfly landing on his cheek!)

Volcano Time!

I never go to Costa Rica without visiting a volcano. There are around 200 volcanic “formations” but I’ve only visited a handful. But I hadn’t been to Poas since I was a kid so it was pretty much new to me.

(Nevermind that random family beach picture at the bottom- I didn’t wear my bathing suit to the swim in the volcano lake.)

The Canopy Tour

By far the most adventurous thing we did in Costa Rica was going on a zipline! Fourteen of them actually. The weekend after Daddy Roo headed back to the U.S. a bunch of us headed to the beach. Again. Oh the tough life! This time we went to the popular Jaco Beach. My cousin’s friend works at a Canopy Tour place so we got a slick deal.

Big Roo wanted to go on the zipline so bad and luckily he was the perfect age to go with a guide. I tell ya– it’s exhilarating to pretty much fly through the trees with a view of the ocean in the distance. And to watch your kids face as he zips through the air with a giant smile on his face and his hair blowing back? I’ll remember that forever.

Stay tuned for part 2 in the next few days!

A Wee Bit of Snow…

February 22, 2012 by melissa

Is better than no snow at all.

We’ve had roller coaster weather as of late. Not more than a week ago I actually wore short sleeves one day. Then a few days later, cold and…

snow.

Nothing major like last year (I live in the South so we’re talking “major” snow from a Southern girl’s point-of-view here, aka “wuss level”). But still, a magical dusting of snow in the kids’ eyes.

Since preschool was closed (for President’s Day), we got a little bit of slushy snow playtime in the morning before it melted away.

The kiddos wanted to make snowballs.

Well, Big Roo first suggested doing snow angels but I managed to talk him out of laying in 2 mm thick snow which would have done no more than just make his clothes wet. Heh.

Little Roo doesn’t remember the snow from last year so it totally enthralled him.

Throwing snowballs at mama was the main event. Both the Roos would give a hearty cackle every time they hit me.

And of course at point blank range that was, like, every time.

Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be 75 degrees again. THREE days later.

Roller coaster, I said.

Weeeeee.

When Nature Calls… in Nature

November 18, 2011 by melissa

I know this has happened to all mamas of potty-trained kids one time or another.

You ask your child, “Before we start, do you need to go to the bathroom?”

Child: “No!”

Mom (suspiciously): “Are you SUURRRRRE?”

Child: “Mom, I told you already. I don’t need to go!”

Mom: “Okay then.”

Then you go wherever you’re going… and it’s surely some place without a nearby restroom. And then your child says:

“Mommmm, I’ve gotta poop REALLLLYYYYY BAAADDDDD.”

You Know Where I’m Going with This

Yep, that’s what happened earlier this week when Fadra (from All Things Fadra) and I went hiking. It was an impromptu playdate. We both needed out of the house and so we grabbed some sandwiches, had a picnic and set off on a little hike by a lake.

I was pretty stoked because I got to wear my Kelty pack… something Daddy Roo usually gets the “honor” of. Little Roo tried to climb in it pretty much as soon as I pulled it out of the car.

The walk to this part of the lake was pretty uneventful. Little Roo pointed at stuff and babbled mostly nonsense (except “airplanneeee!”). The older guys looked for the white dots to mark the trail and talked about leaves.

The perfect afternoon hike.Until Big Roo utters his “I’ve gotta poop really bad and I can’t hold it” speech.

We were about 15 minutes from the restrooms, which were near our cars.

Oh boy. We’d better get going.

Big Roo was on a mission. He didn’t have time to enjoy the hike and I didn’t have time to chat with Fadra. By this time, Little Roo (and my lower back) were done with the carrier so he was walking. And we all know how slow toddlers can walk. Plus that kid was in full-on exploration mode.

So, Big Roo and I turned our leisurely hike into a hiking sprint while Fadra walked with Little Roo and her son Evan (who’s camouflaged somewhere in this picture). At least they enjoyed the hike back.

Big Roo and I made it without incident (but with lots of “I can’t hold it” and the serious contemplating of pooping outside- hey, I had baby wipes, just no trowel)!

When the rest of the crew got back, Little Roo was happily waving a tree branch. Fun stuff!

Then the kids got to be the subject of iPhone-picture-taking mamas. Aren’t they cutesies?

Guess what Little Roo is pointing at? Fadra’s iPhone case, which has pictures of what LOOKS like are cookies.

And finally, my two boys, with nary a bodily function to hinder them from enjoying the beautiful day.

Have you ever been stuck somewhere with a kid who “HAS TO GO POOP RIGHT NOW” and not a bathroom in sight?

My Black Thumb Is Now a Shade of Green

July 20, 2011 by melissa

I’ve been a sucky gardener for a long, long time. If I looked at a plant the wrong way, it’d die.

Despite this, I’ve been determined to start a vegetable garden for a couple of years now but never determined ENOUGH I guess.

Until now.

I wouldn’t call it a full-fledged “garden” but a friend gave us some plants a few months ago and it was just the push we needed.

We planted tomatoes (three varieties), two pepper plants (jalapeno and banana peppers) and two eggplants (two varieties).

And guess what?

I actually grew something, dog gone it.

Behold, my first tomato.

Big Roo got to pick that one. He was SO psyched (and yes he’s wearing his pajamas, thankyouverymuch).

Little Roo put himself in charge of the peppers. He’d been trying to pick them for weeks so I let him have a go at it.

Total? One tomato, one jalapeno and one banana pepper. (We also have another jalapenos and two more tomatoes growing.)

It may not be anything like the bounty The Barefoot Contessa gets from her garden. But for this girl, who’s thumb was once pitch black, I’ll take it.

Mother’s Day Hike- Year Four!

May 10, 2011 by melissa

For four years now, Mother’s Day means, among other obvious things, hiking.

Y’all probably think that I’m super gung-ho and we shuffle out the door at 6 am. Oh noooooo. Not me. I start off every Mother’s Day by sleeping in while Daddy Roo simultaneously makes breakfast while making sure the kids don’t destroy something (welcome to MY world, buddy).

BUT we do get around to a hike every Mother’s Day. We started the tradition in Arizona when Big Roo was just a toddler. NOW look who’s a toddler: Little Roo.

This year we hit Umstead Park, only 15 minutes from our house but green, pretty and with water for the kids (and dog) to marvel. Here are my little hikers:

Note: Someone *cough- Daddy Roo- cough* should have told me that my headband makes my forehead look bulging. I’m really NOT happy about that picture.

We thought rain was imminent but lucky for us, the mild weather kept us cool. And the light perfect for cool nature-y pictures.

Big Roo even got to carry our old Camelbak for quick access to water… until he decided it was a pain to do anything other than have fun (see who’s carrying it on the way back? PIC: far right)

And Big Roo can’t resist giving his flashy sorta-smile when I break out the camera. Doesn’t he just look like trouble?

I’m adamant about getting a picture with the kids each Mother’s Day but my forehead pic above (and sans shower) just wasn’t cutting it. Instead, we popped out to the deck for a couple of shots before bed. Yep, Big Roo was in his PJs already. Better late than never though, right?

How was your Mama’s Day?