The time has just zipped by since our return mid August. The boys started school early because we want them to finish by the end of April; in time for our trip to Portugal in May.
John is continuing with the house projects and I'm the paint consultant. So far, our painter, who works for us three days a week has completed our bottom level and all of our main bedrooms. We are now working in the main living area and it's quite a disaster zone. Anway, progress is being made. Our window bars are made but require painting before installation so that remains on the "to do list". Our new wrought iron chairs have arrived for the sun patio but we need to order the table in San Jose. We'll probably make a trip in December for that.
Andrew wants to take guitar lessons so we'll buy him a guitar when we go to San Jose as well. On the weather front we've had an excessively wet rainy season. We had 16 days straight of rain, fog and cloud but then it ended and returned to a more normal pattern of sun in the day and a bit of rain at night. We were starting to feel like ducks! Next up for excitement were the five earthquake tremors on November 5th. We prairie people were ready to run for the street. John moved our cars out of the garage up onto the street after the 3rd shock. The first four were about 15-20 minutes apart with a loud sonic type boom preceeding them. We thought they were over and then the last one hit an hour later and it seemed to be the severest to me but that is my opinion. The only thing that moved was the pile of DVD's sitting on our coffee table but still what an experience. We are no match for Mother Nature and she certainly can let you know. Apparently these tremors are quite common here but they were new to us and I was scared!
The next night, the winds of change started up with a venegeance and these usually blow for about three days which they did, dying down on the 9th of November. This marks the change of seasons and we are now in the dry season with the sun shining every day and the odd shower.
Next on the calendar was my birthday weekend which was nice and sunny and our friends from San Jose visited. We went to the beach twice and in our pool, had a BBQ and ate cake of course. We had some more high winds the night of the 15th and all day the 16th but since then it has been quite calm. Gives us a chance to pick up all the leaves that are whipped off the trees, dry as dust, when the wind blows.
This weekend, we've been bothered with a pasote (unsure of the spelling) but an animal that is brown in color, has a racoon ringed tail and a long snout. When I was floating in the pool Saturday and Austin was in his room on the computer, he ate our bananas. When I came up I saw the remains and knew it wasn't our kitty. I had been suspicious of something eating our neighbours cat food but couldn't catch it. But I saw it again on our sun patio last evening and in fact while I was typing this message he poked his nose in our back door again! I shooed him away, brave soul that I am.
John and Andrew went on an all day quad trip all the way down the coast to Mal Pais and back yesterday. They were dusty and dirty but two happy campers. Austin and I held down the fort and baked brownies.
Will try and post pictures when I have a chance.
This year we finished up the renovations by December 15th and we got busy decorating our house for
Christmas. We had a joint Christmas party with Sherry and Larry 
for all our friends and neighbours on the 22nd. Our friends, Majic and Anna and daughter Daniella stayed with us for Christmas which was great. Along with the Wildeboers, Jacksons and our neighbours, Larry & Sherry, George and Elaine, we were a grand total of 20 for Christmas dinner. We even had turkey - 2 of them to be exact. It really felt like Christmas this year and everyone had a fabulous time. Some of us took the boys to the beach on Christmas night for a beach bonfire which was fun although the Canadian boys (our visitors) were a bit nervous of the crabs as they were all heading out to sea and the beach was just crawling with them!
