So far...

After a long day of traveling we made just on time to have Jake´s B day party the next day. I wish I knew how to do the collages, I really need to learn so I can post more pics. Jake had a blast with a bunch of second cousins he had never met before, the highlight was the pinata and then had his first motorcycle ride on my cousins awesome bike, more later...

Costa Rica here we come!

The tickets have been purchased and the suitcases dusted. I'm going to Costa Rica in 3 weeks, right after Thanksgiving. I can't wait. We'll be going to the beach and the jungle house like Jake says. The only bummer is that Mr. Rider won't be able to join us this time, so I'm sure he'll appreciate any invitations to a homecooked meal, if you see him please remind him to water the plants and get the mail, he always forgets.
Last time I was there we found an awesome little hotel, $100 for 6 people in a completly equipped villa, very nice and clean. The beach was incredible, not many tourist, beachfront, about 10 steps to the beach from the room. I loved it because it was a very preserved area, no big and modern hotels, there was a little bakery (delicious fresh bread), a homemade ice cream place and a few souvenir places, there was also a spa that used chocolate for facials, massages, etc. Everybody should go to Costa Rica at least once. I'll be posting pics of our travels and adventures.

My dirty little secret...

I have not one but two dirty little secrets, I would like to think that over all my house stays somehow clean and picked up. Except for my shower and my laundry room, they're not only messy but dirty!! really bad. I was at a friend's house yesterday and I got convicted about my secrets, her laundry room was not only spotless but decorated!! she had a vase with flowers in her laundry room for crying out loud!!! she had a shelf with pictures and decorations. It was an inspiring laundry room. So today, I started cleaning my laundry room and will get to work on my shower, I don't know about decorating yet, since our bedroom doesn't have one single picture or frame on the wall yet. Some day maybe...

Halloween was a success, we have 2 containers full of candy to prove it. I have to admit that I got a little carried away, I never went trick or treating growing up, not once. In Costa Rica is viewed as a satanic holiday (which it is) and christians simply don't celebrate it at all. So I have to admit that I didn't want to quit, Mr. Rider made me. But I decided that next year I'm going to coach our kids on what kind of candy to get, they always go for suckers instead of the good candy, so I'll have flash cards with pictures of the candy they should pick and quiz them for weeks ahead.

Really I need to get rid of some of that candy, the kids are a little overwhelmed usually the only candy they get are fruit snacks, so if you want some you know where to go...