Dec 26, Waterfalls, baby turtles, La Fortuna and Christmas

We were invited by members of our local church to go with them and help serve at a festival being put on by local missionaries in a small town. We all loved running games and serving dinner to over 100 people.

bee hive soccer at the end

Starting a hike in Rainmaker park, a poison frog hopped across our path.

That's a long way down. Don't jump!

I want to go by myself, but not last.

So many great river pools and waterfalls to stop and swim in along the way

so many cool trees and root systems.

Parker climbs a tree to reach a ripe star fruit down the street.

Drion likes to clean the pool in front of our place.

One of our favorite hidden beaches, playa blanca.

Aunt Sarah and Tracy met us here on their vacation!

This about sums up how home schooling is going every day.

christmas lights

One morning we were tipped off by a local friend that a Kemp-Ridley baby turrle release was scheduled a few towns away.

Victor saw a need several years ago and started collecting turtle eggs from nests at night to keep them safe from predators and poachers. After they hatch they release them on the same beaches.

Everyone got to hold and release their own baby tortuga :)

A favorite christmas treat: the santa shake from pops.

The mantis had the other lights.

Iguanas are like squirrels around here. Trying not to hit them on the road, scuttling around your rain gutters.

Pablo the elf picked his favorite for the tournament the night before the final.

After a crazy 4 hour drive to La Fortuna, we went straight to a chocolate and coffee tour.

Eating freshly picked cocoa fruit was a highlight of our trip. Tastes a little like mango.

A natural way to let the cocoa beans ferment in boxes.

The beans after roasting. So yummy. These are what cocoa nibs come from.

With the chocolate making process outlined behind him, Drion grinds the roasted beans into paste that we then use to make into our own chocolate bars with optional ingredients like sugar, vanilla, milk, coffee, cayenne

The coffee berrys were nice to taste, and similar to cocoa the beans are dried and roasted. Arabica has less caffiene but more flavor.

The boys had fun harvesting berries. They told us a full basket pays about 2 dollars.

The boys are eager to try freshly ground coffee

Arenal volcano with hummingbird

You can just see the top of the boys heads on the left enjoying the natural hot springs under the volcano.

Fun hike around a recent lava flow, but hot!

Leaf cutter ants are so cool. Always watching out to not step on their flickering green trails.

This spout on the left is a stingless bee hive.

We encountered a troop of pizote or coati. What strange and docile creatures! We thought they were like a cross between a lemur and a racoon.

A local river in fortuna runs warm with water heated by the earth.

Cuties.

Toucans, macaws and other tropical birds are frequently seen but not normally up close.

Silent night at church on Christmas Eve.

Drion loved riding his christmas present!