For Better or Worse

Today's list is not about marriage. It's about the things that are different here in CR. For better or worse...

1. Diapers are the same price.
2. Diapers are NOT the same quality.
3. Formula costs about the same.
4. The scoop in the formula is measured for one ounce, so you don't have to guess how much to use if you want a 5 oz. bottle.
5. There is a CR craigslist. It only has a few postings per day, and they can be from anywhere in the whole country.
6. A LOT of people drive motorcycles here. A LOT. And they're very, very loud.
7. The light switches are sideways. They turn off and on from left to right.
8. We have a light switch in Olivia's bedroom that controls the laundry room/closet light, which is around the corner, inside another bedroom.
9. It gets dark every day around 5:30, and light every morning around 5:30.
10. Since things are less spread out here, there are a lot of things within walking distance of our house. Small grocery store, small hardware store, mechanic, copy place, etc. It is just a little crazy getting to them sometimes... (see #6)

I promise to try & make this more interesting as time passes. I'll quit making comparisons eventually, because I'll forget how it was back home. Well, maybe not. Ha!

A List a Day?

I started this blog for my family & friends to have a glimpse into our daily life here in Costa Rica. I'm not sure how much time I'll actually be able to commit to blogging, so I'm thinking of trying to add a list each day here. They may be random thoughts, things we need to do, or just a list of what we did that day. I can't promise it will always be interesting, or even meaningful, but I will try to keep this up. I think it will be a nice record of our time here, however long it may be. (I'm hoping I don't regret making this blog...)

So, for today - I will start with a list about our Christmas experience here.

• Ticos celebrate Christmas on the 24th, at midnight.
• EVERYONE, kids included, stays up until midnight to open presents.
• They then play with their presents until 2 or 3 AM. Including electronic cars, fireworks, etc.
• We were up at 6:15 AM with Olivia - full of excitement to see what was in her "socking".
• Jeremy and I were ready to go back to bed at approximately 8 AM. (We didn't, but we wanted to.)
• This was our first year with a fake tree.
• I really missed the fresh tree scent.
• I really didn't miss all the needles everywhere on the floor.
• I'm not sure when we'll take the tree down. I feel like it'll be kind of sad without the tree in the corner.
• We were given some money from family members to buy presents for the girls. It was quite interesting.
• Ava got a blanket w/toys attached and a entertainment bar (?) that dangles toys overhead. That was about $80.00. Yes, you read right.
• Olivia got lots of little (dollar-store quality) toys. She also got one big item, a Dora dollhouse - which is entirely made of plastic, and cost about $65.
• I'm not complaining about the quantity of gifts they received, just surprised at the price difference.
• We were able to really use our nativity set "What God wants for Christmas" with Livi this year. (Thanks, Hortons!)
• She wanted to open all the boxes at once.
• We ate a nice Christmas dinner with the Gammage family.
• We watched "Alvin & The Chipmunks" Christmas DVD approx. 10,000 times.
• We watched "Elf" four times. (Love that movie!)
• Olivia learned how to say "cotton-headed ninny-muggins"
• I cooked a turkey breast in a crock pot for the first time.
• It was yummy.
• Olivia was able to talk to all her grandparents, aunt, and uncles on Christmas Day.
• Skype is wonderful.
• We got to take Christmas cookies to the guys at The Refuge on Christmas Eve.
• Olivia decorated the cookies. :)
• Ava slept through that whole exchange. :)
• We were also able to buy Christmas gifts for Maria and her two children - to be delivered tomorrow. (She's the lady who received a new home for Christmas)
• We made our birthday cake for Jesus - Olivia, Luke & Ben all sang & blew out the candles.

Not a super-interesting start to a blog. That's just a glimpse of our Christmas. What did your family do for Christmas this year? Your answer doesn't have to be a list.