cousin love

Oh how we love our cousins being here. They say you don't realize how much you take something for granted until it's gone. Well I'd say that's pretty true. Thankfully Kelly has been so great about making sure to come back from Costa for many visits but they're not a quick ten minute drive away anymore. That's the part that stinks and is hard to get used to. One cool thing is that Josh's sister and her husband are renting their house so at least we still get to go over to their lovely house occasionally. It's been a labor of love for my brother and he has worked for over ten years making that house what it is. And it represents his artistic style very well.

These cousins love each other so........ much and the way that they embrace each other after not seeing one another for several months just makes my heart crumble. The way they hug each other so tightly not wanting to let go of one another and how they show each other all that has changed since they've last been together. Like lost teeth. Inches grown in both body length and hair. New talents learned.

Ava and Kaya really took to Maggie. They thought she was so cute and had so much fun making her laugh and of course holding and loving on her. She was in heaven with all the attention. That's one thing this girl will never lack.

We had a blast during our two weeks together and made the best of each and every moment.

This little miss is our water baby. She loves it and has never made a peep about going into a cold pool or having the water run down her face in the bath or shower. Go figure, she's the one who didn't wait in time for her planned water birth.

I adore this whale bathing suit from Gymboree. My mom bought this for Gracie and I have many pictures of her at this age wearing it. I should dig them up and do a compare and contrast of the two of them. I haven't done that in a long time.

She could sit here all day and watch the waves come rolling in. Reminds me of the man snoozing right next to me.

I love how the kids got clever with nature. Use whatcha got -- I love it.

baby prints (via mommy's help)

While we do sit here and wish they were back here at "home" permanently, we honestly are slightly envious, okay truth be told -- very envious of their adventures in Costa Rica. It is just a gorgeous country with beautiful people. A completely different way of living that is so unknown to most of us until you go there and see it first hand. I am proud that they are having this opportunity to experience living this life and I know they'll be forever changed because of it. I just think it's awesome that the girls get to go to school there and learn the language and to not be dependant upon all the material things like we are here in the states. They live in a very remote area and have to travel something like 45 minutes inland up into the mountains to go to a store comparable to a low key Walmart. Like what I'd imagine Walmart to be like 50 years ago. No fast food. No stop lights. No over population. But what they do have is lush green rainforest. Sloths and monkeys. Toucans, parrots and hummingbirds. Beautiful waterfalls. And waves galore. Surfers dream waves. Brian surfs twice a day often and he's as happy as a clam there.

But man do we miss them...