Science Fair

As I mentioned in my last post we have loved all the school functions!  School here is so different than in the States.  I find myself often thinking "that would never happen back home!"  I'm slowly but surely trying to let go of my expectations and embrace the differences.  One of the biggest changes for me is they don't have an open door policy.  When G was in kindergarten and 1st grade, Jeff or I helped in the classroom at least once a week, helped plan/attended parties, went to the PTO meetings, and basically every time there was an opportunity to be there if I could I would.  I loved it, and G loved it.  

Here we drive through the drop off line, let them out and literally the gates close and they are in school!!  We went the other day to pick G up and literally we had to wait at the gate while they went to his classroom, they didn't even let us on school property!!!  Even when they have parties, we get a note saying what to send with our kiddo and that's it!!  I realize I sound like one of those crazy moms who wants to be overbearing and apart of every single little thing, but in reality I just want a little glimpse of what life is like for G in the classroom here, I don't have to come every week people, but my kids been in school and beyond the couple of all school activities where the parents get to come, and 10 minutes of dropping off cupcakes for G's birthday (which I was stopped at the gate and questioned by the gate Nazi to see if I had cleared it with the teacher!  Of course I had, I knew I would be interrogated!)  I haven't been there during school at all in 7 months!!  I sometimes feel like how Molly looks when she really wants to come with us in the car and stands at the window with her saddest puppy dog face and droopy ears, saying through those sad eyes "please please please let me come, I just want to be with you"  Yes that's about how I feel as I stand pathetically at the closed gate of Las Nubes smiling really big to let them know I'm really nice, just wishing they would let me in!!!  In my mind there has got to be all this cuteness and fun things going on all day, and I'm just dying to know what his day is like at school!  

All that to say when G does have a school function I am so excited beyond measure to go!!  So here's a couple of pictures from the science fair!

So serious G :)

Josiah's group made ice cream, it was actually pretty good!

I think he was pretty proud of his ice cream :) 

G and Thomas!

Hard at work

1st graders

Checking out the other projects

From the looks of other parents, I think it's safe to say we are all so appreciative to actually be apart! :)

Curls :)

Teacher Megan trying to tame the boys from breaking the science project :)

Buddies

Hang loose boys :)

Showing me how things work 

Teacher Jordan :)

I love that sweet face!

Josue :)

Loved listening to G explain his science projects :)

This didn't have anything to do with the science fair but this is the pool at G's school that they use for P.E

Annexation of Guanacaste!

There's so many things I didn't think through before we moved here.  Like, it never crossed my mind that we would be celebrating different and new holidays!  (Before you go and judge me, it's not like I don't realize that there are different holidays in different countries and cultures, it's just that wasn't on the forefront of my mind as we got ready to move to a different country!) :)  

Recently on a walk I asked some girlfriends, "Hey so when do the kids get out for Thanksgiving?"  (Again I realize I'm not in the US, it's just a habit!  For 29 years now, I have celebrated Thanksgiving, so give me just a little bit of grace here)  To which my dear friends replied smiling "We don't have Thanksgiving here"  Oh yes that's right, I'm in a different country!!!!!  

One of the fun things having Gentry in school here, is we are learning all about this great country of Costa Rica and getting to celebrate all new holidays along with the ones we celebrate.  July 25th is the celebration of the Annexation of Guanacaste.  Here's a quick run down in case you need to brush up on your Costa Rican history :)

Guanacaste is a providence in Costa Rica.  It was originally apart of Nicaragua.  Nicaragua was active in many civil wars at the time and so the inhabitants of Guanacaste requested to become a part of Costa Rica and were granted this request by the Central America Federation on July 25th 1824.  The "Guanacostecos" take great pride in being Costa Ricans.  The celebration includes traditions like parades, folk dances, typical music, and bull fights!  

We didn't get to see any bull fights, but the kids had that Thursday off of school and then on Friday had a school performance.  Every grade performed a dance and wore "traditional" Costa Rican dress.  It was nothing short of adorable, and it was fun to be apart of the culture here in Costa Rica.  

I was slighty frustrated when I went through the 50+ pictures we had from the performance to not find one single shot of G dancing!!!!  Are you kidding me?? (Mind you I was obviously not behind the camera or you know I would have some shots!)  With that said, he might have been the biggest party pooper of all that day anyways.  He was so embarrassed, he dare not smile once during the entire dance!!  Good thing I'm a semi-laid back mom cause this kid certainly does not perform on my command!!!  For the week before, I talked to him about just smiling, and at least doing the dance that the other kids were doing, his response was unwaivering everytime we spoke of it..."Mom, I am just not a performer like those other kids, that's not me, and you said it was okay to be different"  Well he certainly proved my point as he drug his feet along while other kids skipped, put his head down as others looked up happy to be in the lime light, and refused to even smile once as I stood as close by to see his sweet face.  Oh well, he might not be a performer for the masses, but in the privacy of our own home you should see the MJ moves he bust out when no ones looking, and the notes he hits in the shower when he thinks no ones listening!! To each his own, to each his own :)

The purple outlined area is Guanacaste

The first graders!  You will notice my party pooper top row 3rd from the back, proving even more that he is not a performer :)  Thanks for making 1 of the 3 pictures your in a great shot!

All the pretty girls in G's class!

At least he waved the flag.  If nothing else, he has pride in the country of Costa Rica :)

The boys showing off their manly burro flag waving :)

Jacob, Nick, and Cameron waiting for their turn at the dance floor.  These boys know how to bust a move :)

Josiah

What girl wouldn't want to wave that dress around?

Cute little Lidia :)

Bowing to each other...or the bull I'm not sure

She took the dancing very seriously

Thomas in action

I don't know any of the kids in this group, but at every event I can't help but watch these cute little peeps!  They are the youngest class and are either being absurdly adorable or crying and either way it's so cute to watch :)

Seriously adorable!

Our old buddies Gabriel and Katherine :)  

NMSU!

I'm pretty sure when it comes to college experiences, Jeff and I had the best of both worlds.  We started our college careers at New Mexico State University.  It's where we met, but also where we met and made life long friends during our time involved with Campus Crusade for Christ.  It was such a sweet time in our lives.  We look back on those days and can make ourselves laugh till we cry with story after story of great times we had with our college friends.  Thankfully not only did we have those friends then, we still have them now! 

 I'm actually amazed at how many of us still stay in contact and occasionally get together when we can.  When we were home this summer, a group of us was in town and we had a little get together!  It was so fun seeing everyone, seeing/meeting kiddos, and catching up on life and where it has taken us all.  Jeff and I will always be greatful for such a wonderful college experience with friends that to this day we stay in touch and love getting together when life permits. 

Some newbies in the group :)

Mommas and babies and mommas expecting a baby :)

Ben is not actually apart of the NMSU crew but stopped by to see Jeff and he is also a dear friend so makes the cut of blog worthy pictures :)

Dusty, Jeff, and Ben playing missile while lighting strikes around, nothing has changed since college.

The group :)

So glad Fred and Carlie could make it all the way from Minnesota :)

Spesh crew

While we were home we spent a little time with a very Spesh-ial group of people :)  When we lived in Colorado, Sundays we tried to make it to Donny's famous spesh's.  Beyond the delicious food, there are people we love who are like family, a bunch of crazy boys for G to play with, good laughs, Sonic runs, and a place that feels like home.  It was so fun to be with them even if just for a little bit while we were back.  

A spontaneous watermelon fight busted out in the front yard.

Pretty sure Wyatt may have been an unsuspecting victim in the fight :/

All pictures point to the fact Levi won this watermelon fight by his sneaky tactics.

Sweet baby Fisher who I'm sure looks different since this was 2 months ago!

I'm not sure if Fisher and Noah are picking up from the watermelon fight or stealing food from everyone else's plate?

The Men Folk

Brody and Cole

Can't believe how big these boys are getting!

Little Miss Maggie is the first girl after 8 boys!!  Thankfully she has twin girl cousins born a couple of months later so she won't be the only girl!

She is so cute!

The "watch out" big brother look!  Already protecting his cute little sister!

She will never have a boyfriend with two older brothers :)

The newest and 4th Carlucci boy :)

9 crazy boys!

There really was no hope for a picture of everyone smiling or even looking at the camera for that matter.

As good as it gets :)

Definitely my favorite :)

Probably the cutest picture ever.  Noah and his new birthday bear!

The 3rd child

Sleeping peacefully amist the craziness of boys

The babes of the group

Where's Brody??  I think Jude is making a move!

Back Porch guy talk

At some point I think someone got hit in the head with a stick, but I can't remember who cause someone always gets hit in the head with a stick at Spesh's.

Jude, she's totally telling Brody on you!

What a blessing to spend time with friends that are family.  We miss our Spesh-ial group of friends so much and wish we could see them more often.  Until next visit friends, we miss you!!!