We are Austinites!

It has been a little over two weeks since my dad and Chad’s dad and step-mom caravanned across the country with me, Chad and all of our earthly possessions.  The drive went well, no major problems or delays.  Our parents are incredible and we were so lucky to have their support and help with the move! 

We spent the majority of our first week here job searching and unpacking… job search still in progress.  Our new apartment is perfect!  Good size, great location, very clean and modern.  Taela loves escaping through the front door and patio door to lie out in the sun.

We have gotten to venture out and explore quite a bit.  My list of restaurants, coffee houses, parks and shops that I want to visit keeps growing…I better get a job soon!  About a week after we arrived we went on an 8 mile walk around the city to look for job opportunities and to check out our new neighborhood. 

Texas State Capital

Austin has really nice dog parks with cold water for people and dogs!

We also finally got around to making sushi!  If was really fun and it actually turned out quite well J

Our lovely litte kitchen.
Cooking the sushi rice

chopping up the veggies

All ready to roll.

Finished. Pretty impressive for our first time!

Chad and I got to experience MELANCHOLIA, the new Lars von Trier film, at the Violet Crown Cinema.  The film and the experience were both incredible.  We sipped beer and wine as we relaxed in reclining arm chairs and were blown away by the film and the theaters incredible sound system.

Later that night we had the pleasure of going out with Sarah (who I went to college with, lived with and have had many fabulous adventures with:) and her boyfriend Ryan. 

Sarah invited Chad and I over to her house for a little pre-thanksgiving get-together with delicious food, fun people and interesting conversation.  And, I almost forgot…fish eyeballs!  Chad is turning into a young Anthony Bourdain with the curiosity and guts to put just about anything in his mouth. 



the eyeball...



Chad ate his, saying it was quite tasty.  Kandice, on the other hand, declined at the last minute!

We also explored Mount Bonnell which is the highest point in Austin and provides beautiful views of the city down below. 

Minnesota :)

The last three weeks have flown by and I have a lot of catching up to do! I never thought our 5 week stop in Minnesota would be so jam packed and crazy.  I feel busier than I did when I had a full time job. 

Our time has been filled with tons of friends, family and activities…

Corn maze with the Dude's

Enjoying the last nice days of the fall with BBQ’s, chili fest, bike rides in Elm Creek park reserve and a day trip to Stillwater.

Pizza on the grill!

Stillwater candy shops

Nanning!  My wonderful friend, Angie, referred me to a family she knows and that family referred me to another family…so I have been nanning for 2 wonderful families for the last month.  It has been a fun experience and the kids and parents are great.  It has also made me realize that I am definitely not yet ready for children...

Baby shower for Laura and Rich!!!  We had a blast throwing a “his” and a “hers” baby shower for Laura and Rich.  We ate, played games, opened presents and sat around a bonfire chatting and sipping champagne.  Laura is one of the most incredible pregnant ladies I have ever known.  When the shower was over a small group of us went out to Oktoberfest at Gasthof’s which was full of drunken people, sticky floors and chaos. After that, Me, Chad, Laura and Rich had a case of late night munchies…we drove around for about an hour and finally found an open Denny’s.  The food was exactly what you would expect at a Minneapolis Denny’s at 3:00am on a Saturday morning...absolutely yucky! However, we had another fun and memorable LATE night with Laura and Rich. 

We got to play the rice game!

A few of the ladies at the shower

And some of the guys

Dinners and happy hours with our Minneapolis pals!  Nothing beats this J There are still a few places to go and people to see before we head south for an indefinite amount of time!  Which leads me to my next bit of exciting news…

We found a great apartment in Austin and will be caravanning down with our car, my dad and his truck and trailer and Chad’s dad and stepmom with their SUV on November 10th.  I cannot wait to see our new home and city…it is 81 degrees in Austin right now J

Nuestra Semana Final

We are already in our last week here in Costa Rica…It is weird how time can go fast and slow at the same time.  It feels like I have been living in my villa for a very long time but at the same time it feels like yesterday I was exploring Quepos for the first time.

While I am excited to come home and prepare for a new adventure in Austin, there are many things I will miss here in Costa Rica. Here are a few of the things that made the last two months incredible:

1)      Los Animales

I absolutely love sloths! This guy was hanging out with us while we were waiting for the bus last week. 

White face monkey 

I even find a majority of the giant bugs around here pretty cool!

2)      El Sol y Belleza Natural

This is the "old road"that we walked down to get into Quepos.  Not to bad on the way down, but quite the workout on the way up.  Breathtaking view the whole way...

Even when it is cloudy it is gorgeous.  The sun shone down through the clouds and made natural spotlights. 

3)      Las Playas!

Playa Biesanz

4)      Aprendí mucho español

Velma, rocks at teaching me spanish and cooking! 

5)      Isla

Need I say more :)

6)      La Comida y La Feria

Incredible stew made from all fresh ingredients from La Feria 

More fresh veggies from La Feria.  Everything is so fresh and flavorful here! 

MMMmm...Yuca :) 

This is just a very small portion of La Feria.  It is quite large with many venders.  Chad and I found our favorite and went to the same stand every week. 

Pina Coladas on the beach ;)

7)      Mucho tiempo de la calidad con mi esposo

I feel so lucky to have been able to take this opportunity in Costa Rica.  I think I would be  more sad about this being over if it was not for the fact that I get to move on to another big and new adventure when I get back to the states... Austin, TX.. here I come!!

Ouchies!

Our little Isla had surgery today.  This afternoon, Isla’s belly was shaved and cleansed, and an incision was made a few inches below her belly-button. The veterinarian removed both ovaries as well as her uterus. Stitches and glue were used to close her right back up.

She is doing well, sleeping on the couch next to me.  When we picked her up after class she was very confused and still pretty drugged up.  She’d try to take a few steps and topple over. 

She always sleeps and spends most of her time outside, however, I think we will keep her in for the night as she would not be able to fend for herself at the moment and we have heard multiple encounters between her and other kitties outside.

Sometimes, on rainy afternoons I take too many pictures of animals...

On a separate note, Chad and I went on a walk up a hill behind our villa and this is what we saw (please note, photos do not give this place justice… imagine this x 10)