Things that grow: See all the things!!!

This is my favorite tree in Costa Rica. We have seen so many, and so many that are stunning and beautiful. But this one is my favorite, so I am posting a big photo.

The kids play on this tree as if it were a big playground. They run laps around the trunk, climb up the roots and jump from them. If I could take one unrealistic thing home with me from Costa Rica, it might be this tree. Or maybe the ocean.

As we are approaching the end of our time here in the Osa Peninsula, we've been trying to do everything one more time. See all the things!!! Some of our favorite things to do in Osa, lie along the road to Matapalo, just like this giant tree. This is one of the best places we've found for spotting animals, and nearby beach Pan Dulce is the best place for Ella and Violet to surf.

Baby is in there somewhere, holding on tight.

The spider monkeys have been pretty elusive lately, but Ella spotted these cuties, high in the canopy, as we turned down Matapalo road.

Ella had a bit of a crash on the surfboard this week while I was trying to help her. She wasn't hurt, but was scarred, and hesitant to jump back on the surfboard. Chad was very patient with her, and helped her build her confidence again.

My baby Violet likes surfing, and loves swimming with dad.

Such a cheese!

Michael is getting pretty good at surfing. When the waves are good, he can catch them on his own. But even when they are not good, he can catch a little wave or two with a good push from dad.

The beach here at Pan Dulce is strange... a sheet of clay pocketed with nooks and crannies and an occasional slug or neon blue fish.

We decided to drive to the end of the road, toward Carate, one last time. There is an EcoResort there called Luna's. We stopped there a few weeks ago for nachos, and decided to go back for a legit lunch. We arrived a little early, so the owner's mom invited us to hike up to the waterfall to build our appetites. After a really nice lunch of quinoa and salad, she was kind enough to invite us to stay for a swim in the pool.

The cicadas have been so loud in some areas. This is like a cocoon that a cicada leaves behind after its metamorphosis from an underground grub to a flying noisemaker.

This basilisk posed right next to our lunch table, so polite.

After lunch we hung out at the beach, flying the kite, and playing in the creek. I was secretly very hopeful that we would be lucky enough to see a Baird's Tapir, which have been seen in this area, but usually only at night. Those who have seen a tapir in person say they are like an elephant mixed with a pig. They are bigger than a jaguar, and able to use their long noses to pick leaves like an elephant would. I didn't see any tapirs. This butterfly was very pretty though.

Luna's is at the top of this canyon.

As we drove home, we came across this little group of very strange looking spider monkeys. Seriously, look at those faces. Weird.

The kids watched the monkeys while perched on top of the rental car.

But our favorite place to play is the closest to home. Our house, our beach, they are beautiful.

The papayas aren't ripe yet... but soon.

The Ylang Ylang tree smells beautiful in the evening.

The no-doors situation in our house means that we have lots of visitors, especially late at night. This big round beetle was about the size of a golf ball - with a head and legs.

This big toad and a few of his friends, hop around our house after we go to bed. We sometimes come downstairs to find 3 of them in the bathroom, or one hopping loudly in the dish cupboard, and they love the outdoor shower. They are usually around 7 or 8 inches from nose to tail, and looks just like the toads we have in Utah.

These pretty little pink pineapples aren't ripe yet either, but they're super cute.

The surfing at our beach gets good about an hour or so before and after high tide. We can usually hear the waves from the house when they get big enough to surf. Chad's got a pretty good view of the ocean from his "office" upstairs, and can take a break from his busy workday to catch a few waves.

Morning is the prettiest time on our beach. The sun rises at around 5:45, and often so do Michael and I.

Estas son las mananitas!

I found these tracks one morning on the beach, about a 15 minute walk away from our house in an area called 'Little Germany'. I think they must be from mother Olive Riddley turtles. The tracks were fresh, and led to fresh nests. Too bad we won't be here in a month or two when the babies will hatch.