Thanksgiving....

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving here in Costa Rica.  I didn't think it was going to be that hard being here and away from family.  Luckily, we were able to celebrate it at the Abraham Project with the other missionary families and some of the Tico families.

We had lots of food, fellowship and dessert--oh the dessert!  We had all the trimmings--turkey, smoked virginia ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, salad, bread, grits, green bean casserole--everything except sweet potatoes....why you ask?  Oh, because I was in charge of making the sweet potato casserole.  Yeah, I have never made it, nor did I know what to do.  I thought about making them with the Costa Rican style sweet potatoes--however, they do not taste or look like the sweet potatoes in the States.  I could have bought canned sweet potatoes-for $8.00 a can AND at a store that I didn't know where it was OR how to get there.  So the night before, I broke the news to everyone that there would not be sweet potato casserole....

However, I did manage to make a carrot casserole!  I had been gifted a HUGE bag of carrots from our neighbor that rents the tables for the farmer's market.  So I tried it....AND.....it was really good.  Sweet like a sweet potato casserole.  Bruce and Aaron (a Costa Rican) really liked it.  There wasn't any left to take home, so that is success in my book.  If you would like the recipe, just let me know!

After all was said and done, Thanksgiving was really good.  A good time with friends and just eating and eating.  However, with all that said, it still was not the same as the Thanksgiving at home.  There was no nap, no family problems or drama, none of my mom's famous sweet potatoes, and of course, none of the visiting and seeing all of the family for the one few times a year.  Although we talked with family--it just wasn't the same.

This was all the food AFTER we ate!!

After we ate, fellowship and football

This is what happens when Leyton and Isaac get together!

They moved Luke's desk and climbed out of the window.

Of course, they had to climb back in too!

These boys are going to be trouble together!

If Thanksgiving was this hard, I know that Christmas will be even harder....

Please pray for peace for us, the kids, and our families.  As much as we would love to be home, it just isn't possible this year.  We hope that we can make it for the holidays next year, but that is too far off to even think about right now!

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, and thank you to everyone who sent us a message or called us.  We cherish each and every phone call and message!

Love to you all,

The Crawfords

A Trip to the Children's Museum

As another 'paseo' trip--or school outing, we went to the Costa Rican Children's Museum.  It was a really good time.  I was really amazed by the hands-on experience that the kids had.  The kids enjoyed themselves, but we did too (as you will see from the pictures!) 

This is the Museo de los Ninos-  It was a former prison and was closed in the 1970's (I think)

Hanging out front of the museum

Emme with her friends- Danica, Katie, Emme, Annie

Future Space computer worker people....not sure what they are called!

Emme in all of her cuteness!

Ummmm...

Checking out Mars in the rover!

yeah.....

It must be addicting....

Or a family affair!

We definitely loved the space area--racing rockets!

This was the ceiling--mommy wants one in the house!

Emme swimming with the fishies!

That is Leyton's "Arggggg" face!

Emme's friend MaKayla.

Leyton with a BIG head

OH! That octopus inked on Bruce's face...oh wait, just his beard!

 

 

In the cockpit of an airplane!

Overall, we had a really good time.  We will definitely go back again...we didn't get to see everything.  It is a place that we will take visitors if anyone is wanting to visit in the near future!!  Hint hint!!

Love to you all!
The Crawfords

Catching up (miscellaneous Part 5)....

Ok, so here is the last of catching up....

They are just a few of the random things from the past 3 months that we would like to share with you!

Enjoy!

 

Just another day for Leyton playing in the rain!!

 

Never a dull moment with these two!  Building a fort in their tiny closet!

Playing around and looking pretty!

Needing a picture too!!

Learning how to wash dishes...or play in the water!

Twin day!  Emme and her friend Sophia

A day at the salon with new friends!

Funny faces with friends at the park! Leyton and his bud Jacob

Walking to the feria (farmer's market) in the rain with umbrellas

Looking like a rainbow with new friends...Jen and Sean

Cooking with our new hot pads sent by dear friends--Tina and Sasha

Evidence of the 2am cat fight right outside of our door--yes, those are clumps of cat fur!

A picture of our neighbor--the iguana!

This was pre-screen and mosquito prevention..

We buy bulk cereal.  That's a big ol' bag!

Emme in gymnastics.  That is her against the wall.

Emme and her friend Anna

Leyton and Jacob

Bruce was used as a prop for chapel one day.  He had branches duct taped to his arms and a lemon in his mouth!

Me and buddy on the way to La Paz

Leyton and his friend Matthew--hangin' out!

Emme reading about La Paz Waterfalls

Emme and Leyton showing you one of the waterfalls

If we get a dog in Costa Rica, I need to train him to do this!  Buen perro!

This is a Woody doll...yes, I know, it looks more like Jay Leno.  There is something disturbing about some of the toys here...

Catching up (part 4)....

First of all, the past few months have been pretty busy for us..

A birthday party at McDonald's

A gathering of students at a friend's house...

A lot of the families and friends from school.

A great picture of all the MKs (missionary kids)

It was nice for the kids (and us) to get out and hang out with friends outside of class...

On October 31, Joe and Jennie Westfall had a Halloween party and several of the missionary families from the Abraham Project were there for chili, games and Halloween candy!  We had a really good time with the other families.  We don't get to hang out with them too much because of how busy we are with school.  The kids had a really good time and they were all hopped up on sugar--just like Halloween back home!  FUN!!

The missionary girls (Kate, Caia, Emme)

The ILE (Spanish Language Institute) Harvest Party

On November 3rd, we had a Fall Harvest Party at school.  We played games, ate supper and had a good fellowship with other families from school.

Leyton was 'Chacho' (our neighbor's dog)

Emme was a grey cat

Emme and her friend Annie

Leyton and his friend Nathan (AKA Alshon Jeffery)

Playing games

We also had several dinner dates...

Lunch with Tita and Tito (our Costa Rican Parents) and cafesito in our apartment.

Dinner with the Thomas'- Steve, Georgiana, Bethany and Luke

Dinner with Jason and Kerby and Adaya

Dinner with The Cain's (Adam and Michelle and Jacob and Asher)

We have been so blessed with all of the relationships we had before we came here and all of the relationships that we have made since we have been here.  We love getting together with people and letting the kids JUST PLAY!!  It is so refreshing to fellowship with others.  We really enjoy it!

Thanks to everyone who has invited us and to all who have hosted us!  Can't wait till the next time!!