Sunday, December 2, 2012

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