Saturday, March 23, 2013

3 Crosses Hike


We went on the 3 crosses hike here in Costa Rica with our friends Jay, Stephanie and Caleb Fast.  It was an amazing trip and everyone did awesome.

It included getting up early, taking two buses, then walking up a mountain side (not a hill) for about 5 miles round trip.  The kids did amazing and Leyton walked almost the whole way!

Here are some of the pictures!  If anyone comes to Costa Rica and you have the ability and energy, this is definitely on the list.  There are few places that you can be "IN" the city but be "OUT" of the city and the same time...BREATH-TAKING!!


Heading up the trail

Panoramic view of San Jose

Emme, Caleb and Leyton at the first cross

Leyton on top of the cross.  He had to hold his hat because it was really windy!

The whole family at Cross one

Another panoramic

Stephanie and I near the second cross

The hillside above the city--cows and all!

Stephanie coming down the dirt trail

Mountain side and city behind it

The trail

Heading up the trail

Emme and Caleb

Taking a rest

Just loved the view



The kids and the first cross

Heading to cross 2


The kids and cross number 2


Emme and Caleb racing to the top


Emme and Leyton on a big rock at the beginning of the trail
Although we only made it to 2 of the 3 crosses, it was still a great--and tiring--day!  We will be doing it again soon!

In HIM,
The Crawfords


Bull Fighting

During the month of December, Bruce was able to participate in the Zapote Running with the Bulls.  Although it really isn't running.  Put about 200 people in a small ring with dirt and a bull and run for your life!  Sounds like fun, right!!??

Well, he did it, and survived.  Our friend Nathan and Bruce did it and here are the pictures from the television.

The kids and I watched from home and they were very worried at first, but luckily, he promised the kids that he would not get very close to the bull--and thankfully he survived without any goring!

Watching daddy and Nathan try to kill themselves!

First bull of the night--he was a BIG ONE!


The first sighting of Daddy and Nathan


Daddy again, kinda close--does he resemble Big Foot??!!

Daddy behind the guy in yellow

That is one big bull!

Why yes, the bull is turning around to look at Bruce in the upper left hand corner...

Those are daddy and Nathan's legs in the top to the right

Bull number 2 Bruce is behind the guy kneeling

Bruce is to the upper right behind the bull

The guy running with the hat is Nathan--CRAZY!!

Bruce and Nathan are right behind the bull

Another of Daddy


Bull number 3


Yes, they kneel in front of the bull, Why? you ask, I don't know!

There is Nathan

Bull number 4


Whew!  They made it home alive and in one piece!  If you want to hear a fun story, ask Bruce how he got the really nice shirt!
Here is a link to a video, hopefully you can open it!  Here is a video of how Bruce got the shirt!  See if you can find him!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100255446744587
(if not, it can be viewed through my facebook or Bruce's)

Beyond blessed!
The Crawfords

Wildlife in Costa Rica


Here are just a few of the wildlife that we see on a daily basis here is Costa Rica.  I think it is one of my favorite parts about living here....

This is our most famous friend that was found outside of our house...yes, a tarantula

One variety of the many flowers of Costa Rica.

Trying to find out the names of all the flowers is impossible--too many that I have never seen before!

Elephant ear plants as big as my son!

My favorite and they are everywhere!

Banana trees everywhere

Emme and her butterflies

Don't know, different but interesting looking

This butterfly has see through wings!

One of the many variety of trees, plants, etc.

Roses grow everywhere here too--these are on our campus at school.

This was the friend that was trying to shower with me...

Hermit crab from Rincon (South of San Jose)

Here is a itty bitty crab

Flowers from the mountain side of the 3 crosses

One of the many strange bugs in and around our house






Leyton and a baby preying Mantis that he found


Another friend in the laundry basket

We have a duck pond within walking distance of our house at Parque Okayama

Our friend Baillie and an iguana
There are so many more pictures of iguana, birds, and flowers and trees that it is too hard to show you them all, but the plants, trees, animals and flowers are not like any we have in Kentucky or Indiana.

If anyone wants to experience it for yourself, you always have a place to stay!

IN HIM,
The Crawfords

29 Then God said, "I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.  They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food." And so it was. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.  And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.  Genesis 1:29-31