February Fun, 2016!

February was our month to get back into the swing of things.  It was the start of a new school year and a month without teams here, but starting the planning of many teams to come for the year.  It was a nice time to spend as a family and slowly work back into the routine of getting up early for school!

Here's what our life looked like in February--in photos.....

We love having poor internet connection when we are Facetiming people--Riley of all people!  HAHA

The gym floor was painted and sealed--looks great!

Leyton lost his third tooth!

 Bruce was invited to go on a men's fishing trip.  He was so excited to finally get to go deep sea fishing and get to spend time with some men!  Although he didn't catch anything--boo!

Bruce and the guys on the boat

That view though!

A beautiful ending to a great day!

 This time was also time for Bruce to create some things....

Here he made a chicharrone stirrer...everybody needs one of those....

We gifted this home made surf board to our painter and friend, Alfredo

Bruce welding

Cooking eggs--on the chunche!

Bruce trying to grow his new HOT peppers!

We were gifted money to buy a new ladder for the project....this is what it looked like in our Jetta!

We also received a mini backhoe thanks to donations....Bruce gets to play with this!

 Bruce and the kids had an eventful morning on the second day to school.  As Bruce was driving, a radiator hose exploded and left them stranded on the side of the road.  Late to school and scared to death, Steve Thomas came to the rescue and picked them up and dropped the kids at school.

Here is what the hose looked like....the kids said it sounded like a gun shot.

 We were also invited to Joshua's birthday party!  Jordan (in blue) and Joshua (red) and their mom Mari, have become like family to us.

Joshua hanging out in our hammock swing

Joshua trying to hang on!

 We also got to go swimming with friends!

Cute boys in their robes....it got cold quick!

And this was my view

Seriously, those faces.....

 Bruce drove our Arte Fusion group (youth theatre ministry) to a sister church in Pocora, near the Limón coast of Costa Rica.

One of the kids from the church

Pastor sharing words

Lots of people for the event

Children's dance performance

Arte Fusion skit

Games outside

Lunch at the new kitchen building

All the kids

 We also finally met with good friends, Gonzalo and his wife Ana.  They work with lots of different missionaries and travel a lot with missions.  They have started attending our church and working with our missions--specifically in Talamanca--an indigenous area.

Amazing couple!

The view from around the corner where they live...breath taking!

 We also got to celebrate our Costa Rican dad's 60th birthday, Don Carlos.  Cooking out, food, and a mariachi band!

Our Costa Rican parents, Don Carlos and Doña Olga

We were gifted a guanabana--it was bigger than Emme's head

Can't leave your phone unattended with this girl!

Building a fort outside!

He tied his own shoes!

 The kids started back to a new school year in February.  Emme started 4th grade and Leyton started 1st grade.  And Cooper just looked cute so he got to have his picture taken with them!

This is our annual get your picture taken on the first day of school picture.  This is Sophia our good friends' daughter.  This will be an annual event at the school in front of the frog!  It is amazing these two have been around each other since they were 1 1/2 years old!

This may seem weird, but this made me happy.  It isn't coffee--as I wouldn't pay that much in Costa Rica for coffee, but it is a chai tea.  I hadn't had one in a long time--it was a luxury, but it made my heart happy

First parent/Teacher meeting and I saw Leyton's artwork--He drew our house.  That must be our helicopter too! Such an artist!

Taking a drive around Cartago--seriously, this view never gets old!

 Also in February, we welcomed an intern, Savannah.  Bruce and I don't normally handle interns, but with all of our partners were not here to help with teams, (Kenny and Lauren had the babies in the States; Steve Jr got married) we decided we needed some help.  So thankfully, God planned everything perfectly.  Savannah arrived on February 9th and she is staying with us for 3 months.  We love her already!

Fresh off the airplane!

At the farmer's market getting the good stuff with her host family!

We treated her to her first Dairy Queen--it just opened here in Costa Rica

This is the beauty we call "life saver"

We have been so thankful for Savannah and all of the help she has provided for us.  God knew exactly what He was doing when he crossed our paths!  Love you Savannah!


the crawfords