Costa Rica 2011 part 2

Hello friends,

It has been a short six months since our last blog update.

Coral is turning two. She isn't a baby anymore. She is the sweetest thing. She is our little Tica with her blond hair and tan. It's so neat watching her become our buddy andmore independent. She is taking dance class twice a week and is swimming in the ocean daily.

Dorian is great as usual. He is super stoked on the waves this week. He really enjoys the garden. He is growing tomatoes, bell peppers,garlic, watermelon, papaya, pineapple, cocoa, bananas, coconut....

I am doing great as usual. I am taking yoga three days a week right now. I have love and
good health. I am exploring the inner workings of Angelina. I am learning about myself and
the world everyday.

We love living in Costa Rica. The beautiful jungle meets the sea, the wildlife, and freedom. We love being away from the city. It helps me focus on what's important in life. Being in nature allows me to connect with myself easier. Our friends the Andrews' visited us. We always have a great time with them. It's nice to share the beauty of Playa Hermosa.

So we are visiting Cali in two days. This is the first time we have used the word visit.
Mainly because we are moving out of 36th st after over a decade. We will be spending less
time there now but we will still be visiting a few months out of the year.

I am so excited. Excited to see my family and friends. I can't wait to dance, take Coral to Disneyland and celebrate her 2nd birthday. Unfortunaly Coral and I have to travel sick. Dry season is turning into rainy season here this month so everyone is gettin sick. We are hosting huge garage sales over the month to clean out the apt. in Newport. We are going to the Encinitas street fair and San Diego Gator by the sea festival during our visit.

We hope to visit with all of you in California and I hope all of you are doing well. We
would love an update from all of our friends and family. Nos Vemos. "we'll see you"

Costa Rica 2011

We are all having a great time in Costa Rica. The weather has been nice this year and we are enjoying settling into our home. It makes it difficult to go back for our semi-annual visit. We are buiding a concrete storage room that will be done before we visit California. We are getting bids for the dance floor so I can train Coral. We are planting fruit trees, veggies and spices. Dorian's knee is fully recovered and he is surfing better than ever. I hope you are all doing great. You are more than welcome to come visit us in Costa Rica. We booked our flight for CA on March 28th and we are able to stay as long as we want. I am excited to spend some time with the people I love and take some dance classes. We will probably spend more time in the states later in the year during rainy season. Please give us an update on you and your family. We love to hear from all of you.

Thanksgiving 2010

We hosted a Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year for our friends. It was soo great to have soo many kids in Coral's room today. Her social skills are great! I taught Coral how to do the middle splits and we are starting dance with our friend Naomi next week regardless that our dance floor is not built yet. Allisun and Jordan are out from Washington and they also get to spend the holiday with us. We are having a blast. Allisun, Coral and I got to spend some girl time going to the nearby waterfall.

I love the sense of community in Playa Hermosa. Earlier today Coral was swimming with her Tica friends on the beach. Everybody greets us and loves Coral. I love Costa Rican culture.

3rd Chapter of Coral's life. Halloween in Costa Rica 2010. She did great on the plane. Coral was amazed at the clouds and the earth below the airplane window. Traveling went smoothly. Uh oh! The bed guard rail that I was going to use to help transition Coral into a big bed didn't make it on the plane. Well we will figure it out right?

Driving home from San Jose was awesome. The new road was built and it only took us an hour on a highway rather than 2 1/2 hours on a windy mountain road. Aw humidity. I love it. Costa Rica is a magical land filled with thick jungle and wildlife like monkeys, iguanas, and macaws. People work less, have less and are much happier.

It's our first week back in Costa Rica after being in California for almost 1 year. Coral is having a difficult time adjusting to the new house and climate. When we arrived the inside of the house looked like "Jumanji". We had to stay with our friend Virginia for the first night so we could hire help to clean. Coral woke up 4 or 5 times in the night sleeping on a big bed in a room alone but she didn't fall off the bed. I'm tired and jetlagged. I need yoga!

We are back into our house and in the middle of the night Bam!! Aww! Coral managed to stay on the bed the first few nights. Luckily we covered the surrounding tiled areas of her bed with rubber mats. She was fine. Dorian built Coral a homemade bed rail that she is getting more comfortable with. Go Dorian, he built it in less than a day without electricity.

Today I finally got to take yoga at Vida Asana. It was awesome and wonderful to see some friends. Our intention of the day is to follow our dreams. My personal intention is to try and relax and wipe away these city lines on my face.

Dorian got to paddle heavy hermosa on a small day and stood up on one wave. His knee felt weak but it didn't cause pain. He was stoked of course to be in the warm water with that surfer rush. Coral got to swim in a river with Kayden. I loved watching her live it up in nature.

Well the first week went pretty well. Coral is completely adjusted now and has found the Tica in her. Dorian's knee is progressing and he has been standing up more and more in Hermosa. We have been swimming a lot and Coral has met many creatures.

We have babyproofed the house, got our phone turned on, hired help to extend the back of our roof to cover the patio, bringing in gravel for driveways and pathways. Dorian killed a poisoness snake called a "Lora" at Virginia's already, we have Nicas in trees with machetes cutting the jungle back.

The weather has been incredible after the week long tropical storm we had with no running water. We are totaly professional campers and it really didn't bother me until the 5th day. I eventually figured out that I can pirate off a neighbor's well. He has not given me permission so for emergency reasons shh. The sun is out, there is a cool breeze and the tropical humidity is always kickin. I am in my element. Today's intention is to find that place where I am not being a part of nature but my wisdom is reflecting on it. Grand and important fullfilling a purpose. My plan is to raise Coral to be an amazing person.

Today is another day. Seriously the yoga here is insanely awesome for me. I took a 3 hour class with my favorate Rose. It is taking me back to where I can find happiness and relax. Costa Rica is special. Dorian pulled his first turn in the water with success and Coral has learned so much like to trust herself to laydown belly first in the water and pretend to swim, how to play on tile floor and unfortunately what a time out was for hitting. We take her to the beach every morning where she stands on everyones board before they paddle out and says (surfboard) in Coral’s accent. She is learning more spanish like saying “dias” for buenas dias and Chow.

Hopefully I can get some pictures to attach to this summary. We miss all of you and your friendship and support means very much to us. Let us know how you are doing. We enjoy getting your emails on how everything is on the other side of the Americas and everywhere in between.

Love,
The Smileys

18 month Coral

Coral is now 18 months, We are planning to be back in Costa Rica before Halloween. We are still waiting for documents for residency but they should all arrive by the end of the week. We will be starting a new chapter tittled "Construction in Costa Rica". We are building a screen room, dance floor, ect

.

We have enjoyed being with our family and friends this year in California. We will be up for goodbye celebrations this month including visit to Temecula on Oct. 16th and I am planning a spaghetti factory dinner in Newport the sunday before Halloween for those of you who are close enough to attend. Thanks for your support everyone. We would love to hear how you are doing. The Smiley's look forward to your update as well.

Peace, Aloha, Namaste, Pura Vida

The Smileys

Summer in Newport Beach

Coral's hair is getting longer. She is now 15 months. Time to tie it up and get it out of her eyes. I think she looks soo cute in her pigtails and pebbles.