Flower shop

This is the flower shop I am working at. I have really enjoyed it so far. I have learned a lot already. The owner bought the shop from his mother who was in business for over fifty years and never threw anything away! So needless to say he has had to discard a lot. He plans on huge renovations and has redone the logo. He hopes to appeal to a new generation( I guess that is where I come in). They have customers that have used them for their new babies, weddings and funerals. They actually do A LOT of funerals which is not part of the business that I am all that interested in but I have learned that it makes a lot of money. Just so you all know, when I die....donate that $250 (that is what a decent casket spray costs) to a family member's college fund! He plans on updating some of the work they do which is exciting for me. Right now they do the regular bouquets that are not really my cup of tea but there are some new floral designers that are doing some new things. I had a hilarious conversation with the owner's sister who has worked there forever on why I hate carnations. She loves them. She also will not eat at a restaurant unless they have ketchup, ranch dressing, and white bread. I have always thought carnations were cheap. I realized that I have a stigma attached to carnations. It is interesting to see how people perceive things differently. Especially in a small town. So, I am a flower snob. What can I say? They also LOVE to make fun of the fact that I can not understand people here in the South. I do not have a southern ear. People will call to order flowers and I can't understand a word they say. Words that should have one syllable are drawn out to four. The rest of the country makes fun of Southerners but if you are a "Yankee" across the line, beware. They will make fun of you to no end. Not to mention being the only liberal! I have to be very careful sometimes of what I say. They are really good people though and I really grateful for the opportunity am going to learn a lot.

Some of the displays in this place were still up from thirty years ago. After pulling down the ugliest silk flower crap from the walls and trying to cover up some even uglier wallpaper, I managed to weed through the scary silk room and do some fall decorating.

I wonder where I get this knack from???

Baby bump

12 weeks!!
Having to get creative with my pants.

About time

That is right people! This is not a joke. I have officially gotten my driver's license. I guess it was time. It still scares the crap out of me but at least now I am legal.

Hecho en Costa Rica

Baby!!!!!

We saw a doctor yesterday. Our estimated due date is the end of March. This is the ultrasound photo. I wish it was a better picture. It was REALLY moving around. The craziest thing I have ever seen. We saw the heartbeat but have not heard it yet. Josh got really excited and said "Oh my God, it has a head!" and " I made that." The nurse thought he was hilarious. It was really cute. He has been just wonderful throughout this. I am feeling better than I did a few weeks ago. Less nausea and a little more energy. I am feeling big too which I am sure it just the beginning. Glad I kept some of my fat clothes!

New Home

This is our new apartment. We live on the top floor. It is pretty big. Certainly bigger than what we have been in for the last four months! We are enjoying the extra space! Josh has an office and it is even big enough to have the baby in there too. The kitchen is the biggest we have ever had. Robin you will be amazed by the space at Thanksgiving.I will change stuff around here I am sure, but it was really nice to unpack all of our stuff after not seeing it for awhile. We need slipcovers and I really want new bedding but they will have to wait I guess. I can not wait to grow up!! However we have a friend that says coming over to out house is like going to a "real" house with "real" stuff. So that is nice. It was already painted. I have a red kitchen too, Heidi! I like it. I have only committed to hanging the vintage World War II poster that we got from Josh's parents. The rest is in limbo on the floor until I get our photos from our travels. I guess I have decide that ten wedding photos up is a bit much! HA. Soon I am sure that it will be all Baby pictures.

WaterFALL

We also went to another waterfall. You have to descend some 400 steps almost vertically down to view this spectacular waterfall. (which meant climbing them afterwards!)

Now don't freak out mom, but while Josh and I were exploring the falls and climbing around the rocks, I fell. A giant bug flew in my face and I fell off the rock I was standing on. I thought it was not very far, but Josh saw the whole thing and I fell about six feet. My angles were with me that day because somehow i managed to fall in the only sandy spot surrounded by jagged rocks. I landed on my side and bruised my hip and shoulder. It hurt for a few days but now is fine. I was really lucky. I am always yelling at Josh to be careful and then I turn out to have an accident.

(I forgot to post this in the right order. We did this after we did the bridge tour)

Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna

Josh's parents and Aunt Frida came to visit and we rented a great big car and drove to La Fortuna where Arenal Volcano towers over the town. It is an actual active volcano.

We almost ran out of gas and there were no gas stations around so after asking several helpful Ticos, we found this women's house who had gas in containers and we bought half a tank from her.

Good thing we rented a 4x4. The bridge leading to our hotel was out.

We were really lucky to see this much of the volcano. During the day it is totally covered with clouds. I cleared a little right before dark and we were able to get some pictures. The real show starts at night when yo can actually see the lava running down the side. It was spectacular but unfortunately I was unable to capture that with my camera.

There is also a manmade lake that provides hydroelectic power to the surrounding area.

Cheers! (that is Josh's Aunt Frida)

Canopy bridge tour

We took a canopy bridge tour through the national park. This was a lot more interesting than the zip line tour because you could stop and see everything. We towered above the forest. The bridges were a little wobbly so it is still a bit of an adrenaline rush.