G
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
November Already!
Almost halfway...... into our 18th week now and things have been cruising along.
My iPhone app tells me our little boy/girl is smaller than a beer bottle (it tells me the size in things I can relate to), while Michelle's says it's about the size of a mango. The wee one is getting fiesty too and was even cheering when Uncle Drew, Gabe and Michelle were cheering the Ducks on as they destroyed USC this past weekend.
We've started talking about names and looked at how best to rearrange the Casa de Scotti to best suit the addition of a new nipper. The Mom to be is busy getting into her fall routine which includes catching up on the heaps of weddings and families she got to spend time with this summer and getting things in order for an exciting spring! Dad is up to his eyeballs in divers and spends his hours underwater amazed that all these years in a wetsuit have left him capable of creating another being and telling everyone he knows about the next Scotti.
Check out Auntie Deeds, The Belly and our little one's lead singer pose/race car driver stance!
My iPhone app tells me our little boy/girl is smaller than a beer bottle (it tells me the size in things I can relate to), while Michelle's says it's about the size of a mango. The wee one is getting fiesty too and was even cheering when Uncle Drew, Gabe and Michelle were cheering the Ducks on as they destroyed USC this past weekend.
We've started talking about names and looked at how best to rearrange the Casa de Scotti to best suit the addition of a new nipper. The Mom to be is busy getting into her fall routine which includes catching up on the heaps of weddings and families she got to spend time with this summer and getting things in order for an exciting spring! Dad is up to his eyeballs in divers and spends his hours underwater amazed that all these years in a wetsuit have left him capable of creating another being and telling everyone he knows about the next Scotti.
Check out Auntie Deeds, The Belly and our little one's lead singer pose/race car driver stance!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Our next adventure.....
Good news from the Scotti crew! We are having a BABY!
As of right now we are 13 weeks along with a flawless report from the doc at the first ultra sound.... check it out!
Gabe is busy reading books and learning what all the abbreviations mean while Michelle is preoccupied with Pickles and Cheese. Today she wanted hot dogs..... more to come as this project unfolds.
UPDATE: 2nd appointment today and the wee one is about 7cm long and has a heart rate of 158bpm..... all good things. The best news of all is that the due date is APRIL 4th, that's Mama Michelle's Birthday! How cool.....
Love and Hugs,
G and M
As of right now we are 13 weeks along with a flawless report from the doc at the first ultra sound.... check it out!
Gabe is busy reading books and learning what all the abbreviations mean while Michelle is preoccupied with Pickles and Cheese. Today she wanted hot dogs..... more to come as this project unfolds.
UPDATE: 2nd appointment today and the wee one is about 7cm long and has a heart rate of 158bpm..... all good things. The best news of all is that the due date is APRIL 4th, that's Mama Michelle's Birthday! How cool.....
Love and Hugs,
G and M
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
New Places and Silly Faces...... Panama!
I guess when my sister first started making noise about moving her family to somewhere sunny and warm we always knew this day would come. I never thought she would do it but here they are...... Hallie and Joe with kiddos Zach and Isla enjoying life in a small chain of Panamanian islands just south of the Costa Rican border on the Caribbean side.
The island is Bastimentos and it is home to a stunning array of wildlife. In a little over a week here we have seen a few red frogs, monkeys, countless tropical birds, a 4 foot boa constrictor and a grasshopper the size of a hamster. Not to mention lightning bugs, hawks, hermit crabs, toads, starfish and all sorts of other critters.
I'm so proud of my sis and her family for making this move happen. Everyday the kids get on the boat from Bastimentos Island to neighboring town and Carnival Hot Spot Bocas Del Toro. Here they attend school while Hallie rounds up groceries, goes for a jog, gets a coffee and then gets the kids back on the afternoon boat back to their island. Joe in the meantime, has picked up work here at a sprawling housing development putting out all sorts of fires that a large project might have in exchange for housing.
Because the kids had so much time off this week (It's Carnival here, did I mention that?) We have had all sorts of fun. Trips to town, a chocolate contest, tons of beach time, walks at night, walks on the beach, walks to neighbor islands for yummy Thai food, coloring, building leggos, skateboarding and building sand castles just to name a few!
Here are some funny faces from all the new places we have been:
Tomorrow we travel overland to the mountain town of Bouquete, Panama. From there who knows!
G
The island is Bastimentos and it is home to a stunning array of wildlife. In a little over a week here we have seen a few red frogs, monkeys, countless tropical birds, a 4 foot boa constrictor and a grasshopper the size of a hamster. Not to mention lightning bugs, hawks, hermit crabs, toads, starfish and all sorts of other critters.
I'm so proud of my sis and her family for making this move happen. Everyday the kids get on the boat from Bastimentos Island to neighboring town and Carnival Hot Spot Bocas Del Toro. Here they attend school while Hallie rounds up groceries, goes for a jog, gets a coffee and then gets the kids back on the afternoon boat back to their island. Joe in the meantime, has picked up work here at a sprawling housing development putting out all sorts of fires that a large project might have in exchange for housing.
Because the kids had so much time off this week (It's Carnival here, did I mention that?) We have had all sorts of fun. Trips to town, a chocolate contest, tons of beach time, walks at night, walks on the beach, walks to neighbor islands for yummy Thai food, coloring, building leggos, skateboarding and building sand castles just to name a few!
Here are some funny faces from all the new places we have been:
Tomorrow we travel overland to the mountain town of Bouquete, Panama. From there who knows!
G
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Costa Rica Photos!
Two days into the Costa Rican experience....
Day 1: Great local style breakfast at the Double Tree in San Jose. Awesome fruit, amazing coffee and gallo pinto (rice and beans)
Noon bus to Puerto Viejo is full. Gotta take the 2 o'clock. Bummer....... Michelle getting familiar with the guidebook:
4 hour bus ride to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side of the country. Fantastic mountains, rivers and bridges on the way. Very talkative American guy named Clay who claims to have been a drug runner in Florida and a tennis pro, surfed professionally on the tour and now has a rich Costa Rican girlfriend. Clay has a big facial scar and recent dental work from a bar brawl and is starting to look like Gary Busey in this photo:
The stories keep coming but he says he will take us around to look for a few cabinas on his 4 wheeler once we get to Puerto Viejo...... We check a few out and finally decide on Kaya's Place. Check out the link here for photos: Kaya's Place on Tripadvisor
Day 2: Wake early to grab breakfast and head out to explore the area. Tons to do down here in the Southeast corner of this country and I'm stoked to be back in the Caribbean. Puerto Viejo is famous for it's surf break called Salsa Brava. We see no monster waves and head out on a jungle trail that runs along a stunning, palm rimmed beach. Here we have our first encounter with leafcutter ants! Man these are so cool! Check out the Video:
Leafcutter Ants Video
Today, Michelle makes friends with lots of critters. First is a local dog on the trail to Cocles Beach who keeps us company for a half mile or so and next up is the Three toed sloth.
The sloth in Costa Rica is the ultimate chiller. Lounging in the trees they are said to move so slow that moss grows on their fur. We arrived at the Jaguar Rescue Center in time to get in on a massive tour. The tour included 3 toed and 2 toed sloth, howler monkeys, snakes of every kind including false coral and pit vipers, an owl, several caymans (small croc's) famous green tree frog and two jungle cats. The Margay Cat looked like a tiny jaguar..... Michelle has photos coming later. Also in with the monkeys is the Jaguarundi who hunts day and night and is also a legendary swimmer!
Finally, Michelle gets to get up close and personal with her buddy...... the 3 Toed:
These guys were hilarious. They would cling to you like a toddler and wanted nothing more than to relax and to hug an occasional stuffed animal or eat a flower. Fantastic! Make sure to visit the Jaguar Rescue center if you are ever in this area is their end goal is the release of all of their critters back into the jungle. They all have been taken in because of devious acts of man and habitat destruction..... you can help! Go see em for an informative look on the local critters.
Off for a snorkel after the tour where I spotted a huge barracuda in the shallows, a slipper lobster and several parrot fish. The reef here isn't much to look at but the 85 degree water is amazing! Our final stop for the afternoon is Punta Uva where we meet an Argentinian named Guillermo who is running the dive shop. He tells us about the trail to the point so we clamber up the 5 minute trail to an overlook and the water looks so refreshing. I head in for another swim as Michelle explores a cave. Finally, we round out our day with a few monkeys coming down from the canopy to feed as it's getting close to sunset.
All total we treked about 4.5 miles today, met some great people doing valuable work and learned a ton about the issues facing the people and the critters in this area. Tomorrow it's off to Panama to see the Bradfords...... we are so excited!
Day 1: Great local style breakfast at the Double Tree in San Jose. Awesome fruit, amazing coffee and gallo pinto (rice and beans)
Noon bus to Puerto Viejo is full. Gotta take the 2 o'clock. Bummer....... Michelle getting familiar with the guidebook:
4 hour bus ride to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side of the country. Fantastic mountains, rivers and bridges on the way. Very talkative American guy named Clay who claims to have been a drug runner in Florida and a tennis pro, surfed professionally on the tour and now has a rich Costa Rican girlfriend. Clay has a big facial scar and recent dental work from a bar brawl and is starting to look like Gary Busey in this photo:
The stories keep coming but he says he will take us around to look for a few cabinas on his 4 wheeler once we get to Puerto Viejo...... We check a few out and finally decide on Kaya's Place. Check out the link here for photos: Kaya's Place on Tripadvisor
Day 2: Wake early to grab breakfast and head out to explore the area. Tons to do down here in the Southeast corner of this country and I'm stoked to be back in the Caribbean. Puerto Viejo is famous for it's surf break called Salsa Brava. We see no monster waves and head out on a jungle trail that runs along a stunning, palm rimmed beach. Here we have our first encounter with leafcutter ants! Man these are so cool! Check out the Video:
Leafcutter Ants Video
Today, Michelle makes friends with lots of critters. First is a local dog on the trail to Cocles Beach who keeps us company for a half mile or so and next up is the Three toed sloth.
The sloth in Costa Rica is the ultimate chiller. Lounging in the trees they are said to move so slow that moss grows on their fur. We arrived at the Jaguar Rescue Center in time to get in on a massive tour. The tour included 3 toed and 2 toed sloth, howler monkeys, snakes of every kind including false coral and pit vipers, an owl, several caymans (small croc's) famous green tree frog and two jungle cats. The Margay Cat looked like a tiny jaguar..... Michelle has photos coming later. Also in with the monkeys is the Jaguarundi who hunts day and night and is also a legendary swimmer!
Finally, Michelle gets to get up close and personal with her buddy...... the 3 Toed:
These guys were hilarious. They would cling to you like a toddler and wanted nothing more than to relax and to hug an occasional stuffed animal or eat a flower. Fantastic! Make sure to visit the Jaguar Rescue center if you are ever in this area is their end goal is the release of all of their critters back into the jungle. They all have been taken in because of devious acts of man and habitat destruction..... you can help! Go see em for an informative look on the local critters.
Off for a snorkel after the tour where I spotted a huge barracuda in the shallows, a slipper lobster and several parrot fish. The reef here isn't much to look at but the 85 degree water is amazing! Our final stop for the afternoon is Punta Uva where we meet an Argentinian named Guillermo who is running the dive shop. He tells us about the trail to the point so we clamber up the 5 minute trail to an overlook and the water looks so refreshing. I head in for another swim as Michelle explores a cave. Finally, we round out our day with a few monkeys coming down from the canopy to feed as it's getting close to sunset.
All total we treked about 4.5 miles today, met some great people doing valuable work and learned a ton about the issues facing the people and the critters in this area. Tomorrow it's off to Panama to see the Bradfords...... we are so excited!
Monday, February 8, 2010
What a short, strange trip it's been....
Got off to a crazy start to the Costa Rica/Panama experience as my sister Hallie had us running around Southern California for all sorts of items she said she needed here in Panama. She only conveyed this information to me via email everyother day or so and the shopping list was growing longer:
Honey Nut Cheerios,
Coloring Books for kiddos,
WASHABLE, Repeat... WASHABLE Markers,
and home hair Perm Kits?????
So, combine these goods with our belated birthday/Xmas presents for my nephew and niece (Zach and Isla) and the backpacks began to swell like a howler monkey's chest. Tons of fun in LA on our last night having good Mexican food (there is no such thing in Hawaii) with good friends Farmer, Jodi and Rachel and a 5am wakeup call the next morning.
Halfway to the airport it dawns on Michelle that she has left her wallet at Farmer and Jodi's. So, since we had begun the journey fairly early we had some buffer before the flight was leaving. Farms drops Michelle and I off at the gate and we go about checking bags in and through security. Our phones are turned off and sitting at his house 20 miles away so we have no way to get ahold of Farmer. I take Farmer's phone so he can call me from Jodi's and he races back to his house to get the wallet, Jodi's phone and turn around to come back to LAX.
Farmer calls from the house, "Got the wallet, I'll be there soon" to which I respond..... "Great, I'll get coffee and meet you out by the curb in about 20mins" Looks like everything is rolling along just fine until he texts and says "Got pulled over" to which I respond..... "BS" Apparently he got clocked at 80 in a 65 and the cop happened to notice that his license was expired. At this point we are talking on the phone and he tells me that Johnny Law won't let him leave unless there is another driver. Well, he waits it out and the Law Dog finds another speeder so Farmer makes it back to LAX just in time to switch the wallet for the phone and one last hug. MAHALO FARMER..... we'll pick up the cost of the ticket bro!
LAX to Houston goes quickly but now we have a 6 hour layover to fill. Superbowl Sunday in the Airport! Too bad the game is slated for kickoff right about the time our plane departs to Costa Rica. As we fill in the seats on the plane we notice that Continental has TV sets in the headrests of every seat. A few people find the channel that the game is on and 250 passengers put headphones on simultaneously. $6 for the Superbowl..... I think we can swing that. So we swipe the cards and watch the remainder of the first half as the attendants speak over the audio of the game in both English and Spanish!
Plane takes off, the Who rocks the halftime show and just about the time the second half is supposed to start the feed starts getting glitchy. Read the fine print, Direct TV's inflight broadcasting only works for about 200 miles outside the boundries of the states! GRRRRR!
This is year #2 in a row I have missed the Superbowl..... I hear it was a great game though so I guess I'll have to download it on iTunes when I get back. On the ground in Costa Rica and a quick 5 minute cab ride to our hotel. Big bed, hot shower and a good night sleep. All the luxury is great as we'll be roughing it for the next few. More later!
G
Honey Nut Cheerios,
Coloring Books for kiddos,
WASHABLE, Repeat... WASHABLE Markers,
and home hair Perm Kits?????
So, combine these goods with our belated birthday/Xmas presents for my nephew and niece (Zach and Isla) and the backpacks began to swell like a howler monkey's chest. Tons of fun in LA on our last night having good Mexican food (there is no such thing in Hawaii) with good friends Farmer, Jodi and Rachel and a 5am wakeup call the next morning.
Halfway to the airport it dawns on Michelle that she has left her wallet at Farmer and Jodi's. So, since we had begun the journey fairly early we had some buffer before the flight was leaving. Farms drops Michelle and I off at the gate and we go about checking bags in and through security. Our phones are turned off and sitting at his house 20 miles away so we have no way to get ahold of Farmer. I take Farmer's phone so he can call me from Jodi's and he races back to his house to get the wallet, Jodi's phone and turn around to come back to LAX.
Farmer calls from the house, "Got the wallet, I'll be there soon" to which I respond..... "Great, I'll get coffee and meet you out by the curb in about 20mins" Looks like everything is rolling along just fine until he texts and says "Got pulled over" to which I respond..... "BS" Apparently he got clocked at 80 in a 65 and the cop happened to notice that his license was expired. At this point we are talking on the phone and he tells me that Johnny Law won't let him leave unless there is another driver. Well, he waits it out and the Law Dog finds another speeder so Farmer makes it back to LAX just in time to switch the wallet for the phone and one last hug. MAHALO FARMER..... we'll pick up the cost of the ticket bro!
LAX to Houston goes quickly but now we have a 6 hour layover to fill. Superbowl Sunday in the Airport! Too bad the game is slated for kickoff right about the time our plane departs to Costa Rica. As we fill in the seats on the plane we notice that Continental has TV sets in the headrests of every seat. A few people find the channel that the game is on and 250 passengers put headphones on simultaneously. $6 for the Superbowl..... I think we can swing that. So we swipe the cards and watch the remainder of the first half as the attendants speak over the audio of the game in both English and Spanish!
Plane takes off, the Who rocks the halftime show and just about the time the second half is supposed to start the feed starts getting glitchy. Read the fine print, Direct TV's inflight broadcasting only works for about 200 miles outside the boundries of the states! GRRRRR!
This is year #2 in a row I have missed the Superbowl..... I hear it was a great game though so I guess I'll have to download it on iTunes when I get back. On the ground in Costa Rica and a quick 5 minute cab ride to our hotel. Big bed, hot shower and a good night sleep. All the luxury is great as we'll be roughing it for the next few. More later!
G
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