Birthday Party, New Years, a little work and we're out....

Time for Declan's first birthday party!  A day late, but better than never.  He got to eat his first Chocolate cake, and we were excited to see how he's like it.  More than anything, we wanted to see how big of a mess he could make!  

In that it was a bit of a disappointment, but that's mostly my fault.  Cake didn't rise to well (I made it), and in turn it was a little 'brickish'.  More like a dense brownie.  I had to cut if up in pieces for him,a and although he enjoyed it still.  He was uncharacteristically clean!  But no worries, we had a back up.

Sharing a little cake with his good buddy Joel...

The crew whom came by to help celebrate.

Plan B:  If we can't make a mess with a cake, surely a TRIT will work!

Now we're getting somewhere!

The damage...

Time to open presents.  We didn't think we'd have to do this, but we have some good friends and family.  Everyone had something for me (despite requests against it).  And not only that, we had friends send down gifts with other people!  We have a mountain of toys waiting for Declan in Costa Rica now, now sure how we're supposed to get them all home....

Paraiso Fiesta... a good time by itself.  Imagine taking it all in with a crew of 12 friends.  Always a good time.  Some good times were had in Junquillal 2012/13.

New years was a great time as well. So great that not a single picture was taken.  (by us anyway; although that is probably a good thing!).  Now it was time to get to work (for me anyway).  Had to complete my year end so we can take off on our travels.  Junquillal is great, and always difficult to leave, but it's time we get back on the road.  It'd been a couple years!

My office for the first week of January.  Not too bad, certainly better than my basement office!

Jillene and Declan cheering me on while I worked...

4-5 days on the laptop (between swims and surfing of course), and we were ready to go.  Declan was certainly excited.  Apparently he didn't want us forgetting him.  First stop San Jose for 1 night, and then we had to jump on a bus to Peurto Viejo.  A town in Limon; Costa Rica's Caribbean...