Still having fun

We are still having so much fun in Costa Rica. We took an overnight trip to see the Arenal Volcano and it was absolutely amazing! During the day, you could see steam streaming out the top of the volcano. Occasionally you would hear a big boom and the volcano would belch a big cloud of smoke and ash. From very far away you could hear the giant boulders rolling down the side of the mountain. It sounded like the volcano was gurgling. At night, you could see a red hot glow from the top of the volcano and on the sides you could watch as streams of lava would leak out and run down the side of the mountain. We are so glad we stayed overnight so we could see the volcano at all different times of day.

We have also been doing lots of hiking in the rainforest. Yesterday we went through Carara National Park, only about 15 minutes from our house. We saw several types of birds, many GIANT bugs, poison dart frogs, white-faced monkeys, and howler monkeys. It was incredible seeing monkeys playing 200 feet above our heads.

We also went on a hanging bridge walk through the rainforest. We were walking up near the top of the canopy, looking down on the rainforest 150 feet below. The most amazing thing about the rainforest is just the sheer number of types of vegetation you see. There are plants growing on plants growing on plants!

I am frustrated I have not been able to post more pictures. Facebook hasn't let me at all, and now blogger hasn't been letting me either. When we leave here July 10, I'll be headed to Minnesota and should be able to post from there. The last of Luke's family left today and my parents should be here in an hour or so. My brother will join us in a few days.

Of course we are all overjoyed to be here with Luke, the kids especially. It is great to be together!