Valentines Day

This Valentines Day, with Princess in preschool for the first time, I took the opportunity (when don't I ever) to make a few simple crafts for her to share with her little 'friends". As usual I did it up, just a little. It was a wonderful Valentines Day, enjoyed by all.


Valentines hearts

Butter Cookies I made

Boobie's class asked for stickers and 3 chocolates: the kids made 3 cards and stuck a chocolate in each with stickers. Boobie gave one to me and Hubby (awwww), one to his classmate and one to his best friend. Hubby went out and brought me back a slice of chocolate cake...yum!

And Princess made out like a bandit with some chocolates from her classmates.

Princess's First Days Of Preschool

Monday Feb 14th


2nd day of school



1st day of Preschool: Wednesday Feb. 9

Getting ready: 1st day

3rd day of school

A successful 1st week!

It's official, my Princess is growing up *sniff, sniff*!

She is now a member of the colegiate set...hahaha!

So I think I mentioned before that Princess has always wanted to go to school. Playgroup classes quenched that thirst last year but it was not really the same. Princess is shy. And she is not the most friendly. She gets intimidated when strangers try and talk to her and she lacks the friendly attitude most little kids have at her age, which prevents her sometimes from making friends. I figure school could help her socially. She's already smart: she colors very well (within the lines thankyouverymuch)!, she knows most of her colors and she can count from 1-10 in English and Spanish (since the time she was 2). OOOOhhh KAY!

So in short, I wasn't trying to send her to school just for the learnin' aspects... it's preschool, not college.

The problem with school was, I would have to let my baby girl GO! Or so I thought. It actually was not as hard as I initially thought it would be (I mean Fatty is still at home with me : ) But I worried for her; what if she dealt with separation anxiety? What if she hated it? What if she fell and got hurt? What if the other kids are mean? WHat if she doesn't like her teacher? I let my imagination run a little wild.... just a little! But I knew in the long run, she would be fine... I had to tell myself that, after all preschool is a whole new concept for me as Boobie never went. So treading uncharted waters always brings on unwarranted fears.

Ok, so why did I decide to put her in school? It was not an easy decision. I'd been looking for a school for Princess since she turned 3. I had called a couple, visited a few and was not too impressed by many. The ones that were affordable left much to be disired.

The ones I LOVED were either too far or too much (moohlah, cha-ching, dinero, $$$$$). I LOVE Boobies's school but she can wait until 1st grade to start there since it is a little more than I want to spend for preschool. I mean I'm in Costa Rica, I do not want to pay Boston prices!

The other school I love is about, oh, not even sure how much but it is too far for me right now.

The last school I visited that I really liked was almost just right. Except, well, except it was lacking something that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It's not as close but it's not far either. It's not expensive but it's not on the cheaper side either. The hours are perfect but at the same time the days are too long. See, couldn't really pinpoint a problem. But I had a problem, which is why I never signed Princess up. Preschool is not a right of passage, I could wait.

On chance, I saw a 'billoard' advertising for a preschool while I was out running one evening (yes I still run). It seemd to be pretty close to the house, so I jotted the number down. I called and set up an appointment just days before the school season was to begin (mad? Maybe). I had decided I would wait a year to put Princess in school but what the heck, I wanted to check out this school and see if it could be a contender.

Well I went on the school's site (they have a website and a Facebook page, which impressed me) and I fell in love. The school building looks like a playhouse; perfect for kids. I mean it is a human sized version of a doll house; the colors are shocking and bright and wonderful.

The meeting with the director was awesome. The school was 100% English YAY! And class sizes are small.

The price was right AND the hours were super perfect: 7:40 to 12. My princess would only be gone for a little over 4 hours a day, that is it. On a tour of the school, Princess and Hubby fell in love... and that was it!

I signed Princess up and the rest is history. And update: she loves her new school.

On a side note: Boobie started school as well, 5th grade. Lord help us. LOL.

My New Job

So I mentioned last month that I had a new job. Well let me tell you just a bit about it.

On chance, hubby saw a job posting on Craigslist Costa Rica and asked me if I would be interested in applying. Now I was not interested in working, really, but the job sounded too perfect for me to pass up (and all that extra money!!!). I applied and got the job the very same day.

I applied for a number of reasons:
1) It was a work from home position, so I would still be home with the kids, essentially still a stay at home mom. No need for a babysitter or daycare; no need to leave my house and my kids.
2) The pay was decent... just the amount of extra money I needed (as I am saving up for my mom to come and visit in May.)
3) If the job didn't work out, I could always quit!

The position I applied for was as a virtual assisitant, basically an office manager position. However, due to my writing background, my boss asked if I would like to take on the position as in house editor for the company's website: writing content for the webpage and doing keyword research. Well, it's not my dream job, but it allows me to write so of course, I said yes.

I have been with the company now a month and so far, so good. I like the job and I like the flexibility. And most of all, I love the fact that I am still home. I get the best of both worlds: I get to be home and I get paid on top of that.

Hours are fulltime, from 7am CR time to 4 pm. I get an hour lunch and as many breaks as I can justify, without taking advantage. I have good days and lazy days. But for the most part, I am pretty productive in the job. I hope it works out for me, as I plan on being with the job for at least 6 months. From there I'll decide where to go and what to do.

So look at me, working. After being a full time stay at home mom for over 4 years in Costa Rica, I am now stretching my work muscles again. It feels nice!