The first of March marked a very special day in our house. We had been counting down for what seemed like forever in kid time for. . . the arrival of Oma!
We had the most lovely, peaceful, fun and craft filled visit with Oma. To be honest, I am always a little nervous, (maybe not nervous. . . maybe hopefully curious is a better description) before a visitor arrives. Panama photographs really beautifully. Our photos look like our life is one long beach vacation. So I think people imagine our life as something similar to lounging on the beach at an awesome resort with all the amenities and I fear that once they realize that is not what Panama is, they will be gravely disappointed with their "vacation choice." Our life is very basic, very simple and full of lots and lots of together time. . . but it's not necessarily easy. We don't have a car. Going to town to grocery shop is a half day affair and then we carry everything home on our backs in equatorial heat. We hike 45 minutes to the beach. There is no take out or pizza delivery. No Panera or Publix. And not that Donna is a high maintenance person by any means. I guess I just think that the perspective of when you come from a place where you can jump in the car and grab bagels for everyone as a breakfast treat or offer to pick up Publix subs and then drive to the beach to meet the family, the way we live might seem. . . weird? difficult? stupid at times? So I'm always a little nervous (and hopefully curious) when we have visitors. Well, Donna jumped right into our life. She loved it all. She went to town with Conor to shop and drop Woody off at his classes with adorable enthusiasm. She hiked to Wizards like a champ. She snuggled into our couch and read to the kids. We relaxed on our porch and went craft crazy! She talked compost and gardens with Conor and planted seeds with the kids. She painted some art for the cabin and complimented every meal I made. She was a happy, peaceful, loving energy to have and we are all looking forward to the next visit!
Oma and I both took a ton of photos. Oma, however, has a nicer phone than me so you may notice some color and sharpness differences haha! But the smiles and memories were captured no matter the amount of pixels!
There were stories read snuggled under the amazing quilt Oma hand stitched for us and there were rainbows that arched across the whole sky.
We rented golf carts and did a beach tour in Bocas
Oma gave Conor and I and the big kids facials. It was heavenly for me and beyond adorable to see the kids getting pampered.
It was the loveliest of visits with our very special Oma.
We had the most lovely, peaceful, fun and craft filled visit with Oma. To be honest, I am always a little nervous, (maybe not nervous. . . maybe hopefully curious is a better description) before a visitor arrives. Panama photographs really beautifully. Our photos look like our life is one long beach vacation. So I think people imagine our life as something similar to lounging on the beach at an awesome resort with all the amenities and I fear that once they realize that is not what Panama is, they will be gravely disappointed with their "vacation choice." Our life is very basic, very simple and full of lots and lots of together time. . . but it's not necessarily easy. We don't have a car. Going to town to grocery shop is a half day affair and then we carry everything home on our backs in equatorial heat. We hike 45 minutes to the beach. There is no take out or pizza delivery. No Panera or Publix. And not that Donna is a high maintenance person by any means. I guess I just think that the perspective of when you come from a place where you can jump in the car and grab bagels for everyone as a breakfast treat or offer to pick up Publix subs and then drive to the beach to meet the family, the way we live might seem. . . weird? difficult? stupid at times? So I'm always a little nervous (and hopefully curious) when we have visitors. Well, Donna jumped right into our life. She loved it all. She went to town with Conor to shop and drop Woody off at his classes with adorable enthusiasm. She hiked to Wizards like a champ. She snuggled into our couch and read to the kids. We relaxed on our porch and went craft crazy! She talked compost and gardens with Conor and planted seeds with the kids. She painted some art for the cabin and complimented every meal I made. She was a happy, peaceful, loving energy to have and we are all looking forward to the next visit!
Oma and I both took a ton of photos. Oma, however, has a nicer phone than me so you may notice some color and sharpness differences haha! But the smiles and memories were captured no matter the amount of pixels!
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| The day of Oma's arrival finally arrived! We can stop counting the days on the calendar! haha |
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| the kids helped clean up the house |
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| Oma's flight from Panama City to Bocas kept gettting delayed so I encouraged the kids to take a nap so they could stay up late. Woody easily obliged. But Tohi needed to do an entire yoga routine before she was ready to relax. . . |
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| the peace after a good yoga class. I get it. |
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| two year olds are so ridiculous and hilarious. This adorable toweled up cherub changed into a heartbroken sobbing little friend within seconds because her towel fell off. |
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| seconds after the above photo |
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| She just. . . Can't. Even. |
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| Oma Arrived!!!! . . . and she brought lots of awesome stuff!! She had an entire suitcase just for art and crafts projects! |
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| modeling some new items |
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| Oma off to grocery shop with Conor and the big kids |
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| Fernie stayed with me to try on some new clothes and play with the new toys! |
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| cards from Ama and Merek were a family favorite item |
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| Basti Docks in Bocas It was interesting to see Oma's photos, she took pics of things that I would never take pictures of because it is just part of our daily routine. But she found beauty in the regular day all around her and it reminded us of how beautiful this little island is. |
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| Meg coming home from teaching yoga, carrying her #1 fan with her up the steps. |
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| Frances is napping! Quick! Which art project are we going to do today?!?! |
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| 3 happy kids with their Oma! |
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| Hike to Wizards. Oma kept saying she was going to have to lean on Woody and sweet Woody was ready but Oma was a total trooper and made it with ease! |
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| I absolutely love this pic |
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| two happy little water babies |
There were stories read snuggled under the amazing quilt Oma hand stitched for us and there were rainbows that arched across the whole sky.
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| There was seed planting, gardening, and compost discussions. |
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| we made driftwood paintings |
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| special mornings at the cabin with Oma and the big kids. Kid Coffees and Art Time! |
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| on windy afternoons we tired to fly the kites Oma brought. . . It was tougher than we thought it was going to be keeping them in the air! |
Oma's paintings on driftwood!
We all had fun painting but Oma's were pretty amazing!
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| art projects hanging in the cabin |
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| showing Oma how we make our coconut milk |
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| the big kids would wake up and run up to the cabin for kid coffee with Oma |
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| Frankie and I grabbing some hot hojaldras for a Bocas breakfast treat. |
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| on the hunt for sea glass! |
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| Fernie and I had our own cart and it was awesome. |
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| after a long afternoon of swimming and golf carting, everyone needed a "special treat drink" break |
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| we gave a lift to a few cute hitch hikers along the way |
we saw monkeys and sloths!
Oma gave Conor and I and the big kids facials. It was heavenly for me and beyond adorable to see the kids getting pampered.
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| Oma brought ingredients for a family birthday cake! Happy Birthday Fernie, Woody, Oma, and Tohi!!! |
It was the loveliest of visits with our very special Oma.
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