Peep S'mores

Looking for a SUPER DUPER EASY FUN kid dessert for Easter? Look no further. My sis did these last year and they were a huge hit!

No recipe even needed - just place a half graham cracker under a piece of chocolate and a peep marshmallow. Put in the oven for a few seconds under a broiler and enjoy!

The Gilberts Take on Costa Rica Video

For those who are interested, I have created a VIDEO OF OUR TRIP HERE.
When viewing, if you click on the arrows on the lower right corner it will be bigger.

The Ring

The Ring


In our family, Boppa (my dad) is known for his generosity -- it is one of his hallmark traits -- so it is fitting that the money he gave to his grandson would be used in the same way.  Before coming to Costa RIca, Boppa gave each of our kids $20 to buy souvenirs.  Last night we went to dinner at a little cafe that had a tiny gift shop attached to it featuring local artisans.  There was a ring that Kenna was admiring.  Hudson found me and said, "I want to use my money to buy Kenna the ring that she likes."  Now, Kenna had not spent her money yet and could have bought the ring herself, and I told Hudson that, but that did not matter to him.  The cost of the ring?  Exactly $20 -- the entire sum of his money.  He slyly snuck the ring up to the counter and purchased it, then stuck it in his pocket.  The huge smile on his face lit up the whole room.  When we got in the car, he couldn't stand it any longer and he popped out the ring and gave it to his sister.  There wasn't any sadness that he had spent all of his money and wouldn't be able to pick something out for himself, it was just complete joy in making someone else happy.  Hudson is the collector in our family, translation- "pack rat," so souvenirs are right up his alley.   This made the sacrifice even more significant.  
Now here is the amazing thing about generosity.... generosity begets generosity.  When someone is on the receiving end of generosity, it spurs him or her on to do the same.  Kenna, seeing the great sacrifice Hud made for her, bought HIM the trinket box with a tree frog on it that he had been admiring.  He was equally surprised that she had bought that for him, and there were hugs all around!  
"God loves a cheerful giver."  Why?  Because it shows that people are more important than things.  I believe He was proud of Hudson's little decision, because it is evidence of the generous heart that He is building into him.  It is truly not a work of parenting, but completely the footprints of God on Hudson's little life.  

Something I love the most...

I remember thinking at the end of my year in Costa Rica that I should have been born a Latin woman. I lived with 4 generations of women in the same household, and the other family members lived in houses next door, or just own the street. The way these people view FAMILY just feeds my soul. It's hard to explain, but family isn't just a part of their life, it IS their life, and it is as natural as breathing. This trip I watched as sisters shared financial and household responsibilities, as daughters took full time care of elderly mothers in the home, as sons provided for entire extended families, as daughters helped their mother cook for us every night, as 19 & 21 year old nephews hung out with their aunts and uncles, and as older cousins took the initiative to care for their younger cousins without a second thought. They eat together, they work together, they play together, and they hang out every weekend. Elsa explained to me that her house is always full, and her table is routinely shared by many. Proximity has a lot to do with it. If they didn't live within a stone's throw they couldn't share life quite like they do. What a beautiful and fulfilling part of their culture. I know this is changing for the people of Costa Rica, though. I spoke to many who said they had an uncle, a cousin, or sibling who left for the United States because they couldn't find work in their country. I pray that this part of their culture is preserved. They may not have all that we do as far as material resources go, but they have something special... unity and close knit families who weave a tapestry of life day by day, moment by moment. For this girl who would love to live on a family compound, it is a dream :).

We visted a school on Wednesday during their "day of sports." The kids got to play soccer with them. They'd all yell when Kenna got the ball, they thought she was really good!!! The kids swarmed each one of them, and kept trying to talk to them in Spanish. It was really fun -- Stetson even got a kick out of all of the attention he was getting from the older boys. I couldn't get over how friendly and warm the kids were to our family. It was SO FUN!