The parrots showed up again this week — loud, colorful, unapologetic. I like to think they’re the Costa Rican version of a pep talk: “Hey, remember what matters.” They perch in the trees right above our porch, squawking through the morning rain like they’ve got somewhere to be. And somehow, in their chaos, they remind me to slow down — to look up, breathe, and take in this wild, beautiful life I’m lucky enough to live (even when it’s loud).
This week’s big win? Renting a car and driving three hours to San José to personally liberate Greyson and Evie’s Halloween costumes from Costa Rican Customs.
The drive there and back honestly felt like a mini vacation — just me, a thermos of coffee, winding mountain roads, and old songs I hadn’t heard in forever (and still somehow knew every word to 😉). There are four toll booths between Jacó and San José — and I think each one reminded me that patience is a real thing I’m still learning.
I left before sunrise and got home just in time for Halloween night. The kids changed into their costumes almost the second I walked through the door — and seeing them light up as they ran out for a bit of trick-or-treating made the entire trip worth it. (Our spirits could not even be damped by the classic Costa Rican downpour during trick or treating 😂.)
🌧️ The sound of rain on the porch roof at 3 PM — and the cool breeze it brings
🥥 Evie’s flip-flop phase, still going strong
☕ A York Peppermint Patty snuck from the Halloween stash after bedtime
🦜 The morning parrot chorus that somehow feels like home now
Behind the scenes at Quiggly, we’re getting ready to launch extra mop pads for our bestselling toddler mop — so you can toss one in the wash and still have a clean set ready for laundry day. It’s been a wild learning curve getting everything warehouse-ready (turns out “in the U.S.” doesn’t mean “ready to sell” 😅), but we’re this close.
A reminder I keep bumping into lately (and I think the universe is trying to make it stick):
“The more a mother enjoys motherhood, the more children enjoy their childhood.”
Still letting that one sink in.
💛,
