The Mariposa Garden

Arizona may have its Mariposa County and the butterfly garden at the Desert Botanical Garden, but Costa Rica has "Mariposa" (butterfly) attractions around every corner. On our drive from San Jose north to Arenal, we stopped at one of the roadside Mariposa gardens and took the tour. Amazing!

Hayden tried his had at butterfly training. Jodi was amazed at the brilliance of the golden cocoons. She was sure they were imported from Egypt. Jodi was also particularly impressed when she realized that every butterfly has a proboscis (learn more about proboscis here). Note the proboscis on this one hard at work getting some nectar out of the plants.

The Ralley Tour

Because Hayden graduated from high school we are now in Costa Rica. Maybe that needs a little explanation.

When Jade was getting ready to graduate from High School a couple of years ago, we decided we would try to do "senior trips" with the graduating child as a last great hurrah. So in 2009, Jodi, Jade, Karina, and Jean went to Hawaii. Hayden wanted a little more adventure, thus Costa Rica.

So on Thursday, June 2, 2011, the day after graduation, we flew into San Jose Costa Rica with some of Hayden's best friends and a couple of their dads. Jodi is the lone female, keeping us all on track, and making sure the boys mind their p's and q's. This is a picture of the gang at our opening night hotel in San Jose. From the left you have Jordyn Ensign, Jack Hogan, Hayden, Jodi, Harley Sampson, Steve Sampson (Harley's dad), and Marc Ensign (Jordan's dad).