We Made It!

First of all, I should start with a quick explanation. We came to Costa Rica just for a cool vacation. We are staying for a month because we can with John's work, so we thought 'why not?' Some may not know that my parents served as mission president here. While they were serving, John and I got married here in the Costa Rica San Jose Temple. It was amazing and we have always wanted to come back, so here we are (with 3 kids-which is a little crazy).
Getting here was worse than I thought it would be. Our travels started at 4:30 on Friday afternoon when we left for the airport.We took a quick plane to Denver then had a 3 hour layover. It wouldn't have been too bad, but we got to Denver at 9 (kids bed time) and didn't leave until midnight. The kids were a total mess for most of that time. But by the time we got on the airplane, they were so tired that they slept from before we were off the ground until we reached the gate in San Jose. I, on the other hand, slept very little. That was the worst part of it.
In the interest of not being long winded, I will cut it down. Customs, baggage claim, rental car and getting into the hotel all went fairly smoothly. By the time we got to the hotel it was 10:30am, so we'd been traveling for 18 hours!!
We rested a bit in the hotel and then walked around downtown. I think the Ticos (that's what the Costa Rican people call themselves) are a very beautiful people. Everyone has been so kind and helpful. The women like to wear their clothes a little too tight for my taste, but if you look at their faces, they are so pretty.
We had lunch at a traditional Tico street corner restaurant. John and Austin loved it!
We found a little grocery store to get a couple things and are now honkered down in the hotel room to try for a good night's sleep. Not sure how that will go, the bar across the street seems to be just getting going! Good thing we brought Bailey's noise maker!
Day 1- semi-success. Really looking forward to the beach tomorrow!
Pics won't upload. Will deal with it tomorrow.

Today's the Day!

Today we leave to spend a month in Costa Rica!! We have a little condo on the beach and will also travel the country a bit. I'm not sure what my communication will be as far as phone, but I will for sure be able to email and blog. So stay tuned for some really exciting posts!

Pura Vida

Sick Days

I woke up Sunday morning feeling a little under the weather, but what do you do? (Side note- John has been called to be executive secretary in our ward and I am now a primary teacher). So John has 7am meetings and I have church responsibilities and 3 kids to get ready for church. I give it little thought and hit the ground running. By the third hour of church, I was really starting to feel it. I had just enough strength to get the kids home, fed lunch, Bailey down for a nap, movie for Austin and Addie, and climb into bed (John has more meetings after church). I did not move from that laying position until Monday evening! I thought I was feeling well enough for the Memorial Day BBQ at my mom's. I even played a little cards, but by the time we got back home, I was miserable again.
Well, guess what? Tuesday morn comes, I have now wasted two whole days. We are leaving for Costa Rica on Friday, so now matter how I feel, I am out of bed and on the move. Still feeling yucky, I head to the doc. STREP THROAT!! ARGH!!! He drugged me up and after feeling blah the rest of the day, I woke up feeling pretty good yesterday morn and got lots done. Thanks to gma JUJU for taking the kiddos for me.
Austin was my MURSE (male-nurse). He would help me walk from the bed to the couch and even fed me some yogurt. We were laughing at the natural need to open your mouth as you are feeding someone. Take a look...


And John had to do a morning photo shoot on our bed while the kids crawled all over me...

I love that under-bite. Won't love it so much when the orthodontist sends the bill to fix it.
Yes...she wakes up with that hair EVERY morning! Not sure how her face is already a mess!Cute teeth!

Such Love!

Pink Frosting and Chocolate Sprinkles...

For a couple days now Adeline has been asking me to make cookies with "pink frosting and chocolate sprinkles." Who could resist a blond haired blue eyed girl with a question like that? She is such a doll. So guess what we did after school today? We even made the second batch purple (which came out of the oven more like a mucky gray).

I love having girls!!

Messy Eater

Today I gave Bailey her own little bowl of mac and cheese with a fork. She did great! It's actually not easier to let her feed herself because the clean up time voids out the time I saved by not sitting and just feeding her myself, but I can feel good about the fact that I am teaching her a skill she will use the rest of her life. I never let Austin do this and sometimes I still have to feed him!

Oh yea, and I let her suck on a couple chocolate covered pretzels, just to keep her happy in her confinement for a little bit longer. Doesn't every child need a picture like this?

YUM!

"Graduation"

"It's not a graduation. He is moving from the 3rd grade to the 4th. We keep coming up with new ways to celebrate mediocrity." -Mr. Incredible.
Austin and Adeline had their Graduation Programs yesterday. Austin's really could classify as graduation because it's his last year of pre-school (sniff sniff). My baby is going to kindergarten!
Here are a couple pictures of us "celebrating mediocrity." We think they're pretty great though!

Dance Performance

This school year I took this jazz dance class with some friends of mine. It was a fun class and a good out once a week. Tonight was our end of the year performance. Who would've thought that ten years (and three kids) later I would be performing again?!?! I thought I might post the video, but then I watched it and it was even worse than I thought. So embarrassing! So sorry, that's not happening. Here are a couple still shots though.

The Good Ole Days

Austin and Adeline had these pictures taken at school. I told the school to not even bother taking them because I think they are cheesy and I wasn't going to buy, but they took them anyway and this is what we got.
Austin's are cute even though I'm not sure what's up with his smile. Addie's just kill me. She does not look amused. I would think she would have loved it. I asked her if they told her not to smile to really make it look authentic and she said "No, they kept telling me to smile, but I didn't feel like it." At least it gave us a good laugh.

Ode to the Mothers in My Life

On this Mother's Day I am thinking of the Mothers in my life. I am beyond thankful for each of them. This is why...
First I have to start with my Grandma Marilynn, who is my mom's mom. I feel like she is where this has all started (I'm sure it started with her mom's mom's mom) but in my life she has started this whole dedicated, selfless mother thing that has poured down the generations. My grandma has stood strong through her husbands life threatening illness, losing a baby, serving trying missions, and so many other things that come with being the matriarch of an eternal family. She is a perfect example to me of unwaivering faith and love. I don't have a picture of her on my computer, but she has aged beautifully and, by far, the prettiest Great Grandma I know!
My mother, Judy, is absolutely stunning. She is the most selfless person I know. Nothing she does is for her and it never wears on her. She never complains or tires of service. She loves and supports her children with all her being. She never missed a dance performance of mine, which is nothing compared to sitting through a snowy soccer game or a scorching track meet for my brothers. She is my rock and my best friend. I want to follow her example in every way and hope to be just like her when I grow up.
My sister, Cami, is another mother I adore. Look at how gorgeous she is. For her sake, I didn't put the full length picture in, but after 3 babies she still has a killer bod! We have been mothers together. She is a near perfect mom. I have learned so much from her. She is endlessly patient with her 3 wild boys. Her house in always spotless, make up always done, clothes always clean and healthy meal always on the table. She is without guile. She is always willing to try new things and so accepting of my crazy ways. She is amazing. She too is my best friend and my cheerleader!
Shelbie is my little brother, Tim's wife. She, also is just gorgeous. She has been one of us since the day we met her. I like to say that I knew she and Tim were getting married before they knew it. She had her first baby, Hudson, the same time I had Bailey (my third). It has been fun to watch a new mom as I did it for the third time. She has reminded me of the wonder and awe that goes into mothering your first child. To Shelbie, motherhood is all about LOVE. She adores Hudson and reminds me to just hold and cuddle my children. She also has been such a good example to me of remembering that you are a wife before you are a mother. Tim is numero uno to her and she's not shy about it. I tease them for their cheesy love, but it's refreshing and full of hope. Shelbie has become one of my closest friends in the few short years she has been in our family.
I also have to give a quick shout out to my very best non-blood friend Michelle Jolley. She too is gorgeous and amazing. She is creative and fun. What a cool, hip mom! She has a tender heart and a killer sense of humor. She reminds me that I'm young and that raising kids is adventuresome and exciting. Michelle is long suffering and faithful. She is confident and scared of nothing. She was born with a testimony and shares it through her actions DAILY!

I love each of the women and mothers in my life so dearly and am so thankful that I get to spend my time on this earth with you! I am beyond blessed to be able to copy such wonderful women in motherhood. It's the only way I can be half way decent!

HAPPY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

While Dad's Away, Mom Will Paint!

I always try to get a painting project in while John is out of town (which doesn't happen very often). It's actually just easier to do if he's not around to bug me for food or complain that the house smells like paint. This is what I did last time he was gone.
This past weekend John went golfing with his dad and brothers in Las Vegas. He took Austin with him, which left me with just the girls. It was such a snap to just have two kids!
My front door was in dire need of some color. So while Bailey napped, Cinderella was put on repeat and...
TAA-DAA! Isn't it great? Even John like it. Who doesn't love a good before and after?