Costa Rica!!

So much has happened since the last post. There isn't a good excuse except for being busy, and aren't we all? Well, here is what we have been up to:
mid December- got a killer deal on tickets to Costa Rica ($250 ea. round trip)
end Dec.-beginning Jan.- went home for Christmas
mid Jan.- found a house for a good deal, decided to buy it
Feb.- mortgage paperwork and packing
Feb. 20th- moved into new house
Feb. 26th- flew down to Costa Rica
Mar. 5th- returned home
Mar. 13th- Jared torn down half a wall in house

Things have been a little crazier than normal. But things are starting to settle down. I thought I would start with pics from our vacation since the house isn't quite put together. We went down with another couple, Landon and Amee. Jared goes to school with Landon and when he told Jared about the great deal on tickets, we decided to just go for it. We didn't realize that we would be buying a house, otherwise we probably wouldn't have gone. I can't regret it though, it was fantastic. It was the first trip we have taken without the kids. My mom and grandma came to stay with the kids while we were gone, they are awesome and the kids had a blast with them. It helped me to know they were being so well taken care of.


We tried to surf... Jared did better than I did, but it was a blast anyway. We spent a lot of time on the beach just hanging out and playing in the ocean. Our hotel was conveniently right next to the beach.


We went a horseback ride up to some waterfalls one day. They fed us breakfast and lunch at their home and they had a bunch of different pets. I got to hold Tommy the Toucan.

The ride up was gorgeous and the horses loved to race each other and didn't like getting passed by each other. It was really fun!Once we got up to the waterfalls we swam for an hour or two to cool off. The guide climbed up the waterfall and attached a rope so we could climb up and jump off. It was a blast.

Jared eating fresh pineapple at the fruit stand. I loved all the fresh fruit.

And of course the beautiful sunset. It was truly gorgeous there. I am not sure what I enjoyed the most, the hot weather, not wearing makeup or doing my hair, not cooking, or not having to pack two crazy kids around. It was a great trip, but I was ready to go home by the end of the week, it is amazing how much you miss all the little things your kids do to make you smile. Even though I missed the kids a ton, it was great to have Jared all to myself.

Washington DC

During our Thanksgiving break this year we decide to go on a little mini-vacation to Washington DC. We drove down on Monday and came home on Wednesday. We went down there with Derek and Talane Harper and their little girl, Derek goes to school with Jared. On Monday we stopped at the temple and explored the visitors center. The DC Temple is really amazing and we were able to see all the holiday decorations they have up. Bentli loved looking at the statue of Christ and talking about why there are holes in his hands. When asked by a missionary what her favorite story of Jesus is she replied, "when Jesus blesses the children". It fills me with joy that even so young she is able to understand that Jesus loves her, unconditionally. If only more people knew that simple truth.

Tuesday is when all the walking started! I wish that I would have worn one of those mile tracker things that tell you how far you walk. When you look at the map of the National Mall (all the museums and monuments) you don't realize how big the place is. The Lincoln Memorial was awesome, I had always wanted to see the statue of 'Abe'. We also saw the Washington Monument and WWII Monument. The National Archives was really neat, you can't use flash photography in there so the pics were too dark to really see. It was amazing to see the actual documents that founded this country, and of course to see John Hancock's signature on the Declaration of Independence.

In the afternoon we hit up the museums. There are a bunch of Smithsonian Museums and you could spend forever exploring all of them. We went to the Natural History Museum and I felt like we were only able to a tiny portion of it. They have a butterfly exhibit where you can walk in a dome that is filled with butterflies. Needless to say Bentli was in heaven and took a LOT of pics of all the butterflies and flowers and, of course, the ground. We also check out the Hope Diamond along with other jewelry worn by historical figures like Josephine Bonaparte. And of course you have to see the dinosaur bones.

Our last stop of the day was at the Air and Space Museum. Bentli has always had a fascination with airplanes, in part because her 'awesome Uncle Jake' is a fighter pilot in the Air Force. They had an exhibit of the cockpit that Bentli loved and she talked about all the controls for a few days. After that the kids were spent! We took the Metro (the kids loved riding on the train) back to the hotel and grabbed some dinner before the kids crashed. They did awesome and were happy the whole day.

We headed home earlier than we were originally planning on Wednesday when we realized that there would be a ton of holiday traffic. I wasn't really thinking when I planned this trip! So we made a quick stop to see the White House. There was a big tent/pavilion thing set up in front of it so we couldn't get a good pic, so hopefully next time, right? We left DC by 11:00 and still hit hard traffic. It took five hours instead of the two and a half to get home! I was just glad that Jared was driving. We had a great time and can't wait to go back. There is so much more there that I want to see and didn't have time for. It is so much fun to have these fun trips with our little family and have these memories together.

Nursery

Help! Tatum has the hardest time with nursery. He hates to go. It doesn't help that he is scared of other women unless he knows them well, he is just fine with strange men though. I have tried to stay and get him used to it while I'm there, he just clings to me the whole time. I tried dropping him off cold turkey after I pried him off my leg. I came back a while later and he was asleep in Bro. Trace's (a kind soul who after hearing my son screaming decided to have mercy on him) arms. The nursery leaders say he won't let them touch him and his cries are not sad, but angry. Fiesty kid!
The poor kid clings to us as soon as we walk into the church. After sacrament meeting's closing prayer Tate cries and clings to me, a serious death grip. I just don't know what to do. I let him come to Sunday school with us today and made Jared take him while I went to YW. If anyone has any suggestions to help with the separation anxiety, please let me know! Bentli told me to leave when she started going to nursery, so I was not prepared for this.
I better go, Bentli is still at the dinner table crying, "I wish I didn't have to eat!"

Halloween

Halloween, as usual was filled with candy and friends, followed by exhausted cranky kids thrown into bed. At least I was able to raid the candy after the kids were eventually in bed as reward for dealing with the gremlins. I decided that candy will do to a two year old what water does to a gremlin. You have a sweet little boy, but after that taste of candy they turn into sugar craving ... well monsters. Okay, it is not quite that bad, but we sure were grateful for bedtime after we discover Tate inherited my sweet tooth.

Bentli and Tate were both adorable this year. Tatum was a puppy and Bentli was a beautiful ballerina. We had fun trick or treating with some friends, Tate was pretty excited about people actually giving him candy at every door and clutched his candy-filled pillowcase with a death grip. Bentli was charming as every and loved all the attention she received. We were able to end the night at a friend's house with chili and cornbread.

Tatum wasn't crazy about wearing his costume or about getting his pic taken.

Bentli was pretty proud of her ballerina spins and practiced everyday all week long.

Trick or Treating with the Wards. Sadie (Snow White), Sawyer (dragon), Cosette (pumpkin), and Nicole (punk rocker).

Its a small world

It was a typical Sunday, you know, walking into sacrament meeting during the opening hymn. For us, that is pretty good. However, this last Sunday we were excited to see some familiar faces sitting on the stand, Brother and Sister Winegar, from our ward in Pocatello! Pres. Winegar is the mission president in the area. We had a great time catching up and talking about home.
I also was able to meet a new friend that I found out was from San Antonio! It was a good day, but I went home with a twinge of homesickness for both Idaho and Texas. We love and miss all of our wonderful friends and family!

Ocean City

Last weekend jumped in the car and hit the beach! We decided we better take advantage of the nice weather while it lasted. Ocean City is only about an hour away from us, a pretty easy drive, but I don't think that I will ever get used to toll roads. It seems so foreign to have to pay to drive on the road. Anyway, I guess one of many things to get used to, but it was a small price to pay to enjoy the ocean and beach.
The weather was still kind of cool, so we didn't put the kids in their swimming suits. We waded in the ocean, chased birds, and played in the sand... ohh.. and mom got a nap! It was awesome, I could hang out there everyday all day. They were having an airshow there the next day and all the planes were out practicing for the next day, so we got a little bit of an airshow too. But, of course Jared can't sit still for too long, so we took a stroll along the boardwalk. We enjoyed so soft pretzels and water ice (it is similar to a slushy but not so watery, you can swirl it with ice cream and it is pretty dang good). We also had to get some salt water taffy that I must say was the best taffy I have ever had. Needless to say, you can eat yourself sick if you want to. The kids were exhausted by the time we left. It was a fantastic day trip and I left wanting to buy a beach house!


Jared and the kids on the boardwalk, it is off season so it wasn't very busy, best time to go.

This scenery makes me feel like I should have the kids dressed in sailor outfits, okay I wouldn't do that to them. But I really did love the fence!
After watching me squat down to take pictures with them, Tate feels like he should too.
Bentli enjoyed writing her name in the sand and collecting sea shells, she was pretty pumped when I told her she could take some home.

Our sandy little boy, it was when he sat down in the water that I decided we probably should have done the swim suits even though we weren't getting in. His shorts were drying and he ran around in a diaper. I guess that is how our parents did it, right?

Philly

During our first week here, between unpacking, we were able to go and see a few sites with my mom. Bentli and Tate loved hanging with Grandma, she is so much cooler than boring 'ol Mom! One of the days that Jared spent at orientation, we took the train into Philly to see some sites. Bentli and Tate loved the train, especially when it crossed the Ben Franklin bridge over the Delaware River. Bentli is pretty jealous that Jared gets to do this everyday.

Of course you have to see the Liberty Bell, Bentli was fascinated with the story of the crack! (you have to smack your hands together when you say crack also) Independence Hall was right there also. We decided not to tour it, the kids were getting hungry so we went to a farmer's market called Reading Terminal Market to get some lunch. The market was awesome, they have anything and everything.

On one of Jared's day off we went out to Amish country. We ate at a Amish family style restaurant, Good and Plenty (thanks for the tip Tif) it was fantastic... homemade everything and all you can eat! We took a buggy ride and learned more about the Amish and Mennonite people. Needless to say the kids loved it.

We had fun just hanging out with Grandma! Grandma treated us to burgers and shakes a couple nights. The kids especially loved the shake part, as you can see, Tate was pretty serious about the shake. I felt pretty empty handed without two kids hanging on me constantly, it was fantastic. Bentli had a hard time when Grandma left thank goodness for cell phones, we can't wait to see her again!