Saturday, August 2, 2008

WE HAVE INTERNET!!!!!!!


Oh what a happy day!


My MAC picked up a signal when we first moved here. However, I needed the password. We could order cable Internet but the box alone costs $400 and it would take 3 months to get. Oh yeah, like that would be a plausible possibility! So I had Wes asking around to see who it was. It took us about 4 weeks. Turns out the family is right behind us. They were willing to share, and now my happy little world here is truly HAPPY. We help share in their monthly cost. SWEET! I could go over and kiss the man, but that could go badly so I will resist.

Happy Day!

Friday, August 1, 2008

My First Sunday with a Purpose...

Last Sunday went well. I had mention earlier that I had just received a new calling {kind of like a job without pay} at church. How important it is to be needed at church. Without feeling that you are needed it is pretty difficult to go every single week, especially when you can't tell what's being said.

Last week I survived being in Primary without our sweet president there. To deal with the language barrier I had a primary teacher from the states translate for me. Thank goodness for Bro Wilcox. I did nursery which is only the second hour of church and then did singing time. Here my reading and acting skills came in handy.

We played a game that my kids have played a million times in the states. You have a child leave the room and then pick another child to hide the item. When the first child comes in the kids will sing the song they just learned louder and louder as the 2nd child gets closer to the hidden item. The kids love it! My kids commented on how fun primary was because we played this game. Interesting because they wouldn't have even mentioned the game if in the states. The best thing about this adventure of ours is the gratitude our little guys have for the life they just expected in the U.S.


Here is a picture of our nursery room. It's 12x12 feet and full of noise carrying tile. The kids have 2 toy options, the large building blocks and the foam puzzle pieces that I threw out when nursery leader in the states. I still hate those things. I'm slowly planning their demise as we speak. As you know the building doesn't have air conditioning, but we do have this fancy dancy fan that will circulate the hot air.



Here is a few of my nursery kids playing in the colored salt. They play with it like sand. Since we have tile I figured even if it got out of the bucket, it would be easy to clean up. Sure enough, I was correct, it was easy to clean up.

This is my primary notebook. I have to say that even though I'm easy going about things, this notebook drives me crazy. Maybe I do have a bit of OCD in me. I just want to take it home and doll it up. In fact, throwing it out seems like the best way to fix it. I have a nice shinny white one waiting in the bookshelf just asking to be brought out. So here is the battle going on in my head. "Shawna, temperal things don't matter here. Just leave the notebook as it is. You don't need a crisp new one to do a good job. Hasn't Costa Rica taught you anything?" Then I say, "Oh, but it is important to be organized and neat, and that cover just doesn't help". So you have an assignment. What do you think? Should I leave it alone or what?????

All in all, I know working in the primary is going to be the best thing for me. I've already done more studying with the Spanish language this week than I have done all month. I have to, I can't hide. And is there a more perfect place to practice than with kids????? All they really care about is that you love them!

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Inquiring Minds Want to Know...

I know that I only post on MWF, but I'm trying to make up for Monday. :)

I thought it would interesting to know what YOU would like me to post about. If there is subject you think would be an interesting post, leave me a comment. Let me know and I will do my best to come through for you! This could be fun!

Remember this is a family blog as you make your requests! {Hee! Hee} There are some things my dad just doesn't want to know.

"Love ya Dad".

Oh and Happy Birthday mom! I miss you terribly!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Did I Say Tuesday? I Meant Wednesday

I'm just going to blame it on the good old internet! Oh and this Spanish keyboard that whenever I push on the coma key I get this [. It{s so fun.
Monday was a holiday here in beautiful Costa Rica so we skipped town and headed to San Jose, the capital city. It did bring me fond memories of home as I coughed on a little smog; but only the tinist bit of smog.

We tagged along with Wes sister Rusti, and when Rusti travels you can be sure it's 5 star all the way. We stayed in the Inter Continental Hotel. The bellhops reminded me of the guy in The Sweet Life of Zack and Cody. Don't be shy, admit you know what I'm talking about. It surely wasn't a hotel for a crazy family of 7 like mine but oh did we enjoy it. We all took advantage of the modern convienence called the "tub". Ï think I hold the longest bath record at 1.3 hours. Oh it was good.

So here I am, it's 10 pm, an ant just made it's way up my pant leg and gave me quite a bite, KFC is closing and I've got to go...

ok this is Wes. Im here at work and since the laptop battery died last night I'll see if I can post this baby:)

Thanks sweetheart. See what kind of man I have!
So last night after being kicked out of KFC we hung out under the night sky trying to catch someone's internet when Wes' battery died. {It was quite romantic though.}
It's 1 pm in the afternoon Wednesday, I've put the little ones down for a nap and I'm here at my favorite computer at my favorite internet cafe. What could be better?


Aiden's birthday is here. This is the last picture I have of him as a 3 year old. Boy, where does the time go. We went to the toy store in the San Jose mall and he really was a kid in the candy store. He kept loading his "car" with toys. Girls toys, boy toys, baby toys, it didn't matter. They have been quite starved in this aspect of a child's life. All in all, he got 4 matchbox cars. That was a treat because the generic versions we can get here in Jaco fall apart after an hour.
I also have a love for "Little People" toys. They are adorable, well built and reasonable priced here. (Which is amazing!) He got the pirate ship, very cute!
Just for your information, those cheap no brand name huge toddler building blocks are $45 dollars for a medium pack. Excuse me while I CHOKE!

So I do have more pictures to post, just for some reason they aren't here on my disk! Are you kidding me!?!?!?

But I have some random shots I'll share with you. That way my mile walk here {O.K. I'm exaggerating here, maybe 1/2 a mile} won't be in vain.


There must be something in the water here. {Actually I'm sure there is and we have stopped drinking it!} Dallin lost a tooth Friday and Saturday morning Paige lost one.

Note to myself, Dallin needs a haircut! He really looks like a girl here.


Isn't this a great pic of my youngest one. Do you see how his eyebrows are crinkled in a "Don't you dare take a picture of me" face? I love it. This one is doing a great job of being in his two's.


I had this picture of my daughter in her baptism dress. Doesn't she look like a princess? She is, especially in this house full of testosterone! One of her little friends heard that she was baptized in the ocean and now she wants to be baptized too. Funny thing is, her family isn't religious. How cute is that?

O.K. Well that is going to have to do it for today. Have a great one!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

We''ll Be Back Tuesday

It's a three day holiday today and we skipped town. It feels like ditching school! But of course I have no idea how that feels. Hee, hee. We are in a beautiful hotel, eating fancy food and taking real baths. Oh the luxury! So I have so much to post. I want to talk about my first Sunday feeling needed, our trip and other fun things. See you Tuesday!