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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

A Little Wisdom...

“Indian wisdom says our lives are rivers. We are born somewhere small and quiet and we move toward a place we cannot see but only imagine. Along our journey, people and events flow into us, and we are created of everywhere and everyone we have passed. Each event, each person, changes us in some way. Even in times of drought we are still moving and growing, but it is during seasons of rain that we expand the most-when water flows from all directions sweeping at terrifying speed, chasing against rocks, spilling over boundaries. These are painful times, but they enable us to carry burdens we could never have thought possible.”

Lisa Wingate, 1st paragraph in her book, Tending Roses. Lets just say she had me at “hello”. The book is great. I just tried to read, “Pray, Love Eat”. I would highly NOT recommend it. It started out great! Then after the second cuss word that starts with the same sound as fun, I was done!!!! {hey, that rhymed!} Too bad, it probably would have been a great read. There’s just something about reading that word and having it go through your brain because you put it there, yucky!!!

O.K. back to the purpose of the post. I guess I’m a sucker for a good quote! Especially one that starts with “Indian wisdom says…”. Who doesn’t love Indian wisdom? Isn’t the above true? It’s the tough times in life that we “spill over our boundaries”? That’s what we must be doing right now, “spilling over our boundaries.” I do love that term. It’s prettier than the words I would have come up with. {Hee! Hee!}

I do want to be able to “carry burdens I never thought possible”, I think. 

I just received a calling Sunday. I need a calling. It will keep me from hiding from the terrible monster known as the Spanish language. Every time it comes around I hide. Oh, yeah, I’ve learned quite a few words. I can communicate, but only because I use one word and raise my voice at the end so it becomes a question. See how I hide? If I want to ask how old a child is I say, “Anos?” Now you know my secret.

In the states when I would talk to my gardener, I would tell him what I needed done. He would nod like he understood then wouldn’t do what I asked. I finally have empathy for him. I find myself nodding when people speak to me. I’ve already told them I know just a little Spanish. I guess they don’t believe how little I really know. They just keep trying to communicate. The next best thing is to nod and hope they stop talking soon so I can get away. Hopefully they aren’t saying anything important like, “please give my child CPR because she’s dying”.

Anyway, I will be 1st counselor in the Primary Presidency and secretary and nursery leader. I’m basically taking over some of the work our poor president has been doing by herself for so long. She’s amazing. I will have to give lessons in Spanish, which I think I can do, I just can’t take any questions. One of my best qualities is that I don’t mind making a fool out of myself. I don’t take myself too seriously which means I’m not afraid to mess up. It’s a rather nice quality to have. {Although if I were more of a perfectionist I would know the language better by now.} This Sunday is my first Sunday and our president will be out of town for 2 weeks. The only other counselor only speaks Spanish. I guess I’ll be “spilling over my boundaries” this Sunday.

I thought I'd throw in these recent pictures.


Paige and I made paper dolls last Wednesday. (Please do not comment on my skills as an artist. I don't claim to be one.) We had a great time. It was one of those memories I will tuck away. The one with the short hair is her. The other doll is one of her best friends, Sadie. The third is Cinderella and as you can tell, I didn't have anything to do with the creation of that one.




This is funny. Every once in a while my sweetheart spoils me with a massage. They cost about $30 for an hour with a reflexologist. Landon sat on my lap once and then the women gave him a little massage. Now he loves them. He actually falls alseep while getting them. Is he spoiled or what?



I don't have many pictures of Troy so I thought I'd throw this one in. This is his pre-teen look for the camera. He really is a sweetheart and spoils me quite often with hugs.


Another shot of the treacherous road we took a few weeks ago. It was pretty slick and steep but oh so much fun!!!!

Have You Ever...

Have You Ever…

put your ear to your child’s chest just to appreciate that their heart is beating?


closed your eyes as you were holding your little one's hand so you can better remember how their small, chubby hand fit in yours?

stopped doing your “chores”, dropped on the floor and wrestled with your kids?


opened your eyes to watch your three year old pray to his Heavenly Father with eyes scrunched so tight and had to hold yourself back from interrupting with a huge snuggle?


changed your attitude about having a screaming child awake at 3 am and spent the next few hours cuddling and enjoying the moment much more than you would sleep?

been so mad at your pre-teen and in the middle of ranting about the error if their ways, you notice him trying his best not to laugh. You suddenly remember when your mother was doing the same to you and find it extremely funny and burst out laughing yourself?

been in an argument with your child about who loves who more that went on for over 30 minutes?

thanked Heavenly Father for each healthy child and knew what a blessing it was that their body worked?


sobbed and sobbed for another family as illness took their little one back to heaven?

had such a precious moment with your child you knew you should grab your camera to capture it, but were too selfish to leave the moment?

realized that you do have everything?

Summer Surf Camp has Started

Summer surf camp, summer surf camp, summer surf camp. Say that three times fast!

The older three started surf camp on Monday and my life keeps getting better. It goes for a month and they attend Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Can I get a hallelujah? It was a special moment for me to be adding an event to my computer calendar. I even highlighted it in purple, the color that represents an activity for the kids. In my previous life I had our events color coded so I could see in a glance who needed to be where and when. Now Im just happy to have an event on the calendar.
Here are the pictures. All three of them fell in love with surfing. Its all they talk about. I know its a little early for this relationship, its probably only a case of puppy love, but its been great for our family.


My oldest really enjoying himself in Costa Rica. I'll have to tape this to his wall to remind him he does like it here!




The two oldest "surfers" in the class.


I love this shot of Dallin running with his board. He was in a contest and determined to beat Troy. Oh, that brotherly competition.



Paige was just so stinkin' cute.



Paige again.




Younger brother hanging ten.



I love shots like these. Can you tell life is getting brighter for us? How many times have I used the word love in this post alone?

The Great Adventures of the Banagas Family...

Another Great Day…

Every Saturday we try to get out as a family and go on an outing. Last Saturday we just started driving, took a turn into the hills and kept going, and going and going!
Here are some pictures of our adventure.


The waterfall.



Please excuse Paige's hair. I started this tradition of letting the kids ride on the outside of our car while holding on. However, it was meant for short rides from our mailbox to our driveway, not up steep Costa Rican Mountainside. Troy Dallin and Paige rode about half of the way this way, the other half in the back of the car with the hatch up. What fun!!!



One of my favorite things about Costa Rica is boys in jeans and flip flops. I think that is the "coolest"!


We found this abandoned house, atleast we think it was abandoned, by the waterfall. Since my time spent with my high school buddy Nikki in Utah, I love old wooden homes.


Costa Rica has the ugliest looking cows. I'm not even sure that they are ugly enough to have character. The meat that they provide is less than great since they are so thin. I guess they do look kind of cute in this shot but that is due to the professional photographer behind teh camera. On our adventure I found these traditional "American" dairy cows. Aren't they beautiful?




Just beautiful!!!



A face only a mother could love! So cheesey!!!


The diner we ate lunch at. After we had eaten there my sweetheart says, "These are the places that "gringos" get sick from." Great honey!!!


We had been traveling for a few hours and came upon this. A huge tree in our way. Everyone just parked and waited patiently for them to use a machette to obliverate it. Everyone but my honey (waited patiently).


Finding a toucan was part of the tour! SWEET!!!


Oh how I love pictures of my sweetheart with our little ones. They grow so fast. Don't we wish we could just sweep them over the river of teenage years!?!?!

What to do, what to do...

I’m trying so hard to get online but the stars just haven’t been aligned in my favor. Hopefully by next week I will have an “internet access” system down. Hopefully.
Things are going better for us. I have to apologize for my post last week with complaining under tones. {o.k., I was completely complaining, we all have our breaking points!}
Today has been a new day! I have a purpose now. I mentioned a little about my struggle here. Short story, shorter, I need to do something for Costa Rica. They have a bi-lingual women’s group that meets once a month to socialize and volunteer in the community. I’m going to that next Thursday. Do you think it matters that I’m not bi-lingual yet???? So much is needed in this community. Children without school uniforms can’t attend public school. High school students in the neighboring city don’t have a building to meet in so they learn outside with their desk and books minus things like a chalkboard, and a roof over their heads when it rains. This is a beautiful country but there is so much trash around. We as a family our looking for our niche; what we can help with. It already has given our life here more purpose and who doesn’t need a life with more purpose other than mother Teresa? It’s interesting to me when you focus on other’s and their needs, your needs become out of focus. My mother new this well.
I remember the former president of our church, right after he lost his wife, with a quivering bottom lip, he spoke about work being the only balm to heal many of our problems here on earth, including a broken heart. (as his was broken with the death of his wife)

It is so true. Another one of my favorite quotes is from his father. President Hinkley was a young man, serving a mission for our church at the age of 19. It was difficult and he was struggling. He wrote home to his father of his trials. His father’s return letter was only this…

“Forget yourself and get to work!”

So I will get down off of my soapbox and stop preaching to myself! I know what I need to do, forget myself and get to work! Already the horizon is glowing with possibility!
Yeah hooo!!!

My only thing to do now is pick how I'm giong to help.

The Canopy Tour

When my dad and his wife Rosie came to visit we took the best canopy tour. We, meaning Troy and I tagged along with them. Troy posted earlier a few of his “crazy” shots from zip lining. I thought I’d post a few more.


It has been different with my father married to someone other than my mom. But I have to say that change can be good. I of course miss my mother deeply, we all do. Some days it’s easier not to think of her to keep the hurt away.
But most days are filled with treasured memories. These past few years have been filled with change; my father’s marriage to Rosie, 3 new babies entered the “Krepps” family, us moving here to Costa Rica, job changes, my father traveling to Africa. Change can be good. I realize that it was probably Rosie that made it possible for my dad to come and visit us at such a special time as Paige’s baptism. I have come to have a great appreciation for the woman that has done so much good for my dad. They are a great team.

For those who haven’t met Rosie here she is, no fear!



Troy heading down pretty fast.



Proof I was there. It was $10 per person for the pictures. I only paid for Troy knowing that I would get the pictures of us together. You can close your eyes and imagine me zip lining if you'd like, but that would be weird!


This was our view. Do I need to say more?



Dad having a great time!



The four of us and our unforgettable day.

Books...

Thanks everyone for your support with our "book find". We need them here desperately!
I'm looking for

for me:
The Last Lecture ( I think that's what it's called)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
These is My Words

I thought I'd post these just incase someone was willing to let me borrow them. I can get them back to you although it may take quite awhile!

for the ninos:
Any of the Peter and the Starcatchers series. (these are great books)
any in the Crispen series
Junie B Jones
Magic Treehouse

We really will be happy with anything you'd be willing to give. And when they have gone through our family they will get donated here. (unless you mention you would like them back).

Love to all!

The Banagas Fam