Friday, April 19, 2013

Costa Rica part 1

Russ has been trying to convince me to go on a couples trip forever. I never wanted to leave the kids and go on a trip with out them. I like vacationing with them. I decided that it was about time for a get away with out kids and told him I would go somewhere. I wanted to go somewhere that was adventurous and that had a lot to do that I couldn't do with kids. My mom and dad had been to Costa Rica before and loved it. I looked into it and was set on that destination. I am very glad I choose it, it was everything I wanted it to be.We went with our good friends Ki and Ashley. They live down the street from us and Russ went to UVU with Ki.
Most of Costa Rica is a lush green rainforest even in the dry season. We landed in Liberia which is up north and when we were landing I looked around and everything was dead. I was so nervous that it was going to be that way every where. Good thing I was wrong, most places we went were very green.
We started up north near a Volcano called Arenal. We did Tabacon Hot Springs, Canyoneering, Zip lining and Rio Celeste Waterfall. Our first 3 days were jam packed with adventure.
Tabacon Hot Springs is a natural hot river that flows out of the volcano. A few resorts have built soaking places from this. The one that we went to is the biggest one. It was AMAZING. So many rivers and waterfalls to soak in. I really have never been more relaxed in my life. We went there twice and would have gone back every day if we could.



I don't have pictures of Canyoneering or Zip lining yet but I will post those later. Before we left the north we went up to Rio Celeste waterfall. It was out of the way but I am so glad we mad the trek. This is a place were two rivers meet and because of their mineral make up when the rivers join it causes a chemical reaction that turns the water light blue. There are only two places like this in the world. It was incredible. I loved every minute of that hike. 



Where to two rivers meet and the reactions occurs.





On the hike down we stopped at this spot in the river. There is also a hot spring here too that we soaked in but first we played in this part of the river. We jumped in off the rocks and swam around. I can't get over the water. Some of these pictures don't do it justice. The water is the color of a light blue Gatorade.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Easter

Before I post about our Costa Rica trip. Here are pictures from easter. The girls were not in the mood for pictures so sadly I didn't get a great one of them. Kate got into the easter egg hunt and loved carrying her easter basket around, She also tasted her first pieces of candy. Needless to say she now has a sweet tooth and grabs any treat anyone is eating.




This shows what kind of big sister Alyssa is, always trying to help Kate.



Girl cousins that attended Easter dinner



After the adult egg hunt


Sunday, March 24, 2013

Grandpa's funeral

My Grandpa died a week ago today. I was lucky enough to visit him while he was in rehab. He would tell me how beautiful I was and how much he loved me. He loved to look at pictures of my girls. I saw him while he was asleep waiting to pass on. Those were the hardest days. I know where he is and that I will see him again. His funeral was beautiful with wonderful memories of him. He was very involved in my life and very supportive of everything I had done. I will miss him dearly. I am so lucky I have such a wonderful Grandpa.

Kate was not feeling well, thus the face

My cousins and borther

My grandma and aunts

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Kate's pictures

Here are the rest of the 1 year old pictures that I took of Kate. They could have been better but I am still happy with the result.