HA! HAHA!! HAHAHA!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!

We found a new game that the kids have thought is pretty funny. The entire-family version is pretty hilarious, too!

Valentine's Day

We did some cookie decorating before Valentine's Day. It was funny to watch the kids' different styles - there were definitely lots of sprinkles! Kate dumped the entire white pearls out onto one of her cookies. Liam always had his tongue out - either in concentration or licking his knife ("Don't put that knife back in the frosting Liam!!!").

 

Since Valentine's Day was on a Sunday, we got them dressed up in red and pink. We also had a nice, festive breakfast, including heart pancakes (kind of), heart-shaped strawberries, pink eggs, and pink milk. Kate loved it!

 

We had a super fancy Valentine's Day dinner including bacon-wrapped filet mignon and a pomegranate sparkling drink. The kids loved it!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

what are all these bumps???

For the past few weeks (and continuing, on occasion, into May!), Liam has been getting mysterious bumps and rashes all over his body - on his face, on his belly and back, on his arms and hands, legs - basically all over. According to Dr. Craft, it's simply a virus that's been going around. It's especially mysterious because they will appear (oftentimes shortly after eating) for about 30-45 minutes, then will be gone again!

Spreading the Gospel

Over the past 9 months, Jared has served as ward mission leader and has gotten to work with some amazing missionaries and has gotten to be part of 

Bryan Graham had a special story of how he met the Elders. One day, Elders Hutchinson and Jarvis were 'whiteboarding,' or approaching people with a specific question, at Lambs, and Bryan walked up to them to talk with them. He had watched the Saratov Approach with a friend and wanted to learn more. 

As we got to know Bryan, teaching lessons with Elders Bryan, Hutchinson, and Jarvis, we got to know his big heart and his desire to serve. We got to serve alongside him moving one of Claire's classmates, and Bryan found opportunities to serve with the missionaries many times. It was a joyous day when he was baptized!

We first met Kaylee Joseph and her family after they had come to a Halloween activity for the Wilsonville Ward. It was fun getting to know Kaylee and her 3 girls as they began coming to church. After a few months with Elders Hutchinson, Jarvis, and Bryan, Genevieve decided she would get baptized and Isabelle and Kaylee followed suit. It was a wonderful reminder of the blessings of baptism and the blessings the gospel is in our life.

Hives

Liam sometimes breaks out in splotchy hives. It can happen seemingly in a few minutes and a few minutes later, they're gone. Since it seems to come and go, we're not overly concerned, but it certainly is strange to see them appear and disappear so quickly!

Dani visits the Minneapolis Jensens and Christensens

After Nolan was born I was dying to get to Minneapolis to meet our cute new nephew and his parents were happy to have a helper to come help out with a nighttime feeding or two.  I was happy to meet him and he seemed to like me pretty well.  Another bonus to the trip was seeing Camie and her family as well since they live nearby.  Unfortunately, I got a little stomach bug somewhere along the way and spent most of the first full day laying on an air mattress and throwing up.  Luckily it was a 12 hour bug and no one else got it, but it did throw off some daytime plans for Camie, Hayley, and I.  After I was feeling better I was able to help by getting up with Nolan for a nighttime feeding and letting his parents sleep.  Taylor and Hayley also were able to show me around some of Minneapolis and we had a fun dinner with Camie and Matt, Hayley and Taylor (and Nolan), and I.  Before I flew out on Sunday we went to church and I got to see Camie in action in her Relief Society calling.  It was a quick weekend and a bummer to have a chunk of it taken up being sick but fun to be able to meet the newest member of the family.

 

New Braces - Phase 1

Our big girl got braces!!! We were told it is phase 1 of 3, so this may be a bit of a process. Claire has been very good about taking care of them - she practically memorized the care sheet she was given of what to eat and what not to eat! Dani may encourage her to push the limits a bit (i.e. it's okay to eat a carrot if it's thin).

Shortly after she got her braces, she even lost a tooth! It's been a busy dental week for us!

Playing in the backyard

The kids love nice days when they can play outside! Some days, their play is even more creative than others. The Star Wars day was amazing!!!

Torin had to stay inside for his own safety - he was NOT happy about that!!!

How old are those Wheaties???

When we got back from Costa Rica, we discovered a box of Honey Frosted Wheaties opened, with some of its contents missing. Jacob had apparently spotted it in the garage, hidden behind the other boxes of cereal, and requested it. Why is Ken Griffey Jr. on the cover?

Because the box was given to Jared as a white elephant gift 6 years ago... and was "better if used by" June 17, 1997!!! GROSS!!!

Jacob reported they didn't taste the best.

We don't want to leave!

It's time to leave, and we don't want to go!

It has been a memorable week at La Casa Roca. Thanks Nana and Papa!!!

Zipping through Costa Rica

We found a place to go zip lining through the jungles of Costa Rica. It was our first time doing a commercial zip line, and we had a lot of fun! Check out the muscles!

Amber and Nana made sure to get good poses and pictures to make zip-lining look good!

We got to go upside down on one line, and we got an awesome picture of Dani!

We had a great time with Eddie, Eddie, and Dennis, our guides, who we joked around with in English, Spanish, and Spanglish, and who joked around with each other the whole time.

Taylor and Hayley joined the group a little later, and Jared and Andrew went through the zip line circuit again. It was hilarious to watch Hayley, who we're not sure was enjoying it quite as much!

Baby Nolan

There was one grandchild who got to crash the adult vacation - baby Nolan! Dani got to spend some time with him last year when she went to Minnesota. He was a good little traveler and was quick to smile.

 

Nana and Papa and to share him with the rest of the family during the week!

 

Costa Rica outings

As much fun as Tamarindo and Casa Roca were, we took a number of fun outings around Costa Rica.

On Sunday, we took a trip to Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja, a few hours north and east of Tamarindo. We got there a little later in the afternoon and didn't have quite enough time to hike to some of the incredibel waterfalls in the area. We went for a hike around a geothermal area, hiking through some wooded areas and out to some mud pots and hot pots. Matt and Jared spent a while playing with their cameras taking pictures with their SLR cameras.

  

On Monday afternoon, we took a catamaran tour out of Tamarindo. We loaded into a skiff and set off down the coast of Costa Rica. We motored to a little cove, where we dropped anchor and snorkeled around for an hour or so. It was okay snorkeling, but it was fun to be in the warm water together. Jared saw a sea turtle, and we saw a few other bright-colored fish.

 

After snorkeling,we did some stand-up paddleboarding and jumped (and Matt flipped) off the boat a few times. We had a funny moment at dinner, where Nana made sure that Taylor and Andrew didn't get jumped in line, telling 2 girls that had jumped in front of them that Taylor and Andrew had been waiting. It was hilariously awkward! Go Nana-bear!!! Meanwhile, Nolan got to play captain up at the helm.

   

On the way back to Tamarindo, they put up the sail (perhaps just for show), we saw a bunch of dolphins swimming around the catamaran, and we took advantage of the 'golden hour' to get some good pictures (especially Amber, who took a ton of selfies!).

  

On Tuesday afternoon, we went down to Playa Grande, where we relaxed in the sand, where Matt built a sand castle (yes, Nana and Papa brought a bucket and shovels to Costa Rica!), and where we played some Spikeball (yes, we also brought Spikeball all the way to Costa Rica too!)

 

On Wednesday, we drove a ways out of the way to Playa Danta, a small, secluded beach resort. The beach was in a beautiful cove with some islands out about a half a mile. We found a great, shaded spot to camp out for the day - and we found a selfie station right nearby!!!

We rented a few tandem sea kayaks and a few stand-up paddleboards. Camie and Matt and Dani and Jared paddled out around the island together. We had a fun paddle out to the island and found that there were definitely some bigger waves on the other side of the island! Dani and Jared tried some stand-up paddleboard yoga - Dani was definitely better, but we do need some more practice! Everyone spent a bunch of time out in the cove. There were a few funny moments with the kayaks - Matt and Camie, coming in, and posing for a picture, got tipped sideways and dumped into the waves. Nana, after a good paddleboard trip, wanted to get a picture on the board on shore. All was going well, until a wave snuck up and dumped her onto the sand - and then got her again! It was hilarious!!!

  

It was an awesome beach and a nice spot for chips and salsa and batidos. It was a beautiful day!

 

On Thursday, after ziplining, we went to nearby Playa Avellanas, where we found the gifts we would bring to our children. some ceramic bird whistles, thanks to an adorable and engaging little 12-year-old boy. We ate a beachside lunch at Lola's (Lola is a pig that is in a pen next to the restaurant) and found a great shady spot. The boys put their surfing lessons to use again, finding the waves to be a little bigger and not finding quite as much success! More spikeball, more reading, more relaxing, more batidos... 

 

and another beautiful sunset... It was a perfect day!

Friday, we stuck closer to home, going to Tamarindo Beach, playing Spikeball and buying a bunch of hand-carved unique bowls from a passing-by vendor. I think we made his day!

We had a week full of visiting incredible beaches and other areas of Costa Rica!