long time - no post

Oh my it's been a long time since I really posted. I chalk it up to the fact that most of you who read this are on Facebook... and those of you who aren't should be ;) It's a lot easier to just load pics on there instead of taking the time to do it both places and blogging seems to take more time for some reason. SO, while I wait and let my baby cry for a bit (hopefully going to sleep for nap, otherwise just torturing me), I thought I'd at least give a run-down of what's been shakin' around here.

Aaron and I just got back from San Jose, Costa Rica. It was wonderful, although made me realize how terrible my Spanish really is. We'll probably buy the Rosetta Stone software eventually and hope that it helps us become closer to bilingual. We're planning on trying to get Sophie into the dual-immersion school (and our subsequent children) so that they'll have the opportunity to learn Spanish from very early on and be fluent. Anyway, back to San Jose! :) We got to go zip lining through the canopy of a cloud forest - very cool. We went on a rain forest trek - went boating down the river, hiking in the forest, and on an airal tram through the canopy. It was so neat. You know how when you're in school growing up you learn about the rain forest, you donate to 'Save the Rain Forest' charities, you even wear a "Save the Rain Forest" t-shirt? (Ok, well back in the late '80's and early '90's we did) It was amazing to actually see the place that you've learned about.

It is definitely a place that I want to take our children when they are older. Scotland was neat, but eh - I don't think that it's necessarily a place that I am dying to take my kids back to (although Sophie went with us the first time). Costa Rica is *definitely* a place I want my kids to have the opportunity to go to.

While we were there we also had the opportunity to go to the San Jose temple and attend church at a local ward there (yes, everything was in Spanish). It was a humbling experience and the people were very friendly and welcoming. Most didn't speak any English, although there was a member of the bishopric that was fluent (he lived in the states for quite awhile too) and one member of the Relief Society... who taught, so that didn't really help me out much :) lol We also ran into a senior missionary couple that were from Arizona, but mostly throughout church we were on our own for language wise.

It was a lot of fun and we had a lot of great experiences, but let me tell you - I MISSED my girls! I knew I'd miss them, but I guess I didn't realize how much! And it wasn't all that bad until they started really missing me too. Sophie would say "but I miss you! I want to go to the rain forest with you. Why'd you have to go on a trip?" And whatnot... breaking my heart a little more each time. Ugh.

Sophie is now 3! She's such a big girl and so smart! Brielle is 9 months and we're still having some problems getting to sleep during the day for naps. But when she gets enough sleep she's the sweetest little girl there is! :) And she finds so much stuff funny! I get a kick out of her all the time. She just BUSTS up laughing at the sillest or the most ordinary things. They definitely are my little angels!