Larkin/Balls Costa Rica Day #1 La Fortuna

 Thursday/Friday: Our adventure began with 317$ round trip tickets.  My kids had to pay for their tickets by doing certain things around the house.  like... make bed every day, practice piano, help with FHE, go for Sunday walks with Darren without complaining... 

Brittany is fantastic to travel with for lots of reasons. One reason is because she jumps in with creative ideas for the kids.  Games, photo contests, and treats.  Since we took a red eye I knew I needed to sleep.  Thankfully I can sleep anywhere.  The kids traveled great.  Husbands coming in 5 days.  We got this .

We landed around noon and stopped at a grocery store.  We were told to buy plantain chips, a bag of squeezable beans, Dos Pinion yogurt drinks and then drive 3 hours to La Fortuna in the middle of the jungle.  We arrived and got checked in, got some pizza, and then went to the local free hot springs under the road.  

• free hot springs, across the street from Tabacon Thermal Resort, Head west from La Fortuna and after you pass Tabacon look for the marked spaces. Be sure to pay the guy in the parking lot to watch your car. 500 colones is appropriate. Walk downhill to the river and go left once you hit the bridge. After a short hike you will hit the free hot springs.

April 2021

 Here are a few highlights from April.  I was weeding and pulled up an apricot pit which was beautiful.  I planted it in a pot and can't wait to watch it grow.  

Its only Spring but we sometimes think its Summer.  Meal time roles around and lots of kids are here so we find food to feed them.  Eating outside is always less messy then inside.  

Friday morning.  No school in our district.  Abby gets up and starts on her homework packet so she can get it all done quick.  

Sunday walks/bike rides/rollerblades.  I love them all.  Playing Hot Lava on the playground. 

Come follow me outside in the sunshine.  

First Primary in over a year.  Singing time was great.  The kids loved it.  We start back to two hour church in a few weeks.  

Abby mixed a bunch of dye in Vaseline to make chapstick....???... then proceeded to squish it with her hands.  Black dirty hands for days!

We love having Grace and Soren next door.  On the other side is Mia and Hazel. And don't forget Charlotte.  We love all the kids except when they stomp through the crazy mud and we spend hours and hours cleaning up. 

Bus stop silly time.  It was raining but you can fit 4 little girls under 1 very little umbrella.  

Rachel and Ely came to town.  We had a lovely lunch at Archibalds.  I wish I would have gotten pictures of the hot dog roast and games outside.  Renee stopped over with her day old baby.  

Hosting Game night and Dinner with Friends.  I love them all and wish I had gotten a picture!

Marshalls baptism lunch.  

cortizone shot in my knee... no good.  Super swollen painful knee.  It didn't help. 

Darren and Abby bike ride and hide and seek. 

Tyler priests campout to get to know each other better. 

Darren and I got immunized.  

Maybird biking team.  Darren is a ride leader so he gets out.  (in between trying to finish a stressful audit for work)

Tyler is determined to get a 4.0 every quarter in High School.  

And last but not least.  April fools day Oreos.  We gave them to a neighbor.  The son who ate the toothpaste Oreo thought it was just a mint Oreo..... But he did jump after we told him it was toothpaste and go brush his teeth. 

Hamblins and Tyler in St George

 We came back Home late Wednesday night but Tyler go two stay in St George and do some more riding.  He loved hanging out with Emmas brother Jacob and came home wishing he had a brother.  Marian is a great photographer so she sent us some fun action shots.  

Yankee Doodle with Katie, Heather and crew!

 I got to take Katie and Heather (with kids) down Yankee Doodle. We were expecting water and cold but it was dry.  13 kids and three adults.  It was great.  I love to see the team work and the bravery come out.