Costa Rica-the extraordinary vacation...and the very-bizarre-unbelievable-bad-string of unfortunate events....

After weeks of preparation, organizing, planning and so forth--we had all the sitters in place, the lists made the bags packed and the alarm clock set. The beginning of the trip started smooth enough, we woke up after our itty bitty night time “nap”, gathered up our luggage and snuck out of the house without even waking the sitter.

Off to the airport, at 3:45 in the morning and we realize that we are driving on fumes. Finding a gas station at that hour proved quite bothersome, but after getting off the freeway two times only to be psyched out by a closed gas station, we finally pumped just enough to wet the tank and we were back on track. We arrived at the airport with our first class tickets in hand, checked in, in the “priority line”, checked our luggage with “priority” stickers, got on the plane in our first class seats and settled in all good and cozy. They brought us our little warm wash cloths and their finest American Airlines silverware and everything we needed to feel like we were being pampered. The flight was nice and smooth and there were lots of people Scott works with also in first class so it was just kinda familiar and fun. The vacation was off to the perfect start.

When the plane landed in Costa Rica, I was amused that the international airport was no bigger than a large barn, sitting in the middle of a dirt field with an air traffic control tower. If I had to explain it I would ask you to picture a large metal barn with no walls, only a roof with two enormous ceiling fans hanging from it and a few make shift walls that separated el baño from the rest of the general population. The plane LITERALLY pulled up to the front of the barn (I think we got a handicap parking space) and everyone got out into the parking lot. It was hilarious! As I walked down the stairs of the plane, I saw this wheelchair with a HUGE sign that said ARNETT printed on it in huge large print, probably a 72 on the font size. MORTIFYING! The airlines knew that I was a "patient" and I guess they considered that I would be completely immobile! I covered my face and said "no, no, no, por favor" as I walked by. The boy pushing the wheelchair obviously didn’t know that I was the ARNETT that the wheelchair was intended for, so he stood there for the rest of the deplaning and waited for me to get off (oh let me add that I was the first one off because I was on the very front row of the plane). That means 300 or more people got off after me and saw my name printed on the wheelchair!!! NICE.

So I was glad to be close to the front of the line, so we could get through immigration quickly. The faster I could get on the bus to the hotel the better--I just wanted to hide from the Arnett wheelchair. To my surprise and relief we made it through the lines in the front of the barn quickly and made it through immigration without a question or a sideways glance (I’m not sure what I expected, but I wasn’t thinking it would be quick).

We walked the ten feet over to the ONE luggage caddy, where all these darling Spanish boys were working hard for their tips taking all the luggage off and lining it up in neat rows. To my dismay and rising irritation we stood there for a good hour and lo and behold NO LUGGAGE. By the time we gave up and confirmed with the darling Spanish boys that there was no more luggage to put on the ONE luggage caddy, everyone that had traveled with us on the plane was now sitting on the bus waiting for us. There was one other guy on our group that had a bag lost, but we were the only ones with zero luggage. The airline told us that 6 bags had been delayed in Miami. Two of the six were ours. The only things I had brought in my carry on was my tooth brush, makeup and my twilight book--I wanted to travel light.

So on the bus we went, merrily on our way. Despite our mishaps at the barn, I mean airport, I was still trying to have a good attitude. It was part of the adventure right? Plus the people of Costa Rica were SO SO SO nice and absolutely darling that it was hard to stay mad (they are gorgeous people, Spaniards, like Antonio Banderas). Anyway it was like 90 degrees with 100% humidity and we were starting to melt. So after arriving at the resort Scott and I decided that we would go into town and get some clothes in hopes that we could wear something fresh to the dinner we were expected to be at that evening. We were out in the country and it was at least 20 minuet drive to the closest town. Now when I say town, I say that conservatively, it was really a cluster of buildings and lean-to’s. All the shops had dirt floors and no walls. Well, ok, there was one "normal" grocery store but it was totally random and completely out of place. Anyway we shopped all we could, and I ended up coming back with a relatively decent skirt and Scott found some swim trunks at the Super Mercado (or out of place grocery store).

We got back to our hotel, and washed up as best we could, changed our clothes and then we were off to the Welcome Reception for Sungard. It was a beautiful reception, flanked by the pool and the beach. Complete with little Spanish Sinoritas dancing in their Chaquita Banana girl outfits and they were walking around with mini-Antonio-Banderas-boys making themselves available for picture ops. It was really fun. The company had gifts made by the locals and a beautiful gourmet buffet and open bars (if you like that sort of thing).

After mingling and watching the local entertainment, we all migrated down to a huge outdoor candle light dinner on the beach. Super nice and elegant. So Im getting my plate of sea bass and octopus and was holding my dessert plate in my other hand, then what do you know?????? I FALL DOWN!!!! I biffed it! The fat lady fell! All my food went flying and I slid down a grassy hill. Oh yeah, did I add that there were about 100 people there???? Nice.

I took it in stride and got back up, miraculously free of spilled food and went to refill my plate.

Shortly after we ate, Scott and I snuck back to our room. After my near death experience, I was suddenly worn out and in quite a bit of pain.

When we got off the little shuttle that taxis people around the hotel grounds, there was this HUGE, and I mean HUGE army of enormous black ants marching across the stairs to our room and up the side of the rocky cliff that was right outside of the door of the room. I'm not kidding, it was a river of black. It looked like something off an episode of National Geographic show, "DEADLY SWARMS". There were MILLIONS! They were moving super fast and just flowing like a shiny black river. We got inside our room and I decided to take a bath, because my fall had left my back in agony. I turned on the bathroom light and what to my wondering eyes would I see? The tub, full of ants!

So we called the front desk and the cute Antonio Banderas people came running to our rescue and gave us a new room. So by about 10:30 pm, we finally got settled in our new room. I finally got to peel off my sweaty clothes and take a shower. Of course I had to put my dirty underwear back on, because I had no luggage!

The next day proved to be getting better, because where could we go but up? The airlines had called at 7:00 am to tell us our luggage was on its way, and even though we didn’t see them until about 11:30, the day turned out to be a wonderful day of relaxing by the pool and massages and pedicures at the spa.

Dinner that night was really fun, with a catamaran cruise at sunset and another dinner on a different but equally as beautiful beach. Gladly, I didn’t fall that night, and after the complimentary entertainment generously provided by Scott’s colleagues, I think my fall was a distant memory.

By day three I was so exhausted, and sore (probably from my fall) that I couldn’t get out of bed in the morning to go scuba diving. I was rather upset about it, but I had to give something up and the dinners were nonnegotiable. So we went snorkeling instead and got so sunburned at the pool we could hardly sleep that night. But it was overall a relaxing day and just what we needed to prepare for the next days events.

Day four, the last day of our trip, we got up early for a river cruise on the Palo Verde River. This one sounded fun, and we were joined by a literal “boat load” of the top management from Scott’s company. I was going to watch my step for sure and mind my manners (as always). We got to the river after a 40 minuet bus ride, and boarded the little boat that would float us down the river. It started off really fun, and the wild life was everywhere. As we passed by crocodiles and iguanas and exotic birds, our young guide kept commenting about how it was low tide and that the river was super shallow. Then what do you know?? We get stuck in the MUCK! We sat there for a good ten minuets, while the captain of the tiny boat revved the engine and tried to get us off the sand bar. Finally a rescue boat was in sight. The boat pulled up beside us, the captain and guide stepped off our little sunken boat, and drove away! Actually they were just turning around to try and come at us from a different angle and push our boat out of the mud. After that didn't work, the guide jumped in the river and started pushing. He was having NO luck, so Scott and another guy jumped into the water to push! The crocodile water! I had just got done telling Scott that there wasn't enough money in the world that could force me to put one toe in that water.

.

They pushed and pushed and still no progress. We had tried to tell the guide that dividing up the people on the boats, might lighten up the boat enough to get us free, and they were convinced that it would only sink both boats. After the failed attempts at pushing us out, they conceded and we split up. It worked like a charm and we were on our way. We floated for another 30 minuets, almost getting stuck a couple of times, and saw more exotic animals like scarlet macaws and white faced monkeys. After we exited the boat, and walked by the hive of Africanized bees that they had just burned out of their hole, there was a huge tractor sitting in the dust waiting with a “hay ride” type trailer, complete with a 14 year old driver to take us back to the bus.

We finally got back to the hotel an hour and a half late and finished the night with a beautiful formal dinner and awards ceremony. I was so proud of Scott for being counted among the best of the best in his company and receiving the recognition that he has worked so hard to achieve. If it weren’t for his hard work we wouldn’t have had the chance to go on such a fun vacation. Even though we had a few experiences that we will admit we never want to repeat, it was overall a super good-extraordinary-unforgettable vacation.

Once there was a Snowman!

February 12th 2010.

So in Texas it never snows. We have lived here for 8 years and in that time, we MIGHT see snow once a year, and it is a one day thing. It literally will go from 30 degrees to 75 degrees in a matter of 24 hours here in Texas.

This year however we have had record amounts of snow. It snowed for something like 16 hours straight! It was amazing and super fun. For a bunch of sun worshipers, having a few days of snow was an absolute treat.

Every where you went there were snowmen. By the time the snow melted they were in every yard, field, median--anywhere there was a spot, someone had built a snowman.

Since the twins are native Texans, building a snowman is an experience they have not had the pleasure of having.

So we all bundled up (with our scanty cold weather gear) and got to work!

Notice the gloves...(dug out from a box dating back to my and Scott's snowboarding days)

Mr. Cutie, always hard at work, rolling his snowman head. (This is the first day of the snow, it had been snowing about 8 hours when this picture was taken.)

Our "SWEET snowman" His face was made out of CANDY! His eyes were truffles, and his mouth M&M's. We used a carrot for the nose, for good measure.

The next day called for more fun, even me and Scott were chomping at the bit to get out in the snow for some fun....

All through the day, there were kids out on the street. They would come out until they were freezing, go in long enough to warm up and dry out, then they were back in the snow.

I think this cute snippet, speaks for itself. (It totally makes me look like I have an attention deficit. I guess I....hey, look at that bird!)

Scott being bombarded by all the kids at once....

Our street after 16 some odd hours of snow....IN TEXAS!!! go figure.

The beauty of winter...

Every day, every moment is a wonder and a gift.

"If happy little blue birds fly, beyond the rainbow, why oh why can't I?"

Here is a movie I made. A small seven minuet summary of 2009.

May we be just as blessed in 2010....

I hope you like it. It was fun to make.

I hope it captures the essence of our year. All of the fun and some of the not so fun. But even with hardships we can see that our lives are so blessed!

I forgot to add my Moms name and Grandmother's name as well as Grandpa Poppy!

Sorry you guys! I have chemo brain.*

*I did some editing and reloaded it, twice, so I think I remembered everyone's names the second time around. (it takes like 30 minuets to get it on there!)

"We've been good, but we can't last, hurry Christmas, hurry fast!"

"Ahh...Christmas is finally here!" In the words of Gavin, the holiday boy. He was right on top of the countdown every day. Christmas morning Scott woke early to get the kids up and Gavin was already awake, peeking over the bridge down onto the Christmas bounty below.

Santa was VERY generous to us this year. We had a lot of "elves" working hard on our Christmas loot.

Gavin went straight for the train set...and played, and played, and played...in between every gift, he was tooting the little train whistle.

Isabelle went straight for her new beauty shoppe...and knew EXACTLY what to do.

Bailey and Kylie found their "elusive" zhu zhu pets...

Then came the prized Nintendo DSi's!

And the creme de la creme...The American Girl Dolls.

We've seen some happy faces this Christmas...

Gavin knew just what to do with the wiggle racer....

NO one could beat Isabelle on the scooter...I mean NO ONE! (it wasn't allowed)

Even Gretchen got a little something from Santa....

We were truly blessed this Christmas. It was heartwarming to watch my children's faces. The best gift of all was being together, of all the gifts I could have gotten, THAT was the best one...

Traditions

So this year, being a very slim year financially, we have really had to pare back on Christmas.

So instead, of focusing so much on gifts and such, I thought we might concentrate on some traditions this year. I have even started a new one thanks to the crafty ideas of my friend Sandi.

She had a darling display of the tiniest gifts on a stand that she set up like a centerpiece. Each gift was wrapped in coordinating simple packaging and tagged with a simple number. Inside each box is a small token for the recipient. A 12 Days of Christmas token.

So I went and found 12 small boxes and 36 tiny little items to go inside them. Since I have four kids. Each box is filled with a tiny token that can be used as a Christmas symbol. I found some tiny wreaths, bells, a manger scene, Christmas lights and other things. Just little things that can help the kids be reminded of the true purpose around Christmas.

Sure it is just to open a present. But they have not been let down that the box wasn't filled with a toy for them. It has been just as fun to talk about and try to guess what the symbol inside the tiny box represents.

I think we will carry this tradition on for a few years to come. It has been very fun.

Another tradition that we do every year is we package up as many care packages as we can pull together--this year was 15. We fill the bags full of water bottles, and snacks of all varieties and a little reading material--this year was the "Proclamation to the Family". We then take the little care packages to the NICU where the twins were born 4 years ago. When we were there with our babies, it was so hard. To stay nearly 24-7 got exhausting and expensive. There were people that did that for us, and we remembered how much we appreciated the thoughtful treats.

It was really fun this year, because the twins understood that we were at the hospital where they were born, and understood that they were too tiny to come home. We got to explain to them that mommy and daddy stayed at the hospital day and night until they were ready to come home. It was exciting for them to see it and then help the families that have to do it now.

As we have done these little traditions for other people, we have been able to see and feel the true meaning of spirit in our hearts. It truly is better to give than to receive.

And even though our funds are so limited, we have had to think the home made route, and it has meant just as much, or more for me, to be the one making and putting together the humble gifts. I hope those people that receive them, feel the love that went into making them.

The twins a couple months after they came home from the NICU.

This Christmas is like no other Christmas that we have ever had, since we have moved to Texas, Ill have to admit that no Christmas has been normal. It started with Scott loosing his mom on Christmas day, then Scott joined the church, then the twins were born, then I got sick, then we moved, and now I am sick again. And most of those other Christmases were a bit hard and taxing on our little family, besides Scott joining the Church. We really had to pull together as a family unit. This Christmas, though not easier by any means, has meant the most, at least to me.

To see how many good people are out there giving of themselves. Giving to the Arnett family so generously. Some might think that this might be counted among the worst Christmas we have had yet, but I would disagree. I see it being the best Christmas we will ever remember. I know that it will be one that I surly will never forget.

May you all find the true spirit of Christmas in your hearts this year, and try to touch a family in need, or make a new tradition that can bring your family together this season. Merry Christmas, with love.