While Shannon, Amanda, and Tristen were here, our electricity went out first thing in the morning. We didn't think much about it. We went downtown for the day. We get back home and there is a flood in our house! The bathroom sink got left on when the electricity went out. Well, the electricity came back on while we were gone and water was everywhere! We had about 1-2 inches of water everywhere! Thank goodness we have concrete walls and tile floors!

Matt had a good Birthday. We had the Haynes's, Kim, and Laura over for grilled hamburgers and pies. We enjoyed spending time together. The kids had a great time together as you can see!

Do you want a drink? Matt, Mckenzie, and I were very sick for a week at a time. We had kind of a type of flu along with a very bad sinus infection. Our friend that helps us in our house for a couple of days every week made this for us to drink. It helps with congestion. There is garlic, cinnamon, oregano, eucalyptus, flowers, and who knows what else. It did help but I could only get half a cup down. It was not very good!

This is a glimpse of Catholicism here. This is a statue of Mary that they drove around several parts of the city so peopel could come out and show they support, love and devotion to her. Many people came out to pray and honor her. It was very hard to watch this.

We were able to help pass out the shoeboxes that were put together in the states for children that are shipped all over the world. Their faces tell it all! It was such a Blessing to help with this!

We got our van! Matt and David had an uneventful trip from Texas. Thank you for all your prayers! We got some surprises in the van, too! We were all very excited! Cinnamon, our dog, made it here fine!

Here is our new house. We really like it! It is in a very safe neighborhood and very spacious! The girls got bikes for Christmas. As you can see, they have a perfect place to ride!

We weren't in our house for Christmas yet. We had a great Christmas morning. We stayed in another house of missionaries that were in the states. Here is Kaitlyn and Mckenzie opening their gifts. We also dog sat for Canchita. She was so cute and fun! She enjoyed watching the girls opening their gifts!

When we got to Mexico we celebrated Kaitlyn's birthday on the day. We went to Peter Piper's Pizza with the Haynes's family. It was a lot of fun! We had good pizza and the kids got to play a lot of games!

Mckenzie and her class had a Christmas program in Costa Rica. It was so cute!! She was enjoying herself with all of her friends.

Here are pictures of Kaitlyn's Birthday party in Costa Rica. Her party was early but she wanted to celebrate it with all her friends in Costa Rica. She had a great time!

Kaitlyn and Mckenzie went to a Birthday party of their friends in Costa Rica. Their friends are now in Mexico with us but in another part of Mexico.

Mckenzie is playing in Costa Rica before we left for Mexico.

Our school gave the teachers and staff (about 80 people) a teacher appreciation dinner. Matt was in charge of organizing the food. He did a great job! He was in charge of cooking it, along with about 10 others helping cook. The teachers loved it. They do this dinner every year, but the student body usually has it catered. We decided to cook it this year.

Matt, I, and many others were preparing the dinner. It was a lot of hard work, but very fun! The teachers deserved it!

These are the plates of food that all the teachers and staff got at the dinner. Salad, chicken with mushroom sauce, rice, broccoli and cauliflower, and chocolate cake and ice cream.

Kaitlyn got pajamas that came with a night mask. She actually wore it and fell asleep! She is getting too big!!

Isn't she cute!!! All Kaitlyn wants for Christmas is her two front teeth!

We had to go to Nicaragua to renew our visas. We had a lot of fun at the beach, even though Mckenzie got sick the first full day there. She got to enjoy the beach a little. Fortunately our hotel was right in front of the beach. Kaitlyn is riding the boogie board. She loved it! The ocean was pretty rough because there was a storm coming in. Pretty big waves!

Matt and Mckenzie hanging out watching Kaitlyn in the ocean since Mckenzie was sick.

Kaitlyn was having fun in the sand! Eskimo was right in front of our hotel. It had wonderful icecream! Very dangerous!!

Well, we really missed going to the pumpkin patch this year. So, we brought the pumpkins to us! We all made them together as a family. We made about 12 pumpkins and put them around the house. It makes it feel more like fall in Costa Rica. It feels like fall when it rains, but we don't have any leaves falling or changing colors!

This is Mckenzie's 4th Birthday party. We had to cut it down, but enjoy!!

(You may have to click on the play button, twice.)

We had a strawberry shortcake party for Mckenzie with 9 of her friends from school. She had a lot of fun!! Her friends loved helping her!

Here is the cake that I (Kandi) made her. She requested a strawberry cake. It was fun making it!

Mckenzie is showing off some of her new clothes that she got for her Birthday. Isn't she cute!!

Mckenzie loved her gifts that she got from Grandma and Papa, and Mimi and Pops. She enjoyed her day!!

On the morning of Mckenzie's birthday, she unwrapped Kaitlyn's gift. Kaitlyn bought her a pin from school with her own money and some candy. Mckenzie was very excited!!