Must I say more

Recently I went to California with my sisters and my dad. The first morning Elizabeth comes into my room with her outfit on. Living across the country from each other you would think we would have different styles. Nope we like the same things. I had not only purchased the same clothes as her but I also packed them for the trip. This is us matching. We are not dorks.

New Apartment

This post is dedicated Brittany. (She told me I should write about her since I have not blogged in awhile) We recently moved to Arlington together and our apartment is turning out quite nicely. We live in a grown up apartment with grown up furniture. Brittany and I have opposite sleeping patterns. She does not sleep ever and I am like clock work. I go to bed at 10:30. I once thought she was "Superwoman" but that has been altered. She is only semi-superwoman. I say that because she broke her foot when we were training to run the MCM. It was good to run with her she made me run faster and made me run when I felt like walking. One day I bet she will be back to full status. Until then she is a good roommate.

Our apartment is in the perfect location. We have a freeway less than a mile away, running trails right outside our door and grocery stores close by and a gym in the complex.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica was amazing! Thank you Mom for letting us use a week.

The week was full of adventures and most importantly I got two stamps on my passport. We arrived in the afternoon on Saturday and headed straight to the pool. We decided on doing three adventure tours but in the end we got a lot more.

Sunday - Buena Vista

Little did we know when we went on the Buena Vista tour the people we would meet here would become good friends to us while in Costa Rica. We loaded the van and our tour guide Gustavo got on board. I thought this guy is cute but thought nothing more. The day was jammed packed with things that sort of freaked me out but were so fun. We went from one adventure to the next. Our first activity was zip lining. We went from 13 different canopies some fast some slow. The scariest part was standing on the canopies with 20 people waiting to go again hoping that the stand did not break.

After the zip line, we went down a water slide that went through the rain forest. My thighs had scabs on it for the rest of the week from it. From the water slide they had us get on horses. This was my first time on a horse since I was like 8 years old at wheeler farm. The horses have done the trail so many times that we really didn't have to do anything to have them go where we wanted them to.

After the horse ride we went and had volcanic body mud masks. The mud was warm and made your skin feel so soft. Once we were all washed from the mud we got in the hot springs. When Rachael and I got in the hot springs with our tour group we realized we were the only ones who were not on a honeymoon. There was alot of loving going on around us.

Monday - Pool Day

We decided to take advantage of our hotel since it was an all inclusive resort. They had activities going on all day. Our hotel activities coordinators were so funny. They were like tweetle dumb and tweetle dee. They were yoga teachers, aquarobics instructors, kayakers, soccer players and towel folders. They wore matching outfits. We soon realized that they did a lot of things impromptu.

Tuesday - Nicaragua

Wanting another stamp on my passport we decided to take a cultural tour to mix things up. So we signed up for a tour to "Colonial Granada Nicaragua" When we arrived for this tour our tour guide Gustova jumped out of the bus. He was leading our tour again. We began the tour eating breakfast most got the typical "rice and beans" I went with fruit since I didn't want to have a bad stomach on the bus. Are first stop on the tour was the border. Here people went to the duty free shops. Some bought alcohol, jam and dubbed fighting movies. I went with a Coca Cola Light. Which was my water on the trip.

After crossing the border we went to a town called Mayasa where we shopped in an open air market. We both bought pictures. We all loaded the bus and then went to see the Masaya Volcano. We got to look down into the crater. The smell of the sulfur was really bad so we could not stay long looking at it.

After the volcano we headed to the city of Granada where we took horse carriage rides around the city.

Wednesday - Arenal Volcano

On our way home from Nicaragua we asked Gustova if he would be out tour guide again and to our surprise he was. How could he resist two Blondes from "Utah." Our goal for the day was to see monkeys. So the tour mostly consisted of us looking for them. But all we saw was a bunch of ants. It was too hot for them to come out. We were so lucky with weather, it never rained in the mornings but this meant that all the animals would be hiding. We did get to hike through the rain forest and go to the most amazing hot springs.

At the end of the day when we were saying bye to Gustova and thanking him he asked us what we were doing on Thursday. He all of a sudden did not have to work the next day. So I made plans with him to go running in the morning. Since it was not safe for me to go alone. He also was determined to find monkeys for me. By the time we got back I was starving. I did not want to eat any more beans. So I ate my favorite thing I discovered in Costa Rica. The ice cream. It is made from full fledged cream. It is the most delicious thing. I ate it for every meal. I could not get enough of it. The milk here was so good. They have milk cake which was just as delicious. I am going to try to make it but we will see.

Thursday - Pool Day/ Coco Beach

The day started out with a run with Gustova. We went to the beach. I was not sure if Gustova was a runner. My intuitions were correct. I may not look like I run alot but I can run. We went for about 12 minutes when he got tired. I decided to keep on going and he walked. On our way home from the run we went on a mission to find monkeys. He was determined that I would see monkeys before I left Costa Rica. We drove up and down the coast looking for them. We found 15 howler monkeys but no white faced.

During the afternoon Rachael and I did all the activities the hotel had to offer. We played pool volleyball. I was reminded why I never played sports. For our evening events Gustova came and picked us up. Once we got in his car he had gifts for both of us. He gave Rachael a coffee mug and he got me a white-faced stuffed monkey. Since he could find a real one for me to see.

We headed to Coco Beach the local hot spot. I was so out of my element. This is where all of the employees of our hotel came to hangout.

Friday - Pool Day/Flamingo Beach

To our surprise Gustova did not have to work again. (He said he had to take care of things but those things just happened to be taking care of us)

I woke up and went running with Gustova again. This time he ran for 15 minutes. After the run when we got back to the car he had a Coca Cola Light waiting for me. Anything I said to him he listened to. I need a man like him in America.

Rachael and I decided to do the Kayaking with our hotel. This time I actually paddled. I am known for going in Canoes/Kayakes and just sitting there. We Kayaked to Panama beach where we ate fruit Kabobs. I have experienced alot of new fruit, papaya and granadilla (Passion Fruit).

Gustova picked us up later in the day to take us wave running at Flamingo beach. His friends let us use theirs. We then ended up in one of his friends restaurants on the beach. The thing I loved most about Costa Rica was the hospitality. Everyone was so nice and so giving. They don't have a lot to give but are more than willing to make sure that you are comfortable. After we ate dinner I was talking about the ice cream and next thing you know I have the most delicious dessert with ice cream in front of me. If I was alone I would have licked the plate. We then were complaining about bug bites and before you know it we had bug spray being rubbed on our legs. It was a full service restaurant.

Saturday - Home

I decided to do one last run with Gustova. We went running, at his car he had a Coca Cola light waiting for me again when we were done. As we are driving back to my hotel I realize that we are listening to a cd. I comment that I know all the love songs on it. Before you know it, he pulls the cd out and gives it me. He had made me a mix of all the songs that reminded him of me. Then he gives me a letter. Why the heck do boys like this not exist in DC? He is golden. I say my goodbyes and I am off and think nothing of it.

Then the day only got better. Rachael and I make our taxi reservation at 9. We get in the taxi at 10 and on our way the driver says I need to make a quick stop. Rachael and I think it is strange go along with it thinking it must be a culture thing having to make quick errands. Little did we know he was picking up a package for us. Gustova had called Carlos and had him stop to get us ice cream.

Then when we pull up to the airport our taxi door opens and Michael opens the door and says "Katelyn and Rachael" Gustova had arranged to have someone help us at the airport to make sure we got all of our taxes and baggage checked. I don't know how he pulled it all of but he did. The whole experience was surreal.

Costa Rica was a blast. The people in Costa Rica are the nicest I have ever met. They make you want to re-think about what matters in life. I need to be more giving of myself and my time.

Thank you Rachael for making this so fun!!!

Vacations

I am 28 years old and I have never gotten a stamp on my passport. It gives me anxiety to use my vacation days for anything but going home to Utah. This year I made it my goal to get past this OCD moment and book a vacation. Rachael and I have booked a vacation to go to Costa Rica and we leave in 5 days. I alloted her 4 days, we are using Labor Day so I don't have to use a full week. In fact I think it gives me ulcers thinking about it.

Last Beach Trip

Since summer is coming to an end we decided to take a beach trip to Rehobeth Beach, Delaware. It is only two hours away so we figured why not. So a bunch of us piled into two cars and went on our way. On the drive there we did some research on Delaware. It is known for its corn and soybeans. The famous places to go on the boardwalk are Dollies, Candy Kitchen and Grottos. We went to all three. Grottos Pizza is overrated it was not as good as the reviews say.

I think every other person who lives on the East Coast had the same idea of going to the beach. I have never seen so many people at the beach. You could not even see the ocean when you were sitting down because of all the people. The water was perfect not too hot and not too cold. The waves killed us. The undertow would suck you in and when you think you were in the clear the wave would suck you in and take you out. War wounds (or some would call paper cuts) were made from hitting the ground so hard from the waves. I had so much sand in the my bathing suit. The sand in Delaware has lots of big pebbles which made it even more fun to get the sand out.

On our way home we stopped at Sonic Drive-In. This is considered a treat for East Coasters. We don't have them in DC so when we see one we always stop. The ice and slushies are just too good to resist. Its funny cause when I lived in SLC I did not really go to Sonic. I guess when you don't have something you appreciate it more. We did make one other stop on the ride home. The outlet mall. Who can pass up a good deal on a J-Crew Cardigan. We all ended up getting the same ruffle button down which was a super deal.

Our last weekend of Summer turned out to be a great one. Thanks guys for a great day!!!

County Fairs

I have officially been to a County Fair for the past four weekends. Each time I had a different experience. Here are a few things I have learned:

• 4-H Fair - If there is 4-H in the title of the fair. Do not go to this type of fair. It means it is small and run by kids. You will see way too many animals that will end up on your plate one day.
• Funnel Cake - Are delicious. Anything fried is good but then when you add powder sugar it makes it even better. You cannot go wrong. They are super messy and could end up with powder sugar everywhere but so worth it.
• Rodeo - Cowboys are hot. Something about a man being able to ride a bull and tackle a cow is intriguing. I don't want to talk to any of these guys because it might ruin it all. But for now I will enjoy from a far.
• Demolition Derby - This was awesome. Cars ramming other cars as many times as they could. Even when the cars looked they were dead and had no hope they would come alive and ram another car.
• Rides - These are not safe. The fact that they can put these up/down in one day is scary. Trying to be a good sport I went on one of these and I honestly thought I was going to die. Nothing about twirling and going vertical is fun to me. I had to close my eyes most of the time so I didn't realize what was happening to me.
• Fair Visitors - Not the typical people I hangout with go to County Fairs. There were so many fashion do/don'ts that I don't even know where to begin. What I don't get it how they can afford to go to this. It costs $10 to get in $25 for rides and then another $20 for food.

Favorite Foods

I know I am too old to eat the way I eat but in my mind I am a ten year old little girl. When I go to the grocery store I always am a little embarrassed to check out. The checker has to wonder if I have kids or maybe thinks I am a young college kid who cannot afford real food. But neither is the case I just like junk food. Here are my favorite things right now:

Nashville

I recently went to Nashville with my friend Brittany. We did everything that people say to do: Country Hall Music Hall of Fame, Country Concert, Cheekwood, Pantheon and the Grand Ole Pry. I was unimpressed with the Grand Ole Opry it was nothing but an old building that wasn't even cool looking. Nothing about it looked like great architecture. How could all of my favorite country stars perform in such a bland building? It would be like Oprah having her show at Olympus High School. It reminded me of when I went to see the Alamo in San Antonio. In my mind I would have to take the bus to some exotic land to see it. Pee Wee Herman made it look so much more exciting. But then when I asked the concierge at my hotel how to get there he said it was right across the street. My face had to of been priceless I thought he had to of been mistaken to what I asked for. But yep the Alamo is in the middle of downtown San Antonio. Remind me to never believe what I hear on TV. Some places people tell you about are just not that cool.

Body Pump

Back in April my sister Rachael came to visit me. She was looking at my fridge and saw my gym class schedule and noticed that we had Body Pump. She decided we should go. I am a very active gym goer but classes absolutely freak me out. In my head I think that they will kick my butt and I won't be able to keep up. I can run marathons but for some reason a high energy class seems to keep me away. I think I am afraid of someone being more chipper than me. And not only was Body Pump a class but it involved weights. And lets be honest I do 15 minutes in the weight room and call it a day. I finally gave into my sister and went. I practically had no weights on my bar and was exhausted by the end. I took lots of breaks. Since then I have become hooked. I think every gym should have Body Pump. I don't know how I am in my mid-late-twenties and not have known about this secret. I recommend this class to everyone. Kate

Blog Stalking

My name is Katelyn and I am a Blog Stalker. This is the reason it has taken me so long to give into the blogging world. I am addicted to reading people's blogs. It amazes me how I can click on one blog and before you know it I am reading some random person's blog. I have started seeing people and have to question if I know them or have just read their blog. I know its creepy but I am completely addicted. So here is the beginning to my blog, I don't promise that it will be interesting to read but it will be full of things that I find amusing or adventures that I do. tatata for now Kate