XML : Create array from xml nodes using jquery

I'm trying to isolate lat/lon points in xml file to array. I am getting hung up on pushing the lat/lon child nodes text to the array. Ideally I would like the array to read as:

point 1 = lat1, lon1
point 2 = lat2, lon2

Here's what I have so far:

   $.ajax({          type: "GET",          url: "points.xml",          dataType: "xml",          success: function (xml) {              //find each TP              var areaPlots = $(xml).find('plot_area').each(function () {                     $(this).find('area').each(function () {                      var areas = $(this);                      $(areas).find('point').each(function () {                          var points = $(this);                          $(points).find('lat_num').each(function () {                            var latitude = $(this).text();                              $(points).find('lon_num').each(function () {                            var longitude = $(this).text();                                                                                                                                     })                      })                  })              })                     //end of success function          }    

XML:

  <plot_area>   <area>      <point>     <lat_num>42.00861</lat_num>      <lon_num>-94.00351</lon_num>    </point>   <point>    <lat_num>43.00921</lat_num>     <lon_num>-89.00024</lon_num>    </point>   <point>    <lat_num>02.008427</lat_num>     <lon_num>-74.99588</lon_num>    </point>   </area>  </plot_area>    

How do I push each point's lat/lon pair to an array?