Sister Wives November 2011

These lovely ladies are my lifelong friends.  I have known Afton, Rae Lynn, and Eva since before kindergarten, and became super close with Valerie and Lauren when they moved to Arizona when I turned 16.  I have been through so much with these girls, and although many miles separate a lot of us, it's easy to pick up right where we left off when we can get together.  The last time we were all together is when Valerie and Lauren came to visit me after I had Kaige.  Valerie was pregnant then, and she just so happened to be pregnant this trip too.  If that's how it works, I'm looking forward to her being pregnant with her 4th.  I was pregnant too, and because I get so sick I was kind of a party pooper.  But we did have fun!  Things just didn't work like we had planned.  We didn't go away to some exotic destination, and most of the things on our want list never happened.  But it was fun! And I can't wait to do it again. We were afraid Rae wasn't going to be able to join us, but her and Lonnie ended up able to spend all of Saturday with us after all.  Lonnie was a good sport and went out on the town with all 6 of us girls.  Somehow at lunch with the waiter we joked about Sister Wives with Lonnie, I think at some point the waiter even said at least you aren't Mormon or something like that.  Well the Sister Wives joke just grew and grew.  Lots of laughs.  The picture of us in front of the fire truck with our number.  I'm wife number 5. Probably one of those times, that you had to be there, but it was fun.  We had fun bowling, getting together at the park with friends from high school and just spending time reminiscing.  I really do hope we can all get together again sooner than later.  Maybe when work, kids, pregnancies, and life isn't so complicated we can all meet up in San Diego for a relaxing girl's trip.  Life is nuts, by then we might be celebrating 50 years of friendship.

Dr. Kaige Halloween 2011

 Kaige knew for months that he wanted to be a doctor for Halloween.  We ordered him the costume and he was in love with it from the moment it arrived.   The more he wore it the more it evolved.  And this is literally what he wore and wanted to be- a doctor construction worker.  He had tools mixed in with his medical instruments and he insisted on wearing the construction hat with the plastic lining across his face like a mask.  He was quite the sight, but I loved it.  It was so Kaige, and so much fun.  That's what Halloween is all about.  He called himself Dr. Kaige for a long time after that. 

Adult Halloween 2011

 

Six years of marriage and we had never gone to a costume party, unless you count the ward trunk or treat.  I love to dress up!  I don't think the look on Josh's face says he loves to dress up, but he's a good sport.  My friend Laurie can sure throw a party.  We laughed, and laughed and laughed some more.  Josh and I, or should I say Josh won the fear factor game.  I thought I pulled my weight real well until the eat something gross part came.  This pregnant mama could not down the chocolate covered green beans.  It took me what felt like hours to swallow the one and only small bite I took.  When we were dating we watched fear factor religiously.  It was kind of fun to win and be able to say that fear is not a factor for us.   

Cute Conductor

 

We had so much fun at Aidan's 5th Bday party at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale. 

Aren't my boys cute?!?!

Disneyland September 2011

 

At a ward dinner some moms were talking about how much fun it is to go to Disneyland and mentioned going before their kids are three so they get in free.  I never wanted to take kids to Disneyland until they were five and could remember what our money was paying for.  Well I mentioned this to Josh and he got very excited about the possibility.  Before you know it we were planning and wanted to go before Kaige's 3rd bday.  If I take work off, my bosses have to take work off to cover child care so I rarely ask for time off.  They had a family reunion planned in September and Josh was off so it wasn't long before we were planning a trip to Disneyland.  Kaige was a little younger than I had wanted him to be, but the timing worked and I was happy that it was just after school had started in the middle of the week, so hopefully we would be missing the crowds. 

Josh's dad and step mom decided to meet us there for a day.  It's always more fun when we vacation together.  We do things we wouldn't normally do, they spoil us and we splurge a little more.  The first morning they treated us to a character breakfast.  It was both a success and a bust.  Kaige was terrified at first.  Dess bought him a book to collect autographs and that was the best $5 spent.  He still was nervous but he wanted them to sign his book.  The food was delicious and it was wonderful to have all the characters come to you.  I was just too dang sick to really enjoy it.  That was the case for the whole trip.  Poiette and pregnancy doesn't really mix well with much, especially Disneyland, and especially with a record breaking heat wave. 

Kaige really did love it!  He went on the Buzz Lightyear ride at least 20 times.  It was fun to be able to get off and walk right back on, and we did...over and over again!  He also loved the Bugs Life bumper cars and "tea cups". Both Josh and I just couldn't do that.  The first ride we went on was Matterhorn.  Not a good choice.  The ride is rickety and the white monster with red eyes gave the poor boy nightmares for weeks.  He also got freaked out in the Bugs Life movie, but that's ok...he is our shy boy and loved most everything.  He can't wait to go back, and he wasn't too young.

We kind of decided as a family that if we can afford it we would make it a tradition to go before the youngest turns three.  That's before I realized, I would probably be pregnant the next couple times.  Blah!

Soren's 3rd Bday Party

The Beckstrom's moved into Canyon Trails ward not long after we did and we have been pretty good friends ever since.  Soren has the best birthday parties every year, and Kaige has been lucky enough to make the guest list.  This party was at the Hall of Flame Museum.  The kids got to ride a real fire truck, and even take turns to spray their hose.  It was fun for the whole family. 

 

A King and his Prince

 

Kaige sure loves his daddy.
 It's always a treat when he comes and visits us at work. 
He is so much fun!