Breaking Dawn: Part One

 Angie, Michelle, and I went to the premier of Breaking Dawn: Part 1...the tradition continues. This year we were joined by Angie's friend, (and my new best friend) Jennie Christensen who was feeling a little left out because she didn't have a ridiculously cool I <3 Vampires shirt. And who wouldn't?! They're fantastic. (Thanks for picking them up Ang) I'm so glad we have continued this, even though the movies are silly, it's just so fun. 

The Admiral

So, we've bought a new car...and yeah, it's a Cadillac! With our plans to move to Santa Clara, Casey was a little worried about the extra commuting time on the scooter, especially during the winter months. So we've been looking for a second vehicle. We really wanted to pay cash, but finding something under $5,000 that had lower miles and was slightly safe was feeling like it was becoming more and more unrealistic. I was playing around on auto trader yesterday and I saw this beauty for sale at a local dealership. I say to Casey, purely as a joke, we should go test drive this car. So we did...and here is what happened. We got the giggles. I say we should buy this car just because it is hilarious. We were laughing so hard. I had tears streaming down my face at the mere idea of Casey floating along in this boat. It was listed for $3500 and had 65,000 miles on it. So we bought it. Not only is actually a good deal, but it's a fully pimped out {leather, power everything, etc.} safe ride. Though the most important feature is that it is hilarious! I don't know when it will stop being funny, but I doubt it will be any time soon. And we have appropriately named him, "The Admiral".

Halloween

Jenna was a little bumble bee this year for Halloween. She was darling and loved her costume. We started the season with Trick or Treating at Casey's office. She was a total hit; but who wouldn't love a bee carrying a Winnie the Pooh? I'm glad we started trick or treating at the office so she could get down the concept a little before we hit the streets. On Halloween night we went over Papa Nick and Grandma Liisa Frei's neighborhood. There is a street just around the corner from their house that shuts the whole street down and the houses go all out. One house served up corn dogs, one popcorn, and one donuts along with all the other goodies. It was kind of amazing. Jenna had a great time with Grandma Liisa and we ran into Uncle Matthew and some co-workers of Casey's. It was such a fun night and more and more this city is starting to feel like home. 

Our little bee smelling the flowers. 

Liisa's daughter Maddi and her friend, as Quinn Fabray and Rachel Berry from Glee

Loves from Grandma Liisa and Papa Nick

Our traditional new Halloween pajamas! 

October

October was another big month for us. A trip to Ogden/Draper, Big Bear, and San Diego. The Goves came to visit us in St. George and we did a little photo shoot with their girls which Jenna had to get involved in. she's so funny. We go on walks through the neighborhood almost every day and we tend to get caught at one specific doorway because she likes to climb the stairs and run down the hill. It usually delays us 10 minutes from getting on with the walk. She has started reading to herself not that you can understand anything she is saying but it doesn't seem to stop the jabbering. She's also starting to help out around the house a little. More because she likes to mimic everything I'm doing, not because she is that helpful. But I'll take what I can get. Jenna's personality is blossoming and God help us all she's just like me only a little more cautious. 

Big Bear

DAY ONE

My Dad is 60 years old! What?! So we headed to Big Bear again...looks like it's turning into an annual thing, yeah! My siblings and I put together a custom scrapbook for his present. We put together 60 things we love about him or some of our favorite memories of him. So once we all arrived in Big Bear and got settled we made him a tie dye cake. The hippie in him loved it! Then he opened his book and we all took turns reading to him the pages we wrote. When we planned this out we thought it would be very tender and special...we didn't count on the chaos of 5 toddlers. It was a nightmare. I'd like to tell you it was controlled chaos but that would be a lie. I think my Dad like the book and it was a great way to start the trip. I thought I would include a couple of my pages from the book so you get an idea of what the sixty consisted of. Love you, Dad!

DAY TWO:

We started day two with a little craft. Per my Dad's request we all tie dyed a shirt. It was a lot funner than I thought it was going to be and it was interesting how the shirts were like our personalities on display. Sara's VERY clean, tidy, and organized with an exact pattern. Megan's was lousy goosey, with fun, crazy patterns. Dad's was super abstract. And Casey's was as plain as humanly possible with a single purple (Go Cats) stripe down the side. It was really fun watching Kylie's imagination and creativity come out. 

The rest of the day was spent relaxing at the house, going for walks and hikes and a small trip into town. Kylie got feathers in her hair and she was so excited. My favorite thing about these trips to Big Bear is the relaxed down time my family gets to spend together. Though our trips to San Diego are always fun, they are usually very busy and very fast. We don't get a lot of time just to be together. It's nice to get away from it all and just enjoy each other. 

DAY THREE: 

Day three was a very busy day! We started with Jen giving Jenna her first haircut! Yes, she's totally almost two and getting her first haircut.

Then we went bowling at the Big Red Barn. Just like last year it was an absolute blast. We got a lane just for the kids and kept the bumpers up and they had a so much fun. I bowled a pretty damn good game as well, if I do say so myself. Jenna was so funny, every times the pins got knocked down she would yell, "Uh oh" and put her hands on her cheeks. It was hilarious. 

Oh, no! 

Then we headed to the lake and had a picnic lunch followed by family pictures in our tie dye shirts. It was  so beautiful out and it was lovely sitting by the lake.

When we got home Sara and I attempted to do a photo shoot with Cooper and Jenna for their birthday party invitations. Some turned out okay but most were a disaster. Attempting to get two almost two year olds to look at the camera and smile was a nightmare. So without further adieu, I give you the hot mess that is the photo shoot...

Kissing cousins!

Chloe got very jealous so we did a couple shots of her. she was much more cooperative then J and Coopie Coop. 

Unfortunately, I got something in my eye while we were on our photo shoot. It was so painful!!! So I spent the rest of the night with a eye mask on. Like I was a pirate or something. I looked a fool, but it at least cut the pain down a little bit. It also made it harder to see our fantastic talent show we had that night. Jenna was in heaven watching all the songs and dancing. Kylie was so proud of her violin playing, she was darling. So was Shiloh who did flips off Jen's lap...the cutest! Rivaled only by Chloe's twirling. 

We headed home the next day, refreshed, rested, and full of great memories. Happy birthday, Dad! 

Wordless Wednesday