{a little birdie said she's thirty...}

i had such an AWESOME birthday!

my sweet family threw me a birdie themed surprise party. my mom and sisters are famous for hosting the most fabulous soiree's around and this time was no different...   

some of my favorite peeps

i don't know how they pulled off so much planning and preparation without me having a clue. it was perfect. an intimate gathering of loved ones who went out of their way to make me feel special.

ken, mom & sissies, thank you from the bottom of my 30 year old heart. you made my day! i love you so...

thoughts on turning thirty:

i'm a mom to these three little knuckleheads, i should be 30.

bring on the next 30, i'm ready!

{half-sies...}

my little baby haws had a half birthday this week.
i can't believe he has been in our family for
half a year already! thinking back over the last year,
i was sent back on the emotional roller coaster i was 
riding then. i was in total shock to find out we were 
having another baby, and then to find out we were having
boy #3...whoa, more craziness. {you already know your momma is
crazy, don't you hawsie?} but may i say little boy,
the last six months have been such a joy. you make
everyone who meets you want one of their 
own. your brothers love you, your dad loves you, and your 
mom loves you. thanks for choosing us, you are the perfect fit!
happy half birthday bae haws, you da best.

love, the fam.
     

{in a galaxy far far away...}

...there lived a little a little four year old who ruled the roost.

he wanted to be darth vader for halloween, so

the rest of his family followed. 

  

'lil yoda and darth
(the ewok was a little less than cooperative...)
love you coobie! 

 

hangin with the red ranger and a dino

(and then, of course, some outtakes)

the dino and ranger having a little scuffle,

and darth and yoda just before they bit the dust...

(no one was hurt during the filming of this show:) 

 

with their preschool, tatie and his cousins caden and ashton went trick-or-treatin at timpanogos HS. and

bumped into poppie and the twinners.

 

the best wee wolf teachers ever...

gramma sue was the cutest astrid

a halloween sunday dinner

our friend party with some of the best 

lady gaga's you have ever seen.

my very talented neighbor amy, carved this 

edward and bella pumpkin...love it!

finding the perfect pumpkin with our cousins

at the local pumpkin patch

i hope the force was with everyone this halloween!

(we tried to "force" the rain away, it no workie)

{cali...}

SO, about a month ago (i know, i know) we, along with kenny's

whole family, made the trek to sunny san diego for ken's seester's

wedding. it was beautiful. megan was a stunning bride and everything

was perfect!

i remember being 14-ish and receiving the news my favorite cousins were

going to be moving from their home (and my families twice a year

vacation spot) in southern cal, to boring old utah. immediately i started

scheming to keep them from committing such a crime. in all my 

14-ish years of wisdom, i knew this would mean the end of visits to our favorite vacation spot.

well, i was right and the scheming was unsuccessful. they moved and our semi-annual

trips came to a screeching halt. as you can tell, this has left me with some serious emotional scarring. (end of dramatic rantings:)

SO, you will have to excuse me as i gush about how much i love southern california. and while i'm at it, i might as well go on about my darling little kids who were so much fun running from waves, wearing sun kissed skin and sandy toes, while laughing with their cousins all along the way. it doesn't get any better.

the wedding...

 

don't ya think the spidie 
man undies are a nice affect?

the reception was lovely.
there was plenty of yummy food, 
and a whole lot-a shakin on the dance floor.

   

we walked, had lunch, and admired all 
the huge naval ships in the san diego harbor.
  

we (of course) spent a lot of time at the
beach. who cares if its chilly...ITS THE BEACH!

 

 

and last but certainly not least,
we disney-ed!
(has anyone ever attempted this with 9 kids under the age of 6?)aye-yi-yi... 

future jedi's

there is a reason why this is called the 
happiest place on earth. even when your feet ache,
you have spent a small fortune, and the children
have stopped smiling for the camera, 
you can still feel the magic...

what a fun trip we had!