Circle Round CA!

Our 2500 mile Tour Round California 

started on the Newport Coast:

Sunday with the McBrides!

Lots of food, laughing, catching up, more laughing and did I mention food?

Next stop?

Monday: The Magic Kingdom

Let's see.. autopia, space mountain (over & over), the teacups,

dumbo, astoblasters... good times for all!

and of course a little bit of birthday for Madison!

Oh!  And our lil' jedi preparing for the dark force.

Tuesday: pedis with the McBrides for the girls.

golf for the boys

 Wednesday: California Adventure and a little more Disneyland

The new World Of Magic show is AWESOME (and.. a little wet!)

Thursday: Downtown Disney and a LONG ride to Sacramento

The LEGO store was a BIG hit...

and lunch at Rainforest Cafe to celebrate our 15 year old

was the perfect ending to our SoCal adventure!

Friday: Raelene and James wedding day!!

It was a beautiful day in Sacramento.  

A day to always remember.

Saturday: Wedding Reception in Santa Cruz

It felt great to be "home" among our family and our friends.

It was a terrific party with lots of great people, amazing food and fun!

It was a busy, fun-filled week and 

we are already missing everybody!

Thanks for making it so wonderful!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAUTIFUL!!

Hope your 15th is as FABULOUS as you are!!

Love you tons, girl.

Sweet Grill!

Here's to Nine!

Kimbel Love Muffin's day started with BREAKFAST in bed!!

Chocolate chip waffles and bacon.  

mmm mmmm good.

(I threw in a kiwi just for good measure!)

After school (and airheads for the class)

we headed for the Stansbury High Homecoming Parade.

Go Stallions!

Home for a round of present-giving!!

It was quite the American Girl kind of year.

Then to the SHS Homecoming Game for some face painting!

(Definitely the highlight of the game!)

We finished up her birthday with ice cream at cold stone and

cupcakes on Saturday to celebrate our October babies birthdays!

Good times.. even if my sweet baby girl is growing up.

Happy Birthday, sweet Kimbel!

Can you say ALOHA?

Twelve 9 year olds + one bounce house = PARTY!

 Lots of bouncin' at this party.

 "Wowza - I ate PETE!"

 Fun times and Fun friends!!

 All smiles from the birthday girl!!

 It was such a gorgeous, sunny day

the bounce house eventually gave way to a game of soccer!

 Aloha wahines!!

 "Mom, I'm so glad those loud girls are gone!!"

Bounce house for 9 hours on a Saturday = One tired Mom!!

Happy Birthday Party, 

Kimbel Love Muffin!

.. it's a dog's life.

Okay, so some of us are deep in a case of 

puppy love.

(and maybe some of us aren't...)

Cruz has some serious admirers.

He gets bathed and brushed and fluffed and loved all day long.

(Okay, after the school bell rings..)

..and he revels in every second of it!

Oh!! And on Sunday we were blessed with a visit from our five favorite BYU students!!

Our Santa Cruz kids came for a bite to eat and a fabulous visit!!

We love you guys, tons!!!  

Thanks for the party!

(.. oh, and DO come again!)

the tooth fairy returns.

okay.  So, I need to preface this post with a little story.


In June I headed off for a week at Girls Camp and left the younger kids in the competent, loving care of their father.  Perfect.  I came home very late Thursday night, 1:30amish, so we could get on the road to CA on Friday.  


I woke up Friday morning (clean and in my own warm bed) with Kimbel face to face.


"Mom, the tooth fairy didn't come.  For two nights."


"Really?  Hmm?"


"I don't know what to do, because we are going on vacation and I won't be in my own bed."


"Hmmm."


"Should I take my tooth?  Or should I leave it here?"


"Hmmm.  Seriously?"


So.. together we decided she should DEFINITELY take the tooth - because that tooth fairy had better get her (or his) act together!!


Happy to report the tooth fairy found us in our hotel in Nevada and Kimbel was rewarded with not one, but TWO dollars, for her patience!

* * * * *

Now to last night.

We went to Jared and Niccole's to celebrate Jare's Happy Birthday!  WooHoo!  Yummy cake.  Thanks!

While there Aunt Nicc caught sight of Braden's loose teeth on the bottom.  Now, I know that she LOVES all things dental.. but I DIDN'T know that she LOVES to pull teeth, too.  (One of those hidden talents that shouldn't be hidden under a bushel... or something like that.)

Anyway.  She convinced B. to follow her to her office (the bathroom) and proceeded to pull out his tooth.  Yes.  I know, I couldn't believe it until I saw it for myself.  No crying during.  Just a little after.  After the realization that it was not part of his body anymore.  Wow.  (She didn't cry either.)

So, after trying to convince him to let her pull out the second loose tooth, but with no success.  We headed home to tuck the tooth safely under Braden's pillow.

And... yes.  Happy to report the tooth fairy was on top of this one.