3 THIRTY Celebrations!

Eric and two other friends from high school turned 30 within a few days of each other. So we celebrated BIG time... MULTIPLE times!!! Happy birthday Eric (Nov 9), Salina (Nov 12), and Mike (Nov 13).
Eric was a HUGE birthday Grinch this year. He didn't want a cake! He didn't want presents! He didn't want a party! He didn't want anyone to sing "happy birthday"! BAH HUMBUG!

Too bad. Every party has a pooper, that's why we invited you... party pooper, party pooper!

Who knew turning thirty could make a person SO grouchy!? Although he didn't want anything fancy we had some friends show up and suprise him with some yummy cupcakes and then we had a small party as a family.
Eric LOVES magic eye books and optical illusions so I thought this book would be a great gift for him.
I was right. Eric was SO engrossed in his new optical illusion book that the girls opened the rest of his presents for him. If you ask him what else he got for his birthday, I highly doubt he will remember anything except the book. I guess for not wanting anything- the book was a hit. Happy birthday Birthday Grinch!!!

On Friday we had a surprise party to celebrate Mike turning thirty. It was fun seeing the expression on his face when he walked through the door. Mike is a HUGE Utah football fan so our family all wore blue (BYU) but no one even noticed. Next time we will have to borrow some BYU shirts.
The next day, Salina had a Prom 2011 theme for her 30th birthday party. Let's be honest- we all had a blast! I laughed so hard I cried (multiple times). Eric and I had a GREAT time away from our girls dancing the night away(thanks to Patti and Jared!).

Sometimes (okay, a lot of the time) I worry about the man I married.....
Who's turning thirty next?... Not I. I turn 29 (again) this year.

Nelly, The D-ster, DJ Dirty Nelly, Delia...

This face has many names and I love her as all of them. I recently got together with one of my best friends from China (official C.O.T member). We had some great times in China together from sleeping on the Great Wall, to playing trush or dare (it isn't misspelled, that is what we played), to traveling, to shopping, to pure randomness... D'Nell is one of those people who can make anything fun. I have missed her friendship because I hadn't seen her in SIX years! So it was about time we met up. A really nice thing about living in Utah is that I get to see my friends and family on a regular basis. It was SO nice catching up with D'Nell over carmel popcorn and I can't wait to spend some more time with her.

I Married My Best Friend

A few weeks ago, Eric and I celebrated our SIX year anniversary!!! We couldn't believe it... especially Eric who thought it was our seventh anniversary. I made him this eye chart (perhaps you have to be married to an optometrist to love the idea) and a few other things. He surprised me by making breakfast in bed, two dozen roses, and the BEST gift was not having to go into work that day and he helped with odd projects around the house. Later in the week we were able to go on a special date to a comedy club and dinner to celebrate the occasion. I feel lucky, everyday, because I got to marry my best friend.
Then on Sunday we went to a tri-stake conference in the tabernacle (how cool is that?!). Kinsley was so excited to see the temple where her mommy and daddy were married. She told us, "When I get bigger I am going to marry daddy here." =)

Halloween Festivities

My parents went to Texas to attend the BYU vs TCU football game. Since we live closer, my girls and I got to go to Idaho and spend four days with my little sister while they were away. We had a great time! Kristi is SO popular-- she had 3 different Halloween parties to attend. Whenever she was in her costume Kinsley thought she and Aila needed to be dressed up too. =)

Carving Pumpkins

We went to Eric's house and carved pumpkins in their garage.

Eric is always SOOOO willing (insert sarcasm here) to stop and pause for a photo...

The finished products....

Family Fun

My parents got back from Texas late Saturday night so we got together Sunday, after church, had lunch and played games. The kids loved seeing each other's costumes. Apparently we didn't get the memo that all of the girls were going to be witches this year... (j/k)

4 witches, Elmo, a poodle, a lady bug, and a Lego

HALLOWEEN DAY

Trick or treat! Eric tried to teach Kinsley the chant "Trick or treat smell my feet give me something good to it. If you don't I don't care I'll pull down your underwear." Kinsley said, "No! Then they'll see me naked!"

Eric got out of work late so we only went to four houses: Salina's, Aunt Shel, Aunt Patti, and Matt's. We had a great time visiting with everyone and Kinsley loved spending time at everyone's houses. When we got home from trick or treating, someone had stolen our big pumpkin off of our porch. What kind of hoodlum steals a child's pumpkin? We never even got to light it.

See all that candy? Keep in mind, we only went to FOUR houses!!!