OOOOOOO, Witchy Women

Our annual Witchapalooza was a success! It was a great time! It is so fun to get dressed up, have some food and see a great show. We decided to make this our October Lindquist Ladies Night-me, Bree, Mom, Ashlee, Sunni, Jamie and Grandma. Grandma Cookie for a MONTH had been saying she wasn't going to dress up but as we were walking around Country Furniture, this little lady all in black sneaks up....it was Grandma! She looked awesome and definitely dressed to impress. We were missing Terrie, Ali and Debbie so we ended up with three ladies on our table, sans witch costumes and excitement, but still a great time. Here is to next year!!

THREE!!!!

We now have a three year old! I can't believe it! To celebrate the birth of our first, we partied it up Friday, Saturday and Sunday (crazy, I know!). After we put her to bed on Sunday, she looked up at Mark and asked, "are you coming to my party tomorrow?". Friday we hosted the Lawrence Family birthdays, Saturday- a pool party with her friends, and Sunday- the Williamsons Family birthdays. It was fun to see her get so excited about her presents, singing Happy Birthday and just being a big girl.

The pool party was awesome! I was worried with 10 kids, it would be a mad house but the Rec Center put on a great party. We had a princess theme but of course, a dinosaur cake (with the requested "cano" Volcano). Cannon, Devon, Ashley, Jane, Jill, Megan, Braeden, Avery, Brynlee & even Aunt Britty (who was a great helper!) all had a good time swimming, eating pizza and cake.

Mc & the dino cake.

Daddy and Mc in the pool (dad was a good sport to get in with her)

Mc & her cousin, Brynlee.

Mckinley and Alex. Alex took Mc to Toys R Us and let her pick whatever she wanted- she chose the Ken and Barbie duo from Toy Story 3.

Mckinley is a spitfire! She is so smart, has gorgeous "Barbie" hair, still loves Dinosaurs but has discovered Polly Pockets and Princess dolls. She loves to dance, eat chocolate, going to the pet store, watching movies and eating popcorn, loves to read books, do crafts, have her nails painted, play with her cousins, making new friends (even if they are 14 year old boys at the playgound) and playing with Alex. She loves packing up her "stuff" before we leave the house (anything that will fit in her backpack or purse), loves the movie "Rio", her daddy and Kingston.

We love you Mckinley! Happy Birthday!

The only thing that can fill the hole....

Last Thursday, clad in sweats and hair in a ponytail, I answer the door to a West Jordan city worker. At first, I was thinking someone's dog had gotten loose or that someone else (anyone else) had a water problem. He proceeded to tell me that our water usage was off the charts so he was told to come out and check our water main. Yep- it was leaking. He wasn't sure for how many days but was sure, that we had doubled, almost tripled our water usage during the last week. Mark rushed home, turned off the main and so began the FOUR DAY NO WATER ADVENTURE OF 2011. Mark's brother helped us to find a guy who would come, dig up my yard and replace the pipe but he couldn't come until Monday..M.O.N.D.A.Y. Toilet flushing, laundry, dishes, filling up bottles...all of it would be minimal because every time the water was on, gallons were leaking into the ground and we were adding $20 to our water bill (that was already outlandish).

What a blessing to live so close to family for showers, bottle washing, and laundry! Side note, nothing is more rank than a sink that has not had water run down it for 4 days. Blech! In a nutshell, we are paying someone to rip up my grass, concrete and flower bed BUT we have water. Just glad that it is going to snow soon and I don't have to look at the carnage much longer.

While deep in my stress induced cuticle chewing, Mark, in his infinite wisdom, told me to focus on something else. Who better than our sweet kiddos. Mckinley will be THREE on Sunday. Mind blowing to think that 3 years ago today, I was still pregnant, paranoid and about to become a mom for the first time! Kingston is almost 4 months, sleeping through the night and happy as they come.

Water or no water, life goes on!

90 Days

Our little man is 3 months old! By this time with Mckinley, I had already headed back to work leaving Mark at home in the Mr. Mom capacity so, for me, every milestone from here is a new one.

Things we love about the Kingman-

-has slept from 9-7:00 every night for a week

-rocks the size 2 diapers

- loves to chat and smile

-still hates the car seat

- is mesmerized by Mc singing & playing

-Wednesday nights are his least favorite. It is like he can feel my presence leaving the house as I head to mutual

-loves to "bite" anything that he can get close to his mouth

- thought you were teething...nope, just drooley

-isn't a fan of tummy time

- you are cuddler and love to just be held and loved on

- definitely a mamma's boy

This is him "talking" while I was trying to take his picture.

I think we have finally hit the routine that makes life with two kids seem normal and adjusted. It still isn't perfect but we are definitely getting there.

This is Mckinley tell me she is making a "pretty face" for the camera. Just hope this face doesn't make an appearance when we do family pictures next month :)

and if they don't dance well, they're no friends of mine

We came. We danced. We conquered (sort of). For the past few months, we had been working with Mc on going on the potty because only "big girls who pee in the potty get to do to dance class". She made it just in time! Classes started the beginning of September and she had been potty trained for about 3 weeks. Her class has 8 little girls, and one elderly, Miss Dixie (sporting her "eat, dance, sleep, repeat" t-shirt) as the teacher. Mc seemed kind of overwhelmed at first not really knowing what to expect. Let's be honest, the barrage of pink tutu's threw me off too. The galloping pony dance seemed to scare her a bit, she loved the "bunny jumping over the alligator" game and in the end, was Penguin walking like a champ. Mimi came to support her and bring her treats on her first day. I am sure it was also a show to watch this paranoid mom trying to keep her "active" child on task. All in all, it's fun to watch all the "firsts" for your kids because they are firsts for me too. I am excited to see her learn and I can't wait for the recital in Spring.

She was so excited to pose before dance.

Miss Dixie- the toddler whisperer.

a name and a blessing

Kingston in his "little man" blessing outfit.

It was awesome living in Utah when Kingston was born. Friends, family and everyone so close. It was even BETTER being in Utah to bless our son. We lived in Arizona when we blessed Mc and a lot of people couldn't come down A) because they had just been in town when she was born in October, B)our house could only fit so many and C) let's be honest, a 13 hour drive doesn't sound all too appealing at any time.

We blessed Kingston @ 11 AM. Family and friends filled the chapel (we were later thanked by the Bishop because it looked like a full house since so many were gone for Labor Day and our family alone filled most of the benches). Mark gave an amazing blessing. My favorite "that you may bring many to the Gospel with your personality"- how amazing is that. Mark asked his Dad to stand in the circle which was a special moment and it is always so cool to see all those worthy men surrounding our son.

Afterward, we had a little get together @ our house. We truly tested the capacity of our upstairs and had probably close to 50 people crammed and cozy wherever they could fit. We made it work!! Guessed about right on the food (not too much left over) and it was a great excuse to deep clean my house.

Mark bore his testimony about Family- I would have mirrored that testimony had I not been on the verge of tears the whole meeting. We are truly blessed beyond what we deserve. I sat back Sunday when everyone was gone. Both babies sleeping. Mark at the church doing is Financial Clerk responsibilities. We have a beautiful home. Two healthy, darling babies. Jobs. Each other. Supportive family. The ability to serve. Life long friends. Great parents. Good examples. I am grateful everyday that we are back in Utah and that my children will get to be around all the good things in life because we have our family here.

Three Generations. Just sad that Grandpa Junior missed it by a few months. I am sure he was there in Spirit.

Our Family of Four.

Mimi, Papa and Aunt Britty

Grandma Mary Ann

I think Kingston and Daddy were BOTH happy to be out of their ties by the end of the day.

60 days

Kingston is two months old! On one hand, it seems like he has always been a part of our family and on the other, it seems like only yesterday he was born. He really is a good baby and I think we (by "we" I mean Mc) have made the adjustment to this little guy being in our home. At his two month appointment he weighed 12 lbs 5 ozs and is 23 inches long. The shots were pretty traumatic- he has this heart piercing cry and because he doesn't cry very often, it was really sad. He has been a little feverish and that makes me the nervous mom wondering how he will react and constantly checking on him to make sure he is ok.

Mc decided to cooperate with the picture taking and wanting to help hold the "two month" sign for her baby brother.

Sunday night he made the switch from the bassinet to the big boy crib. He is doing 5-6 hour stretches which is really nice considering I go back to work on Monday. He still isn't a fan of his car seat. Slept all but 30 minutes of church last week and is so smiley. He loves to coo and is a sweet addition to our family.

Yo, yo look who is big enough for the Bumbo.