We Made It!

Well, after several long hours in the van we finally made it to HOT sunny Phoenix! We left on Monday night about 8:30pm...you know right on schedule according the the standard Bingham clock that I have built in that makes us leave for any major event 3 hours late. I also had the Holiday Scheduling meeting at work to thank for putting us behind schedule. Oh well, atleast I am positive I am not working Thanksgiving or Christmas (Interesting note: I just got my schedule for the holidays and YES, I AM working Christmas! I am not quite sure why I even bothered going to the meeting). We drove as far as St. George and stopped for the night in the nicest Motel 6 I have ever seen. I swear the bed was almost as comfortable as my own at home! The next morning we woke up late, we figured it would be the last time we got to sleep in on the trip, Trevor has a built in alarm clock for 6:30 am! Kai wanted waffles and convineintly there was a Denny's right down the hill.

Of course, his favorite part of the whole meal was the whipped cream. Who needs utensils?!

We also stopped at the top of the Hoover Dam.

I had never been there and it had been many many years since my mom was there.

It was really pretty amazing! I am always awed when I think that as human being we are capable of building such things. The most amazing part though, is the new freeway bridge that they are building across the river. You can see it a little if you look to the left of the telescope in the picture below.

Kai thought the most amazing part was the telescope!

I think the whole trip took us about 10 hours. I am always reminded of how much I LOVE my van, even if it isn't cool, when we take long trips. We had plenty of room for luggage, a stroller, Kai's Vroom Vroom (he insisted it had to come) and anything else I could think of. I was also glad that I took the time Monday afternoon to go get the DVD player replaced! Kai watched Scooby Doo about 13 times and not once did the new player make that annoying clackity clack noise. Although, around the 7th time I started making some interesting noises! Seriously, Daphne is that annoying!

The kids were glad to see us. We were thrilled to see them.

The twins have gotten so big. Seems so strange to think they are going to be 1 year old this month!

Penner is such a sweetie! He was my cuddle bug. I would worry that we had spoiled him but Chrystina assured us that she spends most her day holding him too. He just wants to be with ya.

Gabby on the other hand, was very happy playing with Kai Kai. Honestly, would you turn down free digger rides? Well, maybe you would if the driver wasn't wearing pants!

Kai just loved helping grandma make brownies. I liked helping eat them!

Their new house is beautiful. We especially enjoyed the swimming pool. It helped us keep cool on those 100+ degree days.


Gabby likes her purple hippo once she warms up to it. She takes a little more convincing to get in the pool than Penner does. That boy is a fish just like his older brother!

One wouldn't think that you wouldn't have to worry about traffic jams in a swimming pool but with Kai behimd the wheel anything is possible.

Oh How They Laughed...

So remember everyone at work who laughed because I couldn't eat pizza that night because it was my fruit day? Well, here ya go! I weighed myself at the end of my 11 Day Diet and guess what?! 10 Pounds Baby!!! I couldn't believe it. I am so proud of myself! That's all this post is...unadulterated, completely selfish, vanity at its very best, pat myself on the back, as London on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody would say "Yay Me!", Super girl power, I'm gonna fit into my skinny jeans, eat your heart out Charlie Bragging!

The Family That Plays Together...

On Saturday I had the chance to hang out with some of the most wonderful people I know, my family! I have been blessed with a really great extended family and we are all really close. Some of us though, are closer than others. My mom and her brother married a brother and sister so I have double cousins. Makes it really nice at family reunions. Well, I got up early on Saturday morning, loaded Kai still in his pj's (it was that early) into the van, picked up my mom and brother Chris and headed up to the salt flats for an exciting day of motorcycling and 4 wheeling. We all met in Tremonton and carpooled up to Kelton. It started out a little rainy but soon the clouds cleared and we enjoyed a beautiful early fall day.

Kai totally loved the 4 wheeler. He sat in front of me and held on to the gas tank for the first half of the ride. After that he decided that he had had enough of a lesson and was ready to take control. He not so subtly pushed my hand off the throttle and said "do it myself!" He then would give it all he could and we would be off like a bullet! Only scared the daylights out of me when we were approaching jumps. I was a pansy and didn't try my hand on a motorbike. The last time I think I was on one was when I was 14...we had a very abrupt ending to our relationship. I ran into a church house on my grandpa's bike. That is how I got the scar on my chin. I still hold my cousin responsible! Just kidding, Amy!

Any ways, there was a little 70 there, that was probably about my speed but I stayed with the 4 wheeler. Must be my old age kicking in...something nice about 4 wheels on the ground.

It was nice having Chris as my riding partner. With his bad back we were both pansies! So nice not to be left in the dust all alone.

While Chris and I were out being oh so very adventurous Malakai got to know the new "sister" in the family Saddie. My Grandparents have had two mini dachshunds, Sabrina and Savannah for a very long time. Not too long ago though, Savannah died. It was very hard on my grandma because they are her babies. We have often laughed and referred to them as the "other siblings." So, grandpa went out and got another puppy. She is awfully cute but Malakai quickly lost interest. After all, we did bring his digger!

And of course, there was also the food to distract him. He was totally into this giant chocolate muffin.

The rest of us chowed down on deli sandwhiches, veggies and fresh fruit. Who knew a trailor could also double as kitchen and dinning room?!

By the end of the day Kai was just about ready to drop but we figured he better get one last ride in. This is exactly how he came back from the ride!

Apparently, this is how Brenda puts kids to bed! I guess it must run in the family because my grandpa used to put my aunt Angalee to sleep by taking her on motorcycle rides.

We had a great time! I can't wait until the spring ride.

Scooby Dooby Doo

We have a new obsession at our house. Malakai is now totally and completely in love with Scooby Doo. He watches it all the time. It has even usurped My Friends Tigger and Pooh! I know, I didn't think I would see the day. He asks for Scooby Doo all the time, in the van, before his nap, at bedtime. I can't complain a whole lot though. Scooby Doo did keep him busy for like 3 hours this morning while I slept. He only woke me up to tell me "more Scooby Doo" or to open his two Popsicles that he had for breakfast. Very nutritious! Oh but when I did finally get up and wandered downstairs I found a package of hot dogs on the floor with three of them out. Apparently, he was still hungry.

This is kind of bad timing though. I just ordered 2 more sets of his favorite Pooh pajamas because I got tired of washing them everyday, and when they arrived today he could really have cared less. Does anyone know where I can get Scooby PJ's? Just kidding!

As Plain as the Nose on Your Face

So this week has been interesting and busy and unfortunately there has not been a lot of exciting things to blog about. But, I am starting to feel like a blogging slaker so I will post about the boring mundane things in my life.

Update on the divorce issue: First and foremost, I owe an apology to my in laws and close friends that had to find out about our situation by reading my blog. I am so sorry. I know that was a terrible way to break the news. If feelings were hurt please know that I am sorry. It was not done intentionally, much thought has gone into this process and though I might not have talked to you personally I have thought much about you all and I am grateful for the support you give us. To be honest, this thing has kind of been like the sea, changing daily, ask my family and two best girlfriends! They are about sick of my indecision. So thank you for being there for us. Know that we love you and are grateful to have you in our lives and want you to continue to be in our lives, even if they are seperate. After all, we share the greatest thing in this world...Malakai!

My mom has grass. Well in about 6 weeks she will. Right now she has mulch and green slimy stuff. We (I use the term loosely, mainly she) have been working very hard these last couple of weeks to get her yard free of weeds and clumps and leveled (See Kai's 7th Heaven Post) so that the hydroseeding can be done. Well, it finally got done yesterday. I have spent a lot of time over there and to be honest blogging "Shoveled dirt again" for 3 days just seemed like a waste of good blogging space.

I went to the dermatologist! This was probably the most exciting thing that happened. About 4 years ago while we were living in 29 Palms I noticed this small bump on the tip of my nose. I thought that it was a zit but after several attempts to pop it and making it look much worse, I gave up and just let it be. Well, last year I asked my doctor about it and she gave me Valtrex thinking it was a wart (OK yes, insert all your she really is a witch jokes here) but it didn't work. So this year, knowing that I was going to lose the best insurance in the world and would have to start paying co pays I asked for a referral to a dermatologist. She sent me to see Dr. Eyre here in Spanish Fork. He is a great doctor, way nice. He said I had some sort of papiloma or adenoma...or uh...just a noma, I don't know! Sorry, the nurse in me is terribly ashamed! Anyways, he said that it is a relatively painless process to remove it he just "has to numb it first, which doesn't hurt," he says, "unless it is on the tip of your nose where all the nerves are." "What a coincidence!" I said rather sarcastically. But, the shot was not bad, kind of like popping a zit that isn't ready, that pinching sensation and about 2 minutes later he shaved off the bump. Now, I am left with a small crater that he assures me "will probably not scar." He also looked at the side of my nose, where I really did have a stress induced break out, and has decided not to heal for like 3 weeks. He said that it looked like maybe an infection (MRSA, but I will not own it! and he didn't culture it so nobody break out the isolation gowns quite yet!) and he gave me some cream to try. If it doesn't heal in 2 weeks I will go back and he will culture it. Honestly, this is day 2 on the cream and I think it already looks better. I wish that it would be that easy to get rid of the "bump" in the bridge of my nose. Oh well, maybe someday I will have a post about my trip to the plastic surgeon!!!

This has been my week. I work tonight and then we are off to ride motorcycles on Saturday and heading to Phoenix on Monday. So, stay posted. I promise more exciting things to come!

Kai's 7th Heaven!

My mom had her lawn tilled today to get it ready for hydroseed and it got all these clumps of weeds and stuff in it. So she borrowed her home teachers 4 wheeler to pull a pallet around and break up the clods. Well, let's just say Kai LOVED it! But until I strike it rich he is going to have to settle for his little spiderman 4 wheeler and his Vroom Vroom!

Hey! I see you Momma!!!

A Whirlwind of Fun!

This week has seemed like such a whirlwind, a fun wonderful whirlwind full of laughter and potty training and family and precious sweet moments with my Kai! I think it must be something in the air because as I read my friend's blogs I see that they are feeling the same wonderful feelings that autumn brings. Monday was a busy fun day. I got to go to the doctor for a yearly check up and since I couldn't find a sitter (thank you Charlie for being in Montana!) I got to take Kai Kai along...see starting out fun already! It really wasn't that bad. My doctor is so great and she has an awesome staff so they watched him out in the hall for the, uh more personal parts of the check up. After the doctor we went to Big O Tires and had them rotate my tires and check for the small wrench that Malakai dropped in the wheel the night before...it was there when we backed out, I could hear it clanking! They didn't find it though. They think it must have fallen out when we were driving. While they were working on the van Kai and I walked down to Carl's Jr. It was fun...he had the whole playland to himself and I could hear him wherever he went. Then we drove back over to the doctors office to watch the big trucks and diggers at the construction site across the street. Kai just can't get enough of those things! I had staff meeting that afternoon so I couldn't let Kai go to sleep yet so we went for a long walk, or I should say a short walk that lasted a long time! Those of you who have 2 year olds know how this happens.

This week I have been trying to slow down. I think potty training has done it. I am realizing how quickly Kai is growing up. I have been trying to not sweat the small stuff and just enjoy my kid! He is such a great little boy. Tuesday and Wednesday we got to watch Brynlee while Aunt Lisa was a work.

She is such a sweet little girl and she is so easy to love. She absolutely adores her cousin Malakai and I think that he reciprocates many of those feelings. It was so fun to watch the two of them play together.

Malakai wanted me to get in his big truck so he could push me. I told him that I was too big, but that he should try Titus (our cat). Sadly, Titus would not cooperate, but he did find someone who was more than happy to oblige him.

Don't worry! He was surprisingly gentle and pushed her only at a moderately fast speed slowing down significantly before they crashed into the walls! Brynlee was laughing the whole time! Ahh, so much like her dad (Hey, mom! I made my own zip line watch me jump off the roof!!!).

Brynlee even got a chance to play in Kai's bouncy house.

That night we went to the mall to window shop. Kai is not so big on that but he did love the penny machine! Best 18 cents I ever spent!

OK so I caved and acutally spent $1.68! I did let Kai ride the vroom vroom ride twice and the rocket ship once. He had been a good boy and stayed in his stroller (for the most part).

Just call him Luke Kaiwalker! He even makes the sound effects.

And finally on Wednesday we went grocery shopping. My mom helped chaparone. Between the two kids and the car cart that feels like you are pushing a life sized bus I was glad for the help and company.

Lower the Legal Driving Age?

Step 1: Adjust seat for maximum comfort and viewing.

Step 2: Secure the seatbelt.

Step 3: Hands at 10 and 2 (If you can reach otherwise just hold on!)

Step 4: Curse the fact that you are 34" tall and can't reach the pedals!!!

This is my son. You know the one that loves anything with wheels and a motor. Well, he is a very fast learner. On Sunday we were at my brother's house having dinner. Afterwards, Grandma, Aunt Lisa and I were going to go for a drive to put Kai Kai to sleep only he beat me to the driver's side. This is pretty normal. He likes to pretend to drive so I let him only this time it was a little different. Before he got in he adjusted the seat, moving it as close to the steering wheel as possible. He then climbed in, put the keys in the ignition, turned my van on, put his seat belt on, looked at me (sitting in the passenger seat with the door open) and said, "Close door, please!" Then he reached up to the shifter and started pulling down. It was at this point that I said Whoa! No! No! I guess that ends the days of me leaving keys in the van or lying around. If in 4 years you read about a 6 year old and his 4 year old cousin that took a van for a joy ride, that will be Malakai and Brynlee! Yeah, I am so screwed!

A Pleasant Surprise!

We had a really pleasant surprise this weekend. Chrystina's grandpa is in the hospital (Oh that sounds bad! That was NOT the pleasant surprise!!!). The pleasant surprise was that Chrystina and the twins came up for the weekend to visit him and we got to see them too. We have missed those little stinkers since they moved to Arizona.

They are getting so big. They have teeth now and Gabby has a new trick:

Yep, she stands all by herself! Penner can do it too, but he is such a busy boy that before too long he just sits down and crawls away. We did miss the rest of the family. I have not had a moments peace from Kai Kai. He was very confused as to why we were at Nana's house and Sabina was no where to be found. He does like his little cousins though. He even shared his potty treat sucker with them.

We can not wait for our trip to Phoenix!!! Two weeks go quick please!