Don't be Offended

Nearly every blog I read has up a post asking for memories. I am not commenting. This does not mean I don't love you or treasure your friendships and the memories we have made together. It means there are way too many of you (I am a lucky girl) and I really don't have the time, and I can't pick and choose, so I am choosing to simply avoid.
Sorry fabulous friends!

The Princess Monkey Turns Two!!

Linley Bo Binley turned two today. Strange, because it feels like she has been roaming this Earth for much longer. In fact, today felt like it lasted about 10 years. Granted, we did take her binky away on Friday and she has yet to forgive OR forget. Holy mother I have never heard so much screaming in my life. I digress. My little princess is two.

Opening presents was not her primary concern this year. She was far more interested in loading up the bags and wearing them as her purse.
Until the giant My Little Pony came out. She ate that thing up. Which I was a little concerned about because it kind of gives me nightmares.

My masterpiece. I think this might have been my favorite birthday cake creation yet. Mostly because it was completely fast and brainless.
Ryder handled "Linley's Day" very well. He even surrendered toys when she asked (screamed) for them. He is getting so big and mature, my little monkey man.

She had a difficult time blowing out the candle. Hello, there was only one. She was freaked out by the flame. Just wait until November when daddy turns 30!! Can we say inferno??
That's my girl!!


Happy Birthday Linley. You are such an amazing and breathtaking child. It really is hard to believe that my fully potty-trained, speaking in full sentences, shoe-obsessed princess is just barely two. We love you Linley Brooke!!

Birthday Wishes

Today is my mommy's and my brother's birthdays. Happy birthday people. Debbie-you are such an amazing mommy and my very best friend. Elliot you are a pretty cool dude and an even cooler brother.

I tried to get the kids to send you some birthday love. I had to do it in the tub because that is the only way they can be contained. It sort of didn't work. But I tried, which should still make me the best daughter and sister in the world.

Hope your day is fabulous!!

Random Musings

Life is good. Things are smooth sailing. Except that it is raining and the kids are begging to play outside. We just got this swing set before we left. The kids love it. It has made me realize that I need to hire a full-time swing pusher so that I may sit on my lounge chair reading Elle and sipping SmartWater while basking in the sunshine. Also, the neighbors dropped of that yellow speedracer car on Saturday. Ryder thinks it is the coolest thing ever. Doesn't require a swing pusher. Works for me.

In other news, I got called to be the first counselor in the Primary Presidency a couple weeks ago. I am really excited to get to work closely with some awesome women again. Plus, I am a big fan of Primary. And I loved serving with Kristin in the presidency in Dallas, so I am hoping this time it is almost as sweet (obviously nothing can compare to you and me and Lisa and Kim...talk about awesomeness!!). The ward has some serious empty callings right now (Bishopric, Elders Quorum, YM Presidency, Ward Mission Leader, etc...), which is leaving Allen pretty dang nervous. He enjoys his quiet little Financial Clerk calling. We'll see how long it lasts (and I am fully evil laughing right now...sorry babe).
Happy Monday!

The Finale

Sunday was our last night at Asilomar, which I wonderfully spent puking my guts out, and other things. I will spare the details, but will just say that it was the most gruesome and awful event of my entire life. This is no exaggeration. Then Monday morning we met our good friend from college, Brian and his beautiful wife Hilary and absolutely adorable little boy Brennan for breakfast. Okay, well they all ate. I just sat there. Sad. Do you people know how much I like breakfast?? Talk about depressing.

Then we headed back to Granite Bay where I slept the day away and Allen ate sushi. Sad. Do you people know how much I like sushi? Talk about depressing.
Tuesday, after missing our flight then getting re-routed, we got back home at 2 am. I had to wake Linley up from her nap yesterday, figuring that going longer than 5 hours and 15 minutes may be a bit exorbitant. Today we are less hung over and cookies are in the oven and an afternoon at the pool after naps is planned. It was a fabulous vacation, but dang, it feels good to be home.

At the end of our flight the pilot let Ryder go sit in the Captain's seat. Have you ever seen anything cuter??

A big fat huge thanks to everyone, Andrea and Don especially, for making this trip so perfectly wonderful!! We are excited to do it again in two years.

Asilomar

Holy mother it was cold in Monterey. Funny how I forgot that part after spending 12 years of my life there. My dreams of lying on the beach bronzing my body were instantly shattered. Still, we managed one good day at the beach where Allen attempted kite flying and I attempted hypothermia.

Ryder and Uncle Sam frolicking in the Ocean. Mommy and Linley ridiculously in the ocean. Seriously ridiculous. Look, I am even making my "I am a moron" face. It gets worse.
The smart beach goers, Sam, Tiffany and Erika, avoiding the frigid water.
Linley, also more intelligent than myself, quickly chose the sand over the water. Ryder then decided he wanted to join his brainless mother. At first he kept telling me to go deeper. At this point I had zero feeling in my legs, so I obliged. Then we got splashed up to our necks, and he had had enough.
But look at the crystal blue water. It was too beautiful to resist. Other people did agree with me and were out in the water as well. Of course, they had on dry suits. Pansies.
Allen and Ryder with a successful 10-second fly which I expertly captured on camera.
Not pictured: Ryder and myself running back to our room to shower because it was way too cold outside to even think of being able to thaw on the sand. I really never learn.

The Reunion

Thursday afternoon, after spending the morning recovering from Gretchen's beautiful reception at the house in Granite Bay, and Allen recovering from his evening full of puke and other things, we headed down to Monterey (Asilomar to be exact) to begin the Kimball Family Reunion. It was a fun 4 days spent with family. Ryder loved clinging to all of his new friends and Linley loved clinging to me. Some of the highlights included:

The family Olympics, complete with inappropriate displays of necking, bubble-gum blowing contests, balloon popping, and of course, fun dips.

Waking up in the morning to our little family of deer and woodpeckers. So serene.
A trip to Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf, where we obscenely filled our bellies with yummy clam chowder and Ghiradelli's ice cream and hot fudge and caramel and, well, I will stop there. Mmmh.
Oh, and of course, Linley and I getting gussied up for Sunday school. She is not uphappy about the gussying up part, just the part where she didn't get to hold the camera. High maintenance chick.
And not pictured, many late nights playing Hearts, Nerts, Scum. and Settlers of Katan. None of which I came off victorious by the way.

The Wedding

Warning: Millions of shots ahead.
We are obviously back from California. It was one busy week with so much packed into it, it felt like we had been gone for a month. We began our journey on Tuesday, arriving in Sacramento at 10 pm (1am our time). Got to bed around 11:30. Linley woke the house up at 3:30, and we headed to Oakland for the big wedding at 6:30. Nice, restful way to begin a vacation.
Gretchen's and Saul's sealing was beautiful. Gretchen was such a beautiful bride, and the two of them make such an obviously happy couple. We are so excited for you two to start your lives together. Congratulations!!

When we got to the temple it was freezing, but the sun managed to poke through and warm us up a bit, which was quite appreciated. Also, for future reference, the temple is completely dead on a Wednesday morning, making taking pictures a rather pleasantly rapid event.

Ryder and his cousin once removed (did I get that right??) Gabby, who Ryder was completely enamored with. He keeps telling me he wants Gabby to be his sister. I really do need to adopt an older child. The kids lone cousin on the Z side (for now....this will be changing quickly, hooray!!) Jacob, who both of my children are obsessed with. Sorry Jacob if you got completely mauled by my zoo animals.
A sort-of family group shot.
Sad that the fountain wasn't running? Or maybe good. The first wedding Ryder has managed to stay dry during.
The kids clobbered by bouquets.
The bridesmaids.
The real Zimmerman's
The Grandmas/Great-grandmas
The real plus fake Zimmerman's
Erika and Brandon
Aaron, Kelly and Jacob

The Zoo

Sweet Sunny Celebrations

We are in the Golden State for a wedding and a reunion. Be back next week to post all about it!