Festival of Lights and other Asian Adventures

Stephen and I made a goal this year to do one true date night a month. We spend lots of time together on the weekends, but we are both pretty comfortable with just staying home and watching a movie or hanging out on the couch, so we figured this would get us out of the house and trying new things. I was in charge of our first official date night for the year. Luckily our friends Emily and Cameron Collins are way better at getting out and being fun than we are and they found a fun Groupon for the Festival of Lights in Chandler (they were there with us, I just didn't take any pictures of them. true friendship). Rory crashed date night because I'm not ready to leave her with a babysitter and also she's cute.

It was basically like a giant Christmas light display, but there were different themes like iconic places around the world and Dinosaurland.

They had an entire dragon made out of these plates and little teacups. They also had a dinosaur made out of Chinese Beer cans. 

It was a little chilly so Rory spent most of the time in Dad's jacket just enjoying the scenery. She was a little mesmerized by all the lights. Also, please take note of her cupcake hat.

There was a Chinese acrobatic show that was pretty impressive. I have never felt so nervous for performers in my life. I can't find a picture of it, but there was this big spinning metal death trap that they did some tricks on and I literally thought I would throw up from the nerves! I thought for sure one of them was going down! Stephen's favorite part was the mask changer (a guy who changes masks. super fast.) and he's thinking he may take it up as a hobby in his spare time.

There were a ton of Asian food vendors there so we stopped for dinner, but nothing looked quite as delicious as the deep fried Oreos so we ate those instead. And they were delicious. But all the Asian food there inspired Cameron and Emily to tell us about their favorite Ramen place in Tempe, Tampopo, so we decided to go there for dinner the following Friday. They have a favorite Ramen place, I told you they were way cooler than us.

I'm not always the best at trying new foods, but this was really yummy.

Also it needs to be noted that in the midst of this busy season Stephen came home at 8:00 on Thursday, 3:00 on Friday, and didn't even have to work on Saturday! It was the best weekend ever.

Christmas and New Years

For Christmas we were able to go to Moses Lake to spend it with my entire side of the family. That's my mom and dad, their 7 kids, 5 spouses, and 10 grandchildren. I was crazy excited. Plus that meant we had an excuse to get Rory a couple of cold weather essentials. 

be still my heart

This is from the morning we left- she could  just feel the excitement!

We drove to Las Vegas Friday night and stayed at John and Ashleigh's. It's always a good time when we get to hang out with those two! Plus Ashleigh always feeds us really well. The next morning John dropped us off at the airport and we flew to Pasco.

We had a row to ourselves on the flight up- game changer. If only we weren't so cheap :) 

Just chilling in Seattle waiting for our connecting flight

When we got there it was non-stop family fun for 10 whole days and so much baby cuteness I could hardly control myself.

Ridley and Rory

Ridley and Rory

Jude, Grammy, and Owen

Just looking cute taking a nap

As much fun as we had, it was definitely eye opening for both Rory and I when we weren't the only ones hanging out at home all day. She went through just about every hazard that comes from having that many people in one enclosed space- kicked, stepped on, and her first cold :( Not so awesome.
But she also gave us her first real laugh and that WAS awesome. We were giving her a bath after a monumental spit up, seriously so huge, and Stephen was scrubbing her toes when she just lost it. It was the best sound in the entire world.

Aunt Kendall caught us hanging out

cute cousins

Ridley, Rory, and Quinn

The boys left on Sunday to go to Big White for a couple of days while the girls stayed home with the babies. Curtis was the only guy left out because Courtney had baby Quinn on Sunday, so he had to stick around for that. In exchange, the boys watched the kids while we went to lunch at Incas- yeah that seems about even, right?

Rory and Sanderson Poe. If we could have found a way to take this cat home with us we would have. He's so dope.

For Christmas Eve this year we didn't get together with all the other relatives in town like we normally do, which was a bummer but also kind of nice since everyone's crews are getting SO big. Luckily Angie and Q still came down to eat dinner with us, though I somehow didn't manage to snap a picture with them. Just know they were there and in adorable matching sweaters no less and it was so so fun to see them. 


Christmas Eve we had dinner with our family, Angie and Q, and the missionaries from my parents ward. Then we got our Christmas jammies and ornaments and I was way too excited about all the matching that was happening. 

Here's a blurry but wonderful picture of some of the people I love the most.

Since Christmas fell on a Sunday this year we got to get all dressed up and go to Sacrament meeting after opening gifts. It was really lovely, and I only dozed slightly, unlike somebody else I could mention...

We flew back to Las Vegas on the 27th and then drove to St George to spend a little time with Stephen's family. We were supposed to have about a week with them, but Stephen got assigned a few inventory counts last minute. Those darn taxes...

Rory all bundled up to head home

Unfortunately by the time we made it in to St George I was feeling really sick. Whatever bug had been going around the house had made its way to me and it was horrible. My sweet in laws took such great care of me- I'm talking homemade chicken noodle soup and middle of the night ginger ale runs- and watched my sweet baby while I got some rest.
I rallied just enough to go see the movie Sing with Stephen, Makenzie, and John while Lucina watched Rory. It was exciting to go out on a date with my handsome husband and it was awesome to come home to my sweet baby! I'm a lucky, lucky girl.
Since it was just the three of us for New Year's Eve we had a family sleepover in the living room. We watched some shows, ate yummy pizza, and two of us ended up staying up WAY too late because I drank some caffeine. I guess the holidays just bring out the party girl in Rory.

2016 was a good year for us and we are excited to ring in the new year with this little cutie!

Alive in Tucson

Stephen had to work on a client out of Tucson for the three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas break. We decided to come and stay with him during the week and we all went home for the weekend. Tucson may not be everyone's idea of a vacation spot, but it was so fun to get a little extra time as a family. 

She saved all her smiles for when we finally joined back up with dad. 

Off to show her off to dad's coworkers

El Guero Canelo- famous for their sonoran hot dog which was yummy, but their carne asada is really to die for. Plus check out how huge that burrito is. 

Shopping with mom left her exhausted

 Like I said, we came home for the weekends in between so on Saturday we went with our friends the Collins to see the Mesa Temple lights. And yes, I used it as an excuse to dress my baby in this adorable sweat jumpsuit. Look how cozy she is!

Honestly Rory didn't seem too impressed with the lights. She was awake for the whole thing but she mostly looked displeased the entire time. Guess we will have to try again next year!

 Stephen went back to Tucson the following Monday, to a new hotel this time but I forgot to take any pictures which is dumb because they had a giant REAL gingerbread house in the foyer! It was so cool! Rory had a doctors appt to get her first round of shots on Tuesday, so we came up after that. This picture is so sad because this is her smiling at me as we were waiting to meet with her doctor- she had no idea what was coming her way! She was a champ and calmed down as soon as she was back in my arms, but I cried pretty hard so... But also it was my birthday so I think that makes it ok.

We drove up to Tucson as soon as she had calmed down and she slept the entire way- little angel baby. Stephen left popcorn and M&M's for me in the hotel room (my favorite treat) and as soon as he got back from work we went out to Oregano's for dinner and a free birthday pizookie! It was super yummy and so fun.
When we got back to the hotel he gave me this gift, which gave me warm and fuzzies all over to see how much my husband really gets me. What a patient man haha.

Card on the left, mug on the right

I also got this gem of a card from my mother-in-law and I about died. Hilarious. 

 I do have to say the absolute highlight of my birthday was when I got this message from my mom:

I seriously cannot even begin to describe to you how excited this made me. It was like all the hope and dreams childhood Kylie ever had were coming true in one moment. Stephen and I reached in to our catalog of cat names (yes we have thought of more possible cat names than we have names for our future children) and decided that from henceforth this cat would be known as Sanderson Poe. If you think that sounds familiar this may just jog your memory: 

Yeah I think I am pretty funny. Be excited for the day when we have another cat to name because we've got plenty of ideas still up our sleeves!

So back on track, I had an amazing birthday. Seriously so fun (minus Rory's shots- still sad just thinking about those). Now back to Tucson...

hanging out in the hotel- LOOK AT THAT BABY

doing some laps at Target to help her sleep and pass the time

Looking real fly

Rory fell asleep on the hotel bed and she looked so teeny and so old all at the same time and I just couldn't stand it

It was good times in Tucson and a great birthday!