We set up our little Christmas tree this last week. Adelia and Tucker LOVE it! Adelia always tells me that she really likes the green lights on the tree. Tucker is always trying to grab an ornament off when we are not looking.

Our Thanksgiving Turkeys

Adelia (She drew some smiley faces

on the paper as well.)

Tucker's (Words just didn't do justice:))

Andrew's

LaShel's

Dream Home

This summer we found our dream home. We stopped at an open house and we haven't been able to forget it! It has a very open floor plan, a loft that overlooks the front entrance, a fun basement, and just the right number of bedrooms. But what we especially love about it is that it has everything we want but it isn't huge! (Because who wants to clean a huge house, right:)) I'm sure we'll never live in it but it's fun to dream.

Just Baking!

This is Adelia as my little assistant baker. She loves to stir! She just thinks that we should always stir slow, never fast. One thing I especially love about these pictures is that I have fond memories of wearing that apron when I was a little girl. I thought it was so pretty. Nothing like baking cookies to bring back memories.

Baby Steps

Tucker is walking! Well, the crude beginnings of walking. He will only do it when he wants to though not when we want. We caught this little video of him but it's not his best go at it. Still pretty good!

Happy Halloween!

First year of trick-or-treating was a success! Daddy and Adelia with bag in tow went to several homes in our neighborhood. The only scary parts were when a grim reaper with glowing red eyes answered the door and when a little dog bolted out when a door was opened. She loved getting candy (of course) and declared that Halloween is fun. Tucker was too sick to be outside (we dressed him up just for a picture) but he is reaping the benefits of Adelia's trick-or-treating because she has been really good to share with him.

Find Your Spot!

We found a great website that everyone should try! After answering a series of questions it tells you different towns and cities that you might like to live in. Our "spot" tended to be east coast communities that were fairly small. It seemed like especially the Carolinas and Pennslyvania kept popping up(sorry grandmas!) Let us know what some of your "spots" are!

Yay! The first snowfall was yesterday and it was beautiful. Our camera is MIA or else I would have pictures of Adelia and Tucker in it. Tucker loved it! Adelia liked to watch it but isn't too sure if she likes it on her face yet. I love when it snows because it means holidays are coming which are my favorite!

The not so itsy-bitsy spider

Today I had my first ever encounter with a black widow. Ugh! It had built a web across the door frame of the laundry room that Adelia and I were trying to go in. It's ugly black body made me suspicious and so I called Andrew and asked him what a black widow looked like. Much to my dismay, he described the spider I was staring at. So Adelia and I got some spider killer and as always I read all the directions before attempting anything. It had a list of creepy-crawly things that it was effective on inside and outside. Even though it was "spider killer" spiders were not on the outside list (?). I sprayed the spider and waited and sprayed and waited and sprayed. It was hanging on to life and I started to wonder if for some reason the spray really wouldn't work outside. We finally killed it and after it was over Adelia said, "I don't like spiders. I like elephants." Well-said. From here on out, we're sticking to elephants.

On the Lord's Errand

We just watched this video and it is so wonderful! It was so fun to learn more about the prophet on the earth today. Pres. Thomas S. Monson has so many neat experiences that I had never heard before. When you have about an hour you should watch this! After this link click on additional videos and then it's called "On the Lord's Errand: The Life of President Thomas S. Monson."

Spin it, let's begin it!

The good ol' days of Talespin have come back in full swing at our home. We own the first two seasons of the show (that's a story in of itself...) and it's Adelia's new favorite thing. She loves to play "Talespin" with her Dad. They sit on her bed imitating Baloo and his sidekick navigator, Kit. As the navigator, Kit (Adelia) holds an old cell phone, pushing buttons and shouting out orders about which way to turn and how fast to go. Baloo (Andrew) holds the steering wheel (a plastic plate), finds cargo, and looks for Don Carnage and other pirates. They affectionately call each other "Little Britches" and "Papa Bear." Tucker and I sit and watch them and occasionally play the role of Rebecca, Wild Cat, Molly, or even Don Carnage. It's so cute to watch them and Adelia gets so excited! It reminds me of my childhood.

Conference News

Today our prohet announced 5 new temples and I was so excited (and surprised!) to hear that one of them would be in Brigham City, Utah. Many people I care about live near Brigham City and I am glad that they will have a holy temple near them. I am curious to see where it will be located and what it will look like. So wonderful!

Proud of Her Mess

Adelia loves sand, dirt, sticks, and rocks. Basically she's a pretty normal toddler!

The Pie

We've heard that a place we must visit is "The Pie." It's a pizzeria apparently famous for their pizza. (We had never heard of it...) We decided to try it. The pizza is awesome! We ate our pizza outside on a big patch of grass since the atmosphere was maybe not quite so family friendly. :)

Getting Pizza with Daddy! * It's a basement restaurant.

Growing Up

Today Tucker's first tooth came through! I am so excited for him to grow up just a little. It's his lower left tooth. However it was a mixed-emotions day because I think his little mouth was hurting pretty bad. A picture wouldn't do it justice so just know that his little tooth is cute:)

Yay for Nicholas!

My little brother, Nicholas (the one on the right), ran his first marathon this past weekend. I am so proud of him! He has always wanted to and now he has accomplished one of his dreams. He did awesome and did it in just over four hours. Way to go!

The Toddler Contract

We read this in Parents magazine and thought it was so funny:

Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you for your interest in remaining my parents. Below is a list of my demands.

I. Food
1.)For breakfast, there will be only milk in my sippy cup while I am watching television (see section II.)
2.)From breakfast until what you probably call lunch, I will be provided with an unending supply of cookies.
No arguments.
3.)For lunch I will eat yogurt. Anything containing fruit on the bottom will make me pick it out and throw it on the ground or else throw it up on your carpet.
a. So no fruit on the bottom.
4.)From lunch until dinner I will enjoy having something to lick. Why not a lollipop? Why not seven?
a. Between licks, I may place my lollipop on your grandmother's Turkish rug. This will be ok with you.
5.)For dinner I will have macaroni and cheese. Any attempts to give me vegetables in addition to the macaroni and cheese will result in tears.
a. And don't you dare hide anything in the cheese sauce, my goodness, how you will rue the day.
6.)After dinner you may provide me with ice cream.
a. No frozen yogurt. Trust me, I know the difference.

II. Television
1.)The TV will be on all the time, unless I say differently. You are to sit by my side, quietly, hands folded in lap, while I watch my shows.
a. You may arise to fetch me a snack.
2.)No diaper changing or pleas to engage in physical activity will be tolerated during the watching of television.
3.)Turning off of television will result in much kicking and screaming.

III. Toys
1.) There will be many.
a. They will always be strewn about the house so that I may simply reach down and pick up a toy, no matter where I am.
b. They will be loud, complicated, and contain many small pieces. I will enjoy shooting noises that go w-shoooop! or zim zim zim.
c. Nothing that results in any type of learning, please.

IV.) Friends
1.)They should be available whenever I'm in the mood to use someone else's toys or ingest someone else's cookies.
a. These friends may not ever so much as look at my toys or cookie supply.
b. Ever, ever, ever.

V.) Sleep
1.)Is when I say, where I say, and how I say. If I want to sleep upside down with my legs locked around your neck, then that's how it will be.
a. And you will enjoy it.

VI.) Affection
1.)Occasionally I enjoy being hugged and kissed. I stress occasionally.
2.)I will not be pelted with wet-mouthed assaults on an hourly basis. Should you feel the need to hug or kiss, you must provide me with a written request.
a. And then wait for me to provide my pudgy cheeks.

Signed
x Your Toddler

written by: Alice Bradley

Our sister-in-law recommended this talk, "Things as They Really Are," to us and we think that anyone and everyone should read it. It was given by Elder David A. Bednar of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is 100% applicable to our day and very well-put.

Tucker is such a big eater- completely different from his big sister. They only weigh 2 lbs different! However, there is a big difference between their heights so they don't look like twins!

I Love You!

EITHER!

So Adelia's new favorite word is "either." However she has created her own meaning for it. It means the same thing as "no." Andrew and I can't decide if we think it's funny or if it just makes us mad when she answers "EITHER" to all of our questions. Example- "Adelia do you want to help me wash the dishes?" EITHER! ?????

State Fair

Today we ventured to the State Fair. I love community events and since we live so close I knew we shouldn't miss it. Adelia absolutely LOVED the animals. She was so excited and didn't really want to look at anything else. We saw roosters & chickens, cows, sheep, goats, and pigs. We also saw a bear show and that was pretty neat. The bear did the classic stand-up-on-a-ball trick and we were impressed. I don't think Tucker loved the fair. I think he just thought it was hot and he couldn't get down and crawl around. He fell asleep sitting up in the stroller before the end.

Our Family