Halloween and other pics

So here's a little info about the pics in the slide show. Kaitlyn got a black eye a little over a week after we moved here. Here's how we tell it: We were at our friends house for dinner and the kids were playing and somehow Kaitlyn bumped her head just right on the bed frame while watching "Cars". Really that is how it happened. Then the next day we go to playgroup and this 1 year old little girl wants to see Dillon. So I let her give him a hug and she seems so cute then Wham! Dillon is screaming and his cheek is imprinted with her teeth! We didn't even see it coming! She's a Bella in the making or maybe more like Renesme.

I absolutly love Halloween! Growing up my mom made it so much fun. She is famous for starting the spudnut (dounuts made with potatoes) making tradition that Rory now continues. Anyway, I've kind of started my own tradition of making homeade chili, cornbread, and apple cider. It was very yummy, but not really needed as the weather was gorgeous and in the upper 70's. Kaitlyn loved trick or treating. She made a big deal of making us wait for her on the side walk while she walked up to the house. She also loved passing out the candy and if she saw other kids behind her she would try to take some to give to them as well. She loved putting it in her bucket, which made it sort of awkward when people would bend down to put it in her bag and she would snatch it right out before they could drop it and put it in herself. Ahhh! That girl cracks me up! This was the first year she got to go trick or treating and she was ALL about it! We went down one street then came home for a few minutes. When we went to go out again she told us to "stay here, I'll go to lots of houses and get candy" and she kept looking back to make sure we didn't leave the poorch as started up the street. Somehow we convinced her to let us go with her.

Back on the Map..................................... (if you've got one of Missouri)

Most of you are probably wondering what happened to us, but don't fret we are alive and kickin' it Mid-west style. Yep, that's right we are now residence of Kansas City, MO. Who 'da thunk it!? It was an extremely fast move. We, I mean James, got offered a job out here the end of September and since then we

flew out to look for houses
packed our apartment
drove 15 hours with a 2 year old and 4 month old
bought a house (okay a town home, but very roomy)
moved in
and sent James to the Dominican Republic for 7 days

Yeah, wow! But it has been one of the smoothest moves. We have a great new ward and that has helped me a lot. They have a great playgroup and we are doing play school (a joy school type thing) with 7 other moms and tots from the ward. Kaitlyn feels so big! Especially since she goes potty in the toilet, well most of the time. We had a really good week last week! Yeah!

Dillon is such a happy baby! When we take the time to talk or smile at him he makes sure to reward us with his big gummy smile. He's learning to get around some. He rolls everywhere, and most recently he keeps rolling into toys and furniture and getting hurt! The poor guy is always after something. He's thinking about crawling, but hasn't quite figured it out yet. He just started trying to suck his thumb, but I keep shoving the passy in.

Well that's it for the stuff I wanted to journal about them, sorry to bore you with all the little milestones, it's not like they're winning noble prizes or anything, it just fun to sit and think about how fast they're growing.

September update & Recent shots of the Kiddo's

A visit to the BYU Life museum

(There is such thing as a Liger! True story!)

Orem Owlz Game
James & Dillon (his 1st ball game)

"Is it springtime or bedtime?" Silly Kiki

Cutie Girl

The Half Smile

(notice the scratch, I can't keep his nails short enough! Augggh)

Practicing sitting up - 3 months

The Fruits of our Labor

So we got this great idea to can peaches by ourselves. Despite the fact that neither of us had much experience when in came to this sort of thing. Alicia got some great advice from an expert canning friend and yesterday we took the plunge. We bought a box of peaches from the farmers market and let them ripen, then did the peeling, pitting and slicing.

My new Friend Alicia with our freshly peeled and sliced peaches

Me, filling our jars with the goods

The finished product. I think they are so pretty, I don't want to eat them!

It only made 8 jars and 2 jars of jam, but at least I can say I've canned!

Our Kaitlyn

Two is such a fun age. I wanted to take a minute to journal a few of our favorite "Kiki" memories.

Favorite Kaitlyn Quotes:
"Peace Out!" (while making a peace sign)

"I toot!"

"I can't see, I need my glasses." (she means her SUN glasses)


Favorite things to do:
-Help mom in the kitchen

- Sing her ABC's

-Talk on the phone and make up her own conversation to whoever she feels like talking to.

Things she knows:
- Can count to 11 by herself and to 20 w/ help

- Put on pants, socks, and shoes


- All her colors and Shapes




Her favorite things:
Movies - Cars, Dumbo, Bambi, and Nemo


Songs - ABC song, I Love You Forever


Toys - Cinderells tent, Dora Kitchen, Dora Back Pack


Her baby Brother!