Too Much Partying

Moriah loves Tuesday dinners with her aunts and uncle and Brandon. Tuesday night was our worst night of sleep in a long time. I think she had trouble calming down from partying with some of her favorite people.

Fiona coming to get Moriah.

The fun is contagious!

So much movement--the pictures are blurry.

Moriah striking a dance move.

Fiona has her two top and two bottom teeth now. She has also started taking a few steps here and there. She still likes crawling way better, but we are working on convincing her that walking is a much better way to move.

Sorry, this video is sideways, but it is Moriah's favorite. The girls love dance parties these days. Moriah also loves watching Brandon tickle her.

*pictures and videos complements of Breezy

Fiona's Love for the Bath

Fiona has always loved the bath. She enjoys the bath with Moriah, but they usually have some fights over space and toys. So when she gets the bath to herself, she is happy as a clam even without water.

*Photography by Breezy

Park, Nap, and Chocolate

On the bike ride home from the park, the girls fell asleep. I love seeing my girls asleep, but my heart sinks when it is not in their beds. Most likely they will not remain sleeping in the transfer to their beds.

Of course, these two did not remain sleeping beauties so we ate chocolate together. Moriah asking for more and Fiona happy that Moriah shared the deliciousness with her.

The Stairs

Fiona has decided that climbing the stairs with Moriah is a fun activity. I wish they would not grow up so fast or that I would do better about cherishing the moments with them more.

My Clean Floor

I finally cleaned my floor, but it will not be clean for long. I feel like she might be saying, "Muuuuuuuhaaaaaaaa!"

Raking the Leaves

Moriah helped Daddy make more room for the leaves in the dumpster.

Fiona not pleased with this whole experience.

Best friend Michie, Like Fishy

Michie finally returned from Ohio and stayed with us for a couple of days. Her husband, William (aka Buff or Puff, Moriah's nickname for him), defended his thesis at BYU on Friday. I had so much fun talking, laughing, eating good food, taking care of our children together, and running together in the snow like old times.

I did learn that I have been saying Michie's name wrong. She never told me because it did not bother her, but thankfully I know now. I have been saying Mee-shee, but it is Mishee like fishy. I have been having the hardest time adjusting. I have been saying it the wrong way for too long. We miss you, Michie like fishy, William (aka Buff or Puff), and Henry!

Marshal Arts Tournament

We experienced our first marshal arts tournament on Saturday. Chandler is in a marshal arts class this semester and even joined the Brazilian Jujitsu club at BYU. Evan, Moriah, Fiona, Kimball, and I went to watch his first tournament. I was so nervous for him. I mostly walked the halls with Moriah and Fiona because the girls were not enthralled by the fighting, but it also helped ease my nerves.

On Tuesday, Chandler let me experience some of of his moves. Moriah got upset about seeing Chandler knock me down to the floor. I thought Moriah would get upset at the tournament, but apparently she is just protective of her mom, maybe Chandler. We did not get to see his match. We were there for two hours and people were hungry for lunch. Chan thought we had an hour and half before his match so we went to get food. About 20 minutes after we left, he called to tell me his match would be soon. Kimball, Moriah, and I hurried back in a snow storm. We ran inside. I thought I saw Chandler fighting so I ran over and yelled, "GO CHAN," only to realize it was not him. I found him on the side lines. We had missed his fight, and he had lost. If only we had been there to cheer him on, he would have won:-) He won his consolation match, though.

I was super sad we missed his match. All that nervousness, and I did not even get to watch him. Maybe it is for the best. I might have struggled watching my brother in a fight especially without Evan. (Evan is a true BYU fan and was watching the football game when I returned to the competition.)

Chandler before his match--a little nervous

The Tournament was at UVU's activity center. There were usually three matches happening at the same time.

Another picture of the ambiance of the tournament.

Chandler after his first match

Way to try something new and compete in it, Chandler! I enjoyed watching a few of the matches with you as you explained the play-by-play.

The Bedtime Choo Choo Train

Our bedtime routine can take close to an hour with scriptures, teeth brushing, fluoride, bathroom, "bed clothes" (as Moriah calls them), prayer, and talking about the day. I finally became brilliant. We started pushing Moriah and Fiona around in our laundry basket, also known as our choo choo train, to all these different bedtime stations. Instead of finding anyway to stall bedtime, Moriah is so excited to go in the train to the next station. She has even started saying her own prayers, which are wonderful. (She often blesses all her stuff animals and her bed.) After she says her prayer, the train turns into an airplane and Moriah gets to turn off the light. Who wouldn't want to pray when they get to fly?

The choo choo train has been the wagon the past couple of nights. Fiona and Moriah loved playing choo choo train together.






I was not fast enough to get the two girls smiling and looking at me in the same picture.

The Swing Set

The swing set has been a long project. Evan first removed the wood shed. He finally removed the concrete ramp to the shed. Then we finally moved the swing set from our neighbor's yard to ours. Now, we just need to put sod in where the shed stood.

Another achievement of yesterday--Evan and Chan made a blooming onion. It was kind of a disaster with trying to coat it and then fry it. The oil boiled everywhere. The lesson of the day--just do onion rings. The onions rings were tastier and easier.

Another Awesome Autumn Photo Shoot with Aubrey

Aubrey took an awesome autumn photo shoot of our family in the Provo Canyon. I am horrible at eliminating pictures so you will have to let me know which ones are your favorite.

I know this is very cliche, but, wow, our backs are so beautiful.


Ooh, look at that "wonderwear!"




I love this picture of everyone but me. I think I was talking and hurried into a smile.


I love this picture, but it is not as cute of Fiona.


I love this picture too, but Moriah is a little bit cut off.


Our beautiful girl


Trying to keep the tickle monster away.


The wind blowing her hair while she has deep thoughts.


"Alright, I will smile for you, but this dress is getting a little short."




"Am I done?"


I also love this picture, but Moriah's smile is a bit cheesy.


I think this picture is funny--CHEESE!


Another funny one--Moriah's crazy eyeballs.




The Mr. and Mrs.


"Finally, they put me down so I can explore."


Cute little Daddy's girl


I love the toes.


Fiona looking at the camera. (I am not sure which one of Evan and Fiona I like best.)






Another Daddy's girl


The beautiful scenery

Falling Leaves

When we got back from our bike ride, Moriah was so excited to find the leaves falling from our tree. She began picking the leaves from the tree to help.








While we were busy enjoying the leaves, Peaches, our neighbor's cat, entered our open house. When we went inside, Moriah exclaimed, "Get out!" She ran to tell me that there was a cat in our house. We had to get the cat out from under my bed. I am glad Moriah noticed the cat in our house.

Bike Riding

I finally used my jogging stroller as a trailer. Moriah likes sitting on the bike the best. We rode to a park in Provo Canyon, but I ended up just pushing her around on the bike.


Fiona finally woke up.

Fiona's Beautiful Quilt

Fiona with her beautiful quilt from her Grandma Diether. We put her quilt on Moriah's bed so you could see it better.

Thursday Dinners on Tuesday

I finally stopped being lazy and started our Thursday dinners with our single college siblings again, but the dinners are now on Tuesday. I love having a house! The last time we did Thursday dinners was in the Provo apartment. This weekend will be our year anniversary of living in our house. Crazy!

Moriah did not get to go trick-or-treating at her aunts' and uncle's house so Fiona and Moriah dressed up for them. Then Moriah trick-or-treated at their pretend house downstairs. Breezy's house was the laundry room. Melinda's house was the Venetian bedroom. Chandler's house was the family room. Brandon's house (Melinda's friend) was the bathroom.

Fiona buzzing through the air.

Look at those teeth! Fiona has been a little dangerous nursing these days.

Wow! The butterfly is flying.

"Yes! I am finally getting the candy!"

"This stinking costume is cramping my crawling."

We love Chandler!

Fiona trying to get Moriah to share Melinda's phone with her.

Brandon calling Moriah on the phone. Fiona happy as a clam with Mommy's phone.

Moriah did not quite get the idea of talking on the phone when the person is right next to you.

A Walk on BYU Campus

Yesterday was such a gorgeous day, we invited Macey to walk around BYU campus with us. Moriah loved throwing the leaves. She would not sit still. Fiona was scared of the crazy, leaf-throwing Moriah.



After feeding the ducks, we had to eat fruit leather.

I walked up these steps, but Moriah and Macey had to walk along the rail on the sloping concrete.

The trees were getting them so they finally decided to use the stairs.

Water!

Macey wanted to run around in the water, but I convinced her to just stick her feet in.

Two little buddies that got along really well until it is time for a nap:-)

Halloween

We began our day with carving pumpkins. Evan's mom sent us a carving kit a couple Halloween's ago. We finally used it. Evan created some cute pumpkins. Moriah refused to help clean out the pumpkins.

Macey came over to join the girls in our ward trunk or treat and trick or treating. Here is our little bumble bee, a lion, and a butterfly on Evan's pumpkin. Fiona had her nine month check-up and was in the fifth percentile for her weight at 15 lbs 8 oz, twenty-fifth for her height at 25 3/4 inches, and fiftieth for her head. She is definitely a little bumble bee.


The girls did not quite get trunk or treating, but they loved there candy. The girls got trick or treating better (not as face paced as trunk or treating). Macey really got into it and was running from house to house.

The girls loved singing "Happy Birthday" to Thomas, too.

Moriah blew out all of Thomas's candles.

Moriah is a really good back-seat driver. We were driving to show GG the girls' costumes. Moriah told Evan that he needed to stay stopped when he was turning right at a red light. She also remembers how I hit the side of the garage with the side mirror when I was backing out of the garage. (Evan fixed the mirror with crazy glue.) She still reminds us not to hit the wall.

Who Knew Vampires Are Beautiful?

Neil and Kelley invited us to a Halloween dinner of intestines (spaghetti), witches brew (root beer), and other fun items. We had to order from the Halloween menu for our three courses so for dessert I got eyeballs (meatballs). We dressed as Bella and Edward going to prom. Evan was my killer hot date!

Fiona (our vampire baby) had so much fun with Breezy.

Edward resisting Bella's seduction.

Forgetting Lunch

Whenever I forget or just do not make it out of bed in time to make Evan a lunch, we take Evan a lunch. We do get rewarded for forgetting his lunch. Evan usually goes to the nearby park with us. Moriah loves spending time at the park with her Dad.

Look at that static in Moriah's hair.

Aunt Breezy's Purple Chair

We finally visited Aunt Breezy in Provo. Breezy took a little photo shoot of the girls in her purple chair. We love Breezy!