Business in the Front, Party in the Back

That's right, my boy has a mullet. Not intentionally, mind you. As you can see here, Alex's hair was getting pretty long. He'd never had a haircut in all his 17 months!

Steve was doing his best to trim him up, but his scissors were dull so he made the mistake of using his electric clippers. Alex FREAKED, and I had to use all my strength to restrain him so Steve could try and finish. Steve got the front done and by that time we said, "Forget it!" and just left the back alone for now. Both father and son were completely traumatized by this point, and when Alex wouldn't let Steve hold him immediately afterwards, Steve felt horrible.

Thus, the mullet. You can't tell from this picture, but it is pretty long in the back still. I'm not too crazy about the hair cut, mainly because it makes him look too grown up!

Discovering Snow

This was Alex's first experience with playing in the snow. He seemed to think it was pretty cool.

In typical toddler fashion, of course he had to put some in his mouth to taste.

It looks like he's thinking, "I'm not too sure about this!"

He literally started to gag on it...I guess it just took him by surprise.

Lady Cougar

We're so glad Steph decided to play basketball again this year. It's such a great program that is rich in tradition and promotes a lot of camaraderie among the girls.

She continues to improve, and that shy little girl who used to try and stay off to the sides in her Jr. Jazz games now actually commits a foul or two each game!

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is that the head JV coach is none other than...her dad. It can be tricky trying to keep separation between dad/daughter and coach/player, but so far they've done really well and are having a positive experience.

I love this expression on her face, this is during Varsity warmups and she's probably staring down a girl from the other team that ticked her off during the JV game. Steve was excited because he said last night was the most aggressive he's seen her play. I guess a little anger will do ya good now and then!

We're so proud of her and are relishing these moments because we know they'll be over so quickly! (Ok, now I will end this post before I get completely sappy...)

Happy Thanksgiving

This year we got together at my brother Eric's house. My sister-in-law Robin had a bunch of her family there also, so there was a ton of great food and lots of good company. I'm thankful that I do have some family here in Utah, especially at the holidays.

Alex loves all his cousins and eats up all the attention they give him.

Cousin Andrew is giving Alex a few b-ball pointers.

I couldn't believe Alex didn't mess with this turkey decoration, I think he may have been a little scared of it! Now the question is...how tempting will all the Christmas decor be?

"The Tale of the Sucker" by Alex Lilly

When I was barely 16 months old, my mommy gave me a sucker for the first time. Here I am thinking, "Hmmm, what's this red thing all about?"

"Hey, this is pretty good! I can't believe she's been holding out on me all this time!"

"I'm getting too sticky? What does that mean?"

"What the heck! Did she just throw my sucker in the garbage?"

"Oh the horror, the tragedy, the injustice!" I may be little, but I know how to get even. Just wait till about three o'clock this morning when I decide it's time to play, Mom.

And Mommy did not sleep happily ever after. The End.

He Had a Dream...

I had always thought to myself, "Wow, that'd be really cool to have the first black president if Obama wins." But last night, when it became official, I saw my husband's eyes water up and it really hit me.

I thought of my parents-in-law, who LIVED the civil rights movement, marching along side Martin Luther King, who were treated poorly time and time again, yet welcomed me into their family with open hearts and open arms.

As we were watching everything on t.v. last night, Steve finally said outloud what I knew he had been thinking..."I wish my mom were here to see this." Something tells me she knows, and I bet she's singing gospel hymns right now, as I would so often hear her do.

We looked at our little Alex last night, so oblivious to everything going on. Yet our hearts were so full to know that the possibilities before him now seem so much greater because of the history that was made last night.

No matter who you all voted for, I hope we'll all pray for our new president, that he'll be safe and will in turn make a safer future for our families.

The Little Steeler Who Stole My Heart

I tried to make Alex a dinosaur for Halloween, but he hated the big, heavy costume with the hood that swallowed his little head. Plan B...I came up with this idea because I knew he wouldn't even realize he was wearing a costume. Alex, a football player? Yeah, I know, it's so predictable, but you gotta admit he sure looks adorable!

'The Ref' had to throw a flag against Alex, for personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct! (Both of which are a common occurence between the two, as I've mentioned before, he hates her attempts to hug him, squeeze him, kiss him, etc.)

Steve made his shoulder pads out of a thick, long sock. I love the way his diaper makes it look like he has the butt pads on.

Getting ready to call some plays.

Mommy had to represent her Bay Area pride by wearing her 49'ers jersey, much to the scoffing of Steve, the life long Steelers fan.

Alex got to go trick or treating at the high school with all the preschool kids, we went through a bunch of classrooms where teachers handed out candy. That was my favorite part, showing him off and hearing all the teenage girls, "Oh, he's sooo cute!" (Not very humble of me, I know, but it's true!)

Last night we took him to a few houses in the neighborhood. I think this is the first Halloween ever in Utah that I've gone trick or treating in short sleeves and flip flops...it was great!