Two Days till Eternity

I'm approaching the end of my third 12 hour shift in a row (got 3 hours of sleep between shift #2 and #3)... feeling a little worn down and worn out. But at the same time, I've got butterflies as it hits me that I only have to wait two more days for the arrival of a day that I've waited for- for a loooong time.


Our family is going to be sealed this Saturday in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I guess that means we've only got 2 days to decide if we really want to be stuck with each other for forever... just kidding, there's no one else that I'd rather spend eternity with than these lovely Lillys...

Steph has been having a hard time because her big brother Jordan won't be there with us, but it's one of those situations where I know everything will work out in the end.

Can't wait to see these two walk in all dressed in white, believe me, I've imagined it a million times.

Mental note: Don't forget the Kleenex.

Go Away Jack Frost, It Ain't Christmastime Yet!

My little Martha Stewart has been at it again, with the cold and winter-like days, Steph got an itch to make some festive treats. She made these cute little turkeys...

and tried a new recipe for pumpkin cheesecake which was pretty dang tasty.

Saturday night we got slammed with a huge snow storm. I actually don't mind the snow too much when all my family is safe at home and we don't have to leave the house.

Of course Alex was psyched to play in all that snow.

The good news... no snow for Thanksgiving Day.

The bad news... a huge storm is on tap for tomorrow afternoon, and I have to go to work! I seriously just might leave for work about 3 hours early, park at the bottom of the Avenues, and walk up the hill to the hospital. I'm not even joking, because what goes up, must come down, and I don't want to come down crashing into other cars.

It's time to move back to California... my nerves can't take it!

In the meantime, hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving.

King of the Castle

These are my two favorite fellas... one big and one small, but can you guess who the king of the Lilly castle is? Yes, that little guy is awfully cute but don't let him fool you, he can get on quite a power trip from time to time. He has kicked Steve out of our bed so many times that (according to Alex) the family room is now referred to as "Daddy's room" and our bedroom is "Mommy's room". One morning, Steve and I miraculously awoke to find each other lying in the same bed. In his sleep, Alex must have sensed that something was awry, as moments later he walked into our room and began to cry hysterically to see another man in bed with his mommy.

Today as we were driving, Steve and I were having a friendly debate but apparently I was talking too loud because Alex told me I "needed to calm myself" and to "stop all that yelling".

Now I must go and fetch some apple juice for his Royal Heiness. Long live the King!

All Aboard the Alexander Express

Seeing that Alex is such a train fanatic, I thought that a train engineer would be the perfect costume.

Steve showing his University of Alabama pride. Being the supportive wife I am, I carved a big W in my pumpkin for West High.

I had to work Halloween night, but luckily there was a trunk or treat activity at church in the afternoon, so I was able to go to that. The rain fell hard for a while, but when it lightened up Steph took Alex trick or treating to a few houses. Once he warmed up to it, he was really getting into it, so Steph decided to pull out the "big guns", packed Alex in the car, and took him to the "rich neighborhood" down the road, knowing they'd have really good candy. Of course, she was selflessly doing this all for Alex, with no regards at all to her own benefit. Right, Steph?!

Tis the Season... For Pumpkins

As I sit here, freezing cold because I am too much in denial to turn on the heater on this damp and rainy Sunday, I'm glad that we took advantage of the beautiful early October weather we had over the past few weeks to do some fun and festive fall activities. We went to Wheeler Farm and went through the corn maze, took a tractor-pulled wagon ride and picked a few pumpkins. Alex's favorite part of Wheeler Farm was chasing and trying to catch the chickens and roosters that freely roam the grounds. He's such a boy.

Last weekend we took a trip to a pumpkin patch where Alex got to pick another pumpkin.....

But my favorite part of the pumpkin season? Why, eating them of course! Pumpkin cookies, pumpkin shakes, pumpkin bread.... but the most divine of all was this scrumptious pumpkin cheesecake baked by Stephenie. It was so yummy and I was so impressed.

I guess this isn't the ideal time of the year to "try to be good" when it comes to food. I say screw it... that's what January is for, right?!

Bath Time Blunder

The other night, I ran Alex's bath water and called for him to come hop in the tub. I didn't know he was going to take me so literally. Before I knew what was happening, I watched him run in to the bathroom and jump in the tub as if he were clearing a hurdle in a track meet. As you can see, only problem was that he hadn't stripped down yet.

My first reaction of course was exasperation, but then as I noticed the stunned reaction on his face, I realized that he had gotten so excited as he ran towards the tub, he had forgotten that he was still dressed.

Besides, who can get mad at a face like that?!

Tchau, Elder Eide

Tomorrow, this handsome guy, my nephew Andrew, enters the MTC in preparation to serve a two year mission for our church to Brazil. My parents came out for the weekend to have a chance to say good bye to him before he left. On Sunday, we drove up the canyon for a picnic. I was a little disappointed that the leaves weren't more colorful, but it's always nice to be in the mountains.

Alex, meeting his newest "cousins". My sister and her family now have chickens who dutifully lay eggs for a large family of teenaged boys, which is great, but I just have this aversion to chickens, so to see Alex go in the coop and pet and feed them was pretty impressive to me.

I was so glad Jordan was able to come to our family dinner on Sunday so that he could say good bye to Andrew. They're only a few months apart and have some fun memories growing up.

Seems like just yesterday I was 20 and going to see Andrew when he was a newborn. In January, my other nephew leaves for his mission to Indonesia. I sound like a broken record, but I really wish everyone would stop growing up, it makes me so sad!

Andrew played football at Southern Utah Univ. It appears that Alex thinks he can play with the big guys!

One last group pic before Andrew leaves. It cracked me up when I noticed that Alex (who idolizes his 7 yr. old cousin Adam) was trying to hold up a peace sign like Adam in the picture. But Alex is signing the number 4 instead... he got the right idea anyways.

On a whole other subject, this is Alex playing the drums along with what I deem to be the most obnoxious kids show on t.v. these days, The Fresh Beat Band. Annoying as the show is, it's pretty cute to see Alex sing, dance and drum along. He's such a well rounded child.... :)