First Day of Fall

This morning Alison woke up and insisted on wearing a long sleeve shirt, long warm corduroy pants, a knit sweater, and a warm quilted jacket. She walked upstairs and announced, "Alison wants snow!" Okay. I guess we're over summer-- warm walks in the evening, swimming pools, ripe peaches, naked afternoons, popsicles, hours of swinging, every great pleasure summer brings.

She opened the front door (by herself) and said, "no snow!?!" WHAT? I WISHED SNOW! I DECLARED SNOW! WHERE IS THE SNOW? ADULT PERSON, LET THERE BE SNOW!

Fall is a disappointment thus far for Alison.

I wasn't joking.

Two-Twos

Happy Birthday Alison and Stuart. I love you so much and am so happy you are here with us. You are getting so big. You both say so much every day. Mama can understand mostly everything but often has to translate for all other adults. Sometimes, when Mama doesn't understand you translate for eachother.

You areboth learning to exert your independence. Alison you are a very spirited little girl. Stuart, we appreciate your obedience and sweet spirit. You want to be obedient do what is right. Daddy and I laugh because you'll be in the middle of a huge protest about going to bed, but when we say it is time for prayers, will immediately fold your arms, even if it means putting your tantrum on hold.

You both love to play outside and make things with Mama in the kitchen. You love your animals and watching Daddy play soccer. Books. Stuart and trucks; Alison and accessories. You help eachother and also torture eachother. Alison will follow Stuart around waiting for the perfect chance to snatch a favorite toy. Stuart will find Alison's prized possession and claim it as "Stuey's big BIG". Everything of Stuarts is big BIG! You stick together and conspire when you are with other children. While at home you often tell each other what to do, when you are our out, you cling to each other and jointly tell others what to do. We recently were with some friends with a one year old little girl. She tried to stand between you two while you were playing. You both pointed and say, "Awwayy!" I'm glad you have each other. Happy Birthday! Mama loves you.

We understood the whole concept of wrapping, or our case unwrapping, a present. This is the first occasion that we understood there was something inside of the pretty paper. Alison said, "Open!" These presents are from our good friends the Morris' in Las Vegas.Then we got to go to the airport and meet a brand new uncle. Well, not brand new, but to us brand new. We met Uncle Aric for the first time. He left for his mission the day before we were born two years ago and is finally home, on our birthday.

Uncle Peter and Daddy helping try out Stuarts first tricycle.Uncle Darren enjoying the festivities.Aunt Kaile, who is pregnant with what will be our first cousin (unless Aunt Nicole has her baby first) and Alison eating grapes.Abby, Rachel, and Isaac gave Alison her first dress up clothes. She loves being a princess. Last night I had to pry the wand from her little sleeping hands and take off her jewels to lay them by her bed after she fell asleep. The first thing I heard from her this morning was, "Princess Shoes ON!!!"These pictures were taken on the way home looking towards the east from Grandma's and Grandpa's house. I made Ryan pull over so I could snap a few pictures of the storm. It was encredible. Everything was red!

Piggy Tails!

Alison is very excited to have big piggytails, not just piggy horns. Yes, she's still loving her santa costume in September. She's not wearing it late anymore, just really early for Christmas--she's ready.

We worry about sugar so we brush our teeth in diet.

The Piano

Well, I finally got home and got over to see her. I'm working with Michael, Lisa's son, who is living at the house still. He's been super nice and helpful. This is the piano.We met a technician from Heirloom Piano Company, Derek, who took the covers off and took a peek at the hundred year old gal. She's in need of some love and care, but should hopefully, as long as nothing else is uncovered, play nicely in the future. For now she's still in the garage but we will be arranging to have her moved to the piano hospital at Heirloom Piano, where she will probably stay for the next year to year and a half to have some work done. We're having them also run the serial number to see if we can't find out a bit more. Michael was also very nice and let us take some pears from his tree. He said take as many as we wanted. I hope he understands that we may be coming back with a ladder.

Fifi, getting closer to done.

Grandpa doesn't like living on a busy road

... but Stuart does!

Each morning at Grandpa's and Grandma's house he'd prop himself at the front window and wait for trucks to go by so he could yell at them.

Dinner Conversation

While we were in Vegas...

Stuart: (enthusiastically showing me his next bite of dinner) big BIG chicken!

Me: Stuart, that isn't chicken that is meat.

Stuart: big BIG meat!

Grandpa: Stuart that meat is cow. Dead cow.

Me: gasp. (gives Grandpa the look that translates to,"what are you thinking telling my one year old child that the meat he is eating, that is helping him grow, that is helping him be healthy, is a dead DEAD cow! He's one, spare him!")

Stuart: Cow?

Grandpa: Yeah, dead cow.

Stuart: Dead Cow?

Grandpa: Yeah.

Stuart: big BIG COW!

Stuart: BYE-BYE COW!!! (ferociously eats bite)


The next night we talked about big BIG dead pig.