Here is a picture of our tree this year. We set it up the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Parker and I always have fun listening to our Christmas mix and putting up the ornaments. Each ornament on our tree reflects a memory of something special we've done or that has happened during the year.
We just wanted to take a moment to wish each of you a Merry Christmas! We hope you are all doing well and enjoying this Christmas Season. We feel especially blessed this year with the arrival of Spencer and the joy he has brought into our home. We know that some of you are struggling at this time and want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We are so grateful for your love and friendship! We are also thankful for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and for His gospel in our lives. May 2009 bring you continued joy and blessings! We love you!
Ok Ali--I can't hear this song without thinking of you and me in the Morris Center. Anyways, the cool speed limit sign is back at the Oakland Temple!!! When Justin and I got married in 1999, we had a picture taken next to it because it is just so awesome--Speed Limit 9 1/2 MPH--how cool is that?!? I don't get it, but I LOVE it! It is so random! Well, by the time Jill and Mark got married 8 months later, it was GONE! I was so excited to see it was back last night. I just had to get a picture to show you all. It is the single reason why the Oakland Temple is by far the best temple around! :)
Being the rebellious Bishop's daughter that I am, we ditched the Ward Christmas party. But, you must give me credit because at least we went to see the temple lights. 
It was a beautiful night and the kids had a great time. Parker loves going up to the top area of the temple to look out at the view of the Bay. Spencer was mesmerized by all the lights. 
I kept Spencer bundled up in the baby carrier inside of my jacket. We stopped in the visitor's center to warm up and noticed Spencer's little red nose. It was too cute!
Spencer had his 6 month check up this past week and is growing healthy and strong. He weighed 16 lbs. 9 oz. (about 50%) and is 27 1/4" long (75%). Spencer is completely fascinated with our food and loves baby food, but his body doesn't. I've had to back off of it because he always has a hard night when he has had the cereal and veggies. He loves his sippy with water and gets mad whenever we drink in front of him. He is also rolling more and sitting up on his own. He is very vocal too. Parker calls him a little chatterbox. Spencer also growls as he falls asleep, so we also call him "Growly Bear." The best part is that he reaches out for us now. You can't help but feel loved by that! We are so excited to have our first Christmas with him. Parker suggested we let him open the first gift Christmas morning. Parker also told me that having Spencer around felt "like a dream!" It made me smile. We can't wait for Christmas!
We had Jill's girls sleep over the night before Thanksgiving. We had a great time playing, doing manicures, and watching a movie. As you can see, only one of the three went to sleep quickly.
We woke up the next morning and had Auntie Kelli's famous chocolate chip pancakes. When Haylee told me her mom had made M&M pancakes, I asked if they wanted those instead and she asked, "You have the recipe?!?" Well, Auntie Kelli managed to figure it out :) and we settled on a compromise of a combination of chocolate chips and M&M's.
A few hours later we went over to Papa and Grandma's house for schnaaaacks and to let the kids play.
The kids ended up wanting to rake up the leaves in the neighborhood which of course led to a leaf fight and then to an unexpected ride in the yard waste bins! Woo hoo--white trash living at its finest! They had so much fun getting all germy. Jill and Justin boiled them afterwards.
Tyler played it safe by staying in Papa's truck.
We came back later that day for dinner and then met up with the extended fam for pie. 
We spent the day before Thanksgiving shoveling gold coins into arcade games all for cheaply made prizes from China--you guessed it--Chuck E. Cheese! (Did you know that if you don't have enough tickets to get the prize of your desires all you have to do is pay them a penny per point to make up the difference? Thank you Auntie Jill for that extremely valuable piece of info!) Surprisingly though, I must admit, it wasn't crowded and we all had a great time.
This game was our new favorite--you have to hold on while the gorilla shakes and blows steam into your face. Your hands continue to shake for about 30 minutes once you are done. 
Oh, and a word to the wise, DON'T, I repeat, DON'T stand behind Parker while he plays skeeball. He's not always the best about throwing the ball towards the game.
