So we put up the Christmas tree, so that it would be all ready when we got back from our Thanksgiving trip. I still can't quite get over the lack of coldness that accompanies the holiday in Vegas. The same day we were putting up our tree our neighbor was out doing yard work. That fact is not that shocking, but when you consider that he was doing his yard work in his bathing suit it will give you a better idea of just how warm it is down here. By the way since when are board shorts and only board shorts an acceptable form of lounge wear?
Anyway, here is our tree. Mark kept saying that we were "making Christmas". He helped put up the "balls" and snowflakes and the big star on top. He did a pretty good job.

He's thouching me!

Ha-all I can say is that I didn't think it would start this young, but I guess I am not surprised.

We have been way out of the loop due to an amazing amount of sickness. The germs just love our house. Actually they probably just love my two year old who happens to live at this house. That kid takes dirty to a whole new level. Just this morning at the library while we are checking out our books he turns to me and says, "Here Mom." The beautiful present he was giving me? A booger, so its no wonder germs get passed around here. Mark started three weeks ago with an eye infection and we are hopefully ending it this week once his strep throat is gone. Here is a picture of his cute little goopey face.


Nothing helps a sick boy like great pajama's. These pj's are a shout out to Papa and Mimi. He probably wore these every third day while being sick. Don't underestimate the power of a comfy outfit when your sick.

It hasn't been all sickness and gunk these last few weeks. Mike and Mark and Mommy installed some awesome shelves in the garage (Megan just hung out in the wheel barrow- it make for a great play pen). So awesome are these shelves that we are wondering why we didn't build them right when we moved in. Mark tells me all the time that he is such a good helper and its true. Here he is with Dad.

I voted this morning. As I was getting ready, Mark asked where we were going. I told him that mommy was going to go vote to choose who would be the next president. He got kind of excited and said, "Oh, for President Monson." (Pres Monson is our prophet and president of our church.) I told him I wished it was that simple. An hour later and after a couple of laps around the elementary school gym he didn't think voting was that cool anymore.

We had a great Halloween this year. We started about two weeks ago and Mark carved the jack-o-lantern you see below (with just a little help from Dad).

For our ward party the week before Halloween we all got dressed up. It all started with Mark wanting to be a cow. So Dad was Old MacDonald, Megan was a horse and Mom was "EIEIO" Dont you love the hat and our little horsey?

Here is Mark as a cow (look at the cheese in that smile- appropriate don't ya think?)

Here is a better picture of our cute little horse.

We were in Utah on the actual day of Halloween. Mark got to trick-or-treat around my old neighborhood. I had planned for it to be really cold, but it was actually around 75 when we went. Megan was beyond toasty in her little outfit. Mark had a blast as did all the uncles that accompanied him because they got just as much candy as Mark did.

Here is Mark with his second jack-o-lantern (he did this one with uncle Bryson) and his painted pumpkin- again the cheesy smile.