Drumroll, please...

And here the long-awaited actual PICTURES of Xander home with our family!! We don't have many (remember the camera issues) but we do have some cute ones!! This kid is so amazing. I am in awe of how well he has adjusted to our family, and everyone that is around him says the same thing. It is as if we've always had him. He was so made for us-- and we think we were made for him! He is one very happy kid, just SOAKING UP having a family. He gives me so many hugs and high fives and smiles that I can't help but be happy when I'm around him!! He is picking up English like a champ. One day, I told him, "Xander, I love you THIS MUCH!" holding my arms out wide. He got a twinkle in his eye and replied, "I love you THIS MUCH" and put his thumb and finger together to show a tiny amount. I of course tackled him with tickles, and thus began his favorite new game. He now tells me several times a day that he loves me the tiniest bit and starts to giggle and run for his life. (:

My boys!!!



The family, minus Jeremy, looking a bit frazzled after three hours of church.




This is what happens when two very girly girls are given a brother to take care of while I'm cooking...



Enjoying his sisters...






The family at Cornbelly's-- the world's best fall festival!






The kids with Thurl Bailey (former Utah Jazz player). Xander got a little freaked out by how big he was!




And, last but not least, and having nothing to do with Xander... I asked Taylor to go out and pick us some carrots from the garden. He came back with this puppy!



We all got the giggles over it!! It was a beast to peel, but tasted great! Taylor was gone when I went to take the pic, so Parker is posing with it.

Happy Birthday, Elli!

This post is late because of camera issues!! Our missing camera mysteriously showed up right where it belonged the day before Elli's birthday (Sep 9). I was so excited to be able to take some pictures!!! The next day, when I went to blog about her birthday, the camera was again missing. Our little Xander claimed he didn't know where it was, but when it was found a couple of weeks later, it had about 60 pictures on it, many of which had his cute toes at the bottom. Hmmmm. He has since been directed NOT to touch the camera-- so we'll see how long we can keep track of it now. (:

Elli's birthday was nothing spectacular-- just cake (made by Jessica) and presents. However, SHE is spectacular, and I am getting ready for a much-needed post about her on her website. Check back tomorrow, and I'm giving you permission to hound me if I haven't posted. (:

We love you, Elli-Belly! Can't believe you are FIVE!!!!

New Glasses!

Several months ago we went to pick out new glasses for Jessica. She marched straight up to a pair of bright pink ones and said, "I want these!" I thought they were a bit much, so I re-directed her to some wire-framed, less PINK ones. When she lost those a few weeks ago, we returned to the eyeglasses store. Again, Jesi marched straight up to the pair of bright pink ones and declared they were the ones for her!! This time I decided to ask the store attendants what they thought. They told me that those bright pink glasses were the hippest ones in the store and agreed with Jessica that she just HAD to have them! These guys seemed to know what they were saying, and having the reassurance that they were indeed stylish, I gave in to one very happy girl.

I'm so glad I did-- now over the initial "wow, those are PINK," I'm in love...