Mia Famiglia

My family came into town at the end of September.
Yes, I still haven't posted about it.
I stink.

Uncle Bud with Baby Jack Jack and Baby Luke.

I loved this picture of the Smiths oogling over Baby Luke. I didn't know how happy it would make me to have family surrounding him.

Grandpa with Baby Jack Jack on his blessing day.

The Smiths on Baby Jack's blessing day. Don't they look like they should be on the front of an Ensign magazine or something?

Random images of Baby Luke from the past couple of days. I loved this shock look after the flash went off on my camera.

He's starting to have similarities to slytherin house with the usage of his tongue. I'm concerned about his magical future. Perhaps he will turn out to be a good slytherin...like Snape. Lets hope he doesn't have the same fate as Snape.

So here are some other happenings around our Castle:
1. This weekend is Stake Conference. Tonight was the adult session. Considering Luke's schedule, we had to choose between either going to dinner or going to Stake Conference. We chose going to dinner. Of course, upon entering the resteraunt we ran into two different parties that were finishing up their dinner before leaving to Stake Conference. We were caught...red handed. I felt awful. I think I'm embarassed that I felt awful that we were caught when I should feel embarassed that I didn't choose to go to Stake Conference over Palottas. (Although the cheesy bread is practically Celestial in my book.) Either way, we learned a lesson...NEVER skip Stake Conference when you don't have a good excuse (such as in a different country, or sick and dying.)

2. I finished decorating our house for Thanksgiving. I will take some pictures and post soon. It makes me hungry for Turkey and Kim's delicious yams just walking around my house.

3. I have 3 pumpkin rolls in our freezer waiting to be eaten. The first year Alex and I were here, I was asked by a student if I wanted to buy something to help their orchestra raise money. I nonchalantly bought the Pumpkin roll. Little did I know how much happiness that frivolant choice would bring. The second year we were here, I bought another Pumpkin roll without any buyers remorse. We finished it in a weekend though and coudn't find another Pumpkin roll that tasted quite the same. The third year we bought two which sufficed. This year, I was asking when I could help donate money to their orchestra so that I could get my hands on another Pumpkin roll. I bought 3 this year. I don't regret it one bit. I might be glutonous, but I. Don't. Care.

4. It's getting cold here. I have worn my new winter boots two days in a row here. I don't think I look very good in the boots-over-the-jeans style. I'm trying it for another couple of outfits and if I still don't like it, they are going back under the jeans, aight?

5. I have some good food on the menu for the next month or so. Homemade Ravioli, a plethora of soups, freshly made meat-lovers-pizza, Cajun chicken Pasta and a Pumpkin smoothie for dessert. (The last one sounded odd to me too...until I saw what was in it...and I couldn't get the supplies on my grocery list fast enough.) Almost all of my recipes come from pioneerwoman.com. If you haven't gone to her website yet, please do. She will make you smile. She will make you laugh. She will make you love to cook and then want to go take a bath. (Did you catch the rhyme?) I love my husband and baby more than anything, but if there was one thing that brought me pure joy in the downtime of my life, it is cooking recipes that Ree Drummond (the Pioneer woman) has conjured up. Congured up? Conjiured up? Pretty sure it's conjured up.

**Shout out to Ally Shaw. My dear Cousin who had a baby shower this morning in Utah. I wish I could have been there. You will be a wonderful Mother. Just remember that your crazy texan cousin is a phone call away if you need to cry, laugh, complain, etc...

**Another shout out to Kim Green, aka Jemimah, aka Kimo, aka my love. Happy Birthday. I hope you had a wonderful, warm day in California. I'm so glad you were born. :)