Our new truck!

Michael has had his Explorer for 10 and 1/2 years and Melinda has had the BMW for 5 and 1/2 years, so we decided it was time to get a new vehicle. Michael has wanted a new truck for quite some time, so we broke down and got a new 2009 Ford F150 FX4! We love it and all the new features.

We are going to get a cap on the back so that Wylee can ride and we don't have to worry about her falling out. It has on-board navigation, heated seats, a sunroof, and we can use our phone or listen to music from the iphone without any wires! We also love all the storage space.

There is so much room in the back! Madelyn can stretch her legs all the way out and not touch the front seat. We have the kids sitting next to each other which they really enjoy.

Xavier's 9 month pictures

Time is flying by so fast. Xavier is already 9 months old. He is still such a delight every day. We just hope he stays this happy all of his life.

This picture almost makes me sad because he doesn't look like a baby, he looks like a little boy.

Such a handsome fellow I love this one!

Such a cutie!!

It won't be long before he outgrows all his rolls. If only those rolls were cute on adults like they are on a baby.

Showing off the two bottom toofers

Our little scholar

Our little bright eyed boy

Gotta love a hard workin' boy!

One of my favorites (although it's hard to choose), I love the way the color came out in this one

Love his little smile with his bottom lip tucked in

Such a big boy--doesn't want to hold on to stand up (he was leaning on my legs though)

November 2009

This was the turkey Melinda made and took to Madelyn's preschool for their snack.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Michael had a successful elk hunt!

Xavier is now 9 months, weighs 20.5 lbs, is 28.5" long, and has 6 teeth! He weighs at 9 months what Madelyn weighed at 17 months! He loves to get his teeth brushed. Sometimes they make a big enough mess that you have to get the vacuum cleaner out to clean them up.

Halloween 2009

Our church had a harvest party the night before Halloween so we enjoyed that. We all dressed up (Madelyn requested that Mommy dress up after I showed her that I had a costume). Madelyn enjoyed the bounce house, games, and candy!

All of our "kids" dressed up for Halloween. On Halloween night we handed out candy and went trick-or-treating to a few houses in the neighborhood. Madelyn loved it and said "I want to go trick-or-treating again." Next year honey.

Daddy carved a Tinkerbell just for Madelyn and Mommy carved a pumpkin just like Xavier's shirt.

Has there ever been a cuter elephant or prettier Tinkerbell? I think not! It takes a Superdog to carry an elephant

Madelyn's first pixie stix. She loved it (what's not to love about flavored sugar in a tube)!

Tinkerbell even had her blue moon stone scepter just like in the new movie

Side view of the cutest elephant ever

"But Daddy, it looks gross! I don't want to touch it, my hands might get dirty."

The one handful she got out of the pumpkin. Our little girl is quite the girly girl sometimes.

Mommy showed Madelyn the Raggedy Ann costume and Madelyn wanted to try it on. She was pretty amused with herself.

She did look pretty cute even though the outfit was just a little too big.

Grandma Marks visits

Grandma Marks got to come and visit for a few days! It had been over a year since she had seen Madelyn and this was the first time she had seen Xavier. We really enjoyed having her and wished we were able to see her more often.

Daddy squished himself between the two car seats in back so we didn't have to take a second car. He wasn't very comfortable, but the kids loved having him sit with them.

We took a trip to Dinosaur Journey in Fruita. Madelyn showed Grandma all around. "Come look at this one Grandma"

Madelyn rode the dinosaur and she let her little brother go along for part of the ride and he seemed to enjoy it

Madelyn's favorite things at the museum are digging for bones and riding out the earthquake.

Madelyn has always loved the museum, but this time was a little scared by the growling, spitting dinosaur. "But Grandma, he's LOUD"

Showing Grandma another exhibit

Giving my sister some love while taking a ride on the dinosaur

Xavier seemed to enjoy the museum.

Madelyn and Mommy digging for dinosaur bones

Madelyn had earned a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's for filling out a good behavior chart. This was our first trip to Chuck E. Cheese when the mouse himself came out. Madelyn wasn't at all scared, but excited and wanted to have her picture taken with him.

Xavier thought he was pretty cool too!

Watching Chuck E. Cheese perform.

Madelyn was playing a game...

...and Xavier loved watching her!

Saying good-bye before nap time

And you can't leave without a good-bye kiss.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

We made our annual trek to a pumpkin patch to get some pumpkins for Halloween. They even had a petting zoo. We had lots of fun and the weather was absolutely beautiful! We look forward to this trip every year. Grandma Marks was in town so she was able to go with us.

A great photo opportunity to get the kids by the sign

While everyone else was still petting the animals, Xavier and Mommy went to go take a picture by the sign. I was a few feet away from him and overheard a group walking by commenting on how cute of set-up they had. They thought Xavier was just part of the props, after he moved they figured out he was a real live baby. I had a hard time not laughing out loud.

Madelyn and Xavier checking out the donkey

Madelyn petting the sheep under his chin

Xavier reaching for a goat.

Let's go find a pumpkin! This one is short and chubby just like me (and darn cute too)

This one is tall like me, but that sun is bright!

The happy boy sitting on his pumpkin

We think we found the winners!

The pumpkins posing next to their pumpkins

Having fun with Grandma

Madelyn's pumpkin was too hard to sit on so this one worked well.

Heading back to the car with our pumpkins

Madelyn and Grandma petting the bunny Grandma giving the lil' man some lovin'

The End. Michael thought it was too funny that the pumpkin had a crack so we couldn't resist taking this shot. Madelyn didn't want to sit in the dirt because she might get dirty. Good thing you can't completely tell she's crying and very unhappy that mommy sat her down in the dirt.