Thanksgiving

We have a lot to catch up on. It has been a busy month, and our computer crashed, but now we are back in the blogging business.
Thanksgiving this year was a lot of fun. We spent Wednesday with the Talleys. It was entertaining to get the 3 babies together, and Ashlyn had a great time playing with Izzy and Gabrie.
On Thursday morning we ran a 5k in Riverton. It was Stef's first race since the pregnancy - She did outstanding. She and Brooke ran the entire race together. It was a tough battle, but Brooke ended up with the stronger kick and took home the 1st place prize (a jar full of chocolates). They were the top two females in the race, and were only beat by 3 males (including me). Amanda and Matt also came to run the 5k. It was just one of the first races in Stefanie's, Amanda's, and Brooke's quest to run their 1st marathons next fall. Matt will probably give one a try soon after.
The real highlight of Thanksgiving was the football game. For the first time in history, the Talley family went home with a victory. For the first 7 or 8 years of our tradition we lost annually to the Poole family (friends of my parents). Last year we lost to a neighborhood team. But this year was our year, even with Dad playing with a bum knee and Stef missing the game to watch the kids. We took down a group of the Hansens (including Kyle - the ex-Skyline football star). They are anxious for redemption and would like to make it a yearly challenge - with the hopes of bringing Preston and Linden in as their secret weapons.
Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks (I wish I had some from the actual football game):

Halloween Festivities

Ashlyn was a "pumpkin witch" (as she called it- I think because the costume was orange).

Sam decided to be a kitty cat- but she looked more like a "cat burgler"! Her little black hat was so tight on her head that most of the time she cried when we put in on :( So this was a lucky picture with her 'almost' smiling.

Mommy & Grandma took Ashy & Sam to "Boo at the Zoo" the weekend before Halloween. I sware there must have been a million people there so we didn't do much trick-or-treating (the lines to get candy were ridiculous!!) But Ashlyn could have cared less about the treats. She just wanted to see the animals. She also got to ride the train and the "music-go-round" as she calls it.

I can't keep track of how many times we dressed the girls up in their costumes this year! (ward party, the zoo, grandma's house and the actual holiday, of course) . These are the 4 surviving Talley grandchildren (the little ones anyway). Em, Alec & Isaiah weren't in costume. The other 5 grandchildren are all victims of their parents' selfish needs to live in other states :)

Lots of Smiles

Samantha turns 2 months today! She has been growing quickly. She can really pound down the milk. We like her chubby cheeks and chin. She has started smiling quite a bit, but mostly in the morning when Stef is there to see it.

Ashlyn has been a great older sister - she loves giving kisses and helping with Samantha. But she has also been a very sympathetic crier. We can't keep her from getting sad every time Sam cries.

Ready for the winter.

This is a picture from the merri-go-round at the State Fair

Some Family Pictures

We were at Dianne & Kiley's baby blessing - I guess I could say Parker's baby blessing and we took a few family pictures in the Newbold's back yard and some other pictures with the family:

Grandpa, Darcy, Alec, and Sam

Stefanie, Sam, Dianne, and Parker:

Ashlyn at the Zoo with Jill & Joan

Two of the moms from the cross country team, Jill Hedquist and Joan Hansen, were nice enough to take Ashy to the Zoo with them and their kids. It appears that Ashlyn made some friends and had a great time.

Samantha - 1 month

Sam is over a month old already. It has been a busy month with the start of another school year. Our 2 beautiful girls are keeping us busy and happy (and tired).
Ashlyn has potty-trained through the whole process and we are so proud of her. She has been a great older sister and is anxious to help us and to play with Sam.
Sam is eating a lot and putting on some weight. She has developed her first talent - crying. Every now and then her hair looks a little bit red - mostly either in the sun or when she is really angry.
Thanks to all the support we have received from family and friends. We love you all :)
Here are a few more pictures from the hospital and the first few weeks at home: