A riddle within an update!

In front of the house

Helping daddy put the star on the tree

The finished product!

Well a lot has happened recently, and I've been a HUGE slacker when it comes to updating our blog. So without further ado, here's an update!

Kyle and I had our four year anniversary on the 20th of November. I had just started a new job and couldn't request the day off to celebrate.So instead Chase and I came to Kyle's work and kidnapped him! We took him to Firebirds, one of our favorite restaurants and it was so delicious! We had a lobster spinach queso appetizer that was to DIE for, and then enjoyed two of the yummiest burgers in the world! We relaxed later that evening and reminisced about the last four years of marriage, and enjoyed dessert and a movie. All in all it was a wonderful day and a great anniversary.

For Thanksgiving we went over to the Talbot's home and spent the day in great company and eating delectable food. It was such a relaxing day, and we had so much fun just talking and eating yummies all day long.

Last Friday we went to Kyle's work Christmas party and had a blast. It was at the Scottsdale Venue and there was dancing, fun, and plenty of delicious food and prizes. Ok I seriously wish I'd had a camera for what we ate so I could make all your mouths water. It was awesome!! They served huge tiger shrimp cocktail for an appetizer then we had a garden salad with creamy strawberry dressing. That wasn't even the best part though, the main course was mouth watering filet mignon, salmon, and chicken with a side of potatoes and green beans with a mushroom sauce and sliced almonds, mmmm so good. We loved getting all dressed up and going out for a special night on the town. Sorry no pictures though, I know that's boring.

A little update about the little guy now! Chase is growing at super speed both physically and developmentally. We are loving how much more interactive he is and how he's talking so much more and understanding us more everyday. He can count up to three understandably,"un, doo, reeeee, etc" after three though it get's a little fuzzy. He has a small list of words that he says and also signs which makes for pretty proud parents. He has started giving us kisses and blowing kisses also. He just melts our hearts he's so sweet and tender.

Our house is moving right along. They have dry walled and done all the stucco now it's time for paint and trim, then cabinets, countertops, and flooring! It's so fun to see Chase run around in our soon to be finished home, we can't wait until it's finished! We're expecting it to be finished on or around January 20th.

Chase looking out the window that will be in his bedroom

I recently started a new job at a plasma center as a phlebotomist, which most of you know was also what I did for work in Rexburg when we lived there. I thought when I finished at Bio Medics in Rexburg, I'd never work at another plasma center again, but the economy proved me wrong! Needless to say I feel right at home (as far as work and not co workers are concerned). It's been extremely difficult to not have as much sweet time with Chase but it makes me relish every second I do get to spend with him even more. Plus, it'll only be for another month and a half, that's what keeps me going!

In addition to all this we're taking the holiday season head on and surprisingly still enjoying every bit of holiday cheer we can manage to find. Our family is doing well and we can't complain. If you haven't guessed the riddle by now or couldn't stand reading through this whole novel to figure it out, then I'll just tell you! We're having another baby!!! I am 15 weeks along and we're so excited to find out what we're having in a few weeks. Any guesses? We'll let you all know when we find out!

The cost of a temple recommend

The following post is by Kyle:

I was relating the following experience with Nicki the other day and thought I would share it because it might bring a smile to your face.

So Jessica and I went in the other week to get our temple recommends renewed. We brought Chase with us because we figured while one of us was being interviewed the other could watch Chase. Once we got to the church they weren't busy and took us both in at the same time. I brought Chase with me and had him sit on my lap during the interview. Being a busy 15 month old he doesn't like sitting still for very long so I gave him my wallet to play with. During the interview Chase places my wallet on the table and slides it towards the counselor in the Stake Presidency. Without missing a beat the counselor says to Chase, "Sorry we don't take bribes." We both busted out laughing and Chase then began to laugh too because everyone else was. I guess it goes to say that the cost/value of a temple recommend truly is priceless.

Trick or Treat

Explaining to us why it is unacceptable for him to be wearing this costume

Holding Payton's hand for moral support

Begging daddy to take it off him (we had just put it on)

Happy now that he's enjoying the fruits of his earnings

Not thrilled.

This halloween year Chase dressed up as a "cuddly lion" although he would prefer to be neither cuddly nor a lion. We went to our ward trunk or treat last Saturday and tried the stume on for size and well...the result was a few tears (until we were outside) and zero smiles for as long as he donned his furry masquerade. We and everyone else in the ward that saw him thought he was very delectable in his little suit, too bad we were put on a smiles fast as punishment for making him wear it!

For halloween last night we really didn't do all that much. We ordered pizza and dressed Chase up in his costume to trick or treat at Nick and Brent's and the Talbot's house. Again no smiles and a lot more tears this time (I think he was still traumatized). We ended our night putting Chase to bed after his sugar high wore off. Then Kyle and I were then able to relax and watch "Enchanted" and eat brownie sundaes YUM! All in all we had a great halloween! Both Kyle and I have always been horrible at dressing up on halloween, but as Chase gets older, I'm thinking it will be a lot of fun to dress up in the future. So next year we'll have to think of something good! Through all the tears and commotion we managed to get some picture of our halloween adventures. Hope you all enjoy!

Concrete and Framing

Kyle standing in what will be the master bedroom

Chase and I in the family room. Look alive Chase!

Chase standing in the entry way

The entire house with Kyle walking through the front entry and Chase grape vining toward me!

Chase looking debonair as usual, as we prepare to leave to go look at the house.

Lately we've been making weekly trips out to the homesite since they started building to monitor the progress of our house. When we went last week they had all the concrete poured, and this week they had done all the framing. It was really neat to go out there and finally see what looks like a house being built! Up until today it's all been a little surreal to me, Kyle would have to explain where every room was, and paint a picture for me. Today as we were walking through the framed house I was able to picture it all myself, which got me really excited for it to be finished! Hopefully the process will go by fast and we'll finally be able to move into a place we can call home, and live in for more than a year! So we took some pictures and I thought I'd post them so you all could see our home in the making.

The Arizona State Fair

Chase riding the Lion toy in the Kidz Safari Zone

The pretty giraffe

The camel that kissed Chase. I don't remember if this was before the kiss or after, I just wish I'd caught the kiss on camera!

The kangaroo

We thought this cow was kind of interesting. They had a bunch of fuzzy cows like this one, which none of us had ever seen before, so Kyle and I named them "Teddy Bear" cows.

Last Friday we went to the Arizona State Fair with Brad and Jamie and we had a blast! For as long as I'd lived in Arizona the state fair would come every year, and I only remember going once, during the day on a field trip. We didn't go on any rides or get to really see or do anything fun there and I can't even remember what the point of the field trip was at all. So I always thought the state fair was lame growing up, and I never had the desire to go. Needless to say I was definitely proved wrong, we had so much fun!

Chase loved seeing all the animals. They have a huge petting zoo with camels and giraffes and even a kangaroo! I had never seen a kangaroo up close and it was pretty awesome. Chase got a big sloppy kiss from the camel which was a big surprise to him and a good laugh to everyone who saw it!

They have performers on the weekends and the night we went Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert were performing. We were sad we didn't get to stay late enough to see them because we heard the concert was amazing! Kyle was really sad that the week before was the Goo Goo Dolls. He would've loved to see them perform. Maybe next year though!

We were able to make it to the bear show though, and they had 2 baby grizzly bears and 2 brown bears. The two brown bears in the show, "Fred" and "Ginger", were actually the same bears that they used to make the movie Bother Bear. They did a ton of cool tricks and we had a lot of fun watching them.

We cooled off with the best fresh strawberry lemonade I've ever tasted and topped off the night with a yummy melt in your mouth funnel cake! Not the healthiest of treats, but what would a trip to the fair be without funnel cake? All in all we had a great time and we were so glad we went! Here are some pictures of our evening...