I love the new header.  That picture of Liberty and Kimber dancing is so sweet.  And doesn't the other one catch tons of personality.  Thanks again Craig for your efforts on this blog.  I love reading the posts.

This week began with a trip to Cape Canaveral to watch the shuttle Discovery launch.  It was so amazing to see, hear and feel the power of that much rocket fuel.  It was beautiful, especially because it launched just as the sun went down.  Worth the drive and the wait from Wednesday for sure.  

A bit about Hyrum's second birthday.  It started at 4 am, just like the day he was born.  My good husband got up with him for three hours, then they both went back to sleep. When we were finally all awake, we took the kids to the alligator farm here in St. Augustine.  Pretty cool.  We watched the gators eat rats.  Then off to Derek's first game of the season.  Here in Florida, all out door things happen in the nonsummer months. He pitched the first two innings and didn't allow a single run.  He also played catcher at one point and got an RBI (run batted in).  He had a great time.

A sweet update to our little monkey's twoness, is that now he gives he gives the sweetest kisses, and even on command.  He's also attached himself to a doll around here and is very soft and cute with it.  I thought I should mention his kinder, more gentle sides.  There are many, even in the midst of all the rather impish things Hyrum does.  He's quite chatty, running lots of nouns together with uhs and little baby sounds.  He's so adorable, it's hard to be upset with the antics for too long.  

 Just thought I'd share a bit of our nearly-two boy's antics of late.  He's certainly kept us on our toes and behind the camera too.  It all seems to have begun when the lad discovered the tail pipes on John's car.  He's put various things into them, and though most we've been able to fish out before the car was running, not all.  Then shoes began to disappear.  Oddly, one of each of Charity's.  We are currently blaming poor little, innocent Hyrum, because it's easy and he doesn't care.  We finally bought her new shoes today.  

"Hey, here's Daddy's car with those two tubes sticking out the back!"  "Yesterday, I put big rocks in those holes and Mommy had to dig them out.  I'd better not do that again today."  "Hmm, what else could go in there?  Maybe these nifty sticks that the big kids use for drawing on the sidewalks.  Oh look, they fit.  One in each hole.  Now if I just push them back as far as possible.  There, perfect"  

Out loud, to Mommy  "Mommy-- Daddy Tar(car)"  

We've been home one week, though it seems much longer.  It's hard to believe we were just getting home and were ultra jetlagged just last Sunday.  In that week John has begun a new semester, Alicia taught two Relief Society lessons, Shaylee lost two teeth in two days, Derek(and Shaylee)  discovered how to turn double dutch ropes, Charity had her friend Madison come over,  and Hyrum peed in the potty three times, (all within 30 minutes of each other.  None since).  

 Well, all the excitement and travels are over, and we're all back home again.  I hope everyone is settling back into routines.  We're pretty jetlagged here, but adjusting.  The water smells bad to us again, but thankfully, there were no giant bugs to greet us.  

We had such a nice time with everyone and miss you already.  I hope we can see everyone again in the summer.  

Good luck getting back into the swing of life again.  We love you all

Alicia

Only a week until we get to see everyone.  We're so excited, but will we get it all done?  I have a detailed list to stick to every day until then.  I hope everyone is having a nice season and that the wedding plans area coming along.  Love you  

Just thought I'd brag on Derek for a bit.  He's been playing little league "kid pitch" this fall (finally cool enough to be outside:)).  At the start, his favorite position was short stop, because it got the most action, and he loves when there's action.  Then he realized there was even more action for the pitcher and catcher.  After many hours of practicing with John, me, and his team, he was ready to try out his new skills.  He loves both, but especially pitcher.