{11.30 - 12.6}

These girls have been awesome helpers lately! Their favorite thing to do is clean the toilet bowl. I don't understand it, but I'm not complaining! (except that I am constantly nervous about them throwing toilet water around the bathroom!) 

These two have decided that they don't need a nap in the middle of the day, but rather right before, or during dinner. It's been kind of rough for everyone! I don't know what my options are, though, because now that they've learned to crawl out of their cribs, it's impossible to get them to lay down in their bedroom for any amount of time!

 I love when they sit at their table and paint or color. Sometimes it breaks my heart a little, though. They just look, and seem so big!

 This is Alya modeling my new jingle bell socks I got for my birthday!

 We had two opportunities to meet Santa this year. Alya did okay, but Lyla wanted nothing to do with him either time! Maybe next year, right!?

I celebrated my *29* birthday this year! EEK! I think it's safe to say that everyone enjoyed the chocolate cake my mom made me! (I know I did!)

{11.23 - 11.29}

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We did, as always!

Like last year, we went to cut down our Christmas tree with Matthew's family after Thanksgiving. I am really excited for it to go up in our living room!

{11.16 - 11.22}

We went to my mom's house this weekend so I could take some wedding pictures for a girl who grew up in my home ward. They turned out pretty good, for the most part. I think I did alright for my first (and possibly last) wedding.

I tried to lay the girls down for their nap and they kept climbing in and out of their playpens and laughing and fighting and after what was quite possibly two hours, I finally separated them. I moved Alya onto the bed in the other room and left Lyla on the bed in "their room." I went in a few minutes later to check on them, and found them fast asleep.

This was Alya's first time not sleeping in a crib or a pac n' play.

As we were packing up to go, the girls put themselves in the bottom of the pac n' play and pretended that it was a boat. It took a long time to get loaded because I just couldn't bring myself to make them stop playing and pretending!

Here are just a couple of the pictures I took for the wedding. I know that I definitely need practice, but it was a great experience and I am grateful for the opportunity I was given!

{11.9 - 11.15}

We have had a lot of fun playing in the snow this week. For about 20 minutes...and then they got really cold! Also, I LOVE the way Alya sits on things. She sits on the side of the bathtub, or on the stairs, or the brick lining our front flower bed. And she always lays her hands out flat on whatever she sits on.

This lasted maybe 20 minutes. I went down into their room because I heard Alya crying and Lyla told me she had bit Alya's finger. I let them try to get along for a little longer and they just kept bickering. I finally went down to move them into their own beds and was informed that they had been picking each other's noses. These are two crazy little girls.  

I am photographing a wedding this coming week (and I am terrified!) so I got some new reflectors - which I am very excited about! Here is Alya playing on my new toy! 

Left: Lyla   Right: Alya

The girls' first snowman!

{11.2 - 11.8}

Take 2. We tried potty training back in May and it was...okay. Not what I wanted it to be and I think it was too early. We gave it a "break" but we never really stopped. I have continued to encourage the girls go in the toilet, but we officially started again on Monday. They got to pick out a bunch of prizes for when they filled up their sticker charts and I think it's worked pretty well! On the first day, they filled up their first chart...

 ...and were really excited about their new Cinderella and Lightening McQueen bath rags! We have increased how many boxes they have to fill-in before they get their prize and they are starting to not even want a sticker when they do go in the toilet. They have been in panties except at naptime and bedtime everyday since then! (Hopefully I don't jinx anything by letting people know, but I am very hopeful that they are catching on!

Also, Lyla has had THE BEST cheeser smiles lately! :)

 I love these girls with all my heart! They scooted and squirmed around for probably 20 minutes before they finally settled on this spot to sit on the couch. One stuck under the pillow and one on top of the pillow.

Lyla has also been picking out her clothes lately. Her favorites are the blue dress that her dad picked out for Christmas last year, and a pink shirt that she got for her birthday this year. We have gone almost a whole week in the same shirt or dress! :)

She has also been insisting that her name is Simba. Alya is Simba, I am Mama Simba, and Matthew is Daddy Simba (spoken in a big deep voice.)

Lyla got herself dressed in her favorite pink shirt, yellow undies, her black sandals and then she found her swimsuit top and carried it around like her bag. And of course she made sure Alya had her own swimsuit bag! :) They are the funniest little things!!

Be Still My Soul

The church just updated some of it's policies and there has been quite a stir on social media, as you can imagine. I really debated about posting anything regarding this, but the hymn, "Be Still My Soul" has been playing in my mind for days. Every time I see a negative comment about the church, I almost feel personally attacked and this song has really brought me some peace and comfort. I know Heavenly Father loves ALL of his children and will only do what is best for them.

"Be still, my soul: The Lord is on they side; With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change he faithful will remain. Be still my soul; Thy best they heav'nly Friend. Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake. To guide the future as he has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul; The waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on When we shall be forever with the Lord, When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last."

{10.26 - 11.1}

Alya was a great little helper when we carved pumpkins!

2015 works or art...? Left to right: Mom's, Lyla's, Alya's and Dad's.

They still love drawing and have always been really good at holding their pens. (It was perfect right before I took this picture...)

Matthew and I took the girls to the zoo. This elephant started making it's noises and vibrating and now they are TERRIFIED of him.

When we were at the zoo in March, Alya stood about as tall as the juvenile gorilla.

Lyla loved climbing all over the statues...

...and telling them what's what. Unfortunately, I missed whatever she was telling this "water puppy."

We met up with some friends for Halloween, and of course, had to have pictures of all the kids together! We are missing the smallest one (and the only boy) in this picture.

These little Minnie Mice wish you the Happiest of Halloweens!