This Sunday we blessed Leila. Most of our family was able to be there, and it was a wonderful day. I was happiest about the fact that she didn't cry at all during the blessing, even though she was wide awake. Yay! 
Isn't she darling?
Sterling Singers Concert
The choir I'm part of opened the Christmas Concert series on Temple Square on Saturday, November 29. It was awesome to sing in the historic Tabernacle. My parents and Bryon were able to attend and hear the beautiful Christmas music we've been working on for months. For anyone interested, we have another concert (same music) on Sunday, December 21. You can get the details here: http://www.sterlingsingers.com/.
Outside the Tabernacle in between our two concertsDarlieceGiving
This year we celebrated Darliecegiving for the first time. It was in honor of my little sis, Darliece, who has spent the last semester at dental school at the University of Nevada--Las Vegas. Since we weren't going to be together on Thanksgiving, I picked her up at the airport Wednesday night, and surprised her with "Darliecegiving," a very incongruous feast of all of her favorite foods.
The menu consisted of: Cafe Rio salads (homemade, thank you very much), burritos, egg rolls, boneless barbecue ribs, homemade macaroni and cheese, lemonade, chocolate cheesecake, and pumpkin pie.
I have to include these photos of Darliece as payback for her being difficult while we were taking pictures. My little sister, Dawna (visiting from BYU-I) joined us for the feast.
I'm not sure I want to make Darliecegiving an annual tradition (it was a lot of work), but it was awesome getting to spend time with Darliece after too many months apart.
The Zoo in November
So, it turns out a nice day in November is the absolute best time to visit Hogle Zoo. I took Jacob and Leila to the zoo around the middle of November with my sister-in-law Trenda, and her kids Cade and Ambree, and my other sis-in-law, Bethany. We practically had the place to ourselves, which was awesome because it meant that when Jacob took off running (as he often did), I didn't have to freak out and chase him down, because I could keep him in sight until he got tired and came back. Plus, the animals were more active, and we could spend as long as we wanted looking at them.
Jacob "riding" the tigers. This was the most posed picture I was able to get. He kept jumping between the two tigers, because he couldn't decide which one he wanted to sit on most.
And the real deal. (We've been to the zoo probably five times this year, and this was the first time I actually saw the tiger, so I thought it warranted a picture.)
Jacob "measuring up" to the gorilla. I'm kind of grateful he's not the size of an ape. He already does enough damage to my house as it is!
Jacob and Ambree in Cade's clutches. Trying to get three toddlers to stay still with their arms out to their sides is, predictably, impossible. So, this was the best we could do.
Mommy and Jacob getting in touch with our roots. Since I couldn't see Jacob's face, I didn't realize I was the only one of us doing the monkey face (and yes, I was totally making the "ooh! ooh!" noises, too).
And a Few for the Road
For anyone who's stuck around to the end of this post, congratulations! Add a comment with the details of your accomplishment (how much sleep were you required to forgo? How much havoc did your own toddler wreak in your absence?) and I will send you your very own, one-of-a-kind, gold-plated plaque commemorating your achievement. Okay, not really. Instead, how about a few bonus pictures, just for you?
Jacob figured out how to reach the cereal box and poured himself some more. Nice. 
One of Leila's first smiles
A get-together with old friends: Jared Crocker, Scott and Melinda Fredrickson, us, Richard and Karyn Esplin. I love this picture, because there are seven kids in it and not one of them is looking at the camera.
Some of Bryon's old roommates from BYU: Matt Tanner, Mark Tanner, Bryon, Scott Fredrickson
