Happy Halloween!

We had most of our Halloween festivities last weekend, so I thought I would actually post today.  We'll be taking Liv trick-or-treating tonight with her friends Jo and Lydia.  She'll be donning the butterfly costume, as the bumble bee costume is a little too small.  And itchy.  After I took these pictures, we took the costume off, and Liv refused to put it back on, due to it being slightly traumatic taking it off--she was pretty stuck in it, and I was afraid we'd have to cut her out.  But we got her out and all is well.  We took Liv to the trunk-or-treat with our ward Friday night.  She went to Tyler first for some candy, and then she and I made the rounds while Tyler handed out pumpkin cookies and candy.  True to form, he made everything look great--he lit candles and brought our pumpkins and table to display everything by the back of our car.  The combination of the candle and pumpkin cookies made our stop a pretty popular one, and the cookies were gone in minutes!

On Saturday, we got a babysitter (Peri, who was so cute with Liv!) and went to Natalie's Halloween party. It was so fun to get to hang out with everyone, and the costumes were amazing!  Alyona was a pioneer (Soviet-style), Melissa had a horse head and wore a fancy dress (by far the most popular costume), our friend Michael came as a member of Pussy Riot (another Russian reference), and so many other great costumes.  Tyler and I went as Viktor Yuschenko and Yulia Tymoshenko (former President and Prime Minister of Ukraine and huge players in the Orange Revolution).  I think it's safe to say we are made for each other!  Who else would dress up like Ukrainian politicians with me? :)   

Here are some photos of our Halloween so far:

Our little bumble bee

Our sweet butterfly (lucky back-up butterfly costume)

Tyler at the trunk-or-treat

Liv's first trick-or-treat, and it's from daddy

Me as Yulia Tymoshenko

Viktor Yuschenko and Yulia Tymoshenko

Us with Alyona as a pioneer

I just love this little face!

Just another sample of some amazing costumes!  Alex and Coady were amazing!

We hope you have a Happy Halloween!

Bedroom 2.0

Ever since Kim and I got engaged, what our bedroom should look like has been a topic of "discussion". When we were selecting items for our wedding gift registry at Target, we realized how incompatible we were for each other. When it came to home decor, we both had very different tastes. Strange, considering how many other things we agree on. Well, I'm happy to say that after two and half years of matrimonial bliss, our tastes have moved much closer together. Here are some pictures of our new bedroom, which is a synthesis--and I think a harmonious one--of our two styles.

And of course, the BEFORE pictures:        blah, blah, blah

The room in progress:

 Note from Kim: As you can see, Tyler really did all the work ;) (Actually, I learned how to use the saw and cut most of the vertical pieces...and then Tyler did pretty much all the rest)

 It turns out Liv is really into this home improvement stuff, too.  We finally broke down and bought her a tool set (pictures to come)

The finished project:

 Except this part.  This is not finished in this picture.  It is in real time, though!

 So our question to you:  Do you like the white and brown bedspread, or the white bedspread?

I'm Studying Literature!!!

I talked to the department, and I am now officially on the literature track of the PhD!  I am so excited!  I have loved linguistics, but I have really missed literature.  Now I can have the best of both worlds :)  I will still finish the MA in Slavic Linguistics, but I will do the MA/PhD in Slavic Literature.  YAY!!!!!!!!!

LOL

Tyler went to get Liv up from her nap, and when he walked in, she said, "Dirty diaper, daddy.  Check it out!"

Liv slapped Tyler twice really quickly, and then when he went to say, "Ouch, Liv, that hurt!" She put her fingers up to her lips and said, "Shhhhhh!" so he couldn't tell her not to hit.

We started a babysitting exchange, and when Venita and Jeph were here to pick up Benson, Liv and Jo were downstairs playing.  Liv yelled up to me from downstairs, "Come here mommy!  Come back here!  Come back here! Right now (in a sing-songy voice still)! RIGHT NOW (not so sing-songy)!!!"

Today at the store, she told the fish, "Goodbye!  Have a fun time!"  Then when we went back over with Tyler, she told the fish, "Come here! This way!" and tried to lead them out of the tanks.  She also pretended to feed them and told them to eat.  But the best by far was when she said, "I love you, fish!"

We were skyping with Tyler's family Sunday, and Liv recognized Dani and Jariek.  When we went to tell them goodybe, we told her to tell grandma goodbye, and "I love you."  Instead, Liv said, "I love you, Jariek!"  So sweet!