The Latest From The Livingstons (in The Couv)

So how is everyone? We had a good Thanksgiving (and 10th anniversary) -- first at Carol's parents, where the food was quite good and the football (on TV) was spectacular. You should have seen the fruit tray Carol's mom did. Quite delicious and pretty fancy looking, too. After we were good and stuffed, we headed down to Eugene so we could enjoy some sales tax-free shopping, as well as free babysitting while we hit the early Black Friday sales. The clock in the room where we were staying at my parents had never been adjusted when Daylight Savings ended, so it was an even earlier morning than I anticipated. But we had a good time and saved lots of money.

The kids had a good time playing and NOT going to the stores with us. There is also a new park right by G & G's house, which we had a good time at. We also took them to see the new movie "Bolt" in 3D. It was really good for them and us.

Caden visited his "voodoo" doctor when we returned and it looks as though he is cured of ear infections. He is eating all things wheat now, and it appears there are no ill affects. We still have him abstaining from dairy, though. The whole situation with his ears has been one answer to prayer after another, and it is amazing the change in him. Thanks, Cory!

Tyler is doing well and he got to go see a play production of James and the Giant Peach for a school field trip. Bailey gets to go to the Children's museum in January. Trevin is doing quite well with pre-school. He gets a little rattled at drop-off time each day, but he gets over it quickly. And Caden is doing well on Sunday going to nursery. he could be our first easy one.

We got our Christmas decorations up on Monday for Family Home Evening, then on Wednesday we cut down our tree. We had it up and decorated last night. However, Carol called me at work to let me know that our tree had just taken a dive. What a mess! We got it all cleaned up and re-decorated today, so now it's just another memory for future Christmases.

And now it's that time again:

I was making a phone call that had to do with my church calling, but it was right at dinner time. Carol jokingly said: I'm gonna talk with Bishop about this Bisopric stuff. It's starting to take up too much of your time." Tyler chimed in and said, "Dad you're not in the Bishopric anymore." Then Bailey, who apparently had been doing some contemplating, added: "To be in the Bishopric, you have to be a Bishop and you have to be a brick."I said "a brick?" She said, yeah, you know, Bishop-Brick." So she needs a little annunciation work on that word.

Our Toys R Us store recently remodeled and had a grand re-opening sale. We decided to check it out to get some Christmas ideas for the kids. As part of the remodeling they added a "Babies R Us" to the store. As we were driving up to the parking lot, Tyler was reading aloud: "Toys R Us. Barbies R Us -- Barbies R Us?" I'm not going to that store." We pointed out his error and he was able to set foot inside the store after all.

Caden is quite vocal for a 19-month-old and he is apparently rather observant in his young age as well. The other day, with none of his siblings around, he opened the entertainment center drawer and pulled out a Wii remote and started waving it at the TV. I asked: "What are you doing?" His reply: "Pay Wii."Also, around here, Carol and I don't like to answer the phone. I'm worse than she is, but usually we argue about who it is going to be for, so other person has to get it. On the contrary, the kids love to answer the phone. Whenever it rings they make a mad dash to the kitchen yelling "I got it, I got it, I got it." So the other day it rings and Caden without hesitation, starts toward the kitchen yelling "got it, got it, got it." And lastly, each night when I leave for work, Carol always asks me if I got the cell phone. So the other day, as I'm at the door telling everyone I love them, Caden is saying over and over: "Got phone, got phone?" Finally we realized what he was saying, so I repeated, "did I get the phone?" He said: "Yeah" I told him yes and he said, "Kay (OK)." Quite cute.

As many of you know we have taught our kids who everyone in the First Presidency and Quorum of the twelves Apostles is. Trevin had the chart down the other day and I asked him what the prophet's name was. He started to smile and said "Thomas...(pause)....the Train," followed by a big goofy laugh at his funny.

While in Eugene for the Thanksgiving weekend, Trevin ran upstairs to tell me he was going to McDonald's. I said: "Who's taking you to McDonald's?" thinking my mom had just promised him a trip there. He looked at me, pointed, and replied: "You" By the way, we did take them all that day.

Last, but not least, we have a little Nativity set that we let the kids play with. The other night Trevin was playing with it and apparently let go of a big "tooter" (that's what we call them in our house, although I'm sure the kids have heard other terms for them by now.) Anyways, Carol said: "Whoa! Trevin, did you just do a big tooter?" He replied: "No, it was Joseph." At least he didn't say baby Jesus.