Just Telliss: October 2010

Observation Peak

The Book-ends of October. I'm just now getting around to posting about the general conference weekend that we spent down in New Harmony. Halloween pictures to follow.

We decided on a whim one night that we missed family and thus the decision to drive to New Harmony to see my dad and Jordan's parents.

Jordan and I took advantage of the situation (free baby sitters) and the Friday Jordan took off from work- and had a long guilt-free date at Zions national Park. We've wanted to hike Observation Point since we were first married. We've been lucky enough to make it to Zions every year of our marriage - last year we hike Angels Landing (while I was 5 months pregnant mind you!). Observation Point is 723feet higher and 3 miles longer than Angels landing. It's a 8 mile round trip excursion with the peak boasting 6508 feet in elevation! My buns were burning!

On the bus to the trail head

CAUGHT! Washing his hands.... (This looks like a sign that would be placed in the hospital over the waterless alcohol sanitizers.)

No, it was not all paved.

Magic

One of the many friends we made along the way

I wish I had flirted less and paid attention more in my 7th grade science class when we learned what all of these different levels meant.

View from the top

What happens when we attempt to take a picture ourselves

And when we ask someone else to do it.

As much as we adore our Lily Pad and enjoy being with friends & family, we both agreed that it was nice to just be together for a couple of hours. Although life is a little more stressful than either of us have ever experienced before, we both agreed that we are happier than we've ever been. Yea for the Gospel! (and nature for bringing these reflections about)

The Lord shall reveal his secrets unto his servants, the prophets....

General Conference!!!!! I love this time of year- family, good food,

mo-tab, and church in pajamas :) (and essential counsel from the Lord's mouthpieces of course)

Did you know that once I made it onto the church news in between conferences? Yep- that's my claim to fame. I've never seen it myself but my family all swear they see me as a missionary in the background at the Madrid temple square.

I think a soothing voice is an apostolic requirement

But even Lily was tuned in when President Monson came on!

Sweetie- I don't think President Monson is going to answer his cell phone in the middle of his conference talk- even if it is YOU calling.

Lily the Ham

The next winning contestant on The Apprentice

Baby Steps

Although Lily had already taken her "first steps" She was still mastering the art.

Thank goodness for the extra diaper padding!

Family Time

Even having the cutest cheerleader didn't help the Cougars against the USU Aggies. That one was embarrassing!

No Words Needed

Treasure Hunting

How did I go all summer without realizing how AWESOME yard sales are? Christmas came a little early for Lily who got tons of new toys, books and a cute little organizer for books and toys for pennies on the dollar.

Just my size Princess chair!

Maybe I'll put this one away for a couple of months.....

I thought it was so cute when she started pushing Dora in the stroller

until she dumped her out, ran her over and then...

tried to eat her. Not quite ready for baby dolls yet I see.

This fun toy kept the little monkeys occupied while the adults actually got to watch a movie! This is Taelor, Lily's best friend who luckily lives just next door. Lily's little face lights up everytime she sees her! They share a bedroom wall so they can talk to each other at night.

Elliss House Adventures

Justin and AJ are awesome. They are the type of people who have their priorities straight and are non-judgmental- which means they don't care what brand of clothes you wear, or (lucky for us) that we invade their house EVERY weekend. At first the excuse was to watch BYU football on their cable TV. However, when we showed up on their doorstep last Saturday during BYU's weekend off, I think it became transparent that we really just love being with them and their awesome kids.

There are 4 kids ages 6, 4, 2, and 2 mo. Just to give you an idea of how great their kids are: Sam had just come back from trick or treating with a bag half way full of candy. What does he do first? Start dividing it up between everyone there. "Here Tabby, this one is for you, and this one" "Oh, this one is for Jordan, and this one if for Lily". I know that when I was 6- I didn't share my Halloween candy with ANYONE.

There is always an adventure going on at their house. Last week, once the BYU game had finished and UofU was in half time, we all decided it was time to go. Jordan and I were heading home and their family off to run errands. AJ had just finished feeding baby Ben, Sam and Hannah had their shoes and and we all tromped upstairs- to find Michelle naked to the bum with water running in the tub. She decided it was bath time NOT errand time.

This weekend bath time was a little more convenient and Lily joined in with Michelle, which couldn't have made Lily happier since she adores her cousin Michelle. She actually stayed in the bath tube for 5 whole minutes before screaming to get out. A first for us.

After Lily and Michelle got out, it was Hannahs' turn for the bath. 30 minutes later we start wondering.... we haven't seen Hannah for a while......

Who let the blob monster in????

Oh- right- it was just Hannah sleeping...

Michelle teaching Lily to be "soft" with Ben

Lily loves putting her fingers in other people's mouths...strange and a little gross.... But I guess Michelle didn't mind.

"Pssst. Can you go get candy for me when mom isn't looking? I'm not tall enough!"

Sam the book worm doesn't even notice when Uncle Jordan is about to behead him with Hannah's Butterfly balloon. "Uncle Jordan is silly, except when he's watching football." There's a reason he got accepted into that gifted school.