FALL IS HERE!

Can I just tell you how excited we are that fall is here? This summer has just been so hot! There were a few weeks where we didn't want to go outside because it was just too hot. Elliott is like me in the heat. She doesn't handle it well. We both just get grumpy and lethargic. But we've been able to go out so much this last week! We love it. These are from this afternoon waiting for dad to get home. 

[That face is just too sweet]

[Found an awesome stick]

[Just ripping the bark of the tree]

[And eating it...she didn't like it]

[Me and my girl. She never looks very happy in these pictures. Haha!]

[She loves being outside!]

BYU Football

Kneaders is doing a deal with the BYU football coaches this year. They do their before game meals in exchange for 6 season tickets! Pretty awesome, right? So between us and the two owner couples, we are sharing the six tickets. We were out of town for the first game but we got to be at the BYU vs. UTAH rivalry game. Jacob, so graciously, came over and babysat Elliott while she slept.

It was a crazy game. It didn't start until 8:15, so it was a late night. We ended up losing, but it was close towards the end. What a fun night! Josh and I both had sore throats from yelling so much! 

[The game was a ROYAL blue game so everyone wore the old royal blue BYU color. Even the players! So fun]

[Cool banner thing during the game]

[As you can tell, we didn't have royal blue clothes. Josh bought that hat and I bought a sweater, but it wasn't cold enough, so I didn't even wear it!]

[This was such a sad moment. One of the BYU really good players (Jamaal Williams) was injured really badly. He was on the ground for a long time before they brought out a stretcher and cart and took him off the field. He was released from the hospital the next night with a severe concussion. Thank goodness that's all it was. We thought for sure he broke his neck]

Provo River Trail

Now that the weather is bearable again, Elliott and I have been hitting the Provo River Trail. It is so beautiful and the weather is just perfect. I can still wear shorts but I'm not hot at all! Elliott has to wear long sleeves and pants since she isn't do any work, but we both love it. This last time was particularly fun! We rode clear down to the lake. Just before you come to the lake there are two white horses that always stand at the fence. We stopped and said hi. One of them was really friendly and was in both of our faces. She was so sweet. After seeing the horses, we rode to the duck pond and looked at the ducks (mostly to give my behind a rest). We rode 10 miles. It was such a nice day. 

[Visiting the ducks]

[The friendly horse]

[There was a lady there feeding it when we arrived so I think she was just sniffing us out for food. I'm going to have bring some carrots next time!]

[Me and my little lady!]

[I thought this was so cool. They are starting to paint all the underpasses that the path goes through! So fun!]

Labor Day at the Falls

We had a beautiful Labor Day this year. Josh had to work that morning because it's such a busy breakfast for Kneaders but as soon as he got off work, we packed up the car and headed to Kendal and Matt's house. We met up there with Morgan and Jenn and we drove up the canyon to Bridal Veil Falls. It was so busy, but we still had a blast. We had a picnic up in the park near the falls. Jenn made chicken salad (with croissants from Kneaders), and we had potato salad, chips, cookies and yummy drinks! It was so good. After lunch we walked up towards the falls. We fed the fish for a bit and then Matt babysat the kids while the rest of us climbed up the waterfall. I wore my Sperry's so I decided to do it barefoot. Bad decision. I felt like a huge lame-o the whole time because I was so far behind everyone. But it seriously hurt my feet so bad. But I wanted to climb to the top so bad, that I just did it anyway. Little did I know, coming down would be way worse. I was half expecting to see my feet all bloody when I got down. They weren't, but man, they hurt all night. 

But the falls were beautiful and we got some amazing pictures! When we got to the bottom, we let the kids play in the water for a bit and then headed home to change before going to play games at Morgan and Jenn's house. It was a great day! 

[Just sharing sippy cups]

[Elliott really liked riding in the trailer...for the most part]

[My view the whole way up...everyone in front of me :/ ]

[Phew, made it]

[So gorgeous!]

[All three girls]

[All of us up by the falls]

[Amazing!]

[Food!]

[Everybody]

Splash Pad

The day before we left for South Carolina, me, Jenn and Valerie met at Pioneer Park to play with the kiddos in the splash pad. It was a lot of fun. Jack was pretty tired and Elliott kept slipping and falling, so I think Jenn's kids were the only ones having a great deal of fun. But it was beautiful weather and we had a great time talking! :)

SC Trip Days 9 and 10

We'll, our trip has officially come to an end. Our last two days in SC were wonderful though. Saturday, Laurie got up with Elliott so Josh and I could sleep in (story of our trip, right?). I got up so Laurie could run some errands and hung out with the babe and played until nap time. Elliott slept until about 2:00. Josh headed over to Baxter's house to play video games while I finished getting ready and returned some shoes. Then I met up with him at 3:00 at Baxter's. Laurie and Bronson so graciously babysat all afternoon and night so we could go to the South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt game. The game didn't start until 7 but we spent about 3 hours tailgating before the game. This was my first real experience with tailgating. They don't tailgate at BYU games. We had crockpots full of food (thanks to the Brown family), a tv playing other football games, footballs to throw around and lots of music. It was great. There were SO many people there. We were in an official lot designated for tailgating. It reminded me so much of Gilmore girls and Yale tailgating. 

At about 6:40 we headed into the game. Our seats were pretty high up, but we still had a great view and we weren't facing the sun! Thank goodness. The game was great. We won! We cheered and yelled. It was definitely the loudest game I've been to. And I have to admit, when everyone in the stadium was standing and jumping, and I could feel the stadium moving, I got a little nervous. But it was great. After the game we tailgated for another hour or so and then went to a local high school to kick field goals with some of his friends and then went and got Waffle House. A must. We didn't get home until after 2am! It was a long day, but a lot of fun! 

[Setting up]

[People are still arriving]

[This looks posed but he was just catching the ball. Good form babe]

[Everyone getting seated]

[Before the game started]

[Go cocks!]

[After the game]

On Sunday, Elliott decided to sleep in until 9:30 which was great. I got up with her and got ready for church. Church was at 11. We only went to sacrament so we could pack up and head out for the airport. Elliott took a short nap when we got back, we packed and hit the road. Our flights home weren't too bad. We had empty seats next to us on both flights again. So nice. On the first flight they told us it was completely full, but one person missed the plane and the one empty seat happened to be ours! Score. And on the second flight we even brought the carseat. Saved us. She naps way better in that than in our arms or on the seat. There was hardly any crying despite how late we got home. She was such a champ. Kendal picked us up from the airport and we are home safe and sound. 

[The one and only picture I took while traveling on Sunday. Laurie texted and asked how Elliott was doing. I sent this. Teasing mostly. This was after we landed waiting to get off. She was tired!]

We had such an amazing time in SC. We were both incredibly sad to see it end. Vacation always goes too fast! 

SC Trip Day 8

Elliott woke up around 7 this morning but quickly fell back to sleep. But then kept waking up, so I eventually just went in to her room and slept on the guest bed until she woke up for good. 

We got ready and played all morning until Laurie got back from work. Then we loaded up the car and got on the road to Greenville. Our first stop was in Inman to visit Josh's grandma Linda and her mom, Mildred (known to us as GG). We took an amazing 5 generation photo. Elliott, Josh, Laurie, Linda and Mildred. Amazing. She is 98 years old! Unbelievable. 

After spending some time with GG we left Laurie and headed to Greer to visit my dad and his wife Lenore. We had a great visit. They made a beautiful turkey with stuffing, potatoes, gravy, asparagus, cranberries and even pumpkin pie! It was delicious. After dinner they had Elliott open her birthday gift (an absolutely adorable musical turtle). We couldn't stay long because of Elliott's bed time, but it was a fun short visit. 

Elliott slept most of the way back from Greenville. When we got back we put Elliott down for bed (poor girl was feeling awful and had a fever) and then headed out to hang out with Josh's friend Baxter and his gf Sarah. We ran to Target, hung out at the house and then went to Cook Out. Tons of cheap food. Yum. 

[Trying to grab the fan at Grandma's]

[Love this photo. Elliott's one year old hand holding GG's 98 year old hand]

[5 generations! Elliott, Josh, Laurie, Linda and GG (Mildred)]

[Walking around in the yard]