Thanksgiving Point

Lillie loves animals.  So, Saturday we decided to take her to the petting zoo at Thanksgiving Point.  She LOVED it!!!  She couldn't stop looking at all the animals and pointing.  She kept saying oooooh  oooooh.  It was really fun  to watch her. 

As a bonus for us, it was also the lamb and wool festival.  It was really interesting to watch the dogs herding the sheep and the guy was shearing the wool of a sheep.  Pretty cool, although the sheep looked dead.  It just layed there while it was being shaved.

This little horse thing was kind of fun too.  It was trying to eat Lillie's toes, so she didn't like it for too long.

Noni Gardens

John's Aunt Colleen is the Master Gardener at Tahitian Noni.  She is the one that decides everything that is done in the gardens.  So, when the flowers all started blooming, we asked her if we could come over for a picnic and to take pictures of Lillie and Ryder together.  Here are a few of my favorites.

I edited them using picnik, so not the best, but still fun.

Wait!

I think it finally hit me.  About twenty minutes ago.  Jessie is leaving. Tomorrow. 

It didn't really hit me when she got her call to Mesa, AZ.

It didn't hit me while she was talking about her excitement to go to the Temple.

Not even while we were in the temple together.

I didn't really notice while she was buying all of her missionary gear.

Her mission farewell?  Nope, not even then did it hit me.  She gave an amazing talk which just made me realize what an incredibly caring, talented and spiritual person that she is.

It even didn't hit me while she was being set apart as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by our Stake President tonight.

It wasn't until I was sitting here at home, lost in my thoughts browsing facebook when I happened upon this beautiful picture.

Isn't she just beautiful?  I am here to tell you that she is beautiful both inside and out.  She is the kindest, sweetest, and most happy person that you are likely to meet. 

The people of Arizona are so lucky to get such an amazing missionary.  I know that she is destined to do so many great things for the people there. 

I only wish that I would have realized sooner that I was losing her so quickly. 

I love you Jessie!  Good luck!

Whooo's there?

Welcome to our bird crap....I mean beautiful home.

I do hope you enjoy the droppings...I mean the decorations.

I sure hope you're hungry.  We're having a BBQ!

Please come visit again soon!

In all seriousness, we have a bird problem in case you couldn't tell.  It. IS. BAD.

We are hoping that by enlisting our new friend Dalen's help that we will be able to solve our bird problems.  Dalen is a little shy, but I wanted you to be able to meet him.

Say hello to me leetle friend...

Yes, that's right.  I have a fake owl.  AND it is in my front flower bed.  I suddenly  feel really old and like I should have a lawn gnome sitting next to it.

Please work.

(name courtesy of the box "Dalen" came in)

9 Months!

I took Lillie in for her 9 month check up on Monday.  She is doing so well.  Here are her stats:

Height: 28.75 inches (87%)

Weight: 18 lbs. 5 1/4 oz. (41%)

Head: 18.1 inches (94%)

She has such a funny personality.  She learns new tricks constantly.  Here are a few of her new tricks:

*crawls everywhere

*goes up the stairs, but not down (safely)

*says all sorts of new sounds like she just found the "z" sound

*picks up little tiny things that no other human being would probably see

*Loves to take things out of boxes/containers

*sings and dances

*walks along furniture and will try to let go

*opens and closes her fist to say come here

*loves to read books

*does naughty things on purpose (more on that in a min)

*drinks from a cup on her own (loves straws, sippy cups and water bottles)

Basically she is just learning how to be independent more and more everyday.

Now, about her naughtyness.  In our computer room, we have the computer sitting next to the computer desk with the internet modem on top of it.  Lillie likes to go over to it and look at the lights and stand up next to it because it is a great height for her to hold onto while standing.  She has just recently started knocking the modem off of the computer.  At first, I knew it was an accident.  Then we would start telling her "no" and taking her away from it.  She just thought it was a joke and would immediately crawl back over to it giggling.  Then we had to start getting more forceful about it.  Now, before she goes to touch it, she will look at me to see what I will do.  I will tell her no and stand up and she will either knock it off while staring at me, or she will turn around and crawl away.  If John says no, she will get away from it as fast as she can.  She totally knows what she is doing, the little stinker.

Yes the tongue has returned.

How to.....

Keep a husband occupied during family photos:

(Giving him a stick to throw at geese as they are flying overhead has also been known to work as we found out last night. Or a tree house works.  Also, rats.)


Wait patiently for a table after an hour:

Eat an oreo, and still look cute:

I hope you find these tips both fun and useful :)