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Lest you think she's past the cabinet phase...

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When we moved here, we planted three tomato plants: two in a Topsy Turvy and one in the ground. Despite daily watering, the Topsy Turvy plants did not flourish. We got 1 or 2 tomatoes each, until we finally gave up on them. The one in the ground, however, has taken off in a BIG way. It's taller than I am, has some branches that didn't get trained up in the cage, and are spread wider than it is tall. We've been harvesting these yummy grape tomatoes for the last couple weeks, and there are tons more green ones & blossoms that will hopefully get to grow & ripen before the frost hits. Gavin eats them like candy!

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Having finished and delivered three secret/surprise quilts for babies Clark, Bryce & the soon expected Williams baby), I can now share my latest work in progress--a quilt for Ellie. A little wild!

Unfortunately not pictured today: Darin's first pack meeting as the new Ustick Ward Cubmaster.

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Our day consisted of laundry and playing at home. When Dad got home, we took a walk to the park and got reacquainted with the ducks. Today also marks Ellie's 11 month birthday!

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Gavin took this picture of Ellie with the iPhone on our drive home from Utah. We made it in about six hours, including only one stop. These kids are good travelers!

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So while I was in Nevada, and the kids were in Utah, Darin stayed in Idaho to work, but on Saturday, he headed up to Cascade to check out the fishing. What a life! (if that's your thing...)

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In Orem, Uncle Ben was juggling 5 kids (very well!): Tessa, Breann, Gavin, Ellie AND a friend's little girl too for an hour at the park. He sent this picture through his iPhone--amazing synchronized swinging!

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This picture was from Chrissie's camera... because I didn't take any pictures today! Becky & I got ready in the morning & said goodbye to the kids & Ben, picked up Susie around 4:30, then drove to Patty's house where Chrissie was already. By then it was about 6:30 Vegas time, and we were all hungry! We ate outside at Sammy's Pizza & split a Messy Sundae for dessert! When we got to Mom & Dad's house, all was well. And we actually unpacked our scrappin' stuff & got started that night!

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After about six hours in the car, Gavin & Ellie were excited to get to the Williams house

& start playing! Check out Ellie's smile, captured by iPhone. Only 100 more days of 2010!

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Cafe Rio has arrived in Boise! They opened last Friday, and we ate there tonight--had the Tuesday special, coconut shrimp tacos. mmmmmmmm. And even better, with our combined Cafe Rio punch cards from Utah & Las Vegas, we have a free meal coming to us next time!

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Dad brought Ellie these cute pajamas from China. She makes a cute model!
Gavin got a t-shirt with the Chinese symbol for "luck."

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From Wikipedia: Jet lag, medically referred to as "desynchronosis," is a physiological condition which is a consequence of alterations to circadian rhythms; it is classified as one of the circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Jet lag results from rapid long-distance transmeridian (east-west or west-east) travel, as on a jet plane. The condition of jet lag may last many days, and recovery rates of 1 day per eastward time zone or 1 day per 1.5 westward time zones are mentioned as fair guidelines.

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Dad's home! Darin returned this afternoon from China after a short one-week trip. He was pretty tired from staying up for about the last 40 hours, trying to re-adjust to Boise time (14 hours earlier).
He had a good trip, but was glad to be home, and we were glad to get him back too!

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I was checking email in the living room when I discovered I was all alone... I went to investigate & found these two in the pantry for a snack. The pantry is another of Ellie's favorite cabinets... we had to put most of the cereal up on the top shelf because she kept pulling boxes down. We did get out of the house today too--to the library, to the park (Gavin rode his bike) & swinging in the backyard 3 different times.
We've noticed leaves on a few trees starting to turn yellow & fall already!

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Gavin, running to the car after preschool let out. He's wearing a spider hat & carrying a still-wet spider masterpiece of glue and Cap'n Crunch. He loves his class! Miss Cindy is the one with the white top.

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A beautiful sky as the sun was just starting to set at the park... the weather is perfect for being outside. We had some friends over today--the Allreds: 4 year old William, almost 3 year old Sean, 8 month old Annabelle and their mom. Wednesday is turning out to be a good day for playdates.

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This was Ellie repeating, "Uh oh" over and over as she got in and out of the chair. Funny.
We've been enjoying some comfort food while Darin's been gone... to comfort us. :) We made pasta primavera and banana/zucchini bread on Sunday, homemade mac & cheese Monday (halved this recipe--yum!) & tonight was parmesan chicken pot pie.

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See that little white dot on her upper gums? That is the beginning of a new tooth (#3)!

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Today was Stake Conference--we missed our Dad, but these guys did considerably well
& I got to hear all the talks--it was good.

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Darin left at 6:00 am this morning for his first trip to China with Scentsy. He'll be arriving tomorrow morning, our time. It's been over 2 years since he's made that trip! We had a beautiful US flag in our front yard this morning, courtesy of the Scouts, to commemorate the day 9 years ago today. I hadn't thought to take a picture of it until we were out at the grocery store, and when we returned around 7:00 pm, it had already been taken down. Hence, another cabinet picture!

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We do try to do something with Ellie's hair from time to time... she had a cute little topknot with a pink bow when she went down for her nap, but she woke up looking like this.

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This girl loves to open the lower kitchen cabinet doors and see what she can find... which is so interesting, because Gavin never did! The other night, when I was cleaning up after dinner, Ellie had opened every single cabinet (except under the sink, where I was standing). And whenever anyone opens the refrigerator while she's in the kitchen, she makes a beeline for it. In her mind, it must be the mysterious forbidden cabinet she has yet to explore! And her mom keeps scooting her away from it... what gives?

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While we were in Delta, Grandma Bishop had given Gavin a ziploc bag of loose change. So today, we counted it... $6.85! We set aside .70 for his tithing, and Gavin has the rest stashed away for now, until he's ready to "buy whatever I want!" Thanks Grandma!

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Gavin's first day of Preschool! The first day of his second year of Preschool, that is. He has been looking forward to it for over a month and a half, since we signed him up! When I picked him up after class and asked what he did, he said, "I can't remember..." Luckily, his teacher, Miss Cindy, sent an email that night with 11 things they did that day. When I read them to Gavin, he expounded on just about every one... it was amazing to me how much detail Gavin actually did remember (and what I would've missed)! I replied to the email, thanking her for it & why--I hope it becomes a regular thing!

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Labor Day! Grandma & Grandpa sent us off with a bounty of fresh-picked vegetables from their garden, and then we went to see the Williams & Dixons in Orem, where we got a bag of just picked peaches and some peach fruit leather! We had a quick visit & lunch with them before starting the drive back to Boise. We made a stop at Ikea, had dinner in Jerome, ID and made it home around 9:00 pm.

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Ellie has started to show signs of caring who holds her. She was playing favorites with Grandpa, which kind of hurt Grandma's feelings... but then when she didn't want to go to Launa (Darin's Uncle David's wife), Grandma felt a little better knowing it was the female gender and not just her!

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It was a nice day in Delta, visiting with Grandma & Grandpa and of course, FISHING for the boys!

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We drove to Delta tonight for the long weekend, arriving after 11:30 pm. These guys had both been sleeping in the car, although Gavin had only been out for a half hour or so when we got there. They got to say a quick hello to Grandma & Grandpa Bishop, then we made up their beds & tucked in!

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Can't let a week go by without a shot of this face, with her signature drool!

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Darin hung up a swing in the backyard weeping willow tree, and it is Gavin's favorite new toy!