Happy Halloween from Elliott, Sydney, Dean, Jane, Sophie, Tessa and Jacob

Pirate Jacob;

Tessa is Foofa and Sophie is Toodee;

Jane makes an adorable fairy!

Jenny looks like she could still pass for a teenaged gymnast! And Dean dressed up as his dad. He really does look like him! Take a close look at Nicole's t-shirt. Is she cool or what?

And Syd makes a very cute little red riding hood!

Elliott really wasn't happy about putting on her costume. She did stop cryng when I took off the booties. I just had to get a picture! Hopefully I'll get to add more costume pictures from the rest of the cuties!

Jumping Holly entertains Elliott

Elliott really loved Holly. She followed her around and laughed at everything she did.

Fall Concert

Jonathan getting ready to perform. I put up all the videos of his performance. My favorite is the "Goin' Up to Glory" and the piano on "Old Dan Tucker" .

Jonathan and Alisha accompany Acapella in Old Dan Tucker

Richard had a hard time finding the button to stop recording in the dark.

Earth Song by Acapella Choir

Jonathan is in the back middle right side.

Shenandoah by Acapella Choir

Jonathan is just to the right of the conductor.

Goin' Up to Glory by BHS Madrigals

Jonathan is tenor just right of the middle.

A Boy and A Girl by Madrigals

Jonathan is on the left of the last point of the W.

Pleasure Enough by Madrigals

Jonathan is just right of center.

Elliott crawls on all fours!

Elliott reads

Eating her bib

Elliott sings

The Hill Air Force Base Sprint Triathlon

Josh and Meg invited Richard and Jonathan to do this triathlon with them this morning. Jonathan chickened out at the last minute, but here are the brave ones, including their friend Josh ready to start this morning. This was an unusual tri; it started with the run, then the bike ride and ended with the swim.

Here they are at the starting line hearing the instructions about the course.

They ran around the track once then came out here. Josh heading out.

The other Josh heading out from the track.

Meg, with Richard right behind her.

Josh back from his run starting his bike ride. About 23 minutes into the race and in 25th place.

The other Josh about 4 minutes behind him.

Meg about 30 minutes.

Off she goes.

Richard a few minutes behind her.

He's off again.

Josh back from his bike ride about 17th place.

I happened to capture this moment that I didn't understand until after the race, when Josh mentioned his shorts were falling off on each flip turn so he stopped to retie them.

Josh finishing at 1 hour 9 iminutes. I'm not sure, but I think he was about 11th place.
The other Josh came back from his bike ride while I was taking pictures of Josh swimming and I totally missed his swim and finish. He did it in 1 hour 20 minutes.

Meg was a stronger swimmer than I expected. Here she is in her orange cap.

Richard back from his bike ride.

Meg finishing her swim. Her time was 1 hour and 28 minutes.

Richard swimming in lane 6 over there. He did the first half side stroke, but finished with a front crawl. He and Josh both had leg cramps on the bike and during the swim.

Richard finishing. His time was 1 hour and 38 minutes. His first sprint tri and with very little warning to train.
Elliott excited to have her mommy back! She was a good cheerleader and clapped for all of the comings and goings with me. She also clapped everytime someone walked by with their dog. She is adorable!

A Quick Trip to Denver

Richard and I took a quick trip to Denver for Jacob's blessing. We didn't leave until Saturday morning because Jonathan couldn't come. He sang in the Allstate choir that performed Saturday night in the Tabernacle. He got to spend all day Friday and most of Saturday with Mack Wilberg, which was great, but left him alone for two days. We arrived in time to go out to eat at Applebee's with most of Jessica's inlaws. Here we are back to Jess' apartment getting kids ready for bed.

This wild wrestling match on our airbed..

...actually started with Grandpa reading the girls a bedtime story very sedately.

Jacob smiles very often, but everytime my camera tries to capture it he stops, but here's a rare exception Sunday morning pre-blessing.

I had to put in all of these shots to show how difficult it is to get Sophie and Tessa posing at the same time.

Jacob on the other hand is always picture ready!

Here's Jacob post blessing with his Chapman grandparents. They are awesome btw. Jacob Daniel received a wonderful blessing from his dad. He was warned of the dark times he was born in and told that he was sent to his family and situation to prepare him to be the means of bringing light to others in dark places. And more good stuff!

We rushed home right after their meetings. On the way to Denver we took the northern I-80 route and had snow and rain most of the way, with lots of accidents and a big slow down between Cheyenne and Boulder, we had sunshine and dry roads on Sunday, so we took the more scenic soutnern route on I-70.

Its was pretty! We got home before 10:30.

It used to be a depressing day the day after coming home from visiting grandkids, but not any more! Elliott is here today! She managed to crawl through the chairs and under the table and back out again. She getting good at it!

Happy Birthday Meg!

Meg's birthday was today! We celebrated yesterday between sessions of conference.

Visitors

While Jenny was staying we had some fun visitors. Great grandma Ellis meets Jane.

Great Grandpa Ellis is entertained by Dean. Dean and Jane

Great Aunt Nancy (Jane) meets Jane. Notice Elliott sharing toys with Jane.
The Kendalls came to visit and I cut off their heads, sorry. I did get all of Jane in the shot though!

Elliott sleeping in the swing while Dean napped in the crib. We did lay her back down after we took the picture, I promise. Dean playing with the most important part of all toys; the wheels. And Joni came to visit!! It was fun to see her and Jenny being silly sisters together! Jonathan says thats the part he misses the most about being home alone; his crazy sisters playing together. Thanks for coming to visit! Dean and Erika came to visit while I was gone, so I didn't get a picture! I'm sure they looked good and enjoyed my darling Texans!