Tagged By Alicia

My friend Alicia Sorenson tagged me from her blog over a month ago--she's probably wondering if I'll ever do this! I am now ready and excited to do it. Here it goes:

8 TV Shows I love to Watch..

American Idol

"House"

"Dirty Jobs" with Mike Rowe

Oprah

The Ellen Show

The News (any broadcast--I just like to keep-up on what's happening)

The Olympics on NBC (when they're going-on)

"Lost"

8 Favorite Restaurants...

Most of these places are unique to the Provo/Orem, Utah area:

Chef's Table

The Bombay House

Thai Ruby

The Bistro on Broadway (The place in Idaho Falls that Andrew and I went to when we got engaged. Sadly, it's no longer there!)

Bajio

Shoots

Casa Bonita (in Denver)

Mimi's Cafe

8 Things that Happened Yesterday...

Took a nice, long shower while Andrew watched Taylor

Did two loads of laundry and some dishes

Struggled to take care of a really fussy baby (he has a cold)

Watched the movie, "Get Smart"

Made BBQ Brisket, steamed carrots, and asian salad for dinner

Finished making a present for Jeffrey and Faye

Worked at Gandolfo's

Talked to my mom on the phone

8 Things I Love About this Fall...

Colorful leaves

Crisp, cool air

Making Jack-O-Lanterns

Watching Taylor grow

Not feeling morning sick! :)

Drinking egg nog and hot cocoa

Getting to see family so much

Being warm and cosy inside when the weather is bad outside

8 Things On My Wish List...

Living close to family

Going to Tahiti and Jerusalem for vacations

Knowing how to take photos like a professional

Owning a home

Being able to pay for our kids' college and missions

Having new family room furniture someday

Having an easy second pregnancy (when that time comes--I'm not pregnant now!)

Going to Europe to learn more about my ancestry

8 Things I am Looking Forward to...

Going home for Christmas this year

Seeing Stephen and Jill's new place and Mindi's pregnant tummy

When Taylor won't fuss when I try to feed him with a spoon

Having our family come to Rexburg for Andrew's graduation

Taking Andrew to Waterton in a few more years

Summer

Andrew finding his first "real" job

Having Bonnie come visit

8 People I Tag...

Mom

Andrew's Mom

Cindy Norris

Mindi Norris

Bonnie Ellingson

Stacie Tonks

Maria Grover

Brendi Blakenfeld

Happy Halloween!

Over the past few weeks, we made a lot of great memories to celebrate Halloween 2008. It was especially fun for me to enjoy my first Halloween as "Mommy" and parade our little guy around to different kid-friendly activities. At four months old, I'm sure Taylor had no idea exactly what was going on when we went out, but even so, he sure showed us that he liked being out-and-about! He's so interested in everything around him now, and he's become really good at smiling and laughing when he sees something new. Our home is a happier place now that we have little Taylor in it.

Here are some highlights from our eventful October:


Andrew Played Dress-up

While browsing D.I. for Halloween costume ideas, Andrew stumbled upon a hillarious 80's diving suit! He got a kick out of it and quickly put the head cover on when he saw it. The cap was a couple sizes too small--a bit of a squeeze for him--but the image of the cap on Andrew was so funny that that was all it took for both of us to want him to put the entire ensemble on!

With Andrew and my forces combined, we managed to squeeze the small suit on Andrew in 20 minutes in the dressing room at D.I. After all that work, Andrew had just enough energy to pose for a few pictures--not just for me, but for some other entertained people in the store too! Everyone loved it. After all was said and done, Andrew and I were both in pain from the experience: his shoulders hurt from the suit cutting into him so much, and my sides from laughing so hard! I guess what they say applies here: no pain, no gain. :)



Andrew's Mom Visited

We've been so spoiled with her visits this year. Since March, she's been able to travel to Rexburg five times, and on two of those trips, Andrew's dad came too! Coming all the way from Alabama, that's got to be some kind of record. It was fun for us to have her here, and for Taylor too--who really loved playing with Grandmother Norris!


BYU-Idaho 84th Ward Halloween Carnival

Our ward's Halloween party was on the 30th this year. Taylor was dressed as a "Little Monster" (a gift from Tiffany's mom), so we decided to follow suit by turning orange D.I. t-shirts into his matching monster family. Andrew is pictured below as the "Big Monster."

While at the party, we spent some time with a guy in our ward named Ethan Felix. Taylor must've thought that his costume was funny, because every time he looked at Brother Felix he would burst into laughter! His laughing lasted on and off for about five minutes; it was so cute. For us, he was the life of the party!

The Pumpkin Patch

Alicia and Scott Sorenson invited Taylor and I to go to a pumpkin patch in Idaho Falls with them a few weeks ago. I'm so glad that we went; I had no idea that the place even existed, and we had a really fun time!

Taylor's Friends

Taylor's really growing up--he's been making little buddies now! His first pal: the Halloween scarecrow.

Our scarecrow decoration has been sitting on our couch for several weeks. Almost every time Andrew or I sit down on the sofa with Taylor, he can't keep his eyes off it! And what's better--when he gets within arms reach of the doll, it transforms into his little life-sized pal. The two enjoy laughing together, wrestling, and even hugging and kissing (well, it's more like eating and drooling all over, but close)!




Buddy number two: The stray cat.

Today when I came into the front room with Taylor in arm, I noticed a cat in our window well! What was shocking to me quickly became Taylor's play time, as he leaned up against the window and tried his hardest to touch the cat himself. It was super cute!

He's Out!

Yesterday morning was scheduled unusually for me and Taylor--I went to the temple early in the morning, and my late morning walk with friends (who are also new mommies) began even later than usual as a result. By the time Taylor had been through waking-up an hour early, staying with a babysitter, and going outside later than he's used to, he was exhausted! Amazingly enough, he was still a really good baby for me through it all.

When we got home around noon, Taylor was ready for food and a nap--bigtime. As his whimpering got a little more intense, I laid him down under his Baby Einstein play gym to try to entertain him for a few minutes while I quickly made a bottle. I listened to him cry while I did this, feeling bad for making him wait so long to relax. After just a minute or two, the crying stopped completely! Wondering what had changed, I went into the other room to see him totally zonked-out, with his hand gripped tightly to a dangling toy bird and his bib flopped over his face. It was both the funniest and cutest thing he had done all week!

It's Ladies' Night

Our little family drove down to Utah for General Conference this past weekend. It seems to be a tradition now to see my family at Conference time--as is the fun get-together that my mom, grandma, aunts, cousins and I (and our little ones) have while our men attend the priesthood session on Saturday night.

Caitlin, Mom, Taylor, Me

Aunt Robin, Brittany, Trevor, Grandma


Kathryn, Lauren, Aunt Cherie


This time, we went to a new pizza place on State Street in Orem called "Pizzeria Seven Twelve." It was delicious! We went to Cold Stone for dessert afterward, just in-time before crowds of men in white shirts and ties came in for their after session treats!

It was a fun night and a fun weekend--both went by way too fast!

Reunited!

Last Monday and Tuesday my old roomie and close friend, Jessica traveled from her home in Mesa, Arizona to visit! As such a close friend of mine, our reunion was long overdue--it had been four years since we had spent time together!

September 2008: Maria, Jessica, Me

Me, Taylor, Moran (Jessica's little boy)

September 2002: Jessica, Lianna, Kimra, Maria, Me, Lindsey


We called another roommate of ours from our Freshman year, Maria, on the phone Tuesday morning and together with our five little ones (Maria's two kids, Jessica's two, and my little Taylor) we spent the day together. We're pictured above, just outside the Hart P.E. building on BYU-Idaho campus where we took some time to check-out the changes that have taken place at BYU-I since we graduated: a new bookstore, renovation to four buildings, the beginnings of a new auditorium/student center, and not to mention--the new Rexburg Temple in view!

It's amazing how in just a few years so much has changed for us! Even with the changes, it was so easy for the three of us to pick up where we left off--it was a blast--and now I think I miss Jessica even more than before. We can't go that long without spending time together ever again! Thanks, ladies, for such a fun time and great memories!

Yearbookyourself.com

We discovered this website over the weekend and stayed up till midnight playing with it. Talk about a fun time. Even Taylor looks good.

The Many Faces of Andrew

During the seven week Summer BYU-I break, Andrew decided to grow his facial hair out--he had never grown a beard before! When Fall Semester was about to begin, he shaved his hair off in stages. We've recorded the experience here for your enjoyment:

The "Hitler" 'stache

BYU-Idaho Approved

Handlebars and sideburns

Goattee and burns

Full Beard

Baby in a Box

One of Taylor's parents thought that putting him in a box would be a fun game...now who could that be?!

Happy Labor Day!

In keeping with our Labor Day tradtion to play outdoors, we drove to the edge of Yellowstone Park this year, to some small waterfalls called "Cave Falls." They get their name from a neat cave that's located right at the base of the falls you see here in the picture. Even though it was chilly that day, we had fun exploring the cave and the area nearby. Taylor stayed warm in a Snugli on Andrew's back the whole time, and as usual, he loved being outside!

Taylor loves his horse

Taylor just started to reach for things over the last week. He likes to hold the leg of this little horse. Maybe because it is about the size of his hand.

Bedtime!

I think this moment speaks for itself--Andrew and I laughed and laughed over this.

Taylor's Blessing

We blessed Taylor during our student ward sacrament meeting last Sunday, August 3rd. We were so glad that so many family members could come to support him, me, and Andrew: Andrew's parents flew-in all the way from Alabama, my grandparents, parents and brothers drove up from Utah, and so many cousins and aunts and uncles to Taylor drove up from Utah too! It was a very special, memorable weekend.Taylor finally met Papa Norris! He also got to meet his little cousin, Courtney too--she's just one month older than him.
Cousins Ashley and Maddie flapping their "wings" at our picnic in the park.

Mountain Get-Away

Tiffany's family invited us to join them on their summer vacation to Grand Lake, Colorado--a small mountain town just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. We fell in-love with the gorgeous landscape and the "untouched" feel of this neat place . It was so relaxing and such a treat to spend an entire week with family.
It was fun taking Taylor hiking with us. He loves the outdoors! Even passed-out in his Snugli on Andrew, his cute little personality came out.
On our first hike to Adams Falls, just minutes away from where we were staying.

Shots

Baby Taylor had four vaccines yesterday, and is still fighting a cold! Having his first set of shots was very traumatic for him but even more so for his mom, who cried on and off with him all day long!