Aubree Is a Two-wheeler Now

Aubree

Unfortunately Aubree can now pronounce her "r" sound - kind of bitter sweet. But she still says and does some pretty cute stuff. For example:

"My hands are yum." or "My bum's yum." (instead of numb)
"I have headache in my arm."

 Aubree loves sticks. Whether we're hiking in the woods or just walking around the block she has an eye for finding good walking sticks and will generally find several.

 Beginnings of Spring at Wilcox Park. Spring time just makes me feel so good. Aubree is just my little girlfriend - we're pretty much always together. I'm not too excited about all day kindergarten next year. :(

The other night at bedtime I saw Aubree walk into Carly's room/fort with an umbrella, a suitcase (dr. kit), a bag and straw hat. I guess she needed that stuff to move into Carly's room.

Sledding in Arlington, Mass. This is the park we play at when we go to the Temple. There is a beautiful view of Boston from this hill. 

 Carly got glasses in January. She was so amazed at the details she can now see.

 Aubree and I take playing house pretty seriously. I had a baby this day. I've never had such an easy (and short) pregnancy and delivery. Aubree is such a proud big sister.

Aubree is famous now. She was in the newspaper a few weeks ago. (Story time at the library)

Ellie was baptized by Aaron on March 1st. It was a beautiful service. There were several people from our little branch there and several friends and neighbors who aren't LDS. We were especially grateful that Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Leon, and Nanny Nette and Grandpa could be there.

This is the only picture I have of Leon and Kathy here with us. So sad! Aaron and Kathy are doing family history and Leon is reading scriptures (pretty typical).

 Also while the grandparents were here we went to Newport, RI to the National Museum of American Illustrators. We love Newport! My parents stayed in a hotel while Aaron's parents were here, so the girls got to spend a couple nights at the hotel and go swimming. After Aaron's parents left my parents moved in with us for the next week and a half. They cooked, cleaned, fixed up, did laundry, entertained and spent quality time with the girls.

We also went to Haverhill, Mass to see the statue of Hannah Dustin (my 11th great grandma on my Dad's side). I wrote a post about her here. We also got a little pamphlet that told us her story and also included a letter she wrote to her church when she was much older. It was so cool because she included some of her favorite scriptures in it, and specifically which scripture she had in her mind during her captivity - Psalm 43 and Psalm 118:7. She said, "… I am Thankful for my Captivity, twas the Comfortablest time that ever I had; In my Affliction God made his Word Comfortable to me…" We had a family home evening lesson a couple days after visiting her statue about how trials can bring us closer to Heavenly Father and he can comfort us during hard times.

One morning Grandpa saw Aubree sitting on this bench and she explained to him that she was in timeout. So Grandpa held her on his lap and told her about a time when he was a little boy and tried to carve something and ended up cutting his hand. He also told her about how life was sometimes hard for him too when he was a little boy and how he liked to have his Mom hold him close and she would bounce him on her leg. (Now I know why my Dad likes to bounce his grandkids on his lap.) It was so sweet to see my Dad hold her close and show her such love and sympathy.

The picture hanging above my Dad is a puzzle that Ellie sent to Nanny Nette and Grandpa for Christmas. After they put it all together, my Dad "engineered" it into about 8 pieces, plus edges, and sent it back to us to put together and keep. (They have no where to put it now that they're homeless.) So, we put it together and then I glued it and framed it for Ellie's birthday.


We LOVED having family here - we are so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents for our kids!

Winter Birthdays

We have three winter birthdays all within 2 weeks of each other - not bragging, just complaining ;) - Ellie, me and Aubree. And this year both Ellie and Aubree had birthday parties with friends. And guess what? I am not a party planner. At all. I get really stressed about all the little details AND the big picture. During all this planning I read the book "Heaven is Here" by Stephanie Clark Nielsen and it helped to remind me that everything that was stressing me out was actually a blessing. Ellie and Aubree are both alive to celebrate another birthday. I am alive and healthy enough to plan and carry out birthday parties for them. (Last year we all went through the flu during our birthday season.) Aaron has a job, so we can pay for presents and parties. Not to mention, these are parties I'm planning. PARTIES. Not PTO fundraisers or funerals or church lessons, but parties. So, really it shouldn't be that stressful. (But I still had to remind myself of that at least once a day for about three weeks.) Here are some pictures:

 This was Ellie's cake for our own family celebration. A cute little round ball… or is it?

 Surprise! Piñata cake!

Her birthday party was a cake decorating party. I made the aprons for each of the girls and a cake for each of them to decorate and take home.  The girls all had a lot of fun with the decorating - some of those cakes have more icing than cake.

Next came my birthday:
Aaron and the girls usually make me breakfast in bed for my birthday, but this year they decided to clean the entire downstairs (kitchen, dining, family rooms) before I came down in the morning. Such a great birthday surprise! It really got my day off to a great start. (In all my slobby childhood years I never dreamed that I would appreciate a clean house for my birthday. I'm becoming my mom. ha ha!)

Aubree and I had a cozy indoor picnic (notice the space heater behind us) for lunch. 

 Yummy Japanese take-out for dinner. 

And we ended the night with a few episodes of The Cosby Show. It was such a wonderful, low-key, happy birthday!

And last but not least, 

 This silly girl celebrated her GOLDEN birthday on February 5th!

 We had a tea party with a beautiful new (used) mismatched tea set. We had some cute finger foods and the girls made fascinators (the huge, fancy headbands). This party was especially stressful because there was a big storm on the day of the party. Oh the joys of winter birthdays! So, I cancelled the party, rescheduled the party, then switched it back (looking back it's doesn't seem like a big deal, but at the time I was a wreck.) Only one of her original guests was able to make it, but luckily school was canceled so we invited some neighbor friends over that normally would have been at school. In the end I'm glad it worked out the way it did. We had a wonderful time with some friends that we don't get to see very often.

And the night before Aubree's birthday the girls decided they really wanted to cut their hair. It was Aubree's first hair cut. *sniff* They look super cute, but I miss their long hair. 

Edible Aubree

So basically, I just want to eat Aubree for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She says I can't though, because she's full of blood and guts and sticks and rocks and everything gross.

But just look at these cheeks!

Aubree is very proud of this belt. She likes to put it on by herself - unfortunately this takes about 5 minutes. (Again, how can you help but put a zerbert right on that belly of hers?!)

 Aubree and one of her best friends. Luckily her family will be in our new branch.

 Aubree was looking through the Children's Song Book the other day when she called out to me, "Mommy! It's Georgy Porgy!" She's pointing to a picture of a boy trying to make a girl feel better. I guess it looks like he tried to kiss her and make her cry. (It's really "Help Me Dear Father")

Aubree turned 4

Aubree the new 4-year old and big sister Carly

How did this happen?! She's still my baby.... and unfortunately I still treat her like one. I'm not sure if we'll have anymore kids and I just can't let go of that baby stage yet. (I do get extremely baby hungry.) 

 She got this adorable outfit and tea set from Nanny Nette and Grandpa.

 So, she had her first tea party with her friend, Hannah.

 They reminded me of Anne and Diana when they had their cherry cordial. They were so excited and proper to start out, but as the tea party continued they got a little sloppy with the pouring.

 Ellie helped Aubree rig up this baby carrier.

One afternoon as I was in the kitchen, Aubree was in the parlor rocking and singing. After a few minutes of quiet I went to see what she was up to. This is what I found. :)

According to Aubree

The girls were getting all suited up to play in the snow and Ellie had a huge meltdown. Aubree comes over to me and says quietly, "Ellie has a bad attitude once a yeow [year]. She's having one again. I think she has a weally sowe [really sore] bum. It must be weally itchy."
I guess we need to get Ellie's bum checked, cuz she has been having meltdowns a lot lately!

(Just so you know, the way she talks is even cuter in person! I don't want her to have a speech impediment, but I really really don't want her to grow up and learn how to pronounce her R's - it's just too cute!)

The biggest insult according to Aubree:
"Liar, liar pants on fire, hanging on a telephone wire!"

When someone is not sharing with her she angrily sings/shouts:
"Sharing, sharing, that's the thing to do!"

Aubree's "homework" (one of Ellie's extra spelling sheets) - she loves to write letters

I've told Aubree she's not allowed to grow up anymore. I know it's because she's the baby (and she may always be the baby), but I don't want to be done with this stage of life! She told me she has to grow up and go to school, but she'll come home when it's dark outside.

Walking to School

This is how Aubree likes to walk to and from school. Such a big girl!

The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree...

Scene Replay in Heaven

I hope when we get to Heaven that we get to re-watch some of our favorite scenes from our lives. Those moments that we couldn't capture on video. Mostly I think of moments with my kids, but it would be fun to see moments throughout our lives. And since Heavenly Father knows everything, he would know just what scenes to put on our special Blu-ray (or whatever they have up there) :).

Today I watched Aubree play with Lite Brites and work on a puzzle. She didn't know I was watching her whisper to herself and all the while I was wishing that I could just squish her and love her, but I didn't want to break her concentration.

And I just love those sister moments that I see with Carly and Ellie. They have so many of their own "traditions" or way of doing things together. They don't quite realize how much they depend on and love each other, but I know they do!

Some Aubree Cuteness

I know I do a lot of posts about Aubree, but she is at that age where almost every day she does something so cute and funny! So, I have to record it.

Yesterday I put Aubree's hair in two little buns - super cute - but, of course it's uncomfortable to take naps with those. Well, Aubree is a little confused about what "comfortable" means. So she says to me, "Take these out, they're too comfortable!" Other things that Aubree finds too "comfortable" are turtlenecks, just like Carly and Ellie, and jeans or other pants with tight waist bands.

I don't know if I ever mentioned that Aubree has been potty trained for a couple months now (woo hoo!) Before her nap today she sat on the potty and did a #2 and then she said to me: "My little baby poopie is such a cutie!" She loves all things baby! She loves to pretend to be a baby, or have someone else be the baby. She loves to hear stories about babies. And anything that is little is a baby - a car, a toy, stuffed animal, twig, pebble, whatever - she talks about it in a high little voice and says she wants to pinch it's cheeks!

You know how she used to put "ssss" on the beginning of a word if she wasn't pronouncing it right, so we could understand her? (This post here) Well, now she actually spells words out for us (I know, genius). Her spelling is pretty creative though.
"I wanna take a sour with you!"
I know she meant to say shower, but I still ask, "You want to take a sour with me?"
Aubree, a little impatiently replies, "No. D-I-N-M-O, sour!"

Random Happenings in February

Carly and Ellie planned a little Fairy Party for some of their friends. I start to get a little stressed when they plan things like this because I feel like I have to get involved and make it all organized. Well, this time I didn't, I just let them do the planning and let myself relax.
Here's one of the invitations that Carly made (interpretation below with original spelling) To Allie From Carly
do you beleave in fairies? write back to me if you do. we are going to play fairies and bild fairy houses and crafts and there will be prizes and more fun thigs
ps. it is a club about Fairies. it is this Saturday. love Carly

Presidents Day
We went sledding in our neighbors back yard - super convenient and lots of fun. Aubree only went down once and then sat in the swing and watched.


Aubree is so proud of how she has learned to hold books. So cute!

Aubree loves to have me wrap her up in my robe and carry her around like shes a baby in my belly.

Speaking of a baby in my belly - there isn't one - but Aubree seems to think there is. So, last week when my parents were visiting, Aubree told Nanny Nette that there was a baby in my belly. Well, Ellie overheard the little exchange and quickly cleared it up. She said, "No, there's not a baby, it just looks like it". ha ha!! She went on to explain to Nanny Nette that the reason her belly (Nanny Nette's) looks like it has a baby in it is because it was stretched out from having so many babies. (Ellie has wondered in the past why I sometimes look like I'm pregnant and I've explained that when Mommies have babies, their tummies get stretched out and sometimes make it look like there's a little baby in there.) Anyway, glad she could come to the rescue in that instance.

I just love that chubby little face poking out of my robe!

Malucy sings for us

Aubree and Ellie were make-believing. Ellie was the Mom and Teacher. Aubree was the 5-year-old Malucy.

Christmas Break

We spent Christmas in Rexburg this year (2011) with Aaron's family. I don't have a single picture - unfortunately camera's give me anxiety. But here are some highlights:


-Going to Sacrament Meeting on Christmas day. It just felt like the best place to be on the day that we celebrate the birth of our Savior. To worship Him and hear inspiring songs and messages about Him. Such a wonderful spirit there.
-Santa brought gumball machines for Carly and Ellise. They have been wanting these for a few years now.
-Aaron got an awesome ice cream maker
-Grandma Kathy made all the grandkids capes - they look so cool - and Carly says they're magical.
-A Parson extended family get-together. It was so fun to see the cousins - some of which I haven't seen in years.
-An English style Christmas Dinner planned by Holly





Johnson Family Pre-Christmas Activities

Here we are downtown SLC. We went to the Grand America Gingerbread House display and Temple Square. The night before this we had an ugly sweater/ white elephant gift party and celebrated Blake's birthday.

Nanny Nette and Grandpa got all the grandkids pajamas. Here's the triplets, Ellise, Sophie and Carly with Nanny Nette, Aubree and Aunt Steph.

DATE NIGHT!!

(below) Here we are with our good friends, Dustin and Carolyn Wiberg at an ASLA Christmas dinner. The Wibergs were in our ward in North Salt Lake. They are one of the few families here who are not from Davis County or even the Salt Lake area, so that gave us something in common right from the start. Also, our kids are about same age. And, Dustin and Aaron are both Landscape Architects, both been through unemployment, and now both work for PEC (he was Aaron's contact for getting a job there). They are such wonderful friends!
MAGIC SHOW

Carly, Ellise and a friend planned a magic show (very spur of the moment) last week and invited a few neighborhood friends. Most of the magic show was ad-libbed, with some of the guests even sharing tricks at random. We had hot cocoa after the show and all the kids had a great time. After everyone left Carly said to me, "Mom, I didn't really have anything planned for the talent show.... could you tell?" (It was really cute)

The sign at our front entryway: "Magic show. Free. The Magic Lady is 7 years old. She will choose two persons to come up." At first the addmission was going to be $6.00. :)

Aubree, wearing her first braids. She looks so big!