Stephanie's Surprise Visit

We didn't tell the girls that we were having a special visitor come. So, when Steph walked into the family room Thursday morning the girls were sincerely surprised. Carly was speechless and just stared for a few seconds before they all ran over and tackled her. 

Our first day together I let Carly and Ellie stay home from school and we took Steph to Mystic to see the drawbridge, get apple cider donuts at Clyde's, and visit Mistick Village.

The next day we took her to Watch Hill after school (and drove by Taylor Swift's house).

Saturday was apple picking with our Branch

Sister Avery and Sister Blair

Then we headed over to Harkness State Park (most of the pictures below were taken at Harkness and none of them include Steph. :( Steph and I did take pictures together, but they are mostly on her iPhone.)

 There were beautiful gardens and two old mansions

 and the park has a beach!

This is Aubree's camera smile:

and her real smile (and yes, this picture makes me want to eat her up!):

 We found this cool barn door at the park. I wish we would have been more coordinated in our outfits and actually done our hair.

Carly took this awesome picture of one of the beautiful views at Harkness State Park.

Aubree was always giving Baby Kate kisses and kept reminding Stephanie of how big her belly was. (Baby Kate is due in December)

 It was fun to bring Stephanie to our branch meeting house on Sunday.
On Tuesday I got my first migraine (because of my neck being out) - complete with blurred vision and vomiting. So, that day was pretty much spoiled since I was stuck in bed most of the day. But thankfully Steph took over and played with Aubree, cleaned my house, and picked Carly and Ellie up from school. What a sweet sister!

The last two days of Stephanie's visit, she and I went to Newport, RI. We did a Servants Life Tour at one of the Newport mansions (we wish we would have done just one of the regular house tours, but oh well), went out to eat, and rented two redbox movies. The next morning we got massages and walked around East Greewich, then off to the airport.

We sure loved having Stephanie here with us!

Stephanie and Bryant

June 6th, 2009
(Yeah, this is a little late - I keep waiting for Steph to post these pictures on her blog)

Ellie and Sophie

What we've been up to - Part II

So, we've been without a computer for the past week - which has been kind of hard. (The battery ran out and the cord wasn't working.) But it's been nice because I haven't been tempted to blog and serf the net instead of taking care of my family. I also disconnected the TV on Monday and that has also been a little hard. But it has been so great to not hear Carly begging for movies all day. We're thinking of going to cloth diapers and turning off our electricity all together - what do you think? ha ha!

So, this is what we've been doing lately:

Carly: Still taking pictures Her leg is healing (although I'm sure she'll have a scar - maybe it will keep her from wearing short shorts and mini-skirts though!)

Even though she is old enough (by two days) to go to kindergarten this year, we are 98% sure that we'll wait and send her next year. I have mixed feelings about this because she is totally ready for kindergarten and I know she would love it! But, we don't want her to have to be the very youngest and the last one to do everything in her grade. (Although it might be nice to NOT have her dating and driving her sophomore year.)

We watched "The Emporer's New Groove" for our Fun Friday Family Movie Night last week and Carly LOVED it! She quotes it all the time which is so funny (most of the time).

Ellie: She still hunts for rolly pollys almost every day and loves making mud soup/pie. And she also insists on wearing a skirt or dress almost every day (I need to go to the DI for some dresses and skirts to play in.)

A handful of Rolly Pollys! Yuck!

She loves to ride Carly's bike and is getting pretty good (better than Carly actually because she rides more). It really makes Carly mad, so she told Ellie she could just have the bike.

Aubree had her 4 month appointment last week and she's doing great. She's 50% on height, weight (13 lbs, 10 oz.) and head measurments! She has been laughing at us for awhile now, but just recently discovered how funny peek-a-boo is. Here's a video:

You can't ever hear enough of it!

Aaron: They just had some more lay-offs at work a couple weeks ago. Aaron still has a job though. They let go of more than half his team! Scary and sad, but we are so grateful to still have a job. Now we're wondering if this means more job security for him and if we should try to take advantage of the good deals for buying a home right now. Aaron is also pretty pumped about ward softball that started last week.

Me: I've been making a few felt hair clips (the picture below doesn't do it justice - it is soooo cute!) They are way easy, but pretty time consuming if you stitch around each layer.

I just got done reading "The Good Earth" - so good! It was about a farmer in pre-revolutionary China. Totally different than anything I would have picked up on my own. But, man! It has given me a lot to think about! I love our R.S. book club. They have been focusing on the classics which is what I really want to read, but I never know what is good (until now).

Aaron and I have also been planning a family reunion for his side of the family (parents and siblings). What a job! It's a lot to plan and it's hard trying to accomodate to what everyone wants.

My sister, Stephanie is now Stephanie Nielsen! She was married two weeks ago in the Salt Lake Temple by President Monson. Yes, our prophet Pres. Monson. It was so neat! (He knows Bryant's grandma.) He was just as I imagined he would be (although he looked a little older) - very kind and full of stories (both funny and touching). The advice he gave was the same advice he got when he and his wife were married - to pray each night together. Even though it was so wonderful to meet the prophet and get to shake his hand, the highlight of the day was seeing Steph and Bryant married and sealed for time and all eternity (and it would have been just as neat if it had been any other sealer!) They have been on their honeymoon the past couple weeks and I just can't wait to talk to her again (I wanted to call her to see how they are doing but Aaron told me it would be weird to call someone on their honeymoon).

I'll post pictures of the wedding day when we get pictures back from the photograper!

For her bridal shower I made a little book of advice. These are Carly and Ellie's contributions:

"Hold hands in your new house" -Carly

"Make a family" -Ellie

Stephanie's Engaged!!!

His name is Bryant Nielsen. He's from Holladay (Salt Lake), just graduated from the Univ. of Utah in economics. And he is perfect for Steph - she is so happy with him!



They are getting married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 6th and they'll be living in Salt Lake. I am so excited for them! They are such a great couple!

Here are some pictures of them from the last 7 months since they've been together:

Are they going to have cute kids or what?! Good looking couple!

Our family's Ugly Sweater Christmas Party - lookin' good!

They are the BEST aunt and uncle! They have babysat for us on a few occasions and the girls adore Bryant (and of course Steph is their favorite too). They totally spoil our girls! Carly is always saying that Bryant has chubby cheeks (she thinks that's a compliment), and saying that she wants to squeeze them. :)
They are going to be great parents some day. But with how much babysitting she's done for me and my brother and sister she'll be able to just hand her first child over to us and ask for him/her back when they're potty trained! :)

The night of the proposal:
One of the most unique and sweet proposals ever! He made her a book of their dating story and had her find it at Barnes and Noble. He gave her her favorite flowers and read the book to her.

Gorgeous!!!

Just a little bit about Steph for those who know her and are interested. She was just recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, (seems so crazy to me because she is so young and healthy), but she's on the right medication and is doing well. She has been teaching elementary school for the last 3 years in the Salt Lake area and is teaching 3rd grade right now. (This is one of the reasons why she is such a good aunt - so good with kids and so patient.) Even though I'm so happy for her, I'm also a little sad that she's going to be someones wife now and not just MY little sister. Love you Steph!

Christmas 2008

We stayed in Utah for Christmas. It was so nice to not travel in the winter weather! My parents came down and all of my siblings were here in Utah except for my oldest sister, Jennifer.

The weekend before Christmas we got together with our friends, Curt & Shawna and Jordan & Jenny. Curt and Jordan were two of Aaron's best friends in highschool and Shawna and I grew up together and Jenny was my closest friend in Moscow. So, needless to say, it was great to see them and their families. We went to the Brick Oven in Provo for dinner and then went to Temple Square to see the lights.

The gang at the Brick Oven

They had a picture taken in this same spot at Temple Square before their missions (more than 10 years ago). We also took a picture of them with all of their kids - pretty chaotic - and none of my pictures turned out.

Reading Calvin and Hobbes with Grandpa Johnson

Christmas Eve Party at my Sister Angela's

In our Ugly Sweater Glory!

Mom, Steph, Me, Angela, Gina

The Johnson family (minus the little kids and Jen's family)

Christmas Morning!

Carly would have been content with just a couple of books and her $1 jump rope for Chrismas.

(You can see on the couch that Santa didn't forget the pink rubber ducky)

This is the awesome tent and teepee that Aunt Steph got Carly and Ellie for Christmas!

Speaking of Stephanie... Carly told me the other day that she wanted me to go somewhere so that Stephanie could come over and babysit her.

And, a few days ago the girls and I went over to Steph's house just to hang out and then we picked up Aaron from work.

Aaron asked the girls "What did you do at Aunt Steph's house?"

Carly answered, "Ate candy, jumped on beds, and watched kid movies"

(No wonder she's the favorite!)