Ellie makes me laugh

Yesterday she was supposed to be taking an early nap before church, but she was having a hard time falling asleep. I went in to check on her after about 45 minutes and I didn't see her in her bed or in Carly's bed. Finally I opened her bedroom door and got down on my stomach. This is what I found:



(The little sneeker!) I just had to laugh!




This is what she chose to wear today. (A Wal-Mart clearance Halloween costume)





Some of her one-liners:
"Don't talk at me, I'm upstrated!" (upset + frustrated)
"Okay, I not do it again, I promise" (after her 3rd or 4th....or 5th accident in a day - and you can be sure she will do it again!)
"Daddy and Mommy and Carly are my favorite things"
"Go, Fight, Win, clap!" (you can't forget to say clap when you do this cheer!)

2 1/2 is such a fun age - and Ellie is such a fun little girl!!!

Fridge Quotes IV

July 11, 2008

While visiting at Nanny Nette and Grandpa’s house, Great Grandpa Johnson came walking into the kitchen and out of the blue Carly says, “Hi Carl! My name is Carly!”
(A few days earlier Mommy had explained to Carly that she was named after Great Grandpa Johnson whose name is Carl E. Johnson.)


July 15, 2008
Ellie didn’t want to say her prayers and so Aaron explained to her that we need to listen to the good spirit that tells us to pray. He explained that there is also a bad spirit that tells us “Don’t pray! Be sad!” (As he said this he put his hand next to his ear and moved his fingers as if they were the devil speaking to him.) Ellie decides she had better pray:
“Heavenly Father, not let Satan say ‘Quack Quack, don’t say your prayers’…”


July 16 2008
Aaron came home from work and said that he’s getting a cold. Carly then observes that we all have colds… “But Mommy, I only like to have my own personal cold.”


July 21, 2008
Carly was getting dressed and Aaron asked her how long she had been wearing her panties (wondering if he should get her a new pair).
Carly’s answer: “6 months”
Daddy’s reply (in a very serious voice): “Okay, they’re probably pretty crusty then, so I’ll get you a new pair.”

What we've been up to...

In July we had a get together with a bunch of friends from Moscow. It was so good to see our friends from the good ol’ days in Moscow – we had such great friends there. It was fun to see the new babies that people have and see how the kids we knew had grown so much.

We are going to be moving again on the 30th. We found an apartment (thanks to Ashley and my sister, Steph) that is still in the SLC area. The apartment we’re moving to is a lot smaller than where we are now, but we’ll be able to save $400 a month compared to where we’re living now – which will hopefully get us into a home sooner. I’m really excited for the move (not the packing and unpacking though). There are a lot of young families in the complex which will be fun for the girls and I … and a swimming pool!

Since we’ve been in our ward here Aaron has been serving as the ward mission leader and I have been the nursery leader (Ellie really likes that). I have enjoyed my calling more than I thought I would – it’s fun to prepare the lessons and to hear what those little ones have to say.

This summer, my sister, Angela, has been teaching a few cheer classes. Carly and Ellie were part of the Itty Bitty Black team. They had a performance on Friday (I couldn't get the video to post, so maybe I'll try later.)

Carly in the middle and Ellie on the right.

Terrance and Camille moved to the Salt Lake area a few weeks ago – Yay! (That is Aaron’s cousin and his wife). They have a son, Liam, who is 8 days older than Carly and a little girl, Katie, who is 1 ½. They are living at Camille’s sister’s home right now until they sell their home in New Mexico. We are so happy to have them here – we can’t wait to get together again!
Aaron with the girls and Camille with Liam

Today we went to see some Irish Wolfhounds (these are Aaron’s favorite breed of dog). They are also the tallest dogs (along with Great Danes). We will probably have an Irish Wolfhound someday …this is very important to Aaron. :)

July... so far

The month started off with my whole family (my parents and siblings and kids) loading into an RV and suburban and going camping in Wyoming over the 4th of July. It was so fun and crazy! Some of the fun things I want to remember:





-we almost tipped the RV over when it got stuck in the mud and started to slip (our prayers were answered though and we got there safe)
-had lots of great food (chili twice in a row though- not the best for close quarter sleeping)
-slept 15 in the RV (you have to be really creative to do this- we had two or three kids on the big dash board every night, and several on the floor)
-a bumpy, dirt rode ride for 5+ hours to do some daytime activities, 16 people in my parents suburban on the way back to camp
-family pictures on the 3rd day camping without any showers (does that seem strange or is it just me? They actually might turn out pretty good though- our hair all has a REALLY healthy shine) - all the pictures are on my brother's camera, of course!
-the beautiful, natural landscape of Wyoming - mountains, red hills, wild flowers...
-my cousin, Nathan, reported on his mission that he just got back from and bore his testimony
-breakfasts of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, orange juice and hot cocoa every morning (I think, in a 3-day period I ate at least 9 pieces of bacon)



The week after the camping trip Aaron went back to Utah for work and the girls and I stayed in IF. The next weekend was Michelle Johnson's wedding - sooooo beautiful! (I'll post pictures when I get a hold of my parents camera.)

Aaron came up that weekend and we celebrated his 28th birthday at his parents home. Brett and Megan gave Aaron these fake teeth that the kids are wearing! So funny!
We are so grateful for such a wonderful Daddy and Husband!


Aaron is really enjoying his job here (whew!). He likes the people he works with and likes the work he's doing. He has been working on designs for a planned community in Rexburg, across from the temple. He has also kind of become their in-house artist. People come to him with their designs and ask him to draw it up and make it look good. He is so talented!

Also this month I finally took off the title that I had on our blog for the whole winter and spring: 3 Girls, 1 Boy, and the Common Cold. I figured we hadn't had a cold in about a month and it is summertime. Well, wouldn’t you guess…we all got a cold the next week!

On Saturday I donated 11 inches to Locks of Love! It's so nice to not have all that hair in the hot weather.
Do I look tired? I am.
My bishop said he saw a bumper sticker that said: "Retired. I was tired yesterday, and I'm tired again today". I guess I'm retired! :)

Things that kids can get away with and still be cute...

Swimming suit wedgies - not as cute when it's an adult!

Not only does Ellie look cute with a wedgie, but she even looks cute while picking her nose (I wish I could find a picture)

It takes a lot of work for me to look cute in a picture - Carly can do it in her sleep.

pigtails and hair bows

Kids can get away with saying untactful things - Like when Ellie tells me: "your belly's squishy". It's pretty funny when Ellie says that, but if Aaron tried to tell me that, it definitely wouldn't be funny.

Missing teeth

(Ellie - 6 months)

Pot bellies and fat rolls on their legs and arms - so irresistable on babies!

Messy faces

Carly had a broken arm in this picture (2 yrs old)

Fridge Quotes III

May 2008
Ellie counting: “…eight, nine, ten, be-leven…”


May 4, 2008
Mommy was telling Carly a bedtime story about a family of baby kittens. (Carly loves stories about baby animals.) After the story was over Carly told me, “I just want to kiss those kitties all over. I wish I was in that story so I could kiss the kittens!” She is SO passionate!


June 28, 2008
Carly: “Hey Dad, I got a rhyme for ya! -
Please don’t sneeze,
Dance from your knees.”


June 2008
Ellie’s phrases: “Look at!”
“I not! [I didn’t do it!]”
“Two ones [two of them]”

What we've been up to...

My neighbor, Elsa, invited me to go to the Elementary school with her for the end of the year program that the kids put on. This is Joselynn and Jose’s Guinea Pig, Fatty (Gordito), wearing a sombrero at the school.

Our neighbor, Jose, is the one in the orange shirt. Although only 11 years old, Jose is full of wisdom. The other day Aaron and I went on a date and Jose was in the front yard as we were getting in the car. Jose looked at Aaron and said, “You’re going on a date like that?! No! You need to take your hat off and do your hair and wear some different shoes.” I thought it was so funny to have Aaron get dating advice from an 11 year old!

Joselynn, his little sister, came over the other day and read books to Carly and Ellie – they are such nice neighbors.

Joselynn is also a great beautician. I couldn’t believe Ellie let her do five braids in her hair – it was so cute!

Carly and Ellie hiding by the side of the house while they eat SweetTarts on the sly.

This Monday was John Huntsman Sr. Day at Heritage Park in Salt Lake. Which means we got in for free ($20 discount).

Heritage Park is where the “This is the Place” monument is. They have a whole pioneer village there with different pioneer homes and shops to tour around. They have a petting farm, pony rides, train rides, and covered wagon rides.

And because it was John Huntsman day everyone got a free ice cream cone too. THANK YOU JOHN HUNTSMAN! My friend Andrea (from my ward) told me about it, so Steph and I went with her and her husband and their two boys, Brock and Scott (they are Carly and Ellie’s age). Carly told me that she thinks Brock is handsome and that she will marry him. I’m glad she is finally making some friends here.

A sweet moment when Carly and Ellie are being so lovey-dovey with each other.