First Day of Kindergarten

Ellise wasn't even nervous for the first day of school. She got all her Jewelry on - including the earrings and necklace I made for her a few weeks ago - and off we went! I got to go with her on the first day. After that first day, she was a little nervous, maybe because the reality of it finally hit her. Her teacher asked her what she wanted to be called and she said "Ellie". I was a bit surprised because she usually says she wants to be called Ellise. It was kind of a weird thing to see Ellie make that decision on her own - it was like I could feel her growing up.

I didn't get a picture of Carly on her first day (hopefully blogging more will keep me on my toes with things like this). She was opposite from Ellie, very anxious leading up to the first day of school, but after that, she was good to go!

It was a little hard for me with both of them. Especially since I didn't get to go with Carly on her first day and I knew she would be gone all day.

Kids and teachers alike get these two mixed up. One boy that knew Carly saw Carly and Ellie standing next to each other and looked back and forth at them a few times, with a bewildered look on his face, and then pretended to faint. :) From what I've seen and heard, they have been being good friends at school. Whenever they see each other, Ellie will run up to Carly and wrap her arms and legs around her.

Daddy-Daughter Day Camp

Our stake has a Father-Daughter Camp-out every summer. The girls look forward to it so much. Last year just Carly and Ellise went, this year Aubree got to go too!

Beautiful Girls! And Handsome Daddy!!

The last two pictures are ones that the stake took - I love the caption on the last one - "You're always safe with Dad!!" (For whatever reason, Carly didn't want to be in these ones.)

More Fridge Quotes

April 20, 2011
Carly had a friend over (Hariet). Carly asked her, "Do you bite your fingernails?" Hariet answered, "Um, not really". Then Carly admitted, "I do, and I bite my toe nails and I pick my nose."

May 2011
While driving in the car as a family one Sunday Carly said, "I feel so sorry for Mommy. Soon Aubree will be at school and me and Ellie. And Daddy will have to go to work. Mommy will be home all alone." (Aaron and I exchange a knowing look.) Then trying to sound more upbeat Carly says, "She'll have a mommy relationship with Mom. She can go grocery shopping." And then it was as if a light bulb lit up in her head. She continued, "We'll come home and there'll be chocolate smeared all over her face, laundry not done, and she'll be drinking a soda."

June 17, 2011
We were watching Oliver and Co." as a family and we watched the part where the little girl is practicing the piano. After the song was over Carly said matter-of-factly, "I don't think she needs to practice!"

here and there

This is the view we have out our back window in the winter time - so beautiful! And in the summer - even better!


Two miniature Mommies

This little girl is so much fun! Some of her latest phrases: "I don' wannu", "Love oo", and "my do it". She loves to pretend to be a puppy and loves for me to pretend to be a baby. Sometimes she'll pretend to be my baby and just cuddle with me - so sweet. I wish I could share all of her cuteness in this blog, but so much of it is just in her body language and the way she moves and talks.

Ellie and I made this cake from scratch - start to finish. (I'm sure you were thinking we had this ordered from some fancy bakery and paid a lot of money for it :))

So, things here are going really well. Aaron got a job at an Engineering Firm in W. Jordan in November - Yay! They have been SUPER busy and Aaron really likes the people he works with. We feel really blessed that Aaron got this job so quickly.

Carly on class picture day. 6 going on 16 - seriously! This girl keeps me on my toes. She is ALWAYS listening and asking hard questions. She really likes Kindergarten and has picked up on reading so quickly. She struggled at the beginning of the year with making friends which was really hard for her (and me). There are a bunch of girls in her class that have grown up in the same ward and she was the only girl who didn't know anyone. I was really surprised because Carly has always been our social bug and other kids have always been drawn to her. But, she has now found her place in the social scheme of things and is loving it. Here's a cute story about how Carly can be such a sweet sister: Ellise had spent a lot of time coloring Valentine's for some of her neighbor friends while Carly was at school. Then Ellie went to the mailbox to see if she got anything ..... nothing. So, when Carly got home from school with a big bag of Valentines, Ellie felt pretty bad. A few minutes later Carly told us to go check the mail. Inside was a cute picture/Valentine that Carly had secretly made for Ellise.

Ellise is so creative and inventive. She made this toy ALL BY HERSELF. It's a plastic cup with a string coming out of it and a bead at the end of the string. (You try to catch the bead in the cup.) Just today she asked me why we don't see a crack in everything. I kind of gave her a blank look. So, she pointed to the bridge of her nose and asked me why there isn't a gap when we look at things. (You have to be really bright to understand what she's asking - it took me awhile :)) I had never thought of it before, but thought is was a very good question. (Maybe our good friend, Dr. Klingler, has a 5-year-old explanation for us)

My nephew, Blake Johnson

(I've tried to type my feelings and thoughts about Blake, but nothing quite sounds right, so here is the obituary.)

Blake Derek Johnson, age 17, passed away on November 2, 2010 in his home in Pleasant Grove, UT. Blake was born on Dec. 18, 1992 in Idaho Falls to Ken and Gina Johnson.

Blake enjoyed being in the outdoors, he was a talented and avid snowboarder and skateboarder. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in his Young Men's organization and participated in annual high adventure activities.

Blake had a very infectious laugh and smile. (Camile: that's an understement! - anyone who talks about Blake mentions his awesome smile. If I was 10 years younger and not related I would have been in love!) He was always surrounded by his friends he loved and cared for. He touched many people's lives through his kindness and example.

Blake was a senior at Pleasant Grove High School. He was commonly on the Honor Roll and took pride in his good grades.

Blake is survived by his parents, Ken and Gina Johnson; brothers, Brandon and Brigham; sister, Emma; and grandparents, Randy and Lynette Johnson and Gene and Judy Moshberger.

Funeral services will be held at the Mount Mahogany 3rd Ward chapel on Saturday, November 6 at 2:00pm. (1548 N. 900 W. Pleasant Grove, UT) A Viewing will be held today (Friday, 5th) from 6:00-8:00pm at the Olpin Family Mortuary (494 S. 300 E., Pleasant Grove, UT) and another viewing one hour prior to funeral services at the chapel.

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start ...

(from "The Sound of Music")
The birthday girls. We had a birthday party for Ellie on my birthday. (January)

Can you believe those cheeks!?! Oh man! I'm surprised she's made it this far in life without someone (me or sisters) chewing those cheeks right off! Unfortunately she's been slimming up over the last several month, but she still gets compliments on those cheeks of hers.

Sleeping Beauty - Ellise

Even at 4 1/2 she could still use a nap almost every day

(but of course this only happens once in a blue moon)

Fourth of July

What a big girl! She's talking (one or two-word phrases or jabbering), and she is sassy and feisty. It's super cute now, but I'm a little nervous for what's to come.

Aaron took the girls on a Stake Father Daughter camp out. They had a blast!

Aaron and I at my cousin's reception

The big girls took swimming lessons for about a month and had such a good time and learned a lot. The nice thing was that they got pretty swimmed-out and didn't beg to use the pool at our house for that month.

Dressing up with our new best friend Rosie. She lives across the street and walks Carly home from school each day. She plays (kinda' babysits) at our house most days of the week - I LOVE this girl!! She is such a sweetheart and has such a neat family.

Carly and Daddy after her birthday party. She planned her whole party (with a little supervision). When the day finally came, Aaron took her to the grocery store to buy ice cream for the party while all her friends arrived. When she got home they threw balloons and confetti and totally surprised her! I tried to download the video, but as you can see, it's not here- it was so cute!
 

The girls and our garden (two malnutritioned tomato plants)

Being sweet sisters

"Smile Aubree!"

p.s. Nothing new with the job situation. We have a lot of contacts though and some definite possibilities... we're really hopeful. Things had been pretty rough at his architecture firm for so long, and with two pay cuts we were living pretty tight, so we're excited for what's in store. The money hasn't run out yet, so I don't think reality has hit yet either. (Thanks for all of your thoughtful comments.)

Catch-up

Oh boy! What has happened in the last six months....

-We did move into our home (renting) and are really liking it
-Learned to live without internet. It's been a little inconvenient, but saved me a lot of wasted time.
-Aubree learned to walk and talk and goes to nursery now (she's now 19 months)
-Carly started Kindergarten and just celebrated her 6th b-day
-Ellise and Carly both learned to ride their bikes without training wheels
-The girls have made a new best friend, Rosie. She lives across the street and is 9 years old and I just love that girl!
-Aaron did a three hour commute round trip to work each day until last Monday (Carly's birthday) when he was laid off. It's a little stressful and sad, but we're both really hopeful and excited about new possiblities. We've already been blessed so much by friends, family and neighbors.

I think those are most of the highlights. Hopefully I'll post some pictures in the next few days or weeks :)

Camile