Beautiful Heartbreak

One year ago today, my nephew, Blake Derek Johnson, passed away. It has been a sad year missing Blake and feeling Ken and Gina and their kids' heartbreak and wishing we could see Blake and express our love in person. But today was also a beautiful day because his dad, Ken, was able to go to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple for Blake to receive his endowment. Aaron and I were privileged to be there, as well as Gina, Mom and Dad, Angela and Jimmy, Stephanie, and Ashley (and some of Gina's family). I am sure Blake was there also. What a blessing Temples are - we can be together forever!

Gina was reading a book about a person who had a near death experience and they wrote about how they were met by someone on the other side. Gina was wondering who might have met Blake since he was not very close to any of his relatives who have passed on before him. I'm sure he was met by loved ones that he recognized and loved from the pre-mortal existence. This life isn't the beginning and it's not the end either.

HALLOWEEN!

Carly and Ellie are wearing costumes that were handed down from Nanny Nette's house - I remember wearing these! I even have a picture of me as a clown (about Carly's age), with the same wig, but a different clown costume.

Sadly, I didn't get a picture of Aubree!!! She was a fairy - and so cute too!

We went to dinner at Tanner and Libby's house with some other friends and went trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. We ended up at our house and enjoyed hot cocoa with our friends.

Visiting the Wakefields

It was so fun to visit the Wakefields at their home in St. George - they are such awesome friends. We go back a long way - Shawna and I since we were 5, and Aaron and Curt since Jr. High. With them, we can always pick up where we left off - it's great! We arrived Thursday night and pretty much just went to bed. Then...


Friday, Aaron was nice enough to watch all 7 of the kids in the afternoon while Shawna and I went shopping. We made sure to stop by Sweet tooth Fairy for a treat too. I discovered the yummiest way to eat a tortilla while there - grill the cheese on both sides of one tortilla, then fill it up with fresh tomatoes, lettuce and ranch dressing - YUM!!! Shawna insisted Aaron bring his guitar (reminiscent of the good ol' college days.) Curt had to drive Aaron to the store to buy a new string so we could hear him play. His hands were sore because he hadn't played in awhile and then he played a lot while he was there.
For dinner we had some yummy BBQ beef...
Here we are having a little picnic in the backyard.

(these pics are out of chronological order) The last night there we watched the replay of the BYU game - they lost.

We went on a double date to the Tuacan theater where we watched Grease. It is an awesome outdoor theater. Curt is a seminary teacher at the high school at Tuacan, so we got free tickets. It was so fun to be there.


We went on a hike on Saturday by Tuacan High School/Theater. St. George is so beautiful!! I love the red hills, and also the background of "regular" mountains - so so pretty!

Adults and kids alike had a great time at the playground we went to on Friday night. Although, Shawna and I both left with injuries - I seriously thought I broke my knee cap.

The kids all got along really well too. Heidi and Carly left with promises to be pen pals.

As a side note, Heidi said something very profound and true after we left their house. Carly and Heidi did something they weren't supposed to do (I don't remember what). After we left, Shawna talked to Heidi about it and told her that she should have let Carly know that they weren't supposed to do whatever it was. Heidi replied: "Carly's not really the type of girl you tell what to do."

Jordan and Anna Forever!

Uncle Jordan is one lucky guy! On September 2nd he married Anna Sorensen in the Los Angelos Temple. They are so perfect for each other. In the ten years I have known Jordan, I have NEVER seen him so happy - the whole Parson clan is thrilled to have Anna in the family!

Aaron and most of his siblings (Justin couldn't make it to CA) went to Los Angelos for the wedding. Here is an awesome sibling photo:Aaron looks so young - like a missionary!

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THE RECEPTION IN IDAHO

At Grandma and Grandpa's house A candid of Aubree, Ellise and cousin Suzie

Cousins Anna, Sarah, and Carly

Our one family photo of the year!

The beautiful bride pulling girl cousins

Speaking of girl cousins.....

It was fun to have Kay-Lynn here with Justin - they got to ride to and from Idaho with us.

That is one great thing about living in the SL valley - we get to see our family that's flying in and out of the SL airport. And if we're lucky we get to have slumber parties! In fact, when the caravan drove down to California for the wedding we had Leon, Kathy, Holly, Troy, Alie, Franci (and her bro-in-law) spend the night.

Tea Party with Ellie, Carly, Megan, Kaylie, Anna, Kay-Lynn

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!"