For Carly, Ellise, and Aubree

This picture was taken way back in March

So, we have internet again. I was checking out Curt and Shawna's blog and read about how Shawna made a blog book and how her kids love it. I know our kids would also really enjoy it, so I'm back in the saddle again. :) I am renaming it The Parson Family Journal and will be recording the fun things we do, the cute things we do, the not-so-fun things we do and the not-so-cute things we do. But hopefully my kids will enjoy it for many years to come (and hopefully it will motivate me to take more pictures).

So, this blog is now lovingly dedicated to Carly, Ellise, and Aubree.
Love,
Mommy

Don't we all feel this way sometimes?

(I guess Carly was feeling kind of picked on.)

"I want to get mawied"

A slip for a veil, a slip for a dress, and her blessing dress jacket over.

Johnson Family Reunions in Park City

Nanny Nette and Grandpa are so awesome! They rented a HUGE (10,000 sq/ft) mansion, I mean, cabin for all of us to come enjoy a Johnson Family Reunion in Park City. We went in July and November.

Scotty LOVED Ellie and would just follow her around and cuddle her.



Aunt Stephanie took Conner, Kali, Sophie and Ellie sledding
Daddy threw kids up in the air



One thing Carly enjoyed was the Disney Channel

The adults enjoyed lounging around, visiting, and playing mafia.

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."