Walking to School

This is how Aubree likes to walk to and from school. Such a big girl!

Hogle Zoo Field Trip

Today I went to the Hogle Zoo with Carly and her class. To be honest, I really don't like zoos - I feel bad for the animals and it's kind of stressful to keep track of the kids (whether they be my own or someone elses). But, it was good to be with Carly and she LOVES it when I volunteer for school things (and that makes me feel good). It's always fun to see my girls interact with their peers. Carly has such a magnetic personality - I was constantly hearing, "Carly, look at this...", "Carly, come with me", "Carly, listen to this...", etc. I could tell that her classmates really like her and that she's a good friend. 

Our group: Carly, Katrina, Kyra, Charly, and Abby



We tried to get a picture with some of their boy friends (not boyfriends), but one of the boys backed out at the last second. The boy Carly is standing next to is her favorite - Tate. He gave Carly the flower she's holding in her hand. :)

Another Memory

I was about 11 years old at the time of this memory. It was a normal high council Sunday in our ward - slow and sleepy. We were sitting in the chapel as a family, and my Dad was sitting in the clerk's desk on the left hand side of the stand. I had my head bent over on my knees so Ang or Steph could tickle my back. The speaker was in the middle of his talk when there was a loud crash at the front of the chapel. I pick my head up and see that my Dad is no longer sitting in his seat. He's nowhere to be seen. I was so embarassed and my Mom thought my Dad had had a heart attack. Until we see his head slowly rise up from behind the desk where he had been sitting.  My Dad quietly got another folding chair from the stand and resumed his clerk's spot as normal, and all the while the speaker kept going. I remember the next speaker got up and began his talk, "It's amazing what you do to keep people awake in this ward". My dad smiled so calmly. It wasn't until after sacrament meeting was over that he told us how he had arched his back against his chair (his trademark way of popping his back) when his chair suddenly collapsed on him. He later found that the chair he had been sitting on had a weak hinge and was a disaster waiting to happen.

In the Yard



I love their faces here - they were going pretty fast!



 Ellie is such a good helper in the yard. She enjoys it, just like her Daddy.

 Carly prepared refreshments for the workers outside. She enjoys not working in the yard, just like her Mommy. :) Although, I am starting to enjoy it more. In fact, I think I'll learn to love it.

 I love Aubree's creative outfits.

Pink undershirt, blue polka dot tank, plaid shorts, and flowered skirt over.

Pinion Jay feeding from our bird feeder

Our first spring here we had TONS of birds in our backyard. But the past two years we haven't had very many, so we put up this birdfeeder in hopes of bringing birds back to our house.

 Carly's friend pointed out to her at school that there was a hole in her pants. She didn't call home or anything - just stayed at school like that. :)

The girls' best neighbor friends. Carly, Rosie (11 yrs), Ellie, and Brightyn (6 yrs)

 Do you see Carly in that tree?! Crazy girl!

The Parson family's first vegetable garden!

Sardines

In the girl's room we have a bunk bed (twin over full), and a toddler bed. Then we also have the "spare room" which has a twin bed in it. With four beds to choose from, this is the sleeping arrangement our girls prefer each night:

One good thing about being short is that you can sleep sideways on a full bed and fit more people. :) Aubree isn't too particular about what direction she's laying. Carly told me the other morning that in the middle of the night she woke up with Aubree laying on her stomach and then later that same night Aubree was laying on her head. (I've slept with Aubree before, so I don't doubt it!)

Elder and Sister Johnson

Nanny Nette and Grandpa recieved their mission call in the mail on Friday...finally!  So they drove the very familiar road down to Utah (for the third weekend in a row) and most of the family met on Temple Square where my parents opened their letter. We had everyone guess where they thought Nanny Nette and Grandpa would go and put it on a map. And I won - I guessed Salt Lake City! They'll be serving in the Church Office Building for the Senior Misssionary Department. I will admit that I was getting a little excited that they might go to England, South Africa, or somewhere back east or something so I would get to visit them, but this is even better. (They'll definitely save on their gas expenses.)

My mom was obviously happy and excited, but I loved seeing how excited my dad was (not as obvious), both before and after they opened it (I would almost say he was even a little nervous beforehand). My dad is generally a very laid back, low profile type (especially if the attention is on him) and doesn't get excited easily - he's just an overall happy and easy-going guy. But I could tell he was super excited about this!

walking to Temple Square

Aubree - 3 years

Ellie - 6 years

Nanny Nette, Aubree, G'pa

reading the letter

Nanny Nette with some of her grandbabies

Dad and Aaron look at the Peregrine Falcon nest box on the Joseph Smith Memorial Building 

Aaron saves me from falling in the shrub bed

Ellie's Kindergarten Program

phone picture :)

She did such a great job! I love to watch her in the school setting and see how she interacts with others. Her favorite friend in Kindergarten is Tessa (in the black dress in the front row). I think it's funny that the only person smaller than her is a boy, Simon. :) Ellie's teacher, Mrs. Heninger, is SO awesome! She is so good with the kindergarteners and is so sweet! After the performance Ellie got to come home with us (Aaron got to be there too) and then we went out for a treat at Tasty's.