A Shower for Deirdre

We had such a fun shower for Deirdre last week.  Monae and I threw a pink and brown baby girl shower with lots of 'Sugar'.  We had a great turn out since EVERYONE loves Deirdre!!  Congrats, friend!  

Of course all the treats had to be pink, brown or white.

Cupcakes by Kim

I got the idea for a candy 'bar' from my friend Geneva.  We had little bags and ties out so that guests could fill up with candy on their way out.  Monae  put the entire thing together.  It turned out SO CUTE.

The last few months according to Emily

Warning: Detailed bragging ahead...

I went into Emily's 1st grade classroom today to pick up any special assignments and projects she's done lately so that they could be packed while the movers are here this week.   Mrs. Worthington handed me a stack of Emily's monthly journals with a big smile and said... "I know you are busy but you HAVE to read these. She is such a cute writer!   I can't get some of the 1st graders to write four sentences but Emily will go on for pages and pages."   She also gushed over how smart Emily is, and that she is the top student in the class.  Apparently, because of her high reading level she is the only one in the class that has to do extended reading tests where she must write a summary of the story at the end.  When I entered the room this morning Emily was at the teachers desk finishing this summary while the Mrs. Worthington reminded the rest of the class  "Class, remember to be quiet for Emily, please."  I haven't been the best about visiting the classrooms regularly so I was thrilled to hear this.  Emily, we love you so much.  We know you are a smarty pants -- we just want everyone else to know too!  We are SOOOOO proud of you!

Chris and I sat down to read these together after I got home and were so amused.  I picked out a few to share...  Here is Emily's journal entries from the last couple months...  [spelling and punctuation as it was written]

Jan 5 - For Christmas I got a bike, two kittens, Ariel puzzle, a red jacket, and Benderoos'.  My dad helped me learn how to ride my bike.  At first I was scared to try to ride it.  Then I got use to it.  Dad told me I was the quickest to learn how to ride my bike.  I loved all of my other toys too.

Jan 6 - On my Christmas break I played with all of my toys.  I played house where we bretend Katie is the mom.  I am the bigest sister, Megan is the second biggest sister, Ryan is the Dad, Luke is the 3 year old little brother, Matthew is the youngest brother and we have eight pets.

Jan 19 - Monday night at Family Home Evening, we were talking about moving to Germiny.  Ryan said, "I would miss my friends too much.  Katie said, "I think it would be awesome to live in Germiny.  I said, "I would love to live in Germiny!"  Megen said, "I don't want to move."  Dad alredy knows some Germin so that is why we decided to move to Germiny.  Luke said, "YAY!" we go Germak!" and Matthew said, "da-da-da!"

Jan 22 - I just found out that we WILL be moving to Germany!"  We are so excited.  We'd love to learn German words.  When we call our American friends we might speek German ensted of English.  We might visit Paris wail we're there.  We can even go to the top of the Ifal Tower.  It is going to be the best day of my life!"

Jan 29 - Today is the best day of my life!  It is the best day because today is Family night!  Family night is when we wach a move with the family.  I LOVE family night!

Feb 8 - On Tuesday my Mommy left to see her friends.  I missed her really a lot.  My Daddy is wors than my Mommy because my mommy does hair better, my mommy makes my lunch better and best of all my mommy tucks me in bed better.   (this one made Chris sad)

Feb 19 - Katie always makes up a game that trys to get me out of bed. (I am not good at waking up in the mornings)  The game goes like this.  Step 1 Let's see who can get their feet out of the covers.  Step 2 Sit on the side of the bed and jump on your bottom.  Step 3.  Say your prars  Step 4.  Get dressed.  Step 5.  East brekfest.  That plan did not work out for me that good because I was tierd, that's why.

March 8 - On Sunday Ryan AND Luke stayed home becuase BOTH OF THEM went diarea evry time they went to the bathroom.

March 26 - I like spring because the grass gets greener.  the flowers come up, the trees grow flowers on them and it gets warm so we can wear shorts.  I like jumping on the tramp.  I like goin on the monkey bars.  I like climbing the rock climbing wall when it is spring.  I like swinging on the swings.  Spring is fun.  My favorite flower is the tulip.  I hope some tulips can grow at our house.  I like to fly kites in spring.  I like to go to Red Robin and eat.  Then I get a balloon.  I play with it.  Balloons are fun.   I like spring sooooo much.  I get to go to a park.  The sun comes out in spring!  Easter is in Spring.  We get to find eggs.    My sister's birthday is in the spring.  I wish my birthday was in the spring.

April 12 - On Spring break I went to Tennessee to go to a cabin.  I went with my Grandma and Grandpa J.  I had a lot of fun.  To get there it took five whole hours.  We brought our Math books just for fun so we would not be bord in the car.  When we finally got to the airport, dad said look for them but don't get out of the car.  I saw someone behind the car.  It looked like Grandma and Grandpa.  I said, "Dad, I think I see G&G J!!!"  Dad was standing out side.  Dad said, "Yep, that's them.  Then I ran out of the car and I gave them a great great big hug.  Then we went back home and it took five whole ours again.

April 19 - On Wednesday my cosins, the Moons, came to our house.  There names are John, Nocole, Tyler, Spencer and Kayla.  They live in Utah.  Tyler and Spencer are a little silly.  Sometimes I call Tyler, Ty.  I have lots of fun with Kayla.  Ty is 7.  Spencer is 5.  Kayla is 2.  Sometimes I chace Kayla all around the house.  When I am really close to her I catch her.  It is fun with the Moons!  I went to the beach with them.  I sleped in the Princess Casle with them.  I played soccer with them.  I went to the soccer game with them.  I ate rootbeer floats with them.  I had ice cream with them.  I jumped on the trampoileen with them.  I played in the tree house with them and I did lots of other fun things.  I love playing with the Moons.  John did not come with the Moons.

April 22 - I had to be patient when my mom told me it is fast Sunday.  You are old enogh to fast.  I said, "But Mom, I'm very very very hungry.  She said be patient Emily.  Then we went to church.  When we got there I was still very very very hungry.  Mom said, Be patient, Emily.  When we got home I said,  now can I eat?  She said I'm making dinner, go clean the family room with your brothers and sisters.  I said, OK, fine, whatever you say.  Then when I got finished cleaning I fianly got to eat.  I said, "Thank you, mom, thank you, thank you, thank you mom."

April 26 - This weekend I learned how to count to 10 in German.  First, my dad told me how to count to five. Inse, zvie, drie, fear, foonf...  Then my home teacher told me 6, 7 and 8.    Then Lilly told me how to count to ten.  That is how I learned to count to ten in German.  I really want to know how to count to twenty-two but I only know 10 right now.

[I don't have May's journal yet]

Our To Do List:

• Wash and fold 10 batches of laundry  [done]
• Go through all 6 kids clothes and determine which are going in winter bins, which are going in suitcases, which are summer clothes going to Germany, and which are going to Goodwill  [done]
• Wander around the house overwhelmed with how much needs to be done but not knowing exactly where to start.  [done]
• Go through EVERYTHING in master closet (remember it’s my office and Matthew’s room too) and take out EVERYTHING (including hangers) EXCEPT what we are taking with us in suitcases for the next 8+ weeks.  [done]
• Put anything we want in the ‘First 2000lbs to Germany"’ shipment in Luke’s closet… bedding, most kitchen stuff, towels, games, toys, clothes, lamps etc.  [done]
• Put anything we don’t want (or don’t have room for) in Germany in the ‘Sam’s Club Room’ (our second  pantry) or left side of garage for long term storage  [done]
• Drive our van up to Atlanta to be shipped to Germany  [done]
• Keep house in perfect condition for final open house  [done]
• Help Ryan finish 2nd Class and 1st Class Scouting Requirements complete with First Aid reenactments, lashings etc.  [done]
• Sign off last of Ryan’s completed Faith in God requirements and schedule a Bishop’s interview  [done]
• Meet with Property Manager to discuss  RENTING our house  [done]
• Host fun pink and brown baby shower for friend, Deirdre  [done]
• Send Chris, Ryan and Luke on Father Son Campout and have girlfriends over to chat until 2:00am  [done]
• Accept invitations for dinner from generous ward friends for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights  [done]
• Borrow bedding, portable cribs, towels and pots and pans from same generous friends  [done]
• Teach High Priest lesson, go hometeaching, speak at Youth Fireside, extend 8 callings  [done]
• Attend a Farewell Dinner with Chris’ Radiology department   [done]
• Attend Young Women’s Wednesday night ‘Goodbye Sis. Johnson’ party
• Prepare last Beehive Lesson
• Take down trampoline, take TV off the wall, organize last room in the house (my room)
• Try to create meals out of remaining pantry and freezer foods… pizza shells, hot dog wieners, frozen broccoli, raisins, mandarin oranges, syrup, taco seasoning and Reese’s Puffs.
• Keep explaining to the kids what our ‘timeline' is for the next month. 

Happy Mother’s Day

Exactly ten years ago my Mom gave me a book for Mother’s Day called “Will you still be my daughter?”  I was pregnant with my first daughter at the time, although I didn’t know she would be a girl until she was born.  The book is about a mother and daughter tree… and it’s just such a cute parable.  I can’t read it without crying.  Sobbing, actually.   This Mother’s Day before reading the pile of Mother’s Day cards from my kids I pulled this book out and read it to my kids… and I sobbed.   At the end of the story I asked, “Why do you think I’m crying… do I just love trees?”   “No, because you think it’s righteous”, Megan said.     The truth is I can’t put into words my emotions about being a mother.   It’s just as wonderful and amazing as I always knew it would be.   Thank you to my six wonderful kids whose cards have endowed me with title of ‘best mom in the whole WIDE world’ and who, by just being here, have made my life simply amazing.

Happy Birthday Matthew!

 

We celebrated Matthew’s first birthday with the Starbucks and the Davis’ at the Lullwater neighborhood pool.  We shared pizza’s, drinks, and cupcakes, swam, sang Happy Birthday, watched Matthew open his presents -- with a little help from a lot of kids -- and talked until it was dark and the kids were all pruney.  A perfect night for a party.

Matthew LOVES helium balloons so to have a bunch all to himself was pure delight. 

 

Matthew also loves Mickey Mouse.  When Mickey starts talking at the beginning of each episode, Matthew’s eyes get big and he points to the TV screen and stares.  Then when the ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’ theme song comes on he even moves his shoulders up and down and dances a little.  It’s adorable.  Even when he’s in the kitchen playing in the dishwasher and into the kitchen cupboards… that music will make him crawl as fast as he can to the family room to watch.   Matthew got Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD’s to watch on the airplane, a pack of Hot Wheels, a little toy airplane, two new animals for the boys growing collection and some Toy Story legos.  Luke was so excited for all of Matthew’s presents.  It’s like they’ll both have two birthdays a year!  Lucky boys.

     

Matthew was initially mesmerized by the cupcake and burning candle.  He immediately focused… which means he stuck his tongue out… and tried to grab the flickering flame.  Everybody belted out the Happy Birthday song and Matthew, sensing the song was entirely for him, made the cutest shy faces.  When the song was over Luke helped him blow out his candle.

   

 

Matthew had no problem diggin’ in to his cupcake.  He ate and ate and ate – and loved the whole thing.

 

 

 

 

    

Happy Birthday, Matthew!  We love you.

Backyard fun

 

Quarterback Dad drawing ‘plays’ on his shirt while the girls taunt the boys in a little friendly, I mean ‘competitive’ game of touch football.

 

So fun to have a free night… friends to play with…  beautiful weather… a willing Dad… and a big backyard.

Day at the Strawberry Patch

Our friends, ‘the Starbuck’s’, invited us to go to the Strawberry Patch with them on Friday and we were so excited.  We couldn’t wait for the hour drive through the countryside, the elaborate picnic lunch, the berry picking and many photo ops… but like all of our adventures together the kids favorite part of the whole day was “being with the Starbucks”.  I swear they would be up for anything if it were ‘with the Starbucks’.    After our plans to move to Germany emerged Chris said, “Well, we’ve either got to spent lots of time with the Starbucks before we go and make great memories… OR… we need to be really mean to them so they won’t miss us a bit.”  We unanimously voted for the first option. Happily, our other great friends, Deirdre and little Ashton, who are always up for anything, came along too.  All the little kids piled in my van and we drove the hour to the Strawberry Patch… which seemed much less than an hour since Deirdre and I were lost in great conversation.  Our picnic lunch was indeed elaborate.  Gourmet picnic maker, Monae, had put together Waldorf croissant sandwiches, cute wrapped seasoned corn on the cobs, and pasta salad and I contributed ham sandwiches, Pringles and SunnyD.

Katie, Brianna, Brooke, Emily

Megan and Erika

Monae, Deirdre and I

After lunch we headed out to the fields to get picking.

  

I told the kids only three full baskets… so here they are checking out their compiled buckets. 

 

Luke, showing me dirt.  He’s very happy about it.

The four musketeers… Katie, Austin, Ryan and Brianna

   

We ate strawberries for the next week straight.  I quickly cut them ALL up and put them in containers in the fridge.  We had strawberries on ice cream, strawberries on angel food cake, strawberries on our breakfast cereal, strawberry milkshakes, strawberries in our lunches, and real virgin strawberry margaritas.  And now they are all gone.