11, 8, 7 and K

Carter-11th grade, yes that means I have a Junior in High School!  I can't believe it.  I can't stand that it is possible I will only have ONE more summer before the kid leaves home.  That makes my mind spin.  I love that he is so confident.  Confident enough to wear his pants rolled up a little and dorky socks under them.  Maybe he is starting a trend?  Or it is a trend I'm not aware of.  I'm looking forward to a lot of studying and homework, 2 AP classes will do that.  Varsity vball this year!  And of course the big one, DATING. 

McKinley-8th grade!  Last year of Middle School.  It's so fun to be the oldest and rule the school.  She takes school the most serious of all my kids.  I think that's why she enjoys summer sooooo much.  It's time to stop being the mermaid and go to school.  I'm looking forward to a lot of violin, maybe just CA this year, DC was a bit far.  I'm also looking forward to stepping out of her comfort zone.  That's really my goal not hers.  We'll see how it goes.

Oliva-7th grade!  Yep, still just one year behind her sister.  She is my Skinny Minnie.  Adjustable waist and belts are her friends.  She is my personal google, I have nick named her genius this summer.  She is a year ahead in math and that makes her in the same math class as McKin, Hee hee.  I love it.  I am looking forward to the stories of Brynley and Asher.  Also, student council and Jr Honor Society.  My goal for her is less socializing.

Gracie-Kindergarten!  Seriously, has there ever been a kid more ready for Kindergarten?  Sassy, sassy, sassy.  She already thinks she runs the school.  She told me she didn't even care if she had to go to the principals office because Mrs D always gives her a hug.  The hardest part about the first day was deciding what to wear.  She tried on 3 outfits.  I'm looking forward to all the Gracieisms she comes up with this year.  I just hope she can stay out of the principals office.

McKinley Sews!

McKinley is trying to earn money for Girls Camp.  Our ward camp director has challenged all the girls to earn their own money to pay for summer camp.  We thought a lot about what she could do to earn money.  She is so talented at sewing that we decided to come up with a few projects and offer them to you. 

Scripture Cover

$15 for Small Scriptures

$18 for Large Scriptures

It has a pocket to put the back flap in so they don't fall out, and a pocket for your pen and scripture marker.

Just let us know your color choices and exact size of scriptures.

Personal Progress Holder

$8

It holds your PP book, PP journal, pen and For the Strength of Youth pamphlet.

Just let us know your color choices.



Skirt (Who is that?)

$20

She made all us girls one for Christmas.  This is mine.

We need 2 measurements, 1. around your waist where you want it to sit, 2. the length you want it to be.  Also, if you trust us with fabric, your color choices.



Undercover Crate

$12 for the cover only

$22 cover and crate

It really is just a crate under there!  They are really cute.  I use mine to throw all the stuff that needs to be taken upstairs.  Even though its full of crap it still looks cute!

Let us know your color choice on this too.

We really appreciate your support.  She has had a good time coming up with these projects.  For those of you in Utah, we are coming the end of March.  If you let us know soon, we can bring them with us. Or mail them if not.  We will collect $ when we deliver them.  To let us know what you want, you can leave a comment here, text me or Kin or email me.  Thanks again.  We love you all. 

Jill and McKinley

Happy Birthday

Today is my Moms Birthday.  Its happened now 4 times since she has died.  Every time it catches me off guard.  I start to really miss her around the mention of General Conference.  Then it lasts a week or two.  I think this time of year was so fun when she was alive.  We have 4 birthdays this week!  And usually Conference.  That is a lot of celebrating.  It seems to be harder at the times that were happy and fun.  Not the times that were hard and sad. 

I was thinking about if she was still alive today that I would call her and tell her Happy Birthday, or maybe text her, or face book her.  But then I remembered that she would not text.  Her cell phone was large and she liked it that way.  She hated change, so she would not get a new one.  So, she probably wouldn't be on face book either.  I guess not much would have changed, I would still just call her.  Which would be ok with me.  I have wished a million times that she would have taken her phone with her.  I have lots of questions, and need a lot of advice.

So, Happy Birthday Mom, I still miss you.

Beach!!

We went to the beach in Carlsbad July 29-Aug 6.  We had to reserve out site in February.  So, we had been looking forward to it for a really long time.  It was definitely worth the wait.  We had the best time.  It was so fun to be together as a family with no distractions. We slept with the sound of waves singing us to sleep, and woke to salty air.  We fought the ants and the squirrels and I think we won.  The sun on the other hand won.  Olivia got the worst sun burn I have ever seen on the FIRST day.  That made a decision for us to not spend the second day at the beach.  We went to old town to the cool Mormon Battalion museum.  It was really fun.  We also ate at Anthony's on the pier.  My Mom loved it.  We rode our bikes along the coast. How cool!  My kids put more miles on my Tandem there than we have since I got it.  We played alot of cards with good friends.  It was one of those vacations that will be talked about forever.  And now it will be a yearly vacation.

Sunday we went to church in Carlsbad and then went to see the most beautiful Temple ever!  San Diego.

I have never seen a child enjoy the sand as much as Gracie

Elsie, not so much.

We caught sand crabs for 7 days, never got old.

Oliva boogie boarding. 

McKinley and Baylee.  From the other side of this picture you would see the bag of pretzels they devoured.

This was our secret way of getting the sand out of her swim suit.

The cutest mermaid on the beach

So dang cute

See what I mean about loving the sand



We bought Carter a skim board while we were there.



It only took him 20 min to figure it out.  That kid has incredible balance.

The result of bad application of sunscreen.  Burned and peeling.

Again, bad application of sunscreen.

This was the view from our campsite

Bye beach.  See you next year.

Summer

Well, we had a very busy Summer.  We spent about 3 weeks in Salt Lake.  One week when we dropped Carter off for his 3 week church history trip.  A fun weekend at the cabin for the 4th of July.  Then about a week while Carter was at volleyball camp at BYU.  He was really busy.  We spent the funnest week ever at the beach in Carlsbad.  Stay tuned for that post.

We made a lot of salsa.

A LOT of swimming.

Kennecott.

Ice Blocking, a new tradition.

Trolley Square after we ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory.  My Favorite.

Face painting at the float preview.  We went to see all the floats before the 24th of July parade.  It was really fun.

Tour of the Church Office Building.  Thanks to Grandma Johnson.  We saw alot of pioneer landmarks from on top of the building that I didn't know about.

Temple Square

Hogle Zoo, all Grand kids except Carter!

Big Giraffe at the zoo.

4th of July at the Cabin.  ALL Johnson grand kids.  That never happens.

Gracie had so much fun at the cabin.  I think she is just like her dad, there is no better vacation than the Cabin.

Elsie and Grandpa

Not only did Aaron and McKinley do snow cones several times a day at the cabin, but it has continued at home all Summer!