I Guess It's A Good Thing He Has A Way With The Girls...

In most households I'm sure it's the ladies job to manicure the fingers and toes of the little ones in the house...hot pink, bright red, even outrageous orange are some of the colors floating around on the toes at this house, but don't think you will catch Mom doing the painting...oh no, it's all Dad! I knew I had a catch in college when he saw me slaughter my own toes with polish and decided he better take over! I guess it's best since we will have one more girl in line to get her toes painted arriving sometime mid-to end of April...I'm keeping the time frame broad! We're all hoping this one comes to us with red hair and a little chub to break the mold of my last two spring baby girls that have had bald heads and no chub to be found...oh but I love them just the same!

Still Stuck in 2009...Christmas

Oh I'm not done...this is four in one sitting...do you think this is a form of nesting? I will say I'm a firm believer in the nesting stage, I've had moments this week where I might have given a child away to the D.I if I could have! O.k, I kid of course my children are nothing but angelic and I would truly have my life no other way...chaos and all!
So back to my final post...yes I'm clearly still stuck in last year, just let a girl catch up alright! I promise this is the last post from 2009, but I've got to document Christmas.


Christmas Eve...2009

We get to celebrate Christmas Eve with my sisters and both mine and Zachary's parents, and it's become such a fun tradition...not that I don't love my brothers, but a little girl time is always cherished time.



Oh the Christmas Eve jammies...Alec said to me this year, "Mom I think I know what our Christmas Eve present is going to be" and I said "maybe you don't, maybe I changed tradition" and he said "Oh I hope not, I like getting new jammies" me too kid, me too!



Christmas morning the chaos ensues...and what sweet chaos it is!



Our final destination Christmas night...Grandpa and Grandma Johnsen's house, where a program is always on the menu. This year it was supposed to be a simple Christmas poem, but my pregnant mind decided to forget that little request so we improvised with a song from Alec and a rendition of Jingle Bells...Ella's request...from the whole family! What a wonderful exhausting day...till next year!

Holiday Highlights...

A month goes by and so many wonderful memories to capture...these are just a few of the happenings we had going on!


Ava and Alec had the opportunity to go see the beautiful Nutcracker with Uncle Lynn and Aunt Barbara...what a special night! Ava was so excited to where her "Nutcracker" dress! They had a blast and came home beautiful trinkets to remind them of the special night...thanks Lynn and Barbara for such a special memory.




The Ence family Christmas gathering...and what a gathering it is. All of the cousins reunite to be with Aunts and Uncles and our dear sweet Grandparents who are so fortunately still with us. Lots of catching up, some singing, and fun games for the kids...thanks Ence clan for keeping us all connected!


Dad's tradition of putting together a gingerbread house...Costco's version of course! The kids look forward to this every year and I always seem to be preoccupied doing something...thanks for taking one for the team Dad!



Temple Square...always a favorite memory. My kids have this little tradition they've started of their own where they pack their back packs to head to Temple Square. It started a few years ago when I told Alec to gather his warm things to head down to Temple Square and well, he took me literally...he packed hand warmers, water bottle, band aids...and plenty of other gadgets to "be prepared" so now Ava has joined in on the tradition, so let's just say we're prepared for anything that might hit us at the Square!


The kids decorating the "kid tree" as Zachary likes to call it. He's just sure I only do it so the kids won't have interest in touching my tree...well guess what, I let them help me with the big tree this year...look how "big" I'm becoming!

Kicking off the Season With Stitches...

So we had the discussion with the kids about the danger of pulling of the stockings because if the stocking holder should fall and hit you, it could really hurt you badly. Everyone seems to get it right...o.k Ella's only 2 1/2, but she's sharp...as was the metal pine comb she pulled down on her head about 5 hours after our little talk. Just imagine the scene...I hear a thud followed by a scream followed by my two older children freaking out far worse than the wounded 2 year old. Clearly my warning earlier had left an impression and with the blood running down Ella's face they were sure her life was ending. Good thing Mom stayed cool, calm and collected and let everyone know the only one that should be crying is Ella and we ALL need to pull it together! Needless to say we ended up in the insta-care with two puncture wounds to the forehead...bless her scrappy little heart!


"I did it..." she announced as she came home from getting stitches.


"Just a cute picture of Ella's random personality"


"Before this whole episode went down, we had promised Ella ice cream that night for some significant progress she had made in her potty training...I'll leave out those details, so after she was done being stitched up she looked up at me with her flaming red cheeks "we getting ice cream Mom" you betcha kid, you definitely earned it!

So Much for My Blogging Spurt!

Well...just cause the moment has come and gone along with the Holidays does not mean I can't "back blog" right? When it hits me it hits me, and until then I just let the pictures and the memories mount. So here's to catching up...

Faces I'm so Thankful for...Thanksgiving 2009

This was a sweet moment with "favorite Uncle Lynn" that I just had to capture. Lynn is like a Grandpa to these kids...they adore him and all the fun he provides. This was him giving a tutorial on the Violin...patient man I must say!

A little Rusty with the Blogging...

Well...I guess you know your rusty when you have a brain freeze on how to download pictures...has it been that long? Plenty has been going on with school, sports, dance, sick kids, holidays and just family life, but I don't seem to be a diligent student when it comes to blogging, I'm more of a "spurter" if you will, I go through spurts...maybe I'm about to hit one!


My little soccer star...I have to say my little Ava girl shocked all of us this season and came out on FIRE! She was a bit "carefree" last year so we weren't excepting the aggressive streak she came into...you go girl...oh and how about those uniforms...I love it!



This was a snapshot from our first outing out back to our fire-pit...we've been working on it for about two summers, and it looks like it will be a third before it's done, but hey it's usable!

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Ella started her dancing career this fall...she has to be doing whatever Ava is doing. Last year it was all I could do to keep her out of the dance studio while we waited for Ava, so this year when she got to put on a leo and go to her own dance class, let's just say anyone who knows this little cat, knows she was in her element. She seriously doesn't stop smiling the entire time!


Alec seems to lean slightly to ghoulish side when it comes to Halloween, no super hero's or character costumes for him...so this is what we got...Skeletar, whoever that is!


So I'm feeling guilty that I've always sort of dictated what Ava is going to be for Halloween...she hasn't ever really put up a fight so each year I kind of just keep going for it. Well this year I found Little Red Riding Hood and just knew it was for her...she on the other hand busted Mom this year, she would tell everyone when they asked what she was going to be "well I'm being Little Red Riding Hood because my Mom is making me" oops...game over, but come on, how adorable!

Last of all our little Dorothy...she would wear anything as long as she can spin around in it and look "beuful" as only she can put it! As you can see the sparkley shoes were the highlight for her, oh and carrying around a dog in a bag, don't under estimate that!


The threesome just before the big Halloween party at Grandma Karen's...always a highlight of the month.

Ending the Summer...Beginning the School Year!

Every summer we have an annual cookie sale where Mom slaves away in the kitchen making cookies, and Alec and Ava reap the rewards from the sale. O.K, I'm sounding a little bitter, it's actually completely worth it, but I think I need to negotiate a cut. I pushed it off all summer and finally Alec said last Saturday "we are doing the cookie sale today, or I'm going to just find something else to sell" I was worried about what he might take to the streets so I got on it!




Alec and Ava putting on their best smiles...got to earn those sales


A shot of the sales team taking a water break!

Now it's back to school time, it's always a love/hate feeling! The fighting that is part of a brother sister duo...that I won't miss, but the fun quality time just hanging out being together...that I will miss! Both Alec and Ava have great teachers and we're excited to get back into the swing of school.


Alec putting his cool face(well trying)on...he soooo knows this drill, after all he is starting the 2nd Grade!



My little Ava girl, Kindergarten has arrived! I'm so excited for her and the fun she will have. I have her in morning session which made it easy on Mom, I still feel like I have my buddy most the day, first grade is when I have my melt down, 11:30 is here before you know it!



Ella has to be part of all action that takes place in this family...this 3rd child is NOT being left behind for anything!



Well...I guess she does get left behind for some things. This is her every morning after she has tried unsuccessfully to jump in with the carpool. Back pack on and ready to go, this has been our morning everyday since school started...she loves her Aggie(Alec)and Ava!