Happy Birthday Olivia-My Little Soul Surfer

After Olivia watched Soul Surfer she became Bethany Hamilton's biggest fan!  I found her trying to brush her teeth with one arm, just in case.  The theme of her dance concert at Creative Arts is Inspiration and they are doing a dance with surf boards about Bethany.  For her Birthday, Olivia wanted to go to Hawaii and meet Bethany.  Since that wasn't an option, we decided to have a beach party.  It was so fun!  We tried exotic fruits like star fruit, mangos, and papayas.  We bit the pinata like sharks and took an airplane ride to Hawaii.  We even decorated our surf boards.  Someday maybe Olivia can meet her inspiration and get a chance to surf the waves! 

Merry Christmas!

It has been so long since Christmas that my old, addled brain can't remember much.  My brother, Judd and his cute family came up a couple of weeks before Christmas and we celebrated with them.  We went skiing and despite no snow we had a fabulous time with the whole crew. It is one of my favorite Christmas traditions!  The other is the Live Nativity in Alpine.  It was worth the crowds and the cold to visit our friend Max, the camel and feeling the true Christmas Spirit.  The boys and I had a great time helping screw on wheels and paint little cars for "Tim's Toys for Tots."  Now we know what Sam is doing for his Eagle Project.  Movies, puzzles, yummy food, what more can I say?  My in-laws came into town from Hawaii and we loved spending time with them.  One afternoon some of the Johnson boy cousins did Baptisms for the Dead in the Bountiful Temple.  Christmas Day we had an ugly sweater/dance party at my sister Adrien's with the Weggeland Family, it was a riot!  Amelia loved her play house which Santa and Sam worked very hard to put together.  Olivia was thrilled with her American Doll Molly and icecream maker.  Thanks to no snow, Charlie was able to use his airsoft guns up in the hills right away and his gigantic container of jelly beans was enjoyed by all.  Brig only asked for a Ute wallet and vinyl bag, so Santa brought the kids a trampoline.  Can't wait for spring.  Sam is using his new D-pole to play indoor LAX (crazy games are at 11P.M!) and he wears his underarmour hoodie every day.  We loved enjoying the Christmas with good family and friends and remembering the true reason for the season.  We count our blessings daily and are so grateful for our dear Savior and His Gospel.

Thanksgiving

Little pilgrams at their music class, they loved the hats!

Amelia's favorite food-BUTTER!

We had a relaxing, warm Thanksgiving break.  We spent the weekend hiking and running and swimming with my parents in their new home at the base of Snow Canyon.  Heaven on Earth!

Thanksgiving--St.George Style

FALL FUN

 Enjoying our traditional "Dead Man Meatloaf" Yum Yum

Miss Alice in Wonderland at mommies and music class

If you are wondering about the costumes?  Brig is Dave in his raquetball attire, Olivia is Fancy Nancy, Charlie a banana? and Sam a gorilla.

We loved the weekend Haloween celebration!  We were able to do all of our favorite traditions.  We spent a beautiful fall day at Cornbelly's at thanksgiving point, picked out our favorite pumpkins at the patch in farmington, girls shopping trip to see the witches at Gardner Village, and of course the Allen crew always goes trick or treating at my Dad's office.  Another highlight is the neighborhood pot luck before trick or treating.  I love seeing everyone's cute costumes and eating something healthy before we start the candy frenzy.  Happy Haloween.

 Olivia and Amelia with cousins Kate and Blakely at Dad's office

 Cousin Mania, I don't think there was candy left after the Allen's whizzed through the office.

Cornbelly's to celebrate Cousin Elle's first Birthday

 Amelia picking her favorite pumpkin

School Begins

 Charlie's opinion of school on the first day!  Luckilly his teacher Mrs. Hart is not as mean as she threatened last spring.  She actually told me "Charlie is an athlete so he hangs around with those kids, but he's smart and stays on task so he's a great example to them, and I love having him in my class." Music to his mama's ears.  Char is playing piano and above pic is how he feels about practicing.  I am also making all the kids take Spanish lessons, they'll thank me someday when they can "habla espanol."  And Charlie is an animal on the Offensive and Defensive Football Line.  His coaches call him "Moose."  His bike is broken but he has no qualms cruising around on Olivia's pink saphire bike.  Geeze I love that kid.

 Sam, the 8th grade stud muffin just got his braces off and with his Hawaii tan and his football jersey, how can the girls resist?  The only problem is I don't think he's talked to one yet.  This is his first year of football and loves working hard and improving each game.  He lectured me when I tried to complain about how long his practices were, "Mom, if you want to be good at something you have to be willing to put in the effort." Why does advice only sink in when it is not said by your parents?

Millie is my little buddy with all the kids in school. We have music and me classes and tickets to the Gateway Children's Museum.  We have some serious quality time.  She loves to sing the ABC's, carry her binkies, play with her best friend/cousin Blakely and try to hold all the babies in the gym daycare.

Olivia is surviving the social drama of first grade girls, I don't know if I will.  She is taking creative dance from my talented sister, Emily.  I told her Emily was the nicest person in the world.  She told me Emily wasn't, then who is?  "Duh, Mom, Mary, the mother of Jesus."  She had me there. 

Brig loves being the king of the school, especially since he has the best teacher.  They have already had a hot air balloon launch (his caught on fire, so cool), Egyptian market day, and bagels, blankets, and book day.  He made a touch down today in football, too bad it got called back due to a made up penalty.  Who paid the ref's?  It is hard to believe my sweet boy is almost 12(except when he teases his sister.)

We are busy, but so happy and grateful for our wonderful family and countless blessings.

Beautiful Oahu