A big day!!
Phase one: DONE!
before and after
Who looks this cute with braces ON and OFF?!
Monday, November 30, 2015
blog mush
An outdoor school ice cream social in November?!!? We must be in California!
Drew chillin' in the cart
Sometimes we need a second chance (emmy's picture retakes).
And....Jake made the basketball team!!! (after 6 days of tryouts!)
Goodies from Steve's day trip to L.A.--Sprinkles cupcakes!
For better or worse, we have entered the world of perler beads.
We were super excited to see these billboards near the Bay Bridge!
Friday, November 27, 2015
A Sunnyside Thanksgiving
After having lunch at the schools in Issaquah, we made the familiar (and much missed) drive over to Sunnyside to spend the rest of the week.
Mostly, it involved cousins,
Grandpa and his wheels,
and gingerbread houses! Or in this case, the Golden Gate Bridge and Drew's house with a truck full of tires! We loved our time in Sunnyside. It went by way too fast. But we are THANKFUL we were there.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Going back to Issy
Heading to Issaquah!! We aren't excited or anything.
Oh wait--YES WE ARE!!!!
We grabbed pizza and saw some friends at the Cooks one night,
and loved seeing all of our friends here, there and at church on Sunday. Man, we miss these people!!
The girls got permission to have lunch at Grand Ridge with their friends.
It was so much fun for them, and I didn't even cry!
And Jake got special permission from the principal at IHS to have lunch there with friends, too. I think it was a highlight of the trip.
Another highlight of the weekend was seeing Jake's scoreboard up for the first time at Tibbetts Park. It was awesome!!
Sunday, November 15, 2015
golden birthday
Jake is 15 on the 15th in the year 2015
Definitely GOLDEN!
The celebrations began at the Wiley's, who turned a gathering before a Stake dance into a birthday party for Jake--complete with streamers, balloons, candles, and more friends than we could've gathered on our own!
After church, we celebrated with more family! Hot dogs and hamburgers was the request with mini cupcakes to top it off.
Happy birthday, Jake! ENJOY your GOLDEN year!
Saturday, November 14, 2015
end of soccer
I am so proud of Ali and Emmy! They each had a tough soccer season being completely new and not knowing anyone else on their team. Well, they each played with a girl from the ward, and that was so nice, but other than that--they knew NO ONE! And they joined about 3 weeks after teams were already formed. But each of them went to practice every time (unless it was canceled because of the HEAT!!) and always ended up having fun, even though it was difficult to get there at times. They should be SO proud of their bravery, hard work, and new friendships! You go girls!!
Ali is the star of her team!
I got to watch Ali play in her last game of the season, and Steve watched Emmy in her last game!
(hence the difference in the number of pictures!)
Emmy scored a goal! What a great way to end a very different, but great season!
(And easily their warmest one of their soccer careers!)
Ali was invited to play in the All Star Soccer game. It was quite the honor!
(Avalon, Anna, Jill, Ali)
family pictures (on a budget)
Wear clothes already hanging in your closet, bring your own camera, and ask complete strangers to take your picture. Emmy counted--we asked 6. And here are the results:
And the final results after some cropping and some photoshop:
And we're done.
Sunday, November 8, 2015
50th birthday weekend
Shhhhh....it's a surprise!
Waiting for Julie at the Pancake House. She doesn't know we all came out to celebrate her upcoming 50th birthday!
The Johnson girls
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
texts
I have been reminded of just how nice it is to get a text from someone! It is a small and simple thing, but it has made such a huge difference for me. It is so nice when someone thinks of you and sends you some love through a text. AND these texts have served as my journal. Below are just some answers from me to kind and thoughtful friends who've checked in to see how we are doing.
Mon, Aug. 24
"Thanks for thinking of me!! It's just so weird being so far from home and acting like we live here or something! Yes! It's been a good day. The girls got in the same school (not the closest one to our house but at least they're together) and Jake got his schedule today which they said would probably not happen. I'd say it was a good day on the school front. People have been very friendly. Jake met the baseball and basketball coaches today while registering and they were both really friendly. We also met one of the teachers while we were walking around the campus and turns out that Jake got him for English. He called Jake tonight and said he noticed he was in his 3rd period class and was looking forward to having him. I was impressed. Who does that?! On a different note, corporate housing just opened up in Pleasanton (it was in Livermore) so not a bad first day! Thanks for checking in. We will see how things go tomorrow. I appreciate you looking out for us. The love we feel from home has buoyed us up today!"
Tues, Aug. 25
"Thanks for checking in. Just glad to have this day behind us!! Ali had the most success wtih friends and some girls made room at their table for her during lunch. Emmy described lunch as "complicated" and ate by herself, but then played with a girl from her class. Jake said no one said anything to him about his BYU shirt and had lunch by himself. Seminary starts Thursday so hopefully that will change. All of them are going back tomorrow so it didn't break them. Change is hard and so uncomfortable!"
Thurs. Aug 27
Things are going ok, thanks for checking in! Our stuff gets here on Tuesday so that's much earlier than expected! It's just all new and uncomfortable but we are taking it day by day. Girls have made some nice friends at school. Jake is having a harder time--his school is just so huge! But he went to YM last night and seminary this morning so hopefully he had people to eat lunch with today. Waiting for him right now.
"We are still hoping we are on vacation. Vacation with school. Hmmmm....."
Fri, Aug 28
"Thanks for checking in. Last night was back to school night for the girls so I got a small taste of what they're going through every day. Kids are moving forward and have made friends at school. Even after YM and Seminary, Jake doesn't feel like he has friends that he can hang out with yet. He texted the other freshman boy in the ward and asked where he ate lunch but the kid never texted him back. So he's been eating with Kate Shriber and her friends. Good thing there's Kate. She's been an angel. There's a high school football game tonight. It'll be interesting to see if Jake goes or if he's invited." (no one ended up inviting Jake and he didn't go)
"Experiences like these make our lives interesting and help us become more empathetic and aware which then increases our chances and opportunities for service."
Sun, Sept. 6
"Week 2 was better than week 1! Yes I did get your very nice email and I remembered sporadically through the week that I didn't answer it yet. So sorry! Renters are a couple with 2 kids in college (I think??) and a 9 year old. They're looking for land and building a house so it'll only be a year but we will take that for now. Really great to work with. She's a realtor herself which made me nervous at first. There's some contingency that they're waiting on (but don't know exactly what it is), but hopefully they will sign very soon.
Moving in is the worst! Steve's parents are hanging out with the kids tomorrow so we can actually make progress on the unpacking!! Jake flew to Colorado this weekend to be with cousins and be there for a cousin's missionary farewell.
Jake is making more friends at school and the girls have both joined soccer teams with girls from the ward on them which is a miracle since registration was months ago. Activity days start this week and Emmy's baptism is Sept. 26 (you're invited).
Oh my feelings go all over the place. Still trying to get so many things worked out (doctors, insurance, car registration, drivers licenses, etc.) and trying to get settled--it's overwhelming!! But people have been so nice and kids are all finding friends and things they like about California, so I'm very grateful, too. Having Steve's parents close is nice.
It's been interesting to watch my kids navigate through all of this. I think so often we identify who we are by our friends and our familiar surroundings and routines. When all that is taken away it can be a little unnerving and I have been wondering what my kids would do as they stand alone--as in without any of that. But it's been encouraging to see them happy and making jokes and teasing siblings (all the normal stuff) while making their way through this. We are together as a family and there's more power in that than I realized.
Jake was invited to go eat after school on Friday with some boys in his PE class and then Coleman, the other freshman boy in our ward invited Jake and another friend over for pizza before they went to the school dance on Friday night. Maybe a turning point here."
Tues, Sept. 8
"Oh thanks for the text. We are doing good. Kind of slowly getting settled in. Unpacking takes foreeeeeeeever and setting up doctors, insurance, written driver test, car registration, soccer. You know. Everything we started over.
Jake is making more friends at school and is getting invited to stuff. The girls have both joined soccer teams with girls from the ward on them which is a miracle since registration was months ago. Activity days start this week and Emmy's baptism is Sept. 26 (You're invited).
We miss or friends and our house so much. Every box I unpack I miss our 24th Ave. house more. But it will be fine!"
"Thanks. Yeah, everything just takes time and starting over is not what I was expecting at this point in our lives! It is definitely a growing and learning experience and those are always a bit painful. But we have also tried to recognize tender mercies and little miracles along the way and they are there.
Yes we did find renters! Speaking of tender mercies it was just the right time."
Wed. Sept. 9
"Ward is good. Small like the Highlands and several classes are combined. Ali is with Valiant 10 and 11 and Jake's Sunday school class must be 14-16 year olds. Drew is in a nursery with ALL boys. Like 14! They don't split Jr./Sr. Nursery. Several older couples, lots of families like ours, and some just starting out too. It's funny to me that the entire RS presidency is like in their late 50's or early 60's!! Highlands Ward is just so young!! Not super transient so a new family is noticed. :) We had two invitations to Labor Day BBQ's yesterday so that was nice.
I've not only met Julie Shriber but she brought us dinner last week, offered to help unpack, is having us over for dinner this Sunday and has answered all sorts of doctor questions!! And I sat next to her in RS! :)She has been awesome. And her daughter Kate who is also a freshman has saved Jake. She has reached out to him and he ate lunch with her and her friends the first week of school until he found the other freshman boy in the ward."
"One of the (few) perks of renting is we don't have to do any yard work!! Woo hoo!!! And it's a really nice size yard. That's what you get when you live in a house built in the 1960's--a big yard."
"Eating lunch alone was my biggest fear about the first day of school and 2 of the 3 had to eat lunch alone. But thankfully only on the first day. Now their job is to never let someone else eat alone because they know how bad it feels!
I seriously want to buy a K and put it in our house to remind us of KATE who was so KIND."
"You're right! It's been 49 1/2 weeks!! Thanks for keeping track. We miss you too. It's so weird for me to think we aren't in Issaquah anymore! "
Thursday Sept. 17
"We hung up our calendar and a couple back pack and coat hooks and inherited a big area rug from a new friend, and all of a sudden we are feeling more settled! We've actually had real meals all together at the table with a tablecloth and all the food groups the last couple of days. So yes, things are coming together and we are feeling a bit more settled.
There are still times when something will hit me and I'll start to tear up and make me sad. There is a new family in our ward who just got here from NJ this past Friday and have daughters in 2nd and 5th grades too and are going to the same school. Talking with them I feel like 3 weeks is huge progress!! We wouldn't want to trade places with them for anything!! Ali and Emmy have been able to make sure these girls don't sit or play alone. In fact, the 2nd grader is in Emmy's class!!"
Mon. Sept. 21
"The kids are making friends and that's made a big difference. I don't have a calling yet, but just had a nice long talk with the Primary president who called and asked about my previous callings!!"
Wed. Sept. 23
"We are doing well. Checking things off little by little to try and get settled here--DMV is done, found an orthodontist, a piano teacher, an allergy place, a pediatrician...it's all such a pain and a reminder that we don't live in Issaquah anymore. It's good, but there are still times when things will make me especially miss home and our friends. It's such a process!!
We don't have callings yet so its' been easier to focus on getting everything set up here and boxes unpacked etc.!! It's weird though with the ages of the girls because California used to have such a late deadline for school (I've heard they've been moving it up gradually over the years). We took girls home yesterday from Emmy's activity days and there was another girl who was 8 and in the 4th grade!! And Emmy is in second!! The friend will be 9 in 2 weeks, but still!! 1 year apart and 2 years difference in school!!!"
Sun. Oct. 11
"Well we hosted our first dessert night here tonight except we had the "old" people over. Made me miss Issaquah and the comfort level there, but it was still a nice night. Moving forward..."
Yeah Steve and I were just commenting that the conversations here are a bit different in this ward dynamic. It's not 'so how did you meet?' It's 'so where did you get your PhD?' and 'Did you like Stanford?' and 'so how many of your kids are in college?' It's just different because it's a more experienced crowd."
Mon. Oct 12
"Yes I'm the Beehive Advisor which is kinda exciting and kinda nerve-wracking at the same time!! Steve is teaching Gospel Doctrine so I'm just grateful I got what I did!!
"We just had our first Stake Conference yesterday--we all fit in one building! Just 5 wards and a branch. And we had some people over for dessert so we are making progress."
Mon. Nov 2
(from Kristen)"Speaking of which, Heather Johnson bore her testimony yesterday and said she had been thinking a lot about love and people who just radiated it and made her feel loved. She specifically named you, talked about how she wanted to be more like you, and how she felt she had come to know the Savior better because she knew you. It was the highest compliment I can think of, and so fitting.
"Jake bore his testimony yesterday--short and sweet. He just said he has a testimony of prayer because when we told them we were moving we had a family prayer and he knew everything would be okay even thought we'd been in Seattle for 10 years and it was going to be really hard. It made me realize that our kids are having their own experiences to help them through this. Heavenly Father is blessing them and helping them in His own way. I forget that. I feel like I get in there and try to make everything better and all right, when really I don't have to do it all myself."
Mon, Aug. 24
"Thanks for thinking of me!! It's just so weird being so far from home and acting like we live here or something! Yes! It's been a good day. The girls got in the same school (not the closest one to our house but at least they're together) and Jake got his schedule today which they said would probably not happen. I'd say it was a good day on the school front. People have been very friendly. Jake met the baseball and basketball coaches today while registering and they were both really friendly. We also met one of the teachers while we were walking around the campus and turns out that Jake got him for English. He called Jake tonight and said he noticed he was in his 3rd period class and was looking forward to having him. I was impressed. Who does that?! On a different note, corporate housing just opened up in Pleasanton (it was in Livermore) so not a bad first day! Thanks for checking in. We will see how things go tomorrow. I appreciate you looking out for us. The love we feel from home has buoyed us up today!"
Tues, Aug. 25
"Thanks for checking in. Just glad to have this day behind us!! Ali had the most success wtih friends and some girls made room at their table for her during lunch. Emmy described lunch as "complicated" and ate by herself, but then played with a girl from her class. Jake said no one said anything to him about his BYU shirt and had lunch by himself. Seminary starts Thursday so hopefully that will change. All of them are going back tomorrow so it didn't break them. Change is hard and so uncomfortable!"
Thurs. Aug 27
Things are going ok, thanks for checking in! Our stuff gets here on Tuesday so that's much earlier than expected! It's just all new and uncomfortable but we are taking it day by day. Girls have made some nice friends at school. Jake is having a harder time--his school is just so huge! But he went to YM last night and seminary this morning so hopefully he had people to eat lunch with today. Waiting for him right now.
"We are still hoping we are on vacation. Vacation with school. Hmmmm....."
Fri, Aug 28
"Thanks for checking in. Last night was back to school night for the girls so I got a small taste of what they're going through every day. Kids are moving forward and have made friends at school. Even after YM and Seminary, Jake doesn't feel like he has friends that he can hang out with yet. He texted the other freshman boy in the ward and asked where he ate lunch but the kid never texted him back. So he's been eating with Kate Shriber and her friends. Good thing there's Kate. She's been an angel. There's a high school football game tonight. It'll be interesting to see if Jake goes or if he's invited." (no one ended up inviting Jake and he didn't go)
"Experiences like these make our lives interesting and help us become more empathetic and aware which then increases our chances and opportunities for service."
Sun, Sept. 6
"Week 2 was better than week 1! Yes I did get your very nice email and I remembered sporadically through the week that I didn't answer it yet. So sorry! Renters are a couple with 2 kids in college (I think??) and a 9 year old. They're looking for land and building a house so it'll only be a year but we will take that for now. Really great to work with. She's a realtor herself which made me nervous at first. There's some contingency that they're waiting on (but don't know exactly what it is), but hopefully they will sign very soon.
Moving in is the worst! Steve's parents are hanging out with the kids tomorrow so we can actually make progress on the unpacking!! Jake flew to Colorado this weekend to be with cousins and be there for a cousin's missionary farewell.
Jake is making more friends at school and the girls have both joined soccer teams with girls from the ward on them which is a miracle since registration was months ago. Activity days start this week and Emmy's baptism is Sept. 26 (you're invited).
Oh my feelings go all over the place. Still trying to get so many things worked out (doctors, insurance, car registration, drivers licenses, etc.) and trying to get settled--it's overwhelming!! But people have been so nice and kids are all finding friends and things they like about California, so I'm very grateful, too. Having Steve's parents close is nice.
It's been interesting to watch my kids navigate through all of this. I think so often we identify who we are by our friends and our familiar surroundings and routines. When all that is taken away it can be a little unnerving and I have been wondering what my kids would do as they stand alone--as in without any of that. But it's been encouraging to see them happy and making jokes and teasing siblings (all the normal stuff) while making their way through this. We are together as a family and there's more power in that than I realized.
Jake was invited to go eat after school on Friday with some boys in his PE class and then Coleman, the other freshman boy in our ward invited Jake and another friend over for pizza before they went to the school dance on Friday night. Maybe a turning point here."
Tues, Sept. 8
"Oh thanks for the text. We are doing good. Kind of slowly getting settled in. Unpacking takes foreeeeeeeever and setting up doctors, insurance, written driver test, car registration, soccer. You know. Everything we started over.
Jake is making more friends at school and is getting invited to stuff. The girls have both joined soccer teams with girls from the ward on them which is a miracle since registration was months ago. Activity days start this week and Emmy's baptism is Sept. 26 (You're invited).
We miss or friends and our house so much. Every box I unpack I miss our 24th Ave. house more. But it will be fine!"
"Thanks. Yeah, everything just takes time and starting over is not what I was expecting at this point in our lives! It is definitely a growing and learning experience and those are always a bit painful. But we have also tried to recognize tender mercies and little miracles along the way and they are there.
Yes we did find renters! Speaking of tender mercies it was just the right time."
Wed. Sept. 9
"Ward is good. Small like the Highlands and several classes are combined. Ali is with Valiant 10 and 11 and Jake's Sunday school class must be 14-16 year olds. Drew is in a nursery with ALL boys. Like 14! They don't split Jr./Sr. Nursery. Several older couples, lots of families like ours, and some just starting out too. It's funny to me that the entire RS presidency is like in their late 50's or early 60's!! Highlands Ward is just so young!! Not super transient so a new family is noticed. :) We had two invitations to Labor Day BBQ's yesterday so that was nice.
I've not only met Julie Shriber but she brought us dinner last week, offered to help unpack, is having us over for dinner this Sunday and has answered all sorts of doctor questions!! And I sat next to her in RS! :)She has been awesome. And her daughter Kate who is also a freshman has saved Jake. She has reached out to him and he ate lunch with her and her friends the first week of school until he found the other freshman boy in the ward."
"One of the (few) perks of renting is we don't have to do any yard work!! Woo hoo!!! And it's a really nice size yard. That's what you get when you live in a house built in the 1960's--a big yard."
"Eating lunch alone was my biggest fear about the first day of school and 2 of the 3 had to eat lunch alone. But thankfully only on the first day. Now their job is to never let someone else eat alone because they know how bad it feels!
I seriously want to buy a K and put it in our house to remind us of KATE who was so KIND."
"You're right! It's been 49 1/2 weeks!! Thanks for keeping track. We miss you too. It's so weird for me to think we aren't in Issaquah anymore! "
Thursday Sept. 17
"We hung up our calendar and a couple back pack and coat hooks and inherited a big area rug from a new friend, and all of a sudden we are feeling more settled! We've actually had real meals all together at the table with a tablecloth and all the food groups the last couple of days. So yes, things are coming together and we are feeling a bit more settled.
There are still times when something will hit me and I'll start to tear up and make me sad. There is a new family in our ward who just got here from NJ this past Friday and have daughters in 2nd and 5th grades too and are going to the same school. Talking with them I feel like 3 weeks is huge progress!! We wouldn't want to trade places with them for anything!! Ali and Emmy have been able to make sure these girls don't sit or play alone. In fact, the 2nd grader is in Emmy's class!!"
Mon. Sept. 21
"The kids are making friends and that's made a big difference. I don't have a calling yet, but just had a nice long talk with the Primary president who called and asked about my previous callings!!"
Wed. Sept. 23
"We are doing well. Checking things off little by little to try and get settled here--DMV is done, found an orthodontist, a piano teacher, an allergy place, a pediatrician...it's all such a pain and a reminder that we don't live in Issaquah anymore. It's good, but there are still times when things will make me especially miss home and our friends. It's such a process!!
We don't have callings yet so its' been easier to focus on getting everything set up here and boxes unpacked etc.!! It's weird though with the ages of the girls because California used to have such a late deadline for school (I've heard they've been moving it up gradually over the years). We took girls home yesterday from Emmy's activity days and there was another girl who was 8 and in the 4th grade!! And Emmy is in second!! The friend will be 9 in 2 weeks, but still!! 1 year apart and 2 years difference in school!!!"
"Well we hosted our first dessert night here tonight except we had the "old" people over. Made me miss Issaquah and the comfort level there, but it was still a nice night. Moving forward..."
Yeah Steve and I were just commenting that the conversations here are a bit different in this ward dynamic. It's not 'so how did you meet?' It's 'so where did you get your PhD?' and 'Did you like Stanford?' and 'so how many of your kids are in college?' It's just different because it's a more experienced crowd."
Mon. Oct 12
"Yes I'm the Beehive Advisor which is kinda exciting and kinda nerve-wracking at the same time!! Steve is teaching Gospel Doctrine so I'm just grateful I got what I did!!
"We just had our first Stake Conference yesterday--we all fit in one building! Just 5 wards and a branch. And we had some people over for dessert so we are making progress."
Mon. Nov 2
(from Kristen)"Speaking of which, Heather Johnson bore her testimony yesterday and said she had been thinking a lot about love and people who just radiated it and made her feel loved. She specifically named you, talked about how she wanted to be more like you, and how she felt she had come to know the Savior better because she knew you. It was the highest compliment I can think of, and so fitting.
"Jake bore his testimony yesterday--short and sweet. He just said he has a testimony of prayer because when we told them we were moving we had a family prayer and he knew everything would be okay even thought we'd been in Seattle for 10 years and it was going to be really hard. It made me realize that our kids are having their own experiences to help them through this. Heavenly Father is blessing them and helping them in His own way. I forget that. I feel like I get in there and try to make everything better and all right, when really I don't have to do it all myself."
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