Ava's 1st Dance Class

Ava started ballet today. She was a little nervous as we drove up to the building but did great once things got started. She is taking classes from Jenny Barlow who has danced her whole life and taught at the U of U and Germany. She also performed for Ballet West for quite some time. She was so cute with these little girls and they all seemed to really enjoy it. No tears at all and they are all between the ages of 3-5! "Miss Jenny" said that Ava had great leaps for her 1st day. Ava loved to hear that!!

1st year at a Charter School

These two had their alarm set for 6:10 this morning, got ready in a flash and then sat around for at least 45 minutes waiting for me to take them to school. They were so excited to start today but as we drove up to the school they both expressed that they were scared. I think Brad is especially nervous because of being home schooled last year. This is our first year of going to a Charter school and I so hope the boys have wonderful experiences and love it there. They both have male teachers this year and that's a first for both of them too! As you can see they have to wear uniforms and Brad wants to grow his hair out a bit. Such cute little guys!!

Girls Camp 2011

Dennis was able to come to the 4th year overnight hike as they needed another priesthood holder there with us. He snapped this shot of us at Scout Falls up Timpanooke trail. We had a fun time with the girls in our group. This other photo is of the 4 leaders (and Brittany Virgen behind us) who went to camp this year from our ward. (Shyla Lucky, Brittney Erb, Me, and Linsey Reynolds) We had such a great time together and the girls had some really incredible experiences that strengthened their testimonies. I always love to go to Girls Camp!!

Ireland and Ty get Baptized! 2011

What a happy day for the Johnston Family! Skip was able to baptize both Ty and Ireland. These little kids are some of the happiest, most polite kids I know. They were so excited to see us there and kept saying how they wanted to come to our house and have a long play-date. We are supposed to get together this Thursday for a B-B-Q and let the kids play before school starts next week. It's hard to believe that Steven will be in the 7th grade this year and Ty and Brad will be in 5th. Jen and I were both pregnant when we met in Eagle Mountain 10 and half years ago! Just look how beautiful and happy Ireland is in her white dress. Such cute kids!!

Reagan and Ava 2011

Jill and Don usually don't let their kids have sleep-overs, even with cousins but since she was going to Girls Camp and Don working late they let the kids sleep at our place for a night. Little Reagan was a bit nervous and I heard her whisper to Ava, "Ava, I'm scared, will you hold my hand?" That's how they stayed most of the night. The next morning I found them curled up facing each other. What sweet little girls!

The "Smurfs"

The kids all wanted to see the movie "The Smurfs" so of course we went. I thought it was a pretty cute show even if the critics didn't like it. The kids thought it was great so that's all that matters. I had to snap a shot of Reagan and Ava drying their hands at the same time. They are so funny!

Poor Bradie Boy

The morning of the day I was to pick up Jill's kids to have them spend the night with us since she was going to girls camp, Brad comes in with a swollen lower jaw. It was rock hard and really hot so I just took him to our Pediatric Dentist. They got him right in and took x-rays. Nothing showed up for the lower teeth but when he looked in Brad's mouth he saw that he had broken a filling on his top baby molar and it had gotten infected and had traveled down to his lower jaw. Needless to say, it had to come out and Brad has been on an antibiotic since. When the dentist was pulling he was surprised at how hard it was to pull out and shocked to see the roots of this "baby" tooth after it was out. He said he wasn't expecting such big roots. I'll have to take Brad back in in a couple of weeks to see if he'll need a spacer put in.

Swimming at Jill's Grandma's Pool

Jill's Grandmother has a nice big pool so of course we went up and crashed her place. All of the Ralphs love to swim (I don't exactly fit in;). Not only did the kids have fun but the Daddy's had a blast too. Dennis and Don decided to teach Reagan and Ava how to play "chicken". We all went to Don and Jill's house for dinner afterward and Grandma and Grandpa Ralph joined us.

Hiking "Timpanooke"

One thing I love about Deanna, she loves staying active. Lots of bike rides, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors! We decided to take the boys on a hike that I did a few weeks earlier with the Young Women up Timpanooke trail. It is a dirt trail up Mount Timp. We went to the look-out just past Scout Falls. It was so beautiful and the boys had fun once they got to jump a few streams and natural springs. I took Ava to Mom and Dad's-it was a little too difficult for her. Such a fun day. Grandpa Ralph came too and then afterward he treated us all to ice cream from the BYU creamery;) Didn't have my camera on the hike so I didnt get a photo of Grandpa:(

Boondocks 2011

While Ethan was at Youth Conference, Deanna and I took the rest of the kids to Boondocks. The boys absolutely love this place. Race cars, bumper boats, laser tag, mini golf etc. They stay all day long from 11 am until it closes at 11 pm. I stayed until 7pm and then took Ava and Jake home-they both were done by then. Such a fun tradition each year though! Ethan was sad he missed out.

Fun Summer Day 2011

While Dennis, Don and Deanna took most of the kids swimming, Jill and I took Jake and Whitney shopping and to the movies. They loved it! Then when everyone got back from swimming, Ava and Reagan got into make-up and spent hours fixing each other. Reagan then wanted to take a picture of her mom with my camera;)

100 mile bike ride

When Deanna came for two weeks, she and Dennis and Don went for a bike ride around Utah Lake. It was the first time Dennis went 100 miles. Deanna and Don have done it quite a bit. They had a good time and after they got back, they took the kids swimming for a few hours. Wish I had just a smidge of their energy!! (Oh, in case you can't tell, Dennis is on the right and Don's in the middle;)

Family-Summer 2011

Jake and Ashlyn played quite a bit this summer. They both are reserved and quiet and get along so well. I love this photo of Ava with her "Lena". While I was at girls' camp I was replaced by Elena! I snapped this shot of Alisa in Mom and Dad's kitchen-sooooo cute!!

Siblings-2011

Rachel will probably kill me for posting this one and Dean's is a profile shot but that's all I had kiddos! I really did have such a fantastic summer with my family this year. So glad Ellie and Elena could come home at the same time. My kids enjoyed all the cousin time this year!

Summer 2011 photos

I love this picture of mom and dad sitting together going over recipes. They are such a cute couple and wonderful parents! I think these pics of Jake and Rick are my favorites from this summer-such handsome men!

More fun Photos of Summer 2011

My last post didn't take Ava's photo so I added it to this one. Caden is just sooooo handsome in this picture and look at Annaka so big and grown up at a table all by herself:) Such cute kids!!

Favorite pics of Summer 2011

Just thought I'd post some pretty cute pictures that I took this summer. Look at Meg's amazing eyes!! And anyone who knows Ava, knows this is pretty much how she looked even when she was first born;) We called her the little scowler when we sent out her birth announcements-what a kid! And get a load of Eden's eye-patch. So wish we could have a video of Eden dancing-it really is the best dancing of any kid I've seen. She amazed us all!!

"Diegos"

What would a Daniels trip to Utah be without Diegos Taco Shop?? Ricker has always loved this place and really, they do make the best shredded beef nachos anywhere! Morgan and Lexi enjoyed them too and Ava and I just love to go out to eat;) We do have a good time when family come home to visit!!