The Adventures of Ella & Annie

 



November 2, 2009

Conversations with God

Ella volunteered to say the prayer at dinner tonight.  When Eric and I started to hold hands Ella said, "This prayer is going to be so good that we do not need to hold hands."  Then she began her prayer...
 
"Dear God,
 
Thank you for taking care of me and for lovin' on me.  I will wash your feet with my hair because I learned that in school - actually in church.  I'll love on you.  You love on me. 
 
Amen."
 
She was right...it was so good that we did not need to hold hands.
 
SGJ

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September 10, 2009

"Ella, of course!"

Today is "character day" at Ella's Pre-K. Shanna was struggling with what Ella could wear late last night, then she asked Ella who her favorite storybook character is. Ella's response was, "Ella, of course!" That's a book about little pig named Ella who wore a pink dress and carried her new umbrella every where. With that, Shanna kicked into gear and found a dress remarkably like the storybook character's. Then she quickly turned a plastic cap and an elastic band into a pig's snout and put some ears on a head band. Add Ella's favorite umbrella, and presto - "Ella, of course!"

Ella was delighted. When I took her to class this morning, I saw several Batmans and Spider-mans and princesses, but there was only one Ella... of course!

Who's the creative and resourceful mom who makes these kinds of moments happen regularly? Shanna, of course!

EJ

"Ella, of course!"

 

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August 10, 2009

Nicknames

If you live in the Johnson house, you have a nickname.  It is just what we do.  I have given Eric several over the past several years, but the one that has stuck is "E".  Ella is typically "Ella Bella" or as of late "Ella Roo."  Even though we named Annie a name that most would consider a nickname, she gets them too.  Annie is sometimes "Ann," "Annie Bananie"  or "Annie Roo".  And I have not been left out, Eric affectionately calls me "Shan".  As you can see, we love the nicknames.  Annie has been picking them up quite easily.  It was no surprise when she began calling her sister "Ella Roo Roo."  But the cutest one yet is the one she has for her Daddy..."Daddy Roo Roo".    SGJ

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August 8, 2009

First day of Pre-K

Ella started Pre-K on Thursday. It's in the same place she's been going to since she was a baby, but now she'll be going every day instead of just a couple of times a week.

 And now Annie will be home alone with Shanna 2-3 days a week.

 The biggest news from the first day of school was that I successfully put Ella's hair in a ponytail. Shanna was out of town for work, so she had to teach me before she left.
EJ

Eric Johnson
Sent from my iPhone

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August 4, 2009

Saturday adventures

We made Saturday an "adventure day" this weekend. We got up early and visited the Athens Farmers Market. In addition to fresh, organic, local produce, there was live music and face painting. 

We followed that with a visit to the local library for their end-of-summer festival. The highlight there was the collection of exotic (and some not so exotic) animals for the kids to feed. Ella lights up around animals and would have stayed by the animal pen for hours if possible. She wasn't afraid to pet any of the animals, even the snake. The library festival ended with an impressive performance by a puppeteer. Ella's only complaint was that the puppeteer should have been hidden from sight. 

EJ

butterfly

 



at the market

 



listening to a swing band at the market

 



Ella loves horses

 



... and baby zebras

 

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July 17, 2009

Dear God...

Ella has been asking for quite some time if she can have a baby brother.  I think that the Rector's new addition has Ella convinced that she also needs one more sibling.  And as much as we tell her that we do not get to choose a brother or a sister, she is determined to have a brother.  This morning she asked her dad one more time if she could have a little brother.  Eric's response was, "we will see what we can do about it."  She came running to me thrilled that her dad said, "yes."  I told her that she better start praying for a healthy baby brother (and no, we are not trying to have another little one just yet).  Ella, then, told us that she was going to go to her room to pray out of her window.  We reassured her that God is everywhere and can hear her prayers from wherever she says them.  Her response, "I know.  Whenever I pray, God comes right to my cloud."  Adorable.  SGJ

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July 8, 2009

Ella loves Barberito's

After swim lessons on Monday, we stopped for a quick dinner at Barberito's, our favorite fast food place. The kids always split a quesadilla. Annie gets a side of black beans, and Ella eats a side of diced tomatoes before they split the chocolate chip cookie that comes with the kids meal. Ella insisted on posing for a photo with this Barberito guy on the wall by the kids' table. She made me take the shot three times before she was finally satisfied I got it the way she wanted it.
EJ


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July 6, 2009

Private Party with Peyton

Peyton invited us to his 8th birthday party to be held on Saturday, May 8th. The theme...Army! Ella was excited from the moment that she opened the invitation. The day before the big event, Champions called to tell us that Ella was complaining of a sore throat and that strep was making its way around the classroom. A trip confirmed our fear - a positive strep test. We immediately started her on antibiotics and headed to Rome anyway. Although she would have to miss the party, she would no longer be contagious for the Mother's Day festivites. Our night continued to get worse when Annie started throwing up in the wee hours of the morning. However, by Saturday afternoon both of the girls were their normal spunky selves. Kendi granted us a private party with Peyton so we could deliver the gift and devour a piece of cake. Because cake is the most exciting thing for a 4 year old at an Army party! Well, that and Peyton's cool Jeep. SGJ

   
Click here to download:
Private_Party_with_Peyton.zip (174 KB)

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May 17, 2009

Rain goddess

Ella played in a steady rainfall in our backyard for almost 45 minutes on this quiet Sunday afternoon. She was so happy to splash around in the puddles and try to catch the rain in the water pail.

Eric Johnson
Sent from my iPhone

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May 12, 2009

Annie in pigtails

Eric Johnson
Sent from my iPhone

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