First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage...

Then Comes ....(about 15 weeks)

A BABY IN THE BABY CARRIAGE!

We are so excited to announce that we are pregnant (due April 19th)! I am about 17 1/2 weeks and going strong. We have heard the heart beat twice and have felt so blessed to have been feeling fairly well. We will find out gender in about 3 weeks so let us know your guesses! We feel so lucky and blessed to be future parents and are thankful for both of our wonderful parents who have set perfect examples of how we want to be.

Other exciting happenings:
2 year anniversary
We celebrated our 2 year anniversary. The restaurant gave us the best seat and best food there was. Jordan also enjoyed his first ever corn maze. We also returned to the Salt Lake Temple to do sealings (until I nearly passed out and had to sit down). We always take a look at "our sealing room" as well. It was wonderful!The next morning we hiked to the top of Ensign Peak in SLC. It was a gorgeous view!
Football, football, football!We love to go to BYU football games. If we aren't watching them, then most likely one of us is at least dreaming about it (you guess who). We are die hard fans! Go Cougars!
Halloween Fun!(Just some of the girls)
We love our ward! We have made so many friends that we hope we can always continue to keep in contact with. We feel so lucky to be surround by such wonderful people and good examples!
(the guys)
Each of these guys have wives that are pregnant and so we were the group with all matching costumes.
*We also had a party with some of the old roomies! We made soup and played some fun games. Jordan and I are so glad that we have them around for just a bit longer.
* School this year, the Kindergarten team decided to be butterflies because we did a whole unit on insects this year and even had the caterpillars that turned into butterflies. It was so cool!
(Mrs. Menlove, me, and Mrs. Money)
My kids were awesome and we enjoyed going to a retirement home and singing a Halloween song to them. My kids loved it!
I know that is a total overload... but that is about how our life has been lately... crazy and fun!

Opportunities to Do Good

So lately I feel i have had more time to think about life and I have decided I just want to be a better person. I want to do more than just live my life on a day to day basis. I want to be able to find something special about it or something wonderful I can do. Daily I am reminded by the people that surround me that I am so lucky to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I feel happiness in the little things I do like reading scriptures, spending time with Jordan, and watching General Conference. My testimony has been growing so much lately. Tonight Jordan showed me a mormon message and I want to share it with you.
I am ready to do some good!

So lately I feel i have had more time to think about life and I have decided I just want to be a better person. I want to do more than just live my life on a day to day basis. I want to be able to find something special about it or something wonderful I can do. Daily I am reminded by the people that surround me that I am so lucky to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I feel happiness in the little things I do like reading scriptures, spending time with Jordan, and watching General Conference. My testimony has been growing so much lately. Tonight Jordan showed me a mormon message video which I often get glued to watching all of them, but I want to share it with you.

First Week Jitters

Well, Jordan started his MBA and has been busier than ever, but nonetheless is loving it! I started Kindergarten this week and this is just a bit of quotes for your enjoyment.

Student #1: When is recess?



Me: (didn't respond)



Student #1: Mrs. Ellingson when is recess?



Student #2: What IS recess?

(I forget how everything about school is foreign to them)

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Student: Mrs. Ellingson where are all the toys? (poor child is in for a bit of change)

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I had been teaching my kids the word 'the' this week because it is a word we basically know by sight. I continued to refer to it as "the magic word". Throughout the day I would ask "What is the magic word?"

At the end of the day: "What is the magic word?"



All students: (shouting) : PLEASE! (at least they know their manners)

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We had a short lesson about saying please and thank you and they might receive another thing for my class reward system. Right after we had talked about it I then heard...



Student #1: Thank you for recess



Student #2: Thank you for letting us go to recess

I then heard a lot of thank you's for the rest of the day. I love my job even though there are frustrating days and sometimes I just want to fall asleep on the floor it is the best!

Party Animals!

From looking at our blog you are probably thinking all they do is PARTY! Well, yes, we love to party, but no Jordan worked 9-10 hr. days this summer and so when he did get home we tried our best to party hard. Before we knew we were headed back to Utah soon, we decided we wanted to see a little bit more of Texas so we headed out to San Antonio. First, we stopped by the Alamo. It was so neat to see and learn more about what happened at the Alamo. Then Ryan and Angie (and the girls) caught up with us to go to Sea World. I have never been to Sea World before and was amazed by the shows they performed.

Ellingson Reunion

After the Tingey Reunion we were able to head back to our beloved Provo for the Ellingson Reunion. We loved having the opportunity to spend so much time with family. This was the first time that the Ellingson family has had everyone together in about 5 years so it was a must for a family picture.We had a blast spending time with cousins, getting to know aunts and uncles better, and especially spending time with these two wonderful people (Dallin and Laura). They were able to stay with us at our apartment and we loved it. Dallin and Jordan REALLY are twins and Laura and I, well we are twins too (or at least that's what we say- you decide ;)



We got to participate in a rubber ducky derby. Jordan and I both qualified for the finals, but didn't win. One of my favorite things we did is walked around BYU campus and found all of the "special spots" everyone had including Grandmother Richardson, aunts, uncles, cousins, and where Jordan and I got engaged was also included. We hiked the "Y" and had a ball!



Jordan and I decided this summer that we hope that when we look back on our lives we can say the majority of it was spent with family. It was wonderful!

work hard, PLAY hard!

I guess Jordan does all the working, but we both get to reap the benefits of the playing hard part. Over the 4th of July we went to Houston for the Tingey family reunion. While we were there we decided to postpone our fathers day gift and give it during the reunion. My dad is the best dad! He has an overwhelming desire to do good and has the ability to find humor in everyday life. Exercise is important to him and so we decided to put on a family 5k to with everyone participating (including grandkids) to show how important it is to us as well. It was a success except for the shirt I made for my dad.

What a blast it was! While in Houston we headed to the beach, which was amazing! The water was warm and it was fun to body surf.What's better after a hot day in the sun than some ice cream... even if half of it doesn't end up in your mouth. (It makes me hungry for ice cream right now). We can't wait for more family outings during the summer!

work hard, PLAY hard!

I guess Jordan does all the working, but we both get to reap the benefits of the playing hard part.

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission

We love Texas, but the thing that we probably love the most is our calling as ward missionaries. We were able to attend and be a part of a convert baptism. What an amazing experience.! I can't remember the last time I attended a baptism and I don't quite have the words to describe it, but pure happiness. The young girl's name is Sapphire. We had met the family a couple of times and gave them a ride to church and later when the missionaries asked who she would like to baptize her she said "the man that gave me a ride to church" (and that would be Jordan). I also had the opportunity to talk about the Holy Ghost. All in all, it was such an incredible experience. It is so neat to work with Elder Wutkee and Elder Burt and to see how the gospel truly changes your life.

How to become a Texan

1. Have a dozen spoonfuls of this yummy stuff.2. Eat at a real good BBQ
(we got ribs and brisket....mmmm)

3. Get put in jail4. Put on yer cowboy hat5. Watch the cattle walk down the street
(did you know their horns can be 6 ft. long?!?)We have been able to do quite a bit of exploring around Ft. Worth. We are trying to explore it all while we have the chance. Besides exploring we have doing a lot of this

We spend a lot of time at the Library. We don't have internet at our apartment and so this is where we get it. Jordan has some online classes that he is taking on top of his internship. I have been trying to learn Spanish through some classes the library offers online (but don't test me...yet!). I have also found a new love again of reading, if you haven't ever read any books by Shannon Hale you need to!

In our ward we have been called as Ward Missionaries and we LOVE IT! Every Tuesday we go out with the missionaries in our ward. We get to go to their appointments and listen and when we feel prompted we share our thoughts. We have taught so many people and have invited people to go to church with us. It is SO exciting! I truly believe it has strengthened our love in our marriage and our love for the gospel. We truly are blessed to have a prophet on the earth Today and the Book of Mormon to help us return to live with our Savior.

C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E-!

So our blog is somewhat like my journal and so every time I get on I have to back track. So stay with me.

I Graduated!
and this is how it feltThe day was perfect! I had so many supporters there and I am so grateful for that. I really could not have made it through college without my roommates, parents, family, and Jordan. Thank you for helping me to be a college graduate!My parents: one of the biggest supporters. I can still remember receiving packages galore from them with all of my favorites. They were always the first people I called after leaving the testing center (sometimes in tears), cheers from my dad left on the phone, and providing for my schooling. Thank you!Jordan: He has helped me to stay happy and understood the real meaning of "work hard, play hard". He has helped me to get up in the mornings, helped around the house so I could do homework, made me laugh, and always made my needs come first! Thank you!

It feels good to be done and teaching Kindergarten, which I will be able to do again next year at the same school. Life is good :)

We Made It!

We made it!

We are in Fort Worth, TX for the summer. Jordan is doing an internship for Lockheed Martin (AMAZING!) They are huge company in the engineering world. We have already seen many blessing in the terribly LONG process of getting Jordan here. First of all, Jordan has had some crazy adventures. Experiencing his first tornado, having to look for an apartment after the first one was grody (not even sure how to spell it), hydroplaning on the freeway, having to find another apartment. Needless to say, it all worked out and we couldn't have felt more blessed than we do right now. We feel like we are supposed to be here for the summer. After I finished up teaching I'm glad to say Jord and I have been reunited! Look for more pictures to come as we buckle down and learn to talk like true texans!

Bye Y'all

You Know it's a Good Day When...

* You hit all the green lights on the way to work.

*You hear birds singing in the morning.

* You stay under your grocery budget.

*You get paid.

*You get breadsticks for a dollar for a special company celebration.

*When a co-worker has a leftover pie and you are the lucky one who gets it.

I love the little things that make life great. How do you know when it's going to be a good day?

Quote of the day:
Student: "Mrs. Ellingson, did you know that if I put this wrapper on the ground it is called glittering?"

The Unknown

Unknown: not known; not within the range of one’s knowledge, experience, or understanding.

This is the word that has become a big part of our life lately. We are hoping that I can keep my job teaching Kindergarten for next year, but won’t know until after Kindergarten registration. But sure love teaching! We are still figuring out where we will be for the summer, but sure enjoying the journey until we figure it out. Until then… we are so grateful for family and friends that make life fun.

I love these girls. I have had the opportunity to serve with these beautiful girls in my calling of our ward and they have made such a big impact on my life. The picture is missing Karen, but she keeps us always looking at things with a positive view.

Now I feel bad that none of these pictures have spouses, but yes we love hanging out with friends and their spouses. I love my old roommates... really the sisters I never had.

**Some updates on how we spend our time until our unknowns become known**

I had my 23rd birthday! Jordan is amazing! He works every morning at 6:00, so he woke up extra early and I found 4 different kinds of pancakes for my birthday breakfast. Best breakfast EVER!

Jordan loves snowboarding and hadn't been for awhile and I hadn't been skiing for 7 years... so we decided to go. Renting skis was cheaper than a snowboard, so Jordan decided to learn how to ski. To say the least, he dominated his teacher (me).

Jordan won a laptop by creating a template online of the United States. You can click on each state and it will tell you the capital, population, and link you to a wikipedia page.

We went CAMPING.... well, sortof!

and ate some s'mores. They tasted amazing!

Stay tuned for when our unknowns become known.

Ellingson update

Last weekend it was beautiful outside and so Jordan and I just HAD to get out of the house.  We decided to head up to Midway to see the ice castles.  As we were driving up the canyon we quickly found ourselves in a blizzard, but decided to continue to make the trip.  It was so fun to be outside.  After being drenched from head to toe we drove home and stopped to see bridal veil falls!  

We even saw some ice fisherman and Jordan just had to venture out on to the frozen lakeMy dream has always been to be a photographer so I am working on it, but Jordan will need to show me how he does what he does.  He is amazing!

Ellingson Update:  Jordan is working super hard at school and wakes up everyday at 5 AM to get to work.  I am so grateful to have such a handsome, hardworkin' husband.  I am loving being a Kindergarten teacher.  The best quotes so far...

Teacher: Tell them how that made you feel.  Say, "That hurt my feelings."

Student: Can I say it "destroyed" my feelings?

Student: Dad, I mean Mrs. Ellingson (I've also gotten mom)

Teacher: Do you know what a vowel is?

Student: I think I dream about them.

Family: Isn't it about time?

Life has been so crazy lately!  Christmas was wonderful!  We spent it in Flagstaff, AZ with my whole family.  We were able to take some family pictures and I followed the photographer around with my new camera.  Here are a few of the pics I took...

Can they be ANY cuter?!?

Ryan, Angie, Madison, Baby Gertrude

Brooks, Sabrina, Spencer, Benson

Jordan and Kaitlin

Mom and Dad

Thanks for Everything!