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!