8 Is Great!

5/2016 - Cameron turned 8! Oh my goodness...this cute boy has grown up way too fast. I love him so much and I am so proud of the decision he made to get baptized. The Bishop told me that he loved meeting with Cam. He said that he is such a smart boy and knows so much about the gospel. He said that he is so much fun and so full of personality! His dad gave him an amazing blessing and I always get emotional when they come out of the water of baptism. He has so many friends and family that have supported him through this decision. We love him and couldn't be more proud.

So Much Time

I have been thinking a lot about our blog and why I started it in the first place. I am not a journal keeper, I am not a scrap booker(I am sorry kiddos!), but I have always liked to blog. I started it to keep the memories of our growing family in one place. Life got busy, and it has been over 2 years since I have created a post. I realized today that 2 years of missed memories, exciting, sad, happy, loving events, are not noted anywhere but my memory. It is so important for my kids to have this in the future. I can't even tell you how much I long for pieces of my childhood to be on paper. Writings from my beautiful mom, pictures of us as kids doing silly things. I want my kids to have that. So, in the effort to give my kids something that they can hold! I will try and catch up the past 2 years and keep this blog up to date. One day I will print it out and put it in a book...however....I will need to win the lottery to do that as it costs way too much $$!

So Much....

 As I think back on the last few months, so much has happened! The biggest thing so far though has been our trip. We have not taken our family on a trip, like a true live trip, since Cameron was a baby! We decided it was time and that we were going all out!

We told the kids in January, on Noah's birthday, that we were going to DISNEYLAND! We had prepared and anticipated for months. We finally loaded up the car on April 16th and headed out of town. We were all so excited and ready for a break from our everyday schedules.

Our first stop was in St. George to stop by Grandma Maxine's grave. We had not been back since her funeral, so it was nice to spend a little time there. I miss her so very much! We then headed on to Vegas for the night. When we got to Vegas, we checked into our hotel and went to find something to eat. We were all tired and hungry so we didn't do much at all. The next day we took a walk down the strip and stopped at the M&M Factory and the Coke a Cola Factory. The kids thought it was great. We saw millions of M&M's, watched a 3d movie about "Losing your M in Vegas",  and tried Cokes from around the world! Day 1 was a big hit!

We spent a day at the beach, which all of my kids absolutely loved!  A Crab Cooker lunch was a must and very delicious! 2 days in Disneyland and 1 day in California Adventure. We had so much fun riding all of the rides and eating yummy treats. I was in my happy place. The kids traveled really well and got along the entire time. They loved riding the elevators and staying in the hotels. I can't wait to go back.

We had such a good time. I cried as we left because I just didn't want to come back to "real" life. It has been a long time since we had a true vacation. I love my family and I am so glad we were able to go.

So Big!

This baby of mine is so much fun! We all love him to pieces. My phone is chalk full of pictures of him. He is super smiley, finally! Has found his voice and loves to squeal. He rolls around like a crazy man and runs when he is in the walker. The kids are so good with him and can't get enough. They worry anytime he is fussy and love to make him laugh. Life is good! I was blessed with amazing kids that love each other and that couldn't make me happier!

January 24....I now have a true "Pre-Teen"!

NOAH -
Noah is 11! I cannot believe it, but at the same time, it feels like forever ago that he was my one and only. Noah is a very special kid and I can't even begin to tell you how much I love him. He is very strong willed and stubborn, but he is a very good natured and kind. He loves his brother's and sister so much and is very nurturing and protective. He loves to tease and make people laugh. He is very sensitive and does not like to see people hurt. Noah is very good at sports and loves each sport he is doing at the time! Football is his favorite though and he can't wait for the season to start every year! He has found a spot as the Center and loves to play as much as he can. I am so proud of him. I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.
This year for birthdays we decided we are going to do "Family Birthday". (no friend parties this year:( ). We took the kids to Tucano's (Noah's choice) Grandma and Grandpa J joined us. Then on Sunday, his actual birthday, we had cake and ice cream with Grandma Sandy and Grandpa Steve. We had a fun weekend celebrating him!

5th grade has been a little bit of a challenge for us! It is hard to learn to be "responsible" for the work you are required to do! He has been able to do a lot of fun things, like the Science fair project, and he is part of the "Battle of the Books" club. I am glad that he wants to join in and try new things. I am just glad we have 1 more year before Jr. High!

Noah- we love you to pieces and are so glad you are part of our family. Happy Birthday bud!

Schools out...what do you do?

We decided to take the kids away for the weekend before they went back to school after the new year. We spent the night at a hotel in Layton, went to see the new Peanuts movie, grabbed a bite to eat and swam! The kids love going to hotels. It is a vacation every time!

Christmas and New Years 2015

It is no secret that I love the holidays! Christmas this year was full of love, wonderment, family, surprises, yummy food, cold nights wrapped in warm blankets, friends, and fun. The kids had a great season. Noah is older, so Christmas has become a little different for him, but still a magical time of year! It was so much fun to have Beau with us this year and to see his cute smile with all that went on. I sure am grateful for my beautiful family and for the birth of the Savior. We are so blessed.

New Years, we had Ricci, Jim, Darren, Erin, Daniel and Whitney and family's come over for games and yummy food. (that we all picked up from different places!) We had a great time and actually made it until midnight, if you can even believe that! I love my family so much and I love to have them over to play. Happy New Years! Here's to a year full of new beginnings! Welcome 2016. 

Our Home

I am truly in love with our house. We have been here only a year, however, I feel like this is where we are going to be forever! I have NEVER felt that way in the 11 other places we have lived. I love cleaning it and making it beautiful. I love picking the weeds out front and planting things in our yard. I just love it. We have the best neighbors and the best ward. The kids have friends to play with all over our neighborhood! I know that the Lord led us here for reasons that are obvious and many reasons we do not yet know. I am so happy to finally be able to say that we have "planted our roots"! My poor kids do ask on occasion when we will be moving, just because they are so used to that. It makes me feel terrible. I am just happy that I am able to finally say, "we are HOME"!

End of Another Year....Playing Catchup!

I cannot believe that 2015 is just about over. We are coming up on Christmas, just 4 days away! My kids are so excited, there is snow on the ground and fun in the air. I love this time of year. It has come so quickly and I am already getting sad that it is almost over. Below are a few things I have missed to document:

Family Pictures - November 2015. I am not super in love with them but they work for now! 

Football 2015
Noah did great! He had a fun team that did really well. We are already excited for next season!

 

This was our first Halloween in our house, the kids had so much fun getting a ton of candy...we have a lot of neighbors that go "all out" for Halloween. It was fun. We had Bat Girl, Bat Man, Blue Shadow, and of course, a Ninja. (not sure why the pics are blurry..boo!)

  

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Johnson's this year. As always, the food was super delicious, the kids had a ball running around the church and playing together, and the adults were able to chat. I am so grateful for such wonderful family and the blessing that our Heavenly Father so selflessly gives to us.

 

 After Thanksgiving, we were all excited to decorate! I love our house...that we have now been in for a year! And I love the Holidays. My kids had so much fun going through our decoration boxes and asking questions about what we have and finding the ones that they have made. Such a magical time of year!

Beau is getting so big. He is almost six months old already and such a fun little guy to have in our home. We love him to pieces.

My beautiful sister in law, Whitney, gave us the scare of our lives. She suffered a brain aneurysm and we almost lost her. She spent 1.5 months in the hospital but is now how and on the road to recovery. We have witnessed so many miracles and are so very grateful for the power of the priesthood and the power of prayer.

I am sure there are so many things that I have missed, but right now, my camera is full of Beau pictures and not much else! lol. Priorities!

Bitter Sweet

The week of Feb. 17th was so much tougher than it usually is. We celebrated my beautiful Mother. This was the first time in years that we, as siblings, all(minus Amy and Stacy) got together to take her flowers. While at the cemetery, cute Daniel asked Chris to give us a prayer. It was beautiful and sweet and perfect! I love my family so much. I could never have endured the pain alone. The Lord sure knows what he is doing!! We then went to dinner altogether. It was a great night!

Also on Feb. 17th, Sandy went in for surgery on her hip. She fell off of her stool in the kitchen. It was a bit concerning and due to the nature of the day already, it is fair to say we were all nervous! Everything turned out fine and she is in rehab getting physical therapy to help her movement. She is doing well, thank the heavens!

Feb. 19th we received the call that my beautiful Grandma Maxine went back to our Heavenly Father. Even though we knew this day was coming, it did not make it any easier. Grandma has always been such a huge part of my life. There will be a void without her here. I am so grateful to know that we will be together again. And to know that she is with my mom, grandpa and so many others that have gone before her, it makes me smile. We took the kids to St. George for her funeral. It was beautiful. So many love her and wanted to say goodbye, it was a wonderful sight. I have been so blessed with such a wonderful family and that all started with my Grandma and Grandpa! Because of her, I will "never take a wooden nickle" I will always "remember I have precious cargo in my car" and I will live life to the fullest with a zest for life that she always carried. Each time I drink green tea I will think of her!! I love you Grandma.

Beau Walker Johnson - 6/26/2015

BEAU WALKER JOHNSON

6/26/2015

8LBS 6OZ

 

 He is finally here! And we love him to pieces. We went into Lakeview at 8am for a scheduled induction. Things were going great! I felt great things were calm, we were ready. The nurse hooked me up to the equipment at about 10am and kept coming in to see if I needed meds because I was contracting, I felt nothing which was wonderful! Dr. Pead came in and broke my water, I got the epidural and started pushing within 30 minutes. I pushed about 3 times and he was here! He had some lungs on him at first but he calmed right down and is the best baby!

It's no secret that he is the favorite brother right now. They can't get enough!HE will be taken care of his whole life!

He is such a pretty baby...he looks just like his brothers and sister! ***the picture to the left is me in all my pregnant glory the morning we went to the hospital. I don't think I could have stretched any more!***

 

                                                         We were so excited to get him home and snuggle! The kids often fight over who gets to hold him and who has held him more. It is so much fun to see Noah, Cameron, and Elliott with the baby. They are so concerned for his safety and health...they are all such great helpers. We are truly blessed.

So Many Things Missed.....

What a crazy few months. I feel like I have been losing my mind a bit and being 8 months pregnant, I have had NO energy or desire to do anything at all! I really do feel bad for my kiddos! So, I will go through the missed months.

APRIL - The start of spring! I love this month, mostly because it starts out with General Conference and Easter. This year, we were lucky enough to have them fall on the same day! The kids did their best at sitting and listening, as much as Ben and I just thought they were playing around, they actually remembered some of the talks. I was very impressed. They are growing up so fast, it makes me sad...but I also love the little people they are becoming. On Saturday morning, we got together with the Smith side and had breakfast. It is always fun and yummy. On Sunday night we went to the Johnson's and had a yummy dinner. We are so blessed to have family all around us to make memories and enjoy time together.

We had Soccer, a late snow storm, Amy and Phil blessed their beautiful new girl Kayelynn, Elli had dance and I celebrated my birthday. My family spoiled me with a trip to the spa....I have never been so pampered! Lunch at Olive Garden and a night out with Ben! Tocano's is so yummy!! So much crammed into 1 month! Goodness....no wonder I am so tired all of the time.

 

MAY -Cameron turned 7! He is such a good boy. He really wanted to have a Nerf War with his friends so Ben and I surprised him with a birthday party at "The Dartside"! It is an indoor Nerf arena. He and his friends ran and shot at each other for hours! They then came back to our house for pizza and cake. I can't believe my boy is 7. He is really excited now to turn 8 and be baptized!!

JUNE - School ended and summer began! The kiddos just had to last a few weeks before the baby came and mom had the rest of the summer off! We couldn't wait.

June 26, 2015....Baby Beau Walker Johnson joined our family. (he will get a post of his very own!) The kids love him to pieces and are such great helpers. I love to see them with the baby. I can't believe how grown up they all are. It has been a fun transition and Beau is such a good little guy! I can't believe we waited this long to have him!

JULY - Ben took the kids to the cabin and Beau and I stayed home. It was really weird to have such a quiet house. There was a little anxiety on everyone's part to be away from each other...but we all survived. I love July, fireworks, parades, and bbq's! On the 24th we went to Sally's house for the annual party. It was so much fun! I love the neighborhood I grew up in and the neighbors that are still around. It is fun to see them and catch up.

AUGUST - Summer is winding down. I went back to work and the kids started school(separate post to come!). Noah started football and won his first game! I love this time of year. I am ready for the cooler temps to start!!