Two Sunday’s ago, we took a lovely drive along the alpine loop that traces the back of Mt. Timpanogas. The kids loved going under a tunnel on the way there. The colors of the changing leaves were beautiful! Driving on skinny mountain roads with endless ravines right outside my window always makes me a bit tense, but Nic assured me that he’d keep us safe, and he did. We got out to take a few pictures, but it was chilly and windy. Nic taught us a song: ‘I love the mountains. I love the rolling hills. I love the fountains. I love the daffodills…’ The kids liked the ‘boom-de-ada’s the best!
Yes, we put our house up for sale. If we can sell it for what we need, we’d like to rent a place between Riverton and Salt Lake to cut down on Nic’s comute. While we don’t know if this is possible in today’s housing market, we do know that the Lord will put us where he needs us - and we are more than willing to conform to that. Here are some pictures of our house. If you know of anyone looking for a 5 bedroom 3 bath home in Utah Valley, let us know .
We’ve taken our kids camping before, but this is the first time we’ve gone with just our little family. I knew we would forget things that we just took for granted when we’ve gone camping with Nic or my families in the past…and we did forget things. We didn’t bring paper towels, a broom, stuff to wash dishes, extra propane for the lantern, and probably other stuff that I’ve forgotten that we forgot. We even forgot our pillows and had to wad up extra blankets for the night!
I wasn’t thinking so when we were trying to get the yay-hoos to sleep that night, or when I kept waking up in the night (uncomfortable without a pillow, waking up to nurse Molly and to help Brooklyn get a drink, and because our air mattress was partially deflated and Nic and I kept rolling to the middle), but I think it turned out to be a wonderful experience.
Some highlights were: Trying to get a fire to light with the not-so-great wood we bought at the gas station on our way out. (Dad came out victorious in the end.) Throwing rocks in the nearby river. Going for a hike. Posing for pictures on rocks, logs, and a lizard bench. Roasting marshmallows (after dinner Friday night and after breakfast Saturday morning!). Postponing breakfast for a few minutes to run for shelter during a short morning rain shower. Riding in Daddy’s truck. Having a full moon and not needing a flashlight for the night-time wake-ups.
Nic, Brooklyn, Talmage, and Clara setting up the tent
Warming up by the fire Saturday morning.
Throwing rocks into the river.
Mommy and Molly
Going on a hike
Posing on the lizard bench
Daddy and Molly
Brooklyn, Talmage, and Clara were 'Queen, King, and Princess of the Rock'
Brooklyn calls this her princess pose
I love how Molly and Clara are looking at each other in this picture. Talmage is pouting because he wanted to be 'girl trapped.'
We had a great reunion with Dad. Activities consisted of having a BBQ, going to a late-night-showing of Harry Potter, and going to a Chuckars baseball game. Some of the kids’ favorite things were: Talmage – “Playing with the fuzzy soccer ball and jumping on the tramp.” Clara – “Seeing the kitties.” Brooklyn – “Staying at the baseball game with Grandpa Buck and Grandma Julie.” (Our other kids were ‘melting down’ so Nic and I took them back to go to bed while Brooklyn stayed to finish the game.)
Picture taken by a neighbor in Dad's back yard.
ring around the rosies
Talmage and Nic at the baseball game
Brooklyn, Avery, Clara, and Aubrey
Zonked out on an airmatress in Grandpa Buck's basementBrooklyn and Talmage
Nic and I had a wonderful get-away. We decided it was the perfect blend of relaxation and fun stuff.
Molly came with us to Houston, Texas while Brooklyn, Talmage, and Clara stayed in Idaho Falls for a ‘grandma and grandpa vacation.’
Molly was pretty wiggly on the plane ride, but fell asleep for the last thirty minutes. Ben and Stephanie were kind enough to babysit Molly for us several times, let us stay in their guestroom, and let us borrow their car and infant car seat. Our activities included a visit to the Museum of Fine Art and the Holocaust Museum, an Astro’s baseball game, a trip to the Houston Temple, a late night movie, and tex-mex and barbecue meals.
Molly being silly on the plane
Snooz on the plane
On our way to the Houston Temple
Coocoo at Los Cucos
Stephanie, Ben, Nic, and Heather at Los Cucos
Nic posing next to Running Man outside the Museum of Fine Art in Houston
We got to the game on Thursday only to find that it was already over - scheduling error - oops. We decided to spring for tickets for the next night and ended up having a blast.
We had our family reunion on my mom’s side of the family at a cabin in Island Park. It was so refreshing! We visited Yellostone National Park, played games, watched fireworks on the bank of Island Park Resevoire, and relaxed in the hot tub. I stayed with the kids while they napped one day so the other ‘grown ups’ could go float the river. Aside from Talmage breathing in fumes from the hot tub chlorine dispenser and needing a puff of Grandma Trish’s inhaler, we had a wonderful vacation/reunion! Thanks Mom and Holly for putting it together
Hoorah for Dad! Nic’s day started out with breakfast in bed. After church, we had a roast with mashed potatoes per Nic’s request. We gave him a few presents: a football, beef jerky, a keychain vile for consecrated oil, and a Boston Red Sox tie. After a bit of football throwing and several games of pin-the-tie-on-the-daddy (colored by the kids), we had the Hansens over for pecan pie. What a great day. We love you Nic/Daddy.
Clara has recently discovered Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and is hooked. She can often be found watching an episode or crawlling around pretending to be Bella (Clarabell Cow’s little spotted puppy). When we take her shirt off to get jammies on and the shirt gets stuck on her head, she thinks she looks like Mickey Mouse – her stuck shirt being the famous mouse ears.
We got together with our friends Curtis and Brianne Thacker, and Chad and Maggie Hansen for a group date last night. We ate at Red Robin, then went to the 3D version of the movie Up. Nic and I gave the movie five out of five stars. After discussing it, we decided that Pixar did a wonderful job portraying honest emotion. The entire show was original, funny, and visually apealling. It had a completely unique plot. It felt like we sat down, and 15 minutes later it was over because we were so engrossed. Up comes highly recomended by the Johnsons.
Talmage said, “When I’m a daddy, I’m going to order a little girl with curly hair just like Molly.”
Talmage saw the bamboo plant I bought for my desk. He said, “I can’t believe Daddy has a bamboo plant! If he eats it then we’ll know he’s a panda.”
Molly saw the root beer on the table this evening, but with her limited vocabulary, kept pointing at it and saying “Num! Dnk!” (Translation: “Gum! Drink!”)
I just told the kids, “Sorry for loosing my temper. I shouldn’t have yelled.” Clara then said, “Ya, cause you should be better than dinosaurs – hehe!” Too true.
Nic told Talmage that we were eating Yorkshire pudding. “You’re Short Pudding?!” he exlaimed.
.
