Muchas Gracias Monday

*I am Thankful for the mountains. A place you can go to get away from the heat!

*I am thankful for water. It gives something for my kids to do during the hot summer to keep cool.

* I am thankful for Shane! For taking time off work to spend the weekend with me and my family. He is cool like that.

*I am thankful for Otter pops in the Summer. A cool treat.

Yes, this week I choose a theme! LOL I love the Summer and how it warms up, but I like finding ways to cool off better! What are you all thankful for?

Summertime fun!

So my thirteen year old informed me I needed to update the blog. We have been so busy that I have so much to blog about it seems overwhelming to even start. So in readers digest form this is what we have been up to.
This is my friend Shelley. She and her family came up last week for her husband Jeff to compete in a bike race. I want to say it was for the Summer Games. He did great and took 2nd over all. While they were here we had a good time hanging out and catching up. Thursday she took my 2 oldest to spend the night in Cedar at the Hotel with them. Then Friday I met up with them for a little swimming at the Cedar pool.

The girls playing on the ramp.
Cole showing off his stuff!
Kailin in the pool! Can you believe it. The first time she has ever got in without me or her dad holding her.
Brynlee and I swimming in the pool.
So Shelley has never come to our house without a disaster of some sort happening. In the past it has been one of her kids ending up in the Insta Care. This year it was different. On their way home from Cedar they stopped so we could do some swimming at Sheep's Bridge. On the way back to our house to roast some hot dogs we notice smoke. We were all watching were the smoke was coming from as we were heading down the hill. Trey says, "mom I think our house is on fire!". I look and it was quite close. I think to myself that the storage units we live by must be on fire, and I start to get nervous. Trey starts to chant, "Please don't be our house. Please, don't be our house." When I get close enough to see it was not the storage units and it was closer to our house all I could think was, I hope it is just the back yard. Well, I was close. The neighbors were losing their house. It was awful! This is a picture from my backyard. They got out, but lost everything! Our prayers are with the Wixom family.
Moving on to happier times. These are my friends. We went to the midnight showing of Eclipse. I have not read the books. In fact I had not even seen New Moon until Monday night! Yes, I know we are crazy!
This is Echo! I had to take a picture of just her to prove she was out past midnight! LOL
This is me and Deb! Deb you are a good sport!
This is our group that went that night. All except my sister Bridgette. She came to, but when the movie ended she bolted home!
Wednesdays are back! During the summer I take the kids out on Wednesdays to go do something fun. Lately it has been Sheep's Bridge. They love it! The older kids can swim. The younger kids can play in the dirt, and mom can relax. I was so tired this week. After staying up late for Monday nights New Moon party that was awesome! Then staying up late Tuesday to go to Eclipse. I was dragging! So going out to Sheep's Bridge was perfect!
Brynlee burned the bottom of her foot Tuesday when Shane was dutch oven cooking for the Beehive's activity. So all she wanted to do was eat.
This is my friend Colony and her husband that tagged along with all us gals. This is Ellie that wanted her photo shoot done. She was so fun!
This is my sister Bridgette, and the hot dog. The kids would ride this giant raft down the rapids.
And last but not least Princess Kailin.
So far we are having a great summer!

The way you tell Summer is here...

Shaylee and Trey went to Cedar City with Shelley and her family. The three little ones were left, and wanted something fun to do. We went to Wal-mart, and got a pool. They had such a good time swimming!
They would take turns going up the slide, and then down face first so they could use their goggles.


They had so much fun yesterday that this morning after breakfast they were back in the pool. Yes, it was 8am and they were already swimming. That is when you know Summer is here. When it is hot enough to go swimming at 8 am. LOL

Ivan Johnson Family Reunion 2010

This year for the Ivan Johnson Family reunion there was a pirate theme. Julie and her crew were in charge of it. It was at the sprinkler park in Washington Fields. It was rainy and cold that day. I guess all the prayers about it not being to hot got answered. Each family was assigned colors for their family. The Dean Johnson family was black. Marcia made the cutest black scarfs for all of us. The boys had skulls and swords and the girl's had skulls with pink bows.
Some of the kids took being a pirate a little to literal. Yes, I am talking about Cole.
Kailin with the flowers they had for all the girls to make. There were also swords for the kids to make.
Brynlee loved the pirate cupcakes.
This cute pirate was like the rest of us trying to keep warm by wrapping up in towels. Gideon is Audrey's little guy.
Megan playing games with the kids!
The little cousins talking.
They played another game. Each family had to have 10 people play. They taped their thumbs in and gave them things to do. Marcia had to cut a heart out of a piece of paper. Mark had to open pour a soda then drink it.
One of the nieces had to open gum and put it in her mouth and chew.
Uncle Joe had to tie a shoe. I can't remember the rest of the tasks, but it was a good laugh for everyone.
Older cousins visiting.
We had such a fun time! These tend to be a lot of work for those putting them on, but I am thankful they do. I love Shane's family and getting together with them. Thanks Julie and Crew!

Muchas Gracias Monday

*This week I am thankful for my Dad! He taught me how to work hard, change a tire, look for the good in everyone, and be laid back in stressful situations. Ok, I know some of these haven't been put into action, but he taught me them none the less.

*I am thankful for people who know more about parenting than I do, and are willing to write books about it.

*I am thankful for a husband that doesn't get a lot of sleep during the week, and will still get up early to help clean out the garage on his day off.

If you have something you are thankful for join the Muchas Gracias Monday!

Fun Friday!

Today I decided we needed to get out and have some fun. My sister and I decided to go to Red Cliffs. The only thing is Red Cliffs is closed until August 1st. We then decided to switch plans and go to Confluence Park. It was so chilly today so I had not planned on going in the water. I knew the kids would so I brought towels for them, but not me. Bridgette's friend from work Troy came, and he pulled her in. The only thing is she was attached to me! AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!! It was so cold after that! This is Bridgette and I after we were out of the water and freezing! LOL
This is Cole. For some reason he thought he was going to catch a Beaver. He wanted to take it home, and train it. Do Beavers even live in southern Utah?


This is my dare devil kid Trey. He was the one to go the highest on the rope swing! He would let go and do a cannibal.
This is my nephew Hunter. He was second in line for the dare devil position.
Here is Shane watching the kids swim. That is where he stood until he was convinced to jump in, or be pulled in!
This is Brynlee eating her lunch. So I didn't want to haul all the kids lunch so I made draw string back packs for each of them to take their lunches in. They were all excited about them!
This is Kaleb my nephew. He loved swimming. He was smart enough to stay in the water were it was warmer.
Braxton and Grandma. The only 2 who did not get wet.
Of course I had to get a picture of this little guy. He was a total ham when the camera came out. He just loves Aunt Brandi!
We had such a good time. Thanks to everyone that came! I think every Friday should be a fun Friday!

Muchas Gracias Monday

* I am thankful for a teenager. Yes, Shaylee turned 13 on Friday!

* I am thankful for family to spend the holidays with. This is my family hiking in Red Cliffs on Memorial Day.


*I am thankful for a wonderful husband that is willing to read stories when all he really wants is a nap!

* I am thankful for blue snow cones in 100 degree weather.

* I am thankful for a husband that lets me leave him home alone with the kids even when one of them is potty training. Yes, this is how she was dressed when I came home. LOL

All in all life is good!