Play Group and Play Doh

When school started, Jordyn was asked to be in a little play group with some other 5 year old girls in our ward. We were both thrilled!! Jordyn loves to play with her friends, and she goes crazy when she's here alone with me in the afternoons. In our old neighborhood she didn't really have any friends to play with, so this is great! It was our turn today, and the question was, what to do? We have very carefully avoided play doh in our house for the past 16 years or so. I'm not sure the boys have ever even played with it, ever. The main reason was that we had carpet under our dining table in our last house. Ever try to get playdoh out of carpet? Yeah, not so fun. Well, Jordyn pointed out to me that we have a wooden floor now, so we can have playdoh, right? Ok, I took a deep breath and took the plunge. Now I remember why I never buy playdoh. Actually it wasn't bad, despite what the pictures show. The girls had a ball. They played and giggled with playdoh for 2 whole hours!! We cleaned up what we could, then I swept the floor and table and ta-da! We were done! So, how do I top this for next month?

First Week of School

Yay!! Everyone is finally in school!! Ammon and Matthew started last Tuesday at their new schools. Ammon is in 9th grade at Mapleton Jr. High, and Matt is in 6th grade at Mapleton Elementary. It was a big change for both of them. Ammon had a rough couple of days, but he seems to be adjusting and doing better. Matthew has been great. Of course, school is boring and stupid, but I can hardly expect 12 and 14 year old boys to be excited about it.

Jayme started on Wednesday and is carrying quite a load this semester. She has 23 more credits to graduate after this semester, so she is working hard to get done. You go girl!! Jenn and Adam started on Monday and are both working hard. It's so great to see my 'adult children' progressing toward their goals and doing well in school.

Jordyn, the most excited of all, was the last to start school. She finally got to go to kindergarten yesterday!! She was so excited, here she is at the door, ready to go!
Of course, we got to the bus stop early, and Matthew was a little horrified that she was so excited. Here she is waiting for the bus.

Here she is getting off the bus, look how happy she is. She had a great day, it was a "piece of cake"! She loves her teacher, and is making new friends!!

Michael's Blog

I started a new blog where I will post Michael's letters and my 2 cents (of course) ;) The address is www.michaelsmissionadventures.blogspot.com

Michael's Mission Farewell

We had Michael's missionary farewell on Sunday. He spoke in Sacrament Meeting and did a great job. I am so proud of him and the man he is as well as who he is becoming. There were lots of years when I wasn't so sure, but I think he's turned out pretty well.

After church, we all came over to the house for lunch and to visit. I think we fed over 100 people. We have been blessed with such good family and friends over the years, and it was wonderful to have all of their support. All of them have helped shape my children, and I am grateful for their influence in our lives.

Michael has also been fortunate enough to find a good group of friends these past few years. Again, many years of worry and praying for good friends finally paid off. These kids have been such a strength and support to each other as they have struggled through all sorts of challenges. All of the boys have helped each other prepare for missions, and the girls have been good examples and support for them. I am so grateful for them and what they have been for Michael.

He will enter the MTC in Provo tomorrow, where he will spend the next three weeks learning how to teach the gospel, then off to Cleveland, Ohio for the next two years. Godspeed and God bless!!

Trees, Trees, Trees!!!

We are slowly but surely making progress on our yard. So far, we have planted 22 Junipers, 3 flowering plum bushes, 7 flowering pears, 2 sycamores, 3 honeylocust and 2 maples!!

We went to get compost in Michael's truck, it really became a "beaner" truck then! It was riding pretty low, and we had our own work crew shoveling out the mulch.



Then we had bark delivered and Dennis moved it over to the trees so it could be spread around. Thank goodness for tractors! It would have taken FOREVER without it.












Here is proof that my boys really do know how to work. They've been a great help this summer getting everything done!









One finished project!! The junipers form the property line as a natural fence between us and our neighbors.















The flowering pears line the parkway.

















The auger on the back of the tractor really helped speed things up! They were able to plant 5 trees on the hill in record time! When they grow, they will provide a great shady area as well as privacy from the street.









That only leaves 2 japanese maple, 2 dappled willow, 2 flowering pear, 1 honeylocust, 5 sycamore and 2 maples left to plant this year.











Oh, yeah, and 12 junipers...

Good times!!

Matthew's Birthday

Apperantly I am not only a bad blogger, but a bad mom too. Matthew's birthday was last Sunday, and he turned 12. It is so strange to think that what was supposed to be my last child is 12 years old. He received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained a deacon by his dad. Also in the circle were Bishop Peterson, Grandpa Johnson, Uncle Scott, Michael and Adam.

Matthew got to choose his favorite dinner since it was his birthday. What did he choose? No, not steak, lasagne or ribs. Matthew wanted french toast souffle, sausage and hash browns. It was very yummy, even if I do say so myself! :) We also had cake and ice cream later to celebrate.

Matthew was able to go to young men's for the first time this last week. It was a combined activity, and they were going boating. Being newish in the ward, and the newest deacon, Matt doesn't really know any of the older boys. And, since we aren't boating people, he was a little nervous about that whole thing too. After we finally convinced him that he would have fun and it would be ok, we got him to go. The first thing he said when he got home was, "That was so much fun!!" Huge sigh of relief from the mom.

Today he passed the sacrament for the first time. Michael and I were watching for him to do something to goof up, but he did great!!

Happy late Birthday Matthew, we love you!

Good Bye to a Cousin

Last month I got a phone call that made my heart drop. My cousin, Jennifer Wilson Moss was killed in a car accident. Jennifer is the youngest daughter of my Aunt Kathleen. We were never especially close, but we were family. I remember lots of holidays and family bbq's at Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's house. We also had cousin sleepovers with just the girls. We had lots of fun together.

It was a horrible, tragic accident that didn't need to happen. She had just dropped her son off at vacation bible school and was going home. As she was waiting to make a left hand turn on her street, a distracted driver rear-ended her and pushed her into oncoming traffic. I believe she died instantly, and there wasn't a mark on her.

My dad and I were able to make the trip to Colorado Springs together to be a support for the rest of the family. It was heartbreaking, and gut wrenching, and every other cliche I can think of to see her family grieving so hard. She left behind 5 sons and a husband in addition to her brother, three sisters, and her mom. I wish I could have been more of a comfort, give more reassurance of the things I know to be true. I wish they knew with the surety that I do that families are forever. It isn't just a phrase or a nice thing to say, it is real, and it is true. I pray that they will be able to find the peace and comfort that only the Savior can give.

It was a long drive, but it was nice to be able to have the one on one time with my dad. We had some good talks, and it was really enjoyable. It was great to see my cousins again. I can't remember the last time I saw the girls, I think it was Grandpa's funeral. Judy and her husband Hussein, and her daughter Nikki were there. Janet and her girls, Jennifer and Danielle, came from Houston. JoAnn & Chris and their children drove from Illinois. Jim and Jill and all of their family were there too. We had some good visits, and some good bonding time. It made me realize how much I miss having family close by. We talked about trying for a reunion next year, we'll see if it happens. I hope it does. We need those family connections.