More Christmas Vacation

Well, I'm still not to the actual Christmas pictures, but these are more from our vacation to Utah over Christmas break.

My Dad loves his new hat he got for Christmas. My adorable nephew, Beck, wasn't so sure about it. I LOVE the look on his face in this shot!Isn't he soooo cute?!
Beck and Grandpa This is our attempt to get a shot with all the grandkids (8 of them, #9 expected to arrive in May from Spencer and Missy, their 1st!) Well, at least you can see them all...mostly. ;)

My Grandma Morris made these adorable bear treats for all the kids. I thought they were so cute!!!

Megan thought they were adorable, too! Btw, yes, she now has braces, too! She got them on in October, just before Halloween so now we have 2 girls with the expander and braces.

I took these shots of Brooke because I thought it was funny and cute that the yogurt was dripping down her chin. The life of an almost 2 yr old!How much cuter can it get?!

Utah trip (post #2)

I forgot to include this picture in the previous post about graduation. Here is my Dad with two of the red-headed grandkids, Harper and Brooke.

After the graduation Friday night we drove down to Cedar City. We got up early and headed down to St. George because my cousin, Lauren, was getting married in the St. George Temple. It was so neat to be in the temple with so many family members. It was a simply beautiful and perfect day in St. George. She was beautiful, the groom was handsome, and it was so lovely and peaceful on the temple grounds after the ceremony. We even saw Elder Holland walk up into the temple! He stopped to wave, shake hands, and say hello to everyone. That was very neat to see him in person!

Me and Brooke after the weddingAfter the wedding there was a lovely luncheon and then we headed back to the temple to go through a session with my brother, Brett, who is leaving for the Romania Bucharest Mission in a few weeks. That was really special. My parents and all of my siblings were there as well as my Grandpa and Grandma Morris, my Grandma Johnson, and a cousin and an uncle. It was wonderful to have the entire family (except Ben and a sister-in-law) in the temple together. I am blessed with such a special family! The siblings went in on a camera for Brett to take on his mission. He was pretty excited about it. Here he is after he opened it.Brooke loved spending time with Grandpa. I love this sweet picture (Brett, sorry, but you kind of ruin the shot back there on the couch. lol!) She was so content on the trip.My mom has the most beautiful lilac bushes in her backyard. We tried to get some cute pictures of Brooke after church on Sunday, but she was more interested in looking at the dog than looking at the camera.

Duh, I didn't even think to get a picture of me and Brooke on mother's day or one of my and my mom. Oh well. It was a wonderful day with my dad fixing yummy crepes for breakfast and then we had all the Cedar City family over for dinner. Dad grilled salmon and it was soooo good. All of the food was great. I was able to talk to Ben and the kids. I missed them on Mother's Day, but it was nice to have a relaxing day. :) Thanks so much, hon, for taking good care of the kids while I was gone! I love you!

Girls and their Dolls

Is there anything like the love a girl has for her doll? My Mom brought my girls these darling dolls for Christmas. Here is what happened when they opened them:

Here is what happens when the flash doesn't go off. It's kind of a cool effect with some brightening, though.
Here is what happens to Grandpa with a little too much excitement and no enough sleep after driving 18 hours...

A Sweet Sweet Wedding

A couple weeks ago I pulled the kids out of school, Ben too days off of work and we took off in the van to Utah for my sister's wedding. I am so glad we went. My entire immediate family was able to be there (even my brother and sister-in-law in Puerto Rico). It was a very special and crazy weekend.

We got there a couple days early and were able to help in the yard and in the house to get everything ready for all the parties that were going to happen at my parents' house. Everything looked beautiful! They have an amazing yard and it was the perfect setting for the luncheon and reception--it was a little windy, but still perfect. :)

Friday night we had a fun bridal shower for Charisse and she got some really need gifts for the kitchen and recipes. Then Saturday morning we got up and ready early and headed down to St. George to the temple. We dropped the kids off at my Grandma's house and my youngest brother, Brett stayed with them while Ben and I were at the sealing.

The sealing was a sweet time. For as long as I can remember my Grandpa Johnson sealed all of his grandchildren in the temple. Then came the sad day 3 years ago, when he was called home to Heavenly Father. This was an especially difficult thing for my sister to endure because she knew that he would not be able to seal her to her husband in the temple when the time came and they were very close. She wrote him a very beautiful and personal poem that was included on the back of the program at his funeral services. Here it is:

I'm inviting you, dear Grandpa, to my wedding.

I know that it is still a good way off--

I haven't place nor date now even groom for certain yet,

and when I do I shall not know

the address where to have the card be sent,

nor how much postage for safe delivery.

So I thought I'd say "please come" while you're nearby,

and later I shan't have to wish I could.

I do know though, dear Grandpa, it will be

performed within a temple, so I hope

(since it won't be far from your new home or your new place of work)

you might spare but a moment, please, to come and see.

In all my plans I'd thought it would be you,

who then in white would join us hopeful too,

and you'd say to him you hoped he knew

he was getting the best girl in the world.

I hope, dear Grandpa, that they'll let me

save a seat for you--but if they won't,

please know there's still a place down here for you,

a certain space in all our hearts for you,

dear Grandpa.

All my love, Charisse

The sealer at my sister's wedding knew my grandfather and taught with him at Southern Utah university and has known our family for many years. He is a special man and he made the sealing very sweet by including our grandfather in it. He read this poem at the beginning of the ceremony and I have to say my tears were very plenty (as they are now as I am writing this). They did save a seat for him, next to my Grandma, and we all knew he was there for Charisse on that special day. What a blessing the gospel is in our lives to have the knowledge of the plan of salvation and that families are forever!

This is a picture of us in the St. George Temple visitor's center. We have a picture of us in front of this Christus in every stage of our marriage. We got engaged here and have pics, too, and then we have pics of us with each additional child. This one is sort of cheating since they are techinically "all" there, but one is just not born yet. :)



We had a lovely time taking pictures of the happy couple outside the ceremony. It was still quite warm in St. George so we didn't hang out all that long, but we did get some good shots. Then we headed back up to Cedar City to prepare for the luncheon and reception.

The reception and luncheon went on and were very successful and fun! The food was just awesome and everything looked beautiful.

My 3 brothers (in the red and blue shirts), sil Kailee (yellow), cousin Taylor (lt. yellow), and other sil, Missy's sister, Stephanie.

The cooks: my Dad and Uncle Bryan. The salmon and steak were superb!Charisse and Cory on the far right hanging out with their friends at the luncheon.Megan and cousin, Addy, enjoying the yummy food.

Here are some shots from the reception:

left to right: Cory's 2 sisters, me, Charisse, sister's-in-law Missy and Kailee

The dessert bar was just scrumptious as well as beautiful!

Charisse and Cory met in a dance class. They had fun dancing the night away at the reception.

Cory and his brother, Eric. They were quite a hoot!

They are the funniest couple. :) This picture was Cory's request. They were just missing the overalls and pitchfork. LOL!

My mom and Charisse.

I was a wonderful weekend and I am so glad we all went for the special occasion. I think it is so important to be together as families for these important times. My youngest brother will be leaving on his mission in a few months and our family will not all be together for a couple years so it was very neat that we were all there. I have to say that I have the coolest family and love each and every one of them. (more photos on my photo blog)

Visit with Dad!

My dad got to come hang out with us for a day a week ago. It happened to be Grandparents' Day at school! My kids were so excited they could actually have a grandparent come to school on that day. They have never been able to do that before. We started with breakfast at home (didn't want to fight the crowd and school and have a not so great meal) and then went to Kate's class. Her teacher had a fun checklist for the kids to do with their grandparent so off they went to see the art and music classes and work posted on the wall outside the classroom. We also hit the book fair. The kids LOVE the book fair.

The second and third grade classes had little musical presentations for the grandparents as well. It was cute. Kate got to play a bell and Brandon played the base (that's what he called it). I had the two little girls with me and my dad and they did pretty well hanging around the school for the morning. During the 3rd grade songs Carli tripped and fell and her teeth cut her bottom lip so I had to book it out quickly and get a wet paper towel in the bathroom. Thankfully, it wasn't too bad. I kept debating whether I should go to the nurse's office, but I just kept the towel on it and it was ok.

Then we left and picked up lunch for Brandon at Arby's, his favorite, and took it back to him. He and Grandpa got to eat lunch together while I wandered the halls looking for the kids' teachers to give them a little thank-you gift. After Brandon's lunch we signed Kate out early and took the girls to lunch. Brandon didn't want to leave (he loves the times at school when they are just hanging out watching movies and playing games). We hurried Megan back to the school by noon and they had some punch and cookies for the kids and grandparents. Megan didn't want to leave, either, so we took Kate home and relaxed for a couple hours. We picked up Brandon and Megan after school and got to hang out with Grandpa for a while. We ordered pizza for dinner. It was a really fun day! I love it when my Dad comes for a visit. He's all over the country working so when he comes to Texas it's a real treat!

Grandpa and Carli reading a book in Kate's class.Kate and Grandpa going over the checklist. Kate getting ready for the 2nd grade music program for the grandparents.
Brandon playing his part during the 3rd grade music time.Megan showing Grandpa the calender center in her classroom.Carli, Grandpa, and Brandon hanging out together.

Tagged!

I was tagged last week by Michelle, so here goes. :) I did a little of this info a couple weeks ago on our anniversary, but there's some fun stuff, too.

Where did you meet your husband?
We met in Provo, UT, through a mutual friend (my friend was dating his roommate). I was just visiting for the weekend as I went to school down in Cedar City.

What was the first thing you said to your husband?
Not a clue. :) I doubt he would remember, either. Probably, "Hi."

Where was the first kiss? first date?
I guess our first date was to a fireside at BYU. We had just met the day before. He just couldn't stay away, huh hon?!

First kiss was when he came down to Cedar to visit me. We were hugging goodbye for the evening and it turned into a little more...

Did you have a long or short courtship/engagement?
Short both. We met Feb. 14, got engaged April 2, married August 8, all in the same year.

Where did you get engaged?
In front of the Christus statue at the St. George Temple visitors center. He "snuck" down from Provo, skipping classes, to surprise me. He just couldn't wait any longer. He had the ring and he had talked to my parents so it was all set, he just had to ask! He showed up at my apt. next to my car as I was getting ready to go back up to campus to check e-mail again since there had "mysteriously" not been any messages from him for a few hours (that was unusual for us). :) He took me to dinner at a Chinese restaurant (where I ate one of those really spicy red peppers thinking it was a carrot a little on the burned side). Then he blindfolded me and took me to the temple grounds. He made me sit out in the hall at the visitors center while he set it all up inside (meaning he talked to the sisters in there and had them ready with the camera). Then he took me in and stopped in front of the Christus and took off the blindfold. He did the whole knee thing and asked me to marry him. Obviously, I said YES and the sister missionary took some pics of the whole thing. The cool thing was she was back there when we got married, too!

Where did you get married?
St. George, UT Temple. Family tradition, somewhat. We had the same room that my parents did and many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. We were sealed by my Grandpa. That was really neat.

How did the reception go?
The night of the wedding we had an open house in Cedar City for family and friends in the area. We had one a week later in OH, where my family was living, and then one in Michigan, where Ben is from. It was crazy, but I got to wear my dress a ton. That was a lot of fun! They were all very nice and the food was yummy. Ben and I sang together at the one in OH. That was neat.

How was the honeymoon?
Pretty darn good. :) We spent the first 2 nights at my grandparents cabin and then we drove to Avon, CO, where we stayed in a condo. We went white water rafting down the Colorado River. It was really fun.

I tag: Rebecca, Jenni, Lanae, and Stephanie.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

This picture was taken last summer on my Grandma Johnson's couch. From left to right is Brandon, Kate, Grandma, Megan, me, and Carli. Today is my grandmother's 89th birthday. Wow. Can you imagine all that she's lived through in 89 years? She is a fabulous and strong woman whom I admire and love so much. She raised 5 children, losing one at the age of 12 from leukemia from the fallout of nuclear tests that blew into Southern Utah. She's the best pianist I will ever know. She's a wonderful Grandma. She has 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren with more to come eventually. She married my grandfather and I think it was 3 days later he left for war and didn't return for 3 years. When he came home he walked right by her to see if she would notice him, but she did not even recognize him! How hard that must have been to marry, be alone for the next 3 years, and not even recognize your husband when he returned. My grandpa passes away after years of illnesses and health difficulties after choosing to stop the dialysis. He was gone a few days later. I'll post more about him in a couple of weeks when we celebrate what would have been his 92nd (I think) birthday. I am excited to spend time again with my grandma this summer when we take our yearly trek to southern Utah from Texas. What a wonderful woman she is!