Happy 24th of July

This year, for the 24th of July, we got together with my parents and my brother's family.  It was seriously one of the funnest parties we've ever had.  We started out with a picnic on our front lawn.  Look at those cute little (and big) boys....

 

 

The children climbed trees...

 



played football...

 



built a fire, so we could make s'mores....

 



lit some cool fireworks...

 



 

and then we all took a nap.  :)

 



Okay, we actually didn't all take a nap.  But at the end of the night, Moriah didn't want to leave, so she laid down on the floor and said she wanted to stay, so Brad laid down next to her.  It was so cute, I had to take a picture. 

 

The evening was fun from start to finish and it was so great getting together with the cousins. We'll have to do it again soon!  :)  Happy 24th! 

Jacob turns 8!

Happy 8th birthday to Jacob (on July 9th)!  How can my "baby" be 8 years old?  (Don't answer that)....

 

The week before Jacob's birthday, he and I were shopping at Target for a couple of things.  When we walked through the boys' clothing section of the store, Jacob spotted a pair of bright blue pants (levi's) that he immediately started begging for...."Oh pleeeeaaaasse Mom, can I have these pants?  Pleeease? Puleease?"  To which I responded, while laughing,  "We already have your birthday present, remember?"  I had never seen any of my children beg for a piece of clothing like Jacob did that day.  He is extremely fashion savvy and he knows what he wants when he sees it.  I told him that we could wait and see if they go on sale, and that if they did, we could maybe get them for school.  That barely satisfied him...

 

Being the softy that I am, I decided to get them and surprise him for his birthday.  Here is his reaction....look at that face!  That is a face that says, "Oh my heck!  No, you didn't!  You did?  You got me the pants?"  And there was screaming....quite a bit of screaming.  It was so funny!

 



 

"Can I put them on right now?!"  (I've just got to say here that I can NOT get my kids to try on new clothes when I bring them home....it is just not their favorite thing to do.  Jacob, on the other hand, literally begs to wear his "new" stuff the minute he gets it....the minute I walk through the door).  So funny to watch!

 



 

We had a family party with a big cake and lots of cousins.  It was a great day!



Caleb and Jacob

 



More of the cousins.....

 



Look at Joshua in this picture....what a funny kid!  (And Brad, might I just say that you're looking forward to that piece of cake)....  :)

 



Incase you missed it, here's a close-up of Joshie.  Love that!  :)

Sweet Moriah!  Yummmm

 

Alexis, always willing to have her picture taken (unlike some people I know)...

 

Jacob, you are getting so big...and so handsome, I might add!

 



Moriah and Dallin

 

Jacob is usually ready to pose for the camera as well....way to go!

 

 

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson with the birthday boy.  What a sweet picture!

 

Happy Birthday Jacob!  We love you so much! 

 

 

 

It might not seem like much...

 

 

 

...but it's ours!

 

January 1998--August 2012

14 years, 7 months (but who's counting?) 

:)



Las Vegas Cousin Time

AJ and Alexis came to our house Thursday, July 5th to stay for about a week for some serious cousin time!  We had so much fun!  (And for the record, Wendy has taken Eric and Brandon a few summers for a week, so it was definitely her turn for a break).  Around 11:00, we went to Eric's work (Sweets Candy Company) and got a first-rate tour from him at the factory.  He was an amazing tour guide!  (Good job, Eric).  On the way out, we bought some CANDY!  Because, after all, you can't go to a candy factory and not buy treats, right?  We got pizza on the way home and everyone was happy, happy, happy!

 

On Friday, we went to Hollywood Connection and I got totally WORN OUT on the second day!  The kids were going from ride to ride to ride and we were all exhausted by the time we came home.  I forgot my camera for this event and I was so sad!  So, you're just going to have to take my word for it....we had a blast!  We also played miniature golf and went skating...wow!  No wonder I was so tired...I'm tired just thinking about it....(I'm getting old).

 

That night, we did fireworks at our house!  Lots of them....and cool ones, too.  This I took pictures of...yippee!

 

I'm not sure what Jacob is doing in this picture...possibly starting the party by dancing?  Either way, he's so cute!

 

 

And then AJ joined in....look at the height on that jump!  Way to go kiddo!  Let's get this party started...

 



Eventually, it got dark.  I love this picture because of how intent they are all looking at the fireworks.  What little cutie-heads!  :)

 



Yes, the teenagers were there.....all three of them.  Nobody dared smile, just incase....someone saw them smiling...because that would be terrible!

 



See what I mean by "cool" fireworks?  Seriously, we've never had such neat ones....

 



 Once again, I'm not sure what Jacob is doing in this picture.  I think he was trying to make his shadow "dance" on the garage door...maybe we have a little protege here...The Little Nutcracker perhaps?  (Is that what it's called, I can't remember.  Give me a break, I don't have any girls.  geez).

 



They are just lovin' these fireworks!

 



 

 

Hey, Alexis, whatcha doing?  :)  AJ, are you praying for more fireworks?  And check out Kyle....he looked at the camera.  Miracle!

 



This is one of my favorite pictures.  Jacob had "foot pajamas" on, but he still wanted shoes.  He couldn't get his regular shoes on, so he got his flipflops.  For some reason, that just melts my little heart...

 



On Saturday we went swimming at the county pool. Who doesn't love swimming?  Sunday was a quiet day.....well, I'm not sure I would call it "quiet." .....it was more like a "less busy" day.  :)  Actually, at around 4:00, AJ, Alexis, Kyle, and Jacob went to my brother's house for dinner and to have a sleep over with his family.  I heard they had a roarin' time....as for us, it was the perfect time for a much needed break...and it was a lot quieter!  :)

 

Monday was less exciting in terms of "outside activities," but the kids didn't notice.  They played the wii, their ds's and jumped on the tramp.  Pure cousin heaven.  And then that night, Josiah, Caleb, and Joshie came to our house to have a sleep over with us. That made it a total of 9 BOYS and 1 GIRL (poor Alexis--she holds her own pretty well, actually).  Seriously, though, watching these kids be together and enjoy each other's company was the most awesome thing.  They just ate it up!  AND WHY DIDN'T I TAKE ANY PICTURES?  What is the matter with me?  I was probably barely walking, after the week full of fun we'd just had....yeah, I'm pretty sure that was it.

 

Tuesday morning we packed everyone in the car (well, not everyone.....Kyle, Jacob, AJ, and Alexis) and drove down to Beaver to meet Wendy and stay the night at a motel.  It was the perfect end to the perfect week, except I really was exhausted....sorry Wendy.

 

They had a pool at the motel and even though it was absolutely FREEZING, the kids still had a blast.  Wendy and I even got in for a short time, but it was so cold, I couldn't stand it too long....I know, I'm a wimp!

 

 

On Wednesday we headed back home (and Wendy headed back to her house in Vegas).  It was so much fun to have the cousins together.  Everyone got along wonderfully and there was never a dull moment.  Until next time.....  :)

4th of July Party at Aaron and Kristin's

 

 

We had a great 4th of July this year at Aaron and Kristin's home in Hooper. 

 

 But first, here is a picture of our very first, original stroller when we had Eric.  My sister, Wendy and her husband, got this for us...let's see, umm...18 years ago?  Something like that and we used it for every! single! child!

 

It was such an awesome stroller!  We had it stored in the garage the last few years, and finally decided to let it go....such a sad day!  It's so dirty in these pictures (it wasn't always like that, I promise), but  it served its purpose.  Anthony and Wendy, thanks so much for giving us such an awesome stroller!  You definitely got your money's worth!  We loved this little thing!  sniff...sniff...

 

 



I will get to the 4th of July party, I promise, but for now, enjoy Dallin's 53 mosquito bites he received on his neck at scout camp this summer.  They looked worse than this at the time....these pictures just don't do justice!  Poor guy.  He was pretty miserable.

 



And now for the party!  Aaron and Kristin invited the Jones clan to their home for a barbeque, some fireworks, and great company!  We had so much fun!

 



Smile, Ryan and Malissa.  Good job, you guys!  :)

 



We forgot to have the little ones bring their swimming suits, but Jacob didn't care.  He just went in his shorts.  A little thing like that wasn't going to stop him (even if he did have to ride home in the car in wet clothes)!  Funny kid!

 



Cute Owen.  Man, these cousins are growing up too!

 

 



Spencer and Kyle.  These guys are only 2 weeks apart, and yes, Spencer is older.  Kyle will grow eventually, won't he?  (I think he's a little worried about it, but I keep telling him it will be okay)...he better get taller than me, or we're in trouble!  :)

 



Jacob and Sierra.  These guys are about 2 and 1/2 months apart, and yes, Jacob is older this time.  What do you expect from a short mom like me?  Oh well, that's life, I guess.  There are worse things than being short, aren't there?

 



We had a wonderful time playing with cousins and being together as a family.  Thanks, Joneses, for being such awesome hosts!