Joshua's Baptism

 My cute little nephew, Joshua, got baptized last Saturday.  He is the one right in the middle between the two boys.  It was such a great program and such a fun day.

The Johnson Family  

(from left clockwise) Moriah, Caleb, Michelle, Brad, Josiah, Joshie

 I even got a picture with him.  He is growing up so fast!  What a sweetheart!

 Of course, we had to go to Leatherby's afterwards....it's like a rule with the Johnson family!

Brandon and Dallin

Kyle won't ever let me take a picture of him, but in this picture he photo bombed it and I decided to keep it!  (Ha Ha Kyle)

Grandpa and Grandma Johnson

I love this picture of Jacob and Caleb!

And here's a close-up!  So stinkin' cute!

It was a great day!  

Congratulations Joshua!  We love you!

Brandon's Homecoming 2014

Brandon had a great time at Homecoming.  Here he is before the big night.

This is Zach Park, Brandon, and Cy Kitchens  (They are such awesome boys!)

 During the day, Brandon went to the zoo with a big group of people.  It rained and rained and rained some more.  It was a very soggy day, but it didn't stop any of them.  They still had a great time.  (Who wouldn't want to share an umbrella for a few hours?)  HA!

Oh yeah, this is Alena and Brandon...

 Since I'm the mother of the "boy," I don't get to see the couple exchange their flowers before the big date or when Brandon picks up the girl.  (It's kind-of sad for me.)  BUT I threatened Brandon to take some pictures with his phone, so these are what I got...

Brandon putting on the corsage...

 This is Alena laughing at how to pin the rose on Brandon.  Don't you remember those days?  They were a little awkward, weren't they?

Does it go like this?

 Zach and his date (I don't know her name), and Alena and Brandon  (I'm not wanting to point out any flaws or anything, but do you see Brandon's rose?  Does it look upside to you?  Just saying....)  HA!

Yep, I'm pretty sure that is upside down...(very cute picture though).

This is just a picture of their dance pictures.  That's why it's grainy and blurry.  But honestly, it is one of the cutest pictures I've ever seen.  They were both smiling so cute!  Ahhhh

This is the group photo....it was a very big group!

The highlight of the evening was when Brandon "True Colted."  What is that, you ask?  That is a great question.  Apparently it's when a girl and a boy kiss each other over the big C painted on the floor of the school (you know, for Cottonwood Colts).  Of course it has to be on Homecoming night and everyone who is there gets to watch.  So funny!  (You can "true colt" any other time of the year, too, but it has to be on a full moon and with someone who is already a "true colt.")  Hilarious!  Way to go Brandon.  You've made me so proud!  (First kiss, too....I'll bet that was romantic!)  HA!

It was a successful night and I'm glad they all had a good time.  Brandon's last Homecoming too....oh the time is going way too fast!  :(

Brandon asked a girl to Homecoming!

Brandon asked a girl to Homecoming!  And she said Yes (of course)!  He had a really cute idea to ask her....this is what he did.

First we copied a picture of Brandon when he was in 1st grade.  Then we printed out a "puzzle template," so we could cut it up.  We glued them together and then we laminated it.  Here is the front.  (Oh my gosh, he was so cute!)

And here's the back...

I started to cut it into pieces, but it was really hard because it was so thick and the pieces were so tiny.  So I made another copy of Brandon's picture and then just cut it up into regular little squares.  That was much easier.

Then we put all of the pieces into a little baggie and attached a note.

This is what the note said....(and by the way, Brandon made this up himself.  I thought it was really clever).  We decided to use a young picture of him so it would be harder for the girl to guess who was asking.  It worked pretty well, because she had no idea who it was.  I thought he looked just like his 1st grade picture, don't you think?  :)

A few days later, Brandon opened his locker and found this inside.

There were tons of balloons and inside each one of them was a message, like "keep looking," "not this one," etc.

He had to pop a lot of balloons until he got to her answer...

And here it is...

So cute!  Way to go Brandon.  I hope you have fun on your date!

A few more cards I made...

I gave all of these homemade cards to my neighbor for her birthday.  I like to have pictures of them, so I can remember what I did, so I can make more in the future....(but also, these are for my mom to see).  :)

Happy 15th Birthday, Dallin!

Happy Birthday to Dallin! 

 

Just a few days ago on Sept 2, Dallin turned 15 years old.  He's already begging for the driver's manual so he can take the test to get his Learner's Permit.  Oh my word!  I'm pretty sure I can't handle another teenage driver at this point.  And honestly, it's not their driving that worries me, it's the OTHER drivers that stress me out!!

 

Dallin wasn't sure what he wanted for his birthday this year.  He's actually like that a lot.  He's humble and grateful for what he has and he doesn't ask for huge things. On Monday, Todd took him to Riverton Music to pick out a couple of new piano books that he'd like.  He came home with two new books:  Man from Snowy River and Hymn Preludes for Organ, volume 3.  Pretty awesome!

 

After school, I let him open the rest of his present...

 

A card with a little cash (always a winner)!

 



 

He asked for a "lifetime" supply of peanut butter Balance bars, but I decided on a "case" of 15 instead.  How many bars would be a lifetime supply...do you think?  I don't know either, but too many, right?  Sorry Dallin...

 

Dallin loves to put these 3D wooden puzzles together.  He has quite a collection on his dresser.  Although when he opened this one, he said, "Where am I going to put this?"  It's a valid question, actually.  :)

 



Grandpa and Grandma Johnson came over when Dallin got home from school and gave him a card with some more cash in it!  Turning 15 isn't so bad after all!  And then Grandpa Jones came over a couple of days later and gave him even more money.  Wow!  Maybe I want to be 15 again....um. no, I don't!  :)

 



 

And here is the cake I made for him.  No applause needed, really.  It wasn't that hard.  :)

 



 



 

We even sang to him and made him blow out his candles...all 2 of them!  Party hard Joneses!

 



And here's the brothers enjoying a piece of that marvelous cake I made.  Honestly, they don't care that it doesn't have fancy characters, several layers, or various colors...they just want to eat it.  I can accommodate that, luckily!  (barely, mind you, but still...)  :)

Dallin had a great day!  We love you Dallin.  We are so proud of you and we are so lucky to have you as part of our family!  You are awesome!