Easter 2018

The week before Easter, we took our family to the Jordan River Temple's open house.  The temple has been being renovated the last couple of years, and because of that, the church is having a re-dedication in May.  Before it's dedicated, anyone can go inside and walk through.  It was a really fun experience to go as a family!

Kyle and Me

At the end of the tour, we were able to stand in front of a picture of the temple and take a family picture!  It was awesome and it turned out great!  (We missed Eric and Andraea!)

Melissa and Grandma Johnson

And then we had Easter...

Eric and Andraea were here for the weekend, and before they came, Eric asked me if the Easter Bunny was going to bring him and Andraea a basket too.  (My almost 24 year old! HA!)  Of course the answer was YES!  Here's a picture of the 6 baskets! :) 

(from left to right) Eric, Andraea, Brandon, Dallin, Kyle, and Jacob

Eric's basket

Andraea's basket

Brandon's basket

Dallin's basket

Kyle's basket

Jacob's basket

Dallin

Brandon

Eric and Andraea

Brandon wanted a Black Panther shirt...so that's what he got. :) 

And Dallin did too

Jacob got some new Yugioh cards

Kyle got a new game for his 3DS

Eric and Andraea (Eric is such a goofball! HA! But that's one of the reasons we love him!) :) 

Melissa and Todd

I love when all of these kids play games together.  It just makes my "mommy heart" smile!

And here's a picture of Dallin and Brandon in their new Black Panther shirts!  Funny kids!

We had a great Easter weekend and it was wonderful spending time together.  It was also General Conference weekend and so we all watched conference together.  It was awesome! Conference was so good! I'm so grateful to know that we have a living prophet who leads and guides this church and who receives direct revelation from God on our behalf.  But also I'm so thankful that I can receive personal revelation as well! What a blessing!  

 And of course, I'm thankful for my crazy family!  I am one lucky mom! Happy Easter!

Moriah's Baptism

Brad and Michelle's youngest child, Moriah, was baptized at the end of March in a small, man-made lake.  It was too cold to have the baptism in Salt Lake, so Brad found a lake on the property of a resort in Las Vegas. And I think he and Michelle wanted to make a little family trip out of the big event.  My mom and I flew down so that we could go and support Moriah.  It was really fun to be there together with my family.

Alexis, Melissa, Brad, Grandma Johnson, Wendy, Anthony, and AJ 

Michelle's Mom (Grandma Hauret), Kay, and her husband, Clyde with Moriah

Sweet Moriah

Moriah, Michelle, and Joshie

This is a picture of the lake.  The resort was amazing, but the water in the lake was FREEZING!  

A close up...

Luckily, Moriah wore a wet suit under her baptismal clothes.  

(in the back) Keith (Michelle's Dad), Anthony, Wendy, Josiah, and Kay's husband, Clyde

Moriah is in the front

A better picture of the same people above...except with Kay this time

AJ, Anthony, Wendy, and Grandma

Moriah and Brad just as they're entering the water...did I mention how cold it was? :) 

Moriah was so brave!

And then it was over!  Moriah did great (and so did Brad!)  When Brad was finished baptizing her, he immediately picked Moriah up and carried her out of the water.  I wish I had gotten a picture of it.  It was really sweet.  And then Michelle was ready with a big towel! Way to go Moriah! You did it!

Then we all went back to Brad and Michelle's motel room to have the confirmation.  Brad did a great job!  Isn't Moriah so cute? :) 

Brad took a few minutes to talk about Moriah and showed a baby picture of her. It was really sweet.

She looked so happy! :) 

After the baptism and confirmation, we all went out to lunch together.  It was a really fun day and I was so glad that I was able to be there.  

Congratulations Moriah on your choice to be baptized!  We love you! 

Concerto Night! March 3, 2018

Dallin got the opportunity to play a piano concerto at Cottonwood's Concerto Night!  He tried out last December, and found out that he had made it about a week later.  It's quite a story about how he found the concerto online, and how I had to contact the composer (from Bulgaria) and ask if we could purchase his  music.  I'll try and copy my journal entry from last Spring, because it really is a cool story.

These pictures were taken on Concerto Night

Dallin before the concert

This is a picture of all of the performers.  It was such an amazing evening!

This is Dallin's 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Eloise Carlston.  She has become a great friend of mine through the years, and I was so thrilled that she and her husband took the time to come and support Dallin.  Plus, it was so fun to see her!

Todd, Dallin, and me.  (And by the way, I made that candy necklace!)

Dallin and Grandma Johnson

Andraea, Eric, Kyle, and Brandon

Brandon, Mom, Dad

Grandma Johnson and Jacob (in the front)

Eloise, Caryn Johnson (she and Eloise taught elementary school together) and me.  Caryn is also in my ward and is currently the Bishop's wife.  Love them both! :) 

The man of the hour...

It really was such an amazing evening.  All of the performers did an awesome job!  Way to go Dallin!  We are so proud of you!