Happy Halloween 2018!

My kids are growing up too quickly!!!  Jacob was my only child who dressed up for Halloween this year!  And he was Michael Jackson AGAIN (That's who he was last year too!)  

One different thing though was that AJ and Alexis were here to go trick-or-treating with! 

Yeah!

I'm not sure who AJ or Alexis were, but AJ must have been some kind of a gangster!

Funny kids!

Another thing that was different this year was that we just let the kids all go out by themselves.  That was nice too.  Kyle had planned to get together with some friends, but in the end, it fell through, so he stayed downstairs and watched "Pokemon" all night! :) 

The younger cousins still had fun together!  And they DID get some free candy. :) 

Jacob

AJ and Alexis showing off their loot!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Halloween Party 2018

We had our annual Johnson Halloween party this year right before Halloween. The weather was still nice, so we were able to do it outside!

These are the treats I made for the big event!

(They're "bandaids with blood on them." So gross, huh?)

Except they were really yummy! :) 

And "witches' broomsticks"  YUM!

Just like we've done in years past, Brad planned the "fear factor" game.  He put a lot of work into it, and some of the "rounds" were totally disgusting!  Most all of the kids played in the beginning, plus Anthony!

 Love the blindfolds! Ha!

A lot of the adults just sat and watched! (Except Anthony!)

Of course Kyle wouldn't turn around!!!  He didn't play the game either. :) 

The first couple of rounds took more time...because more people were playing

Grandma Johnson, Melissa, Grandpa Johnson (He wasn't asleep!) :) 

Wendy, Grandma and Grandpa

I love the smiles!

Anthony was pretty hilarious to watch! I'm not sure what he's holding, but I'm pretty sure it was gross!  (Sorry they're so blurry!) Did I mention that I need a new camera? (Or at least some photography skills!!) HA!

Melissa and Wendy

A few more rounds later...

I really love the look on AJ's face!  Priceless!

And this was one of the last rounds, and it was disgusting. It smelled like vomit! YUCK!  Some kids were still in it though and going pretty strong. I could barely handle being around it. It stunk pretty bad.  (Don't ask me what it was...just one of Brad's concoctions. I do know there were little dried anchovies mixed it, which by the way, we found particles of in our front yard over the next several weeks!) HA! :) 

AJ is on the ground taking something out of the "vomit-smelling" plate. Disgusting!

 

And guess who won?  Josh, that's who!  Brave kid! He definitely earned that box of assorted chocolates! :) 

It was a fun night.  We actually haven't done the Halloween party for a couple of years, so it was great to do it again...and this year, we had Wendy and Anthony's family here!  So awesome!!!

(But next year, Brad doesn't get to make such disgusting rounds. Our front yard smelled of vomit for many days after the party ended!) HA!  It was still fun though! :) 

First day of school 2018

The first day of school was on August 20th!  I can hardly believe that we are down to 2 children at home! 

Jacob

Kyle

Brothers! :) 

Hoping for a wonderful year!

Brandon begins his 2nd year at Snow

We dropped Brandon off at Snow College on Monday, August 13, 2018.  He had to be there a week early because he's a Student Body Advocate (SBA), but school didn't actually start for him until August 22nd.  We took the kids down with us.  Kyle drove with Brandon and Jacob drove with us.  It was a fun day!

Jacob, Brandon, Kyle

 (At our house before we left)

Because Brandon was there early, he got to pick his room.  One of his roommates had been living there during the summer, so one of the rooms was already taken, but he was able to choose from the rest of them. (There were 6 all together.)  I'm pretty sure he got the biggest room! :)  (Was there any doubt?) HA! The apartment was quite nice and Brandon was happy with it.

Brandon's room

His closet is huge!



Kitchen



His room is upstairs



After we got all of Brandon's stuff into his apartment, we went to lunch at The Malt Shop in Ephraim, which is where Brandon worked last year.  Yummy food!

We had to take some pictures of all the kids by the S! 

And of course, me and Dad had to get in on one!

And some of just Brandon :) 

This was taken inside of his apartment. He already looks pretty comfy!

Me and Brandon

Me, Brandon, and Todd

Coming out of his apartment

After we had lunch and got him settled back into his place, we drove back home.  I didn't cry, but a part of me definitely stayed there with him.  I will miss him, of course, but I know he will have a great year and I'm excited for the leadership opportunities that will come his way.  

Now, can you believe we only have 2 kids left at home?

Absolutely shocking! For real!

Oakcrest 2018

Todd and I were able to go to Oakcrest again this summer for the stake visitor's night.  Alexis (Wendy's daughter) was able to attend this year, and I was so excited to go see her!  I showed her the "picture" wall of all the staff pictures over the years, and I noticed that my first year (1989) is now the FIRST picture on the wall!  (Far left on top)  And my second year is the second picture (1990), and the reason I took a picture is because I think that next year when I visit Oakcrest, my first picture won't be there anymore.  I am now at the tail-end of the cycle! So sad!

Oakcrest just had it's 60th year reunion, so I understand that they don't have room to keep all 60 staff pictures on the wall, but I'm still going to be sad when I don't see my years up there anymore!

My two years--a close up

I made Todd take a picture of me as we were leaving for the night. I really love this place!  It will always hold a very special place in my heart!

And here's a picture of me and Alexis.  I'm pretty sure I tortured her with my embarrassing hugs and comments!  But I just wanted to share my love! :) 

I hope to see you next year, Oakcrest!