the price is right (live) awaits....

Las Vegas here we come! I am leaving tonight for our girl's trip to the 110 degree desert! I am so excited but everytime I realize I am really leaving my husband and kids for 5 days I start to hyperventilate! I just have to breathe up into the air, that helps! This is a first, so hopefully we will ALL have a great week!



I am interested to see what movie ends up #1 on the best 80's movie question. (see comments in previous post) Here is something else to think about...does every couple have a "Duckie"? Who was your 'Duckie' in High School, or were you a 'Duckie' yourself? Was there a friend who liked you a little more than a friend, but you didn't even realize it? Someone said that everyone has a 'Duckie', so who is yours?

Oh ya, and should I bet on black or red?

Happy Family Reunion!

It's amazing how much you can love a family that you didn't grow up with. The Johnson family reunion was last week in Star Valley WY, and I am so proud to have become a part of them when I married Jer and to have my kids come from a long line of such hard working people. We love it when we get to go to the farm and see Grandma Johnson and all the cousins from Star Valley.

This was huge for Savvy, she is afraid of any big furry animal! (including dogs)
This was about 20 minutes in to the staring contest! He did some chatting as well!

He really would not leave!

This is Aunt Kimmy's artistic masterpiece...he wanted a horse and when he saw the picture of himself (he always asks to see the picture) he started crying "not a name, a horse"

Like Father, Like Son's...except Jeremy asked for a knife and fork before he started stuffing his face!

Fear Factor...don't ask!

Because of the above 'stuck' sheep, my poor cricket stomping children started crying (Savvy hysterically) and had to run to find the good farming folk to save the sheep. I really thought Savvy might have a panic attack! She thought it was her fault because it ran into the fence when we walked up, then when the rest of the sheep ran off, it was left alone baaaing like crazy!

Star Valley is one of the most beautiful places I've been, I truly love it up there but I am a city girl and I am soooo thankful to have a Target!

...and now we're over 30!

Happy Birthday Tawny! I missed my twin's birthday because I was in WY for the weekend, and have to give her some love for being the perfect friend. Everywhere we go we are asked if we are twins, and of course our response is...Yes, we just didn't know it until we were adults! (She really is a twin, but Troy and I don't really look alike!) We didn't know eachother growing up, but now I can't remember life without her! Even though she has 20 sisters of her own, she has always been happy to consider me one! Love you missy...you are so almost my age!

Price is Right and Cash Cab....

I got a little excited after crepe fest '08 (thanks Julia), it was actually a breakfast meeting with the girlfriends about our upcoming girls trip to Las Vegas and have to share. We decided to do the Price is Right Live, which I haven't heard anything about, so if you have let me know if it's good or bad! Todd Newton from E News is the host, so we'll see! I am a die hard PIR fan and have been to the Million Dollar Spectacular show, when Bob Barker was still the host. It was one of craziest, funniest memories I have of a friend who passed away from breast cancer. We spent the night in line on the streets of Hollywood. Shannon was the life of the trip and I will cherish it always! We unfortunately didn't get called up, but we were right behind the bidders and you can see us during every bidding war yelling at the dumb bidders, who bid $10 LESS than the person before them! You can even see me telling the showcase contestant to bid $48,000 and if she would have, she would have won! Idiot! It was a double over bid and very disappointing! I will be back, mark my words, Drew Carey will meet me!

My new favorite game show is Cash Cab, does anyone else watch??? After learning of the random facts Corbie has stored in her head, she would for sure be my mobile shout out! I just don't think being on Cash Cab could become a reality, unless I spent a week waiting on the side of the streets of New York waiting for a taxi! (no big deal, you don't win enough money anyway!)

I was a little mad that I didn't get to "come on down"!

Death Penalty and Tide...

Thanks everyone for yesterday's excitement. It was so much fun to hear from people I haven't heard of in years and just as fun witnessing the debate of a liberative and conserberal...very fascinating! I hope there are no hard feelings and I feel like I owe everyone who commented one of my husbands mouth-watering, fattening, snappy, cheesy, yummy J-dog's!

Now to the more trivial laundry detergent and pics of the fam...

Question of the Day...

I started asking a "question of the day" a few weeks ago and today I want to devote an entire post on my latest. Just so you all know, these questions are there to help me. I need a lot of help. I really do want to know what you think the answer to these questions are. You can answer them...please answer them! They have started e-mail discussions (if you don't want to put an answer in the comment section just e-mail me), discussions at girls night, and Corbie and Kelly seem to be the only people willing to comment in public! So this last one (see to the right) was my question of the day because it was said on American Justice or maybe it was Cold Case Files, which is a part of our daily routine, and Jeremy and I both had to really think about it. I usually don't know the answer to these questions, that is why I ask all of you smart people and hope I can find it! Of course Jer and I both said it would have to depend on the crime. I also think that if the innocent person were my mom, husband or child, the number of guilty criminals would be in the range of ....countless! I do believe it is better that guilty people are being let go than to have an innocent person sit in jail for the rest of their lives. However given the ratio of 1 to 10, my opinion is it would definitely have to be more like 100 or more guilty let go free to the 1 wrongly accused. 10 innocent people rotting to 100 in the wrong walking free is too many innocent. I think there are many instances where a guilty criminal would actually NOT repeat the crime (not true with child molesters) so I feel like if those were the 100 criminals to 1 innocent stranger, this would be a more fair statement to me! Even still, I feel heartbroken for the 1 innocent stranger who has to suck it up (as Corbie put it)! It's impossible to get it 100% right. I know this question does point out that our judicial system is flawed and because of this 1 to 10 way of thinking there are many guilty murderers, or other criminals who get off because they just don't have the evidence to show ‘beyond a shadow of a doubt’, and ‘our system’ can not send a possibly innocent person to prison, they would rather a guilty man be set free. This is where it's hard for me when a murderer goes home and my brother does his time. Does it seem right? So my latest "question of the day" sparked this e-mail along with a comment from Corbie (see previous comment section), and I have to share (thanks Tristan), and also ask for more opinions. I would love to hear from my CSI friend, and you know who you are!


"Wow...what prompted this most recent question? I love debating the law and the benefits and inadequacies of our justice system.

To answer your question, I don't have an answer. There are times, particularly when I've seen or heard a story about violent crime that I think it would be better for one innocent person to be imprisoned than 10 guilty men go free. But then I think how I'd feel if that one innocent person was Steve or someone else I love and I can't bear the thought.

I think your question brings to light the bigger issue, which is how effective is our judicial system? Does our system actually reform criminals? Is it equitable? I'm all a part of having drug dealers imprisoned, but when a small-time pot dealer is getting more time than a convicted rapist, I have a problem with that. But then again, in my mind, the answer to the rapist is clear-cut...castrate the a**hole! Sorry...my potty-mouth is my least redeeming quality. Likewise, I believe in the death penalty, assuming that there is adequate and convincing evidence, like DNA, that the person is guilty. I have more faith now that there are more scientific methods of examining a case. That being said, there is also more potential for abuse. It is possible to 'plant' evidence in some circumstances. Mark Fuhrman, anyone? And not that I am suggesting communism as an answer, but if you examine the more extreme methods used in countries like China, they clearly have far fewer instances of crime despite having a much larger population. While I don't endorse their methods, I do believe that a system that imposes harsher penalties would be more effective in dissuading some offenders from criminal behavior.

I also think our system needs to seriously reexamine how we deal with repeat, violent offenders. We have a 3-strikes-you're-out policy for lesser felony offenses, but often release murderers and rapists only to have them repeat their behavior. In some cases, I feel that we need to find the money to institutionalize mentally ill offenders. Unfortunately, as much as we'd like to believe that the people capable of committing these types of crimes are insane, they are not. And it is these cases that, for me at least, require change. So much of our judicial resources are sucked up by our endless appeals process. Again, this system has its place, and if my loved one were convicted, I'd want the security of knowing that they had adequate opportunity to plead their case. But 'adequate' does not mean 50 years on death row. "


It's amazing how many times Tristan has answered my questions with so many of my own thoughts. She answers every single one. I agree with both of her and Corbie's answers, that the system is flawed and needs to be changed. The three strikes your out policy for lesser felony offenses sent my own little brother to prison when he was still a kid. His first offense was a violent crime, and the next two were not. However, because of the 3 strikes the first came back as #1. He has unfortunately come away from prison a more refined criminal and I wholeheartedly believe there was a better option than prison for him. 'The system' failed my brother, not that he couldn't have chosen differently, but if you are incarcerated your options are limited. Now he's a different man because of it, and it makes me mad, mad at him and those who put him there.

Tomorrow, I'll ask a more trivial question...today think about this one.

Week of Discoveries...

Last week we made it back up to the cabin, along with the Oakley Rodeo, a shopping trip to Park City, and Rockport Lake. This is what I discovered along the way...

Kimmy's PREGNANT! (Her youngest and only is almost 17)...

An animal loving two year old will sit through a two and a half hour rodeo, love it and talk about tying up cows "dis fast" for days after (with a little help from cotton candy and sno-cones)...

Nutella is divine and anyone who says different is crazy...

My mother and father in law are "rock star's" - everyone loves them and wants to be like them! (no really, they are the most loved people I know, and if I am anything like them, I will have succeeded at something)...

When the Johnson's make it a lake day, plan for rain even if the weather calls for sunny clear skies...we still had fun just couldn't really play IN the lake and then we had to make a mad dash out of there!...

If a 6 year old 'accidentally' forgets her suitcase, she will get an all expense paid shopping trip to Park City that includes outfits, shoes, swimming suit, pajamas, jewelry, and hair accessories (because of course you need these at a cabin)!

We had a great week. I never knew guitar hero competitions, and a ping pong tournament could be so exciting! I now believe Jeremy's family is MORE competitive than mine (and that is a pretty bold statement)! And we can't stop giggling about the fact that Dan and Kim are having a baby! They are so excited to make another round at this parenting thing, and no one deserves more happiness than them!

Mom's favorite part of camp!

Alec would say so many other things were his favorite part of camp, but this was mine. Dave Rose is the men's head basketball coach for BYU, and as he stood on the side of the court, boys rushing by to get their free basketball, Alec walked up to him and shook his hand and told him thank you. Folks, I'm keepin' him!

Cougar Camp 2008!

I dropped the boys off at BYU camp yesterday. Alec is staying through the week at the basketball camp and Carter is at soccer camp and comes home each day. What a production it is down there! One of the directors told me that BYU has the most campers/athletes attending their camps than any other college in the country! Kids were everywhere! Alec has been the last two years with one of his friends, but this year the friend didn't save enough money (they pay for it themselves) and couldn't go. He was soooo nervous about who his roommate would be. I dropped him off at the dorm and waited and unpacked all of his stuff and then waited some more, but no roommate. After every kid we passed, he would say, "I hope it's him" or "I hope it's not him!" Unfortunately, I had to leave to pick up Carter and had to leave him alone in his dorm waiting. Fortunately, on the way back from getting Carter and 5 of his crazy soccer friends, I decided to go back to the dorm and check one last time (maybe I went just to say bye again). His roommate still wasn't there but as I was leaving that time I passed this really tall, cute boy and watched him walk down the hall and turn into Alec's room! Thankfully his mom was holding the door for me and I got to meet her too. They were from Kentucky and seemed so wonderful! It made my day...until his phone call last night at 11:30, THAT actually made my day! He was giddy, as he told us about Jacob from Kentucky, his coach, and his counselor - they are all fabulous! In the midst of him laughing his head off at Jacob, he managed to tell me that this year was going to be the best ever! Jeremy and I decided that we wanted to go to camp. Waking up for an all-you-can-eat breakfast, basketball ALL DAY, no parents, swimming, more all-you-can-eat meals, more basketball, the dorms...who wouldn't want to be there????

This is his top drawer that he locked up (he didn't want any of this to be stolen by the unknown roommate). You may question the jump-rope (suppose to make you faster), or the hand grip (it's going to make his shot better), or the gel (he's got issues with his hair) or the DUCT TAPE!!!! Who needs duct tape at basketball camp???? Maybe he is going to tie his counselor up? Oh no... he uses it as medical tape, he tapes his toes to protect them from blisters or to help the blisters that he already has! I had no idea he packed it.

This is him thinking about breakfast!

These guys were so excited to visit the dorms, and thought Alec was "so lucky" to have a mini-fridge. They can't wait until they are old enough to sleep there, but I don't know if they can be trusted even when they are old enough...they're a very, hmmm..."energetic" bunch!