2010 Christmas Memories...

and more to come...

handsome head #3...

So my handsome head #3 turned 5. 

Five years old is very old when it's your baby. My last child. My last boy.
The last one who still smells me when he snuggles, like he can't get enough.
The last one to carry in my arms.
The last chance to get it right. (impossible)

Is last the best of all the game?
Because it feels more like in this game, last is ripping my heart out.

It's a good thing hearts can be healed.

Is it wrong to cry when leaving a Halloween party at a pre-school party?
It was my last time...

 

Happy Birthday BYU Style!

15 years and counting...

 Over half of my life, I've been married to a marvelous human being.

I fell in love with him as a teenager almost 19 years ago, and continue to fall in love over and over for different reasons every single year.

This year I used the phrase, "I've never loved you more than I do right now."

And he knows why.

Lucky for me, he and I ate at Sconecutter on the same night in 1992.

Lucky for me, it was him who was standing in line next to me instead of some other guy from Jordan High.

Lucky for me, Johnson became my name, and we added four more to the list.

Lucky for me, I get to listen to his jokes for the rest of our lives.

Lucky for me, I get to call him mine. 

(And Drago. And P.D. And husband.)

Or should I say...Lucky for him??

Happy Anniversary J.P.!

Marriage is hard, and I recommend it to everyone!

school 2010...

I am just taking too long to do my Ragnar post, and I have so many other summer pictures to post, but I needed a 'present' time out...so lets talk about school...and this back to life thing.

My baby started school. He's the only one I waited until the last minute. Usually, school starts at 3, first chance they get. I held on as long as he'd let me. Ikea, Thanksgiving Point, pet stores, and home just wasn't cutting it any longer. I finally chose a school, and did it. (It was the day AFTER the school started, that I gave in)

If I'd known he'd be as happy as he was, I may have done this last year.

But, probably not.

I told them to look like me.

They're just rude.

Alec - 9th grade ~ Carter - 5th ~ Savannah - 3rd ~ Luke - pre school

First year of Seminary! (puke)

It's early morning. (puke)

It's at Riverton High. (again, puke)

The first year Carter wanted to actually rip my face off for following him in and taking his picture in the hall.

Savvy just might get a first year of braces.:)

HAPPY!

He's telling me he loves me, as he leaves me for 2 1/2 hours and lets me have some alone time.

Something I haven't quite figured out what to do with yet.

But it's very, very quiet.

And lovely.

Lukie Boy

cove fort...

How many times have you driven home from St. George and noticed the sign that says "COVE FORT"?
How many of you have actually stopped?
After Summer Games it was just Carter and I, because Savvy had made the trip home with my mom and dad. We were driving home in a rain storm but the Cove Fort exit looked fairly clear, and I had heard that it was such a cool little fort with a lot of church history to learn about.

Plus, Carter needed to pass some things off for Weeblos.

So, a last second pull off I-15, and we became tourists.

This is my favorite tree I've seen yet.

 I love, love this kitchen! Everything in the kitchen was so cool to see. I often feel so lazy when I think about the time they took to cook such fine meals for their families and friends. I opt for the 30 minute or less meals, they probably spent all day.

I shall not complain about my couches ever again.

Carter is looking out one of the port holes. This is where they held their guns in 'look-out' in case anyone attacked the fort.
It never happened.

He just wasn't made for this pioneer game. I actually think he wants this for Christmas so he can master it. He was so bugged that he couldn't get it in two minutes.

I am love with the front doors to the cove! Thick and sturdy to withstand an arrow!

Next time you see the sign, I would suggest pulling off.
There was a special spirit there, with the cove, furniture, pictures, missionaries, movie and with Carter. He learned a lot about the life of a boy in a fort who believed the same things he does now, the difference in their lives and to appreciate both.

"It is our hope that Cove Fort will serve as a modern way station—not as a shelter from physical fatigue or protection from the elements—" said Stephen D. Nadauld, speaking at the 1994 dedication, "rather, we hope it will serve as a spiritual way station where we can be reminded of the faith of our forefathers, where we can refresh our sense of sacrifice and obedience and our dedication to duty, where we can be reminded of the values of work, provident living, self-sufficiency, and family unity."

And speaking of faith of our forefathers, right after that we got to visit a very special, faithful grandpa!

Grandpa Bean told some wonderful stories of being a boy, eating sparrow eggs, and also of visiting Cove Fort when it hadn't been restored yet. Such a blessing to have him as ours.