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.

riverton arts festival '10...

I love that Savvy gets to perform at the Riverton Arts Festival. Otherwise, being the selfish mother that I am, we would have missed her AWESOME "Rockin' Robin" number in person. Her final dance recital was AGAIN, the same night her mom and dad were running somewhere in the mountains. Good thing, she has the best aunts and grandma in the world, who send me pictures of her on the way to her performance and make me cry.
Anyway...
In my very humble opinion, she was the best princess out there!

Lots of love from her main squeeze.
When I am sad about not having a sister for Savvy, I remember that she has lots and lots of girl cousins including my best friends children! Taylor, Laila, and Savannah ALL danced their little hearts out to little Michael Jackson.

Fair food is the best!

Boys are so lucky.

They only have to sit through maybe a few dance recitals a year and one includes, cotton candy, popsicles, and funnel cakes!

She has to sit through 280 games A WEEK, and never gets a stinking funnel cake.

These boys think they have one special little sister.

Because of that, she will always be very safe when she gets old enough to date.

summer games...and finally a medal!!

Now that the kids are in school (even Lukie), I can blog about a beautiful summer!
For the past 3 years we've started out our summer with a little trip to Cedar City, Utah.
It's all about watching some amazing boys play a lot of amazing soccer. On the field and off. It's also about watching some amazing boys continue to get so close with one another, that I'm thinking they will most likely be a part of each others weddings!
And every year, our soccer family becomes closer, and we realize this is such a blessing to be a part of something so special and unique.

Carter is called 'Rooney' by all his teammates. It's not because he uses questionable language while he plays on the field, and not because he's from England.

Check out why here.

It's strange how much they look alike, and maybe a little strange how the crazy little (I mean shorter) people play on a soccer field! He loves the nickname and written on his soccer ball is not Carter, but ~Rooney~.

Introducing the 'boys with heart'...

Mateen, Bryant, Tanner, Easton, Schoon, Abe, Oscar, Josh, Nico, Nixon, Ben, Carter, Lexi and Jacob Angeletti's little face is hiding behind Ben.

They play just as hard OFF the field as they do ON. They NEVER stop....none of them! They're crazy!

I think Rooney is trying to score on 'sexy Lexy'.

This was the first year Savvy got to go, and I got to leave Luke home! She was much easier than a four year old to drag everywhere. Plus, she had two little friends that never left her side! Savvy, Kayla, and Annie loved coloring, painting nails, swimming, getting their hair done and just laughing and talking all day long! It was a good change for me too! I got to do the painting of their nails and loved doing all their hair the exact same.

The cars were ready.

Carter started sleeping with a soccer ball at a very young age.

It's my favorite.

This year we were lucky enough to stay in the same hotel as the Africa United team. These boys are all teenagers who are refugees from different parts of Africa. Most live in Utah with their mothers while their fathers are still fighting wars in their country. Soccer is their lives. They have a refugee program at East High and as long as they keep their grade point average up (I think it was a 3.2 or 3.4 and above) they get to play soccer. Their amazing coach said the ALL of the boys make the grades! The two teams loved playing street soccer for hours in the hotel parking lot. That same coach also told us that his boys have lived in a world where not a lot of experiences make them smile. But, for those few days he loved seeing a smile on his boys faces as they played ball with our little boys who play like they're adults.
Although they couldn't speak or understand a lot of English, it didn't matter to any one of them.

We ended up all going to support them at their games and they came to watch our final game.

Witnessing soccer, bring two teams from two totally different worlds together, was the BEST part of this years trip for me.

And, these boys eat a lot....

And, let the games begin...

The very talented Rhonda, tie-dyed the mom's USA shirts.

Here are the dad's, brothers and grandpa (my cute dad!).

This is a tournament where we always play up a year. And just like years past, that means Carter is playing up TWO years. It's much better competition for these boys. We had a harder schedule than we've had before and we weren't sure if we would even be playing on Friday, as we headed down to stay in a hotel that was paid for through Saturday.

We were put in the premier division of the U13 boys. Our coach tried to change and get us in the lower division in that same age group, so that the skill level was more even. I guess because of our record in the regular season they made us stay premier.

The boys didn't hesitate to kick some older kids trash!

And this is why we make sure Carter memorizes every detail of the story 'David and Goliath'.

Nothing makes me happier than to see my little Rooney flustering the heck out of tall, lurpy people. (he does it to me all the time)

I was watching a game of Carter's a couple weeks ago with my neighbor, and he leaned over and said to me, "There just isn't a weak spot on this team!"

And I agree.

No weak spot with talent, or personality.

No weak spot in coaching.

No weak spot with parents.

USA Rebels did make it to Friday's game. Where they would face Murray Max, the team they have lost to in the bronze medal game for the last two years.

And that is exactly where we sent Murray Max again...to the bronze medal game.

USA was going to fight for gold this year!

And fight they did.

Unfortunately, after a well played game, giving it all they had in the cold rain, our boys came up short and lost to HC Storm in that final game.

Proudly, they got to stand on that second place podium and receive their silver medals.

Most of our soccer family.

Carter wishes these two were his parents. He says he's half Mexican and looks just like Alexis and Carlos.

He's such a liar. He's only a quarter Mexican.

But, he does look just like them!

Just one of the parents. Even though they are grandparents.

I came home more thankful than I can explain for my mom and dad. They are such a shining example of a support system. They were the only grandparents who traveled down to watch the boys play. Of course, it's not really strange for grandparents NOT to come, but my mom and dad can't imagine NOT being a part of it. My dad still yells louder than almost any parent can, and Carter has yet to tell him to shut up, like I did...once.

(Sorry about that, Dad.)

Truly, so proud of my little guy.

These two fight more than any of my kids. But she was just as proud of her big brother.
Of course we ended with more food and a world cup soccer match.

Perfect ending to the beginning of our 2010 summer!