Kamryn photo shoot

Just had to share pictures of our baby girl. Thanks Heather for the fabulous pictures. Our Kamryn is officially 8 weeks today, we just can't imagine our how we lived without her. She makes us all smile, hope these pics do the same for you. We love you Kam!!

Humbled

Tonight I had the chance to go with the youth of our ward to The Road Home in Midvale, I have never done anything like that in my life. I was nervous all day long but felt like I really needed to go, we went to spent the hour playing with the kid's in the shelter.
We drove up to this warehouse looking building and walked into the main doors to where we dropped off the donations we all had brought then they told us to walk all the way to the back. Through that door we went into a huge cement room filled with cots lined up in rows and families sitting on top just looking at us as we walked by, and my heart just sank. As you walked I could see where they showered, slept, and ate. There was not one ounce of privacy for these families. The last room was where we got to play with the kid's, we set up our activities and then they brought the kid's in. The majority of the kid's were 8 and under, they came over and started to do the craft activities we brought. There was a sweet little boy who wanted me to help him make a turkey for his Mom. He told me she was really sick and this would make her happy, he was only 7 and probably one of the cutest kid's I have ever seen. There was a sweet little girl who was coloring and gave it to her Dad, she told him she made it for him and he was such a cute Dad to his 2 little girls, and he told her he would get a frame to put it in. She then asked one of our ladies if she could have a box of crayons. We ended up leaving all our supplies there, the main lady at the shelter just said how much they love having those items to help keep them busy. One of the Mothers was holding a baby and I had asked how old he was she told me 8 months and then began to tell us that because the floors were cement they could not let them down to play, it was so hard to see those babies just struggling because they wanted down to play and move. She told us they were trying to get somewhere to donate carpet and a gate but there is so much need this year it has not happened yet. We told her we would see what we could do and she just hugged me and started to cry and cry.
I can't even begin to explain how humbling it was to be there. I can't get it out of my mind, I am so very blessed and the sad thing is I know I am but at times I forget, I do not want this feeling to ever leave. Walking back into the room where they live and seeing beside each bed garbage sacks full of everything they owned just takes your breath away. Trust me if you were to see most of the families in a store you would have no idea they were living in the shelter.
I hope each and every person gets the opportunity to have that experience, it was great to see how it affected all the teenagers. If nothing else you realize how blessed we all are. I know if anyone is looking for someone to help out this time of year they would love anything you could.

WORST MOM... part II

Kalli was playing on the top bunk bed a blasted week and a half ago and jumped off then came running in holding her arm. She cried for just a bit then went on her merry way, playing just fine with her friends. Then Sunday my Mom was putting a dress on her and she just cried out and of course again I did not think anything just that maybe she bruised it. Then last night we went to my sister's for Loni's birthday dinner and they were wrestling and sure enough she came to me just a crying about the same arm. Today I took her into the doctor and sure enough, she broke her wrist...can you say I probably won't be receiving the "Mother of the year" award anytime soon. Kalli we are so proud of how brave you have been, we love you!!

p.s. that is a hospital gown NOT one of her shirts

Kalli is 5!!

Our Kalli is 5 years old, she reminds us that she is now a WHOLE hand! She had such a fabulous day, she wanted to take her friends to go and see High School Musical 3. My sweet Mom was going to come out and watch the baby while we took her but ended up getting sick so Jett and Riley got to take Kalli and her friends all by themselves(brave souls). He said it was such a hoot because they were up dancing and singing through the movie.

Here are "5" little facts about Kalli:
1. She LOVES animals - even the kind Dad is allergic to. She informs us that when she moves out she will own a cat and Dad will just have to "deal with it!"
2. She LOVES to learn - she loves school and hates to miss, they are learning to write and read. Wants to be a teacher and practices on us all the time.
3. She LOVES life - she loves to play ALL the time and makes friends easily. She is always happy and can tell by the smile on her face at all times.
4. She LOVES to be a sister - she in now a big and little sister and is very proud of it, and loves her brother and sister very much!
5. She LOVES to dance and sing - she is constantly dancing and singing everywhere we go, and picks up on things very quickly, we are always entertained with her little performances.

Kalli we love you so much! You keep us on our toes and in stiches, we are so proud you our are daughter, Happy Birthday!!

Halloween 2008

The kid's chose to be Iron man and a pink poodle. They had so much fun trick or treating this year because it was actually warm. Every year they love to see what Dad dresses up as and this year we got a Rock Star with a pink Barbie guitar (does it get any better?). He is so proud because he won the funniest costume award, if you are dying to see it just come on over it is sitting on our shelf and we are not allowed to take it down any time soon (it may just disappear while he is at work :). Ashley and Loni came out before they went to a Halloween party and Loni thought it would be fun to sit on the porch and scare the little one's, trust me we had a few "super heroes" in tears! My Mom and Dad were nice enough to bring out pizza, cookies and a HUGE bag of candy that is still sitting in my cupboard calling out my name while I am supposed to be loosing the baby weight (good luck to me!).

The day at the "U"

**Yes..you are seeing this correctly and Jett was in full support!!

Kalli's dance group had the opportunity to cheer at halftime up at the U of U game. She was a bit nervous but she did a fabulous job, I had to post pictures because she looked so cute (especially in RED). We had such a great time, we went up with my parents and ran into a bunch a friends who were all so cute in helping to cheer on our little cheerleader.

Riley's flag football team, THE CRUSHERS, had their final game in the A.M. and ended up with an undefeated season. Way to go!!!!

Thanks Ash for babysitting so we could have a day out, you're the best!

The WORST Mom

It is official I am giving myself the worst Mom award! Riley lost a tooth and well Mom and Dad forgot to call the Tooth Fairy to let her know. Poor Riley came running into me and said "She must have gotten busy" I said "who was busy?" "the tooth fairy, Mom" I felt like someone stabbed me right in the chest. So for all of you out there who are having a crappy day at least you did not forget the tooth fairy.

Jett did call the tooth fairy and while we were at the doctor with the baby she made an apperance. She left money, a letter and candy. Does that make it better? Nope we still forgot! :(

Baby Kamryn!

As you can tell everyone has fallen in love with our sweet, baby girl! I thought I would post a few hospital pictures, our internet has been down since she has been born. We are all doing great thanks for your well wishes!

Introducing...

Kamryn Mary Johnson

10/7/08

6:22 p.m.

7 lbs. 9 oz. & 19"

Wahoo...he did it!!

Jett ran in his first ever marathon this past weekend up in Logan, Top of Utah Marathon, we are so proud of him! He has always wanted to do it and he finally did, I truly can't say enough about this accomplishment for him he ran across that finish line with the biggest smile on his face. We stayed over night and the kid's had so much fun they were so excited for their Dad, Kalli kept saying "I hope you win Dad, you and Maggie (our dog) have been working so hard". Jett just laughed he thought that was so funny.

The atmosphere up there was totally POSITIVE everyone just kept cheering the runners on no matter if they knew them or not, I loved it! It almost made me want to do one (key word almost) then I remembered it was 26.2 miles. Jett can't wait to do another one, next year, of course. We are so, so very proud of him!!

It was a very beautiful weekend up there, it did rain during the race but then it would stop. We saw my cute cousin and her husband who were so nice to save us a place at the finish line and Jett's parents came up to cheer him on, I think we were all teary-eyed when we saw him coming, that was so awesome!

I just wanted to thank everyone for their support for Jett, he got your sweet text's and words of encouragement, it meant the world to him. I don't think I fully understood the determination and dedication it takes to run a marathon but I will tell you anyone who can do it has my total admiration. Way to go Jett, we love you!!

Memories...

I saw this on a friends blog and thought how fun so let's try it and see what happens.

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! Good or bad but be nice.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

It's official they are ready!

It's official they even have the certificates to prove it, they are ready to be a big brother and big sister. We signed the kid's up for a sibling class and they learned how to feed the baby, change diapers, watched a movie on how they should not be jealous of new baby and took a tour of the hospital. It was so fun to watch them in the class, I got a kick out of watching them raise their hands to answer questions. They are so excited to meet their baby sister now that they are official, it looks like we will have help changing diapers :)

First day of school

Poor Riley at the Dr. the night before school started, doesn't he just look happy!
This is the only picture he would let me take, hence, the holding on with dear life to good old Mom!Kalli, Mrs. LaDawn and her friend Jerzi on the first day, she is the happiest girl in town!

On Monday the kid's both had their first day of school. Riley is going into 2nd and Kalli's last year of pre-school. We knew it was time to start because the kid's were fighting and getting sooo bored all the time, we just needed to have that set schedule again.

So, we went to my parents for dinner on Sunday and my parents were talking to them both about starting school. Kalli was really excited to go and see Mrs. LaDawn again but Riley was super quiet about it. As we were driving home Riley just started to cry and told me his ear hurt, he would just cry out in pain. Needless to say we ended up in the instacare that night and sure enough he has an ear infection (and it was a pretty good one). So of course he is already freaking out about starting school and now he is worried about his ear hurting him.

Monday comes and I take Riley to school and walk him around back to where his class lines up as soon as we turn the corner most of his buddies from last year are all in the "other" D-track class. He goes and stands in line with the rest of his class and as soon as the teacher comes out he immediately turned to me his eyes filled with HUGE tears and runs toward me and hangs on for dear life. The classes all start going in but Riley would not let go of me, so Kalli and I have to walk him inside to his classroom and he has his head buried into me. The cute teacher came out and was trying to talk to him but he just kept yelling out "take me home Mom!" so she told him tell your Mom good-bye and I am counting to 3 then I will take you into class so she did and she had to literally pry him off of me and I just walked away, it was horrible. I saw some of my friends outside and I just had to walk right on by and go straight to the car and called Jett and just started to bawl. In the back of the car Kalli says to me "I knew you were going to cry when you talked to Dad".

Now, I have it pulled together just hoping he is having a great time so now it is Kalli's turn but she has already told me "Don't worry my I am not nerbous", I take her to school she grabs her little bag and darts out the car door before I can even open my door. So I walk into class to get pictures and she is telling Mrs. LaDawn "You should have seen Riley he was having a huge meltdown, but I am so excited". I grabbed some pictures and she says "okay Mom you can leave now see you in a little while".

All went well with Kalli at school she loved every minute of it and was just so happy to see all her little girlfriends again. Riley survived the first day he told me that he cried for a bit but then he says "I looked around and just decided I better just have fun!". All is well and they both enjoy school.

Swimming lessons

Okay so the kid's started swim lessons on Monday, they have been looking forward to going for a couple weeks now. I am going to do a quick rewind to last year, Riley was in a class with one of his good friends and Kalli had a HUGE meltdown because she had a boy teacher (oh! no) and would not go so they had to switch teachers to a cute little teenage girl.
So back to present day, we decided just to go it alone this year because their friends were all going out of town. On our way Riley kept teasing Kalli that she was going to have a BOY teacher and she was freaking out. We show up and let's just say MELTDOWN from both of them Riley was losing it becaues he was the ONLY boy and Kalli got a BOY teacher, again, ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
Here I am trying to reason with them both and they are both visibly upset, one is crying the other holding on to my leg for dear life. I am pretty sure the whole place had their eyes on us, and were thinking "wow and that lady is having another one, good luck to her".
I finally got them both to go to class (yes, I threatened them that they would both be grounded) they both did great and Riley said "that really wasn't that bad Mom and it went so fast" and Kalli said "I really like my teacher, Trevor, he is so not scary". Let's just hope it stays that way keep your fingers crossed we have until Friday :) My Mom took them today and said they did great!

The things pregnancy brings out...

So I just wanted to take a minute and do a quick update on the pregnancy. You all have been so cute with your emails asking how I am surviving. Things are going great, I am just hot and growing bigger everyday. I am no longer going in monthly to see the doc I have and appointment on the 6th then I start my 2 "weekers". We are so excited to meet our new little one, but are in no hurry to get her here considering what are friends have been through with their sweet baby boy, who decided to make his arrival sooner than expected. So I promised Allison she would never hear me complain NOT once. I just thought I would post some things about pregnancy that does crazy things to me as well as what it does to others.


The things pregnancy brings out:

1. What is it about perfect strangers who like to think it is OK to feel your stomach? Seriously!

2. I can't stand in one place for to long or else when I move you might as well whip out the good old oil can to lube up those hips.

3. My kid's are constantly asking how I am feeling or if they can help me do something, Kalli is always saying "Mom you can't do that your are "preg-a-nant" (as she calls it)". Riley will just come in randomly and check on me when he is outside playing. I love it!

4. I swear you see a side of your husband that just makes you fall that more in love with them, they just want to take care of you, it's the sweetest!

5. EVERYTHING I eat some how ends up on my shirt.

6. A perfect stranger will strike up a conversation asking about when you are due, how many this will be, etc. so it has been fun to talk to someone you may not just passing by or standing in line.

7. The cravings... right now I have to say it is 'world class chocolate' at Baskin Robbins (thank heavens they built one at The District)

8. Wearing what feels like the same outfit day in and day out, who makes these maternity clothes anyway? the cute one's are so hard to find.

9. What is it about sneezing anyway? I'm sure you all know what I mean :)

10. The best part is being able to feel the baby move everyday!

I know this is it for us so I am just trying to take it as slow as possible and enjoy. We can't wait to meet her, but in the back of my head I just keep thinking the quicker she gets here the quicker she will be 1 before we know it. Thanks so much to everyone for thinking of us.

4th of July weekend

The kid's and their favorite drinks
Just taking a break and being silly
Riley putting Bostynn to sleep, it was the cutest!
Riley and the slide
Grandpa and the kid's

We went down to Mesquite over the 4th of July with my family and had such a great time. We spent the majority of each day at the pool with the kid's to let them swim but also because it was 113 degrees! It was such a fun pool with a little waterslide which Riley took full advantage of and also became quite the swimmer. Kalli just wanted to show us her tricks (which consisted of her dunking her head under water), this is such a huge turn of events from last year when she hated every minute of swiming lessons. They had so much fun and NEVER wanted to leave the pool. Thanks Mom and Dad for a nice, relaxing weekend we had such a blast!

She is our "Superstar"!

At the top are some pictures of Kalli's year end dance performance. She had such a great time this year and loves going to dance each week, the girls named their class the "Superstars" (hence the name on their shirts). Jett was a blasted mess as soon as she turned around and started to dance, he said he almost had to put on his sunglasses. Trust me if I would have had another camera that is a video in itself but I thought it be much more important to get her dancing her little heart out and still have a husband who would speak to me (don't tell I am sharing this story over our blog ;). Can't wait for next year!

We had a week with our Kalli so here are some moments I would like to share. I took her to my doctor's appointment last Wednesday, so she could hear the baby's heart beat, and of course obviously his OB day. I noticed her keep looking at the door every time someone would walk in, which should have made me realize she would say something because she just had that look in her eye. Sure enough as loud as she can out popped "Mom, why is everyone that comes in here NOT skinny?" Luckily there was a cute couple sitting next to us just busting a gut but I was mortified...love her!

Finally, she decided to comb out her own hair and got it stuck and I mean STUCK! It took us 2 hours to get it undone (thanks to Jett and his patience). I really thought we were going to have to cut it out and I was loosing it because it has taken forever to get her hair to finally grow but through all the tears and screaming her Dad saved the day and her hair :)

An end and a beginning.

It has just been such a weird month for us. We have had health scares with family and I swear I have heard the saddest stories from friends and what they are going through with their families but then we got the news a friend of ours passed away suddenly. Let's just say all of these have put life back into perspective again, isn't it just sad that something like this has to happen in order to realize what is really important?

We went to the funeral yesterday and I will never forget the feeling I had standing in line at the viewing before the funeral. You could see our sweet friend Kelli whose husband passed away, greeting friends and family standing beside her husband in his casket she just looked beautiful but heartbroken, overwhelmed and humbled by the support. I remember thinking how grateful I was to be standing in that line hand in hand with my husband, I could not imagine losing him and going through what those sweet families have had and will endure. It was a beautiful funeral such a wonderful tribute to Dave. Jett and I were saying I don't ever remember leaving a funeral and feeling like you just want to be a better person, he and Kelli have such a great families who you can just tell are going to help Kelli and Kennedy through this life. We are so glad we had the opportunity to know such a wonderful person like him. I have to admit we were supposed to meet up with them for dinner after the holidays and it just never worked out I feel so horrible about that now. I will always make much more of an effort to keep in touch and keep plans, because you just never know what will happen.

I do not want anyone to feel sorry for us, we are sad but make sure you keep this family in your thoughts and prayers - I do not want to take anything away from them. I just hope this is nothing but a 'do not take anything for granted' post, as I think as we all go through life we tend to forget what is truly important.

I do want to end on a much happier note. Our friends Allison and Cameron had their sweet, baby Dillon yesterday, as well. He came a bit early (33 weeks) but is doing well. I had the opportunity to go and see him last night, he is in the special care nursery and will be there for a week or two just until he is a bit stronger. Dillon is just a tiny guy weighing in at 5 lbs. 4 oz. and just as sweet and beautiful as they come. Congrats to Cam, Al and Mason!

Just thought I would share this poem I received from an email, I think it is a great reminder to us. Cherish everyday and don't assume your loved ones know how you feel. I love you all and am so glad you are part of mine and my families life, thank you for being you!

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep,I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last timethat I see you walk out the door,I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time I could spare an extra minute to stop and say 'I love you,'instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight,and we always get a second chance to make everything just right.
There will l always be another day to say 'I love you,'And certainly there's another chance to say 'Anything I can do?' But just in case I might be wrong,and today is all I get, I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone young or old alike,And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.So if you're waiting for tomorrow,why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,you' ll surely regret the day,That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone,what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,and whisper in their ear,Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear.
Take time to say 'I'm sorry,' 'Please forgive me,' 'Thank you,' or 'It's okay.'
And if tomorrow never comes,you'll have no regret s about today.

A baseball and a soccer star!

Kalli and her favorite part of the game...the treats!


Riley on first base after a great hit! Isn't he just so cute in that uniform?
Notice Jett across the field showing her what to do :)
Even Bostynn came out in the cold to cheer on Riley and Kalli.

Our lives right now are lived getting one kid to one thing and one to another. It is Spring and Summer time (well at least that is what the calendar says) so this is what we should expect, I am not complaining, it is so much fun to watch my kid's develop in whatever they are doing.

Riley has just blossomed into this amazing athlete. He loves to play ball, no matter what the weather, he just wants to play and has a huge smile on his face while doing so. It has been so much fun because they are playing the "official" rules this year and let me tell you some of the games are intense. Good news though, the White Sox of Herriman are officially still undefeated! He has been playing second base and right field, it is so funny because he loves when people come to watch him but he has to play it cool, he will make a great play or hit the heck out of the ball and you will see him look out of the corner of his eye to make sure we are all cheering for him. I think his favorite part is that his Dad is coaching him, and he gets to spend that extra bit of time with him. He has made some new buddies, there is just something about him he makes friends wherever we go, kid's just love him.

We have had Kalli in dance, the first year she did ballet, not sure she loved this but now we have her doing cheer, tumbling and jazz she has fallen in love with it and will pretty much show anyone her 5,6,7,8 :) We thought we would try out a little soccer action this Spring with some of her little girlfriends and she seems to love it (even though her uniform is not pink). She loves the fact that people come to watch HER play. Each game is the same run down "who is coming to watch me today?", "who is bringing treats?" and "how are we doing my hair?" She did score a goal her very first game! We laugh so hard because they are just so little and still a bit uncoordinated with this big ball at their feet. Go Dragons!!

It's a ....

We went to Fetal studio last night to see if our sweet baby would let us in on it's little secret...boy or girl?... the cute gal that did the ultrasound said everything looked great with the baby as far as she could tell (which is a huge relief as you all know). She also said there is no doubt about it but we are expecting a baby GIRL!

Now comes the hard part NAMES if any of you hear of anything cute please pass them along our way. I had to attach the picture of her waving to us, it was so funny, we kept telling the kid's that we are going to see the baby and maybe she will wave to say hello and sure enough, no kidding, she was just a waving and had the hiccups.

We are so excited to add her into our family!

In a slump and a movie set?

I have to admit lately I have been in a slump, I feel like I can't get organized to fit in what I need to in a day. I am pleading for advice...I start each day with great intentions to get my list done and somehow it never happens. So, therefore, my life feels like it is out of control... not sure if that makes sense but I need to figure it out. Being so sick with this pregnancy has thrown me way off and I know this but now that things are getting better I guess I am overwhelmed playing catch up. I know you are all organized so please, please pass along any tips you may have.


So my sister-in-law Natalee has a good friend who lives in a small town in Oregon. She was out and about one day and stumbled upon a movie set and which one are you thinking....TWILIGHT!! I have attached a picture of Charlie's house, notice the truck and cop car out front. She said she will send more my way so I will share because Natalee is there visiting her now so they are going to the set each and every night. I have one big question to ask all you Twilight fans....Do you like who they picked for Edward? I am struggling. If you have not checked it out they have scenes from the movies on mtv.com http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1585900, I have to say I am way excited!!

A weekend at Grandma's

Last weekend the kid's and I went with my parents and uncle to visit my Grandma in St. George. They wanted to go down to spend some time with her because she just had some heart surgery the week before. It was a nice weekend, the first day we went and helped her move some stuff and clean a bit but let me tell you for 90 years old her little home is spotless. My kid's always remember their Great-Grandma by the "picture" wall when you walk in her house (I know all of us love that wall) it has just a ton of pictures of every grandkid, great-grandkids & my Mom's siblings, there is just something that is mesmerizing about it. Kalli wanted me to take a picture of the "picture" wall but I left my camera in the car the last day so maybe next time. My Uncle Randy was telling us all kinds of stories about my Grandma and her life, if you think about it she is 90 and has lived through giving birth in your own home, to washing your clothes by hand to know seeing the world so high tech. I am so happy that my kid's have gotten to meet and know both of the Great Grandma's they are such great ladies and wonderful examples of how to live your life, we miss my Grandma Romano everyday.

It was beautiful down there we took the kid's swimming and yes one morning we were out at 9:30 a.m. and it was sunny and warm! Who knows maybe one day we will feel the warmth of the sun again? One night my Dad decided to have a huge (one-sided) water fight with the kid's in MY hotel room but somehow it got turned on me and my Mom let's just say there was water everywhere but the kid's thought that was the funnest night. Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us tag along we had a blast!