Random funny pics from 2013

So here is my last post for this year...a bunch of random pictures from 2013.  Bring on the crazy! 

 Seth made his own lunch one day.  Pickles, bananas and strawberry slices.  He even ate a little of it, but decided my lunches were better than his.

 Ashlynn loves to hide in our entertainment center.  We ended up having to move the piano bench in front of the doors to keep her out.

 Doesn't this look like such a fun toy?!  Let's all put garbage cans on our heads.

 Another Ashlynn hiding place...under the kitchen sink.

 Had fun during the summer at a new splash pad park in Provo.

 Seth fell asleep in the rocking chair.  I would think his bed would be more comfy, but what do I know.

 The little stinker got a hold of the cooling banana bread.  At least I know she likes it.

 My first child to find the dryer a fun place.  I really have to keep my eye on her.

 Not even sure what to say about this.  Why Noah and Seth put underwear on their heads before falling asleep I could not tell you.  It makes for a funny picture though.

 Piggy back rides!  It is so fun to have older brothers to play with.

 Our boys like to sleep in the same bed...it is warmer that way.  You also have extra limbs to snuggle with.

Not sure why this picture is turned sideways, but oh well.  Ashlynn emptied her diaper pail into her play kitchen.  Gross!

 Super Cool!  She loves her accessories...to go along with her hand me down boyish pjs.

 Noah, the knight, found a fun way to keep his sword without having to hold it.  Unfortunately, it looks like he has been stabbed!

 Ninja Seth!  That mask has been well used over the years.

 Ashlynn likes to climb up on her dresser and listen to the radio.  She fits perfectly on the cd player.

 More brother fun.  Caleb loves to have her jump on his tummy.  Better him than me.

Ashlynn is so nice to share her snack with her doggy.

Happy New Year to all our friends and family.  We hope to have at least as much fun next year as we did this year.  Wish you all the best!

The Year in One Post

So much for my plan on keeping up with my blog this year.  Oh well, there is always next year, right?  So here is our family newsletter for 2013.  Here's hoping that next year, I will be a little more on the ball with my posts.

Well, another year has come and gone and with it a lot of changes.

First off, Mike’s job has been rough for a while. The atmosphere was not good for him and was really starting to affect his life outside of work. After a lot of prayer, he was laid off. Funny how the Lord works; answers to prayers don’t always come the way we expect them, but they will always work out for the best. He has been working on starting up his own business and enjoying being able to spend more time with the family. He is happier, healthier and our family life is better. We have also been able to cut back and really focus on needs versus wants. Though not always easy, it is somewhat refreshing, and we see the Lord’s hand so much in our lives. Mike is still the ward clerk and really enjoying working with the bishopric.

I was called to work with the cub scouts as a Wolf leader. I love it. They can be an active group of boys, but they are so excited about scouts. I continue to teach preschool with my friend. It keeps me busy, but I love it. I also volunteer for Orem Youth Soccer and PTA.

Our family had fun running the Dirty Dash this spring.  Mike's sisters and I did the 10k and then we did the 1 mile Piglet Plunge as a family.  The older boys loved it, but Seth was a little overwhelmed and not so keen on getting muddy.  It was quite a clean up project afterwards.

Isaac turned 8 this year and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It was a nice day with family there.

We celebrated Pioneer Day by running the Temple to Temple 5k.  Caleb and Isaac were gone so it was just the younger kids with Mike and me.  They started with their scooters and found they liked jogging it better.  It was a nice downhill route from the Provo temple to the construction site of the new downtown Provo temple.

Noah started playing soccer this year.  He loved it.  All that practice and playing in the front yard with his brothers seemed to pay off.  He did quite well.

Caleb and Isaac also played soccer this year.  They were on the same team (red) and Mike was their coach.  They all seemed to enjoy it.  We will see how spring season goes.

I was able to participate in my first relay race.  Our team of 6 ladies (Moms on the Run) participated in the Women of Steel relay race.  We ran a total of 54 miles (three 5k's each).  It was a nice run to train for.  Hard enough to really train, but not so hard that it killed us.  Hopefully we can do it again next year.

We were a pirating family this year for Halloween.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  Thanks to our friends for letting Mike and me borrow costumes.  It really helped put the group together.  It was a fun night and they got way too much candy.  Ashlynn helped eat as much as she could possibly get her hands on.  I had to get creative in how to keep it out of her reach.  Her first words: "Trick or Treat!"

Caleb turned 10 and is in the 4^th grade. He still enjoys school, but likes being with his friends more than learning. He is really starting to enjoy reading big books. He played soccer for his third year. He is a Webelos scout and enjoys earning as many pins as he can.

Isaac turned 8 and is in the 3^rd grade. He liked being baptized this year and especially liked joining his brother in cub scouts.

Noah turned 6 and started kindergarten. He loves going to school with his older brothers. He loves to read and does great in school - it’s pretty easy for him.

Seth turned 4 and is in his second year of preschool. He does well in the structure and with the rewards of school. He sets a good example for the younger kids (which kind of surprised me). He is still a handful, but can be so loving.

Ashlynn turned 1 and is such a wild girl. She tries so hard to keep up with her brothers. I can turn around and see her climbing up on counters to get any candy that I tried to hide or rough housing with her brothers (when she is not trying to play in the bathroom). She definitely keeps us on our toes, but we love her dearly.

Well, there is a brief look into our year. It has been a good one. Interesting and challenging in so many ways, but we have been so blessed. The Lord has been guiding our lives and we will continue to trust in Him through the upcoming year. We hope this finds you all happy and healthy. We love you all and pray for you.

Love, The Johnson Family

Trek

Mike and I had the opportunity to be a Ma and Pa for some of the youth in our ward for our ward's Pioneer Trek this past summer.  It was definitely an interesting experience for us, not being big campers and my never having worked with the youth before.  It turned out to be a great experience for us both.

 First we were put into families.  We had such a great family.  Our "kids" were always so happy and fun to be around.  We were always the first to break into song...even if it annoyed those around us.  It made the miles go by much faster when we had a game to play or marching song to sing.

 We walked 10 miles the first day, 4 the second, 10 the third and 4 the final day.  Those 10 mile days were so long, but made the shorter days feel really short.  The kids did a great job pulling the handcart.  They never complained.

 Once we got to camp, we would set up our tents and get cooking.  The ingredients were already gathered, we just needed to cook it.  Having never used a camping stove before, this was a new experience for me.  I relied a lot on my young men to help me there.

 By far, the hardest (yet most rewarding and memorable) part of Trek, was the Women's pull.  The Bishop came to each family and called the Pa and boys off on a mission.  We were left with a blessing, said a prayer and off the guys went up the hill.  The girls and I were left to pull the handcart almost 3/4 of a mile uphill.  There were many prayers said going up that hill and many tears shed after we reached the top.  The guys stood at the top and reverently watched us struggle up that hill.  It was hard on the boys that were so used to being the physically strong ones to see us struggle.  We made it though and hopefully some of the girls left that experience with greater faith and trust in their Heavenly Father.  I know I did.

 Here is Mike with our neighbor, Drew.  It was the last day and we were so excited to get home, shower and SLEEP!  I don't sleep well when I camp, so I was so sleep deprived, I could hardly function that last day or so.

 It was a great experience.  I really grew to love those kids that we were in charge of.  They became our children and we will always have a place in our hearts for them.  What a great group of youth for the next generation.

Mike and I loved being able to go on Trek.  Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to go again.  (Thanks to Mike's parents for watching our little ones so we could go!)  We both grew physically and spiritually from this experience and have a much greater respect for those pioneers that traveled much farther and in much harsher conditions than we did.