The Johnson's Come to Town

Brian's family came to visit us this last week. Rick just got home from his mission in Honduras two weeks earlier, so this was the first time we've seen him in two years! Brian had a whole list of activities for us to do while his family was here. We went shooting at the range one morning. Bracken and I wandered around finding lizards and eating crackers while Rick, Brian and Kristi showed off their shotgun skills.


That afternoon we went to the Washington County Fair. I'm used to even smaller fairs, and Brian is used to the huge Arizona State Fair. So I was impressed with the fair and he wasn't, but we all had fun together anyway. We ate Navajo tacos, watched a show with rainforest animals, looked at all the booths, Bracken went through the petting farm/zoo with Grandpa, we played on stilts, I went up for the hypnotist show (but I couldn't be hypnotized), and we watched a laser show.


Grandpa Rob and Bracken. Bracken is riding on one of the mini cows in the petting zoo. He loved petting the goats too.

Trying to walk on stilts and with bucket shoes was Brian's favorite part of the fair.

Grandpa Rob watched Bracken while the rest of us watched the "Newlywed Game" at the fair. They found this little car to play with and Bracken thought it was the best toy ever. Grandpa Rob became one of Bracken's new favorite pals.
The next day we went to the new little lake here in town. Everyone from Arizona thought the water was crazily cold at first, but we had a blast anyway. We probably played "monkey in the middle" for an hour. (Above: Rick and Shay)

Kira and Brian

This little guy loves the water and playing in the sand. His favorite game to play at the lake is "motor boat." I'll take him out in the water and spin/help him swim in a circle slow, then fast, and then dunk him up to his neck while saying,

Motor boat, motor boat, go so slow.

Motor boat, motor boat, go so fast.

Motor boat, motor boat, step on the gas!

Rick, Kristi, and Brian taking out their frustration on the sand castle they built. :)

It was so fun to see Bracken with his Grandparents and Aunts and Uncle this visit because he remembered them and thought they were all the coolest. He was so sad when they left and keeps asking for "Rick and Kristi's." We've laughed because he insists on calling Melissa "Sarah," even though he can say "Lissa." Thanks for coming to visit and for all the fun you guys!

Angel's Landing

My Mom came to Cedar City to watch Bracken for us for the day so Brian and I could hike Angel's Landing. Shaylee, Ryan and Seth came with us. Isn't the view from the top amazing?


I forgot how steep and narrow this hike gets at the top. We kept telling Seth to be a "smart scout" and not do anything crazy.


It was fun spending the day with my little sister and brothers. They're all pretty cool! We had so much fun we decided we're going to try to get a permit to hike the Subway soon.

Talking...

The other day Bracken's little friend Lucy brought me her bow and I put it in my own hair and asked, "Do I look pretty?" Bracken said clear as a bell, "You look pretty." It was so cute!

I love watching him putting his words together. He talks constantly and we understand more and more of what he says all the time.

Ward Campout

We just got back from our ward campout at Webster's Flat. We had such a great time! Bracken loved playing with the leaves, sticks, and dirt. We had a delicious dutch oven dinner, visited, played a couple of intense games of fugitive, and blew up glow sticks in the campfire. I wish I'd gotten pictures of all of the awesome people who were there, but let me just say we've lucked out to have such friendly, good people in our ward.
Bracken went to sleep in our tent around 8pm and didn't make a peep until the next morning at 7. Thanks little guy! We had so much fun playing fugitive that we're going to have a couples date night playing it here in town in a few weeks. So let me know if you want to come too and I'll let you know the details.

My Lost and Found Wedding Ring

This morning I helped my Dad spread a dump truck full of dirt around to build up the ground at a friends house. Hours later I was talking to my Mom and started wiggling my wedding ring around and immediately realized that something didn't feel right. I looked down to discover my wedding band was missing.

It seemed like ten pounds of lead dropped into my stomach. My mind raced as I tried to backtrack, thinking of where it could possibly be. Then I remembered the dirt pile, and I was terrified I'd lost it somewhere in those tons of dirt. Just to be sure, I checked in the bed I'd slept in, the gloves I'd worn, and any place I could think of. When I told Brian I broke down crying, and he tried to help me think of where it could be.

Back in my parents house I asked my Mom, little sister Sarah, and my two littlest brothers to pray with me that I'd find my ring. When we all said "Amen" we looked at each other for a second, then Sarah stood up, took a step, bent over and picked something off the carpet. She asked me, "Is this it?" There was my wedding band, and I hadn't even gotten off my knees yet! My tears changed from sad to happy and grateful in an instant, and we had another prayer, this time of thanksgiving. My three year old brother started laughing because he could tell how happy we all were.

I am SO grateful we found my wedding band. I love what it symbolizes--my Eternal marriage to the most perfect-for-me guy in the world. Brian worked hard and sacrificed to buy my ring and I love it, and appreciate him. It's a physical possession that is very special because of what it represents, and I am so happy we found it.

I'm also grateful for the testimony strengthener I had today about prayer. We found the ring before I even got off my knees! Heavenly Father really cares about what is important to us. I'm grateful my brothers and sisters were able to be apart of that miracle and hopefully have their testimonies strengthened too.

Visiting Grandpa and Grandma

We went to Idaho to visit my Grandpa and Grandma Gunderson in May. I was worried about the eight hour car ride but Bracken was a little trooper. Bracken was adorable with Grandpa. He would point at Grandpa and say “Bampa!” whenever he saw him. That made Grandpa just as proud as could be. He’d take Bracken around to look at things and Bracken was always so interested in what Grandpa showed him. Bracken kept touching Grandpa’s face with his little hand, then pulling it away quickly and shaking his head and hand and saying “Whoo!” as if Grandpa’s whiskers tickled him.


We went on a drive to see the temple, feed the ducks and geese, and see the old house that Mom grew up in and that Grandpa and Grandma lived in until about six or seven years ago. As a little girl I always loved going to the Snake river to feed to geese and ducks, and it was fun for me show Brian and to watch Bracken enjoy doing the same.


Bracken feeding the geese with Brian.


Bracken loved playing with the Noah's Ark and making all the animal noises.


Bracken had fun playing with my little cousins Connor and Hannah. They were both so good with him.


We had such a great visit with Grandpa and Grandma. Grandpa took us to a potato factory where we saw how the potatoes are cleaned, sorted and boxed from the field. We played card games at night and ate lots of yummy food. We visited Aunt Vodis and Uncle Jon and Aunt Nicole and their kids. One night we talked for hours listening to stories about Grandpa and Grandma when they were younger, what they did as little kids, how they met and fell in love...I loved hearing their stories.

I am grateful for my grandparents. Grateful for their love, their support, the way they’ve raised a righteous family and followed Heavenly Father. They’ve served three missions—in the Nauvoo temple, the Washington D.C. temple, and in the Idaho Falls visitor center. They’ve been temple workers every Thursday afternoon since I can remember as a little girl. Now they still go every week to do a session themselves. They remember every birthday and anniversary, and make every effort to be to each of their almost 30 grandchildren’s baptisms, ordinations, and weddings. I know they love us. I am grateful for my Grandpa and Grandma and love them so much! I’m grateful Brian and Bracken came with me and we were able to enjoy that wonderful
week with them.