Week of Cousin Fun!

We got to have Jeff and his younger kids come stay with us this week while Hayden and Allie went to EFY. We just missed Niki! We played hard and had a blast.  

We went to the SLC and Provo waterparks on different days. We celebrated Stetson's birthday at the Lehi Fun Center with laser tag, go-carts, mini-golf and carnival rides and finished the celebrating with Pizookies that night. 

 We went camping up American Fork Canyon where we had BB gun shooting contests, went geo caching down an almost non-existent path, worked on the boys' cub scouts requirements, and Jeff and Brian made a delicious dinner of cowboy potatoes and BBQ chicken in the dutch ovens, and peach cobbler for dessert.  Yum!  

Chandra and Tuff exploring in the creek by our campsite. 

 The next day we met Kristi and Melissa and hiked to the Timpangogos Caves. They were so cool to see, and the kids were troopers hiking. 

 By Saturday we were ready to stay home for a bit...but the fun didn't diminish.  Sally and three of their kids flew in to join us for the day.  We devoured a watermelon, played with the dunk tank for hours, and then swam in our neighbor Dave's pool for another hour or so. 

Dunk Tank!  Bracken, Mylie, Ella, Stetson, Chandra and Adelle.  

The kids were in cousin heaven this week, and are already asking for another get together. What a special week!

Bartlett Lake Trip * 1st Johnson Family Reunion

What a special few days this was!  Lake camping takes a lot of hard work, but it gives us the chance to be together as a family for several days in a way we can't be at home with our responsibilities ever present.  At the lake, we're together, with few distractions, doing something we love.  Especially our kids. From the moment they woke up until their eyes unwillingly closed in exhausted sleep they were in a magical cousin heaven.  Playing together, discovering, digging, and pushing themselves to try new things-- swimming to the buoy, catching fish with a net or pole, water skiing, or bumper tubing a little faster.  I felt like the hard work was worth it as I watched them for the most part blissfully unaware of the effort that made the trip possible, and joyfully absorbing every second of lake time. 

Adelle, Bracken, Ethan, Chandra, Benja and Ella catching minnows and blue gills with a net and gold fish crackers as bait.  They had a lot of success!

Tuff and Bracken

Kinsey and Chandra  (Kinsey potty trained herself two weeks before our trip and I was so worried this would be a rough week, but she did such a great job.)

Bracken feeling on top of the world!

Chandra holding on with all her might and Ella.  These two like the calm rides. 

After eating watermelon we always have to have watermelon rind wars.  We also played watermelon rind baseball.  Mike's at bat, Brian is pitching.  Swim Mike!

Grandpa Rob

Kinsey loves her Uncle Jeff and "my little friend" Quinnley.

Cousins.  Using the bumper tube as a raft and the water guns as oars. 

Bracken was so intent on pushing me off the bumper tube!  He didn't fall off in this picture, but climbed back on and pushed me off. Boy was he proud!

Bracken and Kira

Brian on the wakeboard.

They caught a catfish using one of their minnows for bait. A most exciting moment!

Kira skiing. 

Cousins bumper tubing.

Mike and Sally took the cousins out in the boat for a swim.  Happy kids!

Ella, Benja, Bracken, Ethan, Stetson, Adelle Chandra and Mylie

Ella and Chandra.  These two are inseparable!

All the grandkids were present for this picture.  Smiles were optional. 

Such a special week!

Johnson Family Pictures 2017

All the Johnson kids and their spouses!  (Or soon to be, Rick and Sarah were married a couple weeks later)

Mike and Sally

Rick and Sarah

Spencer, Gilbert and Kristi

Kira and Brian

Steve and Melissa

Rob and Sue

Bahama Cruise!

Brian and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas to celebrate our 10th Year Anniversary and Brian's completion of medical school!  It was the perfect tropical vacation with quiet beaches, snorkeling, relaxing and reading, rock climbing, the food and shows on the cruise itself, and a visit to the Orlando temple before flying home.  It was such a treat to have all that time together.

The first day we went to CocoCay, the Royal Caribbean's private island.  As soon as we ferried to the island, we went down the official nature trail and then continued walking to the other side of the island, leaving behind the hundreds of other people and finding an almost private beach.  I think we saw 10 people all afternoon!  We waded in the warm water, built a sand'castle', found sea shells, saw sea cucumbers, a starfish and a sting ray, and spent the rest of the afternoon reading in the shade of a palm tree with the most incredible view.   

 We happened to find a couple beach chairs on the far end of the island...perfect for a quiet afternoon!

 The next day we went snorkeling in Nassau.  That was fun!  We saw many different colorful fish (especially when we stayed close to our guide who threw the fish food), an eel, and explored the beautiful coral reef.  This was one of the highlights of the trip!  We spent the rest of the afternoon walking through a few shops and swimming in the ocean.

On the last day of our cruise we climbed the Rock wall over and over again, went to several shows, (the Marriage show, belly flopping contest, Comedian and the crews singing and dancing performances), enjoyed the buffets, and read on the deck.  

Dressed up for our formal dinner. 

We got off the boat first thing in the morning, but our flight didn't leave until 7pm, so we rented a car and went to the Orlando, FL temple.  It was beautiful. What a perfect vacation and celebration!

Brian's Graduation from Medical School!

It has been a day of celebration! We are so proud of Brian and all the hard work he has put in to get here. He's officially Dr. Brian Johnson, M.D.!

When Brian walked across the stage to get his diploma our little section erupted with whistles, clapping and "Yea Daddy!" "That's my Daddy!" We are all so proud of Brian. 

Bracken and Brian

Bracken was no match for his Grandma's in a tickle fight.