Blessing Day

Today we blessed our little Luke Henry. He looked quite adorable in his whites. He was very good and quiet during the blessing. Jared did an awesome job. Aidan was MIA during it all. He took off during the opening prayer. My Uncle Brent & Aunt Celeste Merkley from Logandale, NV and Grandma and Grandpa Merkley were there to join us.

Jared bore his testimony and Owen asked me if I would go up with him and we bore our testimonies. We are grateful to have the gospel so we can be with our family forever. We love you all and are grateful for all of the love you show to us.

Love,

Jared, Michelle, Owen, Aidan, & Luke

Luke's Announcement

Here is the baby announcement that my sister-in-law, Emily Clark, did for Luke. I love it!! If you want one or a holiday card, she is very resonable in price and does cute stuff. Let me know and I'll hook you up!!

Thanks Em!

Fall is here!!!

The air has finally cooled down and we are really liking this time of year!! We remembered really fast why we like fall in So. Utah or No. Nevada (for our sake). The boys had a ball with Halloween. They both wanted new costumes, but we told them that no one here saw their costumes from last year, so they could wear those. They didn't like that answer at first, but once the costumes came out and were tried on, they were just fine!

The boys had a Halloween carnival with lots of junk food, tickets, games, cheap prizes, and people. While we were there, Aidan kept saying, "This is the best Halloween ever!"

Tiffany, my sister from Logan, came down to visit us and to hold her new nephew. The boys all had fun playing with her. I am glad she made the long trip too. We were glad to have some company. She dressed up and went Trunk or Treating with the boys. We finally decorated (we went all out :) our trunk this year. As you can tell, we had a lot of fun with the sticky eyeballs;)

Halloween was another hit! I can't believe it's November and that the holiday season is about upon us!! Crazy how time flies!!

We have a new addition to our Family

We'd like to announce the addition of "Luke Henry Johnson" to our family.
Luke came to us last night at 8:18pm, 7'11lbs, 19 in with dark brown hair. Owen and Aidan are excited to be Big Brothers.l

Happy Anniversary!!

Today is our 8th year anniversary. It seems so long ago that we were married, but the number just doesn't seem as big. We've been though a lot together and it surely has brought us closer. We're certainly not perfect, but I am always amazed at how well we get along and go so well together. I couldn't imagine my life without Jared. I love you, babe!!!

Almost there!!!!

Time has gone by really fast. I can't believe that I will have a new child to care for in less than a week. It doesn't seem real, but I know it soon will be.

I go to my 39th week appointment on Wednesday and if I haven't progressed enough to have him, then I will be induced on Thursday. So far I'm a 4+ and more than halfway effaced. I am excited to not be pregnant anymore (excited to be able to bend over again and sleep on my back), but know I will miss not feeling him move inside me.

I have been anxious about being 45 min. from our hospital and my doctor. I've been praying for peace that everything will be ok. I feel that it will, but if you can remember to pray as well, it won't hurt :)

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable fall. It's finally in the 70's and 80's here and I'm lovin' it!!!

Possible baby boy names

I think we need some help with some baby boy names. It can't start with a vowel and we'd prefer it not be too trendy because Johnson is such a common name.

We have a list, but it's not getting any longer or shorter and I've looked through several baby name websites without any luck. I know you've all heard cool names, so bring them on in!!

It's a waiting game...

Now that we're down to the last 4.5 weeks, it's a waiting game! I don't know when things will go down, but I hope that there is as little drama as possible. I go to the doctor on Tuesday, so we'll see how we're doing. We'll keep you posted!!

Lazy this summer...

Owen's first day of school

I was looking at last year pictures and we started and ended with a StarWars shirt!

Aidan at the SLC Temple

Aren't they pretty?

I realized that I've been quite lazy this summer taking pictures. I did not take very many which is really sad. No swimming, no grandma's house, no wedding. Wow, I regret it now. I guess I'd better step up my game and soon.

This week has been a busy one. Owen started school on Monday, August 24th. He's in first grade and his teacher is Mrs. Burton. We met her the first day and she seems really nice. Owen has enjoyed going to school, making new friends and seeing old ones. We are back to making it to school right as the bell rings (at least he's there on time :)

Last weekend I made a fast trip to Logan to get all of our baby stuff. We realized that there was no way we could get us and all of the stuff in our car. So I went by myself and it was a good thing. I filled it right up. I think we have the essentials and maybe just a little more. We will be ready for that day (hopefully). I stayed with my sister-in-law and their family. Thanks Jann and Chad for letting me stay. They were kind enough to go through the trouble to get me a ticket to the Oquirrh Temple dedication. I hadn't been to a temple dedication for awhile and it was really nice.

I also stopped in Brigham City to get some peaches and pears. I swear I'm in the nesting stage, if it's possible this early, I have a list of projects and want to can and cook. It's crazy. Unfortunately cleaning my house isn't one of the things I want to do. But I spent this week doing peaches and pears. I got 14 bottles of each and they were, to my memory, the best peaches and pears I have ever tasted. Especially the peaches--so sweet and so juicy. I wish I could go back and get more just to eat. It was a lot of work and wore me out each day, but they sure look nice and taste good too!

Aidan, I am happy to say, is basically potty trained...YEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! Funny story, you never know what is going to work...

When we were at my mom's, I was fed up with him because he kept going in his pull-ups and we had a few gross messes to clean up. So I went to buy him some diapers. On the way out of the baby section, I saw some Thomas the Train underwear. Something he knew he could get if he would stop pottying in his pull-ups. I stood there for a minute or two deciding whether it would be worth it or not. I decided to give it a shot and bought the diapers AND the underwear. I gave him the bag when I got home and said, "Here's your diapers, Aidan." He looked in there and noticed that there was something else in there. He pulled out the underwear and asked what they were. I said, "Oh, those are underwear, but they're not for you, they're for big boys who potty in the toilet all the time." (Reverse psychology works almost every time on my kids). And the rest is history. He immediately went to the bathroom so he could put on his underwear. We have had a few accidents, but he has been so good and we are sooooo proud of him. Now he has Transformers underwear, too (he's so proud of them) and a new train that he earned. Goal accomplished! Now I've got to start buying newborn diapers!!

We are still making it work here in Bunkerville, thanks to Uncle David. The kids have friends to play with and the people here have been so nice and welcoming (I don't know if that's a word). They keep telling us to stay and we might be for awhile since our house is still sitting there waiting for someone to buy it! Who knows what will happen. We are just rolling with it...

The last of summer...

I am sorry that I have not posted now for a month and a half. I have been so bad at taking pictures and we've been gone for the past two weeks at my parent's house. It was a nice long vacation and we really enjoyed the cool weather, being with family and having fun.

My brother Matthew got married to Sheena Hall on July 31st! We're so excited to have Sheena in our family, I hope she feels the same about us :) We had a great time with the wedding celebration and now wish the happy couple lots of luck in Tennessee!! We will miss you. Jared, my brother, Christopher and his wife Emily gave them a nice going away present the day before they left. Nice job guys! The kids had fun at the wedding celebration eating anything they could get--especially the cupcake tower!!

While we were at Grandma's house we played alot with Christopher and Emily and their cute little girl, Ashley. Owen and Aidan could make her giggle and laugh. It was quite cute. They took such good care of her--good practice for their soon-to-be brother. We went swimming at the Vernal Rec. Center--fun pool, boys jumped on tramp with/without hose. Aidan surprised us by doing flips on the tramp all by himself. We experienced rain, wonderfully cool weather due to thunder and lightening storms, trip to mountains to get Grandpa from his 50 miler, Wii, legos, games, trip to dino museum, picking raspberries, and helping grandma. We loved every minute of it and were sad to come home, but it's nice to be back at our "home" and back with Jared.

Hopefully I will be better at pictures. I should have taken picts of all the stuff above, but I was such a slacker. Now school is starting and a new baby will be here in a couple months. Things will be different. So is life! Goodbye summer!!

A Few Achievements

The boys (and us) have been busy these past few weeks. One of our goals after we got down here was to get Owen to ride his bike without training wheels. He always said he was too little and not ready. But Jared took his training wheels off one Saturday and they walked over to the park and he taught him how to ride his bike. He picked it up pretty fast. Within an hour he was riding all over. He still needs to practice on turning, stopping and starting, but he is doing fabulous!! We are so proud of him!!!

The boys this past week took swimming lessons. They were very excited! They went every day for 45 minutes. They loved every minute in the water. Owen was ready and picked up on it very fast. He loves swimming underwater, especially with goggles on. Aidan, he was just there to be in the water. He did stick his face in the water but didn't really like to float. It's OK, he'll be excited to do it next year. Swimming lessons took quite a toll on their little bodies, but they survived and were willing to go everyday, despite raw toes that we had to wrap every day in bandaids and first aid tape. On Friday, I took them to the dollar store and they both picked out goggles to buy (we won a $5 cash Discover card in the cereal box and HAD to spend it!). I didn't think Aidan would like the goggles, but he's worn them every since he got them and wanted to wear them to bed. After the dollar store, we went to Wal-Mart and they insisted on wearing them. They looked so funny with their goggles on and got many laughs and comments. They were having a ball AND they were good in the store :-D

Aidan has had a major break through in potty training. It was time to get diapers again, but I really didn't want to so I asked him if he was ready to go potty in the toilet and he said yes. So we jumped immediately on the potty training wagon. Lots of pull-ups, stickers, candy and rewards later, we (he and I) are doing well for one week of potty training. It's at least lasted one week. My last attempts lasted not more than one and a half days. We still have a ways to go, but we are both positive and Aidan is still excited. We now have to move up another level this week with #2. Except we will be leaving home, I hope we don't regress. I guess we'll find out. I'm so proud of him, he's doing so well and I'm proud of me because I am taking this sanely!

This last picture is of our house that we live in right now. Many of my family members and friends haven't seen it, so here it is. I don't have picts of the inside, but if you're really interested in the backyard and inside, I'll take more. It's working very well for us.

We're excited to travel up north this weekend to visit our "vacation home," family and friends. Owen's birthday is also this week, so we'll be celebrating that also.

I hope that your 4th of July is a great weekend for you and your family and that you take the time to think of all that we have been given. I can't help but think that even though things are tough during these times, we are still greatly blessed to live in such a great country with great freedoms. I am grateful every day for all of the blessings we have been given and the privilege we have of knowing the true gospel in our lives, especially due to the sacrifice of those who lived before us.

Have a wonderful weekend...we love you!!

More news!!!

Well, we have some exciting news to share with everyone...no, we haven't sold our house, I wish but that's not it, instead we are having a new baby boy!!! I know I fooled you again with the news thing! We've been keeping it secret which is kind of easy to do here in Bunkerville, NV. (Kinda hard for me and my mouth though). Our bouncing baby boy will be due sometime around mid-October. We didn't tell our families until Memorial Day weekend and this past weekend at the Merkley reunion. It was kind of fun to surprise everyone, especially my sister, Angela, who is due one week AFTER me! Plus we waited long enough that we could tell them it was a boy. So there it is, our news!

(Don't you love the ultrasound? Our baby is already trying to suck his thumb! We breed thumb-sucking kids!)

We had a really nice time at our Merkley reunion in Manti, UT. Our main event, besides eating, was attending the temple and going through to do my Uncle Clayton's name, who passed away suddenly about a year and a half ago. He is my mom's brother. We miss Uncle Clayton. He was the tease and the laughter of the party. It was special for my grandparents to have most of their kids in the temple and some of their grandkids there too. I am grateful we could go. It helped me realize how important the Atonement is and how grateful I am to have the gospel in my family, especially those saving ordinances that bind us together forever. I feel very blessed.

Jared and I being cheesy after the temple.

Thank you for all of your love, support, and prayers as always and continue to keep in touch! We love you all!

Updates...finally!!

I'm sorry that I haven't updated our blog. We've been a bit busy, but that's not why. I lost the cord that goes from my camera to the computer. I've had to put up quite a battle to get a new one... Anyways, battle over, I have a new one and here are our pictures!

Owen finished out his year in kindergarten last week. He loved his teacher Mrs. Hughes and said he will miss her and his friends. I can't believe that he will go to first grade next year!! He also lost his bottom two teeth the last two weeks of school. He was so excited! He was so brave, too, he pulled them out all by himself. I thought it might be a torturous event, but he made it quite easy for us. The tooth fairy that comes to our house is kind of a ditz. First time she almost couldn't find the tooth and then she almost forgot the second time. Tooth Fairy needs to get her act together! Last week Owen got to play with his good friend Andrew Davis. It was like they just picked up where they left off last time. They both like the same things and have so much fun together. He slept overnight and all three boys played so well together and had so much fun. They were sad to part. We'll get to see them sooner than later, but just not soon enough.

Aidan is just having fun being a kid. He likes to play with Owen and with the neighbors. He still plays lots of trains, ride his bike, and go swimming. He still remembers our trip to Disneyland and the many rides on the Casey Jr. (Dumbo) train and loves to play it on his bike and wherever we go. He's so cute and sings about everywhere he goes. His favorites are the Aggie Fight song, NASCAR racing song, Popcorn Popping, Casey Jr. song, Wonder Pets, Signing Time, and others he learns from me or in nursery. It's quite cute and he's quite the kid. It's always crazy when Aidan's around.

Jared and I got new callings in church. I'm the Primary Secretary and Jared is one of the Elder's Quorum teachers. It's bittersweet having a calling--nice for something to do and feel useful, but now we can't come and go as we please. Not that we've got a lot going, but I think you know what I'm talking about. I'm happy with my calling and the women that I will be working with are pretty awesome. Jared will get to help the Elder's Quorum presidency teach at least once a month. So that's new. We're getting ready to go to a family reunion in Manti with my mom's family. I think it will be fun.

Anyways, keep in touch and I hope everyone is planning and having a great summer. I'll try to update more often, I promise...

Disneyland 2009 & Newport Beach

Disneyland trip

What a trip!!  We spent three days at Disneyland and we all had a really great time.  The weather was just perfect and even though there was a lot of people there, we made the most of it.  The boys loved watching the Jedi training and Owen's favorite ride was StarTours (of course).  His souvenir was a StarTours ship with Captain Rex and R2 on it.  He also got to talk to the sea turtle, Crush, from Finding Nemo.  Aidan and Jared talked to him too.  They thought it was pretty cool, especially Jared (he still talks about it).  Aidan's favorite rides were the trains.  We made it to all of them and one of them like 8-9 times (Casey Jr.'s train).  He hid from Zurg the first time he saw him, but warmed up pretty fast.  Of course, Jared and I loved the roller coasters.  The new Toy Story ride was pretty fun.  Unfortunately, our favorite ride, Screamin' California, we didn't get to go on--too long a line--always.  We stayed in the park until closing because then we could ride on all the rides that had long lines all day.  Taking a nap in the middle of the day did wonders for us all.  

I can't get the pictures to download, I'll keep trying!

We also made a trip to Balboa Beach in Newport.  It is a nice clean beach and the waves were huge.  Of course, Owen was all wet within minutes and the water was C-O-L-D.  I stuck my toes in a couple of times and that was enough for me.  There were bikinis all around me and I was in a jacket!  I'm turning into a wimp!  The boys loved chasing the waves and playing in the sand.  We will have to stay longer next time.  It was so nice to be together.  The boys were very good and we did most everything that we wanted to do.  It won't be our last trip, that's for sure.

Disneyland or BUST!!

Our last trip to Disneyland

Tomorrow we are off to Disneyland!!  A vacation to celebrate our reunion!  We are all very excited and will share picts when we get back.  If anyone wants to join us, please do...just give us a call to tell us your there!!

Happy #3 Aidan!!

We had Aidan's 3rd birthday a week ago.  He was so excited to have his birthday.  We had family and neighbors join in the fun.  Food for all and lots of presents for Aidan.  He was excited mostly for his presents and his cake.  He wanted to open his presents when he got them.  So we first sang a big happy birthday and he blew his candle out.  He wanted to do it again, so Jared lighted the candle and he just sat there.  He said, "Sing happy birthday."  So a couple people sang However, that wasn't good enough, so we sang another big happy birthday and THEN he blew his candle out.  He was so happy with all of his presents!!  What little kid wouldn't be with a bunch of new toys!  More trains, new tracks, light saber and starwars shirt were his favorites.  Everytime he opened a present he would say, "It's for me!  It's for me! Please open it."  We all thought that was pretty funny.  

Everyone had a great time, even Owen said he had fun at Aidan's birthday.  The boys played for the rest of the day with Aidan's presents and Aidan just couldn't put some of them down.  (Notice the trains in his arms as he's trying to play with his light saber.)  

We love our silly Aidan boy, who is growing up so fast!!  Happy birthday, little man!

We made it!!

Well, we finally made it down here!  I am so glad to be a family again and to be back down here.  I have missed  St. George, but will surely miss Logan.  We had a lot of good times up there...lots of parties, dinners, family, friends, and neighbors.  It was hard to go, but it was time and I'm grateful we can be here.  We are living in my uncle's house (in NV) until our house sells, then we will make our way back to St. George.  We're crossing every finger!!  Thanks for everyone's help and for your kind words of encouragement.  We love you all!!

I'm making it official....

We are moving!!!  Yes, we are moving to Mesquite, NV (Bunkerville, to be specific) over the Easter weekend.  We are excited to be able to have this option to be close to where we will eventually be!  Our house selling doesn't look to positivie, but we're hoping for a miracle.  Thanks to all of you for your love and concern.  It has meant a lot to us.  Keep praying that our home will sell and we'll see some of you soon!!

What a week...(sorry it's kinda long)

This week was my birthday and it was sure filled with fun, parties, and family.  My sister, Angela, came up from SF to celebrate our birthdays (her birthday is on the 17th).  All but our parents and brothers at home were there.  It was so much fun.  Eat, talk and play. What we do best when we're together!  I'm so glad everyone made the effort and hope they had a fun time.  I did!!

Then my birthday wasn't so exciting, because there was no one around to make a big deal.  So we just did this and that, ran errands, I got some take-out, Tiffany watched the boys, I went to RS activity and then came home.  At about 11:30 pm, Jared calls to ask how my birthday was and I was telling him about our night.  Then I heard a noise and went to see what it was and where it came from and there was Jared walking through my front door!!!!  I was so happy he came.  That was really sweet for him to come see me on my birthday.  I have the sweetest, most generous husband ever!!  So he, of course, had presents for me the next day...so nice.  And then we went to Owen's class and gave his "special me" presentation all about him.  Then we finished out the day by going to my favorite restaurant, Olive Garden.  We were stuffed, but it was good!

The next day we just hung out at home and just enjoyed the time we had together.  We went a day early for our Valentine's celebration (babysitter available).  It was relaxing and nice, more presents and just a nice night with my husband.   That morning I made us pink, heart pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries--yum, yum!!  Our favorite breakfast (me and the boys).  We'd eat them every day!!  Then we spent the day as a family.  Tiffany and Matt took some time to play games with us which was fun, even though Jared crushed us in the shooting game on the Wii.  However, I did beat everyone, TWICE, at Blockus.  I hardly ever win games, so it was a nice victory and I'll take it!

Sunday, I came home after choir practice, changed my clothes and took a 3 1/2 hour nap.  The boys were having fun watching the Daytona 500 (NASCAR racing) and playing with each other and their dad.  It was a much needed, nice nap!!  I don't know when I'll get one of those again!!

Jared didn't have to go back until today.  So another day of just staying home and being together.  I finally cut the boy's hair.  Wow!  Aidan had like 2-3 inches of hair everywhere!!  But I was so proud of them, neither of then cried!!  Maybe next time won't be so bad either (cross my fingers). 

It was nice to have family around to celebrate our birthday and Valentine's.  I will definitely miss living here in Logan where they are so close.  Thanks for all your love and wishes.  I wish you all the best and lots of love from us!!

PS:  The picture of Owen is him dressed up as a Musketeer.  He was watching the Donald, Mickey and Goofy version of the Three Musketeers.  He came to me first searching for his lightsaber (for his sword) then he wanted a wide hat, so I remembered Jared had one in the closet and got it for him.  Then he needed some boots, but the only ones that fit, were mine.  He looked so cute!!

The first picture is Owen reading to Aidan.  They know this book by heart and were having lots of fun with the "whoooo, whoooo" (train whistle) part.  It was too cute to pass up a picture.

Random pictures

Here are some more pictures.

We went this last weekend to Vernal for the blessing of my newest niece, Ashley Ann Clark.  She's Christopher & Emily's daughter.  She's pretty cute and looked very adorable in her blessing dress and head bow.

This next pict is Owen and his "girlfriend" Sheena.  Owen only goes for the girls that are taken.  His charm wins them over pretty easily.  This is my brother Matthew's  girlfriend, and Owen's giving him some competition.  Every time Sheena comes over, she says, "Where's my boyfriend?"  Owen's past girlfriend has been my sister, Tiffany...until she got married.  He was pretty sad when he learned she couldn't be his girlfriend anymore.  He even cried.  Then my sister, Camille, well, she is the back up.  They are on again, off again.  He's just such a lovable kid and loves most everyone (mostly girls). 

I said that I never got a picture of the tracks that I built?  Well, here is one!  It was good, too.  However, it was torn to pieces by an upset 2 year old.  Those terrible twos!!  He even looks so cute in this picture!  I even built another good one today and so far, it hasn't been torn apart!  

I've also joined Facebook for anyone who would like to be my "Friend".  It has been so much fun to connect with old roommates and friends from high school.  If you're looking for someone, I bet you might be able to find them on Facebook!

Day in, Day out...

This is what my boys do, day in and day out.  I construct an awesome and intricate train track (unfortunately, I never get a picture of that!) and they take it all to pieces and build one of these.  I'll have to admit that the length is pretty impressive.  It went from the dining room, living room, hallway and the buffer ended at the far end of their bedroom (which is at the end of the house).  They love it!!  (we sure have a lot of tracks!!)

NOt ToO ExCitIng

Owen was sick ALL week and didn't go to school.  Just a nasty fever and cough.  By Thursday his fever was gone and he was finally a little more chipper.  But I didn't want to do too much too fast  (like I have in the past) and let him miss school that day.  Little did I know that he didn't have school on Friday and then, of course, no school on Monday.  So he's had quite the little vacation.  Too much TV and too much StarWars Wii game.  It's going to be back to reality tomorrow, probably a sad day here in the Johnson household.  

We also had Jared here from Thursday through Monday.  It's always so nice to have him back.  I was so relaxed that on Sunday I thought maybe once or twice about changing Aidan's diaper.  Good thing Jared was on the ball!!  Sunday we have 8:30 AM!! church--try that!!  It's NOT fun!  We have yet to get to church ON TIME and we always have to sit in the cultural hall where my kids are 5x's louder.  

We had Jared's family come on Sunday for dinner.  We don't seem to do it often enough.  The kids had fun playing the Wii and playing together.  We adults did what we do best--talk! 

And today, we cleaned.  I finally cleaned my shower for the third time since we moved in.  How sad is that.  But I got that new Bubbles shower cleaner and it did wonders...  Plus as a bonus, I got to sit and scrapbook!  It's been so long and I've been longing to do more.  I've had quite the battle with "Creating Keepsakes".  Ever since I renewed my subscription in September, I have received two issues--November & February's.  I hope that the battle is over and my subscription continues...I look forward to them every month! Here is a couple of my layouts, if you're interested plus a few other pictures from the past couple of days.  I LOVE the view outside my back door.  I am going to miss it.