Pirate Day at Krispy Kreme!

Today is “Talk Like a Pirate” day at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. I figured since Drew spends most of his days in his pirate costume, this would be perfect for him. He had to dress-up like a pirate and say something a pirate would say.

Drew wasn’t a bit shy. He walked right up to the counter and said “Ahoy Matey!” in his best pirate accent. Sure enough the worker handed him a free dozen doughnuts. And to make it even better, since Ellie was wearing a pirate hat, she got a dozen too! Let’s just say we have all had our share of super delicious doughnuts today. Thanks Krispy Kreme!

Silver Lake 2012

On Sunday we made our semi-annual trek to Silver Lake up Big Cottonwood Canyon (see the 2010 and 2008 trips). It was a little early to see all the leaves changing but it was still beautiful as ever. We enjoyed a stroll around the lake, feeding the ducks and chasing the squirrels.

After the walk we sat at the picnic table to have our dinner and the kids (big and little) played on the rocks and took turns trying to cross the tree pole the big boys had balanced between a tree stump and the picnic table. Safe? Probably not. Fun? Absolutely!

I always love being able to spend time together with family. I am so grateful to live so close to some of our grandparents and cousins. We are so lucky!


The pretty colors!


The whole family


Ellie and G’pa Mike


Drew Man!


Claire and Lucy


G’ma Jan and Ellie


KK balancing on the log.


Claire and KK

Bear Hollow Preschool

Today was Drew’s first day at Bear Hollow Preschool. This has been a much anticipated day for him. He couldn’t have been more excited! Although I will miss having my little buddy around in the afternoons, I know he will love his time at school. Ellie, on the other hand, is really gonna miss him. Drew is her best friend. I guess I will just have to make sure she is napping while he is away and she will never know he is gone! 🙂


Drew doing his first activity of preschool.


Drew and his friend Natalie on their way home from school. Drew said it was a great day!

Drew and Ellie…best buds!

Labor Day Weekend

This could have been the most jam-packed weekend in the Johnson family history. Our weekend consisted of a cousin campout, a day of boating, a baby blessing, playing at the swimming pool, and of course Labor Day wouldn’t be complete without an Argentine BBQ with some of our good friends!

Friday night we had the annual cousin’s campout at the Rowberry’s house. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t in our favor and although we had a fun night of playing and having s’mores, Seth and the kids ended up running home in the middle of the night due to approaching thunderstorms.

Then Saturday morning we packed up and headed to Jordanelle to meet some friends for a day of boating. Again, the weather was iffy, but we were able to have fairly sunny skies from 11-3. At 3, we noticed lightening in the distance. We quickly loaded up the boat and started getting stuff to the car. The storm however, moved in too fast. Seth and I were completely drenched by the time we got all of our stuff to the car. Of course, as we headed home we noticed the storm passed quickly and blue skies were back, but we were all too wet and too tired to go back out.


Issac, Meg, and Jake


Isaac and Jake playing in the mud


Izzy and Ellie


Katelyn and Megan

Sunday, we were lucky enough to participate in our little niece, Penelope’s, baby blessing. What a sweet experience that was to watch her daddy bless his baby girl. Isn’t she cute?!


Penelope Grace Haymond

Then yesterday, we spent the day at the pool with some friends and then met up with more friends for a barbeque at the Bergerson’s home. They hired a group of boys that put on an Argentine BBQ. We had marinated salmon, beef, and chicken. They also grilled up mushrooms, pineapple, peppers, and sausages. Wow, was that food good! The Brown’s generously donated their bounce houses to entertain the kids and the adults were able to enjoy some time visiting. A great time was had by everyone.

Happy Labor Day weekend…now I need a nap!


Fun with friends!


Argentine BBQ


Bounce house fun!

No more sugar for you!

We recently went in for our sixth month dental check-up as a family. Most everyone was cavity-free, which is generally the case minus one filling here or there, but this was definitely not the case this time. Our dentist found EIGHT, yes I said EIGHT, cavities in Drew’s mouth. My initial reaction was “Are you kidding me?!” Once the shock wore off I made a plan with my dentist to do two fillings at a time for four weeks and get those dang cavities filled.

As I left the office I repeatedly told Drew that he would not be having any more sugar. Sadly, that threat wore off, but I have been more diligent about limiting his sugary snacks and even more so particular when it come to brushing and flossing his teeth. I don’t think Jacob had his first cavity until a few years into grade school, but I have noticed I have become that stereotypical “mom of six kids” who doesn’t care nearly as much about things like that with my younger kids as I did with my older kids.

So here I go attempting to try a little harder with Drew and Ellie. I even went out and bought fluoride multivitamins for them (which I haven’t used in several years). Of course they both hate them and refuse to eat them but at least I am trying, right? Wish me luck!

As a side note, surprisingly Drew was amazing at all of his visits. He never even cried when he got his numbing shots. He just loved being able to watch a cartoon for a half hour. Afterward, was a different story. He did not like being numb and made sure everyone in the office new it. The last appointment he ran out yelling “I don’t like being numb,” over and over again. The good news is, he won’t have to be, at least not for another six months or so!


Mmmm, laughing gas…


Dr. Jared Hill (and his assistant) working on Drew…amazing dentist btw!

Back-to-School

School started today. Jacob started his first year of Junior High (Yikes! Can you believe it?!) Megan started fifth grade with Miss Louw, Katelyn started third grade with Mrs. Roberts and Claire started first grade with Mrs. Jensen. Oh, how time flies?! I am gonna miss these kids!


Jake the big seventh grader.


All the girls.


The girls headed off to school on their bikes.

Dare Mighty Things

This year our “back-to-school” theme is “Dare Mighty Things” (a part of a quote by Theodore Roosevelt). We thought it fit in perfectly with your “Mighty Johnsons” name. Our annual back to school bash went wonderfully and the kids had a blast!

We started off early in the week voting for a favorite dinner. Personal pizzas were the winner so that is just what we did. We had an array of cheese, pepperoni, canadian bacon and pineapple pizzas. The kids love making their own pizzas. I was a little skeptical because I rarely make my own dough, but the pizzas turned out great!

Next came the fashion show. Early in the day Megan, Katelyn, and Claire decorated the house with streamers, balloons and the red carpet. Megan also made voting ballots for each person so we could be sure and find the very best “back-to-school” outfit for each kid. The girls were hilarious. Each one pranced down the carpet with such style while music shook the house in the background. Even Ellie and Drew got involved this year. Everyone was able to all vote on the perfect outfit for school.


Jake and Meg voting for their favorite outfit.


So fun! Check out the girls’ new haircuts!

Afterward, we discussed out new school theme for the year, “Dare Mighty Things.” We made goals and discussed the upcoming school year. Of course the night wouldn’t be complete without dessert. We finished off the night by making ice-cream sundaes. Yum!

I am down to just Drew and Ellie at home with me now. Drew will start afternoon preschool in September so it will be just be me and Ellie on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. What will I do with my time?!

Olympics are in the air!

Katelyn ended the summer with a fun gymnastics meet. She only participates at a recreational level but in hopes to get more girls to go competitive they put on a sample meet where the girls competed against themselves.

Katelyn did great, but realized she doesn’t love competition. She got pretty nervous and uncomfortable. I tried to convince her those nerves would subside over time and more meets but she wasn’t convinced. So this is her last month and last meet she will be in for a while. She has decided to try a semester of Irish Dance.

Below are pictures of Katelyn on the bars, balance beam and the floor routine. She also did the vault, but I didn’t get a picture of it. Overall she got one blue ribbon (first on floor), one red ribbon (second on bars and vault) and a purple ribbon (third on beam). The beam makes her the most nervous. I can’t really say I blame her. After watching the Olympics you couldn’t convince me to jump around on the beam.

Katelyn did a fantastic job and we are so proud of her hard work in gymnastics over the past couple years!

A good two months

A few months ago, we swapped out our Expedition for a 2009 Suburban. Manina searched KSL Classifieds and found a super-clean, extremely well taken care of Suburban. It was used solely as a road trip car by the original owner, had low, freeway-only miles on it, and could easily be mistaken for a new car. It was spotless.

After we bought it, Manina wanted to keep the Suburban in great condition. She bought custom floor mats for the trunk, washed it regularly, and really kept it clean. She totally babied it. Even on our Washington road trip she had the kids clean it out at every pit stop.

Then, yesterday, this happened:

Fender bender

It was a typical silly accident: Manina was backing out of a parking space, being very careful not to hit the other car on the driver’s side, all while a mean and nasty stationary pole was lurking on the passenger’s side. Crash. Our nice, clean, could-be-mistaken-for-brand-new Suburban now doesn’t look so new. It was a good two months…

My little seamstress!

Megan has been asking me for the last year or more to teach her how to sew. The only problem is, I don’t know how to sew. I have been watching for sewing classes for sometime now and finally found someone I felt was worth paying. I went ahead and signed her up at “Children Can Sew”. She did a spring break camp and then over the summer she has been going to the sewing class once a week for a three-hour block. She has been loving it!

I won’t pretend it hasn’t been a little pricey, but I am thrilled that she is learning to do something that I have always wanted to do. She has even started to teach her sister. She has made a wide variety of things. She has made bags, shirts, pajamas, shorts, pillows, aprons, and more! I even asked her to make me a plastic sack holder I had seen at a friend’s house that I liked and she did it perfectly, just by description. She is getting so good!

Today is her last day for the summer. I am hoping to get her back into it after soccer season ends. Maybe someday I can get her to teach me! Check out some of the stuff she has sewn below.