Sarah Kate is Three
7 years ago
Monday, February 17, 2014
My future daughter-in-law (I hope)
I just had to share Ben's girlfriend's blog. She decided to start it after she received her mission call to Mexico. She leaves April 30th. She wrote a beautiful post about Valentine's Day. It's the most recent post at hermanadallyna.BlogSpot.com. Yes, I love it because she says such sweet things about my Ben, but what's the point of having kids if you can't share sweet things about them every now and then. Hope you enjoy.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Uncle Bryan
Photos from the big day yesterday
From left: Nathan and Staci Starnes (Bryan's oldest daughter, age 32, and son-in-law who live in Idaho Falls. They have three boys and a girl, expecting another boy in five weeks. Nathan's a lawyer.), Aunt Karen, Uncle Bryan (56) and James (Bryan's third child, 26, oldest son who lives in Twin Falls with wife Sierra. She's in dental hygiene school, he's applying to dental school. Also, he looks/acts eerily like Christian).
Not pictured are Bryan's second, a daughter named Natalie (30) who lives in Boise and just had her third baby (two boys and a new baby girl) and his youngest Jason (20), who of course is serving his mission in Mom and Dad's mission, Spanish speaking.
The brothers. Does Bryan look more like Dee than even the other boys?!
The siblings, together at last.
Other things we learned about Bryan: he's an account executive at a company called Netapp in Boise; he's into mechanical things, like tinkering with cars and will even stay up all night doing it (like Grandpa Dee); he loves boating, like Dee (yearly trips to Lake Powell - I think they even have a houseboat?); and he is very into a manicured yard/lawn. As in, he mows twice. Just like Dee.
His wife and the kids we met are as friendly as they come. I think we gained some keepers!
Sunday, June 9, 2013
May Madness
Matt's family has started sending out a monthly newsletter, and it just makes sense to post the same entries on here that we submit there -- so at least once a month you'll have an idea of the insanity in our lives, if you care to!
From Brittany:
On May 22, six months after Matt's seminary students won me the Hoopes Vision video contest, I finally went under the laser. Two lasers, to be exact. The first took fourteen seconds to create a flap in my cornea, and the second corrected my vision with nine seconds of corneal sculpting. For those of you doing the math, I went from 20/200 to 20/15 vision in a matter of 23 seconds per eye. Throw in a fresh-baked cookie beforehand, a massage chair in the middle, and a DVD copy of my procedure as a parting gift at the end, and it was the best free surgery I've ever had.
Which of the following actually happened to the Matt Johnson brood at church today?
A. Caleb peed all over his pants in the bathroom.
B. Peter was poopy but Mommy didn't have a diaper.
C. Caleb, Peter and Mommy left and returned to Sacrament Meeting five times.
D. Daddy smiled sympathetically from the stand.
E. Peter emptied half a water bottle onto his pants and the pew, then the other half into Mommy's purse.
F. Caleb tried to wrestle the cane away from an old man on his way out the door.
G. Maybe next time you should just go home and stay there after A.
H. All of the above.
From Matt:
So those of you who grew up with me might not be shocked to hear me admit that I am a little ... messy. Prone to clutter. Tidiness challenged. At home Brittany keeps this all in check (before Sonja and Alisa make assumptions about how I never do anything around the house, let me clarify - I am [in many cultures considered] a very helpful husband in regards to housework).
The real problems are the spaces that are exclusively mine: my office and my car. My office gets cleaned up at least twice a year for parent teacher conferences, but my car? Not so lucky.
About a month ago, I started smelling something suspect in the auto in question. Assuming it must be a milk spill or something from Caleb, I didn’t think much of it. The smell steadily got worse, but since the extent of my driving in the car is mostly to work 2.5 miles away and back, I was able to muscle through it for a few weeks. After the just-pulled-out-of-the-plastic-all-the-way peachy peach tree freshener was barely masking the nastiness, I decided that drastic action was finally called for.
After clearing everything out of the cabin of the car and finding nothing that could be emitting anything quite so pungent, I moved on to the trunk (which I had checked before to try to find the source). After removing my essential supplies (quidditch set, fake trombone, multiple pairs of socks, etc) I found the problem: a bag of broccoli that was 98% liquified. We can’t remember the last time we took that car grocery shopping. Months. Maybe over a year. Perhaps my scientist brothers can offer a guess on how long that must have been decomposing. All I know is that it was foul and even after an intense shampooing job, you can still detect something faint wafting around old Mitsi. On the bright side, I have a constant excuse. If you don’t know what I need an excuse for, ask Mike and Jon why they kicked me out of sharing a room with them when I was like 9. “I’m sorry, it’s that dang broccoli.”
From Brittany:
On May 22, six months after Matt's seminary students won me the Hoopes Vision video contest, I finally went under the laser. Two lasers, to be exact. The first took fourteen seconds to create a flap in my cornea, and the second corrected my vision with nine seconds of corneal sculpting. For those of you doing the math, I went from 20/200 to 20/15 vision in a matter of 23 seconds per eye. Throw in a fresh-baked cookie beforehand, a massage chair in the middle, and a DVD copy of my procedure as a parting gift at the end, and it was the best free surgery I've ever had.
Which of the following actually happened to the Matt Johnson brood at church today?
A. Caleb peed all over his pants in the bathroom.
B. Peter was poopy but Mommy didn't have a diaper.
C. Caleb, Peter and Mommy left and returned to Sacrament Meeting five times.
D. Daddy smiled sympathetically from the stand.
E. Peter emptied half a water bottle onto his pants and the pew, then the other half into Mommy's purse.
F. Caleb tried to wrestle the cane away from an old man on his way out the door.
G. Maybe next time you should just go home and stay there after A.
H. All of the above.
From Matt:
So those of you who grew up with me might not be shocked to hear me admit that I am a little ... messy. Prone to clutter. Tidiness challenged. At home Brittany keeps this all in check (before Sonja and Alisa make assumptions about how I never do anything around the house, let me clarify - I am [in many cultures considered] a very helpful husband in regards to housework).
The real problems are the spaces that are exclusively mine: my office and my car. My office gets cleaned up at least twice a year for parent teacher conferences, but my car? Not so lucky.
About a month ago, I started smelling something suspect in the auto in question. Assuming it must be a milk spill or something from Caleb, I didn’t think much of it. The smell steadily got worse, but since the extent of my driving in the car is mostly to work 2.5 miles away and back, I was able to muscle through it for a few weeks. After the just-pulled-out-of-the-plastic-all-the-way peachy peach tree freshener was barely masking the nastiness, I decided that drastic action was finally called for.
After clearing everything out of the cabin of the car and finding nothing that could be emitting anything quite so pungent, I moved on to the trunk (which I had checked before to try to find the source). After removing my essential supplies (quidditch set, fake trombone, multiple pairs of socks, etc) I found the problem: a bag of broccoli that was 98% liquified. We can’t remember the last time we took that car grocery shopping. Months. Maybe over a year. Perhaps my scientist brothers can offer a guess on how long that must have been decomposing. All I know is that it was foul and even after an intense shampooing job, you can still detect something faint wafting around old Mitsi. On the bright side, I have a constant excuse. If you don’t know what I need an excuse for, ask Mike and Jon why they kicked me out of sharing a room with them when I was like 9. “I’m sorry, it’s that dang broccoli.”
Friday, May 17, 2013
Volunteer Time
Its Volunteer Time! Step right up and fill TWO or THREE volunteer spots, please.
Meal Prep and cleanup
Tuesday, June 18th
Dinner: Burgers & Hot Dogs
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Wednesday, June 19th
Breakfast: Pancakes, Oatmeal
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Lunch: Sandwiches
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Dinner: Spaghetti
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Thursday, June 20th
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs and Sausage
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Lunch: Sandwiches
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Dinner: Chili
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Meal Prep and cleanup
Tuesday, June 18th
Dinner: Burgers & Hot Dogs
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Wednesday, June 19th
Breakfast: Pancakes, Oatmeal
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Lunch: Sandwiches
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Dinner: Spaghetti
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Thursday, June 20th
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs and Sausage
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Lunch: Sandwiches
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Dinner: Chili
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Friday, June 21st
Breakfast: Pancakes, Oatmeal
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Lunch: Whoever hasn't left yet can eat leftovers together.
Prep: _______________ Clean-up: _______________
Lunch: Whoever hasn't left yet can eat leftovers together.
Equipment List
We are getting so excited for this reunion. As promised, here is a suggested packing list. You may think of other things your family will want, but here is a good list of basics.
**If there are items you don’t have post them on the family blog or respond to all in this email with a list of items still needed so we can try to fill each other’s needs. Also, Papou will be bringing the van so if you cannot fit your equipment in your car we might be able to help out…if you or your equipment are coming from Colorado or Utah
**If there are items you don’t have post them on the family blog or respond to all in this email with a list of items still needed so we can try to fill each other’s needs. Also, Papou will be bringing the van so if you cannot fit your equipment in your car we might be able to help out…if you or your equipment are coming from Colorado or Utah
Suggested
Equipment List
__Tent (possibly a tarp for under it)
__Sleeping bags or other bedding
__Sleeping pad, air, mattress, or cot
__Pillow
__Towel & washcloth
__Quarters for showers
__Flip flops for showers
__Soap, shampoo, toiletries
__Pajamas (layers are a good idea)
__Pants, T-shirts, sweatshirts (for night), socks, &
undies
__Swim suit
__Flashlight & table lantern if you have one
__Camp chairs
__Water bottles for each person in family (for lunch
time/hikes)
__Camera
__Lighter, (and cash for firewood if you would like a fire
at your own site—we will have a nightly fire at the “main” site AKA our site)
__Smores/marshmallow roasting sticks (4 for $1.97 @ Walmart)
or metal hanger
__Hiking snacks specifically for your family
Other things to consider:
__Citronella candle or bug spray (however, bugs usually
aren’t a problem there)
__little sand toys or action figures for the little ones
__Card games or Frisbee or ball for the big kids
__Basic first aid supplies just in case
For those with babies:
__Baby backpack or front pack if you want one (all “hikes”
are easy enough for little children & pregnant ladies)
__A vinyl table cloth and blanket on top with toys for
non-mobile babies to sit down on, or an extra pack & play
__we will be bringing some milk specifically for the babies
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Reunion Camping and Travel Info
As the reunion is getting closer, some of you are getting
curious and excited…as you should. So
here is a little more information for you regarding our camping and travel
info.
BURLINGTON CAMPGROUND –
Open year-round, Burlington is located next to the Visitor
Center on the Avenue of the Giants, 1.5 miles south of Weott. It is in a
grove of old and second growth redwoods, has 57 sites, and is a short distance
from the South Fork of the Eel River for fishing and swimming. A summer
bridge across the river allows access to hiking trails.
Burlington Campground Map: Burlington Map.pdf
We have reserved the following campsites:
|
Site Number
|
Family
|
|
20
|
Marinos (Todd)
*max vehicle length 24’—site 17, which is 2 sites down, is still
available if you should need a little more space for a longer trailer (33’),
but you would have to let us know ASAP
|
|
21
|
Giles
|
|
23
|
MacDonnell
|
|
24
|
Bowman
|
|
25
|
Marinos (Christian) & Richardson *this will be the main gathering
site*
|
|
26
|
Marinos (Andy)
|
|
27
|
Johnson (Brittany) & Dad, Mom, and Grandma
|
If anyone is interested in looking up info on some of the
locations we will visit , here are some highlights:
Avenue of the Giants, Founders Grove, Rockefeller Loop
*Slight revisions to the itinerary
previously posted: those coming from Colorado and Utah will be staying in Sacramento not the bay area on Monday June 17th. Also, as we drive into the Redwoods on Tuesday
morning we will be touring the Avenue of the Giants loop if Andy and Buffy
families would like to meet up with us at the entrance to the state park (we
are assuming the MacDonnells are going to meet us at the campsite as they are
coming from the north, but if we are wrong and you plan to come to Sacramento
let us know)
*For those of you staying in the hotel in the Sacramento
area (Brittany, Mom & Dad, Grandma Johnson, Giles, Richardsons, Todd & fam,)
Barring any objections room assignments are as follows:
1 room –Giles w/ roll-away bed
1 room—Todd w/ roll-away bed
1 room—Richardsons & Mom & Dad (w/ scarlet in pack
& play? or roll-away bed option)
1 room—Brittany & Grandma Johnson (w/ peter in pack
& play? or roll-away bed option)
1 room—Christian
We are planning on booking the hotel this upcoming
week. So speak now or forever hold your
peace.
*More info on equipment and
food/help assignments to come shortly
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