Happy New Year to our family and friends!

So, how did you do on your 2011 New Year's Resolutions??? Here is my list...

1. Read at least one book each month. (ok, not so hard for me....but I do seem to go long stretches without reading and that is just no good) CHECK!

2. Have FHE more regularly. UMMM....CAN WE TRY AGAIN THIS YEAR?

3. Crochet an "awesome" afgan. STILL IN PROGRESS! ALL THE RED SQUARES ARE DONE! JUST BLACK AND WHITE TO GO!

4. Incorporate more color into my work wardrobe. A LITTLE BIT....COULD STILL USE A LITTLE MORE WORK IN THIS AREA.

5. Get a new family picture taken. SEE ABOVE! (WELL, IT'S JUST A SNAPSHOT....)

6. Keep blogging!! WATCH FOR A 2011 IN REVIEW...SOON TO COME!

Are you ready to cut "Footloose?"

Gracie is getting baptized!

The girls of Spring softball.....

Malz is playing softball with Kara and Shayla this year! They are quite a hoot! We have had so many games rained out and it has never really warmed up....but it is still fun to watch some of "the cousins" don their uniforms and bat around the bases!



And, you never know who is going to show up to watch the games! Ah, the JOY of SOFTBALL!

Rites of Passage

....first word....first step....potty training....first day of school....learning to ride a bike....These are some of the milestones we all reach as we grow and develop. Earlier this month, two of our family reached one of their milestones....And we were there as they passed from one phase of life to the next!
GRACIE-FIRST GRADE CIRCUS

Yes, it's true! It was Gracie's turn to entertain the City of Grantsville while performing in the FIRST GRADE CIRCUS!
We were so proud of Gracie! And "THANKS" to everyone who came out to support her in her MIGHTY CIRCUS GLORY!

MALLORY-EIGHTH GRADE PROMOTION

Mallory stood with her classmates and walked the stage....as they left Jr. High and the world of the Falcons to prepare to become GRANTSVILLE COWBOYS!
We are so proud of her and look forward to her years in High School (did I really just write that???)! I hope I survive!

Gimme a SPRING break!

For Spring Break this year Mallory headed to our nation's capital...

So, we took Gracie and Isabelle to Southern Utah for a little R & R. It was nice to get out of the clouds and rain and into a little sunshine! We stayed in Kanab and visited Zion and Bryce National Parks! It was beautiful!

It has been such a wet spring.....there were waterfalls everywhere!

We joined my Mom and Dad; Ben, Mel and Cameron; and the Paxman crew!

On one of the hikes, we came across the most amazing sight. At the end of the hike the entire area was covered with "zen" stones! They were everywhere! It was absolutely beautiful. Madeline and Ian added their own balancing towers!

Bryce Canyon wasn't nearly as warm as Zion....But it was so beautiful with the snow on the tops of the cliffs and hoodoos!

We had a great time! We were happy to see the sun again! I had almost forgotten what it looked like! And the weekend was over much too quickly!

Now the countdown to summer vacation begins!!!!!

A little of this and a little of that....

I know, I know....I haven't updated my blog in a day or two.....things have been pretty busy around the Johnson place.

Mackay bought a car! YAY! No more gas guzzling truck!

Mallory turned 14!!!

Jared and I have been running! I am planning on running the 5K in Grantsville on the Fourth of July!!! Jared has lost over 50 lbs! He looks and feels awesome!

April started out with some exciting events! Gracie fell in the shower and broke one of her front teeth! OUCH! But Bubba (the dentist) fixed her up! We will have to keep an eye on her tooth for a while to make sure everything heals just right....

Then Malz had to take her turn.....She broke two bones in her PINKY at softball practice! The doctor thinks things will heal just fine, but NO softball for 3-4 weeks. Maybe we need to lock Isabelle in the house so she doesn't break anything! (as if!!!)

We are all looking forward to Spring....if it ever arrives here in Utah! I am ready to plant flowers and eat dinner on the back patio!

Oh, I almost forgot.......have you been here?

Well, we have!!!! After a year of work and preparation, Jared and I were sealed to each other in the Jordan River Temple on March 25, 2011. It was a great day! Now he will belong to me....for ever and ever!

Not up.....Down!

Jared and I have been on the weight loss train for a couple of months now. Choo Choo!!

And, yes, Jared has lost more than DOUBLE what I have lost! I know men tend to lose more weight more quickly than women but it still doesn't make be feel that much better. But, Jared is so supportive! I rather enjoy taking this journey to healthier living with him! It is so much easier to eat healthy when he is eating healthy too.

Tuesday is our "official" day to weigh in. So, I get on the scale and I am up .5!! WHAT?? Can that be right? I haven't changed anything.....I haven't been sneaking treats.....but I am still UP! So, I have been feeling a little bit DOWN and DISCOURAGED! I don't skip the fries to get on the scale gain .5!!!

So, my sweet Jared has been sending me words of encouragement. Trying to keep me on the right track. After all, if you drop one egg you don't throw the rest of the carton on the floor, right?

Still, I am not feeling too great about myself. Then I see it...

And it says: "I love you Emily Johnson!!! I also LOVED you 13 pounds ago and that will not change!"

All I could do is...

Day Three-What a Character!!

What is a trip to Disneyland without those awesome Disney CHARACTERS??? Nothing!! And we definitely saw some real characters...

Woody and Jessie were the first!

We saw Alice and her gang...

And Flynn...

...Dumbo was flying and Goofy made us laugh...But the wicked queen wouldn't smile for anything...

The County Bears danced with Gracie and Isabelle...they havent been at the park for 5 years!

Aladin and Jasmine made an appearance...

Mr. Incredible was truly "incredible"...And Lightning McQueen was lookin good..."Ka-Chow"

Snow White was sweet...

Best of all some of our favorite characters showed up to play with us....Do you recognize these guys?? We loved seeing the California Nielsen's!!

And who are these characters???? They look pretty scary...
It was another great day.....And we went home EXHAUSTED!!