Happy Easter!!

We were blessed to, once again, meet as the Bryan & Mary Johnson Family for our 22nd annual Easter BBQ, Candy and Swim.  

Uncle Evan and Aunt Jill are always so good to host it and the food and company are the best!

It's often time the only opportunity I have of seeing my aunts, uncles and cousins each year.

Uncle Norman swinging his grandkids.

See the smirk on innocent Clel?  

He'd just told Karson that if he'd push me in the pool he'd give him 5 bucks!  

Well, Clel has worked his way down on my favorite list :)

 Easter Sunday Dan went to Ridgeview Assisted Living to pick up Beebe and bring him up for 

Easter dinner.  It was fun having him here.  

I think the combination of getting up and down our 3 porch steps and the company wore him out.  

Sure miss Mary and are grateful we still have him with us.

 Kendyl took my phone and took some spring pictures in our back yard :)

Quote I found to put on the Ward Program on Easter Sunday....beautiful!

Kendyl's El Cheapo Dance

 On March 11, we were all in bed and heard someone knock on the door.  We just assumed it was a door bell ditcher (since it happens fairly often around here) so we ignored it.  Next morning I opened the door to go outside and found this sitting on the doorstep.  

Good thing it hadn't been a windy night!!  

It was a from Matt Jensen, a good friend of Kendyl's, asking her to El Cheapo.  

Kendyl was tickled!

The theme was 50's so as soon as she was asked, she got on the computer and found a 50's style dress and ordered it.  She received it in the mail the day before the dance....Whew!!!

She looked adorable and had a great time.  It was held on Sat. April 1st, the day of General Conference.  Her group did their best to be available to watch the sessions and the boys even attended the Priesthood session while their dates went out to eat at Wendy's.  

Can't believe that this is probably her last High School dance.  

Where has the time gone?  

A little bit heart breaking.

Kendyl's 1st and Hopefully LAST Accident

 The beginnings of my worse nightmare happened today.  Kendyl having only had her license for 4 days, took off for work about 2:45.  The intersection coming into Diamond Valley is already pretty hazardous since there are cars coming up the highway at 65 mph and are invisible until they peak the top of the volcano hill.  This with the inexperience of Kendyl, our floaty car and a 25 mph wind were not good combinations.  I was in the kitchen cutting up chicken and our home phone rang only 10 min. after she'd left.  Caller ID showed Boulevard Furniture so I ignored it and kept working.  Next my cell rang with the same number.  My heart did a drop and by the time I had my hands kind of rinsed off, the home phone was ringing again.  When I answered it was Kendyl saying that she had been in a wreck only involving her.  She had lost control leaving DV and had over corrected into the lava rocks.  She said she was fine but couldn't get the car to drive out.  Well, as always, I was stuck with daycare and no way to help her.  I called Kari to see if Rob was available, but she was in pain because of a kidney stone so I told her not to worry and that I'd find another option.  So, I called Kambree and Dan who were both at work in town.  Kambree was just heading home and Dan took off to head up the hill as well.  Meanwhile I'm only a mile away and stuck!!!

Kambree got there as well as a few highway patrol/sheriff officers and Kendyl was in good hands.

Apparently she saw a car coming so hurried to get out of DV rather than waiting like we've told her to do.  The car had to swerve out of her way as did another car apparently and she ended up out in the rocks.  All I know is that we feel very very blessed that she or someone else wasn't hurt or worse.  Dan and Dave tried to get the car out and after a couple of hours, the Theobald boys drove by and helped them get it out of the rocks and home.  We were so grateful for the kind and patient officers, who didn't even give her a ticket, and for Dave and Dallas & Parker Theobald for helping us so much.  We are especially grateful for Heaven's angels that protected our sweet little girl today.  

  

Our day ended with even more grateful hearts as Dan & I went to Kari's to watch their boys while Rob took her to ER because of her kidney stone.  About 9pm they came home and she was still in tears because it hurt so bad.  She had been given pain meds to take until she could pass it.  

She had Dan and Rob give her a blessing and as soon as it was over, 

her pain went away and didn't come back. 

Heavenly Father is so good to watch over us.  We are so blessed!

***Update***

After taking the radiator fan out of the car (which was badly damaged and irreparable), we are able to still drive it; however, we have to keep tabs on it over heating since there's no longer a fan.  It should be fine for town trips but nothing else.  Good thing we now have Beebe's Marquis.

Also, this same intersection, 5 days later, a 17 year old girl did the same thing that Kendyl did, but wasn't so blessed.  She was killed as a truck came up the highway and couldn't stop in time.  

He T-boned her car and she died instantly.  

Such a tragedy.  The state is now drawing up plans to fix the dangerous intersection.

Marquis #2

Dan's dad, Beebe, had a stroke in October and can no longer drive.  

Since his mom passed away in January and since Beebe now lives in an assisted living home, their children are trying to clean out their house and sell it.  

So, we have inherited their 1996 Grand Marquis.  Same color, same year as ours!  

I couldn't help but laugh at Kambree's clever post on instagram.  

She has never liked driving  the Marquis because it's so ugly as she puts it :)

Ants in the Pants

Kylie brought her 2 boys, Axel and Bjorn, to spend the week with us today.  She is going to help Greg's mom pack up her house in the evenings while I watch the boys.  

They love playing games when they come 

so grandpa got down on the floor to show them how it's done.  

He's a pretty good ant flipper :)

Happy Day All Around!!

Today was a wonderful day in more ways than one!!

Kendyl FINALLY got her Drivers License!  

She is almost 18 and could have gotten it 2 years ago, but just hasn't been that interested

 (plus driving with her scares me :).  

Next, baby Iro Erik Brant was born to Rob and Kari at about 2:50 pm and was

 6lbs 7oz and 19 inches.

He is a beautiful baby and I felt so pleased that they named him after Erik, 

the favorite uncle in the family :)

We are so grateful that everything went well for their little family.

Auntie Katelyn with Iro

 Which meant.....Sleepover at grandma's!!!! 

Packer wouldn't settle down so ended up sleeping on my floor by my bed.  

4 boys now!  Kari and Rob have their hands full!

 And last but not least by any means, my favorite tree is in bloom.  

It's a nectarine tree and has NEVER produced any fruit because it always freezes.  

Dan threatens to cut it down every year, 

but I just can't part with the beauty it brings 2 weeks in the spring.

WONDERFUL DAY!!!!

Laid Back Day at Grandma's :)

Life is always an event when the grandkids come to hang out....especially our little Packer!

 He insisted on wearing his Elmo shirt and Elmo swim diaper over his PJ's, 

PLUS he wanted a pony tail in his hair.  Kari has learned that what Packer wants, Packer gets!  

She chooses not to battle him at times.  What a fire ball!!

 Linkon has a mischievous gleam in his eye ....

 Initiating Uncle Jake to the family.  Jake's a willing sport for the time being :)

Jacob & Kambree Forever After

A beautiful Spring day for a beautiful wedding.

March 3, 2017, Kambree and Jacob sealed together forever in the St. George Temple

 So much love and support for the beautiful couple.  

All 10 of Jake's aunts/uncles and spouses were there except for one aunt.  

They came from all over the US.  

He had a few come from his mom's side as well.  Such a wonderful family to be married in to!!

 6 nephews who adore Aunt Kambree!

 Handsome and totally awesome brothers!

 Gorgeous sisters!

 Proud mama and papa :)

Our Family....21 3/4 strong :)

RECEPTION was held at the Cotton Town Dance Hall in Washington that evening.

Beautiful place and they let us use their nice chairs for free.  

After the luncheon Dan and our kids all went to the reception hall and decorated. 

 Everyone pitched in before and after and made it a quick job.  

So grateful for our family and their willing, helping hands!  Sure love them all!

 

Shaun and Leslie Leonard arranging the cake

Joel and Katelyn working on the backdrop

          Joy & Karson, Dawn and daughters                                        Kyle & Erik visiting

 

Cutting Shaun's cake that he made.  

Refreshments were cheese cake, vegetable cups and mixed nuts.

Garter toss

Bouquet Throw

Wedding Dance

         Honeymoon Basket from her sisters

 Off to the Honeymoon!  Sure do love this beautiful girl of ours.