School picture 8th

What's up?

I decided about a month ago that I wanted a change with my hairstyle along with the change in weather. I guess I was "Falling" for a change in my appearance or something. The Fall season always works magic on me every year it stimulates me somehow. So on Sat the 19th I got my hair cut short up to my collarbone and I colored my own hair to a medium brown. What do you think? I got a lot of compliments on the color at work which surprised me and I am deciding that maybe I will consider Out with the dishwater blonde and In with the brown. Why not?
Okay onto another story last night I was in the kitchen dishing us all up some ice cream when all of a sudden there was a loud bang that scared Me and Braxton to death. Braxton was standing next to me hiding from Brian, so me and Braxton were like what the heck!!! I turned around scared and than my expression changed to pure laughter. (I still get a chuckle about it still) There is Brian standing with a Disneyland souvenir Mickey Mouse hat on his head, a sword and a shield and he has a funny expression on his face.....probably because he sees my expression. Than the fight begins right in the kitchen these two are sword playing. I am in the middle of it and I am laughing the whole time. A hour ago this had all just started out as a tickle fight, it than got carried off into the back bedroom out of my sight. These two were no doubt having fun in there creative make believe world of Final Fantasy games Braxton was White Mage and Brian was Freelancer, that's what they told me.

Yard Work and Such

(There is no particular reason for posting today, only this is what we have been up to for the past month) A couple of weeks ago Me and Brian were out pruning back long tree branches on a lot of the trees and cleaning up the yard, to get ready for the sale. The huge pile of branches in the back! (waiting for the dumpster to haul them off)

Taia was helping us and she was having fun with the branches at the same time. I bet she thought "Oh my gosh look at my big stick to chew on", we were having fun with her too!

Taia and the kitten next door are best friends, the kitten comes over a lot to play with Taia. They spend a lot of time with each other, its really cute!! I promise the kitten is not trying to get away from Taia like a big scare-de cat how it looks in the picture.

Hanging out on the back deck with the screen door closed.

The Yard Sale!

I had a great advertising team McKenna and Braxton they stood down at the corner and waved Hi to cars and held signs! They did a good job they deserved a rest!! (I got around to adding the pictures I took when it was over)

All the clothes that I still had leftover. We were getting ready to take everything back in the house.

Our FREE stuff on the sidewalk after the sale for anybody to take at there own will.

Just some odd stuff that didnt get sold, but very bare compared to when we started.

The sale was a success , we were so busy with people that I completely forgot to take pictures, we had people coming and coming there just wasn't a second that I could even think about it! But everything got sold except for alot of clothes, the TVS, love seat and recliner chair. It was alot of fun, but it will take me awhile before I chose to deal with the public again. In alot of ways it was a neat experience to help some good people that I knew I was helping! The lady across the street had wandered over and we had never met until than, it was fun talking to her she brought her little ones over later again and they all got new toys. Her daughter got all the Barbies that were still in there boxes, she bought the whole box her daughter made out like a bandit she had like eight new ones to play with. Her two sons got a new huge firetruck still new in the box and a Huffy Bike w/training wheels. I had such a good feeling afterwards for the whole sale and the way it went, it was definitely a learning experience and I tried something new that I was scared to try sometimes.

Working hard, Job Update

This week Brian and I started a project of going thru everything in the house and deciding on what we are going to make a donation to the DNI or contribute it to our yard sale that we are planning on having next month. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us but with a good attitude and determination we can push it through all the way to the end. We have set the date for the sale on Sat Sept 12. We are going to have a lot of stuff to sell and hope we can make it a fun family event!!

Anyways Brian's update with a job: He did have a interview and a orientation with a company at the end of July called AmeriCOLD but we decided as a family to not accept it, he wasnt happy with the job for several reasons. Thats all for now.

Unita's

We went camping in the Unitas this week with Nathan and Leora and there dogs. It has been a few years since we have camped up there. It rained a lot when we first got there but than it turned over nice. On one of the days we went sight-seeing and stopped at Provo River Falls and took pictures of the beautiful scenery, there was actually four waterfalls in one continous river, I didnt happen to get all of the falls. (My battery was going low on my camera so I appreciated the pictures that I did manage to get. )

Nathan was so tired that he was able to sleep on the bench of the picnic table.

Brian was cutting us some firewood. We stopped at some pretty lakes, Lake Lilly and Teapot were just some of the names.

Brian and Nathan did some fishing, and the rest of us just stayed back at camp. It was nice to get another camping trip in before the summer is over.

WARNING-Learned his Lesson

Braxton was blowing big bubbles with his new pack of delicious Orbit watermelon gum on Monday. He took the gum out of his mouth and was trying to get the gum off of his face where the bubble had popped. He only made it more stickier and than he had a big gum mess all over his face, so he took a wet washcloth and tried scrubbing it off along with his skin. I was at work and talking to Brian on the phone when this event happened. I suggested alcohol, but there was none in the house Brian said. I didnt know the severity of it until I got home and saw his face. I than got more details as well, that Braxton sprayed his Sour heads watermelon mouth spray on it trying to get it off so may this be a lesson not to try this stunt at home. We hope that his face has healed by the time he goes back to school!!!

My week off in July

I so needed a break a very long break, the week of my birthday was perfect. My fun began when My co-workers on my last day of work (Friday) before I officially was off gave me a birthday party with cake and ice cream. That same weekend I had the chance to go to a community fireside at the Ogden Tabernacle on Sunday to hear Alan Osmond and his sons speak with just my mom and dad It was great!
MONDAY- ( Day #1) was just doing errands and catching up on things that was much needed.
TUESDAY- we went to the Roy Aquatic Center with McKenna to get cool from our HOT days it was a fun day and we were also able to catch the new Harry Potter Movie in the morning.







On WEDNESDAY - my birthday it was a physical work day. We set up the swimming pool and Taia was the very first swimmer, we barely had any water in it and she was ready to dive right in! Tyler and Tiffany flew in from Florida too!!





THRUSDAY- I made my Patriotic birthday cake for the 24Th. It was my practice cake for the future I hope to make one for Braxton and Brian....it was fun!





Still on Thursday later that evening we went to see the open house of the Oquirrh Temple with the whole family except Nathan. Brian went and it was his first time to see the inside of the temple. It was a neat experience.

FRIDAY- In the morning we went to see the 24Th of July Ogden parade with the whole family again. Later that day we went back to mom's and had a barbecue and swam in the pool in the backyard all afternoon. Its been a fun and busy week and I enjoyed every minute of it!!

"Looked out the window and what did I see?"

I looked out the window and what did I see? Two baby raccoons looking at me. There little black masks were looking at me, they were scared and climbing the tree. There house got tore down cause they were living in a tree, now there living in Brian's front tree! Boy what a surprise we had today seeing homeless raccoons going up the tree in Brian's front yard. The neighbor behind Brian was cutting down big trees in his backyard (we think that's were they came from) Now these poor little guys have no home. There old tree house and there new tree house well for now!!

Chicken Noodle Soup When Your Sick

Taia hasnt been herself for a few days and she has been losing her food alot on the first end of her body. We took her into her Vet today and she had a temperature and a irritated pancreas. So with some prescription medicine and a bland diet that consists of cottage cheese, chicken noodle soup, yogurt, rice and oatmeal with chicken and boiled hamburger for a week, we hope she will be good as new. Who knew that chicken noodle soup was good for sick dogs too as well as people!

40th Wedding Anniversary

Mom and Dad are celebrating there 40Th Wedding Anniversary this year. They were married on a Friday day June 27Th 1969. They are making plans but it has not yet been finalized, to go on a quick road trip.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!

Getting out of School Sleepover/More S'mores

Mom invited the grandkids over for a sleepover on Friday night for getting out of school, we planned on pitching up the tents and camping in the backyard. I got to help with this event, we had a good time and the kids were really good. Colt was a big help with the air mattresses and sleeping bags. We cooked up hot dogs and hamburgers out on the grill for dinner and we all ate outside, it got windy and was a little bit chilly but it never rained.

Me and Brian slept in the little tent with Taia, and mom slept in the big tent with all the grandkids. I love sleeping in the tent in the backyard, from my own childhood days we did that a lot in the summer.

Here is everyone all situated in there sleeping bags!!

 

 

 

 
the S'mores event from the sleepover bash with the grandkids. Yummy gooey and messy fun!!

 

 

 

 

Of course just before bed we had to eat the famous camping tradition S'mores. There was chocolate everywhere Yum!

More S'mores anyone?

 

Last Day of School-7th grade

It was the last day of 7th grade for Braxton...he made it thru his first year of Jr. High I am so proud of him!!! He had pretty good grades all year and made alot of new friends, he said he had a really fun year. He took pictures of some of his friends. Some friends he will miss when they go to other Jr.Highs next year but he is still going to talk to some of them. His last week of school he stayed home sick one day, he didnt feel good and didnt look good either. He lost all the color in his face...when he told me Thrusday that the pain in his stomach was getting worse we worried that it was something more serious. Since the last day was shortened with yearbook signing, he still went to school too get his yearbook and friend signatures, than we took him to the doctor later that day. We told the doctor he does have allergies and his throat looked like a cobblestone road the doctor said. All the drainage believe it or not, I never heard of this can settle in your abdomen. He is taking Zyrtec right now and we will see if all improves and he does okay with it Poor guy!!

Memorial Day Memories

Grandma Johanson invited me to go down with her to see the Manti pageant. We rode the bus down when I was 10 years old. That was the first time I ever saw it, and was a special trip that I will always remember.

When it gets closer to Memorial Day I begin to start thinking of the loved ones in my family that have passed on before me. All of us has at least someone that we miss that has left us to return to our heavenly father. I think of my Grandma Johanson especially and how much I miss and love her very much. Whenever I see the Iris flower it reminds me of her. It will always be my reminder of her and how much she meant to me and I cant wait to be with her again.

Every year as I was growing up her whole backyard was filled with beautiful flowers and Iris flowers of every color. Where there wasn't flowers, she had fruit trees. She was my favorite Grandma and she always did so much for us. The way she wrapped presents was always wrapped with her thoughtfulness, you always knew how much she loved you because of her special touch. It wasn't just a present it was her heart. She taught me a valuable lesson of giving presents to others with that thoughtfulness. I was very close to her and she was the best person on earth to me. When I was 14 years old I had written my grandma a letter. I came across this letter in my drawer a couple of months ago and it means a lot to me now. When it was getting her final days she was giving a lot of her things that she had kept back to those that it would mean something too. It is a little long but I felt I wanted to share the current events that was happening at the time about everyone in my family, Enjoy.

Dear Grandma Johanson,

Hi, How are you? I'm just fine and so is everyone else. How's everything out in Ogden? Is everything been okay? Everything out here in Clinton is just fine. My Mom's still working and I've been babysitting a lot to buy school clothes. Brett is doing fine on his paper route. Brett has eczema on his feet and has medicated cream. My mom spends a lot of time working. Tyler he's getting fatter and bigger. He can roll really good and likes to get on his knees and rock back and forth he's so funny. He also has one tooth on the bottom gum he's had it for a couple of days. Nathan's been doing really good going the bathroom on the toilet. All day he goes without one accident. He's doing really good. Tim is just fine, he likes to play Lego's and trucks. He's already picking out toys for Christmas. My dad is fine too . He's really busy in Scouts and his ankle is doing just fine. The swelling's gone down quite a bit. Me, I am busy babysitting for my aunt and mom. I'm making pretty good money, over a hundred dollars that's the highest I've ever made. I hope you and Don are getting along just fine and that you don't have any problems. If you do let us know.

The real reason I wrote is because I CARE about you. Your the sweetest Grandma anyone could ever have. Thanks so much for making us a quilt for my bed when I get married. It will help me out a lot when I get married. Every time I see it on my bed I will think of you and your thoughtfulness. I will take good care of it. Thanks for the cards and money on our birthdays. I took good care of the doll quilt and blankets and sheets for Tender love my doll.

I have them tucked away where no one will get them dirty. I will always keep them even when I get to be 50 years and older. Thanks so much for all you've done for me and my family. Hope to see you soon. I LOVE YOU!! Love Jackie

Funny week with the wildlife

These were just some ducks that were walking down the middle of the street.

This has been a funny week ... well to Me and Brian it has, I debated on whether or not I should post this on the blog, but than I thought Oh why not.

It started on last Monday when Brian just got done picking Braxton up from school, Brian decided to stop at the Clinton pond just for fun. For some reason this great big goose liked Brian and they had this little communication thing going on for quite awhile..... you know honk honk honk. This bird was very trusting and was letting Brian pet it, it followed him around wherever Brian went, They were friends!!! Brian encouraged Braxton to get close and start petting it too, but this goose didn't like anyone else and started chasing Braxton and started biting him on the legs by his feet, Not really hard but just a warning. Well Braxton of course freaked out and wanted to go to the car and leave but this goose wouldn't let Brian leave he waddled right behind him, when Brian got in the car there stood the goose in the parking lot right by the door not wanting him to leave.

Today when we were returning back to Brian's house after being over to the house for awhile eating dinner with Mom and Dad there was 3 ducks in Brians yard. We have no idea where they came from but they were in the front yard, they waddled across the street when we pulled in the driveway to go get some water in the curb because the neighbors had there sprinklers going they had enough to have a bath in it. It was only 5 minutes later but than they were back in our yard, we were trying to take pictures of them with the phone. We were constantly on them every which way and they soon didnt like us the paparazzi anymore, we lost them after that. Brian said to me "I think they left the pond and found out where I lived."