Tis the Season of McDreamy...

YAY FOR GREY'S
The premiere of Grey's Anatomy isn't just a happy day around these parts, it's grounds for an all out celebration. That's right, we had munchies galore, lots of giggling, and at times some tears! Yes...THEY all cried. I am not a crier I guess...ha.

From Left to Right: Aunt Mer, Kim, Tiff, Kayla, Mom, and ME!


Mmmmm...Ma made chocolate covered strawberries...Delish!


Merri Lyn and Kim


Sis, Ma, and myself


My mom is so CrEaTiVe. She made these cute little sayings and tied them to a water bottle. I loved it!


Tiff and Kayla


Strawberries Before:



Strawberries After: ha ha ha ha They were definitely a hit! Thanks mom!


Thanks mom for the fun party! It is always a blast to get together with the girls! Love you!

HADLEE'S PLAY DATE WITH SIERRA
I had to post this because I thought it was so cute. Herbie (aka Hadlee) came to play on Saturday after we all watched my cousin Nicole barrel race at the Blackhawk. I always feel so bad, cause I have NO- Notta- Zilch toys for the kids to play with. Kezi is about all I have...and she can only take so much. Poor Kez. So I told Herbie that we had a little neighbor girl that probably would play if she wanted to go ask her. She didn't hesitate and she walked right over there, and about 5 minutes later...here they both come...walkin' down the street. Being the proud aunt I am, I had to take pictures. They played from about 1 am to 8 pm. They were so cute:)




Had and Sierra


Doing cart-wheels in the backyard


Drying off after running through the sprinklers


Playing with their "babies" in their "car" while their "husbands" were out doing... I have no idea what...ha ha. Gotta love their imaginations:)


I didn't get pictures, but we have had NON-STOP BBQ's at our house! With, the Missionaries, Josh and Alley, Dustin's parents...just us two..etc, etc. Gotta get as many in as possible before it gets too cold:(

Here, There and Everywhere:)

I figured while Dust was out mowing the lawn, I would get a quick post in. Otherwise, it will probably not get done for a while!

Last Sunday, Dustin and I went with my mom and Jer Bear to Fish Lake to have lunch at The Bowery Haven. I had never been there before and...everyone be shocked...I ordered PRIME RIB! I know, I know, that is very much out of my element considering my love for red meat (NOT!), but maybe my body was cravin' a little iron...who knows?! Actually I think I was just craving horseradish...Delish! Anyway, the trip had to be cut short, cause my lovely Anatomy homework was waiting ever so patiently back home for me:( Boo!





Mom and Jer Bear showin' some love;) Ahhh


I just had to post this...I was taking a picture of Dustin cause I LOVE when he has a fresh hair cut, and I think after seeing this picture that Kezi likes it just as much as I do!!! She portrays my reaction to his new hair cut perfectly in this picture! ha ha


Dustin and Elder Noyes and Elder Tueller...such great missionaries!!!



On Friday night, Hadlee danced during half time at the Gunnison football game for Mini Drill Team. I love to watch her dance. It is so cute, she just eats up all of that attention! That-a-girl Herbie!!!











Now, on to the elder of us two...Dustin had his 5 year class reunion last night at the Salina Park! Wow, time flies...About 20 people, and some brought wives/husbands, showed up. We had hamburgers for dinner, and spent the rest of the time catching up! Thanks for everything JaRelle! (I also went to JaRelle's baby shower earlier, but I didn't get any pictures:()

My family from the class of '04. JaRelle, Kiley, and Dust!


I didn't get a picture of everyone that made it. By the time I remembered to take pictures about half of the party had left:( Oopsies. That's what I get for raddling my mouth too long!!! ha

From Left to Right: Josh McCann, Lee Jacobson, Rusty Bumgardner, Dust, Dexter Lewis, Jake Payne, Mike Crane, Emily Kirkwood, Shantel Johnson, Courtney College Crane, Matt Crane, and Kiley Heath and JaRelle Mason Bailey in the very front:)


Next year around this time...it will be my turn!!! Whoa!

Lots of Love, XOXO

The Johnson Residence

I am FINALLY ready to post some before and afters of our house! Geeze Louise it's been quite the project, but we are so happy with the outcome! We have enjoyed spending time together making our first house our "home!" We have had TONS and TONS of help from Dust's parents, and we really appreciate all they have done! There are still a few things that we hope to get done this fall. ( the shutters are coming soon...deck, carpet, new living room set...and next spring we would like to start on the landscaping, and get the counter tops done!) As we gradually finish up, I will post some more pics!

Outside- Before

Outside- After

Candi and Dust working on the house!

Backyard- Before

Backyard- After

Having the ceilings redone last spring.

Kitchen- Before

Working on the kitchen

Kitchen- After

Kitchen- Before

Kitchen- After

Living Room- Before...I will post after pictures of the living room when we get our new t.v, and some new furniture! :)

Entryway- Before

Entryway- After

Bathroom- Before

Bathroom- After

Bedroom- Before

Bedroom- After

Life's a voyage that's homeward bound....(Herman Melville)

And that pertains to our lives 100%! We LOVE, and are very grateful for all of our travelling, and the opportunities we have had to see so many amazing places, but home is always in the back of our minds! Nothing, and I mean nothing, is like being home....for countless reasons. These simple words explain it well,"...absence makes the heart grow fonder..." I couldn't say it better.

One thing that I truly am grateful for is our families. I cannot even begin to explain how amazing they all are. Our families are our lives, and being away for 4 months seems like a year. The kids grow so fast. Our parents are our biggest fans, and they always support us and help out 110%, whenever the need be. Mike and Candi took care of our yard, and we are SO grateful to them for that. I know it is hard work, and it can be very tedious at times! Thanks guys! We have had people ask, "What keeps you in Salina?"....ummm...need I say more? If you had the great family and friends that we do, you would chose to stay too!

Last Tuesday, the 19th, I started school again at Snow. At first I was a little apprehensive, and very nervous, but after our lab on Tuesday and our ":get to know you:" activity, I am now very excited for this semester. So far, the studying has paid off, and I am putting in about 4 hours a day to Anatomy. That I need. School does not come easy to me like me dear husband who gets straight A's without the slightest bit of sweat n' tears...how would it be? Anyway, we have formed study groups and the girls that I study with are so fun! We have some odd ways of studying and remembering things, but hey, it works for us!!!

My first day back home, I flew in about 12:30 pm, and my mom, Judy and I went to lunch for some much anticipated Cafe Rio, heaven on Earth (next to El Mexi), and the mall for some school shopping. Oh boy do I love to shop...it's a major adrenaline rush for me...We got home about 10:00 that night, and made a quick stop at Kayla and Brady's to say hi. It was nice to come home, and even better, Heather and Brylee were still living at our house. I got to wake up to my little Brylee Lou for about 4 days before they had to head back to Logan for school. I think they should just consider being permanent residents...but that's just me!;)

Here are a few pictures of my first week home: (courtesy of My Ma!)

Playing in the front yard

Precious Moments

Kayla and Brylee

El Mexi with the fam

My brother Jace and I

Heather and Brylee at Grandma Mille's after dinner

Hadlee, Cody, and Wyatt having a sleepover at Grandmas

I had 3 nieces and nephews start kindergarten this year! Wyatt, Hadlee, and Breken:) Hadlee is in my mom's class, and it is so cute, every two seconds she says, "I love you grandma!" The other 2 are at Salina Elementary. I need to get some pictures...They are all so excited to be in school!