A visit from Pops

Right before fall semester started at USU, Dad came down to Logan to visit for a week. He was bringing down the boys and a car loaded with junk, trailing along a Bug.

I tried to get Dad to fix some things on my car and at my apartment, but that was slow going. I think he was more interested in playing while he was in town.

So, we hiked up Mt. Naomi, which is one of my favorite hikes up Logan Canyon. It was beautiful day, and we were on top of the peak by eight-thirty in the morning. I'm not sure how many times I've been to the top of Naomi, but it's worth it everytime.

Bryce had a freshmen orientation class that week, and I had to work, unfortunately. So, Dad and Landon played around some more. We did all, however, get to mini-golfing, along with our cousin Michelle.



I love spending time with my family. I really miss them when they're not around. So, I'm really glad that my little brothers are here for the next year. It will give me someone to play with. :)

I CAN be creative...sometimes

I actually finished a sewing project! haha. You better pay attention to this one, because it's not likely to happen again anytime soon. ;) Really, though, I don't sew very often. I just don't have the patience. I cut out and put together this quilt in one or two days, but then it took me another six months to put the backing on. I guess I got bored.

I was at home visiting, and I found my box of old shirts and fabric -- shirts that don't fit, or I don't wear, and scraps of fabric from sewing projects in the past. I didn't really want to throw them away, so I cut them out and made a quilt out of them. Like a hang-around-the-house-when-it's-cold-and-I want-to lounge-about kind of quilt. But, I like how it turned out. :) I can tell you where pretty much every piece of fabric came from, so it's kinda neat.

Summertime, Summertime, Summertime

I should probably get caught up on all my summertime adventures before I forget all the details. I'll try to keep it short, so you don't get bored. ;-)

First, I know my birthday is not in the summer, but, hey, I missed it on this blog. I turned 24 this year. Crazy. I just don't think that I feel that old, lol. I had a fun birthday, though. I got to have two parties and two cakes. I'm just that awesome. :)

In the beginning of June, I drove up to Forks with my grandma so that we could go to Bryce's graduation from Forks High. I went to the library before we left to pick up some books on tape to listen to in the car. It actually made the trip seem a lot faster, and since I drove most of the way, that's a good thing.

We stayed in Forks for a week and a half or so. It was beautiful weather while I was there. I got to visit my wonderful ocean. I got to see Pursey. I drug my family out to the Hoh Rainforest for an afternoon. We also discovered that there was an archery range in town. I actually really enjoyed myself, and I don't think that I did too bad. :)

I went back to Logan for about a week and then headed off on my next road trip. One of my good friends from Forks was getting married in Las Vegas, so I headed down there for a few days. It was my first trip to Vegas. I can't say that I was really impressed. It was interesting, lots of flashy lights, but lots and lots of people.

It was also very hot down there. I think that I saw one store thermometer that read 120 degrees. Seriously!? That's way to stinking hot for me to handle. And, we were genius enough to decide to walk the strip during the day in that heat. We basically walked from place to place, hanging out in each building for awhile before heading back outside. Next time I go to Vegas, it will be in the winter, lol.

My friend had a bachelorette party a couple days before the wedding. I think I expected a Vegas bachelorette party to be, well, a little more extreme. But, it was really pretty tame, and therefore pretty fun for me. The wedding was also a good time. It was the actually the first one that I've ever been to. It was small, out in a little gazebo behind the casino. It was nice to see all of my Forks friends again, too.

It was then another week back in Logan, some fireworks and holiday things, and then I was off on another road trip. The Johnson Family Reunion was in Clayton, Idaho this summer. It's always a good time being with the family. We did some crafts, played some games, watched some movies, visited an old mining town, and slept in a loft with lots of loud children. Oh, that last part was the most enjoyable. ;-) I actually really enjoy family reunions, and it was good to see everyone again.

Kelsie and Mom also came back to Logan with me after the reunion. We went to Bear Lake, a Pickleville play, did some tubing. I think Mom wanted to spend some time with her parents and in Logan, and it was a fun couple weeks for me, too.

So, my summer was pretty busy, which is how I prefer it to be. Fun times. :)

the BEST part of a snow day

Alan, Jared, and I went skiing at the Canyons on Thursday. This was the highlight. :)

a GRAND adventure

The morning after my dad's 50th birthday celebration, I headed out on my next adventure. My Aunt Sheila had invited me to hike the Grand Canyon with her, and I decided, "Why not?". It was once again a good excuse to get out of Logan and have an adventure. My cousins Alan and Jared joined us.

So, that Tuesday we drove down to Arizona. It was a loooong day. Road trips are that way, at least to me... tis why I usually drive, lol. It was complete with a stop to buy pants to replace a torn pair, a return to the house to get hiking boots, an hour stop for a conference call (and therefore some playing and climbing in some sandstone), Subway sandwiches, and ice cream in a dead little town. It was dark by the time we made it to the lodge on the Grand Canyon south rim. My Aunt's friend from LA joined us here, and we had a nice sit-down meal.

The next morning it was time to hit the trail. We caught a shuttle to the South Kaibab trailhead and headed out. It was pretty cold and windy at the beginning of the hike. But, in the lower parts of the canyon, the sun finally found us and it became an easy jaunt through the red rocks. It was seven miles to the bottom, and well worth the views along the way.

That night (a great BIG thanks to my Aunt Sheila!) we got to spend the night at Phantom Ranch, rather than in cold, hard grounded tents. Our stay there was complete with a huge, yummy steak dinner and chocolate cake. We even got pancakes in the morning before we headed out.

Thursday morning brought with it sunshine and the promise of a decent ten mile ascent back to the canyon rim. I'll admit, it was a long hike, but it was certainly not as bad as I was anticipating. I guess this was because the temperature ranged from 60F to 40F - perfect hiking temp for me. We did run into quite a lot of ice at the top of the trail, but thanks to Alan's crampon-things, I stayed on the trail and didn't slip to my doom. ;)

At first, I was apprehesive about this trip, but it turned out to be really fun. Me being out of shape didn't have too much of an effect. That is not going to help motivate myself to start working out, haha. :) Seventeen miles in two days and I was hardly sore. My knee didn't dislocate. It was sunny the whole trip. Good company. It was a pretty good trip.

On Friday we drove back to Utah. I was carsick with a nasty headache most of the trip... not really sure why. But some pills and some Sprite seemed to make it better. Of course, we had to make a stop at Bryce Canyon for a few pictures and a stop at Ruby's Inn for a yummy dinner.

Thanks MOOSE! :)

Weekend with the family

Oh! This could be... fun? Well, yes, for the most part. :-)

A couple times each year my dad's brother and sisters all get together to work on their family history for a weekend. Uh, this is usually an event I avoid. Not that I don't love my family, because I certainly do, but that weekend just seems like too much stress for me. But...over Marthin Luther King, Jr. Day this year, they decided to do their family history weekend in the Salt Lake area. So, I really couldn't miss the chance to go and see my dad. Plus... there was a free ski ticket involved. ;)

So, spent that Friday up at Park City with a bunch of the family. It was soo much fun! I have really missed my snowboard. This was the first opportunity I've had to go snowboarding all season, and only the second time I have used my brand new board.

I had to be back to my own ward in Logan on Sunday...thank goodness I had an excuse to leave, lol. I have a new calling now. I am the 1st counselor in the Relief Society. I may be forced to actually like some of the people in my new ward, dang. It should be a good thing. Really.

But, I grabbed my cousin Jared and headed back to my uncle's house that monday afternoon. We were celebrating my Dad's 50th birthday that night. Crazy! My dad is now 50. Well, I am still young, and that is all that matters. ;-) It was fun, and I "think" we may have actually suprised him.

I love my family. :)

I'll be home for Christmas

This post is a little late, I know, but at least I remembered that I did have a blog. :) Although, now that I found that episodes of I Dream of Jeannie, one of my all time favorite shows, are on hulu I am being severely distracted...so, I hope this all makes since, lol.

Here's my Christmas card for the year. I was just too lazy apparently to send it out earlier.

For Christmas this year, I was able to go home (YAY!) for almost two weeks...that was really not long enough for me either.

I did have to work some while I was home, but it was fabulous to be there. I got to play with my bro and sis, see my kitty, and hang out with my family. Landon got to call home on Christmas morning. It was good to hear from him, and he seems to be doing well. We even ate a big pancake breakfast before we opened presents. It was nice to sleep in...that never happened when all of us kids were younger.

While I was home, we all went to Ocean Shores to watch Bryce play in a basketball tournament. He made a few good shots, but he didn't get to play as much as we "i.e. the Grandparents" wanted him to. ;) A few weeks ago, though, Bryce scored 22 points and played most of a game, so...maybe his coach is just finicky.

Forks itself doesn't change much. At least in the winter. The Twilight phenomenon seems to die down for awhile. It rained a lot, which I have missed, and we had a few good hail storms. We also took some family pictures while I was home. I thought that we should have put a cardboard cut out of Landon in, but oh well, he will be home next Christmas. :)

Anyways, it was nice to see the beach and play and be with my family. I love being home.

I was really rather sad to come back to Logan after the New Years.