Hip Hip Hooray!

This post is a little celebration of Melanie!


By all accounts, she is the bomb - living on her own with a friend...you impress us all. Bravo Mels.

Count Joyce

Even though Joyce is now pretty much a food-eating, almost walking, big girl - she was once this little count-joycula. It is not a sad video - it is hilarious. She sounds like dracula.

Bedda the Photographer

this was an interesting one i took, when i was bored, that i then photoshopped, and made it even more cool!
i was sitting in the church gym bored, and so i took pictures! i think this one turned out really well.
at the cornmaze for mutual! it was a blast, and we are taking halloween pictures for photography class so i brought a camera and captured this shot.
at true value with mom! i wanted to take pictures of flowers! i seem to love taking macro photos of flowers, and they seem to be my best photos.



this was for a personal history assignment i did in photography, and i used music to describe me, and the piano.

this picture is for an assignment about a photographer, and we had to take a picture in their style, so here it is!

so this year, i am taking a photography class, and i thought i might share some pictures with you! + Cindy was wanting me to post some, so here they are! this class has really made me really consider becoming a professional photographer! i really have such an interest in it, and it really is so much fun! but anyhoo, i miss you all so good! i wish there was some way that we could all see each other really soon... i love you all!

bedda

Food Fun

Today John made and canned applesauce with the apples he picked from our good friend and neighbor Barbara's tree. (The apple peeler made me think of Mom making applesauce and how much I liked to turn the crank).

I made roasted vegetables for dinner. Beets, turnips, carrots, blue potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and garlic.

Joyce sat on the floor and smiled.

A Pictoral Searcy Update

Joyce's hair stood straight up after a bath. It looks beautiful in the sunlight.

John captured this picture right before Joyce launched a massive sucking attack on my face - she bites down hard on my nose or my chin, whichever she can get her little gums on first.

Smiling. Shining.

Joyce really loves to read.

She also loves to launch herself from a seated position to a near standing one by pulling up on the book. You never really know when she's going to pull this maneuver so you have to be ready.

Sunday after church - feeling good, feeling full.

I like this picture for the obvious reason - I think Joyce is cute. But also because it demonstrates nicely how often Joyce has one hand poised in the air. I'm not sure what compels her to have one hand in the air, but she prefers to keep at least one hand up.
(Forgive the many big pictures - but they are a little less time consuming to post than an actual write-up of our lives)

Joyce Enjoys the Fall

Last fall when I was pregnant, I walked around thinking about how much I wanted to show my baby this season. This fall, we have been pretty busy, but today Joyce and I spent some time out on the grass - it has been beautiful here. Cool, crisp fall air and leaves that crunch and crumble when you walk on them. If Joyce is a little bit bored or crabby all we have to do is walk outside and she breaks out into a grin. I think she likes the fall as much as I hoped she would.

New adventure

Hey everyone,
I am doing homework, don't worry I will go to bed soon. Families are forever, I can;t keep serects from any of you, I love you all so much. I am doing better, Tuffy is healing, Sam is doing well. Anyways I am on a trial adventure, I am living with Marylou in a house she bought, I am not that far from home, I am taking care of Tuffy, she is my horse, I am keeping Tuffy, she is staying home, and so is Sammy, Mom is really excited, mom and dad think it is a really good idea to try living with Marylou for awhile as her roommate, I can go home a lot, since I am taking care of Tuffy and see how I like it , to learn more life skills, to see how it is being independent, so we will see how it goes, so far it is going well. Mom told me it is important to learn these skills espically since I have an opprotutiy, it is so differnt, wow, nice since I am nto that far from home, I will keep you updated. I just thought you would all like to know my big move, that I am trying something new, I told mom I love living at home, she told me she loves to have me and all of us, it si time for me to try to be indepentdent. I am keeping Tuffy, talk to you all later,
love you all
Mels

Thanks! I love you!

I would have posted a picture of our family, we already have that, families are forever, love you all so much, I love the pictures on the side of the blog, I think we really should keep them there, I love them. Thanks. School is going relaly well, lots of homework, babysitting a lot, Lori has helped me out too, talk with her/help her wtih her kids, babysit for Rodartes, Kephearts, work-Kid's BASE just on Weds. at 3: 30 and do activities with the kids-started yesterday,went really well I did simple stan glass (contact paper-put tissue on then fold over and looks like stan glass-ajust to young and old-easy project to do, they loved it), takign care of Tuffy adn sam, helping mom and dad out, homework, etc.
Here is a picture of Tuffy, she is doing better, it has been two months since her injury, almost three, this Saturday, October 11, ti will be three months-she was injured on July 29, 2008. She is doing much better, she is still sore, has a long recovery-the vet comes out in November adn lets me know what to do, she could be stalled up to 9 more months/1 year or less, with hand walking excersises, he will let me know what her recovery process is. I am glad she is doing better, seh has to stay in the stall so seh can recover, time will heal her, I see improvement, for example seh is bearing a little more wieght on her hurt foot, still resting it-she is still injured, thats why she is on stall rest, don';t worry giving her local hay am, afternoon, pm, seh has a toy, salt brick, water, shavings, I love Tuffy deeply, that is why I am diong what is best for her, having faith she will heal, I hand walk her to graze for a little bit of time, clean hjer stall, I groom her, give her treats. Thank you all for all of your support with this hard time I am going through, losing my dear Kay, posted another picture of me riding Kay, I miss her, loved her deeply and I knew it was her time to go, thanks for all of your support, talkign with me, I really appreatce it, for your understanding, my angles.
Kim F., sorry abotu the picture, I posted becasue she has supported me too so much, helping me, talking with me, help me deworm Tuffy, helps me/took care of Tuffy while I went on Vaction, I have been practing my signgin a lot more, I get to interprete with Kim on Sunday-opening and closing pray, if I keep on practiing I willl help Kim interprete, she says I am doin grelly well with my siging adn with horses/children. Kim and I are best friends, love spending time with her, she comes over to check on me and Tuffy, calling me to check on hwo I am doing, and she is so sweet.
Beverly, I posted a picture of because she has been checking on me, feed Kay apples the night before it was her time to go, always giving me apples from her tree to share with Tuffy, sweet, helps me out to with horse, let me show ans ride her dear Hi risk whom Kay is running around with, supportive of me too. (others who have helped and supported me, can;t name them all- I need to do homework and go to Camp Berachah/Mrs. Buck's pre-school for children with specail needs).
Sammy isdoing well, he absoulty loves tennis balls, I had him with me when I droped becca off for a volleyball game, he smelled/heard/saw the tennis balls and wanted to get them-he whinned, wanted to get out, but I couldn;'t becaeue they woudl have been mad at me right, so I took him home and gave him his own he was happy. He loves to play all the time, even when I am trying to take care of Tuffy's needs.
I am doing a lot better, I still miss Kay, Grandpa and Grandma Johnson, Kara, Hi risk, I know I can see them again, I am so glad we are family forever, I love you all so much, each day is getting better adn better.
I love you all,
love always,
Mels
thansk for all of your support adn understaning, I appreacte so muchh.

Lounging

Joyce loves adult sized furniture.



She's also good at lounging.

Mom's Take

Hi Family,

I wanted to thank all who have been contributing to the Cyberjohnsons - and individual blogs keeping us updated and also very entertained. Marc it was so great to see you today! I am glad you are sleeping on softer surfaces this time around. Xavier - you are doing a great job on the new house! Marguerite is the queen of the slide - we miss you! Emilie I laughed so hard reading your latest. This country is in serious trouble I fear! The theme of conference today was "hope", prayer and don't give up kind of messages. Julie and John I am so impressed with your edible art work. Can we come for dinner? Joyce is going to be the most healthy eating toddler west of the Mississippi! She gets more beautiful every day. Is it almost time for a reunion? Didn't Dad do a great job on the pictures of the cabin. It was such a beautiful sight to drive up that canyon and see the colors at their peak. Lee said there was a moose up there the other day when they were working.

We had a special experience with Paul on Wednesday at the MTC. He was very excited and wasn't nervous - but not so sure he was excited about wearing a suit for the next two years. Here is his address if you want to be in contact with PAUL:
Elder Paul C Johnson
MTC Mailbox #160
FL-FTL 1202
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Sounds like some of you are on to the dearelder.com web - look into it if not and see how you can send letters to Paul for free via internet while he is in the MTC.

Family, we love you all. Thanks for keeping us posted! Love Mom

Cabin Update

This view shows the large flat open space in front of the cabin
Rosie and Lee -- every window has a gorgeous view

From the front of the cabin

Side view
Logan Canyon just down the road from the cabin.

After we dropped Paul off at the MTC on Wednesday we drove up to Cache Valley and went straight to our cabin that is being built six miles up Logan Canyon. As we drove up we were both moved by the beauty of Logan Canyon -- especially this time of year. The colors were gorgeous and the steep mountains with rough cliffs make for a beautiful drive. Driving into the cabin site was especially beautiful. Logan River is on one side, the sheer moutains and cliffs on the other and trees on both sides of the road form a canopy. Much work has been done on the cabin and Lee has been able to convince the Forest Service to agree to some substantial changes that will make for a much nicer cabin. We were thrilled with the progress and the expertise and passion that Lee brings to this project.

I believe this place will be a great blessing in our lives. I have been thinking about giving it a name the way the English name their homes -- it also seemed to be common in much of America during the 19th century. I believe that as majority owner of the cabin I will probably get "naming rights" (a common term in philanthropy when someone pays a lot of money to put their name on a building or a program) but I should check with Paul and Lee. Of course they can call it whatever they want. Anyway, this evening at the Priesthood session of conference (perhaps I should have been concentrating on the talks), I came up with a name that I want to get some feedback on.

When we climbed Mount Olympus in Greece last year we stayed in the best mountain huts I have ever been in. They were placed in spectacular settings, had great food and provided a marvelous place for us to talk, play games, enjoy each other and take in the beauties of nature. I loved the simple names they had for these two memorable huts -- Refuge A and Refuge C.

Here is a definition I found for refuge: "That which shelters or protects from danger, or from distress or calamity; a stronghold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; a place inaccessible to an enemy." This describes well what I think this cabin can be for us. We could add a name and call it Refuge ____ or we could just call it Refuge. Let me know what you think.

Paul at MTC

Rosie putting on Paul's missionary tag at the MTC
Standing in front of the MTC for this last photo for two years with my dear son.
A very proud mother with a handsome missionary son.

Wednesday was a wonderful day. We took Paul into the MTC to begin his mission to the Florida, Ft. Lauderdale Spanish speaking mission. Both Rosie and I had a few mixed emotions as we said goodbye to this almost perfect son. We will miss him very much. His peacmaker spirit, wonderful way with people, his unique sense of humor, his hard work, his kindness towards his siblings... will be sorely missed. But there is nothing he could do that would make us happier and more proud of him. He will be an outstanding missionary.

As we were walking into the MTC, Paul leaned over to us and said, "I'm getting kind of tired of this suit." Classic Paul.