Monday, July 28, 2008

The Johnson Family Pool Party



Each year, around Grandpa Johnson's birthday, we have a pool party at the Spanish Fork pool. It is nice to get together with the whole "Johnson Clan." It is nice for Grandpa Johnson and his sisters, Lois and Helen, to bring everyone together. We usually start with something to eat and then head out swimming.
This years party was missing someone special. Aunt Lois, Grandpa Johnson's older sister, passed away on July 23rd. There was some thought of cancelling the party, but Uncle Earl insisted that we have it in honor of Aunt Lois. He said that there was nothing that she liked more than getting together as family. She was a neat lady, and we will all miss her very much.
The kids, as usual, had a blast at the party. They had fun eating, but they had a blast at the pool. It is times like this that make us grateful to have so many family members around. Payton claimed that we must be cousins with the whole town. There is more truth to that statement than he could ever know. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa, Earl and Lois, and Aunt Helen for providing this opportunity for us to get together. Lets do it again next year.

Fun at the Cabin

This has been a fun week. Scott had a conference at Daniels Summit and thought that it would be a great time for a family vacation, especially since BYU was paying for the room. The family planned on staying Tuesday night at the lodge, and then spend the next two days at the cabin. When Scott checked into his room, it only had one bed. So Mom and the kids decided to let Dad spend the night at Daniels Summit while they slept in comfort at the cabin (It beat sleeping on the floor in the lodge).
On Wednesday Grandma and Grandpa Johnson as well as Bobb and Val came up to spend the 24th of July at the cabin. Bobb put in a new sliding door in the upstairs bathroom while everyone else had a good old time. Sitting on the porch was the favorite activity of the grown-ups, while the kids spent time hiking to "little rock" and "big rock". Kelsea and Baylee made friends with the kids in the cabin next door. Everyone, including Taylor's friend Kayla, seemed to have a great time. It was hard to leave the 85 degree weather of the cabin and return to the 100 degrees that greeted us at home. But the great thing about leaving the cabin is knowing that the next trip is just a couple of weeks away....we hope.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Miss You Dad

It is hard to believe that it has been 17 years since the phone call telling me that my Dad had passed away. As a young missionary I was not sure what the future would hold. I just want to let you know Dad that I have tried my best to be the kind of person that you would want me to be. I also want to thank you for the life that you lived. I am always proud to tell people that I am your son.

Tradition has been that I take a diet Pepsi to the cemetery, just in hopes that you may someday like me more than Keli. I also take my kids up to the cemetery and share stories about you. They are such great kids. I really know that you would enjoy being around them, as well as your other grandkids. But even though you are not physically with us, I know that you watch over every one of us. I know that you would be proud of who we are and how we try to live our lives. I guess that I just want you to know that I love you and that I miss you every day.--Scott

700 South Reunion

Saturday July 19th was the first annual 7th South Family Reunion. Deborah and her family owned a home on 7th South in Springville for over 30 years. In fact, Deb and I lived there until we built our present home. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about "neighborhood reunions", but that all changed on Saturday. Deb did not grow up with her family around, and so the people in her neighborhood became her family. It was really neat to see her and her family see people that they had not seen in years. It was interesting to hear their stories, and listen as they tried to "catch-up" with each other. The people that have lived in that neighborhood truly have a bond. It was an afternoon filled with laughter and love. One family even drove from Oregon to attend the reunion. What a great afternoon it turned out to be. Hopefully it will be an annual event.

Hiking the Y with Sassy

I know that this will be a surprise for many of you, but I actually went hiking without being asked. In fact, I am the one that did the asking. Friday night July 18th I had the idea that the next day would be a great time to hike the Y. I had always wanted to make the hike, and so I was glad that Stacy agreed to go with me (that way I could not justify sleeping in). Stacy and I started hiking about 7:30am, and reached the Y about 45 minutes later. It was a lot of fun, and really rewarding. The view was terrific. It was also nice to spend some time with my little sister. She is such a great person. Hopefully we can do things like this a little more often. Thanks Stacy for going with me. I love you.--Scott

Monday, July 14, 2008

Our First Attempt--Wish us Luck












Welcome to our first attempt at keeping a blog. I feel so technologically advanced. I guess I am just trying to keep up with the Jones', and Johnson's, Jackson's, and everyone else in my family that already has a blog. I just hope that we (I) can keep it up to date. I also hope that this is as easy as my sister Stacy said it would be.
If all goes well there will be some pictures that are attached to this blog. I have not been very good at keeping family history, so maybe this will be a good reason to keep track of what is happening in our busy lives.
Our family is growing each day. Taylor is the typical teenage girl. She spent a week at girls camp, and we all missed her. I think that she had fun. Baylee loves to help around the house and please everyone. She went to Shadow Mountain this summer and had a blast. Kelsea is our resident softball player. She is one tough cookie. She even took a line drive off the head and did not even cry. Now that softball is over Kelsea just floats around like a little butterfly--one that usually disappears when work needs to get done. Payton played kickball this summer, but has since decided that he wants to be the next Tiger Woods, at least for this week. Deborah and I are just trying our best to keep the whole mess together.
I guess that is all for now. I am going to try and post some pictures. Stacy, if this is too difficult you are in trouble.