Happy Birthday Payton!!

I can't believe that my boy is now 7 years old. Here are 7 things that I love about Payton:

1. His tender heart

2. His high pitched voice--reminds me of his Uncle Riley at his age

3. The fact that he always waits for me to tuck him in at night

4. The fact that he loves that his middle name is Scott

5. How much he enjoys life--he hardly ever sits still

6. He reminds me that I need to be a good example because he repeats everything I say and do

7. He knows every word to "Utah Man"

Happy Birthday Payton

Summer of Fun

As you can see from Taylor's excitement, we had a great time as a family this Summer. I would have to say that this has been the best Summer of my life, and it's because I spent most of it with my wife and kids.

Even though the summer was great, I admit that I am now sick and tired of the hot weather. Anyone who knows me, knows that this is my favorite time of year. I love the start of school, football season, and the normal reprieve that we get this time of year from the hot weather. But for some reason it is still too hot. I guess mother nature is just making up for the wet June that we had.

We did have a lot of fun as a family this Summer. I wish my kids would stay the way that they are right now forever. No diapers to change, but no one old enough to drive yet. Simply perfect. One of the favorite outings of the summer was our hike to Bridal Veil Falls. I hate to admit it, but it was the first time that I had ever hiked to the falls. I guess that may be one of the reasons that I have a weight problem. Even though it was a first, it definetly won't be the last. The kids had fun and Deb and I enjoyed the cool mist from the falls. Great time.

On July 25th, Grandma and Grandpa Johnson rented the large pavilion at Deer Creek. We spent the day boating, eating (again part of my weight problem), and enjoying each others company. The kids played in the sand and swam in the lake. The water was warm and the weather was perfect. Taylor spent most of the day with the boy who is the love of her life, her cousin Jackson. By the end of the day we were all tired, but no one wanted to go home. Can't wait to do it again next year. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa J!!!

Hope you enjoy the pictures. Now will someone please turn off the heat!!

Johnson Family "Pool Party"

HI. Its Taylor, -Again!!!- Oh yeah. I'm doing another post!!!
This year we didn't go to our usual place for a family get-together, Our wonderful Grandparents/Great-Grandparents rented out the big pavilion at Deer Creek. It was amazing!! The water was beautifully warm, and the sun was good. (A little too good.) I don't think not wearing sunblock was smart for any of us. It was amazing. We used Grandpa's boat, and were pulled on a tube. Me and my mom were about to fall off... too much weight on the back for the tube to handle. She was screaming, "GO TO THE FRONT!!!! GO TO THE FRONT!!!" and I was trying my hardest to move up front. After a great lunch, i slept by Cayson and Parker and slept through the rest of the day. I missed Stacy riding the tube and falling off. which sounded like something i'd like to watch.
I went in the car to get something, and realized that we didn't use the camera. So I snapped lots of last-minute photos. I wish I'dve gone into a photography class... Its really a lot of fun.

Well i Think i covered most of it.
Till Next Time!!!

The Great Western Adventure!! Good Ride Cowboys!!!

Hey everyone! Its Taylor doing this post, and i think that i will do alright. Lets see...

Last week we went to Birdseye and rode horses. Me and Baylee got to ride first, and we took over an hour with Weston out in the sagebrush on the hunting grounds. After, we dismounted (got off for all you non-horsey-people) and ate some yummy pizza and brownies made by Richard's wife, Melanie.

We even got my mom to ride the Beautiful mule, Action -The one with HUGE ears-. When she swung around to try to get on, she almost flew off in the other direction. Richard had to catch her by her leg and pull her back on.

(The Sorrel/Chestnut -reddish orange- is Peaches, and the Bay-dark brown with black- is Stormy, and as you know, the bay one -with the long ears- is Action)

My mom teased my dad so much that he couldn't ride a horse, that he eventually gave up and mounted Action and walked her around the long pen.
To add to the fun, we put the horses in the round pen and Richard gathered up some cows and had all the little kids chasing them trying to touch one. If i can get this video thing to work, you will see Payton's sprint isn't even close to that cow's trot.

Meanwhile, me and Baylee and Kelsea were on the beautiful horses in the round pen. and again, if i can't get the video to work, i'm going to scream. ha-ha. Well whenever Action sped up, if you can view the video, then you can see that i sped her up and the others followed.

well we all got really tired, and it was really fun. my dad said it was like disneyland to us kids. only less expensive. :) Ha-Ha. well, that's all for this post.

Just Trying to Keep Our Eyes on the Ball

I just love that picture. It was taken after the U's Spring Game, but more about that later. I hope that everyone has not given up on me and my quest to keep this blog updated. I would make up some excuse as to why it has been so long between posts, like the fact that Taylor is always on the computer, or that life has been really busy, or that I spend all of my time on Facebook (I have never been on Facebook), or some other excuse that would explain my absence from the blogging world. But the fact is that simply I have dropped the ball, and for that I apologize. I don't know who I am actually apologizing to, but I really am sorry.

Now comes the part where I try and fit almost seven months worth of news into one post. Here goes nothing. By the way I just noticed that the U button on my keyboard is sticking.....Taylor!!!!

In March we celebrated Baylee's Birthday. Instead of having a friend party she decided that she wanted to "sluff" school and go to breakfast and to a movie with her Mom and Grandma. I don't officially condone the sluffing of school, but she did have a great time.

In April we looked forward to the start of Spring and again participated in the MS walk in Provo. It was a great day, and the rain even held out until we finished. I am not sure of the total number of people that walked in our group, but I think that it was around 50. We are so grateful for all of the family and friends that came out to support Deborah in her fight. We feel your love and prayers, and are grateful for all of you. I can't find the pictures that were taken on that day, but I do know that Deb posted them on her facebook page.

Johnson Tire celebrated it's 85th anniversary in April. All of us received red shirts that we wore to the big party. It's amazing that a family business has lasted that long without all of us killing each other. The kids had fun eating hot dogs and playing in the tires.

We celebrated Easter as a family, and Grandma Chris had her traditional egg hunt with her favorite people on earth (notice that I am not in the picture).

The Spring game for the University of Utah was also in April. I took the kids, at least the three that like me, and we went to the game. It was a lot of fun. The kids enjoyed being with a lot of their cousins, and they liked meeting the players on the field after the game. All of the players were so nice. The kids stood in line for autographs, and talked with the players. I think that their favorites were meeting Coach Whit and Robert Johnson.

Payton thinks that we may be related to Robert, but I am not so sure.

Look at the picture below and you make the decision.

In May we all got ready for school to get out. The kids all did well and made it on to the next grade. Baylee and Taylor will both be with me at Mapleton Jr. next year. Baylee is excited, and I think that Taylor is just trying to tolerate it for one more year until she is officially in high school. That is scary.

By the end of the month of May and the beginning of June we were heavily involved in activities. Payton played tee-ball, and Kelsea decided to try softball this year. Baylee and Taylor kept busy watching kids and getting ready for Girls Camp, which they seemed to enjoy.

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson were the Grand Marshall's of the Art City Days Parade.

They insisted on ditching the traditional convertible for a fire truck that they could share with their great grandchildren.

The roses in our yard started to bloom, and Taylor took some really cool pictures. Payton did not want his picture taken with stupid flowers, so she was kind and took one of him under the neighbors tree.

June seemed to fly by like it usually does. We took a few trips to see my mom at Shadow Mountain (no pictures, forgot the camera). Payton has decided that when he grows up he wants to teach school so that he can work there. We also took a trip one evening to the Manti Pageant. It was a late night, but a lot of fun (can't take pictures if you don't have a camera). It was nice to spend an evening with the family talking about spiritual things. We need to do that more.

Now it is July. Softball and tee-ball are over (thank heavens). It finally stopped raining, but has turned hot, and our little house does not have central air. We spend most evenings out in the yard enjoying the shade of Grandpa Earl's (our neighbor) tree while watching his flowers bloom. We enjoy our ward, and the kids have made some good friends.

All in all, we feel blessed. We have a roof over our heads, and I am pretty sure that no one has ever gone to bed hungry unless they chose to. Deborah has started going to another doctor who has changed her medication, and she seems to be doing better. It is nice to see her enjoying life again.

Well, I think that is about it. It is 1:15am, and I am ready to go to sleep. I don't know how Danielle Thompson does it. I will try and do a little better at keeping things current, but I am not making any promises. One thing that I will promise is that I am going to do all I can to make some memories with my family in the month of Summer that we have left. I will keep you posted....maybe.

Scott

M.S. Walk -ONE STEP AT A TIME

I have the best family. They have been so supportive of me and my family. In Feb of '08 I was diagnosed with M.S. Shortly after that, I learned of the M.S. walk in Provo. I called Scott's family and my family and friends to see if they would help raise money and join us on the 3 mile walk. Most of Scott's brothers and sisters brought their families to walk. His mom and my mom were also there to support us. One of my childhood friends that I hadn't seen or talked to since high school came with her daugher and dog. Many other family members who could not make it made donations to the MS foundation. It was a great day, and it showed me that I am not alone in my struggle. It meant so much to me. I tear up every time I think about it. We had so much fun, and we all agreed to try and make it an annual event. My brother in law Riley was all pumped up about getting matching shirts next time we walked.

Well, that time has come. The walk this year is April 25th, in Provo. If anyone is interested in walking with us ( its only 3 miles, very easy walk ) you can go to my web page and sign up, we would love to have anyone who can come. My web page is http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/deborah.fisk.johnson the password is deborahjohnson. I again want to thank my family and friends who came to walk with me and who support me every day. I love you all, I couldn't ask for a better family. Love Deborah. :)

I've Been Tagged

Here is my (Scott) Top 5 Addictions:

5. 24--I love that show. I have to admit that a whole year off made me a little worried, but I am glad that Jack Bauer is back making sure that I am safe. He is one bad dude.

4. The Office--"That's what she said". This show really makes me laugh. I start laughing when they show Dwight in the intro and I don't stop until the show is over.

3. Chili-Cheese Nachos from 7-11. I know it sounds gross, but there is really nothing better after midnight than stale nachos with chili, nacho cheese, and jalapeno peppers. I always pay for it the next morning, but I always seem to go back for more.

2. Utah Football--At the risk of making half of my family mad. I hope that I am not one of those "rub it in your face" fans, but I have watched the Byu game and the Sugar Bowl at least 20 times each. Every time I watch it the Utes win and I am happy. I don't think that being a Ute fan will keep me out of heaven, will it?

1. Diet Coke--I only need it to make my headaches go away. Being a Ute fan may not keep me out of heaven, but this little, okay big, vice just might. My goal during the year was to drink less diet Coke this year than I did last year. So far no good. Sometimes when I feel guilty about all of the diet Coke that I drink I will repent and have a diet Pepsi. Hey, I am a work in progress.

I am not sure how this stupid Tag thing works, but I now tag Tim Thompson, Kyle Johnson, Kalli, Todd Jackson, and Marthea Jackson. If you have already been tagged just relax and have a nice cold diet beverage for me.