Monday, April 20, 2009

I have been changed "For Good"

I have been thinking about Wicked non-stop since I got the opportunity to see it with my Dad last week. My Mom bought tickets for her and my Dad, and at the last minute decided that I should go and see it with him for my birthday. She had already seen it twice, and thought that I should too. I have to tell you all about the first time that I saw it...
It was December of 2005 and I had been talking constantly about the play and the music. I was obsessed with it. I was super determined to see it, and didn't know how I was going to, but I wanted to so badly. Joe bought tickets to go to New York, to see Wicked and he Blue Man Group, and lined up babysitters all by himself and surprised me for Christmas. It was about the most incredible thing he has EVER done. It was so wonderful. It was freezing, but a fabulous trip.
My brother Mark, and his wife Kristen got us all hooked on the show in 2004 and they even got the chance to see it with Idina Menzel before she stopped doing it. They gave me a CD and I was enchanted!! My little brother even loved it. He wasn't really into that kind of music, but he listened to it all the time. His favorite was For Good. I know this is kind of long, but I really love that song and it means a lot to me.
The words go: I've heard it said, that people come into our lives, for a reason bringing something we must learn. And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them and we help them in return. I don't know if I believe it's true but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you. Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes the sun. Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood. Who can say if I've been changed for the better, but because I knew you, I have been changed for good.
It well may be, that we will never meet again, in this lifetime so let me say before we part. So much of me, is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end, know you have rewritten mine by being my friend. Like a ship blown from its moring by a wind of the sea. Like a seed dropped by a sky-bird in a distant wood, who can say if I've been changed for the better but because I knew you I have been changed for good.It is the most beautiful song. My little brother Dave passed away on April 21st 2005. I knew that I needed to sing a song at his funeral (call me crazy) but I just knew that I needed to. My brother Mark told me how much Dave loved that song and it clicked that it was the song that we would sing. Kristen played and sang it with me (during the time of the family prayer). I know that he loved it. I miss him so much. To this day I can't listen to that song without thinking of Dave. I know that because I knew him that I have been changed for good. We even had the words "you'll be with me like a hand print on my heart" put on his headstone. He was such a great guy and so funny too. I am feeling especially sad today because it has been 4 years tomorrow since he died, and it was such a hard time. I just wanted to say how much I love him and miss him. I love you Dave, I can't wait to see you again!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Easter 2009

We had a great Easter this year. My niece Belle was baptized the day before Easter and we had a wonderful family gathering for that. Lizzy came over to color eggs with the kids, and then they also colored eggs at their grandma's house. Then on Easter we went over to grandma and grandpa Johnson's house for dinner and an egg hunt. Grandma Helen bought the kids these darling clothes and I thought that I would show off how cute they are.



Aunt Cyndi, Belle, and Makenna
I found one!
Makenna at the hunt
Lizzy looking for the eggs
Cute boy
All 8 of the Johnson grandkids
Lainee
Dezirae
Handsome Seth with the darling dimples
Cousins
Cheese
Kids right before church
Kissing Seth
My Boy in his Easter duds.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Oh no not again!!

I don't think that having a trampoline is in the cards for our family. When we tried to have a tramp the last time, we got it almost completely put together, and it started to make a taco. It was defective. We got a new one and had it up for a week and it got blown over the house, hit the fence, neighbors roof, and landed in their front yard. We didn't have a tramp for over a year and thought that we would try it one more time. (Makenna got it for her ninth birthday). We put it up one week ago, and today while we were at church, there was a huge windstorm and our tramp was blown across our yard and landed upside down on the roof of our shed. Talk about not having any luck with trampolines!! I feel so bad for the kids. Maddie was up yesterday morning at 6:30 and was trying to escape to jump. She LOVES it. I just wish that it hadn't happened AGAIN. What do you do??


Saturday, March 28, 2009

Makenna's Birthday Party











We had a get together for Makenna for her 9th birthday at the park. It was on March 21st -last saturday. I love being so close to all the family so we can get together all the time. My sister in law Anna made her a cake that was a horse (she loves horses) and it was so cute!! We had a great time. If anyone wants to know how Anna made the cake, http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50134

Monday, March 9, 2009

St. George Trip

We had a wonderful trip to St. George this past weekend and I wanted to share some of the pictures that I took at the park. I told a bunch of friends that I would be in town and to meet me at the park. Nine people showed up with their kids and I was so pleased to see everyone. Thanks so much for coming and seeing me. I have missed all of you and loved to get a chance to catch up with you.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Blog Slacker

So it is official! I am a blog slacker. I can't think of anything neat-o to write about anymore, so I haven't been posting. What a lame excuse, right? I have a funny story to tell about my niece and Maddie. My niece Kassi is a hoot and she loves to play with Maddie. Kassi and Maddie were playing at my moms house the other day, and they were playing dress up. They were getting along famously. Well, Maddie had on a rather revealing dress that was a little bit low. She also does have just a WEE bit of cleavage. Well Kassi thought that Maddie looked so beautiful and told her that she was so pretty and looked so good and that she was just like Princess Belle. Then she looked over at her and said "Belle doesn't show her boobs". You have to remember that Kassi is only 2. She is so funny. I couldn't stop laughing when Kristen told me about it. Since it was such a funny thing that happened in my life I thought that I would share it. Kids say the darndest things...

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Maddie's 7th Birthday Party

I am pretty sure that I have never seen a happier face on any other child as I did on my little Maddie on her 7th birthday. She was the most genuinely happy kid that I have ever seen. She was as thrilled about her cake as she was for the Kung Fu Panda. Also for the paper on the outside. My mom gave her a box of microwave popcorn and she shouted hooray!! Her cousin Dexter said to his mom, "I sure hope that no one gives me popcorn for my birthday." It was so funny. Amazing to me is that she truly is thrilled for all that she gets. She was actually the happiest just to have the whole family (and then some) over. She loves attention. My brother told me after the party was over that it was the best birthday party he had ever been too. He wished that all kids were that excited about every single gift and thing that they receive as Maddie had been. It really made us all think about how she doesn't take anything for granted and is truly happy. She makes us all want to be happier and appreciate the little things more. I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as we did. She has a sparkle to her that the pictures may or may not have captured, but she is a huge joy to all of her family. We love her so much and are so happy to have her in our family.

Opening Kung Fu Panda
Blowing out the candles with a little help from Seth

Her own mp3 player from Grandma and Grandpa Johnson
Home made pillow from Belle.

Earlier that day opening them with just the immediate family.
Her very own white Christmas tree.


Oh my Gosh!
Hooray!!
I did it!

I wanted the cake to say happy birthday "Maddie Princess" since thats what she calls herself, but the cake lady decided that I had written it wrong and she put "Princess Maddie". Oh well.


My three loves sitting on Santa's lap at the UDSF Christmas party! It was so much fun.