The Adventures of the Johnson Clan

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Part One
Our Trip to Utah
It's funny to me how we can come home (even for as short as six days) and have it feel like we never left. Same friends, family, routines, jokes... have we really been here in Iowa for nearly 6 months?

Six months is a significant milestone for me when adjusting to new places. This is always when I seem to find my stride and hit the ground running. The first six months I'm just like a fish out of water as I over indulge in every activity in our new area, trying to find what fits. Then feeling burned out and retreating home where we never contact anyone or even get dressed for the day... ha ha okay, it's not been that bad this time. Having to take Maddix to school each morning is the biggest blessing I received towards helping me adjust here.

So just like that we were in Utah and ready to make up for lost time.

Friday- We left at 3:30pm (our time), and drove through the whole night. Typically Travis is my Road Rage Warrior, but after working 100+ hrs just before leaving (no joke) he just couldn't do it; so the Lord raised me up and I drove through most the night.

Saturday- Recovered, and had lunch with Grandma Juliene, and Aunt Janelle to the Olive Garden

Sunday- Visited my Mom, went to Church with my dad, and had dinner with the Johnson's

Monday- Ran errands that can only be done in Utah/Big City. Had dinner with Chatterton's/Hatch's

Tuesday- I got to start the day off with a 9mile run around the valley. Went to lunch with Gma Janet. Boys had a boy day with Uncle Garret/I got my hair done. Then we had dinner with two of our friends, Drew and T.

Wednesday- More errands, took family pictures, cleaned up Grandma's yard, had a surprise party for Trav where we invited our Utah friends/family, as well as our friends from NY who were able to come! We rented inflatable bumper balls! It was SoOoOo much fun; I HIGHLY recommend this activity!

Thursday- After a snow front that dropped temperatures, I woke up and went running with my dad in the freezing cold! I found Trav and the boys at the field gearing up for the TURKEY BOWL! Easily a highlight of the trip!! Then we had 1st meal at my mom's, 2nd meal with the Johnson's, and 3rd meal at my dad's... safe to say we ate more than we breathed.

Friday- Cleaned, packed, said goodbyes, and hit the road... now fully loaded with ALL the Christmas presents family didn't want to mail later; we barely fit everything!

Saturday- 18hrs later we made it home and while I crashed for several hours, the wonderful Travis brought ALL the Christmas decorations up, fluffed the tree, and hung the hard to hang greenery; so when I woke up I got to do all the fun decorating! We also received a real Wreath as a gift from the Hospital that showed up while we were decorating; it was a great way to come home!!!

I love this valley

View from mile 6; ahh, I loved it!

hair all done; it took 6 1/2hrs!

cold!!!

Turkey Bowl (minus several ppl)

Goodbye yet again, Utah!

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Falling for Fall

Warning

~ I haven't blogged in a month, this is bound to be a photo dump!~

Fall of 2016

(Our first fall in Iowa)

I am a summer girl. All year long I wait for the day the grass is green, birds and sunshine pour through my windows and wake me before an alarm has to. I LOVE the smells of summer when I take morning runs. I love each and every outdoor activity that is waited for 9 months of the year, and man I love al the fresh fruit. The barbecues. Just SUMMER.

BUT... this FALL...

Oh this fall has been phenomenal. The trees here really take advantage of the color spectrum as the leaves change for weeks and weeks (not go green to icky brown). I love all the leaf piles we've jumped in. I love the sunshine that beams in one spot and when you step in it, that minor chill you were feeling just melts away.

THIS FALL... it's been unbeatable. We've enjoyed BYU Football, as well as Maddix's first football season. We loved Halloween here. I've loved hiking with friends. Walking around Big Blue. I've loved the holiday themed activities that are in full force now. I've loved that by God's blessing this November has been abnormally warm and pleasant: almost no rain. Sun every day. Weather constantly hanging in the 60's... PeRfEcT. Each day we are blessed to play on the playground after Maddix gets out of school is just another cherry on top of this beautiful fall.

~ I am truly grateful for the joy this fall has provided us~

And for once, there is apart of me that is actually getting excited for... snow?? Did I just say that? Yes I did. I am actually excited for Winter. I think having kids old enough to do activities, enjoy school activities themed around each season, and the fact that i'm not working (and having to deal with the cold) in the winter makes me love it more. Then last night we had our Relief Society Christmas Party... yes, our Christmas party was in November due to scheduling conflicts. At first it felt wrong to me that the room was covered in gorgeous twinkling lights and greenery. The Christmas tree just seemed wrong; however, as the program commenced I was touched. I had the opportunity to sing a solo and the words almost moved me to tears. There was a book narrated to us and the message rang loudly in my soul. I am ready for Christ's season. The WORLD needs Christ's season more than ever this year.

This morning i've cried repeatedly thinking about the divide existing in America right now. I've bawled each time I've seen horrible realities via social media to the point where I just can't stand to get on and read any more. I know in the scriptures we are told the world will be this way, but it breaks my heart; I found great comfort in reading the scriptures this morning (Alma36-38).

Okay... this turned out to be super long, and doesn't even explain what we've been up to or how we're doing. So very quickly :

Travis:

Loved his time on Pediatrics. He is currently on Surgery rotation. The hours are long (as is normal now), however, somehow he ended up having a few days off this past weekend and loved being able to be apart of our normal daily routines. He got to cook, bake, shop, clean, and do yard work, but just loved that he got to be with the boys and I so much. We were also able to take a day date to the temple where we did baptisms and then ate some indian food after. This week he is on call a total of 150hrs... ( I didn't even know there were that many hrs in a week)... he won't actually be at the hospital all those hours, but he isn't allowed to be more than 5 mins away during these hours. Last night his pager went off twice. He has four more 24hr shifts left before we go back to Utah to visit, and then only one more 24hr shift after that.

Lacey:

I only have a few more weeks in my school semester and I am stoked! I've been enjoying the gym, love seeing Maddix and Aaron progress scholastically. I've been doing the Medical Alliance Activities, enjoying our church callings, and fill grateful to have so many ladies here to help pass all the hours Travis is gone.

Maddix:

Is continuing to adjust to all the change of once again moving, having daddy home then gone in drastic amounts, then starting school full-time. He is really trying his hardest everyday to improve on things he's not good at, and finds pure joy in accomplishing new things! Maddix is so very smart and head's up... that also makes him so very head strong!

Aaron:

He captivates any room he is in. The ladies in the gym daycare say he just smiles and goofs around the whole time he's there. The librarian in story time says she looks for him each week because his reactions to the books are her favorite part of the class. Women at church laugh over his zeal for life and that each time they see him it's like he's about to explode from joy over everything around him. He truly does wear a smile 99% of the time, and even his fits are pretty hilarious and cute. And his after fit apologies are unbeatable; they are adorable! I just love the stage he is at!

OKAY OKAY OKAY, time for the pictures!