Grandpa and Grandma and baby Calvin

Baby Lindsay is a...

Bianca would like to share with you the gender of Grandma and Grandpa's great grandchild that will be arriving in November in Logan, UT. 

Fabulous Family Fun

Thank you Brian Johnson family for a fantastic reunion. We had a blast. We are excited for next year....well, maybe not as excited as we would be if we didn't have to plan it, but still the energy is high. A few pictures of our great weekend. Does anyone have good Thursday or Saturday photos? Here would be a great place to share them.


You may comment as you like on the pictures. Why didn't I take a picture of the Dutch Oven judges????

Thanks to all who came and helped so much with the Alan and Helen Johnson family reunion! We had a great time and enjoyed seeing everyone! We look forward to next year when we can get together for a few days again! We have a great family! Love you all, Brian and RaeLynne

In Memory of Michelle

I'm participating in Relay for Life again this year. The event is on Friday. Michelle is my reason for participating. If any of you would like to donate to my efforts you can do so through this link. Michelle blessed our lives in so many ways. I'm grateful that I can do this little bit to help other people in her honor. Thank you so much for supporting me. You are a wonderful family!

Party Recipes

Here are the two recipes I promised to post. First Julie's delicious Banana Bread...I hope I remember all of it. Julie- leave comments if I get it wrong.
Banana Bread
4 smashed bananas
1/2 c (? sorry Steve didn't say what the 1/2 was!) soft butter- Julie melts this
2 eggs
3 TB baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c crushed walnuts Julie uses lots of these!
Mix the nuts and sugar together and put half of it on top.
1 tsp vanilla
Mix it up and bake 350* for 1 hour.

Oriental Salad
Originally from my bestest friend-Lesley. this recipe can also be seen at Pass The Salt on the links in my blog.
2 pkg coleslaw
8 tsp. sesame seeds toasted (I just poured them in the pan, who measures?)
1 c. almonds toasted (I used cashews and added a little more)
4 green onions sliced
1 pkg. Ramen noodles, crushed no seasoning packet

Dressing:
3 T. Rice vinegar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. sugar
I doubled this because I had two bags of coleslaw. The original recipe calls for one bag.
Loved seeing everyone. We definitely don't get together enough.

Relay for Life

I am participating in Relay for Life this year. I'm doing so in remembrance of Michelle. I know we are all struggling right now, but if any of you would like to donate please visit my personal Relay for Life page. Just copy the address below and paste it into your browser. Thank you!


http://main.acsevents.org/goto/laceyjunejohnson

Home Made Noodles for Chicken Noodle Soup

I made these last night. It is a recipe that comes from Great Grandma Pitman. These are seriously the BEST noodles ever!

1 egg, well beaten
2 Tbs. milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 to 1 1/4 cup flour

Mix the egg and milk.  Add the salt and the flour, making a really stiff dough. I cheated and used my mixer for this part.
Let the dough rest for about 20 minutes, and then roll it out flat and thin. Use a pizza cutter and cut into 1 inch wide strips. They have to dry for a couple of hours. Add these to your chicken noodle soup and cook for about 5-7 minutes.


I'm grateful for delicious family recipes. These are special to me - I know that my dad enjoyed them, my grandma, my great grandma... and now I am making them for my little family. You just can't beat something that is made with love. :)

What Counts as a Blessing

This is a ditto of the Hulse Blog. I am challenging some of the authors to post a blessing that they notice that might otherwise be uncounted. I will even start. Color. Isn't it amazing the beautiful colors we are looking at these days. I think it is even great that we have green for a season, so we don't get tired of the vivid reds, oranges, golds and shades of brown. I have a lovely burning bush with a background of gold and dark green. I love being in my backyard and seeing that bush! Are you glad for the variety of colors around us?

Fresh Squeezin's

For years Steve has talked about the fresh pressed apple juice he enjoyed on the farm in his youth. I always was like "Yes, Dear, that sounds wonderful." He did something about it this year. He built an apple juice 'machine'. Last night we had an 'Apple Festival' (sorry kids, now that I know what that is, I will provide dinner next time!). We washed and cut up the apples, threw them into his 'grinder' and pressed the juice out of those apples. I didn't think I would drink any of it (Steve was hurt that I bought Apple Juice on my shopping day). It was delicious. What a fun experience. I think everyone loved the juice. At least a gallon was consumed as we were 'squeezin'.

The contraption


Marinda- The cutter


Morgan- The Switchman


Stephanie- Quality Control

"I read about this on the internet"

We will have improvements to the system in place for the next festival.

Get Well Wishes for Grandma Johnson

Here is wishing Grandma Johnson a quick recovery form her surgery. We hope you are doing well. We missed you at Lacey's birthday celebration. Thanks for all you do for us. You are a fantastic Grandma!

What a Great Family

I just wanted to say what a great family we have. I thoroughly enjoyed the party on Friday night. I just wished we had more time. Next time I am sitting on the south tables to visit with Lori more. I think we should have a siblings night out every once in a while. Once or twice a year? I know it is hard to find a time to get together and it's even worse to get our children all there. Maybe if we just get us together. Anyone up for that?

Another Great Year With Grandma Johnson

Grandma is celebrating another birthday this coming week. We are meeting for a gala event at Barton Creek Park. (Same place as Grandpa's J's birthday. We plan to meet @ 6:00 PM. Please bring a side dish to share. Hope to see you there. Sorry the picture is from Stephanie's wedding...my brain can't find anything else and I know I have more recent photos.
Questions??? Call them! Sorry- it's Friday August 28th.

Jenny Is Coming Home!

Sister Beckstead has honorably served a full-time mission and is coming home this week! There will be a party for her at Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's home on Friday, July 17th at 7:00 p.m. Her homecoming address will be Sunday, July 26t at 11:00 a.m. in Dayton, Idaho. Hope to see you guys all there!

Apryl Christine Johnson

Our family spotlight for this week is Apryl Christine Johnson. She is the beautiful daughter of Randy and Janna Johnson. She was born February 14, 1979 and is the third grandchild born to Grandma and Grandpa Johnson. When I asked her about some of her favorite memories of Grandma and Grandpa's house she said, "I would say some of my fondest memories would be at Christmas time when all of the cousins would dress up and put on a play of the night Jesus was born in the basement, I also enjoyed when my cousins and I would gather in the basement to watch a movie on the big tv down there. Or trick or treating for halloween in their neighborhood." Currently, her favorite color is bright fuscia pink. She loves to shop, especially for shoes. She also is a talented photographer - check out her photos on facebook. Apryl is artistic - she likes to draw, paint, make cards and jewelry and any other crafty type things. She loves to go to Catalina Island - she has gone there lots of times on vacation and she says it is so beautiful and peaceful there that she wishes she could live there. She also enjoys a good bonfire with friends and likes camping on the beach. One of Apryl's favorite foods is salmon sashimi - that's right folks, raw salmon! Apryl says, "Being out here in California we have so many influences from so many cultures. There are sushi restaruants everywhere! I am also a sucker for a chicken quesadilla with avacado. "

So, what is Apryl currently up to? Well, she and her best friend Scott founded a theatre company called Apricott Productions about 11 years ago. They have put on a few plays and are hoping to put on one of Scott's favorite pieces in the near future. Apryl also worked for many years in the mortgage industry before the economy took it's turn. She loves spending time with her friends and family and working on her crafty projects.

Apryl says, "Although my family moved to California when I was just 8, I still have some great memories and still have a strong bond with those we left in the snow. I wish we could have stayed in touch better and I am so sorry that we just now started to make the effort, we really have missed so much in each others lives. But if anything, the passing of our beloved Michelle have done, it has brought us all closer, and has taught us all not to take each other for granted. We might not be here tomorrow, so let's share today."

Thanks for being our spotlight this week Apryl! We are glad you are in our family!

We're Home

We have actually been home for a month now but I just barely thought about posting on here to let everyone know! haha. I can be kind of slow sometimes.
Anyway, we are all back in Utah and we are enjoying our summer together.
Hopefully we will see you all sometime soon.

Grandpa Adding Another Birthday!

Celebrate with Grandpa Johnson his LONG and glorious life. A fete has been planned in his honor at Barton Creek Park (Just below the Bountiful Temple) It will be held at 6:00. Potluck picnic food is suggested. Grandpa requests "No gifts please". See you there!

Alaina Grace Lambert

This is Alaina Grace Lambert. She was born on October 4, 2006. Her mom is Stephanie Johnson and her dad is Richard Lambert. She is their first baby. Alaina's name means "lovely gift from God." An interesting thing that her great grandpa Johnson noticed is that her name is spelled like his name (Alan) and when you say it, it sounds like the Spanish version of Helen, who is Alaina's great grandma. Cool, huh?

Alaina is a very vivacious, funny little girl. She makes me laugh every day! She is learning how to count. She knows her colors. She likes to run and jump on trampolines and go to the park and ride her bike outside. She absolutely loves to go to Poppy's house and chase his chickens (that is Uncle Steve for those of you who are wondering who that is). Alaina is very talkative and likes to repeat everything she hears. Her mom has had to be careful of what she says, because she never knows when it will get repeated! Alaina is also quite independent and likes to direct others on what to do and say and think. She is a natural leader.

Alaina's nickname is LaneyBug. However, somedays I think "Social Butterfly" would suit her better. She loves people, especially her cousins Ethan, Cory, Isabelle, and Baby Colton. She likes us to read her stories at bedtime. Her favorites are Dr. Seuss books. She loves going to nursery and playing with her friends at church. She worships and adores her Daddy - she loves doing the things he does and she wants to be just like him. Her favorite food is string cheese. Her favorite cartoon right now is Pink Panther. She loves to play with cars and dolls and blocks. Her favorite game to play is Hide and Seek. She likes to hide and then tell you where she is while you are looking for her.

We are so greatful she is part of our family!

Spotlights

Hey guys!



It was fun seeing some of you at Michelle's funeral. Wasn't that a beautiful day? Leon and Justin, you guys honored her so very well. It was so awesome to see that stake center full of people who loved her and her family. What a tribute to her lovely personality! I have loved reading her blog and getting to know her better. I don't know if I would have the strength and the courage that she displayed so many times. Her example has truly helped my faith; I want to be a better person because of Michelle.



I loved seeing all my cousins and their kids... but I realized that I don't see them enough. I don't know all my cousin's kids names. And, sometimes when we see each other only once a year or so, it gets a little awkard (at least for me because I am a social dork). So, I thought maybe we could use this blog thing to our advantage and spotlight ourselves, our spouses, our kids, our parents, etc.



If anybody would like to contribute to this blog, please email me (stufanu@gmail.com or stephanie.lambert@hsc.utah.edu) I would love to get email addresses from all the cousins. If you have a blog and you want a link added on here, let me know! I am willing to do the spotlights too. I can call or email interviews and post the info for everybody. Let me know what you guys think! I love you all!

Pedicures by Lacey

I'm offering to do pedicures for a low cost. This includes full treatment, and painted toenails. Please let me know if any of you are interested! Thanks.