the johnson family's............"this is it"

that's right. i thought i would have a little more time to do a  better post before we left, but do to our moving company which we have had reserved for 3 months bailed on us at the last minute. thankfully we were able to find another moving company, but instead of packing it up friday or saturday we have to do it tomorrow. awesome. again thankfully we are pretty much packed, but just need to figure out sleeping arrangements & tying up loose ends. we have so enjoyed living here & truly feel so blessed for this beautiful opportunity. i am also grateful that I have a little mountain man & mountain mama!!! thank you, thank you again so much to all our friends & neighbors for helping us make this a  place we called "home".

the mother's i love........

i am so grateful to all you mother's out there. where would we be with out them? i know i am nothing close to perfect, but i don't think i would be where  i am today if it weren't for my mom & the woman who inspire me. &  i really wouldn't be here if it weren't for my cute grandma. she is so awesome, everyday she amazes me. my grandfather passed away when my dad was 16 & my grandma raised her four children all on her own. she never remarried, but has a wonderful, caring " boyfriend" that she has been with for over 30 years. it's amazing they never just got married, he comes up for dinner almost every night, they go on trips, attend the symphony& play games with friends. they are just adorable & i admire both of them so much. she is  90 i think........or close too, still drives, plays golf, bridge & is always there for us.

I know there are a lot of children who sadly do not have mother's in their lives at this time, but i do believe that heavenly father has made those taking care of them whether it be a grandparent, relative, friend or single dad. they  have been blessed with an additional love which fills that void.  after my brother's cute girlfriend passed away, i was so nervous to have aspen call me "mom" when we were around my niece while visiting . holland would ask, " well, where is my mom?" my brother would sacredly& silently respond " she is in heaven." then he would proceed to say, " but  i'm your mom & your dad, so fun!". she would giggle & would have this huge grin on her face. she just absolutely adores my brother, her daddy. he LOVES her so much.  my brother is so amazing & I am just so proud of him, it has been so fun to watch how cute he is with her. he takes her to dance or to the park & hangs out with all the moms.  my favorite is when he tells her " holland remember we need to act like a lady". i wasn't going to put a picture up because I didn't want to embarrass him, but he's too cute.  just think "h" you get to celebrate mothers day & father's day. lucky guy!

 another mother i love, is my mother-in-law. she is kind, adventurous & always giving. she is so much fun I love chatting with her , she is especially fun to  play golf with.  she is always up for anything even if it isn't something she would want to do. that is a quality i really admire about her. she is always on the go, I can't even keep up,  I really wish i had her energy! my kids love her to pieces. i really admire her in all that she does for her children & darling grand children. she is always there when you need her.

& i am sorry but the mom i love  & adore most of all is........... mine. she is all mine. i love you mom, you are my best friend. i love hanging out with you & chatting for hours on the phone with you. you  always know how to cheer me up, make me feel confident in my self & you always seem to have the best advice. you are always there for me anytime i need you & i so hope you know how much i appreciate that. you are so thoughtful & caring for others. you always put others first, sometimes it drives me nuts, because you need your time too! you are beautiful &  oh soooooooo talented! i hope to be as fantastic is you.

i am so thankful to my heavenly father for letting me be the mother to these two beautiful children. they make me so happy everyday. they are my life & i love them more than anything! i am so grateful for my mother's { &brother} listed above & for their fantastic example to me. i hope to take  some of each of their special & unique qualities to help me be a wonderful mother to my children. to all of you even if you have no children, you are still a mother to someone so don't forget who is watching you. happy mother's day everyone!

to the love of my life.........

well, my sweetest love, i have been working on this post to for over three hours now, because our computer is lame. oh & so is BLOG! well now i know what i can get ourselves for our anniversary gift.......a new computer!!!!  there was suppose to be a story line of showing our life from start to where we are now & awesome blogger just erased & then dissorted them. oh well this will have to  work for now. I just wanted to tell you that i love you so much & am so grateful to have met you. you have worked so hard for us & our beautiful family that we have created & I am just sooooo proud of you, it makes you even more sexy!! :) any way just wanted to relive the day with you babe because it was one of the best days of my life!!!!

on the steps of the temple

reception  at red butte gardens

we were married in salt lake temple, apart of the lds church. it was such an amazing & overwhelming experience.

we had a ring ceremony for those that we not able to attend the temple wedding. I was so glad we did this, it was beautiful.

i don't know why we don't have a pic of me, dave & aspen after she was born, but this her!!! our sweetest little aspen tree!!!!

then blessed with our little chasey chaser!! I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful family!

oh yeah

some of our engagement pics at the top of snowbird ski resort in utah

we really are funny.

i love you babe! thanks for being mine!!!!

aspen's last day at miss micki's preschool class.....sniff.......sniff........

aspen's teacher & our good friend ms. micki was kind enough to let me come & join them for snack time today for aspen's last day. it was so fun to walk through the door & see them sitting at the long rectangular table quiet as can be, snacking away.   ms. micki was so cute had a surprise going away gift for her. it was alphabet flash cards they had made through out the year, a darling book about "max going to the dentist",  a darling bag with a picture of aspen & her  class on the front & some yummy treats. aspen was so stoked!

she then had the kids go around & tell what they LOVED about aspen. micha, on the far left said " i love loving aspen".  merryn next to her said " i like playing dress ups" {with a little help from ms. micki}. leeland, " i love loving her too.   gavin, "crocadiles!" ms micki " you love playing crocodiles with aspen?" gavin" yeah, because she likes crocodiles". kindred, " i loved watching a movie at her house!"  owen, " she always dresses up as a princess & i like a police man".  reese, " i love laying on the floor next to my mom when she exercises".  ms micki, "oh that's great, how about aspen, do you like laying next to...." cut off by reese".......i like rolling on the ground with her."   oh man it was so cute! i love hearing what kids come up with.

we brought a "special treat", a cookie to share with everyone.

aspen handed them out & said "thanks for being my buddy!"

aspen & kindred

while they were eating their cookie ms. micki read them a story.

chase was enjoying the snack time too!

aspen LOVES ms. micki & always pretends to be like her. so she scooted the stool next to her.

me "everyone say.... happy cinco de mayo!!"

her cute class!!!

ms. micki made this darling little pinata for them.

hurry...........grab the candy!!!!

what about me?  ;  )

thanks everyone for being so kind to my aspen. she loves you  & will miss you so much!! Thank you too ms. micki for giving  aspen a wonderful experience & introductory to preschool!

reflecting & feeling overwhemed with gratitude

boxes, pulled cribs,beds, naked walls once filled with a happy family & sitting here trying to decide what to pack next. i couldn't help but reflect on our time here in morgantown as I am looking at our empty home. so here are a few pics. here is dave & I in front of the nauvoo temple on our drive out here. I served as a part time service missionary for the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in the temple design department & was honored & blessed to help with the reconstruction & installation of the nauvoo temple with my mom. it was so awesome to be able to go back there with my husband & being 8 months pregnant with our first child & show he & my cute in-laws what I had done to help.

us in front of emma smith's house. { don't worry dave's sipping back some root beer}

carthridge jail

& then the arrival  to our humble abode.     the "trailer".

here are some pics before we painted it!!!! this print was all over, thanks again lynn & ruthann for your help.

love the cabinets & walls painted........... looks & feels so much better!!!

remember that picture of the bathroom above..............yea

our cute trailer.  #8 crescent heights, morgantown wv.  our very first home.

dave's first day of dental school

feeling cool

9 months prego with  our sweet aspen

dave's professional assembly

the dental class of 2011

the "mormon's" of the class.  ;)

such amazing friends who threw us this wonderful baby shower & gave us the $10 pottery barn crib from gab's that I was on my way  to pick up until they called me & told me it had already sold. those sneaky stinkers!!!!!

they also made us this beautiful quilt!!!  ahhh........ you guys are so awesome.

some of our peeps.

most of our friends in these pics were in the year ahead of us & have moved. i have been so grateful for the wonderful friends we have made out here. they have truly inspired me & have taught me so much.  thank you.  {to be continued...}