Category: General

    Movie Time

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    We went to the movie today!
    We took the whole Family.
    We ate Popcorn and drank sodas.
    And it was only 15$!!

    Our local theater is awesome – they just reduced their prices to 3$ per person, 1$ and 2$ concessions, 3 and under are free, no ‘R’ rated movies, and they are closed on Sunday!  I’m loving it. You locals should check it out:

    ps – Cali was the popcorn boss, Packer made it until the last 15 minutes then he started seat hopping, and Benji did great just like he always does.

    pss – Packer went on the toilet ALMOST  all day today! around 7 or 8 he peed in his pull up 🙁 BUT he went up and did some pooping all on his own this afternoon!! We are on our way to one child in diapers!! and I discovered his motivation…. are you ready for this, Our Happiness! All he wants is for me and Dad and everyone to be happy that he peed or pooped and that makes him so happy and seems to be a huge motivator! Who knew.

    pps – Ben is home from a successful scout camp out. Brewer got to go and loved it. Cousins night last night went as smoothly as possible, My lesson for tomorrow is prepared, LaNell kept me company while Ben was gone, I finally did my Glucose test at the dr., and oh yeah… we had to get new tires on the car. Ben took the van and left me his car on Friday and as I was putting car seats in I noticed A LOT of balding and wear and tear on 3 of the 4 tires! I did not feel safe and went right to the tire store:

    Categories: General

    MEAT LOAF??

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    YUM or YUCK?

    Ben made Sunday dinner and surprised us all with Meat Loaf!! I HATED meatloaf as a kid. I remember choking it down. I was a picky eater and there were lots of things that I didn’t eat but I remember meat loaf being on the top of that list along with Cauliflower Soup. Well – I am happy to say that I enjoyed the meatloaf, it was even yummy and we’ll be eating it again Tuesday night for leftovers ( I also happen to LOVE Cauliflower soup now too). Now the kids seemed to have a different opinion of the meal… Cali ate a lot of potatoes and a little meat and got away with it. Packer ate everything but the meat and then with encouragement ate the meat loaf in a few ginormous bites. Benji was not a happy eater. He was literally gagging it down. Picking out the onions, swallowing with water and doing his best to eat it so that he could have a smoothie that night. I felt so bad for him because I KNOW that it doesn’t taste good and he wasn’t just being PICKY. It was very hard to watch him suffer through that process. Anyone else out there LIKE meat loaf?? I don’t think this will become a regular meal around here but it was a nice change from the regular 10 meals that I know how to make.

    On a side note – – my husband has discovered “The Hunger Games”, I don’t think he has read a novel since before we got married but this one has finally captured his attention. I’m supposed to be the reader. I’m supposed to be the one ignoring all to get through the next chapter and picking up the book during any and every free moment. I’m really not used to this. I think he is almost done with it though, then our house won’t be so quiet at night and I might not get as many evening blog posts out! I think I like him reading. I just need to make sure that I have a book on hand now.

    Categories: Ben, General

    Saturday July 24, 2010

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    Staining the Stairs
    The boys were enlisted to help Dad stain the deck. They actually did pretty good at helping. And for the first time Benji outlasted his little brother in  the ‘working’ department.

    In their work clothes - ready to paint!

    Ben did most of the work but the boys stuck it out for most of the project.

    Cali decided that she didn’t need a nap that day. She just kept playing and smiling and avoiding the crib so she never went down. We went swimming in the backyard and had a barbeque, then Cali went in her swing while we cleaned up dinner around 7:30 and the no nap finally caught up to her! She did open her eyes when I was taking the picture and said ‘cheese’ for the camera 🙂

    Yes my child - You Still NEED naps

    She did wake up though and enjoyed some vacuum fun with Dad before bed. I love these kids!

    Wouldn't that feel good?

    Packer was a little nervous

    Benji was loving it.

    The 24th is a holiday here in Utah but we chose to celebrate by getting the kids in bed before 9pm for the first time in a long time.

    Categories: General

    Friday Fun

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    We are Watching Diego, Lalo, Luca and Mia this afternoon while those lucky few who work for Utah based companies enjoy the Pioneer holiday! The boys are loving the swimming pool/hot tub, they’ve been out there for an hour or two. The girls will be waking up from their naps soon so we’ll have to see if I let them in or not. Ever since Seven Peaks Cali is to daring in there and thinks she can swim all by herself.

    I'm glad someone gets to use my hot tub while I'm not allowed to. 10 more weeks!


    And a few more pictures from the Nettesheim weeks of fun…

    Benji is SOOO good with his little sister!


    Cali trying to be BIG like her cousin Julia.


    The kids had to get in their tickle time with Dad even if we weren't at home.

    Categories: General, Nettesheim

    Grandma and Grandpa Nettesheim

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    Ben’s parents have been here for the past 2 weeks and are driving back to Indiana on Friday. It’s always fun having them in town and getting together with the Nettesheim cousins every night.

    Tonight we celebrated Sydney and Udine’s birthdays. Benji was so happy to ‘catch’ Udine talking while eating his cake and sending him under the table to finish it. And the Little ones were extremely messy – thank goodness for eating outside. On Wednesday Night we had a “Camp out” in Matt’s backyard! It’s the cleanest camping ever and the kids love it so… The 2nd annual Nettesheim camp out…

    SMORES were yummy as always though it was way to hot. We watched a movie outside and stayed up way to late. It was a super hot night but finally cooled down around 3am so this pregnant lady could sleep.

    Now we are exhausted and ready for some relaxation – is that possible? We’re at least ready to get the kids in bed by 9:00.

    Categories: General, Nettesheim

    JOHNSON FAMILY REUNION

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    We just finished a BUSY week. The fun started on Monday night when my sister and her 5 kids came from California. We hung out on Tuesday and introduced the cousins and Benji to the “Kong Cone” at Maceys – a whole lot of soft serve ice cream for cheap – None of them finished.

    Wednesday was SEVEN PEAKS WATER PARK!! We haven’t been since Benji was little and I was sure that it would be more work than fun since I have 3 little kids that don’t know how to swim and a big pregnant belly and I can’t go on any slides. But my sister was going and my sister in law came down from Ogden with her kids so I was in, and I was planning on coming home whenever Cali threw a big fit and decided that we were all done.

    Sun Screen on and ready to go

    Snack Break

    The boys wanted to wear life jackets and that helped a lot.

    We stayed in 4 places all day - kid areas, lazy river and the wave pool.

    We didn’t leave until after 5pm!! My kids loved it. The weather was perfect. They got ‘brave’ after lunch and actually did the baby slides. We didn’t do any of the other slides but they loved all of the little kid stuff. I would definitely go back. We came home exhausted and waited for Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Liz and 4 more cousins to show up from California.

    THURSDAY, FRIDAY, and SATURDAY were the Reunion Days! We headed to a cabin in Fruitland, UT just passed Strawberry. Grandma and Grandpa Johnson were there and their 3 girls and spouses and then as many of us Grandkids that could make it with spouses and kids. There were 45 of us there by the end. We ate and ate and played and hiked, swam, and played games and enjoyed being with family. Grandma and Grandpa seemed to enjoy having everyone around so it was a success.

    Ready to go to the Cabin...

    The kids and I getting settled in our room.

    Our 10 minute hike to 'Big Rock'

    Carter, Maddy, Lilly, and Packer on the hike

    Benji made it to 'Big Rock'

    Time for Bed

    Trying to get Cali to smile and get off of moms lap

    these girls are all super close in age

    Dinner Time! we ate way to well

    Grandpa tending Elly and Cali while we went to the creek.

    The Cabin had a playground! Benji and Grandpa.

    Grandma and Packer!

    Cali pushing Ella on the swing - super cute

    nothing better than a sleepover!

    Geocaching!

    Rhino Rides!

    by saturday afternoon we were all exhausted

    Saturday Night we had a program for Grandma and Grandpa Johnson and shared lots of fun memories about them. It’s great that they can still do so much. I didn’t get to see them more than once a year when I was a kid but now we live close and get to stop in and visit.

    Arden and Elma Johnson

    w/ their daughters - Annette, Carol, Diane

    the 6 favorite Grandkids! jk the others couldn't make it 🙁

    The Great Grandkids! I think only 3 are missing

    Categories: General, Robertson

    4th of July Weekend

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    Hooray for Independence Day!

    July 3rd, Saturday Afternoon

    We said goodbye to Than, Erica and kids on Saturday afternoon. Erica and I had to get a pregnant picture since we are due on the same day…

    Two BIG beautiful Bellies with little girls due on September 30th

    Erica and Jana, our goodbye picture

    I had to include this picture because I am standing on a step and am still miniature compared to Erica!

    Saturday Night

    We went to the PG CITY fireworks with some of the local cousins and the Wisconsin cousins. The kids played and played while we waited for dark. This was the first time we convinced Benji not to plug his ears during the whole thing. It was a good show.

    Duck Duck Goose with the cousins

    The Sun Finally went Down!

    Ready for the FIREWORKS!!

    Enjoying the show!

    July 4th, Sunday Night

    After a good day at church we let the kids do sparklers before bed and then we watched a few of the Miller’s fireworks next door.

    sparkler time

    Love Cali's face here - she does EVERYTHING her brothers do

    Glow Stick Fun

    Proud to be an American...

    at the neighbors

    July 5th, Monday

    We took the kids fishing this afternoon just up the road in Cedar Hills. It was great just to be outside, at the water, enjoying the summer heat. And tonight for FHE we finally took the opportunity to explain what the 4th of July is all about and why we celebrate. I’m grateful to live in a land of Freedom!

    Our Little Fishermen...

    Where did the bobber go? did we catch something??

    The boys with their first catch! We didn't expect to catch anything so it was exciting.

    Categories: General, Nettesheim

    The Last of Hawaii

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    after this post I will let it go…

    Ben went Deep Sea fishing on Thursday!

    The boat ride to Lanai - I lost my lunch on the way back.

    Ben, Matt and Rick in the bamboo

    Dinner at Canoes in Lahaina

    The waterfall hike!

    The boys on the beach

    We enjoyed some malasadas for breakfast

    Night out at the Magic Show

    One more pic of our favorite Bamboo forest.

    We had a great vacation. We loved spending time with family and with each other. We had lots of time to chat and relax and go on adventures. All of Ben’s siblings were there except one and his parents. We missed our kids but knew they were in good hands. Highlights were snorkeling with the turtles, riding the waves, fishing, shopping without kids, seeing dolphins, and LOTS of yummy food. The only disappointment was ‘Big Beach’, Ben and I loved that beach 4 years ago and did some fun boogie boarding but when we went on Friday the waves were breaking on the shore and the life guard kept warning people to stay out 🙁 booo, maybe next time, whenever that may be. Luckily both of our families are addicted to Hawaii so there is bound to be another trip in our future. Until then, good bye hawaii,  and good bye lazy days without any kids to tend to.

    Categories: General, Nettesheim

    Ben’s in New York, the kids and I are NOT

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    Ben is gone – it’s harder to go to bed when he’s gone. I’m watching a rerun of Hannity to see the set that he was on. He also had lunch with Dan Patrick. Tomorrow he comes back to reality. Reality has included the following:

    we joined the library summer reading program!

    The boys made pirate hats and Parrots!!

    We went to eat some Strawberries and cream in the park Tuesday night and they were delicious. Erica and I took our kids without any husbands to help. We both have big bellies and 3 kids in tow, we blended right in 🙂 and Erica took pictures so we’ll wait for her to post to get those.

    Yesterday we also had our first ‘Marker’ incident! 🙁 I came up the stairs to find Cali with a Blue Marker in hand and writing all over the cupboards!! She is a little crazy these days.

    She was very worried when she got caught - then she just thought she was big stuff.

    Categories: General

    Another Trip to Oroville

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    Another trip to Oroville but our first one in 2010!! I can’t believe I went 5 months without thinking up an excuse to get back home. It was good to be there. I love being at my parents house. I love that they have never moved since before I was born. Everything and everyone is familiar. I still get to sleep in my old bedroom and the bunk beds that we had during Jr High and High School are still in use.

    My camera was hidden in the diaper bag most of the time so I don’t have a good picture report of our week. I’ll write a little of what we did for posterity.  I will start by saying that when I left I was starting to need to pull out my maternity clothes but putting it off – NOW – I NEED my Maternity. I got very pregnant while I was there 🙁 My stomach is huge now, hurts to bend over, back aches, legs fall asleep, blahh… I guess I’m hitting the end of the 2nd Trimester so it is bound to happen.

    When we left I still had a sibling in high school but now I do not! Kelsey graduated – the last of the crew. All 12 of us went to the same Jr High and High School. There might even be a teacher or two that got to have each of us in class. We have had someone at Las Plumas High since 1987!  So the end of an Era – if my mom was a crier it was a crying moment – instead we just ate lots of ice cream and made lots of jokes. Way to Kelsey! See ya out here in Utah in a few months! ( I love living by the BYU)

    gotta love brothers

    Kelsey graduated!?

    I am allergic to cats. I don’t like them. A mommy cat decided to sneak into my parents garage and have some babies and my little sisters decided that they need to mother these kittens. So we had 2 kittens running around the whole time we were there. My kids loved it! Packer happened to bring his little pretend kitty and let it sleep out by the real kittens at night. They chased them and held them and watched them lots. I still don’t love cats but I liked watching the kids have so much fun with them. I also like watching my siblings try to rig a kitten wheel chair for the one that can’t use his legs. And my favorite part about the “kitty situation” is that Michael now calls Shannon – Momma Cat – makes me laugh every time.

    my happy travelers!

    The 10 1/2 to 11 hour drive is the worst part but I need to say that my kids are great travelers. They play really well in their car seats and they don’t expect much in the way of entertainment. A bucket of small toys and books does the job and then save the DVD player for the end when they are really bored. This trip home was one to remember. We stopped every hour for the first 5 hours. Hour 1 – Packer got car sick and threw up :(. Hour 2 – Packer got more car sick and we stopped to clean up again. Stop 3 – Gas and bathroom in Fernley. Hour 4 – Cali had bathroom problems and was super uncomfortable so we stopped to change that diaper. Hour 5 – Benji had downed a big Gatorade and couldn’t hold it so he peed on the side of the road. Stop 6 – Gas and bathrooms in Wells. After that Cali had another poop incident but Joel was driving so I just took care of it in the car and refused to stop again. We left at 7am and got home at 6:45pm.

    quiet time so adults can play games

    we love cousins

    Trip highlights: Seeing all of the Family!! My kids learned to run through the sprinklers and not be wimps, Yogurts to Go, Playing at Joshie’s, the park, moms cooking, Swimming at the Carter’s, Hula’s, Monopoly Deal, Graduation, Visiting Grandma at the dentist, I read a good book, eating lots of ice cream, playing with cousins ALL DAY, and snuggling with Grandpa.

    always time for a picnic

    playing at the park

    Ben stayed home to work and go to Scout Camp! We missed him. Benji just couldn’t believe that Dad wasn’t coming and Cali started calling out for him on the way home. Now we get to spend one day with him before he leaves on a 3 day business trip in the morning. It’s good to be home.

    Categories: General, Robertson