Keeping family traditions!

Family traditions bring memories! When I was younger we had some family traditions. I recall going to grandma Larsen's for Sunday dinner every week. When I think of Christmas traditions I can only remember two, my grandma always made me tricot p.j.'s., and if you call this tradition we had to sit on the stair way waiting for grandma to come before we could open presents. (it was worth waiting for her.)

I have really wanted my children to have established family traditions. Our Christmas traditions have made our family closer.
1-)Every year we make a gingerbread house!
2-) Lynn makes peanut brittle and Chocolate toffee. Yummy!
3-) We have family prayer with Christmas stories every night. Dalynn plays the piano and we sing a Christmas song.
4-) We find 10 angels who have made our year special (we don't let them know we are angel givers)
5-) We try to instill in our children the importance of giving. So we have our "giving basket" that we do with our preschool. My children become a big part of this project every year.
6-) We have a letter box, every day we check our box to see if there are kind notes in the box.
7-) Christmas eve we all pick our fav. Christmas movies, eat our fav. goodies and cuddle up together and watch movies. ( in our new p.j. we open that night)
8-) We always set our tree up together with Christmas music. The kids love to decorate the tree. (they talk about the ornaments from years past, my tree is a modge podge of 16 years)
9-) Of course neighbor and friend gifts. We always do them, I wish I had our children participate more with this tradition.
I wish we could make new traditions each year! I know some traditions we have may work for our family and not others. I would love to get ideas for new ones. Please let me know your fav. Christmas traditions.

My cute kids!!!

Brylee age 3 1/2

Bryson 12 years

Dalynn 15 1/2

Kaylee 9 1/2

Lynn and Chantry Fishing at Otter Creek

Lynn had a ball catching fish with Chantry ( my sister Rachel's husband) This is Lynn with his big catch!

Chantry Brindley with a huge catch. (he also caught a bird, that is not a joke either)

Lynn went Pheasant hunting!

Lynn was so excited! The past couple weeks he was talking about wanting to bird hunt again. Uncle Greg (Lynn's sister Krissy's husband) Asked if he wanted to go with him. Lynn has so much fun! Between Greg and Lynn they brought home 8 of them. (they said the dogs helped with a couple of them.) So, Pheasant anyone? We have a freezer full.

Lynn with his birds


Uncle Greg and Lynn after the hunt!

Here are the pheasants all 8 of them.

I am glad Lynn got to go and have fun!

I am Thankful for....

I am thankful for so many things in my life! I reflect often on what I have and what I cherish. I simply don't say it as often as I should.
I AM THANKFUL FOR...
* My Wonderful Husband, He is my best friend. I am thankful that he loves me. I love that he loves life and wants to live it. I am also thankful that he provides for us.
* I am thankful for Dalynn who shares his thoughts with me. His caring and humble personality. And his great compassion for other people.
* Bryson who is a strong mind, I am thankful for his charming qualities and his passion for what he believes in. I love that he tells me I am beautiful and he is a 12 year old.
* Kaylee my sweet girl who is my second hand with Brylee. She is loving and creative. her heart is directed always to be like Christ.
* My little Brylee for her silly spunky personality. Her amazing love for her dad and I. I am thankful she needs me.
* I am thankful for God who is there for me. And he knows I am trying and loves me anyways!
* I am thankful for my laughter and sense of humor. (Even if I am only funny to myself.) I have not always liked my smile but I am growing to more each day!
* I am grateful for my Father who cares for all of us 7 children. I know he is lonely and his health is bad. I am so thankful for every minute I am able to share with him. He makes me laugh!
* I am soooo thankful for my mother for loving us all unconditionally. She never judges us. I am also thankful she taught me to be independant.
* My grandma Larsen who is now passed but her wisdom and love, her charity and compassion. She loved her family. I miss her but... I am so Thankful she was a part of my life. I am who I am today because of her.
* I am so grateful for my siblings. I know they are there for me. I love that they are my best friends! I can't imagine my life with out them.
* I have to say I am so Thankful for my sisters (I know they are my siblings) Rachel is my Kindred spirit and when I need anything she is there for me . Sarah is a strength and I know she loves me. Marie is my friend always and she has a deep compassion for others. She taught me a lot while we were younger. I am very thankful for them.
* I am so thankful for my friends. You all know who you are. I could not do it without you. I am a better person for knowing each one of you. I know I don't tell you as friends that I love you, but I do.
* I am thankful for my preschool parents and their friendships. I am thankful that they share their little ones with me.
* I can not leave out my preschool children. They make me who I am. I need them in my life more than they need me. I am so thankful for their little spirits.
* Of course I am thankful for food, shelter, a vehicle to drive, a warm bed to lay in and air to breath.
* I am Thankful to all of the teachers who have taught me. I for giving me a start in the right direction. And for some teachers who believed in me.
* I am Thankful for my brother and sister in laws. They are like siblings to me. I am thankful they take care of my brothers and sisters.
* I am mostly Thankful for the gospel, It keeps me grounded, Secure and knowing that I can be with my family for eternity. It keeps me learning and wanting more for my life and family.
THERE ARE SO MANY MORE THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF YOU ! I am sorry I rambled on and on. I just want to write my thought on here. Thanks for listening.

New haircut!

I love my hair stylist! (Cory Murray) She always makes me feel good after I get my hair cut! If only she could live next door and keep it up!

Twilight!!!!! Was awesome!

I have to just say, I loved Twilight! I watched it twice and I am going again on Wed. (I talked Lynn into going with me on Wed.) The second time around was even better than the first. I was lucky enough to go with great friends. I had so much fun! I want to have a twilight party when it comes out on dvd. Who is in? I give the movie a big 2 thumbs up!

Halloween at the Johnson house!

Halloween was a blast! We had preschool carnivals, trunk or treats, activity days carnivals and more... lot's of fun!

Brylee after apple bobbing!

Brylee and me at the Preschool Halloween carnival!

Brylee and Marah at the preschool carnival (Brylee loves Marah)

Lynn and I at the trunk or treat!

Stacie Bracken - me- and Alice Vorwaller my good friends!

Brylee - Grace and Kylee, Brylees friends!

Kaylee got her face painted!

Crazy me!

Kaylee in her 50's get up!

Kaylee and Brylee

Brylee loved trick or treating!

We went with our friends the Hawkers and the Vorwaller's

All of our trick or treat friends!

Brylee was a witch for trick or treating and a southern belle for carnivals!

Kaylee and Brylee

Brylee as a good witch!

Brand- Bryson and Brayden

Freaky!

Andrea Pratt and I threw the activity days girls a Halloween party it was a lot of fun! We played games, had a cake walk and apple bobbing!

Crazy Kaylee she was a disco queen!

The Hike to the "T"

Lynn took Kaylee and Bryson for a hike up to the Tooele "T" It is quite a hike! Lynn tried to talk me into it after 3 carnivals for Preschool! The 2 kids were all game. Bryson was a little nervous once he got up there. But... he said it was really neat.

Kaylee and Bryson at the "T"

Lynn- Kaylee and Bryson I admire their ambition.

Bryson and Kaylee standing on the top of the "T"

Kaylee and Bryson

Family home Evening!

Family home evening at Vernon Resevoir! We decided to take a little trip to the resevoir. We made dinner and tried to fish, no luck fishing. We usually catch a lot of fish out here. Problem is it is the end of the season and they are draining Vernon. We had fun anyways! We saw a herd of deer, the kids thought that was really neat. I love spending time with our family!

Kaylee

Bryson my pyro man!

Bryson soooooo did not want to have a pic. with his sister. You just have to love Family home evening with loveable brothers! Ha ha

Brylee trying to catch a fish!

Lynn- He is so stinkin cute in his fishing hat!

best friends and best sisters!

one of the deer we saw!

Kaylee hanging out it the trailer.

too cool Bryson!

Dalynn laughing! He is so silly!

Lynn ca not go fishing withou his lucky fish hat and shirt! Hmmm we were not so lucky this trip.

Brylee loves camping!