The BIG Day!!

The Big Day finally came and here are a few pictures. It was great to see a lot of family and friends that we don't get to see often, including my cousin that lives in the Netherlands! She didn't come to the states for the wedding, but she was visiting her family while here and I was glad I finally got to see her.


Here's a picture of Keith playing with his new phone. This is how he looked all night. After the blackberry drowned in the pool, I thought we'd have a night of silence...nope, he's always on call. Sometimes I wonder if he knows where the off button is ;).
If you look at the bottom you can see that I had cute hair for a while. It was so hot that my hair didn't look good for very long. But I had to note that I did put in the effort.



Melanie and I helping with the dress's final touches. That ended up being a fun moment.


The boys horsing around.


I think the funniest part of the whole night was Jeff's little boy. He was in charge of walking Dave's little girl, Karlie, down the isle. But it didn't end there. He held her hand ALL night. He even danced with her several times. He took his job way serious and you could tell he had a lot of fun doing it.


Most of the wedding party.


New additions to the family!!!!

BJ, and his daughters, McKenzie and Krista. They are gorgeous girls. I'm excited to spend some quality time with them.


The happy couple with Mom & Dad: They are pretty cute.


It was a good day. We are so happy for Chellena and BJ.

It Looks SO Painful!

Chellena had several of the nieces and nephews involved in the wedding and here are some pictures from the wedding rehearsal. You would think the girls have koodies, or something (from the looks on my boys' faces, anyway).



Do I really have to sit by her???

I got a kick out of these pictures. You'd never know these boys were girl crazy from the way they act around them! I didn't think they'd have a problem with their cousins! When I asked Matt how the rehearsal went he said "STUPID! We had to link arms!" I died laughing because I KNOW Chellena told him that is what would happen.

Fourth of July...Want Some Licorice?

We went to the parade, as always. Boy it was long this year. But the kids got to sit with some of their cousins.

This year me, Matt and Joe went to Dutch John with my parents and we met Jeff and Laura there for the fireworks. This was my first time for the fireworks in Dutch John, and outside of waiting our turn to get out of town...totally worth it!

The next night we were too tired from church and things to go to the city park for the fireworks, so my parents came up for dinner and we sat on our porch. Rick and Annalee were in town and able to join us as well. We decided the city fireworks are pretty good from our porch, especially when you add a bunch of our own. The kids had a blast! And they ate a lot of licorice.

Keifer and Livvy were the big licorice eaters-but it looks like Livvy enjoyed hers more than anyone!

Chellena got engaged!!!!

This happened back in February. She began dating Bruce Ellis (we call him BJ) back in October, I think. He came out Thanksgiving weekend to see Chellena and we all knew they must like each other if he was willing to travel 3 hours to spend a few with her.

They began planning the wedding and it became official in February (I think). We were really excited. BJ treats Chellena very well and is very kind. Welcome to the family, BJ!

Cousin Camp 2010

Again, no pictures. I snitched this one from one of my cousin's blogs because it had my kids in it. Thanks Marissa!

We did our annual Caldwell Cousin Camp in June and, as always, the kids loved it! Crafts, games, playing, prizes....FUN! We did a carnival again this year and Heather found an idea for a booth I couldn't resist. Toilet Paper Toss. We rigged a toilet seat to a bucket with duct tape and the kids had to throw 4 rolls of toilet paper in the toilet to get a Whoopee Cushion prize. If all 4 didn't make it in, they got tootsie rolls. There weren't many girls who gave it more than 1 try, but I had probably about 10 of the boys hanging out messing with their whoopee cushions for quite a while. Yes, this is the life I live. My boys loved it and we had a lot of fun.

Johnson Reunion 2010

I didn't end up with any pictures this summer. I carry diapers and snacks, wipe hands clean and chase 4 busy little boys. I don't get pictures taken. So someone please take pity on me and send a picture of the family from the reunion and I'll post it.
Church's Website
We started our reunion at Temple Square...which I have to say is one of my VERY favorite places on earth! My sister prepared a picture treasure hunt. Each family had a sheet of paper with pictures of various items on temple square and we went sequentially from picture to picture until the entire family ended up at the Christus where someone took pictures (I hope to remember to get a copy from someone). Then we finished with a short Family Home Evening in one of the theaters on Temple Square where we learned that families are treasures. Each of the kids received a "created" diamond as their reminder that their families are treasures and we can have them forever through the blessings of the temple. Keifer especially liked the chocolate coins that we all got as well.

This picture I managed to get on my phone. We were traveling from Tooele (where my sister lives) to Eagle Mountain (to stay with my brother) and Matt looked like this. He had gotten the goggles from the reunion and he had ear plugs in the van. Doesn't it look like I have a VERY special son? This gave us a good laugh, which we needed because we took the VERY long way from Tooele to Eagle Mountain that trip. It was suppose to be the way to avoid traffic and its a bit quicker. We'd gone that way before and somehow missed the turn we were supposed to take-maybe its because we didn't believe what our GPS was telling us. ;P
We knew we'd done something wrong when we ran into a sign that said "Delta -> Elberta <-" Oops! On the bright side...we saw 2 firework shows in Utah County as we drove on the OTHER side of the lake back to Eagle Mountain.

I just remember that we were "Making Memories"
It was a great reunion and we enjoyed spending time with my family.

I Had a Birthday...Shout Hooray!

I celebrated turning 31 in May this year. My birthday really doesn't end up being a big deal. I just need my family and closest friends to remember, and that is all. And, I don't like to cook on that day-so we went to dinner-always a treat.

My brother's family started sending everyone a birthday card with a package of Pop Rocks to each of us for a birthday a couple years ago. We all look forward to our birthday Pop Rocks coming in the mail. I was selfish this year and didn't share mine. I waited until everyone was busy and poured them in a cup of applesauce for only me...and I liked it!

Tea Party (Catching up)

Each Spring, Keith's mom hosts a Tea Party for her granddaughters. Of course, we don't drink tea, just a yummy wassil. It is an afternoon filled with dressing up, learning how and practicing proper manners, and eating an assortment of yummy finger foods. Yes, this post is late because the tea party was in May, but this is for my records and I wanted to make sure some of these items are in it. I have grown to thoroughly enjoy the tea party. My mother-in-law has invited me to help teach the manners the last couple of years and I have had a blast being a part of things (since I don't have any little girls to dress up and take). However, I could probably put a diaper bonnet on Keifer with a pretty dress and pass him off for a daughter next year!

We had a visit from Fancy Nancy (Aunt Heather) and Sloppy Sally (Grandma Nena) where they each showed us what to and NOT to do. We have a lot of fun watching Sloppy Sally be silly. I have a cute little poem we used that Grandma Nena's friend put together and we read while Fancy Nancy and Sloppy Sally acted it out. This is a day the girls look forward to each year. Especially for me since I get to play dress up with my nieces for a day...in a house where dress up involves lightsabers and swords and nothing proper...you might see why I look forward to this event.

If You Ever Wondered....

If you have ever wondered who Keifer's mother is-because I have often wondered if there was any part of me in my little Keifer. I recently found some proof. I know I carried him and birthed him, but he looked like this:


And his dad looked like this:

I ran across some pictures at my mom's recently and I wonder no more! This is the part of my Krazy Keifer that is mine!



I don't have any good pictures that show the resemblance, but there is no doubt Keifer has a little bit of me...


AND his dad.

Surgeries and a Wedding Ring

On May 28th our little Keifer had tubes put in both ears. So far I haven't been to the doctor for ear infections...I take this as a good sign.
We had the surgery done in Bountiful with a doctor that several of my family have used, with positive results. My mom had gone with us and the surgery went well. We were on our way home shortly after. I didn't eat breakfast that morning because Keifer couldn't eat anything and I didn't think it would be nice to eat in front of him.

That didn't end up being a good move. I don't remember a lot of the day, I was going to eat lunch when I got home, and somehow forgot to do that (probably the lack of food in my system). Somewhere, somehow, I lost my wedding band. The last thing I remembered was taking the rings off in Duchesne while I changed a diaper. It was gone forever! I was sure of it.

One month later, Josh had surgery on a ganglion cyst that was causing him problems. That day went a little crazy as well. We didn't make it to the hospital on time, but they were still going to rush us in, until....Josh said he'd had something to drink that morning. You have to wait for 3 hours until you can have surgery after that. Thanks Josh. I laughed at him as he complained about it being the worst day of his life having to wait for the surgery....it was his own fault.

The surgery went well and he awakened as mean as I think I've ever seen him. Which was pretty funny and I couldn't help laughing at him. Keith even tried to rescue him and then decided it was better that I continue dealing with him. He apparently didn't understand that his arm would be in a splint. That, combined with the IV in his other arm--"I can't do ANYTHING!" Again I laughed. He scowled at me as he tried to make it known he needed that thing out of his arm and he NEEDED to go HOME!

When the drugs wore off, he didn't remember being mean, and he was as nice as could be. Poor little boy. Or poor mom! At least he doesn't remember it!

The effects of the surgeries and life in between had worn on me at this point. The next day I was trying to recover from the day at the hospital. Keith received a phone call while I was in the shower....A MIRACLE! Not just any ordinary event, but an actual Miracle sent from my loving Heavenly Father. My wedding ring had been found, in a flat-bed trailer, at the dump. My brother-in-law had taken a load in his trailer to the dump and was sweeping it out when a shiny piece of jewelry caught on the edge and caught his eye. I'd been at his house the day I lost the ring because Heather had watched my children the day of Keifer's surgery. It must have flown out of my pocket as I pulled my keys out, and landed in the trailer. I didn't know this. I didn't believe it could be found. I did say a prayer that if it could be found, please let it.

I still tear up at the thought that my Heavenly Father loves me so much to give me such an experience to recognize his love for me. That he let my wedding ring be found. Because, truly, can you replace the ring given to me on the most important day of my life? I suppose you could, but it wouldn't mean the same thing. I am truly blessed, and thankful for a brother-in-law who didn't just keep sweeping...