last of the utahans

The last photos from our Utah trip and then I'm done. It feels good to get caught up and live in the present!

^^ Wow. If looks could kill... ^^

^^ Bocci ball is our family's game. Don't play against us because you will lose, or we will be the worst sore losers ever. ^^

^^ Back to San Fran through an amazing rain storm. (Except for this guy, who didn't think it was amazing when his car sunk in the median.) ^^

summer nights

More from our Utah trip a few weeks ago...

Oh, Utah. You and your warm summer nights, big backyards, and family time have my heart. We spent time at my sister's new "farm," running in wide open spaces, and visiting good old Provo to help brainwash our kids into going to BYU.

These two photos are great. The one on the left is of Pipsqueak who locked herself in the bedroom, and we all learned my mom's new doorknobs have unpickable locks. We finally had to call our handyman to bring his tools and rescue her. And on the right, Munchkin told us she had a surprise, which was this BYU sticker right in the middle of our bumper. Lucky for us, it was raining and it didn't stick permanently, but she was pretty proud (the BYU brainwashing is working!).

4th of july weekend

I LOVE the 4th of July. Like, I don't think you understand. I listen to Ray Charles' America, the Beautiful all year long, and I would have fireworks every weekend if I could. So the fact that the holiday lasted all weekend this year was awesome.

Ruthie! We met up with old dental school friends for a BBQ pool party.

The Candy Bomber doing one last drop

I love that the girls insisted on dressing up as a poodle and ballerina for fireworks. I mean, these photos are priceless!

winter break & utah staycation (II)

^^ Three years old is when Johnson babies start to ski. My dad had us all up on the slopes at a young age and was soon taking us to the top of blues and blacks and telling us to ski down, which I did, bawling the whole time. I'm sad Johnny never got to meet my dad, but he took a little piece of my dad's past to the slopes when he had to wear my dad's old ski onesie from the 90s. ^^

^^ Warning: Do not try to walk through the snow at a ski resort. You need skis for a reason. Needless to say, SiSi and I were soaked. ^^

^^ Did you know you can eat IN THE KITCHEN at Buca di Beppo?! This was hands down the most memorable dining experience I've had. We were able to watch them cook all the meals, and the waiters showed us each dish before leaving the kitchen. It was like being a part of a cooking show, or something of the likes. ^^

^^ Nothing says "I'm home" like this view from my mom's backyard. ^^

winter break and our utah staycation (I)

Isn't December the best? You get to eat sugar all day, you get a whole two weeks off of work/school/life, and everyone in the whole world is generally jolly!

^^ I was sad to miss my best friends' annual Christmas party of 10 years (?) for the first time, but I was so lovingly photoshopped in. ^^

^^ Could this not be the best Santa photo ever? I mean, Santa is sitting on the floor and my girls are cowering away. Frame-worthy! ^^

^^ My momma planned a Utah staycation, which was kicked off with this Christmas lights river cruise. Pretty fun! ^^

^^ Our annual gingerbread house contest where the big kids basically turn into rotten, competitive children again. My gingerbread church, sadly, did not place. ^^

^^ COOLEST activity in SLC is the Mystery Escape Room. You have one hour to find and solve dozens of clues that are part of a themed story. My family's competitive nature was finally pooled together (instead of against one another) and we actually won and now have our photo hanging on the wall! ^^

^^ Christmas Eve Bethlehem dinner. (Almost) everything at the table could be found at the table of Christ 2000 years ago. ^^

^^ Tree of Life! Awesome face, Pipsqueak. ^^