Camp Out!

After our day of Christmas, we went camping!!! Oh how I love Lake of the Woods. Matt, Cat, Lisa and I packed the truck with most of the gear. Two nights-so much stuff.

What a view!

"Hey Mom, where is dinner?"

The George family let us take this out on the lake. It was a blast. Most of the family could ride it at the same time! All the kids did a pretty good job, and loved it. Thank you Tobiassons for the boat rides.

All six of us with Ma and Pa. 

Christmas in August?

Since all the Grandchildren were home this August, we had a Christmas party! Ivy wanted to be with her cousins and do all the celebrations at Nanna's house. These pics are out of order, but you still will be able to see how much fun this day was!

Uncle Matt and Uncle John rigged up a pinata full of wonderful Christmas treats. They each had a turn and let me tell you---- those Clason softball/baseball genes were definitely shown in all their swings! True future talent!

Sugar cookies are a must at Christmas. So delicious! We absolutely love Nanna's cookies-especially her frosting!

Pin the nose on the Rudolph. Mom took the poem from the preschool where each child has to listen for the color of their nose and go put it up on the Rudolph. Uncle Jordan read aloud the poem, and of course made it super fun!

They all decorated wooden helicopters for the tree. So cute!

Decorating the tree.

Painting candy canes with Nanna.

Thanks for the presents Nanna and Grandpa!

All in all it was a fantastic day. We had Christmas music on in the background, spent time making and hanging decorations, and ate some fantastic food. Good job Ivy for the Christmas idea! We don't know when we will all be together again for that holiday, so it was so much fun to bring the traditions alive in the summer!

August 11

It's time for me to organize and clean up my photos....so I figured I would actually blog about the things that I got to do this summer. I am sorry about my lack of blogging- but better late than never right? This August I went back home to Oregon to see the Clason kids while they were visiting from Dubai. I missed them so much. I was able to see them over there in February, but I couldn't miss out on the adventures in Ashland. When we got to my parents house the kids ran up to me and gave me a hug- so excited that they weren't shy to see me. Ivy even said she missed me! We played with race tracks and cars in Nanna's kitchen, set up all the kid camping chairs and made obstacles and tunnels for the cars. Nanna packed a picnic dinner so we could take it to the park and watch the city band play. He I am with the kids on the steps to the Japanese gardens.

This is the band shell where we watched the Ashland City band play. Nothing like summer night is Oregon. So enjoyable.
We played hide-and-go seek all over as we listened and watched the band play. They all kept hiding together!
On our way to walk through the gardens. Gorgeous.
Time to make some funny faces!


All in all it was a very nice evening. The first day of a very fun week and Nanna's and Grandpa's. I took lots of videos but am having some trouble loading them.....I'll keep trying. August 12, 2011 coming up next.

Y'all want to know what I've heard?

So I have been in Texas for almost 2 months now- it is still hot here! We like our town, it's a perfect size for us, and the perfect distance to the city. We are going to see West Side Story this weekend, so we are very excited! I am missing the mountains and the cool nights of Utah, but mostly the family. I have loved getting to know the culture of Texas. I have heard some things over the last few weeks that either I didn't understand or thought were funny.

1. Toad Floater/frog-strangler--down poor, flash flood
2. Coke- any soda. Not just a coke.
3. Toboggan- hat (beanie)
4. daggummit- dang. crap.
(I hear this one all the time)
5. Thanks darlin'/ sugar/sweetheart

I've really had to focus on saying "yes ma'am" or "no sir"- at the store, on the phone, anywhere- because I feel like I'm being rude if I don't. Especially if they are older than me. Everyone says it here. To EVERYONE! I love it! I went to my mother-in-law's classroom a couple weeks ago, and loved hearing her students say "yes ma'am" and "thank you ma'am." They sound very respectful when they say it.

A new read

When I was in Dubai last February my wonderful sister-in-law suggested I read this book. It is fantastic. It takes place right after the second World War and is about a writer named Juliet. I highly recommend it. Not giving any details! Thanks T!!!

Camille's Wedding

One of the Boutonnieres I made for Cam's wedding. Her colors were orange, red and yellow.
The beginning stages of the centerpieces. Me, Cat, and Stacey Skillman worked on these- after mom and Debbie showed us what they should look like. I did one, then cat and Stacey did the rest. I spent most of my time helping mom the the boutonnieres and corsages.
Mom getting ready to begin the center pieces for the luncheon in the park! Such a perfect day it ended up being! Lithia park is Gorgeous!
Prepping for the reception center pieces.
The finished product. Flowers, greenery, peppers, strawberries- all so beautiful!
Cam and Bryce arrive at the Luncheon.

The pots we put together for the Luncheon.Center pieces at the reception.
Peppers getting redding to go into the center pieces!
Cute sign Cam!
Mom and Cat and I put the ribbon and flowers on the cake- okay- mostly mom.
Me and the bride!
There we are- missing Kristina- but the girls were back together from high school! It was so much fun. Cam- you were beautiful!!!!!

England: The quick version

I have left England and now I am in Dubai with my brother and his family! Mom and I had a wonderful two and a half weeks with Nanna. She is recovering nicely and I believe enjoyed our company. We did a lot of things for her around the house at Hollywell Gardens, and made sure she rested and ate well. I loved getting to know that little town of Swaffham, especially all the ladies that worked at the Co-Op, post office, Pedlar's Gold, Fish and Chip shop, and the Library. This post is just a quick one for now, I will do more when I get home to Utah, but I just wanted my friends and family to see a little of what I have been doing the last 2 weeks!

Hollywell Gardens. Isn't it so cute? It was cold, so no flowers or full trees. I can only imagine how beautiful it would look then. Doesn't it look like a movie set? Nanna loves it there, and it is just around the corner from everything!

Mother Hubbard's fish and chips. Delicious. Greesy. Huge. Excellent. That was only half the chips!
One must always get a picture in front of a English Telephone booth. They are so cute.

Mother and I went on some nice country walks while we were there....Isn't this a great picture of the English country side?
This is inside of the Norwich Cathedral facing the Sacrament and Pulpit. This place was amazing.
Norwich Cathedral- view from the cloister where the monks would walk round and round. Anyway, those are just a few. To show you all of them is going to take a long time, so I have to do it a little a day and save the post. Plus the Middle East. I am having a fantastic time!!! Thank you so much Heath for letting me go on this great adventure with my family. You are so good to me. I love you. See you soon!

Yamboree

Heath and I went to another Yamboree! I didn't have my camera there so I snapped just a few on my iphone. (These first two pictures I stole from by talented sister-in-law Britni). Heath and Jack. So adorable.

Here we are riding the roller coaster at the Yamboree. Brooklyn and me, Steph and Noah, Angie and Jack.

Jack and Noah at the Halloween party that me dear sisters-in-law and mother-in-law put on. It was a blast! Such fun for all the kids.

All the Jones cousins in there 2010 Yamboree shirts.

Yamboree Princess. One of many. It was so fun going to the pageant, the parties and the parades. The food was delicious and the rides were so much fun for the kids.

Ohio!

Me and Little G. He was so fun!


A few weeks ago I got to go see my best friend Jess in Cleveland. Jess, me and her adorable little boy Gavin, had a lot of fun driving around Ohio visiting some beautiful places. Including Amish country and Kirtland while we were there.

This is the River where the Saints were baptized in Kirtland. Ohio is BEAUTIFUL in the fall.

Joseph Smith and Emma's bedroom.Complete with a toddler bed and a cradle.

This is what they call the translation and revelation room where the Prophet received many of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants. This is the actual table!

This is the first MTC. A small room where the men were taught the Gospel, Geography as well as Hebrew.

The N.K. Whitney general store! He kept such exact records, that the items shown inside were what he sold at that time.

The Whitney Home.

This Saw Mill was engineered by my Great Great (Great?) Grandpa Joel Hills Johnson.

Kirtland temple.

Must share the road with the Amish buggies!

Riding in a buggy.

Big Ben. He was HUGE!

Cute Gavin loved the animals!

Don't know why my fists are clenched. Think I was a little nervous. Anyway, I had a lot of fun with the Gerbers! Thanks so much for letting me stay and taking care of me when I got sick! You are the best Jess.