Draper Temple Open House...

Last Tuesday night we went with a few friends to the open house of the new Draper Temple. It was absolutely gorgeous and I'm so glad we went. I was also glad that the little kiddos got to come as well. Even though they don't always act like it sometimes, I know that they can feel that same spirit that we feel being in such a holy place. And I know that that feeling will continue to build as they get older and grow in the gospel. It's just up to us as parents to keep those experiences coming and give them those opportunities to continue to grow spritually.

Here's Madelyn and Lydia loving on each other at the church building after we walked through.

I'm so grateful for temples and the knowledge that I have of eternal families and I know that temple work plays such a huge part in that. Thank you so much Lynette for getting the tickets :) Yesterday we were lucky enough to have my dad come up from Price to visit us for a day and a half. He had a post op appointment at Hunstman so he thought he'd make his rounds visiting a couple of his grandchildren while he was in town.

Lydia was VERY shy this time. When Lydia met my dad for the first time a few months ago, he had a beard but due to his radiation treatments, he can no longer grow facial hair. On top of that, since we saw him last, he has lost about another 40 pounds (also due to radiation). So, needless to say, Lydia was confused at who this new man was. She finally warmed up to him a bit this morning just in time to give him some loves before he left for Price! Thanks dad for the visit. Side note: I just want to remember in this moment how proud I am of my dad. He has had to endure 2 different types of cancers over the past few years and he has been so brave and so strong throughout the whole thing. He continues to amaze me with his positive attitude and his calmness about the whole situation. He has come to a few realizations (having had time to reflect and all...coming close to death can do that to a person I guess) and sees that a few things need to change in his life and I'm grateful that he still has time left on this earth to put those changes into effect! We love you tons dad and can't wait to see you again!

On a final note, I have to mention Lydia's progress in nursery. In junior nursery last year, she had a pretty hard time. She cried FOREVER and Jake had to stay in there with her many a time! But moving up to senior nursery (yes, there are that many kids in our ward that we need more than one) has been a breeze. I thought it would be a tough transition into a new classroom with new teachers...but she LOVES it. I took her in there today and she ran in and never looked back. She left me in the dust. She doesn't need her mama anymore and that makes me so sad. But at the same time, I'm happy that she's finding her independence and coming out of her shell a bit! Good job Lyd's. We love you!

I LOVE busy days

I can always count on my friend Lynette to get me out of the house to do something. She told me about the parade downtown to celebrate the Utah Utes victory season so sure, I'll get Lydia out of the house and hang out with people I love. Heaven knows the Johnsen boys will be there. So we met Jake there and enjoyed the festivities.

It was SO much fun watching Jake yell at the top of his lungs at EVERY SINGLE person in the parade, cheering them on. Everyone from the band members to BJ (the QB) to Coach Whit. Everyone around us was laughing at Jake and the craziness that was coming from him. Yep, that's my husband people. I mean, I understand losing your voice at a 3.5 hour game, but at a 10 minute parade? C'mon! Well, at least I know that when my husband is passionate about something, he definately gives 100% and nothing less. That's just one of the things we love about him.

Now on to the crazy Saturday. At 11am we celebrated one of Lydia's nursery friends 3rd b-day. Lydia didn't participate too much, but I could tell she had a good time.

Veronica made the cutest castle cake for Hailey.

The girls' got to make crowns but Lydia refused to wear hers until I said that she should show daddy and she was all smiles after that.

After that party we headed out to Sandy for the bridal shower of my cousin Lisa who is getting married next month. Congrats Lisa. I'm so happy for you.

Then after that Jake and I went to the hospital to spend the evening with our pals Ben and Emilee. Once again, nothing but laughs when us four get together. We love you guys and are glad to see that you are doing so well Em! Can't wait to see you next month!

All Things Lydia!

Lately Lydia has been asking to sit on the potty so I let her but she NEVER does anything. It's a start right? Well, every time she gets on the potty she ALWAYS asks for this...

The paper. It's so funny. I'll sit her on the potty and she'll say, "Paper". Then she'll attempt to read the sports page. I guess she's seen her daddy in there one to many times :)

Mommy and Me

Here's a pic of Lydia before we left for class...so happy! My friend Jen started a mommy and me class every Tuesday for four weeks. I really needed to get Lydia out of the house more and Lydia LOVES music so I thought it would be the perfect thing for us to do together. She did really well except for the part where we all sat in a circle and passed musical instruments to one another. She did not want to give up some of them. I guess we'll have to work on our sharing. Also, when she gets shy, she is quite the observer not wanting to participate much but hopefully that will change over the course of the class.

Cabin Fever

Lydia is already getting cabin fever. She loves it outside so yesterday I finally bundled her up and let her run free in the backyard. I told her she MUST keep her hat on. It fell off a couple times so knowing she would get in trouble if it was off, she kept putting it back on. Look how proud she it of herself for doing it all by herself. I love that it's so crooked and not even on right. Oh well, at least she's listening.

Tonight when Jake and I went to go check on Lydia in her bed we couldn't see her, so we stepped in to the room and guess where we found her? Curled up in the corner laying on her old changing pad. It's cold and vinyl and doesn't seem very comfortable. To each his own. I don't really regret putting her in her big girl bed this early because she had the ability to climb out of her crib and I was scared she'd get hurt. But man, it's been a struggle. Night time is ok now, but she is NOT taking her naps. I put her down every day but Sunday (thanks a lot 1pm church) and she'll sleep 4 of the 6 days. The other times she'll just play in her room for 2 hours. Ahhh! What do I do with this girl? She's got the freedom and she LOVES it!

Grandma Frandsen Comes for a Visit :)

My mom was toying with the idea of coming out for a visit to see us and thank goodness she decided to come. We had a nice relaxing time together (after 6 years of visits, you can only do so much, especially in the winter)!

So we hung out, chatted, shopped, ate and played in the snow.

Here's Lar Dog catching some air. He loves playing in the snow, but only for a short while. He's more of a "lounging in the sun" kind of dog.

And thank goodness my mom WAS here because I got sick the whole last half of her visit but she took great care of me with her amazing homemade remedies. Aren't mom's the best?

While Jake took Lyd's on a daddy/daughter date to a Utes b-ball game one night, mom and I went shopping once again. It's a totally different experience without kids.

It's our tradition that the night before mom leaves, we go out to dinner. So we chose the Cheesecake Factory this time.

Random pic: Larry trying to be cool...
Here's G-ma with her two Johnsen grandkids...

Lydia loved her G-ma so much this trip. She followed her around everywhere. I love that it only takes Lydia a tiny while to warm up to people (except for you Joey, sorry ;)

It's especially nice since my fam lives out of state. Those two had a great time together!

It was so much fun mama. Thanks for coming out to visit us. You are the best mom/Grandma a couple of gals could ask for. We'll see you in March!

P.S. For anyone in the family that I forgot to send this link to, here is the "Johnsen Family Christmas" video I made for this year!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6949115183243721048

2008 National Champions!!!!!!!

Well, if I had a vote they would be(this is Jake by the way). And actually there is quite a ground swell from respected journalists around the country to make it happen, from Jim Rome to Rick Reilly to John Feinstein…. But this post is about my fantastic trip to Nawlins and the Sugar Bowl, not about the travesty and sham and mockery that is the BCS, it’s a traveshamockery!

Well there are two things I was excited about for making this trip. Of course the game and the food. Hey don’t judge me. I am a rather rotund individual after all and I didn’t get this way by NOT eating. Not too mention that New Orleans is one of the culinary capitals of this country, nothing but fine cookin down there. Good old southern eatin! I figured what a better way to end my fatness then in a blow out in NOLA. Because this year is obviously the year Ill honor my new years resolution and get back to my pre marriage weight. But I digress.

New Orleans is quite a diff experience. It’s a stanky, rancid, dirty hole, but fun nonetheless. This is a picture of my brother in law Brad and I in front of this gator. What the relevance of this picture is I don’t know other than I look less fat in this pic then any other. So enjoy.

Here is said food that I was able to throw down and enjoy. Clockwise is fried catfish,a turkey leg at the party outside before the game, blackened louisiana alligator and gumbo. All were incredibly delicious

World famous Bourbon Street(lots of things I saw on that street that cannot be posted on this PG rated blog) It was good times walking up and down Bourbon before the game and saying “Go Utes” to all the Bama fans as they said “Roll Tide” back. Afterwards however, they were like whipped little puppies in our presence. Nothing better than walking around and high fiveing and screaming at all the U fans as if you knew them. It’s a certain bond you have when you see another individual wearing that Mighty Drum and Feather logo. Its like looking into the eyes of a saint. A Saint who also knows BYU sucks.

Pics at the superdome.

TIDE ROLLED!

This was without a doubt the most fantastic season in Utah history and beating Bama was my #1 sports moment of my life. This year was great for other reasons too. Other than the fact that we ARE the best team in the country, It is very simply because this was BYU's fantasy for itself this year. This is what they all hoped and expected for themselves. See all that quest for perfection nonsense. Utah on the other hand had no expectations, just took care of business, and let the good things happen. It has to kill all of them to see that. We have lived their dreams. Not only did the hottest girl who they have been pining after since 1st grade NOT go to the prom with them, but she is in a car in the parking lot with their arch enemy with the windows steamed up. They GOTTA be wondering what its like to be in that car. The fact that she singled them out for a kiss on the cheek back in kindergarden is cold consolation now. BOOM!