2013 In Review

This is the time of year that mailboxes fill up with Christmas cards and newsletters. Unfortunately for you, we have yet to start that annual tradition. However, you luck out because you have a whole year’s worth of blog posts to review, and to make things easier this post will be a review of our year! It has been a year of ups and downs to say the least. 

Adam has completed 1 ½ years of graduate school. This means that he is officially half way through his Physical Therapy program and ½ of a Physical Therapist. This year he did an internship in Soda Springs, ID and West Valley, UT. Both clinics offered him a job at the completion of his schooling. I am super proud of him! Of course you all know Adam… all work and no play make Adam a dull boy. So, he plays all of the time. He went hunting a bunch this year and even harvested 2 Forest Grouse (or gross! JK)

I, Katie, have been keeping busy with bringing home the bacon as Adam’s sugar momma. I can also always be found with a book in hand or working on a sewing project. This year I also decided to enroll in an online photography class and a photo editing class. They didn’t work out so much, but I stuck up for myself and got all of our money back, which was a big accomplishment. Another big thing for me this year was going to the General Women’s conference in Utah. 

We didn’t go on any big exciting vacations this year, but we found fun things to do around the area. For Adam’s spring break, we went to Utah and enjoyed the color festival. We also visited the Salt Lake, Brigham City, and Oquirrh Mountain temples this year. We took a trip to Yellowstone with Adam’s parents and siblings. Although it might be surprising, I went camping TWICE this year. On one of our camping trips we got to see hot air balloons in Driggs. 

Here’s something unusual about this year, we didn’t move. That is something we’ve been used to doing during our college career.  I, for one, experienced the “it’s been a year and we haven’t moved” itch. We rearranged our furniture… twice… instead.

As always, we are still trying to adopt. We held another adoption garage sale this year and we continually collect things to recycle to help boost our funds. 

Last, but not least, we bought each other cross country skis for Christmas. We had gone cross country skiing at the beginning of the year and had a lot of fun. We are looking forward to exploring the local back country and mastering our cross country skills.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Love,

The Johnsons

Our Loss, Heaven's Gain

Spoiler Alert: THIS IS A SAD POST
 

You may have noticed that our blog recently went through a name change. It seemed to be a fitting change because it seemed like all of our dreams WERE coming true. At the beginning of November (ironically right after our adoption home study renewal) we found out that we were pregnant. We took 3 tests for proof. What an unexpected miracle! At a very unexpected time! Not only had we just renewed our home study, but Adam was going to be living in Utah for an internship for 6 weeks. Really?!

But, the miracle came with unexpected feelings for both of us. I would say that we both were a little traumatized from our experience with Baby J. I wanted to be ecstatic, but I have to be honest in saying that I felt a little numb. Was this real? Would this last? Would this pregnancy be different from last time? What about our adoption dream? 

I had already reconciled with myself that I would NEVER get pregnant again, NEVER give birth, and NEVER breastfeed. We figured there was a different path for us. Plus, I was scared out of my mind. We both were, but Adam put on a brave facade. I was scared to open up my heart. Scared to dream. Scared to have hope. Scared to get attached.

Little by little I was getting excited. I was opening up my heart. I was trying to have faith and hope. We were trying to come up with a name for the baby so that we didn’t just have to call it BABY for months. I had purchased a few maternity clothes. I had pinned bunches of announcement ideas, gender reveal ideas, ect on secret Pinterest boards. We even started telling people. We wanted to be careful, but we wanted to make sure we had support if something happened. At the Thanksgiving get together we asked for a family fast and family prayers. Friends, family, and coworkers were praying for us and our names had been put on the prayer list at multiple temples.

This is the announcement we were going to use to tell our good news. I tried to rotate the picture, but it wouldn't stay that way.

We had every reason to think that this pregnancy would be different, but being me I couldn’t shake the WHAT IFS. I was working closely with my doctor. I had priesthood blessings. I was taking progesterone. I was getting off of my anxiety medicine. I was constantly praying. I was taking things easy. In the end though, we still miscarried. 

This miscarriage seems different than with Baby J though. Maybe this time we were stronger and better prepared for the miscarriage that came just 2 days after Thanksgiving. It is just so crazy. This pregnancy was almost exactly 3 years after we had been pregnant with Baby J. It lasted almost the same amount of time too.

Although we feel like we are handling this miscarriage better than last time and we don’t want to suffer in silence, we aren’t really ready to talk about it either. I didn’t talk to my mom for a full day.

I am trying not to think about things and trying to be positive. I am grateful that I had a chance to be pregnant again. I am grateful for an awesome husband who loves this infertile Myrtle even when he wanted to have a house full of kids. I am grateful for great family, a great ward, and great neighbors. I am grateful for people being understanding and waiting for us to be able to talk about things. I am grateful for our kind doctor. I am grateful for the kind note and gift from my Relief Society president and for the tulips from the girls at work. I am also grateful for our two children in heaven. I guess now Baby J won’t be lonely. We will have a little family waiting for us in Heaven, we just need to keep living our lives with them in mind. UNTIL FOREVER.

2013 Turkey Day

Adam and I alternate which family we spend the majority of a holiday with. This year we were with Adam's family for Thanksgiving and we will be with my family for Christmas. Adam and Darl did a Turkey trot fun run on Thanksgiving morning. It was put on by the PT clinic where Adam is interning. Darl took 1st and Adam took 2nd.

While Adam was running, I was spending time with the nieces and nephews and helping with meal prep. I helped peel potatoes for mashed potatoes, but poor Sam had to pick up all the peels that missed the garbage! I assisted Kayden in making a pistachio salad and cookie salad. Adam had made a delicious Snickerdoodle Cheesecake the night before. It tasted just like my mom's Snickerdoodle cookies! Yum!

Sam wearing his puppets

When we are with Adam's family for Thanksgiving, we usually go to Utah to spent Thanksgiving with the "M" clan, that is Adam's mom, Karen's, side of the family. The family usually reserves the gym in the church next to the Jordan River temple for half a day. In addition to food, this year they also had crafts/ art projects for the kids, a photo booth, and glow in the dark dodge ball. 

Sam and Kayden

Hailey

Hope y'all had a great time with family, eating turkey, and giving thanks!

Admissions

Are Adam and I "THE PERFECT COUPLE?" Um, no. Do we ever argue? Yes. One of our bishops once taught that if a couple doesn't argue at all, someone is dominating the relationship. So we don't feel too bad about it. That's us being real, we argue sometimes and we will be the first to admit that we are not perfect. It's real life. Adam drives me nuts with his procrastination and I drive him nuts with my struggle to learn stick shift and when I put his dishes away before he is done with them! Marriage is hard work, but it is worth it. Although we have differences, we work together towards common goals like eternity. We take turns being THE STRONG ONE when the other is struggling.

With the admission that we are not the perfect couple, I want to say that I think Adam is the perfect husband for me. I love him!!! He made this weekend all about spending time with me and celebrating my birthday. He put an uber amount of thought into everything and I was really impressed and surprised.  

After I got off of work on Friday, Adam and I drove to Idaho Falls. We ate a scrumptious dinner at Famous Dave's. Then we went to the hotel that Adam had reserved for the night. I was a little skeptical because he had told me it was the Best Western, but it was actually really nice. This was the view from our window!

Adam opened the room door with a flourish and this is what I saw!

Adam had snuck down earlier in the day and decorated our room with tea light candles, roses, rose petals, and Reese's. Super thoughtful right? Impressive! He also brought a stack of chick flick romances to watch, but we ended up being too tired to watch any. Oh, and I forgot to mention that he had cheesecake! Yum!

The next day we woke up and got ready. We went to a local French bakery. I highly recommend the danish. Yum!!! Adam liked the hot cocoa because it reminded him of something called Cocoa Samoa from his mission. Then Adam and I went to the library and read children's books to each other and watched the fish in the pond.

Did you see that fish?! It is absolutely the fattest goldfish that we have ever seen. It could hardly even swim. It's top kept sinking! I think it over eats.

So best husband ever? Yes! At least for me.

The Big 2-7

Today was my 27th birthday. I wanted some pictures to commemorate the festivities, but I got nothin! Well, I do have some, but they are just proof that I am the most un-photogenic person ever. I am also very awful at taking selfies. Here is what we got after 48 attempts (please keep in mind that I REALLY was trying to look good):

Yeahhhhh, there aren't really words, right? Finally, after SO many more attempts, we got this one and called it a night. I worked on lessening my surprised eyebrow face.

Anyway, I had a good birthday. They fed me pizza for lunch at work. My mom decorated my apartment. My parents took Adam and I to dinner and I got to pick ANY place that I wanted. I jokingly told my mom that I wanted to go to a sushi restaurant just to see/hear her reaction. She has never had sushi before and her reaction did not disappoint me! We really did end up going to get sushi at Sumish. My mom was a great sport and even tried sushi. Too bad that she wasn't really impressed and that she didn't realize that even non-raw sushi is cold. Love her though! Afterwards we came back to our place for presents and carrot cake.

THANKS FOR MAKING IT A GREAT DAY EVERYONE!

P.S. Adam actually kept my presents a suprise this year. Keep watching for more birthday updates. Adam and I are celebrating my birthday this weekend because it is finals week right now. We will also be having our last hoorah before he heads to Utah for his 6 week clinical. 

Pre-Halloween Festivities

This has been a Halloweenie week for our family. On Thursday, Adam and I got together with some of his friends from the PT program for a pumpkin carving contaest. We didn't win, but of course we should have! (JK! JK!) But seriously, look at this thing!

In case you couldn't tell just by the amazing artistic ability, ours is the awesome Frankenstein face. I drew it and Adam carved it. Others used Pinterest and stencils, but all we used is my brain! Maybe we should turn to Pinterest next year!

I mean, look at all of our tough competition! We are good losers though and we had a lot of fun. We can't wait until next year!

Today, Adam and I volunteered at the Student Physical Therapy Association's Costume Fun Run. Both of us had family come to do the 5K with us. It was my first 5K ever and it went partly through an old cemetary. I mostly walked, although I jogged down 2 hills. Yay me! My dad and I finished in about 45 minutes and Adam, Alesha, and his dad finished in 50. Then we all ate lunch at Butterburrs. Yum, yum!

 Adam's costume of choice was a hunter and I wore his very large soccer ref clothes. The others didn't dress up, but my dad did buy one of the run's t-shirts. Adam and I created the shirts and my brother-in-law Nate drew the picture. He really is artistic, unlike our attempt with our pumpkin.

Cross your fingers and wish Adam good luck. This next week is finals week. He is done with 1 1/2 years of his program. Halfway done!!!

Peg Leg Sue

Peg Leg Sue is one of the nicknames I had for my sister Abby growing up. That and Big Boob Bobby, Suzie Q, Abby YoYo, etc. Some of them are more fitting than others. I'll let you pick which ones, but no matter what you call her, Abby is one of a kind.

I had a great time on Friday night going to my parent's ward chili cook off with Abby and my parents. Good thing my parents brought us because our votes probably tipped the scales to get my dad's chili 2nd place! WooHoo! Go dad!

Later, Abby and Nater took me to the Book on Tape Worm and Mindy Gledhill concert that Abby's employer was partially sponsoring for breast cancer awareness. So glad they included me! It was great!

I love Mindy Gledhill and it was so cool because we even got our picture taken with Mindy afterwards!

Pardon Abby's CRZY eyes in this pic. They usually aren't like that. Maybe her new nickname should be Eerie Eyed Abby. Yup, made that up myself! (I also wanted to name her Ketchup before she was born)

More About Abby:
- Her burps can rival any man's.
- She is a medical assistant.
- If you ever have to get your blood taken, Abby is the one to do it. She is seriously the best. It is something about her tiny, cold hands.
- Abby's middle name comes from our Great Grandma Susie
- Abby and I got our black belts in Taekwondo together.
- Abby has always been obsessed with ketchup. So really, Ketchup WOULD have been a good name for her!

P.S. Do you want to know what was NOT fun about this weekend? Adam trying to teach me how to drive stick shift!!!

Savanna Banana

My older sister's name is Savanna. Savanna got married shortly after I graduated from high school. She lives in New Mexico with her husband Joe and daughter Nora. Savanna is a dental hygienist. As such, she has to take continuing education classes, the most recent of which brought her back to Idaho. My mom and dad, Abby, Locklynn, Adam, and I packed up and headed to see her for the weekend. It was a lot of driving and too short of a trip, but very worth it.

I always wished for a brother while I was growing up, but I think I am pretty blessed with the family that I have. I know we will all be together forever, but I sure wish we were closer together now!

More about Savanna:
- She is obsessed with teeth. Even her nightmares are about teeth.
- Her curly hair... it is all natural and gorgeous.
- Abby and I once tied Savanna to a door while she was baby sitting us.
- I will never eat a meatloaf that Savanna cooks. Once she had to put one in the oven for our mom and she left the plastic wrap over the top.
- She sings and plays the piano. She even dabbles in the violin. She was in several choirs and plays in her teens.
- When she was little, she had to get stitches after she ran into the corner of the wall and split her head open.

Anyway, here is another Before & After photo edit for my class. Feedback is always welcome.

The assignment was to edit out a power line by using the "clone tool". Plus, I tried to bump up the color as much as I knew how. Can you tell that there used to be a power line?

Photo Shoot

This last weekend, after General Conference, I took Locklynn's one year pictures. I am excited because I think I got some good ones. I am trying to edit them little by little. This is the first time I have done that outside of my class. What do you think?
Before:

After:

Any suggestions? There may be more to come from Blue J Prhotography. 

Girl's Night

This weekend I went to the conference center in Utah for the General Relief Society Broadcast with Adam's mom, Karen, and his sisters Tiffany and Alesha. It was really nice to be there in person and I was so glad that they invited me to go along with them. I had never been to any conference session before!

After the conference we went to dinner at this cute little place called Ruth's Diner. It is an old fashioned diner in a trolley car. Fun and yummy!

While we were in Utah, Adam and I took little Sam (Tiffany's son) out shopping with us. On the way home we stopped at Zuppas for lunch. He loved his kids meal. He was super excited that his sandwich had cheese inside of it (it was grilled cheese). He also loved his chocolate covered strawberry. He ate all of the chocolate off first and then ate the strawberry. After our last stop for the afternoon Sam said, "Let's go to another store and have a good time!" Later, when Tiffany asked what he did with us he said that he had just gone to lunch and got pop! I guess we know the way to that kid's heart!

The Post In Which Locklynn Turns 1

Our nephew, Locklynn, turned 1 a couple of weeks ago. He is such a cutie and he is growing up so fast. So is Nora, our niece. For example, Lock is on the verge of walking. He took 4 steps the other day. Nora is sleeping in a big girl bed now because she learned how to climb out of her crib.

Abby and Nate went all out for Lock's party. There was a photo booth, cupcakes, popcorn, and a lion pinata (which Lock was scared of). What a lucky little boy! I think he got partied out!

 He was really funny with his very 1st birthday cake. He wouldn't really put his hands in it, but he dove in face first.

He even shared with his Grandma.

We sure love our nieces and nephews!

Labor Day Weekend 2013

Adam went bow huntin' over Labor Day weekend with Josh. He brought home 2 pine grouse, but not the elk that he wanted so bad. He and Josh also ran into a grizzly bear. Luckily they came home safe and sound.

My parents didn't want me to be a lonely hunting widow, so they took me to Utah over the weekend. We had a really nice time. Here is what we did:

• Attended the historic Salt Lake City Temple
• Toured around Temple Square

• Attended the Broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word

• Visited the Red Butte Gardens

• Shopped at Ikea for hours
• Got some great deals on clearance racks 

 And lookie here... Adam saw a moose on his hunting trip, but so did we!

Thanks mom and dad fun the fun trip!

Family Visit

This summer has been busy, busy, busy. Or so it seems. We have been busy with work, school, church, family, hunting (for Adam), etc! Of course the major highlight of the summer was the visit from Savanna (my sister), Joe (my brother-in-law), and Nora (my niece) from New Mexico. Remember how they moved to New Mexico last Thanksgiving because Savanna got a really good dental hygiene job there? Well, except for Skype, we haven't seen them since then! It is so strange to be away from your family so long. It was great to see everyone. Nora has gotten so big! Isn't she a cutie patootie?!

While they were visiting, Lockie and Nora had fun at Brooklyn's Playground. But then again, the rest of us did too.

Having fun at Brooklyn's Playground

Kid at heart...

My mom, myself, and my sister just SO happy to be together. Awww!

We had fun swimming at Rexburg Rapids too.

Lockie got cold so I put him in his daddy's shirt!

The kiddos also had fun playing in a big box in my parent's basement.

Cute! Cute! Cute!

Thanks for visiting guys! We can't wait to see you again! Slow down your growing Nora!

P.S. For you readers out there, what would you like to learn about Adam and I or our families?