GeorgeGiving 2009

Last Thanksgiving (don't you love my catch-up posts?) my family headed to St. George to celebrate. As in past years, we headed down a week early to accommodate various work schedules (okay fine, mine) and to make it easier for everyone to celebrate with their in-laws later. Most of us stayed in our condo in St. George and had a great time! Here's a sampling of some of the photos... One of the days we headed out to Snow Canyon to take some family photos. Of course being Johnsons, we left too late and were losing light FAST. And me being me, i forgot my tripod - that was also a pain. Doh! This is a silhouette picture i took of everyone, next time we'll have people take off their coats.

Here's Emily's cute family. Keep in mind i actually uploaded these pictures well over a month ago, possibly two months ago. So if some pictures are missing, it's not because i don't like you, just because, well, i don't actually remember. But i think i did Alysia's family in an older post. Why aren't any of my family here? Because i looked goofy (well, goofier than usual) - and since it's my blog, i don't have to show them to you. Neener neener!


Here's Caden - Emily wanted him to do something cute. i can't remember if he ever did it or not, but he's still cute.


Alright, here's my concession, a family picture with me in it (like you care). Now look at everyone in the picture, can you tell why i don't like it? Who looks the fattest in the picture? Yeah, me. What's up with that?

Dacia and Joe and super cutie-pie Ellie!

My dad, Karen and Rachel. I love Rachel's little "i'll humor you only so long" smile.

While we were down there everyone (except for me, i was on kid-duty) registered for a race. I think it must have been a 5k. The kids also ran in a MUCH shorter race (like around the block or something). Here's Aaron - i'm not sure if he's actually running, but he's cute!

Here's Anya, now SHE's running! And she's super cute too!

Look at all these cute kids! Ellie's just as cute today as she was then!

Now THAT's running! Look at him go!

The start. Look at that enthusiasm! i find the high percentage of tongues sticking out to be amusing. Maybe i'll have to try that to go faster too...

When all the adults wanted to play games this is who we let watch the kids. What would we do without TV and DVDs?

Here's a sampling of some of the SUPER yummy foods that were prepared. Besides being able to be with my family and play games and stuff, the food my family makes is my favorite part of Thanksgiving.




Aaron obviously enjoys the food too!

Not so environmentally responsible, but VERY easy clean-up.

One of my sisters, i think it was Dacia, thought the kids would have fun making these yummy pretzels. And boy did they! I think the most oft-repeated phrase to the kids was to wash their hands after every time they'd put their fingers in or near their mouths to eat some of the M&Ms. But they really had a lot of fun, and they tasted really good too (the pretzels, not the kids)!


One afternoon a few of use decided to take some of the kids out hiking in Zion National Park. A hike i fondly remember doing with my grandfather was out to the Emerald Pools, so that's where we headed with the kids. And wouldn't you know, they ALL made it! And i think they had a good time too!

This is all the kids (except Ellie) at the Upper Emerald Pool.


Anya and Jaxon found some cool little tunnels and rock formations on the way up.


Oopsie, this picture is supposed to be first. This is all the kids (including Ellie) at the start of the hike. You might even be able to see Dacia back there too.

A rousing game of Scotland Yard!

And here's another craft/treat the kids made with Emily - turkey cookies. i think maybe they used their hands as the turkey outlines. The kids loved it.


As always, the trip was a blast and i know i had a lot of fun and think everyone else did too. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. Family, fun, games, hiking, and great food - what more could you ask for? Until next year! (For the next Thanksgiving post, not my next blog post, although you never know...)

Las Vegas: Sunday Dinner

One of my favorite parts of going to Vegas is having a delicious meal organized by Emily. Don't get me wrong, Jen is a great cook too. But whenever we all get together Emily will typically prepare at least one big meal and it never disappoints. Sunday night was no different.
Before church we started by washing and baking potatoes (this is where i got to help, apparently nobody thinks i can mess this part up - how little do they know...). I also then helped scoop the baked insides of the potatoes out so Emily could mix them up for twice baked potatoes... mmmm... just thinking about them makes me hungry again. I LOVE twice baked potatoes!

Of course we have to throw something healthy in there for appearances... (They were actually pretty good too!

Maybe these were jalepeno poppers or something, i don't remember. But they were go-od! They weren't spicey at all either, which is good because generally i prefer gringo salsa (ketchup).

Don't they look so super delicious?

And of course Jared, the master griller, grilled up some delicious chicken for dinner. It was perfect! I like to think it's because he has a cool little remote temperate gizmo, that's what i need, then i can be an awesome griller too (in my dreams, i know).


You gotta have A1, i mean, c'mon, that's just obvious...

Notice the A1 is before the utensils. if it came to choosing between A1 and utensils, well, that's not even a difficult choice - of course the A1.

And here's the master chef herself. If she looks a little mad it's because she probably is - she knows i'm going to eat all the non-edge brownies the next day (not that day, because i was too full by the time it came to brownie-time).

These brownies were SO good! I need to get the recipe or something. Although apparently you're not supposed to eat all the non-edge brownies whilst leaving the edges - who knew?

And after dinner we got to play Settlers of Catan with the Cities and Nights and Seafarers expansions. It was pretty fun (even if i didn't win). Jared was the champion for the evening. And it doesn't seem like that game took forever - although i think we still played until close to midnight.