Christmas

Another Christmas has come and gone, but this year was really fun and something that I actually looked forward too. I think that it was a mixture of serveral things, first- I am SO happy, happily married with 3 beautiful girls. Second, it was the first year I wasn't stressing about how I was going to afford Christmas, and third- I was looking forward to spending Christmas Eve with my family. All in all it was definatley a Christmas to remember.
I know that my family will read this blog so I must say that this year I had to reflect on the past, and how much help and support my parents and family have given me over the past several years. My parents helped me finacially, emotionally and provided me with unconditional love. My sisters, who helped tend Ally and Myah, and for their listening ears and shoulder to cry on. My brothers for defending me and my little brother for letting hang out with him from time to time. I don't know if you will ever know what you all mean to me! I am SO blessed to have them, and now that my life is back to normal, I want to make it up to them- I don't know how but one day I will!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
And of course I can't forget my own little family. Jory for being my best friend and husband, who encourages me to be my best and never give up. Ally, though just turning 10, is so wise for her years. She has so much courage and it amazes me to see the young woman she is becoming.
Myah for being such a peacemaker. She does not like contention and will do what she can to avoid it and to please everyone. I am proud of her ability to communicate her feelings.
And of course for sweet little Sophie, who is the center of attention in our house. She is such a happy little baby and brings peace and love into our home.
Last but not least, Jory's family who lives far away, but never ceases to support us in everything. It seems like we have been a family for a lot longer that a year and a half!
Here are some pictures of our Christmas Season. Enjoy and Happy New Year!

Myah and Ally- Christmas Morning

Family Pic with Santa- Ally's Birthday Party, Dec 19th

Christmas Eve at the Snow's- Jory and Sophie

Sophie's First Christmas Present

Ally's note to us Christmas Morning!!!

Sophie.......

These pictures were taken a couple of nights ago...she is our little Christmas Elf!

I can't believe Sophie is 4 months old today! It's amazing how fast time goes and how fast she has grown. It's so fun to see how her personality is developing and how she is no longer a newborn, but a sweet, sweet, adorable little baby. She loves to sing along to music, and she demands attention from those around her. She also loves to chew on her hand, or whatever she is holding. Sophie is also starting to laugh more and more, it is SO cute! She can finally roll over now too, belly to back, thanks to her daddy practicing with her everyday.

Family Pictures

Thanks to my sister Marcy for her time and talent!

Halloween

Another awesome Halloween season has come to a close. Due to the Annual Snow Halloween Party, I spent the greater part of October evenings sewing away to make sure our costumes were awesome! This year I made Jack Skellington and Sally from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" featuring Jory and I. Ally as the Bride of Frankenstein, Myah as a Ghost and Sophie as a Kitty. Sophie's costume was the only one that I didn't sew, just because she is So little.

Usually we have the adults and kids gather together for the Halloween Party, but this year, due to my nieces having H1N1 and my dad recovering from knee replacement surgery we had the adult party on the 24th and the kid party on Halloween.

This actually ended up quite well, since the adults were able to enjoy an evening without kids, and the kids could have their own fun too. My mother always works so hard to plan games, prepare food, and decorate her house but always pays off since this is something we plan on ALL year. I think we start thinking of our next years costumes the day after Halloween. I know I have!

Our First Spooky Family Picture

Sweet Sophie

Myah dressed to Spook


Ally makes a good Bride of Frankenstien

October

I love October! It has been SO beautiful these past couple of weeks! I love the smell of the fallen leaves and the gorgeous colors that spot the mountains and valley. With 3 maple trees in our yard, we have never ending leaves falling.... and our yard is covered in a blanket of bright yellow leaves. I LOVE IT....

Here are some pictures that I took on a drive up to South Fork. The colors at this altitude had already climaxed and we missed the prime time to go up. It was still a gorgeous drive up through Mt. Green and through the valley, and it always make me so happy to have the mountains so close and fresh air just minutes away.

Stuck in My Heart

Tonight I was playing with Myah and Sophie right before bed. Myah was making Sophie smile and coo, and it was giving Myah the giggles. I asked Myah if she love her sister and she said, "Sophie, I love you so much. You are stuck in my heart!" Myah, Ally, Sophie and Jory..... you are all stuck in my heart!!!

Sophie Maylan Johner

Sophie Maylan Johner: Born August 8th, 2009- 7 lbs and 19 in.

I can't believe Sophie is finally here. Already over 2 weeks, it seems she has been in our lives forever! She has been so much fun. These are pictures taken in her first week of life, already she has grown to 8 1/2 lbs. It makes me realize how precious time is, and to cherish every moment. "Little Baby take your time, for while you are tiny, you are mine."

Our first family picture! This was just a few hours after she was born. Ally has her face painted, it is not a black eye :-).

Right after she was born....

Highway 101

June 26th through July 4th, we took an amazing family trip in which we put 2500 miles on Jory's Civic! We started from our home in Layton, drove to Reno- then up to the Redwoods in Northern California and up Highway 101 to Astoria, Oregon where we started our journey home through Portland and Boise. Jory's parents, Jerry and Donna, came along. It was good to see them again and have them with us.
Redwoods National Park and the surround parks were amazing!!! Since Return of the Jedi was filmed in Redwoods NP, the girls imaginined they wer on "speeders" while we were driving through the thick forest, shooting down Storm Troopers. It was awesome!
One of our cabins was located right in the Redwood Forest. The girls had a blast exploring this area and even found a Banana Slug which was on our "Spot It" list. We also saw 3 bull elk laying in the pasture in the park.

Up the coast a little more we were able to tour lighthouses and tide pool. The first day of tidepooling we were able to find sea anenome, mussells and shells, but no starfish. That of course changed when we found many many starfish, jellyfish, sea anenome, sand dollars and crabs at another tide pool. We had a blast exploring the areas.

We also enjoyed a trip to the Sea Lion Cave where we saw hundreds of Sea Lions and seals. A another highlight was stopping at the Animal Safari where we were able to feed and hold all kinds of amimals!!! The best was holding and playing with the baby leopard and 2 lion cubs!!! The Oregon Coast Aquarium was also so much fun!! Myah made friends with one of the otters there. He was very intrigued with her.

We had pretty much everything on our "Spot It" list, except whales. I really didn't think that was going to happen since we were a little late in the season to watch the migration. At every stop and beach we went to we would keep a look out for a sighting, but had no luck. I was reading in one brouchure that Depoe Bay had resident gray whales, so we stopped. We had been there for about a half hour looking way off the into the ocean, and still nothing. We were leaving when just about 200 yards off shore, Ally and I spotted a whale!!! We spent the next hour watching this whale just off shore, and then there was another one. It was amazing and SO exciting for the girls!!!!

The scenery was gorgeous and the cities were beautiful!! We had so much fun just traveling and learning together as a family. This is one of my favorite things ever!! Jory and I work to play, so we can have these life long memories together as a family.

Round 3.....

So, if you have been following our blog you are aware of Jory's continual fight with the wall. Last week, the score was update to Wall 3; Jory 0.

I know it looks like I hit him with a baseball bat.... but you all know I wouldn't be THAT mean!

This actually happened at work. Jory had a resistance band in the door frame doing some chest curls when....WHACK!!!! the frame released the band, and well, you can see for yourself the damage. We are just glad it didn't hit his face this time!!!

"It doesn't hurt so much here... or here.... but right in this spot here!"

Myah's 7th Birthday!

I can't believe my "little one" is now 7. Since she is such a mommy's girl, she will probably always be my baby, even with this new one on the way. Today she was reading a book about a polar bear raised by a man named Thomas. She told me that the favorite place for this polar bear to be was near Thomas. Knowing the answer, I asked her where her favorite place to be was, and she smiled and said, "next to mom!"
Myah is so full of life and spunk. She is always wanting to try different things and is so brave to adventure out. She is finishing up her acting class next week, which she has done throughout the year, with dance, and now she wants to move on to Kung Fu- or be a Jedi. But really we are going to sign her up in Karate in the fall.
Even with her energenic personality, she is the top student in her class and LOVES school. I am so proud of you Myah and I love you SO Much!!!

The Gift of Life!!!

Here she is, at almost 25 weeks.... our little Baby Ceiba. This is only her nickname, the Ceiba Tree is the national tree of Guatemala and means the beginning of life.. very suitiable for this little one.

It's been 7 years since I've been pregnant, but I haven't forgotten how wonderful it is to have a little human growing inside. I don't think there can be a greater gift from God.

Jory is SO excited and has been such a wonderful help and stress relief to me. I am looking forward to sharing the labor, and parenting experience with him.

Ally and Myah can't wait either. Myah talks to her all the time and has to check my belly size everyday. They were amazed by the 3D ultrasound when Baby Ceiba was closing and opening her tiny little hand. I am looking forward to seeing Ally and Myah bond with this baby, I know they will be the best big sisters!

What a miracle!! but still we have to wait for about 15 weeks to hold this one in our arms. :-)

Easter In Moab

Another fun vacation to Moab, as the Johner Jeeping Easter tradition continues. This year instead of Jory's big jeep, we bought a 4 wheeler which ended up to be a blast!! Myah is the brave one on the 4 wheeler and kept getting mad at me for not taking the big hills, Ally on the other hand rode with me for the first, then felt more comfortable with Jory. WHAT?! I know, I am a good driver!

It was really good to see all of Jory's family again, who we haven't seen since August. The kids couldn't wait for this trip and Ally and Myah had began their packing about 2 months ago. It's amazing how well Ally and Myah get along with their Johner cousins.

Despite the rain and mud, we had a a blast!!!

Me and Myah enjoying the view. She made it this year!!!
Jory and his winning Carin- totaling 19!!!


Ally and her friend Bella!

Out on our 4 wheeling ride!!!

All the kids, Kyler, Chevy, Keegan, Dyami, Bodie, Savanna, Ally, Myah and Tate.

1st Vacation of the Year

We have been working hard outside getting the yard cleaned up, aerated, and fertilized- as well as tilling a place for our vegtable garden. We also have managed to clean out the spare bedroom and sell some stuff on KSL to make room for the little one on the way.

We were all anxious to get out of Utah and do something fun. So off to Ft. Collins, CO and Cheyenne WY for a weekend of fun with all my brothers and sisters. Jory, the girls and I, stayed with my brother Ryan and his wife Tiff at the clubhouse they manage. It was just like being in a resort!!! Thanks again you guys!!!

Saturday night all 7 kids went over to my other brothers house, Steve and his wife Becca, to be tended by a sixteen year old neighbor girl. We gave my 14 year old nephew a hard time about having a cute babysitter over- but obviously he didn't mind and didn't make other arrangements. The adults went to see Jerry Seinfeld Live, which was a lot of fun! Although most of us had seen him perform in Vegas, we were still laughing the whole show. My youngest brother spent 20 minutes of the show in the bathroom, a little bit of Deja-Vu.

Sunday we spent the day at the park and swimming again. We were all a little sunburned from the beautiful weather that day. Myah lost her second tooth, and discovered that the tooth fairy always comes no matter where you loose your tooth.

Monday was our trip home, which took a lot longer than we wanted due to the snow storm that closed I-80 from Cheyenne to Laramie. We left at 10am and got home at 8pm. A long day!

We didn't stay long, but long enough to feel like we got away! Thanks to all my siblings for making it a fun weekend.

Sledding Fun!!!!

We finally made it out sledding this year, after purchasing sleds on New Years Day, and then virtually having all the snow melt out from under us. We went to Glassman Park in South Ogden on President Day. The nice thing about the park was the easy access, with the hill being directly off the road and the hill faced East, so it hadn't melted completely away.

Ally and Myah were so excited to sled down the hill they both dove head first down the hill without a sled as soon as we pulled up. After strategically picking a line down the hill, avoiding the jump previously made by some other kids, the girls took there first runs down the hill. Ally loved the round sled the most, until she wiped out a couple times and knocked the wind out of her. Myah liked sledding with Chris or myself for the most part. Both girls were getting pretty tired from walking back up the hill, although both seemed to gain energy when they would help other kids with there sleds.

After sledding down the steep hill for an hour or so the girls were anxious to head over to the other side of the park to sled the less steep but longer hill. We had a contest to see who could make it the farthest, with Myah winning hands down. Eventually Ally and Myah together beat her record. As the girls were sledding and adjusting the run for maximum distance, Chris and I made a snow man that was about 6 1/2 feet tall. Chris gathered sticks and leaves to make the snowman whole.

All in all it was a beautiful day and we all had our coats off by the end of the 2nd hour.

Jory and the Wall

Just to clear my own record of having anything to do with Jory's recent trips to the ER, I thought I would tell the real story of Jory's forehead. Believe me, I would claim it if I did it, it's a good one!!!

The scar, about a quarter inch to the left of the seven stitches, happened at the first of November. Jory had got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Since men can not aim in the dark, he turned the light on, took care of his business and then walked out of the bathroom turning the light off on his way out. Now because his eyes were adjusting to the dark, he couldn't see a thing. I suddenly wake up to a huge WHACK!! sound. Jory flipped on the light and said he had just walked directly into the door frame of our bedroom. I took one look and saw a huge gash on his left eyebrow. He was not too happy about getting up and going to the ER. There they merely glued it together and sent him on his way.

The Wall 1, Jory 0.

So about a week ago, the girls were getting ready for bed . I was downstairs cleaning up a little and trying to make the bedtime routine from dragging out too long. Jory was upstairs cleaning up a bit too. He took Ally's shoes that were left upstairs, and while standing at the top stair, he bent around the corner and threw them all the way to the basement. I was mad because the shoes almost hit me. Then I hear WHACK!!! and Jory cuss. I didn't know what was going on. I run upstairs to see Jory with a bigger gash on his eyebrow, this one longer and deeper. Apparently he turned after he threw the shoes and whacked his head on the sharp corner there.

The Wall 2, Jory 0.

We were hoping he could just go to a clinic to have it taken care of, but after a wild goose chase to find one open, he ended up back in the ER with 7 stiches this time.

Now I am in the market for a helmet for him, or a house with rounded corners. I love you Babe!!

Ice Skating

As soon as the first snow fall hit, Ally and Myah have been begging us to go ice skating. We went last year and had a blast, so naturally, the girls insisted on going again. We were finally able to go at the end of January. This time both girls were able to go out on their own. Myah fell more than anyone there I think, but that didn't stop her from getting back up and trying again. Both Aly and Myah's legs were bruised up from falling, and Myah's little bum check was scarlet red from falling on it so many times. They had a blast.

Jory and I had fun skating together, blending in with all the little lovers that were skating around the rink together. It really was a chessy sight, but hey why not be cliche too? :-)