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.