Reunion Update

It’s just 2 weeks and counting until the big Johnson Family Reunion! I wanted to let you know our plans and give you a tentative schedule. We’re planning to leave Denver Monday morning and drive to Utah. Tuesday we’ll drive to Idaho Falls and spend the night. On Wed. we’ll probably leave for Afton around noon and do the grocery shopping there. Watch for directions to the cabin which will be posted soon.

These are the scheduled activities:
Wed. – 4:00 - Check-in
6:00 - Dinner
7:30 - Fun and games

Thurs. – Breakfast
5:00 - Leave for Bar J Wranglers
7:00 - Dinner and show in Jackson Hole

Friday – Breakfast
6:00 - Dinner
7:30 - Variety Show

Saturday – Breakfast
10:00 - Check out
10-? - Family Pictures (KJ will let us know what to wear.)

As you can see there is plenty of unstructured time for visiting and merriment.
(from Karen)

outstanding in her field...

one last photo of my gorgeous sister.

Just a couple of recent photos and two not so recent. I don't remember if I ever posted the picture of the Red Cliffs Baptist Church in Cedar City. If I have, disregard. I have had memory issues post seizure. The other church seen through the stained glass window is a cathedral on Red Square in Moscow. I have been sorting through my images to put on a website I'm working on.

I know I said I was going to keep a daily log of my adventures, but sadly I began to feel a bit like a tourist snapping my own photo at news events. Hence, only the occasional photo diary entry will appear. I am also including a photo of Amy from our recent glam shots. You will also see a couple of photos of my high-maintenance assistants.

I'm excited to see everyone at the big reunion. I'm hoping Felix brings his harmonica, Rex brings his spoons, Macie brings her whiskey jug (Todd will have to empty it first) and Riley brings her washboard. We can have a good ol' fashioned hoot'n' nanny.

Summer, summertime...and the livin' is easy

Felix loves playing his harmonica and Rex just recently started joining in on his jam sessions by providing the dance moves. Here's a video of the two in action.



Plus, we finally compiled another slideshow and wanted to share. It includes our Texas trip, 4th of July and some plain ole' summer fun. Here's the link.

4th of July And Other Happenings

This is a video of Riley in the Menan Days Potato Sack Race. She didn't do so well in this race, but did take second in the girls 3-year-old race. She received 50 cents for finishing second. I think this is the first time a Johnson has finished in the top three of a foot race.


Here are a few pictures of Riley at the water park. She was a huge fan of the slide.

Macie also took part in the races at Menan Days, but this picture captures both where she started and finished.

Riley and her cousin Kade show off their Princess shoes.

We took Riley to the big fireworks show on the fourth and were so close that the explosions were a little scary for her. She watched most of the show holding her ears. She then said, "Daddy, my ears are tired will you hold them." Needless to say, I spent the rest of the time watching fireworks while plugging Riley's ears.

Reunion Grub

I’m sure you’re all wondering about the food for the reunion. Eating is one of our favorite pastimes! I thought we would assign everyone a meal and you can choose the menu and be on kp duty for that meal. We’re planning to go to Afton early so we can do the grocery shopping and just divide the cost. Let us know what you will need for your meal by the end of July. Here are the tentative assignments:

Breakfast – Thursday – Scott and Margie
Friday – Keith, Kacie, and Jamie
Saturday – Todd and Valerie

Lunch – We'll buy bread, meat, cheese, peanut butter, and jelly for sandwiches along with fruit, cookies and chips. Everyone can make their own.

Dinner – Wednesday – Karen, Jim, Lisa, & Liz
Thursday – Chuckwagon dinner
Friday – Janet, Maggie, & Amy

There is a fully stocked kitchen with everything you will need and also a big gas grill.

YeeeHaa!

I'm planning to make reservations for Thursday evening (Aug. 9th) for the Bar J Wranglers chuckwagon BBQ for all of us. I'm going to call them today (Fri., July 6), so please let me know (call me) if that isn't going to work for you.

(from Karen)

To all reunion-goers

Thanks for your feedback. It sounds like the consensus of the group is to make reservations for the Bar J Wranglers and have more unstructured time for hiking, swimming, horseback riding, etc. That would leave time for a river trip if anyone is interested. Grandma is planning to have some activities and crafts for the kids.

I will make the reservations for the dinner and show. We can do it Thurs.or Fri. night, depending on when the hike is. Let me know if you have a preference. Are there any hikes for the less hard-core (out of shape) hikers—maybe a nice little nature trail?

I also think we should have a variety show one night (talent is not required.) I’m visualizing a collective eye-roll, but I think it will be fun! Todd could tell some jokes, we all know he has a joke book, Maggie could do her magic act, Jamie and Kacie could dance, Felix could do his impersonation of a train conductor, and Lizzy and I are thinking about resurrecting the “chin show”….you get the idea.

We need to save some time for family pictures, too. I’m thinking Sat. morning after we check out will be the best time. We’ll talk more about that later.

We can’t wait to see you!
(from Karen)