Update for Now...6/5/11

So, since the Hershey's track meet at the end of April, things have been hectic.  Travels across this great country of ours, finals, graduations, awards assemblies, etc.  Let's just say, I was hoping June would bring peace and quiet and relaxation, but....NO.

May took Jason and myself to Utah for Jacqui's wedding in the St. George temple.  It was a fun trip, just Jason, me and Andy (step bro) smashed in the civic, driving 19 hours to the sweltering flats of the deserts of St. George.  We had a lot of time in the car to talk about spiritual matters, take pictures out the windows of the scenery, having "music released in what year" guessing contests for pushups and fondas...(see video) and to sleep.  We took turns driving until we ran out of gas (got down to a quarter of a tank ish) and then we'd switch.  Here are some pictures and a short video. lol

Then, we we got back from Utah, we went right into finals...both Jason and I.  For me, they were my last finals for I don't know how long, but it puts me in the "I have two associate degrees...and I still don't know what I want to do with myself" spot.  Graphic Art Technology and Business & Office - Executive Emphasis.  I am hesitant to do any major job searching, because I would hate to find my dream job, lol, and then have to move when Jason finds his.  So Jason, at this point, has three classes left.  One during the summer and then two more from Aug to the middle of Oct.  Then he gets to walk in the December graduation at Columbia College, with a double major in International Business & Marketing.  He doesn't know what his dream job is, but he does dream about being done and getting out of the Orscheln warehouse.

Oh, I almost forgot the funny video about pushups and fondas...it'll explain:

Back to the story...so, after finals, people started having awards assemblies at school, graduating, and all that jazz.  Torey's report card looks great, 5 As and a B+ and a B.  Not too shabby, she knows what to expect from Junior high, and even though we told her we were proud of her, she says she'll do better next year.  She will have a full plate next year.  She has decided to play on the middle school softball team, and the basketball team.  One is in the fall, and the other is in the winter.  She said she'll decide about track when Spring gets here.  We'll see how that goes.

Then, our niece, Chelsea, graduated from high school.  She actually was done with school right before Christmas because of her credits and such, but came back to walk with the rest of her class.  She has been working hard at Taco Bell for a year and a half now, and unfortunately, has totaled the car we helped her buy.  But she is excited about college.  She went to Utah for the wedding too, and came back re-dedicated and ready to start working on her future.  We are so proud and love her so much.  She really is an awesome girl!

Now that school is out, Ethan and Torey have the usual summer fever. They can't seem to sleep in yet, but I'm getting them to work on that. Torey is getting ready to go to her first church girls camp this coming week (Jun 7-10), and she's excited.  I'm sure she won't think that when it's hot and sweaty or raining, and she has to sleep in a sleeping back on the ground in a smelling church scout tent, but she's excited to go, let's put it that way. Torey has softball practice twice a week and games twice a week, and she also has basketball open gym three days a week in the morning. She is a busy girl. But I am hoping it will solve the "I'm bored" disease that usually happens one week into summer break. lol

Ethan passed 1st grade of course, but he struggled there at the end with some math and following orders.  He promises to work on it over the summer (with my help of course) and we are also going to be boosting the reading levels too. 

Bike riding is going to be a main mode of transportation, since gas is high.  Torey's bike was recently stolen, but since Jason hardly rides his bicycle, she'll work the squeaks out of it for him.

Jason has started his tradition of Saturday morning athletics back up.  In the late fall/early winter (late Sept - Thanksgiving and maybe a few in Dec) its touch football, in the spring and summer it's soccer.  There is usually a month or two or three off from Dec to April, but then soccer becomes the stuff that Saturday mornings are made of.  We are also getting ready to start up a volleyball night at church (Jason is athletic director of sorts) and so I am looking forward to that.  You don't have to run to do that sport...much.

Jason, Torey and I will also be trying to participate in the Moberly Community Band this summer.  The band director has a tuba he's going to let Jason borrow for the summer, I recently was able to get my flute working, and Torey will of course play her clarinet.  She ended the school year as first chair.  He let the kids battle and challenge each other right up until the second to last day of school but she was able to hold on...winning her final challenge and doing awesome on her playing test.  I'm going to transpose some music so that Torey and I can play some hymns and stuff together over summer break.  It should be fun.  I'm also going to attempt to teach Ethan some piano basics.  That's about all I know anyway.

Well, besides being up to date on the most recent movies in the theater, that's about all I have right now.  I am sure I am leaving out something, but for 12:58am, that's what you get.  We all have to get up to be at church an hour early for choir practice, so I'm off to bed.  Love you all!!!

Jason's College Graduation Dec. 17, 2011

So, my heart swells with pride as I announce the graduation from Columbia College of my husband Jason A. Johnson.  The ceremony was December 17, 2011, in Columbia, Missouri.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science with a dual emphasis major of International Business and Marketing. He has worked very hard for this, not only schooling full-time online, but also working full-time at Orscheln Farm & Home RSC, being a husband and a father, a friend who will cut your hair anytime you need it, going to his daughter and son's school events, fulfilling his church callings...the list goes on. I'm posting a couple pictures and some short video clips.  Hope you all enjoy.  (You can also see these on my Facebook page if you have access, etc.)

Torey was the family videographer and I did most of the photographs.  Some were from peoples phones, too.

Moberly Hershey's Track Meet

Torey participated in our yearly Hershey's Track Meet yesterday.  She was the only one in her age group and events, so she automatically advances to the State Meet in Jefferson City in June, but she still had to run her events.  She ran the 1600m and 800m - had to run with the boys because she was the only girl - but she posted good times.  1600 was 8:01 and her 800 was 3:25.  She also participated in the softball throw which she got eighth in state last year.  Her distance was 86.11 ft.  Here's a picture of her holding her ribbons.

She promises to train hard this year for state (she didn't train at all last year for her sprints) since she's doing distance runs.  Of course we'll keep you updated on all that.

Good Job Torey!!!  We're proud of you and love you!!

Happy Easter

Hope everyone has a happy Easter and we love and miss you all.  Here is our attempts at Easter colors.  Jason in his pink shirt and purple tie, Torey's new orange and white paisley dress, Ethan in his new blue pin stripe vest and church ensemble, and me in my salmon-color shirt. 

After Church, getting ready to eat ham, mashed potatoes and some veggies.

We sang in the church choir and participated in the Easter program during Sacrament meeting.  The message was wonderful and the music only added to the feeling of appreciation for our Savior.  Again, Happy Easter Everyone!



A litte slow in updating the blog...

It's been mentioned that we don't keep up the blog the way I promised I would, so to make amends, and since it's spring break for me (Sara), I'm going to make a few posts on here to make up for the few and far between ones that I have been doing.

Where to start.  While the big storm was here, we spent our time doing indoor stuff...reading, coloring, watching lots of tv, doing homework.  We played in the snow a little too. But by the end of the snow days, things looked a lot like this...



So, then everyone went back to school and things got back to normal.  Homework, church, work, with an occassional fun activity inbetween.  The youth group went roller skating with two other wards.  Torey and DJ (nephew) had a good time.  Made the roller skates we bought for Torey last summer seem worth it now. lol

Ethan keeps growing out of his clothes, so we just recently bought him some new church pants and shirts.  Here he models for everyone.  Isn't he HANDSOME!



Jason recently made a Spring break trip to NY to buy and bring back his brother Matt's motorcycle.  He had been dancing around the house in anticipation for weeks.  And finally, it's here.  He's given the kids some rides, and when it warms up, even my mother has asked for a ride.

So, here it is spring break for me, weather is slowly starting to warm up, we all are seeing a light at the end of this dark school year tunnel...and summer activities are starting to look appealing.
This is a very shortened version of what's been happening...more to come.  Promise.

Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful...Delightful

So, the Moberly Blizzard of 2011 is over and we are dealing with the aftermath of the storm. lol.  We were stuck inside for pretty much a solid 48 hours (part of monday thru late morning wednesday) and the kids haven't really had any school this week. (it was late start monday meaning they started respectively at 8 and 9 instead of 7 and 8am, and school let out at noon and one the same day in anticipation of the storm).  Jason laughs at this stuff, scoffing at the snow, because of his upstate NY upbringing I guess.  I love it.  Except the part where the kids drive me nuts and tell me they are cold.  lol. 

So when the storm was all said and done and the sun came up on Wednesday morning, we had received almost 2 ft of snow in about 36 hours.  That's huge for Missouri I guess, I really don't know.  But it's enough to shut down Jason's work and allow him to stay home for two days in a row with the kids.  However, now he has to work on Saturday to make up for one of those days, so he's still not happy. lol.

Here are some pictures of our snow.  At least what I could take from one foot, standing inside the back or front door.

 One foot?...you might ask...well yes, one foot.  I was going out Monday morning, to get people to school, and as soon as I stepped down onto the first step outside my backdoor, I slipped and fell and landed on my right foot all wrong.  The icy rain had already started by 8am Monday morning...and I guess I took for granted my two year old shoes and their traction, and boom, just went right down into the slush and left over snow from last week.  I knew immediately I had hurt it.  Needless to say, by the time I got the kids to school and got to the doctor for x-rays, my foot was numb and tingling.

But, to save you from all the inbetween drama...I'm going to be fine.  They said it wasn't broken...lol...but I stayed off of it for two days straight, making my kids and hubby wait on me, and when I woke up wednesday morning...I could finally hobble around the house unassisted again.  I think that by next week, I'll be walking almost normal again.  My dreams of running like the wind might be put on hold for a few more weeks...lol...but I'll be back to full strength mode again soon.

So if you look at this picture...those little lights in the background represent Jason's work.  Somewhere inbetween is highway 63, but this is the sunrise winter scene from last week (end of Jan.) as I pulled out of the high school parking lot. 

Until later...signing out.  Maybe I'll have video next time. lol

Torey's 6th Grade Band Concert...lol..."Beginnings"

How many of you remember that first band concert?  Whether you were the performer or the audience...I'm pretty sure the experience was one of the most anxious you can remember at that time.

I am proud to report that Torey is doing well.  She has achieved first chair clarinet and has maintained it through a couple challenges (people trying to take her chair from her).  She had her first band concert on November 30, at the high school auditorium.  She says she wasn't nervous, and maybe she wasn't...but you can tell that most of the other 6th graders were by their...music? lol.

Here is a clip from her concert...enjoy.  :o)