Jesse Belle

Tonight I miss my grandmother. She was wise. She could make me laugh. and when I was down I would go visit her and we would go get a piece of pie at Marie Calendars.

She would wear her special coat and bring her best purse. We could talk for hours...

In her 60's.

A story. I remember being in the Provo temple a few years ago. I was wearing Grandma Jesse's white temple sweater. I promise, I just knew she was there. I knew it. She had written her name on the sweater's tag. I looked at it a few weeks ago and the place where she had written her name had washed off. I cried, until I thought I could hear her say, "Jenny, that's a silly reason to cry."

At 90. She died at 91. In 2000.

Self Expression

She had earned $4 this week helping out her mama. So while her sweet brother was at Priesthood Meeting on Saturday evening we went to Macey's so she could buy her own drink and treat.

She purchased this instead.

and wore it all day Sunday.

Photoshop

Never trust a photograph.

Updates

Update Number 1.

First, Braxton's birthday. He turned 14 a few weeks ago. Had a party with his friends here a few weeks before that.

He is a really cool 14 year old.

and, of course, I posted the birthday pictures all over the hallway and his room. This time I wrote something funny (or I at least I TRIED to be funny) on some of them. Emma thought I was hilarious.

I like birthdays. (not my own)

Update Number 2.

Went to Logan for the 5K and Marathon. I came in 3 minutes earlier than the 5K we ran in Salt Lake. Ann came in 8 or 9 minutes faster.

Here is me without make-up, looking oh so interesting...

and here is Ann. Yes. She's even cute after running 3.2 miles.

Here is the really cute house Ann and I found as we walked on the road to the canyon (had to capture my siblings in their marathon glory). The house had flowers below the windows, cute porch, trees everywhere. It even had a red rocking chair on the porch. We almost asked if we could move in.

Here is my sister (her first marathon). 4 hours 51 minutes... I think.

Here is my brother (too many marathons to count).  Came in around 3 hours, 50 min. (I almost missed him as you can see by the picture).

Here is some of our fun family in Logan after the marathon.
Hank, Cush, Randon, Annie and Nolen, Angela, and Me.

Cush and Hank with their medals.

Update Number 3.

Emma finished Soccer. She was a stand-out goalie. Wasn't too big on chasing the ball around the field, preferred to wait until it came to her, kick it as hard as she could, and watch all the girls run after it again.  However, was happy to inhale the treats after the game.

Update Number 4

Went to Aspen for our admin retreat. Took some pictures with Ann during our break. It was beautiful.

 

 

An extreme closeup

for your viewing pleasure.

movie conversation with Chelle

j) Ask me what I am doing?

(c) What are you doing?

(j) Dealing with things way beyond my maturity level 

(line stolen from Juno)

(c) Well... man up!
(line stolen from Julia & Julia)

Sunday afternoon

mad at her brother.

The Shivers

'Guess what mom?'

What?

'when we walked home from school a big black dog jumped and barked at us. Everybody started crying and running. They were so scared of the dog.'

I'm sorry you were scared by the dog sweetheart. Did you cry too?

'Ummmm...wellllllll... noooo, but I did shiver a little.'

weekend conversations

In the Kitchen.

 'Mom? What color is my hair.'

 'Well, it's the color of copper'

'What's a copper?'

'It's a metal....you know what? it's the color of ginger'

'Ginger?'

'Yes. Like a gingersnap cookie.'

'I'm a cookie?'

*****


 
In the car.

'Mommy?'

'Yes?'

'I like your hat.'

'Thank you Emma.'

'Can I wear it?'

'If I take it off, I will have hat hair.'

'pleeassseee. It will look cuter on me.'

(Brax, Ryan, (cousin), and Ben (friend) in car)

'You should wear it mom. You almost look young.'

'What?'

(Ben) 'Yea. Almost 29.'

'How old are you anyway Sister Johnson?'

(laughing). '41.'


(friend of Brax) 'NO WAY! That's an amazing hat.'

a Saturday run.

My running life. Post 3.
Ran with favorite boss Ann this morning. We started in American Fork, ran through Cedar Hills, entered part of Highland and up to the entrance of American Fork Canyon. It was beautiful AND it rained on us. I loved that. We then made an interesting decision to head up (hell) hill (ok my stupid decision) and into Cedar Hills. Rocky and I made it part way. Seriously, that is one tough hill. We walked through the neighborhood, found the path again and ran to her home. About 6 miles. It went a little like this:

3 mile run (with my two 3 minutes walks) to the entrance of American Fork Canyon.
up hell hill (which should have killed me)
walk through the neighborhood and down a busy street
1 mile run in on the path. Sprinted to the end (for you Cush!).

My legs hurt and my right shoulder. But oh the pain feels good.
We only had water at 1 mile and again at mile 5. I did not like that.
I am a water girl. Have to buy one of these, oh and save for one of these.

Hank just text me. He ran 20 miles today.
(forehead on table)
How is that humanly possible?
I am so tired.

a beloved book

Braxton loved this book when he was little. We read it so much that the binding fell out and the book fell apart. The movie opens October 16. I hope the movie is a wonderful as the book. I love the music.

a fun mural

Th Big Boy Room from Creede on Vimeo.