No Blood, No foul

I'm not a nurturer by nature, I usually say things like are you bleeding? or Live or die what do you choose. Rianne has it rough because she came first and I'm figuring this out as I go. I remember when Heath was cutting teeth and I'd let him suck on popsicles, she kept saying her mouth hurt, I was like you're not having another popsicle they are for Heath, she whined but I ignored her, when dad got home Brant said, "Jana her mouth is a little swollen", then that night while brushing her teeth, she cried. The next day we took her to the dentist and she had an abscessed tooth! I never claimed to be good at this mom thing, although I do really love my kids!

Any way in more recent news: Let me start that on September 1^st our insurance coverage began here at NAU. That same day at recess before the start of school, Rianne was playing on the monkey bars and when she was getting down she jumped off, lost her balance and hurt her arm. (She is adamant she did not fall off the monkey bars) She went class when the bell rang and it was still hurting and her eyes were filling up with tears. A little girl at her table asked what was wrong she said her arm hurt, the little girl told the teacher, who sent her to the school nurse. (I later ask Ria why she didn't tell the teacher, her response "it wasn't bleeding"- Nice parenting Jana) The Nurse takes a look wraps it and says if it still hurts after lunch come see her. After lunch Ria goes back and tells the nurse it still kind of hurts, so the nurse calls me, I ask should I come get her the nurse asks if she wants to go home Rianne insists she'll be okay, she stays at school the whole day! Rianne gets off the bus I take a look at her arm and it is pretty swollen, I have her ice it and when dad gets home we decided it didn't look very good, Rianne says "its okay I don't want it to be broken". We give her some Motrin and send her to bed. The next morning it is still swollen, she still wanted to do chores that morning she actually cleaned the bathroom (her choice, I did not make her). We take her into the clinic, (we don't even have our insurance cards yet, so Brant is calling HR for the numbers while I'm filling out the paperwork, I'm so grateful for cell phones and text messaging and insurance!) The nurse asks Ria what happened the nurse says something about falling off the monkey bars happening to lots of kids. Rianne corrects her and says I did not fall! When the doctor came to take a look she repeated the fact that she did not fall, he moved her arm around pushed on it and asked if it hurt she said a little and kind of, He looked at me, I said I don't know I guess she has a high tolerance for pain. After repeating that she did NOT FALL to the x ray technician, we have x-rays taken and her arm was in fact broken, and that is when she cried, because she didn't want it to be broken. They referred us to an orthopedic and we were off to explain to at least 4 more people that she didn't fall. She has a compound buckle fracture in the big bone and a hair line in the little one. They couldn't cast it that day because of the swelling and they have to make sure in stays aligned or they have to set it. So she was in a splint and sling for a week.

Luckily it stayed lined up on 9-9-09 @ 9:00am Ria was eating 9 M&M's getting ready for her cast. That nasty break is now casted!

Dad was the first one she wanted to sign it. Later that day she was out riding her bike and trying to pogo stick. I think she was glad to have her elbow back. She asked me if she could do the monkey bars again, I said yes when your grip is a little stronger (maybe when the cast comes off!). I'm all about get back on the horse but Ria is crazy! She also has not enjoyed the added attention she wanted a shirt that said what happened so she didn't have to say it a hundred times! It has not slowed her down!

I must add some tender mercies in addition to the insurance, it is her left arm, summer is over but we are not yet into long sleeves. Her cast should be off by her baptism although her cast is waterproof, how cool is that? Stayed aligned even with Heath. I think she is pretty tough, and I am proud of her for handling it so well!

Weekend Adventure

On Friday our friends Matt & Susanna invited us to the movie at the square. The kids loved the outdoor adventure. Before the movie started Heath was jammin' with the band it was so funny. He is such a rock star! Apparently Bolt wasn't action packed enough for him; he fell asleep not too long after intermission.

Then on Saturday we went to a BBQ @ the park, our kids loved the inflatable toys, ice cream and of course the lizard they found near the playground. Next it was off to "the desert". Heath says he loves the desert, in our job search adventures he kept saying he wanted to move to the desert!

We drove to Scottsdale to watch our Nephew Brandon play a football game (He plays for Snow). When we got there the kids immediately said it is so hot, the sun went down and they still had red sweaty faces. If you know me you know I was in heaven, I would even say I got warm! I could so live in the heat but my family would melt!! Another reason why I think Flagstaff is perfect for us! When we picked up the program we saw that the head coach for the fighting artichokes was a guy Brant played football with at Utah State. The Badgers won and why wouldn't they were playing a team with the mascot of an artichoke, I found that very amusing. After the game we got to visit with Brandon it was so great to see him. Also we visited with Coach Mad Dog, who was amazed with how big Brant has gotten! When Doug was a senior Brant had just returned from his mission to play and was maybe 205 lbs! We returned early Sunday morning (1:30am). On Sunday Brant was called to be the cubmaster. What a weekend! Can I just add I love, love, love that it is officially college football season! Let the games begin and bring on the BOWLS!

Treasure Hunt

I really just wanted to try loading a video on here but this is a pretty cute one of the kids treasure hunting around our yard in Flagstaff.

Summer Here, Summer Gone

Summer was here and gone too fast! Summer older now, but enjoyed how much Ria did to make my day special and get everyone involved.

We were able to spend the summer in Kanab and of course other adventures which have been blogged about. The kids have loved the WATER they took swimming lessons at the pool, Heath loved having cousin Dalton as his teacher. He is also quite proud of the fact that he's a level 2 swimmer (so he thinks). They loved any day they could go to the pool, Kristi; Grandma & Emily took them a lot (thanks)! Heath also enjoyed Water fights! (Heath is literally punching the water).

Grandma even let them bob for corks! Yes, it was a real country hometown summer.

We had a backyard campout, dirty kids and skinned elbows and knees!

Grandma & Grandpa also put together some country playground equipment complete with teeter-totters and swings! Rianne and Heath also had a lemonade stand, okay no lemonade and it was in the backyard and she gave us a bag of coins to come to the store and Grandma provided the goods! Rianne and Grandma also started a bug collection; wish I had a picture, she found some cool bugs. Bug catching is still happening @ our "new" house although it is mostly caterpillars.

We enjoyed the hometown Pioneer day; our kids really enjoyed the cake walk, ring toss, pony rides and of course learning to rope, although it is tough waiting your turn. We got to catch up with a few old friends not as many as we hoped but it was such a wonderful summer.

This summer was the best for me because I had my husband everyday all day!
We moved into our rental on Monday. Rianne started her new school on Thursday. Summer is officially gone. Here is a picture of Ria on the 2^nd day of 2^nd grade @ the bus stop!

Brant starts his new job @ NAU on Monday. This is bitter sweet, its great he is going to have a job, but I near breakdown when I think about him not being home with me! Summer gone! :(

Joining the Johnsons!

We have returned from 4 days in Island Park with the Johnson's! We we're able to go to Yellowstone National Park. We stayed up way to late and ate a lot of food, saw some beautiful scenery and enjoyed it with great company! We all had a wonderful time! We went to Yellowstone for two days. The first day at Yellowstone we got a call from NAU with a job offer! This news made us have to make some decisions so we had some research to do. (Thanks Aubrey for letting us use your computer so much!) So if we can find a place to live in Flagstaff, AZ that is where we will be relocating to.

Tyler with Mr. Pain-- Heath loved having so many boys around, to punch and cause pain to! The next day in Yellowstone we were able to see the upper and lower Yellowstone falls! Mary always makes these family trips happen, Thanks Mary for a wonderful time, Rianne loved playing with

TraChelle and is so excited to move closer to her. We played a very fun night game that DJ brought with glow sticks it was really fun! He & Aubrey also made dinner one night it was so good!! The next day Heath's lip was so swollen and his cheek was puffy too, we think it may have been the coconut milk.

DJ and I at the yellowstone falls

That day floating a very shallow, slow, and cold river, Heath fell asleep with Brittney on her tube. Thanks Brittney that was probably longer than you bargained for.

One of the nights as we we're getting the kids to go to sleep, Rianne was so excited about how much fun she was having and telling me EVERYTHING
was the best. She asked "Mom how did we get to be Johnsons? We are so lucky!" I told Ria the story of how I came to live with them my Junior year of High School. Trying to avoid sleep she kept asking questions, it has been a long time since I recalled all those details. I would put them in but that would be a pretty long post. I fit right in the middle of the boys perfectly! Looking back it was the greatest decision I ever made in my life, no wonder there was so much opposition. I was overcome with gratitude that night. I am so grateful I was able to join the Johnson's not just on this vacation but as a family! Rianne said at the conclusion of my story "so they kinda adopted you mom", I told her that is exactly what they did it, we ARE so Lucky! She replied "our baby is going to be so lucky too"! (We are approved for adoption but still waiting for the baby that is supposed to join our family). I have to add this; we watch Tyson & Wenda's baby Tayla and my kids love her. Ria asked one day why we don't just adopt her, I said well she already has a mom and dad, the baby we adopt will need us to be his/her mom and dad. Since this conversation whenever Heath sees a baby he asks "does that baby have a mom & dad?" He is looking for our baby I guess. Here are all the girls, every one of us "Joined the Johnsons".

For our last day Grandpa Jeff took us to big springs and to a fishing hole, Heath liked feeding the fish (thanks Grandpa Jeff) and Ria was excited to try fishing. We got a little muddy but it was a cute spot.

On our way home we went to Mesa Falls it was incredible. Brant @ Mesa Falls. I guess in all the excitement and lack of sleep my brain was not functioning too well. We realized when our kids were fighting and only Ria had DVD's, that Heath must have left his. DJ and Aubrey we're over the top nice to go back and get them which actually turned out to be only one DVD L Sorry about that! You guys are the best. Thank you so much. I really hope it didn't mess up your plans too much!

I am really glad I joined the Johnson's I had no idea how that decision would bless me for so many years and into eternity. Thanks for being so good to me I love you Johnson's all so much!

BFR 4th

Brown Family Reunion was held over the 4^th of July Weekend. Here is a picture of the culprits who started this mess, (sorry to catch grandma in a sneeze). The pictures to follow show why we are so very glad they did!

Prior to the main festivities we celebrated Natalie's Birthday (Brant's sister). Her cake was delicious, I call it 3 milk cake because I am no good @ Spanish! Kaleb looks so excited too! He is such a fun kid, I'm so glad my kids have cousins their age they enjoy so much, it made for a great weekend.

Kristi (Brant's sister) was in charge of the reunion she did such an amazing job. I'm glad we are not next, sorry McKay that is a tough act to follow, because it bordered on perfection! We helped get the float ready for the parade, Kristi is even smiling, how does she do it?

We had a program and reunion with Brant's Dad & brother's family too. The Marlin Brown family attributed to more the half of that attendance. Marlin and his brother did a skit after the ol' switch-a-roo (they look alike) I asked Heath if he saw grandpa he said "Yea but he'll be all right".

The next day it was time for the big parade too many Brown's to fit on the float, these 2 are cute.

Then relaxing, a hailstorm, swimming @ the pool, (no pool pictures & don't expect any in the near future either). What wild weather we had, but it fit our schedule just fine! Dinner at the elementary school, and would a true 4^th of July celebration be complete without Fire Power? Brant supplied that! That's right to celebrate our independence by sending our kids out in the street to pick up candy from strangers (Parade) and top off the evening telling them to run with fire, (sparklers) and blowing things up. (Fireworks) Are we free to do whatever we want or what? I love the USA! We enjoy our teenage Nieces and Nephews so much, here is Dallin he is a riot! Sorry Kelsey your picture was too blurry to post! Heath and Ria doing their part to fling sparks around!

We ended Sunday with a big bang breakfast and testimonies. I did enjoy the spontaneous sharing of love stories it was fun and I would not consider myself a romantic! As always the Brown family reunion leaves me wishing I could have talked to everyone a little more, missing the ones that couldn't be here and feeling inspired to be better without feeling that I'm not good enough! I am motivated to be a little better and blessed to be Brown!

Tu-Toroweap

This part of the Grand Canyon has two names which is good because we made two trips! Toroweap or Tuweap is a part of the Grand Canyon most people never get to see. It isn't too far from Kanab but it is a dirt road, wash boarded and rugged dirt road for like 60 miles. The views are incredible! No rails, nothing just a drop off to the Colorado River ranging from 2500 feet to 4500 feet depending on where you stand. It is spectacular to see! Of course we did NOT bring the kids. I am not afraid of heights but even I pulled back and got a little nervous in places, especially watching other people. We drove Saturday afternoon (June 27^th). Quick day trip right?...

We made the trip the views were amazing, we saw two rafts on the Colorado River take on the rapids of Lava Falls. To us they looked like ants we couldn't see any people just the boat. We were about 3000 feet above them. Can you see the Rapids?

Brant is pointing to them.

It was remarkable to stand out on ledges like that. After a little hiking we headed back to Kanab about 5 miles down the dirt road we notice 2 people walking though some weeds off the road then we notice a minivan pulled to side near a very sandy part of the road. We stopped to see what was up, turns out someone told them their vehicle could make it NO WAY! We couldn't just drive off with a good luck so we offered to take them the rest of the way up. So Dr. Peter Schmidt, his wife Martina, and their 2 kids Raphael & Ramona from Germany jumped in with us. We turned around and took them up to enjoy the view. I'm sure their kids will remember their dad taking them up some dirt road for 50 miles and then getting in a truck with 2 strange Americans. We really didn't mind, it was great because Dr. Peter Schmidt is a geologist and he taught us about the lava falls. They were very nice and appreciative. It was very interesting and fun. German's get 6 weeks vacation maybe Brant should be sending resumes there! We got back late but it makes for a great memory!