Let it Snow!

My kids finally got to wear their winter coats I got such a good deal on last year...before I found out we were going to Arizona. Luckily, they were with their cousins in Chicago so they could borrow everything else they needed to successfully play in the snow!


Marissa with her cousin Anna.

Devon Makes Himself Pretty!

Marissa always asks to put on my make-up. I guess I should just be glad she doesn't take a page out of Devon's book and forget the asking. He just came to show me once he'd put my mascara on.

Earp Family Christmas 2010

This is our shepherd/Joseph in the family nativity who was too cool to keep the towel on his head - he preferred the 'Rambo' look. This was the first Christmas that we haven't traveled. It was nice to have our own family Christmas and start some traditions of our own. Ryan also had Christmas day off and the day after, which was almost more than we expected. However, the holidays seemed so much shorter since we didn't go anywhere, and we had to get back to real life so soon after Christmas. We also missed seeing family over the holidays, but we did enjoy the mild weather!



Marissa loves her vanity table. We got her this hoping she wouldn't have to climb on our bed to dance in front of the mirror in our room. It has helped slightly with that problem.



Devon thinks his 'Cars' couch is pretty cool.




This is the kids with most of their loot. Marissa is wearing one of her princess dresses from Grandma and Grandpa Earp. Her dress up chest is by far the Christmas present that has seen the most mileage so far:)!

Just a few days after Christmas the Lord saw fit (I'm sure my dad as well) to call my mother home. While it deeply saddens me to think that my children will not get to know my parents now I know they will someday. I feel like my children and more especially I still had so much to learn from my mom and dad, but I know the Lord is watching over all of us. While I will always feel a void from the loss of my mother I take comfort in knowing she is with my dad and they are doing a great work on the other side. This is her obituary as seen in the paper:

Louise Elizabeth Carbine Johnson Louise Elizabeth Carbine Johnson, our beloved mother, sister, and grandmother, passed away Dec. 29, 2009, in Naperville, from pulmonary hypertension. While we will miss her wise and constant guidance, we know Louise had a joyful reunion with her eternal companion, Kim, who was anxiously awaiting her arrival. Louise was born Dec. 6, 1943, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the second of three children born to Leland and Melva Carbine. Louise lived on Chadwick Street in Sugar House and attended Highland Park Elementary School and graduated from Highland High School. She attended the University of Utah for two years and then worked full time at First Security Bank where she met her husband. Louise married Delbert Kim Johnson for time and all eternity on Sept. 6, 1968, in the Salt Lake temple. Louise found her true calling in life as a wife and mother. Together with Kim, they were blessed with eight children. Louise devoted all of her time and energy to raising her children. She made individual time for each child: attending sporting events, lending her talents to help with their homework, and spending time talking to and counseling with her children. Even as adults, each of her children counts her as one of their best friends. Her greatest joy was spending time with her posterity. Her children and grandchildren all "rise up and call her blessed." Louise loved to grow things and maintained a very extensive garden. She spent significant time growing fruits and vegetables that she canned or froze for her family. Her salsa will be missed by many. She even loved the satisfaction of pulling weeds. Louise loved playing the piano, watching old movies and crossword puzzles. Louise is known and loved by many for her even temper, good nature, and wisdom. She chose to live a simple life but enriched the lives of everyone who knew her. A faithful member of the LDS Church, Louise served in many different positions. She loved to serve others and teach children about the Gospel. Louise is survived by her eight children, Jeffrey L. Johnson (Lisa) of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Joshua D. Johnson (Katy) of Yakima, Wash., Sara L. Smith (Kurt) of Nashville, Tenn., Jessica J. Child (Andrew) of Naperville, Adam K. Johnson (Nikki) of Round Lake Beach, Matthew H. Johnson (Sharon) of Provo, Utah, Katie C. Earp (Ryan) of Tucson, Ariz., and Elizabeth W. Earp (Daniel) of Kyle, Texas. She is also survived by her 23 grandchildren: Maren, Talia, Miles, Grant Johnson, Emma, Timothy, Savannah, Caroline Johnson, Sean, Trevor, Leia, Myla Smith, Tyler, Rachel, Tanner, Anna, Ellie and Claire Child, Dallin, Caleb, and Natalie Johnson, Marissa and Devon Earp. She is also survived by siblings, Rita Ann Best of Harrisonburg, Va. and Daniel Carbine of Salt Lake City, Utah. Louise was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kim; and her parents, Leland D. Carbine and Melva W. Hudson Carbine. Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan. 2, at 11 a.m. at the Naperville LDS Meetinghouse, 1411 95th Street, Naperville, IL 60564. A viewing will be held Friday, Jan. 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, IL 60540, and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Graveside services will be held Jan. 4, at 11 a.m. in Santaquin, Utah.

Published in Chicago Suburban Daily Herald from December 31, 2009 to January 1, 2010

Ward Christmas Party

We just had our ward Christmas Party tonight. Here we are in front of the tractor Santa arrived on. We were told to dress warmly for this - and a good thing too because it was outside where it was a 'chilly' 72 degrees!

Who'da thought?

We just recently discovered we have an orange tree in our yard! The fascinating thing is that not just a month ago I used the fruit off this very tree to make a key lime pie to take to my friend's house for Thanksgiving. I ate that key lime pie, my friend and even some of her family ate that key lime pie, Ryan ate that key lime pie, and my visiting teachee also ate that key lime pie and I received compliments all around on that pie (I don't even really like key lime pie very much but I thought that pie was pretty good). At the time, I thought I had picked all of those limes off the tree because I thought some of them were about to burst and some were even losing their bright green color for a faded yellow/orange. A few days ago we pulled into our garage with Marissa excitedly exclaiming "Mommy we have a lemon on our tree!!" Naturally, I thought she was grossly mistaken only to find this on the tree (see picture). It still took some convincing me that it was truly an orange but when Ryan cut into it and gave me a slice there was no mistaking it. I guess what I really made was a "key orange" pie and in my book it was better than any silly key lime pie anyway!

Phoenix and Mexico!

I've been about a month behind on all my posts so I figured it was about time to write about our vacation. Ryan had his two weeks off the first part of November. For the first week, Ryan's parents came out and we drove to Phoenix to stay at a resort there. The second week we drove down to San Carlos, Mexico. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights from our trips:

*The weather in Phoenix was even a little warmer than usual for the time of year and we spent several afternoons at the pool.
*Grandma and Grandpa spoiled us in Phoenix which means I only saw my kids about 65% of the time:)!
*We also got to go golfing in Phoenix, which was great because we hadn't been able to go golfing since we'd left Ann Arbor.
*Our resort in San Carlos was right next to the beach and the kids had a blast at playing in the sand and seeing who could find the best seashell.
*The taco stands really make the best tacos ever - I just had to be careful not to watch the preparation of them or it ruined the whole experience.
*Ryan was able to visit with some friends from his mission - Marissa enjoyed this as well because every time we left one of his friends they always liked to give the kids some little toy.
*Unfortunately, Devon spent at least 50% of time either crying or throwing a fit
*Best of all...we all came home with a tan that will last us through the winter!


Devon and Marissa enjoying the resort pool in Phoenix.




The kids and me at the beach in San Carlos. Devon favorite thing to do was throw rocks into the ocean. Marissa's favorite thing to do was float on the raft with daddy to go snorkeling.




The kids at the resort pool in San Carlos. The kid pool is behind them and there was that nice little ledge in between them that Devon could use to jump into the kid pool and Marissa could use to jump into the big pool!




Devon is wearing Marissa's goggles. In the hot tub he started getting down low enough so the water covered his mouth and nose. Occasionally, the water would also reach his eyes so we put the goggles on him to see if he would go farther under. He thought he was pretty cool!




Since Devon spent so much of his time like this, I thought it only fair to include a picture.




It was at taco stands such as this that we had many a dinner!




We drove to Hermosillo where Ryan served his mission to see a few people and also walked around the temple grounds.