Long Month = Long Post

Warning: This is what happens when you don’t write anything for a whole month. This post is more for documenting the events than it is entertaining.

I don’t know if I can remember ever having a month seem as long as April. I guess it could be said that the last month of a pregnancy might be close, but usually the end result is joyful.

It’s a good thing that we were able to go to Vegas because that trip was like the calm before the storm.

We had one week from the time we got home from Vegas until we left for Florida. We decided to ship our clothes instead of checking baggage, because now they charge you per bag. If you don’t have to check bags, then you get to go straight to the gate, so that is an added bonus.

It is always a little overwhelming getting all of us through security and onto the plane. The kids were great. They might drive me crazy all of the other days of the year, but I will put up with it as long as they behave at the airport.

I hate to fly. I get sick on take-off and landing and during turbulence. I can usually keep everything down, but it’s such an icky feeling. Plus there’s always the horrible thought in the back of my mind that planes crash. Luckily we only had one bad upchuck moment, and that was on the way home. Hannah lost it when we flew into Atlanta for a plane change. It’s our fault, we forgot the Dramamine.

We flew into Tampa and so we had to drive for a couple of hours to get to Grandma’s house. It sure was nice to finally get out of the car. Everyone was so excited to finally be there.

The weather was perfect. I would like to never have to go back there in the summertime again. We stayed two nights at Grandma’s and then they put us up in a resort for the next week. The kids got to take turns sleeping over at Grandma’s.

On Friday we decided to leave the kids with grandma and go check into the resort. On the way we got into a fender bender in the rental car. I have to say that I think this put a damper on our entire vacation. We are still sorting out the details, because it’s our word against the other guys, but I’m telling you - He switched lanes into us.

 

On Saturday we headed back to Tampa to watch the Yankees play the Rays. We had great seats right behind the Yankee bullpen, it was fun, but it just wasn’t as exciting as going to a Yankee home game. The traffic was awful and we spent more time driving in the car than we did at the game, but at least they won.

 

Sunday was the day of the Bounce House. Steve’s parents rented one to keep the kids busy for the day. Steve’s mom also decided that we should celebrate everyone’s birthday because we were all there together.

Tuesday found us at The Magic Kingdom in Disneyworld. By this time the camera had run out of batteries, and we didn’t feel like digging up the charger so we don’t have any pictures. It doesn’t matter thought, because I think all of our Disney pictures always look the same.

We wrapped up our visit with a trip to Nana’s, where we all got to go for a golf cart ride and see a baby alligator that lives in one of the golf course ponds. Again, no pictures – I always forget the camera.

While we were there, I found out that my Grandpa up in Bear Lake was very sick. My mom didn’t want to worry us, but the doctors had only given him a few days. So as soon as we got home, I headed up to see him. There were many family members there and it was good to see everyone, even if the reason wasn’t the best.

By the time I got home, I felt like I had been away for the whole month. I was not even sure what day it was. Luckily there was nothing scheduled so I didn’t have to worry about remembering anything.

The rest of the month was long because I was always wondering when I would get that unwelcome phone call about grandpa.

Keith Weston Johnson 1922 - 2010

I got the call on Friday, April 30th.

I always remember Grandpa working - up in the barn or digging irrigation ditches or working on tractors. Even when he stopped working the ranch, he always had a project that he was working on.

I don’t remember him ever getting mad at us, but I do remember that he always let his opinion be known. You always knew if you drove too fast down the road when you came to visit, or if he didn’t like the logo on your shirt.

One day when we went to visit, grandpa asked us if we were renting an apartment and how much we paid. Then he went on  and on about how stupid it was to throw money away by renting. So Steve and I decided that we should look into buying a house. I am glad that I was able to see him when we got back from Florida.

This is his Obituary from the Herald Journal.

LAKETOWN, Utah - Keith Weston Johnson, 88, left this life peacefully at his home April 30, 2010. He was born in Laketown, Utah, on April 18, 1922, to Willis Dewitt and Lydia Ann Weston Johnson. He married Thelma Satterthwaite on Sept. 19, 1942, and was later sealed in the Logan LDS Temple on March 30 1959.

He was a man of varied interests and talents and was a civic leader. He gave generously of his time and means to the community and LDS Church. He served as president of the Rich County School Board and Bear Lake TV.

Keith has one passion in life, his love for livestock and the Big Creek Ranch. He devoted his life to good, hard, honest work. He was taught this ethic at an early age while working side by side with his father Dewitt.

Keith spent his life adding upon what his father started. He now passes that legacy of ranching to his sons.

Keith had a way with animals; his love and gentleness of them was always visible. His pets were his pals and always on his mind right to the end.

Keith loved and cared deeply for his family; they were what mattered most. He will be greatly missed and always remembered in our hearts. We are grateful we had the time we had and for the wealth of love and knowledge we all received.

He is survived by his wife Thelma; children: Joan (Mark) Mckinnon of Laketown, Utah; Dee (Gaye) Johnson of Dry Fork, Wyo.; Bonnie (Dewey) Forsberg of Logan, Utah; Philip (Bobbi) Johnson of Parker, Colo.; Nola (Farrell) Eastman of Millville, Utah; Kimberly (Brent) Roberts of Providence, Utah; Yale (Lisa) Johnson of Laketown, Utah.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents; a baby boy, Gilbert; two brothers and two sisters.

The family will have a private funeral at 11 a.m. Monday, May 3, 2010, at the Big Creek Ranch. Interment will be in the Big Creek Cemetery.

The Keith Johnson family will welcome friends to celebrate his life with them from 4 to 6 p.m. May 3, 2010, at their home.

Just One More Day

We got home from our Vegas Getaway today and I just wish that it could have lasted one more day. I know it’s good to leave why you are still enjoying your vacations, but I think I could have had fun for just a little longer.

We headed out on Monday morning after we got the kids off to school. I was thinking it would be a super long drive, but we were to St. George in no time. We stopped in for a visit with my grandparents for a little bit. We spent some time looking at family photos from over the years. My grandma has a hard time remembering who people are, and I was glad that she seemed to have a moment when she knew who I was. We felt bad when it was time to leave.

It has been a while since we have stayed on the strip, and there were tons more people than I remember. After we parked, we had to journey through Italy to get to the front desk of The Venetian, and then had to wait in a line longer than Airport security. I had to take a picture of the floor in the lobby, because it reminded me of a game of Q-Bert and I couldn’t walk on it without jumping from block to block.

 
Both Jersey Boys and Phantom were playing at the hotel, so we were greeted with songs from Frankie Vallie in the elevators and Phantom in the hallways. I am seriously amazed at the amount of money spent on building these hotels. Our room was so nice and comfortable, I wish it could be my little home in Italy.

We met my sister for dinner and then went to see the fountains at The Bellagio. The fountains are something that I would tell you not to miss if you were going to Vegas. I think they are pretty entertaining.

 

The highlight of our trip was our hike to Ice Box Canyon in Red Rock Canyon on Tuesday. I am so not a hiker, but I was sure that the Jillian workouts had made me tough enough to tackle most anything. My sister recommended this hike and even though she told me it might be tough, I said if she could do it then so could I.

It was a 2.5 mile trail – half of it was climbing up a river bed. Yep, I think Jillian needs to work me a little harder, because I was ready to give up before we even got half way in. It was definitely a challenge, but It was also totally worth it. I guess that’s what it’s all about – getting to the end and being able to say that you did it.

The pictures don’t even come close to showing what it was really like, we had to climb up all sorts of rocks and boulders.

That’s my sister with us. She made a good show, but she was just as sore as I was today.

Hey, guess what? I climbed up that – yes, I did!

 
So did Steve!

It was pretty cool.

Then we climbed down, ate some great pizza for lunch and went shopping. I wanted to take a nap, but then I knew that if I did, I wouldn’t be able to get up ever again.

We decided to get tickets to Blue Man Group on Tuesday night.
I have to tell you that it wasn’t the greatest show I’ve ever been to. In fact, I don’t recommend it unless it’s free or at a drastically reduced price. Go see STOMP instead.

We had never seen these guys before, so we didn’t know what to expect. Especially when they asked Steve if he wanted to be part of the show. Steve reluctantly said yes, and they took him away to explain what he needed to do. Then he came back, and he wouldn’t tell me what was going to happen.

Now, because the show was kind of lame, Steve’s part wasn’t that funny, but just that fact that he had to go down on the stage and participate was great. He really hates doing things like that.

Then we had to get up early this morning so we could beat the bad weather and drive home today. I didn’t think we would be able to get up, but we had a nice 7am wake-up call from Hannah who wanted to know where her black turtle neck shirt was. Yeah, even when you get a way you can’t really get away.

Thanks to my mom – who never ever gets online to read this. She was nice enough to watch the kids so that we could go and play. It was great to go and hang out with my sister. It was even nice to spend time driving in the car with Steve for 12 hours. We need to do it again soon.