Things I learned while making croissants:

-They are just as hard to make as everyone always told me. Not necessarily so hard that I couldn't do it (which I always thought was the case) but so hard that it takes FOREVER and makes a big mess.

-They have just as much butter as you hoped they didn't. That's what makes them so messy to make. You don't actually mix butter into the dough, but deal with a layer of butter on it's own. Butter is messy.

-The anticipation of tasting them is enough to keep Chase busy for exactly 32 minutes. He would stand in front of the oven saying "ummy, ummy, mmmmm..." and then run to his high chair and motion for me to put him in. When I would explain that they needed to cook more, he would go back to the oven and repeat" ummy, ummy, mmmmm..."
They cost a fraction of the cost as they sell them for at the store and taste 15 times better.

Edit: This is the recipe I used Croissant rolls. Their picture doesn't really look good... I don't know why theirs turned out so weird looking, but I'm glad it didn't stop me from making them. Also- I didn't notice that the recipe makes 20-30 rolls. Good thing I burned half of them so I only have a dozen instead of two.

I knew my turn would come...

I saw you post things like this on your blog and I knew that with a child like Chase I wouldn't be an exception to this rule of young boys. I did however, learn from your posts and pictures to mentally prepare so that when the time comes I wouldn't freak out until AFTER I took pictures.

This took a lot of preparation on my part because 'freaking out' is just what I do. It's my natural response to almost anything. Just ask Daniel.

I was in my bathroom doing my hair and listening for Chase to get into trouble (it's unavoidable), I heard him saying "eyes eyes". I wasn't alarmed because this is his new little thing. He notices everyone's eyes, and especially in books and pictures. But since I know Chase so well I leaned out of the bathroom to see what "eye's" he had found.

I didn't even know he knew what mascara was.


I must admit... I did freak out a little at first, but calmed myself down. On the other hand, this was Chase's first reaction:
He was happy. He was so proud that he knew what to do with that stuff, but when he say my face:
He got a little worried. He didn't want to hold the tube of mascara for the pictures as soon as he realized that was a "no no."

So just to see what he though I had him look in the mirror. I'm not sure what the reaction was. He seemed a little worried and unsure of what was looking back at him.



Until I burst out in laughter. The we both enjoyed a good giggle.

Not a good week for our car.

First off, someone ran into the back of it. Luckily those are just scratches and no dents. A lot of the scratches are from the other car and rub off pretty easily.


Then we went out to clean our car on Sat. Morning and found this:




Our best guess suggests that our landlord, who was out earlier that morning chopping weeds with a large weed wacker, flipped a rock and broke the window. Nothing was missing or anything, and since he was chopping weeds right next to the car it was the only logical explanation.

He hadn't noticed the broken window, but admitted that was probably what happened. He is picking up our car tomorrow morning and taking it to get it fixed for us so Chase and I don't have to sit and wait for an hour.

I'm so grateful for good honest people that are so willing to help. There is no way we could prove he did it, so all this extra effort is just from being a good guy.

As for the scratches... they will just add a little more personality to our car.

Family reunion

Last weekend was the annual Johnson reunion. We spend 2.5 days camping at my Grandparents cabin and this is some of what we did:

Warning- lots of pictures and most just speak for themselves.


Wagon rides:
Digging through saw dust:



Pretending to ride the 4-wheelers.


Daniel took this picture of Chase and I the first day before we became stinky and dirty.

Daniel got to go for a long horse ride.


There were plenty of "goggies" around and that pretty much kept Chase entertained all weekend. They were even his size.



The talent show is always fun to watch.
We were assigned this random song: Cow patty
So here is our Cow patty, and the killer

Chase showing off "Dee Dee" to Great Grandpa Johnson.


And to finish the quick weekend off we went on the traditional "Dalen hike". We talk about this hike, try to prepare, and look forward to it ALL year long. Dalen takes us on these beautiful, but very long and usually treacherous hikes that last 3 times as long as he estimates, and is twice as hard as he admits to us. Everyone complains alot, but it wouldn't be a summer at the cabin without at least one of these hikes.

Here is our Pre-hike photo even though not everyone was able to make it out on the hike. And after taking 10 minutes to convince Tory to be in the picture, she managed to scoot far off enough that we only have her arm on the right.
Just starting out.


Chase enjoyed the hike and only threw one tantrum the whole way- even through the pouring rain. I was pretty proud of how well he did.
He even walked for a good portion of the flat part of the hike.

There was even time for a kiss on the route.

Lyman, Utah

Chances are if you have heard of it, you either grew up there or knew someone from there. I also thought that I was from a small town, Moab is hardly a city. I love that I grew up in a small town, I didn't always, but I take pride in telling people where I'm from.

Daniel and I have argued (friendly arguments :) on which is better, Moab or Lyman. And we can both come up with some pretty good arguments and have never been able to persuade either to the other side. At least not vocally.

Moab will always be my home and I will never think any place is a better place, but I happen to also really love Lyman (PLEASE PLEASE don't tell Daniel). It helps that it's very beautiful- a different beauty than Moab. It is home to some loved ones, and it holds many sweet memories for my best friend. But this weekend showed me more.

They know how to celebrate.

This is a candy cannon- that's right a CANDY cannon. I've heard about it for many years, but this year (thanks to the reunion being moved) I got to see it.

They pack it with gun powder, then candy and light the fuse.

Then candy flies everywhere.


Some gets a little charred, but it's a small sacrifice.


Then the cracker jack races. We lined Chase up with the other kids from 0-3 and let him run his first race. I'm sad to say he lost. Even behind this little gal with the broken foot. (Notice the cast on the left). He has potential, we just need to work out the little glitch at the start. The one where you DON'T need to stand still and give everyone a 30 second head start.

Once he started though, he couldn't be stopped.
Even the big boys got in on the action. That's Daniel on the far right.

Then there were softball games and rootbeer floats- for the whole town to enjoy.

Then there is the beauty. It's farm land surrounded by mountains.

Here they enjoy the "simple life" as some call it. I guess these days desk jobs, t.v. and internet addictions are the "complicated life". 3 jobs including manual labor and 12-14 hour work days are apparently ....simple.... Too bad it couldn't be this simple everywhere- Sigh....

The kids always need Grandpa T. to take them on tractor rides.


And cousins, pretend to be like Grandpa.

This is their basketball court- right in front of the cow pen.
And there's always a cousin to help you find your way back to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Happy Birthday America...

... that's what the attitude was where we celebrated the 4th of July. It was America's birthday and we even sang. We had a great time celebrating our freedom with some of the people we love the most.

There was bubble blowing.

So much in fact, that after a while Chase didn't even need the wand to blow bubbles. They were just coming out of his mouth. I guess that's what happens when you get the solution in your mouth.


Chase went on his first motorcycle ride. It doesn't look like he enjoys it much, but he wanted ride after ride and didn't want to let Daniel go on his own.


There was some fishing, but no fish for us :(
Playing croquet by moonlight.

And there were fireworks.


And there was lots of food. Most of which was not regurgitated - I'm not sure what was wrong with this apple, but apparently Chase's mouth and stomach didn't agree. (this was not thrown up in case your grossed out, this is chewed up and then spit out.)

Happy Birthday dear America, Happy birthday to you!

Camp fire

We havn't slowed down on the fun since we left Florida. If there is anything I have learned from being trapped in the city for the last 4 years, it's that we can still be the same people. We can still be country people and enjoy the city. Spending the evening roasting hot dogs and being together is something we have wanted to do since we have been here, but we never knew where to go but now we found this spot. Just 45 minutes from home and we are up in the mountains.

Chase enjoyed himself just as much, because we left him have free rein over the Doritos.