A jam packed Christmas break

We have had such a busy couple of months. Here is a quick recap of what has been going on in our life.

Sledding
A couple days after we got to Colorado there was a snow storm that brought about a foot of snow with it. So we grabbed the sleds that have been sitting in my parents garage for who knows how long and packed down the snow to make a pretty decent sledding hill. We spent hours sledding down the hill.

Even my grandma went down the hill multiple times...in her slippers. Yes, my grandma is the coolest!

We also spent a night decorating my mothers ridiculously delicious sugar cookies.

We had lots of fun on our Christmas break in Colorado but now we are back home and school will start next week so its back to real life. And real life now includes a job for Kyle! Kyle is one of the newest employees at Kiwi Loco. It's a frozen yogurt shop near campus and thanks to a good hook up through one of Kyle's old roommates, Kyle got the job! We are excited because of many reasons! 1. Jobs are impossible to find in Rexburg 2. It will be nice to have a second income, especially since I don't work many hours 3. Kyle won't be in school this next semester and he likes to have something to do and he would go crazy without a job!

So here's to fro yo paying our bills!

Also exciting since last time I blogged, there have been TWO engagements in the Johnson family.

Kyle's little sister Janae got engaged to Reggie just after Thanksgiving! This had been a long time coming and we are so excited for them. They are getting married in the Manti Temple on April 6th.

Kyle's little brother Kory also got engaged just a couple of days ago to Krissa. We like Krissa a lot, she is so good for Kory. They are getting married in the Idaho Falls Temple on April 28th.

So April will be the month of love in the Johnson family this next year and I am excited for both Janae and Kory. Janae is not in school this next semester and Reggie is, so instead of doing another semester long distance, Janae is living in our basement for this next semester which means we will be seeing a lot of Reggie and Janae. Kory and Krissa will both be in school next semester so hopefully we can spend some time with them too. It should be a fun and busy semester.

Oh yea, I have a blog

Have I been running around like a chicken with my head cut off for 3 months? Yes.

Am I thrilled to see the end of the semester finally come? Yes.

Am I dying for Christmas break? Yes.

Have I negelcted this blog? You betcha!

***

Holy hannah, friends! The last three months have seriously been the craziest of my life! 14 credits, two jobs, one husband, and a calling in nursery and a temple ordinance worker. Mass. Chaos.
***

This semester I worked cleaning the temple Monday-Saturday and worked as a TA for an Anatomy lab. Every day has been spent going to class running to the temple to clean running back to class and sometimes back to the temple. It's been a constant back and forth and running here and there. Finally about a month into the semester my boss allowed me to hire another sister to help me clean carpets on monday mornings and she was able to come clean on Wednesday so I got a day off! That was a life saver!
***

Kyle and I have also worked this semseter as ordinance workers in the temple on tuesday mornings. And it was earlyyyyyyy! We had to be there by 5 in the morning and worked until 10:30-ish. It was such a neat experience. Next semester will be even busier and so we had our last day this week. We have loved getting to spend so much time in the temple together and being able to associate with some great people!

***
We are SO excited for Christmas break! We are going to Colorado for the break and I can't wait! I love Colorado. Plus, I am happy to get a nice break before we start another crazy semester. The next one will be even crazier than this one! I'm still working at the temple and I am currently enrolled in 20 credits! Yes, 20! Am I suicidal? Yes. But I just want to graduate.
***

So here's to another crazy three months! If you don't hear from me again for a while, no, we have not died. I'm just running around like a chicken with its head cut off!

Where has the summer gone?

We have had such a fun summer! And I have completely neglected our blog. But have no fear, I am back to document the fun life we have been living for the last couple of weeks. [ok, it hasn't been that exciting, but it has been a fabulous break from school!]

We finished school and went on a camping trip with my family for a few days. We had lots of fun playing in the sun and in the river. We had epic four-square battles and went on a hike that was "bug-tastic" {Seriously, even our 98% deet bugspray didnt cut it!}

Since the camping trip we haven't been up to much. I got a job at the end of the semester working up at the temple Monday through Saturday, so we have been pretty tied down to Rexburg, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to work at such a great place.

In big news, Kyle turned 25 last week!! He is now a quarter of a century old...wierd! He had a pretty low-key birthday since I had to work in the middle of the day. But check out the awesome cake I made him!

Farewell My Magical Childhood

If you have not seen the newest Harry Potter movie yet, YOU. ARE. MISSING. OOOUUUUUUTTTTT!!!! It was SO unbelievably EPIC!! I absolutely LOVED it. I am deeply sadded by the end of such a magical part of my childhood, but it sure went out with an epic AVADA KEDAVA!!!!
***
Although I will miss the excitement that came with each new book or movie, the magic will always be found in one of the fabulously engrossing books or epic, but slightly inaccurate, movies.
***
"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." ~ Dumbledore

Summer Lovin Had Me a Blast

Summer finally made it to Rexburg!!!

***
And we couldn't be more excited! We've spent the entire weekend playing in the sunshine!

Kyle and I both had all of our classes canceled on friday [ok, I maaaay have skipped the only one that wasn't canceled] so we started our weekend early with a picnic on Thursday afternoon and the next few days continued in a similar fashion.
***

We've spent a LOT of time on our bikes this summer.
***

Kyle and I brought up our old bikes from Colorado and it has been the best idea we've ever had! My sister and her husband also got bikes this summer and a bike trailer for my nephew so the five of us have had a blast exploring the hidden trails of the city of Rexburg.
***
We also thoroughly enjoy watching the people of Rexburg! Call us creepers, but I know you all secretly enjoy people watching. And let me tell ya, Rexburg has a supa fly population to observe! If you haven't seen the video "the people of Walmart", please enjoy it now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvxNgdFeWqM&feature=player_embedded
***
We are thinking of making a video called "The people of Rexburg"
***
Anywho, We've thoroughly enjoyed our summer so far and can't wait for school to be over in four weeks so that we can spend less time on school and homework [bleh] and more time soakin up some sun! :)

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

This past weekend was my grandpa's funeral. It was a long, hard, sad weekend.
But the things that were said about my grandpa during the funeral were nothing but those of admiration, respect, and love. There was not one person who did not mention the unfallable nature of service and teaching my grandpa always had.

He truly was a great man. I can't think of time when he was not serving, teaching or working hard, often all at the same time. Even in his last few weeks, when his own body was physically failing him, he was still concerned about serving others.
***
My cousin was the grandchildrens representative for speaking at the funeral. He spoke of the three loves my grandpa had in his life. A love for his country, his family and his Heavenly Father.
Grandpa sure loved his wife, his sons, and his grandchildren and he never failed to find an opportunity to teach us. Teach us the value of work, budgeting, or laughing.

All because two people fell in love.
***
He was a man who lived what he taught, strived to become more like Christ and help others along their way. He will be remembered as a man who was worthy to be welcomed home by his Heavenly Father, with the rewarding words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
***
Grandpa was a good man. He lived a good, long and full life.
As I listened to the tributes to his life, I felt honored to know such a man. I hope I can live the lessons he taught me. I hope I can become as magnificient of a person as he was so that I too might be worthy of the phrase "Well done, though good and faithful servant."

What a week!

Man, oh man has it been one of "those" weeks! I am so happy to welcome the end of it!
***
Our week started of fabulous as we spent Easter Sunday with our good friends Nathan and Shaleena Bennion. We ate some most delicious food, played games and dyed easter eggs! We had so much fun!

***
Unfortunately the fab week ended there. Sunday night I got some really sharp pains in my abdomen. I felt AWFUL. Kyle gave me a blessing and I had a restless night of sleep on the couch. By morning I was feeling a lot better and hardly even felt any pain during the day.
***
But my relief was short lived and early that night the pain came back in full force. It felt like someone had turned on a meat grinder inside of me. It hurt to stand, lay down, sit, curl up, stretch out...nothing I did made it better.
***
After a lot of convincing from Kyle (I did NOT want to go to the hospital!) I finally consented into letting him take me to a doctor. The Student Health Center was closed so we didnt know where we were supposed to go and all we could think of was the ER at Madison Memorial Hospital.
***
While I was in the ER they ran a blood test, urine test and I had an ultra sound. They admitted me to the hospital around midnight with the diagnosis of "abdominal pain of unknown cause" thinking it may be early appendicitis.
***
After another restless night they ran another blood test and ordered a CAT scan. After hours and hours of waiting the doctor came in and said the CAT scan showed I had a ruptured ovarian cyst which had caused some bleeding in my abdominal cavity which causesed many of the physical symptoms of appendicitis.
***
Good news was I didnt have to have surgery!! Bad news, the doctor said its likely to happen again because I had multiple cysts, and theres not much you can do about them. :/ Also, now I've got my head spinning with all these worst case scenarios about PCOS and infertility! So if any one has advice or experience with ruptured ovarian cyst or anything like that, I would love to hear some!
***
As if the week had not already been long enough, my sweet grandpa passed away wednesday night from pancreatic cancer. We all knew it was coming, but I was still pretty sad. He was such a great man. He taught me to swallow pills, learn my times tables, blow my nose, drive, how to love your spouse, manage money, work hard, and enjoy my life. He was such a great example to me and to so many others. He had such a zeal for life! He will be greatly missed. I am so thankful for the plan of salvation and the hope that we have to see him again. I know that this is just another step of his life in eternity. He is freed from his pain and returned to our loving Heavenly Father.

We love and miss you gramps!
***
It has been a hard week but my fabulous husband has taken such good care of me and done so much for me this week! I love him to pieces and I'm so grateful to have him in my life!

Happily Ever After

Kyle and I have reached 365 days of marriage! Yes, we have loved it all! It has been a most fabulous year! It's been so much fun learning the little idiosyncrasies that make each other tick.

I could never have imagined my life working out the way it has in the last year, but I am so grateful that it has. I was positive that marriage was NOT in my five year plan after high school, but my loving Heavenly Father didn't agree with my plans. Mr. Johnson walked into my life and I've been head over heels for him ever since! I am so grateful that the Lord's hand is in my life, leading me and guiding me to where I need to be; which is right next to my wonderful husband Kyle! :)

***

I'm also grateful for the blessings of the temple and the opportunity that we have to be sealed together forever!

We are excited for our future and what lies ahead for us. We know life will bring us trials and bumps in the road, but with faith in our Heavenly Father and each other, we can have our very own Happily Ever After.

Double Decades, the Zoo and Being a Scientist

Thats right people, I'm proud to say that I've lived to see two whole decades!
Im hoping now that maybe the dropped jaws will be a little less dramatic when people find out my age and that I'm married!

***

I had such a fun day. Kyle and I went to this place called Color Me Mine. We got to paint our own pottery and then they fire it for you. I painted a cute little cupcake platter and kyle painted a candy dish. It was lots of fun!
***

***
Then I went out to Texas Roadhouse for dinner with my family. They made me sit on the saddle while they all gave me a big Happy Birthay YEEHAW!!
Embarrasing...I know.
*** ***
My sister made me this super cute cupcake flower cake.
*** ***

***
This last Saturday the Denver Zoo had a free day. So Kyle and I took his three youngest siblings to the zoo with my sister and her husband and Parker. Since it was a free day, BEAUTIFUL weather and a Saturday, the zoo was PACKED! There were SO many people!
***
Parker didnt like riding in the stroller but he sure liked walking around with Uncle Kyle.
*** ***
Since Parker didnt want his stroller, Jonah took advantage of the open seat! Jared pushed him around for the last part of the day. It was nice to know that Jonah was with Jared and not getting lost in the crowds.
******
Jonah thought most of the animals smelled!
***

***
It was a fun day and a nice break from work!
***

Speaking of work. I had a funny experience at work the other day. We test fire alarms in the Denver Public Schools. We carry these poles that have a little doohickey on the end that sprays fake smoke into the detectors, and it tends to draw quite a spectacle. Especially in the elementary schools.
***
Well we were at an elementary school and this third grade class walked by me in the halls and a the teacher stopped and told the class to make a prediction about what I was doing. They all made guesses and then I told them what I was doing and the teacher turned to the class and asked them "Is she a scientist?"

***

Now, I dont have much of a love for my job, and I'm not sure I've ever felt like a scientist. But all the kids excitedly shook their heads and for a moment I felt like I had a pretty cool job.

***

Thats right, I'm a scientist!

The Small Things in Life

Today I learned, or should I say RE-learned a valuable lesson.

***

On our off-track from school Kyle and I test fire alarm systems in the Denver Public School district. Well yesterday DPS was closed along with EVERY other school district from North Denver down to Pueblo because of the absolutely FRIGID temperatures. We're talking frigid like the high in the negatives. Frigid.

***

So today was not much warmer and every school district that was closed yesterday was closed again today, or at least delayed. All, that is, except for Denver Public Schools. So Kyle and I woke up at 4:30 in the morning, got in the car and it was -11 degrees. WITHOUT the wind chill. So needless to say, we weren't the happiest campers when we arrived at work. And of course no one at the school was happy to be the only ones in Colorado at school. So I was pretty annoyed by the middle of the morning.

***

But then....I remembered my wonderful husband packed me some oreos for the day! So in hopes to brighten my spirits I dug into my bag and found the goods. But what I found was not just any plain joe oreos. No, no, no. These were FOOTBALL shaped oreos!

***
Now I know what you're thinking. "That's it?!"
***
YES! Yes, that's it! I didnt even know there were oreos shaped like footballs! I was expecting plain circle oreos and instead got a new and unexpected football oreos. And I was delighted! I had found a small moment of bliss in my new found oreos.
***
What can I say? Sometimes it's the small things in life that make your day! Like football oreos.

That's about all folks!

Well hello again blogging world! Its been a while!

***

Our lives have become rather monotonous these days. We started work in January so our schedule consists of waking up BEFORE the early risers, driving a hour to and from work and returning home, eating dinner and back in bed by 8:30 so we can do it all again the next day.

***

Its rather uneventful and not really worth blogging about. However, there are a few exciting things to update about for my future posterities sake.

***

First, I blogged last on Christmas Eve and mentioned we were going to Idaho since we didnt know when my sisters little dude would make his entrance into the world. Within hours she texted my mom saying she didnt this she was going to make it until Monday, her scheduled date to be induced. And by 11:15 pm Christmas Eve night Parker Daniel Rucks made his debut into the world!

***

He came weighing in at 6 pounds 7 ounces and 19 inches long.

He has been simply perfect, but my opinion may be a false representation since I get to hold him and love him and then give him back and get a full 8 hours of sleep at night! :)

***

Second, my cousin got married! We went to their wedding just this last weekend. It was a very nice ceremony and they left in a wonderfully decorated car :) Unfortunately, I'm often a failure at documenting our life experiences!

***

Thats about the extent of excitement for us these days. We've just be chugging along through work. One month down, two more to go!

***

When we were in Utah for my cousins wedding, Kyle and I were so close to Rexburg! We were tempted to just forget work and go back up to Idaho instead of returning to Colorado. We've been living with Kyles family so we can save as much money here as possible. We're greatful for the blessing and opportunity we have to save money for school, but I've been rather home sick for our own place these last couple days. I miss that place and I cant wait until work is over and we can get back to our normal life again!
***

But until then, thats about all folks!