Our New Life in KANSAS

I have been wanting to post some pictures for some time now but I couldn't find the box with my camera cord in it! Now that it has been found, I'm going to give just a little update. We left our home sweet home in IDAHO on Friday August 14 and headed on a LONG move to Kansas. We gave ourselves two days to travel and both days were just driving ALL DAY LONG!! Part of the reason it took so long was the moving truck was so slow. We stayed in a hotel in Laramie WY Friday night and then got back up and headed out Saturday morning to finish the other half of the drive. Monte called our new Bishop to let him know we were on our way and he said he would have people ready for us. When we arrived at 8 that night we had 6 ready and willing men from the ward there to help us. It was so great. We were exhausted from such a long drive and it would have taken us forever to unload that massive truck.

Sunday church started at 8:30 which was 7:30 Idaho time!! It was a killer! But church was great and there were lots of friendly people. One Sister came up to me after church and asked if we had a fridge-which we didn't- and offered to bring us dinner. It was so nice.

Anyway, I could go on, but I would be up all night. Here are some pictures of our house and what we have been up to the last couple of weeks.

Monte got a NEW GRILL from my parents for his birthday!! Its been fun great to have-we have used it 3 times already this week!

Mindy playing with the dogs on the porch

Dads Apartment in Wichita

Our HUGE back yard

The girls love being outside. It is so nice to just let them play and not worry they will wonder off or fall into a ditch.

Our "Cowboy" living room

living room looking towards the front door

GAME DAY!!

Makayla is such a fun, cute and good little girl. I cannot believe how much she is looking like a toddler now. I miss my little baby! She is getting so good at saying little words. This week she learned how to say "Nanny"

We have been super busy with work since we got here but things are supposed to start slowing down here soon. Its been crazy learning everything and getting all the office work done! We enjoy Kansas so far and hope to have a great and successful future here!

All because two people fell in love...

Last Tuesday morning Mindy was asking me questions about the temple. She asked some questions like what color it is and was talking about getting married in the temple. I did not have anything particularly planned that day so, I decided to take the girls to the temple. It was a beautiful experience. The flowers were absolutely gorgeous and in full bloom. It was extremely hot outside so we didn't stay out there for long. When we were in the front looking at the flowers the gardener came up and gave us a flower and said it was a one day lilly so it would only bloom for that one day and then die so he thought we would enjoy it. It was so sweet and thoughtful. We also went inside and Aunt Judy gave Mindy her own picture of the temple and a temple coloring page. She sang "I love to see the temple" several times in the waiting area and all of the "grandmas and grandpas" were smiling at her. It was such a sweet experience. I'm so happy we had the opportunity to go and enjoy such a special blessing Heavenly Father has given us. The Boise Temple will always have a special place in my heart.

Matching Girls

I saw these skirts at Carters and I just HAD to get them. The girls look so CUTE and I love it when they match!!

This the cutest picture of the girls together out of the bunch, but most look like.....

Makayla's Birthday

I have been so bad lately about updating my blog so here are some pictures of Makayla on her first birthday May 23.

I cannot believe it has been a year!! It feels like we have always had baby Iya!! We love her so much! When we brought her home Mindy was 19 months and couldn't say Makayla but rather "I-ya"

I was so scared that Mindy would hurt her.....now its a daily occurrence :)

This is a picture of the girls both under a week old. Below is a picture of me wearing the same outfit after I was born. Makayla wore it 21 years later.

Here are some pictures of Makayla's Birthday Party. Makayla looked so cute!! Both the girls were matching and we had a blast at the snow shack.

Scentsy!!

Well....I decided to become a Scentsy Consultant, so, to get me started, I’m throwing a launch party!! I love Scentsy because it is such a great product that everyone can enjoy- even our husbands!! There is nothing like coming home to a scent you love. For me, smells bring back memories of good times, family, and even food!!

If you live in the area I would love it if you could join me for my first party. It is on Tuesday, June 2 at 6:00. If not, you can visit my web site and check out all the amazing products!!

www.scentsy.com/meganjohnson

Isn't this month's warmer SO CUTE!!!

To My Dad

For those that don't know, my dad left on Monday to sell pest control this summer in Wichita. I was just reflecting yesterday about him and thought of this experience we had together.

My family went to Disneyland several times through my school years. When I was a senior we had a great time like we did every year-but this one I will always remember. One of the evenings all of the "big kids" decited to go the big rides while mom and granny took the little kids on the kiddie rides. I didn't want to go on the big roller coaster so my Dad and I hung out and went shopping. He bought me the scarf that I am wearing in the picture. After we went shopping for something for mom we sat down on a bench in front of the huge christmas tree and talked. We talked for hours. I remember sitting there with him talking about what I wanted to accomplish in life and some of my plans for the future. I will never forget being with him and for the love I felt for him. I think of it often. It reminds me to slow down and take the time to talk, that my dad loves me, and, my moms favorite quote, "the most important things in life aren't things". We could have been screaming on rides and eating good food, but instead we just sat there and talked; and it is something I will never forget.

Thanks Dad for all the good times and the great advice. I love you.

Easter and Farewell to Jud

For Easter we went to my parents ward in Middleton to hear Judson give his farewell talk. He did a great job!! Here are some pictures at the Johnsons before we changed out of our sunday clothes....

This is all the girls after Jud was set apart. Its official...."Elder Waltman"

We all love Jud and will miss him so much. My parents are leaving after school today to take him to Utah. He enters the MTC Wednesday morning.
Makayla loves Uncle Jud. She wouldn't come to me after I was done taking pictues...she just wanted Jud.

Spring Break in Oklahoma

We decided to go to Oklahoma for Spring Break so we could see everything before we moved. We had been telling Mindy that we were moving far far away to Kansas, so she couldn't wait to go to "my Kansas" (even though we went to Oklahoma!)

Sorry, I know this picture is blurry but Monte and I laughed so hard when when we had been driving for a couple hours and look back and see our little girl reading "Western Horseman"

Brookelynn was such a good sport. She got stuck in our car all through Colorado and entertained Mindy and Makayla. She is a life saver!!

This is at Dad and Mom's land in Oklahoma. They own 160 acres and it is awesome!!

This is Monte and Preston at Dad and Mom's land. This is not an unusual site with Monte and teenagers!!

We could not believe the RED dirt!! If you look you can see the creek/river in the back...look how red it is!!

On Saturday Monte and I ventured out on our own to the Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. It was a Museum full of things we love. It was awesome!!

This is a picture of Mindy touching a plaque under the "Hall of Great Westerners"

It reads "Jordan Flake Arizona 1959" He is my Great Great Great Grandfather who founded Snowflake, AR. William Jordan Flake's son is Joel White Flake, and his son is Dennis Edson Flake, and his daughter is Carol Irene Flake Waltman (my grandma), and her son is Darren Dennis Waltman (my dad).

This is Mindy inside the town jail. She was hilarious because she kept saying "Look, I'm in a horse trailer"

On the way home Makayla was screaming for over an hour when I finally got a great idea to give her some licorice. She made a HUGE mess but it kept her quiet for 30 minutes of the 26 1/2 hour drive home!!

It was a long long long drive, but we had a blast. A special thanks to Donna for letting us crash and trash her house with all the kids and for a bed to sleep in. We had a blast with the Christensens! Thank you!!