Motorcycle Time

Cadence loves our neighbors across the street, Kevin and Calli! She also loves motorcycles (except if their "too loud"). Kevin had a motorcycle and Cadence wanted to sit on it. She is such a model!!! I just love to post pictures of her being so cute!!!

My Yearly Haircut

BEFORE!!!!!

I got my yearly haircut as close to my due date as I dared (and when my friend. Jen McQueen, could cut it). I want to look good when I am in labor:) Isn't that what is most important? I will be painting my toenails soon too - which I NEVER do. I get my hair cut and highlighted every summer and hope that I can make it look decent for a whole year. Jen does a great job making me look good. I'm sad though because this will probably be the last cut she does on my hair since she is getting married and has moved to Salt Lake. (Yeah for Jen!!!) She is working at a salon by Jungle Jim's Playland around 7800 S. and Fort Union if any of you want her to work magic on your hair!

Both of these pictures are a little scary as they are TOO CLOSE to my face. However, I took them myself and my arms aren't 3 feet long.

AFTER!!!

Five Days To Go!

So, Here it is Monday. I have five days until my due date. I thought I would post some pictures of me with a baby bump that is ready to explode. I'm feeling pretty good. My back has some aches and ocassionally I have shooting pain down my legs, but other than that I'm feeling quite well. (Oh, I am hot often and sometimes tired.) On the top picture you can almost see my belly button popping out!!! Enjoy - and pray that Baby Johnnie comes on Friday, July 4th!!!

Oh Thank Heavens For 7-11

Like I mentioned, some days I am so hot! Literally, I am sweating and yucky! It kind of reminds me on being on the mission in South Carolina in hot humidity. I haven't had a slurpee for almost a year and I finally took the liberty to indulge in one of my favorite treats. Cadence developed a passion for slurpees instantly. We've got slurpees twice in the last three days. Chris knows how to make me happy when he says, "Do you want to go get a slurpee?" In my mind that is a rhetorical question - one that needs no verbal answer. The real question should be "When would you like to go for a slurpee? Now or in 2 minutes.?"

I look forward to many more slurpees this summer.

Warm Fires and Cold Popsicles

After trimming the trees, Chris wanted to build a small fire in the backyard. We pulled out the lawn chairs and sat looking at the flames dance. Somedays, I feel like such a redneck.

Due to hot weather lately and me feeling like I'm melting (maybe it is related to be pregnant), popsicles have become a daily treat. Cadence and I both love to eat our popsicles. We could probably eat them all day long if we had enough.

Trimming The Trees

One of the trees in our yard has a large branch that has a split in it. The problem is it is way over our heads even on a ladder. We tried trimming it last year and couldn't get to it. When I got home from Snowbird, the bottom of the branch was hanging low and obviously needed to be cut. Luckily, while we were at Grammy's a week ago, Chris noticed a small chainsaw on a pole for tree trimming. Even with the ladder and the extension pole, Chris could barely reach where it needed to be cut. There are still some branches that need to be cut that we can't reach.

After the largest branch fell, Chris cut it up with an axe and all three of us dragged the smaller branches back behind the garden. Cadence loves to assist with almost every project in which we are involved. She dragged her share of little branches to where they needed to go.

Yes, even at 8 1/2 months pregnant I still like to do yardwork.

Cadence, of course, had to climb up the ladder "by myself" and sit at the top. Luckily, she let Dad stand on the ladder while she was sitting. She is such a climber!!!

Snowbird - Swimming, Sisters, and a Sprain!

Every year since before I can remember, my family has had a time share at Snowbird the third week of June. This year, while Chris was at work, Cadence and I enjoyed being at the mountain resort. Cadence thoroughly loved being with her cousins (Maddie and McKinley) and swimming. She also loved eating all the treats Grammy brought. Russ and Sandy, Kelsie and Sierra were at girls' camp so they only were able to spend a couple of hours on Sunday with us. Tammie and Jeff, Sydney and Cole spent Saturday and Sunday at Snowbird due to Sydney's dance recital later on in the week. Cadence is a great swimsuit model. She had 4 hand-me-down swimsuit she wore! Why can't all swimsuit model be as modest and beautiful as Cadence?

Since I didn't feel like getting in a swimsuit, Grammy took Cadence to the 'Mom & Tot' swim class. Cadence learned to splash on herself to different verses of the "The Wheels on the Bus," blow a ball above the water (even though she was supposed to blow it in the water), climb out and jump into the pool, kick and paddle. She wasn't ready to put her face in the water yet, but made great progress as far as not being as afraid of the water by the end of the week.

Cadence and Maddie loved karaoke hour. They both got up three times (together). They sang YMCA, Old MacDonald and I already forgot the other song. Cadence wouldn't start until the words were on the screen. She really knew what was going on and sang very well into the microphone. She was the star of the karaoke.

Cadence loved acting like Maddie and McKinley were her big sisters. She always wanted to know where they were if they weren't in her sight. After we came home, she kept talking about them. She loves her Grammy too!

McKinley was such a big help in the pool. Cadence trusted her tremendously. When McKinley would back away from Cadence and get out of her reach, Cadence would say in the sweetest voice, "Come back to me please." Cadence actually let McKinley assist her in floating on her back.

Another cute picture of the swimsuit model named Cadence.

This was about as close as I got to swimming. I really didn't want to get in a swimsuit and I was nervous about all the chemicals and germs in the pool (even though my doctor says there is nothing to worry about), but I do have to admit that I almost ran down the canyon to buy something so I could go to the Mom & Tot class and play with Cadence. She was just having so much fun.

The girls in the pool!!! They went swimming twice a day for probably about 3 hours combined each day. Nobody got sunburned badly because we used a lot of sunscreen.





Cadence cuddled up in bed with Maddie and McKinley even though she slept with me every night. We all stayed up late watching movies and having fun!




On Sunday, which was Father's Day, Chris was able to spend the day with us. We attended church on the balcony of the Snowbird center. We could hear the birds and river in the background. It was one hour and very heavenly. Dad sat in the pool with Cadence with a few minutes before he had to go home. His Father's Day present was being with us girls, a baby boy in a few weeks and a sport coat and dress pants he bought about a month ago.

Sydney and Cole played with Cadence on the playground when they were visiting on Saturday and Sunday. Cadence loves them both!!!

Though fishing wasn't very good, Cadence felt very special to be able to hold Sydney and Cole's pole for a couple of minutes.




Every evening we went on a walk to see how much of the snow/ice-covered river had caved in. Every day, more of the river was showing. We even saw a few large pieces of ice break off the banks and flow down the river. Cadence assisted Maddie in pushing the stroller on the walks sometimes.

Usually, we walk over to the lookout point (looks down the canyon), but this year there was too much snow and the trail was covered in many places. People were still taking the tram up the mountain and skiing down!!!

We walked over to the start of the trail just to see it and I stepped on the snow. I was holding Cadence and the snow shifted just an inch. Due to my lack of balance and loose ligaments, my ankle rolled. I hobbled back to where my mom could pick me up in a car and take me to the condo. I spent the rest of the day with my ankle raised and on ice. It swelled and has turned a nice bluish-purple color. I'm such a klutz!!! I was so mad at myself. Luckily, I am able to get around just fine now. It just swells every day and is a little sore.


In all, our Snowbird vacation was so relaxing and fun. Cadence wishes that she had big sisters like Maddie and McKinley. She wishes she could "blow bubbles" and go swimming every day. She loves entertaining and is still singing 'YMCA' and trying to do the actions with her arms. We will be back at Snowbird next year for another year of swimming, fingernail painting, snacking, hiking (without spraining an ankle), cousins/sisters, movies and fun. Thanks Grammy for allowing us to come and spend the week with you!!!

A Potty Paradise!

Miracles have happened in the last week! Most of them involve...the potty! Cadence was going to the potty (tee-tee) often for about 2 weeks when she was 21 months old. (That was 2 months ago.) Then one day she decided she was finished with the potty. I decided to try again with encouragement when we moved upstairs. She would go every once in a while and I was quite excited. Just this last week, she decided that she was a big girl. Two days ago (while on vacations), she kept telling me she needed to go big girl potty. She stayed dried ALL DAY until 10pm. Yesterday she only went tee-tee in her diaper once. Cadence has yet to show interest in going poop in the toilet. She likes to hide in a corner or go behind a couch, squat, grunt and poop. Well, today another miracle happened. When she tells me she needs to go big girl potty, she gets her diaper and pants off and runs around saying, "I'm naked. I'm naked." I let her keep her diaper off for about a half hour. Today after she went big girl potty, she was running around and being a crazy. She told me she needed to go potty again. I took her into the potty and she went...POOP!!! That's right! Cadence went POOP in the potty. I was celebrating and calling Grammy to come see the poop. I wanted to get a picture of her first poop for this blog, but Cadence flushed the potty and all the evidence of this miracle was lost. Needless to say, I am so proud of Cadence. I knew when she decided to be potty-trained that she would just do it. She is amazing. Today, while we were swimming, she told me she needed to go big girl potty. I rushed her out of the pool, into the restroom, got her wet swimsuit and swim diaper off and she went tee-tee in the potty! She is so capable and smart. I'm hoping that she is completely potty trained by the time the baby comes (2 1/2 weeks) and that she doesn't regress. Pray with me that this happens

*My Little Flower Girl*

I love to take pictures of Cadence with flowers. She is "my little flower girl." I thought these pictures of Cadence are "so sweet."

The Spot!!!

The other day, Cadence got in some boxes that I haven't unpacked yet. She found a tube of long-lasting lipstick. She knew it was make-up and put a little dash on her eye (she thought was mascara!!!) When I discovered Cadence, 'the spot' had dried on her eyebrow. She has been very concerned about it because it WON'T wash off!!! She won't let me scrub 'the spot.' I showed Cadence that Mommy had a spot too. Thanks to pregnancy, I get this really cool acne on my neck. Everytime Cadence looks in the mirror and starts to worry about 'the spot, I show her Mommy's 'spot.' I reassure her that spots are COOL and BEAUTIFUL!!! It has been 3 days and 'the spot' is slowly fading. It looks like a red birthmark on her eyebrow.

Cadence's and Mommy's 'spot.'

A Visit to Grammy's House!

There are certain activities we do almost everytime we visit Grammy's. First, we HAVE to swing on her tire swing. Cadence could swing for hours and not get bored. She is very daring and likes to go higher than my head.

She also likes to jump on Grammy's 30-year-old trampoline. This is the tramp on which I grew up jumping. I can't believe it has lasted this long!!! It's life is finally coming to an end. I think it is beyond repair. Cadence still can jump in the corner if I am standing by it. Otherwise, she likes to see how close she can get to the big hole and put sticks through it.

Next, we go to the Living Planet Aquarium. We bought a year pass last September and have used it at least 15 times. Cadence enjoys seeing the fish and she will often talk about the stingrays (even though she is afraid of them.) When she sees Nemo and Doree she gets really excited!

The last activity we normally do if we have time is to ride some rides and play some games at CHUCK E. CHEESE! We don't usually buy the pizza (it costs too much and takes too much time). We take a few tokens and let Cadence have fun! She always wants to give Chuck E. Cheese five or give him a kiss.

The Best Father There Is!!!

Cadence holding a rare dandelion for Chris to smell!

When we go on a walk as a family, Chris usually ends up carrying Cadence on one of his shoulders at some point. She likes to play with his hair!!!

You guessed it! Chris Johnnie is the best father there is!!! When Chris gets home from work, Cadence wants to be around DAD. She is a Daddy's girl! She loves to play with, wrestle, sit on his lap and just be with DAD. Chris loves Cadence tremendously. He is so patient. He teaches her so many good things and has wonderful ideas on what we should do to raise her to continuing to be an amazing person.

Chris and Cadence swimming at Snowbird. I choose to sit this one out due to my extra large belly!!!!

Cadence loves school buses!!! When visiting the aquarium, Chris held Cadence up to the windows so she could see inside the bus. She was so excited!!!

Chris is an excellent husband!!! I couldn't have been luckier than to be married to Chris Johnnie. I am VERY blessed. He puts up with a lot of complaining and whining from me. I wish all my single friends could find someone as incredible as Chris to marry. Chris is THE MAN!!! I love you! Happy Father's Day!!!

Our family in the kiddie pool!