Sometimes I am overwhelmed with the blessings our Heavenly Father pours upon our family. Life is busy - and the wear and tear of both of our callings, apply for jobs, and keeping up with the demands of five children and their schedules - can be a bit daunting.

Last Wednesday, I heard about this fun phenomena that happens in Yosemite during mid-February, where a certain waterfall "glows" at sunset and looks like it's on fire. "We should do that someday," I mused while showing everyone the pictures. And then it hit me - we should do that ON SATURDAY. We had already carved out that day for family time, and although it seemed impossible, we were able to throw everything together for a day-trip to Yosemite. Let me just say, it took absolutely nothing to convince Ken we should go - he was giddy with excitement!

We woke up early and left home at 6:30 and made it to the Yosemite Valley by 10am. It was cold, but nothing more than a few layers were needed. Our first stop was Bridalvale Falls. It was a quarter mile hike to the falls, and the kids immediately scampered around on the big boulders at the bottom of the falls and explored. 

Afterward, we stopped along the road to view the magnificent El Capitan and took family pictures. And, after an hour of the kids oohing and awing at the snowpack on the side of the road, we stopped and playing in the icy, yet beautiful, snow.

Finally, at noon, we made our way to a "real" hike. I wanted to do a 3-5 mile hike so we could MOVE! And although it was terrible on the ascent, we really loved hiking up a mountain to another waterfall. After two miles uphill, the kids were beat, and we headed down the mountain (somehow, the kids are much faster than us downhill - I blame our aging knees!). 

We spent some time at the visitor's centers and asked the rangers about this "firefall" event later that evening. People were already parked and waiting for this event when we drove in at 10am. We were worried we wouldn't find parking. But, that day was an odd miracle. Although it was off-season for Yosemite, this firefall made the day busier. And somehow, whenever we'd drive into a parking lot (that was always full) someone would pull out and bam! we'd have a parking spot. It seriously happened 4 times! 

We found parking near Horsetail Falls (our destination) and made camp in a field that had a great view. A cold 1.5 hours of waiting resulted in: a slightly pink sunset with a slightly pink waterfall. But the wait was fun as Ken made hot chocolate and herbal tea, Ellie and Cora had a snowball fight, and we just lounged around waiting for the sunset.

No traffic on the way home, and we were done and car unpacked by 10pm. No snarky teenagers. No difficult babies. Just a magical family trip that will be etched in our memories forever. We feel so blessed to have beautiful children that enjoy the things we enjoy. And we are so grateful for this beautiful world that God created for us. Oddly, most of it's beauty is near us in California - and we are willing to enjoy.

Ode to Cancer Girl

Around ten years ago, I met Laurie Evans. How lucky I am! Laurie is one of those souls that EVERYONE wants to be friends with. Somehow, I got her to call me friend too. 

Here are a few reasons I love Laurie:

- She's a foodie. When we lived in Arizona, and Ken was job hunting and out of town, Laurie and I would get together and watch Lost (another story - I will never forgive the producers of Lost for how they ruined a great show) and eat. We'd make recipes we wanted to try (usually involving chocolate), and gobble them down late at night (she also introduced me to Richard Castle during this time).

- Laurie KNOWS good books and tv. This is a rare gift. If Laurie recommends something, it's golden and I know it will be worth my time. To this day, The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite books - and I laugh when I think of Laurie's love of revenge books.  

- Her laugh. Laurie sees the GOOD in life, and she knows how to laugh and make me laugh. Maybe it's because we're both snarky - but I laugh at everything for hours when we get together.

- Laurie's testimony. She has a firm faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the atonement, and the plan of happiness. She is a great example to me about living a Christ-centered life, and she does it (to me) effortlessly. 

- Her resilience. Four years ago, just after we moved to Virginia, Laurie called me to tell me she she had cancer. During that time we'd gotten together for our food and Castle/Lost tv nights, Laurie's health started getting bad. Later she found out she had a tumor (22.5 pounds by surgery) in her abdomen.

Four years later, Laurie just had her fourth surgery to remove yet another growing tumor(s). Insurance problems, time off work, and high medical costs leaves Laurie struggling. Really, the only thing anyone with cancer should struggle with is survival.

Laurie is a surviver. And she does it with a smile on her face, optimism in the face of discouragement, and hope that the world is a great place full of loving, charitable people. Oh, and she still has her snarky charm as well.

Today I was lucky to gather with friends to have a small car wash to help fund Laurie's cancer costs (I'd rather fund her stash of peanut-butter chocolate Easter eggs, or her movie collection, but we'll have to do that after she defeats this cancer). It was so fun seeing one of my favorite people ever!

We gathered at a local McDonalds and the kids worked hard and washed lots of cars. 

 It was a hot day. The kids also played hard while they waited for cars to wash.

 And here's Kimmie - the amazing friend who organized the carwash for Laurie. 

If you want to help Laurie, aka Cancer Girl, and help prove that there is still major good in this world, you CAN! Just click on this link to her blog, enjoy her witty humor, be inspired by her optimism, and find refreshment in her candor. And maybe donate to her cancer fun while you're at it!

ARIZONA - Work Hard, Play Hard

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson sure know how to work hard and play hard. It seems as though they have a mini-farm in their backyard - complete with a barn, chickens, gardens, and a large wood pile (although they have no wood burning fireplaces). This summer, the boys are working hard splitting logs for the growing wood pile (and to earn some cash).

After working up a huge sweat, it's always fun jumping in the pool. They sure had fun playing with their grandparents while swimming.

Ellie had the GoPro the most, so she has the most pictures. These are just a few of the best.

Grandpa bought these water guns, and as you can tell from the pictures, they had a blast shooting each other with water.

ARIZONA - Big Surf Water Park

To survive Phoenix in the summer, you need two things: water and air conditioning. I don't know how this place was settled, because people had very little water and no air conditioning. Good thing we have modern-day technology and amazing pools.

We had fun going to Big Surf Water Park with cousins our cousins Cole, Rory, Mason, and Charlie. And since the older boys ran off to do their own thing, and since the younger kids went with Grandma, and since I was with Cora and Charlie (and Alex) most of the day, you will get mostly Cora baby pictures below.

 Cora and me enjoying the cool water.

Cora had fun going up and down this slide. Her dismount into the water wasn't so great, but she LOVEd it so much. (Not on camera because it died was Cora going down the bigger slides. Although she hit her head and fell into the water lots, she loved going down the longer slides. She is such a big girl!).

 Cora had fun splashing in the water. My favorite picture is on the top-left. She often fell in the water with her back down, and couldn't stand up. She was like an upside-down bug.

We got to hang out with Alex and Charlie.

Otho, Abe, and Cole getting ready to ride the big waves in the wave pool.

 This is what the wave pool looks like. It's super big and lots of people topple over you when the wave comes.

 The older kids doing funny faces under water for the GoPro.

WISCONSIN - Families are Forever

The Primary* theme of 2014 is Families are Forever. I love this theme. Coming to Wisconsin has been a great way to reinforce this theme in my own heart. I love my family. They are my best friends. Spending a week or two with them once a year is just not enough. We have so much fun. We laugh till we cry. We eat until we want to puke. We bake. We cook. We read. We talk, and talk, and talk.

Statistics:
2 (my parents)
8 (their children)
22 (all the grandchildren)
4 (grandchildren born in the last year)
1.5 (years my parents will be gone serving a mission for our church in Brazil)

All of those numbers make me so happy.

Here are a bunch of pictures of cute babies, cute cousins - really just too much CUTE.

*Primary is the Sunday School organization for the Mormon church.

2014 Carlsruh Family Photo

Such exciting news. David got engaged to Claudia (whom we love so much). They get married this October - which means we all get to hang out again in just a few months.

Brazil FHE. My parents are going to Rio (where my mom grew up) for a mission this fall. So excited for them!

The youngest baby Brynlee - who looks nothing like her mom and is the mini-female-version of her dad.

Lila with her dog Tootsie. This is probably my favorite collage. Lila loves Tootsie's kisses. You can see how much joy this dog brings to this baby!

Three of the Mattson girls (Emma, Lauren and Brooke).

 Caitlyn and McKenna are so talented. They spent the day painting the faces of these kids. Ellie's dog, Riley's flower, Brooke and Cate's butterfly, Wes' Toothless, and James' shark. The kids LOVED it.

 The extra garage is transformed into a playroom. Kids spent hours their playing ping-pong tournaments, air hockey, and chess. It's wonderful when they are in the garage because it brings the rare moments of "quiet" in the house.

Babies!!!


So much glorious food. Whitney and Brandon made the most amazing souther dinner. It was gone in minutes.

 Shoes, oh so many shoes!

WISCONSIN - Fishing

Otho loves fishing. He has a fisherman's temperament. He's happy to sit silently in a boat for hours waiting for the big bites. He doesn't mind getting dirty. And he is so excited when he catches a big fish. This year, Otho caught a huge 17+ inch big mouth bass. Grandpa caught a 21 inch bass as well (one of his biggest). It was a huge success!

Otho's trying to earn his fishing merit badge. Although he doesn't have to clean, cut, and cook the fish, we thought it would be a good skill to have. Grandpa taught him how to cut the fish, and cook it. They enjoyed a fish feast for dinner that night!

And Otho's not the only one successful at catching fish (big or small) in the lake!

WISCONSIN - Camping

I'd hate for the world to end, or for us to have to evacuate and live off the land one day. I don't think I'd survive. Not that I would hate living outside and camping and all - I do like camping (I'm married to Ken after all). It's just the amount of work it takes to pack for survival. Now, get 20+ adults and 20+ kids packed for camping - that's a lot of work.

Somehow, though, when we get the tents up and the food out and everything settled - well, all that work seems worthwhile.  We had a total of 6 tents for 24 people and one dog.

The kids spent the afternoon at the lake, playing in the sand and building a sand volcano. 

Camping in Wisconsin in the summer is just beautiful. The sky so blue, the trees so green, and the mosquitoes were not that bad. I went on a fun hike with April when, suddenly, the clouds unleashed a torrential downpour. We were wet through and through by the time we got back to camp. It was worth it, though, for the huge rainbow that jettisoned into the sky. 

If only that were the only rain of the trip. After a wonderful hamburger dinner by the Hess family, we all retreated into our tents for a night of terrible rain (forecasted 20% rain, yeah right). The older kids played cards in one tent, while the younger kids watched a movie on the kindle, and moms read.

Some babies didn't last the night (baby Brynlee at 2 months went home with mom and dad, so I sent Cora along with them). We slept well, woke up a bit wet, enjoyed breakfast. The sun didn't decide to come out until we had already packed up our wet gear. We had one last hike to an Indian teepee, and then we left for home.

Ken says that rain makes for the best camping weather because it makes everything memorable. I think he's right.