May Miscellaneous
Months are speeding by here. Just thought I’d write a little about what’s been going on this month
D E N V E R O V E R N I G H T E R
Actually at the end of April but I’ll attach it to our Amalfi trip - which ended in May. Our good flights to Naples (and through Istanbul) were from Denver… the perfect place for Chris and I to meet after a week of WY work. Both of our flights were delayed because of Denver fog and by the time we met up and ubered downtown it was 1:00am.
We enjoyed a morning walk to Milk Market and up 16th Street, got ready and went to a German restaurant for lunch and then to the Colorado Rockies game for the afternoon. We enjoyed the Union Station together and then took a train to the airport to hook up with Mom, Brian, Mike and Carly. Such a fun day with my man!
A M A L F I T R I P W I T H T H E W A L T O N S
How do I even sum it up except to say we had the best time!!
22 hour layover in Istanbul: we shuttled to the city center, checked into our hotel, wandered around the Blue Mosque, went out to eat with a perfect view of the Mosque at night, woke up early to wander the streets, breakfast at our hotel rooftop, over to the Grand Bazaar and then back to the Blue Mosque to go inside. Then shuttled back to the airport for our flight to Naples.
Afternoon in Naples. After a unnesecarily long time storing our luggage, we ubered to the National Architectural Museum and then through the streets ending with delicious pizza in the birthday of pizza itself. Then back to the airport to meet up with Dan, Sarah, Scott, Elisha, Amy and Chris. The party continues!
Positano for three nights: A day in Amalfi, Atrani and the hilltop town of Ravello and then a day hiking the Path of the Gods and swimming in the Mediterannean.
Capri for two nights: A fun afternoon in Annacapri, an amazing boat ride around the island and several evenings dining in Capri. Just amazing.
We spent our last day touring Pompeii with Gaeotano and Herculaneum on our own
M A T T ‘ S B I R T H D A Y
He was at home on his real birthday. He slept in and then I made him Christmas breakfast with grape juice. His good friend, Cody, picked him up and paid for his lunch at Cafe Rio and then dropped him off at Dixie High so he could ride up to the Track Meet with his team.
Matt ran the 1600 and got a PR by about 5 seconds. — 5:05. So fun to get a PR on your birthday! It was so fun to watch him run! We picked up SWIG and then headed over to Christensens in Cedar City to pick out a few birthday shirts before heading home.
On Friday afternoon Matt and I headed over to the DMV and got his DRIVER’S LICENSE. So exciting!!
We waited until Saturday to open presents so Dad would be home. He opened up his two t-shirts, some swim googles, a coupon for DISNEY+, a card and $40 from Grandma Walton, (a card from Grandma Johnson coming in the mail), a coupon for new SHOES (he picked out white sambas with green stripes), an epic INVINCIBLE shirt from Luke (a show that they are into right now and was very excited to give), and then a fun present from Ryan and Cassie with a tag that said ‘Facetime us when you open’…
Ryan had this idea for MONTHS and was so excited to have Matthew fly out to Tulsa for the weekend. Matt opened up a JOHNSON AIRLINES ticket to Tulsa and Matt smiled but didn’t quite understand. Then he opened the folder with a full brochure of fun things to do and a schedule for the exact weekend they would be together. He finally said, “Am I flying there by myself?” It was when everyone answered yes that he got super excited! Lucky boy flies to Tulsa in five days!
Saturday after presents Luke, Dad and Matt headed to HOUSTON HOT CHICKEN for a birthday lunch.
Saturday night we hosted a 16th birthday party for Matt and all his friends. They swam, played Spikeball and Pickleball, ate a big taco dinner, hung out, opened presents and watched Lego Batman in the Theater Room. He had a great night. He really has the best friends.
S I C K
Home from the trip and sick for the first two or three days. Weak and completely exhausted for a good 24 hours — beyond being jetlagged. Nice that it didn’t last long.
M O T H E R ‘ S D A Y
On Saturday afternoon Chris, and Matt headed out for a few errands and brought me back a bouquet of beautiful orange roses, a Beach Babe Swig and sugar cookie (I squealed with delight) and then 4 Costco lounge chairs. I figured having a few more for big parties would be fun. I really wasn’t anticipating a Mother’s Day present, but they were fun surprises.
Dad spoke in church for Mother’s Day and did a great job. Lots of people were touched and let him know that his words meant a lot.
I got a cute text from Chris on Sunday morning expressing his love and then a 10/10 card that said ALL HAIL MY WIFE - I LOVE YOU and I LOVE OUR LIFE. He’s a keeper.
Katie wrote me a card and gave me a SWIG giftcard.
All the kids texted and called and it was fun to chat with Megan for awhile too. I feel so lucky to be mom to these six.
W E E K T H R E E M I S C
The boys and I attended the big youth party for the Seniors. So fun!
Chris is home working for Tuba City all week but enjoyed a mid-day golf lesson. He just joined a club for lessons and inside golf practice. I’m excited for him.
Tuesday night the four of us went to the Farnsworth’s to visit and hold their sweet new baby - Nora Jean. She’s adorable!!
Wednesday morning we played pickle ball with the boys. I love it! So fun.
Wednesday night I went over to Kristi’s house for Benja Thai with some friends.
Thursday we got Matt off on his flight and then the two of us went to the St. George temple to do sealings, up to Cliffside for sourdough bread, spinach salad, butternut squash soup, sweet potato fries and pear pasta. Then we grabbed Crumbl cookies and took a sample box to Luke at work. Such a fun date night!
I’ve been spending lots of time sweeping the pool everyday. I’m the pool gal around here. I’m also the one who enjoys it the most and usually spends a half hour floating in the pool and laying in the sun most afternoons.
It’s been fun to post some stories about our Amalfi Trip the last week. It takes a lot of time but I do loved to have them saved as stories and share them with family and friends. Fun to connect with a few friends who had enjoyed following. Friday night, with the house to myself, I journaled, and added the Path of the Gods pics to Instagram. Then I connected with family, shopped online, and edited pics.
Luke and Dad enjoyed a Ward Father/Son Campout at Baker Resevoir Friday night. They had a great dinner, visited with a ton of people, and played Cribbage before heading to bed.
Dad taught Gospel Doctrine on Sunday and did a great job. Luke headed off to Bishop’s Happy Hour on Sunday night.
T U L S A W E E K E N D F O R M A T T
Matt flew from the St. George airport to SLC for a layover and then on to Tulsa. Ryan picked him up at the airport at midnight.
Ryan worked on Friday but Cassie and Matt met up with him for lunch at Chipotle. When Ryan got home at 2:30 they they played games, had 3 chili tacos, went to the park with the dogs, played bocce ball and then Wii and Switch.
Saturday they played some Smash Bros Brawl on the Wii, some Mario Bros Wonder on the Switch, went on a hike, played ARK NOVA (Cassie won), went to Braum’s for dinner and then played seven wonders duel and more wii and switch.
Sunday they played an early game of seven wonders duel (they love that game together), Nidavallir and enjoyed pancakes for breakfast. At church Ryan and Cassie both gave talks (which they recorded and sent to us and we loved). After church another game of Nidavallir, amazing enchiladas for dinner, Seven Wonders Duel, Lord of the Rings duel and Mario Bros. Wonder till 1:00am.
Monday they played a final game of Lord of the Rings duel and then Ryan took Matt to the airport and he watched Hobbit on the Flight. Such a great weekend for my boys. I picked up Matt from the Las Vegas airport and we drove home together. When I asked Matt about what he learned about being at Ryan and Cassie’s house, he said that ‘Ryan and Cassie have a good marriage and they are always helping each other.
S C H O O L I S O U T a n d S U M M E R P L A N S
Tuesday was the boys official last day of Dixie classes. Matt has been done with his online classes for awhile and Luke had to work right up until the last day (May 9th) to get everything done on time. It’s definitely nice to be done for the summer! And what a busy summer it is…
Boys Ward High Adventure Backpacking Trip
Lake Powell House boating Trip with the Johnsons
Midway Lodge Getaway
St. George with Chris and Amy
Matt off to Malaysia and Luke off to the Philippines for HXP (And Katie and Taylor off to Asia for the entire summer as Region Leads!!)
Chris, Emily and I off to Japan - Tokyo and Kyoto
YW Girls Camp for Lisa
Reno and Lake Shasta House boating Trip with the Waltons
FSY for Matt and Emmett in Cedar City
One last weekend trip to Midway before school starts
M E M O R I A L D A Y W E E K E N D
Saturday: Chris, Taylor, Luke and Matt golfed SUNRIVER on Saturday morning and the girls headed to TIFANY’S for crepes and french toast — which wasn’t as good as I remembered. We hung out at our house and had the best time sitting in the shade and making AI songs about JOHNSON COUSINS at THE POOL and then creating one for Shelley’s birthday (since she hadn’t arrived yet). Shelley, Nikole, Ashlyn, Lindsey, Katie and I headed to the Fika Reflexology Bar for 60 minute foot, hand and scalp massages for our Mother’s Day Present for Shelley. Heavenly! We headed over to Urban Renewal and then to Benja Thai to wait forever for our order — a quick trip to SWIG thanks to Shelley — and then back to our house for dinner and games and hanging out outside. A beautiful night. Chris and I ran over to Kristi’s party for 45 minutes while the gang played NERTZ. Then a game of Quacks to finish the night.
Sunday: Chris and Matt headed over to Emmett’s sister’s farewell and Katie and Taylor came to church with Luke and I. Katie came to YW’s with me and I taught a lesson on SPIRITUAL GIFTS and on SEEKING THE LIGHT and CHASING AWAY DARKNESS. It was a fun lesson to prepare and talk about. At home we ate chips and fresh salsa and then watched an hour or so of family videos - that Dad recently got set up on a computer and app that can be organized and pulled up on the TV’s and theater room. Sunday night we headed over to Nikole’s house for a birthday party for Shelley. She LOVED our song we created for her. I’m glad we videoed it! We ate strawberry shortcake and Chris and I loved teaching Ashlyn and Nikole how to play Castles of TUSCANY.
Monday: Chris, Katie, Taylor, Emily, Luke, Matt and I worked out, played pickleball, and hung out by the pool until everyone headed to golf at Dixie Red Hills at 11:50am. I enjoyed the afternoon at home getting things cleaned up, venmo-ing graduates, dropping off some friend birthday presents and YW things. It was so wonderful. My gang came back with Bowl Superfoods — which was good— and we ate them in the back yard. Then Katie, Taylor, Chris and I talked and floated in the pool for an hour, and then played AZUL by the pool. It was the perfect day! Ashlyn and boys came over, we ate RED FORT Indian Food and then watched a movie in the theater room.
Y M H I G H A D V E N T U R E
The boys took off on their High Adventure trip on Thursday morning and got back Saturday at noon. They hiked 7 miles on Thursday and 7 miles on Friday and enjoyed being at the front of the pack while they hiked. They got to be better friends with the guys, enjoyed the devotionals from their leaders, did a little rapping around the campfire - Little Matty J, played some games and ate well. Sounds like it was a great trip. On Sunday Bishop encouraged all the YM to sit on the stand with him. He started with his emotional testimony and then one by one most of the boys got up to share their feelings about High Adventure and the things they had learned from their leaders. It was amazing and so fun to hear about. Luke was second up and talked about how he looked up to the leaders even though they were the very slowest and that he wanted to be like them when he grew up even though they were so old. He added the perfect amount of humor and it was really great. Matt talked about his leader Bro. W and his great devotionals. So proud of both of them to stand and share their feelings.