This is my favorite picture of the reunion this year. A ball, a stick, a hat and a little water from the spring is all we need to have a good time, create and renew our bonds of friendship that will last and strengthen us in this life and the next. Mitt especially enjoyed his cousins this year. He had a little posse he called his "guys". Mitt, Will, Cody & TJ really enjoyed themselves
A traditional line-up of the grandkids. From oldest to youngest; Nathan, Tanner (on mission), Madi (not here yet), Jake, McKell, Isaac, Spencer, TJ & Samantha, Morgan, Josie, Garrett, Aaron, McKaela, Marc (sleeping off a seizure), Joshua, Gavin. Jonathan, Abby, Kaden, Cropper, Sidney, Jud, Grant, Katelyn, Will, Cody, Mitt, Hannah
I hesitate to mention this out loud but I have always felt like the Johnson Ranch has some kind of protection from harm going on. It just seems like it's a miracle there are never any accidents, no one ever gets injured or hurt. Anyway, we had a momentary scare when little TJ turned up missing. Usually a quick search of beds, barns & such will turn up the missing one. A fairly calm evening of searching and still no TJ. With only about 1 hour before the lights went out and the nerves escalating, a quick family prayer by Paul and a scattering of searchers of all ages on foot and 4-wheeler left us without our little 2 year old. The spirit speaks quietly to those that are listening and can help. Fortunately Matt & Spencer were where they needed to be on the 4 wheeler and able to listen to the still small voice telling them to drive all the way to the entrance of the Ranch, 2 miles down a winding up and down hill road. From the looks of Spencer's Hair Matt must have been going 90 MPH. At the entrance to turn around Spencer saw through the bushes outside the ranch entrance, on the way to the freeway a little part of a very little person. Not sure how TJ got so far away and know there was only one reason why Matt & Spencer would have driven that far to even look, but a huge sigh and a great big thank you to our Father in Heaven, left us all with grateful hearts. I think TJ spent the rest of the week at the ranch right here in his mothers arms.
Morgan took on the fireside deserts, he made mexican smoores. Made with peanut butter, Nautalla (chocolate spread), banana's, chocolate chips & marshmellows wrapped in a tortilla and aluminum foil thrown on the hot coals for 5 - 10 minutes and wallah! I've got to say they were the best! Also, made some orange cakes by hollowing out an orange and putting cake batter inside, wrapping in foil thrown in the hot coal for 10-15 minutes and Hmm, Hmm good.
Madi & Zane taking advantage of the hangin out and takin it easy time at the ranch. Since Madi came we were only missing one grandchild. Tanner is on a mission in New Jersey. all others present and accounted for.
Grandpa Johnson couldn't get away from the kids favorite talent. And Marc shared his musical skills on the harmonica for several of his favorite songs that we sang to. "Pop Corn Popping", "Head Shoulders Knees & Toes" & "Itsee Bitsee Spinder". There were many great Jokes told, singing and piano playing by all the Grandkids on talent knight.
The sun finally warmed up enough to divert the irrigation ditch onto a piece of plastic fun. The little ones enjoyed the slide while the bigger kids headed to the culvert to slide down the pipe under the freeway. Fun for everyone.
A highlight for Georgia and I was McKell being named to the All State Academic Team and being presented at the State Finals at Rio Tinto this award. McKell would have preferred playing in the game, but this was not bad.
Being presented with her All State Academic Award at Rio Tinto.
Renee, Robert, Me, Jacob & Mylee.
This little glacier bay has some floating ice-bergs and is just filled with glacier run off. Not sure the name but is on the way to Whittier.
We took a road trip one day to Seward. There were SIlver Salmon jumping in the bay here but were just mocking us. None of them wanted to get caught apparently.
We stopped at a little stream that empties into the Cook Inlet. We found a few Silver's that were heading upstream resting in a little pocket. Not to bad. We went back here later and didn't stay long enough to catch any more as there were fresh bear track and we got a little nervous.
We saw lots of Red Salmon, but they have been out of the ocean for quite some time now and are not in good enough shape to eat or catch. I did snag this one just to take a picture.
Jay took us out in his boat one day to fish and a moose ran out of the woods and through this little lake in front of us.
Our first day headed fishing with Jay in his boat. We saw several pockets of Silver Salmon and had a couple on line but they all jumped off our hooks. Bummer!
The Cook Inlet is South of Anchorage and we passed by it every day on our way to different places. Every day on the way past we saw several Balooga Whales. They are white and were feeding on the Salmon up and down the inlet. It was very cool.
Marc loves his birthday present. But is having a hard time figuring out how to use the brakes. So we are having some danger when he gets going downhill at all.
Abby. you look pretty dry. Cropper not so much.
Allen, put Sophie out and gave her a military haircut. She will never have long hair again. We love it! No, shedding and floating hairs at our house. Sophie was a little embarrassed at first. When she came home she would go outside. But she likes it now as well. She even sneaks over and sleeps on the carpet, which she new she was never allowed to do before.
The boys pitched in and helped build a nice log fence around the horse corral.
A traditional line-up of the grandkids. From oldest to youngest; Nathan, Tanner (on mission), Madi (not here yet), Jake, McKell, Isaac, Spencer, TJ & Samantha, Morgan, Josie, Garrett, Aaron, McKaela, Marc (sleeping off a seizure), Joshua, Gavin. Jonathan, Abby, Kaden, Cropper, Sidney, Jud, Grant, Katelyn, Will, Cody, Mitt, Hannah
Madi & Zane taking advantage of the hangin out and takin it easy time at the ranch. Since Madi came we were only missing one grandchild. Tanner is on a mission in New Jersey. all others present and accounted for.
Grandpa Johnson couldn't get away from the kids favorite talent. And Marc shared his musical skills on the harmonica for several of his favorite songs that we sang to. "Pop Corn Popping", "Head Shoulders Knees & Toes" & "Itsee Bitsee Spinder". There were many great Jokes told, singing and piano playing by all the Grandkids on talent knight.The sun finally warmed up enough to divert the irrigation ditch onto a piece of plastic fun. The little ones enjoyed the slide while the bigger kids headed to the culvert to slide down the pipe under the freeway. Fun for everyone.
Aaron, Gavin, McKell & Cropper are sporting there hat designs. It looks like the Duck tape gangsters.
Just a little fine tuning on McKell's hat size from the master hat designer and hat maker. Josie received her face painting masterpiece from Katelyn I think. Soooo beautiful
Busy at the craft table is Morgan, Sammy and McKaela
The face painting was very popular with the ladies. Where are the boys? McKaela, Sammy, McKell & Katelynn
This is the Molton Family. Brought back from then late 1800's to celebrate with us. The Molton's came from England to be with the Saint's in Utah. Were promised in a blessing that they would all arrive safely and since they joined the Willey Handcart Company and crossed the Plains pulling a handcart with a newborn and 2 other small children it was no small miracle. The Johnson's are descendants of Sophia, played by Kaitlynn, she must have been 3 years old.
The cousins start to show up and renew there friendships. The Johnson Ranch has made a place for them to meet together, have fun and form bonds that not many families can have. It is a great blessing in that regard. Garrett, Morgan, Mitt, Aaron, Garrett, Cropper, Kaitlynn,
Sidney Woodworth, Abbey Rose & Hannah Johnson
Morgan Palmer (14) & Garrett Rose (13) the open 3 Legged Race Champions. Is that blood, or just a really bad rope burn? Victory takes away all pain.
Runner-up in the open 3 legged race was our very own Kayla Henrie (12) & McKell Palmer (17) They might not have won the race, but if there was a prize for the smartest they would have got the trophy for wearing boots to a 3 legged race. No blood or rope burns to scar these beautiful legs.
The youngest entries in the 3 legged race getting ready. Aaron & Gavin, Abbey & Sidney, Cropper & Kade
