Christmas Gingerbread Houses

Christmas is coming! I am getting so excited. What a better way to start it off by making gingerbread houses. I am going to admit... I have never made one before. Ok maybe in 2nd grade but that was the last time. We had a lot of fun doing this for a family home evening with some friends.

Here is our lovely creation

Happy Thanksgiving again in the Big City

Happy Gobble Gobble in New York City! We had a great time heading back to NYC for the holiday and spending it with great friends we hadn't seen for a while.

We of course stayed with Mel and Trav in their really nice and new apt! No more student housing for these peeps... they are moving up the world :)

The first night we stayed up until like 4:30 a.m. talking... so we didn't quite make it to the Macy's day parade. But we slept in, had a yummy breakfast, started making our dishes for the big feast, and then walked through Central Park.

We went to our great friends the Waters for Thanksgiving. It was such a treat! What yummy food we had. Thank you Charissa and Bryce!

Afterwards we had to keep up the tradition of going to a holiday movie. This year we saw "Blindside"... such a great movie!

So this picture below doesn't really do justice... but this was Old Navy on 34th.. on Black Friday... crazy... but great deals

I had to take all of the fun pics... a lot of them are the same as last year but fun to see all of the great decor again!

So the last day we were there, we went to Brooklyn to check out the par, and the amazing neighborhoods

Even though we look so ugly in this pic... I am still laughing about it

What a fun trip! New York is always awesome around the holidays. I swear we've been like every month and we can't get enough of it. So we left Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. to avoid traffic on Sunday... well we didn't get home until 4:30 a.m. East coast traffic... so much fun :).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

New Moon

Wow don't we love the Twilight series! My friends and I went to see the midnight showing of New Moon. I've never done a midnight showing and it was so fun! I really wasn't that tired...and I don't even drink caffeine :) We had a great time and were lucky enough to get great seats! I actually liked the movie... brings back so many memories of when I read the book. When I left for the movie Jeff said "So... could you please try not to look at that Taylor/Jacob kid so much when his shirt if off?" I laughed... funny thing is, I am still and Edward fan. But of course Jeff will always overpower Edward :)

Can't wait for the next one!

Oh and let me tell you that I got home from the movie at 2:45 a.m. and had to be to the airport at 5:45 a.m. now that's dedication. You're welcome Stephenie Meyer.

Cabin Weekend

A couple of weeks ago we had a great time going up to a cabin for a weekend with all of our good friends. Lots of games, food, movies, sleep, and more games. We stayed up until like 3 or 4 am every night. But it was so fun and relaxing getting away up in the mountains. We cooked each night, went out for lunch and then on Sunday went on fun hike to see some waterfalls. Jeff and I have been itching to get away to a cabin for so long.. and we finally did!

here is the fun house that we rented... big screen, pool table, 4 bedrooms... so much fun!

Congratulations to Jeff!! He Graduated!!

He did it! October 23rd was his graduation. I am so proud of him. We had such a great time. It was a neat graduation in NYC! It was one of the greatest trips with Liz, Alan, my mom and Dad and Jeff and I. We got in Thursday night and the graduation was Friday morning at 10 a.m. at a Cathedral on Campus. What an amazing journey. Every time we go back to New York we will remember our time at Columbia. It was honestly one of the funnest years of our lives. Now we hold a special place for NYC in our hearts :). I can't believe the rush I feel every time I visit! I am so grateful that Jeff and I had that time to live away and experience amazing memories on our own. Jeff- I know that a graduate degree is a hard path and you did it. Thanks to you, you have set up such a great future for our family and I thank you for that. Thank you for the amazing journey at Columbia University. I love you!

All of the students in the cathedral

Getting ready before

Getting his diploma!

The Olsen and us. We couldn't do the journey without them!

We had a great time in NYC after seeing movies, going to dinner, shopping, and exploring all of our favorite spots.

My mom and I before the ceremony

We ate at one of our favorite restaurants after on the Upper West Side called Havanna Central

Thank you families for coming and for being so supportive while we were away! We had such a great time when you would visit. We loved to show off our little apartment, our favorite restaurants and our knowledge on knowing the "ins and outs" of the city. We will all go back again someday... but this trip was truly the best! love you all!

Mom and Dad Come to Virginia

As I've mentioned before... I am very late on these posts! This was a trip that I was looking forward to for so long (October 20th-26th). My parents coming into town! We had such a great time. They thought that they would come in for a few days before we all headed off to NYC for Jeff's graduation.

We had a great time going into D.C. seeing a few museums like the MINT, the Holocaust, and then capital.. etc. We had such great weather! It was beautiful.

Here we all are outside the Holocaust Museum

the MINT

Their first night there we went to have dinner at a great italian restaurant in Old Town. Then off to a movie. They were here for about a day and a half and then we took a bus to NYC for graduation!

Virginia in the Fall

Here are a few random pics we have taken lately in our good ole' neck of the woods...

On Sundays, Jeff and I like to take a stroll around D.C. It's always beautiful, not busy, and we have most of the day to do whatever we want:). This was a couple of weeks ago and it was a beautiful Sunday!

A little while ago, Jeff and a few friends went on a beautiful hike in Shenandoah National Park. Here are some great pics...

U2 Concert

Coolest concert we've ever been to! I've always wanted to go to a U2 concert and we were finally able to go. It was at the Red Skins stadium in Maryland. The stage, the sound, the atmosphere... everything was awesome. We have a video of some of the songs but of course it won't upload... so maybe i'll try later.

Great friends come to town

A few weekends ago- we had some great friends come to town! Our good friend Matt N came in to town for a quick weekend in DC... and we were lucky to grab a quick breakfast with him.

Here we are in Old Town

Then we had a great time with our great friends Marianne and Jon! We went sightseeing with them, a fun movie, lunch in Old Town, and then a dinner that night at a sports bar so that we could watch the good ole' UTES.

So fun to see you guys!

Jeff's Birthday and General Conference

General Conference is one of my favorite weekends! It's always Jeff's birthday, the leaves are starting to turn color, it's beautiful outside wherever you go, it's a relaxing weekend and of course it's the first weekend that really feels like Fall! This year was so fun... Jeff and I relaxed Friday night and then woke up Saturday morning and headed to Shenandoah National Park. It is a beautiful park with trails, waterfalls, and fun cabins to stay at. We started at the top and worked our way down the park. We stopped at a few look out points to enjoy the great view. Then we stopped at a fun trail and walked for a while with Willie. We grabbed lunch at their fun snack shop in the middle. We then headed back to our neck of the woods for a fun night with friends and Priesthood!

The girls got together for a little DONUT MAKING... that's right... it was awesome. Thanks to Britni, I think we started a fun tradition. For the recipe and instructions- you can check out her blog

Here we are playing a little rock band while we are waiting for the yummy donuts to fry

Kaylyn enjoying the yumminess of it :)

Michelle stirring the hot pot that we all had to take turns at because it can sting your eyes!

And of course the finished product with the best topping, chocolate and sprinkles! Very Yummsville

Afterwards, we played our favorite game... CRUD. oh my gosh this game has us all laughing so hard by the end. And it's for sure my workout for the month. It's a game you play on the pool table where each of you take a turn to hit the balls with your hands. If you miss the ball, or run out of time, you get a "letter" which soon will spell out CRUD... and then you are out. It's a great game!

On Saturday (before all of the fun donut making, priesthood, and CRUD), as I mentioned Jeff and I had so much fun celebrating his birthday. We grabbed take out the night before and relaxed watching movies. And then got up the next day to enjoy this...

I want you to know that I did not volunteer to be in all of these pics, it's just that Jeff wouldn't get in any of them and he had the camera the whole time... so you get to enjoy me and william

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful husband whom I love more than he could ever know! Thanks for always making your birthday one of my favorite holidays!! I love celebrating it with you because you are always the happiest person in this world.

I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!

Apple Picking

One Saturday we went Apple Picking with a bunch of our friends from the ward. It was so fun! This is something we've never done before... and it's awesome! So perfect to do it during the Fall time

Britni, Kaylyn, and Darcee

The Wallace's, the Wheelers, and the Johnson's

All of the couples! yes we look like we are in "the Village" movie...

so fun! 

Dinner Parties

I love having people over. I have missed it! In New York it was hard because our cute little apartment couldn't even fit a dining room chair in it... but we could sometimes have maybe 4 people over at a time. 

We had Chris and Laura over for Cafe Rio Salads. Jeff made them and did such a great job! Oh my gosh we've been craving for Cafe Rio for so long and this was great because we had so much it fed us for a week. 

We had the dressing, the tin bowls and everything... so good

I wish I had a picture of the actual salads and burritos but here is a fun pic of the salsa

Then the next night we had our friends the Bowen's, Bessey's and Vigil's over for a fondue party! It was so fun... cheese, meat, chocolate and everything... very yummy

Mt.Vernon

A couple of Saturdays ago Jeff and I went to Mt. Vernon for a couple of hours. It was such a beautiful drive. We stopped at a few places on the way and walked around. When we got there- we walked around the area... we didn't actually do the tour- but someday we will! It was cool to see George Washington's property. We ate lunch at a fun little inn and shopped at the gift shop. Great Fall Saturday! 

Us Open 2009

Over Labor Day Jeff and I went back to our favorite city... NYC! oh my gosh it was so fun to be back. It actually made us really sad because we miss it so much! So fun to be back around the fall time. Well.. I wish:

- that my camera didn't weirdly erase all of the pictures on my camera card

- that it wouldn't have happened on a fun weekend like the US Open

- that I didn't so many fun pictures on there of Columbia Campus, our old apt, our old street, and just everything we did! 

I feel lucky that:

- it wasn't something like Jeff's graduation or something

- Mel and Trav took almost the same pictures we took

- I had Europe pics on there and I just barely saved them to my computer

- they are just pictures and it's the experience that matters!

So with that said... Thanks Mel for taking such fun pictures! 

We got there on a Friday night. The first thing we had to do was explore our fun old apt building (we stayed with Mel and Trav the first night). On Saturday morning we woke up and went down to Chelsea to have lunch and to walk the "Highline" park..(I think that's how you spell it). We had lunch at this great taco place... very yummy. 

We walked around a bunch more places and then headed to Central Park. It was a beautiful day! 

Afterwards, we headed to the US Open for the night

We were lucky and got there while Roddick was still playing his match. So we got some tickets from people who were walking out. Great seats too! 

These were the seats that Mel and Trav had- awesome view

Here is the view from Highline Park. Its a park that is built on an old subway track along the water

So this is Mel taking a picture of Jeff and I at our seats at the US Open haha

I really don't like this picture of me but I had to have at least one picture of us at the US Open... its tradition right?

The Girls at Central Park! 

On Sunday we all headed to the beach to stay there for Sunday and Monday. Well then the weather was a little more windy than we thought so we came back to NYC on Sunday night and hung out at Marylynn and Scott's apt. So fun to be with everyone again! 

Why doesn't everyone live in San Diego?

I mean seriously... why don't we all live in San Diego? I mean Ron Burgundy does... it's beautiful! These are a little old... but a while ago- my family and I went to San Diego on a quick family trip. I'll tell you what... my parents hadn't seen all of their kids in so long... we were all giddy when we all stepped off the plane from our different locations. It was so good to see my family! It's so weird when you grow up with your siblings and parents... being so close.. and seeing each other all of the time.. to everyone moving away. My cute parents were so nice to have us all meet in one destination for a quick weekend and an amazing trip! San Diego, CA. We had a great time eating out, laying by the beach, watching movies, doing what my family does best- sleeping in, hot tubbing and reading our books. I was bummed because Jeff couldn't come because of school... we sure missed him! It's never the same without him! 

So this picture tells it all.. I seriously laugh so hard every time I am with my brothers

the 4 kids

Brookie and I laying by the pool.. 

waiting in line for a really good italian restaurant in little italy

we went into this fun little part of town with a lot of good mexican restaurants

"johnson house" it says above :)

I was a little under the weather so I'm just lookin sexy in my large tshirt and hat

the boys went to this awesome wave house- i'm sure you've seen it or heard of it... looked awesome! 

each day we would go to Coronado beach... beautiful! And of course we had to chill at the Hotel Del Coronado

Johnson Fam 2009... miss you Jeff!