Yet Another Trip To Utah

We actually do live in Columbus.  I promise.  We're just always making quick jaunts about every other week it seems back to Utah, courtesy of my parents. :)  We're always happy to go see family though!

This time around was unplanned because my Grandma Johnson passed away.  She's been declining for a long time so it was one of those times when it was for the best.  Plus she'd been a widow for about 27 years so I'm sure she and my Grandpa Johnson (whom I never met) are happily reunited.

Some happy memories I have of Grandma Johnson are:
-Picnics in her yard with Happy Meals

-A picnic in Ogden, and getting introduced to Nutter Butter cookies

-Couch cushion forts.  And she would actually crawl around in them with us.

-Special holiday treats.  Even if it was something silly like a box of conversation hearts, we loved it.

-The Hostess Outlet store.  She'd take us to get powdered donuts and then we'd watch the trains go by.  (Maybe this is where E got his love of trains in his little unfertilized egg-ish state)

-Picking raspberries and apricots in her yard

-Playing the Atari and pickup sticks

-Her always being at our school programs and piano recitals

-She'd always adjust the time so the cuckoo clock on her wall would go off before we left so we could see the little birdie pop out of the door

-She always smelled like soap

-One time I slid down the banister in our brand-new house and the buttons on my sweater scratched it all the way down so I got in huge trouble.  I was told to stay in my room the rest of the night while my mom and dad finished moving things from our old house and grandma was tending.  She came upstairs and told me everything would be all right and made me a sandwich.

-She babysat us when my parents were out of town for a few days and my older brother and I were probably 14 and 16, and she was very concerned about us being home at an early hour even though we were going to a multi-stake dance.  She was there, waiting in the dark, in her curlers, pink lipstick, and bare feet (ugh!) at 11:05 p.m. when the dance had ended at 11:00 p.m.  She was probably the most perturbed I had ever seen her.  Now I know how Dad felt growing up. :)

We missed her viewing due to a delayed flight, but luckily made it in time for the funeral the next morning.  It was great to be reunited with cousins I haven't seen for years.  The funeral was very nice and I enjoyed learning lots of things about my grandma that I never knew before.

Our other activities included going to Richfield to visit our only remaining grandparent between the two of us, Grandma Christensen.  She had never met Samantha May before, and the last time she saw Emerson he was just a little guy.

Playing peekaboo with Grandma Chris

E kept talking about "Grandma Great"

 E was so in love with this little gas tank truck that Grandma Great sent it home with him.

We also made it to Logan to visit both of our sisters at Utah State and our good friends the Humpherys.  And it's always good to enjoy a meal at the Copper Mill there.

The baby sisters

 You have no idea how difficult it was to get this picture.

We also ate at lots of good restaurants, celebrated my sister's birthday, saw a couple movies, and even squeezed in a date night!  My sisters and mom and I also got a personalized tour from Murray's Representative, Tim Cosgrove, of the Capitol building.  It was pretty neat to go on the floor of the Senate, House, and Supreme Court.  Another big piece of news is that Sammi officially (and happily) learned to take a bottle whilst in Utah once a day while I still nurse her for the other 3 feedings, but I am thrilled.  SO thrilled to have a little freedom.  Here's to feeling human again.