We went on a Cruise!! Day One

We had always said that when Justin graduates we should go on a cruise to celebrate... not really ever thinking it would happen.  But Justin had a week off of clinic before graduation and so we knew we wanted to take advantage and go on some sort of family vacation.  Justin started to look at cruises just for fun and we realized it would actually be a pretty affordable vacation for our family of four.  So we took the plunge and did it!  We are so glad we did.  

Day one we arrived on the ship around noon.  We ate lunch, and explored before take off.  

My silly boys on the big huge boat

Life size chess board

Jackson's FAVORITE place on the ship... mini golfing.

Chillin' in and by the pool.

We tried to get on the early dining seating but it was full.   They had the option of doing "your time dining" where you could show up anytime of the evening.  We actually loved how it worked out because we got our own table everytime and didn't have to be on any sort of schedule.  

We weren't sure how "fun" it would be to take the boys, but one of the things they do for kids on this cruise line was called "Camp Carnival".  Basically it is free day care for whenever you wanted to drop them off.  They had a certified staff there and a schedule of activities for them to do all day long.  The first night camp carnival threw a family fun party that we went to.  It was Cinco De Mayo so they gave the boys sombrarros.

They had a dance party and a balloon popping game.  They thought it was too loud.

They had a twisting competition and gave medals to the best girl dancer, the best boy dancer, and the best mom and dad dancers.  Jackson won the best boy dancer and Justin showed off his mad twisting skills and won the best dad dancer.  Okay, Okay he really won by DEFAULT as he was the only dad on the dance floor, and he mostly just wiggled his hips every now and again!  ;)

Getting a late evening treat.  Here we are still floating down the Mississippi River.  

The Boys thought the towel animals were pretty cool in our room.

This picture was taken later in the week but it shows what our state room looked like.  They had two bunk beds that came down at night and then the king sized bed.  Jackson and I slept on the top beds and Jonah and Daddy slept on the big bed. 

Last week of Walkin in Memphis...

We were so grateful to have my parents come into town to spend a week with us and to help finish packing and loading up for the big move.  

We tried to get out and do a few fun things with them.
One thing my mom has never been able to do is the River walk because of the time of year that she comes.  We got ready to head over there on Monday, when we got there and apparently it is closed on Mondays!  So instead we just decided to take a stroll downtown main street along the trolley line and up to Beale Street for lunch.
Stopped at this cute store so my mom and I could browse and the boys could take a rest on their rocking chairs.

We went to Blue's Cafe on Beale for lunch.  It was okay.  The boys wanted a picture here.  :)

We also went to a Redbirds game that evening.  This was the first time we actually sat on the seats and not on the bluff.  It was fun because we could actually get into the game and didn't seem so far away from it all.  Unfortunately the Redbirds aren't doing so well this season so there wasn't much of a crowd and they didn't win (we left before the last inning)

The boys enjoyed time playing with Grandma and Grandpa.  Grandpa Blake was a tropper and went out in the backyard to play a lot.  Here they are playing baseball with Grandpa.

I love that Jackson observes sports players and how they act.  After going to the game, he picked up on how the catcher stands and what he does.  He always made sure that he was the catcher when Jonah was up to bat.  

Tuesday we took our last trip to the Zoo and showed my parents the new Teton Trek.  They thought they did a pretty good job with it and felt back at "home" for a moment! ;)

Wednesday we headed back to do the Riverwalk.  

The boys had a blast just wading in the water.  They brought their little toy boats and had a hay day chasing them down the "mississippi river"

Taking a break in the shade.  Actually, my dad should be grateful because we actually had some really nice days at the beginning of the week that were not too bad.  Now the 90 degree day we packed up the truck was another story....  My dad doesn't handle the heat well. ;)

Jackson running through the "Gulf of Mexico".  The boys really did have so much fun in the water.  

Donna and Bill came into town Thursday for graduation and to also help pack up and drive with us up to Illinois.  We loved this picture of the grandpa's brushing the boys teeth.

And of course we had to take one last trip to Jerry's Snow Cone. (and my parents first experience)  It didn't disappoint, they loved it.  

Justin says this is the longest line he had ever seen... I've seen it this long before.  We thought we would be out there all night, but it actually went pretty quickly, AND Jerry's got face lift.  A new bright pink paint job and big snowcone on the top.  Aww how we will miss it!

We drove away from our Memphis home Sunday afternoon.  There is much we will miss (The summer  heat is NOT one of them!) ;).  We really did enjoy our 4 years there and can't believe now that it is all done how quickly it went.  Maybe one of these days we will go back "Walkin' in Memphis"

Presenting Dr Justin William Johnson O.D.

He did it!! So proud of Justin and his hard work and accomplishment!  Here are some pictures of the day.

After walking in

Standing to say the Optometric Oath

Grandma brought her I-pad to distract the boys with.  It worked for a while, until they just fought over it.

Being hooded.  He looked right up at me and smiled.  Great picture!

Receiving his diploma

Dr. Justin Johnson

All the LDS students (minus one).  He had 15 LDS students in his graduating class of  121 total students

With his best friends Neal Davis, and Buddy Beazer.

The Beazers.   We will all miss them!  They have been great friends.  

The boys were so cute telling everyone that their Daddy Graduated!

With Justin's parents

The proud In-Laws!  

In the graduation speech the President of the College said something about the "relived spouses" ...  Very true!! :)

So what now??  I guess I haven't officially announced it on the blog, but our new home will be Belvidere, Illinois.  Justin accepted his job in February as the new Eye Doctor at Shopko.  Out of all the retail places to work, Justin has heard over and over that Shopko is the best to work for, so we are really happy about that.  

We will only be about a 1/2 hour away from his parent, so we were very happy that we found something that met one of our top priorities-- being close to at least one of our families.  

 

In fact we left Memphis on Sunday this week and made the 10 hour drive up to Northern Illinois.  We are in the process of looking for a new house, so for now we are mooching off the In-laws and living in their basement! :)  Actually, it works out so nicely so that we can take our time and get into something we really love.
Justin isn't sure when we he will start his job as he has to wait around to receive his Illinois licence to practice. He is thinking it will be the middle of June before he will be able to officially start, so in the meantime we are enjoying family time!

Again, I am so proud of Justin!  He has worked so hard to be able to gain his education and have a great career to provide for his family.  We love him!! 

My BOYS: climbing trees, butterflies, and a pink stroller

Here are some recent pictures of my boys the past month or so.  

There was a butterfly (Justin says it is a moth...) that was kind of flapping around on the porch but not flying. I had the boys go pick it up for some pictures.  Jackson thought it was pretty cool holding it.

We finally said goodbye to the pink stroller.  What is the story behind the pink stroller you ask?!  Ever since Jacks was little he loved to push things around.  He had quite a few girlfriends and his toy of choice when playing at their houses was always their doll strollers.  One day Justin saw this pink stroller sitting by the dumpster and told me about it.  Hmm a free stroller that our boy would love to push around, I think so!! :)  

Both boys have loved it ever since.  They took one last stroll pushing each other around before it officially got put in the dumpster for good.