Summer Camping Trip

As many of you know it is often difficult for us to get away as a family during the summertime. So we decided a couple weekends ago to run away for one night of camping. Although to maximize our time we decided to camp close to home in Yosemite. We were wise enough to avoid the chaos of the valley this time of year, instead we choose a little known campground three miles off the road to tioga pass. This campground was about 45 min. from Ryan's work, so Micah and I went up, set up camp & then drove back down to pick up Ryan after work. Micah LOVED camping...especially the dirt!

The dirt didn't seem to bother him, though. He willingly ate his snack...dirty hands and all.

This was a meadow nearby our campground.

We were blessed to find a campground that was surrounded on three sides by large boulders. This allowed me to try to keep a reasonable eye on Micah.



My boys sure love their popcorn!!

The following morning I was able to talk Ryan into going up to Tuolumme Meadows for a short hike through the valley. Micah enjoyed getting up in the backpack & smiles as we walked through the meadow. We walked along the river & went to Soda Springs where the carbonated water naturally bubbles up out of the ground. It was AMAZING!! Ryan & I even snuck a little taste of it.


All that hiking wore Micah out!!

The Wedding!!

Well after a couple months of stress they pulled it off....

Jonathan Mark Johnson
wed
Christian Rae Cheek

on July 14, 2007
at
Temple Baptist Church

The wedding was absolutly georgous!! The photographer still hasn't posted her photos yet, but I can show you a couple of my own. I hope you get the chance to see the nice ones. They are the most photogenic couple I know.

Getting ready before hand:





Ella was the flower girl




...and Micah was the ring bearer





Congrats Jonathan & Christina!!

Teen Missions

Again, this summer we decided to go down to FL in the blazing heat & volunteer at Teen Missions. Micah and I were down there for three weeks (the entire duration of Super Bootcamp) and then Ryan joined us for the last week of our time. Micah and I worked in the Munchkin Missions program. This is the childcare program for staff children. The first week I worked with Micah's age group (1-3 yrs) and then I was transfered over to the middle group (4-7 yrs) for the remainder of my time. I always enjoy working with these kids and we try to take every opportunity to do field trips & swim, as a way to keep the kids sane in the intense heat & humidity. Once Ryan showed up he had the opportunity to teach a block laying class. He really enjoyed this because be loves to interact with the kids.





Some of the kids in the "baby" Missions class (ages 1-3 yrs).


I had the opportunity to see off some of the kids that we knew who were goin on a team. This is the Jamacia team & the girl in the middle front row is from my church up in Portland. She was doing amazing!! She had a really positive attitude and always seemed to find time to do her hair and makeup, which is usually nearly impossible.


Micah & I during one of the evening rallies...you have to have a really big screen to see it, but we are both drenched with sweat (don't you wish you could smell it too? ;-)


Jessica was going on the Phillipians team this summer. She went last year and was crazy enough to return.





These are some pictures from the "middle" Munchkin class (ages 4-7yrs)



This is Zach (Jessica's brother) who is headed off to Sibera for the summer. He is showing off his arm to us, 'cause he was pretty proud of the war wounds that the mosquitos left on his arm. It was healing by this point but it still looked like he had had a pretty bad bout with chicken pox.



Our church in Colorado sent 4 kids on teams this summer, which we were really excited about. Jeff, our head pastor, came to see of his son (far right). Jeff is an FTM himself from the early 80's & TMI changed his life. He is here speaking infront of the evening commissioning service about the kids from his church & how TMI changed him.


Finally, Ryan's cousin Brooke. She is leading a preteen (ages 10-13) to Belize this summer. We enjoyed getting to know her team and encouraging her as she lead her first team with TMI.

The rest are just for fun....I couldn't figure where to put them:

Happy 2nd Birthday Micah & Happy 30th Birthday Mommy!!

Micah and I celebrated our birthdays up in Oregon again this year. I was up there doing some promotions for Teen Missions and we had a small family get together at my parent's house. It was a curious George theme & Micah loved it! It was nice that the weather was much cooler this year & it's always fun to celebrate with family.


Micah's Cake...I had them add my name too at the last minute.






Micah still hasn't quite figured out how to blow out the candles yet...but he did think they were pretty cool.

Growing up in "the family"...

As many of you know my family is CRAZY about dirty biking. They take every excuse to hop on a bike and ride around the property or nearby riding areas. Earlier in June Micah had his first opportunity to hop on a bike & he hasn't looked back!! Micah had been curious about dirt bikes since our family trip to Northern CA earlier this year...but Uncle Jon made all of his wishes come true!! Micah got on the bike, insisted on putting his hands on the hand grips & smiled for hours. We had to peal him off the bike & he insists on riding whenever someone will give him a chance.

Gone Bouldering

Today we headed up to the valley for one last horrah!! I decided to give Micah his first opportunity to hike an entire trail with his own two feet (although I pushed the stroller next to him, 'cause I was afraid I'd be carrying him a long way back to the car). He did great. He hiked the entire trail. We hiked to Yosemite Falls. Micah loved watching the water & wanted to get down to it. So he promptly started crawling on the boulders. The only thing I had going for me to keep him from the water was the fact that he still hasn't quite figured out how to negotiate those things. But I think I've got a hiker on my hands :-)

Summertime is in the air

I discovered today that Micah has some serious Johnson/Obinger genes!! An early birthday present arrived for him today & he hasn't put it down. He instantly knew what to do with the bat & ball. He continues to beg to go outside to play ball...I hope Grandma is ready to play ball with Micah.