A day at Copperton Park

We love the Copperton Park!

Jake LOVES to swing!

They liked the tunnel...it wasn't as sunny in there.

We thought it might be fun to try and get a family picture...the kids had a different idea! Oh, well!

Thanks Lisa for spending an entire day with our family. We really had a great time and you are welcome anytime you'd like! I know that Alayna LOVED spending the day with you and cuddling on the couch, taking a walk and going to the park. THANKS!

"Yellow is her favorite color!"

Alayna asked "Mommy, what is Aunt Lisa's favorite color?" I answered, "Yellow" She answered excitedly..."I know what we can do with her...we can go for a walk and show her all the yellow sunflowers!" So that is what we did when Aunt Lisa came to stay a day with us. We went on a walk pointing out all the yellow flowers and sunflowers.

Alayna loving spending time with her Aunt Lisa.

Alayna insisted on putting a sunflower in her hair so she could look "pretty"...I think she's right, she does look pretty!

A Cousin Party!

Grandma Denny and Grandpa Barainca had this great idea to get all the cousins together for a party. Since the group has nearly doubled in size we went to the great restaurant of choice, Spaghetti Factory. It was a fun filled night of lots of pictures and new introductions to new cousins and spouses. Grandma Denny, THANK YOU for this fun chance to get acquainted and learn more about each other.

This is Leah and Brandon. They are cousins to Jared. They have been married for five weeks and are enjoying every minute of being newlyweds. They are living down in Provo attending BYU. Congrats on the wedding!
Here's Cameron. He's a personal favorite. He has the ability to ask the most entertaining and direct conversation starters. You are never left with a dull moment when he is around! Thanks for making us all laugh so hard!


Kelsey and Nathan. Kelsey was celebrating her birthday, and she just moved down here to attend UVU. She is an absolutely darling girl. My Alayna LOVES her. Kelsey let Alayna try on all her super FUN shoes when we were in California, and Alayna has yet to forget that fun girl moment. Nathan has recently returned home from his mission and is back at BYU.
Heather (Jared's sister), Jason (Jared's brother) and Mike. Heather is Jared's sister and she had the most exciting news of all...her offer was accepted on a condo! Congrats, we are SO excited for her. I wish I could announce the same for us, but we can't! Way to go!

Allie & Karl. These again are Jared's cousins. Allie just graduated from BYU and Karl is still attending. They are living in Provo too. (What's the deal with all these BYU - Utah county people?) Just kidding. They have been married for a year or so!

Here is Jared and Lisa, Jared's other sister. Lisa is down visiting for a week from Nanaimo, Canada! I have been lucky enough to visit her and her husband, Matt in Canada! It would be hard for me to come to Utah and visit if I am living where she does. So we are grateful we got to spend time with her too.

Ashley and Brian. They have been married for...Oh...I think two years? Here's a MAJOR cool shout out for Ashley...she just stared her MASTERS in Health at BYU. YEAH! She's a girl after my own heart and passion for Health Education. I really am living vicariously through her studies. I'm having the kids and she's continuing her education. For those of you who don't know, that's what I got my BS in. So you go girl! Brian is the smart and talented bro-in-law (Jason you are too!). He is also getting his Masters in Accounting at BYU. I won't say it, because I'm not happy with the fact that they are moving to Texas for a job there. We love you guys! They are the fantastic Aunt and Uncle to our crazy kiddos. What a cute couple! We love you guys.


Here's another picture of the gang!

Bring on the babies!

Yeah, Steph is in town again! It is always SO fun to get together with Steph. It's been so long since I actually saw her little girl, Aja. She's a few months older than my little Jake. She is such a cutie. Except when she's giving her scowls...but I don't blame her, I know who her daddy is! (ha ha ha Johnson!)

Baby Aja, Stph, Heather (Steph's sister) and new baby Alison! Heather, it was SO great to see your new little bundle. I LOVED her hair. It was so adorable!

This is a picture showing off all the babies. Desiree is about to deliver in two weeks or so and Stevo has another baby baking in the oven and due in February. And, no I'm not announcing anything baking in my oven! But I thought it would be funny to trick you all! Hey, we had a great time and we visited FOREVER! I love having such GREAT girl friends from the good ole Utah State. Thanks, ladies.

Our Family Fun Food Filled Labor Day

Some would look at this and think, "WOW, what a mess!" But for us we think this equals fun. Jared has a LOVE and PASSION for Italian food. Since he served his mission in Rome, Italy, he has TONS of memories of "Rosa's Meat-a-balls!" So we decided to make a day of it. A very LONG and messy day. Alayna was in complete heaven. She really enjoys cooking with us. She's actually really fun to have in the kitchen!

While Jared worked on the Meat-a-balls Alayna and I worked on the homemade pasta. It was SO messy but really worth all the hard work.

The final project. Yes, everything you see is FRESH and very tasty.

Here is the proud Italian himself! He was pleasantly surprised with the YUMMY flavor. I think we might just have to encourage him to cook a little more often from the memory of his mission.

I want a bike like my Daddy!

I couldn't resist taking a few more pictures of our little Jake. The mail was just delivered, and Jake plowed towards the pile. He grabbed the "Bike Magazine" of Jared's with his chubby little hand. He would not let it out of his sight. Alayna, took her "High Five - Highlights" magazine and was like wise in heaven.

I just couldn't help but take these pictures for Jared. This way Jared will know that his little guy is always looking up to and wanting to be like his Daddy!

He's pointing and thinking I'm sure... "Daddy this is the one I want!"

I just want to be like you Daddy! The cute part after he was done reading it, he walked down the hallway and placed it right by Jared's bike. Some how little kiddos are so smart to figure out things.

Uncle Brian & Aunt Ashley

Today we had a special occasion. We were able to attend the setting apart for Jared's brother, Brian. He was called to serve as the 2nd counselor in the bishopric. It was great to be able to support him and spend time with them. Ashley as usual provided a FANTASTIC meal. Brian really has it LUCKY to have a wonderful wife who cooks amazingly, every single night. So we were able to reap the rewards of that. Brian, you will do great and you will learn tons I'm sure!


I must give a shout out to the best Aunt and Uncle these two little kiddo's have. They think so often of these two little kids. They surprise them with gifts, toys, books, etc. Alayna really enjoys spending time with them, because they play with her and pay so much attention to them. Since we were coming over to their house today, Ashley saw this cute igloo tent at IKEA, and had to buy it. It was filled with blankets, books, toys and yes, two presents.
Alayna & Jake were very grateful for their kindness. I think their smiles show how happy they were today. Ashley just finished that adorable boy quilt for Jacob. It's in the bottom left corner. It was ALL BOY! The entire drive home we heard, "BALL, BALL, BALL, vrmm, vrmm!) As a mother, you always hope that your kids will be loved and cherished. So thank you Ashley and Brian for loving our kids so much.

*Here's a follow-up story to which college Alayna is planning on attending..we had to go on BYU campus to attend Brian's setting apart. So today was the lucky day of BYU student wards. The campus was "decked" out with new freshman students. Anyways, it brought back SO many memories of attending my first year of college and a singles ward. Everyone was looking their "Very" best. But the funny thing was, I was explaining to Alayna how we were at BYU and she said, "This is where I am going to come to school, and being married!" I replied, "Yes, you will..." She then stated, "I won't have to ride the school bus here, because I will meet my prince!" I just had to laugh! She really is set on attending BYU and that she will meet her "Prince Charming" here. So with or without her fathers permission, she is set on attending BYU like her Aunt Ashley and Uncle Brian! But Alayna has the same idea to meet a "Prince" at BYU as all the other young ladies that were storming the campus today! Oh, the joys of being single and searching. I'm sure glad to be off of the "Menu!" (pathetic!)*