Queen of the Bed

   At Clara's last check up a few weeks ago, the pediatrician said she was in the 90th percentile for LENGTH!  You would never know she has a five foot mama!  At less than three months old she is almost too long for her bassinet!  Oh, how she's growin'.  At this rate, we'll soon be in need of another queen.   

Best buds!

 Pioneer Day: Clara attended her first parade in celebration of the Mormon Pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley 165 years ago!  We mainly went to see some of the young men that James works with at church, march with the 2,000 Stripling Warriors.  We've read that story in the Book of Mormon many times, but it was amazing to see what 2,000 young men looked like.  

After the parade, we cruised up to the Mountaire Cabin for a sleepover with Mom, Dan, and Dan's friend, Brian!  Even though it wasn't quite like the pioneers, we thought we would show our appreciation by staying at a place with little rodents running around and and out house up the trail!  Little Miss Clara wore a night gown that is still a bit large for her, over her onesie so she'd stay nice and cozy up in the mountains!  We all felt more prepared for a good night's rest after manly James took care of the five filled mouse traps and set them again:)  Uncle Dan had a sweet taste of what it is like to have a little one as he woke up in the wee hours of the morning to Clara grunting and cooing. 

As tradition calls, a "Big Mama Breakfast" out on the screened in porch in the midst of the crisp, refreshing mountain air!  

We took a short hike up the road to the fish pond and enjoyed reading, relaxing and napping!

Enjoy this video.  Clara couldn't stop talking about how much she loves the cabin! 

Tummy time with Dad is the BASTE!!!!  Take note of her facial expression at the very end of the video:) 

Pants or shants: the big debate.  These adorable pants were given to us and James and I couldn't decide how they should be worn.  If the top of the pants came to her waste, the crotch of the pants would be at her knees, which would be quite uncomfortable!  SO I decided to pull them all the way up to make them shants (short pants)! Clara wasn't too happy about it either way.  I guess I shouldn't venture beyond the simple onsie except on Sundays.  Getting dressed up once a week is tricky enough!  

Look how far she's come....

How the past few months have flown by!  Our little gal is already almost too long for her bassinet and changing table in just two months!  Maybe she won't be a shorty like her Mom:)  We shall see!  We have been especially impressed with her strong neck!

Clara about one day old

Clara on her two month Birthday!

Finally discovering that bath time isn't so bad after all.  

Sunday afternoon picnic with Grandpa Pete and the Johnson bros.

"Mom!  Why are you making me wear this hat?!  It's way to big and I look like a flower!"

America the Beautiful

Independence Day


James, Clara, and I (along with parts of both of our families) celebrated the freedoms of our country by basking in the natural beauty of the "purple mountains majesty!"  The mountains didn't look purple to us, however, because we were in the High Uintah mountains.  To me, peaks look purple only from a distance.  The drive was gorgeous (Clara slept the entire way up!!!); Mirror Lake, our destination.  We enjoyed relaxing, talking, walking around the lake, observing the beauty of the sky, trees, rocks, and water, and eating a picnic lunch on the shores of the majestic Mirror Lake.  Clara has been drawn to the outdoors from the very beginning, so let's just say, she was a TROOPER outside all day in nature!   The day was topped off with stopping by the Mountaire cabin for a steak BBQ with Mom and Richard.  Aunt Julie and Uncle Armond showed up, which was a special treat since they just arrived home from their three year mission in Norway!  It was so great to chat with them!

 "Don't mess with the U.S."

   "I'm Proud to be an American!"

 Mountaire Cabin!

                           Everyone taking their afternoon ciesta.  On the far left, it's not just a pile of towels, shoes, and a hat, it's Mama Johnson:)