Red Hair Anxiety!

Ever since Cameron and I watched "the Forgotten" last (several months ago) he decided he likes the color of Julianne Moore's hair in that movie and I should do it that color when my hair gets longer because he likes it on me. I thought about it and I MIGHT do that in the future-in th far future. But I decided my hair color was really starting to bother me this last week (the dull brown wasn't doing it for me) So what do I do? I dye my hair RED! I wasn't ready to go Julianne Moore red, but I felt somewhat daring. Now, I originally picked out this nice auburn color that wouldn't be too drastic, just a touch darker than my natural hair color with a hint of red in it. I took the color to my sisters house (Sharla) to have her dye my hair for me. Sharla looked at the dye I got and informed me I had picked the wrong brand, and that the color would quickly wash out. So, I jumped back in the car and drove to Wally's to get the appropriate brand.

I got to the hair color aisle, and could NOT find the same toned down color I was looking for. There was either just brunette, or just RED in the brand that I was told to get. Since I had already made up my mind in getting something with red in it, I just grabbed the red (the technical name was Rich Mahogany), and stood in line. You should have seen the people staring at me in the store. I would step in line, then step back out and go to the back of the line. The color on the picture made me really nervous. Finally, I just gritted my teeth and bought the dye.

Back to Sharla's house we quickly put the dye in (before I changed my mind). After the color was in, I went and looked in the mirror, imagine my horror when the roots of my hair looked BRIGHT PINK!!! I was freaking out! I was thinking of going back to the store and getting a normal brunette color and making Sharla re-dye my hair, even if they tell you to wait at least two weeks before dyeing your hair again. As we washed the color out, I was again freaking out to see the water turning not red, not pink, but BRIGHT PURPLE!!!

Luckily, when I got home, my husband declared that he absolutely loved it (wether or not he was telling the truth, I don't know, but it made me feel better anyways.) As you see from the picture, my hair is neither bright pink or bright purple, just an auburn that I surprisingly am happy about. But who know, maybe I will get the courage to go Julianne Moore red in the near future... what do you think?

Soda Springs... oh the memories!

If there is one great thing we Coons remember from our childhood, it is definitely stopping at Soda Springs on our way down to Bear lake! Cameron and I got to take a drive with my daddy about two months ago to check out an old church building that he was thinking about purchasing. We couldn't find the office of the people who own the building currently, so we weren't allowed to go inside. But we peeked through the windows and it is a really cool old building. I could see into the front room, it was HUGE. All hardwood floors... I just love old buildings. Grandma Dorothy and Grandpa Jo came with us so grandpa could check if the building was structurally sound. (In the picture, cameron is in orange, I'm in green, Grandpa i peeking through the door.) I think the building is a no go, -too many settling issues and the like- but it was fun spending the day down in Montpilier and Soda Springs.

We bid farewell to my grandparents, who had to make it back down to Utah, and Dad, Cameron, and I continued our journey. Of course the first stop now was Hooper Springs, to have some delicious carbonated Kool-aid Unfortunately for us, dad had no Kool-aid so he tried to bring one of his health fiber drinks to try it out with the natural spring. As much as I appreciate my dads attempts to taste the sweet nectar of iron filled carbonated water from the springs, I couldn't bring myself to drink more than a few swallows of the now-clumpy fiber drink that was dripping with carbonation.

After that it was off to the geyser. We waited around, reading the history behind the geyser, checking out the cool rock formations from years of smelly geyser water spray, and generally enjoying ourselves. Dad had Cameron and I stand to take a few pictures near the geyser, and of course Cameron had to show how close he could really get to the geyser (what a good looking man I married!)

On the drive home we listened to good tunes and talked about nothing in general. Memories like this are once in a lifetime!

The Magical World of Disney

The last of the Los Angeles Saga. The same day we went to sea, we also got to go to the Disney Concert Hall. The building is super sweet (click the link to see some wicked awesome pictures of the concert hall and the stainless steel exterior. We got a tour from some guides throughout the concert hall, while Cameron happily chattered about the history of the exterior. Apparently on Modern Marvels (or one of Camerons many shows on Discovery he watches) he found out that the stainless Steel exterior originally bothered many motorists, pedestrians, and nearby apartment dwellers because of the shiny glare coming from it. Because of those complaints, They had to dim the stainless steel, by sanding or covering it. (The stainless steel link will show you some pictures of how super shiny it was before they had to dim it.) The first picture is Cameron and I in front of the building. The next one is of us and my little bro Eli before we went in for the tour.

My favorite part of the concert hall was by far the gardens that were all around the exterior of the building. You could only get to them by going in the concert hall. In one garden is the beautiful Rose fountain- it was dedicated to Lillian Disney (Walt Disneys Wife). It is made of China pieces and was a gift to honor Lillian from her grand and Great Grand Children. It was designed by Frank Gehry (He is also the Architect that designed the concert Hall as well.) I took a few pictures of it as you can see. They entitled the fountain "A Rose for Lilly."

I get seasick... who knew?

This is the second to the last blog concerning our trip back in April to Los Angeles with the Bonnevaires for choir tour. One of the days we got to go out on a ship to whale watch. I had never actually been out in the ocean before, only played in the waves near the beach, so it was quite the experience. The first little while was great, we saw a whole bunch of seals chillin on some buoys. After we got further out, my stomach started to feel a little strange. Soon, I had to take deep breaths of salty air because I felt SICK! Mr. Dresen (the best choir director ever), told us we should bring along some Dramamine, but I figured it was just for the 'kids' -meaning those still in high school- and that I would not need it because I was 'tough.' Fortunately for me, I didn't end up with my lunch at my feet, unlike a few unfortunate souls on the ship who graced the ocean with their insides. Cameron did think it was quite hilarious that I do in fact get sea sick, and took it upon himself to get proof- he took pictures of me attempting to sleep away the sickness while on the inside of the ship. (That's me with the red first aid kit at my hip; the first aid kit that doesn't have any Dramamine in it.)


As I was drifting away, I heard excited shouts up on deck and decided to go check out what all the fuss was: Dolphins! Excellent! There were SOOOOO many! You know how on the little mermaid at the beginning of the show, it has all the dolphins jumping and swimming in front of Prince Eric's huge ship? All growing up I figured "yeah right, dolphins don't really swim like that so close to the ship and stay right with it for you to watch them." Boy was I mistaken! For hours, the dolphins stayed in front of, next to, and behind the ship, jumping and swimming and coming up for air. We got some good pictures, and a really good video that I didn't put on my blog (don't worry, I'll get a movie clip on here sometime. Just give me a while.

After the novelty of the dolphins wore off, a lot of us stayed at the front of the small boat, it was cruisin! The wind felt really good against my face and washed away some of my seasickness. I got a good picture of us at the front of the ship by leaning clear out over the water (much to the worry of Cameron, who wouldn't let go of my waist for a single second.) The cute boy with the black skull sweater is my brother. I kinda chopped off his head in the picture... sorry Eli! Not long after this, my stomach started doing somersaults again, so I went back in the cabin to rest my head and close my eyes. My stomach continued this escapade so that even when I heard the oohs and aahhs of the passengers now observing the back of whales coming out of the water, I didn't have the slightest desire to join them on deck. I was only too glad when we headed back to shore. I do look back on the adventure with fondness, but I'm sure I will not be on a small ship in the ocean again anytime soon.

WICKEDly awesome!

A little more about tour... much to the jealousy of my oldest sister Rebecca... we got to watch a live show of "Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz." If any of you have not seen this musical or own the soundtrack I highly recommend both. The performance was fantastic and the soundtrack is as well. So, the whole choir (and us chaperones) went down to the 'Pantages Theatre' in Las Angeles. We took pictures out front, while eagerly awaiting the doors opening to see this show. Oh my goodness, the theatre is HUGE!!! There are carvings, statues, chandeliers, and grand staircases in the open foyer. Everything was bronzes, golds, and brought a feel of a time from long ago. Once you follow the staircases as they twist up and around, you enter the actual theatre, that sits some 2700 people. We were up in the balcony, near the front, so they were pretty good seats.

I've never seen anything like it! I've seen a lot of live theatre, but nothing on such a grand scale. The acting was great, the singing was unreal, the lights and special effects magical, and I can't even begin to comprehend all of the mechanics that go into organizing, orchestrating, and managing the mechanics behind such an adaptable and elaborate stage. It was truly something to see. It was just like reading a good book or watching a good movie on the big screen. For days after, it was all I could think about. Again, I HIGHLY recommend a trip to see it. It is soooo worth it. And after you take my advice and go see it, you will all be wishing you were "very, very popular... like me!" :) haha!

Bonnevaires Choir Tour

So, I'm new at this blogging thing, so don't make fun of my not-so-creative first blogs that will be posted. I'm begging you! :) As many of you are aware, My adorable Husband and I were able to chaperone the Bonnevaires choir tour this last April. It was especially fun because my little brother Eli is in the choir, so I was able to spend time with him and had a great time with the choir as well. This first blog is mostly for the first days we spend in the Los Angeles area. The first night we went walkin a few blocks from the hotel and played in a really cool fountain.

The next day was partially spent in the ever so famous Universal City Walk. We had a great time stopping at the little stores to shop (including the super cute new sunglasses that Cameron bought me, and a neato music box that played happy birthday when you wound it up to give my sister sharla), eating at their food court, taking silly pictures, and generally having a good time.

As you can see, we took some fun pictures at this random football set up along the City Walk (notice my wearin my super cute new sunglasses- oh yeah, cameron got new ones too if you can't tell!)


That brings me to the end of my first post. I'm sure I will get more used to this blogging thing and come up with cuter and more creative blogs, but in the meantime, you will have to deal with my simple report of the comings and goings of the Johnson Family. Until next time...