Well time really has a way of flying by before I really have time to stop and take a moment to realize how much I've missed. A lot has gone on for us. Jon and I are both extremely busy with school and work. We're lucky if we really have time for eachother. I've kinda felt bad lately because I just haven't had the time to keep in contact with old friends and family members as much as I'd like to.

But to help remedy that little issue... we were able to go out to Los Angeles the last weekend on September and spend some time with my family. The trip was short but worth it. Being Johansens the first thing we did when we arrived to LA was EAT! We stopped off at the hard rock cafe and had lunch. Really I'm praying that the camera really does add ten pounds... I guess the way to a man's heart is also the way to the newlywed ten.

Danielle and Jon smiling together outside the Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Boulevard

After lunch we took a trip over to the walk of fame and got to look at all the stars and stuff. It was really hot that day and a lot more humid than Jon and I are used to. It was fun to see all the different celebrities hand prints and foot prints and to realize how small a lot of them are..

Jon crouching down with his hand placed next to Tom Hanks' handprints and signature cast in the cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Danielle standing on the Hollywood Walk of Fame near C-3PO's footprints cast in cement, tourists and stars visible around her
Yes I crossed over to the dark side just for a couple mins while I stepped into Darth Vader's foot prints... they have cookies. How could I resist.

Jon standing beside Harrison Ford's cement handprint block on the Walk of Fame, a crowd of tourists lined up behind him

Devin crouching with both fists raised next to Chuck Norris's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, grinning at the camera
Just had to put that one in there... Of course a couple Chuck Norris jokes were made when we passed this one.

On Sunday we were able to go to our niece Jillian Daisy Johansen's blessing. It was a really good blessing and her little brother was surely enjoying the attention. He kept trying to kick the pew in front of us and when I told him he had to be quiet he just slowed down his kick. He's a little charmer. The blessing really made the trip worth it. Jon was able to stand in the circle and be a part of the blessing which we were both grateful for his opportunity to do that. After the blessing we just sat around, ate, swam, and played some games...

On monday we got to go to the beach for a little bit. Unfortunately it was record breaking highs and got all the way up to 113... But like my brother Dave said, "if it wasn't that hot I don't think anyone would have wanted to get into the water."

The family standing on wet sand at the beach with waves breaking behind them, viewed from above a rocky outcropping in the foreground

An older man in a blue shirt sitting on beach rocks while a young blonde toddler boy in a blue shirt and colorful swim shorts stands close beside him
Charlie really loves spending time with his grandpa!

Grandma and Grandpa do a great job of letting the little guy know how much they love him. It makes me really excited for the day when Jon and I will have little ones of our own and they will be able to have that same relationship with their grandparents!

A woman in a red and white floral rash guard sitting on beach rocks holding a young baby, dry brown hills visible in the background

A shirtless man in red swim trunks relaxing in a living room chair while a blonde toddler plays with a yellow toy train track on a patterned rug, a baby lying on the floor in the foreground
I just thought it was cute... don't judge... and I mean Charlie not Dave.
Baby Jillian in a pink onesie lying on a dark couch, reaching one arm out toward the camera, a pink phone case beside her
That's the little cutie! She's a chunker but that's what makes them cute.

For one of my classes I'm going to be illustrating a small boy dressed like a pirate. So I needed reference for the image and I figured my nephew was a great canidate. I gave my mom a call and asked her if her and Jenni could take some pictures of Charlie. This isn't quite what I had in mind...

Charlie, a young blonde toddler, wearing a white "Big Brother" shirt and plaid shorts, standing barefoot on tile and looking up at the camera

All in all it was a great little trip and it was nice to have a break. It's weird to think that we're quickly approaching 6 months. It's been such a roller coaster ride but it's so worth every minute. Hopefully one day Jon and I will be able to be amazing parents like ours have been for us. So things are still going well. We have our hiccups but as The Car's put it "let the good times roll." We're going to the pumpkin patch tomorrow for our date. You better believe I'm excited. And there will be pictures to follow.