Christmas "Fun"?

Ever imagine how the Holidays would be without one of these??? My family had been having flu symptoms last week and we were relieved to call Aunt Charlotte and Aunt Anna to tell them we thought it was over so they could still spend the night on Christmas Eve. They came over for dinner but during dinner A. and I got sick. They decided not to risk getting sick right before an airplane trip to Illinois. So they left. G. was so sad and frankly, I was too. We had so much fun planned and memories to be made. But what could we do?

We were feeling a bit better in the morning and had fun with all our new loot. Thanks Santa! I served my family lunch meat sandwiches and chips for dinner. (I know, wonderful mother, but I was taking it easy.) Right after dinner, I pulled out the sausage I had planned to use the next morning for belated Christmas Breakfast Casserole. It felt strangely "not cold". I put in a meat thermometer which came to 50 degrees, right out of the fridge. I was horrified to simultanously realize I had just food poisoned my family and that the flu symptoms were not contagious. Then I realized I may have food poisoned the aunts! And how much money would it cost to replace all my food? This was just getting worse and worse...

I sent my family to bed with pots and buckets, just in case and prayed we would make it through the night. Andy was the only one that got sick, but he was down for the count for 2 days. Sick in bed, achy, cold, and symptoms that polite people do not discuss online...

I contacted my landlord. (One silver lining, it isn't my responsibility to fix the fridge.) The repairman came on Saturday. Bless him. At first he told me he couldn't find anything wrong.

(On a side note, I wish there was a class for lay people about things you should know about stuff. Like how a garage door works, how you should use your dishwasher every couple of weeks in Arizona or it dries out, and how a refrigerator cools.) I felt like a dope when he told me I had blocked the source of cold air that comes from the freezer. He told me the top shelf was probably warmer, but my pickles on the bottom felt cold. But then I told him about the thermometer the night before. He wanted to see the temp of my pickles. We checked, and on the coldest setting on my fridge, they were 43 degrees. Your fridge is supposed to be lower than 40 degrees. So glad I didn't just let him leave.

He took another look at my compressor which was only half working and told me that my freezer was probably not working that well either. But at least everything was still frozen, so I don't have to replace those things.

The warranty guy was off for the weekend and if my fridge wasn't under warranty, we needed a new fridge. Cheaper to buy a new one than fix it. Found out yesterday, we need a new one. So now I just have to survive until Wednesday. My wonderful landlord even offered to take some of my next month's rent to replace some of the food.

My dear friend Bonnie, who is a kindred fellow Washingtonian, loaned me her mini-fridge. Without it, I think I would have lost my mind by now.

So we had a crazy Christmas, one that will definitely be remembered. I am grateful for kind landlords, repairmen willing to come on the weekends, that my babies didn't throw-up too much, stores that are close, and that I actually live in a time where we have electricity and refrigerators. And I am grateful that we are almost at the end of this trial, because I am tired...

Fasting

In his church class two weeks ago, A. learned about fasting when you pray for people. In our faith, we fast the first Sunday of the month for 2 meals and donate that money to the church to distribute to those less-fortunate. We also use that opportunity to consider those that may need extra faith and prayers going their way. A. was very excited and told us all about it on the way home. He wanted to do it this last Sunday.

On Sunday morning, I woke him and asked if he was still planning on trying it. He seemed really concerned and started talking about this boy in his class at school. It took me a while to understand why S. was relevant to whether A. would fast or not. S. is in a wheel-chair and I am not sure why, because he wasn't in first grade. A. told me that he told S. he was going to fast that he wouldn't be in a wheel-chair anymore. (Could he be more sweet and believing in the power of God!?!) S. probably didn't understand A.'s intentions because S. told him not to fast for him. So my 7 year-old was concerned that he didn't have a reason to fast, so should he still do it?

I assured him that he could come up with something else to fast for. He mentioned praying for everyone in the whole world that is sick. I told him that usually we try to be a bit more specific. So he decided on some people to pray for.

At church, he got a little hungry the first hour. Andy told him that he was hungry too because he was fasting, and then A. remembered and sat back down. He fasted the whole 3 hours and told me afterward that he was doing OK. He didn't even rush to the kitchen for lunch when we got home. We went to his room to close his fast with a prayer. He prayed and just said, "Bless all the people I am fasting for."

Andy and I were planning on having him start fasting when he is baptised on his eighth birthday and only one meal for a while. I told A. that and asked him if he wanted to wait until his summer birthday, or fast again in January. He told me he wants to do it again. I am so proud of him. What an awesome kid! :)

Moms, for a Good Cry, Read this...

http://themeanestmom.blogspot.com/2009/11/kindness-of-strangers.html

We Thank Thee...

A. gave this talk in September in church to all the children 3-7. I love how it simplifies what I believe about a living prophet on the earth today. I am thankful for the prophet's guidance in these days. It helps me know how to guard my children from the many things that could rob them of peace and security.

"Last weekend, my family went camping. It got very dark after the sun went down. My dad brought a flashlight so we could see through the darkness. It would have been really hard to find our way without the light.

We live in a world with lots of darkness. Satan wants us to get lost so that we cannot find our way. Heavenly Father knows we can't make it on our own, so he sent a family to help us. But to see which way to go, he gives us a Prophet.

A prophet is a man that speaks to Heavenly Father and teaches us what to do to go to live with Heavenly Father again someday. The prophet has all the keys of the Priesthood to lead Christ's church. He shows us how to follow Jesus and walk in His light. He will speak to us at General Conference next month. It is important that we listen carefully to what he says so we know what Heavenly Father wants us to do. We can share his counsel with our family and follow his instructions and all he says.

I know that President Monson is a prophet and that he teaches us what we need to know. If we follow him, our family can go the right way and get closer to our Heavenly Father."

http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/the-commandments/follow-the-prophet

So here is a bit of what President Monson taught this October.

"My beloved brothers and sisters, I greet you this morning with love in my heart for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for each of you. I am grateful for the privilege to stand before you, and I pray that I might effectively communicate to you that which I have felt prompted to say.

A few years ago I read an article written by Jack McConnell, MD. He grew up in the hills of southwest Virginia in the United States as one of seven children of a Methodist minister and a stay-at-home mother. Their circumstances were very humble. He recounted that during his childhood, every day as the family sat around the dinner table, his father would ask each one in turn, “And what did you do for someone today?”

The children were determined to do a good turn every day so they could report to their father that they had helped someone. Dr. McConnell calls this exercise his father’s most valuable legacy, for that expectation and those words inspired him and his siblings to help others throughout their lives. As they grew and matured, their motivation for providing service changed to an inner desire to help others.My heart is full now as I speak of the experience and contemplate the lives which have been blessed as a result, for both the giver and the receiver...

The words from the 25th chapter of Matthew come to mind:
“Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

My brothers and sisters, may we ask ourselves the question which greeted Dr. Jack McConnell and his brothers and sisters each evening at dinnertime: “What have I done for someone today?” May the words of a familiar hymn penetrate our very souls and find lodgment in our hearts:

Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

That service to which all of us have been called is the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. As He enlists us to His cause, He invites us to draw close to Him..."

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1117-27,00.html

Totally Unexpected

So a goth guy, dressed in black skinny jeans with purple hair dropped this off at my house on Saturday.

I was totally surprised. It was from my brother and sisters and it was totally unexpected. They sent it for my birthday. I cried as I read the note and A. asked why I was crying. I guess it just made me realize how much I miss them and how far away we all live. I post these pictures because I hate when I send flowers (only done it a couple of times) and never know if I got what I paid for. You have to just trust the floral shop in that other state! So here's the picture. What a great color scheme and individual flowers. And until this morning, I thought the water was dyed, but it just dawned on me, I think it's a colored vase! Duh!

Thanks dear siblings! I love you and miss you so much. And I will never forget this one. :)

Yesterday, A. told his Primary teacher that I was 25. I thought that was a great mistake, esp. since I was older than that when I had him! :) LOL

Taking out the Trash

So lately the boys have been doing chores to make money.

K. doesn't have a reward chart, since he is only 2. But he is the quickest to jump in and help. I asked him on this video why he is helping. I expected him to say to make money, since that is why his brothers help. His little answer is so sweet and I am sure short-lived. He will soon be tainted by greed too, I'm sure. :) I also LOVE how he wants to carry the trash can that is almost as big as he is.

Halloween Costumes

G. is a Red Ninja. This was from his preschool carnival. Ms. Lisa combined with Ms. Jen's and Ms. Beckie's classes. These ladies know how to plan a party. These kids had so many activities and so much fun! And no, this costume I didn't make.

Younger siblings were invited too, so here is my caveman. What an easy costume to make and very flexible for all the different temperatures of the parties. K. wore just a diaper under it for one, a long-sleeved shirt/ pants this day, and the actual night of the Halloween, only T-shirt/pants underneath.

So A. wants to be a pilot when he grows up. When I saw the pilot hat at Party City, I thought it would be EASY to decorate his dress shirt to work for this costume. I was going to make him a tie using a pattern that I googled. But then decided covering one of his ties and securing w/ safety pins was a quicker solution! And doesn't he look like he LOVES it!?! Actually, he was cracking himself up that night. Not sure if it was the candy, or if it was being his father's son, as Andy cracks himself up regularly. ;)

A. looks pretty cold at the church Trunk-or-Treat. We had this weird cold front move in just for Wed. and Thurs. Temps dropped 20 degrees and then went back up again for Halloween. Many of us Arizonan mothers planned costumes for typical AZ weather and had to dig out warm clothes to wear underneath. (I know, "poor us"... )

K. loves candy. He would eat it all day long, so I have to put it up where he can't see it. What a holiday. Your kids come out looking THIS happy! He told me "I love 'Kittles!" And G. would repeat the affirmation at each scary house, "I'm not scared of this house." :)

This Girl

This girl...

Grew up to be this woman...

And I don't know where I would be without her. My mom just had a birthday and I already told her how glad I was that she was born. I mean, without her being born, I wouldn't be here... But it is so much more...

There have been so many times that she was the ONLY one who understood. The ONLY one who knew what to say.

I called her so many times from college and even though she was far away, she knew exactly what I was going through and exactly what to say. Many times, it was just to go to bed, that everything would look better in the morning. Advice that has also come in handy now that I am a mom.

I remember how she made our home smell so great with her cooking. Oh, how I loved the smell of dinner when I walked in the door after a long day. I remember how she remembered all the details of my friends' lives so she could keep up on the latest story. She knew how to make me laugh. She would come in and dance with me in my bedroom. She always knew what to do with teenage drama. :)

She can talk to anyone, anywhere and boy, can she tell a story. Truly, it is one of her talents!

Her faith in God and her devotion helped me understand the importance of my testimony and my own convictions.

She taught me so much about how to be the woman I am today. So here's to you Mom. Thanks for everything. And Happy Birthday. :)

While Dad's Away

Andy was gone for 90 minutes. In that time, G. put a Lego stud in his nose. (This is the best picture I could find. Ignore the fact someone made them into earrings...) He calmly came out into the hall with smeared blood all over his shirt sleeves and his hands trying to get it out. Luckily, I pushed on his nostril in just the right place and it popped out.

THEN, A. got his knee stuck in the slats to his bunk bed. He was pretty calm until I couldn't get it out. I told him he didn't need to worry, since we would cut the board before we cut his leg. Then I tried lotion, which luckily slipped that baby right out!

I seriously think God gives moms this special sense for what to do, or a special memory to remember what others have used as solutions. I also believe in the "Mom Gift" that helps moms remember exactly where to find things that kids need. You know, that one where when one of them ask where it is, and you can tell him to look over, around, and behind that, and that, and that, to where it is exactly located!

Funny Things

So I have told you about my clever 4 year old. He is at it again.

- G. asked me why we need Christmas money if Santa makes all the Christmas presents. At the time, he was riding in a shopping cart and we weren't talking about Christmas at all.

- He asked why Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck wear white gloves. Anyone have any answer for that one!?!

- He asked his preschool teacher how the lights turn on. She told him that we flip that switch on the wall, to which he responded, "Yeah, but how does that turn on the lights?" He often asks her questions that in order to answer, she would have to use vocabulary words he doesn't know.

They Can't Believe It

Stephanie, one of my two best friends from h.s., came to visit this weekend. It was so good to see her. I told my kids that she had been my friend since I was a girl and they couldn't believe it. I guess either that I was ever that old... or that I had friends from that long ago... or that I had friends... not sure which. ;)

This is us before each having THREE boys. When we were young, naive, and excited to take on the world.
Do we look wiser now? More experienced? My vote is more tired. ;) LOL

I am grateful for Stephanie. I have so many memories of times we shared. (In fact, as I was straightening the house, I remembered her and Kari helping me pack my bedroom the night before I left for BYU. I laughed at all the stuff I have accumulated since then.) Not only did we have A LOT of fun, but she probably had some influence on who I am today. And she always got the inside front cover in my yearbook.

Here are two pics of some of our boys. Crazy how we both came from families with little testosterone, yet here we are! :) Both of us love it though!

Student of the Month

We got an email to invite us to the assembly where A. got student of the month. We are so proud of him. He has had a great year this far!!! Isn't he handsome. :)

The Cruise!!!

Andy's office manager told me about 2 months ago, "Now you are going on the office trip, right?" I hadn't even heard about it, but once I did, the answer was YES! Dr. Lee's office staff went on a 3 day cruise to celebrate meeting their goals and they were generous enough to invite me. I have great sister in-laws that helped watch my kids. Thanks soooooo much J., C., and A. I am glad that Andy and I had left them in April or I would have never had the guts to leave them for 3 nights. Of course, they did great. And Andy and I had so much fun!

Our boat out of San Diego



The Docs and their wives. This was an accidental picture but we all look better in this one than the one on purpose... ;) We had so much fun hanging out with S. and K. We are also glad they made sure we made it back on the boat after entering Mexico with only I.D.'s and no passports. :)


These are the office ladies that help Andy get it all done and keep him laughing. He really likes working with them and it was fun for me to get to know them better. I think they liked seeing him when he is relaxed and getting to know me a bit too.

Ahhh, to eat with no kids. No bibs, no whining, no feeding anyone. :) I tried duck and lobster for the first time. And surprisingly, duck tastes like HAM. Who knew!?!


Us on Dress-up night! We clean up pretty well, I guess.



Andy and I after we returned from shopping in Ensenada, Mexico.

Every night, the housekeeping staff folded your towel into some animal. We had a turtle and something that was debated to be a viper or seal. This was the best of the three.

At the San Diego Airport, they had a bunch of rocking chairs. I am not sure why, but we took pictures sitting in them. Here is Andy laughing at something he just said. I love candid pictures of him. :)

Here we are practicing for old age. ;)

We bartered for these cape/mask things in Mexico. The boys LOVE them and they were 3 for $14!!! K. is a power ranger and it is actually too big for him. They are cute running down the hall wearing them.

These are just pictures I found on the internet of our ship since it was a pain to lug around my huge camera. Also, I am not sure that my camera could have captured these anyway.

This is the atrium. It has 2 glass elevators.

We played miniature golf and ping pong. I am definitely better at mini golf. But I didn't know how much Andy likes ping pong. This course was on the very top of the ship and was surrounded by a track.

This is the pool. We were both surprised it was so small. It really is the size it is on the Love Boat!

Andy and I had a lot of fun and it was very relaxing. We will definitely go on another cruise. We felt like 3 days was just about right unless you are really excited for your destination location. Thanks Dr. Lee! And thanks to Andy for being so fun to hang out with for 3 days! I am still really glad I married this boy. ;)

A Little Dirt, A Little Fun, A Little "Whew"

So last weekend we went camping. We haven't gone with all three kids, and the last time we went G. was just about a yr. old. Andy was off for the weekend so we borrowed necessary equipment, planned, packed, and headed off. Notice I always dress the boys in super colorful, non-camouflageable shirts. ;)

G. had lots of fun playing in the puddle at the water spigot. Andy had to remind me that is what little boys do when they camp.

A. had a lot of fun throwing rocks and throwing things in the fire. Andy had to remind me that is what little boys do when they camp.

K. climbed on things and picked up pine cones. I was fine with that, until he fell off the curb he was climbing on. :( Actually, he fell about four times, but he is a tough little guy. He only cried once.

K. slept GREAT. He even slept in. Of course he slept between Andy and I and got to hold my hair 'til his heart was content. He has never taken a binky or a blanket. I am his soothing object of choice. (We even tried to replace me with a Barbie, unsuccessfully.) But he woke up a little grumpy.

We had a lot of fun. But it was still really hot when the sun was out, so apparently next time we camp, we must drive farther north. But it was a good venture for us. We got away from home and enjoyed being together. And it was good to get really dirty and enjoy nature.

The "whew" in the title refers to this little camp visitor...

When I was in the tent with A. and G., Andy was outside by the fire with K. He strongly informed us not to get out of the tent since a skunk was sniffing around our table and garbage. And was headed to sniff our tent!!! We were so quiet and we heard him scratching around the zipper. He headed away for a bit and then returned when I was almost leaving the tent to brush my teeth. Oh would that have been an adventure!!! "WHEW", I say. :)

Nothing Like Family- Nothing Like a Baby as an Excuse to Get Together

Sunday was the baby blessing. What a wonderful day and a special blessing. We are so grateful this baby has come to be a cousin to our boys. It is amazing to watch all these kids oooh and ahhh over him. You could call it magic, but I think is that these kids somehow can sense this baby just came from Heavenly Father. And they are drawn to that.

Grandpa got to come and he brought my niece C., the only granddaughter on my husband's side. It was a wonderful time to have them here. We loved getting to know C. better as a teenager and a young lady. We even got a Girls' Night with all the aunts!!! She is a great example to our kids and a real sweetheart.

I loved that K. got to know Grandpa better. He played trains with him and was comfortable enough that he was calling him "Grandpa" just 3 days into the visit. K. even picked up C. name! We marvel at how well Grandpa keeps up with the boys- he plays Power Rangers and bandages Spiderman action figures with napkins and rubber bands.

We spent TONS of time together and I just love that our children live close enough to mingle this much. Jen and I are wondering if they will be sick of each other now that Grandpa and C. have left or if they will go through withdrawal. I am leaning towards withdrawal since they have already asked when we get to see them again!

So thanks to Grandpa for making the trip and bringing C. in tow. Thanks to Jim and Tamara for letting her come. Thanks to the other aunts for joining in the festivities. Thanks to Jen and Stan for generously housing all the craziness. And thanks to the stars colliding that I got to marry into this wonderful family. :)

Do you see anything that doesn't belong in this picture???

Oh, yeah, my kid peeking from behind! ;)

Some handsome Johnson men. I am kind of partial to the one w/out the suit coat. :)

The Clever One's First Day of Preschool

The family has decided that this is my "clever child". Two examples:

1) Andy was playing our new Ben 10 Wii game the other day and the bad guy killed his character. G. says "Dang it. I said 'dang it' for you dad." He continued to "pitch in" whenever he felt Andy needed it.

2) We went swimming the other day w/ cousins. In the locker room, he is calling cousin J. a "poopie butt". Andy pulls him aside and reminds him not to say potty words. To which G. replies completely seriously, "But Dad, we're in a big bathroom."

Ooooh, are we in for it.

So he is off to preschool. These are pics from his first day. He doesn't look very excited to go, but actually he was. He had been asking me for months when he was going to start. We even bought this backpack in June. He had a great time and loves doing homework. Go figure!

A Lighthouse Bathroom- The Beginning...

So I have all these friends that are Decorating Inspirations! And they may not even realize they are to me. Some, I marvel at their blog posts and how unintimidated they are by painting any piece of furniture (Katie H., you know I am talking about you.). Some, I visit their homes, with the confident placement of decoration on the walls and shelves (Gina, Shannan, Kim, Karin, Jenn, Michelle, Lisa, etc. etc. etc.). And I think, maybe I can do that. Most people that have been in my home since I have been married know how minimalist I am. NOT minimalist because I LIKE the look. Minimalist cause I am scared to buy something and then hate it. Scared to spend the money and frugal because my husband just doesn't "get it". But after taking Gina's decorating class, I have decided that "yes, I will try".

So my first plan...
I have always dreamt of a bathroom decorated with lighthouses. I even bought a cheap 2008 calendar so I could frame a picture or 2. Well one day, I was in Goodwill and bought a lighthouse candle holder and felt the time was right to get started. I started by painting a lighthouse picture, inspired by one in the calendar. I have always wanted to learn how to paint and even bought brushes and watercolor paper/paints. So I finally did it!!! And I actually think it turned out good enough to frame and hang over my guest toilet. Guess if you word it that way, the location doesn't set the bar that high. ;)

Now I just have to get fearless like Katie/Gina and paint some things and find that shower curtain that is in a box somewhere. If I ever finish, I will post pictures. I already took the before pics. So hopefully, it won't be too long till the after pics. :)

Sometimes You Have to Send Them to School to Find Out What They Know

So A. started 2nd grade at the beginning of August. He is doing well and staying out of trouble. Hooray! Today, he brought home this assignment. He was supposed to fill it out about his friend. Guess What!! He chose his brother G.!!! It just warmed my heart. And it made G. smile too. :) Gotta love it when you realize that your kids really love eachother. Now I just have to figure out where to put it for later when I need to remind them. ;) And just as an explanation, G. is 4 and is still learning how to jump. He has been able to gallop almost since he could walk, but for some reason, the idea of lifting TWO feet, was impossible for him. Andy even tried to get him to practice by duct taping his legs together and letting him jump on our bed. I, of course, was just seeing a CPS visit waiting to happen- when our child innocently told someone about the time Dad taped his legs together... ;) So we are very proud of G. when he tries to jump with both feet and is successful!

Out of the Mouth of Babes

K. is talking a ton now, putting words together. And I think he likes to say things to make me laugh.

Today he and I were hanging out together and he stands up and says "Singing". I repeated him and asked what he was going to sing, expecting "The Wheels on the Bus" since this has been his current favorite. Thank you dear Nursery Teachers.

But no, that's not what he started singing...

Ever heard of this song???? :)

A. picked this one up at a hockey game with Dad and breaks into rousing renditions at the top of his lungs. Apparently, K. has picked it up too. Nothing like hearing your baby sing "We will. Rock you!"