We Wish You a Merry Birthday!

This week was our week for Birthdays. Erin turned 7 on Tuesday (the 13th) and Jer turned a year older on Thursday (the 15th). As usual, Erin celebrated for the entire week and Jer got about 30 seconds worth (which is actually how he prefers it). Since Tuesday we had a soccer game and all the normal Tuesday busy stuff, we decided to give Erin her gifts and have cake and ice cream on Monday night. She couldn't wait. She asked me about a dozen times when dad was going to be home so we could start the party. She was a little excited when she opened Just Dance 3 for the Wii. Her face is priceless in that picture. I love it.

On Tuesday, I went and spent the last half hour with her at school. It's always fun to see how she is around her friends. She got to sit in the big chair and call on her classmates. They asked her questions like "what's your favorite food?" and "what's your favorite thing to do with your dad... mom... sister... after school..." It was super cute. Then they got to take turns telling her what they love about her. I wish I had a recorder because first graders are too fun. Of course they all love her hair. Ms. Nielsen loves "the way she always does her best." I love that she is a perfectionist. I love her smile. I love that she still cuddles with me.

After school Grandma and Grandpa B came over and gave her a darling little reversible apron. I might steal it 'cause I think it's stinkin' cute. At the futsal game that night, Grandma and Grandpa J came to see her and give her a gift. They gave her a Fancy Nancy Madame Alexander doll with a new Fancy Nancy book.  Erin LOVES her (all except for the part that whenever my girls get a new Madame Alexander doll, I let them take them out of the box, inspect, look, kiss, love ... and then they go back in the box).

On Friday, Erin had a little party with her friends. She has wanted a party at Boondock's forever, but can you see how many little girls are in that picture? I can't afford to take them all and Erin isn't the kind of kid that can just have two or three friends come. So, we had a little party here and they played Just Dance all night and ate snacky foods. It was crazy fun. If you don't have Just Dance, I suggest you get it. It's a great workout, but it's also so entertaining to watch the kids play.

So there is Erin's week of partying. For Jer's birthday, he got to come home from a long day at work and help the kids with homework. Lynsee and Devin came over, his mom texted, my mom brought over a gift and he talked to his grandma on the phone. See what happens when you get so close to being forty thirty something? Life goes on as it always has. And he is happy that I didn't tell anyone that it was his Birthday until it was over.

The Red Nosed Grandkids

Since Christmas decided to land on a Sunday this year, we decided to have the Johnson Christmas get together early in the month. Even though everyone only has an hour of church on Christmas, that hour is at a different time for everyone so it makes it hard to have breakfast together. We have always done Christmas morning breakfast with the J's. Josh isn't convinced that getting together earlier in the month makes up for not having breakfast casserole and grapefruit on Christmas morning.

We had yummy food (as always), sang Christmas songs, played games and the kids did their gift exchange. It was fun but I still vote we all sluff church and get together for breakfast on the 25th. There's only going to be like 10 other people at church anyway, right? Brady says he has to conduct. Lame excuse. Now I feel bad. I don't really want to sluff. I just hate it when things mess up tradition.

Hunter 8th Ward Christmas Dinner

Last night was our ward Christmas party. I'm not sure how it happened (though I have a good idea), but Jer was asked to be in charge of it this year. I was his wing man. We asked a few people in the ward to be on a committee and it actually turned out great. I was told by more than one person to expect 20% of the members to not love how we did things. Hopefully there weren't that many that walked away disappointed. 

Jer is an expert at feeding lots of people. And, he feeds them well. We had roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, rolls, green salad and cake. We planned for 250 people and when the night was over, we figure we fed 258. We served 100 lbs. of potatoes, 65 lbs. of beef, 22 dozen rolls, 3 sheets of cake and lots of corn and salad. Have you ever made gravy for 250+ people? Jer pulled it off and it was amazing.

We asked Ashley Tucker to be in charge of decorations and as you can probably see from the pics, she also outdid herself. We had a lot of awesome people in the ward that helped and by the time they were done, the gym looked like we were having a wedding. I had the radio on the whole day so that I could pretend like I was decorating for the Prom I never got asked to.

Our program was Power Academy Dance Company from Payson, Utah. They were great and it seemed like the ward members enjoyed it. It was fun to see all the kids actually paying attention. They were either sitting on laps watching or dancing to the Irish music. We also had the Ivie's set up the live Nativity outside with their animals before dinner. The Primary kids rotated through since it was so cold outside. It was nice that they only had to sit outside for a 15 minute shift rather than the full hour. I didn't get any pictures of the Nativity because I was too busy in the kitchen, but the kids all said it was great and I was grateful I didn't have to worry about anything because our Primary President took care of everything outside.

Overall it seemed to be a success. Jer and I (and the kids) were exhausted by the end of the day and none of us moved much today. It kicked our butts to be on our feet from noon until 9:30p.m. Thanks again to everyone that helped. There were several sisters in the ward that helped and did it without being seen or recognized. We had a great time and were excited to have such a great turnout. Just don't ask us to do it again. Ha ha. We probably wouldn't say no, but we might serve Ramen Noodles next time.

I'm Thankful for.... cheese and fries.

We had such a fun Thanksgiving weekend this year. The last few years Josh has played in a soccer tournament in St. George over the holiday weekend. This year, we stayed home and I'm glad we did.


Darrell and Kathy scheduled their church for our turkey dinner and it was great to have a place for the kids to run around and the adults to enjoy hanging out.

 We only used the kitchen to "warm" our feast, I promise. :) Everyone brought something and they all did a great job with everything from the food and table setting to the entertainment. Unfortunately, I had the worst headache (okay prolly not the worst, but a doozy) so I was all hopped up on percacet all day. It's a good thing I took my camera 'cause I may not have remembered anything without all the pictures. I have this habit of getting sinus infections .. continuously. I finish one antibiotic and end up on another one three days later. It's becoming quite a routine thing for me. I am caving and going to see an ENT and moving forward with the dreaded sinus surgery.

 Anyway, back to turkey and mashed potatoes. 

 Even though I was taking pictures from a mile away, Josh was still annoyed with me. Look at that face. If you can see his face behind all the hair that is. I'm loving his curls even if he does look shaggy and junior highish.

The kids had so much fun together. They always do and it never seems like enough time. I wish pictures in the gym turned out better, but oh well. They're still cute girls.

These are more boys that don't love getting pictures taken, but it was too fun watching them play Rock Band together.

The seven boys from Josh's soccer team that were still in town, got together for a little futsal tourney in Salt Lake. It was so much fun!! I don't normally love the indoor arenas (and especially with my raging headache), but they played so well and we had so much fun! It was great. The boys played up a year and beat two U14 premier teams! I love games like that! And they were on such a high after two wins in one day. Sadly, they didn't win Saturday, so they didn't win the tourney. But, second place isn't anything to complain about (unless your Ricky Bobby and in that case, if you're not first you're last). Jer did a great job coaching. He tries to say he doesn't miss it, but he loves the boys too much.

 Since I didn't go to my mom's on Thanksgiving because of my lame sinus infection, I had to do my craft by myself at home (days later). It's always been a tradition to do some kind of Christmas decoration on Thanksgiving with all the B girls. I was sad I missed it. But, at least I had all the stuff so it was just finding the time to sit down and do it. I love how it turned out. The picture doesn't do it justice (it was taken with my phone).

 

We had planned to go to Temple Square on Friday night with the kids, but we participated in the soccer tourney instead. So, by the time we were at the last game on Saturday, the girls were cheering for the other team so that we didn't have to go to the championship game. Josh didn't appreciate that but, it was fun to go see the lights that night instead of staying for one more game - especially with 45 degree weather. 

The kids have always loved taking Trax downtown to Temple Square. It was funny this time because Jer rides it every day to work. He got a kick out of the kids acting like they were on a ride at Disneyland. It was the first weekend for the lights and great weather so, of course, it was packed. We didn't mind the crowd and I got some great pictures.

 It's tradition to go eat somewhere downtown when we go see the lights. Last year we went to the Garden Cafe. This year we waited in line for the always delicious Lion House rolls. The kids love it there because it's cafeteria style and tastes homemade. Jer and I love it because we had our wedding reception there so we get to reminisce a little.

The grounds were lined with amazing hand crafted lanterns. It was gorgeous. I love that every year there is something different to see and it's always awesome!

 Another picture of Josh loving the moment. (Notice the hoodie? That kid loves to push my buttons)

Erin's cute teacher emailed me this picture last week. I had to share. This is Erin, Tally and Chloe. They are in first grade and I'm afraid this could be the beginning of this generations "Mean Girls." I really doubt any one of them have a mean streak in them, but they are already coordinating outfits and forming their own little clique. They don't even realize what they're doing. Black shirt, grey jeans (with pink stitching), hair in side pony with black ribbon. So funny.

Erin and Emma both have amazing teachers this year. I get emotional when I think about it because it's such a priceless thing to have your kids in a classroom with someone that loves them and makes your child love school and learning. Erin has broken out of her shell and I know it has a lot to do with her awesome teacher, Ms. Nielsen. Emma is being pushed in a way she never has before - and she is accepting it and working hard and wants to be at school and wants to work hard. If you know my girls, this is all big.

And that's it for the longest post ever. Sorry. Kind of annoying, I know. But since there's only like 3 people that read my blog, oh well. And you can always skip over all the reading. I'll never know.

The phrase “bite my head off” was not entirely a figure of speech...

I found a few more Halloween pics on my phone so I thought I would post them. I'm sure one day I will look back and wish I had a picture of so and so in the such and such costume. The whole time I was making the Rubik's Cube, they all loved it. Too bad they didn't still love it by the time Halloween actually came.

Here is a picture of Emma in the parade at school. I had a hard time getting a good one of her, but she is cute anyway. I think the doctor look suits her well.

This was the best I had of Erin. I'm not sure why all of a sudden she decided to be camera shy. As if she isn't shy enough already, now she is pulling this crap. You can kind of see her skeleton costume in this picture. Those ruffles were a bigger pain than I had hoped - maybe because this costume was like the fifteenth made this year and was done the night before the parade at school.

This wasn't on Halloween. This was the picture I was looking for on my phone to blog when I came across all those others. We went to see Breaking Dawn Thursday night and if it wasn't for these awesome girls, the night would have been one big regret. The movie SUCKED! I kind of feel sorry for all those women that loved it and still admit to being Team Jacob/Edward fans. I read all four lame books. And, I will admit to liking the first three. Breaking Dawn was twisted and weird. So, I guess I shouldn't have expected anything less from the movie. It was just as twisted and weird - if not more. But, I love hanging out with these girls and they made the night as fun as it always is when we're together. The best part was that we went to a 7 o'clock showing and April was in her midnight mood. I think the lady next to her was the only lady in the entire theater that didn't laugh at any of the movie - which made it that much funnier every time April howled back at the wolves. Unfortunately, we have to wait months to see Part II of Breaking Dawn. Only unfortunate because of the GNO part of the experience.  Why they had to make a horrible book into two horrible movies is beyond me.

Anyone else dying to see Hunger Games? Now that's an amazing book and the trailer for the movie looks awesome! So excited for that. Anyone for a GNO when Hunger Games is in theaters?

Let's Do the Time Warp Again

I thought since next week is Thanksgiving (already) I should blog about our Halloween festivities. Halloween seemed to go on for the entire month and it felt like November was never going to get here. I have always been a big fan of Halloween, but I think after this year, I might change my mind. When I'm doing adult type Halloween stuff, it's awesome. But, the part where you have to find the right costume for your kids and go to trunk-or-treats and school parties... not my favorite. Mostly because Erin and Emma couldn't figure out what to be and it changed every day. There were way too many tears shed over such a stupid thing. Erin went from witch to pirate to rubik's cube to skeleton. Emma went from rubik's cube to scarey clown to zombie doctor and ended up just a boring ole doctor. Josh, surprisingly, was the least difficult. He had to be a pumpkin head for the combined activity and then for his last year of trick-or-treating he was a soccer goalie (ironic). I was actually excited that Logan decided to humor me and wear the rubik's cube I made. Someone had to wear it.

We had lots of fun with the Johnson cousins at our annual Halloween Party at Trevor and Jenns. We got started a little late (due to deer hunters and car battery killers), but it was worth waiting. The kids had so much fun. We don't get together with everyone often enough. Trevor and Jenn made a delicious dinner for everyone - Trevor stood and made scones for navajo tacos and holy cow it was yummy. The kids did crafts, ate lots and played musical chairs and soccer. So fun.

 I never did get a picture of all the kids in costumes. It got dark and costumes didn't last.

Another fun party that is quickly becoming tradition is Ashley's party. She is a big time lover of the holiday and so super talented and we all get to reap the benefits. Last year she did her pirate theme. This year it was a Masquerade theme and made for some great pictures. It was hard to choose which ones to include. Notice her amazing treats and decorations....

In the bottom right hand corner of the above pic you will see the "old" Young Women leaders. Love them all and I'm not done crying about being released. The freak in the back with the black wig is who is taking over. She seems a little off, but I promise she is going to do an amazing job and I don't worry for one second about all the little "dirt bags" that I'm leaving in her care.

And, for our combined activity in October, we did a murder mystery party. It was a lot of work, but oh so worth it. The leaders did an awesome job with decorations, dinner and games. The youth were so much fun! They actually came dressed as their assigned character and played the part all night. We have some awesome little actors in our ward. Again, there were so many great pictures from this night, I had to choose only a handful to include.

Since Ashley outdid herself with the decorations, she earned herself the job of decorating for the ward Christmas dinner. He he. I made the brownies and boy were they a project. I have no idea how they tasted 'cause I didn't get one, but at least they turned out cute.
 

I didn't get any pictures of the parade at school or the kids on Halloween. I know - sometimes I am a better Young Woman leader than a mom. But, I hear being a Ward Missionary allows one to spend more time with the family. So, I will do my best. I might have a picture of Erin in her skeleton costume on my phone. I need to look - she was perty cute. And there is our Halloween in a nutshell.

Disclosure:  I'm really not bitter about being released. Change is always good for everyone. I'm just sad. I'm sure many of you can relate to that empty feeling after being released from a calling you have been so involved with and loved. I felt a similar emptiness after being released from the RS Presidency years ago so at least I know it won't last forever. I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity I had to serve with such amazing women. And, I feel like a proud mom every time I see one of "my girls." It's hard not to love the snot out of them. They are all such amazing people and I hope that if nothing else, after being their leader, they know that I love them and so does Heavenly Father. Now, go get your Personal Progress done (not you, Carly).. and no boob hugging!

Welcome to the World, Baby Mason

 My baby sister had her second baby last week. It's so amazing to be part of a new little miracle joining our crazy world. I wasn't there (in the delivery room) this time and it was killing me. Lynsee was induced so she and Devin spent all day at the hospital. Their little guy was born at about 5:30p.m. on October 26 and weighed exactly 7 lbs. They weren't sure what his name was going to be so I was super excited when I got the text and it said Mason Devin Scott. We're so happy to have another boy in the family (there's only three boys on the B side) and I love the name they chose for him.

 Bryn spent lots of time with the Grandma's. She wasn't sure what to think of her "bay bro" at first, but I get the impression she kind of likes him now. It was overwhelming for her in the beginning and was very concerned about her mommy (it didn't help that she had her flu shot the day before - she wasn't too sure about seeing a doctor after that).

 Look how cute that little face is (not mine). He hadn't even had a bath yet. I love being with a little fresh from heaven baby. I could hold him for hours.

I had to include a pic of my punk sister that looked like she just came from the salon instead of the delivery room. I couldn't believe it when she came down the hall with her baby in her arms and her hair was perfect and she still had make up on. That was never the case for me. But then again she has always been the pretty one. Ha ha. Love you, Lyns! Congrats on another perfect babe!