Shy One

School pictures don't always turn out the best. However, when Erin is in a picture, it's always gorgeous. I don't think I have a picture of her that isn't a good one.

This is her last year of preschool and then on to the big K. We are enjoying our time together. I am loving the one on one that I get with her. Hopefully one day she will come out from behind my leg and actually talk. I hear her voice and I know that there are a handful of family members (and Miss Katie) that can testify to her having one, but for the most part, she is great at keeping quiet.

Look at all the adorable smiles in that class picture. Miss Katie probably has days when she has wiped a few too many noses, but for the most part, that's a lot of happiness in one little classroom.

p.s. Still no computer. And, btw, switching to a Mac doesn't solve anything. You still have to buy it somewhere. And, my sister-in-law owns a Mac and lost everything when it crashed. She got it back after the MacDr. got a big chunk o' change!

Chumba Whumba

Last February, Jer gave me my very own laptop. It's been so nice to have. Not fighting the kids for the computer. Being able to blog while in bed. Playing Bejeweled any ole time I want. And, once in a while, using it for something productive. However, the mouse button started to stick. It's really hard to get the high score on Bejeweled when it takes three or four tries before it actually selects the jewel. So, we decided to take advantage of the "great" warranty it came with. Yep, Jer bought it at Best (worst) Buy so we were excited to just take it in to the Geek Squad and have 'er fixed. Easy enough. Huh. Not so much. I don't remember the initial drop off day. But, I do know that it was supposed to be ready to pick up on August 18. Around August 20th, Jer called and asked if it was ready. Then he called on August 21st, 22nd, 23rd........ you get the point. Finally, they tell us it's ready. Jer gets there to pick it up and they tell him their "guy" cracked the board. So they "would like to replace it so that (we) are satisfied with the job they've done." We left without it. Waited a week. Started calling. Waited some more. Finally, it was ready. We picked it up and, honestly, I didn't even get a chance to look at it until I was going to bed that night. I plugged in the cord and it did nothing. No power. No light indicating it was charging. NOTHING. Besides the fact that it looked like a ten year old lap top when I got it back, it didn't freaking work. So, the next day, Jer took it back in. Being the nice guy that he is, he hands it back to them and trusts that it really will be fixed this time. And, that it will be expedited this time. "No longer than a week." By now, it's about September 10. Jer waits. By about the 17th, he calls. Julie is not in (the "wonderful" manager "helping" us). Monday, September 21, Jer calls. Gosh. They just don't know where my computer is or why it's not back from Chumba Whumba. This time, without me cheering him on in the background, Jer let's them know how UNhappy we are. We were told that if no computer by today, Wednesday, we will be able to come in and pick up a new computer. Then when mine comes back from Timbuktu, I can take the new one in and they will transfer my files from the old one. How nice. Yah. We'll see what Julie has to say tomorrow when I show up - if she happens to be working.

The kicker: We actually purchased two computers the day we got my laptop. Mine and a new desk top for the family. It doesn't work right now either. But, we can't very well take both in at the same time and be completely without. So, we ask the Geek Squad for some troubleshooting suggestions. They tell us it will be no biggie - "bring it in." Bottom line - we purchased two new HP Computers in February and have been using our old WalMart Compaq desktop since the end of July. Good thing we kept it. I think we will go back to purchasing our electronics at WalMart.

My little man isn't little anymore

Eleven years ago today, I was full of every emotion possible. I was about to give birth to my first child, Joshua William Johnson. He was born at 8:30p.m. at LDS Hospital and was not only our first child, but he was also the first grandchild on both sides. There were a lot of people hanging out at the hospital that day with much anticipation. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. Here it is, eleven years later, and I couldn't be happier with my Josh. So many people kept telling me to enjoy him while he was little because it doesn't last long enough. I appreciate those words of advise - it has gone by way to fast.

This is Jeremiah and Joshua on September 19, 1998 - just four days old. My brother, Paul, married his sweetheart, Alisha, just a few days after Josh was born. He was kissed by so many people this day.

Josh and I have been best friends since day 1. He was such a cuddly baby. I remember loving him more than I could have ever imagined. Besides his Dad, he was the best thing to happen to me. I loved being pregnant with him. I loved all of his "firsts." I love that every day he would tell me "love you SO much."

This picture was taken on his first birthday at the Kiddie Kandids at Cottonwood Mall. They used this picture for their store. It was blown up to poster size and stayed on the wall there for five or six years - maybe longer. Now when we drive passed the "hole" where Cottonwood Mall used to be, we remember going there on a regular basis just to check on his picture. Jer used to call him his little bowling ball baby. His head was so round, you could bowl with it.

This is at age 2. Even then he could be found with a soccer ball in hand.

May 11, 2001. This was the day Cari was married at the Bountiful Temple. I absolutely love this picture of Josh. He is my little man. He has always been full of questions - wanting answers. My dad was kneeling in front of him talking about the Temple. He is such a smart kid.

When Emma was a baby, Josh started to worry me. He was bouncing off the walls - more than a typical 3 year old. When I took him to see the Doctor, she advised me to sign him up for preschool. She thought maybe he was too smart for his own good. He needed structure and, more than anything, to be challenged. So, we took him to Challenger School for preschool. It was expensive and time consuming, but so worth it. There's not a thing wrong with this kid! He's just too smart for his own britches!

Kindergarten at Magna Elementary. His teacher was Mrs. Russell (the same Kindergarten teacher his uncle Trevor had).

This is back when I was actually one of those moms that takes their kids in to be photographed for every occasion. This was Christmas 2003.

First Grade at Magna Elementary.

This is the only toothless picture I could find of him. He was so cute without his two front teeth!

Easter 2006.

Second Grade at Magna Elementary.

Third Grade at Magna Elementary. This was the year we found out he gets his eyes from his dad. He started wearing glasses this year.

Fourth Grade at Gearld Wright Elementary. Look how quickly he grew up. He is such a handsome kid (ask any grandma at any grocery store).

August 2008 at Temple Square

And this is last year, fourth grade with his favorite pair of glasses. Today they had school pictures taken and I wish I had it already to add to this post.

Now that I have had a lump in my throat for the last hour - I just want to tell Josh how much I love him. Thanks for being my buddy 365 days a year for the last eleven. You are always the first to try and make me smile when I am having a bad day. I love that you are so ambitious. I've never met a kid with such goals and dreams as yours. There is no doubt in my mind that you will achieve everything you put your mind to. You are smart, athletic, compassionate and the best big brother any girl could ask for. Nothing compares to the smile on your face - it's so contagious. Thanks for being the kid you are. I love you! Happy Birthday!!

p.s. I hope I embarrassed you! I know you hate to be in the spotlight and you hate it when I am cheesy about you, but it's your birthday!!

Hobbies Gone Wild

My kids are back in school and I am back to having "down time." I can't even begin to explain how much I cherish the quiet hours when my kids are at school. I love them like crazy, but when they are here 24/7 for three months straight, I go crazy. So what does this mom do with free time? I get crafty. I know I'm a nerd, but I love to sew. My Etsy Shop has a few things, but the things I really love to do are for my girls. This is my latest project. I am pretty excited about them, so I thought I would share. These pictures turned out darling -it helps that the girls are so photogenic.

These are my headbands I have available at www.pigtailsandpetals.etsy.com

I had a pattern for the skirts and then I whipped up this cute bracelet to match.

Shut Out

Last night was Josh's first game of the season. It was, by far, the most entertaining game they have ever played. They have improved so much over the last year! It's so fun watching them actually play the game rather than watching a bunch of little boys run around and pretend like they know what they are doing. They are playing positions, they are scoring goals, they are passing, they are working together as a team, they are listening to the coaches, and they are learning quickly what it feels like to be on a winning team!

Before the game started last night, coach told the team that before the season is over, he wanted to have a shut out (meaning not one goal is made by the other team). They did it last night! Now what? That was their first game. :) Josh is back in the box playing keeper (his choice of positions). I don't think his coach realized how much talent he has when he is in the box because he has always been the "back up keeper." Josh decided he wanted to show everyone how much he loves that position - and he did - with a shut out! He stopped every single ball that came his way. There were four or five shots that he stopped that looked like there was no way he could. The crowd was screaming for him! I think it pumped him up more for the next one every time he heard all the parents yelling his name! "Nice save, Josh!" I love that kid! I love that smile he gets on his face when he is the star of the game. He is shy, yet loving the attention!

If you love watching a good soccer game, you have to come see this little team play. Don't bother bringing a chair, because you won't be able to sit the whole time! I posted the new schedule on the right (addresses are at the top).

I promise

I promise to be a nice person again now that school is back in session. This was our first summer on a traditional schedule and it seemed like it was never going to end. I love summer, but I think I love the first day of school more.

The Truth Is...

I have been busy and this has caused me to fall behind on my blog... busy playing Bejeweled. Seriously - what is my problem? I'm considering making an appointment with the Bishop. It's a real problem. It's so bad that when I close my eyes at night to go to sleep, I see little jewels sparkling and exploding. Maybe it's not the Bishop I should make an appointment with, but more a therapist! It's not just blogging that gets pushed to the back burner - my kids, my pile of laundry, my sleep, my meals... I don't even wear make up any more.

Okay, enough with my obsession. Life has been crazy and I guess Bejeweled has become my latest "down time." Our summer is quickly coming to an end. I have mixed feelings about school starting. I am ready for our family to get back into a routine and I am most definitely done with my kids fighting non-stop, but I am also feeling like there is a lot we didn't get in. There are places we always go during the summer (Thanksgiving Point, Hogle Zoo, Lagoon) that have been left out. But, what can I say? I tried. We are going to Lagoon on Thursday so I guess two things to leave out isn't too bad. And, if you ask Jer, my kids are spoiled rotten because I try so hard to keep them entertained all summer. Really - this is my way of keeping them busy enough that they don't fight and wearing them out to the point of exhaustion at the end of every day. It's my way of staying sane (not that it really works, but I try to convince myself that it is).

We made it to the cabin (only once this summer) and that is a big one on our list of things to do. The kids absolutely love the mountains and time at the cabin. I love that the older they get, the more they seem to appreciate it.

My Nature Girls

This is the perfect marshmallow! I would've gotten a nickel from my dad for that one!

Okay - so this is supposed to be our "cute" family photo. However, mom ruined it with two things: A. run run run before the timer goes off on the camera and B. the Twilight shirt has gotta go! (We were camping, okay?)

So, it's July, but there is snow! Okay, if you drive far enough UP the mountain, you will eventually find snow.

Here's to all the Johnson's: Does this look familiar? These are what we call the "Barbie beds" and I think all the Johnson boys built these same huts when they were the ages of my kids.

As silly as this photo may seem, it's dear to me. I LOVE sitting at the kitchen table at the cabin and playing games while eating chips n' salsa. Rumicub is my "cabin favorite." This is what I call a "getaway."

Another little "getaway" I had this summer was Girls Camp. It was crazy - as to be expected! I love Girls Camp. I am a geek. I went for 8 years as a Young Woman and now I get to go as a leader. While I did have a blast when I was young, I absolutely needed it as an adult. It was a lot of work to get there (so much preparation - holy cow!), but once we were there, it was so refreshing. I have to admit, I wasn't looking forward to leaving my kids behind to take care of 14 teenage girls for a week. But, they were great. I even survived being away from Jer. Thirteen years of being married and we've really only been away from each other like that for a handful of company trips. We had a few mishaps (like me getting a sinus infection and an ear infection and driving home at 2am to relieve the pressure - I saw the Dr. the next day and went right back up to camp), but all in all, it was INCREDIBLE!

This is just before the hike - we started out with a few more than we ended with. :)


These are the girls that actually made it 3 miles.


Warning: Do not take your new car to Girls Camp. This is what happens!!

So, that's what we've been up to. In the midst of all our summer fun, we have kept busy with the usual stuff: Soccer, Clogging, Young Women's, Scouts, Activity Days, playdates, yard work, babysitting, and work. I do wish we could take a week off and run away sometimes, but all in all, it's been a great summer. I really don't think we would know what to do with ourselves if we weren't running from one place to the next. Soon we will just squeeze school into the picture. Jer and I actually tried to "plan ahead" and got tickets to Depeche Mode months ago - it's next week and guess what! We will be running from a soccer game to the babysitters to the concert. But, hey, at least we get a date night, right?