My hatred for Science Fair Projects

I can't help it. I hate the science fair. As much as I hate Reflections projects. Emma did hers 99% on her own this year because it makes me ornery to do it/help (I took the pics). Teachers require students to participate, but the whole thing is rigged (just like Reflections) and if your mom isn't on the committee, you just get a ribbon for participating. Emma did five different experiments, took notes and pictures along the way, typed up her hypothesis (and all the other crap that's required) and made this cute display with the Cricut. She did get an interview and made it in the top 10 in fifth grade - and she was thrilled. I'm proud of her for putting so much effort into it and for doing such a great job. Booo! to all the kids that made cookies using different fats. We all know your mom made them.

Lynsee and I have been trying to find a way for Err and Bryn to play together more, but it's hard with Err being in school every day till 4 o'clock. We caved and decided to hit Kangaroo Zoo on a Saturday. It was busy, as to be expected, but they had so much fun. Emma had Riley come so that she would have a friend her age there. Riley thought we were actually going to see kangaroos at the zoo. Too funny.

Bryn kept sitting at the top of this slide and bouncing. She took another 2 year old out after he tried to push her down a few times. My kind of girl.

Emma had to take a minute to hold Mason after he woke up. He actually slept for almost two hours in his stroller. He must be a growing boy (ha ha).

Both Erin and Bryn were a little slide shy at first, but after an hour of going with the big girls they were warmed up.

The jump house collapsed a couple of times. Scary, but funny. Devin and I were standing back watching the first time - laughing at the chance that Lynsee might be in there. Sure enough, Emma, Riley and Bryn were in there when it went down so Lyns went in to save them.

Josh went a whole 7 days without crutches and then re-injured his hip. It's not easy  to get out of participating in Jr. High P.E. so after doing stairs, laps, sit ups, push ups, pull ups and then sprints- the hip "popped" again. He didn't have P.E. last semester so I hadn't given it much thought (as far as having him excused by the dr.).  This time we didn't waist any time and started physical therapy right away. Apparently, there is more than just a pulled/strained sartorious muscle (as originally diagnosed). If that is all that happened, he would be back to playing and in no pain. Unfortunately, he is still in a lot of pain and the physical therapist is not sure he can rule out a tear of some sort (possibly the labrum). Tomorrow we will find out if an MRI is necessary. In the meantime, he has missed a whole session of futsal and won't be able to play in the President's Cup in St. George. Poor kid. We found out (though all of his visits to the doc) that he has grown 2.5 inches since the middle of December. Dude. In order to keep his sanity, he is taking a reffing course to become certified so that he can ref games this summer. That will at least give him something to do (besides read Sherlock Holmes for honors english) until he is back to playing.

On a side note, this week is my last week as an AVID Tutor. I am transferring to Matheson Jr. High. I will be working with the Special Ed. department as a tracker and also doing some medical assisting. I'm super excited to be so close to home (sorry Cottonwood) and to double my hours. And, the principal at Matheson is great. I'm so excited to work with such a fun group of people. I will always be a supporter of the AVID Program and am sad about leaving it - all except for the part where I have to travel from school to school.

So there is our boring month all in one post.

Christmas Break/Fracture

On Friday, December 30 Josh played in a Futsal Tournament. He and Jer had been looking forward to this particular tourney for a while because Jer was coaching and Josh got to play a team that consisted of four of his friends from school. He usually doesn't get to play against them because they play in a different division. We played them the first game of the tournament and Josh was loving it. He was just coming back from a concussion two weeks ago and was finally able to play again without holding back.

Just into the second half, Josh went in the game to take a free shot. The field was a little bigger than our practice field and the ball was a heavier ball than he is used to. So, he really wound up and booted that thing straight for the goal. I watched him and the ball. The ball missed the goal by all of six inches. It was a beautiful kick and was the fourth one of this game for him. He was having a great game. However, just as he kicked the ball this time, I saw a look of pain on his face. He immediately turned to his dad and motioned to come out of the game. He hobbled off the field looking like he hurt his ankle. I ran over to the bench (which he hates) and I could see that he was not okay. He said his hip popped and he couldn't walk or sit. He is a tough kid and never cries. He was fighting it this time.

As I walked back over by all the parents, one mom told me that it could be an avulsion fracture. So I sat down and googled it on my phone. It sounded pretty right on.

 Before we knew it, the girls were at my moms and we were here:

We actually went to the Urgent Care Center straight from the game. They did an x-ray and referred us to PCMC for further tests. The doctor at the UC was concerned that it might be SCFE (which affects the growth plate in the hip and is BAD news - google it, you'll see). Fortunately, the doctors at PCMC ruled out SCFE and are pretty confident it is in fact an avulsion fracture. So now Josh looks like this:

(Pardon the crappy pics taken with my phone) He is on crutches for a while. We actually don't know how long. I hate it and it stresses me out. He is okay with it only because he got a special medical hall pass at school and gets to leave every class 5 minutes early.

This is him trying to do his drills with his crutches. What a die hard. He makes me smile. We go back to PCMC this Tuesday to see the Orthopedic Specialist and have more test done. Then we should know how long he will be on crutches and if physical therapy will fix it. Crazy, huh? He is a trooper though and nothing seems to get him down.

Christmas Day

Everything with Christmas was off this year. It fell on a Sunday so it was hard to coordinate when to get together with all the family. Normally we get up, open gifts, get dressed and go to the J's for breakfast. Then, later in the evening the B's come over with Cari to see what the kids got from Santa.

This year, Cari stayed overnight here and the kids loved that. Erin told her that it was the best Christmas ever because she "got a dollhouse and Care slept over." Cari forgot church clothes, Jer was sick with pneumonia and I didn't plan very well (as far as the kids go) so we didn't go to church. Jer had been sick for a week or more but by the time Christmas Day came, it was bad (no voice and no energy).

The kids didn't get up until about 7 this year. Okay.. just kidding. Emma got up at midnight. Then 3:00a.m. Then 4a.m. And finally at 7 we let her stay up. For the first time ever, Santa decided to wrap every single gift (even their underwear). I'm guessing that is because all three of them went on for a month about how Santa never wraps any gifts... "they're all just sitting out." I always loved that when I was little. The sensory overload was always such a thrill for me. Where do I start? Which pile is mine? But no... my kids apparently don't appreciate that. So the elves must've said something because there was very little to be seen when they walked in the front room.

Well, besides the giant dollhouse Erin walked right to when she opened her eyes. And the soccer goals that Josh saw next to the tree. Emma had to work a little for her ipod that was hiding amongst all the other wrapped gifts. I have to admit, the dollhouse (made by a very special elf) was what I was most anxious about. Erin didn't ask for much this year. She saw a dollhouse at Costco months ago, but what she got was nothing like that one. You could see that she wasn't sure what to think or where to start.

 

After everyone napped and played, we went to the B's for our little gift exchange there. It was really fun to see everyone on Christmas Day since traditionally we see the B's on Christmas Eve. It was pretty crazy with all of us there at once. I think we've decided we are officially big enough to have our party at the church.

Brynlee had Josh this year and (thanks to her awesome parents) she gave him a ManU beanie. He couldn't have been more surprised and thrilled. Erin got a pedicure set from Mason which is perfect for her (she has already used it on her dads toes). And Emma got a fun make your own bracelet kit from Lex. The three girls are growing up and I'm not sure I'm okay with it. They all have bigger feet than me and are almost as tall as me. Such pretty girls.

Finally, around 8p.m., Darrell and Kathy made it to our house after making the rounds.  Kathy made everyone a breakfast casserole and brought it over on Christmas Eve with the grapefruit. Josh couldn't have been happier about that. He doesn't like mixing things up and the thought of not having the traditional breakfast with the J's was stressing him out.  When they came over Christmas night, they had more gifts. Emma got a darling purse to keep her teenybopper crap in. Erin got a Pinkalicious game for her DSi (which is the first game she has actually become addicted to). And Josh got a gift card to Amazon. Kathy kept telling me that gift cards are lame and she was not going to do that this year. But, what do you do for a thirteen year old boy? He was super excited and has been on Amazon daily shopping for the best "stuff." It will take him forever to spend it all because he is such a tight wad.

Even though things weren't "as usual," Christmas was wonderful. I do wish Jer hadn't been sick, but he was a good sport about everything. Other than that, I wouldn't have changed a thing. Only 357 days till Christmas (it is Leap Year, right?).

Christmas Eve

We always spend Christmas Eve with the B's. It was extra fun this year because Grandma Helen came! I was so excited for her to hang out with us and see all the kids. Emma thinks Grandma is pretty special and I wish I had my camera out when the two of them were deep in conversation. Emma has always been so great about making the most of her time with her Great Grandparents. I love it.

We started the party early because Lynsee knew Brynlee wouldn't last much passed 8 (and she was right). She is a typical two year old until it is after her bed time... then she is a terror of a two year old. I actually think it's really funny so I am usually getting in trouble for laughing at her being "naughty."  We played Bingo for prizes and Emma had her first full on anxiety attack (he he). Bryn was climbing all over her and Emma was afraid her Bingo board was going to get messed up so she freaked out a little and needed Bryn off her lap. I don't know why that was so funny to me, but I couldn't stop laughing at Emma's reaction.

The kids all got jammies from Grandma and Grandpa (a fun tradition). Emma was thrilled that she got jammies with feet. What a crack up. And We tried to get a pic in front of the tree with all the kids in their new pj's. It almost worked.

Cari spoils my kids (well, all the kids). She was like Santa with her big bag of goodies for everyone! And she has a bit of magic in her because every gift she gave couldn't be more perfect for each kid. She knows them too well. And, she gave mom and Lyns and I new church bags. I love mine too much to just use it once a week so I have been using it as my everyday bottomless purse. It actually works out since the kids end  up stuffing all their crap into it so that they don't have to carry anything. One day I hope they get over that.

Mom and Dad did awesome gifts (again) this year! Lynsee got KitchenAid mixer (love love love) in red! Cari got a camera (which she has been needing and will come in extra handy on her cruise) and I got a Kindle Fire! I think my brothers got shop vacs or something (I'm obviously not a very good sister). They gave us the Kindle early because the trial period with Amazon started as soon as they plugged it in to charge it for us. It has been awesome because the whole family can use it. I need to make a cover of some kind for it though. Makes me nervous to have it in my purse with no case. And, because I am my dads favorite daughter, I got my own set of drill bits. I know, you think that's crazy. I actually asked for them because I need to drill holes in things. Crafty things. You'll see. I will use it and show you.

Here is a cute pic with my Grandma. 

(Josh, Emma, Erin, me, Lynsee, Mason, Cari, Brynlee, Helen)

What a fun Christmas Eve! It ended earlier than it normally does. Emma was anxious to go home and go to bed. Not sure if that is due to the anticipation or if she really was just sleepy. It was okay, though. We came home early enough to take a pic in front of the tree and have family prayer.  And to bed they went. It was great.

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.