Christmas At Our House

We had a wonderful Christmas and few weeks leading up to the big day.

Jack is very into drawing and coloring right now and is constantly bringing me his creations. This is his version of Santa, wearing many belts.

Jack is a dancer. Yes, my SON takes dance lessons. He looks forward to "active hour" class each week, and is constantly practicing his skipping and chasse-ing around our house. I was a little nervous that he wouldn't perform when it came time for the Christmas dance concert, but I could not have been more wrong. He was SO excited about it, and was literally a clown during the performance. He was so elated to be up on stage, that he didn't look at his teacher once to be reminded of the routine, but was shaking it so hard he fell on his bum. I was laughing so hard I was crying. His face was priceless the whole time as he was grinning from ear to ear. I now realize why parents spend hundreds of dollars on their children to take dance lessons. I was beaming watching him.

We had all the cousins over for a ginger bread house and cookie decorating party.

Yep, my kid is the shirtless one.

Our elf....whose named changed several times..

"Fishing"

Can't wait till he returns next year!

Temple Square

My little Wiseman

McNeil Family Christmas Party

Nativity Program

Christmas Eve Jammies

Christmas Morning

We hope your holidays were as wonderful as ours. We can't wait to see what 2012 brings to the Johnson family!

Merry Christmas

One for the book.....

Yesterday, I gave Jack the world's longest lecture about his bad behavior.

"Why do you always sass me? Why can't you do what I ask? When I ask you to do something, please just do it, instead of giving me a looooong list of reasons you cannot do it. Please STOP talking back to me and just do what I ask. Is that SO hard?"

Don't worry, typing and re-reading the words made me naseous that I would actually give that lecture. I'm completely embarrassed for myself.

But then he responds with this.

"Mom, you wanna know why I can't do what you say and stop talking? Cause I have to close my mouth if I stop talking. And when I close my mouth, it hurts. So I can't do it."

I guess this is a VERY bad case of "I hope you have a child just like you."

Christmas PreCap

At the blogging rate I am going, I will probably not recap things until well after Christmas, so I thought I'd precap Christmas and update with a few recent happenings of our household.

I LOVE this time of year! There is nothing else like it. The joy, Spirit, fun and excitement of the holidays are something I always look forward to, and they never fail to disappoint. Holidays are definitely more fun and exciting when you have kids, so I've been doing my best to instill the same love for this time of year in Jack that I have. He seems just as eager to celebrate as I do, and I love seeing the excitement in him.

Thanksgiving always kicks off the holiday celebration for me. I didn't have Jack this year, and I missed him a lot. I wonder how many years, if ever, it will take to get easier to take your child somewhere else for holidays and not be with them? Its getting old spending the holidays driving back and forth to meet for custody exchanges, instead of enjoying time with family and relaxing. Keeping with tradition, we headed out for Black Friday Smackdown.......I mean shopping. Olivia and I were both accosted by the SAME crazy European fool on two separate occasions! He elbowed me in the face and broke my fingernail. I addition to the physical damage, while I was waiting patiently in line, he was assaulting my senses by eating jalapeno poppers 2 inches from my face. I didn't make it out with everything on my list, but it was a good start and well worth the broken nail.

Amidst all the decorating and festivities, Jack and I have been the unfortunate recipients of the stomach flu. It seems to be a highly contagious bug that has circulated through our family for the last couple weeks. Jack got it in the middle of the night and threw up in every bed we have in our house. By 5 am, I had done 3 loads of laundry, and it just went down hill from there. Over the course of the next 3 days, he went through about 20 pairs of underwear and continued to throw up. Two more days had passed, and I thought I had avoided it. Last Saturday, I was driving back from Moab from running a 10K with my friend, and it hit me. I was throwing up the whole way home. Luckily for me, mine only lasted about 24 hours and we are both now free and clear. But I cannot say the same for other family members we may have passed it on to!

We also experienced a major gas leak in our house from our furnace. In case you're keeping track, the score is gas leak=O Chelsea =2. We had a really bad one in our St. George house when we first moved in, and now this one. I had smelled it for a few days, but talked myself out of it. Once I finally called Questar at 10pm one night, he came and confirmed that it was very bad, and coming from our furnace and the exhaust pipes(or something like that). A repair man came the next day to fix it. Nothing like unexpected appliance repairs right before Christmas!

Like every other kid, Jack is on the countdown to Christmas, which he keeps track of by eating a daily candy from his advent calendar. We've also been fortunate enough to have Buddy the Elf, our very own Elf on a Shelf, to keep track of us and our behavior. Santa sent us one of his Elves, and it watches us daily. When we go to sleep at night, he heads to the North Pole and reports to Santa, then returns to our house and hides in a new spot. We almost had to abandon the idea the first week, when it was backfiring on me badly. Every time Jack would throw tantrums or misbehave, which is every other minute, I would remind him about the elf and Santa's naughty list. Apparently the warnings were too much for him to handle and he completely freaked out. Every night before bed he would start bawling and crying hysterically, telling me he just KNEW he was on the naughty list and that he wasn't getting presents, and that he didn't want the elf to go tell Santa what he had done that day. He even went to far as to inform ME that I was also on the naughty list, because I had yelled at him that day. I will have to have a little chat with the Jolly Old St. Nick about that one! So, after MUCH convincing that he is a good boy and that Santa will definitely bring him presents, he is now enjoying Buddy the Elf's presence in our home, and wakes up bright and early everyday to find where Buddy is hiding. He has made about 20 different lists as to what he wants Santa to bring, and its seems that Santa is having a hard time deciding what he actually wants....hope he is not too disappointed on Christmas morning!

Other than preparing for the holidays, life is pretty normal and boring for us. Jack is still loving preschool and learning so many new things. Lately he is obsessed with numbers and people's ages. All day long all we do is talk about numbers and what numbers add up to what and how old will so and so be when he is X age......his brain NEVER slows down. I know I am completely bragging, thats what parents are supposed to do, right? He is super smart. Too smart sometimes. If I tell him something once, he has it memorized. He can count to 100 in various ways, such as 1x, 5x and 10x. Yesterday, we had to ask Grandpa what comes after trillion, because his mom didn't know the answer......sheesh....I won't be able to keep up with him! And FYI, if you have been around him lately, chances are I know exactly how old you are....just like I know how old his babysitter, preschool teacher, and primary teacher are. I'm sure they appreciate him pestering them for this information, then turning around and telling everyone.
This is a typical day....
*If I'm on the phone....
Jack- "Who is that?"
Me- "The questar man."
Jack- "How old is he?"
Me- " I don't know, probably 50."
Jack-"Whoa, that's old. Older than daddy, cause he's 34, and older than you, cause you're 29. But younger than Grandpa, cause he's 60."
Me- "Yep."
Jack- "So, if he's 50, how old will he be when I'm 12?"

We hope you are enjoying the holidays as much as we are!

FALL LEAVES

Jack: "Mom, how long is college?"

Me: "For you, at least 8 years, so you can be a doctor."

Jack: Sigh...."But Mom, I thought I was gonna be Iron Man?"

BOO to you, and other stuff too!

We had a wonderful Halloween this year.

Apparently my frumpy mom costume was quite frightening and made the kids cry. Success.

I guess Mr. Incredible isn't so tough, after all.

We visited This is the Place Heritage Park during their "Little Haunts Days," where the kids could dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat througout the pioneer village.

Wheeler Farm-Pumpking Patch, Hay Maze and Wagon Ride



Jack's 4th Birthday!

I have REALLY been wanting to blog, but it seems I am JUST too busy to get around it, what with my one kid and 3-day a week job and all;)

There is SO much to blog about and catch up on!

Here's a preview, in no apparent order....

• Jack turned 4!!



• I ran/walked/was dragged across the finish line of a HUGE, LONG, UPHILL the whole way 5K(I'm still trying to catch my breath)



• I can seemingly survive any sort of natural/nuclear disaster that may come our way, thanks to the fact I have bottled every fruit and vegetable from here to Kingdom come



• I, {insert title of person who is the polar opposite of animal rights activist/peta member}, got a cat



• I turned 29...ugh....



• I officially became the 29-year old, single, crazy cat lady



• Jack rode a sheep at the local Labor Day festivites for 0.2 seconds, and ONLY cried for 1.2 hours after his painful dismount



• We visited Wheeler Farm for their Pumpking Patch and Corn Maze, and were sorely disappointed in how it compares to Staheli Farm



• I missed St. George, yet again



• Jack started an "active hour" kids class and has learned to skip, chasse, do somersaults and backbends



• He has, however, NOT learned that wrestling the other kids during class is inappropriate



• Jack had an amazing Super Hero birthday party



• I pulled an all-nighter preparing for said event, and only had one meltdown during my preparations when I couldn't get the flour bucket lid off

I guess even SuperMom has her kryptonite.

"Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but on what happens inside of you; it is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life."
-Harold B. Lee

Lost and Found

I've been lost for a while.

Lost from the blogging world.
Lost from friends.
Lost from schedule and routine.
Lost from my identity.
Lost from meaningful relationships.
Lost from a lot of things.


The problem is, I didn't realize I was lost until I slowly started to find myself.


I moved{again}, and for the first time in 2 years, I am finally unpacking ALL of my belongings.
It was unpacking a box of necklaces{as silly as it seems}, when I had my "lost" realization.
At times it is fun and exciting to sort through treasures, decorations, clothes, pictures and memories.
And at other times, its a painstaking task.
Each box's contents are a reminder of my old life; one that was full of hope, wishes, goals and dreams of a future very different than the one that is currently playing out.
Its not that I'm not hopeful or don't have a wonderful, blessed life now, its just very different than where I thought I'd be.


Lucky for me, I've been taught that there is opposition in all things. I can be found again.


I realized in 'finding' myself, how much I have missed. I have truly missed keeping in touch with old friends and blogging. I miss who I think I used to be and the confidence I had and how I felt about myself. I miss being in a relationship and looking forward to seeing someone and feeling like someone loves and cares about me. The moment I saw the necklace, I was taken back to a different time, and I remembered the girl that wore it and how I used to be, and the way I used to feel. I want to find that girl again. It's going to take a lot of introspection, and a GIANT leap of faith.

Now I just have to convince myself that I'm up for the challenge!

P.S. Click here to see the cutest pre-schooler. Ever.

Summer Fun!!

The only way to make up for a week that starts out looking like this...

May 30, 2011

Kamas

Is to end it looking like that....

June 2, 2011

St. George

I really hate when I forget to put the top on the jeep

and an unexpected snowstorm hits..........

Stall tactics from a 3 year old.....

Its hard to be upset with your 3 year olds stall tactics when they are this funny:

Tonight, Jack gets out of bed and comes into the living room and says,

"Mom, is it almost a commercial?"

"No, why?"

"Cause I really wanted to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Um......um.........um.......my birthday, and ice cream, and cake, and presents."

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is.
It all works out. Don't worry.
I say that to myself every morning.
It will all work out.
Put your trust in God, and move forward
With faith and confidence in the future.
The Lord will not forsake us.
If we put our trust in Him,
If we pray to Him,
If we will live worthy of His blessings,
He will hear our prayers."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Oh The Places You'll Go!...

Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to great places. You're off and away.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there." With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you'll want to go down. In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening too.

OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed. You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't. Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so but, sadly, it's true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You'll be left in a lurch.

You'll come down from the lurch with an unpleasant bump. And chances are, then, that you'll be in a slump. And when you're in a slump, you're not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.......

......You get so confused that you'll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place..

The Waiting Place....
....for people just waiting....waiting for a train to go, or a bus to come.....
waiting for wind to fly a kite, or waiting around for Friday night, or waiting perhaps for their uncle Jake, or a pot to boil, or a better break....
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants, or a wig with curls or another chance....

No!
That's not for you!
You'll somehow escape all that waiting and staying. You'll find the bright places where boom bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping, once more you'll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of guy.

Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when you don't. Because, sometimes, they won't. I'm afraid that some times you'll play lonely games too. Games you can't win, 'cause you'll play against you.

All alone. Whether you like it or not, alone will be something you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike. And I know you'll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that life's a great balancing act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
Kid, you'll move mountains!

So....be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So..get on your way!

My Mom gave me this Dr. Seuss classic 10 years ago as I was preparing to leave home.
I never could've imagined how much the words would actually resonant with my life.

In the front of the book, she inscribed beautiful words of motherly wisdom. As the day to move inched closer and closer, I was searching frantically for my book, so I could re-read those words and find solace in them.

I couldn't find it anywhere, and was so worried I had lost it. Upon arrival to our temporary home here in Kamas, I found the book. I quickly opened it and read her advice. Those words, too, are perfect for me now, even 10 years later.

As sad as I was to say good bye to my friends, work, and life I had built, I am so happy with decision to move and with the new opportunities that will surely come.

I have felt amazingly at peace each and every day, and opportunities seem to be falling into place.
My mountains are waiting.....

Here's to Hoping...

....that this giant bucket of cheese balls

will buy me some free time so I can get packing.

Our big move is 5 days away.

And I'm not ready.

In SO many ways.

It's Official....

....I'm a soccer Mom.

I won't pretend that the first "game" played out like I had expected it to.

I even had a clever and completely original post in my head.

It went something like this..

Smart Start Soccer Registraton- $28

Tiniest Shin Guards Known to Man-$5.99

Adorable Socks-$6.99

Watching Your First Born Son Score The Game Winning Goal-PRICELESS

Instead....

Upon arrival, the "coaches" informed the parents of the drills we would be teaching our children and gave us each a ball and sent us on our way.

In the middle of a park.

With 100 other kids playing on the swings and slides.

And birds flying around.

And sticks on the ground.

Hundreds. of. distractions.



Regardless, I kicked off my high heels and attempted to enlighten Jack with my vast knowledge of soccer moves.



Needless to say,

He picked up a lot of sticks.

Chased a lot of birds.

Begged to play on the playground.

And ignored me everytime I told him we would leave unless he properly demonstrated the way to do an overhead toss-in.



Yelling at your 3-year old in a crowded park-PRICELESS

You know its bad when......

.......your 3 year old says......

"Mom, I didn't put something too big to

flush in the

toilet.

I really didn't, Mom.

So you don't even need to look."

***************

"Jack, what did you put in the toilet?"

***************

(eyes welling up with tears)

"Nothing, Mom. I did't put any-fing in the toilet."

****************

Culprit:

Large plastic bag

I kept my cool and didn't punish him since he was already crying.

Then I turned around to wash my hands and saw 6 oreos in the bathroom sink.

After that, I think we had both earned a time-out.

Randomness On My Mind

This is what's been on my mind lately...

I must warn you, my mind is a scary place to venture at times...

*reader beware*

I was a very disgruntled customer when I got to Harmons and they were out of the full-size bags of Cadbury mini eggs and I had to buy tiny individual bags instead.

When I got home and unpacked my loot, the thought occurred to me that my candy supply might be getting a little out of hand....

HE is on my mind as usual. He is with his Dad and I miss him fiercely! I'm ashamed to admit that the first 2 days he is gone are rather relaxing for me and I somewhat enjoy it. But after that I'm ready for him to come back.

The other day I got out of the shower and could hear water running in his bathroom, so I yelled across the house,

"JA-ACK" , turn of the waa--teerr."

I assumed he was running his "color changing" cars under it as usual.

I was surprised by his reply.

"Noo--ooo Mom, I'm not finished doing my haa--aaiiirrr."

Then an instant later...in he walks to greet me.

Very. Well. Done.

Yep, even opened the gel by himself!

(and used half the jar)

(and we had to wash his hair 4 times to get it all out)

Also on my mind....

I traded in my Zack Morris brick phone.

Wahoo!!!

Despite my elation over my new phone, I was rather sad to retire my old one.

It was hard for me to say goodbye.

It was even harder for my phone to say goodbye, cause it was dead.

Literally dead.

Wouldn't even work.

The new phone arrived at the perfect time.

It's pretty awesome. It can do amazing things. Like take pictures.

And I think some other things too, but I haven't figured them out yet.

(Valentine's Day at the Park)

Tomorrow, my big sis' is having baby #4!!!!

I am thrilled for her.

But more importantly, the secret will finally be out

and I won't have to keep it in anymore!!!!

In case you didn't know....I scanned her and know what the sex is,

but, NO ONE else knows.

It's been the most difficult secret EVER to keep.

Which probably explains why I haven't kept it.

I've told A LOT of people.

LOTS. OF. PEOPLES.

So I am putting my crafting abilities to the test and sewing a beyond darling boppy pillow cover for her. THIS is the fabric, but its even more cute in person.

I will not show the coordinating fabric and rickrack cause it would be a dead giveaway.

And I'm great at keeping secrets and will not ruin my track record now.

Enough for now...

I'm off now to take a sewing class,

sew said boppy pillow cover,

eat some candy,

work a half-day tomorrow,

drive up to Salt Lake,

meet my adorable niephew(ha ha ha),

pick up my baby,

and be back to work by Thursday.

Now do you see why my mind is so crazy?