Come in from the cold!

I'm so glad you're here. I've been watching for you all day. It really is cold out there. This morning I found Sam getting ready to go to school. He had an old coat on that I suspect he was going to put his new coat over and under that he had five sweat shirts on. Plus his snow pants. He reminded me of Randy from A Christmas Story.

Do you like how I display my Christmas Cards here on the closet door. I like it because it makes me feel like I have my sweet friends around me for the holidays. Last year the door was full and I'm hoping to see that way again this year.

Here is a close up of Sam's Christmas art work, which I also hung on the door. Can you tell what is says? He spelled Hallelujah, exactly how he pronounces it. I asked him why he drew a chick, because it's more of an Easter thing to draw rather than Christmas.... He informed me it's a penguin. Please come in and sit down. By now I'm sure you have noticed the heavenly sound of "Messiah" playing quietly in the background.Please, don't mind the sleeping children. Or the laundry waiting to be folded hiding behind the couch. Do you like our tree? It's the first time we haven't had a real tree since we've been married. We were feeling too poor to buy a real one this year. Matt's parents were kind enough to loan this artificial one to us. Notice there is no star on top. It broke last year. It's a iron star that is welded to it's base (the part that holds it onto the tree). Last year I hot glued it back together and it lasted about 2 hours and then we just propped it up. Apparently hot glue doesn't work on metal. We decided to skip the star topper this year.
Step closer so I can show you some of my favorite ornaments. This one is a snow baby that was given to me by my sister, Liz. And a Santa painted on a tongue depressor by my friend Maria, who shared her sweet baby Zachary with me.

This is another Santa painted by Maria.

This is a sparkly egg that I made one year to give to family members. I made it from a real egg.

Of course I have a Gryffindor Ornament... Did you doubt me?

This is where we hang our stockings because we don't have a fireplace, therefore we don't have a mantle.

Here is my Reindeer collection. I didn't know I was collecting them but they are here so I must be. The tall wooden one we inherited from Grandma Bea, Matt bought the middle one for me the first Christmas after we were married. He bought it from a gift wrap fundraiser some one's kid was doing at work. When his paw is squeezed gentle Christmas music tinkles in the air. And I don't recall where the little one came from but he is by far the most annoying. He sings Jingle Bells and has a Latin accent and a bit of a smokers rasp. The rule is you only get to turn him on once a day. He also jiggles back and forth in a little bit of a dance. Now that I'm looking and actually thinking about these, I'm pretty sure the middle one is a moose.

Emmy Lou and I have been baking fools. (I watch her and her baby brother during the day)
Would you like to frost some sugar cookies with us?

Would you like some homemade bread and hot cocoa? I have already warmed the water.... I promise the water didn't come from yellow snow.

Come get comfortable in the dining room.
This is my beautiful Nativity that my Aunt Nancy gave me one year. I think I was still in high school. I love having it out. It is a beautiful reminder of what the Christmas Season is all about. Here at our home, we love the Savior and his atoning sacrifice. We are grateful for his loving example, and we enjoy this special time of year when we get to think of him and worship him more often through thought and music, and remember the hope he brings to our lives.

We also hope you and yours have a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas.

Love, THE

The Real 100th Post: Also very special.

So I did the math and according to my archive on the side bar I only had 99 posts. I went to the edit posts page and sure enough there was an empty draft from way back in Nov. 2007. I deleted it and now my dashboard and archive match up.

On to the good stuff - Did I say good? I meant GREAT! Today on my way home from picking up Sam from school there was a ding from my dashboard alerting me to the fact that my gas tank was on empty. I went straight to the gas station. I got the nozzle into the tank and started the fill. Then I got busy washing my window. I got a little distracted... and freaked out when I realized I wasn't watching the pump. You see, I have been on strict orders from my accountant - aka Matt - Not to go over $25 while gassing up. All summer $25 got me about half a tank and I could make it last about two weeks. So I hightailed it over to the pump and imagine my surprise when I found that, not only was my tank full, but the total was $20.11!!!!! I put in over 12 gallons and that was the total! I wanted to jump up and down and shout like I'd just won the lottery. WHAT A HAPPY DAY!

A Very Special 100th Post

HOW TO PLAY WITH PUPPETS WHEN YOUR THROAT HURTS:
1)Select your favorite puppets. We prefer Star Wars.


2) Place puppets on the appendage of your choice. We prefer toes.


3) Let the action ensue. We prefer battles, but we're kind of locked into to that with our puppet choice.

4) Be sure to battle quietly to protect your sore throat and your mom's ears. She doesn't want to hear light saber noises all day.

My bribing days are just beginning.

Notice how far away the barbie is.... He won't touch it, but her van is like a giant transformer.

So much for a video.

I have tried several times to download a video for your viewing enjoyment. Everytime it takes like three hours to upload the video and after I patiently wait, all I get is an error message with a button to contact support that leads me no where. If there are any suggestions out there, send them my way.

On another note, Sam has been asking for me to bring him food to his bed. At first I didn't get it and then he said, "French Toast, on a cookie sheet, with a cup of water." I finally figured out he wanted Breakfast in bed. The main problem with this is that he wakes up too early. He is usually up by 6:30, sometimes earlier. He doesn't have to be to school until 9, so it is kind of frustrating to a mom who loves to sleep. I don't wake up until 7:30 when Matt FORCES me out of bed for family prayer. So there was a problem with his little wish.

On Friday night he brought it up again so I told him that if he stayed in bed until after I woke up, then I would bring him breakfast in bed. It was 11pm so I was hoping that this would work, but I wasn't counting on it. It has never helped to put him to bed later, he doesn't sleep later.

Saturday morning dawned and the house was super quiet. I snuck downstairs and made french toast and put it in a bowl so the syrup wouldn't spill into his bed and then I took it up to him on a cookie sheet with a cup of water. It was fun and he was totally happy.

What have YOU done?

I saw this on my friend's blog and thought... we need to do this!
I tag you if you are reading this!
To participate, just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House= I stood outside it, so I'm counting that.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life - I save our lives everytime I scream while Matt's driving.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake- Have I mom?
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

It's so hard to say "Goodbye"... And more.

While pregnant with Sam, I was hospitalized due to my dehydration/starvation. My sweet mother-in-law brought me a beautiful plant. This summer I re potted it which I have done to it every couple of years. This year it hasn't recovered. I've been watering it since June and so far it has stayed green but droopy. Now it's leaves are turning yellow and getting crispy. Is it time to say goodbye? Does anyone have any suggestions? We've had 8 glorious years together. I've had this little plant friend longer than I've had Sam!

Speaking of Sam - He took a freaky long bath the other night and I have never seen such prunies (as we like to call them).

While writing this blog, I looked over and found Matt watching TV like this:

Do you think we should turn up the heater?

What a handsome husby I have!

Our Trip to Beijing

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Did I really just hear that?

I went to the movies with my mom last Thursday. After the lights had dimmed and a hush fell over the theater we all watched a commercial about the new blue ray technology. The commercial was showing a clip with no speaking from the new James Bond movie. All of a sudden my mom says - out loud, "James, what is happening to you?" I sat there stunned for a moment, then I turned to her and confirmed that she was indeed talking to the movie screen from the back row of a crowded theater.

We live in a ward with a lot of town homes, condos, twin homes, and apartments. There is a lot of turnover. On Sunday, the third speaker in Sacrament Meeting started out her talk by stating that she grew up in the ward, but doesn't know many people because, "This ward changes quicker than a dirty diaper." What? Is she saying our ward is crappy?

Yesterday, Sam was telling me about his P.E. class that day. They played a version of dodge ball where there is a group of people in the middle and then two groups on either side. The people on the sides throw the balls and the people in the middle dodge them. If someone in the middle gets hit by a ball then they trade places with the person who threw the ball that hit them. He said he was in the middle and was just walking back and forth not getting hit saying, "Peace y'all!" Then he demonstrated some "groovy moves" (his words) he did while dodging the ball.

And what a relief. I'm so glad to finally have it done with. I'm truly grateful for the privilege, but honestly it's all been so exhausting.

We are so lucky to live in a country where we not only get to take part in the choosing of our leaders, but we are blessed to be able to expect a peaceful transition regardless of the outcome. So many nations can't. So be sure to get out there and vote.

When I picked Sam up from school today he asked me who I chose. I wasn't sure what he meant for a sec and then he told me that he got to vote in his class room. I asked him who he voted for and he said he voted for Oakabama. Hehe. I asked him why and how he chose who he wanted and he said, "No good reason. But I was talking to a girl at recess and she said Oakabama will raise the taxes. Is that good or bad?" I told him it all depends on what he wants to use the money for.

I try to be a bipartisan mother. I don't want to brain wash him or anyone else with my opinions. (At least not the political ones, I have an opinion about everything!) There are things I feel strongly about, (pro-life, Yes on 8) but I don't feel like I fall into any of the categories. I do lean toward the conservative side. But I wouldn't call myself a Democrat or a Republican. So when discussing election issues with my boy I have tried to stay neutral and only discuss fact. He's too young to understand the issues anyway. However, I am glad he knows it's happening and that he understands that the change will come because the people in his country got to choose. I was glad to take him with us to the polling place and he was able to wear a sticker today because of it. I pray he earns those stickers and wears them proudly as an adult.

More of our Halloween

First of all a big Thank You to Emily who helped me understand what was going wrong with my posting with pictures. I never would have figured it out.

I'm not sure how this picture got taken, but now you know that I am unable to match my shoes to my pants. Actually I'm pretty sure that the shirt didn't match either. I am fashion inept.

This family was at the party we went to. They made my night! You all know I am a huge (literally and figuratively) fan of Harry Potter. I really wanted a picture of them but was feeling too shy to ask because I do not know them at all. So my friend Kim helped me ask for a picture. I did warn them that it would end up on my blog. They consented.

Our Pumpkins got lit up. They looked great.

One of our favorite people came to trick or treat around the neighborhood after the party. We think her brother is becoming one of our favorite people too.

Last of all, here are few shots of two very happy boys. Sam and Pete. I'm not sure why they are posed like Power Rangers.

Happy Halloween!!

I'm having a problem. When I download my pictures the show up as some nonsense script and so I can't put captions under each photo because I don't know where the script for one picture ends and the next begins. Let alone which picture is where.
I know, there are bigger problems in life. But does this happen to anyone else?
Once again the pictures are in reverse. So starting with the last:
#4 This is Optimus Prime and his best friend Mr. Pumpkin Head.
#3 Optimus sitting on his front porch. I'll bet you didn't know that Optimus Prime wears flip flops. Oh yeah, he does.
#2 This is the family pumpkin. We follow the Johnson Family tradition. One pumpkin for the family, then we all draw up some designs and submit our 3 favorites. Then through a complicated voting process we narrow it down to one design. This year my design won. Matt did the dirty work and Sam helped.
#1 Sam got lucky and was able to pick out a free pumpkin on his class field trip. So we let him draw up some designs and then he picked his favorite and Matt helped him carve it. He took it to school and entered it in the pumpkin contest there. Not a winner, but it was still fun.
We have great plans to attend the trunk or treat with Grandma Alger's ward. They have a big soup dinner (I made taco soup in honor of Aunt Jeanna's Birthday), and a costume parade and then we all run out to our cars and hand out candy. It's really fun. Then, I'm sure Sam and Matt will make a trip around our neighborhood while I hang and home and hand out candy to out neighbors.
We hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween.