Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Friends
I've been feelin' awfully nostalgic lately.
And not just 'cause I've been watching far too much of VH1's "I Love the Millenium" and "'80's One-Hit Wonders". Facebook is partly at fault, since it has wonderfully brought me back into contact with friends from years ago. Blogs and the internet spur on this desire in me to reach back and remember the people who've come and gone in my life.
Right now though, my nostalgia is mainly because I had the best time the other night hanging out with one of my best friends, Jessi. You know those friendships that just seem to continue on, span a decade or more, without a ton of effort on either of your parts. You know what I mean, the friendships where you wish you saw each other more, or talked more often, but it's solid despite the gaps. One of those pick-up-the-phone-and-easily-catch-up-and-enjoy-every-second-of-the-conversation kinda things. Jessi and I don't see each other nearly as often as we did in High School, where we nerdily spent many hours at the school (until janitors tried to kick us out) working on the High School newspaper in the journalism room, while eating Kraft Cheese and Crackers. Yet, she's one of the first people I think of when I have "I'm pregnant," "I'm hurting," "I'm celebrating," "I'm pissed," or "I'm happy," kinda news.
Jess and I got together a few nights ago, sitting in Village Inn for four hours, eating pie until well after 11:30PM. I think the waitresses hated us. My husband was starting to wonder if I'd been in an accident or had fled the state, leaving him with our two young children. Jessi and I could have talked all night, had it not been a school night for Jessi, an elementary school teacher, and I hadn't had a nursing baby at home. We caught up, we talked about the future, and we reminised. Oh, how I love to reminise. We were laughing and reminding and reliving so many experiences, relationships, jokes and stories that have come and gone, ebbed and flowed, made up the backbone of what is our friendship. It made me fondly look back at the things and people that have influenced me since high school, and even before that.
It made me want to throw a big reunion party, for all the people who were ever my friends. They wouldn't all know each other. We may not really even know each other anymore, but I'd like to say thanks to people who made a difference in my life. Were there for me. I could even say made me a better person, or influenced me for the better. Heck, I wouldn't have the deep love and appreciation for hockey, Jimmy Eat World, Wasatch Broiler, drive by stalking, purple eyeliner or Dylan McKay if it weren't for some of the best friends I could've had. Especially at those points in my life. The guest of honor would have to be Greg though, the best friend I could have ever hoped for. I might be a little embarassed though, when all my other 'best friends' throughout the years started to share their stories . . . . I don't think Greg's heard 'em all. Probably best if it stays that way. :-) You do and say some of the stupidest stuff around the people you love and trust the most. I mean really, one of the reasons to stay close to friends from days gone by is that anyone who's heard your unending and passionate list of reasons you and Kirk Cameron should be married, should be closely monitored. Some things shared between friends should be taken to the grave.
And not just 'cause I've been watching far too much of VH1's "I Love the Millenium" and "'80's One-Hit Wonders". Facebook is partly at fault, since it has wonderfully brought me back into contact with friends from years ago. Blogs and the internet spur on this desire in me to reach back and remember the people who've come and gone in my life.
Right now though, my nostalgia is mainly because I had the best time the other night hanging out with one of my best friends, Jessi. You know those friendships that just seem to continue on, span a decade or more, without a ton of effort on either of your parts. You know what I mean, the friendships where you wish you saw each other more, or talked more often, but it's solid despite the gaps. One of those pick-up-the-phone-and-easily-catch-up-and-enjoy-every-second-of-the-conversation kinda things. Jessi and I don't see each other nearly as often as we did in High School, where we nerdily spent many hours at the school (until janitors tried to kick us out) working on the High School newspaper in the journalism room, while eating Kraft Cheese and Crackers. Yet, she's one of the first people I think of when I have "I'm pregnant," "I'm hurting," "I'm celebrating," "I'm pissed," or "I'm happy," kinda news.
Jess and I got together a few nights ago, sitting in Village Inn for four hours, eating pie until well after 11:30PM. I think the waitresses hated us. My husband was starting to wonder if I'd been in an accident or had fled the state, leaving him with our two young children. Jessi and I could have talked all night, had it not been a school night for Jessi, an elementary school teacher, and I hadn't had a nursing baby at home. We caught up, we talked about the future, and we reminised. Oh, how I love to reminise. We were laughing and reminding and reliving so many experiences, relationships, jokes and stories that have come and gone, ebbed and flowed, made up the backbone of what is our friendship. It made me fondly look back at the things and people that have influenced me since high school, and even before that.
It made me want to throw a big reunion party, for all the people who were ever my friends. They wouldn't all know each other. We may not really even know each other anymore, but I'd like to say thanks to people who made a difference in my life. Were there for me. I could even say made me a better person, or influenced me for the better. Heck, I wouldn't have the deep love and appreciation for hockey, Jimmy Eat World, Wasatch Broiler, drive by stalking, purple eyeliner or Dylan McKay if it weren't for some of the best friends I could've had. Especially at those points in my life. The guest of honor would have to be Greg though, the best friend I could have ever hoped for. I might be a little embarassed though, when all my other 'best friends' throughout the years started to share their stories . . . . I don't think Greg's heard 'em all. Probably best if it stays that way. :-) You do and say some of the stupidest stuff around the people you love and trust the most. I mean really, one of the reasons to stay close to friends from days gone by is that anyone who's heard your unending and passionate list of reasons you and Kirk Cameron should be married, should be closely monitored. Some things shared between friends should be taken to the grave.
Duck FYI
The ducks at Gardner Village, where our pictures were taken, are just super chill. Almost too much so . . . the overfed fowls completely ignore poor Annie when we come with bread, it's only the little sparrows up in the tree who react to bread being tossed out. The ducks just stare at you like, "yeah, been there, done that," and don't move. They're fat, lazy, domesticated birds and apparently they let toddlers just walk right up to them without so much as a look up. So yep, real ducks in Annie's pictures.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Family Portaits
So, trying to choose my favorites among so many amazing photos was tough. So I just decided to go the easy route and post like forty of them. If you have slow internet, my apologies. It couldn't be helped. :-)
Thanks again to Gianne, who was freakishly amazing! I can't even begin to describe how much I love all these (and the hundreds of other) pictures!
http://giannesnowphotography.blogspot.com/
Thanks again to Gianne, who was freakishly amazing! I can't even begin to describe how much I love all these (and the hundreds of other) pictures!
http://giannesnowphotography.blogspot.com/
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Prepare Yourself for the Cutest Pictures in the History of Mankind . . .
We got the CD from our family portraits back today! Unfortunately, my computer is stupid (or, its operator is, since I've known it's been having issues with the CD drive for a good 8 months now, and yet have done nothing to repair it) and it won't recognize the CD our amazing photographer Gianne gave us today. I'm currently downloading the CD onto Greg's (ancient) laptop, then transferring them to our external hard drive, then will copy 'em over to my computer and post 'em online . . . but in the meantime (near eternity), I'm linking y'all over to see some of the cute newest additions to Gianne's blog of my adorable family . . .
http://giannesnowphotography.blogspot.com/2009/04/johnsons.html
Oh, side note: General Conference left me with one very amazing message that changed how the rest of my day went (which consisted of shopping) . . . the three most important words in marriage, "I love you." Four most important, "We can't afford it." I'm proud to announce that even with an additional 30% off discount on any Kohl's purchase, I refrained from buying any new toys, clothes or things for the house. Despite seeing things I liked that were ALREADY 80% off, then with the additional 30% off basically making 'em nearly free, I still didn't buy anything, 'cause we don't need any more possessions. See how useful General Conference messages are in our day to day lives? :-)
(Um, in the interest of full disclosure though, I did find the bedspread of my dreams already 60% off, and talked my Mom into buying it for my birthday. But still, I didn't spend any of our money! I just made other people spend theirs! I don't know if this makes me very smart, or very evil. Either way, I'm getting a new bedspread!)
http://giannesnowphotography.blogspot.com/2009/04/johnsons.html
Oh, side note: General Conference left me with one very amazing message that changed how the rest of my day went (which consisted of shopping) . . . the three most important words in marriage, "I love you." Four most important, "We can't afford it." I'm proud to announce that even with an additional 30% off discount on any Kohl's purchase, I refrained from buying any new toys, clothes or things for the house. Despite seeing things I liked that were ALREADY 80% off, then with the additional 30% off basically making 'em nearly free, I still didn't buy anything, 'cause we don't need any more possessions. See how useful General Conference messages are in our day to day lives? :-)
(Um, in the interest of full disclosure though, I did find the bedspread of my dreams already 60% off, and talked my Mom into buying it for my birthday. But still, I didn't spend any of our money! I just made other people spend theirs! I don't know if this makes me very smart, or very evil. Either way, I'm getting a new bedspread!)
Yay! Milestone!
Ellie took her first step today. One solid good step, then she dived the rest of the distance between her and Mommy. Good start though!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Humbler Still . . .
As an update to my last post about Annie praying, I thought I should add her comment from tonight at family prayer:
Greg: "OK Annie, are you going to say prayer tonight?"
Annie: "Um, I've already said two really good prayers, I think Mom should say it tonight."
Greg: "OK Annie, are you going to say prayer tonight?"
Annie: "Um, I've already said two really good prayers, I think Mom should say it tonight."
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Humility is a Virtue
I don't typically make it a habit of blogging during dinner, but I had to hurry upstairs and write down Annie's prayer tonight before I forgot what she said. Greg asked if she wanted to say the blessing on the food tonight, and she agreed that not only would she say the prayer tonight, but she also reminded us , "I said a really good prayer last night too."
So, given her excellent track record of prayers, she happily started praying, "Dear Heavenly Father. Thank you for this day. Thank you for pizza. Thank you for Annie, and Ellie, and Daddy and Mommy. Thank you for other people. This is a really good prayer too . . . "
So, given her excellent track record of prayers, she happily started praying, "Dear Heavenly Father. Thank you for this day. Thank you for pizza. Thank you for Annie, and Ellie, and Daddy and Mommy. Thank you for other people. This is a really good prayer too . . . "
Feeling Accomplished
While 'enjoying' Annie's I-don't-want-to-go-to-sleep-meltdown of historic proportions last night, I turned on the vacuum (to drown out the screaming), and got almost every square inch of my house vacuumed last night. All my dishes done. Laundry is caught up, even folded and put away. Then this morning I shampooed my carpets on the entire top floor. I've even windexed the patio door, and using lots of hot, soapy water, cleaned out the disgusting dirt-filled track the patio door slides in. And all this before our 10:30AM "Mom & Me Group" began.
Sure, I haven't done my hair or makeup yet today, but even that's not gonna drag me down today!
(While carpet shampooing, Annie and Ellie 'helped' by cleaning the bathroom floor. It was so freakin' cute . . . Annie was taking a rag and a little bucket of water and washing the walls and floors, all the while, trying to 'instruct' Ellie to do the same. Ellie basically sat there, looking cute, while chewing on a (clean) wet rag. It makes me happily look forward to the day I can have them help me with truly productive things, like loading the dishwasher!)
Sure, I haven't done my hair or makeup yet today, but even that's not gonna drag me down today!
(While carpet shampooing, Annie and Ellie 'helped' by cleaning the bathroom floor. It was so freakin' cute . . . Annie was taking a rag and a little bucket of water and washing the walls and floors, all the while, trying to 'instruct' Ellie to do the same. Ellie basically sat there, looking cute, while chewing on a (clean) wet rag. It makes me happily look forward to the day I can have them help me with truly productive things, like loading the dishwasher!)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Phone Conversationalist
Annie on the phone with my Mom after having tried a few other numbers unsuccessfully, "Yeah, I called you, because I called Nina (Talina) and Star, and they weren't available."
Proper Hydration
So, Annie's been weird about drinking water lately. She doesn't seem to want to drink anything, and I'm concerned she's not getting enough liquids. Greg and I try to point out how important drinking water is, how it cleans out our bodies and helps us to be healthy (all while not pushing it to much, 'cause remember, this is my stubborn child . . . I'm afraid she'd stop drinking altogether if she realized this was really bugging me.)
We bought her her own little 'water cooler/dispenser' thing, so she can get her own drinks out of it, and that's worked somewhat, giving her independent side the autonomy it so desires.
Something is sinking in though, 'cause I'm sitting here watching her fill up a little medicine syringe with water and 'encouraging' her little sister to get enough water. "Ellie," she sternly lectures, "if you don't drink enough water, your pee will be REALLY yellow like mine. Almost brown in the mornings." He he. This is what I get for trying to explain cause and effect relationships to my two year old.
She's having some trouble getting her little sister to stay still while she's trying to 'administer' her doses of H2O. "Stop doing that Ellie!" she exclaims as Ellie tosses her head away, thus spilling some water, "You're making me nervous!" Ha.
The one phrase we're noticing a lot from Annie lately is, "I didn't know that." (Or, "I never knew that," or "I didn't know that before.") Whether she actually knew the piece of information or not, she happily exclaims her 'just figured it out' status. I think I hear this about 5 times a day.
We bought her her own little 'water cooler/dispenser' thing, so she can get her own drinks out of it, and that's worked somewhat, giving her independent side the autonomy it so desires.
Something is sinking in though, 'cause I'm sitting here watching her fill up a little medicine syringe with water and 'encouraging' her little sister to get enough water. "Ellie," she sternly lectures, "if you don't drink enough water, your pee will be REALLY yellow like mine. Almost brown in the mornings." He he. This is what I get for trying to explain cause and effect relationships to my two year old.
She's having some trouble getting her little sister to stay still while she's trying to 'administer' her doses of H2O. "Stop doing that Ellie!" she exclaims as Ellie tosses her head away, thus spilling some water, "You're making me nervous!" Ha.
The one phrase we're noticing a lot from Annie lately is, "I didn't know that." (Or, "I never knew that," or "I didn't know that before.") Whether she actually knew the piece of information or not, she happily exclaims her 'just figured it out' status. I think I hear this about 5 times a day.
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