I've been tagged Part II

Becky tagged me a couple of weeks ago and I'm just getting around to it. :0

4 things

4 things you may not know about me: (This is a hard one, because my family knows everything about me and they are my top readers.)

1. I can wiggle my ears (without touching them)
2. I love to Latin dance and swing dance (I haven't done it in years)
3. I'm a driven and motivated person but, I hate making goals
4. I knocked the passenger side mirror off of my car twice in 5 months while pulling out of my garage. :)

4 Places I go over and over:

1. Google Reader, to check all my friend's blogs
2. Isaac's crib in the middle of the night
3. Michal's house
4. Costco

4 People who email me:

1. Trayce (the Young Women's President)
2. Erika (I love getting her Scotty pictures.)
3. Baby Center: My Baby This Week
4. Mom

4 Of my favorite foods:

1. Cafe Rio Salad
2. home made chocolate chip cookies
3. Caterpillar rolls
4. Anything Michal makes, especially her cheesecake

4 Of my favorite books:

1. The Giver
2. The Tale of Despereaux
3. Emma
4. The Book of Mormon

4 Places I would rather be right now:

1. Whittier (Flint's family is all in town for the weekend, Evan is coming home for the summer, and Mom needs help with her projects.)
2. Grandma's Cabin
3. Some tropical paradise
4. At the Gym (I never seem to find the time)

4 Movies I watch over and over again:

1. Pride and Prejudice
2. Wives and Daughters
3. While You Were Sleeping
4. Emma

People I am tagging: 4 x zero

I've Been Tagged

Wow! I can't believe that it has been so long since I have blogged. I guess I just wanted you to read about my mom over and over. :) It may also be that even though I have lots I could blog about, I keep getting "tagged" to disclose things about myself that I would just as well keep secret. I guess the time has come to respond to my tags so that I can get past this roadblock.

The weekend after Mother's Day Flint, Isaac and I took a quick three day trip down to visit my mom. One evening while I was there, I took a minute to read Michal's blog. She had been tagged: What's in Your Purse? I laughed as I scrolled down, down and down the page to see all of the things that she had in her bag and her funny commentary about them. I was glad that I was looking at her bag and not mine, because although she had a lot in her purse, I was traveling and my purse is also my diaper/baby bag. Then I saw it, my name at the bottom of her post! I had been tagged to empty my bag too!

I waited until I got home from my trip, although I didn't change the contents of my bag, to empty it out and photograph the mess. Keep in mind that there are very few pockets in this bag and most of these random loose items and just in a jumble at the bottom of the bag! I followed Michal's lead and organized the contents into categories so that it didn't look as bad as it really was. :)

First, I'll show the diaper/baby stuff:

- two diapers, (no wet wipes, oops!), a pair of pajamas, an extra onesie, two pairs of clean socks and two and a half pairs of dirty socks.

- three burp rags (that I can never find when I need them), a pacifier that Isaac has NEVER taken, an aspirator, baby Oragel and Tylenol, Aloe sun block paste, Vaseline, two packages of gauze dressing, an alcohol swab, and two Purelan 100 samples that I got at the Hospital to help take care of Isaac's umbilical chord, etc.

- a blanket, chew ring, board book, squeaky monkey, a spider/fly rattle/squeaky/chew toy, two chew toy elders (I know it is a little disrespectful, but they were a gift and Isaac likes them.)


- Cheerios, graduates snacks, a box of golden raisins, 1/2 package of star burst, two root beer barrels, one ring pop.

My paperwork/junk

- a stack of fliers for the Young Women's Mother Daughter Reception that I was helping to put on, two crumpled and chewed on (by Isaac) programs from the Young Women Recognition night, one relief Society calender of events, the recipe packet from the Relief Society cooking Enrichment activity (yummy spinach and cheese calzones) two books that I needed to mail out for a book exchange that I was also "tagged" to do, the 6 book exchange letters that I need to send to my unsuspecting friends and relatives, my young women's calender/misc. paperwork, the primary songbook DVD set, a friends and family discount for Macy's, a thank you note from a friend.
- seven pens, two paper clips, a rubber band, a cold stone punch card with one punch, my new AAA card, a macy's furniture store business card, and my very dirty wallet...

- feminine products, a bobby pin, a hair brush compact (it is actually one of Isaac's favorite chew toys), a travel bottle of Tylenol and a zip lock bag of extra strength Excedrin.

- a deck of cards (you never know when you'll have time for a quick card game.) and a Christmas's cross stitch ornament from the Christmas Enrichment Activity (hidden in one of seldom used pockets.)

- and all of this trash and crummy stuff. Yuck.

I don't tag anyone! You're welcome.

Mom,

Because my Mother's day card did not arrive in the mail yesterday, I thought I would post a little something here to let you know how special you are to me. Here are several reasons why you are so amazing:

- You wanted a big family.

- You wake up early and have a "productive morning".

- You watch Jeopardy and try to answer the questions before the contestants do.

- You are not afraid of a challenge (or at least you act like you are not afraid).

- You sew beautifully. (check out the Zurg costume she made for Kimball)
- You go to Curves three times or more every week.

- You are an amazing 1st grade teacher.

- You are the major influence, but are happy to sit back and let us think that it is our idea.

- You taught seminary for 4 years!

- You were the Cub Scout den mother for 8+ years.

- You sent all 6(+1) of your children on their missions.

- You sent all 6 (+1) of your children to college.

- You play the piano.

- You taught yourself to play the organ when you were called as Ward Organist.

- You never turn down a church calling (ie. Seminary teacher, cub scout den mother, ward organist...)

- You showed me how to make a weekly menu and shopping list.

- You kept my closet (and Michal's closet) fully stocked with pretty (hand made) church dresses throughout our childhood.

- You are fun to do projects with.

- You are creative and clever.

- You made dinner for the family every night!

- You love the gospel.

- You married Dad!

- You held scripture study (devotional) and Family Home Evening.

- You are and were supportive and encouraging of us even when it mean (meant) more work for you. (Student officer campaigns, participation in musicals, sports, music lessons, choral groups, my bread making "business", any and all extra-curricular activities...)

- You made fresh bread.

- You are an artist. Even your doodles are beautiful!

- You made our home a welcome place for friends.

- You took us on vacations every summer.

- You showed us that Johnson's have "high standards".

- We wanted to live those high standards to make you proud, not to avoid punishment.

- You told me that "Johnsons don't get Cs on their report cards."

- You opened your home back up to your adult children when you should have been an "empty nester".

- You helped me to go back to school to earn my Teaching Credential.

- You helped me to pass the classes I needed in order to earn my Teaching Credential.

- You are the first one I call when I need advice and wisdom, or just a clever idea.

- You are my mom, but you have become a dear friend.

- When I go with you, even trips to the grocery store, Target, and Costco are fun!

- You put up with your children's teasing (and seem to enjoy it.)

- You can plan a great party.

- You let me turn your house into the singles ward hang out for late night games.

- You set and keep lots of fun family traditions.

- You cry when you open a great present.

-You bought Settlers of Catan so that your kids would come over and play. (We did.)

- Your love of the gospel and your testimony of Christ is apparent in you words and in your actions.

- You came to Isaac's birth.

- You pampered me while I was recovering from Isaac's birth.

-You taught me how to take care of babies, and gave me lots of practice with little brothers.

- You come up to visit us whenever you can.

- You let us come visit you whenever we can.

- You make and have made millions of little sacrifices for your family, and act like it is your pleasure. ("Sure, you can use my car..." "Why don't I come by and help you..." "Do you need any help in your classroom..?" "Why don't you bring the Boys over..."

-You helped create a family that we want to be with eternally.

- And all of that stuff Michal said.

- And all of that stuff The Deanery said.

I love you mom. You are my role model and friend. You are truly amazing. I wish that I could be with you this Mother's Day.

See you again soon!

Isaac in the Mirror

Isaac likes the mirror, just as much as his cousin Scotty does. He is so interested in that baby in the mirror. But, he really gets excited when he looks up and sees another Mommy in the mirror. "Wow, first she is behind me and now she is in front of me!" Babies love their mamas like crazy!

Happy mothers day to all you moms out there who have ever had your baby's face light up in a huge smile when he (or she) sees you. There is a connection there that can never be broken.

I love you mom. Thanks for being that special person in my life. I love you like crazy too!



P.S. He looks like he is about to fall over at the end, but he catches himself. :)

Sushi Training

We took Isaac with us to our new favorite sushi place, California Roll and Grill. When our food came, he kept reaching for it, so I put him in the highchair and gave him a couple of grains of sticky rice. He loved it! I could hardly eat myself for all of his begging. Our server came to the table, noticed that I was sharing, and asked if I wanted a dish of tofu for the baby. (I guess that is something that she fed her babies when they were learning to eat.) She brought out a little dish full of tofu in miso sauce. I was skeptical that he would like it, but it was a hit. He completely emptied the bowl of tofu chunks.

I bet he would like the Caterpillar roll too! (I guess I wait a year or two for that.)

A trip to Mom's House

Since we hadn't been "home" for a visit since Christmas, my sister and I decided that Mom's Birthday would be a great reason to make a quick trip. I told Flint that the trip was not just for her birthday, but to help her with projects that will get her house ready to sell this summer, but I had a suspicion that we would be doing more visiting than working. (I just needed to plan a longer trip.)

Michal and I loaded up her new minivan with all our children and all the luggage (and then some) required for taking them on a quick road trip, and hit the road last Sunday after church.

We were well stocked with books on tape and DVDs for the kids, but somehow forgot that we would want (need) some chocolaty treat to sustain us through the trip. We made due with much more righteous sugar snap peas that we pretended were peanut M&Ms.

Monday, while mom was at work, we took the kids down to the tide pools at Cabrillo Beach. We ate lunch on the grass above the beach.

Isaac chewed on his fingers while everyone else ate.

And then his sunglasses.

Even though Bronwen offered to share her roll.

The tide were too high by the time we finished eating, but we had enjoyed ourselves so much, we went back on Tuesday with the kids, Grammy Julie, Paige, Emily and Noah.

It was a beautiful morning at the beach.

We did actually spend some time with Mom, celebrating her birthday and helping around the house, but since this is getting so long already,I guess I save that for another post.

Young Women Fondant Fun

Since I have been doing so much with cake and fondant lately, my Beehive class (12-13 year-olds) at church wanted to get in on the fun. We set up a class activity a couple of weeks ago to make fondant monsters from Debbie Brown's 50 Easy Party Cakes book.



The girls worked in groups of two to make the marshmallow fondant. Then they choose their color and died their dough.






I'm afraid that by then they only had about 15 minutes to wrap their piece of cake in the fondant and create their monsters.



They did an amazing job considering the time crunch. Look, even little Betty Lou got in on the fun.

We didn't have time to stack them up, but everyone got to take home their little monster treat to show their family. Aren't they cute!







It was an ambitious undertaking for an hour long activity, but we all had a lot of fun, and made an absolute mess of the church's kitchen. (A couple of the girls even went home and made some fondant with their friends at home.)

I do what I can to pass along the cake obsession. :)