Friday, January 30, 2009

Car?

Brandon has learned the word car to proficiency. It is his favorite subject, frequently the only subject. I love watching him say car, he turns both his upper, and lower lip in, and purses his cheeks like a fish when he says it, but what really makes me laugh is that he always says it like a question, Car? So I tried to video tape him saying it, but he started saying it the right way. GRR.


Last weekend Jared and I were at Walmart and Jared succumbed and bought him the Cars movie. Brandon was elated! He carried it all around the store and then when we got home he ran around the house laughing while holding it, He could care less about actually watching it but he loves holding it.
For Christmas my mom gave him this car race track. When you put a car (or any other object) on the track it races around in a figure eight. Brandon of course thinks it is the greatest thing.

Needless to say, Brandon loves cars, and anything relating to cars, and we, I am sorry to say, are feeding his little love affair. Current items in Brandon's car collection include : car sippy cup, car, shirt, sweater, and pants, car movie, three toy cars, two toy firetrucks, car race track, with two other cars, his very own real car keys, and a car calendar.

Inquiry - For Great Vacuums

I love to vacuum, it is my favorite chore, but my current vacuum is dead, it will not pick up a thing. I have tried to live with it for the past few weeks (thank goodness for my carpet, that hides everything) but I can't take it any more, and I can only borrow from friends so many times. So I am researching to find out what vacuums are the best, last the longest, and have the most power. I am currently interested in Eureka's, and Rica's.

Here is where you come in. Please tell me what vacuum you are using, and if you like it well enough to recommend it. Much Thanks!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The "Period" Song

Last night I was listening to the playlist on my blog, when Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole came on. I really like this song, and I love his version of it, Jared however did not. This is the conversation that followed.

Jared: It's terrible, it is almost as bad as the "period" song

Me: What is the "period" song?

Jared: You know, that song that keeps bleeding

Yes I laughed! I will never be able to listen to Bleeding Love again, without think of it as the "period song". These two songs are now at the top of my playlist for you all to enjoy.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Thoughts on Children

I recently found these thoughts, and I loved them, so I thought I would share them with you.

"Parents everywhere realize that the most powerful combination of emotions in the world is not called out by any grand cosmic event, nor is it found in novels or history books, but merely by a parent gazing down upon a sleeping child."
President Thomas S. Monson
They are the idols of hearts and of households!
They are angels of God in disguise;
The sunlight still sleeps in their tresses,
His glory still gleams in their eyes;
These truants from home and from Heaven,
They have made me more gentle and mild;
And I know now how Jesus could liken
The kingdom of God to a child.
Charles M. Dickinson

"I love these little people, and it is not a slight thing, when they, who are so fresh from God, love us."
Charles Dickens

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

My Bucket List

You probably remember the movie that came out a while ago called the bucket list, I thought it would be fun to make my own bucket list, just for kicks and giggles. Here are a few of things I thought of.
1. Go sky diving
2. Get over fear of scuba diving, and dive in the Great Barrier Reef
3. Go on a Safari
4. Play the piano with the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall
5. Run in a race
6. Go on a hot air balloon ride
7. Go on a helicopter ride
8. Ride on an elephant
9. Write and publish a children's book
10. Publish my Grandpa Johnson's "There Once Was a Little Red Monkey" Song, and story
11. Learn to ballroom dance
12. Visit all 50 states
13. Tour Europe
14. Serve a mission or two with Jared
15. Learn guitar, violin, and the cello
16. Compose a song

So what is on your bucket list? I would love to know! Maybe we can cross something off together. :)

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

You Are Never Too Young To Start Helping With The Chores!!!

Brandon LOVES to climb up on the dog kennel and help me load the washer with the laundry! After each article of clothing is put in he claps his hands and cheers because he is so proud of himself. I am proud of him too! Won't it be wonderful when he learns to clean the bathroom for me! :)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

The Big Red Barn

Grandpa Wyn loves animals, and everything about them, now you know in part where we get it from. He has an impressive collection of zoo animals and farm animals. He is also a big fan of John Deere tractors, barns, and Lincoln Logs. So this year we all went in on this big red barn for him to house a few of his tractors and his farm animals. Brandon had a great time playing with it and in it.

I love this picture!!!!!

Winter at the Cabin

After a very fun New Years Eve party at Jodi's house, and a very enjoyable birthday breakfast the next day for Jodi (yes she is a new years baby (how about that I have a sister born on Christmas day, and a sister-in-law born on New Years day)), we drove up to the cabin in Island Park. I love going to the cabin even if it is a lot of work. Eight years ago on the 5th of January Jared proposed to me right here. I love being able to return in the winter and reminisce. Jared and I had a good time going on a very quick snowmobile ride to visit this spot. It was much the same as it was eight years ago, bright blue skies, freshly fallen snow, swans swimming in the nearly frozen lake, and the sun shining. It was however much more cold, it was bitter, which is why we did not stay out for long.If you look closely you can see Jared on the snowmobile.Brandon enjoyed his first snowmobile ride with his dad very much! I think he looks so cute all bundled up in his snow suit.Maggie even enjoys playing in the snow, she races around faster then I would have thought possible.Maggie enjoys chasing all of the snowballs that Jared throws for her.
You can barely see the cabin hiding behind the tall snow bank. It makes for a great hill for my cute nieces to sled down.Brandon is still uncertain about the snow, as long as he does not have to touch it he is fine, and if he is on a machine that says vroom, he is great, just like his daddy!One of the things I love about the cabin is that it means I can be lazy, and disgusting, which is why this is the only picture of me and I hesitate even posting this, but I do love playing in the snow with my family!

Christmas Day

There is something to the song "I'll Be Home for Christmas". I was so happy to be able to spend Christmas morning in our own home with our Christmas tree and decorations. It was so fun to wake Brandon up and walk him out to the tree and see his face. He walked right to Jared's "Santa Chair" and grabbed one of his presents. Then we showed him his own "Santa Chair" (an entire love seat). He loved opening the presents. For Christmas Jared and I got a video recorder so most of our Christmas memories are in movie format, rather than picture format, so I am sorry, but this is all you get. After a very fun morning we drove through a blizzard to spend the remainder of the day with my family. I love the crazy atmosphere of a large family, in a cozy living room, especially now with two toddlers. Brandon and Chandler were spoiled! My family got a wii for Christmas so we spent much of the day taking turns playing games.Every year after the morning Christmas rush we go to Grandma Johnson's for lunch. It is so fun to see all of our family, and this year it was a special treat because everyone was there, including my cousin Andrew who is serving in the Navy, it was such a surprise to see him walk in. I love this picture of Brandon with his aunt Lindsey, I just wish is was not so fuzzy. She is such a cute aunt to her two nephews.We were finally able to get a picture of the oldest Johnson girls with their babies. Jennifer is the oldest, and she has Logan who will be a year very soon, then there is me with Brandon who is 15 months, then Carolyn with Cassandra who is nine months, then my sister Natalie with Chandler who is 13 months.
We had such a wonderful year celebrating the holidays with each other, and with our family!

Christmas Eve Dinner

This year Jared and I thought we would host a Christmas eve dinner with our family. I had so much fun decorating and preparing for the dinner. I actually made a turkey, for the first time and it turned out. Yes I gave myself a pat on the back for it as well. :) We read the First Presidency message from the Ensign from President Thomas S. Monson, and then we wrote a gift we could give to the Savior on a piece of paper and put it in the gift box for next year. It was a special tradition I hope to continue for the following years.
It was a fun night with family!



Alexis' Baby Blessing

Alexis is my nephew's little girl. While we were in Idaho Jared was able bless her. It was a beautiful blessing. Alexis looked beautiful as well! I love little girl blessing dresses!


The Ryan Ruesch Family. Cooper is such a nice brother.