The Big Three-Four

You may be wondering why I haven't blogged in a long time.  I guess it has dropped a few notches on my ladder of priorities.  Partly because it takes time to download pictures from my phone.  Partly because I just don't have time.  Partly because it's super fast and easy to post pictures on facebook and it seems like most people are on there anyway.

But I was thinking today about getting older.  It is kind of unpleasant sometimes to think about.  So I started thinking about how I am not just getting older, but that I have enjoyed so many experiences and adventures in my life.  So here they are, in no particular order (probably mostly chronological, with some exceptions) other than off the top of my head...

- Born! March 14, 1979 in Van Nuys, CA

- Spent summers going to the beach, going on water skiing trips, hiking/camping in the Sierras with my dad.

- Snow skiing trips to Mammoth

- Grew up in an awesome family with 7 kids

- Lived in Hawaii

- Lived in Lake Tahoe

- Participated in high school sports - soccer, basketball, and track

- Chosen as a representative for a shoot out during half time of an NBA basketball game (Nuggets vs Kings)

- Winter Homecoming queen

- Met Steve Young and Bart Oats

- Snow skied Squaw Valley, location of Winter Olympics 1960

- Attended and received a degree from Brigham Young University

- Met and convinced a really hot guy to ask me to marry him, best move I ever made

- Honeymooned in Hawaii

- Given birth to 7 amazing children - which included a set of twins - two hospital births - 4 homebirths - 1 c-section, 5 natural - 1 VBAC

- Had the blessing of homeschooling my children

- Lived in Provo, UT - Incline Village, NV - Provo, UT - Incline Village, NV - Las Vegas, NV - Greeley, CO - Dayton, NV - Kalamazoo, MI - Greeley, CO - Las Vegas, NV

- Traveled to other countries - Thailand (2 times), Japan, Grenada, Hong Kong

- Seen many of the awesome sites in the USA, especially in the western USA including (but not limited to) the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Four Corners, Carthage Jail, Nauvoo, SEARS Tower, Lake Michigan, 

- Learned and actually had the opportunity to use American Sign Language

- Been to different LDS Temples - Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle, Los Angeles, Reno, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Nauvoo, Provo, St. George

I am just really happy with my steady life.  It's had it's ups and downs, but the ups sure have been all I could ask for and more.  Life is good.  I'm very blessed to be surrounded by amazing family and family-like friends.

(Disclaimer:  I am sure I am going to think of things I forgot to add to this list, so I give myself permission to come back and edit the list any time I feel like it!)

Ethan Charles Johnson

On November 24, 2012, look who joined our family!

About 15 minutes old.

About 12 hours old.

We are so happy Ethan is here.  He is healthy and perfect.  We all adore him.  Nobody can get enough of him.  As it should be with all new babies.

He reminds us most of Seth - especially in the eyes.  He is so sweet.

About 48 hours old.

He weighed 9 pounds.  He was 21 inches long and his head was 14.5 inches.  He was born at 10:10pm.  He was born at home, a successful VBAC, and we were all in bed for a good night's rest by midnight.  :)

About 2 minutes old.

Soccer Season...

Well, we only have 2 games left, but we've been enjoying it.  Adah and Madelyn played on the same team - but here their age group still plays co-ed, so that was actually a new experience for them.

Rhys is 5 now, so according to family rules, he is eligible to play soccer.  He has loved his first season. He loves feeling so big like the girls.  Nothing sounds more awesome to him than "Rhys, you have practice today."  Or "Rhys, it's time to get ready for your game."  He gets dressed into his soccer gear first thing in the morning on Saturdays.

Big Girls

Since Inger and Anika will shortly become big sisters, we are trying to stop referring to them as babies and starting to refer to them as big girls.  But I still like to snuggle them close and call them my babies...cause they are.

But here is how they have been growing up!

This is a rare moment - they aren't usually willing to share the car!

They say all sorts of words, are making animal noises, understand pretty much everything you tell them, are starting to learn to clean up, definitely are understanding "no" whether they like it or not, and they climb, walk/run, try to jump on the trampoline, slide, dance, and just make us laugh.

This is the first time Anika discovered that you can see someone under the trampoline.

They love to look at books, play outside, sit at a table like big kids, take a bath while fighting over who gets to splash in the faucet, and EAT.

Many times they are so sweet with each other - if they have a book or a drink, they will try to get another one to give to their sister.  It's like they are trying to be fair and make sure their buddy is taken care of.  Other times, they are aggressive and don't like what each other is doing, and take matters into their own hands.  Inger is the biter.  Anika is the hair puller.  These two are feisty!

On a side note, this is me at 35/36 weeks.  I measured 40cm already.  I am now 38 weeks and feel I'm at capacity.  Ready for this boy to make his grand entrance!

Happy Halloween 2012 Version

Happy Halloween!  We celebrated with the church trunk-or-treat / chili cookoff / games.  For costumes, Adah was an American Idol Participant, Madelyn was a clown, Rhys was Optimus Prime and Seth was a police officer.  Inger was an alligator for about 15 minutes and Anika was an elephant for about 17 minutes.  We couldn't even really get a picture, so why torture them?

Then for actual trick-or-treating Halloween, Adah and Madelyn kept their costumes, Rhys changed to spiderman and Seth changed to Wolverine.  Inger and Anika dressed up as twins.  Erik took all six kids out trick or treating while I manned the very busy door.  We all survived and had more than enough candy.

Mock Presidential Election 2012

Please view each of the two videos and then vote for ONE candidate.  The first is Alexandria Johnson. The second is Fredric Jones.  Leave a comment to vote.  THANK YOU for voting, we appreciate your time.

Sethy-Pie Turned 4!

Seth is four years old!  While watching the Olympics this month, I was reminded of the (long) wait for Seth's arrival.  We watched a lot of Olympics, each night hoping he would decide to come.  Finally, while Erik was busy cheering for Argentina to beat Nigeria in the gold medal mens soccer game, labor started.  Four and a half hours later, Seth greeted us.

Seth is a kind, generous, and very forgiving boy.  Over the last year he has really started developing his personality and he has quite the sense of humor.  He loves to play with his cars, and his favorite thing is to play dress up.  He especially loves cowboy-type dress up.  He's a hoot.

For Seth's big day, we had waffles, eggs and bacon for breakfast.  Lunch was quesadillas.  Dinner was hamburgers, chips and fruit salad.  Then dessert was (what has become) the Johnson usual - ice cream cone clowns.

Seth received a homemade Woody vest, a bow an arrow set, a basketball, a fake knife (that retracts when you press it against something), and some money from Grandma and Grandpa.  With his money he bought a Ben 10 figure and an Iron Man guy on a motorcycle.  He still has a little money left, which he used $1 today to buy his own Gatorade (funny guy).

Happy Birthday Seth!  You are a joy to our family!