Anniversary #6

Robert's Mom watched the kids so we could go out. We got our favorite icecreams at the Dairy Keen in Heber, and then we were off to Park City!
Robert really wanted to go on the Alpine Slide--so I agreed. I was scared, but I agreed.
Getting ready to go.

So far I survived the lift ride. . .

See how much more relaxed he is than me? lol
It wasn't too bad, though. I actually really liked it. Just not the price ;D.

You can't go to Park City without window shopping. Loosey Moosey had a makeover since we saw her last. . .

These two look about the same, though.

MMMMMmmmmm. Mainstreet Pizza and Noodle. So Good!

The lighting was pretty good too.

All in all it was a great day. And we went dancing that night--which was a BLAST! But, we don't have any pics of that :/.

Things I Want

Okay. It's time for me to be shallow again. I've had a really hard, uh, while. Who knows how long it's been now. So, I'm going to make some goals and some wishes (that have nothing to do with what I REALLY need for a "successful" home life), and see if that cheers me up.

Graduate. With SOMETHING. (realistic estimate: 2 to 4 years)

Have a clean and organized house with no remodeling projects. (realistic estimate: 6 to 12 months--oh, yeah, but then we move)

Learn to sew--a lot better than now. (ongoing)

Get an awesome TV, and a Wii to go with it. (realistic estimate: ask me when Robert gets a paycheck)

See the world before I'm 80. I've always wanted to see the ruins in Belize. (realistic estimate: hopefully before I'm 80, and probably after we get the Wii)

-Goes along with learn a foreign language and use it in a foreign country (Canada or Mexico would not count)

Read more of the classics. (ongoing)

Learn photography better. Maybe break down and buy photoshop instead of using gimp. (ongoing)

Get a real gemstone and look at it under the lights in the big room in the religion building at BYU. (long story--longer realistic estimate)

Get to my goal weight. (realistic estimate: 1 to 60 years--80 is going to be awesome)

Do something new--something cool no one else I know personally has done yet. (hmmmm. . . don't know how to estimate that one)

Take pictures at Time's Square. (1 to 60 years)

Laser procedures (hair removal, lasik, scar removal maybe?) (Again, ask me when Robert has a paycheck)

Be in a choir. And I don't mean ward choir. (This one seems kind of hopeless since my singing gets worse every year, but it would be SO cool)

I guess I'd be okay without most of these. Just not super okay.

Things I absolutely DO need?

Finally be okay with past hurts. REALLY believe in God. A good relationship with my kids and spouse--especially spouse. Aaaand, maybe it sounds shallow, but a paycheck would be nice.

Playing Catch-Up: February

We had a pretty decent Valentine's--some friends even brought us a treat. We spent most of the day doing this:Aren't we adorable? Okay, well at least the kids? We tried to take some pictures for Valentine's Day, and I think we did a decent job--considering. . . We even got a family picture (which has never really happened before unless you count snapshots--seriously, we even took our own engagement picture, and we both had dreadful sunburn that I did my best to edit out)--See?

Not bad for propping up the camera on a chair and some pillows, right? Now if I could just find the time to make the kids look cute AND do my hair. (And it would also be nice if Robert didn't change into a t-shirt right after we got in the door--goodness! It's almost like I have to dress him too some days.)

Princesses and Ugly Stepsisters

I always wanted to be a tomboy when I was growing up--that's what was cool to all of my friends. But I know deep down inside I really wanted to be a princess. I loved Ariel (because she had red hair) and Jasmine (I guess I had a thing for the midriff). I hated Belle (still not sure why). Anyway--one Sunday I was having way too much trouble with my bangs, so just before church, I decided to hack them off (see photo). As I was straightening my hair with my hair clip--I felt a little closer to a princess. Maybe even related to one:

My First Paycheck

I've never ever had a job. Sad, huh? I always feel silly when I would have to write up a resume in my English classes at BYU. My references would pretty much be people from church and school (and in the beginning, I still used the four families that I babysat for--each only once or twice). It's not that I didn't work. My family had a cafe for awhile, and I was a cook. I didn't get a salary so much as an allowance--$10 a week--and that was more than I needed. . . . I also gained a healthy dislike for greasy hamburgers and french fries (or "freedom fries" as my dad began calling them--it was a little embarrassing).

Yadda, yadda, yadda . . .

Anyways, what I was getting at is I FINALLY GOT A REAL PAYCHECK! my client even sent me a five dollar tip! Alt-erior Design has started to pay off :D. I guess that means I'm an entrepreneur. Sounds fancy ;D. I almost feel like I should wear a suit jacket or something.

AAAAAND . . . there's another client's check on the way! It's not going to pay off Robert's loans a year sooner or anything, but maybe I can find some more maternity clothes. One day I'll make the website bigger and post more often, but that day is not today--or any day in June--or July.

Can You Tell What We Spent Our Tax Return On?

Okay, not ALL of our tax return--most of that is going to more responsible things. . . like paying off the student loans. But Robert's and my birthdays are right around the corner. . . so we HAD to get something fun, right? Okay, not right. . . but I'm going to keep telling myself that :D.

a) food

b) a cute baby

c) fingernail polish

d) Canon XSi DSLR camera that took all of these pictures

e) Hint: it's "d"

I feel a little guilty. . . DSLR cameras run about 1K dollars (of course ours wasn't nearly that bad--I love ebay--we got a great deal [about 200 less than retail] and a lot of bonuses, like an extra battery and a 16 GB memory card!) I'm not used to spending money (*stop laughing, Robert), so it took us a long time to decide whether or not we should buy a new camera when Robert's broke last year (in fact, Robert told me I could get one for Christmas, but I didn't think we could afford it then). We thought a 60 dollar point and shoot would be enough. It wasn't. I HATE taking pictures with that thing. It works in a pinch--but it's not much fun. Taking pictures and digi scrapping is what I DO (one day I would LOVE to be a photographer--I still have a lot to learn, though--I'm no Suzi). . . it was miserable to be without Robert's camera. We missed so much. There are almost no pictures of the kids during the months we only had our point and shoot. I am so happy now. (It's kind of scary--I didn't realize how materialistic I was :D. . . j/k). Don't you love how it takes pictures? I've taken a picture of every meal I've made since we've got it. It's so much fun that I've been cooking prettier foods so that I have a new subject to take a picture of. . . I LOVE THIS CAMERA! I can't wait to learn more about it!!!

And now you know just how greedy I can be. . . okay, actually not. Robert keeps it in check a lot :D.

Fantasy

I've noticed that a lot of my posts are pretty depressing lately. (Seriously, go to some of my first posts--I don't even sound like the same person!--Sad, really.) I'm not incredibly sure how to get my old self back right now, so I'm gonna fake it. . .

Sometimes when I had a hard day when I was a teen I would write out better scenarios for myself in my journal--and sometimes they would sorta come true (for example--I wrote one about marrying Robert). Here's hoping this one comes true. . .

*My goodness, it's taking me a long time to come up with one--ummmm, okay, here goes*

Nana is potty trained. Enoch is done teething. We're on our way to Utah to drop the kids off at Grandma's for a week. While we're gone, the bedroom carpets and kitchen floor are being replaced. . . we shouldn't smell too much glue by the time we get back.

After spending a day with the family and getting some quality family pictures (our first professional ones EVER [unless you count homecoming, and my sister-in-law that did a great job on our wedding day--but those are just of Robert and me], Robert and I head off to Disneyland (obviously I'm not pregnant--and I can definitely fit into my jeans again). We spend all day riding all the rides, park hopping, trying out a bunch of the fun places to eat, and holding hands in line. And in the Haunted mansion (I do NOT look up in the first room--that part is just too much for me) we get to sit close to eachother. The ride also gets stuck in front of the singing busts for a minute, and we get to see the whole thing (I love those guys). We get great pictures of us on the roller coaster and with Pluto and Mickey and Goofy (I have a great camera). It's just a lot of fun. We stay for the fireworks, and reluctantly go home.
At night we watch some of our favorite Disney movies that we can't with the kids (like Pirates, and Narnia). Our hotel is amazing. It's really high and the view of the park is utterly breathtaking. Robert surprizes me with two chocolate truffles (the same kind we had on our honeymoon), and a bouquet of white roses. Then I drift off to sleep in the clean white linens so I'll be rested for the next day.
We head over to Universal Studios--take the tour and go on all of the classic rides. We eat at Hard Rock Cafe (Robert's never been--I think). Another day we go to the beach. (Apparently, I've found a swimsuit by then.)
Then we fly off to NYC. We see a Broadway play. We go to the top of the Empire State Building. We go shopping in ridiculously expensive boutiques, and we even try on rings at Christie's and Tiffany's and maybe some other places (of course, they all cost more than 30$, so no diamond for me. . . yet). I finally get to see if Grimauldi's Pizza lives up to it's reputation, and take a tour of the Statue of Liberty. We fill the day with all sorts of fun things, and get to talk to eachother all day. We fly home--Grandma and Grandpa are coming for a visit--so they bring the kids in a few days (not that I would EVER actually ask them to do that! lol). We get some time to work on a few things at home (I finish my independent study classes!) And. . . we're refreshed and ready to take on anything. . . almost.

Okay, now that I've wasted Enoch's naptime daydreaming. . . I should probably get some work done.

My Christmas Wishlist

Lights installed in the living room
Beadboard in the kitchen
Joanna potty trained

The best part. . .
everyone's working so hard to fulfill each wish for me!

What Robert and I are grateful for this season.

This. . .

. . . and this

Thankful ABC's

So... Julie had this really cute thankful post, and I wanted to copy her.

I'm thankful for:

April 8, 2006
Babies
Cameras
Dogs
Eating
Feb 8, 2008
Girls
Hospitals
Independent Study
June 10, 2008
Krisp Rice treats (okay, okay, I know it's a stretch)
Little boys
Maternity clothes (that look like real clothes, so I can wear them from one pregancy to the next)
Napkins
Oreos
Prescription drugs (and the wonderful people that prescribe them:D)
Quilting websites that inspire me
ROBERT ALLEN JOHNSON
Savior
Tummies
Uni-gender clothing (because the kids go through them so fast!)
Valuables (no matter how unneccesary--so long as they make life comfortable without costing too much ;)
Wedding
XOXO's
Yakkety yakking
Zest for life (wish I ALWAYS felt it)

The rules are obvious: I'm going to be daring and actually tag a few people that I am grateful for--Machel, Becky, and Kira

Enoch's Pics... for the grandparents' sake

I'll have to edit Nana's later. . . it always takes so much longer than I expect :P. I only was able to touch up a few of these. (Can you see which one has Robert's ear?) Oh well. Obviously I'm not a pro, but one day I will be. I love my little boy. And I love taking pictures of him!

Fall Pics of Nana (before I edit them)

It was so beautiful and warm outside. I just had to take Joanna out and get some pictures of her. Thank you, thank you, Turners for lending us your camera. Hopefully we will be able to get another one soon (ours broke :P), but I'm so glad we were able to capture these pics. You guys are the greatest!

Turn that frown upside-down and smile all the while

You know those days where you are so mad and frustrated that you just want to stay mad and frustrated? (This is basically what I think Hell is like). So, I've been reading this book, "DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF" pretty much because I was bored one day and it was the most interesting thing in our house (at least besides "THE FAR SIDE GALLERY" which I have already read so many times it stopped being funny--if that's possible). Besides, I've always wanted to read it, so I dug in. It's pretty good. I realized I'm a petty and annoying person :D. But the book is helping. I think I've been doing better. At least I know what I'm doing wrong. . . we'll see how it goes. My goal this week from the book is--Don't interrupt people. I'm on the path to perfection! Errrr. . . at least mortal happiness. (We'll see how long this lasts. . .)

Corning Museum of Glass

We were headed to the Stake Temple trip in Palmyra, and decided to leave a day early so we could go camping and see this neat museum that a friend from Robert's class had mentioned. We got to Corning (aka the "crystal city") later than we hoped. So, we stopped by the gift shop and planned to visit the museum later (Of course the gift shop was enough--we spent an hour there). We took a few brochures. It looks like you can blow your own glass--something Robert and I have always wanted to do. We will definitely be coming back!

Lemon Meringue Pie

So, lately most of my "always wanted to do" things involve food. I really wanted to make lemon meringue pie. (The meringue part is what I was most curious about.) It was so good, I can't even tell you. My specialty has always been pumpkin pie--straight from the pumpkin. Now I think I'll have to make this my specialty. Just writing this blog is making me hungry for some.

Good Food, Good Friends

We had a special cast-off party for Michelle. (We even busted out the schlur--sparkling cider to those of you less savvy [meaning any of you that are not Gardners]). I always wanted to make manicotti. . . and I still do. I accidentally made some beefy stuffed shells, instead of manicotti. Oh well. Now I don't have to wonder about what it's like to make beefy stuffed shells. They were good, way too salty with too much nutmeg, but otherwise the were superb.

"Breaking Dawn" at midnight

So we all had fun going to the "Breaking Dawn" party. It's another one of those things I've always wanted to do--go to a midnight premier. I went with Cicely Cain and Emily Hurst, and at the end we met some of the other girls from church. I loved the book. I stayed up late each night so I could read it without the kids needing me. Edward and Bella make me so happy. Their romance is something special and it reminds me how special my own is with Robert. In fact, if Robert were a vampire. . . well, maybe I shouldn't finish that thought.

Mommy's Makeover

I was starting to feel like I had lost all things feminine about me. It's been too humid for me to do anything with my long hair and it's been easier to just borrow some of Robert's t-shirts than look through my own closet (a disaster area thus far). I felt more like a crumpled old napkin than a person (of course that could be because things get wiped on me a lot). Then I had an epiphany. Hiedi went shoe shopping with me and I got these drop dead gorgeous heels. When I came home--I chopped off my hair. I always wanted to give myself a haircut. Robert did help a little, though. Actually, that's another part of my makeover. . . I'm going to do one thing each week that I've always wanted to do. So far it's been super simple and I feel so good about life. Everyone should get to live this way!