First Week of Summer

It's officially here.  It's summer and were soaking it up like crazy.

My kids' main agenda is play as hard as possible.

My main agenda is keeping the kids to various activities on time and keeping them from watching tv or playing video games.

Steve's main agenda is to go to work everyday and keep our bills paid.  (Dads get the short stick in summer.)

The three oldest have swim team every day (confession we slept in today because it is cold and windy).  Andrew's starts at 7 and Carter and Colby start at 7:45 and they all swim until about 9.  It's tricky getting them all there and back with Saylor and Grady in tow when Grady should still be sleeping.  

Andrew has piano on Monday mornings after swim team, Carter has guitar on Thursday evenings at 5:30 and Colby has violin on Tuesday afternoons at 3:30.  Saylor starter swim lessons and goes Tuesday and Thursday at 2.   Oh…and Andrew needs to mow my parent's lawn once a week.  It's a four hour job so it takes some scheduling.  

…give me a few weeks and we'll get this schedule down pat!

To document our first week of summer here are a mound of pictures compliments my phone. 

(I wonder if I'll ever get out my real camera again.)

Colby tried to practice his back rub skills one night after hearing Grandma Dixon pays cold hard cash.  I'm not sure he's up to snuff yet.

Andrew heroically saved a baby bird from our window well.

The flapping crazed bird freaked him out but he toughened up, grabbed the bird and tossed it up out of the well.   I thought the momma bird was going to croak she was squawking so loud.

Costco is now selling these.

We won't talk about how many boxes ended up in my cart.

I obsessed over paint colors this week.

(way too prematurely)

I pulled all the "griege" colors, even though they all look green in this picture, and picked my favorite one.

Ironically, it is called Wheat Bread.

(silly gluten)

It's just slightly more gray then the color on my walls now.  

I'll stew and obsess on it more I'm sure.

Grady tried to stand in the saddle…crazy kid.

I baked gluten free cheese bread. 

Delicious.

The best part of the week????

 Our cousins Wes and AJ came over yesterday afternoon to play in our sprinklers!

 Boys + water + heat + summer = fun.

Lots and lots of fun.

I learned my lesson from summers past though - Johnson boys tend to burn in the hot Idaho sun.

I creamed Wes up like no other. 

No burned Johnsons on my watch anymore!

Bathing beauty #1.

Bathing beauty #2.

(He learned his lesson.  Petunias grow back easier than lilies.  Don't pull my lily blooms off or I will force you to take a girly picture!)

Last but not least…we are just trashy enough in the summer to let our baby walk around without shoes at Home Depot.

Pretty nasty.

Happiness is

Happiness this week has been…

Having a buddy to jump around in a bed with you.

Finding a gf banana recipe that is better than any gluten filled banana bread…ever.

Oh and a pumpkin bread recipe too.

(will be making 2 loaves of this today with chocolate chips and then buying tons of bananas tomorrow!)

Having a Grandma to snuggle and love you.

Capturing that perfect smile on a four year old pretending to be Elsa.

Looking and finding house things you LOVE.

Even though you shouldn't be thinking about house stuff unless your house is sold first.

But you keep looking anyway…just for fun!

Spending a weekend with 12 crazy fun soon to be sophomores on the 4th year weekend/hike.

Finishing 5 miles with these ladies amongst the most beautiful surroundings!

Eating lunch with this view.

Walking to church.

Even though only some of us act excited about it.

Having a new beautiful church building close enough to walk to.  

Wonderful sacrament meeting.

Not having to wrangle kids to get in the car after church…telling them to walk home! 

Happiness all around I tell you.

I'm glad May is over and looking forward to June

May seems to always be insane.  I think every weekend this past month was filled to the brim.  I'm looking forward to June, but I secretly know it will be even busier with all five kids home all day, its our turn to clean the office again, swim team starts up today, family reunions begin and…I'm desperately trying to keep my house clean enough to show if needed.  (The last one is stressing me out.  I'm trying to get over it and let the house be messy.  It's not working very well.)

Some of the highlights from our last week in May are as follows.

Andrew had his piano recital.

He play one solo piece and then was part of quartet which popped and blew up balloons during their performance.  It was pretty great.  

A few days later, Colby had his violin recital.  He also had a solo piece and then was part of a large group number.  He's doing great and I'm proud of him and Andrew for their hard work!

Carter pulled out his own loose premolar and then promptly accidentally dropped it down the sink.

Oops!

This is the note he left the Tooth Fairy in hopes she would be nice enough to get the tooth herself down the bathroom drain.  She left him $$$ but I'm not sure is she fished for the tooth…and I'm not willing to fish myself to find out.  

Caught this picture one morning before school.  I'm glad at least Colby knows where to find clean clothes if his dresser is empty.

Saylor also had a few wardrobe malfunctions.

Steve new BMPYTRK finally finally showed up at our doorstep.

It was shipped from North Dakota and took it's sweet puppy time getting here.

Steve had been a little off lately and his mood has been sub par (I'm saying this in the nicest way possible.)  The morning after his car arrived he kissed the kids and told them he loved them.  I've come to the conclusion that Land Cruisers to Steve are like Diet Pepsi to me.  Steve is not a happy camper without a Land Cruiser in our garage.  I will keep this in mind for the future.

All the kids were excited to have the car here and take it for a spin.

I drove it around the neighborhood and gunned the engine probably a little too much…just needed to show Steve's new girlfriend who is boss around here.  ;)

Grady learned to eat with a fork this week.  I would smash a little muffin on the fork and he would feed himself the bite.  He was SO proud of himself.

Cute little bug.

Why I might not be the perfect parent and other insights from yesterday and the day before.

Sometimes I have to say over and over in my head just to make myself feel better,  "I am a good mother.  I am a good mother.  I am a good mother."  

This soda chugging was for a diabetic low.  I don't think he could have been any happier with his blood glucose of 69.  I think he may have squealed in happiness…if 10  year old pre-teens can squeal.

I had a revelation yesterday.  It was a revelation I have had before.  I REALLY love my neighborhood.  Its open, its spacious, it has a great park.  This is just icing on the cake because the people in this neighborhood are stellar.  It's the best. 

Saylor loves Grady.  Loves him to the point of driving him freak-show crazy.

Not sure if he was loving her back or ready to back hand her.  It could have gone either way.

Memorial Day Weekend

First off, I must start with a pre-weekend picture.  When I was at the gyn's office getting massive drugs, I received this picture.  I was too loopy to think about it, but my friend Deanna was worried I would think Grady was really driving around on a power wheels with Colby.  Guess what?  I didn't think twice about it.  14 month old driving?  Sounds good to me!

Pain=Drugs=Jill doesn't care what her kids are doing.  

Hence why I should never have elective surgery again. EVER.  

My kids would get away with murder.

These blooms won't be around for long and I'm enjoying them as much as I can.

I love this silly bush in the back yard.  It was planted in the front flowerbeds, years ago but then I changed my mind.  Steve was supposed to rip it out and chuck it.  He planted it on our property line instead.  It's grown like crazy.  I will now always have a snow ball bush in my yard. 

This girls fashion sense cracks me up.

Iced apple juice on a hot Sunday afternoon is always fine when paired with a sun dress and winter boots.

Last night we went to Steve's brothers for a Memorial Day BBQ.  The food was wonderful, the company fantastic, and the entertainment fabulous.

The kids got bounced around by cousins.  Fun stuff!

Grady didn't jump, but spent his time lining up and stacking rocks in Mike's back yard.

Steve set up tents and slept outside with Carter, Colby and Saylor late last night.

This is what happens when everyone else is in the back yard…Andrew takes over my bed and thinks he needs a bag of hot tamales as big as him.

Good times.

This morning we met up with the Dixons and visited family graves here in Twin.

Colby helping trim Grandpa Dixon's headstone.

Carter by his great-great grandfather's grave.

 Grady being as helpful as possible.

This is as helpful as Grady gets.

This Weeks Comings and Goings

1 House Showing.  People loved the house but thought the kitchen was too small (um..reason I am trying to sell so no surprise there.)  The house was cleaner than it will ever be again…ever.  I have no desire to clean like that again especially if the people looking at my house don't buy it.  (wink wink)

2 Field Trips.  Carter's was to Boise with the entire 4th grade.  Andrew's was to Hagerman's Thousand Springs for his end of year 8th grade party.  Carter had a great time and pronounced his favorite part the Discovery Center followed by the Brazilian Grill dinner with Steve before they drove home.  Andrew came home tired and sunburned.

1 Ablation.  It was supposed to be uneventful, but turned into me returning to hospital for pain control.  I would record for posterity sakes all the drugs pumped into my system but in my drug induced haze, I don't remember the names of them.  Lets just say some of them were with big long needles in not so fun places.  Feeling better today, but still sore, achy and tired.  Happy to be off all narcotics.   Ibuprofen is still my best friend though.

1 Wonderful Mom.  She stayed with me during and after my ablation and then took me back to the hospital while I was sick and writhing in pain.  Watched my little ones, ran my house, and fed my family while I finally slept in my room Thursday night.  She stayed with me until Steve arrived home from being in Boise with Carter.  She deserves a medal for endurance that lady!  I love her…its no secret.

Many fabulous friends.  My darling girl friends helped my mom and I out too on Thursday.  Grady and Saylor were watched all day and then my other kids were picked up from school and entertained.  I feel very blessed to have such wonderful friends in my neighborhood who are selfless and caring.  Thanks Ladies!

1 Land cruiser purchase.  Steve bought a newer old cruiser that will be shipped here by next week.  He's anxious to get it here and inspect his purchase.  He was hoping to have it by tomorrow, but it didn't work out.

1 Long Weekend.  We're hoping to get yard work done and keep up on the house.  I hope we have a showing our two…but not holding my breath!