some pictures

So I actually downloaded pictures from my phone and my camera today and wanted to post a few. The first is a picture of my cute family at Thanksgiving with my Grandparents. The second are some aprons I made last minute for my nieces for Christmas. As I told my Sister-in-law, Christmas is one of the few times I get to buy/make girly things. I had fun.

long month

The month of October has been a long one. Thankfully it is over. The first week of the month Zach, Micah and I spent in Southern Utah, visiting my grandmother Cleone Wilcken and her husband Dee Wilcken before she passed away on October 11, one day after her 83rd birthday. The following weekend our whole family was down there again for her funeral. I feel blessed that I was able to tell her I loved her, and hear the same from her before she left this mortal life. It was a blessed release for her as her body and mind had decided to turn against her. It is so different to say good-bye to some one who has lived a full and happy life...
The Monday after my Grandmother's funeral Simon and I got sick with H1N1. Tuesday morning Seth left for a business trip. Wednesday evening Max got sick. Friday morning I came down with Mastitis. Luckily my cousin and sister-in-law were available to help because I couldn't do anything. Poor Micah had to wait for Megan to show up to get his afternoon bottle because I couldn't get up off the couch to feed him. Friday night (2 a.m.) Seth got home. Saturday afternoon I felt well enough that I thought to give him a kiss welcoming him home. (usually it's the first thing I do so that let me know how sick I really was). The following Tuesday Micah was sick. We took him in and had H1N1 confirmed. Seth and I didn't do anything except hold him all week until Saturday when he actually let me lay him down while he was watching his favorite Wiggles video. And then Sunday morning he was worse: he was either coughing or sleeping. After another trip to the doctors with another antibiotic prescribed he literally spent all day, coughing, sleeping, or falling asleep while taking his bottle. Today he was somewhat better, I was able to put him down and he didn't sleep all day and at one point he actually smiled. Hopefully he is on the mend now. Anyhow, that is why October was long.
Saturday was actually a fun day with boys working in the yard and trick-or-treating for Halloween. We met up with some other little boys in the ward and the gang had a fun time running from house to house together. the following are pictures of the boys "helping" and to quote Seth "actually being helpful" :)


T

Our boys... as monsters. Nope, no editorial intent here.

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Consistency, consistency

If as a parent you think you've got it figured out, wait a couple of hours (or minutes as the case may be). This morning I was so pleased because I came up with a fun way to get the boys to listen to conference, and it was actually working! I made a list of words commonly heard in conference (Book of Mormon, Temple, Prayer, Family etc.). Each boy got his own copy and was told to make a tally mark next to the word whenever they heard it. When the tallies totaled 5 they were able to pick out a small piece of candy. If at the end of a talk they had also "taken notes" or drawn a picture, then they could have three additional pieces of candy (think small here, gumdrops, candy corn, etc.). I can't say it was any less distracting, or that I got more out of conference than I usually do when small children are concerned, but at least they were saying things like "I heard temple. Prayer! Obey! Temple!", Look mom I drew a picture". "They said Jesus Christ 45 times!" Instead of "Why do we have to watch this. This is boring. When is this going to be over. Do we have to?", so for me it was a success. And then the afternoon session came along. We gave the boys the option of watching with us, or listening on the radio while they played in the playroom. They of course chose the toy room. and they of course did not spend the entire time running and playing tag throughout the whole house, as the echoing stomping above our heads attested to.Or running up and down the stairs and in and out of the Family room making little brothers cry while we were trying to pay attention. Oh well. I guess it's nice to have room for improvement :) Thank you Elder Bednar for your encouragement "consistency is the key.... consistency is the key...".

Help! my dishes are being held hostage!

Can I just say I miss my old new dishwasher? We finally bought a new dishwasher after needing one for at least a year. And then we moved. Our "new" dishwasher is better than our last old one, but not as good as our old new one. ( how's that for confusing). Anyhow, the door has had sticking issues ever since we moved in, but with enough muscle and grunting noises one can usually get it open. Until last night... Seth went to Round Table as I was finishing up the dishes. I had almost all the dishes in, closed it so that Zach wouldn't throw all of the nicely rinsed dishes on the floor, and scrubbed a couple of things. I went to put them back in and couldn't open it. After about 5 min. of trying I gave up thinking "I'll get Seth to try when he gets home". Well, that was a whole 1 1/2 hours later so of course I forgot about it until I tried to put in breakfast dishes this morning. Still couldn't open it. And then at lunch I went to grab a knife to make sandwiches with and realized all of my silverware is in the dishwasher being held hostage. Along with most of my cups/glasses/bowls/etc. I do have a few forks left, and I lucked out and found some plastic utensils so we'll be able to eat dinner tonight without resorting to our fingers, which will be good since I was planning on making spaghetti. And I hope that once we receive a ransom note and pay whatever it's asking us Seth will be able to open it this evening. If not, I just might use this as a good excuse to not do dishes for awhile ;)

year long goal accomplished

So I've been thinking about an article I'd like to write for quite some time, and I finally did it. Our newspaper has an online selection where regular people can write and post articles, so I did. If you go to www.hjnews.com there is a button on the left hand side called "your cache valley". The article is entitled "A Mother's Plea".

Wow! Long time, no post...

So you might say I'm not the most frequent visitor to our family blog... and you could definitely say I'm not its most prolific poster... but golly, Melissa: no entries since MARCH? Really? What have you been up to for the last six months?

In Melissa's defense, I guess I could jot down a short list of events that might have made claim on some of her time in the last HALF-YEAR.

- We sold a house.
- We bought a house.
- We fixed up a house.
- We moved.

Other than that, not much has happened. Our kids have grown. We've grown (older). It's been a busy season. I'm not going to try to make any kind of a comprehensive record, make-up style. That's been my problem where keeping a journal is concerned: I miss a few months and, upon starting again, feel an obligation to try to go back and pick up the pieces... which is such a daunting prospect that I peter out again. It's a vicious cycle.

And speaking of vicious cycles, it's bedtime. Sleep's overrated, but it's not altogether dispensible. Enough for now. Pictures later. SJ

cursings and blessings

I am cursed! Without fail, whenever Seth goes out of town one or more person gets sick. Seth left at 3:30 this morning to catch a flight out to Maryland for his first nephew's baby blessing. At 5:30 Simon started throwing up. It sounds awful, but I'm hoping it was food poisoning... it really would not be fair for all of my boys to get the flu. Micah already has a cold/cough that makes him gag and lose his stomach contents, but that's just par for the course with Micah. Last time Seth was out of town Simon and I both got sick. I'm tempted to tell him no more trips, but I don't think his boss would be very happy with that so I guess I wont.

On an entirely different subject, "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated- and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:20-21) I love this because it means that if I want a certain blessing, I just have to live the law on which that blessing is given. This past Sunday was Fast Sunday, which means fast offerings. Now, fast offerings aren't just to help the poor, it is a law given by God, which means there is a blessing that goes with it. "Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (3 Nephi 24:10). Without fail our family has proven this law and blessing. Just this past week I went to fill out our fast offering check and as I was doing so, a sum greater than we usually donate came to mind. I wavered for a bit, but then decided why not? It's never hurt, and it might give some extra blessings. Well, can I just say that this law and blessing work? I love it! I wrote the check, and on Tuesday I received a refund check, that I had no idea I was getting, for more than double the amount of our fast offering. Now, we don't always get random checks in the mail, but I have no doubt that even when the blessings aren't so tangible, we are being blessed above and beyond what we imagine. This is one law I really don't mind keeping. Or maybe I should say, this is one law I don't mind receiving the predicated blessings for :)

Happy Birthday Micah and Spencer!

Tomorrow (March 5) will be two years from the day Micah and Spencer were born. I can't believe it has been two years already. We will be celebrating with Micah as he reaches the mile-stone of being two. He is doing so well lately. Today he sat up for 3 min. all by himself (as long as mommy sang songs and distracted him). He has started saying a few two word phrases (go bye-bye is his favorite), and can point to his nose. He will help us sing The Wise Man and the Foolish Man (he'll say "up") and Give Said the Little Stream" (he says "g" for give). He loves his brothers and will say "bub" when he wants to be with them. He is a joy to our family, and the one everyone turns to for loves if they are having a bad day. We are so glad that he is with us sharing the day to day joys of being a family.

Spencer is busy serving the Lord, and when we need it he lets us know we are loved. To honor him I would like to invite anyone who wishes to to join us in celebrating the 8 days of his life by doing 8 random acts of kindness in his memory. I think it would be neat to have a list of those who participate, so if you feel like it please post a comment with either just your name, or your name and what you did.

We love you boys!
Love,
Mom

Valentines Day Fun

Last night as we were folding clothes and watching the NBA slam-dunk contest I joked about posting about our "romantic Valentines Day". In truth though, it was so nice just spending time together (all children were in bed and asleep). And to be fair, we actually had our date earlier in the day :) Thanks to my cousin Megan and sis-in-law Hannah Seth and I were able to go on a nice date just the two of us all by our lonesome for the first time in a while. Our kiddos require two helpers if we ever want to be gone longer than an hour, so it was nice being able to enjoy our time together without being stressed about getting back. We went to a nice Thai restaurant and had yummy food, and then picked out a new shirt for me. Seth requested an iTunes gift card...I like being able to fulfill requests so that is what he got.
Since we were home for dinner we made it special for the boys by having heart shaped scones. It was fun and everyone liked it so I imagine we"ll probably do it again.

In a stealing mood: Pay it Forward

This was new to me, but sounded like fun so here goes:

Pay It Forward
You may have seen this on other blogs - you sign up to receive something homemade and crafty, and then you pay it forward by doing the same thing for 3 people who sign up to do it on your blog.

So here’s how it works:

1. Be one of the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post and I will send you a handmade gift.

2. You get to pay it forward as well by doing the same thing for 3 people on your blog.

3. Once you leave a comment telling me that you want to participate, you need to make a pay it forward post on your blog.

So, if you feel like risking a homemade gift from me sign-up!

taken from Julie

I saw this on my friend Julie's sight and thought it was fun. The items in bold are ones I've done. The items in italic are ones I'd like to do some day. Feel free to take it for your own blog too! And if anyone wants the stories behind the answers, that would be fun too!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Been to Canada
11. Bungee jumped
12. Worked at an Amusement Park
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

What we're up to

So I keep thinking of great posts and then I think "it would be so much better with those pictures" and then I don't take the time to download the pictures and then I don't ever write. So, things that have been happening that I'm going to write about and then add pictures:

Arizona: Zach and I went to Arizona for the last weekend in January. I had a cousin getting married and another cousin that said "you should go with me". So I did. Can I just say that after that weekend of 70 degree weather I wouldn't mind becoming a snowbird in my old age :) It was a flying short trip, but a nice break from the day to day norm. I had to hold Zach practically the whole time so I came back with an awful neck/back ache (the little guy ain't so little). But it was fun to see cacti, gravel and citrus trees again. I lived in Tempe, AZ when I was 7-10 years old. It would have been fun to go back to my old house and ward, but there wasn't time. Oh well. Maybe Seth and I can go there for a get-away sometime... maybe.

Max's birthday: Maxwell Seth Johnson is now 6 years old as of February 9. He had a happy day complete with dinner at IHOP (we've decided we need to teach our boys restaurant/public manners so for this year they get to chose a restaurant to go to for b-day dinner) and a Lego cake. He's really into Lego's right now so Seth suggested it and Max quickly agreed. I must say it is probably one of the easiest cakes I've made.

Sleep (or lack there-of). Zach has gotten progressively better at going to bed at night without being asleep first. From crying for 1 hour the first night, he now (if tired) will lay down and go to sleep without crying at all! Hurray! Now we just need to work on the waking up every two hours. Luckily, unlike last night, Micah usually sleeps through the night. Last night Zach woke up for the 2 or third time at 3:00, Micah woke up before he was done eating. Micah was still awake when Zach woke up half an hour later, and so for the next 2 hours I sat in my bed holding Zach in my arms (who woke up every time I tried to lay him down) and Micah across my lap, jouncing him with my legs... poor Scotty got the brunt of my grumpiness this morning. One of these days I'm going to get more than 2 hours of sleep at a time, and then, watch out world :)

Now this is an airplane!

So one of Scott's favorite activities is to ask Seth to make him a specific type of airplane out of paper and tape. Usually it is an F14 or fighter jet or something like that. Two Sundays ago Seth Scott Simon and Micah all stayed home from church because they were sick. While we were gone Scott asked Seth to make him a 747. I guess Seth knew that 3 hours needed to be filled somehow because this is what they came up with. The materials include a 2-liter soda bottle, an oatmeal can, a grits can, a portion of a wrapping paper tube, tin foil, paper, and masking tape. I so live in a house full of boys!

Yummy yummy yummy for my tummy! Soup!

My cousin for a Christmas gift treated me to a cooking class at Kitchen Kneads. It was a class on cooking Indian food (think curry). The title says spicy, but it means spicy as in seasoning, not spicy as in it is so hot you need to eat the plain yogurt off of everyone else's plate so your throat would stop burning and your eyes would stop watering and you could stop wiping the sweat off your brow like I had to with one of the other dishes. But I digress. This soup was so easy, so nutritious, so delicious and best of all, my lactose intolerant family can eat it! Here's the recipe:
Spicy Chickpea Tomato Soup
1- 19 ounce can chickpeas drained
1- 13.5 ounce can light coconut milk
2- 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes
1/2 cup naturally sweetened apple juice
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chicken stock

Put all of the above ingredients except the chicken stock in the blender and puree the mixture until smooth. Transfer to a medium sauce-pan and add chicken stock. Bring to a simmer over moderately high heat. Season with salt and black pepper.
Ladle into bowls and garnish with: 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt and chopped scallions, green part only. The cook said she also likes to squeeze fresh lemon juice (1/2 half lemon) into the soup just before dishing it up. She also held out one can of the tomatoes and put it in without blending it, which I liked better because I like a soup with something to chew :) Also, if you don't like tomatoes you can switch and do two cans chickpeas and 1 can tomatoes.

relationships and boa constrictors

"A good relationship is a bit like a pet boa constrictor: either you feed it every day or bad things happen." I normally wouldn't admit it, but sometimes I read the highlighted Yahoo articles on my email page... even the relationship ones :). This quote was so great I had to share. Not only is it funny, but it is also true! The article went on to say that each relationship needs little things each day to stay strong. The author, Ty Wenger listed five daily habits for happy couples. 1. talk daily 2. flirt 3. be stupid together (relax have fun enjoy something stupid) 4. get independent (pursue individual interests) and 5. share a spiritual moment (pray). It might not be from an apostle, but I thought it worthy of sharing! Have fun feeding your boa! ~Melissa

Things that make you go "Awwwww"

So every now and then my children surprise me with how sweet and good natured they can be. This week Seth was in New York City on a business trip. He left Tuesday morning. Wednesday afternoon/evening Simon started acting sick. It seems like without fail when Seth is gone, and life is stressful as it is, someone has to get sick on top of it. Well, to make things even better that same night I started getting a head ache, not fun but doable. Unfortunately it turned into a fever, aches, queasy stomach, etc. Knowing there was no way I could take care of Micah, Zach, and a sick Simon on top of being sick I called in the Priesthood. Thank goodness for good neighbors, and the power in priesthood blessings.
The next morning as I lay in bed Scott came into my room and I explained that I was sick and would need his help with breakfast and possibly making his lunch. He was quick to say he could help, and then went downstairs to where his brothers were. This is what I overheard him say. "Guys, I've got some good news and some bad news i mean some bad news and some good news... The bad news is Mom is sick. The good news is that we can help her by doing things like pouring the cereal and milk and making my lunch". It just made me feel so proud of him for being so sweet and handling it in such an inspired way! "The good news is we can help". I am so thankful for times like this that remind me to be grateful for my children, and to take a step back and recognize their innate goodness. I think sometimes as parents we get so caught up in "parenting" that we forget that they are not just our children, they are children of God and as such have inherited divine qualities. I think it would make me a better mom if I took more time trying to recognize these qualities, instead of lamenting the "natural man" within them.