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 :)