M . A . z...

Update...long past due

2010-09-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

I feel like every time we go somewhere fun and do fun things I forget my camera, or I am having so much fun that I forget to take pictures...so here are some random pics that I managed to snap!Z has been going through a sun glasses phase lately and wants to wear them everywhere! Here he is sporting them in the tub!
"Swimming!!"
Enjoying the Western Idaho Fair for a few minutes before he decided he was over it!

He seriously slapped that cow on the but...I was so freaked out that he was going to get a hoof in the face!!Falling asleep in the car after our brief trip to the fair!

Happy Fourth...we are exhausted!

2010-07-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

After a long weekend with family, food, fun, fireworks, late nights, sprinklers, trampolines, and much more, we all tuckered out by 7 on Monday night. I woke up and this is the dreamy vision I saw on my couch!

This is the best "cheese" I can get these days! This kid is such a ham!

Mothers Day

2010-05-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

Mothers Day has been a source of contention in our home ever since I became a mother. Mitch is an amazing husband and father in so many ways. One area he lacks in is special occasions. He is slowly learning, by force, how to treat a lady on her special day. He has ROYALLY dropped the ball on Mothers Day in the past, but this year, he really pulled it out! He bought me an amazing little video camera, and got me the sweetest card. We spent the day with his parents and brothers, and all around had a great time! I am so excited to start making little videos of my hilarious adorable son!

Speaking of which, here are the pictures we mad a collage out of for our moms. One of my favorite things Z is doing right now is saying I LUB YOUUUUUUU...with the hand motions of course. He first points to his cheek and says IIIII....then folds his arms and says luuuub, then with a very vigorous point yells, YOUUUUUU! I love that he made up his own gestures and I love that he says lub, and I love how excited he gets, so I had to document it and we got the cutest gifts out of it!

Oh, and here he is modeling the tie I made for him. I know it doesn't match, but we just had to show it off! So cute!

This little boy is so special to me( I know all moms feel that way!). He made me a mommy, and on days like mothers day especially, I can't help but be emotional. I am so in love with him, he makes me smile and laugh so hard every single day. Even when he is driving me nuts, I can't help but kiss that cute little face. Sometimes I just want to wake him up and kiss him. He is my little miracle, and I can't even begin to imagine my life without him. He is developing this wonderful personality, he has always been funny. I used to tell people all the time, I know this sounds crazy, but my baby knows when things are funny??? I could talk about all of the things I love about him for hours, but I won't bore you! Just know that I love being a mom, more than anything. I love the purpose, and hope, and joy it brings to my life.

I hope you all had a wonderful mothers day!!

More Painting...ughh

2010-04-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

Mitch and I worked on our room today...I painted the wall and we both painted the headboard...looks pretty good eh??!?!?!?

Zander figured out he can see himself on the screen after I take the picture, so here he is being so silly!

Summer is on its WAYYYYY!!

2010-04-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

Spring!!! And a new camera!!

2010-04-14T16:06:00.000-07:00

Man, it has been so long since we had our camera, I have missed out on birthdays, and Easter, and general day to day cuteness!! So, today, I took the new camera for a spin, and the fam played outside with our sweet neighbor girls and I got a few pics!
The dogs were both tuckered out after our neighbors threw the ball for them...Roxie crashed on the floor...and...Axle...well...see for yourself!!!

This is one happy happy happy doggy!!!!

Zander was NOT happy about me taking his picture! He is so funny...he thinks that playing outside means playing with no clothes on since last summer he mostly played nakies!! I think it is funny that he remembered it!!
Here he is trying to give me a cheese...but he is not happy about it!!

And the final attempt...this picture makes me laugh. Mitch and I were joking that it was the first sort of warmish day and he is naked and dirty in like 5 mins flat...It was like Lord of the Flies in my backyard!
So, my hair was red for about 6 weeks, I just couldn't adjust...so...
Here is the progress...3 bleach applications, and a lot of toner, and a LOT of conditioner, and this is what we have!!

I swear I am not dead

2010-03-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

My camera broke, so I have no new pics and I am waiting to get the disposable camera from Zanders birthday developed. Also, I started a new weight loss blog that has taken up my allotted "blogging time" lately. So, to see what I have been up to , check out my blog!!

Happy Birthday Z-Man!!

2010-03-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

I don't know if this day will ever stop being a big fat cry fest for me. I don't remember my mom crying on our birthdays, so maybe it wears off! I love this little boy so much! We went on a little date last night, and I choked up just thinking about the kind of night we were having 3 years ago not knowing how our little boy was going to be. I am so thankful for him. He brings us both unimaginable joy, and laughter. He is spunky, and so funny, and so caring. What a blessing he has been in our lives! MOMMY LOVES YOU Z-MAN!!

2010-02-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

Well, my camera is broken...so for those of you who don't know...I colored my hair red and have been trying to get a picture up on this thing, but as I was taking pics, my BRAND new camera kicked the bucket...I guess my hair was just to fierce eh? hahaa!

Not too much new here. Mitch is still looking for work, he has been holding down the fort at the tanning salon which has kept him busy. I am busy with doing hair, and Zander is busy with making us crazy!! We are starting the new adventure of speech therapy for Z man and we are hopeful that it will help all of us including Zander be a bit less stressed out! He is trying to talk more and picking up on a few new words here and there, but for the most part he is still speaking Chinese!

I hope all is well with all of you! Have a blessed week!
{A}

2010-02-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!! To make room for exciting new products this spring, Scentsy is discontinuing many scents and warmers at the end of February. Go to my website to get your favorites at 10% off before they go away. Sweetheart, Daisies, and Sandstone warmers are among our most popular that won’t be available after February 28, not to mention fragrances like cool, crisp Spiced Grapefruit, minty Pomegranate Ice, and refreshing Red Berry Tea fragrances. Check out my site and save! AprilJohnson.Scentsy.US

Paint, Paint and more PAINT!

2010-01-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, so who decides to paint while their husband is gone to the Fiesta Bowl?? ME...so I decided to paint our two living rooms....this first color was HORRIBLE! We both HATED it, so needless to say, we spent three days RE-painting it, plus we didn't like the size of stripe, so we had to totally start over and...
Here is the new color...oh and my new BEAUTIFUL mantle that my amazing father in law made me. Seriously, isn't she pretty!! The room is still a work in progress, the drapes being the next thing I am changing, but for now, we will just deal!
My family room was less of a headache, I loved the color from the moment I put it on the walls!

So, I think I am done painting for a while...for a long while! Until I decide to take on some other giant project while my husband is away!!

2010-01-01T21:01:00.001-08:00

Christmas!!

2009-12-29T17:43:00.000-08:00

Here we are on the airport shuttle! Cutie boy!

Playing with a balloon...screw all of those awesome toys he got!

Zander and Will playing so cute!

Sweet little Tylar let Zander follow her around all weekend climbing on her!

Oooohhhhh, I like it!!

Zander and Will once again! Saying CHHHHEEEEESSSE!!

In the spirit of going green...Mitch thought it would be brilliant to use wrapping paper left overs to wrap my gift...pretty cool eh??

When Zander came in the room, it was like a scene from an intervention, he didn't even see his toys, he just thought it was so weird that we were all sitting around staring at him!

The loot!!Enjoying the loot!

This was taken before we left! Once again saying....CHHHHHEEEESSEE!!

Tired of opening gifts!

Thanks grandma and grandpa Johnson, John Deere is the BEESTTT!!

Zander wasn't sure how to open the gifts, so Mitch showed him how to punch it, he punched the rest of his presents...thanks Mitch!After a long week, he konked out, playing with Tuckers cars!! Love this one!

I am still laughing my butt off about this one!

2009-12-18T18:27:00.000-08:00

Mitch and I had ever intention to go to the temple tonight, but he couldn't find his recomend at the last second...but while I was getting ready, and putting on my nylons, Zander came in the room, put his hand on my leg and gasped...CUTE MOMMY!!! Then proceeded to beg me to put "toes toes" on him too!! Mitch is furious about these pics, but I am still laughing my butt off!!

GLOVES!!!

2009-12-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

This kid goes through the weirdest phases. Lately he wants to wear MY gloves, not his own gloved. So when I came home from work last night, he was most excited to see my gloves!

Blessed Lady

2009-12-03T20:51:00.001-08:00

I have had a strange month, and have really found myself getting caught up in all the negative garbage, and maybe not feeling as blessed as I should. But today I really was blessed to see so much positive in my life. I really am surrounded by the best people. I have an amazing family who supports me NO MATTER WHAT. I have a great husband who really puts up with more than any person should ever be asked to put up with. I have the freaking cutest kid on the planet, who, lucky for me is a total mamas boy. I have the best team at the salon. I have a home that I love so much, a great ward, and amazing....amazing friends. So seriously, I am going to buck up, and try harder this month to just enjoy all of the things in that list...and quit focusing on all of the things I don't have(like a skinny butt:|) The Lord has blessed me so much, and I want him to know that I do see it, and I do appreciate it! So, here we go December, we are going to have a better month!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

2009-11-29T09:16:00.000-08:00

I will admit, I am kind of a Christmas decoration junkie! And since we celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday with the Johnsons, we had the rest of the weekend to put up all of our stuff...that would be two trees at our house, and a tree and a bunch of stuff at the salon...Mitch was super excited about it too...yeah right...but he was good and helped me out a ton!
Here is our new tree. It took two tries to get it decorated since we woke up Friday morning to it laying on the floor with the ornaments all over the place! Isn't she pretty?!?! I bought most of the stuff last year on clearance, and the rest came from the dollar store!!

We set up our family tree in the family room. We have a tradition every year to go out as a family and pick out one ornament. So, this tree is very special to us because it has the very first ornaments I bought our first Christmas as a married couple plus all of the ones we have been given as gifts, and ours that we have picked out together!
Zander was in awe of the whole process, he actually was really good at helping us out! How do you like his Halloween Jammies?? I need to get him some Christmas ones!
Mister man, he is getting so big!!

Our trip to Utah

2009-11-25T18:30:00.000-08:00

We went to Utah for the weekend to visit family, and I didn't take one stinking picture, but I did get a few of Zander cold chillin in the car on the ride home!! He was so patient, especially since he stayed awake THE ENTIRE DRIVE...BOTH WAYS! silly boy!

Cast your votes!

2009-11-06T15:02:00.000-08:00

Mitch and I can't agree on what color to paint in this room! We need some opinions!

Happy Halloween to ALL!

2009-11-01T09:36:00.000-08:00

We had a very eventful weekend! My sister was here with her husband and three kids, and we jam packed our weekend with lots of fun stuff. Our husbands went to the BSU game on saturday, and we took the kids to a Halloween Dance Party that our ward put on in the morning, and then we came home and played and ate, then the boys came home and we trunk or treated it and the boys took the kids trick-or-treating in our subdivision. We are all exhausted, but it was a very fun weekend! Here are a few of the pics!

Zander stopping in the middle of the road to check out his loot! Don't the other kids look so amused!?
I know this one is blurry, but I think it is so cute! My sweet niece Tylar was so good with Zman all weekend long! She said he just wanted to hold her hand the whole time!

Checking out the bright lights! I love this one!

I thought this one was a good action shot...nice job Mitch!

Zander taking a break from the trampoline to eat some Marshmallow Matey's.

And yes, that is a Marshmallow Matey stuck on his face!

My sisters cutie kiddos!

Zander was not having fun at the dance party. Everyone else was dancing and having so much fun, and my child was in the corner pouting the whole time! Precious...grrrr

I finally figured out why he was so mad...he saw the pinata on the way in and wanted it NOW...here he is trying to climb on the stage and get to the pinata.

Mad because he couldn't get to it With a little help from mommy, he finally go in on the Hokey Pokey.

A very happy birthday to me!

2009-10-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

So Mitch bought me this GORGEOUS new couch for my birthday yesterday...and drum roll please....HE PICKED IT OUT ALL BY HIMSELF! I was so shocked! It was exactly what I wanted! this room is "in progresss" I promised myself I would only buy pieces I was in love with, because I am not changing it for a very very long time! Oh, and don't mind the pet shocker mat on the couch, we are making sure our dogs don't ruin this beauty!

Happy Boy!!

2009-10-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have posted anything...we have been in kind of a funk around our house for like the last..oh I don't know...six months! Zander is getting so big, and changing so much. In spite of being a VERY determined 2 year old, he has the sweetest little personality, and his sense of humor is becoming more and more evident every day! He was born a ham, and I believe he will only get funnier and funnier! I love him so much, and there have been days that all I can do is just cuddle with him and kiss his cheeks...it makes me feel better, and he is a real sport letting his mommy kiss on him! He is my world and I have no idea what I ever did before he came to our family! Love you Zman!!

The New Holiday Collection!!

2009-10-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

These will be available for purchase November 15th!!

Here they are!!

2009-09-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

Starting October 1st Scentsy will be introducing College themed warmers!!!!!! The first three to be announced are Utah State, BYU and BSU!! As we get licensing for other colleges, we will add them to the line! I am so excited about these!!!

New Trampoline! (well new to us?!)

2009-08-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

So we bought a trampoline off of Craigslist on Saturday, and Zander didn't even want anything to do with it until Sunday...then we couldn't get him off of it!
Here he is so excited! We are so ghetto, we let him run around in a diaper or naked all the time, he just won't keep clothes on when he is outside.

Uhhh, wrong side kid, jump on TOP of the tramoline!
Maybe daddy can jump higher than I can??

Yup...here we go!!!

I am alive...barely!

2009-08-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

Oh the joys of moving....NOT! For those of you who don't know, we moved about 3 weeks ago, and I doubt my life will ever be the same...in a good way! While this move has been the healthiest change in our lives, it has been the most stressful 3 weeks of my life. I have kind of shut down, and taken to my new home in retreat mode. I won't go into all of the gory details, but lets just say there is a light, even in this unseasonable rain, there is a light.

Mitch called me at work about the time we were getting ready to move and told me that he had called his former boss and asked if they needed any electricians. He knew they would since his brother was moving. I was shocked...I had been begging him to sell the blasted tanning salon and go back to school....I didn't care what he went to school for, I just wanted him to find a career, and not just another j.o.b. I was at work when he revealed this aha moment with me, so I couldn't exactly jump for joy. I have felt a huge sense of relief. It will be hard not having him home in the mornings with us like I have been used to for the last 18 months, but just having him bringing home a PAYCHECK is worth it....so, if you know anyone who wants to buy a tanning salon...send them my way!

We love our new house and our new neighbors, and our new yard, and our new tiny mortgage, and our new sense of freedom from our big, beautiful, custom, expensive house with it's big suffocating mortgage. I kind of laugh when I think of our lives 18 months ago...we had it made. We had everything we could have ever wanted. But, just as The Lord gives, The Lord taketh away...and we have surely been put through the refiners fire in the last year and a half. Are we better for it??? I am not sure yet. But what I do know is that we will be...some day. I think we both still have a lot to learn, and a lot to change, and a lot to overcome. I know that 6 years ago tomorrow August 8th, I married a man who I knew loved me, and who would always be worthy of his Priesthood, and who would help me as my partner overcome any obsticle, and here we are at the tail end of the hardest time in our marriage so far, and we are both still in tact...a bit ruffled, but still in tact, and that same man kept all of his promises, and he still loves me, he is still worthy of his Priesthood, and, we are going to get through this as partners. Life is funny, and life is unpredictable, but so goes it right?!?!

We are so thankful for this second chance and we hope to learn everything that The Lord wants us to so that we NEVER have to go through this again! Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support! I love you all so much! I promise to have some pics up soon of the house! We really do love it. It is amazing how much more at peace we ALL are here!
I just had to put a picture of this cute kid on my post! He is loving his new huge yard with a FENCE! I just let him run around naked he is so happy!

Day at Roaring Springs

2009-07-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

We had a really fun day today at Roaring Springs! Better than the first time we tried it! Zander spent a good deal of time hanging out in this tube, I thought he was resting....
Nope, he found an itty bitty little rock that he just had to show me...then throw it at a small little girl,

These chairs weren't even close to ours, but I went around the corner, and Zander was all relaxed.

Taking the leap!

Our friend Aidan and his mean karate face!

Oh, the joys of raising Children!!!

2009-07-09T22:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here is the story...I get a shipment of Scentsy at the house today, and Zander spends like an hour playing with all of the bars, there were like 24 of them in all. He loves everything Scentsy, the bars, the samples, the catalogs, all of it. So it keeps him entertained. He has carried one of my sample baskets to bed with him for like a week. Well, bed time comes around and this kid will NOT go to sleep...crying...screaming...banging on the wall. I go in there, and sing to him, rock him, refill his beverage...put him back in bed...he keeps crying. Mitch goes in there, by now it is almost 10:30pm...Mitch brings him downstairs, much to my shigrin by the way. Well, the second Zander sees the box of Scentsy bars, he exclaims. "OH WOW!!!" He fills this thermal bag that they are shipped in with as many as he can fit, picks up the bag, and practically runs to bed shouting. "NIGH NIGH" and Mitch puts him down and he is out...out cold. What a silly boy.

Here you can see the mess he made of his room whilst he was protesting going to bed. Crap everywhere!
"NIGH NIGH MOMMY" He was seriously so freaking happy!

Mitch dying laughing while I snap a shot of him carrying 24 bars of Scentsy to bed with him. By the way, Mitch picked out his horribly mismatched jammies. We are in the midst of packing, and this was all he could find...uggh!

Buddies

2009-07-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

So I have been watching my friends little boy Aidan for the last week. He is such a little ANGEL...seriously, he is so good. I was beginning to pack yesterday and I cam around the corner to see this precious sight! They really wanted to watch baby Einstein for some reason?? Whatever it may be, they silently sat through 2 videos??

I think it is time for a toddler bed...what do you think??

2009-06-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

Where is Zander???Hmmm, here is a hint

Yup, you guessed it...he was sleeping under his crib!Sound asleep, for 3 hours!

I went in to get him up from his nap and took 9 pictures of him and he still didn't wake up. He had major carpet face when he finally woke up. I had to bribe him to get him out from under there.

Day at the Zoo part II

2009-06-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

.

So my friend Erin and I thought it would be a perfect day to take our two rowdy boys to the zoo....two lessons learned today...one...Thursday is cheaper admission day, so there were a bagillion people there and two...always bring a change of clothes just in case your two year old chokes on his french toast sticks in the car and throws up all over the place! Yup, that's right, all over, once we parked I had to strip him down to his diaper, take his car seat totally apart, wipe down the car and throw it all in a bag....yuck. As some kind of miracle, Erin had a pair of shorts in the car and a hoodie, so we made our way to the zoo and bought Zander a Zoo Boise T-shirt, and he managed to keep the size 3 shorts on. By the way, he still wears 18mo. shorts...yes, it was quite a day! But barf and all, the boys had a blast. And not to be outdone, Brody who is potty training, peed all over his own shirt, it was an adventure! Zander can't help himself he has to climb on top of and inside of everything!

They just weren't as excited about the merry go round once they got on it. But once it started moving, they were jazzed!

Don't they look so happy to be at the zoo. Neither of them would smile for me. I was making a fool of myself trying to make them smile...no go!

Isn't that cute!! Going up the slide stairs together?? Brody was telling Zander how fun it was going to be!
Oh wait, Zander was not convinced! He never did go down the slide...bummer!

New Camera Test run!

2009-06-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

So I bought a new camera and just had to get some pics of my favorite little man! Dang this kid is cute!

He was saying CHHHHEEEEEESSSSEEE! Can you tell!

Here is Zander catching up on the latest deals from the paper! He is so smart he reads up side down!

Sweet boy!

2009-05-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

So Zander has had a hard time blowing bubbles...I mean come on the kid is only two right!!?!? So Mitch's niece McKayla had her first birthday party and this picture was taken after Z discovered how to do it! He was so so so excited!!! Can you tell?

Never Turn Your Back!

2009-05-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

I leave this kid alone with a snack pack for like 2 seconds, and this is what happens!! He loves chocolate pudding! He was trying to drink it from the cup!

Day at the Zoo!

2009-04-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

We went with a few of our friends to the Boise Zoo today...the boys weren't super interested in the animals but it was still so fun and the weather could not have been more amazing. The picture above is all of the boys hitting that tree with a stick!
Zander pretending to drive the safari car! Thanks Sara for regulating turns on the car!! The boys all wanted to be in the driver seat at the same time!

With all of the cool animals to see...here is my son staring at the big rock saying OOOHHHH!
I knew that the zoo had added Giraffes but I had no idea they added like a whole new wing to the zoo. They were so amazing!
What a bunch of hooligans! Brody was not interested in being in the picture!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T18:12:00.000-07:00

Here is Zander dumping all of his bubbles out in the grass.....awesome! He couldn't figure out how to do it himself, and since he wouldn't let us help...I guess they were better in the grass!

Here he is "sorting" I put candy in some, and stickers in others, he would shake them and if they didn't rattle, he put them on the ground, and if he did, they stayed in the basket!

Retrieving an egg from the drain pipe!

He wasn't so sure about that fake grass stuff!

Scentsy!

2009-04-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I am not a big fan of multi level stuff, but the owner of Scentsy has been a client of mine for over 5 years, and after considering it for a long time, I decided to become a consultant. Now, I am not really interested in doing parties, I am mostly selling it from the salon to clients and friends. If you want, you can check out my website it is www.scentsy.com/apriljohnson! I think it will be fun! Either way, I am sure enjoying all of the product!

Mmmmm!

2009-03-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

Zander is enjoying a "milkshake" with daddy. Actually it is a protein shake...he just doesn't have to know that right?

New purse and.....SUCKERS!

2009-03-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

So I started on this purse last night and finished it today while Zander was...um...napping, he didn't really sleep, but I finished anyways!

While I was finishing my purse, he located the where abouts of my sucker stash, and proceeded to help himself to 4 suckers! What a stinker...but I couldn't help it, he was so happy!

I love the look of pure joy in his face!
I think it is funny how he totally has a guilty look on his face in this one!

What a cutie patootie!

Happy Birthday Little Z!

2009-03-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

I was driving home from the gym this morning and without any warning, began to sob. It was the strangest thing, I was trying to tell myself to calm down, get a grip, pull it together. I had this flood of emotions and memories, as if it were yesterday, and in an instant all of the feelings I had experienced this day two years ago came back...all at once. I remembered being scared, excited, worried, and feeling terribly insufficient to be a good mother. I remembered the extreme heartache of hearing that Randy and Teri had lost their baby the very same morning I was induced. I remember feeling more grief for her than I had ever felt for anyone else...I still cry when I tell that story. It was crazy, and after a good cry, it was over, and I regained my composure, returned home and made my birthday boy some special blueberry muffins! I am so thankful for him, and so thankful to be a mom! I don't know if I will ever truly forget those emotions. I don't think I will ever be able to talk about Teri's loss without crying...but I don't think i want to. I don't want to look back and remember a sugar coated experience. Those grainy, tough memories are sometimes the very memories that put me into check and remind me how very very blessed I am to have him!
Here's to you baby Z! Mommy loves you!

Yes

2009-03-04T06:16:00.000-08:00

So in answer to your questions, yes, there is black food coloring. I used half of a bottle for like half a batch of frosting! We have all been having some...interesting...bathroom experiences! And everyone left our party with black lips!

Zanders birthday party!

2009-03-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

Even though Zanders real birthday is on Wednesday, my dad was coming through town and so we decided to have a party last night! It was so fun! Here is a shot of the famous frown!

This kid made out like a bandit, seriously, his aunties and uncles and grandparents were way too nice to good to him!

Okay, a bit of history, Mitch's parents dislike our dogs...a lot...so when I looked over and Roxie was asleep getting a belly rub from Grandma...I just had to take a pic!
He knew exactly what to do with that motorcycle! Thanks Uncle Marty and Aunt Misty!

I made a red velvet cake with black frosting...hence the naked torso!
He wasn't so sure about all of the attention!
So, no 50 pound Mexican cake this year...but I managed to make a pretty cool cake!
We did a Cars theme this year...Zander is a bit obsessed with that movie!

Another project

2009-03-01T17:54:00.000-08:00

So I started working out at 5:15 in the morning with my amazing friend Holly and her mom Brenda who has had 6 kids and looks AWESOME...anyways, we do pilates like 2 or 3 times a week so I am making us all these mat bags! Pretty cute eh?

I am sewing again!

2009-03-01T11:54:00.000-08:00

So I made this cute little lingerie travel bag for one of my friends bridal shower and I was so excited about how it turned out, I just had to share it! I haven't really been sewing since Christmas! I was fun to get back in the groove and create!

Be Aware

2009-02-20T11:42:00.000-08:00

So February is National Marfan awareness month and this holds a very special place in my heart. My only niece, my sisters daughter Tylar has Marfan Syndrome. I just want to help spread awareness, and bring more knowledge to this syndrome!
http://www.marfan.org/nmf/PreviewPressReleaseInfoRequestHandler.do?press_release_id=44
Check out this link for more info!

Ty, Auntie Apeyel, loves you!

Randomness

2009-02-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

This is Zanders preferred mode of transportation lately! He loves being dragged around on a blanket!
I just thought this one was cute, a bit fuzzy...but still cute!
Again, random but cute!

My little project!

2009-02-15T12:34:00.000-08:00

So I am applying for an educating job with the color company I use, and they wanted me to send some pictures of my work along with my resume...so I wrangled some of my young women from church and had a little make over night! It was so fun! Here are the results!Lexi before

Lexi After

Back of Lexi after!
Natalie Before

Back of Natalie Before

Natalie After!!!!!

Natalie After!

Kim Before

Kim After! Yes that is her natural curl!!

Almost a monumental day....almost

2009-02-01T12:54:00.001-08:00

So it was 9:45am...sacrament was winding down, my heart started to race because we had made it through the entire meeting so far without one outburst..without having to take Zander out and put him on timeout in some dark classroom...without the eardrums of those around us being burst by his shrill screams...we were so close, and the minutes couldn't pass fast enough...I was thinking...could it be, could we actually make it through sacrament meeting...then...my ears perk, my heart sinks, the joy fades into pure disapointment, as I hear the sound I had been dreading through the whole meeting.....OTHER CHILDREN RUNNING IN THE BACK OF THE GYM...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! My son can not resist the temptation of following the herd. You know that scene from Man from Snowy River when the wild stallion hears the brumby's coming and he goes all crazy and breaks out of the corral...that was the same look in Zander's eyes as he darted past Mitch and joinded the pack. Of course there was a massive scream let out when he was wisked away into the hall....I felt the tears well up in my eyes...7 lousy minutes...so close, yet sooooo far. But a small victory anyhow...he would have made it, if it weren't for other people letting their kids run wild...I can't blame them, I know the pain of arguing with a toddler for 45 mins then deciding to cave. But, the point can't be lost that he WOULD have made it...that is a far cry from where we have been these last 14 months! Almost, almost, a monumental day! He did however STAY in Nursery, I guess we can't expect so much from such a young little guy all at once!

Budding Photographer!

2009-01-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

So Zander got a hold of my camera yesterday and here are a few of the 24 pictures he took! He thought he was pretty funny!

My mom came and stayed with us for the weekend...it was so nice to have her here, I cried when she had to leave. Zander had fun with her too! He is such a ladies man! PS...isn't his new haircut soooooooo cute!?!?!?

Count your many blessings!

2009-01-04T18:13:00.001-08:00

Today my little family was in a pretty bad car accident. We are all ok, but a bit shaken. I have been pretty emotional today...but in a good way! How thankful I am that we all walked away with nothing more that a few bruises and sore muscles! We were headed south on Middleton road when a large black truck went through a stop sign without seeing us. We hit him going the speed limit which is 50mph. Normally collisions at that speed do not end with all the passengers walking away. Our car is pretty trashed, but we are all safe. Today I am thankful for the kindness of strangers...for the family who invited us in from the cold and gave Zander a doughnut to help him calm down. I am thankful for the man who stayed till the scene was clear and then offered us a ride even though he had been headed home to his family. I am thankful most of all for a loving Heavenly Father who spared us from any real tragedy today. I can't stop kissing and hugging my two men today! How thankful I am for them. I am thankful for all of you, and once again, I am being reminded how precious life is! Mitch's dad said it pretty well today. " You can always buy new cars, you can't buy new people!"

Fun Day With Zander

2009-01-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

Zander and me hugging! He is saying CHHHHHEEEEEESE! Man my son needs a hair cut!
We will call this the leaning tower of Zander!
Zander loves to put the little blocks on one...at....a...time!
Once again...CHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE!
I am not sure what this one was all about, but I thought it was funny! I especially love the left over lunch on his face!

Cute pic!

2008-12-31T08:38:00.000-08:00

My sister in law Misty took this adorable photo while we were up in Tamarack for Thanksgiving! Is this not the cutest face you have ever see?!?!!?

More Christmas!

2008-12-26T18:58:00.000-08:00

So my computer was acting up and I couldn't get all my photos up this morning! Here is Zander with the cool Spider man sit and spin toy my parents sent him...it plays music, he loves it!

If you look really close...you can see where this picture is headed....straight for Roxie under the crib! He loves chasing the dogs with his new vacuum!
Yup...she is ticked!And he is so proud of his new toy...yes that is pee on his jammies! We are so ghetto!
Ahhhhhh, Christmas morn!

Christmas Day

2008-12-26T14:04:00.001-08:00

As soon as we got this toy open, he picked a spot on the carpet and went to work! I love the look on his face, and his cute little feet crossed and up in the air!
His very first masterpiece on the new Aqua Doodle! We are hoping this toy saves us at Church!
I love love love this picture! I didn't even notice the thumbs up till I up-loaded it!
Hmmmm...what is all of this?
Zander slept in until 9:15 so he was a bit groggy!
Stuck behind the tree!
Giving his cousin Grace a big hug!
This was the best picture we could get of the four grandkids! What a bunch of goof balls!
Zander and Mindy! How cute!
Zander and Grandpa and Grandma! No, grandpa isn't drunk...he just hates taking pictures!

Favorite things!

2008-12-07T08:19:00.000-08:00

Four of Zanders favorite things all in one picture! Puppies, Cookies, Balloons, and watching movies! Can you tell why Roxie wanted to be so close to him? She also loves Cookies, and popping balloons!

This child is in love with balloons, he will carry that thing around until it deflates! He takes it in the shower, the high chair, his crib, everywhere!

Turkey Day!

2008-12-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

We had the best Thanksgiving. My family came to my house for the weekend. We got to spend the day eating, and my favorite thing to do after 2 days of cooking and eating...relax!
Here is Zander trying to laugh along with our jokes! We were all laughing about something, and pretty soon, he chimed in!
Goof ball...he was copying grandma!
Zander and grandma playing hide and seek!
They all look so excited to be at my house don't they? I think I must have caught them off guard!
Thanks to my awesome sister in law, my mom and my cousin for helping me make such an amazing meal!

For the first time since I inherited my grandmothers china set, I actually got to use it! Doesn't this table look amazing!! It was much more beautiful in person!
Chillin' with the grandparents after a long day and a lot of food!We love our grandpa!

Day at the park!

2008-11-22T06:38:00.000-08:00

We went to the coolest park yesterday with my good friend Amber and her adorable little girl Quinn! Those two kids had so much fun! However, I don't think Amber and I will count on the park anymore as a fun social time for us! The kids were racing in opposite directions the entire time!
Here is Zander climbing up the steep ladder with much determination on his face! I love the tongue sticking out!And the reward! the big kid slide! I couldn't believe how brave he was!

The only photo we could get of the two of them together! Look how cute their tiny bodies are!

Zander jamming out old school on this big wooden xylophone! He wasn't into the music as much as Quinn!
He thought this was pretty funny! Mommy?
I don't know what he thought was so funny in this photo, but he was cracking himself up!
He loves the swings, and here he is just chillin! A cute little girl offered to push him for me, apparently I looked too tired!
Zoning out watching a movie! He was not interested in having his picture taken!
This was a sympathy smile...can you tell?!?!
And here he is watching his movie from the comforts of his wooden rocking horse! Weird?

Zanders New Obsession!

2008-11-11T12:04:00.000-08:00

So Zander played with my friend Erins baby vacuum at her house about a week ago, and since then has been obsessed with brooms and vacuums. He knows which closet I keep them in and he keeps himself busy for hours just mopping, sweeping, and playing with the hoses on the vacuum! I wish he was doing it productivly!

Halloweeeeeeen!

2008-10-31T21:43:00.000-07:00

Well, it is official Zander HATES Halloween! We had a heck of a time tonight getting him to put on his adorable scarecrow costume that I made for him! This is the only shot I could get of most of the costume. I had little black birds that were on his had and overalls that he kept pulling off, and I had straw that was supposed to come out of his sleeves....Mitch had to put the hat on him as soon as I snapped this picture, it took us about 15 shots!
And off we go with the hat! He hated that thing but it was so cute!
I am not kidding in this photo he is seriously telling me off!
Hiding as far away as possible and crying about his costume!
Crying again because I put the hat on him!

Not only was the costume a total nightmare, he was so naughty at each house we went to. See, I think he is too little to trick or treat, so I make cookies and we take them to our friends. He had a meltdown at the first two houses we went to, so we bagged it. Well, as always, there is a reason to the horrible attitude, we felt really bad when he started having diarrhea all over the place including on my shirt, on the floor, on his costume, in our kitchen on the floor, it was aweful! I HATE HALLOWEEN!

Well, It finally happened.

2008-10-20T17:22:00.001-07:00

Today was one of the most terrifying days of my life. I was in the bathroom when Mitch left for work. I didn't think anything of it because Zander is able to be left alone for a short time without causing too much trouble. About a minute later I came out of the bathroom, and couldn't find him. I heard him yell at me with excitement from upstairs and when I looked up, to my horror, he was standing on top of the chair we have up in the loft on the second floor getting ready to jump from the railing. I know the scream I let out must have frightened him because he fell BACKWARDS thank Heavens. I cried of course as I raced up the stairs to get him. Man, he had some serious guardian angels watching over him. I still can not figure out how he got up there so fast. He has never even attempted it before. I have been kind of a mess today feeling like my entire life was only one second away from being taken from me. We have spent most of the day cuddling. He is not normally realy lovey, but today he has just stayed right by my side. I couldn't even bring myself to leave him in his crib, I just rocked him while he slept. It was one of those moments that you pray never comes, and at the same time you know eventually it will come again...especially with sons, am I right!?!?! So the meaning of this story is to say, A: I love all of you, and I hope you know that. B: The Lord is so aware of us and always watching out for us, and C: Life can change in the blink of an eye, so live for now, and for lack of a better phrase, love the ones you're with!
April

What I have been up to lately!

2008-10-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

So here a a FEW of the projects I have been working on for the Holiday craft fair I am selling at. I am a bit tired of the sewing room, but I am getting a lot done! I will post more pics later!

Breakfast with some buddies!

2008-10-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

So I got called into the young womens at church, and here are a few of the women I serve with. We went to breakfast together for Lorna's birthday(white jacket!) I felt a bit out of place since they have all been friends for a way long time, but we still had fun! Wahooo for Merrits Cafe!!!

A Long Awaited Reconection!

2008-10-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

So after much contemplation, I finally got a Facebook account. I mostly did it so that I could keep in touch with all of my cousins who are on it. Well, to my suprise, many of my High School buddies are on it. Within a few days I had connected with Sarah and Christina, two of my very best friends back in the day. We went out to dinner and had such a good time. By this point in the evening, I could barely talk without it hurting we had been laughing so hard! Man, 7 years flew by so fast!

I am finished!

2008-09-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

So here is the quilt that I have been working on for my sister. All that is left is to have it quilted...I send it away for that! Pretty cute eh!

Random Pics

2008-09-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

So here is Zander at the Tanning Salon telling us how to run the place. He climbed onto this chair by himself and he was telling a huge story bit I couldn't catch a picture of him wagging his finger at us!
I know this is a but blurry but I just love it. We were at Mitch's parents house and his mom took this photo of my two handsome boys!
This happened while I was uploading photos onto my facebook. Perhaps I should do that while Zander is sleeping. I love that he is so proud of himself!

Mazatlan!

2008-09-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I know it has taken me long enough to get these pics on here, but for some reason, my computer has been on the fritz, so here they are! We had such an amazing time, and I can not wait to go back!
One of the many amazing sunsets we witnessed on our trip! This was taken from the window seat at the restraunt we ate dinner at!

A HUGE iguana that was eating a yummy lunch next to the pool!

The pool at the resort we stayed at! Under that water fall to the left of the picture is a swim up bar, we don't drink, but it was fun to get sodas there!

The pool at the sister resort that we visited a lot! If you look really close you will see my silly brother in law posing on the stairs of the pool!

The view from our cabana! We sat there all day drinking soda and eating nachos watching these two little boys body surf...they were really good!
This was part of our tour one day. This guy jumps for a crowd over 30 times a day! It was pretty awesome!

Me on a half dead horse! We signed up for horseback riding on the beach, and instead they took us through this totally sad little village with really poor people and the horses were crapping all over the place. It was a nightmare. Plus I felt really bad riding through their village on my horse for fun? They looked at us like we were terrorists! Good times!

Mitch pretending like he is having fun just to make me mad. He was all jacked because we finally got to see "Authentic Mexico"? I was so mad about the whole thing and he was acting like it was so fun!
The grounds of the sister resort.

Us at the pool! Pretty dang exciting eh?!
Mitch and I having fun on our Vacay!
The four of us! My sister Amber and her Hubby Rob. This is at our resort!

New Pics

2008-08-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Yes I do know these are way past due...new pics....who has the time, right? I have had these on my camera for a while, and have just put off loading them! I haven't even looked at my blog since I posted last. Man who ever made up the slogan lazy days of summer was a fool!

We are trying to let Zander be more independent when it comes to meal time....this didn't go over so well!
He thought that it went over great!
Here He is talking to who knows on his cell phone! he had a lengthy conversation with whoever it was telling them that he has the weirdest parents in the world I am sure!
My Handsomest boy~ We bought him this little playhouse and he loves it. I don't know what it is about boys and forts, but he has totally turned this thing into his fortress. He stashes treats, sippy cups, extra blankets and toys and anything else he can get his hands on. It has a slide, and today he started rolling things down the slide!

Grandmas House

2008-07-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

Mitch's Mom needed some updated pics of our family for her family picture collection, so here are a few!

Fun Over the 4th

2008-07-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

So we had tons of family here for the 4th of July. We had about 15 people staying in my house. I was so fun to have my family here! We spent a lot of time at the pool and playing in the water! I am so exhausted and I have so much cleaning to do, but I am so glad we got to spend the week together!

Splish Splash!

2008-06-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

So I went up stairs tonight to tell Mitch that dinner was ready and I found him finally installing my blinds in our bathroom...and I found Zander being super helpfull! I couldn't help but take a few pics. Mitch said it was easier to put him in there with him than to hear him scream!!!
I love that they are both so wet...Mitch was soaked and so was my entire bathroom! Zander figured out how to put his little had over the spout, and make it spray everywhere!

1st Hair Cut!

2008-06-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

Back in the good ole days with his cousing Mindy before we cared about his long hair!

So here is Zander pre-haircut, happy as a clam because he has no clue what is about to happen! This hair cutting cape has been used to cut the Johnson boy's hair for over 40 years. So we felt is was only right that Zander got his hair cut at Grandma and Grandpa Johnsons house just like his daddy did when he was a baby!Grandpa had to take over because I couldn't get the guts up to do it. He was FREAKING out!
Devestated that his mother could betray his trust so brutally! This haircut thing did not go so well!
After the trauma Zander took off for the sprinklers~ He played in them for like a half hour!
Here he is telling us how horrible we all are for making him get a haircut! Doesn't he look handsome!

New Pool!

2008-05-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

So we got Zander a Delux Kiddie Pool for Memorial Day so we could play in it...to bad it took us so long to inflate all of the "features" that he only got to play in it for like 30 mins before the weather turned bad!This is what torture looks like to a kid. Watching from inside while your dad puts your cool new toy together!

Well folks...it is official...this is my kid! The only trait of mine he seems to have so far is my cheesy grin! You look at any photo of me as a child...and this is the look on my face!

FLORIDA!!!!!

2008-05-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

Mitch and I got this amazing opportunity to go to Florida this past weekend and we had a blast! A company that we are buying a new feature for the tanning salon from flew us there and here is a little bit of what we did in the 36 hours we were there!I took this picture the night we got there from the back of our hotel! This was like 25 yards from the back exit!Saturday morning we went to the Everglades and did an airboat safari! It was so awesome. As you can see from this picture the water is not deep at all, only 12 inches in most places in the Everglades. There are 1.7 million acres of land and water that is protected as the Everglades!
Here is a picture of one of the many aligators we saw from the boat! Crazy to see them so close!
This was part of the educational part of the safari. This aligator walked over to this man like a puppy begging for treats. He was feeding them raw chicken and they all rushed over to him with there mouths open. When they close down their jaws it sounds just like when you slam a big book shut, it is crazy. This man took his fist and knocked on the aligators snout and it was as hard as a rock!
Another gator we spotted but this one was right under the trail we were walking on, no fence seperating us from him...Mitch took this picture!
Here is a lame photo of Miami Ink...from TLC! Mitch totally spotted this out of the corner of his eye. We had no idea we were even close to it!

Again, the Everglades! We had this crazy boat captain that seriously talked like Nacho Libre, and he kept shouting..."Ladies and Gentlemen....THE EVERGLADES!"
Mitch being blown away on the airboat ride!
Me being blown away on the airboat ride...funny, my hair bounced right back after that! A true testimony to good hair product!
Another shot of the Everglades...I was trying to take a picture of the beautiful cranes, but my camera wasn't fast enough, but I got this awesome shot anyways!

No, this is not a post card, this is actually what we got to spend the rest of our saturday enjoying! Mitch was so weirded out by how warm the water was, and how far out we could go in the ocean before it got deep. If you look close at the picture, you can see where the water changes color from light to dark...that is where we could swim to and still touch the bottom!
Here we are taking a picture of ourselves, because we seriously couldn't find anyone who spoke english!
Once again taking our own picture for lack of any english speaking photogs! This was our last night there, can you tell where we spent most of the day....in the sun!

With such an amazing trip is it such a shame that our trip home had to be so horrendous. We spent 13 hours stranded in the Chicago airport...I won't go into details but let me just say that spending Mothers Day away from my son, and in a stinky, stuffy, boring airport was not my idea of fun! But irreguardless, we had a blast and hope to return soon!

Saturday,,,in the park!

2008-05-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

We spent a beautiful day in the park on Saturday! It was a day of many firsts for Zander and a lot of fun! I think we had more fun just watching him! Determined to run on his own without holding anyones hand!
Playing tag with daddy!
Making a run for it. We turned around and he was gone!
Going to see the ducks in the pond with daddy!
Mommy making a poor attempt to be in at least one picture!

First Swing Ride!
First merry-go-round ride, First time getting sick on a merry-go-round!

First time running in the grass! And Loving it!
Well, Loving it after a few tries. He crawled around backwards in it for a while before trying to stand up and play!

Attack of the Blue Monster!

2008-04-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

Zander wanted to walk around the house the other night with his blankie on his head. If we tried to take it off, or if it fell off, he would get so mad! He even ran into walls and the stairs, and wasn'tmad about it! Silly kid!

At Laaaaaast!

2008-04-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

So I deleted my old blog, because it would no longer let me put pics on it. I have about 20 pics here of Easter, and Zanders birthday! Man, it has been so busy the last time I took a picture was Easter Sunday! I promise, I will do better!

Here is Zander checking out his Easter Basket haul!

Not really sure what to do with the carrot shaped egg full of jelly beans!

Open, open!

He loves his Farmer Tad toys, so we named this frog Tad. He loves to give him big open mouth kisses!

New Pics!

2008-04-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Finaly!

2008-04-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

So I deleted my old blog and did this here new blog, so now I am going to catch up on a ton of pics! Enjoy!