July 2010: To Chop or Not to Chop, That is the Question

photocard from staceywinters

So I'm guessing it was about 9 months ago at least that Mike suggested I grow my hair out.Normally when he makes a suggestion like that, I just take it at that, a suggestion, but this time I had become bored with my hair and thought I would give it a whirl. Wow, growing out your hair is tedious. Now that its almost past the awkward stage of growing out from a super short cut, I am wavering on whether to chop it or not. What makes the matter pressing is that I have a chance to get my hair styled by my most favorite hair stylist, Janae of Lunatic Fringe in Salt Lake. Yes, I chose the salon by its name: Lunatic Fringe, doesn't that just sound like me:-) and then just lucked out to find Janae. She is AMAZING, a real artist and perfectionist in hair styling. I can just tell her what I want and voile! Love her. And she recently married a Mike Johnson, so there you go.

So here's my dilemna:

PROS for CHOPPING:

*Felicity's new favorite thing is to pull on my hair

*I can look put together with 30 seconds of styling

*It is soooo hot here

*The one time I was asked if I was a model, was when I had short hair:-)

*I love this haircut on Sierra Miller- have wanted to try this

PROS for LETTING it GROW:

*Long hair is sooo pretty and feminine

*I can put it in a pony tail when I work out

*So many styling options

*I've made it this far with growing it out, why stop now

*I love this look by Jennifer Gardner-don't you just love her-of course my hair can't look like this exactly, but you get the idea

CONS for CHOPPING:

*I don't want to be the lady that always has that same hairdo

*My mom has short hair right now and I'm not so hip on twinsies-sorry mom, you're gorgeous, nothing personal

*Costs a lot to keep up a cut

*I look at those with pretty long hair and am envious

CONS for LETTING it GROW:

*Felicity's new past-time

*It takes time to do, something I don't have a lot extra of

*My hair texture has changed to be a little more frizzy and not so silky straight as it once was, hence more time to de-frizz and straighten

*I still have to wait quite a while longer for it to be as long as I'd like it

So there you have it, my dilemna: TO CHOP OR NOT TO CHOP

Would love your feedback and please take my little polls

July 2010: In Need of Some Calgon and Some Cleaning Solutions

I'm not sure how old I was when I saw this commercial or maybe the memory of the words, "Calgon, take me away!", came from my mother's lips, understandably so. So funny how the mind works. I found myself thinking these words just the other day, after how many years I'm not sure. You can imagine what my day must have been like to have jogged the memory of this frantic exclamation; I'm sure you know all too well.



I haven't posted in forever but I needed to enlist your help in coming up with a household cleaning routine that will work for me. I would love love love to here how all you super moms out there get it all done. I'm in drowning in a sea of things to do. I know you'll say, but you just had a baby. Yes, this is true. But I'm still going crazy. Well the baby is finally asleep so I must go, but I'm looking forward to your tried and true cleaning solutions!!!

May 2010: My Morning Walk/Jog: Exercising More Patience Than Muscle

the other morning as i heard "i'm tired. can i have a drink?" for the millionth time from my scooter dragging 5 year old, and as i pushed my double jogging stroller one-handed, trying to hold a pacifier in the mouth of my screaming baby while my toddler whined that i wasn't going fast enough, this little thought popped into my head... "i'm exercising more patience than muscle. is this worth it?"*

well there have graciously been those morning in which the stars align for me: when I have just my younger two who can both fit in my champion jogger (I love love love my stroller), when Felicity manages to look like this (which she rarely does while at home): Tate is happy with his Veggie Straws and I can have a great work-out listening to my new Stroll-A-Tunes busting out Smashmouth's All-Star, such a happy, "you can do it" song. **

Other mornings I realize how desperate I am to get in a good workout and try to maintain patience, when I listen to my words as I tell my 5 year old child who has given up on our walk, to hurry because a dog is coming behind him (which in truth it was) and then throwing out the "you don't want to have to live here do you?" rationale.

Back to the question, "is it worth it?". I have decided "Yes!" Despite my days of very little muscle exhiliration and the fact that some days it takes an hour or so just to be able to get out the door with sippies, snacks, water bottles, helmets, sun screen, sun glasses, blankets, etc.... I have decided that I am helping my children develop a pattern of being active. Really they love our walks/bike rides/jogs (in the beginning of course:-) ). I have stopped trying to make it something it can never consistently be, a serious workout, and have shifted my mind into realizing that I need to expect a little less from it and turn it into a fun experience with the kids. We have developed somewhat of a pattern which includes stretching and push-ups in the beginning. We all do our stretches. I love watching Tate, who is thrilled to be allowed out of the stroller for a short time, attempt a one legged quad stretch. So cute! The older two love doing push-ups, which of course is done along a rock wall they love to climb after. We have also done squats together holding hands in a circle.

Hopefully one day I will realize that my patience and my muscles have both become much stronger, as well as my children's love for being outside and active.

*note: photos were not taken on this day, although i am getting better at taking photos one-handed

**Can you tell when I transitioned from typing from one hand whilest holding Felicity to two hands (which lasted about 5 minutes)? I started using capital letters again.

May 2010: Jesse's Girl

Well it is official... Jesse is engaged!!! to a darling girl from Pennsylvania, Jani. She was actually Elizabeth's roommate awhile ago up at BYU. Liz was a successful matchmaker. Jesse drove down the weekend before last so we could meet Jani and to propose. My mom, sister Vanessa, and I helped Jesse do some planning on the proposal and it was so much fun. Of course what could be better than a beach proposal. They are such a darling couple. I can't wait to be able to get to know her better. Being constantly needed by 4 children doesn't lend itself to much in-depth conversation; so glad I'll have plenty of time to try later.

They spent the day with us at Disneyland and were pretty much bombarded with attention by my children from the get-go. Tate became Jani's little shadow. Jesse and Jani proudly wore their Disneyland "Just Engaged" buttons.

May 2010: George "Whashington"

i was going through some of owen's work that he brought home from school and i found this entry in his composition book. it has to be one of the cutest things i've ever seen. i had to scan it right away to show my mom, who is a stalwart patriot and loves george washington (or "whashington" as owen spelled it). she has the beautiful painting of george washington kneeling in prayer over her fireplace. its a tough choice, but i'd have to say that my favorite part of his drawing is his hair:-) of course owen's is the sword!

May 2010: the little things

not me:-) but it could easily be my mom in her new convertible

it has been the little things that have kept me going these past few months, especially the past few weeks.

i was laughing at myself the other day after catching myself audibly thanking Heavenly Father for the garage door closing the first time i pressed the remote button as we were racing off somewhere already late i'm sure. our garage door is ridiculously selective on when it wants to open or close. my attempts at getting it to cooperate are usually accompanied by an, "oh, come on" or "seriously!!!" as i frantically point the remote in every possible direction upwards of 15 times in rapid succession. so of course you can see why i attributed the garage's decision to acquiesce the first time, as divine intervention to save the last nerve of a very frazzled new mom of 4.
i decided that i need to keep a list of all those little things, to help me remember to be grateful for my life a little more often. i'm going to put my list in my sidebar and add more as they emerge as a new little blessing and/or essential in my life. here are the first few:

1. garage door opening on first attempt
2. a shower
3. my morning walk/jog

April 2010: Faves from Felicity's First Month

4 Kids...Wow!!! That should be all I need to say to explain why I haven't posted more photos of Felicity. So sorry. I know that I've received lots of requests, so here I am staying up later than I should so that you all can see how adorable she is and learn more about her and our new family life. :-)

I'm sure you can imagine that there are quite a few photos of her in her first month, so it was very difficult to pick just a few. Here are some of my favorites:

March 18, 2010 My sweet baby sister holding her new little niece just days before she would have to say good-bye to leave on her mission to Switzerland for our church. Such a bittersweet departure.

March 27, 2010 Here are all my adorable children ready to head out on our first walk. We have all really looked forward to our walks/bike rides. This one lasted the distance of about 2 cul-de-sacs with the boys taking a few extra spins around the circle. It was a good start:-)

April 1, 2010 Such a Johnson trait, sticking that little tongue out. So adorable. This is on my mother-in-law Gail's birthday, from whom the 'Gail' in Felicity Gail comes from.

April 4, 2010 Here she is in her first Easter dress- accessorized with tights, a beaded bracelet, an itty bitty Alice bow, and joined by Hello Kitty in her bunny costume brought by the Easter bunny.

April 8, 2010 Baby sister is absolutely adored by all of her brothers. They want to be near her ALL the time. Here is sweet Eyan being able to hold Felicity for the first time after being sick since the day she was born. (Love my 'made over' glider-thanks Wendy and Melissa for painting it.)

April 11, 2010 Sleeping in her carseat wrapped up in a blanket that Auntie Lizzie made her. Don't let this appearance of sleep fool you:-) She doesn't sleep for longer than 10 minutes outside of my arms during the day. Thank goodness she is sleeping well at night. (I love love love how my carseat cover turned out!)

She continues to change so quickly. I've already spent an hour past what I allotted to myself so I'll have to post more recent ones soon:-) Come visit me.

March 2010: My Little Rockstar

Here's one of my little rockstars, Tate, singing "Eye of the Tiger" at his Auntie Nessa's house while I was in the hospital with Felicity. She sent this to me on my phone. Hilarious! Ok, so they've heard that song a few times:-). Read my "Current State of Mind" for today's adventure with Tate.

Current State of Mind

April 12, 2010
Had to take Tate to Dr.'s this morning with the baby of course. Got all 4 kids dressed, fed ( mind you, we all ate plain frozen waffles), school lunches made (comprised of go-gurts, carrot chips, and Doritos :-) ), and in the car in 50 minutes. Come to find out, Tate has asthmatic bronchitis. The Dr. smiled at me as she handed me the prescription, "This might make him hyper." Great just what I need:-)

April 2010: If only...

well i am typing this 1-handed, just like i have to do most things nowadays. baby felicity loves her mommy and hardly sleeps or is happy unless i'm holding her. i am just trying to keep life really simple right now and enjoy holding my 7 lb sweet little girl (and not let myself go crazy about the house and the boys or the fact that i ate zucchini bread for every meal today -thanks aileen!).

my boys are probably tired of hearing me say - "sorry i can't, i only have 1 hand." at dinner tonight my sweet eyan turned to me and said, "mom, it would be good if you had 4 arms". some levity brought to me from the mind of my 5 year old was just what i needed to keep going tonight. if only i did have 4 arms:-)

March 2010: Felicity: Great happiness; Bliss; Joy

We are so blessed to welcome

Felicity Gail Johnson

to our family.

The timing of her birth was a true triumph and testment of God's love for me despite all of the anxiety I had had over the timing of her arrival during Mike's absense for a 2 week training. It was just the perfect time for Mike to make it, along with my mother and sisters. This delivery was the most difficult of mine so I was grateful for the continued encouragement they gave me throughout. What a feeling of complete joy as you hold your newborn baby in your arms for the first time! There is nothing else that can compete with that feeling - one of awe, one of humility, one of sweetness - in this world.

Felicity arrived to us at 6:52 pm on Friday March 12, 2010 weighing 7 lbs 9 oz and 18 inches short:-) I was amazed that she was born with hair. So fun. She is a sweet natured baby and is adored by all, in particular her doting 3 big brothers. Poor Eyan has been sick and has been so anxious to be able to hold her hand. The boys were able to briefly come see her in the hospital and they just lit up when they saw her, especially Tate. He immediately climbed up on my lap next to the baby and asked me if he could sing her a song. He sang her "Rock A Bye Baby"; it was so sweet.

A bit about her name. I have loved the name Felicity since I was 10 years old. Recently I came across my childhood journal and found an entry I had made saying that I would like to name my daughter Felicity. It was fun to read. The name has stayed with me all these years. I love its meaning: great happiness; bliss; joy. The name to me carries a sense of sophistication, femininity, and strength. Of course being me, I still needed to wait until after she was born to decide if it fit her. I was undecided her first night after birth, but when I awoke that first morning (yes, she graciously slept for about a 3 hour stretch during that night), I saw her sweetly sleeping in the morning light and became clear to me that Felicity was the perfect name for her. We also decided to give her the middle name Gail after my wonderful mother-in-law. Middle names for us are for carrying on family names. Mike admires and loves his mother so much and thinks of her as a champion mother who raised 7 children so amazingly. We were happy to pass on such a great name.

Because Mike was leaving again Monday morning and baby and I were doing well, I chose to spend less than 24 hours in the hospital after her birth. {Of course 1 day in the hospital was all we needed to fit in her first Photo Shoot:-).} I was grateful to be home despite some health concerns which soon developed after I arrived. Here it is Day 5 and because of more Heavenly Hands I am continuing to be on the mend and baby Felicity is healthy and happy. Mike will be home again in 2 days and I am so looking forward to being home together as a complete family.