Holy Flooded Freeway Batman!

As some of you may know, I am from Washington state. My cousin Shannon just sent me this photo of Interstate 5. All that you can see is an overpass and a couple of exits. Is this just unbelievable? To all of our family dealing with this storm, we are thinking of you, and praying for your safety. Love you all.

Twelve years ago.....

Twelve years ago, a tiny little 9 lb 2.5 oz baby boy was born. Mark William Johnson made his way into the world through something of an eventful pregnancy for his mother.

Mark was born at 12:35pm by C-section due to the fact that he was a footling breech. What this means is that one of his feet was "stuck" in my pelvis. They tried and tried to turn him around (which hurt like crazy, must tell you) but, he remained steadfast in the position he was in.

Mark meets his big brother and sister for the first time.

Can you guess which foot was stuck?

Mark, being the baby of our family, gets extra special attention from his big brother and big sister. He has finagled his fair share of "gifts" from them. He is more than willing to help them part with their hard earned dollars.

Brittany gave Mark a Nintendo DS for this birthday. He loves his big sister a little extra now.

Mark is very well rounded guy. He is smart in school, he is a gifted musician, and he loves sports, especially soccer. From a very early age he has had such a gift for the funny. He keeps us laughing and we just can't believe some of the things that come out of that brain of his!

Now that he is twelve, here are 12 things that I love about Mark:

1. He has always had an easy time making friends. I guess that other kids like to be friends with the tall guy.

2. Mark is very fair. He seeks to correct the injustices of this world.

3. He has the cutest freckles across his nose. I don't like my freckles, but his are very cute.

4. Mark likes to be "hands on". He has never been satisfied just to be shown how to do something, he wanted to do it.

5. He still cuddles with his Mom. Shh don't tell anyone. I love his huggles!

6. Mark is very helpful. He can carry groceries in the house in a single bound and tries to carry every bag out of the store without the cart!

7. I love just spending time with him talking, I like to hear his thoughts on any subject.

8. Mark is responsible. His brother Andrew was a good example in this department, and he learned it well.

9. He loves to play games! You MUST play with him. He has a way of engaging you so that you can't say no.

10. Mark is going to be a great missionary. He wants to stay in the United States for his mission.

11. He likes to tease. He is not a brutal teaser but, a teaser nonetheless.

12. Mark is so excited to receive the priesthood, and to be a deacon. I can't wait to see him pass the sacrament.

Mark I love you so much son. You are the best youngest son I could ever have! Happy Birthday!

I'm IT!

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. I was Primary secretary in Evergreen ward. (I'm now Primary secretary in Baywood ward)
2. I was teaching salsa and merengue dance.
3. I was working for Kinney Management. (I still am.)
4. I was co-PTA president with my husband at Flora Thew Elementary School.
5. I was mired in what I thought were the hardest times in raising my children.(Wrong!)

5 things on my today list:
1. Dishes (done, thanks Hon!)
2. Laundry (never done)
3. read December Ensign
4. Blog
5. Prepare for primary presidency meeting Tuesday.

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. A bowl of Raisin Bran
2. A caffeine free diet Dr. Pepper or Pepsi
3. New York style bagel
4. A bowl of Oatmeal Squares
5. Reduced fat Ruffles

5 songs I know lyrics to:
1. Man, I feel like a Woman
2. We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet
3. Low
4. Grandma got Run Over by a Reindeer
5. Songbird

5 things I will never wear again:
1. tapered leg pants (no one should wear these EVER!)
2. anything with a "drop-waist"
3. shoulder pads circa 1980's
4. turtle neck sweaters, I just can't do it.
5. large floral prints (too busy)

5 of my favorite toys:
1. Gee this is hard, I don't play much, oh, I-pod, gotta have my tunes!
2. Digital camera to take pictures to blog with.
3. foot spa
4. my Bosch, I cannot live without it now, thanks Mom Johnson!
5. my earpiece for the phone, allows me to multitask hands free.

So there you go. Getting to know me bit by bit. If any of my audience feels so inclined, you may do this list on your blog. I'll read it, I promise. Have a great evening!

Berkeley the Reindog

"Oh Mom please don't humiliate me this way!"

"But Berkeley, you look so cute in your antlers."

Berkeley came to us Christmas Eve 2004. I think that he remembers that he was a Christmas puppy and he likes to lay under the Christmas tree. He "wags" the ribbon off the bottom of the tree and knocks the ornaments off, but at least he doesn't try to eat them anymore.

My "baby" is growing up!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree........

It's taken me awhile, but, I'm back on the wagon. After Thanksgiving I was left with most of a pecan pie and it took me nearly a week to eat it up. YUM! With pecan pie you must pace yourself, no more than one piece a day.



The day after Thanksgiving Mark and I put up the icicle lights on the house, and decorated the tree. We were trying to decide where to put the tree this year, when Grandma said, "I saw someone that had their tree in the center of the room." Mark thought that this was a grand idea:

What can I say, I'm terrible, I forgot to rotate the picture so send me your chiropractic bill. Having a Christmas tree in the middle of the room works wonders in the TV watching department. We don't watch as much, but, with the writer's strike still ongoing there isn't anything on anyway.

We are very much ready for Christmas, we have a tree in the living room, one on the dining room table, two on the entertainment center, one in Brittany's room, and one in Mark's room. I enjoy the decorating. I'll have to take more photos of my "trees".

Johnson Thanksgiving 2007

Here are a few photos for your pleasure and/or amusement. I am publishing these with the emphasis that I love my family, and I in no way intend to embarrass, degrade, or humiliate.

Tara and Brittany fast asleep

Uncle Carl thy tryptophan worketh

Uncle Carl and Bob, turkey coma

Erica and Buster, up close and personal

And this is probably my favorite picture. Dartell was helping me with the potatoes and inside the same ten pound bag of potatoes, were these two heart shaped cuties. Can you believe this? Of course, the cutie in the middle is probably the cutest.

Love to all. It was a wonderful day filled with good food, good family, and good fun! Justine has volunteered for next year. On to Christmas!

Grandma loves Berkeley

Brittany, Berkeley, and Grandma

Grandma loves Berkeley, Oh yes she does, oh yes she does! MMMwwwaa!