Filed under Family …

Aug 24 2010
6 Comments
Elementary School, Family, Me, Myself and I, My Boys, Our 'Hood, Parenting, Vacation, Work

I’ve Felt the Calm of A Satisfied Soul

It’s been a busy week around these here parts. First week of school and all. Here are some of the things that have satisfied my soul of late:

  • Sometimes not having all the answers really sucks.
  • Talking about death and dying with kids is never fun. Especially when it feels like it may be close. Or far. Or…who knows. But it’s important to talk about it nonetheless.
  • There’s a lot of great things that come with being a parent but one of the greatest is when your kids show absolutely no resemblance to you. See also: Five nights away from home with no homesickness and no fear of waterslides.
  • “No resemblance” corollary: When it takes 31 years and one kid who asks to get on a waterslide? And enjoy it? Awesome.
  • Waterslide corollary: Going on a family date to a place you and your husband have never been even though you’ve known each other forever? Also awesome.
  • There is little more liberating to a woman than to walk around in a bathing suit in public without caring about what others might think.
  • Ends up, this confidence despite evidence to the contrary thing is genetic.
  • See also: A six-year-old who doesn’t really think he needs to go by his new classroom to meet his teacher until the first day of school because really, mom, it’s not much different from last year.
  • Mom feels better when you make him go anyway.
  • It appears as though each added year of dropping my oldest off on the first day of school allows me to get a little further away from the building before breaking down into complete tears.
  • Having the youngest beg to go to kindergarten doesn’t help. Nor does knowing you’re planning on holding him back for another year when you’re pretty sure he’d be just fine if he went on time.
  • That knot in your throat when your kid says he can get to his classroom all by himself isn’t because you’re concerned he can’t. It’s because you know he can.
  • No matter how hard I try, I always say too much when I’m nervous.
  • Traditions matter. Especially those like taking the day before the first day of school off and working from home on the first day so you can be there when the bell rings. If there was a single piece of advice I could give working parents new to the whole school thing it’d be to warn them that EVERY. OTHER. PARENT. will be there to pick up their kids’ on the first day. If you’re not, your kid will, in fact, be the only one whose parent isn’t.
  • MMS picture spam may or may not be appropriate when you don’t post pictures of your kids online. But if you got a “Happy 1st day of School” text from me and didn’t want one, please feel free to let me know. I swear I only sent it to people I thought would appreciate it. And if I thought you would, and you didn’t, I’m so sorry. I guess, I don’t know, maybe we need to go to relationship counseling or something, because we obviously aren’t on the same page. HA!
  • Whether at soccer practice, a birthday party or a parent meeting, the following this are assured to happen: A parent will tell you more about them and their marriage than you ever want to know, a parent will make it clear their kid is above yours, a parent will make it clear their kids is below yours, a parent will disappear and you’ll judge them for not being involved, you’ll need to run somewhere and be judged for not being involved, and a whole bunch of other things. It’s important to remember that as much as you love/hate a certain parent, there are other parents that love/hate you. Oh well. It happens.
  • Every woman needs a few good girlfriends.
  • There is a great joy that comes with finding out that you’ve found yours.
Jul 26 2010
8 Comments
Family, Health & Exercise, Lemons, Marriage, Me, Myself and I, My Boys, Parenting

(Not) Holding Out For A Hero

A few *cough* of you have noticed I’ve been AWOL from the world of social media recently. (Katie, I’m glad you don’t have to look up what this means anymore.) See, as it ends up, I may be willing to tell the world about my problems but I’m not so into sharing those of others. In vaguely general terms, someone who is close to me has been going through a trying time medically speaking and I have been doing what I can for my family to be there, both physically and emotionally and frankly, it’s been draining. (Many, many thanks to those of you who have been around to help out, both IRL and virtually.)

Though the past month has been a bit rough, it’s also demonstrated yet again why I am absolutely, 100 percently, with all of my heart devoted to Scoot, my very own super hero. People who know us see him as an introvert and me as an extrovert and think we get along because opposites attract. What they don’t realize is all the weird ways we’re alike as well. One of those is in how we deal with hardship.

See, we both become slightly obsessive…and during this last month that’s played out by us painting and decorating the upper floor of our house. It’s bizarre sounding, I’m sure, but bottom line is that painting into the weeeeeeeee hours of the morn’ allowed us to spend time having some difficult, but important, conversations.

We took this time to paint our bedroom (in celebration of our anniversary), Bop’s room (that we never use because he sleeps with DJ), and the playroom (which is now, 100% BOY). The theme of this room was born when DJ said he wanted it to be red. Of course we wouldn’t paint the whole room red, especially because two of the walls can be seen in our very open floor plan from our stairs, bedroom and hallway. We made a compromise: mommy got to pick the color on those two walls, DJ got his red wall and we settled on blue for final wall. With colors like that, what theme would work better than a super heroes one?

The Back Wall

(I’ve made my mom promise to sew covers for the pillows that are *supposed* to be on this couch to represent their five favorite super heroes)

The Window Wall

This is hands down my favorite part of the room, because really, what good is it to teach a young boy to admire a super hero without empowering him to become one on his own? (Vinyl lettering courtesy of It’s Written on the Wall on Etsy. It was originally designed in a rectangle shape but I was able to cut the words apart to make a single line.)

That desk holds the boys’ new netbook that I referenced in my last post. I’m planning on getting some shelves from Ikea to go over the desk to hold the workbooks that they love to do and some pens/pencils/markers. (BTW, if you’re wondering, those bodies hanging on the wall are outlines made in 2007 at DJ and Bop’s daycare…they’re a bit bigger now…heh.)

The TV Wall

We got these vinyl super heroes from Roommates Peel and Stick Decor. They were half the price of a Fathead and are a nice, thick vinyl that sticks well. (Please don’t comment on how Wolverine could really be moved up and to the left a smidge…I know…my OCD side is already obsessing about it and I’m pretty sure it will win out before day’s end.)

The Hidden Wall

My boys don’t understand that there’s a difference between Marvel and DC Comics and as a die-hard Batman fan, that breaks my heart. But, this isn’t my playroom, it’s theirs, so we tried to balance the two as much as possible. Also…you see that red wall? That was created with ONE COAT of Behr’s Primer + Paint. Seriously…we bought this because the woman working at the Home Depot paint counter lamented with us on a previous visit how much it sucks to paint a wall red (we’ve done it before…it took FOUR coats). We had her color-match the Martha Stewart Living color we had chosen (this wall is Maine Lobster, the other two are Yellow Magnolia and Azurite). One coat. That’s it. I’m still amazed.

We may have a weird way of dealing with difficult times but hey, at least our kids get a cool playroom out of it, right?

Jun 30 2010
8 Comments
Family, Marriage, Me, Myself and I

Wordless Wednesday – Nine Years

Jun 19 2010
4 Comments
Family, My Boys, Parenting

Three Fathers

You are my father. You held me on your lap as you finished your thesis. You brushed my teeth at night. You taught me to catch a fly ball and mow a lawn. You coached my soccer team. You told me a man should appreciate my curves. You walked me down the aisle. You placed your hands over my boys’ heads and let them know they’re loved. You are everything a father and grandfather should be.

You are my godfather and father-in-law. You taught me to love my heavenly father as much as my earthly one. You lent me your car. You lent me your ear. You asked “Who is this little girl wearing my son’s jersey?” You taught me to grow from that little girl to a woman, a wife, a mother, a Christian. You trusted me with your baby boy. You work hard to give my boys the same opportunities you gave your own. You are everything a godfather, father-in-law and grandfather should be.

You are the father of my children. You are gentle and kind and affectionate and silly. You provide structure and discipline and honesty and love. Every day you teach my boys the three things I cannot: how to be a good man, a good husband, a good father. You are everything a father and a husband should be.

I am so blessed to have so many great fathers in my life. May all of the fathers I know have a very Happy Fathers’ Day.

May 12 2010
4 Comments
Family, Me, Myself and I

This Is What Happens When Your Brother Marries His High School Sweetheart

Scoot and I have been together since we were 16 years old. His older sister had just given birth to twins, known in our family as KNK. I changed their diapers, took them shopping with me, made them bottles, etc. They were my practice children.

They will be turning 16 this year. I’ve taken great pleasure in reminding family members that they’re *almost* to the age at which Scoot and I met. I hadn’t mentioned that fun fact to Scoot’s sister, who I consider one of my best friends in the world. That is, until today.

Then I sent her this text:

“Just be careful…next girl they bring home could be your future daughter in law and the mother of your grandchildren.”

I’m pretty sure she loves me even more now than she did before. :D

Apr 22 2010
8 Comments
Family, Holidays, Just for Fun

The Lazy Family’s Guide to Going Green

Seeing as I was raised in one of a number of cities that claim some ownership of Earth Day, I feel as though I’m compelled to write a post commemorating it.

So here are five things my family any lazy family can do to go green.

1. Decrease use of toxic home cleaning products by only cleaning the house twice a year. (Except the guest bathroom, of course. That should be spit shined twice a month.)

2. Reduce water usage by letting laundry pile up as long as possible and then pack the washing machine to capacity.

3. Reduce paper tissue waste by letting the kids walk around with runny noses and wrapping paper waste by not giving gifts.

4. Minimize greenhouse gas emissions and use of fossil fuels by playing hookie from work and school and just lying around the house all day.

5. Reduce the need for fertilizer by allowing dog poop to sit in yard until it dissolves.

Who said it ain’t easy being green? Oh right, a frog. What does he know?

Happy Earth Day!

Dec 24 2009
1 Comment
Family, Friends, Holidays, Me, Myself and I, My Boys, Parenting

‘Twas the Night before Christmas: On Giving

‘Twas the night before Christmas and, amazing enough,

My boys let me donate a bunch of their stuff.

“But, Mom, not this one, not those toys, not that!”

D said as I cleaned and he sat and he sat.

 

“D, you heard what I said about kids in need.

‘Tis the season for giving, not hoarding or greed.”

“I know, Mom. Ok,” he said with a pout.

He need not love it, this stuff must get out!

 

So we packed up the car, hauled the boxes away.

When we finished our mission, he turned to say,

“We gave all our toys to the kids without money.”

“Yes, yes we did, and I’m proud of you honey.”

 

A smile crossed his face, as his joy inside grew.

We looked at each other and then we both knew:

‘Tis better to give than receive, this is clear.

But it’s not just about toys or this time of the year.

 

The giving of love leads the heart to swell,

to a stranger, a child, or a friend you know well.

May we all love thy neighbor, those far and near,

And may you have a blessed and charitable New Year.

 

- Merry Christmas from the Johnsons

Dec 23 2009
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Family, Food, Holidays, Vacation

Christmas Dinner 2009

I’ve sucked about posting this month. I’ve been busy. Life has gotten away from me. The good news is that a very busy December at work was just how I needed to end the year – for many reasons. I’m hoping to spend some time over my two weeks off reflecting and writing. In the mean time, my sister and I have decided to undertake preparation of quite a Christmas feast. Many/most of the recipes are from Cooking Light (my fav food magazine). Of course the recipe with bacon is from Rachel Ray. Ha!

So here is what the Johnsons are having this Christmas:

I’ll try to take pics and do reviews of the recipes if any of you are interested. Ooooo…and look at the cute napkins that’ll be on the table:

What are y’all having? Any awesome recipes to share?

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here’s to a 2010 that is WAY better than 2009 (don’t think that’s going to be a hurdle to overcome).

Nov 05 2009
1 Comment
Family, Friends, Me, Myself and I, My Boys, Our 'Hood, Parenting, Work

An Open Letter to Patience

Dear Patience,

I miss you. No, truly, I do. I miss the warmth of your long held embrace. The calm that you exude when you’re around. The rational thoughts you put into my mind. I miss you more than you know.

I have respected you for a long time, looked up to you. I have tried to walk your walk. “Good things come to those who wait,” I say to myself and others with frequency. I have long been a fan of the tortoise. “Slow and steady wins the race.” I know your value.

But Bop, Patience. He’s killing me. I know it’s a phase. I know I let D go through the same I-can’t-possibly-live-without-my-mommy-so-I-must-cry-whenever-she-wants-to-leave-me-because-my-world-will-end-without-her phase. I know he deserves you. But, Patience, I feel like you’re pushing me away with a brute force I haven’t felt in a while.

And he’s not the only one testing our relationship. D, dude. D is giving you a run for your money too. He is awesome at night when both Scoot and I are around. But in the mornings… Gah! It’s like he knows you’re at your rarest and yet still tries to find you somewhere within me by pushing every possible button I have. Unfortunately for us all, he fails as you so often seem to have deserted me.

There are other ways you’re testing me, Patience. Many, many other ways: at work, at home, in my family, with my friends, in my community, even the dogs are working my last nerve. Sometimes I feel like others are so intent on proving that you and I are, in fact, not on speaking terms that they do whatever they can to drive us apart.

I can’t live this way, Patience. I mean, come on, your name graces the title of one of my favorite songs of all time. I need you. Yeah, Yeah, I need you. Oooo I need you. Oh, sorry…got a little carried away there.

One of my favorite (Swedish, BTW) proverbs says, “Those who wish to sing always find a song.” I hope that’s true, Patience. Because I miss you. I want to sing your song. I must find it. I have to.

Come back to me, Patience. Please.

Love,

EmmieJ

Oct 31 2009
4 Comments
Family, Holidays, Me, Myself and I

Truly Spooky Halloween Pictures

We had a great Halloween in these here parts. But I’ve spent enough time on Facebook and Twitter that I’m sort of over looking at pictures of adorable looking kids in their oh-so-cute costumes. If you’re in the same boat as me, I have just the cure.

Behold, Emmie’s life in awkward Halloween costume photos.

Emmie (in the middle) as a Good Humor (Wo)Man. I think I must have been about four in this pic. The haircut is unfortunate, no?

Emmie (in the middle) as a Good Humor (Wo)Man. I think I must have been about three or four in this pic. The haircut is unfortunate, no?

Emmie at age five. This was one of two costumes I wore this year. The other was a cheerleader outfit (because a witch was too scary for school). That wart was made from gum my mom chewed and stuck to my nose. Klassy.

Emmie at age five. This was one of two costumes I wore this year. The other was a cheerleader outfit (because a witch was too scary for school). That wart was made from gum my mom chewed and stuck to my nose. Klassy. By the way, that woman is not my mom...that's the world's best preschool teacher Ms. Mary Beth.

Emmie at age seven as a spider. The legs were made out of my mom's pantyhose stuffed with newspaper and spraypainted black.

Emmie at age seven as a spider. The legs were made out of my mom's pantyhose stuffed with newspaper and spraypainted black. I was apparently a six-legged spider. Cannot for the life of me remember why I didn't have eight legs like every other spider. Probably because I always had to be different.

Emmie uses grease paint. On her face and in her hair. (Ask anyone, hair color doesn't stick in my hair.) I was 11 in this picture and I'm pretty this is the last year I dressed up. Way to go out with a bang, huh?

Emmie uses grease paint. On her face and in her hair. (Ask anyone, hair color doesn't stick in my hair.) I was 11 in this picture and I'm pretty sure this is the last year I dressed up. Way to go out with a bang, huh?

So there you have it, quite possibly the most embarassing Halloween pictures ever taken. Now, go back at look at those cute pics you took of your kids and count your blessings. Until next year…

***I have to tell you, I’m pretty upset that mom and dad failed to keep a picture of the best. costume. ever. created. by. human. hands. (or something like that). In 3rd grade I was a stoplight. And I worked. My dad and I worked on it for weeks. I had a sandwhich board box contraption spray painted black. We drilled holes in three bowls that were covered in celophane. We installed lights and connected each to a nine volt battery and a three-way switch on the side of the box. I could change colors by turning a dial. It was awesome. And frankly it has never been topped. Don’t you hate it when you peak at age eight?

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