Colorado Trip

The Johnson cousins had a GREAT time in Breckenridge last month. While my mom and dad had to miss the trip because broke her ankle just before they were to drive from Denver up the hill, the cousins still went and had a FANTASTIC time together.

I have to give a ton of credit to my cousin Mandie for essentially coordinating the whole thing. She found the amazing 5,000 sq ft home on the side of the slopes and planned all the meals. Thank you Mandie, for one of the more fun vacations I've had in a long time!

The house was five floors, had three living rooms, a full game room with arcade games, a hot tub, five bedrooms and six bathrooms. The thirteen of us had PLENTY of room!

The kids all went to bed at reasonable times and the adult kids stayed up late drinking and playing farkel. It's a dangerous game! Danny lost once, and I lost once. Danny had to sit in the snow, bare butt. He howled...and we all laughed hysterically.

The next morning, I got up and met Jake and Bryan, my cousins on the slopes for some snowboarding. I think they were genuinely surprised that I could keep up! It was ABSOLUTELY FREEZING and it was dumping snow at the top of the mountain. I'm glad Danny had brought an extra pair of goggles. As it was, I was fully layered like a marshmallow and I was still freezing. Needless to say, the long runs, cold conditions, and the cost at the bar meant, we certainly didn't last the whole day. Dan and Mandie ended up coming to get us in town...which incidentally, is a really cute place. I wish we'd had more time there. While we were boarding, everyone else was ice skating at the ice house. Too fun!

Finally, we drove home and played with Grey-bug and Shannon. Missie and I also ran down to the outlet mall for a bit. I always enjoy seeing my brother and the family and wish they lived closer... Grey is getting so big and so fun. She LOVED Buddy. Every time he'd say something fun to her, she's just laugh and laugh and laugh -- it was freaking adorable!

Of course we NEEDED three laptops at the "cabin"
This is something only a woman would take a photo of...a two-storied closet in the master bedroom with a fold-down ladder.
Jake and Mandie brought the video game "rockband" or whatever. It's essentially karaoke, drums, and a guitar. Everyone had a blast playing it when they weren't in the arcade room.
Shannon playing farkel.
The Johnson gals circa 1985...rockin the side ponies...after throwing back a few. ; )
Danny's consequence.
Me, Bryan, and Jake after a day of boarding -- no, I didn't gain a ton of weight, just layered up to the extreme! : )
Bryan proving to Carlee that you CAN pop microwavable popcorn on the stove if you improvise!
Bryson and Buddy showing us their breakdancing skills.
Greybug laughing her head off at Buddy!
Isn't that the greatest smile? Look at all those teeth!

Robin and Mackenzie's Visit!

Last month, I had two of my favorite visitors! Robin and Mackenzie Ayers came out for a girls only weekend and left Jonathon and Travis back home in Austin. Mackenzie is my goddaughter and it's hard to imagine that she's almost five years old! It feels like she was just born yesterday. Robin is a dear dear friend who I was fortunate to be roommates with in DC for about three years.

Robin is an awesome mom and she was originally going to be in Anaheim for a conference and decided to surprise Mackenzie and bring her along, too. Unfortunately, and at the VERY last minute, the conference was cancelled, so she rearranged their flights and came out anyway.

They were with me from Thursday to Sunday, the 7th-10th. On Thursday, I actually had a meeting in Sacramento, so when they flew in, they hopped into my car and went to the Discovery Science Center, grabbed some food, then headed to my house for naps before they came and got me from the airport. Then we went and got pedicures, then headed to my house where I made dinner and we chatted and chatted.

On Friday, we went to Disneyland. This was the BIG surprise for Mack and we didn't even tell her until we were on the tram from the parking lot. She was stunned, I think! We rode rides, visited the Disney Princesses, and had lunch at Club 33. It was a WONDERFUL, but long day!

On Saturday, we went to Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Long Beach. We walked around and saw the Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Kodak Theater Oscar's exhibit, the Hollywood sign, and then later went to Santa Monica for some cupcakes, and then to dinner at Bubba Gump!

On Sunday, I took them down to the Beachcomber where Mackenzie FINALLY got to see the beach. I'm pretty sure the beach was her favorite thing. She chased waves, collected shells, and even made snow angels in the sand. Ha! We then drove up to Balboa, rode the ferry, then played at the Fun Zone for a while before heading back to the beach. We finished up with lunch in Hungtington Beach on Main Street at the Sugar Shack. The weekend was a BLAST and Mackenzie slept the whole way to the airport. I think I even napped when I got home.
It was such a special time to be with two special gals. Robin, I'm SO GLAD that we've remained friends through the years and across a couple thousand miles. I love you to death!

The rocketships!
Me and Mack across from Tom Sawyer's Island
Robin and Mack in Minnie's house
Mackenzie asking Snow White for her autograph. She said please, which is Snow White's favorite word. : )

Three ladies at Club 33 for lunch - YUUUUUM!
Another Rita Hayworth in the making?
Mackenzie at Mickie Mouse's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

At the yummy Vanilla Bake Shop in Santa Monica

Writing her name in the sand
Two silly girls!
Just couldn't resist this one...
Beautiful mom and daughter!
The last pic before they had to go home. : (

A Must Read

For those of you who haven't read Confessions of a Shopaholic and the subsequent books in the series, I highly recommend you pick these books up. They are hilarious and fast reads. I loved the first book so much that I ordered the sequels off Amazon UK because they came out there earlier than they did here. Today I heard that the movie has begun filming and the lead character will be Isla Fisher from Wedding Crashers, which I think will be a good choice.

I'm in CO right now on a family vacation with the cousins. The "condo" is sick. I can't wait to post photos when I get back!!!

Happy Birthday Grey-bug!

Today is my sweet niece's 1st birthday!!! It's so hard to believe that just one year ago she entered our lives. She's a beautiful little girl, is talking up a storm, is smiley and mellow! I can't imagine any other baby being born into our family and we praise God for the gift that she is!

Just a month old.

One year old!

Dear Dan and Shannon,

Congratulations on being parents for a whole year! Your daughter is incredible and I know that you're raising her with a heart that will love her family and Jesus. Just watching you care for her is moving and I know that your lives have been transformed by her presence. I am so happy for you and proud of you.

I'm looking forward to seeing you next week and celebrating your daughter's birthday.

Love,

Aunty Awesome

Just for giggles

This weekend!

This weekend started off with a fun phone call from Emily on Friday night. I was cruising around the Whole Foods food court gathering something for dinner and just chatting away with one of my favorite people in the whole world. Emily is one of those friends that I can talk to for hours, or go for stretches without talking and she's still the consistant friend I've always known. I feel terrible because earlier this month I TOTALLY missed her birthday. And I LOVE birthdays...so much so, that I totally have one of those birthday accounts that sends reminders about your friends and family's big days. I know, I'm lame. Anyway, Em was gracious about it as always (as a fine southern woman should be) and we picked up and talked about random stuff again. She's an AMAZING woman - a tremendous wife and fantastic mother. I love watching her with her son and hearing her stories about her crazy hubby (whom I also adore, but hearing the stories through her view of them makes them all the funnier). So Emily, let me say it again, happy belated birthday. I love ya to pieces!!!

On Saturday, I had brunch with Rebekah and Brett and Christy and Josh. Christy and Josh are friends of ours from church who are now living in Valencia so we don't get to see them as often. When they found out that Rebekah was moving to Chicago next week to be with some guy, they demanded to meet him over brunch and invited me along, too. It was such a fun time of visiting and sharing with friends that you have the same foundation as, but who are all at different stages in life. We had brunch in downtown Huntington Beach, then walked along the pier. It was actually a pretty day, too.

Christy, me, and Rebekah

On Sunday morning, I got up earlier and headed back down to the beach to watch the Surf City Half Marathon. Rebekah ran it, Emily Shuler ran it, and so did my dad! I also saw and actress that I recognized from 27 Dresses!

Shuler and the Thompsons started out with my dad, but being that they're 30 years younger, they cruised in a few minutes a head of him. Emily had her cell and called her mom to say they were turning the corner, which ended up being another hour. And did I mention that it was pouring rain, windy, and 50 degrees on Sunday morning? Brrrrr. My mom, Emily's mom, and I froze our booties off.

Brrrrrrrr!

My dad came a bit later and as soon as he saw us, started goofing off. Go figure. I know that's hard to believe.

Then came Rebekah. She was jammin to her iPod, but I started screaming really loudly and got the whole crew in on it, too! Across the finish line was Lisa (from our small group) and she almost missed her. I actually screamed "Lisa, she's right there" right as she was passing. It was hilarious. Brett made Rebekah a trophy and they all got really cool surf board medallions to wear. Congrats to them all.

A smile of exhaustion and relief??? : )

Congrats go to me, too, as I scored a $125 kitty from the office Super Bowl pool! I went to the Fitzgeralds house for a mexican fiesta, which was amazing! It was a house filled with love and some excitement, too!

So proud of my dad!

My cousins Carlee and Bryan and Jake and Mandie are all runners. Mandie's dad is a former Navy Seal and runs crazy races (literally does 100 mile desert races!) and got them all excited about a trail race in Calico (a CA ghost town). A few months ago, my dad started jogging in the mornings and has lost a ton of weight - GO DAD! - and my cousins talked him into doing the race, too! This was my dad's first race, and it was 21 miles! How crazy is that???

The race began early in the freezing cold of the morning and along the way there were stations for dropping off warm clothes, but from the photos, it looks like everyone still had their leggins and gloves on! Holy moly! I think it took my dad around 5 and a half hours, which to me is AMAZING! I guess the family started out together, then Bryan and Carlee ran ahead, while Jake and Mandie held back a while. Dad finished with Jake so Mandie could haul to the finish.

My dad said that around the 10 and a half mile, he couldn't believe how much more he had to go. He'd see people with legs all cut up from falling down hills, etc., but he perservered. I am SO PROUD of him for setting his mind on the race, training for it, then tackling it and finishing. In my book, he's a champion and I couldn't even begin to think about how hard it was physically, but mentally and emotionally, too!

Way to go, Dad! You're a ROCK STAR!!!

Ouch

I went up to Big Bear this weekend for a fun day of snowboarding -- it was to be the warm up for my Colorado trip next month. The traffic was not bad at all, the weather was sunny (though cold), and surprisingly, the slopes were not too crowded AT ALL! So, I was having a great time and feeling really comfortable, when WA-POW, I ate it hard...so hard that I fully dislocated my kneecap. Thankfully, it popped back in to place all on it's own and I was able to make it down the mountain without assistance. As the day went on, I'd feel it hurt here and there, and trust me, I was super nervous with each step. I think because I had my boots on so tight, part of my leg was immobilized. However, when I took it off, the pain really started to hurt. Needless to say, I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon in the ER for xrays, etc. No ligaments were torn, but because my kneecap went in a more unusual direction, they said that I'd need to be in a pretty serious brace for awhile. So, I'm rocking a freaking sweet brace with big hinges on the sides that makes finding the right work clothes a challenge. Hopefully, I'll be healed quickly and will be able to enjoy the CO trip!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me and your prayers a comin!

Oh well, at least I have some powerful pain meds AND the ER doc was super hot!!! : )

Skinny Bitch

I've lost 10 pounds... Just thought I'd share. : ) And no, I don't really consider myself a skinny bitch -- but sometimes I catch myself in the mirror and feel a little sassy! Now...just 10 more to go before I am bikini ready for Maui this summer! Who says 2-pieces are just for youngsters?!?!

New Favorite

Lately, I've been turned on to the poetry of the amazing e.e. cummings. He purposefully, wrote his name all in lower-cased letters as a sign of humility, but his words are bold, romantic, hopefull, and inspiring. I've never been much for poetry, but the more I read of his work, the more moved I am. I hope you like these two examples:

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

it may not always be so; and i say

it may not always be so; and i say it may not always be so;and i say
that if your lips,which i have loved,should touch
another's,and your dear strong fingers clutch
his heart,as mine in time not far away;
if on another's face your sweet hair lay
in such a silence as i know,or such
great writhing words as,uttering overmuch,
stand helplessly before the spirit at bay;

if this should be,i say if this should be-
you of my heart,send me a little word;
that i may go unto him,and take his hands,
saying,Accept all happiness from me.
Then shall i turn my face,and hear one bird
sing terribly afar in the lost lands.

Rockin family vacation!

A big pack of the Johnsons are vacationing in Breckenridge next month! My cousin, Mandie, booked a freaking rockin cabin. Check it! Oh ya, five stories, 5000 sq. feet, and you ski/board out the back door down to two lifts. I'm PUMPED!

Boo-yah Brett!

A Surprisingly Fun New Year's Eve!

This year a group of friends decided to be slightly low-key and hit a new local irish pub for New Year's, and I've got to say, it was the BEST!

Chris and Lori, Jennifer and Sean, Matt and Clare, Rebekah and Brett, and Barbie and I all went to The Auld Dubliner at the District and were determined to be the most fun people in the whole place. Us girls wore feather boas and we had a big booth for us all the hang out in. An Irish band played and they passed out champagne and hats for the big count down. We threw back a couple "Irish car bombs" and danced our hearts out. I've got great friends and I was really blessed to ring in the new year with them!

The girls, minus Rebekah

The first group Irish car bomb - kinda gross

My NYE smooch! Ha!

Rebekah and I being silly in our crowns

Belated Christmas Post

Christmas was really wonderful this year because my 10-month old niece was home with us. It's so hard having her grow up in Colorado and I crave these times to see her and watch my brother as a daddy! It was also a BLAST watching my parents as grandparents. They itch to spoil her and cuddle her and rain kisses down on her.

Because Danny and Shannon were here the week leading up to Christmas, I kinda worked a modified week in order to spend time with them. They left on Christmas day, Shannon and Grey up to Santa Cruz, and Danny back home to work the following day. During the week, we hung out, had a girls dinner, had an open house at my mom and dad's, a family dinner at my house, then the big Johnson family hoopla at mom and dad's on Christmas Eve. All 10 of my grandparent's great grandchildren were there and Santa even made an appearance. : ) On Christmas morning, we all slept in a little, then tore into a million gifts. It was sad seeing them leave. We also visited my mom's mom that evening. It makes me terribly sad to see her all alone (she's a recluse) and I don't understand why a person chooses to live that way...

2007 Christmas pic

My and my pretty sissy
Okay, how freaking cute is she?
Grey-bug eating sweet potatoes. It was a crack up to watch!
Our big Christmas gifts were plane tix to Hawaii this summer. Grey got a new Hawaiian outfit and some stylin sunglasses!
How Miss Kitty celebrated Christmas...snuggled in my bed, snoozin away! This made me laugh!

I should also mention that Barbie and I went to Christmas Eve Eve service at Mariner's. The music was incredible and the message really inspiring. Because Christmas Eve is usually nutso at my house, Christmas Eve Eve service has kinda become my tradition. Back in the day, churches used to celebrate Advent and I really feel like a lot of our teachings about Jesus' birth have diminished a little. Having said that, being at church on the 23rd really recharged my batteries. I hope that you all felt the presence of God as you celebrated His birth, too!

Happy Santa Lucia Day!

A couple years ago (gosh, I can't believe it's been that long), my clever coworkers Wendy and Krissy-pooh made me a card for Santa Lucia Day...I used it for an invitation and called it "Sammy Lucia Day" as that was the name of my cat back then. I found it again today in order to shoot it off to a couple of family members in honor of the Swedish holiday!

Santa Lucia Day is the beginning of the Swedish Christmas season when the oldest girl in the household dresses up in a white gown with a red sash about her waist and wears a wreath of candles. Naturally, I never wore real candles as I've always been bald-ish...no, my mother made me wear battery-operated candles - safety (and hair) first!

Any way, here's the fabulous pick. I still love it as much as I did then. Sooooo creepy, yet sooooo cool!

Company Holiday Party

On Saturday night, my company had its annual holiday party. It was AWESOME! We rented out a yacht in Newport and had a big shindig. Of course the moment I got there people started asking me if I'd brought a date, so I naturally gave a few people the finger. Anywhooo, the moment we walked onto the boat, we were handed a glass of champagne and were escorted up the stairs to where the dinner was held. There was a full open bar, a DJ, and downstairs there were casino tables. Some people got tanked and even planned it because they hired drivers for the night - no joke! I was alone, so I tapered off pretty early in the evening. So, after dinner, which was scrumptious, the gambling began. I'm not much of a gambler, but after a quick trip to the restroom, a bunch of the dealers taught me to play blackjack. Pretty soon, the table had filled up and it got rowdy - name calling and all. : ) Each chip earned got you a raffle ticket and by the end of the night, I had won Laker tickets! I'm excited to go because I've actually never been to a basketball game. Finally, the dancing began and I'm telling you, there are some dancing machines in my company! It was a blast!!! When we arrived back at the dock, all employees were given freaking iPods!!! Not a bad way to celebrate! Too bad it was freezing and rainy that night, but even though it was, I didn't feel like I'd missed out on anything.

Not so Martha Stewart

I was proud of the fact that I had my tree up and most of my gifts wrapped until I looked at it in a photo. Martha would NOT be proud. I need more color and more lights... BUT, I went to the Depot on a whim on Wednesday night and grabbed a tree that was still tied up, and am pretty impressed that I got a good one! : )



I'm also trying out a new living room layout. I've got my couch and chair flipped and angled. I think I like it like this.

Also, for those of you who have NOT taken advantage of the Bombay Company Going Out of Business Sale, you've GOT to check it out. I got some killer fancy schmancy ornaments for dirt cheap that were originally more than $20 each! Nevertheless, after seeing these photos, I've decided I absolutely need to add more colorful ornaments. Good thing my storage closet isn't too far away! : )

Vegas, baby!

Went to Vegas this weekend with some campaign friends and had a GREAT time...except for the fact that the crazy weather out here on Friday cancelled most of our flights, though some arrived after 1am... After rebooking and heading back out on Saturday morning, I met up with Julie and Lisa at the airport and we drove over to STJ's house. We all got ready, went outlet shopping, then came back and made a big dinner. Clarke and Jason came over for dinner and Jason brought some DELISH cupcakes for dessert! They were so pretty I had to take a photo of them!

After dinner, we all got gussied up and headed to the strip to the Venetian. STJ's hubby is their lobbyist, so we got in to Tao through the VIP list. The club was really fun, but really packed. There are dancing girls and naked girls in bathtubs there...it was really odd! Before we headed home, we did what any normal group would do and had InNOut. : ) On Sunday morning, we got up and had brunch and lounged around and hung out before heading to the airport. I love this gang!

SAS, me, and Clarke being silly before hitting the club!

Tom & Ani, Jason & Clarke, SAS, me, Jules, Lisa, and STJ at Tao - What a blast!!!

WICKED

Over Thanksgiving weekend, my mom made plans for the family (minus Danny and Shan) to go and see Wicked. It was AMAZING! The four of us went to dinner at The Ivy, then went and saw the show. I thought the story was really good and the music was awesome. Here are some photos of us Johnson's being goofy as usual!