Merry Christmas!

Since Christmas is on a Tuesday, we had Monday off from work too. I drove down to spend the loooong weekend at mom and dads. We saved Christmas caroling this year for when Jodie was in town. We went Sunday night to some people from the home ward and then finished up with people in the Spanish ward. One of the families we went to, the mom has stage 4 cancer. Her husband helped her into the room so she could hear us singing. It made everyone cry, including the singers. (She passed away later in the week.)

 

We had the music recital before our Christmas Eve party. Besides the usual, Brett and Jeremy did a violin duet, TJ played the piano, and I played the cello while Jenny was on violin. Then, I also played the guitar and sang a song for dad that mom requested I do. Dad has loved the song ever since we heard it at Cowboy Church in Heber. He even contacted the singer about it to get the words for it. Mom and dad did a special number to finish up. They sang a song that announced they are planning to go on a mission. It was a huge surprise for everyone!...especially Grandma Backlund. She did not take the news well. The rest of us were very excited!

 

For Christmas, I commissioned some special artwork to be painted for mom, then for dad I got a DVD of his family videos from when he was a boy, as well as getting 9-generation fan charts done for each of them. It was a little weird having those be the only presents under the tree, but turned out really well. Mom cried a little when she opened it. She asked if the painter was related to Aaron Johnson too because why else would his home be painted into the picture? She REALLY started crying when she realized it was painted just for her. Good times, good times.

 

 

 

 

 

Nate giving Ari a piggyback. She loves it!

Zabel boys wearing the BYU shirts grandpa gave them for Xmas.

Unframed painting for mom's Christmas.

Airport Hitchhikers

Last night I hit the airport so that I could see Alyssa Allred arrive home from China. That means I also got to chat a bit with Karen and her family. After they left, I killed two hours there and then picked Jodie up. She's flown in from school at Southern Virginia University for Christmas with the family. Her flight didn't get in until 11:04 p.m. though so it was a late night for me who needs to get up for work in the morning.

 

This past week I went out pricing frames for mom's Christmas present. I didn't feel like dressing up for it so I did a rare hat day. Still love this hat that mom and I got at Lids in New York when we were there for New Year's a few years ago. I may have also had pigtail braids at the same time...

 



Give Up

I was sick at work on Friday and ended up coming home early. Those fabulous Felix's texted me to say they had the day off and wondered if I wanted to go to lunch. When they found out I was at home sick, they brought lunch to me! It was very sweet.

 

It is Tithing Settlement time and I have gone to the Bishop's office on multiple occasions trying to sign up for a decent time. There hasn't been anything available. Today I decided to give it one more try and then was going to give up because I'd made enough of a good-faith effort. What happens as soon as I walk in the door for Church? I'm grabbed by the executive secretary and asked if I've had tithing settlement yet because they had an opening and needed to fill it. I should give up more often after doing good-faith efforts and maybe my plans would work out more often! ;-)

Throwback Thursday

For my throwback Thursday, I reminisced with cousin Karen. She was up in Salt Lake for family history of course so I picked her up from the library and we went to eat at Sawadee's. I could definitely have spent more time there talking with her.

 

Jon got married yesterday in Hawaii for 12/12/12 by a female minister. I thought about the wedding multiple times during the day. Mostly, my thoughts were...I could be in Hawaii RIGHT NOW. Ahhh, Hawaii!

 

I met up with my visiting teachees last night at a little sandwich shop here in downtown SL. Made me miss living downtown! I've been researching a little bit lately to see if I could find anything down here for a decent price to move to, but no success!

L-O-V-E Them!

As it snowed most of the day yesterday, I left work a little early so I could make it through Parley's canyon without it being dark and icy. I went up to see Jenny play her violin in the Messiah Singalong in Heber. She did great! Nathan graduated to being one of the grownups this time and he joined us for the event. I do love singing some of Handel's songs.

 

I had to get some play time in with the boys before bedtime. I took them all on, individually, in groups, however, and still beat them as we played fooseball. That's right! I DO feel good about beating little boys. ;-)

 

Micah came and woke me up at 6:30 this morning so we could have Brett's birthday breakfast and see him open his presents. Then I had a leisurely morning with the boys as they all got ready and headed out to school. Once they left, I took off myself to drive the canyon again and go to work. Micah and TJ (he wrote Timothy on the car), left me a little message on my car when I got out to it to leave for the day. Love it!

 

Grant and Matthew playing 'Away in a Manger'

Getting ready for the big performance

Telling me goodbye!

 

Weekend Whoopee

I went to Pleasant Grove for the weekend. Dad was having his sibling Christmas dinner on Friday night so I went with Lori and Ari to the movies. My favorite thing is to see the faces of the people around us when they realize we have a baby with us. Those noise-cancelling earphones go on and you don't hear a peep out of her the whole time. Take that random, judging strangers!

 

Saturday morning Lori and I met up with Chance and Amy at the AF Rec for some racquetball. They all hit much harder than me. It's novel being the worst one in the group! Apparently I need to go play with Jer and Nate more... It is fun though and I think we should play more. I also never have to worry about my partner missing their shot. They cannot say the same though...

 

Mom and I hit the movies in the afternoon. I thought we were going to see Pitch Perfect which is what she's wanted to see with me for weeks now. Apparently, he who shall not be named, told her Here Comes the Boom is one of the funniest movies he's ever seen. I parked the car while mom bought the tickets, and next thing I know, we're walking into a movie that already started to go watch that! It was okay. It will NOT be joining my personal collection though like Pitch Perfect will.

 

That night was the Johnson Family Christmas party. Chris was in fine form and all over the place! I helped Jer and Nate buy their dad's Christmas present so I've been hauling it around in the boot of my car, but there wasn't enough space in their car still so we weren't able to smuggle it over. The party was decent, as in better than previous years. I think everyone agreed that it was better at mom and dad's house rather than the PG Rec Center.

 

Today, I drove back to Salt Lake in the morning, shoveled snow as soon as I got home, made it to Church to play piano in Relief Society, and then went to Dinner Groups with my ward. We got one of the...lower-functioning...guys in our group which makes the whole thing uncomfortable. Made me remember why I stopped doing these groups. So much for giving it one more try!

 

Here is the popcorn machine I helped Nate and Jeremy get. My work friend that I bought it from, brought in the giant popcorn container for the boys to give to their dad. It was really nice of her!

I french-tipped my own nails this week.
Not bad if you ask me!

 

Out of Comfort Zone

I've been outside of my comfort zone the past few days. I made an effort to talk with two guys in my ward on Sunday and today I sang at the First Presidency Appreciation Luncheon for our Department. It was a four-part quartet and I was very glad when it was over! Bishop Dean Davies was the speaker from the Presiding Bishopric. He is also the brother of Elder Davies whose condo I lived in for two years Downtown. I miss being Downtown!

Longest Birthday Ever!

Melissa Morris Larson and I met up at Thanksgiving Point a few nights ago so we could watch the movie Pitch Perfect. Yes, I've already seen that one before, but I loved it so much I had to go see it again. Rebel Wilson just makes me laugh so hard!

 

Yesterday was Nate's actual birthday even though we've celebrated it now for the past two weekends already. He and Jer came down to Temple Square with their ward youth group. Amy Felix and I walked all the way around Temple Square three times looking for them so I could give Nate a hot chocolate and a cookie for his birthday. Jer had his mom's phone so we could find out where they were, but he didn't answer the first 30 times I called... Not a big deal, except that it was raining the whole time. I got a little wet. I had just decided to give up, but gave Jer one last chance to answer the phone and he picked up! Turns out they weren't even to Temple Square yet and were still at Crown Burger where they'd all gone to eat. Fortunately I know where that is, so we stopped by there.

 

Amy and I were in a hurry by this point as we were the ones picking up dinner and then driving to Bountiful to watch a movie with Amanda. We got there late but it worked out okay. We watched the Italian Job (had to watch my MINI!) in the theatre room at the house where Amanda lives. They have this new projector which made the movie look like it was in 3D. It. Was. AMAZING! It actually made the actors look like they were in the room with us. You'd think you'd get used to it, but it kept surprising me whenever the scene would change and things would jump out at us again.

 

This morning, Nate called to say thanks for coming the night before. Apparently he was surprised I'd shown up and was glad I had. It was a cute call. He's very excited about the present I've helped him and Jer get their dad for Christmas. My friend MaryAnn at work left a little present for them on my desk to go along with the gift she helped me get with them: