Run Like Ya Stole It...

O.K, So for starters I stole that mantra off someone elses van, I just loved it, so I ran with it! Wasatch Back, came and went and we all survived. What an experience...so many emotions in a 28 hour period. Sometimes you're thinking this is one of the highlights of my life and other times I wanted to hide in the bushes with a cookie and a diet coke...you all know how real that scenario is! In all honesty, is was an amazing experience running along the Wasatch mountains, with a car full of hot mama's, the camaraderie is contagious and you just want to scream, shout and support anything that runs by you, because you know they get your pain! Speaking of pain, I have a few of them, but overall I definitely gained. Thank you to all my ladies and all our men who helped us through the madness...until next time?


Here I am fresh faced and naive to what lies ahead...


Me and the Captain...I love ya Brooke, thanks for keeping us all together! Race is over, freshness is gone!




Highlights of all the craziness that is Wasatch Back...please notice the slogan on the back of the car...Britt, that's for you!

Catching up at the Lamb farm...

So I'm still just trying to catch up on some of the events that happened the last month or so, and this was one I had to document for my kids! We were able to go to a lamb farm out in Tooele with some friends to watch how they breed and birth lambs basically. This was not for the faint at heart...we watched an actual birth and saw and stepped in more than I care to describe. Anyway, it was a fun experience for the kids, they had a run of the farm and got to feed the babies...it was a great time. I did leave however, with a whole new appreciation for my epidural during child birth...wow!

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And We're Back...

Once again, blogging has slipped to that very back burner, and has almost burned out, so I'm here to turn up the heat...until my next lapse!
Now the catching up! My little baby Ella turned two, now I have to call her a toddler, not my baby...I don't like it. Sometimes I feel like my kids are flying by me at an alarming rate, and I just can't stop it, but watching them is priceless.
Ella is both the Boss and the Peacemaker of this family. She dictates what we all play, but is the first to give "loves" to anyone in distress. With a permanent grin on her face she continues to melt hearts where ever she goes, she really does make us a happier family...we love our little Ella Bella Boo!

We celebrated Ella's birthday in St.George with Grandma Eileen and the Gile family. This is two years running, because of Dad's Triathlon that falls the same weekend. We had a great time spending the weekend with family.


Ella proud as can be with her Birthday hat.


The party gang...love the cousins!


Oh the Dora nightgown...Grandma nailed it...and the mileage it has seen.


Ella in her new digs...now she has a place to call her own!


Dad, coming across the finish line, trying not to puke after having to do two 5k's instead of one, because of the cancellation of the swim portion of the Tri...two years running now, I guess we'll see next year if three times a charm!

Ava just had to turn five on me...

Well, after some really hard talks trying to convince Ava not to turn five, that I really needed her to stay four, I clearly lost and the party planning began! Mom was pushing for a sweet little tea party...party dresses...bite sized yummies and whatever else you do at a tea party, however, Ava finally said to me after much deliberation "why do you want me to have a party that I don't want, it's my birthday you know." Well then, I guess I got told...so I came up with a Salon party, and she was sold in seconds! As you can tell my little five year old is full of attitude, all my friends say "Ava has the funniest personality"...I have to agree a lot of spunk but a whole lot of sweet too. She has been such a joy to raise and has been a great partner in crime with her Mom...the girl loves to shop, put together outfits, pose for camera's and spend a lot of time working out that perfect hair-do! Girl after her Mother's heart...and yes there is more in that heart of hers besides a little vanity, she is caring, kind and an absolute gem to her baby sister that idolizes her...wish I could say the say the same for her and Alec...one can hope! I love you Ava girl...happy 5th birthday!


Ava got to go see Hannah Montana with her cousin Kennadee, and her brother Alec. O.k I admit it, I wasn't miserable, I like myself a little Mylie...in doses...small doses!


Ava's present from Mom and Dad...her Doll armoire...I secretly think I like it more that her!


Finally party day arrived. Our staircase glamour shot...what a bunch of beauties, looking wonderfully made over!


A few highlights of the party...fingernail painting by Grandma, fabulous up-do's by Aunt Marti (thanks a million) and make-up by me! What a day at the salon...hope you had a wonderful party Ava!

A totally WICKED weekend...

Yes...I got a little weekend getaway, thank you to my hubby for holding down the fort! But hey we all know when Mama's happy, we're all happy! I got to fly to SUNNY San Francisco and spend some time with a good friend from my Nordstrom days, let's just say we both know how to get our shop on...totally on a budget of course! She is the best host, she had us booked for pedicures, movies, lunch, brunch, shopping, you name it...it was wonderful, thank you Keri!
Then somehow I managed to land my WICKED tickets the night I got back...love ya again honey! I can't say enough about how amazing the show was, my kids and I have been obsessed with the music for months, and yes they felt pretty ripped off they didn't get to go, Ava said "first you go to California, now this" sorry dear, but it was worth every second!


Keri and I at Pier 39...yummy Seafood, treats and best of all, people watching.


I think this is the definition of pimp my ride...the back of the car had completely been bedazzled!




Me and the Sista's posing for our WICKED shots!



The other lovely ladies in my life...Bridgette and Amy

Easter...and a Grand Grandma Garden Party

I must say I absolutely love Easter...I love seeing Spring come alive in everyones's wardrobe, even if you have to wear a sleeveless dress in 50 degree weather, I say do it in the name of fashion! Obviously Easter has a much deeper meaning than new apparel, and I'm glad I got to enjoy a beautiful Sunday with reminders of how grateful I am for this day and what it means to me and my family...did I mention I love Easter candy, sorry can't leave that out!
Now, just a glimpse of my "Easter Treasures"



This is one of our Easter traditions at Grandpa and Grandma Johnsen's house...most of the beautiful Grandchildren gather together for the annual Easter snapshot! I say most Grandchildren because some are in Greece, one was sick, some sleeping, and one not cooperating...love it!



My Grandma Johnsen used to through the most fun and creative Easter parties, and now my Mother, Grandma Karen, is following suit! What a fun night...she always has a theme and this year it was a garden party! We started out with an amazing dinner then it was onto the activities. First we were given clues to find our family basket, once we found the basket each of the kids got a little Peter Rabbit animal and book to hold while Grandma read the story. Then it was out to the garden where each family got a row to plant seeds with their new gardening tools...time will tell how that goes! Lastly Grandma planted and decorated pots of grass with all the kids. All the adults got a beautiful clematis and some tomatoes and zucchini for our own gardens! Karen and Fred...you did yourselves proud!



I also want to thank Zachary's Mom and Grandma for a fun Easter party on Saturday, we dyed and hunted eggs and once again ate way too much...thank you for the wonderful memories!

Oh that's right...I have a blog!

O.K, it's been so long I almost forgot my password. I will spare you all the mundane excuses of life, and just say that we have been living life with all it's ups and downs and have certainly had one of "those" months. So I'm going to focus on the highlights of the month instead of the lows!



So I got to spend my 34th birthday in St.George with my sisters and our kids and my parents! It was too much fun, they spoiled me with love and attention...we had such a great time...can we do it again soon?


I thankfully completed by first big Enrichment night as the new Enrichment leader, and wow...lot's of work, but worth it! We did an "Emma" theme and I must say I think we were a success! One down...three to go!


Alec had a fun life lesson this month when he signed up for the school play "Fiddler on the roof" apparently it was more that he bargained for and he tried to play hookie from one of his rehearsals, but got busted by the Mom police...rats! So he learned the old "we have to follow things through" lesson. All said and done he was adorable in the play, but glad to be done!


Ava had her ballet recital, and brought Mom to tears, the costumes were AMAZING she looked beautiful and all together quite grown up. They did the ballet Sleeping Beauty and she was a summer fairy...the highlight of the entire evening was the impromptu performance some of the girls in her class decided to give during the finale bows...priceless!


My little girl got her first "Piggies"... small, and hard to see with the naked eye, but, yes they are there and dang they were cute...this is a big milestone in this family!


Just a few more highlights...