Home Surgery...

During the football season last year, Ender had a head injury. Check it out:

You may think from the pictures that it was a football injury, but it was not. He actually ran into a bar at the playground when he was not paying attention. This injury led to one of the more interesting and more talked of doctor daddy related stories in our family thus far. Wes and I were not excited to go to the ER with him as it costs a ton and we were paying out the wazoo already for Wes's Turkey bowl injury related follow up from January, and my pregnancy. Wes said he could actually easily deal with the head injury with some of the glue they use in the er. We had some, so we proceeded to do what the kids now call "home surgery". Wes wanted to make darn sure it was clean so he bought 2 contact solutions bottles (the big ones) and squirted them on the wound to clean it out as I held a screaming Ender down for what felt like an eternity.

THEN we had to put on the glue-it was a struggle with an irrational 6 year old at that point, but we did it and Wes and I felt like it was done well and worked out...but now Ender brings it up often and he will say things like "Don't run around-you'll get hurt and you will have to get HOME SURGERY!" (That Home surgery part is said in a very foreboding voice...)

I would have forgotten to include this story in this mass catch up, but Ender found the pics and INSISTED I write about it...

Soccer and Football LAST year

Well, as we are about to begin a new fall season of sports ina couple of weeks, I thought I better get the pictures from LAST year up here. How did it get a YEAR behind?! (Hey at least I did get huge events like Solace's baptism and Everest's birth in here)

Anyway, Armour played soccer and Ender opted for flag football for the first time last year. Solace was also going to play soccer but here team was cancelled due to a lack of a coach.

So, first about Armour's soccer...Armour is our natural athlete, and he is ubercompetative. He was on a team with his friend from church, Romey, and she is equally competative. They were playing against each other more than against the other teams most of the time-each of them trying to keep the ball to themselves. Armour was a great player and got lots of goals through the season and had one game where he got 10 goals. Here are a few pictures:

Now about Ender...that kids is a goofball, but he is also very talented. The very first practice was hot and he was in a mood. He kept trying to leave practice and was having major breakdowns. I kept making him go back in over and over and ignored his fit. It got MUCH better after that and he was a star quarterback on the team by the end of the season. He says he got 3 touchdowns on one game (I do not remember, but I think he did not actually run those td's in...he passed them to the guys that did). Wes was on a rotation where he could not attend many games and he could not go to any practices, so I had to take the kids on my own.

Here's a little story about football...One of the techs that Wes was working with at the time had a son on Ender's team. I never thought I would be a yeller mom on the sidelines, but as it turns out, I have a lot to say to the refs adn coaches already-high school should be interesting...

Anyway-after the first practice and first game, Wes was going to be able to come to the 2nd game. So, Wes asked the Tech, Peter, about how it had been going (before he went to the game). Peter said "Oh man-there is a mom that is so awesome-she was making her kids get back in the game and did not put up with any crap from him, the refs or the coach. I will have to point her out to you at the game." Of course at the game Peter came over to Wes who was obviously with me and said "um...I guess the lady is your wife." HAHAHA I am SOOO "THAT" mom...

Here are some of the pictures of football:

And here is a bonus pic of Wes and Kindle on the sidelines:

The boys had a lot of fun and will be returning to the sports they each played last year. This year we will add in a third sport with Solace playing Volleyball for the first time! That will be fun and busy! :)

Trying to be better...again...

I cannot stand the thought that tomorrow our last school year in Omaha begins (I just teared up a bit as I typed that) and I am this far behind on my blog. I want to document our short time left here much better than I have been this last year. I want to turn over a new leaf, but first I want to catch up on a few things, maybe tell you few readers all abotu my wonderful 5 kids and what they are all about these days. Show you some of the great pictures we have taken over the last year (without making you check out facebook).

Villains?!

Wes was browsing the Internet a few minutes ago and landed on a very well written and interesting (not to mention funny) article on Cracked.com called 9 Famous Movie Villains Who Were Right all Along by Cezary Jan Strusiewicz. BEFORE you click on the link to go read this clever article, let me warn you there is some bad language in it.
Before we read the article Wes said "I am sure they will talk about Jud Fry!" He was only half kidding. For those that may not know Wes once portrayed Jud in a community production of Oklahoma! Wes and I have had many a discussion about how (according to Wes) Jud is just misunderstood and well...ok I'll just say it, a famous villain who was right all along. For more details on his views of Jud, I will refer you to contact Wes. Please email him here

My whole point here though is that it got me to thinking about who the famous villains are that WERE right all along. Recently I watched The Wizard of Oz with my kids and I thought "Hmm...Dorothy really should keep her dog out of her neighbor's yard...there are dog laws after all...Oh and those shoes probably really DO belong the the 'wicked' witch as they were on her SISTER when Dorothy smashed and killed her..." (The Wicked Witch is discussed in the article I mentioned above)

I am still thinking about what other "villains" were right all along and I wanted to know your opinions on that...any thoughts friends & family?! I will post my thoughts once I have processed this some more...

I might have to repost this to my public deals blog...

Solace was Baptised!

We had a really important thing happen in our family in December. That I have neglected to blog about. On December 28, 2010 Solace Rebekah Johnson was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! We were SOOO blessed that Wes had the week off and we were able to drive out to Utah where our families could be part of this special day with us. It was so neat to have our parents and so many other family members come out to support us! We love you all so much! Here are some pictures of the big day (following the pictures, I have asked Solace to tell you about this day in her own words).

 Kindle and cousin Sam

 Look at the crowd

 Papou gave a talk about Baptism

 I sang the song "When I am Baptised."

 Grandpa gave a talk on the Holy Ghost

 All the cousins (and one uncle) there came up and sang "I am a Child of God"

 Grandma (and Kindle) led the music

 XiaXia played the piano

 And I was baptised...this is the picture we used for my announcements.

Hi! When I was baptized I felt warm but, when I got out I felt cold because it was Winter and I was wet. When I received the Gift of The Holy Ghost I felt warmer than I ever felt before. I was excited that I was finally a true member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That is a day I will always remember. I loved to be in Utah with my family. That was the most special part because it wouldn't have felt the same if I did it with just friends. Bye!

Solace