New Year, Same Resolution

Every New Year I make the same resolutions.  Eat healthier, exercise more, read a book monthly and spend more quality time with my kids.  Updating my blog weekly is also at the top of my list.  As with other resolutions, it becomes more challenging as the year goes on but I felt a renewed sense of commitment once that ball dropped on 2012.  I do realize it is almost 3 weeks into the New Year but a little cruise to the Caribbean (more to come) set me back.  Here is to a New Year but same resolution!   

To ring in 2012 we got together with my family to play games and eat.  It wouldn't be a Johnsen gathering without food :).     

 (the boys)

 (the ladies)

 (the kids)

 While we were upstairs playing the hilarious game of Quelf, the kids were making up their own games downstairs.  I think they were wrestling each other on a cement floor.

 Quelf is a game that is part ridiculous, part bizarre but fully entertaining.  Each team is required to participate in some odd activity.  Jake and Erin had to clap their feet together and yell "Sasquatch".

 Heather's task was to stuff as many items, all different, into her clothes in one minute.

 Josh had to wear a mask for the duration of the game.

 While Brad and I had to act like one-eyed mimes in a box with rabid ferrets.  Don't ask, just know it made for a fun evening!

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

Beyond the missing Denver Broncos pajamas, Timmy has blue eyes, fair skin (pasty white, as we like to call it) and a touch of red to his hair.  Either way, he keeps up with his older brothers just fine.    

(Christmas Eve Night)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

You know it is the Holidays when you enjoy:

feasting with family,

playing with cousins,

standing in the cold for Black Friday shopping,

decorating the annual gingerbread house,

 AND eating at Litza's Pizza followed by the viewing of 

Temple Square lights. 

 I love this time of year!  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Muddy Mamas

(The Muddy Mamas - Jessica, Heather, Jillesha, Susan, Erin)

6 miles of MUD and obstacles

5 muddy MAMAS

4 FAMILY members (1 honorary Johnsen)

3 bathroom breaks in the MOUNTAINS

2 SPRAINED ankles

1 race FULL of FUN

This is how I would describe the Dirty Dash in a nutshell.  It was a race that I ran with my sister, 2 sisters-in-law and my fabulous friend, who so kindly stepped in to help us out.  Think muddy hills, wading through mud pits and a swamp, climbing through tubes and over walls and haystacks, running through tires, ascending a rope contraption, crossing balance beams, swinging off ropes and tumbling down slides.  Much of the course was spent in laughter, at least when our mouths were not full of mud.  Here are some highlights:     

A big shout out to Erin for registering us for the race, inspiring us to train, sending out encouraging emails, purchasing the boas and hair extensions, driving us to the race and taking pictures that we will remember for the rest of our lives.  Without Erin none of us would have sloshed through mud, waded in water, peed in the mountains, sprained an ankle, climbed over a scary rope obstacle to face our fear of falling, face planted in manure water and received a t-shirt with a pig on the front.  It was a day to remember!  Thanks for the memories ladies and joining together as the Muddy Mamas.

Crystal Butterflies and Black Crocs

What do crystal butterflies and black crocs have in common?  Nothing, except for those are the names of the two soccer teams we watch play each week.  Lizzy has joined the ranks of other fancy foot kicking, ball chasing and goal scoring kids.  She scored her first goal yesterday.  Watching Lizzy play makes me smile because her team name fits her perfectly.  She flutters and dances around the ball like a butterfly and is not very aggressive.  Her favorite part of playing is the "outfit", of course!

Meet the kid from the Black Crocs.  He is aggressive, driven and outsmarts his prey.  This kid can't stand to lose and wants every opportunity to be in the game.  Quite different from our Crystal Butterfly.  This year Will is on a competition team and Brad is the coach.  The Black Crocs are so much fun to watch.  They play positions and have goalies and the games are more intense.  The "outfits" aren't bad either.  Go Black Crocs and Crystal Butteflies!  

Under the Sea

  Lizzy's favorite Disney princess is Ariel from The Little Mermaid.  I asked Lizzy why she liked Ariel the best and thought she would say something about her flowing red hair, the beautiful singing voice or her skills as a swimmer.  She can out swim a shark, you know?  Instead Lizzy said she just liked her name.  Over Labor Day weekend we headed south to St. George and had a girl's night out at Tuacahn Theater.  Erin and Lydia joined us, and I know Lizzy loves both of their names.  

      

I loved the production, especially Ursula, Eric and Ariel, of course.  Afterwards we got pictures taken with the performers.  It was such a fun night!