Yes it is. Spring Cleaning.
I've made a list and checked it twice.
I need to make sure my efforts are very NICE. (because clean always makes me feel better. You?)
I told B I was taking it one room at a time, one day at a time. Today we will start with the Master Bath. I've taken some tums and morning sickness meds so I don't barf when I clean out the toilet and drains. Should work, right? ;)
We had a lovely Easter Sunday. There is nothing better than having ALL of your family around. The Johnson's traveled up to Cottonwood Heights for Easter dinner with the Shaw's. We ate outside, talked, laughed, and enjoyed the perfect weather. Mama made this beautiful Easter cake. Cute, right? I was very proud of her.
(Brando and Shane)
(Parker, Carson, Joey, and Whit playing some Bocce Ball.)
(Cuties Tay and Hailey)
(Beautiful women in my life: Mama, Mama J, Whit, and Teresa)
(Couple Pic. I haven't decided on showing belly yet. Maybe next time?)
*****
In other news, we find out this Friday whether we're having Baby Girl or Baby Boy. I think this will be a LONG week for me! Happy Easter to all friends, family, peers. Feeling very grateful for my Savior and the hope and joy He brings to me and my sweet little family. Oh how I love this little family of mine!
B and I attended our first caucus- ever. It was quite an experience. We share our precinct with the city mayor, president of Key Bank, our Stake President, former stake presidency members, lawyers, doctors, school board members, business men, people who have lived here FORVER, etc. etc. To say we felt like little fish in a big pond....was an understatement. Like 2 little timid mice, we entered the room unsure of what we were doing and with very little background in political issues. So, we sat in a non-air conditioned room for 2 hours, listening to nominees talk about their opinions and plans for being state delegate. I had no idea what a state delegate even did. To be honest, I still don't understand it completely. Does that make me terribly ignorant?
I cautiously watched B throughout the evening. The truth is, it was more like voluntary dragging to get him to come with me. If he had his way, we would be home on the couch, snuggling, watching the new episode of Community that he has been SO excited for. I can't lie, I've been counting down as well. He would rather have his Ipad out, researching updated articles on new software, coding, etc. etc. etc. Instead, at my insistance, he attended a caucus. It was hot. Some of the speeches were a little long. And we really had no idea or background on a majority of the topics that were brought up. I guess it was a little wake up call for me to be a little more...informed? I think the First Presidency was inspired to encourage us to pay attention and get a little more involved in these things that have effect on us....or definitely on our children.
So, we walked back to the car and I basically gave B free reign to say whatever he wanted. I mean, he really was such a trooper, how could I not allow him to blow off some of that hot, stuffy air we had breathed the past 2 hours? But, instead of getting after me or screaming at the top of his lungs (which, by the way, I don't think my husband has EVER done in his life), he started quoting the crotchety old lady sitting directly behind him, who kept insisting that instead of speeches, we just made each nominee "stand on their head" or yelled "Close! Close the nominations!" after only 4 nominations were given or loudly argued with the precinct chair that she thought Democrat and Republican parties were "dumb". Yeah, it made for some really, really good laughing on the drive home. When we hit the last stop light before we got to our house, B turned to me and said "I feel like some ice cream. I think we deserve it."
I could not have agreed more.
Drumroll please.......I cooked dinner last night. Yes, believe it. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you have a little boost in energy. Anyway, I found this recipe on Pinterest and was intrigued. I don't know if any of you really are interested, but I decided to post the recipe:
Servings: serves 2
Ingredients:
-4 oz dry spaghetti (I think you could use any pasta you want)
-1/4 cup grated parmesan
-2 tsp olive oil
-1 clove garlic
-1/2 lemon
-2 tbsp pine nuts
-5-6 basil leaves, chiffonaded (the store was out of fresh basil, so we used our dried basil instead.)
Directions:
First, start your garlic oil. Pour in olive oil and chopped up garlic into a small frying pan and let it cook over low, until the garlic starts to brown on the edges. Immediately remove from heat and reserve. While that's starting up, boil up some spaghetti (pasta).
Chiffonade some basil leaves. (I had to look the definition of this up online: cooking technique in which herbs or leafy green vegetables (such as spinach and basil) are cut into long, thin strips. This is generally accomplished by stacking leaves, rolling them tightly, then cutting across the rolled leaves with a sharp knife, producing fine ribbons.)
Then you take cheese and pine nuts and dump it into a large bowl, with the garlic oil, garlic chunks and all. Squeeze in lemon juice. Throw in the spaghetti and toss until well combined. Plate, crack some black pepper on it, and enjoy!
*Note: For next time, we will double the recipe. Also, we like a lot of flavor, so we will increase the amount of garlic for garlic oil. I also kept the lemon in the fridge, so I think it cooled down the pasta quite a bit. B likes his food HOT, so we will keep the lemon at room temperature and see if the pasta stays warmer...or you could just throw it in the microwave. :) And...yes, those are green olives on my salad. I told you, this is a craving lately. We also served dinner with slice of garlic bread.
It turned out really yummy. B would eat it again, so that's a good sign!
Today I had a dr appt. B set the clock for 7:00 am and when it went off, I did not want to wake up. Then I remembered that I had waited too long yesterday morning to eat anything, which ironically made me throw up the bagel I did eat right before church. It was lovely. So I hopped out of the shower, got semi-dressed, and quickly walked to the kitchen for a bowl of granola. Then I remembered I promised B I would go the DMV with him after the appt. so we could change the address and name on my license. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Not. Fun. Not. Excited. Blah. B consistently reminds me after I throw a tantrum, that I have a choice: I can either deal with the DMV or not go to Florida in April (he purchased the flight tickets with the name Megan Johnson). Then I remind him that he shouldn't practice his parent voice on me...his wife. But, then I remind myself that he wouldn't need to if I didn't act like such a baby.
So, we headed out the door at 8:40 am and right when the garage opened, the sunshine was every where! Why does the sun make me so...happy? We got in the car and I turned on a little Eric Hutchinson and for just a moment, I wasn't nauseous, grumpy, bloated, or crying. For just a moment, it was perfect.
Dr. Larsen told us our "kiddo" was doing good and things looked perfect. He let us hear the heartbeat again. I got teary. Why is that sound so joyful? Back in the car, I got to munch on my new favorite thing: Special K Cracker Chips. When we got to the DMV, I remembered why I procrastinated coming. Lines. Applications. A NEW PICTURE! Okay, thinking I had just BARELY renewed my license and they wouldn't take my picture AGAIN, I wasn't prepared at all. Luckily, I put on a little makeup and my hair looked okay...? Nope. I saw the picture and gasped. The worker giggled a little bit. Did she think I was funny or did she agree with me that I looked like a crack mom? IT. IS. AWFUL. I about cried the whole way home and B had to keep convincing me that no one was going to see it...except the TSA people, possibly the news if I ever go missing, etc. etc. etc. He was trying to be funny, but I was being dang serious when I told him "If I ever go missing, you PROMISE me you will NOT use this photo for anything. Promise me. Right now!"
Of course, B being the awesome guy he is, said he would buy me a chocolate Frosty before heading back. That calmed me right down and I was happy as a clown the rest of the way home.
Ha. And I wonder why my husband has to talk to me like I'm 5 sometimes. Weird, right?
(I finally finished editing father-in-law's tennis photos from....um, August? I came across this one. It makes me so happy. Last night all these guys were making me laugh so hard. Grateful for awesome men in my life who are kind, loving, smart, and funny. Most of all funny. J/K.
I think this blog is in need of some "joyful" words. The problem is, I've been waiting for the right mood. I know that sounds terrible. I have to credit sister T for hitting it on the nose. Sunday, she approached me and said "Megs, you just haven't been very happy lately. I'm glad you're happier." Momma turned to me after we left the Mt. Timpanogas temple on Saturday and said "Oh! I'm glad to have you back! The light is back in your face. The light is even back in Brandon's eyes!" I couldn't help but reflect on the past 3+ months and agree that my attitude has been a little "under the weather". Also, that B has been the one to take most of the "hits". Poor guy.
I would like to announce that baby and I are doing better...which ultimately means B is doing better. We are out of the 1st trimester and the books keep telling me my nausea and vomiting ickiness should be clearing up...soon. For the most part, that has been true.
On Monday, we have our next doctor's appt. From there, we schedule the ultrasound that will tell us if we are having baby boy or baby girl Johnson. We. Are. Very. Excited. Grandparents feel it's a girl. Coworkers feel it's a boy. Brandon feels it's a human.
A couple of weeks ago we got our carseat and stroller delivered to our house. The day we decided to put it together, I was really REALLY sick. So, I laid on the couch in pain, while B installed everything by himself. Even as uncomfortable as I was, I couldn't help but crush on him after this:
*****
In summary, Life Is Good. It really is. I wish I was more in the "mood" to carry my camera around and document the adventures of our life right now. Photographs add so much more. But, alas, my camera still sits to the side of my desk, waiting for the day I decide to pick it up again.
Some things that could have been documented:
-Whit and Mom's birthday
-Sledding with some awesome kiddos
-Whit's endowment day
-The pork ribs we cooked for birthday dinner
-Snowy days and sunny days
-Almost 4 month pregnant belly (haha, yeah right.)
*****
Good friend and amazingly talented Beth Havens sent us some pictures she took of our wedding weekend. Here are some of my favorites:
Oooh, man! These pictures make my heart jump. What a wonderful day and a wonderful man.
Lately, there's been a lot of "down" time for B and I. You can really learn a lot about a person when you pay attention to what they spend their time doing when doing nothing. I have made a list for Brandon and a list for me. It's possible these lists will clarify why B is amazing and kinda smart...and, well, why I am the way I am.
Megan:
-Wake up. Lay on the couch.
-Play solitaire on the Ipad.
-Eat Capn' Crunch "Oops, All Berries!" for breakfast.
-Throw up said breakfast.
-Take 2 minute shower.
-Lay back in bed.
-Play some more solitaire on Ipad.
-Sleep for 2 hours.
-Eat chips and salsa. Eat grilled cheese.
-Lay back in bed.
-Play some more solitaire on Ipad.
-Play tick tack toe with myself on Ipad.
-Ipad dies.
-Write this list.
-All the while, still only dressed in my garments (underwear).
Brandon:
-Wake up. Get dressed.
-Get breakfast ready for both of us.
-Eat Frosted Mini Wheats for breakfast- not name brand. Bargain all the way baby!
-Try to find new episode of Phineas and Ferb. Unsuccessful.
-Watch KUED/PBS home remodeling show.
-Wife tells him she would rather watch anything else...so he turns on Firefly.
-Wife gets up to throw up- he wishes her well and expresses his love.
-Laughs after wife informs him her puking was so "intense"...there might have been need to take a shower.
-Makes grilled cheese for both of us for lunch.
-Deposits checks online.
-Watches these little "treasures" on YouTube (I know what you're thinking...Whoa. My thoughts were more like "Um...how did someone like you ever find yourself attracted to me...such a less-evolved, simpler species. )
-Currently reading computer coding blogs while singing along to the opening credits of Star Trek: Voyager. Also checking up on Google Plus.
************
So, there you go. No wonder my dad told me shortly before I got married "Megs, you're just helping the gene pool. We need this, so don't blow it." Somehow, B and I work. He may have to explain a lot of things to me...but I think that's why the Lord gave him an incredible amount of patience.
P.S. Brandon has informed me the WAU number (first youtube video) is...not real. Just had to make sure you knew that...because I totally did.
