Life on the Sunny Side of the Street

Monday, July 21, 2008

Eight Great Years

Today Megan and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. I just wanted to take a moment and thank her for being a wonderful wife and mother. Without being sappy I wanted to thank her for all she has done for me and our family. Without her I would not be the person I am today. We have had a great eight years and I look forward to the many more years we have to spend together. I love you.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Boy meets concrete

So we were at the water park yesterday, and I barely get Hank's shirt off before he starts running to the sprinklers. He failed to correctly negotiate the steps and takes a dive. Luckily, his face broke the fall. I pick him up as he is hysterically sobbing, and try to get him settled down. It takes a few minutes, and as he is getting calmed down, I say to him, "Hank, you just have to slow down a bit," to which he started wailing all over again. I guess like the Boss, my boy was born to run.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Why I love my brother Simon:

The way you sing “The Lord is my Light” like Mariah Carey.

For being one of the few people brave enough to never compromise your personality and nice enough to never ask people to compromise theirs.

For your love of all foods greasy, sticky, multi-colored, and age inappropriate. Is there anyone else past nine who could pound a box of Go-gurts?

For the way you still look forward to finding a drum set under the Christmas tree.

For being funny and kind simultaneously. Not many are talented enough to pull that off, including me.

For your long Fast Sunday dinner prayers…I admit they drove me crazy at the time, but I love knowing that my baby brother prays for me.

For not letting a falling piano keep you down. You took it like a man!

You teach us by the things you do, not by the words you speak.

For your cockney accent, missions from the Queen, and “A little bit of luck”.

For giving your tips to Mom and Dad. You truly amaze me.

For making Shane's introduction into our family unforgettable. (And thank you Shane, for marrying me anyway)

For being the first one to forgive, always.

For your millions of “Simonisms” including, “I hate the world”, “They can’t keep me from selling!”, “Sorry dad, I wasn’t really paying attention”, and of course, “Don’t mind if I do!”

For taking all the trials except chubbiness.

For apple juice and raw hot dogs. (Sorry Derek, for falling on that grenade)

For bearing your testimony sincerely and frequently.

For your absolute persistence and utter patience. If only you had been born first and wore Mom and Dad out before the rest of us showed up!

For never allowing yourself to become victimized, no matter what. You have never begrudged your trials, you simply get through them quietly and honorably.

For ding-dong non-ditching

For your huge heart inside that skinny body.

Your impersonation of raptors, Grandma, and the call of a cougar….freaking hilarious.

For pursuing your music and the joy you take in it.

For your love of the Savior and your fellow men.

Slimy-Simy, you are such a blessing in my life and I absolutely adore you. You are an incredible example to me and I am more proud and humbled by you than I can say. You are someone I look up to and strive to be more like. You are a hero to me and I love you more than I can blog.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

New Pics of Hank

I have been less than diligent in blogging lately, so will take a few moments to post some pictures of Hank (and thus appease his Nana).

Here are Hank and Nana at Riverfront Park in Spokane. Notice Nana's vice-grip on Hank to keep him from going "Tom Hanks" and becoming a Mer-man. Some nice lady gave Hank a piece of bread to feed the ducks, to which he promptly ate it. Now that's dominion over the beasts, baby!

This park also has an amazing giant red-flyer wagon slide that Hank had a blast on...he just couldn't understand what the other kids were doing on it....

Going...

Gone!

Hank's new obsession...shoes! He loves plodding along in other people's shoes. It's a way to constantly remind him that he is the first child and therefore holds all our overblown expectations in those big shoes he has to fill....

Here is Hank right before church on the morning of his first trip to nursery! If you weren't in the building or in a 5-mile radius and didn't get a chance hear his hysterically sobbing as they brought him back to me in Sunday School, then you missed out. My apologies to Bro. Linde, as I am sure it was a great lesson up to that point.

So Wednesday afternoon I was in the family room and things had gotten very quiet in Hank's room. I went to investigate and he wasn't there. I did a search of the house and found this: He had gotten into the garage, found his stroller, climbed in and fell asleep (or else passed out from heat exhaustion.) This is especially endearing to me, because my scrapbooks are filled with pictures of me at his age, dead asleep in the most random of places...The dream lives on!

BTW, we are not usually so ghetto...he was in his swimming trunks and no shirt because we were going to the water-park later that afternoon. Okay, we are that ghetto.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Hanks on a Plane!

So we set off once again to Provo to attend the blessing of the sweetest baby ever, my nephew baby Ethan. Here are Hank and Ethan getting acquainted with each other. Look how he is screaming with joy in my arms!

On Saturday, my folks took us to Sundance and Park City to enjoy the incredible weather we were having. Here is Hank taking in the view at Bridal Veil Falls. I loved his face even more than the scenery! And for all of you who think I am horrible for keeping him strapped to his chair while Shane and I got out and enjoyed the view, don't worry. We threw some french frys at him and he was good for 1/2 hour.
We seriously tempted fate and went on the ski lift ride at Sundance with Hank. See how Shane is literally squeezing the life out of Hank to make sure he didn't plummet to his death. The last thing Mr. Redford needs is an ugly lawsuit.

Hail Zion!!

LL Cool Hank

All in all it was a good trip. Derek did an amazing job blessing Ethan, and it was just nice to get away for a while.

A brief note to my family: Sitting in church yesterday and thinking about all the things we have been through these past 6 years, I was filled to the brim with gratitude for my family. I can't think of a better group of people to go through the trials and joys of this life than with you. You make me proud to be a sister, daughter, wife, and mom. I love you all so much, and know there is no force strong enough to take down Team McLaughlin/Johnson/Jones. And, we are seriously going to rock at the Family Reunion Bowling Night.

That's a throwdown Beagley's, Rowley's and Armstongs!!!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Home Improvements

To the delight and relief of our neighbors, we finally got down and dirty with some home improvement projects (thank you economic stimulus package!). We decided to enclose the fence, (thus completing Hank's prison yard...he might as well get used to it now). We had several contractors bid the job, but Shane decided in the end that he and his dad could do the job and save some cash. They of course did an amazing job, and the best part is that Bruce worked for cheeseburgers!

With the money we saved we decided to get some curbing in our front yard. That's right, just like the Jefferson's, the Johnson's are 'a movin on up! Artistic Curbing came out and did a fantastic job, (if anyone wants the number let me know).

Finally, the part I have been waiting for, the plants. Luckily I married a farmer, because I was literally asking questions like, "So I just water around the dirt at the bottom, right?" and "So you're 100% sure that if we give these plants water, fertilizer and sunlight they will just grow on their own?" I'm a regular green thumb.

Before:

After: Shane built me these beautiful planter boxes which we stained to match the fence. I cant wait to see everything grow!

Here is my favorite thing (to the very far right), a Blushing Bride Hydrangea bush. I named it Alfie after my great-grandpa who I have heard was an avid gardener. Grow Alfie, grow like the wind!!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Team Jolene!

For those of you who never knew my cousin Jolene, I just want to say I'm sorry you never got to meet her. She was one of the funniest, bravest, loudest, hungriest, coolest girls I ever met. Jo made every room she walked into come alive. I am humbled to have known her, and blessed to have her in my eternal family. I think about her every day, and try to measure my faith, my joy and my prayers against hers. She was on the top of my very short list of hero's and I miss her.

This weekend, Jolene's amazing sister Karine sponsored 'Team Jolene' in the annual Cystic Fibrosis walk in Yakima. Shane, Hank and I drove up to participate and do a tiny part in helping find a cure to the disease Jolene fought her entire life.

Here are some pictures:

Hank showing his Jolene pride!