I just made you gasp, didn't I!?!?! HA! What I meant was I am so late in doing a birthday post for Brad! I just posted a bunch of other crap, but since I didn't take any pictures at his birthday dinner I just skipped over it. I am such a loser wife!
What do I love about Brad?
- he tells me he loves me every day
- he likes to cook
- he fixes Zoë's hair like a champ
- he cuts Trevor's hair like a champ
- he takes time to teach the kids simple things
- he loves me no matter what
- he gave me back rubs & foot rubs every day when I was pregnant
- he gives Zoë & I pedicures
- he likes to brush my hair (when it was long!)
- he loves to listen to me play the piano
- he's the most creative person I know
- service is a part of his life every day
- he cleans the house better than I do
- he teaches me something new every day
- he makes the bed every day
- he makes me want to be a better person
- he doesn't put people down
- he's honest
- he's a worthy priesthood holder
- he just went to pick up the boys from wrestling practice because I feel like I might hurl
- he loves going to Disneyland
- he can't wait until Trevor is old enough for Scouts
- he cleans my truck for me inside & out
- he loves to change stuff around inside the house
- he let me vent about everything and he never judges the opinions I have, even if he doesn't agree with them
- he listens and he remembers every conversation we have
- he tells me to be safe every morning when I leave for work before dawn
- he loves having little kids around
- he bought me a new BlackBerry after I washed my cell phone by accident
- he has never been mean to me or our kids....ever.
- he is never mean to other people....ever.
- I love that he is all mine!
Monday, January 26, 2009
I'm late!
Foggy Saturday
This is what we found when we woke up on Saturday morning.....a foggy, foggy sunrise!
We drove up to the chapel at 8:00 am to clean it. This is the visability down Bonanza.
The city looked like it was floating on the clouds. It was so beautiful!
Nine little monkeys
Jumpin' in the Mennig's tramp! The kids went over to jump the other night and I snuck over and snapped some pics. They totally tackled Karla when she tried to get off - I have one of Trevor pulling on her leg but it has a weird red line on it so I didn't post it. She told me that he is so strong that she couldn't get away from him....I believe it.
Ricardo was showing me some dance moves. Elizabeth took a break to pose for me before she resumed the attack on her Mom. Michael is just a cheezer.
Stubborn on a Monday
This is what we did on MLK day up at Grandpa & Grandma Campbell's house..
You can only ignore Uncle Brad for so long....
before he makes you smile!
JJ tried to give Brad the cold shoulder treatment, but who can resist this kind of fun?!Meanwhile, this is what the kids were up to....
On the way home I tested out my new SLR camera. 
the other end of the rainbow!
I love this mountain range.
Mesquite (from the North).
The air quality in the valley was horrible when we got home. No wonder everyone has been coughing for the last month!
The plane! The plane! I was sticking my head out the window to get these shots while this plane flew over us on the way to land at the base.
The Reader
If Zoë doesn't make it over to read to Jessica, she finds her way to our house. Brad always furnishes the popsicles.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The little wrestler that could
Once upon a time a little boy awoke. He was ready to wrestle by 6:15 am! 
He did his best to get in the zone.
The anticipation set in, but the waiting had just begun....
He decided he needed a different point of view on the happenings of his team mates, so he made himself comfy ring side (or mat side I guess you'd say). 
Finally! It was his turn! (In the middle with his hands on his hips....)
He did his best with his worthy opponant. It was a very tough match, but he did his best and made it through his first tournamant! Dad & Mom were very proud of the job done by their son. He works very hard at practice throughout the week, which he loves. They told the little boy they can't wait to see him wrestle again! 
Epilogue - the wrestler also had the support of his cousins, Jake & Zack, who also wrestle. This was Zack's first tournament, too! Good job with your matches today guys!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Smart as a whip, or just a smart mouth?
I cut more hair off. A lot more hair. Zoë is not at all impressed - she's all about the long, flowing hair. I think someone told her I was being stubborn when I cut it....
Conversation that took place in the car sometime around Christmas while Brad and I were discussing my new hair cut:
Zoë: Do you like your hair Mom?
Les: Yeah, I guess. If I didn't it's too late now. (or something to that effect....)
Zoë: Well, I guess you'd just rather be stubborn than beautiful.
Oh-kay. I just looked at Brad and asked him is she was just being a litle smart a**, and he said he didn't think so. I turned to look at Zoë who had already put her head phones back on and was listening to her IPOD. When she realized I was staring at her she took her headphones off and said 'What? Sorry I didn't hear you.' She was clueless and was obviously not trying to get my goat like I thought she was. I told her never mind and turned back to Brad.
He said 'Well, at least she doesn't change her opinion just to make you happy!'. I don't think I would have it any other way. She may have been Leslie, Jr. in the past, but Bradlee, Jr. is now rearing it's lovely head!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Christmas - Johnson style
The weekend before Christmas we went up to visit my parents & sisters and their families. While we were there we celebrated JJ's birthday with him. As you can see T-Bone enjoyed the festivities. Kolbey painted a red mustasche & beard on and he was ready to stuff his face! I think that's a mouth full of Aunt Lisa's yummy popcorn! Thanks for the invite Lenz - we had a blast! And thanks for chopping more hair off for me! I'm LOVING it!
I was off the whole week of Christmas. It was so nice. I took the kids to see Bolt and got some last minute shopping done by Monday afternoon. I was able to make the trip out to visit a friend of mine who was also off work that day. It's always nice to visit with friends from work when we're not at work. (Did that make sense?) After a trip to Sam's Club the next day we were officially ready for Christmas!!!
According to tradition, we gathered at Grandpa & Grandma Johnson's house on Chrismas Eve for fried chicken, mashed taters, buttered corn and rolls! YUM! Camille also brought some killer desserts. We each opened a present that night from a member of the family who had drawn our name a couple of weeks before. Brad got some art supplies from Katie, I got a beautiful heart pendant from Ed, Zoë got an adorable outfit from one of Angela's kids & Trevor got a Kobe Bryant jersey from Zane (I think...). We all went home with heavier tummies and some new goodies!
Christmas Eve night was not even close to being over. After we got home we got a visit from Santa! But he was nice enough to ring the door bell before barging in to tell the kids that they needed to hurry up and get to bed so that he could start delivering presents. That's all they needed to hear. Ten minutes later they were in bed. I didn't even care that they hadn't brushed their teeth. I knew that I have a TON of presents to wrap and Brad was already out the door to put a couple trampolines together. He helped Dave with his then Jason with his. I took out some Diet Cokes to the back fence and watched them for a few minutes before they realized I was there. I was giggling so hard. I wish I had videotaped them (they were putting up the net). Dave was trying to get across the tramp as fast as he could, bouncing without meaning to, Jason & Rob were holding posts down, Brad was trying to tell Dave where to go and Micah was just standing back with a big smile on his face watching them perform what looked like a Three Stooges comedy routine. It wasn't as bad as I'm making it sound, but it was already after 11:00 and we were all a little giddy - and they still hadn't put Jason's trampoline together! By the time Brad got home and we got settled down into bed, it was almost 1:00 am.
Look! It's Ghetto Santa everyone! We love you Dave! (NO - this is not the Santa that visited my kids earlier!)
Brad: an Invicta watch (from his lovely wife!)
Leslie: an AWESOME cast iron pot (from my wonderful hubby!)
Zoë: her very first camera (which did not cost this much!)
Trevor: basketball hoop (that we got a KILLER deal on - 1/2 of that this says!)
We had a good time going to Grandpa & Grandma's for breakfast and more presents (THANK YOU!). As part of the Johnson tradition we visit everyone's house on Christmas morning - our rule is that if you want your present, you'll come over to our house! :) It's always fun and this year was no exception.
Since Christmas things has really slowed down. We had a great fight night, even though Forrest got his butt kicked. I can't wait until the next couple of fight nights. There are some good tickets coming up this month!
New Year's was fun and low key. We had some good friends over for food, fun and TONS of laughs! We played some fun games and then sat around for a while just sharing memories that all of us have been a part of. I just sat back a couple of times and thought how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many people I love and that would do anything for me and my family. There is never any contention between anyone. I think because we are so totally honest with each other on every level - it's kind of like having extended sibling relationships. If my hair looked stupid, someone would tell me. And it wouldn't hurt my feelings either - I would love them for making sure I don't look stupid. Sorry, I'll stop. I could go on all day about this particular subject and then I would get all emotional and blubbery.
On to today - the day we all make RESOLUTIONS! Screw that. I already ate Wing Stop and Sonic today so making the same stupid resolution to lose weight and get in shape would be out the window by now anyways. But I will say this...I have made myself some very important promises that I intend not to break. No - I'm not willing to share any of them.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
