Dr. Rogers is done!

He's done!  He's done!  Jeremy finally has his diploma in hand and is ready to leave Philadelphia!  What began as a three week separation to finish up a few loose ends turned into an eight week drama with rapidly unraveling ends.  It seemed that no matter what Jeremy did, he just kept getting farther and farther behind.  I think he went through five bridge patients in the last eight weeks trying to get the one that he needed.  Either they couldn't pay at the last minute, they changed their mind, or they just didn't show.  When he finally found one who was ready to go, the lab assistants at the school were fired...so what used to be a one-day turn-around for copings and porcelain, was now a 10 day wait for each step.  Hmm..can you say set-back?   After some intense discussions with the deans and faculty, we found a compromise that worked for everyone and Jeremy was able to legitimately finish all his requirements.  What a sigh of relief!  When we had approval from the dean to go ahead with the plan I burst into tears.  I hadn't realized how emotionally unstable I was until I heard the words, "He said yes."  Cambrie kept asking me what was wrong, and I had difficulty explaining to her that I was so happy because Daddy's teachers were being very nice.  He gets to come home!  The plan with his bridge went perfectly and the staff was happy, willing, and available to sign everything off so he could receive his diploma. 

I will be so happy to have a husband again.  Being a single mom living at home is not my first choice of circumstances.  Our families have been wonderful in helping us through this, but there's nothing like having a husband at your side.  While Jeremy was still in Philly, he missed McKenzie learning how to sit up, how to crawl, laughing, and really coming into her personality.  Cambrie missed having her dad around for her swimming lessons, learning how to light fireworks, insisting on brushing her own hair and teeth, and just growing up.  I can't wait to see him.  He leaves tomorrow morning but is stopping in Kentucky and Colorado before coming here, so I won't see him for a week but the end is so near that I can handle a seven day countdown.  Yea!

Blueberry Cat

Cambrie was performing out on the deck this morning and I just had to catch it on video.  She just picked up her vibrato this past week.  I love it!

On the move

Now that McKenzie can do this....

I am finding a lot of this...messes everywhere. 

She is my creative little cat and pulls things out of boxes, off the floor, off my face, and is constantly on the move trying to explore and discover new things.  When I try to hold her she spins around and around in circles wanting to watch everything that is happening, making cuddle time difficult.  If I leave her on the ground she finds a way to destroy things.  Her most abused victim is one of my mom's houseplants.  When we first moved in she pulled a couple leaves off and we thought she actually ate one.  She lost interest for awhile, but now when you look at all the stems that are within arms' reach of the ground, they are leafless.  Poor little plant.

She is also good at getting stuck places.  For some reason she really likes being under the exersaucer.  I can't imagine it's that comfortable.  Babies who stay still are so much easier to keep track of!

Cambrie cameraman

Cambrie is learning how to move her fingers out of the way while she's taking pictures.  So instead of getting fuzzy flesh-colored pics, this is what I found on my camera the other day.

Mommy moments

Yesterday while getting McKenzie's immunizations, I had a couple of mommy moments that I just have to share.

On our way to the clinic I heard McKenzie gagging and chocking on something.  I asked Cambrie what she was chewing on and apparently it was just her fingers.  When I pulled her out of the car she was still gagging even though she wasn't chewing on her fingers anymore, but I did see something fuzzy on her cheek.  There was something fuzzy on her fingers, and after a slurpy gag something fuzzy came out of her mouth.  It looked like quilt batting.  Weird?  Come to find out she had put her hand underneath her car seat cover and was ripping the batting away from her car seat and eating eat.  That was a child hazard I never would have expected.  What kind of baby eats their car seat?  

Mommy moment number two:  We were in the crowded waiting room waiting to be called back for McKenzie's shots.  Cambrie walked away from the toys to tell me that something was poking her bottom.  Then she grabbed her pants and panties and pulled them down trying to look at her bum!  "Mom, I think I have diarrhea."  What?!  "First of all, pull those pants back up sweetie.  I don't think you have diarrhea, you are just fine."  (As a disclaimer, she had no diarrhea).  I heard a lot of snickering in the waiting room, mostly from all the seventh graders also waiting for their immunizations.  Oh boy.  Being a mom is never boring is it?

Movin' McKenzie

McKenzie is officially crawling.  She's been rocking on her hands and knees, and scooting on her stomach for awhile, but now she really moves.  Yikes!  Watch out stairs, Cambrie's toys, house plants, bugs, and unattended gummies-McKenzie will find you!

Just for laughs

This was the second attempt at capturing McKenzie crawling, but I realized that Jeremy hasn't really heard her laugh or seen her face in awhile so this is for him.  She is funny about her laugh and seems to hold it in as long as possible so it comes out kind of as squeaks.  I just love that face!

Snowbirdy visit

We got to visit the Snowbird condo again last week!  Since our first stay really only lasted overnight Cambrie didn't have a chance to take advantage of the fun summer resort activities that they have.  The first thing she spotted after we checked into our room was the blow up castle.  So in she went.  We joked that instant friends are made in the blow-up castles as you're bouncing and flopping all over the place together.

There was also a blow-up slide that required bouncing down instead of sliding.  I loved watching the kids flop their way down. 

One of the big attractions for kids of all ages is the Alpine Slide.  I thought that Cambrie would absolutely love it.  I mean, what's not to love about sliding down a mountain on a sled that you can actually control?  She tentatively got in line with me and was a good sport about riding down. She smiled, cheered, and didn't beg me to stop-which I took as a good sign. 

But when we rode the chair lift back up to go down again she said she'd rather walk down.  What?  Really?  So we walked down the mountain, rode the chair lift up, and walked down the mountain again.  Weird, but...okay. 

I have ridden chair lifts my whole life and there have been moments when I'm stuck way above a frozen ravine in a cold wind and yes, it is a little scary.  But I never thought I'd be nervous on a kid's lift, in the perfect sunshine, with no wind whatsoever.  Having Cambrie up there actually made me nervous.  What if she simply slipped?  What were my parents thinking letting me ride on a ski lift with skis when I was little?  If I had fallen off it would have been bad!  Geesh.  I'm turning into a wimpy mom.  So even when McKenzie was strapped to my mom in the Bjorn riding up the mountain with her I was having to take deep breaths and remind myself that my mom has ridden thousands of ski lifts and hasn't fallen off one yet. 

Snowbird has a great Tram that takes you up to the top of the mountain for mountain biking, hiking, or skiing.  It is gorgeous up there with 360 degree views. 

Believe it or not, this is the best picture of Cambrie at the top of the Tram.  Lately she has been stubborn about when she wants, or doesn't want her picture taken.  So for posterity sakes I included this picture of the back of her head. 

Even back in the room we had a good time.  McKenzie's favorite toy was the closet mirrors.  She found a little friend!

Until we return, farewell Cliff Lodge!

Clean Ducky

This made me think twice about doing laundry. I felt very inhumane dunking Ducky...just look at those eyes!  It's like he's crying out, "Please!  Don't wash me!"

Bear Lake reunion

My dad is the youngest of his four siblings, so naturally my siblings and I are the youngest of the cousins.  Growing up we had lots of parties and get-togethers with the Johnsons, but as the years have gone on they have become less frequent.  Partially because all of our individual families have grown to include 28 great-grandchildren, and partially because half of the 22 grandchildren live outside of Utah.  Needless to say, it has been years since I have seen many of these cousins and I have never met a lot of their children.  Years ago we had reunions up at Bear Lake.  They have evolved from camping at Rendezvous beach, to spending a week at the Bear Lake Training Center, or time at Camp Hunt.  We met again at Bear Lake to spend time together at the beach and enjoy a favorite Johnson pastime-boating.  Thank you to everyone who made this reunion possible.  When we set up camp we looked like a circus.  Look at all of those tents! 

And here is a pictures of everyone saying hello.  It's been years!

We spent the first little while introducing all of the new arrivals and singing some songs together.  The Johnson family has beautiful singing voices and makes some great harmony together.   This is a kandid picture of a four generation shot with my Grandma Johnson (who was the inspiration for this reunion and the star of the Johnson family), my mom, Cambrie and me, as we were deciding what song to sing next. 

After the adults had their fun, Cambrie went straight to work meeting all of her cousins.  Luckily they all played really well together. 

The adults play well together too.  Here is a picture of my dad and my Aunt Maureen on the jet skis.  Still young at heart they insisted on having races across the choppy water. 

A day at the beach includes putting sunscreen on all of the babies.  (Bear Lake seems to be the sunburn capitol of the world).  McKenzie and Jocelyn took loved sucking on the sunscreen together.

Digging holes to sit in. 

Running through the water. 

Playing with the water toys. 

And going on boat rides.  I love it! 

One of our boat trips was a special one for the girl cousins. 

Each girl had a turn to drive the boat.  Of course, since none of them are older than five they couldn't see over the dashboard to tell where they were taking us.  We went in a lot of circles on that lake. 

The weather was unfortunately very unpredictable.  The days started out nice and sunny, but afternoon winds and lightning cut our days short.  The first day we tried to wait it out but all of the static electricity in the air had our hair standing on end and the car antennas buzzing.  It made us nervous and we packed up to head home.  Of course, after everyone had left, the storm cleared up and the lake was beautiful.  We were even able to fit in a few extra skiing runs.

Luckily there was still a lot of sun and we had a great time. 

McKenzie is getting more active every day, and  wanted to play in the sand too.  She loves splashing in the water in the bath tub so I thought the shore would be great.  She didn't even notice the water.  The highlight for her was eating the mud.  (Tamar, does this look familiar?) 

By the end of the two days everyone was tuckered out.  Cambrie squeezed in a nap in the bow of the boat while Hannah was water skiing.  She was wrapped up nice and cozy in a towel when unexpectedly the boat took a dip downward as a wave came rushing over the edge of the boat.  It completely swamped her and was a horrible wake up call. 

McKenzie took what naps she could even if it meant sleeping in her life jacket. 

It was so much fun seeing everyone again and spending time together.  I am lucky to be part of such an amazing family.

Mud Mayhem

Since living in Utah, Cambrie has discovered...the hose!  She can have water wherever she wants, whenever she wants.  No more of this filling up buckets from the tap and carrying them around.  The hose is such a breeze.  I decided to leave her alone and see what fun she could create with a hose and a dirt yard.  When I checked on her a few minutes later, she was busy creating a pool. 

She may have been there a really long time before that pool was fit to play in, but she learned that the mud was just as fun.  Check out those toes!  She was wearing little mud moccasins.

When she learned that she could drink out of the hose she was thrilled.  What a treat!