OFF TO CAMP

Mike has been hinting for years that he wished we would go camping - he grew up camping, with a camper, all the accessories, and a whole family that is very well experienced with the trade.  I, however, have had one camping adventure and it left me "traumatized" for life.  I was little - maybe 4-5-6-7 years old, just old enough to remember faint details.  I remember it was with my parents and some of their friends - with tents and what I think was a truck bed type camper.  My dad made me go fishing that day (ew, gross, and wanted me to touch a fish), and then the kicker -  it rained and stormed that night. We just weren't camping people, the opportunity to camp just never came up again (at least, not that I know of).  So, I was convinced, I do not like camping.  I do not sleep outside. I do not sleep on the ground.  I do not want random critters to crawl on me in my sleep (or when I am awake for that matter).  I do not pee in the woods. I do not do well with no air conditioning.  

WELL.....(can you guess where this is going?).....our friends, the Klinge's, are campers.  They enjoy the primitive tent camping and have done it for years.  It was a really cool idea to get together with the kids to have a family camping adventure.  Ok....I can do this.  It's for the kids.  It's for 2 days.  I can do this - and my contingency plan?  Sleep in the back of our SUV and let the kids fend for themselves.  I begged Mike to camp in our backyard first just to be sure I wasn't going to have a meltdown.  He refused - gasp, what would the neighbors say?!?!  (insert the 'wife eye roll' here).  We met the Klinge's at a campground in Hillsdale, IL - perfectly half way for each of us.  We borrowed all of my sister & brother-in-law's camping stuff, including a tent and air mattress.  Ok, air mattress, that's technically not sleeping on the ground. Yep, I can do this.  The campground name has the word 'resort' in it's title - YES, this is a fancy campground - there are toilets and showers!  Even better, there was a mini golf course, playground, paddle boats, canoes, and swimming pool.  You can check out the goods here....http://www.sunsetlakesresort.com/amentities/. 

We spent 2 days and 2 nights camping and had a blast.  It was good weather - cool at night, a bit hot during the day (we went before the huge heat wave hit this summer).  We took advantage of all the amenities the resort offered - we spent a refreshing afternoon at the nicest outdoor pool I have ever been to (just a pool, not an aquatic center). And tested our boat safety with the paddle boats (success) and the canoes (fail).  Curious about the fail on canoes?  Before they could even begin rowing, the 4 boys toppled into the water (the moms watching from the dock).  The little boys thought it was fun and wanted to go again (they had their life jackets on), the big boys did not have so much fun in that disgusting, murky, there-is-a-reason-they-don't-let-people-swim-in-that-lake water.  Other than that excitement, we enjoyed our lake view, campfire food, games, and relaxing in good company. 

In the end, I am convinced...I like camping.  I like non-primitive camping, with no rain, no critters, modern facilities, air mattresses, and these cute little boys making great, non-traumatizing memories.  Well, except for the canoe...

View from our 'front door'

Mike caught the only fish with Ethan's Spiderman fishing pole

Kids cooking lesson

Competitive game of bags, lake side

Professional silly faces

PRESEASON TAILGATE

A mid-summer, preseason, no-football tailgate!  In June, we had an opportunity to get our whole tailgating family together to see if we still remembered how to do it - and while we were at it, we went ahead and wished some happy birthdays (with 60 candles total) to our 2 self-proclaimed champions, Mike and Dave!

Great food, great games, great weather, and great company. 

Dave, Mike & Lanny

Mike, Nate, & Scott

Mike and Dave turn 3-0 (x 2)!

Smash cake eating contest - it was probably less messy 29 years ago!

Ethan and Miles eating their cake. Note Ethan's use of a foot rest.

LAKE OKOBOJI

The blog has been on a little bit of hiatus - and rightfully so...we have been way too busy enjoying summer!  But, now that the extreme heatwave has hit (again), we are spending some more time inside these days.   During our Memorial Day weekend in NW Iowa, we found an afternoon to spend in Okoboji - Arnolds Park, Queens Court, the Pier, the Emporium, and Terrace Park Beach....oh, how we love Okoboji!

Ethan won the water balloon race game - his competitor, you ask? Mom. 

His very own Boji Bear!

Ethan and Mom at Arnold's Park

Eating ice cream at the Queen's Court

Hauling water and sand for castles

Playing in the sand

GOING TO THE CHAPEL

On May 19th, Jon and Jess's big day finally arrived - Wedding Day!  I had the role of bridesmaid, Mike had the role of groomsman, and Ethan had the role of being cute, well, a really cute ringbearer!  It was a very memorable, fun, and love filled day - it couldn't be any other way with a Johnson party!

THINGS MY KID SAYS

Ethan continues to make us laugh day in and day out - well, and if you can imagine, he about makes us pull our hair out too!  What a multi-talented child!  Enjoy some of our recent conversations.............

Setup:  Walking from the car to the Doctor's office building.
Mom: Oh, Ethan, look at all the pretty flowers.  I love the pink ones!
Ethan: Oh, Mom!  Look at the yellow flowers.  I wuv them.
Mom:  Ha! You do?
Ethan: Yes, I just wuv them.

Setup: Just a normal day at home
Ethan: Mom, I wants a snack
Mom: Uh, no, not right now
Ethan: But, but, but, but, but I wants a coooookie (imagine the pouty face)
Mom: You don't need a cookie, we will be eating dinner soon
Ethan: But, I wants a cookie, I just wuv them.
Mom: (chuckles), I know you do, but if you eat all of your dinner you can have one later.....

Setup: Bedtime - time to say our good nights and I love yous........
Dad:  Good night, Ethan!
Ethan: Good night, Daddy!
Dad: Don't let the bed bugs bite
Ethan: No, YOU don't let the bed bugs bite (pointing his finger at daddy with scrunched eyebrows)
Dad: YOU don't let the bed bugs bite
Ethan: Ah! I a bed bug - rah rah rah rah rah (those are supposed to be pretend biting noises - and he is pretending to attack Dad as a bug)
Dad: Ah! No, no, no don't bite me!!!!
Ethan: (belly laughter)
And.....repeat, over and over and over, night after night after night!

Setup: Packing and planning for our first camping trip
Mom: Ethan!  Are you excited?!  What are we going to do when we go camping?
Ethan: Eat marshmallows and hot dogs!
Mom: Yeah!  And what else?
Ethan: Pick up sticks!  And go camping!  And eat........BUGS! 
Mom: BUGS?!  Uck!  I don't want to eat bugs!
Ethan: (laughing) NAH!  We no eat bugs! (he totally cracks himself up!)

Setup:  Random moments of singing...
Ethan: B-I-ES-ES-SHO, B-I-ES-ES-SHO, B-I-ES-ES-SHO (translation: B-I-N-G-O, and the song goes no further than this!)

Mom: Ethan - tell Dad what song you were singing to me in the car!
Ethan: (singing) Here's my nummer! (translation: Carly Rae Jepsen's super popular 'Call Me Maybe' song)
Mom: (burst of laughter - first I have heard this) Well, yes, I guess we heard that song too, but tell Dad the other song!
Ethan: Rumors has it, Rumors has it, Rumors has it! (translation: Adele's also super popular 'Rumor Has It' that is also played on the radio all the time)
Dad: (shaking his head, not sure if he should be proud or not)

Setup: The HUGE battle of picking up toys around the house
Mom: Ethan - are you listening?  Let's get your stuff picked up.
Ethan: (in la-la land)
Mom: Hey - you need to put your listening ears on
Ethan: (grabbing both of his ears - you, know, to put the listening ones on!)
Mom: Ok, come on, let's get this stuff picked up
Ethan: Mom?  Can I take them off now?
Mom: Take what off?
Ethan: My ears.
Mom: Sigh.......................(translation: I give)

Setup: Pretend play..........Mom is folding laundry, Ethan is playing
Ethan: (grabs empty hamper and puts over his head) I 2 be a wobot, I 2 be a wobot (in his amazing robot voice)
Mom: (laughing) Ethan, are you a robot?
Ethan: (walking stiffly with the hamper still on his head) I 2 be wobot, I2 be a wobot.........Mom! MOM! I a robot.
Mom: (still laughing) Oh, yes, you sure are!

Setup: Playing with his fellow 3 year old friend - neither of which want to share a golf ball (yes, a dang golf ball)
Ethan: (to his friend) I want the ball, give me the ball!
Mom: Ethan Michael!  You need to talk nice to your friend!
Ethan: (gets in his friend's face)  NICE!  NICE!
Mom: ETHAN! Don't just yell the word 'nice' at him, you need to use your nice words!  Just share and take turns.  UGH!
(all of the adults roar into laughter- I believe shortly thereafter the ball was taken away from both of them)

DIRTY THIRTY

What is the difference between 2012 and 1982?  Yep, you're right, 30!  Mike hit the big 3-0 on May 21st, and being the loving, caring, fun wife that I am - I sent him a singing telegram at work!  Grammy Ammy stopped by to visit and sing Mike a fun little song that she wrote about him.  She even brought him flowers and a birthday hat!  I do have the experience on video, but I will give Mike a break and not share right now. In-person viewings are available though!

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

I know, I know - it's been awhile!  We have had quite the fun-filled summer, and there are no signs of us slowing down anytime soon.  I will have to go back and time here for a little bit...... May brought us wonderful weather for outdoor activities - including baseball!  For Mike's birthday, we ventured out to the Iowa Cubs game in Des Moines.  We brought the Heidesch family with us for a nice evening out and showed Landon a good time at his first I-Cubs game!  Daddy bought Ethan a bowl of popcorn - it just so happened to come in a baseball helmet.  So efficient, a bowl and a toy all in one!  Here are some moments we captured that evening...

CINNAMON ROLLS

 Ethan got an opportunity to help Dad bake homemade cinnamon rolls recently.  Ethan really enjoyed his flour scooping job, but more importantly, he enjoyed eating one!  He inhaled that thing, I didn't even get a chance to think to take a picture.

SUMMER 2012 IS HERE

One of our favorite things to do in the summer time is to go on down to the Des Moines Farmers Market, as you probably remember from previous years.  We were right there opening weekend on May 4th this year, and we were joined by our new BFF, Landon.  Oh, and his parents, Matt and Mo, too!  

Ethan's popcorn - we don't think he came up for air

Ethan and Landon cruisin'

Planting a pretty sad looking flower

SIT BACK, RELAX, PUT A BUCKET ON YOUR HEAD

FAMILY PICS

In March we headed out for our way overdue family pictures.  I have been horrible at getting our "official" pictures taken over the years, but my goal is to make sure we get it done at least once a year - my goal is to get another set (at least of just Ethan) done this fall. Honestly, it's something I don't look forward too because Ethan just doesn't sit still and doesn't like to be told to sit down and be still to get his picture taken.  Thankfully, the posed family pictures aren't a necessity these days!  We went out and played around and the photographer grabbed some posed photos but mostly just candid and made them look cool.  Lemon Tree Photography has done some really great work for some friends of ours, so we knew she could make us photogenic!  Here are some of our favorites.......

SLUGS, SNAILS, AND PUPPY DOG TAILS

Introducing...Landon Peter!  Our friends Matt & Melissa had their first born child last week.  We went to visit the family and Ethan was really excited to hold the baby.  He thought he was pretty cool sitting there holding him.  And, as usual, this was the only 5 minutes of calm, cool, and collected, until Ethan turned into hell on wheels once again - running, tripping, yelling, crashing, climbing, not listening, being naughty.  I suppose Matt and Melissa got a quick glimpse into their future!

Ethan (3 yrs) & Landon (1 week)

WINTER BUCKET LIST - FINAL FRONTIER

Remember our Winter Bucket List posts...well, there were a couple things we didn't get to do because of our wonderful mild winter (we Iowans were overdue for a break this year). We didn't get a chance to go sledding - Ethan had gotten a new sled and everything!  In opening up the garage on a very beautiful day in early April, he sees his sled and drags it out.  It was such a nice day, that Mike was treating the yard and pulled out the sprinklers.  Ethan had also just gotten a new Spiderman sprinkler.  Might as well kill two birds with one stone - sledding and running through the sprinkler all at once.  Not sure that I would have put the two together, but it provided enough entertainment for the afternoon!

On a side note - we don't have squirrels where we live...we have ducks.  So instead of building a snowman this winter, we fed the ducks in our yard!

THINGS MY KID SAYS

My friend Kelly has been keeping a blog of her family and I always look forward to her posts "Things My Kid Says".  Her little guy, Miles, is the same age as Ethan, so it's fun to hear what she is going through as we are going through some of the same things.  I just have to follow in her footsteps and start documenting more of what Ethan says these days - it's pure entertainment and it will be fun to look back at someday!

Setup: Driving home from daycare...
Ethan: Knock Knock
Mom: Who's there?
Ethan: Ethan Dean
Mom: Ethan Dean Who?
Ethan: (annoyed) Ethan Dean!

Setup: The 3 of us relaxing in the living room one weeknight
Ethan: Look! I'm Daddy! (putting on Mike's shoes)
Mom: Oh, did you put on Daddy's shoes?  Are you going somewhere?
Ethan: I go present shopping
Mom: Oh, is that what Daddy does? That sounds great!
Dad: (rolling eyes and snickering)
Ethan: Bye! (pretends to leave by standing by the door and putting his back to us)
Mom & Dad: Bye, see you later!
Ethan: I Back!  Here, presents! (trying to walk in Mike's size 12 dress shoes)

Setup: Saturday morning, all 3 of us lounging in bed
Ethan: I wanna watch cars-toons
Mom: Ok, go get me the remote
Dad: (sleeping)
Mom: Ugh, why isn't this working? (trying to get the TV & satellite turned on)
Mom: Ethan, I don't know why this isn't turning...
Ethan: (interrupts Mom) MIKE!!!!!!
Mom: (bursts into laughter) Oh Ethan, you make me laugh
Dad: (still sleeping)
Ethan:  MIKE!  The TD (translation: TV) need batteries!
Dad: (still sleeping)
Mom: Shh...his name is Daddy and he's sleeping
Ethan: Oh

Setup: Just a random day at home
Ethan: I want hop-corn (translation: popcorn)
Dad: Ok, what do you say?
Ethan: Pweeze! (translation: please)
Dad: What kind of please?
Ethan: Retty pheez! (translation: Pretty please)
Dad: With???
Ethan: Sure on top (translation: sugar)
Dad: And...
Ethan: a Cherry!
Dad: And...
Ethan: Kinkles! (translation: Sprinkles)
Dad: And...
Ethan: Tisses on top!!! (translation: kisses)
(Ethan gives kisses, and gets his popcorn)

TYPICAL DAY

Here is just a look at a typical day in the life right now.....

Potty training is going well, except for the #2 part.  Don't ask...

Ethan's homemade rainbow out of torn up paint chips - idea from Pinterest, of course!

Ethan and Mommy enjoying the fort we built one night

Our new grill - burgers and eggs!  The removable gadgets are pretty awesome