Royal tea party

For Christmas, Santa brought Brynn a tea set and Grandma and Grandpa gave Brynn dress-up clothes. Brynn is so girly, she has been loving both of them so much (especially using the tea set with her baby dolls). But until last week we hadn't put the two together. So I now present to you the Royal Tea Party (oooh, aaaaah).
















Yep, she's mine. She just couldn't drink that hot cocoa fast enough.
















Lovin' my girl
















Daddy put on his dress up clothes, too. He was our server for the evening.

More raisins or crackers anyone?

Got oranges?

Any of you Arizonans (or anyone else) enjoying oranges lately as much as I am?

Orange Salsa
6 large oranges, peeled, sectioned, and diced
1/2 small red onion, chopped
2 tbsp. oil
2tbsp. cider vinegar
1 tbsp. chopped cilantro
3/4 tsp. salt

Combine. Cover and chill well before serving.

p.s. This is the recipe I won my ward's salsa competition with!

Recipe blog


My friend and I are talking about starting a recipe exchange by way of a blog. Would anyone be interested in participating? Marty and I have really been trying to eat healthy since the beginning of the year, but I am already getting sick of my recipes. I would love some new ideas. I started a recipe blog right before I got pregnant, but considering the fact that I wanted to murder someone if they so much as mentioned food in that first trimester...it kind of failed. Thanks for being such a good sport though, Helen! Anyway, let me know if you are interested. If so, I will post more information coming up.

Another week, another update

Another relatively uneventful week for the Johnsons.

I had my 26 week check-up. Everything is totally normal and progressing well. I am actually gaining weight - a sure sign that this pregnancy is completely different from the last one - and we are feeling very blessed right now.

Marty was able to have a four day weekend!!! We realized that we could count on one hand the number of times in his CES career that he has taken a day off and just stayed home rather than travel. It felt so good to have him home and take it easy! Perfect timing, too, because Brynnie and I came down with a bug over the weekend and it was wonderful to have him around. Marty worked on some projects around the house, we enjoyed the nice fresh air outside (it's been in the high 70s for days now!) and kicked our feet up to a couple movies. I saw Ben-Hur for the first time, and if you ever have three and a half hours to kill, I would recommend it. It's worth the investment of your time.

Have a happy week!

January update

I keep putting off posting something because I just don't have a whole lot to say. But I guess at this point it's important to say simply that we are all alive and well!

Back in the swing of things...

Marty is getting back into the swing of things at school. His class schedule changed some, and I think he had some reservations about it, but the semester has gone really well so far and I am happy for him. Right now he is deciding between two different majors for graduate school, but he is planning to start as soon as he can. I will miss all the time we've been able to spend together the last couple of years we've been here in Arizona.

Brynn is SO two...

Brynn had a couple bad days after we returned home from our trip from Utah. I think she may have been a little spoiled there. :) But she adjusted to home again and it's been so fun to have a chatty little toddler running around our house. I'm pretty sure she's the sweetest little thing in the universe, although I will say that she is becoming VERY good at being 2 years old. We've had our share of tantrums lately (yes, I said we - don't forget I'm pregnant).

9 lbs 9 oz?! SERIOUSLY?!

Baby Bryce seems to be developing well. Maybe a little too well. I feel like my stomach right now at 5 months along is about where I was at 7 or 8 months with Brynn. And then Marty dropped this bombshell on me: "Well, I was 9 lbs 9 oz when I was born." Let's all hope and pray this baby takes after Mom and not Dad.

Speaking of taking after dad, look how much Brynn looks like Marty with her bangs pulled back! I couldn't believe it!

I look like Daddy!

A.I. Party! Oh yeah!!

What was the other great thing that happened to us recently? Oh yeah, American Idol is finally back!!! We got together with the couple that we used to always watch it with at our town home complex. Luckily for us, they moved out to Queen Creek, too! We had a really fun A.I. party, so thanks Andy and Kim!

And while I'm on the subject, does anyone else feel like the new judge is a cute girl and all that, but completely useless? And that our beloved AZ is less talented than expected?

Well, if anything noteworthy happens this week, I'll post it. If not, next week I'll post another update, I guess.

Brynn's 1st real snowman

This winter Brynn has fallen in love with snowmen. Interestingly, though, she had no idea what a real snowman was until we got to UT. She only knew what pictures of them looked like. So on Christmas my family and I got to show her.

UT Chistmas 08

Marty and I have been wanting to spend Christmas in AZ , but this year the only time I was going to be able to see my brothers (who live in Alaska) was on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, so we happily spent another Christmas back home with family!

An Oldham family tradition: the family band playing Christmas carols.
















Featuring Corey on guitar, Justin on bass, and me on piano.

















Playing with presents with Gwamma.
















UT is a LOOOOONG drive with a 2 yr old and a 5 months pregnant lady.


Z Tejas














One of my favorite restaurants. On Saturday my cousin Brent got married, and we were able to attend his beautiful wedding and reception in Salt Lake. We got some grub here between the events. I am kicking myself for not bringing my camera into the reception, but if my cousin Christy puts some pics of it on her blog, I'll have to steal them and post them.

Dress-up














Brynn got her first pair of dress-up clothes for Christmas. WARNING: There are WAY too many of these pictures on here.

















Dancin' with Daddy
































































































Brynn's first Music lesson from Christine.














Meet my violin teacher and good friend, Christine. I love her to bits and pieces. She had such an impact on my life, I was really glad things worked out for us to go visit. I really want my kids to know her. And it seems only fitting that Brynn had a music lesson while she was there!

Visiting Gwampa and work

Cousin Scotty.

The two huggiest people in the universe found each other. This was a constant sight the whole time we were staying at Marty's sister, Kris Anne's house. She was so sweet to let us stay there for so much time! I know we are not the easiest house-guests, but we loved every second we spent there and we are so grateful for that time.

More dress-up, but with cousin Georgia.

The kids rang in the new year at 9:00, banging pots and pans.

Brynn was a little unsure of what to think.

She was also unsure of what to think about the snow.

She always loved it for the first few minutes, but was soon begging to be held.

Mesquite

On the way home, we broke up the drive and stayed in Mesquite. We got tickets for the three of us to go see High School Musical 3. However, that was the day of the big U of U game and Marty just couldn't tear himself away from it, so Brynnie and I went on a mommy-daughter date to the movie instead.

While waiting for Daddy to pick us up, we threw coins into the fountain.

We REALLY know how to do Mesquite!

We stayed at one hotel/casino, saw a movie in another, and went to a breakfast buffet at another.

Fancy Nancy (Brynn's new favorite book) kept her entertained during the car ride. But she honestly refuses to read it without her purse, glasses, and chapstick.

Hoover Dam

After all these trips, we finally decided to get out and check out Hoover Dam. Or I guess I should say baby Bryce decided for us, as he was kicking my bladder every half hour. Yeah. We made a LOT of stops. Did I mention it was a long ride for a pregnant lady?