Washington DC or Bust

Not sure if I've mentioned this here before, but Eric and I are chaperoning the High School band trip to Washington DC this week!  Isn't that exciting?  Or is it????

First of all, it is.  One, I've never been there.  Two, Lauren is going to be on the trip with us.  Also, two of my nieces are going along, as well as one of my Godchildren.  So, it's sort of a family affair.  Lauren has fundraised a lot, so she doesn't have to pay.  Her fundraising has helped to pay for some of our trip, so it isn't costing much.

On the other hand, Lauren is coming with us.  Also, two of my nieces are coming with so it's sort of a family affair.  Do you see where I'm going with this??

When I first signed up to chaperone, there was a male band teacher going, so there was no need to have Eric along.  Then, as sometimes happens, that band teacher left to go to another job.  We have a new teacher, who is a female.  Also named Lauren.  (that has nothing to do with my story).  We needed a token male member.  I talked Eric into it.

**this isn't particularly relevant to the story, but when I was in 9th grade our band went to Florida for a huge band trip and Eric's mother was the chaperone.  She was the best  chaperone ever and I had hoped that Eric would get some of that in his genes.  The closer we get, the more I doubt this theory.  I tend to look for the silver lining in all things but I'm not sure about this one!  Phyllis, I'll be thinking of you on this trip.  I'll certainly try to be all that you were to all of us!**

Back to the story -- in December the tour company informed us that for 40 people the price would be approximately $657 per person.  For a small band that just wasn't an option.  My pal Rachel said, we can do this.  We can plan this.  I agreed.  I thought, how hard can it be?  With the internet, Expedia, Google, Orbitz, travel guides, and our brains, this will be a snap.  What is that saying?  The road to hell is paved with good intentions???  The good news is that the price is down to $340 per person.  After the fundraising money from selling spaghetti, Jazz concerts, LockIns, elementary carnivals and the like, students only had to pay $130 for a trip to Washington DC.  I shall be their guide. It shall be a blast.  Famous last words?  Let's see.


We leave in 48 hours.  I will blog the trip.  Stay tuned!!

By the way, this is a picture of me in the cargo hold of the bus -- to demonstrate how much room we have for luggage... no one can say that I didn't put my ALL into this trip!  Including ALL OF ME! ha.

Valentine's Day

I hate Valentine's Day!  I want to be one of those people that hate it for the commercialization of it.  For the way retailers and advertising execs make us feel like we MUST express our love for someone on this particular day.  I want to hate it for all the right reasons.  But, guess what?  I dont'.  I hate it becuase I don't get anything.  I am the exact consumer this "holiday" is made for.  I love presents.  I love notes and handmade cards.  I LOVE chocolate.  I love flowers.  Guess what?  I'd LOVE anythign that came my way today.  But did it?  Nope.  Nada.  Nothing.  The girls said they would save some of their treats from school for me.  Did they offer to share the box of mystery chocolate I got for them?  Heck no. 

Some fun facts about Saint Valentine(s).  I put the caveat that these are from my memory, as well as the internet, so take them with a grain of salt.

Saint Valentine is not only the patron saint of lovers, but he is the patron saint of epilepsy and beekeepers.  Maybe BEE my Valentine isn't that far off?

There are at least five Saint Valentines in Roman Catholic history.  Therefore, you can celebrate it on different days.  November 3, January 7, July 25 to name a few.  But if you did, you couldn't get the delicious chalk hearts by Brachs that I adore so much.

Another reason I hate this "holiday" is because in 2nd grade I received a Sesame Street Valentine from a bully in my class.  It had Oscar the Grouch on it and it said "Have a Grouchy Valentine's Day" and the bully said... out loud as she handed it to me... and I mean it too!!.  Swell.  Thanks, you brat.

I guess the moral of this little rant is -- Get someone a stinking flower, or a homemade card, or some mystery chocolate.  Just do it.  Most of us, whether you'll admit it or not, want stuff!

Working from home, a blessing and a curse

Today I was thinking about what a joy it is to work from home.  No long commute in the cold weather, I'm able to be home -- well, all the time.  The best part of my day is when the kids get going off to the bus. I see the big yellow bus pull up, and they get inside, and I know they are not my problem for 8 hours! 

Then, there are sick days.  My kids are normally pretty healthy, except for Lauren's broken ankle, and Kennedi's pneumonia, and Madelyn's... ok, so my kids are normally in school!  Yesterday Madelyn was coughing so hard that I couldn't stand to listen.  So, I knew that it wouldnt' be good to send her.  This morning, same thing.  The same with Kennedi.  I thought to myself that I wouldn't want someone else sending the same germs to school for my kids to contract.  So they're home.

Speaking of contracting... the other disgusting little bug, quite literally, going around the school is SCABIES.  Oh yes, I said Scabies.  Little mites that burrow into your skin and cause itching and rash.  Yeah, they itch, they are bugs burrowing into your skin!! That makes me itch just thinking of it! 

Speaking of itching, I had lice once.  Yes, I did.  I came home from my first time at camp... and a week later we discovered that I brought home friends.  Lots of them.  I had long hair, and they were everywhere.  At that time, my grandparents were staying with us.  I gave that beautiful gift of life, or rather, living things, to my grandfather.  He wasn't impressed.  Neither was my mother who had to fumigate the house, and me!  The next summer when I returned home from camp, my mother was waiting in the yard with a hose and a box of RID.  Seriously.  I  never made it into the house.  She deloused me in the yard, and took all of my clothes to the laundromat and scalded any little hitchhikers to death.  We never did get lice again... and I am hoping we don't get them with this generation!  All of my girls have long, thick hair.  If we get lice, they're going to get shaved heads.  I'm not even kidding.  So if you see a picture of three girls sporting bald caps, you'll know what we brought home.

Back to home... I love the peace and quiet of a day alone.  Except for the cat.  And the dog.  And the goats.  But, hey, at least they can't give me pneumonia, influenza, scabies or lice!

Chalk up another good day at the Johnson Funny Farm; it's not quiet, and I'm not alone, but we don't have anything we can't deal with.  Wait, did I just see a rash on my hands?!?

school board

So this was me last October -- running for school board!  I'm sure that most of you know that I was successful in this endeavor and I am now a full fledged member of the Floodwood School Board.  In fact, this year I'm Vice Chair!  I know, I know, it sounds SUPER important.  But, while it certainly is important and necessary, it's not all it is cracked up to be!  I went in knowing it would take time.  Everyone told me that it's more work than you think.  Boy were they right!  It's never just a monthly board meeting.  There are committee meetings, conventions, training, auto-graph signings... wait, that last part isn't true.  NO ONE has asked for my autograph... yet!

I have said, and will continue to say, that if you have a vested interest (or three) in the school, and are capable of doing this job (job.. a term I use very loosely, since job indicates pay), then you have a duty to do it.  So, I'm doing my duty.  I'm doing my very best to keep the good things we have, and to improve our school for EVERYONE.  Not just the Johnsons.  In fact, I think that my kids and I get LESS benefits since I've joined the school board!

School Board -- NOT for the faint of heart.....

To add to the chaos that is our life, here is Lauren with her new accessory -- a short leg cast.  She broke her distal fibula (aka ANKLE for most people).  She twisted it in a basketball game on Thursday night.  She had really been having a good season and was improving as a player.  But, alas, all good things must come to an end.  She will continue to observe practice and put on a jersey to sit on the bench and cheer on her team.  A quote from her on Facebook "you can't get rid of me that easy, a broken ankle won't keep me away!".  Atta girl, Lauren; atta girl!

I'm back!

 Hello everyone! That is, if there's anyone out there still interested in the craziness that is the Johnson Funny Farm!

I have realized that I miss blogging so I have decided to return. I'll make this post short, because creativity and the iPhone for typing don't go together like peas and carrots...

My hope is that I can make you laugh, keep you interested, and hopefully inspire someone. And it's easier than a journal!

Happy Friday, my friends!

Introducing Baby Cleo

Well, we have yet another new baby on the Johnson farm! Her name is Cleo! Don't tell the others, but I think she is the cutest one yet! See for yourself....

The story of little Cleo's birth is pretty good! On Saturday afternoon we had let the babies and the moms out to frolic. Eric and I were remarking on the fact that Maggie looked like she was ready to go anytime. I checked on her Saturday night at 11, and nothing was going on. Sunday morning the girls and I got up and headed out to church. I asked Eric if he would go check on the goats because I was in a hurry. Part way to church Lauren texted him and asked how the goats were doing. He sent a picture of Maggie and Cleo!

Cleo was sleeping under her heat lamp, all clean and dry. She was already able to stand up and find out where to eat. That was the easiest delivery I've ever seen! haha. So we decided that sh was born sometime early Sunday morning, January 30. 20 days after her half-sisters, Ali and Belle.

Speaking of Ali and Belle, they are 3 weeks old and getting very frisky! They are jumping all over and wanting to get out! I do let them out when it gets over 20 degrees. This morning it's only -16, so I wont' even open the hut to see them. I have to peek through the cracks. Tomorrow it is supposed to be 28, so i think I will introduce the sisters to each other. Let's hope that Maggie is pleasant. That may be too much to hope for....