Gracie's new Endevour

Gracie has decided to learn the clarinet.  She is walking in her mother's shoes.  I got her a new reed today, and she tried to play when she got home.  She even got some sound out of it.  Band started today, although all they did was decide where they would store their instruments.  Tomorrow, she will learn to put it together...ummmm check...already did that.  :)  I'm sure she will do great!

I even played it.  Yes, I can still play.  It took a minute to get it back, but I got it back.  Only problem is I got way winded and light headed, way too fast.  Man I feel old.  We won't post any video of that just now.  ;)

Look out world, here comes Gracie and her Clarinet!

Back to School 2011

Today was the first day of school for my kids.  I just was not ready for them to go back.  It seems like Summer flew by this year.  I'm not sure we had one.  So much rain.  The rain was nice, don't get me wrong.  It just seemed like Spring.  In one aspect however, I was ready for them to go back.  Because I know where they are.  I know what they are doing.  And I know that someone is there with them while they eat lunch.  Gracie was excited to go back, but didn't want to go.  Figure that out.  TJ well he did want to and wasn't excited.  I took them to the pool, the last 2 days, now that TJ can get wet.  So we crammed some fun in there, before it was time to go.  But, alas, the time is here.  We picked out clothes and backed the backpacks last night.  All 3 of us set our alarms for 6 am.  And we slept until 6:30.  lol

The morning started off with 2 cute kids.  All ready for school.

 And then we got to TJ's school.  And his face changed.  He doesn't look so happy.  Here he is at his class room door.

 And at his desk.

 I'm guessing I was embarrassing him, by taking pictures.  Guess I won't be able to take pictures of him inside anymore.  Or maybe I will.  hee hee  Part of the problem Tony thinks, is that we are always so worried that he won't get a good teacher.  He has had a line up of poor ones.  So we probably talk about that too much and get him to where he dreads it.  And we need to stop that.  Next year!

After dropping off TJ, we headed to the Jr. High.  Yes, I said Jr. High.  They moved the 6th grade to the Jr. High this year.  However, the 6th grade has their own wing, and will not be changing classes for every subject.  So, it's still pretty much like Elementary, but no recess and they only get 18 minutes for lunch.  Crazy!  The lady that registered her, assured me it was enough time.  But as I talk to parents I find that she is wrong.  I guess we'll see how it goes.  So here is Gracie opening the door to the Jr. High for the first time.

 And her class room.

Both kids had a good day at school.  Tomorrow, we do it again.

Summer Fun...Finally!

Now that the cast is off, it's time for some Summer Fun!  We took the kids, along with some friends of ours, to the water park.  I of course was worried about TJ hurting his arm.  Tony of course told me it would be fine and quit worrying.  So off we went.  TJ was so excited, I only got him 1/2 way sun screened before he disappeared.  The kids had a blast!  They can't wait to go again next year.

TJ if you can see him in that splash

Gracie coming down the slide

All wet!

Tony coming down the slide

Gracie, Tony, TJ

Tony & Gracie floating down the river

And there is TJ

Here comes the water!

Playing with the fountains

About to get drenched.  Notice TJ on the ground

Can you see them now?

Look out Gracie!

Too late!

Glen

Tony

Glen's daughters

Cheese!

Gracie & TJ's head

The whole soggy bunch...take 1

Glen's daughters

The soggy bunch take 2

TJ's Cast Comes OFF!!!!

Thursday August 18th was a much anticipated day for TJ.  That was the day he to go get that big orange cast off his arm. He was so excited, and nervous at the same time.

He has been worried that his arm would still be crooked, when the cast came off.  I had no idea, and told him so.  But I thought it would be okay.  We got to the doctors office and sat in the waiting room.  Pretty soon we heard "Mr. Olsen".  What?  Are they talking about my 9 year old son?  Yes.  They are.  lol  He took us back to a room and pulled out his saw.  TJ got big eyes.  The doctor showed him how it wouldn't hurt him, just cut the cast.  The doctor put it on his own skin and it didn't do a thing.  TJ looked at me, like "are you sure about this?".  So I pulled out my camera!  lol!  Actually I already had it out.  I went and stood by him to reassure him, and we were off!

And I took video so we could get the full effect.  TJ said it tickled a lot, as that saw cut through his cast.

After the cast was off, TJ again looked at me with concern.  His arm was still bent (and filthy).  So, I asked about it.  And the doctor said it was normal.  He sent us down to get x-rays, so they could see how it looked on the inside.

His arm was tan when it went into the cast, so the dead skin is dark.  You can see the slight bow to it.  It also bows outward.  The x-rays, I'll admit, scared me.  The bones still looked broken.  However, I was prepared for that.  My friend is an RN and she warned me that the bones would still look broken in the x-ray.  There was a slight shadow, where new bone had grown around the breaks.  Unfortunately, one of the bones shifted while in the cast.  Thus the outward bump.  The other doctor, the Orthopedic Surgeon, whom we went back and saw after the x-rays, said that since TJ is still growing his arm should straighten out over the next 6-12 months, as he grows.  If he had been full grown, they would have done surgery when he broke it.  The doctor said the other option was to go in surgically now and cut the bones and straighten them and pin them and cast it again.  !!!!!  However, he is confident his arm will straighten out.  He said, even if it doesn't after 6-12 months, we can go back in and do the surgery at that point.  But he assured me that he has never had to do that before.  They have always straightened out.  Okay.  So, we wait and watch.  I'm sure it will be fine.

TJ meanwhile, has not let it slow him down.  He is so happy to have his arm back.  It took a couple days to get movement back into it.  And he still protects it just a bit.  The doctor told him not to do and bike jumps or riding his motorcycle, etc, for 2 weeks.  He is counting the days!

Johnson Family Reunion 2011..."Pioneer Camp"

(Again, I didn't do to well getting pictures.  So if anyone has some they want to share, I would love it.)

Tony's cousin Leah was in charge of the reunion this year.  She decided to work around a pioneer theme.  This family is rich with stories from the pioneers.  During some of the stories I got thinking how far back those times were, in generations.  I was surprised to think that it really isn't so long ago.  It's amazing how much our Nation has changed in those generations.  The reunion started the Friday that Tony and I got back from our Harley ride.  We were exhausted and I have "raccoon" eyes, but we were happy to see all the family.  Friday evening we had Navajo taco's with homemade scones.  I LOVE homemade scones.  Alas, cooking is not one of my talents.  So I have not mastered scones yet.  And the homemade honey butter.  Oh my mouth waters as I remember it.

Justin and Sherie brought up and inflatable water slide.  It was a hit, as you can imagine.  TJ was very upset, thinking he would not get to join in the fun with his cast.  But I came to the rescue with our bathing ritual of Glad Cling Wrap and a bread sack and waterproof gauze tape.  Of course it was a big hit.  Water + Kids = FUN!!!

Rock Star Gracie

TJ's big splash

Tracer

Montana, Gracie & TJ

We did a little square dancing and line dancing that night.  The kids had some fun.  Sadly, I have no pictures, as I was dancing.  The next day we played games.  The boys built wooden walking stilts.  The girls made rag dolls.  We had a quilting bee and tied 2 quilts.  And the kids played and played.

My handsome little TJ

My Beautiful little Gracie

That evening we went shooting clay pigeons.  Lots of kids wanted to come.  So we all loaded up.  The big boys shot shotguns.  My kids shot their .22's and TJ brought his pellet gun.  And the Schmitt boys brought their BB gun.  I even taught my nieces how to shoot a .22.  I had an awesome teacher...so I gotta pass on the knowledge.  (Thanks George!)  This was TJ's first time shooting a shotgun too. 

When Violet put those ear muffs on to protect her ears, she wondered if she would be able to hear.  Then Keaton put some on too and this followed:

Keaton isn't quite sure how to answer "why?"  LOL  He was saved by the shooting though.  TJ is sitting here giggling now as we watch the video.  lol  Here are some videos of the boys shooting too.

Eric brought a 410 shotgun.  TJ got to shoot it a couple times.  He shot the last 2 bullets that Eric had for it...and here's what happened.

Yep, he shot the clay pigeon!  WOO HOO!  Way to go TJ!  That's my boy!  Even with a cast on.  That cast didn't seem to slow him down at all.

When we got back to the "camp", everyone was making ice cream!  YUM! 

Grandpa Glen

Glenna and Jennifer

David

Keaton Churning While David holds on tight

TJ Churning while Dave holds on tighter lol

Tyson

TJ on the tire swing

Kasi snuggling Zoe

Violet and Tony playing

caught Tony mid sentence...oopsie

Pretty soon, we have Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry and Cake Batter ice cream.  There is nothing quite like good homemade ice cream.  I need to learn how to make it.  The kids love it, and it's fun.

We had a couple "visitors" during the reunion.  The Pony Express rode in with letters for everyone.  The rider told us all about the Pony Express and the live the riders lived. Justin was our rider for the day.  He was dressed for the part and rode in from the end of the field.  The kids thought it was so cool!  Our other visitor was an ancestor, who came over to America long ago.  He told of the journey and the sacrifice.  Love found and lost.  Bill was the actor for this one.  Both Justin and Bill did great jobs.