the 4th!!

Precursory information: I love July 4th!  Always have.  Except this one was quite different than the usual.

This was the first 4th I have spent away from Rochester in a very very very long time.  Longer than I can remember.  When we are there we have a great day grilling and partying with friends and family and then we spend the majority of the evening at Silver Lake eating and playing games and watching fireworks and then getting stuck in traffic for the next 2 hours.  I love it.  It's predictable and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So how did we celebrate in our home away from home?

Well we grilled steaks and ate on our porch, which was delightful.  Then I really wanted to watch fireworks so we decided we would try to find a good spot to park and watch the show in Murray.  We didn't want to leave our car in case one of these wildfires broke out and we needed to make a quick drive out of state...  We found an awesome parking spot by a cemetery and right when the show started we noticed that our view was obstructed.

Giant tree right in the line of fire.  Seriously it was disappointing to say the least.  My pregnant hormones burst me into tears so we moved on to find a new spot.

We drove and drove for like 10 minutes (as a tearfully watched out the back window) and finally found a wonderful spot to watch the fireworks...

We pulled over on a very busy, loud state street and had the beautiful backdrop of best buy below for the remainder of our firework show.  It wasn't as glamorous as years past on a poo-filled silver lake, but it did suffice.

Needless to say it was a wonderful first fireworks away from home.  Our backdrop may have been ugly, but to me it looked a little something like this...

God bless america!

haley Johnson

halfway there...

Yes, 2nd post in one day, but I forgot to announce that I'm halfway done with my pregnancy!! 20 weeks down, 20 weeks to go!

So please pay attention to the chorus of this great 80's classic.

speaking of ugly hair, I think Billy Idol was our waiter at b-dubs last night...
...except he claimed his name was Ricky.

haleyJ

on the radio

I found this new radio station that I LOOOOOVE... I can't remember what station it is, I just know its my preset #1.  Why do I love it?  It plays funky rap rap electronic music so often and best of all it plays Kelly Clarkson's Stronger like every other song.  Its great...makes me feel like I'm singing and dancing with my friends in this shot.


I should probably just buy the song on iTunes...

:) haleyJ

Graduate'n

We graduated!!!  Done and done.  Both of our families flew out and it was so fun!  Now we are one step closer to being grown up.
And because pictures are all anyone cares about, here is a nice one of my family:

I don't know why my leg is sticking out.  We took so many pictures...this one made it in at the end somewhere.
BYU was a great school to go to, I would do it again if I had the choice, it was also nice because they paid for like all of my schooling so yeah, of course I would choose it again.
So what's the plan now?  We have an apartment in Salt Lake that we are moving to in about 3 weeks, of course I'll post something about that later :)  The apt is like a mile from Mike's work so we are thrilled about that.

Now, on a much lighter note, I would like to share something I noticed while watching TV the other day.
Cee lo green looks an awful lot like the pups on the doggy dentures comercials...

versus


That's all I have to say for now.

Haley Johnson :)

Student Teaching

Oh my goodness there are only 3 weeks left of my student teaching experience!!  Weird!  It is fun yes.  My favorite part is being around junior high students all day long.  Oddly enough that is also my least favorite part.  Some of them are just so easy to love, and some of them are so easy to not love!

As my mentor teacher said: "Some of them are really obnoxious kids who will grow out of it and become normal adults...but some of them are really obnoxious kids who will grow up to be really obnoxious adults."


I love that guy.

Some things I've learned:

1) Never spill water on yourself...they will all laugh and ask if you've peed your pants lately.

2) Always give correct instructions.  Then repeat the instructions.  Then repeat the instructions again.  Then write the instructions on the board.  Then don't get annoyed when 2 more people ask you what they are supposed to be doing.

3) Always collect supplies once students don't need them anymore.  ANYTHING can become a very annoying  musical instrument e.g. rulers, cups, compasses, protractors, etc.

4) Always make more copies than you will need.  10% of the students will lose the first one.

5) Never take yourself too seriously.  They don't care 1/2 the time.

6) Don't even try to hold a grudge.  They love arguing and they LOVE thinking you hate them.  Just pretend like every student is your favorite.  Trust me, it works and you even start to believe it yourself.

7) Give each student a fresh chance to be great each day.

8) Always sleep enough the night before.  Energy cannot be created from nothing.  That is a law of the universe.

9) Have plenty of snacks ready for eating upon walking in the door at the end of the day.  Also find someone to tell all your funny stories to.

10) After a completely bombed lesson.....move on.  Let it go.  Look ahead.  Don't cry...too much ;)

I really do love this stuff, I def made a good carrier choice :)

Haley J

For the LAST time!!

Yes, I did just step out of my last class at BYU.  And I didn't even let the door hit me on the way out.  I am DONE with classes!!  All that's left is student teaching and I think this deserves a very special song-dance routine, and since we all know I'm too white to do this on my own...enjoy

here's to the good times!

HaleYJ

too funny for the Talmage

I am new to Pinterest, but I had to leave it early today because I burst out laughing at these two photos.  It was a little embarassing, but totally worth it.  I will share:

caption: "Oh, I see you're home early."

Wow that made me laugh way too hard.

Haley Johnson

Halloween at the Johnson home...too fun.

After a spooky day Me and Mike spent the day doing what we do best.  We went and got Chinese food, did the crossword, ate sugar cookies shaped like candycorn (complements of Katie and Joel), and then flipped between Pawn Stars, Cake Boss, and the Chargers/Chiefs game.

(Yes, that is my pumpkin from last year, but I like it better than our 2-face jack-o-lantern this year.)

Best part of all was the political conversation sparked from my book on educational reform in the US.

Mike: "I mean it's pretty impressive, two people from the movie predator became governors.  Who knows, maybe the predator himself will become a governor."  (proceeds to make predator noises and shake his hands)

Yep, married life is pretty glamorous.  Just for fun I'll flash back to one of my favorite Mike quotes:

Preface...Just saw a preview to the Twilight movie that featured Dakota Fanning.
Brittany: "That would be so awkward to be in a movie with Kristen Stewart after making out with her in your last movie".
Mike: "That would be so awkward being in a movie with Kristen Stewart."

Happy Halloween Everyone!
--Haley Johnson

Why I love Mike...

I just told him to stop talking to me until I finish my homework.

Was he annoyed? No.
Did he object? No.
Did he silently motion that he locked his lips up and swallowed the key? Yes.

To that I responded: "You can't swallow the key if you already locked your mouth."

He "responded" to that by re-acting out the locking motion, and then snorting the key up his nose.

Wow I love that guy!

What a wonderful couple of days

Aside from the many things I have to do, there have been some good things these past few days.  Let me start with:

1. It was rainy so I got to try out my new coat that it's been too hot to wear!
2. Because it was so rainy, we went to get chinese food.  Ok that's a terrible reason, let's be honest, we were too lazy to cook and my feet were wet.  HENCE we got chinese food. (ps this is a picture of a raindrop cowboy riding an H2O molecule...enjoy!)

3. The owners of our favorite chinese place just had a baby boy that morning!  And the pictures were adorable, and the dad was in a great mood and he gave me extra steamed rice when I took my leftovers.  What a man!
4. I woke up and I was FREEZING this morning!  How wonderful!!! I missed that feeling of death freezing like I miss a lot of stuff.

5. Me and Mike went to Target, one of my favorite stores alive!

5.2 We bought Stephen's hot chocolate, one of my favorite hot drinks.

5.3 We drank hot chocolate!!!  (for night and morning)
6. I ate leftover chinese food for breakfast this morning!
7. I wore boots to school and I loved it!!! I felt like my feet were sleeping in bed all day!
8. I heard a little bird in the math hallway declare it was snowing.  I promptly ran out of the computer lab and straight to a door in the hall.  True enough, it was snowing and I almost wet my pants I was so happy! (I love the first few snows!)  In true memory of my mom, I am listening to Christmas music now.
9. Snow is not on the ground, BUT it is stuck on the mountains...so beautiful!

10. Provo tabernacle is turning into a temple and every time I drive by those burned-up ruins I want to sing the Hallelujah chorus!!  That will be my favorite temple alive!


few downsides: One of the coat buttons is not attached correctly, so it's about to fall off.  I didn't work half as much as I wanted to this week.  My fortune cookie basically called me a prostitute (you will be rewarded for the special gifts you give to others...clearly prostitution).  I almost slipped in the rain like 6 times.  My phone went off in class........I'll stop there.

HaleyJ  :)

What a fun night!

Well, I kind of worked a lot today, and I went to school, but my I had a grand night.  First I met up ERIN, then we went to my place and enchilada'ed it up.  Nachos and the whole 9-yards.  Then we went to the football game and I enjoyed a giant bag of peanut M&M's, and I'm pretty sure it couldn't have gotten any better.  Then BYU played pretty champ-like during the last quarter of the football game and then BYU kinda beat utah state AND cosmo had a mullet coming out the back of his neck.  I don't think I missed anything in that recap.  So tomorrow I am going to wake up early (9am) and eat both a plate full of bacon and waffles.  Oh what a beautiful conference morning!

haleyJ out!

A good topper to a good day.

Funny Animal Pictures...woohoo!

(yeah most of them are cats...do you know me? those guys are hillarious.)

Hitler Cat

Hahahaha!

Aaby?...(Brittany's old dog)

God Bless Thanksgiving!

Whew that was good stuff!

haleyJ

A little bit scary...

We saw this little gem sitting behind us at the football game.  I was scared at first, but then I worked up the courage to take this picture.  However, I still had a cougar nightmare the following night.  I dreamed that one was stalking me and my puppy.  The picture may not do it justice, but this was one scary mofo.

God bless america and go cougs!

It's true...

I am still alive. I just took a brief hiatus from my blog...brief = 3 months. What happened? Lots.

Spring classes ended

Summer classes started

Mike and I drove to Minnesota and spent a whole week with the fam!...2fun2Btru ;)

Went to P'lina's wedding

Mike's family came and visited

My family came and visited...we spent a weekend at a cabin somewhere past Heber

Summer classes ended!!

I did nothing (literally) for a week...it was fantastic

School Started

We got grants/scholarships in so we were no longer living on dimes...sorta

We received a new addition to our family (I'll explain soon)

Homework started...gag (but that is what led me to blog today)

We took Taylor to Rexburg...SO FUN!

We spent a night with Steve, Gwen and Sienna...again so fun!

Me and Mike cooked REAL food for two nights in a row

I listened to a lot of Red Hot Chili Peppers...don't ask why, b/c I really don't know why

I taught a lesson to a bunch of college students acting like 7th graders

We saw Captain America (last night)...SO GOOD!

So now you are all caught up...Iwould be happy to answer to any questions or comments.

1 entire year!...and some days

So officially on May 28th 2011 Mike and I have been married for a whole year. That is pretty crazy but pretty cool. The weird thing is it has seemed much longer than that. It could have been the whole moving across country that did it, or dating for give or take 4 years, either way it has been a great time being with this fella.

(we are glamorous photo-takers...especially in the car)

And we all know nothing says I love you for a whole year like a giant steak and 1 bajillion deep fried onions from outback. What a dinner, I love that place like it's my firstborn.

HaleyJ

best cartoon ever made...for realzies

Ok so I know that I blogged about another series very recently, but get over it because I have an obsession.

I love the Avatar...

Not the blue people movie(which is great)

THE LAST AIRBENDER!

It is just about my favorite thing to do on tv. Seriously that cast is hillarious. Just when you think it can't get any better, it does. It is too bad that there were only 4 elements and 3 series. They should have gotten ahold of the periodic table or something.

So to sum up why I love this show so much, let me give some reasons...

1) Whenever there is a bender fight I am pretty much on the edge of my seat.

2) When Aang goes into the Avatar State and whoops some butt I usually start cheering...or proudly cursing at the fire nation.

3) Whenever Sakka opens his mouth I burst out laughing.

4) Whenever Uncle Iroh cries, I cry.

5) When Toph learned how to metal bend I almost wet my pants with excitement.

6) When Prince Zuko cut his ponytail I was more than mildly attracted.

7) I am secretly pleased when others underestimate Uncle Iroh's strength and bending abilities.

8) Azula is on my list of top 10 worst enemies.

9) I love Katara, but I get annoyed of her just like a big sister.

10) I LOVE the Banjo music whenever Momo or Aang dances.

So seriously fellas, this is the best show ever. Watch it on Netflix and if you have a heart for Adventurous Comedy you will thank me later.

--haleyJ

Obsession?

I've spent a lot of time watching TV shows since school got out. By TV shows I mean 30 Rock on netflix and by a lot of time I mean give or take 5 seasons in the last week and a halfish...

This is what happens when I start something...Avatar, Psych, Harry Potter movies. I have to finish them.

...to share some of the fun I'm having:

Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan): "I'm gonna make you a mix tape. You like Phil Collins?"

Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin): "I have two ears and a heart, don't I?"

Okay, fine, maybe I'm a little old-fashioned. I'm sorry I'm a real woman and not some over-sexed New York nympho like those sluts on Everybody Loves Raymond.

– Liz

Frank:Tracy, did you hear? Fred Dawkins, the incredibly overweight guy Pac-man was based off of, died.Tracy:I will eat a bowl of cherries and some ghost meat in his honor.

I'm sure [my mother] is down there sitting on the curb, chain smoking, waiting for me to come out, just like the day I was born.

– Jenna

Someone get a PA to feed me baby food, or I will drop a D in the green room. Yeah. Last week you thought I was crying wolf, didn'tcha?

– Jenna

Thanks, Jack, for coming to this emergency meeting. I'm sorry I'm four hours late, but my alarm clock didn't go off because it died in a cock fight last night.

– Tracy

If I could push a button and five people in the world would die, but I'd get free cable for life, I'd do it.

– Liz

One of my favorites...by far

Now that school's done (for 5 days) i can go back to doing what I love...cat videos.

The music really makes this one

Haley

chinese food

...it is the best. We went to great china tonight, again. The lady already knew what we were going to order. It is sooooooo tasty though.

My order:

Hot and Sour soup & Shrimp Lo Mein

Seriously I think we go every other week. Plus they give you a dump truck full of food so there is always a good leftover. Basically if anyone gets a chinese craving in their heart give me a call because I am always ready!!

my lover

I forgot to add before that I have an odd love connection with ben and jerry's ice cream. Mostly half baked and never the frozen yogurt one (i only had to make that mistake once). You may be thinking yeah yeah whatever you like ice cream...but no, I eat this stuff a LOT. I had it for breakfast today. some people call it a problem...not i. It's like 5 bajillion calories of love.