johansens

VOTE!!!

This message is so important that it is worth everyone spending a couple
of minutes for everyone to review it about *Prop 102* here in Arizona.
Please take a few minutes to read below about why you absolutely *NEED
to be informed*. Read below about how our lives and especially our
children's lives will change if we allow same sex marriage in our state.

*Here is the entire text of Prop 102 - /"Only a union of one man and one
woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage in this state."/*

Failing to pass this will not only go against many of our core values,
but also there are many other repercussions that are already happening
in CA that I hadn't even thought of. This is not a "hate" mail
against
homosexuality, please do not take it as such. There are *9 examples
below worth reading* which shows what is already happening.

We will have the chance to voice our opinions soon by voting *YES on
PROP 102*! So many times, the majority of people who believe in basic
God given values go unheard because we are so timid in voicing our
opinions. For example - no prayer in school. Although 80% of us believe
in God and prayer to a higher being, it's the 20% who don't that have
the voice because they put up the "biggest fuss". I think it's
time that
we put up a fuss about something so important.

Remember, there are only a few weeks left to register to vote and it's
so easy to do it! Go to: www.servicearizona.com
<http://www.servicearizona.com/> and you can do it right now! Please
register. https://recorder.maricopa.gov/earlyvoteballotnet/evbrequest.aspx.
Ask for a mail in ballot and you'll have no reason NOT to get this done.
Even if you
have no desire to vote on anything else, please take at least a couple
of minutes to register and vote on Prop 102. It is just too important,
to not do it.


*Just read the following examples of what can take place if we do not
take action now....
*
1. Children in public schools will have to be taught that same-sex
marriage is just as good as traditional marriage . The California
Education Code (§51890) already requires that health education classes
instruct children about marriage. Therefore, unless Proposition 8 passes
(similar to Arizona's Prop 102), children will be taught that marriage
is a relation between any two adults regardless of gender. There will be
serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of
parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.

2. It will lead to more government intrusion into private lives. A
photographer in Albuquerque refused to photograph a lesbian couple's
civil union ceremony. The New Mexico Human Rights Commission fined the
photographer $6000 even though there were other photographers willing to
accept the business. And this in a state where same-sex marriage is
still illegal.

3. It will lead to speech monitors. An employee at the City of Oakland
was threatened with termination for using the terms "natural family,
marriage and family values" while discussing a public issue with
co-workers. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal backed up the district
court saying administrative efficiency in a government office is more
important than. Today it's municipal employees; tomorrow . who?

4. Anti-discrimination regulations will become more important than
religious beliefs. In Vista, California, a lesbian couple sued a doctor
who refused to perform a requested artificial insemination because of
the doctor's religious beliefs. Although another doctor offered to do
the procedure, the California Supreme Court held unanimously that the
"1st Amendment's right to the free exercise of religion does not
exempt
defendant physicians here from conforming their conduct to the .
antidiscrimination requirements." An elective procedure, no emergency
involved, another doctor willing to do the procedure. Anti-bias laws
still outweigh religion.

5. Churches will be sued over their tax-exempt status if they refuse to
allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to
the public. While pastors, priests, ministers, bishops, and rabbis may
not be forced to conduct such marriages themselves, they will be
required to allow such marriages in their chapels and sanctuaries.

6. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government to give
up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a
mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston has already closed its
doors because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.

7. Religions that sponsor private schools with married-student housing
will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if
counter to church doctrine, or risk lawsuits over tax exemptions and
related benefits.

8. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages will be sued for hate
speech and could be fined by the government. It has already happened in
Canada, one of six countries that have legalized gay marriage. If a
government agency such as the Alberta Human Rights Commission can stop a
minister from teaching his church's doctrine about marriage, then it
won't be long before everyone's free speech rights will be in jeopardy.

9. It will cost everyone more money. This change in the definition of
marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits, including some already
decided adversely. Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender
of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today's activist
judges), think of the money - your money, your church contributions -
that will be spent on legal battles.

Think of a world where Human Rights Commissions - unelected bureaucrats
with unfettered authority - are judge, jury, and executioner of anything
they feel is antagonistic speech toward same-sex marriage and its
practitioners.

Think of a world where the judicial system relegates long-held religious
beliefs to second-class importance behind anti-bias laws and a newly
discovered protected class of people.

Think of a world where the public school system is required to teach
values and beliefs to your children that may conflict with your own.

Think of the very real threat to your parental rights, your free speech,
your freedom of religion.

And think of all the unintended consequences that we cannot even foresee
at this time. Where will it end?

It's your children, your grandchildren, your money, and your freedoms.

Lets work together to protect them.

www.yesformarriage.com <http://www.yesformarriage.com/>

Checking in

Hey everyone! I've been pretty busy and it looks like things are going to keep being busy for me so I'm trying to reduce my blogging time by only posting to one blog. If it works out then great, if not I'll go back to two. I'll try and keep you updated via my photography blog. Thanks everyone!! You should all go to my photography blog RIGHT NOW so you can see my ADORABLE little niece! I'm now an AUNT for the first time! WooHoo!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JO

Emma's Adventures!

I know. I know. I know. I have a silly little girl and she's sooo much fun to chase around now! I was working on the computer and wasn't paying enough attention to Emma because she snuck off without me knowing. I looked in the kitchen and then looked in my room. I got scared for a second when I couldn't find her but then I realized she was in my closet playing with my shoes. :)

Jeremy was cooking dinner and I hear "Jo you better come look to see what your daughter is doing." Sure enough she was up to something... Don't worry Jeremy had just pealed some potatoes I had thrown together some cheesecake not too long before so everything was fresh...


I'm trying something new so I hope this works. EmmaLee is such a daddy's girl! If I have food she just ignores me but if Daddy has food she KNOWS she will get whatever she wants by pulling the sad face. I love love love love LOVE my little EmmaLee and all the cute things she does!

Last Question...

ready for suggestions

The longest Tiny has ever cried to get herself to sleep is 20-30min. She wouldn't go over ten min. very often. Since she was sick for a week or two we stopped letting her cry herself to sleep since it would just make her cough more. Well, how long is too long and how much is too much? She's going on one hour right now and I'm feeling like a terrible mom but everyone seems to believe it's better for them. Is an hour too long? Maybe I'm just impatient. Is it worth it when it just makes me feel terrible. I don't know. When I feel like I have her on a schedule something ALWAYS throws it off. I'm tried, frustrated and just want to cry. I have such a wonderful baby but my nights can be so hard. She is 9 months and still waking up 1-3 times at night. The last couple nights 7-8 hours is all she will sleep. She was sleeping 10-12 before. Maybe this is just pay back since I did the same thing to my mom. I just needed to vent. sorry. One more question, anyone else ever struggled from sleep paralysis? I've had it since Emma was born and even though I don't get it as often anymore I'm ready for it to never happen again. If anyone knows how to get ride of it completely I would love to know how. She's asleep now, so I'm off to bed. I feel bad complaining but I think it's ok every now and then right?

Mean Ol' Daddy

I was changing Tiny's diaper yesterday and she kept trying to get away so Jeremy was shaking a can of cherry puffs above her to keep her occupied. Well, he wasn't thinking and started shaking it upsidedown. lol Emma was Covered in crumbs and cherry puffs! They had fun picking them up together and it made for a good laugh.

It's been a while

Ok so it hasn't been THAT long but I figure it's about time I put up a post to let you all know how things have been going. Yesterday we had a BBQ with a bunch of our friends and their little ones. It was quiet fun. I was having too much fun visiting that I didn't take a ton of photos but here is one of Emma playing with Brig in the play pin. I posted some pics I took of Emma on my Photography Blog so be sure to check those out too!

Oh, I love being in a complex with so many other moms! The pool was sooooo nice today since the temperature has been over 100 the last couple days.

Today we watched Carson for Jeremy's mom and he sure likes the kitchen. He likes showing EmmaLee where the "fun" toys are. He even taught Tiny how to make potato juice!!!

EmmaLee likes sitting this way. Silly girl!

She just couldn't figure out how to get to her potato!

Emma stopped liking her swing for a while but I guess not having it for a couple months made her decide to start liking it again. I don't know how she comes up with these positions for sleeping in!


I forgot two weeks ago we went to my older brother Stan's graduation. You can see more details by clicking the link.

Bigger Photos!

Here is a test! I'm making my photos bigger! WOOOHOOO!!!

First Time Swimming

My two neighbors where taking their babies down to go swimming yesterday so EmmaLee and I decided to join them. The pool was a little cold but not cold enough for EmmaLee to not love it. She was having SOOO much fun kicking and splashing in the water.
Jeremy didn't swim but came down to watch Emmalee in the water for a little bit. He doesn't like to miss out on Emma's firsts.



Carson was over yesterday for a little while. EmmaLee loves to follow him around everywhere! Carson has been teaching EmmaLee where all the FUN toys are! She loves spending time with her Uncle Carson.

Emma's Post

EmmaLee always always always crawls around under my feet while I'm on the computer. As soon as I pick her up she goes straight for the mouse and keyboard. I decided I should let her have at it for once and this is what she came up with.
,.,umk,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 2 nnm\\
n esxd3 anj q LLLLLLLLLLLLL`AQ h nnnnnnnnnnnnb nhbn mmmmmmmmmmmmmiiiiiiyi y/''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''[pk/'''''''///////////

I'm back

I feel like I have been so busy lately that I can't keep my head on straight. I'm really not THAT busy but my mind sure likes to make me feel like I am. It's always racing with all the things I have to do and stressing over the little things that shouldn't really matter. Anyhow, just to show you how stressed about my final I was here is part of it that I didn't get turned in because I left it ON TOP OF MY CAR when I was getting EmmaLee in her car seat. My neighbor later found it in the parking lot looking like this. I e-mailed the picture to my teacher (hoping he wouldn't deduct points) and he just said "Wow, this is the first time I've had an excuse accompanied by photographic proof." lol. Hopefully I don't get points taken off.
Tuesday night I left Jeremy and EmmaLee to go do my visiting teaching. When I got home Jeremy was just finishing feeding EmmaLee and had surprised me with an early mothers day dinner. It was a perfect reward after such a busy day. I had tried to do too much the day before... my project, 4 loads of laundry, cleaning the house, making dinner, doing stuff for enrichment night, and editing some wedding pictures. It was my last day of having class and it felt so good to come home and not have to make dinner, feed Emma and do the dishes. Dinner was wonderful (Jeremy is the best cook in the world) and EmmaLee even went to bed early so that we could spend some time together.

By The Way...

My thoughts blog was one that I made because I have soooo many bookmarks to different photography stuff that I was going crazy so I wanted a place to organize all the links.

Photography Blog

Hey Everyone! I'm going to be posting on my photography blog for the most part from now on so please go to it to see pictures and to see how I'm doing! Thanks!

photographybyjo.com

101 Things to do in 1001 days

101 things to do in 1001 days (To be completed Wednesday, January 26, 2011)

1.Make a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days (completed April 2008)
2. Make a photography website or have one made
3. Have a trash the dress session
4. Buy a house
5. Have another baby
6. Sign on with Pictage or another great company
7. Go to a pug meeting
8. Figure out how to make my pictures big on my blog (completed May 2008)
9. Loose 10 lbs
10. Go on a cruise. Just my Hubby and I.
11. Take pictures of the place I was married and make a canvas print
12. Take a business class
13. Take 3 more photography classes at the college
14. Take 3 photoshop classes at the college
15. Make a scrapbook of my baby's first year
16. Go to lunch with an friend Once a month for a year
17. Go to bed at 9 every weeknight for a month
18. Draw a picture once a month for a year
19. Take a drawing class
20. Learn to play a song on the piano all the way through without stopping
21. Sing in church
22. Plant a garden
23. Buy a new computer for JUST my photography
24. Form an LLC (completed June 2008)
25. Buy a Canon 5d
26. Take a public speaking class
27. Take photos for my Aunt's family
28. Exercise faithfully 3 times a week for 3 months
29. Make a quilt
30. Make Business Cards
31. Have a photo shoot once a week for 6 months
32. Plan my daughter's 1 year birthday party
33. Eat an entire little caesars pizza by myself
34. Attend 2 photography workshops
35. Read a book a month for 6 months
36. Find a simple video making program
37. Find free songs for my website
38. Make Slide show of China
39. Get my hair done
40. Find 5 different photographers that will let me do a photo shoot along with them
41. Organize my house so that EVERYTHING has a place
42. Keep my house clean for 6 months straight. lets see if I can actually get this one...
43. Do something fun with my family every week for a year
44. Write in my daughter's journal every week for a year. I've already done it for 8 months.
45. Visit my grandma in Clay Springs
46. Walk the three day for breast cancer
47. Take a dance class
48. Take my daughter swimming (completed May 2008)
49. Design a new Logo for my photography (completed May 2008)
50. Teach Emma sign language
51. Take a day just for me and relax
52. Buy a 15mm fish eye lens
53. Potty train Emma
54. Photograph my own family using the self-timer just for fun
55. Buy a hair light for my studio
56. Baby proof my house
57. Try sushi again. Maybe I'll like it the second time.
58. Sleep for 8 hours straight.
59. Wear a watch everyday for a month. I hate looking at my cell phone for the time but also hate wearing a watch.
60. Buy a 50mm lens (completed May 2008)
61. Develop a work flow that really works for me.
62. Make Christmas cards and send them to everyone.
63. Do a photo shoot underwater.
64. Learn to play the game rook
65. Beat my husband at monopoly
66. Buy a telephoto lens
67. Do 5 mini photo sessions in one day
68. Find some fun props for my studio
69. Take my parents out to dinner
70. Be a part of some kind of group
71. Take my daughter fishing
72. Learn to make crapes
73. Find a program to copy dvds
74. Take a vacation with my family
75. Buy a wacom tablet
76. Master the pen tool in photoshop
77. Make a fairytale collage from photos I've taken for two of my favorite little girls in the world.(completed May 2008)
78. Make up a song
79. Take lots of pictures of my first niece!
80. Make a portfolio
81. Visit an old family friend. She lives in Queen Creek.
82. Make a new list of 101 things to do in 1001 days when I complete this one
83. Add labels to my photography blog (completed May 2008)
84. Decorate my house. That my husband and I will buy.
85. Learn to cook a turkey
86. Send someone flowers
87. Actually use my jogging stroller to go jogging
88. Go to the cemetery to visit friends and my grandma
89. Go Camping
90. Go canoing
91. Find my wedding ring
92. Give my husband a back massage once a week for 3 months
93. Spend a day in bed watching movies and eating popcorn
94. Take my brother's wedding pictures. I'm giving him 1001 days to find a girl and get married. :)
95. Go hiking
96. Identify 100 things that make me happy
97. Cook dinner every night for a month
98. Reduce my worldly possessions by 100 things
99. Take EmmaLee to get a photo shoot at walmart to see what it's like
100. Buy a BBQ
101. Visit the ocean

I found this idea on another photographers blog and I thought it was really neat. I wasn't going to copy her but I then found that hundreds (maybe more) have done the same thing. There is even a website dedicated to it. I'll make things off as I complete them. Enjoy! If anyone wants to join in with me feel free!
Calculate the date here

Emma and Oscar

Ok, so I thought EmmaLee was just too cute in this wagon and it's simply adorable how much she loves this little dog Oscar.

BBQ

Yesterday we had a BBQ with all the families in our complex. The babies loved being outside and loved playing together. There are 6 babies in the complex (that I know of) all born within a year of each other. That's a lot of babies considering we live in such a small complex (20 units). It's fun being able to get together with the other moms and babies. Last night was a blast. These pictures were taken earlier in the evening before all the other babies showed up.

Since Tiny is always outnumbered by the older boys she gets her toys stolen quite often but she is starting to get a little tougher. This is the first time I have seen her really get aggressive. Here she is pushing Landon over to get his toy.

Gratitude

#7 My Marriage
This last week I have been so especially thankful for my marriage. I have been so blessed to have such a great relationship with Jeremy. We get along so well together and I know there is no one more perfect for me. It's wonderful being able to look Jeremy in the eyes and love him just as much as I did on our wedding day. I love this man. I love my marriage. I owe so much to the lord for blessing my life with a wonderful husband and a wonderful marriage. Jeremy's wonderful Aunt Jana took this photo. She is amazing.

Let the fun begin

EmmaLee is growing up so fast. She is doing so many new things every day. It's so much fun to watch her grow and learn.
Toilet paper rolls have become one of EmmaLee's favorite things. I usually let her play with them while I am getting ready for the day. She loves it. I'm sure it won't be long before she is getting into them all on her own.

Jeremy LOVES homemade ice cream so he made some the other day. EmmaLee LOVED being able to watch it spin! She is so cute!

This is Emma's first official mess. I was on the computer editing photos and when I turned around to check on EmmaLee she had pulled out all the diapers AND all the wipes. Hey, she was happy so I let her keep playing till Daddy got home. He got to clean it up.
This last one ... just because... We love our little EmmaLee!

I've Been Tagged!

Seven Random Things about me:

#1 I am still afraid of the dark. That’s right I NEVER grew out of it. I wish I did but I didn’t. Jeremy loves it when it is pitch dark but if there isn’t light coming in through the window there has to be a night light. Even EmmaLee’s room has to have a night light for when I get up in the night to feed her.

#2 I have a thumb from my Mom and a thumb from my Dad. I know it’s odd, but yes my thumbs don’t match. It’s sad that I never realized it till I was half way through elementary school. You would have thought my mom would have picked up on it with all the times she cut my finger nails but nope.

#3 As a kid I drank pickle juice when the pickles were all gone. I loved my pickles and my mom would have to get after me when I was eating FAR to many for one day. Everytime they were off to Price Club (Costco) I was asking them to pick me up a BIG jar of pickles from the “big store”. After I finished them off the jars were used for food storage (not a good idea, the sugar would smell a little like pickles still). We had soooo many jars I can remember having at least 20 on the shelf. Funny thing is that Jeremy ALSO drank pickle juice as a kid. Birds of a feather flock together! (That’s how I KNEW Jeremy was the one for me. jk)

#4 Jeremy jumped out of a closet on our honeymoon and I hate to say this but I wet myself. I was just getting out of the bathroom from taking a shower and I didn’t know where he went sooo I decided that he had to be hiding in the closet. I said, “Jeremy I know you are in the closet… Jeremy I know you are going to try and scare me so just come out right now.” Jeremy jumped out just as I was going to open the door. Ahhhh! The anticipation was what did it. It was like a suspense movie. I’m use to him scaring me now but it was the first time and I’ll blame it on having a bladder infection. Hahaha I promise it’s not something that has happened before and it hasn’t happened again. Having a baby has made me pretty weak though and there have been a few close calls. Jeremy likes to try for it to happen again but no success.

#5 I really do like to sing the national anthem in the shower. My father-in-law doesn’t believe me. But it’s true. My parents should remember. It’s not that I’m feeling patriotic necessarily but it’s just a super fun song to sing. Maybe someday I’ll sing it for you. Hahaha tough luck!

#6 I love drawing. I’m SO bad at it but it’s something that is relaxing and fun for me. I never thought I had the talent and never really tried much until well, the last semester of high school. The story goes like so, I dropped my trig class (one of best thing I ever did since it caused me to take an art class and hey who looks to see what your diploma says, I was one trig class away from a scholastic). Painting was one of the only electives I could still jump into. I wasn’t very excited because painting is NOT my thing. I was even told not to paint anymore… maybe that was because I was trying to get paint out of a bottle and the lid popped off. Blue paint was everywhere! The carpet, the desks, the kid sitting next to me, and so on… Why did they put carpet in an art room in the first place? My teacher was super nice about it but still told me to stick with drawing. Ha ha ha I like it SOO much better anyway.

#7 I didn’t sleep through the night till I was eight!!! Yip never did! My parents were excited when I stopped waking them up. They would get up in the morning and find cereal bowls on the table, toys in the living room, and all the lights on. I was always sleeping somewhere other than my bed also, on the couch, on the floor, or in a chair. Heck, I still don’t sleep through the night but I at least stay in bed even if I lay there for 30 min. just thinking.

Now, I get to tag 7 people. (Let’s hope they still look at my blog)

1. 1. Erin Bentley

2. 2. Candi Henriquez

3. 3 Bobbi Lesuer

4. 4 Elise Eberheart

5. 5 Grandpa Brewer

6. 6 Samira Brewer

7. 7 The Midlife Midwife

Where was I?

Well, Yes It has been a while since I have posted but it wasn't because I wasn't blogging! I was just blogging on another blog! Yip, my photography blog. It was requested that I show more photos from each of my shoots so now you have it. You can keep posted on two blogs. Well, here is the link! Enjoy!!

Photography By Jo

p.s. EmmaLee learned how to go from laying down to sitting up today! I'm so proud of her!!

Graditude

#5 Sleeping Babies!
I love that EmmaLee is getting better and better at putting herself to sleep. She finds some of the funniest positions to sleep in though. I didn't get a picture but the other night she had her tush straight up with her legs tucked under her. She is too cute!

#6 Books
I Loved this book when I was little and it's so much fun to now be sharing it with my little one. Jeremy is such a good daddy and is always reading to EmmaLee. She loves it.

Emma Crawling?

I don't know when she will start to crawl but she sure loves to try! So far she has made it as far as doing the inchworm to what she wants. It is so cute. The other day she was trying to get around the corner to her daddy so I snapped a picture.

A photo to brighten your day!

If we ever want to get things done and EmmaLee is being fussy we just put her in front of the mirror. She always gets SOO excited! Well, the other day we caught her giving giving herself kisses. I don't think she relizes that it is her in the mirror because the other day Jeremy stood behind her while she was looking in the mirror and she reached out her arms to the mirror for him to pick her up. Silly baby but at least she has someone to play with!

Snapshots from the past

I'm becoming addicted. Addicted to taking pictures, addicted to editing pictures and addicted to blogging. I think I'll make a blog just for photography so I'm not overwhelming any of you with all my pictures. Here is when I started thinking that I might take up photography. When I went to China in 2005 my roommate and a couple others would comment on my snapshots. I didn't think they were too bad myself and I I really loved snapping LOTS of pictures. I would love to travel the world someday just to take pictures. In Junior High I wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic but decided it wouldn't work with wanting to be a mommy more. I still have that goal. One day I'll have a picture in that magazine! Probably wont be soon but someday. I had way too much fun photoshoping these pictures. Enjoy. (Jana these are done with some of the presets I found on that sight. They are a little extreme but hey they are fun. I like that they look a little more like paintings.)