High! Low! Look at him go! Zuckerman's Famous Pig!

Eww! Eee! What do you see, the most famous pig in history!

One of our favorite movies is Charlotte's Web, and so Brighton was very excited when we told him that the fair was coming!

Our favorite ride was the sky ride that takes you up high across the fair from one side tot he other. There is just something so exciting to be able to see all that commotion and all those thousands of people having so much fun all over the fair!

We ate and ate and ate! Bar-B-Q Chicken, Fried Zucchini, Corn Dogs, Cow Pies (Yummy waffle cone ice cream sandwich dipped in chocolate and then nuts... soooo good), Cupcakes (new to the fair and one of mommy's big favorites!), Fresh Fruit Bowl, Dipping Dots! (Astronaut Ice Cream!)

Kids Are Music performed and they did a terrific job! We had 30 performers there and they really looked great!

We watched the Chinese Acrobats, and I was worried that my boys would get bored... but no way! They were both fascinated! They both kept their eyes glued to the stage the entire time! It was an amazing show!

CHOC day at the Long Beach Marina

There are lots of perks with having a "special needs" kid. If it is even fair to call him that, now that he is doing so great, I often feel guilty for his blessings. I don't know why. It just seems that we were "supposed" to have it so tough, and now that Cole is thriving, I feel like we have stolen blessings and we are running off with them like a thief in the night! It might not make sense... but that is the best way to describe how it feels sometimes.

However, then Cole throws up all over me for the fourth time in a morning, right as I've just gotten out of the shower and I have to do ANOTHER load of laundry before going to his 7th therapy for the week, and I think... "Yeah, bring on the perks."

So here are some of the fun perks.
Handicap Parking... it rocks. Seriously, there is nothing more to say... it totally rocks.

Fast Pass line at Disneyland... Again, words can't describe how much we love this perk. Way to go Cole! You have saved many cousins HOURS in line for Nemo alone!

Another fun thing is that with Cole being so involved at CHOC hospital, we were invited to go to the Long Beach Marina CHOC day. All the therapists and many of the kids and their familes got to come spend the day playing with jet skis, boats, kayaks, and other fun events. It was all free, and In-and-Out sponsored a yummy lunch! We had a terrific day!

Pioneer Children...

The best event ever for a kid with Sensory Processing Issues! Stake Primary Pioneer Day!!!
All the pulling, pushing, jumping, stretching, climbing... Brighton would have made an AWESOME pioneer!

The stick pull... My little Joseph Smith Jr. rocked this event!






Pioneers and Popsicles... great event!

Root... Root... Root for the Angel's!!!

Take me out to the ballgame!
We had such a FUN night at the Angel's Game!
We had 64 people in our group, and so we were surrounded by good friends. There were 14 families total.
Lanes, Challain, Lightles, Allizadehs, Collins, Bostroms, Olsens, Verhaegens, Tustins, McConnells, Tavares, Johnsons, Malkins, Kearns.




Let's Go Angel's!!

It was so great to see my dear friend Julie Bostrom and her cute hubby and kids again. I miss them so much, and I always love spending time with them. Her husband Craig is really fun. Ally and Andrew are always great with my boys.


Brighton loved playing on the stairs and the hand rails with his buddies.

Star Spangled Day!!!

Happy Independence Day!!!
We had so much fun with our little family today.












It was wonderful to play and enjoy grammy and papa. They were so much fun.















Billy's best thing was watching the fireworks with his sexy wife and adorable little boys.

















Cole's best thing was playing with daddy and Papa and Brighton all day.

























This was Cole's absolute highlight of the day. Papa would count 1-2-3 and Cole would jump up in the air, and Papa would lift him way up high! Sometimes having a 24 hour backpack with a handle is not all that bad. What a great papa!















Brighton's Best thing was the Bike Parade at the church this morning right after the pancake breakfast. He LOVES to ride his bike superfast, and he is always a good sport about wearing his pads and helmet.









































Charise's best thing was her fantastic Kids Are Music kids and the fun they all had together performing at the Aliso Viejo event. There were 25 performers from 20 fantastic families... and they each mean the world to us. The kids ROCKED! They looked and sounded great. There were probably 1,500 people in the audience. People came up to us all evening saying how great the kids sounded. I am so proud of them!
















Trinkets and Treasures from the Patriotic Pixies!

Cole's Update

Hello everyone,

As most of you know, our little Cole had surgery at CHOC early Thursday morning. We are home now and everything went really well!

After his surgery Thursday morning they moved us to a PICU private room with a big hospital couch. I had brought pillows and blankets from home (This is not my first hospital stay with this kid!) and so Cole and I spent the day cuddling on this couch. He would wake up and pat my arm and try to smile, then snuggle down in his blankets again and rest. By early evening, his pain was gone and he was just gripey. He did not like all of the monitors and tubes connected to him.

We already notice a big change in his drinking. He does not choke on liquids like he always has before. This is a huge accomplishment, because that is how he was getting pneumonia and sick so often in the winter. His voice is a little stronger. We will see with time if it gets much louder.

Cole got very used to having mommy snuggling him 100% of her time. When we got home I went in and sat down at my computer and Cole immediately turned my chair around and pulled me out of the office. I figured he must have something to show or tell me, so I followed him. He led me to the couch where he pushed my legs to sit down and then he jumped up and layed next to me and said, "snuggle?" So now as I write this he is on my lap between me and my keyboard. When I start to feel overwhelmed, I think of my wonderful friend Carrie Collins. I have known her son Bobby since he was 2 years old, exactly Cole's age now. Bobby is now 19 and he is a huge collage aged football coach. I think how much Carrie must miss cuddling Bobby in her arms, and having him demand that she spend the day snuggling with him on the couch. I know that Cole will grow up much too fast. (Bobby, go spend 20 minutes snuggling your mom right now!!!)

I am so thankful for the dear friends who helped with Brighton. It was wonderful to know he was safe and loved. Sleepovers at Bobby and Cheryl's, Breakfast with Shamu with Zachary and Kendall! Lisa, he loved playing with Gavin and still talks about the race car track. Thank you also Kathryn, who surprised us with a pan of delicious Chicken Enchiladas! We are so blessed by the love and kindness of you all, our dear friends.

We love you and are thankful for your prayers.

The Johnson Family

Mitzi is doing this awesome book for my mom and dad. Here is one page from it. She is so cute and talented!