The Johnsons: Uncut

Each Christmas, Hyrum's family's tradition is to get a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve, so this year Hy wanted a Steeler's theme for our family, in support of his cousin who was voted into the Pro Bowl and who's team was going to the Superbowl. The little girls got pink thermals, and Hyatt got the traditional yellow and black. Hyrum already had a jersey, and Tilly and I had matching yellow T-shirts.

I value handmade items more than anything purchased, so I wanted to make all the kids their Christmas presents this year (and it keeps the cost down).

The problem is, they kept walking in while I was working on them, so they saw bits and pieces of everything I was making. For the month before Christmas, I was staying up until 2-4am every night trying to get things done in secret. Because of the lack of secrecy, Santa decided to bring them a few toys that they hadn't seen (a train set for Hyatt, a barbie carriage/hot air balloon for Tilly, a make-up kit for Kiersa, and instruments for Paisli. Then he brought them some clearanced toys [dragons, a cowboy rodeo set and bath toys] for them all to share).




Hyrum was super sneaky and got me a Miche purse with 3 shells. It's the first purse I've owned since I started having kids. I love it because I can change out the outside look of the purse without ever transferring the contents. It's fantastic! Good-bye diaper bags! I won't miss you!

Aside from the apron, I bought Hyrum some incredible socks. If you know Hyrum at all, you know he has a sock fettish. He would wear a new pair of socks every day if he was filthy rich. I went online to research the best of the best socks, and found Thorlos to be the most raved about. Lucky for me, they were sold in a cowboy store here in town, so I got him a pair. Only one pair. Because they're $13 a pair!!!! They were worth it though. Hyrum LOVES them and says it's like walking on cotton balls when he wears them. They have the perfect tension (not too tight or loose) and perfect comfort.

So here is what I made for presents:

Craft/kitchen aprons for the kids made out of old jeans, with gingham trim. And a camouflage apron for Hyrum so he could have an apron his size finally (yes, he does help in the kitchen a lot...probably for his own survival since I'm not the best cook).

Stuffed animals for the kids. I got this idea off of an etsy sight and just made my own pattern (which is why they're not as good as the originals on etsy).






Paisli got the bird (the feathers on its head are from the duck Hyrum plucked).


I made them scarves too, from a tutorial I found on a site I like. I love the little peek-a-boo shapes.



I also made them a flannel board with an ocean scene, inspired by a book we checked out at the library.


(I wish I had my nice camera. This looks so much better in real life.)

My kids love the Gruffalo so much, that I made them a Gruffalo flannel story on the opposite side of the ocean flannel board. Sorry that my pictures look so terrible with the flash and all. I had to take them at night when the kids were asleep. Again, these pics at night makes the colors look weird. It's much cooler in real life.


The Smiths have a gift exchange between families, and this year we had McKay's family, so I made a few of their gifts. I made Stacie a wallet and hair accessories from instructions I found on the internet (the hair stuff can slip onto a headband or can be clipped in the hair),







and I made Lincoln and Macey stuffed animals, using ideas from that same etsy site I used for my kids' stuffed animals.

Though I love putting time and effort into a special present for someone, I'm glad Christmas is over so I can sleep again!

...is my two front (bottom) teeth. Tilly lost the bottom left one first, then the next day she lost the bottom right one. We helped her push the first one and get it out, but she did the second one herself. I'm hoping she'll lose a front top one soon so we'll match!

I went to a periodontist (Dr. Moulton) for my oral surgery. It was finally time for my implant to be placed...in my mouth, of course. The whole procedure cost me $600 more than I had allotted money for (and that was after they felt sorry for me and brought the price down $1,300), so I couldn't afford the anesthesia, which meant I was numbed locally and wide awake for the whole thing. It really was much less frightening than I expected. The tears rolled only once, which is impressive for me considering my track record with difficult dental care issues.

Basically, he cut my gums so he could flap them up, then he scraped away the damaged bone, screwed the implant in, and scooped flakes of cow bone onto where my bone was damaged, put the skin down and stitched me shut.

After the surgery was done, I was a little swollen, but not too bad.

The next day I had a bruise that eventually crawled all the way up my top lip so you could see it when my mouth was shut.

The swelling was worse the second day, and even my nose, which is already big enough as it is, was huge!
I looked like a Who from Whoville, just in time for Christmas!
Third day wasn't looking any better. Only worse!
Of course I know I look ridiculous! Yes, I AM embarrassed of these photos, but I'm over it. I'm not that proud of my appearance that I can't throw a nasty picture or two of myself in my journal for generations to see.

I was only on pain meds for 2 days though, then I felt totally fine. I just looked really deformed for quite a while.

Next up? In 3-4 months, after the implant is secure in the bone, I'll go see my dentist and he'll cut my socket open again to put a post in the implant and put my pretty new crown on after that. They'll also cut my gums higher over my other front tooth so they will both match, and I'll get a new crown for that tooth also. The worst is over, I hope.

I'm afraid we may never be allowed at the duck pond ever again...at least not with Hyrum.

I guess he was a little apologetic.

Okay, okay. So a guy in our ward shot the duck and just gave it to us. Hyrum plucked, cleaned, and cooked it.

It tasted weird...more like beef than chicken. I've decided I'm NOT a fan of duck.