johnson juice: August 2008

So as did most of you, I loved the Olympics. Unlike, most of you I love women's soccer! I love futbol 'period'! This is why their beating Brazil for gold was my favorite highlight from Beijing. I know that during the Olympics we all love anything that the United States get gold in (hence all the new swimmers), so hopefully you are all lovers of women's soccer right now! Not only did I love watching the final nonstop action packed game, I loved watching the celebration the ladies had with each other and with their children. I usually cry when they show the losing team after a match in any huge game no matter the sport, however this time I only felt pure joy for my team and actually felt happiness in my heart when they showed Brazil crying laying on the field. I believe I have turned sure mean! Especially Marta from Brazil who had great shot after great shot but could not put one past Hope Solo, I didn't feel one bit sad! I have always been a defensive player, nothing feels better than a save in soccer or a blocked shot in basketball, so when my favorite player Christie Rampone (above picture #3 and below with baby on shoulders) kept saving goals along with Hope Solo (keeper) I was in heaven. Karli Lloyd saved the day when she scored the perfect goal in overtime, I just can't get over it! So do you think this is this why I had a dream that I played for the Olympic team???? I believe so. And my dreamed totally ruled...you should have seen it!

I can't even begin to imagine what they felt and will continue to feel for the rest of their lives. I remember the feeling when they played the National Anthem for us as we stood with our hands on our hearts before our State Championship game for our measly little high school from Sandy, UT. I was so proud to be a Beetdigger, and an American, and a soccer player and yet, I believe, compared to the Gold Medal game in China, mine was such a small, small game. I do know what it's like to be on a TEAM, working years everyday for months at a time, and I loved my team, and when I watch amazing teams like that work together through overtime to get a victory, my heart smiles. I say that this US Women's Soccer Team is one to be admired and loved for years to come. Good Job USA!!!!

Is there a better picture? Soccer Mom's Rule!
I heart #3!

So now I have to give props to my own USA (Utah Soccer Alliance) soccer player, Carter Johnson. While I was in Las Vegas his team, The Rebels, took second place in the Park City Tournament. A couple of weeks ago they also brought home the silver in the Addidas Cup. So close to the Gold...I know it's coming!

Just a few weeks ago Carter's team also had a private camp with a coach from REAL Salt Lake, BJ Johnson. On Friday of the week long camp they got a special visit from Captain Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales. They talked with the boys for a while then signed autographs, took pictures and had a shoot-out with the boys. They we were so nice to come spend the time with our boys and oh ya, I got a shot with them as well! We are headed off to the REAL game right now, so cheers to all you futbol fans out there! And just as important, a special cheers to all you BYU Football fans, tomorrow my friends, tomorrow!

Carter Who?

I promised I would leave the embarrassing pictures and stories out of my Las Vegas post, I might bend the rules just a little. Of course there are things best left in Las Vegas (we all know the saying) but I'll just share these memories that helped these ladies who were already the greatest friends become my sisters! I do this thing with my kids where they have to tell me their "high" from the day or vacation or special occasion, and then they tell me their "low". I just want to say that my "high" from Las Vegas was staying up until 3:00 am, at the earliest, laughing so hard 'some of us' peeing our pants, sharing things about ourselves that none of us knew! The night we stayed up until 5:00 I couldn't stop laughing about the sun shining and people exercising as we were trying to fall asleep! My "low" would definitely be the deathly hot temperatures in Las Vegas. When we were outside we were almost always at the pool, but for the moments we were not, we died...no really, all energy was drained in minutes...we died! However, the weather did not even come close to making the trip any less than perfect. There are four amazing women, for reasons of their own, that I got to spend five days with. I love each of them and want them to know how much I need each of them. How lucky we are to all live in the same neighborhood and I know it was not by accident that we all moved here at the same time! We laughed, cried, danced, sang, ate, layed out, shopped, splurged, gambled...wait, we bought $60 diet coke's, got tattoo's, and ate some more...the funnest week with friends I've had in years!

I have to introduce the 'fab five' because they do not have blogs of their own!

Michelle...wife of one, mother of 3, best across the street neighbor ever, totally hot! Michelle was diagnosed with MS not very long ago and I can not tell you how much I look up to her. She is the definition of a fighter. If we all had the attitude of Michelle we would have better lives. I feel like I have known her always! For some reason if someone says a word or phrase that happens to be in a song, we think of it at the exact same time and sing it out simultaneously. We pretty much read each other's minds! I'm sorry we didn't let you sleep cute thing, love you!

Heather...wife of one, mother of 6 (including twin girls at the end), totally hot! I know, it could end there, but she has so many wonderful qualities it just doesn't end! I went to the same High School as Heather but we didn't really hang out. If I had known what I was missing she would have been at my house every weekend! She is hilarious, crazy, spontaneous, non-judgemental, giving and I love her for it all! I love someone who will surprise you now and then, if you do too, Heather is your gal! She makes everyone who is her friend feel so loved. And in return we all love her and her random face scowls!

Julia...mother of 2, newly divorced (and better for it), totally hot! Here's the thing, Julia is the woman! If anyone can stay strong as a woman after what she has been through, then anything is possible. Many times this weekend we thought about how all of us would handle the things that have happened to her. All agreed, none would be as together as our Julia! She is the life of the party always, and most of the time because she is peeing her pants! Her smile is contagious! She is going back to culinary school to be the famous chef we know she will become! Trust me, you will know her, we are just trying to come up with a good 'famous' last name! I love you Julia, Gulia!

Amber...my roommate...wife of one, mother of three, totally hot! Most of us want to run 1 marathon in their life, well this chic has run 2 (would be 4 without broken bones and sickness)already and is training for the New York in November. She is amazing! I want to be her! Amber and I had our own little laughs when we were trying to get to sleep when it was light outside, or just waking up, or at the pool, or in the front seats of the car! She was the fabulous driver of the trip and well deserved the assignment! She is very good at being 'in control'! She is more wonderful than she even knows, and I wish she would just stinkin' realize it! Love you hot mama!

Our first day included a fabulous day at the Green Valley Resort and Spa, with a private pool. Amber and I had a pedicure and manicure while the other three had massages and body scrub's. I highly recommend to all mom's out there!

That night we had to visit Bobby Flay's (Julia's secret love) famous restaurant, Mesa Grill. It was good, but I personally like California Pizza Kitchen better! The food LOOKED beautiful and the appetizer was superb! Too bad the waiter wasn't a fan of non-drinkin' women, he must think we wouldn't tip as well if we weren't wasted! Well little did he know how Julia's mad math skills would affect his paycheck!

OK, what happened next was SOOOO perfect! We headed to Hard Rock in hopes to find a live band...we totally found! We got invited to a private party which supposedly Jerry Bruckheimer was at (we didn't see him, but I don't know what he looks like anyway!) I assume we were another funny sight in the back of 'Wasted Space' the nightclub, totally sober, fully dressed Mormon girls dancing in the back, laughing so hard at ourselves because the waiter and waitress wouldn't even talk to us due to the lack of turning our glasses right side up! At least the band singing all the great Beatles hits was a highlight of the week! It really was the best time seeing Julia meet the men of her dreams (her 1980 dreams...better late than never!) and getting fabulous pictures to remember them!

Seriously, this picture makes me love Heather so much. She totally hates me for showing this dance move, but we have all tried to perfect it ever since she delivered!

She didn't know that they loved their middle finger so much, but it was perfect! Only the first 'peeing' episode!

So the Price is Right was totally lame! Only because none of us got called up...again! The contestants were called up randomly which we all agree was absolutely why we did not get chosen. If they would have interviewed us, met us, loved us, we knew we would have had a winner! Todd Newton ended up not being the host that week, I actually had flashback's of the game show Double Dare with Marc Summers!

Bill Murray from Barney's totally made up for the PIR disappointment. He allowed us to not only try on the Prada shoes we have always dreamed of, he broke the rules and let us take pictures! He kept bringing out $700.00 dollar shoes for us to try on even though he knew we would never buy them. They really do feel as amazing as they look! Have you ever wanted to marry a shoe, or I should say boot in my case!

Here we are splurging, I don't know how we got it all home!

We found this secret yummy Italian place in the Wal-Mart of Casino's...the Stratosphere! We also finally found the $3 black jack tables, and Michelle had better luck there...after she just threw down another $40 for her diet coke. Her diet coke habit sure added up! We also found the worst bands, music, weirdo's and were almost shot at...never going to the Stratosphere again!

This was the famous $60 diet coke.

Because don't all women in their 30's lay on a bed and take pictures of themselves???

Here we are asleep...we all laugh in our sleep!

Robyn and Julia seriously need to stop peeing!

Our driver along with the rest of us are now completely addicted to Honey Butter Pringle Sticks!

Only smiling to see our husbands and kids! So sad not to see each other all day, every day! Five days was just perfect! We had too much fun but were so ready to kiss our families!

And that was the perfect END!