Surprise! – A Year in Review: 2010

It’s time to get back to writing. The end of the year is here and to honor the end of 2010 I thought I would do my annual Year in Review.

I didn’t know how I should do it. In 2009 I didn’t give a Year in Review. In 2008 I listed my top 5 moments of 2008. In 2007 I listed my top 10 highlights of the year. In 2006 I listed some highlights and lowlights and in 2005 I went month-by-month.

I didn’t know if I wanted to get back to ranking my top 5 or 10 highlights. When you start to rank things, especially personal things, it just causes problems.

I’ll have to answer questions like, “Why wasn’t my wedding your No. 1 choice?” “What hanging out with us on Tuesdays doesn’t warrant a top 5?” “What Koby not winning back-to-back-to-back Best of Breeds is not cool enough for you?” “You don’t think having a third child was a bigger deal than your brother’s bachelor party?” These are questions I don’t want to have a chance to answer.

But alas, I was able to come up with ten things, remembered that my family doesn’t really read my blog and pressed forward with my top 10 highlights of 2010.

There were some small differences in this year’s list compared to the years past.

For one, we didn’t go on any type of excursions. No trips to Brazil, no weddings in Las Vegas, no 50th anniversary celebrations or Disneyland. We took two little trips across the mountains to Lake Chelan and for our church campout, but other than that we didn’t take a vacation this year.

I also left off mine and Lis’ addiction to “Lost“. We went through the entire first six seasons in one month, stayed up way past our bedtime (even up to 2am on a weeknight), endured dreams and nightmares about an island that travels through time, fell in love with Sawyer, Jack, Locke, Hurley, Desmond and the rest of the gang. It was a lot of fun and a lot of quality time together.

And for the first time since I’ve started doing this the actual American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event did not make the list. We had a lackluster effort by our team and I was overwhelmed with being the Entertainment co-chair that it just wasn’t as fun as the previous years. One of the fundraisers we threw did make the cut and I may actually throw in one of the events we did at the RFL. So, the RFL is still a big part of who I am. I feel better now.

It was hard to determine what was more important to me, the news of a baby coming or Lis’ fifth-year remission party? Randy’s bachelor party or Randy’s wedding? Well, luckily for you I broke down, made the decision and went about my business.

Below are my top 10 highlights of 2010 with a quick last minute addition that we’ll call 10.5:

10.5 – The End of an Era

For nearly two months my co-workers and I have overheard conversations, eavesdropped on phone calls, accidentally and unaccidentally read emails all pertaining to the sale of the small insurance agency we have worked for the last two years. On December 29th the sale became final. We will be “merging” with a bigger agency down the street (adding an extra five minutes to my commute).

I’m not totally disappointed. I never really felt connected here with the bosses and clients as I did working in Monroe and the new agency looks like it may be more fun, heck they had a Christmas party with a White Elephant exchange all at a bar/bowling alley the day I interviewed for my job. But what makes this moment so hard is that out of the three of us that are left standing, only two will be coming to the new office.

Eugene, the other “salesperson” in the office, did not make the cut. It sucks. He’s worked here for seven years and unlike me he is knowledgeable and confident when answering insurance garbage questions. He says he’s okay with it and that the change will help him start his poker career. I hope so.

It’s been fun working with Eugene. The one thing I looked forward to when I came to this office was a younger group of people. Both he and Riima are in their early 20s, so it was a refreshing change from the crew I worked with in Monroe. He also helped bridge the fantasy sports gap that I lost when I quit the Herald. I still had someone to shoot the fantasy stuff with and we’ve played in fantasy football, baseball and basketball leagues since I started here. When I was home alone he invited me (and Josh) to come hang out with his Russian posse and play poker. We attended multiple Mariners games together, I gave him someone to talk “Lost” with after Lis and I became addicted, we complained and laughed about our bosses and he introduced me to the delicious Mr. Gyro.

Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” just began on the radio so that’s a fitting end to this moment.

10 – Y-M-C-A!

Here is that one event from the 2010 RFL that I prefaced.

Once again it was a struggle to get my brothers and Wes to commit to doing a lip sync routine. Once they were on board we had to come up with a song to do.

In 2008 we finished second doing a fine job performing Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody”. We followed that up with a mix of “Ghostbusters” and Bell Biv Devoe’s “Poison”. In 2010 we were confused.

We were blocked or we all had our own ideas. Then my Mom suggested the Village People’s “YMCA”. Wes and Randy still weren’t sure but when Erik put on his construction outfit we had them at “Young man…”

Doing what we’ve done the last two years, we came up with a routine in one evening of practice and two days before the actual event. And much like the years before we came up with a nearly flawless performance that left hundreds entertained. It’s always fun performing lip syncs with my brothers and Wes. It’s a struggle to get them to come together but the end result is usually good and leaves us wanting to do more (which we did, performing “YMCA” in front of the guests at Randy’s wedding).

9 – What the heck is a Trebuchet?

What’s better than spending a Sunday afternoon with your church family carving pumpkins? How about launching said pumpkins through the air with a contraption used back in the Middle Ages? Yes, a trebuchet.

This year has been special for us as we’ve grown even closer to our church family. This was the one day that stuck out in my mind thus representing the year we had with our church family. I love the closeness of our church family. I mean how many churches get together on a Sunday afternoon, carve pumpkins, launch pumpkins and eat lasagna together?

Below is the video for the trebuchet. If you want to skip past the pumpkins at the beginning then jump to the two minute mark. That’s when the pumpkin launching begins!

8 – Team Force Gives Back with the Empire Strikes Back

One thing I enjoy about doing the Relay for Life is throwing fundraisers. I’m not talking about car washes or bake sales (though they usually generate the most dough) but themed party fundraisers. The two preceding years we had an 80s party and a 50s party, respectively. The 80s party was a huge hit, the 50s party made us rethink even doing another “bigger” fundraiser.

Anyway, early in May I was reminded that Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back was going to be celebrating its 30th anniversary. I thought it would be fun to get a few of my friends together and have an Empire Strikes Back party. Then I thought it would be cool to actually go somewhere and watch it with a bunch of other geeks…I mean fans. I searched online for “Empire Strikes Back” and “Seattle” and found nothing that indicated there was going to be a special screening of the show. Then it hit me; why not throw my own special screening and raise money for the Relay for Life, after all we are Team Force.

I slowly began putting things together. The obvious choice for a venue was my church. I knew that most movie theaters would not allow me to do a special screening on such short notice, and knew that my Pastor was a huge geek…I mean fan…and would probably okay this. He did with great enthusiasm (unfortunately he couldn’t be there because of a prior out-of-town engagement). I tried to give it an old movie theater feel so, with the help of my trusty wife Lis and my parents, we set up a snack bar from snacks donated by friends. Then my mind went even farther. I contacted Obi-Wan and asked him for help, telling him that he was my only hope. He said that he could get a couple of Stormtroopers from the 501st Legion but on short notice it may be hard to get anyone else.

To my great surprise came Obi-Wan, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and a few troopers. It was amazing! When they walked into the sanctuary to the “Imperial March” I got chills down my spine. Faces lit up! I stood in front of the tens that had attended and nearly lost it. Just looking at everyone’s faces, cameras snapping, kids excited, adults excited, it was so cool.

Stephanie took pictures in front of a backdrop that Erik had designed just hours before. People lined up to take their pictures with Darth Vader, Boba Fett and a Stormtrooper. It was awesome! Did I already mention that?

Then we played the movie and the goosebumps returned. With the lights dimmed, Harry cranked up the sound and it felt like our church was transformed into an actual movie theater.

I’ve thrown, or helped throw, many fundraisers but this one will always be my favorite. It wasn’t because of the theme (though it adds some flavoring) but to see the faces of people when the 501st arrived, to feel the excitement when the movie started and to hear the applause when it ended made me so proud. I had created something (with the help of a few close friends) so cool and I had brought people together all to have a fun and memorable time.

Want more pictures? Check it out here: Empire Strikes Back Fundraiser

7 – Tuesday’s with Uncle Erik & Auntie Stephanie

One of my goals for 2010 was to leave my family alone, give them a break from me. For the last couple of years Lis and I had tried to do something that her family does so well in Brazil – spend Sunday afternoons together.

We invited the family over for a few barbecues or dinners on Sunday but not much came of it. In fact, for the first month of the year I was rejected a few times so I gave up. It sounds silly and our pictures show that we do spend time together, but Lis and I are very family-oriented and it felt odd to go a few weeks without hanging out with my parents and/or siblings. And it happened (yes, it did parents and/or siblings that may accidentally come across this), though my parents have an “excuse” as they spend half of their yearly weekends travel to and from dog shows. Yes, dog shows. In fact I even heard grumblings later in the year that I was asking too much, thus confirming what I had thought, that the family indeed wanted a break from us. Then Stephanie quit her retail job and began working “banker” hours.

All of a sudden Erik and Stephanie would show up on Tuesday nights. Not just one or two but every Tuesday night. Like every good thing it wasn’t planned but slowly became a routine. A routine that I enjoyed and I know Lukas and Lia did as well. They would come over for dinner and would hang out with the kids and then afterwards we’d usually watch a movie or some “Modern Family” together. It was fun and it was nice to know that on Tuesday nights we’d have someone family to hang out with. It was also great for the kids. They became incredibly close to both Uncle Erik and Auntie…just Auntie, Lia says.

Though it’s still hard to convince myself that they actually want to hang out with us, Lis and I have been extremely grateful for the relationship we’ve built with my brother and his wife and look forward to future Tuesdays.

6 – Lukas McQueen

I’ll go ahead and make it easy for myself copying and pasting one of my five entries (sad, I know) that I posted this year.

I had one of my proudest days as a parent Wednesday night when Lukas took home not one but two trophies at the Awana Grand Prix.

Lukas won all four of his heats outlasting 16 other kids and winning his first trophy, the Grand Prix Division 1 speed trophy. He posted times of 2.78 (second best of the night), 2.82, 2.79 and 2.80. In the finale he posted a 2.83 defeating three other kids (two from Division II and one from Division I) earning the Grand Champion trophy.

My Dad yelped like a girl. I gave a quick shout of joy and everyone else stood around wondering who had won. The three other kids looked around before someone said “Lukas!” who was standing there raising his hand.

He was proud, I was proud, Lis was proud and his Grandparents were proud. Lia – well she was busy fussing about going “Nigh Night!”

Two kids came up to him, one saying that Lukas had an awesome car and that he never imagined a Cubbie (youngest group) winning the Grand Prix. Another kid asked if I was Lukas’s dad and wanted to congratulate him on his two trophies.

Afterwards I took Lukas to McDonald’s for some congratulatory ice cream.

The whole night left me in amazement. I was quite surprised considering we started working on the car Sunday afternoon and because Lukas just wanted to play with the car. We didn’t come in expecting anything and he ended up winning all five of his races.

On Sunday Lis, Lukas and I designed the car before giving it to Papi for him to saw and sand. Papi continued to ask Lukas about what he wanted the car to look like, and when Lukas was fine with the final project we took it home for him to paint.

On Tuesday afternoon he painted Bumblebee (yellow with black stripes) and Lis added the final touches (taillights, gloss).

I left work early on Wednesday so I can be there to watch the time trials. When we arrived we weighed the car and it chimed in at 3.8 ounces. The car can weigh as much as 5.0. We let it race down the track and it flew. When I went to turn it in the Awana dude suggested I add some weight. I wasn’t sure about it but we added two smaller weights and the car flew faster.

We weighed it again and it came in at 4.2. We added three more and it topped out at 4.9 oz.

As I mentioned I’m a very proud Dad so I had to immediately go home and make a video about it. The rest of the night I beamed thinking about Lukas’s face and how proud he was after the race. In 1986 I took second place in my Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby. He topped that at age 5. And in one night he had cut my trophy case in half. I have won four legitimate trophies. The aforementioned second place trophy, an MVP award for my 1990 Little League season, a Gold Glove award in that same 1990 season and the plaque that Team Force has won the last three years. It was really special seeing him get these trophies…and not just any trophy, he actually earned these which made it more special.

Correction: I took third place in my 1986 Pinewood Derby race.

5 – My Lil’ Boy is All Growns Up

When you’re having a kid you think about all these firsts that your child may go through. His first steps, his first word, his first tooth and his first day of school. In 2010 I experienced the latter as Lukas headed to school for the first time in his young life.

We had decided a year or so back we weren’t going to put him in preschool. First it costs an arm and a leg to attend and I really could only afford some fingers and a few toes. Secondly, I heard from a teacher friend of ours that preschool wasn’t necessary. It wasn’t going to make him excel faster in life if he didn’t attend preschool. Other than his excessive whining, which I still can’t shake myself, he was a pretty social little dude and didn’t have issues with learning numbers and the alphabet.

So on September 8, 2010 we embarked on a new journey – Kindergarten. I was nervous, Lis was excited and Lia was a little sad to see her Tato walk away from the house without her. We took the long walk to school (okay so it’s only a block away but I can dramatize it can’t I?), his last day of freedom behind him. For the next 13 years of his life he’ll spend nine months of his year going to school.

I was able to hang out a bit while he toured the school and we got acquainted with the teacher and the rules and regulations of the school. We listened to nervous parents ask stupid questions or promote their own child (“My kid speaks properly and will probably correct kids that don’t use proper grammar…blah blah blah.”) After his three hours of school – that’s right only three hours – Lis, Lia and I anxiously picked him up and the first day of school was in the books.

4 – Wedding Bells at Johnsonville

Wedding bells rang for a second consecutive year as my baby brother Randy, got hitched to his baby’s mama, Nayheli in late-June.

In 2009 we had celebrated Erik & Stephanie’s Las Vegas Wedding Weekend and in 2010 the final Johnson boy was laid to rest.

It was a fun celebration weekend. Once again I was blessed with being the “best man” and I think I did alright reading my Bible verse nice and clear during his ceremony and giving an amusing toast at the reception.

My family from California and Arizona flew up, so it was like a mini-family reunion, which is always a fun time!

We had the rehearsal on Friday evening and a group dinner that evening. On Saturday we did the ceremony, which went off without a hitch and followed it up with a killer reception, led by our favorite DJ Mr. Jerry “Big Dog” Dixon, who aptly named my parent’s backyard “Johnsonville” and it’s stuck. As he mentioned, “When you’re in Johnsonville, you’re at home.”

I’ll check my manhood at the door by telling you all that I love weddings. What’s not to like? Dressing up, dancing, drinking, eating and dancing again! Love it! And Randy’s wedding had all of it! Even Lis shook her groove thang, and that’s not the norm for her.

3 – Tribe! Tribe! Tribe!

“You see when you got yourself three or four good pals, well you got yourself a tribe. And there ain’t nothing stronger than that.” – William H. Bonney aka Billy the Kid in Young Guns (1988).

This was the quote I used when I gave my toast at Randy’s bachelor party. It was fitting in two parts. One, Randy watched Young Guns over 40 times during two summers and considered himself a “Regulator”. Second, when we took role call at Randy’s bachelor party we realized that we were a group of PALS. Eight guys (Dad, myself, Erik, Randy, Josh, Wes, Karsten and Aaron) that had known each other for over 15 years. As we looked around the hotel room at each other, about to gag on some tequila, we realized that we had at one time or another gone to battle for each dude in that room and that we’ve battled with each dude in that room. In fact, I’d wager you’d be hard pressed to find a group of guys on a bachelor party with the kind of track record that we all had together.

The bachelor party wasn’t the kind of bachelor party you’d watch in movies. There was no tiger in a hotel room, no baby or no dead hooker. There were some memorable moments. There were some very amusing moments. But overall what made Randy’s bachelor party epic was that we knew that making the trek to Portland for a weekend may be the last time in a long, long time that the eight of us would be together as just pals. And well, there ain’t nothing better than that.

2 – An Unexpected Surprise!

Once again I’ll quote one of my five blog entries which better explains the No. 2 moment of the year, finding out that Lis was pregnant and we were having a third – that’s right – third child.

On July 31  Lis and I got some interesting news – we’re having a third child. That’s right “interesting news”. Not exciting, not disappointing, just interesting. We’re not sure how we feel. We had talked more about NOT having a third child than of having a third child. Then you go half a session without any protection and just like that you’re having a third child. Was it planned? Heck no!

We found out on Thursday when Lis was wondering about being late for her monthly cycle. Since I keep track of how many times we make boom-boom (I told you I keep spreadsheets for everything). I was able to count down the days since we last did the deed and it turned out to 34 days. We decided a pee stick test from the $1 store was in need. Thursday night Lis did her thing and four minutes later we were checking for multiple lines. Yep, one dark one and another faded one. Does it count? The box said, “The darkness of the line doesn’t matter if you see two lines you’re knocked up.”

Not completely believing the box we bought another one on Friday and on Saturday morning Lis used her morning pee to create two more lines. This box stated, “You’re friggin’ pregnant. Get over it! You’re having a third child!”

A third child!? We didn’t know what to think. As mentioned above we weren’t expecting a third child. We had talked about it briefly. It would be neat to have what we nowadays call a “big” family.

Lis is the third of four sisters. She likes having two older sisters and though they are spaced out in age they still have a closely knit relationship.

I am the oldest of three brothers. I like having two younger siblings. Sure we fought from ages 2-22 but now we get along just fine. The only time we do argue is when we have a problem with each other’s wives. Plus if you’re mad at one you always have the other to hang out with, unless you’re the one they have a problem with.

But still a third child!? We already have problems with our patience. I’ve gotten better with my patience but still Lia is more than a handful. She’s a separate species from Lukas. She’s busier, more active, and extra grabby. She doesn’t rest.

Then there was the question that shouldn’t matter but for some reason does, “What would people think?” Why that matters I don’t know but it seems like people these days are fine with you having two but if you’re having three then they’re taken aback. I’m so afraid of what my having-a-kid-is-just-overpopulation bosses will think that I may not even tell them and instead call in sick two days when the baby is born.

Sure one is neat. It’s the first one and the two of you become a family.

Two is good because you give the first one a buddy. Plus we had a boy and then a girl. All we need is the white picket fence and the Golden Retriever and we’re all set.

But three…three’s a crowd! The first person I told was my BFF in California, and that’s only because he asked me about getting snipped and asked, “You weren’t planning on having more were you?” Uh…no…but… His congratulations came with a question mark at the end of it. I feel everyone else’s response – minus my Mom who would love us to reproduce every other month just so she could have more grandchildren – is going to be close to the same.

The important part is that Lis and I are excited. Sure, we’re a little uncertain but our positives outweigh the nonsense negatives. Plus, we’re continuing to build our own branch of the Johnson family. Lis and I have long been advocates of Sunday being Family Barbecue Day. With three kids there’s less a chance that we’ll be left with one after the other runs away.

Heck, maybe it will inspire me to write more! Look I already posted an entry and we’re only seven weeks into the third pregnancy!

End of the Year Update: Okay, so it hasn’t inspired me to write more as this was my last post and that was back in mid-August. Lis is doing well. She was more nauseated this time around but that disappeared after the third month. In November we found out the sex of the baby and thankfully it’s a boy! Check out the set on him…must get that from Lis’ side of the family. We’re excited. Lukas is excited to have another boy in the house. Lia is finally grasping the concept and the two have adapted to sharing a room since “Eddie Jr.” will be chillin’ in his own room with a crib. Lis is at the point where you can feel him moving around and, like his sister, he’s a mover. It’s cool and we’re all looking forward to seeing him in the next few months.

1 – A Sweet Surprise!

Five years ago I started this online journal as a way to share updates and news about Lis’ battle with leukemia.

In November we celebrated that fifth year with a little surprise party with 80 of our closest friends.

The fifth-year for a cancer survivor is HUGE. Doctors say that the fifth-year basically puts the cancer survivor back to “normal”. They aren’t fully cured – they’re never fully cured – but Lis’ went from a 23-percent survival rate to “normal” again. That was HUGE.

Since sometime last year I had thought about throwing her a party. We talked about having a party then dropped the idea when I told myself I wasn’t going to plan anything anymore. Then a friend of mine at church whose 7-year-old daughter is dealing with ALL said that he’s excited to hear Lis is coming up on five years and that he’ll be right there celebrating with us. I figured I had to do it.

I slowly began compiling the guest list. I asked her doctor, some nurses that cared for her, her ex co-workers, friends and family. Unfortunately her doctor was in Hawaii but he did leave me a message wishing he was there. One of her nurses that adored Lukas showed up along with our close friends and family. Even Lis’ family in Brazil sent a video for her.

Our friends Harry and Karen helped me plan the surprise and my Mom, Stephanie and Erik decorated and organized all the parts that I couldn’t handle. Once again our DJ friend, the Big Dog, MC’d the event for us.

How did we pull it off? With a little luck and a small mishap by Harry. Harry had wanted to play the above trebuchet video a week before Lis’ party. But instead he had problems getting the video to play. This opened up an opportunity for me to tell Lis that I needed to make a video for Harry and then drop it off for him at the church. We pulled up to the church and I asked Lis if she wanted to come in. She said she would. Phew! When we entered the church he asked Lis if she could go into the sanctuary. She walked in, the lights turned on and everyone yelled “Surprise!” Tears welled up in Lis’ eyes. That doesn’t happen too often. It was so great seeing her face light up at the people that had come to celebrate with her. She teared up watching the slideshow and she teared up (as did most in attendance) when her family gave their video tribute. Me…I was strong the entire time, didn’t cry during my speech, didn’t cry during the video, didn’t cry during the slideshow, didn’t cry watching guest after guest hug Lis and congratulate her. Yep…I’m lying.

Here are the videos Erik and I put together for Lis’ party. I can’t get the “Surprise” video to work but will post when I can change the video from sounding like a group of chipmunks were shouting “Surprise!” to Lis:

Special thanks to our friend Shandy for adding the subtitles.

Special thanks to Keith Urban, Sawyer (from Lost) and Bono for sending congratulations to Lis.