JAJ Installment 6: Emily

Emily asked: Who is your favorite sister-in-law? I mean other than Liz or Sarah...

Ha,Ha...I guess it would have to be Helen. Just kidding! You know what they say? Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.

Emily asked: What is your favorite Girls Weekend memory?

Oh, girls weekend!

For those who don't know, girls weekend occurs once a year when Seth's mom and grandma rent a house somewhere and all of the girls have a 4 day party. There are crafts out at all times, and food, and chit-chat, and just silliness as far as the eye can see.

I love Girls Weekend, but it was not always so. The first year I had to go to GW (2000) I was dreading it. They were camping and I don't do too much of that . What was even more unsettling than the camping was that they were sisters, and I was not. Sisters are the most exclusive society on earth, I do believe. There is a bond so tight between a group of sisters that no one gets in. I respect the rules of sisterhood and I felt like an impostor showing up at GW. Seth's sisters have always been welcoming to me, and his mom and Grandma have treated me just like I was their own, always. My insecurities were entirely my own, as they usually are. I went to GW 2000 and couldn't even stay overnight because I had to work at 6:00 the next morning. It was okay, but I didn't feel any of the GW magic that I had heard of from the regulars.

Oh well, I decided I would just put in my time every year, and make the best of it.

Then in August of 2001 we flew to Las Vegas for GW. We acted like the biggest morons that Vegas has ever known, and I think Vegas has known plenty. I roomed with Emily, Seth's baby sis (the asker of this question) and we were living large. Liz was rooming with Helen and helping her with her daughter, Kayla. Sarah was rooming with Grandma and Ann and they were helping her with her baby, Aspen. Me and Emily were kid free and could stay up chatting and then stay in sleeping. We chatted about all kinds of stuff, and she confided in me that she had a crush on a boy she grew up with who was on a mission. They were going to go on a Valentine's date in 18 months when he came home. She swore me to secrecy and I told no one for 18 months, not even Seth, because what happens at Girls Weekend stays at Girls weekend, especially when Girls Weekend is in Vegas.

We did all the touristy Vegas stuff. We all crammed in to a karaoke booth and sang Girls Just Wanna have Fun, and even I hammed it up for the camera. We dressed up in rainbow hair extensions and kiddy jewelry. We topped off our look with brightly colored make-up and then walked the strip and went to dinner. We got asked by many people where we were from. We looked like fools, I'm sure. I didn't care, and you know that I don't like to draw attention to myself usually. But I had a safety net. When I am with people that I feel comfortable with, I feel safe. I am free to be who I want to be. I knew as I strutted backward down the moving walkway, against the flow of traffic, posing for my mother in law who was videotaping, that these people were my family.

That was my best moment.

There have been many years of moments since then. I always love the Park City years when we get to hit the Alpine slides. I loved the Heber City year when there was nothing to do so we dressed up in trash bags and made a movie. That was really stupid, but it seemed fun then. I like just hanging out and talking (and I always talk more than I should). I like the endless crafting that I sit back and observe. Crafty women never cease to amaze me. The 99 cent Ikea breakfast field trip. I love all of it. There are so many memories tied up in GW. I just wish someone would still stay up late with me.

Thanks girls for letting me at least get my foot in the door of the sisterhood. And to give a better answer to your first question Emily, you are all my favorites.

See you at GW 2010...where are we going?

For now let's have a quick look back at GW 2001...Vegas!

The girls. Me and Helen, the sisters in law, are on the left, and the original Johnson girls are on the right. The photo makes me look so normal, but I promise I had on bright purple eye make up and a spikey purple ponytail.

Grandma and Ann, the masterminds behind GW

And now for Emily's turn in the hot seat.

Julie asked: Do you remember when we took Alyssa to the pet store when she was about 2, and you were newly married, but the sales lady told you you would have to sit down to hold the puppy because she thought you were a kid? Ha,Ha...that was so funny! I just hope she didn't think you were my kid. Then that story would not be so funny anymore.

But now for a real question.

Julie asked: Can you share your money saving secrets? Once you said you were going to do multiple posts about couponing. I got the paper and clipped ads for 6 months and I felt like I didn't save anything, and if I used coupons I would end up with a pantry full of boxed snacks and nothing more, so I quit. Since I consider you to be better than most people at stretching a dollar, I would like to hear your best secrets to frugal living. What are your favorite freebies? Where do you find the best deals?

Up next: Margie, and Julie (who voted to hear the answer to Margie's question)