Christmas Day

What a fun morning that started earlier than usual. The girls woke up at 4 am and then when Tessa was up at 5:45 it all began. The kids were so excited by what Santa had put in their stockings. They got new toothbrushes, some fun toys and markers and a few other things. Then it was on to the family gifts. I was so happy with my CHI blowdryer and a gift card to Red Lobster {my favorite}. The kids got some new Wii games and have been loving playing that together. We got 4 controllers and that has been nice to not have the "its my turn now!" Later we went to my family's to have dinner and hang out.

Christmas Eve

For the past 25 years the Johnson family has been having a Mexican food fiesta with the Kriloff family. They were neighbors when there kids were growing up and it grew into a tradition. It used to be held at their home but now there are so many of us it is held at the church. Diane had a coloring table set up for the kids and they enjoyed coloring together as eveyone arrived. The food was so good as usual. Tacos, tamales, enchiladas, rice, beans, salsa and taquitos. We always bring the guacamole. After dinner we watched the video Luke 2. Then it was pinata time! The kids love this! They double tape it up to last so all the kids get a chance to hit and this year some of the grownups too. Just when I think the candy is gone from the house, more candy! It was fun to see eveyone from out of town and catch up.

Budding Musicians

I heard Tanner on the piano and came in to see Tessa joining in! They are fun together and Tessa is pulling herself up on everything! I think she will be my earliest walker. She is growing way too fast!

Christmas Party (Amazing Jake's)

Jake had his work Christmas Party on Monday night at Amazing Jake's. They had it there last year too. His work is so generous and each kid gets a gift and this year we pooled the gift and they got a Wii. They were so excited and it has been a real incentive to get homework and piano done! Tessa got a Crawl and Cruise Musical Jungle that we need to put together. I played Lasar tag with the older three and that was so much fun! I was surprised how competitive I got! Sammi and I played a couple of rounds of air hockey and I won the first round and she took the second one. The kids love the teacups and spin as fast as they can go. We all had a great time!

Christmas lights

Saturday evening we went around and looked at Christmas lights. All the cousins hopped in the back of Joel's truck and cuddled under blankets. The kids sang Christmas songs as loud as they could and had a great time! After we came back for hot chocolate and Joel and Jake played Kick the Can with the kids in the road for a little bit.

Gingerbread houses with Grandma

On Saturday we went over to my Grandma's to decorate gingerbread houses. My Grandma is Jewish and has never done this before so it was fun to have her share this experience with her Great Grandchildren. My Mom and my Grandma's live in helper, Bobbie were there too. The kids loved making theirs different and unique. We used marshmallows for snow and black licrorice pieces for logs. They turned out really cute and the kids were so excited to spend that time with Grandma.Sammi's Gingerbread House


Rebecca's Gindgerbread House

Grandma with Rebecca and my Mom

Kimball's Gingerbread House

A Christmas Carol

Thursday night Sammi was in the school play "A Christmas Carol". They had dinner that we had prepaid for, pizza for the kids and Paradise Bakery or Cravings for the adults. There was a Christmas Choir concert during the dinner and then the play after. They had some technical difficulties with the lights and microphones. This was the first school play at the new Newell Barney Middle School. Sammi was Nicklby and her part was toward the end of the play. They did a good job and it is fun for Sammi to be involved in these activities. It was pretty long and as you can see Tanner didnt make it to the end. He was on my lap and kept saying "Is it over yet?" He crawled under the table and crashed! They all got to bed late.

Ward Christmas Party

Saturday night was our ward Christmas Party. They had asked us to dress up for that time. It was fun to get a picture before we left. Of course as soon as we got there the costumes came off. It was hot in there and they were not very comfortable. Before we left Tanner was telling me he didnt want to dress like this but wanted to be a bee. He was a bee for Halloween last year. There was a really good turn out. They had a few activities for the kids and a program after dinner.

Michael's Sealing

On Saturday my sister Rachel and brother in law Josh were sealed to their son Michael. The adoption was finalized and they were able to be sealed in the temple. It was such a special experience. All of us were in the temple together and that made it extra special. Michael was so cute and he was just interested in getting down and running. He is a year old and has so much energy. It brought back memories from our own special day when we had Sammi sealed to us. It has been 10 years and I cant beleive how fast the time goes. I am so grateful for the temple and the sealing power that binds us as families together. What a great blessing. It was a wonderful day. We love you Micheal, Rachel and Josh! The family together after the sealing

Michael

Michael, Josh and Rachel

Mall Trip

My sister Mary and her husband Aaron and their baby James came to stay with us over Thanksgiving. We met my sister Rachel and her baby Micheal at the mall on Wednesday. We ate in the food court and there was someone dressed as a big cow for ChikFilA. Tanner saw it and says "Mom, what if it Moos at me." I had him go up and give it a five. After we let the kids play in the play area. Tessa was pulling herself up and was happy to just go. It has been fun having Mary's family visit.Tessa

Michael

James

Aaron, Tessa, Rachel, Michael, Mary and James

Turkey Trot

Jake, Jake's Dad, Joel, Sammi and Sadie ran the 10K. My sisters Rachel and Amy ran the 2 mile fun run. It had been raining but during the race the weather was nice. I am guessing there were some prayers answered for good weather. The Smith Family and Julia and Brett from our ward were also in the 10K. It was fun to be at the finish line and watch them all come in. Jake ran it in 47 minutes and Sammi came in at 1:17. It was her first race so we were so excited for her. Jake has been running the Turkey Trot since we have been married so it has been fun to go each year. There were so many runners this year. I got some fun pictures. Rachel and Amy

Sadie and Sammi

The whole gang




Rebecca and Tessa

The Johnson group

Rivas Ranch Hike

Jake took the kids Friday on an overnight hike to Rivas Ranch. He went on this hike last year and did not take Kimball and Tanner. They got to go this year and had been looking forward to this hike. One Sunday when we were driving back from Jake's parents house Jake says "Who wants to go on the "Rivas and Ruckbed" hike and of course I am the only one laughing because the kids don't get it. So it became an inside joke at our house. Kimball had no idea and he would say "Dad, I really want to go on the Rivas and Ruckbed hike". (Beavis and .....) Anyway, they went with Jake's Dad and their cousin Sadie and Jason from our ward. Rebecca sat in a cactus and had to have a few needles pulled out, ouch! They were afraid it would be cold at night but it was suprisingly warm. Jake's Dad hiked the kids out the shorter route, and Jake and Jason took the longer one. Jake said he had a hard time keeping up with Jason. The kids really enjoy this time with their Dad and it was so quiet around the house with just me and Tessa, she was a much happier baby when they got home. She seems to enjoy the company! Jake only got these two pictures.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Today I was feeding Tessa on the couch and Tanner was curled up next to me and he says "What is Tessa going to be when she grows up? a dragon?" and I say no, she will be a big girl like Sammi and Rebecca" and he says,"no like a garbage man"and I say "oh, do you still want to be a garbage man when you grow up ?"and he says "no I want to be a Daddy" and I say" Oh that is such a good thing to be" and I ask him "what do you want to do for a job?" and he says I want to buy money like Dad does, "and I say" you want to work on computers like Dad?" and he says "Yeah." Its so funny how there little minds work. He has had this obsession with garbage trucks and whenever he hears it coming runs outside to watch it pick up the trash. He would tell me I want to be a garbage man when I grow up. I guess his ambitions are changing!

The Jungle Book

Sammi was in the Jungle Book play at the Queen Creek Community Theatre. It was such a good experience for her to attend the rehearsals and build her confidence. It was the cutest play and they did such a good job getting all those 1oo+ kids involved. The music was so fun and you could tell the kids really enjoyed being a part of it. Sammi was a Mahi villager and did a great job! We went to see it last night and I forgot my camera, so I snapped a picture of her today after the day preformance that they put on for the elementary age kids. Rebecca was excited to see her and her good friend Brooklyn in it. It was neat to have a bunch of kids from our ward it it too.

Food Storage and Prepardness Enrichment

On Saturday I went to the Enrichment activity at a sister in our wards house. They had two canners there and I canned a total of 47 cans of refried beans, potato flakes, and flour. It was nice to have a little assembly line of sisters helping eachother. They also had classes on bread making, jams, fruit tree care and cooking with beans. I came away with a bunch of good recipes and ideas. I have never been a very good bread maker and I am going to make an effort to change that. Robyn made this bean dip that she had soaked and cooked the pinto beans and then mashed them up and added cream cheese and salsa. It was so good. There was also a white bean soup cooked in the crock pot with celery, carrots and a little ham. It was really good too. It feels good to be learning new skill and working on getting closer to being prepared.

What's for Lunch?

My sister Rachel tagged those on her blog list to give her some ideas for lunch for her and her son Michael. We are not very creative at our house. It is Tanner and I and I have to admit we get take out at least once a week. Tanner's favorite is Taco Bell and mine would be Subway. I usually make him Dinosaur chicken nuggets, Pasta Roni, Macaroni and Cheese, or Peanut Butter and Jelly and we almost always have Cottage Cheese and fruit with whatever. Leftovers are a staple for me if they are good leftovers. Rachel, your recipe for the macaroni salad sounded good and will have to give that a try. What's for lunch today? I think I will run through the drive thru at Burger King and try their new swiss mushroom burger I saw on the TV last night!

Halloween 2008

My favorite part of Halloween is getting to see my kids excited to be in their costumes and to get their pictures. The candy and the after affects of the candy, not so much. However, I do get to dig through with my kids permission and get the best candy bars! We put all the candy in one big bowl and they really are pretty good about not sneaking into it. At least I think they are. We went to the ward Trunk or Treat party. It was really fun. They had chili and cornbread. My kids did not appreciate it like Jake and I but it was really good. Later, trunk or treating and they had an adventure alley to win cute prizes and a no hands doughnut eating contest, and a cupcake walk. After the Bishop offered to take Sammi and Rebecca to a little extra trick or treating with his older kids. They loved that and came back with big candy bars! Now we are on to thinking about Thanksgiving and then Christmas, it is going way too fast!

All the Johnson kidsTessa the cute bunnyTanner the crazy skeleton



Kimball as Spider Man

Rebecca as Dorothy

Sammi back in the 50's

Family Fun

My kids love to play with my laundry baskets and will put their pillows, blankets and toys in them and then themselves. They will watch movies, read and play in them. The latest joy has been boxes. When a new box shows up at our house, the kids will get the markers out and spread out on the kitchen floor and color it all over. Then the fun begins as they push eachother all over the house and it is played with until it falls apart. The boys have been taking them out back and making "homes for ants" including taking them snacks which we nipped in the bud real quick. It is fun to see them play together when they are having fun and getting along. Which is the few and far between moments, but I enjoy them when they come. So, I dont think they will be needing new toys for Christmas, just a few boxes and a laundry basket! Rebecca and Tessa having fun in a box

Tanner and Tessa hanging out in the laundry basket



Tanner loves playing with Tessa



Kimball reading a story to Tanner

Jake playing the piano with his little shadow

Pajama fun

Sammi, Tanner and Rebecca in the laundry baskets