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

Food Storage Project

I have had a goal to get my food storage and my pantry organized for a long time. Well, I am accomplishing that goal. I cleaned out the room in the basement, got Jake to put the shelves together and hauled all the #10 cans of food storage downstairs. Before it was in various places all over the house. I went to Fry's for their case lot sale. I got sugar, spaghetti sauce, oil, black beans, oatmeal, peanut butter, spaghetti O's, and chicken broth. Every time I go to the grocery store I pick up an extra gallon or two of water and they are in all of our closets. It is funny because our neighbor came over the other day and said he had been feeling like he needed to be prepared for his family. He said I know Mormons know about how to store food and water. We showed him what we had and he was really excited to get started. He kept saying I have just had these really strong feelings about it. I got this neat feeling like we are planting a seed. There is still a ways to go but I am getting there. Tanner was watching me and I had asked him if he wanted to help me out and he said "Mom, those are too heavy, I cant "harry" them. He is the funniest kid and he is always cracking me up with the funny things he says. He likes to help his Dad find the "grover holes" and lets you know that Dad needs to poison those "grovers".

San Diego Beach Trip

We just got back from a week camping at the beach over Fall Break. We were with Jake's family and our friends Marci and Craig and their girls. We took our tent trailer and enjoyed the weather and ocean. The kids had so much fun playing with friends and cousins. They got to go on the annual sea shell hunt. Jake's mom buys all these cool shells and hides them down on the beach and the kids get so excited to find them. The little ones dont know the secret, and think they are finding shells that washed up from there, but the big kids know and are still excited to find cool shells. We went to Knotts Berry Farm one of the days and it was so nice because it wasnt busy at all. We got right on all the rides. It was nice too to have lots of us to take turns with the kids so everyone could go on rides. The boys picked out these pop guns and loved having them to play with the rest of their vacation. Sammi got a snoopy water bottle and Rebecca a snoopy coin purse. It was their allowance money that they had saved for this trip. We went to La Jolla another day and Jake took the kids snorkeling. I sat in the park with Tessa and Tanner and played I spy with Tanner and people watched. It is so interesting to see all the kinds of people that make up this world. Kimball lost his flip flops on the beach and I went down several times to look for them, but they were buried somwhere in the sand. I did find a cell phone though. We called the number in the cell phone under Mom. It was a kids phone. The Mom said she would send her husband to pick up the phone. So we met him at the front. He thanked us for returning the phone. He said that his son wasnt supposed to be at the beach! Busted! It was nice to get away and spend time as a family. I have mounds and mounds of laundry! Oh the joy of being a Mom! Kimball ready to try out snorkeling in La Jolla.

Rebecca catching a wave!


Yes, that's me boogie boarding!
Sammi is in the background.


Tessa with her "Caution will eat sand T-shirt"!

Our family at the San Diego Temple

Tanner having fun with the waves

Sammi and Kimball finding Sea Shells

Visiting Teaching

I went Visiting Teaching on Friday. I had Tanner and Tessa in the car with me. I was on my way to pick up my partner Georgina Ciotti. We were headed up towards the moutain and Tanner says "Mom where are we going up the mountain?" and I say " We are going to pick up Sister Ciotti" and Tanner says " Sister Coyote?" and I say yes Sister Ciotti." and he says Sister Coyote lives on the mountain?" It was pretty funny.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE!

This is a picture of us at the beach last year. We are going again in a few weeks so I thought it was a fun memory. We have had some wonderful memories from the beach starting with when you proposed. As the children have come along we have loved having that time together each year. I am so grateful for such a loving husband and awesome Dad to our kids. I hope you have a great birthday. It doesnt get much better than Joe's Barbeque especially when its free! Wow 26 years old, that makes me, uh 27! Remember, your only as old as you feel. Have a fun day! Your the best! I love you!

Horton Springs

Last weekend Jake took the kids to Horton Springs on an overnight backpacking trip. His Dad and Jill's girls and Tait went also. This is one of a couple different backpacking trips they have been on this year. They have gone to Rivas Ranch, Fossil Springs, and the Indian Ruins. The kids at first were hesitant but now they ask where are we going next, Dad. I have been having them write a journal entry after a family adventure so I am going to include their perception of the trip. Sammi wrote" We went to Horton Springs. We hiked 2 miles then we camped. Then we made camp. We made a campfire and had hot dogs, and ramen for dinner. We then roasted marshmallows. After that we went to bed. The next day we hiked to the spring and got spring water. Then we packed up and hiked back 2 miles. We had fun! The End." She drew a picture of the hike, the spring and camp with the tents and the fire and the trees. Rebecca wrote " I went to Horton Springs. There were my cousins and Grandpa. We hiked 3 miles to the campsight. Then we didnt even have to walk a mile to the Horton Springs after we were at the campsight. We found this big tree branch that was wiggly by the spring. The spring was really pretty and the water tasted really good. We had so much fun!!! We went to bed at 9:30 and played games."

Kimball wrote "Thank you! It was very very fun. I liked the motorcycles. They were riding on the back." I guess they saw some motorcycle riders on the way up. Tanner drew a picture of Horton Springs.

I am glad that Jake takes them on these fun adventures. Tessa and I stayed but someday we will be right there with them!