Visiting cousins

We've been fortunate to have Kevin (my brother) & Merica and kids come by two times this year! They'll be coming by again at the first of January on their way back to Arizona after spending Christmas in Virginia. We love having company!!!

Dallas Mavericks game

We were fortunate to receive four $108/each tickets for a night at the Dallas Mavericks game near downtown Dallas (about a 45 minute drive each way). So we spontaneously got ready and drove to the game! It was quite expensive to park ($25) and food was ridiculously expensive ($10 for regular hamburger & fries - no drink). All the kids loved their seats and the fan/noise makers we were given. It was overall a good time.

December happenings

We went to the yearly Allen Tree Lighting and enjoyed lots of treats & free hot chocolate as well as meeting Frosty the Snowman.

Dallin loved the craft: making a real snowman with real snow. The problem was that he couldn't bring it home with him! :p

Attempt at a family self-portrait

Lance is quite adept at using a hammer thanks to all of the kids building workshops we've been to this year.

Alexa & Dallin building their wagon. Following this activity, they went home and painted their wagons.

Alexa sang with the Primary at the Allen Stake Nativity exhibit. All of the nativities were beautiful, as usual. Dallin didn't perform since he was having major leg pain all weekend. Some say it may be a growth spurt?!? I've never had that "problem" so I can't relate. ;)

Alexa's latest "homework" project was to decorate a gingerbread boy (girl). She came up with the idea of a cowgirl and decorated almost the entire thing. I love how creative she is!

Lance has been soooooooooo fun to have around lately. This is my favorite age! He's learning so much and smiles a LOT now! In the lengthy video below, you will get to witness his counting and talking. I love this little guy!

Thanksgiving

Alexa's Kindergarten classes performed two songs as shown in the short videos below. They also served the kids Thanksgiving dinner. She loved it! I thought it was strange, though, that only the Kindergarten kids got food and the rest of us had to watch them eat. I guess I went there hungry and didn't realize that I got to be the server and not the eater. :)

We had a fun Thanksgiving week with going to the Dallas Zoo (previous post) and having Thanksgiving in the comforts of our own home. We are very blessed!

Wolf

Dallin has been in cub scouts since April and he absolutely loves it! After only 7 months, he received his Wolf badge! Also, he's earned at least 20 belt loops, lots of pins, World Conservation award, Leave No Trace award, and over 10 arrow points. Dallin has many new collections as a result of one of the achievements. He's self motivated and loves anything to do with cub scouts.

Day at the Zoo

During Thanksgiving Break week, we took advantage of dollar day at the Dallas Zoo. Alexa & I recently went for her field trip but Dallin really wanted to go too. Isn't the picture of the giraffe cool?!? I may have it printed for Lance's jungle room.

Getty up horsie, um...I mean elephant!


Entrance to zoo and still having a good time!

Adding to the pressed penny collection (although the price of this machine was double than most pressed penny machines!)


Alexa & Dallin wanted to pose with every statue

Looking at the elephants....sometimes there was a downwind breeze that made for some interesting conversations. :)

The boys looking at the giraffes.

Lance was good in the backpack nearly the entire time (what a relief).


Fly, birdies, fly!

From caterpillar.......

...to butterfly

Only animal they could pet...a rabbit. We saw tons of other animals. Dallin kept record of every single animal we saw with a "zoo book" he made. We had a fun time as a family on this mini vacation.

Leaves are falling all around....

Fall comes late in Texas...but when it's here, the kids love it!


Pure joy

Dallin just chillin'

Photogenic Alexa

Adorable Lance

Halloween in Houston

We drove to Houston for Halloween since Jared's sister, Shaulan Morgan & her three kids were flying there along with Jared's parents and Cami, Martin & Sydney who live there. My kids loved playing with their cousins that are nearest their ages on the Johnson side: Kayla - 6, Ethan - 5, and Jacob - 2 (all of the other 3 cousins are all younger than Lance). It was great to see the Morgan's!

I LOVE Texas weather this time of year! It is absolutely perfect. We have enjoyed lots of family outings this season; one of them was a Pumpkin Patch as seen in the page below!

My little boy turns 2!!!

A day at the Dallas Zoo

I got to go with Alexa on her FIRST Kindergarten fieldtrip. It was to one of her favorite places: the zoo! It was a good trip riding the bus and Alexa was super excited that I got to come along. Almost every child had a parent that volunteered -- amazing support! Pictured above is Alexa and her best friend at school, Mia.

Alexa's KG class with Mrs. Ali Coe as the teacher

Lillian, Alexa, Mia

Fly, birdies, fly!

Mia is 7 months older than Alexa

It's hard to catch an armadillo alive....I guess the bronze statue will have to do!

Giraffes

Some of the kids in Alexa's class

Alexa and her AWESOME teacher, Mrs. Coe

Ridin' a boar

Lazy kangaroos

Too bad this picture is blurry....that's what happens when someone else tries to use your camera! I'm so glad I got to spend time with Alexa that day (and thanks to Steve & Betty for watching Lance for me!!!).