Happy Holidays . . .

I feel so low-key this December and I am half relieved and half sad about it. I decided not to hang up our advent boxes this year. The last off-track session with the boys just drained me, having to be their social & activities coordinator on top of my usual babysitting. Gratefully, the lack of daily events or activities doesn't seem to be missed by my kids.
We did hang a few lights outside, smaller than what Dave wanted to do. We have both Christmas trees up and I have received criticism from two kids, that I babysit, that we don't have enough decorations on our trees. Apparently I am the first minimalist they've met. My kids don't know the difference, this is their life with a minimalist mom.
The boys are busy with basketball, Jesse has three practices and two games each week and Malcolm has a practice and game combined. Lillie, Dave and I are just along for the ride, to cheer and encourage. It's fun, especially to share our Saturdays together after having to give Dave up to little league football officiating on Saturdays for three months.
We are sad that this year our Christmas & New Year's won't be shared by visiting aunts, uncles and cousins. Although the lack of chaos will be nice, we hope to have our home full of extended family, which equals lots of love, next year. My kids love their cousins. I love that and to me that's what the holidays are about, family.
One of our holiday traditions is having the kids decorate gingerbread houses, I think this is our third year. I am a neat-freak and so this has been stressful in the past. Thoughts of how messy, unorganized and not perfect the houses would be, would make me so anxious. By the end of decorating I would be one ornery mom. Now I'm not saying that by the end of this years session I wasn't ornery, but I was much less ornery. I am learning to let go, suggest but let go and let the kids do their thing. This year I am very happy about their houses.
I bought much less candy and we used more chocolate disks and sliced almonds, cereal and pretzels. I also completely manned the frosting this year. Here are the masterpieces . . . Logan, (my nephew seen here) you would love Malcolm's this year, lots of jelly beans AND gumballs!

Malcolm's 2012 Gingerbread House

Lillie's 2012 Gingerbread House

Jesse's 2012 Gingerbread House

Another Mother . . .

We had the privilege of having our favorite person in the world, Jesse's birth-mom stop by for an overnight visit on her road-trip from California to Virgina. She's quite the free-spirit, oh to be young & single!

She arrived late Saturday night, I let Jesse stay up, the other two kids crashed, exhausted early. It's always so much fun to see her, especially fun to see Jesse interact with her and super-duper fun for me when Jesse complains about our parenting to her and yet she backs up our decisions and rules. No fantasy for Jesse around here.

She came bearing gifts for the kids, as usual. It's always next to Christmas for all three kids, not just Jesse, when she comes to visit. I think that's amazing. Even though she's only Jesse's birth-mom, she treats Malcolm and Lillie no different, no less loved. I adore her for that, too.

Can't wait until we get to see her again, even if it is just skyping!

A Lesson Learned . . .

I love being a mom. I love days when I realize my kids "get it", life lessons taking hold. I love all the wonderful "teachers" my kids have had; preschool, school, church, sports, neighbors, my list could go on. I love seeing my kids grow, mature, care, fight for independence, learn.

We are blessed to live just a block away from our church building. Today Malcolm came home first, about 15 minutes before the rest of us finished up and made it home. Upon my arrival, I noticed the recycling bin, which is usually packed to overflowing until I take it out or ask someone to take it out, was empty. I thought that Dave had noticed and taken it out. What a nice, attentive guy my husband is.

Then I noticed the empty kitchen sink, which had held a couple of dirty dishes before church. Again, I gave my dear husband credit for being so on the ball.

I wandered up to my room to change clothes and noticed that my bed, which was left in an unmade mess this morning, perfectly made. At that moment I was grateful we lived so close to the church and when my hubby didn't feel like sticking around for Sunday School he could come home and clean.

Then ding-ding-ding in my head, I noticed the trend. At each of these sites of service, there was a white paper heart. Not only did that bring a smile to my face, but to my insides and a rush of love to my heart for my dear, feisty, middle child.

For unknown to me, today's lesson for Malcolm at church was, "I Can Follow Jesus Christ by Serving Others". At the end of his lesson, his teacher challenged the class to start a "Service in Secret Club". He was given 3 paper hearts to place at the sight of a secret act of service he performed. Malcolm is a great helper, generally. He takes care of his daily chores without me asking. He'll help with other chores when I ask most of the time. I had yet to see him actually take the initiative and just do something, not assigned.

I am going to give Malcolm back his hearts to continue his "Service in Secret Club". He is shy about receiving praise, he also isn't one for affection, but I think a thank you and just the fact he could do something to surprise someone is enough for him. I hope this goes on for a while. I will be saving, maybe even multiplying, those 3 white paper hearts and encouraging him over, and over, and over. 

I have really tried . . .

Maybe I haven't tried to get this blog back up and running consistently. I need to. I have never been a journal keeper, slap-slap on my hands, I wish I was. My blog turned out to be the best journal, recording our family going-ons, starting with baby number 3, toddler number 2 and kindergartner number 1. Events like moving into our red and white house and living in 860 square feet for the 18 months before that. I regret slightly that I've used Fac.ebook as our only record of happenings over the past couple of years. I have over a thousand photos on fb, not all of them accessible to everyone. Still, that was overwhelming. In a sad way. So I am committing to taking the other path, the blogger path, today.
So here goes . . . 

First Day of School 2012 . . .

Seems like a good place to pick back up. A new beginning. First Day of School 2012.

D. Jesse Johnson, age 9

sign credit  http://sugartotdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/08/updated-back-to-school-printables-at-i.html 

I am so excited for this next year with Jesse. Seeing him learn more than the basics, like Utah History, Geography, Fractions and Weather Patterns just to name a few. He is a big kid, towering over all the other kids in his class. Jesse is just over 5 feet tall, weighs about 110 pounds and wears a size 16 pant, 14/16 shirt and a size 9, that's right a men's size shoe. He has been an amazing reader, speller and I hope that continues to be the case. Jesse was disappointed that we had to change school tracks this year, worried he wouldn't have any friends. Making friends is his talent, he's such a fun kid to be around, so I'm not worried.

Good luck on your 4th grade year Jesse!

Malcolm S. Johnson, age 6

sign credit  http://sugartotdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/08/updated-back-to-school-printables-at-i.html 

Malcolm is adventuring out into the unknown world of Chinese Immersion, half of Malcolm's school day will be spent in English instruction for literacy and the other half in Chinese instruction for math, science and social studies. He will eventually not only have knowledge of the Chinese language, but a deep knowledge of the Chinese culture. Malcolm is also one of the biggest kids in his class. Hey, St. Bernard can't breed Pekingese. He is just over 4 feet 3 inches, weighs over 65 pounds and wears a size 8 pant, 8/10 shirt and a size 3 1/2 shoe. He comes off being stoic although I have figured out he wears his heart on his sleeve and stuffs all emotion inside, thus the grinding his teeth at night and stomach aches. We are working on showing emotion, last week he actually gave me a good night kiss, which he never did before. He is one in a million.

Hang in there for 1st grade Malcolm!

Lillie L. Johnson, age 4 3/4 :)

sign credit  http://sugartotdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/08/updated-back-to-school-printables-at-i.html 

Finally, my baby is going to preschool! She is so excited. She was born right after Jesse started preschool and watched Malcolm go to preschool a couple of years ago. That year that Malcolm was in preschool she vividly imagined she was also in preschool, the stories she would tell, in detail, about her preschool, teacher and friends in her class were entertaining. Lillie is a mamma's girl, so I worry the first few days might be a struggle, but she may surprise me. I honestly think she's been waiting for this year for her past 5 years!

Lillie is the most normal sized child in our family, although she still stands as one of the tallest of her peers at just over 3 feet 8 inches, about 41 pounds and wears a size 6 slim/super slim pant, 6/7 shirt and a size 12 shoe. Lillie can be quite sassy and tough, thanks to being the younger sister to only brothers. She loves to cuddle and especially loves her aunt Chelle. Lillie is a huge helper around the house and I am sure I will miss her for the 2 1/2 hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. At least for a couple of months!

Here's to growing up Lillie!

Three Months Later . . .

Well, looks like we made it through the Winter. Easiest Winter I can remember! Now starting into Spring and anticipating Summer.

We continue to be grateful for our temporary house guests. It lends to some chaos, but it will soon be gone and we won't know what to do!

Celebrating Easter our way, with no bunny bringing a basket, but an egg hunt after lunch. Excitement and planning was extreme on the kid side of this hunt. Everyone got enough candy to make them sick and a little money to put in their piggy banks. We are so glad we got to share this day with family.

Here is a little bit of the action.

The search is on. 7 kids, 101 eggs hid on two levels of the house.

Malcolm after a find.

Lucie and a discovery.

Holly and her quota.

Diving in, counting out, trading and eating! Jake, Will, Holly, Lucie, Malcolm & Lillie.

William showing off a little airhead and chocolate . . . yum! (not)

Lillie's little jelly beans and a smile.

Not to be left out, Lucie with a peppermint patty and a smile.

SNOW! Day . . .

 Normally not a big deal around here, snow in the winter. This year however, we've been starved for a good snow storm. Driest December on record here in the Salt Lake City area with .03 inches of snow, average is 1.38 inches.

The lack of white stuff did lend to some really fun, warm days in the park this past week. I won't complain, too much, but I do love my winter and snow.

I didn't know until this morning, when my nieces and nephews were going crazy with excitement about the falling snow, that it doesn't snow in Portland, Oregon. Typically doesn't snow that is. When my brother-in-law and sister moved there three years ago Portland had a crazy, snowy winter. Only two of their kids were born then and one, Lucie, was too little to remember.

Needless to say, this storm was a huge deal to them. They enjoyed every freezing minute, filling them with snowball fights, rolling in the snow, and making snowmen. It was so fun to watch. And the snow wasn't lost on my kids either, they were just as anxious to get out this morning to play.
Snow day, hope there are more in the near future!

Holly with cold, red fingers. She refused to wait for her mom to get gloves out.

All bundled up Lucie.

William, aka "Zilla", cheesin' it up.

Lillie rollin' in the snow.

Malcolm, Jesse, Jacob, Lillie, Lucie, Holly & their snowmen. 

Bare grass again, for a good cause though.