Sledding!

On our way to the hill...

Once we got there I took a picture of Marley. She had been crying the entire way in the car and did not think it was fun to have to get out in the cold and sled down a hill. She only lasted about 15 minutes or so before I finally took her home while the rest of them finished their fun. We got to go sledding with Madi, Austin, Kemry, Maycee and Sarah.
After a few runs down the hill, Blake helped the kids make a jump. The kids got some air, but not too much air!! I think this is Austin...

This one is Strat!

Here is Madi...

We are now nearing the end of Marley's sledding time. She was VERY sad! I love pictures of my kids climbing the hill in their snowsuits. This is Strat...so very cute!

I can't believe Kemry went off this jump! After she said, "That was fun!"

Blake...what a great dad!

Christmas Morning 2008!!!

Christmas Morning!!! Stratton wanted an ipod and a fourwheeler that eats grass. Santa decided on the ipod because it was less expensive and Strat and mom could actually share it! Stratton was excited, but said- "Why didn't Santa bring me what I wanted?" "Why didn't I get a fourwheeler that eats grass?" We explained how Santa doesn't bring everything we want...blah..blah..blah. Once he saw his other toys he forgot about the fourwheeler. Thank goodness.Kinley Rae!! She got a baby for Christmas and thought that the bottle was for her!
Marley's toys were not as fun as Kinley's toys. Marley played with Kinley's toys all day and barely touched hers. Sometimes she shared really well and other times she decided to push Kinley away.

We are so glad that Jason, Kaela and Kinley were at our house for Christmas morning! It was fun to watch them with Kinley on her first Christmas!!!!
Marley did a great job opening presents!
Stratton, looking so happy!

This is just a picture of our Christmas mess!

Marley finally played with her own toys, her new bath toys! She got this turtle that is water activated and sprays water. I think it is so cool!

Here is Strat and Blake setting up his airplane and putting together some of his legos.

Christmas Eve 2008

We began Christmas Eve with a Johnson Christmas party at Sarah and Jake's house. We ate some yummy food and then we watched A Christmas Story. The kids even did a rendition of the Nutcracker, led by Madi. It was very cute. We had a fun time hanging out together.As soon as the movie was over the kids wanted to open something (it is a tradition). Grandpa let them each open a gift from him and the kids opened gifts from each other. Stratton got a fun blanket with Lightning McQueen on it and a big Bakugon.

Later that night we visited my Mom and Dad's house, but I forgot to snap some pictures. My family roasts hot dogs outside on Christmas Eve, which I think is a great tradition because not very many people do that!!! After my parent's house we headed to a family friend of the Johnsons where the kids put on the Nativity Scene and we sang a few songs. Strat was a shephard and Marley was Baby Jesus..the Baby Jesus who walks around and looks like a girl! Too funny...

Another tradition is for all the kids to get new pajamas at this Christmas party. Here they all are sporting their new attire...Look at Marley!! She looks adorable!

After all the parties we came home and put out cookies, milk and made sure to sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn. Marley went to bed in a flash, but Stratton had a little bit harder time going to sleep. He was very excited, but finally fell asleep.

Merry Christmas!!!

We didn't send out Christmas cards this year - oops, but here are some updated photos of Marley and Stratton. Just a quick update on us....It has been a great year! Blake loves his job at the University of Utah and he says he could work there forever. He works 4 days a week and gets to spend Monday's with us. He likes it because he has an extra 'Saturday' to get all of his projects done. He recently put wood floors in our basement!!! I am working part time from home for WGU and I am so glad I can be at home with my kids. Things get crazy sometimes and balancing everything gets tough, but all in all - what a great life! Stratton started preschool this year and loves it. He is learning so much and likes to interact with all of this friends. He is such a boy and loves to be outside all the time; however, he has a very sensitive side to him that is very sweet. He is constantly saying funny things and always makes us laugh! Marley is such a cutie! She is still as sassy as ever and knows just what she wants all the time. Usually it is a 'nack' (snack), an 'appo' (apple), a 'dink' (drink) or a 'treat'. She and Stratton get along very well, although Stratton has started teasing her a bit here and there.

We love being so close to our family and love owning a home - we are always working on it! This time of year is the best! The lights, the feeling, the activities...it is so busy and fun. How grateful we are that Jesus Christ was born and that our Heavenly Father gave us the greatest gift of all!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Who has time to blog?

I applaud those of you that can find the time to blog each week, or each month for that matter!! I definitely don't have the time...but was forced to update or get kicked in the butt by my sister in law------yah you Ash!

As family we got the chance to see Santa and Mrs. Claus!! Thanks to Jason and Akaela! No lines in the mall and some great food, you guys rock! Anyway, Stratton loves to pose for pictures these days and sat there like a champ. Marley did not want anything to do with Santa and cried until Blake positioned here so that she couldn't see him. I was sitting on the leg of poor Mrs. Claus. I was making sure to only put a little bit of my weight on her and I was mostly supporting myself with my toes. The expression on my face is a fake smile saying, "Hurry, I think my thighs are going to burst!"

We made a gingerbread house one night for family home evening and we decided to do it without Marley - she'll get her chance next year! Strat was so excited to do this project! He asked about it all the time and then on Monday morning the first thing he said was, "This is the day we get to make the gingerbread house!" Of course he loved it, he loves candy!
Just so you know, the J above the door was Blake's idea...isn't he creative?
Our next project? Sugar Cookies! I have decided it is best to split this project into three days. I made the dough one night, cut and cooked the cookies the next day and the following day we frosted them. On the day we cut and cooked the cookies we had some cousins over and they all took turns rolling the dough and cutting the cookies. It was fun and messy!

Trimming the Tree

You know when you first have a baby and the first Christmas comes and the parents are more excited than the kid? The next Christmas comes and the parents are still more excited than the kid, they even wake the kid up on Christmas morning? My 'kid' was excited for Christmas last year, but he really didn't comprehend it and yes, we had to wake him up...he doesn't comprehend it now, but he is SO EXCITED!! We put up our tree from Kemmerer and Stratton wanted so bad to decorate it. It was so late that I ended up decorating it myself. The next morning Stratton woke up at 7:30 to decorate his own tree. Blake put our little tree in his room and let him decorate it. Stratton literally decorated it all day!!! Kids make Christmas so magical!

I love this picture above!! Stratton is decorating the tree and holding up his shorts!!

Later that day...still decorating!!

Thanksgiving Weekend at the Ranch!

Stratton (and Blake for that matter) should have been born on a farm! Stratton went to Kemmerer with Sarah and Jake early and had some fun in the forest. Stratton said, "There sure are a lot of trees in the forest!" He ran wild through the trees and loved every minute of it! (We even got a free fresh-cut tree from the forest!)

The entire weekend Stratton wanted to see a 'real cowboy'. Here you go little buddy!

On Saturday Blake and Jake rose early and did some duck hunting. Hopefully Blake will quite whining about hunting for a while now.....and don't worry they even cooked those ducks up and ate them (except for the one that had some nasty worms!)

Later that day we went to the farm and let the kids see all the animals--starting with the chicken coop. This is where Strat asked me where the eggs come from.

Marley knows lots of animal sounds and will say them for duck, chicken, cow, horse, bird, dog, cat, elephant, lion, bear, owl, turkey, lizard (she sticks her tongue out) and crocodile (she says chomp chomp) Obviously she loves animals and loved seeing them on the ranch!!!

We are so glad to be related to the cowboys and cowgirls in Kemmerer! They are so welcoming and it feels like home whenever we go there. Thank you so much for the good food and good company! We love you guys!