Johnson Family Christmas

We just got home from having our first Christmas celebration of the season. We always travel to Abilene the weekend before Christmas to have our time with the Johnsons. Minus a trip to the walk-in clinic with Abby for an ear infection, we all had a fun weekend. The kids just played and played and we just laughed and laughed at all the things they came up with. Nathan got to spend Saturday afternoon with his Uncle Ryan painting at Mimi's pottery studio. He would stay there forever if we'd let him. He loves to have a project to work on.

Abby is working very hard sweeping Mimi's floor in her beautiful mardi gras beads. This broom and dust pan is a hot toy at Mimi's. Nathan loved playing with it too when he was her age.

Abby with her "cereal bowl". She takes her "cereal bowl" very seriously. That's what she would eat at every meal if it was up to her.

We love Aunt Lyssa and Uncle Ryan!

After a hard day of playing and painting at the studio. Nathan crashed. He slept through dinner and then came back strong when it was time for presents.

Abby is finally warming up to Grandad!

Cars, Crossbows & Catapults, and more!

Abby got her Dora big wheel! She was very quick to point out where Boots was. He is her favorite.

Everybody needs some new dress-up clothes!

Merry Johnson Family Christmas 2007!

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas!

We are definitely getting into the Christmas spirit around here. The last few weeks have been full of many fun times. We went to a Christmas tree lighting, decorated Christmas cookies on a COLD winter day, and saw Santa at school.

I sure love my guys!

We definitely won't win any cookie decorating contest, but we all had a great time decorating our Christmas cookies with lots of sprinkles and icing.

Abby is still not sure about Santa. This is the Santa that came to school last week. Abby would have nothing to do with him when her class went in, but she could do it with Nathan. I have to agree with her here, though this Santa was a little scary.

Busy Weekend!

What a great weekend we have had! Saturday we went to Cabelas to see Santa. Nathan walked right up and sat on his lap, but Abby was having NO part of Santa at all! She was yelling, "No, No!" So this year's picture is Nathan only. Last year we had both of them in the picture and the year before we only had Abby. Who can predict what the reaction to Santa will be? Maybe next year we'll have both of them again.

Saturday night we had a great birthday party for our friends Kendall & Kaitlyn. It was at their gymnastics place and the kids had a great time! Nathan loved the zip line.

Abby bonded with Mr. Chris!

Red icing from Elmo cupcakes!

Abby is in her HUGE big girl bed!!!

Abby has moved out of her crib!! This is a bittersweet moment for me. I love that it has been a smooth transition, but wasn't quite ready to do it. About a week ago, Abby threw up in her bed due to a cough she's been battling. Luckily Clay and I always check on the kids before we get in bed and found her bed all yucky with vomit. Gross, I know! Her bed was totally trashed. So we just decided to try her out in the QUEEN size bed that is in her room for when we have company. Well, that was the end of the crib. She has slept there every night since then and every day for her nap. I think she really loves it. She doesn't really try to get out either. Today when she woke up from her nap she just laid up there talking and playing with her books in the bed until I went to get her. She's done a great job! Next to go is the paci. Hopefully it will go as smooth. "I'm a Little Stinker" is what her shirt says here. She definitely lives up to that. The funny thing about this shirt is that it was mine when I was little! She loves to wear it. It's a great soft comfy stay-at-home day shirt.

Just a minor throw back to the '70's with my name on the back in the velvety letters!

Thanksgiving Week!

We have had a great week celebrating all we have to be thankful for. The kids and I have been off all week from school and we have had so much fun! I am definitely thankful for a week off from work.

Last weekend we spent Saturday afternoon at the Gaylord with my in-laws. We had a fun lunch and a great time taking in all the fun decorations and activities there. We saw Mrs. Claus and a reindeer. We also saw Santa, but neither of the kids were ready to sit and have their picture made. The kids also had a blast with the balloon guy. He made Nathan this cool Santa had and he made Abby a flower and ladybug bracelet. We also tried to take some pics for a Christmas card, but were unsuccessful. After this all afternoon activity we went to Saturday night church and then out to dinner with our Georgia friends who were on their way to Midland. Nathan and Abby had so much fun with Ansley and Char-Char!

Tuesday we had a playdate with some friends from school at the park and McDonalds. It was a warm 85 degrees, but very windy this day. Wednesday we went to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium with Mrs. Shelley, Marshall, and Drew. Perfect movie day since the was down into the 50's. We have had the craziest weather week! On a side note about movies, Clay and I watch Evan Almighty one night and it is good. The movie itself is just alright, but the message is awesome! We can change the world with our random acts of kindness.

Thanksgiving day started out early and cold! I headed down to run the 10k at the Fort Worth Turkey Trot. It was about 38 degrees when I left the house and only about 40 when I got home. It was a cold morning, but a great day for a run! Then we had dinner with my other set of in-law's here in Fort Worth. Only about half the family was here, but we still had a very good sized gathering. The craziest thing about this afternoon was that it snowed!!!

Nathan made a "snow catcher" out of some foil.

That's one cold little girl!
Even the big kids had fun in the snow.
Cousin Brady, Aunt Shelby, & Cousin Bryan


One of my favorite days of the break was Friday. Clay had to work and the kids and I stayed home ALL day. We made a fort, played, & I got the laundry done and put away! Then we went to the Shake's house to have some yummy taco soup and play games. It was a great day!

Our kids today at church with the Shake boys.

Another unsuccessful attempt today after church to take some Christmas card pics. Why must this be so difficult!?!

Baby Abby

I started working on this post about our sweet girl a few weeks ago and have just now gotten back to it. She has changed already since I started the post. She is definitely not a baby anymore. Since her birthday in August, she has developed quite a little personality. Her vocabulary is just exploding at what seems like an hourly rate. She is always surprising us and making us laugh with what she says. We used to wonder if she would ever talk!

She enjoys eating cereal out of a pink bowl anytime after she wakes up or any other time of day. When we ask her what she wants for Christmas she says, "Pink!"

She has also gotten into Dora lately. I say Dora, but she really LOVES Boots! She calls it Da Boots. "I watch Da Boots" is what she usually says after she asks for her cereal.

She is loving school after she gets into her classroom. She hates for me to drop her off at the teacher's kids care before school, but once she's in her room she does good. She is always talking about Ms. Dana, Ms. Angie, and her friends. Especially Sofia or Fia as Abby says. She also loves to go to Mommy's room at school. Every once in a while her teachers will bring her down for a little peek at Mommy during the day. Her teachers have been such a blessing because they just love and love on her.

She is such a sweet girl, but she also has a little naughty side. She is really testing the waters right now with us. Just trying to see what will happen. She also likes to test it with Nathan. One of her favorite things to do is turn the TV off on him while he's watching. He doesn't like it at all!

We are having so much fun watching her change. She may not be a baby anymore, but she'll always be our baby.

Here she is working on her prayers and showing us how she has a mind of her own!

Ready to go hunting with Daddy!

She loves her Na-Na!

Jack-O-Lantern

I forgot to include pics of our pumpkin with the Halloween post. Nathan designs our pumpkin every year and then Clay carves it. This year he had it in his head that the pumpkin would have glasses! Clay did a great job with those glasses.