Goodbye, 2009!

What a blast we all had ringing in 2010! We planned a fun evening at our friends, the Clark's, house. Ryan made his famous Pork Ribs and homemade BBQ sauce, and the party was on! And not to do anything half way, Ryan made his yummy Banana Splitsville for dessert. Wow.

We ate, popped fireworks(thanks Brian!), and played The Game of Things, one of the best games ever! Not sure I've ever laughed so hard...

Since we've had kids Ryan and I are such lightweights, but it was so worth it to stay up and hang out with Brian and Shannon, they are so much fun!

Can't wait to see what 2010 has in store for the Johnson family?!

One of the Many Reasons I Married Him

I remember when Ryan and I were dating, I'd watch him interact with his and my nieces and nephews and I loved what I saw. He has such a way with kids, they flock to him! I knew he'd make a great Dad and I was right.

Earlier today I heard him trying to sell Addyson a "mani-pedi" at the table, ha! He painted her fingers and toes, and did a great job might I add! He dances with the girls, plays his guitar while making up silly songs, takes them on long walks and bike rides, cooks for them, snuggles them until they fall asleep, and does all sorts of projects and crafts with them.

Tonight while we were out to dinner, Lane was especially fussy. He took her so I could eat, and ended up holding her the whole time, he never once lost his patience.

I'm just feeling extra blessed today that I have a husband that is such a wonderful and loving father to our girls. Thanks my sweet Ryan!

A Holly Jolly Christmas-2009

Yet another great Johnson Family Christmas! This year I think Santa did great; not too much, and not too little.

Christmas Eve started with a great visit to see Maw Maw. I was a bit nervous about this visit seeing as it was Christmas Eve and the kiddos had even more energy than usual to spare. They did really good in the nursing home though, I was proud.

After seeing MM, we headed over to my Mom and Dad's house to see the girls open their gifts from Geemie and Grandaddy Jack. Oh what fun! It was all about Barbie, make-up and Princesses over there. We had a great time. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Christmas morning brought lots of smiles! We had 2 little girls(and a dog and 2 cats)that were extra good this year and in turn Santa hooked them up! After all was said and done, it looked like Barbie and Fisher Price had exploded in our living room. So much fun to see the girls open their loot, it gets better each year...

Christmas night Grandma and Grandpa Fackrell came over to watch the girls open their presents from them, Barbie made yet another appearance! She is taking over our house, haha

After thinking back on Christmas I feel that our little family is so extremely blessed. We need nothing and have everything. I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. Without Him there would be no reason for this truly magnificent season.

Happy Holidays!

The Flu has Arrived

Yes, it is official. The girls and I have the Flu. My Mommy instinct told me to get the girls into the Dr. before the end of today since we're headed into the weekend. Both girls tested positive for Type A flu virus, and the doctor says that even without testing me, she's certain I have it too. Nice.

Glad we'll be done with being sick before Christmas, I hope?!

I have decided...

...that taking care of sick kids when you're sick yourself is probably the hardest thing one can do, am I right?! I guess it's just complain central here in the Johnson house!

Above you'll see a sick little Lane. Yesterday was rough on her, she's a bit better today though. Hoping for no coughing, sneezing, and runny noses when Santa is supposed to make his visit next week!

A First Birthday for Baxter!

Our littlest fur baby turned one year old today! He's such a good dog. He lets the girls lay on him and never tries to get away, haha. He loves to lay in front of the fire and he loves to play fetch. He wants more than anything for Hammer the cat to be his pet friend, but she wants no part of him. He's pretty determined though, still chases her all the time.

Happy Birthday sweet Booka Boy!

Some Days...

Some days are better than others...Today is not one of those great days that you want to have. Both my girls, and I, have these annoying coughs that just give you a really fun headache and get your throat nice and sore.

I think I was out of the bed more than in it last night. Both little ones were coughing a bunch and between getting Motrin for one, Tylenol for the other, juice for one, and water for the other, I was pretty much wide awake at that point. Once they'd drift off, I'd still lay awake waiting for a cough to come out of someone's room, and it always did. I gave up at 3:45 am and turned on the TV to watch the early news.

I'm SO grateful that my other half is coming home from traveling today, yay for reinforcements!

Off to take a nap. Ok, really, I don't see it happening, just wishful thinking!

Pretty Cripper Tree!

I can just hear little Lane saying that, love it!

This year we have one of the most beautiful Christmas trees we've ever had! It's 12 ft tall and makes quite the statement...It's actually still a work in progress as we haven't finished putting all the ornaments on it. Wonder if we'll finish just in time to take it down?!

The girls love it, and each morning I never get tired of turning on the tree, a beautiful sight!

The Elf on the Shelf

Do you have kids? Do they love Christmas and anything Santa? Than Elf on the Shelf is for you! Ok, that totally just sounded like a commercial.....

Anyway, I wanted to get this little guy for the girls last holiday season but never got around to it. This year it was one of the first things I did just after Thanksgiving. Can't believe I forgot about him until today, oops!

Tonight just after dinner I explained to Addyson what he's all about and the look on her little face was priceless. Her eyes were so wide as I read the story that goes along with the Elf, she loved it! Ryan was even getting into it too, haha

Basically, Santa sends one of his elves to watch over your family and house, then at night while everyone is sleeping, he flies back to The North Pole and reports to St. Nick if anyone was bad, what someone did that was good, etc. In the morning when everyone is awake they must go and find the Elf and he'll be in a different place each morning. Also, no one is allowed to touch the elf because if they do, he looses all magical powers and can no longer report back to Santa.

The first thing you have to do is name your elf and Addyson named ours Twinkle Toes, cute!

I think this will be a fun tradition for our family, and one that can be passed down to many generations.

A Lover of Naps

Now that I'm openly admitting that Lane loves her naps, she'll start protesting them, isn't that the way is always works?? Anyway, she's always been a good little sleeper, and she goes down for naps pretty easily. Today she took an over three hour nap, and I had to go in and wake her because I don't really want her up until 10:00 tonight. When I went in and got her this is what I found. A sweet angel surrounded by all of her sleeping necessities; her pink and white blanket, the binkie, Ohlo(her Build a Bear that sister Addy gave her the day she was born)and Oopsie Bear, her favorite Care Bear. Quite an arsenal of sleep essentials!

I sure hope this one naps at least for another year. Addyson stopped napping just after she turned three, we'll see what Lane does!

Snow Day!

Yes, it's true...An actual snow day in Katy, TX. The weather man warned us, but obviously no one bought it until we saw it with our own eyes.

The schools let out early today even though there was really no need. Snow is like rain to drive in, pretty painless. I think they let the kids out early just to play. And I'm glad they did, we had a ball making a snowman, having snowball fights, warming up by the fire with hot chocolate, then doing it all over again!

Luckily Ryan was in town so he got to join in on the fun. Addyson was so thrilled when I picked her up from school, and that was the heaviest it snowed all day, hence the snow covered Tahoe! She couldn't wait to get home to "have a snowball fight", that seemed to be all she wanted to do! Sweet Baxter Boy wasn't sure what to think of the stuff, he had some new found energy today for sure. And Laney just wanted to eat the snow. When she woke up from her nap to a ground covered in white, she looked out the window and said, "Yummy, Mama, have some!" I guess she thought it was icing or something.

The last time it snowed was December 2004 when Addyson was 3 months old. I'd say we were past due for some more of the white stuff!

My Christmas Babies

Two sweet angel's in front of the fire just after they woke up...Pop Tarts in hand, of course!