Memorial Weekend...

So, this weekend we were lucky to have Jonathan home with us from friday afternoon until tuesday morning. What a great weekend we had too. The kids soaked up all the time they could with their daddy, and so did I! Though it was rainy and dark, we had fun in our home. Beene and Julles kept asking for "family time", which I guess they talked with Jonathan about. I thougth it was sweet! So, the following are things that we did, these are in no specific order... but we had a great time.

Princess Bride is Jonathan's all time favorite movie, he has it memorized and we have to "baptize" each of our new dvd players with it before we watch anything else. So, for family time on Monday, one of the things we did was watch this great movie and pop popcorn. Beene was so in heaven since she loves this movie as much as her dad. We were lucky to have Jason with us, so it was a fun "family time". Before we watched the movie though, we went for ice cream. We have this great Malt Shoppe in Providence called, Caspers (the people who invented the Fat Boy) and it is getting to be a favorite place for us to hit. The girls are really funny... they will only get vanilla ice cream, I keep thinking they will get something purple or pink with gum in it, but nooo... only vanilla. They do a really great job eating it too, not too messy!!

We also played MANY games of Hi-Ho Cherry-o! I am sure that I played it atleast 10 times with the girls over the past three days. Jonathan played with us 3 times. Games are fun to play with the girls because they get sooo excited about everything. With this game, they don't care if they spill their bucket's because that just means we get to play for longer. Beene won several times, and Julles won once, and then I won one and that did not make Beene very happy! How do you "fix" a game where the spinner is in perfect view of the kids?? I tried, really I did. But, I guess it just teaches them that you don't have to win everytime. My mom warned me when we got these games for the girls for Christmas that if I bought them, that meant I had to play them too! But, we had a blast, and it totally brought back childhood memories for me too!

We also played Chutes and Ladders (not a cd-rom game like seen above, the board game), and didn't get very far. Beene got almost to the top of the board and landed on a chute and went all the way down to the beginning. She was not the happiest kid in the house, so she was done playing that game. We tried to play again later, and she just had a bad taste in her mouth. Julles liked this game because she could count with me. She is a great counter!

We also had LOTS of "tea sets"(that is what the girls call them), or tea parties. Beene and her daddy were with one of the sets and Julles and I had her's. We had lots of fun with them, sipping tea and eating pretend cookies and tarts. They can make a pretty "sweet" cup of tea. Let's just say I am glad that it was all pretend, because otherwise, we would have had cups of sugar. They went a little heavy on the sugar and not so much on the cream and tea. Julles is kinda hard to have a tea party with because she will pour you tea and then tell you, "you need to let it cool for a minute" and then when you wait a minute and reach for your cup, she gets mad and starts all over again by pouring out the tea that was in your cup... so I ate a lot of pretend cookies. By the time we cleaned everything up, Jonathan had drank like 10 cups of tea and I had only had 2. For never having girls before these two, Jonathan did a fine job of pretending. Oh and one more funny thing about my party with Julles... I called her Miss Snicklebottom (you know how sometimes people have funny names when you play tea party), and she got REALLY mad at me and told me that her name is "NOODLE BABY!!" So, I learned that we only pretend with some things!!!

We also had a bbq on Sunday with the boys. Jonathan grilled some chicken(that is my favorite thing in the summer to eat, and he hates doing it), and it was mighty tastey! He and Beene also made dessert. They got three bags of frozen berries and let them thaw in a big bowl with sugar on them, and we had them on pound cake, with Cool Whip on top! YUMMY!!! It was our goal to not go many places this weekend, and just have a good time at our home with eachother. I think we met that goal pretty well! We love spending time together and this was a prime weekend for it.

We hope you all had a great time as well, and that you all stayed safe!

Indiana Jones???

So, the other day we were flipping through all the channels, trying to find something to watch and we found the Spike Channel, and it had all three Indiana Jones on, in order. We watched the second one, and then the third. Julles had fallen asleep through the second one, and so Beene just sat there with us as she was fighting taking a nap. When it got to the end of the third one, where the bad guy is drinking from the wrong cup, I told Beene to cover her eyes (since he turns into a skeleton) and she didn't. At first she didn't do anything, I thought we were in the clear... then up she went, and ran to her room screaming. I went in there and talked to her and told her that was all pretend and just make-up. She finally came back out and it was over. Now, anytime she hears anything about Indiana Jones, she freaks out and says, "We can't watch that movie ever again mom, it has a scary skeleton in it!" I totally forgot that it had that in it, until it was happening. We felt sooo bad. Now, she is talking about Halloween and that we can't put up one of our decorations, because it is a skeleton that sings. She has a serious phobia now!

One of the best pictures of the year!!!

For Joy School in the fall, the kids had a unit on The Joy of The Earth. We went to the USU Dairy Farm. The kids were fasinated with the cows, and the poop! For those of you who know my Beenie, you know that she has a REALLY strong sense of smell. She gags when she gets in the car after we have had fries or if it smells like the garage. So, we have to keep a vanilla tree car freshener in our car at all times. Anyway... I was a little worried about taking her to this farm, because I knew it would smell. So, as you can see in this picture... this is how she walked the whole time through the cow farm. She did however let go of me when we got to the baby calfs, but when we were walking down the mommy cow's row, this was the scene. Julles was terrified of the big ol' heffers and would not walk. Needless to say, my arm was shaking and very sore afterwards.

The best phrase said the whole trip was by Isaac who is also in this picture. We were walking down this row where the mommy cow's are and one of them started to pee. Isaac's eyes were the size of oranges and yelled out, "WOW, that's a gusher!!!" We all got a good laugh, and the kids were amazed! At the end of the field trip, I asked Beenie what she learned at the Dairy Farm, and she said, "that cow's are really stinky!!!" Now, whenever we drive past the farm on our way to the canyon, she yells, "Hi stinky cow's!!!"

This was a baby calf that was only 3 days old. She was so cute and wobbly. She was in her little igloo looking home and when she heard the kids, she came out to see. Everytime we would start to walk away, she would do her little loud moo. The kids would then, go right back to talk to her, they loved her. We could hear her mooing clear out at our cars. She was our pal!!! Here's a little cow trivia... did you know that a cow is not called a "COW" until she has a baby!!! Before then, she only called a heffer! Another fact: Only female cows produce milk, and so the dairy only has female cows there. I learned a lot at the "stinky cow farm". We had a really good time!!!

A daddy and his girls...

It is very rare to catch a picture with daddy and his girls. Last night was so fun, the girls had the time of thier lives. Usually it is Jonathan snapping the pics of them. Now it was my turn!

Jonathan got home from work, like always and the girls attacked him for hugs and kisses. Then, we ate dinner, and they told him the tale of a Cinderella Tea birthday party they had been to that day, and how much fun it was to drink out of real tea cups... "the fancy glass ones" (that is what beene told him). They asked Jonathan if he would like to play with them on the floor. He of course said yes, because sometimes he'd have to pay for that kind of thing. They got out their little plastic tea sets that they got for Christmas, and proceeded to have tea with daddy. He did such a great job, pretending to drink from the cups and telling them how lovely it was. He even held up his pinky when he took a drink. When I was pregnant with Beene, and we had found out she was a girl, he immediatly bought her a "fancy tea set", with fairies on it. He wrote a little note and put it in the box. When I was pregnant with Julles, he bought her one as well. So, Jonathan told the girls that they had thier very own "fancy tea sets", and got them out for them. They sat and played tea party for a good 45 minutes. It was so precious to watch. I wish I would have gotten out the camera then... but I was too involved in watching them playing together.

This picture was snapped after the tea party was over, and they were sitting there talking about thier days. It was so precious... I had to catch the moment. Jonathan loves our girls with every ounce of his being... he soaked up those moments last night like crazy. They are maybe going to be doing the tea party again tonight... maybe I'll catch a few photo's. It is great that they have such a great relationship with him! It reminds me of mine with my own daddy!! He used to let me do all sorts of girly things to him, and he didn't even bat an eye!! Our girls have yet to do Jonathan's hair, because as Beene says, "my daddy doesn't have hair... just a head!" But, he get's to do lots of fun things with them all the time.

Drum Roll Please.....

This is me and my new hair cut!! I love it and it makes me feel sassy and young!!! I love that I am blonde again. The good news... my husband LOVES it!!! He said he could tell I wasn't feelin so hot about myself, and that is why he had me go and get my hair done!!! How great is he?? I am feelin great now, and I carry myself different. It is amazing how hair can make a person feel!! I can't quit playing with it because it is sooo soft! She took a ton of hair off, and thinned it a ton. I am in love with my hair!!! That is the bottom line here!

My girls NEEDED their picture taken with me, they were mad that all the other ones Jonathan took were of my waist up. Beene said, "But Mom, I even smiled!!" So, I had Jonathan snap a few of the three of us. There aren't very many pics of me and my girls!! I love them to pieces!!

My New Look...

Well, today I got a fabulous new look. My friend Keri cut my hair for me and made me much more blonde!!! I was looking at pictures from the past 8 years, and for the last 7, I have had pretty much the same look. I got to spend three hours kidless, getting pampered and made pretty! However, I tried taking my own picture so I could post it and in all of them, there was only half of me and such things like that. SO, when Jonathan get's home from work, I'll have him take a picture of me, and I will post it tomorrow. But, I am just gitty about the results of my day at the salon that I just had to post about it!!! Until tomorrow... Much love to you all!!!

about time...

Sorry everyone... i've been super busy lately and haven't gotten a chance to get online much! We've had graduation, birthday's, sick kids... etc. So, here is an update on our fam.

Joseph: He just got done with finals, happy day! He realized that it is much harder in college to catch up than it is in High School. He spent many sleepless nights getting all his stuff ready to hand in. He is moving out into a house with some friends sometime soon. He is still managing at the University 6 theater's in Logan. He is working tons of hours this summer to save money. He also got a new job at some place that one of his friends works and is hoping to make good money there too. We don't see him much because he is the busy college kid, but we do see him on sunday's for dinner every week, which we love!

Jeremy: He is finishing his junior year, and is stoked for summer to come. Maybe he will get his license this summer? He has a job that he doesn't like so much, but it gives him spending money, so that is the only perk for it thus far. He likes to hang out with his friends any chance he gets and is getting really good at computer stuff. He has been taking a college computer class, that he will get college credits for, and he says it is really easy! We are really proud of him, and that he has found such a great interest.

Jason: He has turned total teenager!! He is 13 going on 20. He is a hoot, and still always makes us laugh. He is a super commited young man, and doesn't shrug off things if he says he'll do them. We talked to him about doing the lawn and weeding for us and then we forgot about it. Last saturday, we were on our way home from Orem and he called asking us when we would be home so he could mow. What a great kid. He spent Saturday pulling weeds, and met some not so nice spiders along the way! He is liking to "hang out" with his friends whenever he can.

Jilly-beene: She has now graduated from Joy School, which was a fun day. She doens't quite understand that she won't have school again for a few months. At "gradiation" she got her diploma and the Jolly Rancher award for always being happy. They did a program of songs and then did a play. The play they did this year was an adaptation of Little Black Sambo. They called it "Little Blonde Sara" and Beene was "Mama Jilly-Beene", the mom of the little girl in the story. All the boys were tigers, which worked out well, because they just ran and ran, which is what they usually do. It was cute and they all bowed at the end! She just turned 4, and is so happy because now, she is big and can do mommy things like me! She is now making a list of things she wants for her birthday next year. She had a party with her friends last thursday, it was a Princess Party in the Park. She scored in the princess present area! She wants to go to Disneyland very badly, and talks about it on a daily basis. She also loves the Disney store, and lights up when we go in there!!

Julles: She is now 3, but fighting it badly. She keeps saying, "no, I 2... I noodle baby!!" She doesn't want to be big, only when you have to be big to do certain things. She loves to be outside and i find her sitting on the back porch "looking at flowers" at least once a day!! She loves to ride her Dora bike and climb on the rocks on our landscaping. She has to have her hair blowdried, not air-dried every day. She has been sick the past few days and hasn't had much of an appetite, but sure likes to drink. She has figured out how to open the fridge and get out her own string cheese... now if she could figure out how to open her cheese! She likes to "do my haircut" on a daily basis, with her princess hair set she got for christmas. She does quite well, and tells me to hold still very sternly! She could play at a park and swing all day if I let her.

Jamie: I am doing the same old, same old! Chasing around small children, cleaning, and cooking! I have planned my next girls night for the end of June, we had to cancel May's because of a home owner's meeting on the same day... but we are going to have a blast. In June, my friend Keri and I have organized a neighborhood zoo day! We are going to caravan down to Hogle Zoo, my kids have never been there... so it should be fun. I spend my days going to parks, melting in the sun, and loving my sweet family! I am getting my hair cut on Wednesday... I am soooo excited! It has been over a year since my last one, and I can't wait!!! Maybe I will post a picture... who knows!

Jonathan: Still driving down to American Fork for work everyday, hoping that a promotion is in the works. He drives our old Neon, that is on its last leg... hopefully it doesn't break down on the freeway. He loves his weekends, when he can play with the kids all day long. He loves Sunday's because he see's the boys. It gets him ready for the week ahead!

That is about it for us!! Hopefully it won't be so long until my next post!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Jillian!!!

My little Jillian Sadie Johnson a.k.a Beene, was born on May 12, 2004 at 8:30 a.m. after 3 hard hours of pushing! She was screaming like crazy!!! She was a little grunty and after being with mommy for a few hours, they took her away because she wasn't breathing very well. She almost had to be sent to Primary Childrens, after only being alive a few hours. They got her breathing under control and she was able to stay in Logan with us. She was in the NICU for 5 days and then finally came home to us. It was a very exciting time. Being the first baby for me, I held her constantly and would never put her down. I rarely showered unless we were going out so that I could hold her. She grew fast, and she was such a happy baby. She makes me so happy, and when I am sad, all I have to do is look at her smile!!!

She loves to be awake, and is moving until she falls asleep at night. She loves her family and loves being a big sister. She is very helpful and enjoy's cleaning her room, and helping me unload the dishwasher. She tells me she is now 4, so she is a mommy like me. She loves to snack and could eat all day if I let her. She loves to be outside and play with her friends. She loves Disney Princesses and pretends all the time that they are here playing at our house. WE LOVE YOU BEENIE, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday to my baby!!

Well, my baby is 3!! Here is a little about my baby Julles, some of you may know all these things, others may not! 362 days after her sisiter Jillian was born, Julles Gabrielle Johnson was joined us on May 9, 2005 at 5:38 p.m. She was 4 weeks to the day early, and she was so teeny! She had the cord wrapped around her neck several times and had to be bagged as soon as the cord was cut. The nurse moved very quickly and got her breathing. She was a off color and not breathing on her own very well. They had me hold her for a short few seconds before whisking her off to the NICU. She stayed in the NICU for 2 long weeks. She had to be intubated, and had help breathing for a few days. She was on oxygen even after coming home. She didn't want to eat, and so she was fed by tubes. Then, she decided it was time to eat from a bottle. There were many trips to the hospital, for feedings and visits. Finally, 2 weeks to the day of being born... she was able to come home. What a joy she has been in our family. She grew very fast. I remember the day she was able to wear normal newborn clothes. She wore a purple onsie and shorts from Old Navy! She spent a lot of time in her carseat and little bed, because Beene was a livewire and had to be chased constantly. Luckily, she enjoyed herself in her cozy little places, and was a great baby! She grew fast, and copied everything that her sister did. She quickly came to hold her own against her sister, and didn't let her pick on her much.

She loves food, and isn't too picky! She is almost always humming or singing at the top of her lungs! She loves to do things "her very own self" and most of the time doesn't need my help. I love her so much and love to see her change and grow. I can't believe that it has been 3 wonderful years since I first held her in my arms. She cracks me up with the things that she says and the things that she does. She is a bright shining star in our family and we love her very much. Happy Birthday to our sweet little Noodle Baby!!!