J

2011-04-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

Check it out.

New Baby Boy

2010-11-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of catching up to do but the most important post of all is definitely about our new sweet boy Westin. He was born August 13th and weighed in at a whopping 8 lbs 9 oz. The labor and delivery could not have gone any better. I went in at 6 p.m. to be induced and he was born at 12:01 a.m. He has been an angel baby. The first few weeks were pretty rough as he was wide awake and alert between 1 and 4 a.m. It was killing me. But that passed and now he's really a great sleeper. He is definitely the worst at spitting up. It is absolutely crazy how often he spits up and how much he spits up. But what cracks me up are the reactions from dad and siblings, "oh gross; help, help; oh sick he just barfed; it's on me, it's on me" It cracks me up. What do they think is in his spit up? Chunks of food?

I have thoroughly enjoyed this sweet baby. I have taken more time with this baby to just sit and hold him. Perhaps it's because this very well might be our last and knowing that I want to treasure the time I have to hold him. They grow so fast and fit right under your chin for such a short time. They sleep in your arms for just a couple months. I love to just stare at him and smile at his innocence. I love knowing he was just with our Father in Heaven. I love looking at him and wondering what he is thinking. I love to watch him discover his tiny hands. I love to listen to him cooh. I love that he is tubby and bald. And I love his big blue eyes (thank you dad). He definitely has me wrapped and thats OK. He is our happiest baby; smiling and laughing all the time. Someone commented the other day, "I've never seen a baby laugh so much for no reason." I know his happy spirit is a blessing from our Heavenly Father to counter what has been such a long year. Thank you for this blessing; I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Longing

2010-10-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

There are certain times in my life when the longing is stronger than others and for whatever reason, my longing is strong right now. Perhaps it is because right now life is hard. And certainly not just for me but for so many of us. As our Gospel Doctrine teacher said on Sunday, "Mortality is hard." I've always known this fact, I grew up watching first hand a man live a life that was hard but as I'm encountering my own experiences that are difficult and watching those close to me experience different challenges, that realization is becoming more true. And ever since my dad died, I've felt more than ever that mortality is hard and life is fragile. But what is the longing I am referring to? It is the longing to be more like my Savior. To have Him a part of me, to have Him a part of my home and my family. And not just on Sunday's but every single day. It is to feel Him close so that His Spirit can overcome the discouraging feelings I battle when life is hard. It is to have Him as my reminder of hope and joy. It is to have His spirit remind me that at the end of the day His gospel brings a peace that can overtake my frustrations. I decided on Sunday to make the following hymn my personal creed:

More holiness give me,
more strivings within,
more patience in suff'ring
more sorrow for sin,
more faith in my Savior,
more sense of his care,
more joy in his service,
more purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me,
More trust in the Lord,
More pride in his glory,
More hope in his word,
More tears for his sorrows,
More pain at his grief,
More meekness in trial,
More praise for relief.

More purity give me,
More strength to o'ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains
More longing for home.
More fit for the kingdom,
More used would I be,
More blessed and holy-
More Savior, like thee.

Because so often this is how I feel; that if I could be just a portion of who my Savior is, a little more Savior like, then possibly I could lift my family when life is hard, comfort others when they struggle and help remind me that although things can be difficult, life is good and I am blessed and that the reward at the end of the journey will be worth all I experience now.

I know this is quite an entry after a long absence from blogging but it has been on my mind all week and I felt I just had to share. Stay tuned for some great pictures and updates on my sweet family.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

2010-03-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

We had a fun St. Patricks day here at our house. The morning started out with a little visit from a sneaky leprechan who sent the kids on a treasure hunt to find a pot of gold. Then we had Lucky Charms with green milk left by our leprechan. We enjoyed our green food throughout the day and our green dinner with mint chocolate chip shakes for dessert. All in all it was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed it. The pictures aren't very good but hopefully you can get the idea.

Announcing...

2010-03-12T14:07:00.001-08:00

We are pleased to announce the Johnson's will be adding another boy to our crazy, fun house. Peyton will remain princess of her castle. We are excited and know this sweet boy will be another blessing in our home!

Kids who love to read

2010-02-26T15:55:00.000-08:00

I have kids that love to read and I love it! It is so good for them and it gives us good time together. Peyton created this little outdoor set up all by herself! It was incredible to go out and see her. My jaw just dropped. She insists on dragging her little bag around with her everywhere and she always tries to stuff more books than could ever possibly fit in the bag. And when they don't fit she just throws the biggest fit. It was cute at first, now not so much. Wyatt decided to join her when he saw her set up. I made them some hot chocolate to go with their set up since it was a little cold outside.

Peytons First Haircut

2010-02-26T15:48:00.000-08:00

It was past time to say goodbye to the mullet. So we took Peyton to get her first haircut. She actually did so good. There were absolutely no tears which is quite the opposite from Wyatt as he was all tears. I'm sure the skittles helped. :) Her haircut has made her look so grown up. It is hard to believe shes almost two!

Lollipop Cookies

2010-02-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

Here is what Wyatt and Douglas did today. They helped mom make some lollipop cookies. It was actually a lot of fun and they turned out pretty cute.

"Proof is in the Pudding"

2010-02-26T15:19:00.000-08:00

Well, here you have it; the proof. This little girl has 3 older brothers. She loves to do whatever they are doing and she rarely stuggles to keep up. But even though she likes her guns, she is still got a whole lot of girl in her.

It's been a while !

2009-10-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

So what have we been up to ? Here are a bunch of picture from the past few months. They aren't really in order, but enjoy !

Peyton, or our little " bug a boo " as we call her, is growing up so fast. She will be TWO in just 6 more months. She is one of the funniest girls you will ever meet. She is so spunky and has the cutest personality.

Her first words have been shoes, juice and good girl !

Wyatt is such a sweet boy who loves life. He is very excited for Halloween, as you can tell. This year he is going to be Darth Vader - or Darth Mader as he calls it ! He is in his second year of pre school and doing so well. He is such a smart kid !

Tait celebrated his THIRTEENTH birthday a few weeks ago. I can't believe he is a teenager now. He also started 7th grade !

Dylan also celebrated his birthday a few weeks ago, he is 10 years old now ! How did these boys get so big !

The best thing about these boys getting older is that they are able to help out a lot more. And as you can tell, they usually enjoy it ; )

They aren't the only ones getting older, I mean younger : ) I turned 21 again !

Along with all the birthdays and school shopping, we were able to do some pretty fun family activities. We have family night every Monday night and sometimes it gets pretty silly . .

But we have also been able to do some remodeling and redecorating. Here is our kitchen before :

And after :

Tait and Dylan even got in on the action when we took out a beam a few weeks ago

I have a lot of pictures left to add, but this is basically what we have been up to : being busy and having fun !

The Things I'm Learning

2009-09-18T06:18:00.000-07:00

Kathlyn, my sister, called me yesterday and the first thing out of her mouth was, "Kristina I miss daddy." For people around us, it's been 8 months since our dad passed away and that can seem like a long time, but for us things are still so real. The passage, "In the quiet heart is hidden, sorrow that the eye can't see," has come to mind a lot lately as I look around and realize how many people have no idea how painful things still really are for us. We never know the experiences others are having. I received an email from a dear friend last week and she asked about how I was doing, how my mom was doing. Those questions after so many months, my sisters expression of missing my dad, my mom saying out loud, "since dad died," cause so much reflection. And as a result, I'm realizing the things I'm learning through this experience.

One, you can't pretend forever. At some point I have to accept that my dad is gone, it's key to healing. I can only pretend for so long that my dad is in the hospital in California and will be home soon. With him being there so much over my life,it has been an easy way to cope. But I have to be a grown up and accept the fact that he's not coming back. That for now, his hospital stay in California is pretty permanent.

Second, time brings both bitter and sweet healing. With the passing of time, the heartache has become less but also the passing of time makes it all the more real.

Next, I don't have all the answers and I won't in this life so there is no sense in wondering about all the what ifs. It is my Heavenly Father who sees an enormous picture that I only have a glimpse of. I simply cannot see what He does.

And lastly, that I truly believe in the promises of the Savior. I know now more than I have ever known before that Families are Forever. That phrase has a whole new meaning for me now. It is no longer just a cliche. I know that the Plan of Salvation is real and all of the promises within His plan are true. I know these things and I believe all that my Savior has promised. The scriptures are full of his promises; they are real and they are sure.

There is still so much to learn. And with the passage of time, I hope to continue to learn. One of the greatest things I learned on my mission was that we each have experiences in this life that we cannot avoid. It is part of life. It is up to me whether I choose to learn from them or pass through them in vain, having gained nothing at the end of the experience. During certain experiences on my mission I had to decide if I was going to learn and grow and become better or just let time pass until the experience was over, having learned nothing. I did not want to go through those experiences in vain. I wanted to learn. It is the same thing with the passing of my dad. I can't avoid this experience. So I want to come through this having learned a little something and having increased my testimony.
I know there will be more lessons learned from this experience but for now, I'm thankful for the things I'm learning.

Growing Relationships

2009-08-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

I love nothing more than to watch my children create relationships together. I love to see them take care of one another, laugh together and of course torment each other. It's all part of the fun. Wyatt and Peyton are really starting to play together, it is so cute to watch them. He loves her so much and is constantly looking out for her. He loves to smother her with hugs and kisses, try to make her laugh, and always makes sure she has food. (No I don't neglect feeding her, she just likes to eat ALL the time). This afternoon Wyatt took her by the hand to the table, helped her get in a chair and then proceeded to get the strawberries out of the refrigerator, wash them and with a butter knife cut off the tops. He then gave them to Peyton because "she was hungry." So sweet.

And here of course is the tormenting. Tait thought it would be funny to tape Dylan up. I'm not sure how funny Dylan thought it was but Tait sure enjoyed himself. Actually, as usual, Dylan was a good sport about it and played along just fine.

And then of course there are again, the sweet moments. Tait and Dylan adore Peyton and are always trying to give her hugs and kisses. She is not the cuddly type so most of the time she resists it. But on occasion she will walk up to them and give them hugs. And then of course she'll try to "beat up" on them and they play along and let her. She just giggles endlessly. They are so good to her.

A couple days ago a little boy in Peyton's swim class slapped her across the face because she was crying and it really hurt her feelings. Tait heard me telling Joel about it on the phone and as I was talking to Joel I noticed he left the house without saying anything. I had a feeling he was going to find the little boy. I jumped in the car to go chase him down, (he was on his electric scooter) and I found him going through the back gate where they were at for their swim lessons. I yelled from the car for him to go back to the house. When he got home I asked him what he was going to do and he said "Tell the little boy he needed to apologize to my sister." It melted my heart. What a sweet boy. He wanted to protect his sister and make sure that nobody was mistreating her. I explained that the little boy was only two and probably just wouldn't understand.

Soaking the Neighbors

2009-08-07T20:41:00.000-07:00

Aaahhh...the fun times flirting with the girl behind the house. Tait would kill me if he knew I wrote that but come on, what 12 year old boy tries to soak the girl who lives behind him to be mean??? We all know there were some ulterior motives to his actions. We were young once. It sure is fun to watch him grow up and go from girls are gross to hmmmm...they might not be so bad after all.

Caught!

2009-08-07T20:37:00.001-07:00

Is this not the cutest little thing ever? Someone (Wyatt) left the refrigerator open and Peyton went in for the goods. She dug right in to the tasty little cake left on the lower shelf, perfect for her reach. How can you get mad when she looks so cute??? And note her amazing blue eyes!!! She gets those from her daddy.

Beach House '09 Baby

2009-08-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

Well, we did it again! We took a month off from day to day life to spend time together as a family. Wyatt, Peyton and I stayed for the entire month, Dylan stayed most of the time and Tait stayed about three weeks. Joel joined us each weekend and stayed the last full week with us.

So many people ask, "How can you do that? How can you miss all that time and what about school?" Luckily, the boys are still young enough that missing school doesn't effect them. And if schedules are too packed to take time off as a family, then life is too busy. We went to the beach house last year for a month, this year and have decided to make it a yearly tradition. Life is so hectic that stepping away for a month just to be together and relax makes living the other 11 months in complete busyness doable.

A couple of nights during our month stay we got together with the Garns and the Dunyons (the other two families that stay during the month as well) to have a fire and make smores. The kids loved it and so did I. Who can complain about chocolate and marshmellows???

Peyton loved the smores too and Wyatt got dressed up for the occasion in his special pajama shorts, tennis shoes and jacket. Doesn't he look fabulous?

We enjoyed spending time with the cousins who were able to join us part of the time. All the cousins were able to spend at least a couple of days with us.

During part of the stay, we ran out of little swimmer diapers. As you can see, Peyton's diaper got full pretty fast. One of the fun things we did was buy a little play pool to keep out on our beach.

Joel and Wyatt enjoyed lots of fun time together playing on the beach and eating sweet treats.

Dylan was such a great helper at the beach. He did a good job at playing with Wyatt and Peyton. I think we all bonded during this vacation.

We got to enjoy having a friend of Tait's, Kegan, with us for part of the time. They had a great time playing on the beach, playing games and watching movies.

One of the days we had a little sandcastle building contest. And Tait was the lucky winner. We had the kids build them one of the days it was cloudy and a little too cold to be in the water. Tait did a great job.

Can you tell by some of the attire that it was a little cold?

Joel, Greg and Ryan enjoying a friendly game of horseshoes.

One of the most fun we had was going to the strawberry patch to pick strawberries. We all went, but for whatever reason we don't have pictures of Tait and Dylan. We all went as a big group. Peyton just picked them and put them right in her mouth. She had a blast. All of the kids enjoyed it.

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson got to join us for part of the time this year. It was fun to have them there and be able to spend time with them before they head off for their mission.

On our way to the church there was an enormous tree in front of a house that we absolutely loved. You can't really tell from the pictures but the roots were almost as tall as Wyatt. I have never seen a tree like it, it was beautiful.

One of our favorite streets near our beach house was "Tait" street. Can anyone guess why we loved it so much?

As we were heading out the door on our way home we realized we didn't get a picture of the entire family. So here it is, pajamas and all. I know the most beautiful family picture at the beach. We took it on our balcony. Isn't that a beautiful view?

Here we are on our way home. Notice the Uhaul in the back??? Yes, I made Joel rent us a Uhaul. We took toys, scooters, my sewing machine and lots of other fun things to use at the beach for the month.

Pinewood Derby

2009-07-31T13:48:00.000-07:00

We won't go in to a lot of detail about Pinewood Derby but lets just say that winning the "Flat Tire" award couldn't have gone to a better sport: Dylan was actually excited to win the award because it meant he got a stack of chocolate donuts. And for a kid who loves chocolate, this was heaven. He couldn't wait to get home to eat them. He even shared a couple with us. What a nice guy. And he really was such a good sport about it. We were so proud of him.

I actually think it was a little harder on Joel. Bless his heart, he's a builder and one of the best I might add, so one would think he could build the winning car...but oh well...maybe next year.

Happy Easter

2009-07-31T13:03:00.000-07:00

This year we celebrated a wonderful Easter at our home with family. It was so fun to be able to dress up a little girl and buy a fun Easter/ Spring dress. Not that buying matching ties isn't fun, buuuutttt...I prefer buying the pretty dresses. Here's the little princess with her mom and dad:

Along with the pretty dress, I tried to get matching ties for the boys but only found matching for Tait and Dylan, Wyatt had to be out on his own. Can you believe how much all of these boys are growing up? They sure do look sharp. They are a bunch of good looking boys.

We enjoyed dying some Easter eggs and making a big ham dinner. Joel did the Easter eggs with the boys and my mom and I made the dinner.

Dylan helped us a little with the dinner. He actually likes to cook and is a great help.

Overall we enjoyed our Easter but sure did miss our dad/ grandpa. This year of "first's" will be difficult as we go through all of the holidays for the first time without pops. We miss him and wish that he were here with us. But we no doubt felt the significance of Easter this year and all that it means for us. It means that because of our Savior Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, we will see our dad again one day and not only will we see him but for the first time in our lives (us kids and the grandkids) we will see him walking. He will be made whole. I know these promises are sure.

One Big Birthday Party

2009-07-30T20:35:00.001-07:00

For those of you who don't know or don't remember, Wyatt and Peyton share the same birthday. I know, pretty random. For now it works fine but I'm sure in a couple years when Peyton wants a "My Pretty Little Princess Party", Wyatt won't be too thrilled and likewise Peyton won't be thrilled about a "Spiderman" party. I'm not sure how much compromising either one of them will do. But until that time, they will share their party time.

This year we threw a little bit bigger of a bash since last year Wyatt never got a birthday celebration; I was a little preoccupied... Anyway, he kept asking us, "When is it going to be my birthday? It is taking forever!" Hmmm...maybe the fact we skipped last years has something to do with that. Two years is a long time to wait for your birthday. So this year we took the kids to Makutu's Island and then back to the house for pizza, cake and ice cream. Wyatt invited a couple friends from our neighborhood, Carter and Trent and a couple friends from preschool, Maren and Mylie and then his cousins. We had a good time. Thanks to my mom, sister and Kelsea for helping to bus all the kids to Makutu's Island. We had to separate cakes made (thanks Michelle, abocakesandcookies.blogspot.com) and I put up separate decorations for the two. We all enjoyed it. Here is Wyatt with his friends and his alligator cake:

Here is Peyton with her little princess cake. She looks a little overwhelmed and not sure what to think. But rest assured, she did just find once she got things figured out and knew she could put her hands in it.

Trying to Play Catch Up

2009-07-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I have been a major part timer. It has been months since I have updated the blog. I have a lot of catching up to do. I guess I'm going to begin back and move forward. So if you are interested in updates from the Johnson family, covering the last couple of months, keep checking back and you will be updated to the present.

The Father's in My Life

2009-06-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

I have so much catching up to do on this blog but since today is a special day, I wanted to be sure to write something to the two father's I love the most.

First, to my sweet husband who my dear children call "dad". You are the love of my life. There is no one with more dedication and love for his children than you. So often I look at you and wonder where you get it all. Where does that sweet tender heart come from? Where does your never ending energy to work, fullfil your church responsibilities and play with your children come from? Where does that grin come from and what exactly does it mean? And how about your fun loving, happy go lucky personality? It's the best and I love it. The list goes on of so many qualities that make you the greatest.

You are a wonderful man and I'm so thankful to have you in my life and as the daddy of our home. Thank you for all you do. Thank you for being so supportive and helpful. Thank you for knowing just what to say and when. Thank you for your patience when I am a little less than tolerable. Thank you for taking so many of the burdens on your shoulders and making them seem so light for both of us. Thank you for your countless hours of care and concern for our family. I hope you always know of the admiration I have for you and the way you are raising our children. You're the best honey! Thank you for loving me and our children!

And second, to my sweet pops...the one I call dad. I miss you! This is my first father's day without you and it has been heartbreaking. I cried in the card section at Walmart yesterday knowing I wasn't going to be buying you a card this year. How can that be? You've always been there. For so many years you fought through everything so how could it be that you lost a fight? I know it was inevitable. I always knew the day would come when you wouldn't win the fight but I am still dealing with the "why so soon"? I wish you were back in your bedroom so when I walked in the door I could still hear, "who is that"? "It's just me dad." And the "oh" that was always the response. I want you here for fathers day and for your birthday next month and for my kids birthdays. You just missed Wyatt and Peyton's and they are only 1 and 4; that is too young for them not to have their grandpa. I want you here for all the upcoming holidays. There is so much I want you here for and a part of.

I feel like Kami with so many questions of how things are and how they will be. How aware are you of us? Do you know what's going on in our lives? Over time, will you forget me? If I don't leave this life for 40 or more years by the time I get to the other side will you remember me and the relationship we once shared? There are so many questions I never thought of until now. Are you proud of me dad? Were you proud of me? It was something that was always difficult for you to express.

Anyway poppy, I love you. I miss you. I wish you were here. I'm so thankful for all that you taught me and all that you showed me through your example. Thank you for the endless laughs. You were so silly. Thanks for all the games. Thank you for being patient with my dramatics. Oh how I am dramatic. :)

I told Wyatt I was going to the cemetary to talk to you this morning. And he said with all the excitement a four year hold has, "Grandpa is alive again???" I realized I had phrased what I was telling him all wrong. He didn't understand. I told him with so much sadness, "No honey, grandpa is not alive again." He asked me, "When will he be alive again? I want him to be alive again." All I could say was, "not for a long time." Maybe you know how the conversation went, maybe you were around, who knows.

But no matter what sadness I feel, I'm thankful for the knowledge I have that I will see you again. We will embrace and be reunited. It seems so long to have to wait but it will come. I just hope you are as excited as I am for that time. I love you daddy!

My Mom

2009-05-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

I need your help ! My little Sister entered my Mom in a Mothers Day contest and she is one of the finalist ! She has the chance to win some super great prizes. What I need you to do is on Thursday ( this coming Thursday ) May 7th, go to giveawaytoday.blogspot.com and vote for her. Her name is Susan Lulloff.

If you know my Mom, you know she totally deserves this ! Thanks !

Birthday Fun at Uncle Kreg's

2009-03-23T11:13:00.001-07:00

Uncle Kreg always throws a great birthday party. Here are the kids enjoying some of the entertainment. Never a dull moment when you are partying with the Lulloff's.

2009-03-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

Good times here at a fabulous resort in Tucson. We drove down to Tucson for my niece and nephews birthday party and decided to make an overnighter of the trip. We stayed at a real fun resort with the kids and enjoyed some time in the heated pool and hot tub. We actually were able to upgrade our room (thanks dad for always asking if a free upgrade is available) and we stayed in an enormous suite with two bathrooms, tv's in both bathrooms for a total of 4 tv's, a fireplace, 3 beds and two sofa beds. It was good times for sure!

Now some of you may be wondering about the picture with Peyton. Yes, white trash comes to my mind as well when I look at that picture. But we did not bring a suit for her and Joel insisted on her being a part of the fun so he took her in the pool, pj's and all. Nevermind the looks we received from people. We were having a good time.

Houston, We Have a Problem...

2009-03-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, too bad I'm not a betting woman. Because if I was, I would bet that Peyton's diaper is not going to help prevent any accidents on my carpet in that condition. Now who wants to make a bet as to who put that diaper on her??? Did I hear Joel??? Ding, ding, ding...we have a winner. Thanks dad! I'm glad Wyatt let me know we had a potential disaster on our hands...

Splish Splash I Was Taking a Bath!

2009-03-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

Oh the forms of entertainment we come up with for our 3 year olds. Nothing like taking a bubble bath with your cousin. Thanks Aunt Beanie!

It's Official!

2009-03-02T22:16:00.000-08:00

It is official, Peyton is now walking. We are so proud of our little Bug a Boo. Just shy of 11 months and she's all over the house. I could have waited a little while longer since she is just about the busiest little body around but she sure is proud of herself. Good times await us all...

More Sweet Wyatt Comments

2009-03-02T22:06:00.000-08:00

I had a couple more sweet moments with Wyatt this week. We were getting frozen yogurt as Mesa's Frozen Yogurt for our "date night" (we take turns taking the kids out for a "date" each week) and we walked by Deseret Book and there was a poster in the window of Joseph Smith and Wyatt said, "Hey, I know that man." And I said, "You do? Who is it?" He said, "that's Joseph (their on a first name basis :)) And I said, "That's right. Why is he special?" And he said, "Because he saw Jesus Mommy". Wow! He's learning! My heart melted. What a sweet boy.

Then we were at church on Sunday and I was praying during the sacrament and he kept trying to get my attention and open my eyes. Finally I opened my eyes and he asked, "What are you doing?" And I told him I was praying to my Heavenly Father and asking Him to help me to be a better mommy. And he said, "Oh just talk to grandma about that." I asked why I should do that and he said, "Um cause she knows those things just ask her, she'll tell you how."

And last but not least...last week as the choir was up singing Wyatt said to me, "Hey mom, I think I can do that. I'm going up there." Aaaaaaa...little does he know if he inherits mine or Joel's voice he probably won't be quite as eager to get up there and belt out a song. But good for him for having the confidence and desire.

Bug a Boo with Grandma and Aunt Beanie

2009-03-02T22:03:00.000-08:00

Our little bug a boo sure is loved. Both grandma and Aunt Beanie love giving her hugs and kisses and she eats it up as well. It is so nice to see the bond she has with my family. Thanks family for loving her so much!

Our Day at the Park

2009-03-02T21:59:00.000-08:00

We took the morning and went to Freestone Park. We fed the ducks (as you can see) and took the little train ride around the park and then got some lunch. We all had a good time and enjoyed being out in the nice weather.

Tait's Snow Adventure

2009-03-02T20:29:00.000-08:00

Tait had the fun opportunity to go spend the weekend at a friend's cabin. He had such a good time and really enjoyed being with their family. They were able to play in the snow and do a little snowboarding in the area around the cabin. We were so glad Tait was able to go and have such a fun time.

Sweet Bug-A-Boo

2009-02-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, Peyton's little nickname is Bug-A-Boo. I have no idea where it came from we have just called her that since she was born. Anyway, she is quite the little busy body to say the least and is always getting in to everything. And the dishwasher is no exception. If you take your eye off her for more than 2 or 3 minutes she will have managed to find something she should not be in. And here she is, cute as a button, chillin' on the dishwasher. Emptying whatever she could get her hands on. Thanks for the help bug-a-boo.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

2009-02-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of things that have happened recently with some kids that have made me laugh, cry and caused me to be humbled:

The more I'm around little kids, the more I love them. They say the funniest things. I was driving the kids to preschool this afternoon and one of the little boys says, "Does Wyatt pick his nose?" I lied and responded, "No, why? Do you pick your nose?" He said, "No, but does Wyatt pick his nose sometimes?" I lie again and say, "No, do you pick your nose sometimes?" He said, "No, but my dad picks his nose all the time!" Aaaahhh children, they'll rat us out every time. So note to self...do not do or say ANYTHING I don't want repeated to the kids parents in carpool.

The other day I was driving around with Wyatt in the car and out of nowhere he said, "Mom, I love you. You're pretty." What a sweetie!

On Tuesday Wyatt and I were leaving to run some errands and I was in a foul mood. Things were not going well and I had been short with Wyatt. When we got in the car our primary CD was playing and the song "I Know My Redeemer Lives" was on. Quite frankly, I wasn't in the mood for any type of music so I promptly turned it off. Immediately Wyatt said, "Mom, please turn that music back on. I love that song." Of course I turned it back on and after a minute or so I looked back at him and he was trying to sing and hum along to the song. All of the frustration and anger left and I said, "Wyatt, this is a pretty song, thanks for wanting to listen to it." He said, "I love it cause I feel happy." This sweet boy had recognized the feelings of the Spirit and wanted to feel those peaceful, happy feelings. Our children are such examples of purity, sweetness and humility. I'm so thankful for that experience and what Wyatt taught me in that moment. If we allow it to, music can change our feelings and bring the Spirit into our hearts when things seem so overwhelming.

Sucker for Holidays

2009-02-11T13:24:00.000-08:00

I am a sucker for any holiday and I always have some sort of decoration, cookie cutter, craft, etc. to use for the holiday so here is some of my valentine's stuff. Wyatt and I made brownies today using my fabulous heart pans. I'm not sure he was as excited as I was about the "cute hearts" but he sure enjoyed the brownie batter...can you blame him???

Peyton Walking???

2009-02-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

Try as she may she's just not quite confident enough to let go of her little push toy, which is fine by me. She is only 10 months so the longer it takes her to walk the better for me. But she sure does love her push toy and is quite fast with the little thing.

Hide and Go Seek

2009-02-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

Wyatt and his cousin Douglas are never bored as you can see. They always come up with some creative form of entertainment. This one was a little hide and seek in the pantry closet...nice... Soon those shelves will no longer hold those boys and we will have a little bit of a disaster on our hands. But for now, have a hay day!

Family Yard Work Day

2009-02-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

Doesn't the saying going something like, "the family that works together stays together."??? Try to convince my kids and even Joel if you can catch the sarcasm in his picture, of that theory.

There was a ton of yard work to be done as well as a ton of flowers to be planted as you can see. We actually had a good time and enjoy being outside in the nice weather.

A Small Update

2009-02-08T18:03:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a while since I last posted anything. I will write more later, but for now : we signed Wyatt up for T Ball in March !

Funeral

2008-12-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

My Dad's Funeral will be Thursday, Dec. 18th at 10 am, with a viewing from 9 am to 9:45 am. The Funeral will be at the LDS Church Building on Harris between Gilbert and McKellips.

Dad

2008-12-14T09:31:00.000-08:00

My dad passed away last night with all of us around him. He will be missed terribly. We love you daddy!

Surreal Moments

2008-12-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

It is the quiet, tender moments of life when we realize how precious life is. My dad has pulled through every time but this time he won't and it is difficult to take in. As I sit here with him it doesn't seem real, this happens to other families, not mine. But this time it is our family, it is our story, this is our season. It is one you hope never arrives but the Lord's sweet plans affect us all at one time or another whether we are ready or not. I wish it weren't our time but it is and so we cling to our faith in a greater plan knowing the Lord's promises of eternal life are sure.

It is amazing to me that we enter this life so innocent and helpless and for so many, leave this life just as innocent and helpless.

During this experience I have felt of the Lord's tender mercies but I feel them even more in these last days. The Lord is mindful of us, He knows us and loves us. I know He is near us and wants us to feel His peace. He is the Prince of Peace and lives to bring us this comfort during these times. I am thankful for this knowledge.

Family Pictures

2008-12-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

Our whole Family was able to be together this past Thanksgiving and we had some Family pictures taken. It was a bitter - sweet time for us since this will be my Dad's last Holiday with us ( he was diagnosed with Terminal Cancer a few months ago and is going down hill quickly ) This is everyone, except for two Grand kids who couldn't make it for Thanksgiving. All together, my Parents have 12 Grand kids and my youngest Sister is pregnant with the 13th Grandchild !

Peyton's Blessing

2008-09-29T20:44:00.001-07:00

Now I know this happened months ago but because of the recent news about my dad these pictures have become a treasure to me. For those of you who don't know, my dad has been diagnosed with two types of cancer, kidney and colon. They removed a mass about the size of a softball from his kidney but according to doctors there is nothing they can do for the colon cancer. He will be receiving chemo to "prolong life" but at this point it is not curable. They have given us a year at the most. It has been a very emotional time for our family.

I know many of you have known my pops for years and are aware of the ups and downs surrounding his health. The challenges with his health are nothing new. But nonetheless this comes as a great heartache to our family. I have received comments from people that I know have been made to be helpful or consoling but have actually been more hurtful than helpful. We know he has fought a good fight and been through a lot but we still need him and want him to be a daily part of our lives. And yes, my dad has been in a wheelchair and fought health issues for a majority of that time, but still he is no less my father to me than your fathers are to you. He has suffered a great deal of pain for many years but he is only 61, very young. And we will miss terribly and all the wonderful memories, love and laughs he provides.

For now we move forward in faith knowing that we have been given the precious gift of time. We will use the time we have been blessed with to create more memories and bonds, cherishing all the time the Lord desires to give us together.

Tait's War Wound

2008-09-29T20:23:00.001-07:00

During our camping trip Tait got quite the war wound in a game of baseball. But he was tough and kept the game going. We are also so proud of Tait as he just turned 12 and received the priesthood. He is growing up so fast and we are so proud of all he is doing.

Camping Trip

2008-09-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

We recently went camping at the Lava Tubes in Flagstaff. We all had a great time. We went to the deer farm in Williams, played a little baseball and enojyed being with family. It was Peyton's first time camping and being out in nature. I think she really enjoyed it. What's not to like about cooler weather????

Wyatt's Fort

2008-09-29T20:08:00.000-07:00

Wyatt and I love to build forts. He loves it because when we build forts I let him have a "sweet" snack in the fort. He thinks it is the greatest! I'm not the best fort builder but the three year old thinks they are amazing! Here is Wyatt and his cousin hanging out in their fort.

Joel's Triathalon

2008-09-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

We are so proud of Joel for completing his first triathalon! He did such a good job and in the summer time too. It was sponsored by the special olympics and held in Scottsdale. We showed up at the very end (just missed his crossing the finish line thanks to some faulty directions) and gave him lots of hugs for completing the race. Way to go babe!

Dylan's Baseball

2008-09-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

We are so excited for our little Dylan to have started baseball this year. He is so happy to be playing. It is just about the only thing in life he is really excited and motivated about.

Wyatt's First Day of School

2008-09-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

Wyatt started preschool this year and is just beginning to like it. We knew he would struggle a little bit because he is such a mama's boy but he is finally starting to go without saying, "I don't want to go." He is coming home singing the songs he learning and reciting the nursery rhymes. It is really cute.

The Experiment

2008-07-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

Wyatt was whining because he wanted to play the Wii and get to the next "lebel" (that's level for those of you who don't speak toddler) but I don't like him playing it too much so I told him he could experiment. So I put out water, flour, food coloring, baking soda, vinegar, a bowl, wooden spoon and told him to have at it. He had a blast with the baking soda & vinegar "explosions" and it kept him occupied for about 2 hours.

Our Worker Bee

2008-07-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love most about Joel is his amazing work ethic. He is a man who is not afraid of hard work and thankfully he is teaching it to our kids. Now I don't have the pictures of Wyatt whining and crying because "it's too hot!" but I did get the pictures of him working with his dad. Thanks for being such a good dad Joel!

The Rascal

2008-07-15T15:15:00.001-07:00

Wyatt's nickname is "little rascal" and if you know him, you know it fits perfectly. This morning I heard Peyton on the baby monitor and Wyatt ran up the stairs to check on her. This is what I walked in on.

The Little Plastic Piggy Bank

2008-07-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

Some children like to sleep with a favorite blanket or a stuffed animal but not our Wyatt. He loves to sleep with his pink, plastic piggy bank. It is full of change and makes a ton of noise when moved but Wyatt doesn't mind he just wants his piggy bank.

Taking a Nap

2008-07-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

Dylan is absolutely in love with his baby sister and it is the cutest thing. He is always wanting Peyton to sleep with him but we keep telling him she is just too little. Anyway, last Sunday we told him we were going to take a nap and he asked if he could please sleep with Dad because he wanted to sleep with Peyton. So the three of them took a nap while I continued to look in and make sure everything was OK. Dylan woke up elated because he was finally able to sleep with Peyton. It was so cute to see how excited he was.

Princess Peyton's Big Debut

2008-07-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here she is...Miss America...Can you tell we are proud of our little Princess? She is an absolute joy and blessing in our little family. She is our angel baby and we are so happy to have her in our home.

4th of July

2008-07-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a relaxing fourth here at the house. We had Joel's family over and some friends from the neighborhood. We were a little disappointed to find out there would be no fireworks show from Central Christian since we have enjoyed their show the last couple of years from our own frontyard. Joel grilled up some tasty food while we all went swimming.

2008-06-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

Joel and I just got back from 30 glorious days in sunny California. My sweet husband rented a beach house for us in Oceanside. It was right on the beach so we just walked out the back door on to the sand. We loved it and are a little sad to be back in the hot Arizona weather. (This is a picture of Wyatt and his cousin)

The kids and I were there for the full 30 days and Joel came every Thursday for the weekend. We had so much fun that I forgot to use the camera...so I'm a little short on pictures. Actually the only pictures I have are from family members who came to stay during our time there.

A few more pictures of our family

2008-04-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

Our Sweet Boys

Just waiting for Peyton to come

Wyatt meeting his little sister for the first time

I think a certain little girl has her Daddy wrapped around her finger already : )

Wyatt is such a cute little rascal !

We're bloggers

2008-04-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

We're the Johnson's ! Joel and I ( Kristina ) have been married for a little over 4 years. We met on a blind date that was set up by my sister and her friend. Joel is a very successful home builder and I am a stay at home mom. We have 3 boys and 1 little princess named Peyton who we just added to our family. My Sister created this blog for me because she thought it was about time I joined the blogging world

Peyton Grace Johnson, born April 3, 2008