December 25th, 2010

Christmas morning at the Johnson house was pretty low key this year, okay so it usually is most years. Addison was the first one up this year. Luckily it wasn't too early. We actually had to go and wake Dodge up. Dodge got his coveted iPod and Addison got a cute mommy puppy and the complete Cinderella dress up which she had to put on immediately! Thanks Santa! Merry Christmas!

December 19th, 2010

 

Dodge performed a solo in our Sacrament Christmas Program. He worked really hard and practiced a lot. He did such a great job. I have to thank Jenny Smith for working so great with him and getting him to do it. It really made the program (I am a little biased though!)

December 18th, 2010

Dodge had his birthday party at Jumpin' Jacks this year. The kids had fun, I guess that what matters right. I still cannot believe our baby boy is 7 years old! Only one year and he will be getting baptized! It seems not too long ago I went into labor in the middle of my math final, poof! Seven years have passed like that. I am so proud of you Dodge. You are so smart and good. I am so glad that you have found a love for learning and reading. I love when you sing, how you play so nice with your sister (most of the time anyway), and how you are always willing to help me around the house. I love you!

December 10th, 2010

Happy Birthday Ryan and Papa Dan! We have a combined birthday for the two of them every year since Dan's B-day is the 10th and Ry's is the 11th. The cake says 530, Dan turned 53 and Ryan turned 30.

Front Page!

Dodge and I went to the outdoor ice skating rink here in St. George. While we were there, Dodge got his picture taken and it ended up on the front page of the Spectrum the next day. Dodge, you really are a good skater, don't let this picture make you feel bad.

Merry Christmas!

December 4th, 2010

We got our Christmas tree at Pine Valley this year. It was cold, and there was snow. Not our usual Christmas tree experience in southern Utah. Addison really wanted to walk in the snow and kept grabbing it with bare hands, but then she would get upset when she figured out she was freezing. Dodge had some drama with his shoes staying on. Finally, we found "the one" and Ryan got to chopping. I was helping push the tree so it would snap. Guess what happens when you do that, well, it snaps! Then I fell on the tree and nearly slid down the hill with it. I somehow managed to knock Ryan on his butt too. It was so funny. I bet we looked pretty hilarious. I should have had Dodge record us. We could have won some money on Funniest Videos. We got it home and got it decorated. I managed to knock it over in the living room. I have some serious skills with laying those trees down, I must be a tree whisperer. Addison liked playing with the ornaments, breaking the ornaments, hiding the ornaments, etc. etc. etc. It should be about Easter by the time I find all of them. So enjoy the picture I have of them decorating the tree. Compare it with the ones I will post on Christmas and you will realize just how sneaky Addison is at taking ornaments, it should be bare by then.

I swear if she weren't so darn cute, she would spend a lot more time in the time out chair!

December 3rd, 2010

It's a tradition that I really love. Gingerbread houses. Dodge was really creative this year are put a lot of work into his house. Addison was interested in the candy, and eating it. That was about it. They turned out pretty cute, now if only I could keep Addison from eating anymore, they might still be here for Christmas!

Dodge's and Grandma's house on the left, Addison's and mine on the right.

 Dodge had the gingerbread man jumping out the side window and then getting hit by a train. He even broke him into pieces. It was pretty creative, if only a little violent. I really liked his snow fort he made.

November 28th, 2010

We woke up Sunday morning to a lot of fresh snow. It was pretty horrible timing since we had to drive home in it. The kids enjoyed playing in it before we took off. Addison even liked the snow, and put up with the cold. I bet all the neighbors thought we had never seen snow before, the way Dodge was all excited to get out there and shovel it up. It was beautiful, but it made the drive extra long and scary. Luckily, we made it home without incident. We even managed to narrowly avoid getting stuck behind a wreck clean up. I definitely do not miss driving in the snow.

November 27th, 2010

We went with my mom and Kaitlynn to see the Festival of Lights in Spanish Fork. It is fun to stay in the warm car, listen to the Christmas music and drive through the lights. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I was busy chatting and enjoying some time with my mom. 

November 26th, 2010

We went to the Winterfest Christmas Parade in downtown Provo. It was pretty chilly but since it is a small parade, you get to interact with most the people. They all handed out candy. Addison eventually got really cold and wanted to go 'back to car'. We made it until Santa came by very last on the back of a fire truck.

Addison and I were in the paper the next day. The article talked about a Ludene Moon who came up from St. George to visit family in Provo. Naturally, my family called me Ludene the rest of the trip. For the record, they got my name right in the caption. I guess you really can't believe everything you read.

After the parade, we headed to Rocky Mountain Drive Inn and got some hot cocoa and scones. It was the perfect way to end the evening. It was hilarious, because Addison was freezing after the parade but when we walked in the Drive Inn, she wanted ice cream. These kids keep me in stitches I tell ya.

November 25th, 2010

We headed "Up North" this year for Thanksgiving. We got to spend time with both my mom and my dad's families. It was a cold, busy, fun weekend.

We went for a walk Thanksgiving morning. To say 'it was freezing' is an understatement. I know the pictures look all sunny and beautiful, it was, but it was definitely cold. We didn't get very far but it was nice to get out before totally gorging ourselves with the Turkey day spoils. Addison absolutely hated the cold. She kept saying, 'back to car'.

I tried to get some cute pictures of the kids, but they were cold and dripping snot-cicles so this is the best I got.

Addison liked walking Max, only a little difference between walking him and Duke... just kidding!

This was before we turned around and had to head into the freezing wind to get back to the car.

Dodge and Zeke. Dodge was so happy to have some kids to play with. Zeke and Dodge get along so well. If we lived closer, I know these two would be BFFs.

Cute decorations right! They were a pain to make but turned out to be a major hit. I hate to say it, but I don't know that I will attempt to make them again next year.

Dad, I caught you! Thanks for carving the bird... or should I say birds, there were two after all. MMmmmmm Turkey!

For those of you who don't know, this is my "other mother" Ruth (because step-mothers are evil right?) I know you don't want me to post your picture, oh well, deal with it! I love you! Thanks for letting me add to the chaos in the kitchen. I have wanted to learn the secrets to your pecan pie for years!! I loved spending time with you and Katie. It makes me wish we had spent more time together when I lived there.

Addison really liked the turkey, she kept asking for more turkey. Too bad she meant the chocolate one!

After Turkey with my dads family, we made the trek to my sister Heather's house in Hooper. It was well worth the drive to actually spend some time with all of my moms family on Thanksgiving. It was the first time since, well, since I can even remember.

I got to meet my smiley new nephew William Jay.

I promise I tried to get some good pictures of my moms family. This was the best I got. New camera, arrrgh, clearly I need to read the manual. 

 

I am so grateful for all the blessings we have in our life. Though it seems each year that the holidays get more and more commercialized, I am so glad we have a day set aside to realize all we have and where it all comes from. I hope we can learn to have an attitude of gratitude throughout the season and the rest of the year as well.