2009 Christmas Photo Shoot

Yesterday we were hanging out at home and it dawned on me that I wanted nice pictures of the kids in their Christmas outfits. So we headed over to the church to have a Johnson family photo shoot! The kids were good and cooperative. There were times that they could have been more so, but all in all it was good. A few times Blake was upset that McKenna was getting too close and leaning her head on him. She was just trying to love on him :).

Here is McKenna not sure she wanted her picture taken (just being McKenna). Then in the next picture she changed her mind...

Christmas cuties putting candy canes on the tree

Christmas Festival at Founder's Park

So I am not sure what I imagined in my mind when I heard they were shipping in a couple tons of snow at Founder's Park. It sure wasn't what I saw last week. I pictured the kids making snow balls, snow angels, and frolicking in it... instead it was a large icy mound with pre-teen punks pounding little innocent children and frightening them away, LOL! Kourtney made it out there twice and each time made a snow ball. I think it had been so hyped in her mind she was determined to play a little. It was okay though, I have put in a prayer request for some snow while I am in Louisiana. At least a flurry... right God?

This was the Island Christian float during the parade

"Christmas in the keys" :)

This was the snowman made by Kourtney and McKenna's classes for a contest. Their pictures were around the bottom of it. They won, btw. It was such a cute idea. Three different sized beach balls with tissue paper glued to it.

Thanksgiving Day

My family on Thanksgiving. Too bad we didn't get ALL of us out there for a picture! :(

Our newest Holiday tradition... we move all the furniture back while the parade is on and the kids are IN the parade. SOOO much fun!

My football playersCarving the turkey

JT had to work :(. But we did add Jesse and Reina to the family!
My two moms!
The kids table... funny I can still remember when I had to sit at it!No that is not a little Johnson... that is Zion Santoyo :)
Uncle Phil and Aunt Marcela
Going for 2nds... gorgeous night outside!

My little Christmas tree

Ten years ago for the first Christmas that Travis and I were married we lived in a very tiny one bedroom apartment right across the street from Lee University. It was a very cute and cozy place and we loved living there. It was so small that a large tree wouldn't quite fit so we went out and bought a 4 foot tree and decorated it. It was very exciting being married and decorating our first little place. It felt so magical. Two years later we when we bought our first house in Romeoville, IL we bought a beautiful 9 foot artificial tree (if you know my history with "real" trees you understand my preference). We have put that tree up every Christmas since (except the ONE time I tried a real tree), along with the smaller one (so yes, I always had 2 trees up in my house). Until this year.

This is a year Christmas I will always remember. We moved to the keys because of the Chinese drywall in our home in Homestead. The house we are in is much smaller than the one in Homestead. There is no room for a 9 foot tree. But there is room for that really special tree we bought 10 years ago for our first Christmas. At first I felt a little sad that not all of my Christmas decorations will be pulled out this year. But then I experienced the joy of watching my kids put up their tree today. Kourtney kept saying, "this is so much fun!" They didn't care that the tree was only 4 feet tall. We had a blast.

I have learned so much this year. So much about priorities, family, and the important things in life. What wonderful lessons. I am happier than I have ever been. I love where I am. I love my family. I love my little Christmas tree. This will definitely be an unforgettable Christmas.

We also had fun relaxing outside today. What a gorgeous, perfect weekend.

My parents came in town

My parents drove from Robert, LA to Tavernier, FL for Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for young, healthy parents who can do that! They got in Monday afternoon and surprised the girls (who thought they would be in Tuesday) at school. It was fun. We then ate at Marker 88 on the water. That night my mom got out a little Christmas tree she brought and the kids decorated it and we put it in the girls' room. It was so nice having my mom and dad here. They babysat for us on Tuesday and we spent the day in Homestead working and then out on a date. LOVE date nights!

Wednesday it rained and poured in the keys so we decided to head to Dolphin Mall. It was crowded but oh so fun. I love mall time :). We made a stop by Bass Pro Shop for a picture with Santa. We bribed McKenna and we got lucky that Blake was sleeping so he could get in the picture with no freak outs! LOL.
Thanks mom and dad, we loved having you down here!

Island Christian School Christmas Festival

I was sick leading up to the Christmas Festival... pneumonia and strep throat (though the urgent care doctor said I had H1N1, whatever - he didn't test me for it). Anyways, I was on antibiotics and tamiflu and praying I was well enough to make it out! I felt great Saturday morning when I woke up and I was so happy. Kourtney and McKenna could not wait to go! We worked their classroom booths and they had so much fun. I didn't get a picture of me and McKenna working the booth though, :(. If only it had been a little cooler that day. I never thought about getting a sunburn at a Christmas Festival, lol!

The parade!

Go Eagles!!!On the Ferris Wheel

View from the Ferris Wheel in the Florida Keys!

Stuffed Animals

Here we are trying to get a handle on our baby dolls and stuffed animals... 3 mesh bags full. I told the girls they could each fill one bag and the rest we would give to the rummage sale at Island Christian. We made "keep it" and "give it away" piles. There were tears, bargaining, wheeling and dealing. In the end, we accomplished our goal. The sad part? We probably have another 2 bag fulls at our "sick house."

Brisk morning in the Florida keys

We shaved Blake's head

I can't believe after all I went through to have Travis let me "trim" Blake's hair a couple months ago that today Travis said, "let's shave Blake's head!" Woah! So we went for it. Blake has gorgeous blond locks and they will grow back soon... and hopefully not be so puffy looking as his last hair cut. His shaved head does make him look older. I will miss his blonde curls but they will grow back quickly. Maybe I will do a progression of his hair growing out every Wednesday... if I can remember!FYI: shaving a toddler's head and lolipops do not go well together. I had to keep rinsing it off.

Travis said it was in honnor of vets day and of my brother joining the marines. I think he was just bored on his day off ;) Daddy loves his boy having the same haircut as he does though!

Punk Rocker!

When you ask him what happened to his hair he says, "Daddy do that."

Youtube

I've uploaded several videos but never posted them. Here are a few...



This was the Sunday morning that it was cool out on our way to church. My poor kids never get a break from the heat. They were so excited.



Here is day 2 of "cooler" weather. Travis is gonna hate this because the grass in the yard is so long. Our lawn guy's mower broke for a couple weeks :).



Pumpkin Patch with Island Christian School



On Blake's actual birthday... singing to him and running screaming. I'm posting this despite the embarrassing state of my house. We were getting ready to tile the next week and it was a mess.



Blake opening "playdoughs"



Blake riding hotwheels on his birthday



All three kids riding and poor Kourtney on the bike that is way too small for her.



The puppet show

Joe and Lisa's wedding

We had a great time at Joe and Lisa's wedding Saturday. LPC rocks! What a great church family we have. I love them all!Trouble times 4I made the cake

Blake was being a ladies man all night
McKenna and daddy

Sorting, Organizing, Counting...

Kourtney LOVES her sweets. She was thrilled when she came home with way more candy than is normal to get on October 31st. She went to a trunk or treat our church had. Sunday after church at Papa and Nana's house I found her with the candy dumped out. She was acting like her mom... sorting the candy by what kind it was and counting how many pieces she had. 197 pieces to be exact... and that was just HER bag (which she later found out she could not eat all of it herself). I have decided to be noble and donate the candy to the church... just as soon as I eat all of the chocolate pieces.

trunk or treat

Cars with decorated trunks, costumes masking true identities (that freaked out Blake), speakers, a dj, the funky chicken and electric slide, a costume contest, a tattoo station and WAAAYYYY too much candy. Fun times!

Kids Life...

I have one in every venue at church... except the nursery. This is after the signs were taken down for the day.

Blake's 2 year old football birthday party

Seems like birthdays are always stretched out. So Blake's birthday was on October 21st and his party was on the 31st. It worked out nicely because the kids had something to do on Halloween. We set up bounce houses, threw out some face paint, and let the kids run around the church. It was fun. Thanks to everyone who came!

underoos!
yeah, on an iPhone at his party
hut, hut, HIKE!
Go Canes!
The Clarks celebrating Cooper's birthday
The Barrs celebrating Gideon's birthday!

I cleared the table and then someone blocked the cake view at the last minute while someone else was taking pictures!

Awe, how sweet!
Jumping high in his new shoes
Be afraid
those three!
I believe in arranged marriage - even if she is a Patriot's fanPizzie!
Yum!
Bouncy, bouncy!

Cakes

I made all three cakes for the birthday party. The star tasted good. The footballs, not so much. They were not baked right or something. Anyways, it was an easy cake mold and it was a good thing because I had to make all 3 cakes at my in-laws house and had to transport them 45 minutes to the party in a car with three kids! It was funny.

It was a long day. I had never done this to a cake before! LOL.
I love that they help with their cakes

Costume Parade

So my camera died at the beginning, but ICS did a cute costume parade for the little kids. They got to walk through the high school classrooms waving at the kids like they were in a parade. So darn cute. I was a bit annoyed at myself for following the rules though. The letter sent home said for the kids to wear their costumes over their clothes (or at least thinking back on it that is what it said). So my girls were among the few with their shirts on under their pretty costumes :(. Oh well. They were still adorable.

Pumpkin Patch

Island Christian School took the Kindergarten, K4, and K3 to the pumpkin patch. Perfect photo op! Here are the best ones...

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox

Blake's actual 2nd birthday (party and cake pics to come later)

Blake turned 2 on October 21st. His party is on October 31st along with 2 other boys that are turning 2! It is going to be fun. But we couldn't resist making a birthday dinner and letting him open the presents we had for him. We had a great night. He is so precious and so 100% boy it has been a wonderful 2 years with him in our lives!

dinner
Making cards
Since the moment he came out of my belly we have talked about how big his feet are!
1st remote control car
playdoughfun outdoors
New ride - a Diego hotwheels that talks to him!