5 whole years??!!

Jeff and I celebrated our fifth anniversary this week by going up to Zion for the night and leaving the kiddos home with Nana. It was super fun and so nice to wake up when I wanted to fully rested to silence as opposed to a crying baby or three year old climbing into my bed telling me to get up. (I know these are memories I will look back on and miss but it was still nice to wake up when I wanted to instead of had to) We got to hang out and date like we did when we were first starting to date it was fun to be carefree for a few hours. The morning when we woke up it was rainy and gorgeous in Zion. Check out our view from our room:

You wouldn't think you could live with someone for five years and still be falling more and more in love but I am. I love that man right there next to me on the bed :) He is the best husband a woman could ask for. He works so hard for us and never complains. He puts up with my ups and downs (which are frequent) and he is the best example of loving unconditionally. It is so liberating to know someone knows you more than any other person does the good, the bad, and the ugly and yet still loves you so deeply. He is a wonderful Daddy and loves his kids so much. I'm grateful for the example he is to me and for the way he completes me. I love you babe! Happy Anniversary!

Christmas is about Family

Jeff and I are so blessed to have our families literally live five minutes apart so we get to share the holiday with both families. We had such a blast this Christmas. It was so much fun that Skylee knew what was going on this year and was super excited for Santa to come. The night before Christmas Eve we got to go down to Vegas to pick up Ken, Jeff's brother, and have dinner with all of his Mom's family.

Christmas Eve morning we got to spend with Jeff's family then headed over to my family that night. We played the Wii, ate lots of delicious food, and then went out to judge Christmas lights with animal crackers. We put down all the seats in the back of the van and just put blankets down. Nana, Grandma, Grandpa and us were there. Jaston was in heaven. He was literally jumping up and down and throwing himself all over the place he was having so much fun being free. It was hysterical and actually surprising I didn't think he would like it so much. Skylee loved singing Christmas carols esp. from her Rudolph stuffed animal that sang Rudolph so much we had to take him away and hide him. :) We listened to the lds.org version of the nativity. Then Sky wrote a letter to Santa and left a cookie for him and carrots for Rudolph and headed to bed.
While I was tucking her in I asked her what song she wanted me to sing and she wanted me to sing a Christmas one but when I started singing she told me to be quiet cuz Santa might hear and come. I said, "You don't want Santa to come?" and she whispered so quiet, "Not yet." Then she asked me if the chimney was in her room. Then i understood she was scared that Santa was going to come in her room and that idea scared her. I reassured her he couldn't come until she was sleeping and he wouldn't come into her room at all he was in too big of a hurry. She still struggled to fall asleep for a few hours.
Christmas morning was super fun. Skylee was SO excited to see the letter Santa wrote her and then see what Santa brought her and she declared after opening presents, "He brought me EVERYTHING!" It was super cute. We had Emil and Kelsi with us this year. Then after opening presents at my fams we headed to Jeff's and did the whole festivities again. His whole family was there. We were pretty spoiled at both places. Skylee was in a state of euphoria I think she started just ripping open presents throwing paper up over her shoulder and running to the next.
I'm so grateful for the time we got to spend with our families because really, that is what it is all about. We had so much fun and made great memories. This really was probably the funnest (word?) Christmas I have had in a long time cuz I was super giddy to have Skylee excited about the Christmas everything. While we were driving around looking at lights last night with my kids literally jumping up and down the thought popped into my head, "Christmas is back." I have enjoyed the Christmases in the past but it has been a long time since I have been so excited about all the little aspects of Christmas - the lights, wrapping presents, singing songs, counting down, shopping, family time etc... and the reason is because of my kids, the excitement is back and I'm super excited now for next year when I have two kids that will get it a little more. :)

Christmas Wishes already coming true...

My Skylee

Our conversation on the way home tonight

Me: Guess what Skylee?

Skylee: I LOVE YOU!

Me: No I love you!

Skylee: No, I love you more than Christmas

Me: Wow, you love me a lot :)

Sky: Yeah, can you read me a story when we get home?

Me: Sure

Sky: Cuz I'm tired of reading them by myself.

It's Party Time!

We had a party today for Jaston (b-day today the 12th), Papa (Jeff's Dad- the 11th), and Nana (Jeff's mom - the 14th). We had yummy Chicken Broccoli Casserole, opened presents, let Jaston enjoy a cake in the bath-tub (tradition) and ate yummy Baskin Robbins Ice cream. Here are some pics from the fun event. Jaston had some emotional conflict. He felt like he shouldn't be doing it and I don't think he felt very good so he would eat a bite then cry. Skylee decided to hop in and join the fun. She LOVED it. I wonder if we should start this tradition for the three year birthday instead of the first...

Happy Birthday Jaston!

Happy Birthday to my SWEET baby boy! I can't believe he is a whole year old! Seriously seems like he was born last week. Here's a few things about my little stud.

• He is all over the place and into everything! So so curious!
• He thinks when Mom says NO she is playing a game and wants him to do it more
• During Skylee's nap he will look at me and then race to Skylee's room to try and wake her up before I can stop him.
• He loves cars or anything with wheels he can run back and forth on the ground
• He does not like to be put down in his crib for naps
• He loves his Momma
• He loves to hug and kiss Mom
• He thinks his sister is hilarious
• He loves singing Patty Cake and Popcorn Popping. When I start to sing Patty Cake he throws his arms in the air.
• He is SUPER ticklish and loves to be tickled.
• He is drawn to anything musical
• He is walking and is so stinkin cute doing it!
• Momma is his first word :)
• He thinks any noises you make with your tongue is pretty darn funny
• He LOVES when I lay down on the ground and he can come climb on me and give me loves
• He loves his big sister and she loves him back and is very protective
• I cannot for the life of me keep his pants on they slip right off his little waist.
• He LOVES pizza and meat
• He is a little moocher- whenever I have food he wants some and whenever we go to a restaurant he will squeal until he gets some food.
• He's a whiner whenever Mom is around
• If I would he would want Mom to hold him ALL day long.
• He is a little sweetie
• He loves to sit on my lap and then fall backward, in fact he LOVES to hang upside down and be thrown really high in the air and wrestled on the bed.
• He does NOT enjoy getting his diaper changed and we are almost to the - needing one person to hold him down while the other changes - stage.
• He HATES to be restrained in any way.

Ward Christmas Party

I told Skylee a little early that Santa was coming she COULD not wait to sit on his lap this time. When we saw him at the mall she just hid behind my leg.
Skylee decided she wanted to sing with the primary kids (she will be in sunbeams next month I can't believe it). She had no idea what she was doing but I thought it was pretty sweet Lydia held her hand the whole time!

Here's my handsome boys

a Monster!

Skylee FLEW into my room at three this morning slammed the door shut, and dove into my bed (it's a pretty tall bed too) and was panting and one word came out, "Monster!" as she clung to me. Poor thing. Then she told me she wanted Daddy to go scare it away. So Daddy took her back to bed and "scared" it away. She told him it was a wolf but this morning she mentioned several times it was a fox. She let me know that next time it comes she will tell it, "Go away and don't come back until I say so!" Okay then.

PS: Jaston is officially walking! If he's up he will walk if he's down he will crawl but he can walk if he wants to. Crazy! He will be one in three days! I can't believe it!

Dear Santa

Skylee was supposed to write a letter to santa for joy school so I asked her what she wanted to say to Santa. Her response was pretty cute. Here's the letter:

Dear Santa,

     I love you Santa! I want a toy. I want to get in your lap. I don't know. Get presents please. I want a Handy Manny toy, the one at the store to play with it. My favorite reindeer is Rudolph. Jingle Bells, I like it. I want a truck for Jaston and a book for Mommy and a book for Daddy too. Please bring John a basketball player and a basketball for Taylor. For Teona please get a book. For Wayne please get a basketball player, a big one. Get a blanket for me and John and Taylor. That's all I need. I love you Santa. Love, Skylee

Private/ Public Debate

Ok, so I posted a few weeks ago that I was going private

My little sis is getting MARRIED

My sweet little sis

 is engaged. Kelsi and Emil got engaged a few weeks back and I have been a slacker and haven't announced it yet. I am pretty giddy about the whole thing which is pretty funny cuz I don't think I was giddy about my wedding... haha Anyway way excited for these two to start their life together. Good luck you guys and welcome to the family Emil!

Thanksgiving

We got the wonderful privilege of having Thanksgiving three times this year :) We had an early Thanksgiving with my extended family in Monroe last weekend which was a blast. So many happy memories in Monroe with the Johnson fam. Then we were blessed to have my sis, Teona with us this Thanksgiving on the actual Thanksgiving day so we decided to do it all again to celebrate since we only get her fam every other year. So we went all out and went shooting in the morning( which I did not so bad this year I'm excited since I only get practice once a year ), then we came home and decided to go play Pickal Ball (spelling?). Teona has been playing and fellin love with it and so we all got to learn. It's a fun game but frustrating cuz I'm not very good... Then we went home and decorated for Christmas and had the Thanksgiving dinner after Jeff got home from work (Yep, he had to work on Thanksgiving! but he has Christmas Eve and Christmas off this year so I guess I will forgive the scheduler!)

THEN we were blessed to have Thanksgiving with Jeff's fam on Sat night and decorate for Christmas over there.

SO I think it is appropriate to express my gratitude in this post for ALL of my incredible blessings. I truly have been so blessed in my life. I have two AMAZING families who I love and appreciate and who serve me and my family tirelessly. I am so grateful for the gospel. That I am a member of the LDS church. It is everything in my life. I am grateful that I know my family can be together forever if we live righteously and rely on our Heavenly Father. I am grateful for my Wonderful Savior, even Jesus Christ who suffered and died for me that I may live again with my Heavenly Father someday. What a blessing. I am so grateful for my incredible husband and my beautiful children. I truly have been blessed with so much more than I deserve. And thank you to all of my dear, dear friends. You are all wonderful and mean so much to me. I have been so blessed by each and every one of you. Thank you and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Last Soccer Game

Sky had her last soccer game last week. She def improved from the beginning to the end but she was in a funny mood at this game. She was more into gabbing with the coach than actually playing. Her coach was super patient with her. I was impressed with all the coaches involved that is a tough age but cute as heck.

Here is the girls getting ready for kick-off
Who knows what she is doing here...

Yeah, she wanted to hang out in the goal while everyone was on the opposite side of the field playing soccer.

Here she is talking to coach. He informed us at half time he knew Skylee's fav. color was red and she knew all of her ABC's.

Finally... into the game

And here are the cute spectators...

Free Shutterfly Christmas Cards

So I heard of this awesome deal that Shutterfly was doing. I get to blog about their cool cards and other things they make on Shutterfly and they send me 50 free Christmas Photo Cards. So here goes :) I actually have had many positive experiences with Shutterfly. I have printed off photobooks which turned out really nice. I love getting my photos through them, they always have great deals. I also have seen their calendars made which also turned out great. You can check those out here. These make awesome Christmas gifts esp for Grandparents. You can also use them for holiday invitations for your parties or for Christmas Photo Cards (click here) which I am going to do and am so excited about them! Not to mention I am grateful for Shutterfly because they encouraged me to figure out how to do all of those click here to go to this website. Actually REALLY simple. Anyhow check it out if you are interested in 50 free prints too. I'm ALWAYS open for free things and this wasn't TOO painful :)

Rubber Ducky You're the One!

      We had a traumatic experience a few days ago with those crazy quarter toy vending machine things. After three vending machines, many quarters , and much tears and disappointments we finally ended up with a pink rubber ducky that she loved. Needless to say she has treasured that duck ever since (well two days ago). 

      Yesterday she showed me that the paint for the duck's little flower on it's belly was rubbing off. I explained that it's like when we paint our fingernails after awhile it starts to wear off. And with the most genuine worried voice she looked up at me and asked, "Mommy, is my ducky dying?" I reassured her it wasn't but what a sweetie, she has the tenderest little heart. I just love that girl!

We had a traumatic experience a few days ago with those crazy quarter toy vending machine things.

Jaston started pointing a few days ago. It is so cute, when he is 

interested in something he points at it and says, "Oh!"

He is showing more interest in walking I think we are close...

Where's my baby going?

Thank you!

Jaston was taught a new sign by his Aunt Kelsi today - Thank you. It's pretty cute. More like he is hitting his mouth a lot but it's still cute! Now he knows thank you, doggie, and very rarely uses more and all done. :) He also recognizes the sign milk and food but has never used them yet. He is picking them up faster than Sky. Skylee started at about 12 months which by the way in two days Jaston will be 11 months I can't believe it. He will be one next month holy cow!

Jaston's First step

Jaston officially took his first step today! He has the standing down pretty good even with clapping and bouncing and dancing while standing. He decided to take a few steps too. Record so far is three and that was kind of a dive into Mom's arms but we are getting close!

Update: New record 6!

Beautiful Sunrise

This morning there was a beautiful sunrise. This was our conversation in the car.

Skylee: Look at the sky Mom! It's pretty!

Me: I know, that's called the sunrise.

Skylee: Someone painted it.

Me: Really who? (of course I expected her to say Jesus or Heavenly Father,but nope!)

Skylee: Uncle Greg

It's official Baby J is getting big!

Jaston is now saying Mama, Dadda, Nana. He signs all done, dog, recognizes the sign milk, more, food, all done, and sleep. Loves the song, Popcorn Popping, claps his hands, pats my back, plays patty cake and...

He is standing!