Elf on a Shelf

We have an elf. . .his name is Sammy. He sits around and watches the kids and then at night he reports back to Santa. He comes back sometime during the night and the kids find him in all kids of precarious situations in the morning.

He has been known to eat Life cereal at the kitchen table, play basketball on the Xbox 360, read Lego magazines and ESPN the magazine, he wrote on the bathroon mirror with Mommy's lipstick, he took a bath one night in our tub. We never know quite where we will find him in the morning ;). But it's the first thing the kids say when they get up, "I'm going to find Sammy". It certainly is doing the job with our oldest and our youngest thinks it is fun but it doesn't seem to effect her behavior all that much :(

Where will Sammy be tomorrow?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . .

First big snow in Washington. . .November 22-23.

I kind of feel like we should be building a sled instead of an ark.

The kids were loving playing outside. It feels just like Utah :)

We have a picture just like this of Peyton when he was almost 2--although he is much bigger now :)

The kids had a great time on their snow days. We had two snow just before Thanksgiving so the kids ended up out of school for Tuesday-Friday. Woohoo for them!

Here's what they did the first morning. . ..

Minute to Win It

The kids and I went to an Activity Days Daddy/Daughter recognition night for church a few weeks ago (I am over the Activity Days for Primary). It was an olympic themed night with different stations and games. The kids were "helping" out with the cup stacking activity.

You know--get the cups, stack them in a pyramid, and see how long it takes you.

So a few nights ago this is what I found Addison doing in the kitchen. She had all the cups, she stacked them in a pyramid, and was timing herself (she NEEDED the timer).

Thanks for the fun activity Johnsons--it now keeps Addison entertained at home!

9 years. . .

A 6 year old boy, a 3 year old girl, a 4 year old labradoodle, 2 houses owned, 1 rented house, 8 cars, 7 jobs between the two of us, Washington-Utah-Washington again (oh and a part time Wyoming stint), good times, bad times (a lot more of the good), laughing, crying, grouching, and much much more.

We've had a wonderful 9 years of fun and challenges and here's to the happiest we've been many more happy years! I love you!

Happy Anniversary Joe!!

Skirts, Skirts and more Skirts

I made 20 skirts for a Winter Boutique this weekend in Federal Way, WA. So if you are in the neighborhood, 4137 SW 321st St. It runs Th, F from 12-8 and Sat from 10-7. There will be lots of fun stuff there!! A variety of sizes and patterns available on the skirts.

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat. . .

I am so dang excited about Christmas this year. I don't know why (and with past experience it is never great to get so excited because things never happen quite like you imagine). But for now I am going with it.

I would decorate for Christmas today if I didn't think Joe would think I was crazy. (and he does have that rule, "No Christmas until after Thanksgiving" Hmmm!?!?) Oh well I guess I can wait :)

But I did get this holiday magazine in the mail the other day, Holiday with Matthew Mead. Really fun and you can order it from the button on the side bar on his website. But in it were 16 delicious looking Christmas cookies. So I thought maybe each of us (that's my family, not all of you:) I can't make that many cookies) should pick a different kind and try a little something new for Holiday treats this year.

So my question to you is which 4 cookies would you pick?

#1 Austrian Chocolate Balls

#2 Triple Chocolate Almond Biscotti

#3 Jam Thumbprints

#4 Maple Nut Cookies

#5 Angel Kiss Cookies

#6 Chocolate Walnut Wheels

#7 Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies

#8 Chocolate Thumbprints

#9 Cranberry and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

#10 Lemon Drop Cookies

#11 Sandies

#12 Molasses Ginger Snaps

#13 Salty Peanut Bars

#14 Citrus-Hazlenut Fingers

#15 Chocolate Crackle-Top Cookies

#16 Pineapple Cookies

Disney on Ice anyone?

We went to Disney on Ice-Let's Celebrate at the Comcast Arena in Everett last week with Cathie, Joe's mom, Andrea and her kids and me and my two.

They celebrated birthday's, Halloween, Valentines (which was Addison's favorite what with all the princesses), Summer vacation, and the Holidays. Addison was in awe the whole night and afterwards when we walked outside said, "That was great!!!" Glad they appreciate fun activites.

Meemo, Grace, Peyton, and Keith waiting for Disney on Ice-Let's Celebrate to start

Max and Addison doing the same

"Be Our Guest"

Minnie and Mickey find their true Valentine!

Halloween is gone. . .

All the festivities are over and now on to Thanksgiving and then Christmas and New Years and Valentines. . . .aren't those all eating holidays?

Well not this year :) We inherited a Stairmaster and so far it is getting used ;) Wait until you next see me Utah, you won't recognize me. (Does that sound a little Biggest Loser-esque?)

Check out what we did for Halloween :

Addison's school family pumpkin carving activity. They obviously carved pumpkins and then sang some of the songs they had been practicing and lit their pumpkins. It was very cute!

Peyton's class Halloween party at school. I helped out and was in charge of the "Mummy wrap" (you know toilet paper around the teacher)

The kids and J.D. in their costumes.

Ariel, Hot Dog, and Jango Fett (Star Wars bounty hunter)

I am not sure J.D. loved his costume :)

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!!

We had a nice Halloween with no rain.

(Costume pictures to follow)

Peyton and Addison

It's nice when they love each other!



Peyton, J.D. and Addison