Christmas Magic

This has been an exceptionally busy fall for the Johnson crew! I don't know why it has been so busy, but we've had something going on just about every weekend since September. We love going to Disneyland at Christmas and we were "nervous" that we wouldn't get to go this year, so we decided on going mid-week. We don't typically do that since fireworks/snow etc... aren't until late and we have to be out the door SO early in the mornings, but this particular evening the park closed at 8:00 which meant fireworks were at 7:30 and snow directly followed. I could handle that.

What I was not prepared for was how emotional I would be. I'm a big fan of Disney parks. They really do know how to bring "magic" to little children. We pretty much just camped out on Main street when we got there and by doing so it snowed on us three times throughout the night. Main street's lights dim and the castle is all lit up with a gorgeous song about snow falling playing throughout the park. Next thing we know it starts snowing and Emily is SHOUTING in excitement about the snow. Tears #1. Emily was so excited about the snow, she was trying to make a snowman out of the soap sudded snow. That's what is happening at the end of this short little video...

They have a holiday Firework display and it includes some beautiful songs; however when the fireworks end and the snow starts to fall, the most beautiful arrangement of "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" begins to play. Kinley had fallen asleep in my arms and I was overcome with great emotion. I just started thinking about her future and all of the things she might be dreaming of. Perhaps it was a white Christmas--after all that is on her sister's wish list. (see the writing santa entry if you don't know what I am referring to) I asked Brian to get a video of this. I realize it's just a sleeping baby, but listen to the song in the background (if you can hear it over Emily and Oliver screaming in sheer excitement of the snow!)

Emily is THREE!

It's December tomorrow and I just now have the time to write about my THREE year old's birthday party. We celebrated at Chuck E Cheese and she absolutely LOVED it. Poor thing cried so hard when her party was over and she had to go home. She loved almost everything about the day. She was very cautious around Chuck E, but other than that she was taking it all in. Dancing, smiling, playing, running, eating, catching tickets and more. It was such a great day! I love my girl.

This picture captures how she was at the party. So excited! I LOVE this.

Dancin' dancin' dancin'

I love her hands in this picture. I can't decide if she was having to hold them to keep her from digging in or thanking God for the sugar she was about to have. :)

Poor girl had to wait FOREVER to blow the candle out. They did all kinds of Chuck E introduction and dancing before they even put the candle on the cake. She did so great!

Safety goggles and special birthday hat to help catch tickets in the wind "tunnel"

Strugglin'

I have always been hard on myself and I have no idea where that comes from. I've compared myself to everyone and everything and I know it isn't healthy, but I do it anyway. I feel like I find myself striving for perfection and beat myself up when I don't achieve it. I want to be the best wife, the best mom, the best friend and I fall short.....a lot.

Living in South Orange County sure doesn't help matters. Now, I find I want the best house, the best car, the best clothes. It goes without saying that I fall short there too. I'm almost embarrassed to bring people to my house because it's just a bit smaller than most of my friends places. It doesn't have a front yard or back yard. Heck, it doesn't even have a porch! I get concerned about how other people will react if I ask them for dinner. Are they thinking in the back of their minds that my house is too small for them to entertain the thought of coming over? I can't host thanksgiving or Christmas unless we all eat in the garage. I feel like I'm somewhat lacking as a family member if I can't do that kind of thing for my family.

Don't even get me started on the scale. I don't know what is up with my body since having a second baby. I go way down on the scales and then it comes way up. So, then it starts the insecure cycle and I feel unattractive etc...

The other night we were at church and it came time for the communion meditation. The pastor asked if any of us were feeling lonely, broken, hurt, betrayed etc... he looked at the piece of bread that he had in his hand and reminded us that the bread was a symbol of the body of Christ. It was a reminder that He had been lonely, broken, hurt and betrayed. I've literally known that symbolization since I was a little kid, but for some reason that night it felt good to know that I am not alone.

So, I'm thankful for the grace and the peace that having a relationship with Jesus Christ offers. It doesn't mean there won't be days that I struggle. It just means that I have someone who understands me and loves me just the way I am. I don't have to be the perfect wife, mom, friend, employer etc...I just need to be me.

Writing Santa

We went to the mall this weekend and Emily saw the big mailbox to Santa and immediately sat down and started "writing" to him. When I asked her what she wanted for Christmas she said, "snow." Alright, Santa, you better not let her down.

9 months!

My baby girl is 9 months old already! How did this happen???

We took her in for her check up and she's happy and healthy. She's petite just like her sister. She weighs 17 pounds, although when asleep, I swear she's at least 30 pounds.

She is busy, busy, busy. She's all over the house all the time! I think tonight I realized that she's trying to say "bath" whenever she hears the water filling in the tub. She's busily crawling toward it saying, "Ba!" She LOVES her bathtime. It's a little stressful for us since Emily is in there with her and doesn't understand the dangers of water like we do. They love it, so it's great.

She got the green light to try new table foods so we're looking forward to trying out some banana, rice and pasta in her near future. She's already a big fan of cheerios and tofu. Lots of messes coming our way.

Enjoy the pictures of my nine monther....

Flower Girl

Auntie Holly and Uncle Cory got married this past weekend. It's hard to believe that it's been almost a year since they got engaged. We were SO THRILLED when Holly asked Emily to be a flower girl in their wedding.

At the Rehearsal Dinner, Holly gave Emily a pearl necklace to wear for the wedding day. SHE LOVED THEM. Grandma JoJo made the adorable dress. Please enjoy the pictures of the big day!

Emily-ism

(Not the best quality of a picture, but I just like it)

I am LOVING all the new words and phrases that are becoming part of Emily's vocabulary. She makes us laugh so hard.

When doing something she shouldn't be doing and we catch her...."look around mommy"

When she wants me to scratch her back..."fingers mommy"

When calling her sister closer to her...(in the most southern accent possible) Ken lay, come here Ken Lay

When pronouncing "w" in the alphabet song...duck-u

When hungry..."my mouth hurts" or "my tummy hurts"

If you were having a conversation with her right now you would hear that she is going to be Belle for Halloween, that she will be a flower girl throwing petals, that she is almost three and if she goes potty she'll go to school. We hear about each one of those subjects at least once a day, but if I'm being honest, most of those subjects are touched at least three times a day.

Apple Pickin'

We woke up to a "cold" day and decided it was the perfect day to go to the mountains for apple picking. We got the girls dressed in their long sleeved shirts and jeans, hats, socks....the works. When we got to the farm and got out of the car we were slapped with heat. Thankfully, I had sunscreen in the car! Emily refused to take her hat off. So, I guess she had the spirit of fall within her!

Oh Kinley

You sure give me a run for my money. You are quite the social bug. If anyone is in the room with you, you'll give them a smile. If they leave the room you are quick to cry to get them to return.

You took your first crawl "step" on August 21st and now you are a crawling pro. You get into absolutely everything. Your favorite is shoes. I feel like you have a completely different gear when you see a shoe in your path.

You pulled yourself up on the couch for the first time yesterday. You were quite proud of yourself. You had a HUGE grin and even chuckled to yourself.

You still don't love to sleep. You like to eat okay and we were hoping that the food and crawling would help you sleep, but it hasn't helped yet.

You've been working on your upper teeth for a couple of weeks now and you finally cut them this morning. They are huge and look quite painful. I'm so sorry boo...

Gone Campin'

We went camping for the weekend with our dear friends the Parlas. It was SO hot, but the kids didn't seem to notice the heat. They kept busy jumping in the bounce house, playing in the pool, riding bikes, dancing at all of the campground festivities and cruising on the scooter.

Joe, Brian, Kinley and Henry (babies were born just two days apart)

Check out those rosy cheeks!

My morning view coming from our "bedroom"

Breakfast time! Emily got her helmet on so she could play as soon as we finished eating.

Sisters loving each other...

Emily and Oliver after dancing their hearts out.

GOOD MORNING, MOM!!

Kinley 7 Months

Not to be outdone....Emily needed her picture taken too....

Hard to believe my baby girl is already seven months old! She's been working on a crawl for a couple weeks now. She gets on all fours and rocks back and forth. She has crawled a couple of "knee steps" for a few days so I know we are super close to crawling. She rolls to anything and everything. She loves to explore. I'm assuming that I will lose 15 pounds. ha! She's all smiles and giggles though, she loves everything!

She has two bottom teeth and she's currently working on her upper teeth---which I think means that there is a long night ahead of us. I wish I could say that she is sleeping perfectly through the night, but that is not even close to the truth. She is up 2-3 times a night and every once in a while every two hours. Brian usually tries to rock her back to sleep, but she wants me and won't stop crying until she has me. Ugh. I joke because I prayed that Kinley would be a little more snuggly than Emily, but I forgot to pray that she would sleep! I keep telling myself that this is only for a matter of time.

Tonight was my night to rock her to sleep. I had some lullabies playing and I found myself choked up as I listened to the tune:

Goodnight, my angel

Now it's time to dream

And dream how wonderful your life will be

Someday your child may cry

And if you sing this lullaby

Then in your heart

There will always be a part of me

Bloglogged--a mostly picture post

Carrots---First veggie---not a big fan

Eating Tofu with chopsticks on daddy's birthday

Birthday Boy!

Joe, Alisha and Brian all turn 30 within a few months of each other and we took an impromptu cruise together.

Ensenada Mexico

Probably not the most flattering picture, but I had so much fun on this slide.

Love her!

I'm sure they'll hate me for posting this picture, but they look like a cruise ad

My groom and me.

Palm Desert

Grandma and Grandpa with all of the girlies

Kinley loved the pool and Grandma/Grandpa loved Kinley!

Papa Johnson's visit with Kinley for the first time. She loved the snuggles!