Pumpkin Patch and Blog Update

Happy, happy Friday! Yesterday I had the pleasure of going on Noelle's Kindergarten class field trip to the pumpkin patch! It was a gorgeous day and we had a really great time! 

I've posted more photos here on my new blog! Yep, that's right, I have a new blog! I am diligently working on putting together an Etsy shop that I am planning to open soon and for simplicity's sake I've decided to post family updates on that blog, so this blog will no longer be updated and that way you only have to check one blog to see all that's going on with our family! :)

Again, my new blog is www.alterediris.com and that will be the place to be to stay updated on the Johnson Family!

Happy Fall Weekend! 

Our Little Girl's Growing Up

Arbor Creek Elementary, Mrs. Clark's PM Kindergarten Class 2011-12

Today was Noelle's first day of Kindergarten! She was so excited!! Here's a few pix from her big day at 

Posing for a picture in front of her school. 

Waiting in the lobby for her teacher. Sitting next to an otter (the school's mascot). 

A picture at her desk with Mommy! 

Making a letter with playdoh... she made the letter "N", that's new classmates & tablemates Caden & Hope.

Little brother had to give her a quick hug before we left... so sweet. 

Her favorite memory from the day was making a crown with an "upside down rainbow and an inside out rainbow", she made a friend named Sophia ("but not the neighbor next door Sophia, another Sophia"), she swung on the swings a little at recess but Mrs. Clark said she "couldn't do the monkey bars because it's really slippery and some kids have fallen and had to go straight to the hospital", she learned a new song about Arbor Creek, went to computer class but didn't get to get on the computers, and says she had a good time! 

Five Things Friday

Whoo hoo! Five Things Friday is back... it's only been 3 months since I've updated this blog here... yikes! I thought that a five things friday would be just the ticket to get you all updated on what's been keeping us busy this Summer! 

1. Swimming Lessons & Swimming 

Both kids did really great at swim lessons this year. Noelle absolutely loved it which was great since 2 years ago she cried almost the entire 2 weeks! After Parker got all his tears out by day 3, he ended up loving it too! 

Now they have both become little fishes and love, love, love the pool!

2. Serving in Joplin

Rodney spent two days in June serving the people of Joplin cleaning up Tornado damage. He worked on repairing 2 homes and a baseball field. It was a lot of hard work, but totally worth it and really changed his perspective and reminded him of how blessed we are and how much we have. A very rewarding experience for him.

3. A Colorado Vacation

At the end of June our little family took a road trip to Colorful Colorado! We had a blast in our most favorite state!

We spent 3 days galavanting around downtown Denver, visiting the zoo, science & nature museum, the capital building, etc.

Then we headed up to Rocky Mountain National Park and camped for 3 nights. The kids had a great time and we made a lot of great memories!

 4. Vacation Bible School

 A couple of weeks ago the kids attended Pandamania 2011, VBS at our church. They had a lot of fun, learned some new fun songs and learned that God is WILD about them!!!

 5. A Trip to the Lake



Last weekend we headed to the lake with some good friends. We had a great time tubing, swimming, fishing, jet skiing, rope swinging and relaxing.

Us with our friends the Jones' & Kaeb's, this was the 4th year we've all enjoyed the lake together! Thanks again to the Kaeb's for inviting us back every year!

We even have a couple more adventures awaiting before the Summer's over! Hope you too are having a memorable one! 

Clippers to the Rescue!

Last week, this sweet little boy was in dire need for a haircut. He has a wonderful mom, of course, but she sometimes procrastinates and is sometimes forgetful and the call to our hairstylist was long overdue. When she finally made the call last Thursday, Tara is out of the salon until Monday, knowing that meant it would likely be another week or two before we'd actually get him in for a haircut, we Rodney decided to take measures into our his own hands. Of course I wasn't completely against it but, I will say I had to hide my eyes and run away when the trimming began. And, here's the result: 

I will say it was a bit of a shock to all of us at first, he looks so much older. Parker ran in front of the mirror saying "Parker! Parker! Parker!" over and over, laughing and rubbing the back of his head and since then has been telling everyone his hair is just like his Dad's. I think he likes it and after a bit of apprehension and wishing we hadn't done it, I'm happy to say that it is growing on me! :) 

Our Weekend

This past Friday we packed up the car and headed south to Tablerock Lake. Rodney's sister's in-laws have a lake house there (The Eustonrosa) and we spent the weekend. Upon arriving on Friday, we put together a float for the Eureka Springs, Arkansas St. Paddy's Parade! Eureka Springs is about a 45 min drive from the lake house. The float was already constructed, so don't be too impressed. The Euston family has done this parade several years now, but this was our first time. It was great fun and definitely a memory making trip. 

Here's part of the gang putting the float together on Friday afternoon... 

Here we are on Saturday (parade day) waiting in the line up... the weather was so gorgeous, we couldn't have asked for better! I think it topped out around 70 degrees, sunny and light breeze... wonderful! 

And here we are during the parade... some of us rode on the float and others walked behind passing out candy, tattoos and beads. The kids all loved it and Noelle said she really liked passing out candy. 

And, I just couldn't resist sharing this photo of a passerby... there are definitely some characters in Arkansas! :) 

Our February in Review

Wow,  February sure did FLY by for us here in the Johnson home! Here's a little recap of our month of February...  

 

More snow... which means work for Rodney and indoor fun and days spent in our PJ's for Mommy and the kids! :) 

The kids did some camping out in the living room one weekend. 

About once a month we visit Noelle at school and help with snack time. Here's some painting she was doing on the day we visited this month. Parker always has a blast playing with her classmates and in her classroom.

This girl will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall and we've had "Future Otter Night" and now Kindergarten round up as well... getting her all ready to make the big move into elementary school.

And, probably the biggest highlight of the month was this little guy turning THREE!!! We had a spaceship themed party with family and celebrated Parker's birthday together! 

I'll try and do a better job at blogging this month! :)

Here's some favorite quotes from Noelle this month: 

"Parker, I hate to say this, but you're spitting your spit on yourself." 

"Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I've gotta get back to coloring." said while talking on the phone with Daddy.

"Milk makes me stylish." Said at school during snack time one day(Her teacher kindly shared this one with me!) :)

Snow Fun!

So, we've gotten about 10-11 inches of snow the last 2 weeks and there's more on the way! Here's some photos of us enjoying the white stuff! :) Unfortunately it's been too light and fluffy to build a snow man, so we've been rolling around and sliding down the abounding piles of snow instead. 

Snowball fight! 

Daddy & Noelle sliding down a snow pile. 

Mommy rolling over a snow pile. 

Parker was not too interested in climbing the snow piles, but he spent his time raking and shoveling and sweeping the snow! 

Happy New Year!

Wishing you a happy, healthy 2011!