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! :) 

December 18-22

December 18

It was a Johnson family girls night out tonight with a dinner at PF Chang's and The Nutcracker! 

Noelle & I excited for the show to start. 

Shortly before intermission, she conked out in my lap, but I'm pretty certain she enjoyed what she did manage to see!

Meanwhile... the bowls went bowling. 

December 19 

I spent much of today making cranberry almond granola to give to our neighbors. We have such great neighbors and we are so thankful for each one of them. It's not everyone who can say they love their neighbors, but we are happy we can! :) 

December 20 

Rodney took Noelle to see her first movie at the theater today... Tangled. She loved it... 

They even got to see it in 3D. 

December 21

Today was the 3rd Annual Gingerbread House making day with cousins! This was the first year Parker had his own house, although Daddy ended up decorating much of it (and as we found out, has a hidden talent for gingerbread house making)! Noelle was quite independent and into decorating her house all by herself. Mommy did get to help with the icing, but the candy placement was all hers! We were so happy to have Daddy join us for the festivities this year! The past 2 years he's had to work because it's been snowy/icy! 

Here's the finished products: 

Noelle's: 

Parker/Rodney's: 

December 22

Today was a splendid day full of sugar cookie baking and decorating. Love doing this together as a family. So fun that both kids are old enough now to really get into it. 

Floured faces which brought lots of laughter from all of us. 

And... ahhh relaxing by the fireside. Such wonderful family time together today... enjoying the fun that comes with the season and moments that I never want to forget. 

December 14-17

December 14

Today we spent some time making some ornaments! Cupcake ornaments! Using mini cupcake wrappers and pom poms and some glitter glue. The kids really had a great time making them! And now a few of them are on our tree! 

December 15 

"Parker, come sit on my lap and tell me what you want for Christmas!" 

Here are a few of my wishes for the two of you, using some Christmas words: 

Hope: That no matter what life brings your way, I pray you will never lose hope and that you will always put your hope in the Lord Jesus.  "May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord is in you." Psalm 25:21 

Love: I pray that you will always show love to others before yourself, that you would always know that Mommy & Daddy love you no matter what, that you would never question our love for you, and most of all that you would know and understand the fullness of God's love for you. "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39 

Peace: I pray that the peace of God would always be with you. That you would rely on Him for peace, no matter what you might be facing in your life. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Joy: I pray you will always have joy in your heart. That you would aspire to be joyful not, just happy. "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11

Believe: I pray that you will not only believe in yourself and your abilities, but that you would believe in the Lord and live your life in a way that pleases Him. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17

December 16

An early gift from Santa (aka Cap Fed Debit Scorecard Rewards) arrived today... Mario Kart for the Wii! We decided to open it right away instead of putting it under the tree. It's definitely a hit! And, fun for the whole family! :) 

December 17

A look into the little details of everyday life: This little guy pretty much refuses to sleep in his own bed. He goes to sleep on the floor by his bed every night and then at some point in the middle of the night will come and get in bed with Mommy & Daddy... just a little celebration of who he is at this point, loving him just the way he is, knowing that one day he'll grow out of it! 

December 4, 5 & 6

December 4

The kids & Daddy had a jammie day while Mommy joined in the hustle & bustle to do some Christmas shopping.

December 5 


I am thinking I will end up doing one of the extra stories from the 3rd for this day. We had a birthday dinner and celebration for 4 family members on Rodney's side, but none of the photos turned out great, and for some reason they aren't even uploading to the blog, so... hmmm... moving on.


December 6

"Mommy, is it Summertime yet?" Quote of the day from Noelle as she's getting dressed this morning. She wore her swimsuit around the house all day!

Fifteen Things Friday {Special Colorado Edition}

#1. Colorado or Bust! A 12 hour car ride to Breckenridge. We departed at 11:00am on Wednesday, August 4th! 

#2. We arrived very late Wednesday evening and when we woke up Thursday, this was the site in our backyard! Gorgeous... 

#3. We shopped...

#4. We rode the lifts to the top of the Alpine Slides! Definitely a highlight of the trip for all of us! 

#5. We ate... Empire Burgers, Downtown at Eric's, Breckenridge Brewery, Butterhorn Bakery...

#6. We enjoyed spectacular views...

#7. And time together... 

#8. Noelle loved to sit on rocks and pose for photos... I heard this often... "Mommy, how about I sit on that rock and you can take my picture!" Do you know how many boulders there are in Breckenridge? :)

#9. We biked... 

#10. We hiked...

#11. Favorite quote from the trip... "Just deal with it!" 

As we were hiking, the kids were leading and we had to make them turn around because we decided to go a different way than the way they were leading and we hear Noelle say "Just deal with it!" to the other kids... lol! 

#12. We played...

{Breckenridge Amphitheater Park}

and played... 

and played...

and played! 

{photos taken at the Mountain Top Children's Museum}

#13. There were wildflowers a-plenty... at every turn, everywhere...  

#14. We saw a black bear, oh yes, we did... in the middle of the road right out in front of the house... 

#15. And of course... you can't be in the wilderness without a night of roasting marshmallows and eating S'mores!!!