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! 

Merry Christmas!

We hope that you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 

With love, The Johnson's

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 12 & 13

Whew... December is starting to get away from me! We've been busy finishing up Christmas shopping, finishing up Bible Study and Preschool for this year which means putting together gifts for teachers and friends, making ornaments and goodies... such a fun time of year... and we still have another week!!! :) 

Although I'm getting a little behind on my Dec Daily journal, I'm not worried... It's still going to come together... I just ordered a group of photos last night and I'm planning to have some time over the weekend to get a few pages done and hope to get my blog posts caught up too so that the most important part is recorded... so here's a start... 

December 12

{No photo}

Tonight we went for a drive to look at Christmas lights. At first we were going to drive down to the Plaza and look at the magnificent lights there... but by the time we finished up dinner it was a little late to make the trek there, so we opted for neighborhood lights in Olathe. One thing I noticed as we were driving around was the kids excitement over all that they saw, at every turn and it didn't really matter to them that we didn't see the Plaza lights. The most important part was that we were together and enjoying the beauty of the lights as a family, listening to Christmas music and enjoying this wonderful time of the year! 

December 13 

Mmmmm... pancakes... in the Johnson home, we LOVE pancakes... it's such a fun breakfast and the kids LOVE helping. This morning Parker and I were up earlier than Noelle & Daddy and he asked to have pancakes. It's not a usual thing we have during the week but, a Saturday morning tradition. However, today since he asked and we had the time, we went for it! Yum Yum! 

December 10 & 11

December 10

Tonight we took the kids to see Santa! They were both excited, but I was unsure if they would be as excited when it came their turn to sit on his lap. Noelle was very hesitant last year and Parker cried. I expected the same hesitation this year, but I was pleasantly surprised... 

Waiting patiently in line... 

Big sister leads the way as they approach Santa... 

Bravely climbing onto Santa's lap... 

Telling Santa what's on their wish list for him to bring them... 

December 11 

Today was Noelle's preschool Christmas program... 

She started off a little bit in a daze... but then... 

she perked up once a song she liked was being sung! Such fun!!!