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! 

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!