Atlanta with Grandma and Grandpa

We had so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson this weekend. It was fun to have them meet little Luke and enjoy a second Christmas with them. Thanks again for all the fun presents!

The Coke Factory
We did a few fun things in Atlanta while they were here. The Coca Cola Factory is downtown. We watched a movie on the new campaign, met the Coca Cola Bear, watched some drinks being bottled, went to a 4-D movie and drank all the Coke products we could handle. They had booths with Coke drinks from every continent. North America's drinks were the sweetest... and best! Emily said they were all 'spicy'! Most of them were such weird flavors... Fanta Apple Kiwi from Hong Kong and some weird berry juice from Indonesia... Fun to try a few but I'll stick with Sprite and Fanta Orange.

Stone Mountain
We spent a full day at Stone Mountain Park, just east of Atlanta. Stone Mountain is said to be the largest exposed granite 'stone' in the world. The carving is three confederate heroes of the Civil War, President Jefferson Davis, and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson. The entire surface measures three acres… larger than a football field. It measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42 feet into the mountain. The carving is actually much larger than it appears. It says workers could easily stand on a horse's ear or inside a horse's mouth to escape a sudden rain shower. Amazing.

Interesting Stone Mountain history for my Dad and any History buffs…
The carving was started in 1916. Borglum was hired as the main sculptor but was not able to start until 1923 due to funding problems and WWI. Borglum finished the head of Lee in 1924. In 1925 Borglum left, with all his sketches and models, after a conflict with the managing association and went on to carve the Mount Rushmore sculpture in South Dakota. A second sculptor resumed but soon funds were depleted and the mountain remained untouched for 36 years. In 1958 the state of Georgia purchased the mountain and a competition was held where nine world-renowned sculptors submitted designs for a new sculpture. Work on the sculpture resumed and was finished in 1970. Even more fascinating and a little creepy is the fact that Ku Klux Klan held many ‘celebrations’ on top of the mountain and even helped raise money for the “explicitly Confederate memorial”.


(These two photos were taken from the same place... I love my zoom!)

We had fun walking around the Stone Mountain park. Every building, restaurant and store was twinkling with Christmas lights and decorations. We took a train ride around the mountain and sang songs, played mini-golf, went on a tram up the mountain, walked around on top, ate yummy soup and fabulous sweet potato souffle, and let the kids play in a playground with seperate girls and boys forts. We also explored an old antebellum plantation with slave quarters and checked out the petting zoo. We really had a fun day.

On the Train



Miniature Golf
Mini-golf was fun. Grandma,Grandpa, Ryan and Katie played together and Emily, Megan, Chris and I followed. Emily was so cute and really stayed focused the whole time. Megan started out focused but by the end was placing her ball just inches from the hole for her 'hole in one shot' that took at least four tries and had everyone giggling. She was a riot. I took my mini golf game quite seriously in hopes to beat Chris... but ended up one stroke behind.

Animals at the Antebellum Farm

Christmas Morning... all day long!

We had a great Christmas. We lined up in the hallway for a picture before running in to see if Santa came. Chris went in to turn the lights on and came back with his mouth wide open. "You are not going to believe it... we are going to have such a great day..." and other phrases that made the kids squeal with anticipation and jump up and down. It's true he loves Christmas as much as the kids. Ryan kept muttering "I hope it's a Wii, I hope it's a Wii..." while the girls began running into the living room. When Ryan spotted his Wii sitting on the couch he collapsed upon it saying, "I am going to faint of happiness". Yes, it was that dramatic. Katie got a new bike, Emily and Megan got a new kitchen and Luke got an exersaucer from Santa. When Katie spotted the giraffes in Megan's stocking she said, "Wow, Santa knows everything that’s happening in our family!" Megan immediately took her giraffes into her room to meet the rest of her animals. After we watched the kids with their presents Chris pointed me in the direction of another present sitting out that I hadn't even noticed. A Dyson vacuum for me! I love it!

After opening our stockings we paused to make our traditional Christmas breakfast. Eggs, sausage, potato and cheese cooked together. Yummy. Then we began opening presents. We have lots of traditions when it comes to opening presents. First, present picking goes from youngest to oldest. Second, you can't pick a present for yourself. Third, you've got to give the giver a hug and say thanks. It makes for a very slow and wonderful Christmas morning. We opened till 12:00 and then Chris had to go to work. (He's low man on the totem pole this year so got stuck with call for the week of Christmas.) When he came back at 3:00 we started opening presents again and finished about 6:00. Half of us were still in our pjs! What a great relaxing day.

Ryan had a Wii and Pokemon Christmas, and naturally was in nine-year-old heaven. Katie got a Nintendo DS with a few games and lots of clothes. She said, "Mom, you are the best shopper for me." (I hope she always thinks so.) Emily was probably most excited about her books... especially some Dick and Jane ones she was hoping for. She is our least animated child. I hold the camera waiting for the surprised face but she just looks up and gives that perfect Emmy smile. Our most animated child is Megan. Everybody needs a two year old to make Christmas magical. She was so bouncy and so giggly.... it was adorable. Whenever it was her turn to open a present she squealed, started bouncing up and down around the room, and occasionally exclaimed, "I'm exciting!" Then she ripped the paper off as fast as she could. Again I waited to capture the perfect picture. She's just so fast. As soon as she could tell what it was she started RUNNING to Dad. Yep, she's a Daddy's girl. She didn't come running to show me anything... just Dad. Adorable. We had a hard time telling which were Megan's favorites since she was excited about everything, but she really loved her Disney princesses. Even while Dad was trying to get them out of the packaging she was bending over saying "I love you baby Ariel." over and over again. Priceless. Oh, I guess Luke was the least animated this year. He occasionally opened his eyes for a minute but thought it was much too loud and bouncy... and drifted off to sleep again. Chris and I had a wonderful Christmas as well... and like every year he spoiled me to the point of tears. A new lens for my Nikon had me sobbing. I guess it's a good day if you end with a Christmas headache.

One Happy Boy

Katie and her new bike

Katie's new vest from Grandma Walton

Katie's new DS

Katie was so excited to give Emily her Cinderella locket necklace she could hardly stand it!

We surprised Katie with the Tinkerbell locket she fell in love with while picking out Emilys. There were both so happy.

Daddy giving a 'thank you' hug to Emily

Megan, already up and running to show Dad

Megan bending over saying, "I love you Baby Ariel, I love you Baby Ariel..."

Megan and her three 'Princess babies'

Megan and Luke

Luke loves to hold his head up... pretty soon he'll love this.

Christmas Eve... It's all about Tradition

We had a great Christmas Eve. Chris worked for a couple hours and then we went out to lunch and to see our traditional Christmas Eve movie. We got there in plenty of time to pick the best seats only to find that we shared the entire theatre with only two other people. We watched Enchanted and sang "I've been dreaming of a true love's kiss" the whole way home. We ate our traditional turkey potatoes, rolls, gravy, creamed corn, sparkling cider, and of course red raspberry jello Christmas eve dinner. Then we took our traditional stocking pictures and then opened our new Christmas book and read it as a family. Then lots of bouncing up and down as we got Santa's plate ready with cookies and eggnog (it's Santa's favorite!). As soon as the children were nestled all snug in their beds Chris went into their rooms to get them all excited again. What a fun night.

Christmas Decor

Just a few pictures of our Christmas decor. Same ornaments but this year I added a few silver frames. New stockings and matching tree skirt. It's jus so fun to have the tree lights on every night... I'm going to miss it.

Christmas Adam

We acted out the nativity tonight. We got our costumes ready while Dad was gone Home Teaching. Megan loved her costume but she kept forgetting what she was. "Mom, um, what am I?" "Megan you are an Angel." "Oh ya, kids I'm an angel...um, Mom, is a angel a good guy or a bad guy?" "Megan, an angel is very very good." [a big smile] "Guys, I'm a... Mom, what am I?" "An angel" "Oh ya, Guys I'm an angel and I'm a good guy!!" The other kids got a little tired of hearing her repeat the same thing once every minute. I just smiled. We took a picture first and then acted it out... good thing because by the time we got to Emily's part she was down to a t-shirt and tights. Megan loved to say the angel lines and felt it very important to belt out 'twinkle twinkle' from her heavenly post. No picture, but Chris stuffed Katie's belly so full she looked like she was me just a few weeks ago. He then acted the donkey and now needs new hips and new knees. I don't think any of our navitities have been without a few chuckles. Fun fun! After our broadway show we squished on the couch to watch the church DVD 'Joy to the World' and read a few Christmas books. Happy Christmas Adam!

Joseph
Mary
A King, Wise Man, and Shepherd
An Angel... just for tonight
Baby Jesus

One Month Old

things i love about Lukey
- his little grunts and swallowing noises while he's eating
- holding him asleep on my chest
- his tiny white onsies
- watching him smile in his sleep
- when he tilts his head back and tries to eat my arm
- his cute stretches and yawns
- watching him sneeze
- cuddling him up in a towel after his baths
- his 'concerned' scrunched up forhead face
- that if he screams for 10 seconds he goes completely red in the face
- his little quivering chin if he's cold
- watching him try to keep his head up
- his cute little nose and lips
- when he tries to find his hands to suck on
- cute little boy clothes
- his big soft cheeks
- when he tries to eat my kisses
- watching him sleep with his arms above his head