Yesterday I took all four kids to the craft store. Four kids in a craft store? I know, but I had to so I could use my 40% coupon, be there on 10% off military day AND hit the sale on Bazill paper for 25 cents a sheet. Even if they were all perfectly behaved everyone in the store would still be watching us. What is that lady doing with four kids and so pregnant that she clearly shouldn't even be walking around? Oh well. In the car before we got there I told the kids I would be watching carefully and giving them their 'number'. It's a new parenting tactic I came up with a couple months ago... and it has worked pretty well so far. 10 is really good. 0 is really bad. They are always anxious to find out what their number is and who was the best and worse. Naturally Megan always gets the worst number but is thrilled anyway -- so for her, it doesn't work so well. But is does for my other kids. It's quite the competition. As we got out of the car everyone but Megan was silent with arms folded. Katie got a 9, Ryan got an 8 (just because he kept telling Megan 'shhhhhhh!' and it got a little annoying) and Emily got a 7 (but that was for screaming at the top of her lungs when Megan pulled her hair. Not exactly her fault, but can't she scream out in pain a little quieter!) "Megan you got a 5." "Yeah! a 5!" she squealed back in the car. Maybe she thought I was being generous.
Today after church Emily asked me "What were our numbers for church mom?" I hadn't told them I was going to be giving out numbers but they occasionally ask now. They did really well... all but Megan... another 5... that was for screaming NO to me several times in a row loud enough for everyone to hear... After time out in the RS room, she did better. Anyway... Emily said, "but Mom, what was I in my primary class?" I said, "Emily I don't know. I wasn't in your class. You tell me what your number was." With a surprised face she said, "Mom, you should have looked. I was a 10! I was really a lot of good." It made me laugh. Maybe I should have them start grading themselves from now on. I think Megan might still give herself a 5 and be proud of it!
Johnson Family
September 30, 2007
September 26, 2007
Sleeping Kids
It's funny how kids can show their personality even when they're sleeping. Chris is gone for a few days so it was my job tonight to check on the kids, lock the doors and turn off the lights. I smiled as I went into each of their rooms...
Ryan's light was still on. He was asleep, shirt off of course because he can't stand to sleep with a shirt on, with his hand marking a place in the new book he fell asleep reading. On the floor his t-shirt, shorts, underwear and socks are all laid out perfectly as if another little boy lay on the floor.
Megan is curled up on her knees on top of her blankets facing the opposite way she was put to sleep. She looks big in her crib. She's only months away from a big girl bed and not being our baby girl, and it kind of makes me sad.
Emily is asleep with her bitty baby snuggled up to her face and with one of her favorite nightgowns on and no blankets. "Nightgowns are better", she says, "because you only have to put one thing on instead of two." At the foot of the bed multiple small stuffed animals are tucked into bed with their own pillows and blankets.
Katie is in my bed tonight. She and Emily will trade off while Dad is gone... just for fun. She is asleep in the very center of a huge king sized bed. She prefers capri pajama pants and tank tops to sleep in. She's growing up.
Thanks for letting me check on the kids, honey. Hope you're having fun!
Ryan's light was still on. He was asleep, shirt off of course because he can't stand to sleep with a shirt on, with his hand marking a place in the new book he fell asleep reading. On the floor his t-shirt, shorts, underwear and socks are all laid out perfectly as if another little boy lay on the floor.
Megan is curled up on her knees on top of her blankets facing the opposite way she was put to sleep. She looks big in her crib. She's only months away from a big girl bed and not being our baby girl, and it kind of makes me sad.
Emily is asleep with her bitty baby snuggled up to her face and with one of her favorite nightgowns on and no blankets. "Nightgowns are better", she says, "because you only have to put one thing on instead of two." At the foot of the bed multiple small stuffed animals are tucked into bed with their own pillows and blankets.
Katie is in my bed tonight. She and Emily will trade off while Dad is gone... just for fun. She is asleep in the very center of a huge king sized bed. She prefers capri pajama pants and tank tops to sleep in. She's growing up.
Thanks for letting me check on the kids, honey. Hope you're having fun!
September 24, 2007
He's a Reader
Ryan ran into the family room last night at 10:09pm, announced that he was finished and immediately hung his head and said he wished there were seven more. He just finished the Harry Potter series. He started the first one earlier this year... I think sometime in February and read all seven in less than seven months. After talking about it for a minute he said, "What should I read now? I'm not ready to go to bed yet." You're a reader, Ryan, just like your dad.
September 23, 2007
Flat Rock Park
It looked mild enough when we looked out the windows Saturday morning. The trees were blowing in the wind and clouds covered the sky. It actually looked like Washington -- but we knew better and left our sweatshirts at home. We decided to explore a park only miles from our house... Flat Rock Park. The weather was perfect for Chris and the kids, and just a bit warm for me. 84 degrees and 90 percent humidity. And mostly no sun... until just at the end. Chris pushed Emily and Megan on the swings and Katie and I sat on a picnic table content to watch. With no warning, the sun broke through. Chris started to sweat just exerting enough energy to push the girls on the swings and Katie and I instantly felt the sun and started hyperventilating as we ran for the shade... well, can you picture me running? I guess waddled to the shade.
It was a fun morning though. We enjoyed walking around, crossing bridges, seeing the birds at the lake, swinging on the 'family swing', watching the squirrels chase each other, walking around the flat rocks and making plans for many future visits to the playground with picnic baskets in hand.
It was a fun morning though. We enjoyed walking around, crossing bridges, seeing the birds at the lake, swinging on the 'family swing', watching the squirrels chase each other, walking around the flat rocks and making plans for many future visits to the playground with picnic baskets in hand.
September 22, 2007
How to Scrapbook a New Layout
First, wait till your husband is working an on-call week and won't be home till 8:30 at night.
Second, get something cooking in the crockpot so your dinner responsibilities are done.
Third, turn on Dora shows, get the dress-up clothes down and place snacks ready on the table.
Fourth, step over the laundry piles, and with your eyes closed, make your way to your scrapbook table. Don't stop to empty the dishwasher, straighten the family room or make beds...
Fifth, shut the door, sit down, let a smile creep over your face, open a scrapbook magazine and get ready to receive inspiration.
Sixth, stay focused... Without moving from your desk, open whatever snacks they bring you and tell them to go eat it in the kitchen. Look briefly at their 'new outfits' and give them words of affirmation and send them on their way. Don't answer the phone, don't go to the bathroom, don't check your blog. You are on a mission. Focus only on getting the page done. This afternoon, you are a scrapbooker!
Second, get something cooking in the crockpot so your dinner responsibilities are done.
Third, turn on Dora shows, get the dress-up clothes down and place snacks ready on the table.
Fourth, step over the laundry piles, and with your eyes closed, make your way to your scrapbook table. Don't stop to empty the dishwasher, straighten the family room or make beds...
Fifth, shut the door, sit down, let a smile creep over your face, open a scrapbook magazine and get ready to receive inspiration.
Sixth, stay focused... Without moving from your desk, open whatever snacks they bring you and tell them to go eat it in the kitchen. Look briefly at their 'new outfits' and give them words of affirmation and send them on their way. Don't answer the phone, don't go to the bathroom, don't check your blog. You are on a mission. Focus only on getting the page done. This afternoon, you are a scrapbooker!
September 15, 2007
A little pool
We had a fun evening. Chris blew up the little swimming pool we bought at Costco and we played and splashed for a couple of hours. It was wonderful. At first I thought the water straight from the outside tap was going to be too cold but it was SOOOO nice and refreshing! Ryan and Chris splashed each other relentlessly! The kids did somersaults in the water, turned the 'benches' on either side into slides, and had swimming races from one side to the other. Even Chris tried a somersault. The kids were so amused... especially that he sat up complaining that he got water up his nose! After the whiney 'Don't splash me' people got out... (Megan, Emily and Mom)... Ryan and Katie put the sprayers on full blast to play. It was a great 87 degree evening. I'm sure we will put the little pool to use several more times this month!
September 11, 2007
Emily Girl
Our little 'almost five year old' sweetheart, Emily. For some reason, everyone loves taking pictures of her. My brother, Mike, (photographer extraordinaire) took these of Emily when we were together in Idaho and I just love them. Thanks again, Mike.
Emily's favorite things: playing on the computer - dressing up in princess dresses with matching shoes - playing anything with Megan - drinking chocolate milk - coloring pictures - listening to musicals in the van (mostly Wicked and Joseph and the Amazing Techno colored Dream Coat... she'd rather do that than watch movies) - reading Dick and Jane books (she thinks they're hysterical) - playing Bitty Babies with Megan - talking about the baby in my tummy... EVERY day she looks at the color of my shirt and tells me what the baby is doing... Red: the baby is eating apples. Blue: the baby is swimming etc. So funny) - staying up late and watching movies on family movie nights - playing Gamecube with Ryan - singing songs - playing Guess Who or Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders with Mom - having her hair done (she doesn't like me brushing her hair but she likes it when her hair looks pretty) - having her back rubbed - wearing her brown GAP shirt or her pink American Girl shirt.
My favorite recent Emmy stories: A couple weeks ago Emily starting asking questions about death and heaven. "What would I be wearing, if I died?" I said I didn't know and then asked her what she thought. She said, "Well, I hope I wouldn't be wearing this! I don't have on the right matching skirt." She was wearing her whale shirt but didn't have on her whale skirt and was quite panicked about it... it was so funny. After we discussed death for a while I said, "Emily, don't think about this. You are not going to die." She thought about it for a minute and then said, "Ya, because we moved to Georgia and I don't think the bad guys know how to get here."
September 6, 2007
Meeting Baby Haylee Graham
We got to meet our new little cousin only one week after she was born. Perfect timing for a weekend in Utah! She's beautiful, Lindsey!
Miss Haylee, Papa Rob and Chris' sister... new Momma Lindsey
Miss Haylee, Papa Rob and Chris' sister... new Momma Lindsey
Happy 60th Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa!
We just got back from our trip to Idaho where we gathered to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of my Grandma and Grandpa... Ken and Naida Walton. On Sunday afternoon we got together in the big family room to pay tribute to Grandma and Grandpa. We sang funny songs and laughed, and shared our feelings and cried. At the end of our tribute we presented Grandma and Grandpa with two special gifts.
As long as I can remember Grandma has signed every card, letter and note with the phrase 'Love you 50 bananas'. Beside that was a picture of a banana colored yellow... every single time. To honor this great tradition we presented her with a 'Love you 50 Bananas Hat!' She loved it.
Grandpa is not without his own little quirks. Again, as long as I can remember, whenever we sat down to eat Grandpa would scan the dinner table and with a twinkle in his eye would exclaim "I think I'll stay!". For his gift Mike designed him a "I think I'll stay t-shirt". It's perfect.
Happy 60th Grandma and Grandpa!
September 5, 2007
Highlights of our Walton Family Reunion
- 4 wheeling and playing around at the Sand dunes
- listening to Scott play the guitar around the campfire
- watching Mike do the 'Sasha' pose everywhere we went
- watching Molly fall off her bike and lay there waiting for help
- joking around while waiting for Old Faithful to blow
- playing extreme Bocci with Amy & Travis through the barn
- watching Molly and her reaching arms
- seeing the Rexburg Temple and a tour of the BYU Idaho campus
- taking pictures of animals in Yellowstone
- hanging out and visiting with cousins, aunts and uncles
- singing all of Grandma and Grandpa's favorite songs
- playing on the curly slide from upstairs into the kids bunk room
- celebrating Molly's first birthday
- being stuck in Yellowstone and eating at the 50's diner
- seeing the rainbow at the Mesa Falls
- staying up late every night playing Ticket to Ride and Settlers
- having a picnic and playing in the Warm River
- teaching the kids the 'vroom vroom' medley for our tribute to Grandma and Grandpa
- listening to Scott play the guitar around the campfire
- watching Mike do the 'Sasha' pose everywhere we went
- watching Molly fall off her bike and lay there waiting for help
- joking around while waiting for Old Faithful to blow
- playing extreme Bocci with Amy & Travis through the barn
- watching Molly and her reaching arms
- seeing the Rexburg Temple and a tour of the BYU Idaho campus
- taking pictures of animals in Yellowstone
- hanging out and visiting with cousins, aunts and uncles
- singing all of Grandma and Grandpa's favorite songs
- playing on the curly slide from upstairs into the kids bunk room
- celebrating Molly's first birthday
- being stuck in Yellowstone and eating at the 50's diner
- seeing the rainbow at the Mesa Falls
- staying up late every night playing Ticket to Ride and Settlers
- having a picnic and playing in the Warm River
- teaching the kids the 'vroom vroom' medley for our tribute to Grandma and Grandpa
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