To make pictures a little more funny this year I told the kids to go sit on the couch and gave them 5 seconds to get into position in front of the tree, with their heads close together looking at me. We had a lot of giggles and I even got a few great shots. These pictures make me smile. Ryan 14, Katie 12, Emily 10, Megan 7 1/2, Luke 5, Matthew 3 1/2.
Johnson Family
December 24, 2012
Christmas Eve
Fun day… sleeping in -- playing basketball at the gym on base (Chris, Ryan, Jared, Carter) -- cooking ham and potatoes – making salads – playing games – running to the park in warm 52 degree weather – painting nails (Katie, Hanna) – watching Miracle on 34th Street – eating Spicy Chicken Dip -- jumping on the trampoline -- chatting -- making sugar cookie dough (Chris) -- eating Christmas Eve dinner: Ham, Italian Potatoes, creamed corn, cranberry apple salad and pretzel jello -- acting out the Nativity – decorating sugar cookies for Santa -- opening Christmas jammies -- opening and reading our new Christmas book -- laying out our stockings on the couch -- skyping with the Walton family – opening presents – tucking the kids in -- watching a Christmas movie… yep, fun day!
Christmas Dinner
Acting out the Nativity
Decorating (and eating) cookies for Santa
A new plate for Santa (from Dan and Sarah last year!)
Christmas jammies
Reading our Christmas story – ‘Snowmen at Work’
Skyping with the Waltons
Amazing how many people we can fit into the screen on both ends. So fun to see everyone together. Below… Baby Jane up close and personal.
We decided to open up Grandma and Grandpa’s presents early while they could watch us… They gave Chris a nice ESPRIT plaid shirt (which they laughed at since he was wearing one just like it – he loves them so it was a good present!) My parents bought me a nice grey FOSSIL watch when they were here in October. So fun to open it up and get to start wearing it. I love it!!! Ryan got a CANADA shirt. Katie got an adorable maroon fancy shirt with black jewel necklace. Emily got a turquoise sweater. Megan got a darling knit dress which immediately had to be tried on and showed off. Luke got a Playmobil Knight set which he immediately said… “I didn’t want this but I like it!” Matthew got 4 little kid DVD’s – one of which was a CHUGGINGTON one so he was positively thrilled. THANKS Grandma and Grandpa!! A fun way to start off the festivities!
December 23, 2012
Luke’s Nativity
Isn’t that the cutest little picture you’ve ever seen? I’m teaching the CTR5’s these days in primary and during class I asked the kiddos to draw the Nativity. I helped them out by drawing it on the chalk board for them to look at. Here’s Luke’s rendition.
December 2012 - Luke Johnson – 5 years old
Christmas Adam
Jared, Geneva and kids slept over and came to church with us. We had a great Sacrament meeting and enjoyed hearing the primary kids sing. After church we took pictures, ate nachos and homemade salsa, played games, made dinner.
After dinner Chris took Carter, Ryan, Katie and Hanna on a service errand for someone in the ward.
When they got back we had a Christmas talent show. Katie played ‘Silent Night’ on the guitar… which she taught herself. Emily played ‘Bring a torch, Jeanette Isabella’… I never knew the name of that Christmas song but I love the tune.
Josh and Cole sang ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ and Megan and Luke sang a version they made up called ‘Thrasher, the Big Black Reindeer’ (with special guest appearance by Ryan as Santa.)
Without hesitation Matthew ran up to sing his personal favorite… the ABC song (sung the ‘Super Why’ way). Geneva and Jake sang a cute song from Polar Express. Megan played ‘Silent Night on the piano.
Katie and Emily have been perfecting ‘Silver Bells’ all season all. So cute! Megan and Luke sang ‘Must Be Santa’ with cute actions that they made up themselves. Adorable! Then the whole family sang “Snow, Falling through the Air”.
After the talent show we turned on the TV and watched some of the LDS.org videos. Such great material – weeping instantly.
The Chuggs brought their chocolate fountain for a special dessert. Then we stayed up way too late exchanging gifts and playing Carcassonne and Dominion. So fun to have this gang all together.
December 22, 2012
Christmas Décor for 2012
I love love love my German nutcrackers, but my new favorite Christmas decoration is my German Schwibboge which I purchased in Seiffen, Germany (the home of all things German and Christmas) earlier this year. I bought a Mueller brand and have realized lately what a good deal I got on it. It was drastically reduced because it was the floor model and the wood discolored – which happens to all Schwibboges after a few years. Mine is just ‘experienced’ and so I got it for right around 200 Euro instead of 470 Euro. We LOVE it! It reminds me of so many of the German villages with onion topped churches we drive by all the time. Definitely a fun thing to have as a souvenir of living here.
Chris’ FATHER FROSTS are new this year as well. Chris happens to be a big Christmas guy so he fell in love with these while in St. Petersburg, Russia. He picked out both of the large ones there and found the small one when we were in Prague.
The bookshelf and our red Christmas book rack…
Christmas Advent… filled with all kinds of ‘activities’ this year and Buddy the Shelf Elf…
Christmas cards so far…
Willow Tree Nativity that I still love so much…
New Christmas quilt from Grandma Johnson…
Oranges, nutmeg, cranberries, cinnamon sticks and cloves (from the Petersons) to make my house smell so Christmasy and Katie practicing her Christmas songs making my house sound so Christmasy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)