Christmas 2012

The Johnson family had a good time celebrating Christmas this year.  Things did not go exactly as we had planned, but we still managed to have fun!  We had a stomach bug go through our house the few weeks leading up to Christmas that ended up post-poning our Christmas plans with the grandparents.  We also had plans to travel to Fort Myers Beach on Christmas day that ended up falling through due to bad weather and flight problems.  Even though we spent the week at home instead of sunny Florida, we tried to make the best of it and ended up having a relaxing week at home and spent quality family time together.

 

Christmas morning is getting more and more fun for Jay and I as the kids are getting older.  Jack was really into Christmas this year and spent most of December talking about baby Jesus and Santa Claus.  He would spend hours turning our coffee table into a sleigh as he would pretend he was Santa delivering his presents.  It was really fun to watch!  Jack was elated on Christmas morning when he realized Santa brought him his own set of golf clubs "just like Daddy's!"  Katy was also all smiles when she saw her new dollhouse.  Christmas next year will be even more fun with another child in the mix.  We have a lot to be thankful for!



 

Daddy with the kids on Christmas morning

Jack's big present this year

Katy with her new dollhouse

He was so proud of his new golf clubs

My cuties in their Christmas pajamas!

Katy and Saige trying to open up their presents

Grandma and Grandpa McCulla and family

With Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa McCulla

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 

 

 

 

 

Visting Santa!

The kids had several opportunities to meet Santa this year.  This is the first year that Jack really seems to understand the concept of Santa and it has been fun watching his excitement.  We visited Santa two different times at the Bass Pro Shop with the kids.  The first time, Katy was terrified and wanted nothing to do with Santa.  It was not much better the second time around, but at least we got a picture without her bawling!  Jack had no problem telling Santa what he wanted for Christmas this year and he was also quick to mention that he has been a good boy (can you tell we have been using that as a bribing tool lately?!)   The kids got to see Santa for the third time on Saturday in front of our house.  Every year, the City of Clive sends Santa around to all the neighborhoods in a firetruck.  Jack and Katy, along with all the neighborhood kids, thought it was pretty cool!



Katy was terrified!

 

Neither kid would sit on his lap, but at least they weren't crying!

The neighborhood kids patiently waiting for Santa to come

Katy was happy to take candy from Santa, but that was as close as she got!

Logan telling Santa what he wants for Christmas

Jack's turn - he was pretty excited!

The kids and I in front of the firetruck

Jack's Christmas programs

Jack had two Christmas programs this year.  The first was on Thursday morning at his preschool.  All the kids dressed up as snowmen and sang several different songs.  Jack sat/stood motionless during the entire program.  He could have cared less about the songs they were singing or the actions they were supposed to be doing.  He was perfectly content just staring at the sea of parents with their video cameras!  His second Christmas program was this morning at church.  All the three, four, and five year-olds got up in front of the church and sang three Christmas songs.  Jack did much better this time around and we enjoyed watching him sing and follow along with his little hand motions.  He was pretty excited after church and ended up serenading us with his favorite song on the car ride home!

Jack sitting in his chair minding his own business!

Jack is on the far right

Katy had fun singing and dancing in the audience - maybe she should have taken Jack's place!

My little man!

Not a good picture -Jack is hard to spot in this large crowd!

A closer picture - Jack is in the bottom center in a gray and red striped sweater

Go Panthers!

Jay and I had tickets to the basketball games at Wells Fargo Arena today (UNI vs Iowa and Drake vs ISU).  However, Katy was feeling a little under the weather, so I stayed home with her while Jack took my ticket.  This was his first basketball game and he was so excited!  He was all decked out in his UNI gear and was all smiles when he left the house.  He was also all smiles when he returned, but noticeably exhausted!  Jay said he had a great time at the basketball game.  They watched all of the UNI vs Iowa game and made it through the first half of the second game.  Jack was excited to meet T.C. (the panther) and he also enjoyed not 1, but 2 giant pretzels!  

 

Jack and Daddy before the game

Katy did not want to be left out of the picture!

Jack and T.C.

The pretzel was as big as his head!

Ultrasound for Baby #3!

Today we had our 20 week ultrasound.  It is always fun to catch a glimpse of the miracle growing inside me!  Everything looked good and the baby seems to be growing and progressing as it should.  Jay and I had said from the beginning of this pregnancy that we did not want to find out the sex of this baby.  While it was very tempting, we stayed strong and did not find out.  We are looking forward to the big surprise in April!

 

Baby's face

Profile picture

Another profile - close up

The baby's right leg and feet

Baby's left foot

Barnyard Readers - Christmas on the farm

Today was our last session of the Barnyard Readers program at Living History Farms.  The topic for today was Christmas on the farm.  We took a horse-drawn carriage ride out to the 1900 farm where the kids made a quick loop to see all the animals, and then we went inside the farmhouse to get out of the cold.  Inside, the kids read a Christmas story and then made paper chains to decorate the Christmas tree.  Both Jack and Katy had a blast making the paper chains.  We were a little sad for the program to be over, but are already looking forward to next year!

 

Katy waiting in line to see the chickens.  She was pretty excited!

Looking at the chicken

Jack and Katy checking out the pigs

Jack shaking the jar to turn the cream into butter for the homemade bread rolls

Katy busy at work with her paper chain.  She was obsessed with the scotch tape!

Lucy showing off the large paper chain for the tree

The decorated Christmas tree!

Jack was more interested in the piano during story time

Lucy reading the Christmas story

Barnyard Readers - Thanksgiving on the Farm

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving on the farm at Living History Farms for our Barnyard Readers program. We started off the morning reading a book and then all the kids got to make their own turkeys using construction paper, glue, and feathers. Then we all took a horse-drawn wagon ride out to the 1900 farm. At the farm, we walked through the farm house and visited all the animals. Jack had fun chasing the cats and watching the pigs. He also loved riding in the wagon. He had to sit right up front so he could watch the horses!



Riding in the horse-drawn wagon

Showing off his ear of corn to feed to the cows

Chasing after the cat

The pigs are still his favorite!

Climbing on the giant pumpkin

Our ride for the day

Jack's Preschool Picture

I can't help but smile everytime I see this picture!

 

Big news!

Baby #3 is due to arrive on April 30, 2013!  Jay and I, along with the kids, could not be more thrilled.  We know we will have our hands full come Spring, but we look forward to making our family complete and seeing what adventures God has in store for us!

 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all our family and friends!  The Johnson family had a great time celebrating Halloween this year.  Jack dressed up as a cowboy and Katy was a ladybug.  Last night was beggar's night and we thought Jack would finally be old enough to enjoy trick-or-treating.  Unfortunately I think he was more scared and shy this year than the year before.  He never even got close to a single candy bowl!  Katy, on the other hand, was a champ.  She quickly figured out how it all worked.  She marched right up to every house and reached her hand into the candy bowl and usually came out with a fistful of candy!  We only made it to about 6 houses before we decided to head back home.  I think the kids had more fun watching all the kids come to our door and helping Daddy pass out candy.  Even Birdie and Bogey got in on the action!

 

My little cowboy and ladybug

Happy Halloween!

She loves the word "cheese"

Saying "cheese" again

Did I mention how much she loves to say the word "cheese!"

Yay!  A pumpkin!

Showing us how to ride his horse

Getting ready to head out for trick-or-treating

 

Both kids were excited

Katy knew exactly what to do!

Two little ladybugs - Katy and Lily

Katy with the neighbor girls (notice Katy's mouth full of chocolate!)

These two had fun playing with the candy bowl!

Katy with the candy bowl

Birdie is "Wicked Cute" and Bogey is a "Lil' Devil"!

All the kids had fun watching the trick-or-treaters!

The Johnson cousins