Fun Times

My sister Tiffany with Phillip

Sophia, Faith and Katy

Well we all had a great time while my sister and her family came to visit.  

The girls played and played and played it was great.  They were exhausted every night and slept good!!  The boys played together pretty well, Eli and Caleb are kind of at that stage where they don't want anyone playing with there stuff so we had a few fiery exchanges but all in all it was good.  Little Phillip was such a joy to have around!  He just smiled at everyone and everything. He reminded me so much of how Elijah was when he was a baby.  Steve went on some interviews and is still in the process of looking for work down here.  He will most likely return in November for some more testing.  Please join with me in praying for the perfect position for him.  My parents has such a great time with the kids.  Mom and Dad were able to take off most of the time they were here.  It has been so quiet around here now that everyone is gone.

Yesterday we had the groundbreaking ceremony at the churches new property.  It was an awesome thing to get to be a part of.  All the kids had there shovels and we all lined up around the perimeter of the building and all together did the ceremonial first shoveling of dirt.  I know that this is something that my kids are going to remember being a part of when they get older. It is where most likely they will all get married!!  Exciting times!!  

Fall is Finally Here!!

I had to include some of the latest skateboard pics 

The ramp he is sitting on and the one in the background on the right he actually goes down.  It scared me to death the first time I saw it.  Actually it scares me every time he goes down it!!  This was taken at the skatepark at our church.

He had to wear his new skateboard helmet into the restaurant.  We did get him to take it off while he ate though.

As I am sitting here it is a wonderful 55 degree's outside.  Oh how I love the fall.  I seriously think there is nothing better than the cool mornings and perfect afternoons.  I love to sit outside in the back yard and watch Eli playing in the sandbox.  Sitting on the back porch in the afternoons and reading a great book while the kids jump on the trampoline.  I know it is not really a true fall like up north or anything but for those of us in the south it is considered fall!!  I even broke out a mug of steaming hot chocolate this morning.  (partly because I'm trying to fight a cold and the hot liquid feels good on my throat)  

The girls are starting girl scouts today.  I would be the first to say I never planned on them doing girl scouts.  I just don't see myself as a girl scout mom, but they really wanted to do it and I thought why not.  I do know for sure that I can't be the cookie mom though.  We would go through everyone of those boxes before we knew it!!

The girls are doing great in school, Katy is really doing well with her reading this year.  I guess she is just ready now because she picked it right up and I have been so proud of her.  Faith really excels at school and loves the challenge of learning.  She loves to write stories and read.   My favorite thing about the girls being in school is when they come home and Eli runs up to them and hugs them while their walking home.  The other day Eli told Katy "I really missed you while you were at school Katy"  It was precious.  I also really love my time with just him for the day.  He cracks me up, the sense of humor that he has as a two year old is amazing!!

My sister and her family will be here next week and we are all so excited to see everyone.  I have not met my newest nephew Phillip so we can't wait to see him.  

Glen Rose

Eli loved this little goat.  It was so funny, he was pulling him all over the place.

As you can see E was not interested in getting a picture at this point

You can kinda see a track in this photo.  With the glare of the water it was a bit hard to see in a photo

Gunnar is pointing them out to Elijah.  You can kind of see in the background the tracks.  Where there are dark places on the top right those are all tracks up there.  This section we were in had the majority of the tracks in this one section.

We went back out to Glen Rose this summer to the Fossil Rim wildlife Center.  We had a blast.  It was the perfect day to go because it was overcast and there was a breeze.  It was a very untypical Texas August day!  After Fossil Rim we went to the Dinosaur park and saw the dinosaur tracks.  Wow!!  They were amazing, we saw probably 25-35 tracks in the river.  It was really neat to think we were standing and walking were the dinosaurs once were!  I highly recommend taking the kids out there to see it.  Make sure the water level is low enough that you can see them though.  

First day of School

Katy is looking so old these days

Faith got Mrs. Diggs who moved to 4th grade this year.  She was Katy's teacher last year.

Elijah had to wear his backpack when we walked the girls to school. 

 

Ok so I know that school started two weeks ago.  I couldn't get my photo's loaded so I didn't want to post yet.  I don't really like to post without pictures.  

To Long

Ok, so I know it has been so long since I have posted. My computer was hacked into through Facebook and we have had so many problems with it ever since. I have not been able to get any of my pics to load or anything so needless to say it has been quite frustrating!! I am getting a new computer on Wednesday so hopefully after I spend some time learning it I'll be able to post. So many things have been going on that I want to write about but I also want to post some pictures!

Hanging around

Daddy and E spent some quality time together this past weekend. Faith and Katy went to a wedding with Lynnie and I was singing all weekend. They went to Cabellas and then he took Eli on his first trip to Thrift Town! He found him a little bike there and boy was he ever excited. When I pulled up Eli had a big smile on his face pointing at his new bike. It was a great weekend it was hot but we were able to get some much needed down time.

I love this picture! This is one of my favorite outfits.

Here he is a the skatepark at our NRH campus.

This is from when we went to watch the fireworks in Southlake.

This is Elijah's little guitar.

Full Speed Ahead!

I can not seem to stay on top of blogging now a days! I don't know why. Maybe I'm in a funk or something who knows!
All is well and going full speed around here. I was at Wal-mart yesterday and saw they had the school supplies out already! I think this is the first summer in a while when I can really say I'm not ready for school to start yet. Gunnar says "You still have another month let's see how you feel then" I have really been enjoying the time with the kids. Now don't get me wrong there are days I want to lock myself in my room and say "Calgon take me away" actually it's more like "I'm seriously going to go crazy if I don't get just 5 minutes to myself!!"
We have spent most of our time hanging out the pool. It is free, fun and the kids are getting some exercise. I can also guarantee that Elijah will take a nap and the other two will go to bed early.
We are really enjoying having my parents here. The kids especially are thrilled to have them here. It has been almost 5 years since we lived around them so we feel blessed to have them so close now. We are now really trying to see how we can get my brother and sister and their families here now.
I can't get my stinkin pictures to load right now so hopefully I will be able to post some soon.
Blessings!!

Swim Time

This summer I procrastinated in getting the paperwork in for Elijah and Katy to take swim lessons at the same place as last year. I told myself "It's ok, you can still put them in swim class somewhere." Full well knowing that it would really be a pain to find someone then get on the schedule then drive there and all. Katy really needed to have swim lessons this summer though. She was still wearing arm floats and she was getting to the point where she was embarrassed to swim around her friends. So I thought well I'll work on the swimming with her. I went to a sporting goods place to get her some good goggles. While checking out the guy asks her if she was a good swimmer. I said well we are working on it this year. He says "Is someone teaching her?" I said " Just me and her dad" He says "My girlfriend teaches swim lessons I could get her in touch with you." I said "Sure have her give me a call" So she did and the price was extremely reasonable and it is one on one AND she comes to my pool!! Hello! Just the one on one lesson for a great price was reason to cheer but to not have to pay for gas. She was truly an answer to prayer. The best part is she got Katy swimming on the first lesson! I thought we would just put her floats back on after the lesson and she could work on swimming a few minutes each time we went to the pool. Nope, she hasn't put them back on. To say I was so proud would be a huge understatement! I am so proud of her. She was kind of afraid of the water but now she really loves it. Now their working on diving down and the backstroke!
Elijah on the other hand is not afraid of anything much less the water. He jumps in and goes right under. Yesterday he was doing cannonballs and scaring me to death. He went strait to the bottom. I have him wearing one of those suits that has a life jacket built in so he shoots up like a rocket but good night it really freaks me out. I have a feeling he will be swimming early.
Faith got back from camp and had an awesome time. It was a six hour bus ride but she said it wasn't bad. She was nervous the morning of. When she got on the bus she was fine though. We really missed her around here.
Gunnar and I are taking a guitar class on Thursday nights. My fingertips are killing me, I am hoping that the calluses will build up quickly.
Gunnar is riding his bike to work now. It is 16 miles to work. He packs clothes on the weekend and drops them at the office then he showers at a gym across the street. He really enjoys it and he has lost a lot of weight in the last month! Not that he was overweight but he has lost a lot for him. Faith even rode to work with him one day last week. She really enjoyed it. She is a very strong rider so I wasn't' to surprised.
Well that's a snapshot at what's going on around here!

Hi friends, I just wanted to let you know that my friends Matt and Siska's babies passed away today. Please continue to keep this family in your prayers.

Prayer Request

I am asking for prayer for some friends of ours. Siska is pregnant with twins and has been diagnosed with Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Matt has started a blog to keep updates. It would mean so much if you would lift this family up in prayer. I know that our God is The Healer! We have watched as sweet Kanyon has been evidence of that!! The link to their blog will be at the side under blogs I read. It would be great if you would go and leave a comment and just let them know your praying for their family.
www.mattmickey.blogspot.com

So much going on so little time to do it!!

I love this picture of Elijah. He looks so mischevious

Elijah and his skateboard.

Katy at field day
Faith and her friend Rebecca
Me and Eli in the bounce house thing at Katy's party

Well I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post! I have been keeping up with everyone else's just not my own. This is going to be a short one but I am going to post some pictures. The girls will be getting out of school this week. Faith just had her talent show and got her hair cut! It is so cute. It makes her look much older but I really love it. We celebrated her 9th birthday last week. It is hard to believe she is 9 already. Where has the time gone? She is leaving next weekend to go to camp Dry Gulch in Oklahoma. This will be her first time to go to camp she is so excited. That same weekend Gunnar and I will be celebrating our 12 year anniversary! Good night have I been married that long? Not to sure what we are going to do. Gunnar took me to San Antonio last week for 5 days. We had a good time we went to see all the sites and also went to Six Flags. Mom and Dad are here, mom starts her new job at Harris downtown on the 9th. She is going to be working in the Mother baby couplets with the newborns. I think it is the perfect job for her.

Well that is a quick snapshot of what's going on around here. I'll post more soon.

My Little Skateboarder

Ok, is he not the cutest? I so love this kid!! He got some new shoes yesterday to which he named his "skateboard shoes" So this morning when I got him dressed I told him to get his new "skateboard shoes" on and I'll get a picture. Well he couldn't get a picture without the skateboard. He went to get it and jumped on and started doing tricks for me! Oh I love him so!!

Were are the Mavs?!

Is anyone still watching the Mavs? I am so frustrated with them right now!! I could not even watch the game after the beginning of the third quarter last night! Where are my Mavs? I don't know what the heck is up with them this season. I am thinking they are going to get swept in the first round this year! AHHGH!!

Ok enough with that rant, not a whole lot going on in the Johnson house. Gunnar and I put the finishing touches on the front flower bed Monday. We put in a stone boarder around the front complete with mortar and everything. It was a big job but it feels great knowing we did it together and we really enjoyed the time together. It was also a great leg workout! I am so sore I can hardly sit still!!

We are finally having Katy a birthday party next week. I know it is way after the fact but we were out of town for her birthday and this will be the first year she will have a real party.

Faith just found out she made the talent show at school. She is so excited, she is singing No Sweeter Name. I am so proud of her I know she is going to do so good.

Still here!

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since my last post!! I am on here daily checking everyone else's blogs and am bummed when they haven't updated. I guess I need to, not that there are that many people looking but still.
There's been a lot going on around here. My dad moved back here 2 weeks ago. He is now working at the church doing what he is best at. I think , no I know that the Lord had this job in mind for him all along. Mom will be here the first week of May and we are all so excited!! I haven't seen her in a year and it has been a year and a half for the kids! She is still waiting to hear on one of the jobs she applied for. She may just look around when she get here. My sister and BIL are planning to move also. He has put in several applications and we are praying they hear back soon. It is the government though and we know how they take there sweet time with everything. God is so amazing!! Just two months ago I am thinking my family won't ever be moving here I thought I had just heard Him wrong. I really felt like He told me my family would all be here. So when it didn't work out while Dad was here last time I just figured I heard wrong. No, it just wasn't time! I am overjoyed at the timing of God these past few weeks! There have been so many things that have happened where I know it was the perfect time.
Faith and Katy only have about 8 weeks of school left. They are counting down the days. I am trying to figure out what to do all summer to keep everyone occupied and happy! Faith will be going to camp this year for the first time. It is in Oklahoma, so it will definitely be different for me to have her so far away. I know she will have a blast though. Elijah is getting so big. He is getting better and better at his skateboard. His little calf muscles are like rocks from riding that thing. He is saying all kinds of funny things to us. He keeps us on our toes and laughing all the time.
Well I have to get off here we are off to a Rangers game tonight! I don't really like baseball but the people that invited us have a suite so I think I can tough it out!!!
I'll post some pictures soon.

More Colorado Pictures

This was taken at Brady's new house the snow was very deep. The kids dug down and got down into and sat down.

Elijah was so proud of himself for getting this huge chunk of snow. He walked over to me and proudly threw it at me.

I love this picture of Faith. She was sitting on snow that was as tall as the van You can kinda see the mountains in the background. This was taken in Winter Park.

This was at the sledding park Katy and Elijah are going down. You can't really see how steep it is but it is actually a pretty good hill.

Here are some more pictures from Colorado. For some reason blogger wouldn't let me add more to my previous post.

Colorado pictures

This is at the Garden of The Gods in Colorado Springs. It was so beautiful!

This is Gunnar pulling Abram,Katy and Elijah on the sled.

I love this picture of sweet Elijah. He looked so cute in his snow clothes.

Gunnar decided he would stand on the sled and go down. Then of course our little guy who wants to do everything his daddy does wanted to ride to. This is how Elijah first started to skateboard too.

Well I finally have a minute to post some pictures from our last Colorado trip. We had a blast while we were there. It snowed several times and of course the girls loved that. We went to Brady's house and all the kids played in the snow all night. It snowed about 6 inches or so that night. The next day we met up and the kids(and Gunnar!!) went sledding. Tuesday we went out to Winter Park, Breckenridge and Vail. It was amazing!! We went sledding some more in Winter Park in a park that was made for sledding. They had sleds already there and everything. We went the long scenic way home and saw some of the most beautiful scenery we have ever seen. It was truly breathtaking! We headed back on Wednesday a day early to get all the stuff together for Easter weekend. All in all it was a fun trip and the kids (especially Faith) can't wait to go back and ski next year.

Happy Easter!

This is Elijah acting like he doesn't want his picture taken

Well we had a wonderful Easter around here. We celebrated for 3 days because we had services Fri, Sat, and Sunday. It was a full busy weekend but it was wonderful. It was so awesome to be a part of something so big and that reached so many people. We are truly blessed.