Christmas Day 2008

Christmas morning we had all to ourselves and enjoyed relaxing while Landen opened his gifts. Then we were off to my dad's. We got quite the rainstorm and enjoyed a chilly Christmas for once! It was wonderful seeing all of our friends and family!

Christmas Eve 2008

What a busy Christmas! We had so many places to go and so many people to see on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! I love the sights and sounds of the season, but I was really ready for it to be over! On Christmas Eve we traveled to my mom's house for dinner and church. As soon as we were done opening presents we were off to Ryan's mom's house and then scooted home to make it in time for Santa's visit.

Making Cookies at Mom's

With the holidays upon us we gathered at my mom's house for our annual cookie-baking party. We've been baking cookies together as a family since we were little kids and now we carry on the tradition with Landen and hopefully a new addition soon! We made the usual sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and fudge and added in cornflake wreaths this year. They taste just like rice krispie treats but are a little trickier to make! We all had a ton of fun and left with lots of goodies!

Baby Justin is Growing Up!

Our new nephew Justin is growing up fast! He now weighs 11 pounds 8 ounces and is eating like a champ! His nickname is "tank" and he is turning out to be a very easy-going baby who enjoys being cuddled and held. He makes the cutest little sounds in his sleep when you hold him and he is already holding his head up (at 9 weeks!). He gave Ryan a smile today too!

Christmas Picture 2008

Well it took us many attempts, but we finally got a good enough picture for this year's Christmas cards! Unfortunately we weren't able to have all of the doggies in the picture, but they were there with us in spirit!

Our New Addition!

Please welcome Henry, the newest addition to the Johnson family! Henry comes to us from the pound, where he was on the euthanasia list simply for being too scared. He was rescued by an amazing group called "Akita Advocates" and listed on http://www.petfinder.com/, where we found him! He has an amzingly sweet, docile personality and is fitting right in with our family. Henry enjoys snuggling under the covers, cuddling in laps, and just hanging around with the family. We are so happy to have him!

100 Things

So Kim has this great list on her blog that I decided to copy! Everything I've accomplished is in red. Let me know if you do the list too by adding a comment!

1. Started your own blog2. Slept under the stars3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis10. Sang a solo - in front of someone
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (fake wall only)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53.Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Happy Turkey Day!!

On Thanksgiving we made the trek over to my mom's house to celebrate with all of the family! There were almost 30 people including all of our friends and relatives. We had quite the full kitchen trying to get everything prepared and served to many hungry bellies! The weather was absolutely perfect (high 60's with just a sprinkling of rain) and the food was fabulous! It's so nice to have everyone together under one roof and catch up on what's been going on in everyone's busy lives!

Our New Nephew!

On Wednesday November 26th at 7:58am Ryan's sister Jamie gave birth to Justin Drew! The future linebacker weighed in at a hefty 9 lb. 5 oz. and measured 21 inces long! Mom and baby spent a restful Thanksgiving in the hopital with lots of friends and family visiting to meet the new little bundle of joy. He has already been nicknamed "Little Buddha" and has been eating like a champ! Congratulations Jamie!

Landen's First Football Team

This year Landen played tackle football for the first time with the Palamino's. The season was a lot of hard work (for him and us!) with lots of practices and traveling to games. The season started out rough and Landen didn't know if he wanted to continue, but by the end he was happy that he stuck with it. On Saturday the team celebrated by heading off to Amazing Jake's (a WAY too crazy pizza/game place) and going hog wild with food, games, and awards. Ryan and I were exhausted when we left! Next year it's on to Junior Pee Wee's!

Since things have been so frustrating at work lately I made the executive decision that Christmas needs to come early to the Johnson household this year. The week after Halloween I put up our Christmas decorations. I played Christmas music and tried to pretend that it wasn't 90 stinkin degrees outside! On Sunday we drank hot cocoa and decorated the Christmas tree. Landen completely enjoyed digging through the ornament box and picking out all of his favorites to hang on the tree. We have so many that the boys say we need a bigger tree next year! I am desperately in need of a little Christmas joy right now and who says you have to wait until after Thanksgiving to have some holiday spirit? I did put off decorating my classroom though. No need to cram my festivities down my students' throats! :)

Landen's Christmas Wish List

1. Skateboard
2. Pajamas
3. Nerf guns
4. Target gift card
5. Bike helmet
6. Football jerseys in kid's size medium
7. Jeans in size 8
8. Sweatshirts in size medium
9. Star Wars: Clone Wars DVD
10. Cologne

Pumpkin Patch

On October 31st we set out to the Pumpkin Patch to find our perfect pumpkin. Luckily for us things weren't too picked over and Landen found a suitable pumpkin in no time. Later that night Landen helped scoop out the seeds and carve out a spooky face.

Halloween 2008

We hosted our first annual "Johnson Halloween Party" at the new house on October 31st. The turnout was great and everyone enjoyed lots Halloween treats and trick-or-treating aruond the neighborhood. Unfortunately Arizona has been slow to show signs of fall this year, so we suffered through a 91 degreee Halloween! Landen dressed as the Joker this year and had fun going to a neighborhood haunted house!

Landen's a Football Player!

Landen is a football player! This year Landen started his first year of football in Pop Warner. His team is called the Palominos and this is their first year together. Landen has been working so hard at practices and games and so far they are 2-2 this season!

What the Johnsons are up to!

Christy and Ryan are both working as teachers at Coronado Elementary in Gilbert, AZ. Ryan is a K-5 PE teacher and Christy teaches special education for 5th-8th grade students. Landen is in the 4th grade at Coronado as well. We feel very blessed to have just bought a house in Queen Creek, AZ and are enjoying every minute of our new (quiet!) neighborhood and rural lifestyle! We are planning an October 2009 wedding and hope to add to our family in the near future. Landen is playing football for Pop Warner for the first time this year and currently had a 2-2 record. Go Palaminos! Our family is rounded out with 2 dogs (Nicky and Bella) and 2 cats (Evan and Viktor).