JAN - U - AR - Y

Excited for a new year with new opportunities!

JANUARY is the one time that I look forward and backwards at the same time. I reflect on events of the previous year and resolve to improve some aspect of my daily life and personal philosophy. Cast out the old and in with the new! The shortest day has past, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to at least I know the days are getting longer. Minute by minute they lengthen out.

January proved to be a month full of cold weather and snow but that didn’t stop us from getting out and enjoying the winter!

We also enjoyed the wintry bliss from inside our cozy little home. Something I am thankful for this time of year!

Jauncee and Clay Boy had fun strolling around the house! I think this activity eventually put him to sleep. It must have been due to him laughing so hard in the beginning!

And yes, we still had our tree up in January!

Jauncee loves Clay and is so much help with him when she gets home from school. She can entertain Clay for quite awhile. We love our Jauncee!

January also brought our first sleigh ride of the season.

Sure glad Santa brought Clay a snowsuit so he could get in on the fun. He was fascinated by the ride and eventually it rocked him to sleep too!

Silly Jauncee!

Every night before I go to bed I give my sleeping angels one more kiss and fix covers if needed. To my surprise on a school night this is how I found Jauncee. I guess she didn’t think I was serious about it being bedtime! Of course I had to take a picture and tease her about it the next morning! She blamed it all on me…as if I like to play tricks on her at night while she is sleeping!

My handsome little boy that is always smiling but I never seem to be able to capture it on camera!

January was also a month for sleepovers. They are always fun!

Sledding on the elk hide proved to be entertaining. Jes was the only one who dared in the beginning. The other girls thought it to be disgusting…Jauncee did come around!

We also enjoyed an afternoon sledding. It was so much fun and nice to get out and enjoy the fresh cool air. I went down 3 times and would have more if I thought I could have walked back up the hill some more, which was quite a hike.

Every night Clay sits up on the counter and helps me cook dinner. He keeps me company and I love it! He is such a fun little boy, he sure can jabber up a storm if he wants to. Although his time on the counter in the Bumbo is coming to an end…he seems to have figured out how to maneuver out of it if he wants to. Better to be safe than sorry.

The girls having fun entertaining themselves!

Self Portraits...something Jauncee loves to do. She loves to take pictures in general!

Our little Clay Boy also turned 5 months in January. He is so much fun and is growing like crazy. It has been such a joy to have a baby in the house and a little boy to boot! He is so loved by everyone. I also can’t believe how good of a baby he is, we are so blessed. He likes to play with anything and everything. He loves to socialize and can’t get enough of his reflection in the mirror. I love this little guy and treasure the time at home that I get with him.

I love being a wife and a mother there really is nothing greater!

We are excited for February to be here and look forward to more fun and great things yet to come!

Christmas Cheer

We celebrated Christmas early this year since the girls were going to be gone spending the holiday in Utah with their dads. We started the celebration Tuesday night with a roasted brisket for dinner. Grandpa and Grandma Johnson joined us for the occasion.

Our beautiful Christmas tree!

My little present wrapping helper…Clay had so much fun playing with the bows!

And the girls had fun teasing him! The perfect gift…our sweet little baby! Who could want for more?

Grandpa and Grandma Johnson joined us for the occasion. The girls were so excited and from Sunday on they kept begging me to open “just one” present! Alas Tuesday night arrived and dinner was over so naturally it was time to get down to business and open us up some presents!

Chore clothes, what fun! They also both got a pair of new boots, each one got a sledding tube, pajamas, a cute outfit, a Barbie and salon supplies.

My two favorite boys, I love these two! My sweetheart wouldn’t look at the camera for anything that night!

Clay had fun playing in the trash!

Our sweet girls in their new pajamas, one doesn’t look very happy, any guesses why! Her jammies didn’t come with the eye patch or whatever it’s called. The girls already have a few and Jeslyn, she actually uses hers and Jauncee, well they end up falling behind the bed because they never get used so I really didn’t think she would mind, guess I was wrong. She did get over it quick though

Winding down after all of the excitement! It was a fun evening. I tried my best to make it special for everyone, sometimes as a mother and wife you never know if you succeed in doing that or not.

CHRISTMAS IN HOLDEN

That next day after school the girls, Clay and I traveled to Utah. We spent that night in Holden with papa and grandma. When we first got there the power was out and had been for quite sometime. We all enjoyed a bowl of homemade Chili by candlelight. Eventually the power came on and we celebrated! First, Jauncee’s birthday and then Christmas!

I love her present opening position! She was getting all into it! Funny girl!

Both modeling their new snuggies from papa and grandma! Something they both wanted really bad!

They also got a huge Barbie Dream House! They were excited!

CHRISTMAS MORNING!

Christmas was really quiet at our house. Dirk moved cattle and I missed the girls! It was my first Christmas away from them and I sure missed their sweet faces. I did get to talk them both that morning and hear all about what Santa had brought them. They are both sweethearts and I am just glad that they are finally home where they belong!

BIRTHDAY WISHES

A birthday wish for someone

who’s warm and thoughtful, too

Who’s sweet and extra lovable –

of course that someone’s you!

It’s a wish for happy moments

filled with joy and love and laughter,

Enough to fill your birthday

and the days that follow after.

Happy Birthday

Jauncee started her birthday out with waffles for breakfast then off to school she went. Clay & I had the opportunity of going to her class and sharing a poster about her and her family, we also brought everyone treats. Once school was out we loaded up all the girls in her class and went home for a PaRtY!

What is a 5 and 6 year old girls favorite thing?.........Dress-ups, Princess Dress-ups! Each girl found the perfect attire to celebrate after changing and swapping out several different times each one was ready to celebrate.

They each had a turn building a snowman blindfolded. We also played Duck, Duck, Goose and Button button to name a few.

We opened presents, which was complete chaos and then had cupcakes and chocolate ice cream, the birthday girl’s request.

We took the girls home and got ready for another party! . Every birthday the special person gets to choose what they would like for dinner. Jauncee chose fish, potatoes and gravy, green beans and rolls with chocolate cake for dessert. Grandpa Johnson came over to help celebrate. Jauncee shares her birthday with her grandpa Johnson

Jauncee opened more presents and got some fun things…a robe, zhu zhu pet and a car, a baby play set and a new bike. It was a great day.

Jauncee is such a fun girl and has a great personality. She is out-going, loving, happy, and smart. She is a good friend and tries to include everyone. Jauncee is a great sister and is always willing to help out around the house. She is coordinated and does well at anything she tries. Jauncee has the cutest, most contagious laugh. We love you Jauncee and feel so blessed that you are a part of our family. We can’t imagine life without you. It has bee a great 6 years!