Cheetah Day

Twice a week you will find us {very easily} wearing bright orange. This is Ady's second season of softball. We enjoy her games and yelling for her, uncle jason and uncle zeke {they are coaching this year}. You'll find Koyer yelling "go cheetahs" and Kaleb will tell you "cheetahs are #1!" We heart cheetah games!!

the AMAZING...

spiderman!

(note: I am posting from my phone...trying out another free blogger app...so my pics are limited. So this is only part of the spidey bday fun gang)

Our Koyster turned 3! What better way to spice up the best combo (it's like numero uno on the menu... family-even from out of state & friends and a side of food...yah, I know. I'll take two please) then with SPIDERMAN! What a blast!! If you know me (which I'm sure you do since you're reading this blog) I heart parties, planning and watching all my hardwork come together for a memorable event. This was no exception...except for my limited time due to the million other things in life that happened instead of following thru on ideas or finishing projects.

With that said, New York was a blast. That's where we had the party. Koyer wanted Spiderman, so we had to travel to make it happen. Out of my boys, he would be the one to mostly get what he wants (remember I said he just turned 3...so we are leaving one terrible age to another...i'm saying that behind this smile on my face).

It was a day full of fun! Games (villain bowling & go web go aka fishing for prizes), food, candy and snacks, cake, the amazing spiderman (magic, balloons-mostly swords, face painting, high fives), pinata, presents, watching balloons fly away...shall I keep going. The best part was sharing it all, being together and seeing all the smiles. Koyer is one lucky lil dude...thanks to you :) As I tell him to repeat me, "you're the best!" (and yes, usually there is "mom" at the end of that statement).

The boys were so happy to have Gramma Pat stay with us. What a treat! It is always fun to catch up. I like to ask about and hear old stories. So we stayed up late every night it seems. Good times.

Today, April 6th, Justin turned 29! No, you're not going crazy. He has finally reached the age to maintain the eternal 29. Sad he's not home to enjoy all the celebrating we did today. Someone has to work, right? Don't you worry, we'll celebrate some more whenever he's home next.

Well, that's all I got for now. Seriously we are blessed. We are so grateful to be blessed with the most loving and supportive people.

Life with the Johnsons

Hello to you! 5 months and no posts, no pics...nothing. Can you say slacker?

Life is good. We are happy.

Ok, see you in another 5 months :) My Justin is still working in Cali. We miss him every day. Sometimes {no, always} weekend visits {some less than 24 hrs long} never seem to be enough. Then with 2-3 weeks inbetween in coming home is not so fun either. We are very grateful for the HUGE heart he has been blessed with and the sacrifice he makes on our behalf. It's hard on the boys. It's hard on us. It's just a different challenge in our life that has made us that much stronger.

Short recap. Golly, how many holidays have I missed posting about?! To sum up them all, I'm sure I could say amazing family, awesome food and loads of fun. Throw in someone being sick every other week and there ya have it.

Besides the sick part, we tremendously enjoyed this past holiday season. And have had tons of fun this new year. Nothing beats being surrounded by family and friends. We've been to Cali a couple times and had a trip to Utah too. So add more family fun from our far away family.

I recently won a photo session and edited pics package {ok, it was just announced yesterday}. To enter you had to explain why you think you are lucky. I'll end with my entry:

I feel LUCKY to have 4 wonderful boys in my life. 3 rough, rowdy and completely loveable sons who remind me every day how blessed I am. { I heart those sweet moments that help ALL the other moments worth handling...I'm LUCKY to have lots of those tender mercies with 3 boys!} I have 1 amazing husband who sacrifices so much and works so hard {out of state} so I can raise our boys close to our family here {that includes our super awesome friends who in our hearts are family too}. I am one LUCKY {super blessed} lady!

It was a random drawing but must be LUCKY because I won! Thank you Katie @ sweetrosestudio.blogspot.com

oh my cuteness!

Had some pictures of my boys done last week. Still sorting through to find my favorites, but check out this site to see a quick preview!

http://www.maeflowerphotos.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

i HEART october fun

Girls craft day...my boys even got to help me. I HEART our project days. Thanks mom for supplies, dad for the power tool help and lessons for Kir and of course my sisters for great crafting company...crazy big eyes and all!

even frowns are cute!

my little dude is cute. i love him. he such a good boy! even when he has on his frowny face, I can't help but be happy and grateful for such a wonderful blessing!

Smile Time

Hooray for pictures. Just a few but I hope they make you smile :)


Here is our Kaleb.


Here is our Koyer.


Here is our Kage.

I hope some of our happy moments brought a smile to your face.

be happy

The most exciting news that should be blogged about first is the arrival of our

Kage Richmond Johnson

June 3 4:38 pm 7lbs 9oz 19 3/4in

He is so stinking cute! He is seven weeks old now and such a blessing. I can say he is a good baby too. Must be used to hearing his brothers scream, fight, cry and throw their fits as a 2 and 4 year old do because he just sleeps right through it. Kaleb and Koyer just adore their new brother. I am grateful. As rough as life can get sometimes, our boys are a huge reminder of just how blessed we are.

Seriously, family is everything.

With that said, most of our friends are so wonderful that we consider them family too. I know we are spoiled in having so many great people in our life.

.

.

Justin and I have learned a lot on our journey together. I'm very happy that I get to share these life experiences with him...the good and the bad. Some may look at our life right now and all that has been happening and think wow, when it rains, it pours. It does. But good thing, I HEART rain. (not personally driving in it though...don't like the whole hydroplaning and feeling no control part...which happened twice I might add just this month. Once on my way to Utah -locked up my breaks even and once on my way home from Utah.) With all the hardship, we have been blessed beyond what words can describe. Is life still a struggle? Sure. But everyday, in some way, we are reminded just how much our Heavenly Father loves each of us.

live simply

love generously

care deeply

speak kindly

leave the rest

to god

Hopefully to come soon: baby details, vacation posts, birthday fun and PICTURES!

May Makeup Month (for being way behind)

Such a slacker! Time has come and time has gone...now it's May. I finally got the energy to grab both cameras and had intentions to do some picture sorting and posting (since I seriously haven't for months). Of course I cannot locate the camera cords. In most situations, I would just have to say Koyer and all would be understood. Or it could as well be the fact that I would miss place my brain (or whatever mushy substance that has taken over the space since being prego and chasing my two little monkeys...I guess I should say three with Justin home these days). Whatever the reason for it's disappearance, no pics.

Life has been crazy. Life has been busy. Life has been...good and bad. Still no line work for Justin. Lots of applications, emails, faxes, two trips to Cali and no luck...eight months of no luck to be exact. Don't ask about plans because at this point we just don't know. He has had a couple side jobs and now has some part time work, but it's just that part time. Enough about work...or not working.

March ended well. I was in charge of my ward's relief society birthday celebration. Those who know me well, know I love to plan stuff. So I had fun with the preparation, crafting and overall everything. Me and the boys joined my dad, Kyla and Avery for a last minute Utah getaway. It was just a short trip, but fun to leave AZ for the weekend and see family. Koyer turned two! Gramma Pat had cupcakes for him while we were up in Utah. It was a busy week during his birthday, so we just had a little party with my family. As usual, Koyer thought Amazing Jake's was pretty AMAZING. Goofy golfing, games, rides, more games and of course the oh so fun moment of the night...picking out prizes from all the tickets won. I think we all made it out of there without any of the little ones crying over the prizes or lack of prizes.

April was a busy fountain month. April was a busy somebody is sick AGAIN month. Seriously the worst few months with health here at the Johnson's. It seems like every other week someone was sick-ear infections (or double), bronchitis, sore throat, allergies (with gunky eyes), fevers and more fevers, runny/stuffy noses, coughing plus antibiotics, medications, humidifiers, warm baths, cool fever patches...and the best solution: cuddle time, pjs (not that I need an excuse to stay in comfy clothes all day), lots of hugs and kisses. Last week Kaleb had a fever, so I figure we are off the hook this week. Can't say too much about next week though. Justin turned 30. I like to give him a hard time about it. Easter was great. Went to an Easter Egg Hunt at the park with my family (not sure why I always mention that...most everything we do is with my family...what can I say, we like to have fun together). Spent Easter at my parent's house - food and fun. I think the boys have super sonic sugar sniffers. No matter where I hid their candy, I would find them with it chowing down. What can you do?!

May is here. Lots of stuff on the calendar already. Adyson and Ainsleigh had an early birthday party at bounce u with school friends. The kids had SO MUCH FUN. Koyer threw a fit all day because he just loved the bounce houses and was upset we weren't there any more. Avery even had a good time bouncing around and playing with balloons. Besides birthday month for the girls, hopefully it will be baby month too. My body says ouch to me every day. Dr visits every week now...fun. The end is in site, as well as the beginning of a new journey of parenthood. We are anxious and excited. Well, not too much about May yet so I have something to write about later on (hopefully again in May).

Lessons learned: Enjoy what makes you happy. For us, we enjoy being together and all together with family. Even though life my be stressful, remember what matters most.

March Beginnings

March has been busy already. We took boys to a carnival at their cousin's school. Our entire clan went to play. Jump houses, huge slides, face painting and colored hair spray, ring toss, bean bag bingo and so much more filled our night with fun. My favorite was the free samples of Kathy's Rum Cake...a family favorite for as long as I can remember. I always enjoy watching the smiles that come from all the family fun. Have I mentioned on here how blessed I am to be surrounded by such a great family? Seriously though, I am so happy that my kids get to be around them and grow up with such love and support.

The first Saturday of the month, if all our schedules permit, my mom, sisters and I go to breakfast. We enjoy our girl time. I don't need to say too much about Ruth's Chris Steak House other than LOVE IT! Put together some good business goals for the future.

Our latest update is sick boys again :( This late winter season has been rough on their health and our sleep. The past week we've visited urgent care and our dr. Hopefully the sick bug will go away for awhile after they finish up on their meds. We'll see with this hot/cold dry/wet flip flopping weather pattern.

The rest of the month brings lots more fun. Some of the majors being spring break and Koyer turns two!
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Food, Family and Fun

No pictures...I know, boring. I have been terrible about getting them off the camera onto the computer. Hopefully soon though. Life is busy as usual. My latest project has been invitations for the Relief Society Meeting (no longer called enrichment) I am lucky to plan. So many options has been my only problem. It will be a great night no matter what...how can you go wrong ending the evening with a chocolate fountain, right?! Thanks mom for all your help!

Yesterday, my niece Riann had her first birthday party. I got to make her cake or I should say her super huge cupcake. It turned out so cute. Her party colors were pink and brown. So of course a chocolate cake with pink frosting and edible glitter I might add. At one point she was leaning over it with her face in this huge cupcake. Thanks for letting me borrow the pan Kir. It was such a hit. She was a mess. The boys had fun playing at the park and digging in the sand with Riann.

We also had a family thank you dinner at el zocalo mexican grill in Chandler. Yum! It was a thank you dinner for all the help and support my family has been this first year as a business owner. I know, one year already?! For our annual meeting, we are going to celebrate (and discuss business of course) at Ruth's Chris Steak House. An even bigger YUM there. Thank you all who have shown your support. I still have lots to learn and plenty of room to grow.

Speaking of growing, that is what my midsection is definitely doing! I have only 3 months left!! It has been the roughest of my three pregnancies, but hasn't been too bad. I enjoy getting beat up from the inside out. My niece Adyson told me tonight that I'm getting big. I feel big. Good thing it just usually means a strong and healthy baby...or I keep telling myself that.

Life has dealt it's fair share of ups and downs. I am just thankful to have a loving, supportive husband and two handsome boys. Truly family is one of the greatest blessing. I am so grateful for mine.

Story time: Kaleb has become a great little prayer giver. I don't think there is a night that goes by that he either makes us laugh or cry or usually both. Right now when he prays he usually just tells Heavenly Father what he is thankful for. What a great reminder to close a day of everything we should be more thankful for...even if it is our games, letters, shapes or whatever else he has on his mind. He helps us focus on the positive.

The Koyster

Our handsome lil boy is getting so big. Next month he'll be two! He is such a boy. We love listening to him try to talk. He can be so rough but other times a little love bug. When you ask him to smile or say cheese for the camera you get this face. Makes us laugh every time.

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Monkey Time

Last week we had both boys home sick with ear infections and bronchitis...yuck! Even though the nights were rough, they still proved to be our silly monkeys during the day. They were troopers being stuck at home most, if not all day long. Here's to a new week with healthier boys and more sleep...I hope.
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First Picture

Here is a post I put together but never posted. So finally here it is a few weeks after the fact. We had our first ultrasound! It went really well. Baby looks healthy and on schedule (a little bigger than to date but not enough to change the estimated due date...we make strong healthy babies). My due date is June 10th but I deliver about two weeks early...so it looks like the end of May sometime. Well see when I'm further along what dates the Dr. gives me.

Oh...we are having a BOY! That makes boy number three! So it's me with all my boys and keeps me as the aunt with all nieces. My youngest is a rough guy...to say the least...so I'm happy for a boy. Although I had a lot of PINK wishers and a few that just KNEW it was a girl, it was always in my mind (and my pink wishers') that it was going to be a boy. Uncle Zeke and my oldest son Kaleb were on the blue team from the start.

We are excited and look forward to the crazy life of three rough and tough boys!
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Mommy's Lil Helper

So...Koyer likes the dishwasher. He loves helping mama too. I caught him squatting on the open door pouring my costco sized dawn dish soap into the soap holders. Dawn + dishwasher = suds on the floor. Thanks koyer for not only helping with the dishes but with the floor! Check. Two chores done :)
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Baby Shower

I did a PINK (white chocolate) fountain for Kyla & Avery's Shower last night. Had lots of fun!
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Gobble Gobble

Turkey day is almost here. These are my latest creation. I heart crafting and being creative!
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Mobile blogger test

Just trying a test run for blogging on the go. Can't believe it's been 11 months since i've blogged! First pic I came to on my phone...Nick Vujicic, Justin and I. Amazing man! No limbs but can do anything because of his attitude. It was an honor listening to him speak.
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Hello world!

Hello fellow bloggers...again...finally! Life has been busy...as I am sure with everyone. This time of year is so fun. I enjoy having all these holidays right in a row. I know it is so uncool to post without pictures, but you'll have to get over it :0) and be glad I'm blogging! Plus, my computer is actually not hooked up at the moment (reorganizing due to new free desk). I am on Justin's and I only put my pictures on mine...bla bla bla...long story short...hopefully pictures next time.

Halloween and Turkey Day were great! Kaleb absolutely loves all the decorations and lights that have been up due to this triple whammy of holidays. So much in fact that this particular house (which I give mad props to for there effort to light up and standout on the street) has to be driven by any time we are close. Nothing melts my heart more than my boys. Kaleb's reaction, to lights for instance, is well worth going out of the way just to see his face light up. Man, that boy of ours is such a character. With the holidays, I super enjoy being around family (not that it takes a holiday for us to all get together...usually I would say it means we just go MORE all out on our food and dessert choices...yah, I know, YUM). Plus there is nothing more precious to me than creating memories with people I enjoy, love, and make fun of and/or I guess just laugh with...and/or at. I will be honest and say that all aspects of life haven't been all jolly. But in the moments that really do matter most, I know that my family and I are so blessed and so lucky to have one another.

With that said...I'll leave you with a favorite moment.

One day, Justin and Kaleb were playing. Justin asks, as he shakes his fist, "do you want a knuckle sandwich?" Kaleb responds back, as he lifts and shakes his fists, "do you want some peanut butter and jelly?"

Poor Baby Chick

For those of you who don't know, we recently got Kaleb two baby chicks. What joy they have been to him. He LOVES the chickens. We bought the two smallest ones at the farm. They have been growing so fast. It has been fun watching their feathers start to come in. Well, we decided to try to move them to the backyard. Justin set up a fence for them and unfortunately, they managed to escape. Before it was too late, Holly, our dog who happens to enjoy chasing birds out of the yard, tried to help our littlest one fly. Now she flies with angel wings. We moved our little rooster into the garage so he can get bigger and be safe.