Mother's Day

We are home from Florida, keeping busy with baseball. Today is Mother's day, my kids each gave me a crafty gift, I got some new earrings, we replaced two ceiling fans and got some new accessories for the playset outside. We got a lot done this weekend, starting to plan out the garden, and figure out what project we are going to tackle this summer. Always busy. Jeff is turning 40 in May and we are having a party at our house Memorial Day weekend.

Happy Easter!

It has been awhile since I have updated the blog. Putting long hours in at work, and no energy to be on the computer when I get home. We have been battling sickness here now for 6 weeks. It started with Jeff having strep throat, all of the kids getting sore throats, with Brody getting it the worst, he has been on two rounds of antibiotics. Need to get his tonsils checked when he is well, as we might need to get them taken out this summer. Then I got strep throat, and still have a sinus infection that I can't get rid of.

Kid updates: Cooper and Jeff are already into baseball, they practice twice a week and have already had two games. Cooper is showing a lot of improvement from last year, I am hoping for warmer weather so I can get to the games with the younger kids. He is finally getting his two front teeth. It has been almost a year since he had dental surgery to have his extra tooth removed. He is doing good in school top of his class in spelling and reading, doesn't do so well in math. The easter bunny will be bringing flash cards for him. He also learned to ride his bike over spring break!

Brody is starting to talk more. He loves to be outside, and wear his bike helmet everywhere. He is probably the most temperamental of all the kids. If he wakes up grumpy, he will be grumpy all day long. Barney is still his favorite. We set up a big boy bed in his room, but he still prefers to sleep in his crib, he has napped in his new bed.

Lexi is my daredevil and explorer. She climbs and gets into everything. She cannot be left unattended as she uses every opportunity to get into trouble. She loves books and dancing. She is getting four teeth right now and drools like crazy.

I haven't been scrapbooking at all. Softball season starts in a few weeks, and we are going to Orlando in a few weeks.

Easter 2009:


Easter 2008:

Is it Spring yet?

Last week was rough. All of the kids have been sick, and they just keep passing the crud between each other, and just when we get close to getting better, something gets brought home from daycare. School was called off last week due to cold, and Cooper was mad that was the day of the scheduled field trip.
Cooper and Jeff have been working on Pinewood Derby car, and have started putting together a baseball team for spring. They found an indoor baseball gym, and have already started practicing. The Wii has been repaired - and the Wii-withdrawls have ended.

Here are some pictures from Christmas:

Merry Christmas to All!

December went by in a flash. So much to report so little time. The kids had a great Christmas. They got way too much stuff and are on toy overload. Brody has the concept of opening presents down. He opens every present, doesn't matter who's name is on the tag. He gets really impatient because he has to wait while someone attempts to free the toy from the thousand metal twist ties in the packaging.
Our Wii is on the brink of death, I am hoping it lasts through Christmas break before we have to send it in for repair. Cooper finished first season basketball, and second season will be starting soon. Cooper and Daddy will be working on their pinewood derby car soon.
The elves went home with Santa on Christmas eve, I am working on a scrapbook layout of their antics during their visit. I backed into an empty parked car in a parking lot, completely my fault, I was in the car by myself, so I can't even blame it on anyone else.
Our dining room remodel is finished! Carpet install was a mess. They came to install it twice before the scheduled date, when I was at work. On the install day, they got half done and realized it was too small, then had to rush order a new piece before the factory closed down for the year and finally on xmas eve, they got it installed right. Next project: Replace the hideous ceiling fans in the living room and kitchen.

Kids on Christmas Eve, in their new jammies.

Everybody look at mommy:



Can everybody clap? Hmm, this one is pretty good, maybe I should quit while I am ahead.


Where is your hair?



Where is your belly?


And they are done, what little control there was, is now lost...

The elves have arrived

Dudley, Dean, and Belinda arrived last week. For those that don't know, Santa sends us 3 elves each December to stay with us. When they get their work done at the North Pole, they get to come. They are nocturnal, and Cooper needs to take care of them and feed them. Sometimes they are naughty, sometimes nice. they stayed up all night last night and played Guitar Hero. I am sure they have other stuff planned during their stay.

Here they are (from last year)...

Back to work

Thanksgiving is over, back to work. Getting the kids back into the morning routine is always a challenge after a long weekend. Cooper's arm is all better, the other kids are healthy also. The Johnson Thanksgiving was here Thursday, and there were no major food mishaps, just a small problem with the meat thermometer, and the deep fried turkey. We traveled to Cedar Rapids for "Ellsworth" Thanksgiving and the roads were snow and ice covered on the way home, the two hour drive took nearly 4 hours. The kids were getting cranky by the time we got home.

Remodel is still in progress. We had a dining room hutch delivered, Jeff installed two new light fixtures, I have been busy staining chair rails and doors. Need to get the drywall finished so I can paint, and then get the carpet installed.

Here is Lexi from Halloween:

Busy Weekend

The weekend started early Friday. The school nurse called and I had to pick Cooper up from school because his right arm was swollen, red, hot, and inflammed. I took him to Dr. Jay and we determined he had a reaction to the flu shot he had on Wednesday. We spent the weekend keeping it iced and elevated, and drugged up on antibiotics, Zyrtec, and Ibuprofen. He was feeling pretty good today, so Jeff took him to Mnpls for his first concert - AC\DC. Saturday was busy running errands - picking up oak trim for the dining room, picked up the side of beef, scout popcorn pickup, winterized boat picked up, and we went to the food and wine show downtown and took advantage of the yummy samples. It was like Costco on a Saturday, only better food, and no old ladies telling us where the product was located. They had alcohol samples too...it was all good.

Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year, so I need to figure out the menu asap.

Here are a couple for the baby books: