Happy Birthday Sawyer

It is hard to believe that it's been two years already since I first took you home from the hospital. You missed being born on Alaina's birthday by just a few hours. When I first saw your face, I thought you had the cutest little apple face-so perfect and round! You just get cuter and cuter all the time. You are mama's sweet little monkey boy and words cannot describe how much I love you....you bring me such happiness everyday, I can honestly eat you to pieces (:

Before you were my little monkey, I used to call you my little chicken because of your skinny little arms and legs. (:

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY SAWYER!!!!

Happy Birthday Alaina!

Happy Birthday to my smart, strong, beautiful, funny, sweet, sassy 10 year old! I cannot wait to see what all the great things you do in year 10.... Since the day you were born, you have been such a light in my life and I could not have wanted a more perfect daughter~thanks for being just who you are, you are truly a blessing! I love more than you will ever know-Happy Double Digit!

(six months)

(one year)

(2 years-both pictures)

(5 years-both pictures)

(sixth birthday-Diva year)(8th b-day - seems like yesterday)

Happy Birthday, Lain

Have a great weekend!

Me running, me running.......

til my pants fell down!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there! Hope you all had a great day!
The kids had everything planned out for Jon yesterday and I was there to assist them. They started out making him breakfast in bed-eggs, hashbrowns, toast... Mother's and Father's day gets more fun as the kids get older, doesn't it? Anyway, I had to laugh because Jonnie woke up and immediately made the toast before the rest of us were up, so needless to say it sat for awhile while I helped them make the rest. I don't think Jon noticed or cared (:

Sawyer was happy for breakfast in bed, too.

The kids also made a HAPPY FATHERS DAY banner and taped it up. Also, while Jon was eating the kids sang and played the cello. Alaina had composed her own song for him and we sang it while she played the cello. I was all teary by the pure sweetness of it all and could hardly sing (:


Future career?
Next, came the gift opening....He got all his favorite things, cologne, socks, t-shirts, and air fresheners.
The rest of the day was spent visiting our fathers both at the farm and in Atwater visiting my dad. Here is Sawyer and the kids climbing the tree at my parents.
Jon finished the day by playing baseball with the kids at the park. It was so fun watching them and hearing them laugh. Sawyer was already bathed and in his jammies so we stayed in the house. What's nice is that we can just look out our front window at the park and see them. It was a great way to end the day!

The Graduate

Yesterday we spent the day in Elk River at my niece Raquel's graduation. I still can't believe she is done with high school......It seems like just yesterday she was Alaina's age. She has grown into such a beautiful young woman and I am so proud of her! She plans to go to St. Cloud State this fall and possible pursue a nursing degree-we shall see!
My mom made her a graduation quilt and we all put words of wisdom and inspirational quotes on it (I still like mine best-haha) and it turned out very nice-she was happy with it (:


Here is another one of my nieces, Ashley trying to hold Sawyer still for 2 seconds-he was Mr. independent yesterday.


Here are the Johnson ladies. Alaina said Ashley and Allison both look like Aunt Chrissy, but they don't look like each other-I have to agree.....they are all beautiful (: They will be moving to Colorado this Tuesday and I get a lump in my throat every time I think about it.....it will be a hard day for me tomorrow saying goodbye.


Here are some of the ladies in the family.........
Sharyn gave the kids water balloons to throw and play catch with. When I went out front this is what I found.....they were all soaking wet!! At least they had fun (:
Two old men having a chat about their day and discussing life......(:
We wrapped up the day playing volleyball-It was a lot of fun watching them!
Shawn and I didn't participate in the volleyball game as we were watching the two youngest. I didn't mind as I have never liked volleyball-I always seem to get hurt....Chrissy actually did and burst a blood vessel in her wrist-it looked horrible and I have never seen anything like it- it scared me but I learned there is nothing you can do about it except put ice on it.

Well, that was the day and I had a lot of fun seeing everyone. It is always fun getting all the cousins together-they always have so much fun! And I love hanging out with my family (:

Halloween in June?

Alaina, Katelyn, Jonnie

My niece Katelyn had a sleepover last night and the kids decided to dress up in masks they had found. The funniest part is if you click on the picture to make it bigger and look at their eyes! Jonnie looks like he is missing one and Kate's look hilarious-I couldn't stop laughing (:
They stayed up until almost 1:00 am and got along surprising well the next day! She was fun to have and fits right in with the rest of them.

What's new........

It's hard to believe it is almost June! The weather around here is finally warming up (most days anyways) in the 70's and the trees and flowers are finally blooming! I love spring-everything looks so clean and new (:
The kids only have 4 days left of school. Honestly, it seems like they should have at least a month to go....I think because we have had such a cold spring. It will feel odd having the older kids around all the time. They sure have been acting like typical brother and sister lately and fighting all the time........please wish me some patience because I have none when it comes to that. Just last week Alaina got in trouble for kicking Jonnie in the "private area" and later wrote me a note outside her door that read, "You are no longer allowed to come in my room. With Hate, Alaina." Lovely isn't it? I am in trouble with that one I'm afraid. Any pointers dealing with a moody pre-teen are welcome anytime. (:




Here are a few pictures I have taken recently on walks, or just in my backyard. The one with Sawyer was his first day wearing shorts this season. I loved seeing his little white legs! (:






The next batch of photos were taken at a park with friends. Sawyer was not scared at all of the slides and it took all my strength not to act like I was concerned and just let him do it. I think I projected my own fear of heights into Alaina was she was young, so I am really trying to not do that with Sawyer-it seems to be working....



















Alaina and Kelsey (she is 3 months younger than Sawyer)










Jonnie, Sawyer, and Lukas-Buddies!










Here he is at the top of the really big slide! (don't worry someone was behind him ;))


The next couple photos are of Jon and Jonnie in the field picking rock. This was Jonnie's first year doing it and to me he looked so little, like my three year old again! He loved it and has been out there twice since. I worry about him so much when he is out there, like is he going to fall off and no one sees him and runs him over, etc.. I have always worried way to much about the kids-esp. when I am not the one there to look out for them. I know Jon does a great job :) (that was for you honey). Jon was really impressed with how well he did and worked really hard! I also really missed him when I didn't see him for a couple days....who knew I would say that j/k (:


















Here is he with dirt up his nose, in his eyes, ears and mouth. This picture doesn't show how dirty he really was!

The next group of pictures were taken at Sibley park. I met up with the Johnson's and my dad for a day of baseball and hiking. I was impressed that I was able to hit the ball-I never could in high school! It was a lot of fun just running around. The hike was fun, too. As you will see, Jonnie was tired, so Grandpa carried him on his back most of the hike-Is he a prince or what? Alaina opted to stay at Grandma Karen's for the afternoon.






























As school is winding down the kids all had there playday at schools-here are a few of the many pictures taken. I even went to Mitchell's for a little awhile.



























Alaina and Rossy



















Fun with feathers!

























I finally was able to start a little gardening. I have a lot left to do, but here is one of my front flower beds-I love how colorful it looks! The perennials are just starting to come up so until then I planted annuals around them. The kids and I went to the nursery and picked up some plants to plant our garden in the backyard. They are currently fighting on which garden plot they want-both wanting the same one. We flipped a coin and Jonnie won, so guess who is not planting a garden this year? Sigh.........














And Finally (for now) Sawyer has learned to pedal his trike. He is such a determined young boy and worked at it until he figured it out. So proud (:





























Well, that catches you up for now on what had been going on with us. We will be busy this week with end of the school year stuff. Alaina had two field trips last week-one to the planetarium and the other was a special one with her teacher for being one of the top readers in her class (a little brag moment :)) She was one of 5 and they went to Robin's Island and hiked and had snacks. Jonnie maybe will be having a field trip (the last one was canceled due to bad weather), I still haven't heard as I am supposed to chaperone. Sunday school wrapped up last weekend and we start a week long vacation bible school the first week of June. I get to help out with that all week, so I hope the weather stays nice as it will be outside (: My work hours are changing, too after this week when we switch to our summer hours. I am still waiting to hear when they will need me, but I'll be working less to be home with the kids more. I still do not know who will watch the kids now that my sister is moving to Colorado in the beginning of June. Hopefully everything will work out and if you live in the area and would like to watch three adorable kids, let me know, haha! I still have to get the kids signed up for their summer activities and swimming lessons-it makes me tired just thinking about it.......(:
I'll be updating more often as these long posts are very time consuming! Until then........