NOt ToO ExCitIng

Owen was sick ALL week and didn't go to school.  Just a nasty fever and cough.  By Thursday his fever was gone and he was finally a little more chipper.  But I didn't want to do too much too fast  (like I have in the past) and let him miss school that day.  Little did I know that he didn't have school on Friday and then, of course, no school on Monday.  So he's had quite the little vacation.  Too much TV and too much StarWars Wii game.  It's going to be back to reality tomorrow, probably a sad day here in the Johnson household.  

We also had Jared here from Thursday through Monday.  It's always so nice to have him back.  I was so relaxed that on Sunday I thought maybe once or twice about changing Aidan's diaper.  Good thing Jared was on the ball!!  Sunday we have 8:30 AM!! church--try that!!  It's NOT fun!  We have yet to get to church ON TIME and we always have to sit in the cultural hall where my kids are 5x's louder.  

We had Jared's family come on Sunday for dinner.  We don't seem to do it often enough.  The kids had fun playing the Wii and playing together.  We adults did what we do best--talk! 

And today, we cleaned.  I finally cleaned my shower for the third time since we moved in.  How sad is that.  But I got that new Bubbles shower cleaner and it did wonders...  Plus as a bonus, I got to sit and scrapbook!  It's been so long and I've been longing to do more.  I've had quite the battle with "Creating Keepsakes".  Ever since I renewed my subscription in September, I have received two issues--November & February's.  I hope that the battle is over and my subscription continues...I look forward to them every month! Here is a couple of my layouts, if you're interested plus a few other pictures from the past couple of days.  I LOVE the view outside my back door.  I am going to miss it.

Sweet, Unpredictable Moments...

Last night I experienced a very sweet moment between my two boys.  It made me smile and all warm and fuzzy inside.

Owen was running across our kitchen floor and slipped.  He scraped the side of his stomach pretty good.  He cried really hard and I comforted him the best that I could.  I had just gotten Aidan out of the bath, so I finished dressing him and then went to see if Owen was alright.  We put a big Band-Aid on his scrape to make it feel better.  Then I gave him a big hug and kiss.  Aidan in turn gave Owen a big hug and then reached up to give him a kiss (he doesn't give those out very often).  Then with Aidan's hand on Owen's back, they walked together to their room and Aidan kept saying, "It's alright, Owen, It's alright."  It was so sweet!!!  I love moments like this when they show innocent compassion and love towards each other.  It touched my heart and I was reminded that they really DO love each other--some days I wonder.

Then we went to read books before bedtime and I hadn't made it through the first book before Aidan told me, "I hurt," and that he needed a Band-Aid.  He had bumped his eye in my bathtub earlier this week and had a little cut on the corner of his eye, so that's where he needed his "sympathetic Band-Aid."  I didn't think the Band-Aid would last very long, but he still has it on tonight.  It was a cute, unpredictable moment where I wish I would have had a camera rolling.  Something to write in my journal, so I can read it back to them and hopefully remember it vividly in my mind.

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas, too!

I hope that everyone had a great holiday season this year...I know we did!  I helped Owen's class make candy houses (simple and easy!); we had christmas parties & a program to attend; a Polar Express to catch; family to visit, especially our newest little additions to our family, Cadence (Tailona & Chauncy's baby girl) and Ashley Ann (Christopher & Emily's baby girl); snow to drive in & shovel; kids to keep on the nice list ;) and projects to make (Aidan finally has a Christmas stocking--2.75 years later!!) We have a Christmas card this year!!  Clark's have a beautiful calendar, Angela & Robb have some fabulous decor, and the sisters I visit teach have some cute blocks!).  I can't believe we made time for it all!  

It has been a good Christmas season.  I've reflected on Christ, his birth, his life and what he has done for me.  I have been very, very blessed and I know that he watches out for all of us in all that we do.  Thank you, all of you, for your love, prayers, and your goodness.  God bless you and may your next year also be full of His goodness and His love.

Reverse Psychology and Doing It Together

OK--I thought I was patient until I had kids.  My biggest challenge these days is getting Owen ready for school.  He is distracted very easily and I get very frustrated telling him 10 times to get his clothes on.  So I decided NOT to get frustrated and try to get him ready for school in a way that we could both be happy.  So I used reverse psychology.  I told him that I wanted him to listen to me and that I wanted him to stay in his PJs all day--don't get your clothes on at all.  He started giggling and went and got his clothes on BY HIMSELF!  Then I told him that I was disappointed that he disobeyed me and that he needed to listen to me and NOT brush his teeth or comb his hair.  So he giggled and did it all.  IT WAS WONDERFUL!!!  We were both happy and both ready.  He told me, "mom, you're being wierd". 

However, I tried to do it today and he wanted to stay in his pjs.  So I worked calmly on convincing him to put some pajamas clothes on (comfy pants and t-shirt) and then we brushed our teeth and combed our hair-together.  It worked.  I wish I was a little quicker and smarter.  I might have to use a new technique everyday, but it sure saves me a lot of stress and frustration.

Pres. Uchdorf in his talk at the RS broadcast told us we innately needed creativity in our lives and being a mom and nurturing children requires being creative.  So it is!  Good luck to all of you and good luck to me as I try to get Owen dressed and ready for school every day!!

Santa's Nice List

I did this for Owen and he thought it was pretty cool.  He kept asking, how did you do it mom?  If you want to do it for your kids the link is:  Santa's Nice List.

Jared wanted to know if there was one for the Naughty List.  If anyone finds anything, let me know.  It might be some motivation to be GOOD!

Have fun!