Changes in the air...

Liam and Finn, in a couple months you will turn three. It has caused me to reflect on the past year of terrific twos. You have grown and learned so much! You may be brothers and you may be the same age, but you two are definitely your own little people. I really like that, even though it keeps things interesting and busy.

Next month we add another member to our family. I'm sure you'll want her to watch the garbage truck pass our house every Wednesday morning. You may want her to play with your race cars on your race track or throw the ball back and forth in the hallway. You'll wonder why she takes a bath in her little bath and not in the "big boy" bathtub so she can swim around like a fishy and pop bubbles. You probably won't understand why she's not as excited for jelly beans, swinging at the park, or daddy's car pulling up the driveway. I know there will be a lot of new things, different things, and sometimes hard things, but I know in time you will teach her about all the exciting things life offers you now. I can hardly wait.

And if she's as cute as you guys turned out...

We're in trouble.

Easter 2015

What a wonderful Easter we had!

Not only were we fed spiritually as we listened to General Conference, but we ended the day with yummy food prepared by my mom and our fill of Easter sweetness as the boys collected eggs from my parents' backyard 

and enjoyed the candy and toys found inside. 

Before the Easter Egg Hunt, B and I went outside to place the eggs.

When we finally opened the doors for the boys, it was like letting out the hounds.

Watching Finn, we were cracking up.

He had to shake each egg.
If it didn't meet his standards, he put it in Liam's basket.

Hence all the eggs in Liam's basket.

Happy Boys!

Grammy filmed the whole event and Liam was a bit excited to watch himself.

Can you blame him?

We ♥ Grammy!

Walt Disney World 2014

I know this post is only 4 months late, but better late than never!

In November, we had the opportunity to travel as a family to Florida with B's parents and brother. While there, we spent 4 days at Walt Disney World parks 

and stayed at WDW's All-Star Movies Resort.

The first day we arrived, we got settled, took a nap, and had some dinner at Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. Little did I know how completely terrified Finn would be of EVERYTHING in this place. 

Seriously, he spent the whole evening like this:

I had so many doubts about how the rest of our trip was going to go!

Day 2: Animal Kingdom

The first park we went to was Disney's Animal Kingdom. We weren't prepared for how cold it would be, so we ended up buying some hats and gloves for the boys. 

Tip: Come prepared or be prepared to pay crazy prices for ANYTHING. 

Because, hey, it's Disney!

Because I was right in the middle of the first trimester with baby girl, I was pretty sick and opted to sit out a lot of the rides! 

This Dino ride was definitely one of them!

We loved the Kilimanjaro Safari ride! So many awesome animals to see and Liam was soaking up every minute. Finn wasn't as sure about it.

After the safari, we decided to take a break and have some yummy snacks. Before the trip, I researched best treats to try in each park. 

We tried a Bear Paw brownie and Elephant cupcake in Animal Kingdom. 

Tip: We had to specially ask for these, because they weren't out in the morning. Of course, they catered to us and made us what we wanted. Awesome!

Finn had no problem with this part.

Tip: We made it a priority each day to go back to the hotel 

and take a mid-day nap. Best. Decision. Ever.

After our nap, we headed back to AK and took a train ride.

Both boys were enthralled.

The train took us to Rafiki's Planet Watch. 

We arrived just in time to participate in Chip and Dale's game "Pass the Acorn".

After the game and dancing were over, we were surprised when Chip grabbed Finn's hand and had him lead the little parade to their picture stop. 

I was shocked Finn went along so willingly!

After pictures with Chip and Dale, this WDW cast member came up to the boys and sang a song all about Liam and Finn! The boys were dancing while he sang. 

It was seriously a priceless, magical moment.

Our last stop on Rafiki's Planet Watch was a petting zoo.

Waving goodbye to Animal Kingdom. I think Finn was pretty done!

Day 3: Magic Kingdom

The second park we went to was Magic Kingdom, which was my favorite. I think it's the most like Disneyland and reminded me of magical memories and rides I loved as a kid.

Tip: When you're 8 weeks pregnant and you feel like you can handle a simple ride on Dumbo, turn the other way. IT'S NOT WORTH IT. But the kids loved it! Also, I love that WDW has 2 Dumbo rides and an area for kids to play as they wait for their turn to ride. Brilliant.

We had to get a picture of the boys in their Pluto shirts with Pluto!

Day 4: Magic Kingdom

We decided to spend 2 days in Magic Kingdom instead of a day in Epcot. We felt like we still had so much to do here and didn't think Epcot would offer as much for the kids.

Some highlights: Carousel, Small World, Splash Mountain (I couldn't pass this one up.), Casey Jr Train Ride, Buzz Lightyear ride, Tomorrowland Speedway, 

and eating a Mickey pretzel w/ mama as we waited 

for the other adults to ride Space Mountain. 

End of the day and I think the boys are pretty tired.

Day 5: Hollywood Studios

You will notice the amount of pictures decreases dramatically as the week goes on. I think I got to the point I was just too tired. Period. 

Not a good excuse, but it's the best I've got!

Hollywood Studios was okay, except it started pouring and we ended up going back to the hotel early and slept past the time we needed to leave to go back before the park closed. But what we did see, we enjoyed! Of course we had to take a pic next to some Johnson Family favorites: Lightning McQueen and Mater! 

We also took some pics next to Phineas and Ferb. 

The boys were a little more freaked out by those guys. 

We got to see Lightning McQueen in action at the live-action car stunt show! 

Finn LOVED it.

After that, we scouted out a place to eat and let the boys run around a bit.

Day 6 was a Sunday. I sent everyone else away to go visit B's Gramp's grave and the Orlando Temple, while I stayed in the hotel and SLEPT. 

Love this picture of B's dad with the boys:

Day 6 was our day to hang out by the pool, get a treat at Ghiradelli and do some shopping in Downtown Disney. Day 7, we packed up our stuff (among a tornado warning), burned some time at a local mall, then headed to the airport to catch a late plane ride home. And then we slept. We slept a lot.

*****

So, what are my thoughts?

It was fun. I will NEVER do it again pregnant, though.

I will NEVER do a red-eye flight with toddlers again, either.

But, I would stay at a Disney hotel again. (So many great things!)

And I would do Walt Disney World again...when my kids are a lot older. ;)

Thanks to B's family for inviting us and for 

Carl's awesome military discounts we were able to use!

One last Tip: 

If you are going to take toddler or youngins, your stroller is your lifesaver!

You can rent strollers, but we brought our own, because it was nice to have at the airport and other places. Also, I think if you rent a stroller from Disney, you have to leave it in the park. You can't take it back to your hotel room, etc. That would've been a pain for us! But, there are other stroller rental services that allow you to have them the whole time you're there and will even deliver and pick it up from your hotel room. 

Happy Anniversary Brandon Johnson

Today, B and I celebrate 4 years of marriage. Our children decided they'd help get the celebration started right by waking us up in the middle of the night...Finn throwing up and Liam crying because Finn was throwing up. From about midnight to 5 am, I had changed Finn twice, put a load of puke-covered sheets, blankets, and clothes in the washer, scrubbed the kitchen sink from more puke, watched Cars and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse semi-coherent with Finn, and then when the load of laundry was dry, make up his bed again and lay him down to sleep.

You might be saying "How awful!" You might think it was a terrible start to a celebration of such a lovely, significant day and memory. But, the truth is, those few hours perfectly exemplified the real beauty and foundation of our married relationship. What I didn't mention was B getting up with me every time I rolled out of bed to care for our sick child or moving the laundry to the dryer as I wiped Finn's face or tenderly grabbing my hand to let me know he was there or kissing mine and our child's foreheads as we lay on the couch. I didn't mention B taking the day off of work, so I could recover. I didn't mention him playing with the kids in the basement or changing their diapers or making them lunch, while I caught up on missed sleep.

If this young couple were offered a glimpse to this night four years down the road, I would want them to know that such a relationship doesn't come from years of just easy days.

YOU NEVER "ARRIVE" AT MARRIAGE.

And what I mean by that is that marriage is a living thing 

that requires constant physical, spiritual, and emotional nourishment. 

Marriage is WORK.

The greatest work? Yes. The most rewarding? Yes. But it's work, nonetheless.

We are more than just husband and wife. 

We are a partnership. We are a best friendship. 

We are lovers and we are caregivers and providers 

for 2 (almost 3) beautiful children we created through that love. 

We are each other's physical, emotional, and spiritual support.

Together, with the Lord, we have built and continue to build a foundation of 

faith, hope, and charity-

a foundation that affects our work, our home, our children, 

and every other aspect of our lives.

This picture was taken this morning.

It's not the most glamorous, but it's beautiful because of what it represents:

A real marriage full of real days of exhaustion, frustration, growth, selflessness, and pure love.

And that's what we celebrate today.

Happy Anniversary, Brandon Johnson. 

Welcome Home Elder Shaw!

I know I haven't posted anything about Disney World. I have a bazillion photos to go through and edit, etc. But it's coming! I've been a bit slower these days due to baby #3 and the "awesome" exhaustion, nausea, and vomiting that accompanies early pregnancy. It rocks. NOT. Good thing these kiddos are worth it, right?

Feeling good tonight, though, so I'm taking advantage. I picked up and vacuumed my front room and cut B's hair and now I'm feeling motivated to blog on. I juggled with posting on WDW or my missionary brother coming home. Missionary brother it is.

Elder Shaw came home on Wednesday! The whole family cheered as he came down the escalator and lots of happy tears were shed as we hugged our brother/son after serving in Mexico for 2 years.

He was the missionary I always wanted to be and when I had the opportunity to attend his release last night, I couldn't help but reflect on my own missionary service and what a unique and incredible opportunity it is to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ literally change lives...including, and most importantly, our own.

When Parker left, Liam and Finn were a few months old. I wondered what their reaction would be to him when he came home. They have pretty much attached themselves to him since that first night. They love their "Un-ko Pau-ko".

WELCOME HOME BROTHER!

Happy Halloween from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!

This year, in honor of our upcoming Walt Disney World trip, 

we decided to pay homage to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse- a Johnson Twin favorite. 

Besides the fact that Finn got complimented as "The cutest little girl!", our costumes turned out pretty good. Almost every item we wore came from Savers. My dress was made from a pink polka dot duvet cover I found for 7 bucks and I knew I couldn't pass it up. That means...yes, I made it. I MADE A DRESS! It's not pretty. In fact, it's pretty ugly. But, it worked. B is such a good sport and "played along". I took the boys out to both grandma's workplaces and they got to "trick or treat". This is a new stage for our family and it was pretty fun! We decided to take the boys trick or treating around our little neighborhood and the minute we stepped outside, Finn found a costume he didn't like. Hence, the scared face in this picture and the hiding on Daddy's shoulder in the next. It left us wondering how "fun" it will be to meet some Disney characters in a couple weeks! ;)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Upcycling: DIY Halloween Banner

Upcycling. Love everything about it. Of course, I'm not a professional crafter and decorator and will never profess to have the "gift", but I do like cute things, I do like to be creative, and I do like cute and creative things that don't cost me a bundle. As Halloween approaches, I've been on the lookout for some new decorating pieces at the thrift stores. I found a few and tried to figure out ways to make what I already have work. Pinterest inspired me to make a little DIY Halloween banner for my fireplace mantle. I went into the craft room and looked at what I had:

I tore out 6 pages from the old book and cut out a triangle on the bottom of each page, using a ruler to measure evenly and cut straight. Next, looking at what letters I had left over, I decided to spell out the word "Boo!". I peeled off the stickers and placed them on the different pages/flags. I measured my string on my mantle and then cut the desired length. I turned the pages over and taped them to the string, then took two small pieces of tape and taped the banner to my mantle.

Finished Project:

Sorry, this is a terrible picture. I was in a hurry, mostly because I had two little boys crying and throwing toys across the room and causing all sorts of mess and stress. All the other pieces are things I've gathered over the years, except the painting on the right. Last night, I found a picture on Pinterest, grabbed a left-over canvas I had in the closet, and headed to a friend's house to get my acrylic painting on! It turned out better than I thought it would- considering I have zero artistic ability.

Also, you'll notice the crate of books on the bottom. The children and I picked up some Halloween picture books at Savers for $.69/each It's fun and festive to have them out and accessible to read throughout October! I also found my stash of Matthew Mead Halloween magazines and placed them on the side table for a little more decor and inspiration. Please don't mind the empty Nate Berkus frame (Target clearance find) sitting behind. I have yet to fill it with a picture of my scrumptious monkeys. :)

Speaking of Matthew Mead, here's some lovely decorating advice:

"I love to poke through my craft supplies, unearth items in the basement, and rediscover cast-off pieces in the attic. And because my home is always in design transition, I like to repurpose items as something new and different."