Christmas Morning

Before we get to the Christmas Morning pictures, let me say how thankful we were to be able to get together with Vanessa, Dylan, Wyatt and Kyla for a much needed play date and gift exchange for the kids on Tuesday Night. The expressions on their faces when they opened their gifts was so cute, but I forgot to get Sean's work camera until after they had already opened the gifts.

Then on Christmas Eve we received some
GREAT NEWS!
CONGRATULATIONS to my cousin Jan and Ben
who got engaged on Sunday, December 20.
Welcome to the family Ben!

Here is the tree all ready for the kids to wake up. We had kept all the gifts we received from the great-grandparents, grandparents, local friends and British friends in the garage until the kids went to bed and then piled them under the tree. It was so fun to see their faces on Christmas morning. The kids had already gone to bed, but Sean and I made sure to leave out cookies and milk for Santa. The kids really liked that Santa left them a Thank You note for the cookies and milk. We forgot to leave carrots for the reindeer though so we will have to remember that part next year.

Hayley had asked Santa (at the Mall) for a Pink DS and a Build-a-Bear game to play on it. Well, then she saw another Santa at our company Christmas Family Fun Day and told him she wanted Barbies. So those two Santas got together and told the Real Santa (you know who that is) to get her the Pink DS, Build-a-Bear DS game and a Barbie DS game. She was so excited and thought it was sweet that Santa also gave her a Purple carrying case as well. Purple is her favorite color.

Trevor really wanted Star Wars action figures and since Hayley got a DS Trevor received lots of play sets and action figures to keep things fair. Santa even set the play sets and action figures up so they were ready for Trevor in the morning.

Hayley received Barbie clothes, as if she didn't already have enough.

Bakugan Set and Barbie Car, not bad.

Trevor really likes the Miami Dolphins so Sean and I thought it would be a fun to get Trevor a Miami Dolphins outfit for his Build-a-Bear. He was beyond excited when he opened it.

Hayley also got a new outfit for her Build-a-Bear animals.
She received boots and roller skates too.

Dan and Joe sent Trevor some Bakugan and a Ben 10 backpack. Although they did not know it, since they are in England, he had just asked for a new backpack a few weeks ago. Perfect timing.

Dan and Joe sent Hayley a "Make Your Own Lip Gloss" set and this cool pink bag you can color. What a cute idea.

Trevor received Monopoly City from Grammy and Papa Bear. This is a game he has wanted for a long time now so he was very excited when he opened it. Great Job Grammy and Papa Bear. The puff ball you see under the word Monopoly is our dog Boo's tail. We tried to get him in pictures all morning, but he would move at the last minute.


Unfortunately we left Sean's work camera at home when went to Gary and Adrianne's house, but the kids were able to play with cousin Nora the whole day. Something they love to do, but don't often have a chance to do. I really need to get my own camera soon.

On the 26th we had a very overdue visit with Jeremiah, Theresa, Noah, Adam and Mateo Montoya visit. We are so happy that both our schedules worked out so that we could enjoy each others company especially at Christmas Time. Like Theresa said, we need to get together again, but SOONER rather than LATER.

Christmas at the Johnson's

I finally got the Nativity Scene right this time. Last year Sean helped me figure out that Joseph was not the one holding the sheep and this year I did it all by myself. Yeah Me!

Here is our tree.
Hayley was really good about not hanging the ornaments to close together or too close to the floor, but this year she put them so close to the each of the branch that they almost fell off. Maybe someday she will get it and until them we will just rearrange when she goes to bed.

Our tree took a long time to get decorated this year. We bought it on Monday the 30th, Sean hung the lights on Tuesday only to find 2 strands out on Wednesday. He fixed those and then they the kids had Awana on Wednesday and Sean worked late on Thursday. So finally after dinner on Friday we got around to putting on decorations on the tree. We were planning to get it the weekend of Thanksgiving, but we decorated the outside of the house instead. Well that and also went shopping.

Here are some close ups of the ornaments we hung on the tree. As you can see we do like our Disney Christmas Ornaments. My favorite are the Dopey ones and the Mickey Heads. This year we have Mickey Heads with stripes, Mickey Heads with the American flag and just normal ones. Sean enjoys the Star Wars and Nightmare Before Christmas ornaments. Trevor likes anything and Hayley loves her Dora and Sponge Bob ornaments.

Trevor made this Reindeer ornament at the Family Craft day at our old church, now called Pathway. The kids got to make advent wreathes, ornaments, stockings, bracelets, padded hangers, snowman soap and lots more. It was a fun time for the whole family. Thank you Aunt Margo and Steve for inviting us.

Hayley, her Popsicle and the Tree Branches

Last week while Sean, Trevor and Grandpa were putting up the Christmas Lights Hayley was playing spinning around the yard while eating a Popsicle. Well, she spun a little too close to the tree and ended up being tangled in the branches. It was rather funny and being the good brother Trevor ran inside and told me to get the camera. That's my boy! Hayley just kept eating her Popsicle like nothing was wrong. Never a dull moment at the Johnson House. (Thank Grandpa for letting us use the Tall Ladder!)

Gingerbread, Gingerbread

Each year we sit together as a family and make Gingerbread houses. This year Trevor decided he would rather make a Gingerbread Christmas Tree. So here is his finished product (with a little help from Hayley). She had started a Gingerbread house, but the front wall broke in half and we were not able to fix it. So she did the next best thing, she just started eating the house. Then Trevor said she could help decorate his tree. Very nice brother and great teamwork. Next year I think we will all do the Trees as they are so much easier than the houses. I did buy a train to do myself but it is still in the box and might stay that way. At least we had fun while it lasted.

Halloween 2009

The Vampire and Snow White are ready to go to the Pumpkin Festival at our church on Halloween. Hayley wanted us to cut her hair short like Snow White and color it black. We tried to just get her a wig, but she didn't want one, so we sprayed her hair black but did not cut it. It ended up looking more gray than anything after we brushed it a bit. Hair spray and long hair are not the best together (just a word of advice). Trevor was not able to have his face or hair done for school since they have to get dressed for the parade there, so he was extremely excited for Sean to slick back his hair, spray it black and paint his face.

Hayley and Natalie at the entrance to the Pumpkin Festival. The church asked for 2 bags of sealed candy per child for admission. That was a good enough trade off for all the fun the kids had. Great job Redwood Chapel.

Kalia and her family joined us at the Pumpkin Festival too. She was the cutest Little Mermaid especially with her haired sprayed red.

Erick the Ninja Warrior, Trevor the Vampire and Nick Bakugan. The boys wandered around with Sean and Nick's dad, Doug. The girls hung out with Me, Natalie's Mom, Megan, and Kalia's Mom, Denae.

After playing some games the girls wanted to go to the petting zoo. The sheep were funny because they didn't want to eat the food out of the kid's hands, but rather the small cup they were holding. Weird Sheep.

The girls went inside and played the Cake Game. This is basically musically chairs with a cake or something similar as a prize. The kids stand on a numbered spot and walk around while the music plays, then when it stops everyone makes sure they are on a number and if their number is called they WIN. Nick won a box of donuts, but none of the girls won anything. They just had fun playing.

Trevor thought it was so cool to have Sean fix his face for Trick-or-Treating and add the blood. He ended up not wearing the teeth too long though as they got in the way when he said "Trick-or-Treat" at each house.

After I had taken the picture of just Trevor, Hayley decided she wanted to have one of Snow White and the Vampire.

Tonight we carved our pumpkins. We had went to the pumpkin patch last Sunday and Trevor, Sean and I picked out just the right pumpkin. Why did Hayley not get one you ask? Well this past Tuesday her Kindergarten class went to the Pumpkin Patch on a field trip so we didn't think she needed two. Hayley was so excited to be going, but unfortunately she developed a fever on Monday afternoon and was not able to go with her class. She missed school on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the fever (no other symptoms just the fever, strange I know). We told her we would take her to the pumpkin patch todat after work and let her pick out a pumpkin, but we did not take her. Why you ask again? Because Hayley's class decided that since she missed the pumpkin patch they would bring her home a pumpkin. The kids picked it out when they first arrived and the father of Hayley's favorite boy in the class carried it the entire time. Whiel it was not the best pumpkin in the patch is was the sweetest one. The class gave it to her when she returned on Thursday. She was blown away that they did that for her.

Trevor's is the Grim Reaper. He used a harder template this year than he did last year. Although he kept saying he messed up, his pumpkin turned out really good. Hayley has always just colored on her pumpkin because she could not carve them, but this year she did both. She (with mommy's help) carved the eyes and nose and then drew the mouth she wanted and daddy cut it out for her. What you don't see is the hair she drew on her pumpkin and red cheeks she gave it.

I am a wimp when it come to picking hard patterns so I went online and found this fun little guy. His name is Gobby according to the web site I found him on. Sean is the real pumpkin carving master in this house. He has outdone himself yet again with this hollowing Werewolf.

Here are all 4 of our family's pumpkins for 2009.
We had great time carving our pumpkins together.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon

Sean, and his coworkers, participated in the Rock 'n Roll 1/2 Marathon held in San Jose today. This is the 4th time it has been to San Jose and the first year his work participated.

Sean was very nervous for this run since the last time he had run more than 6 miles was when he was in the Police Academy and broke his leg 6 miles into an 8 mile run. Although he knew it was hurt he did not know it was broke and continued to run the last 2 miles. His goal for this 1/2 marathon was to finish under 3 hours and 30 minutes.

The kids and I went to San Jose this morning to watch Sean finish the race. We found spot at the last turn before the finish line and just waited for him to run by. While waiting I noticed that many other participants were able to run the last little bit with their kids, so when Sean rounded the last corner I got his attention and the kids climbed passed the barrier.

Both Hayley and Trevor were so excited to be able to run with their Dad.

Once they started I quickly realized that although I was not running on the marathon course I would have to run on the side lines in order to take pictures. So I guess you could say the whole family ran to the finish line with Sean.

I tried to get a picture of Sean and the kids running across the actual finish line, but right as they did a man stepped out from behind a booth and blocked both kids. So this is the picture (after being cropped) of Sean crossing the finish line. Although the time says 3:24:37 he ran the race in 3 hours and 16 minutes. It took a total of 12 minutes to get all 12,000+ runners to cross the starting line. So his time started once he himself crossed the starting line.
I am so very proud of you Sean.

Kalia's Princess Party

Although Hayley's friend Kalia turned 5 on September 9, we celebrated her Birthday yesterday at a beautiful Princess Party.

Kalia's Mom, Denae, found this wonderful Princess/Castle cake. Kalia was so happy to be a Princess and to share her day with her friends.

Here is Natalie and Hayley after being turned into True Princesses. They were so excited to have their hair done and for the Princess Helpers to put glitter on their hair.

After each girl was made into a True Princess they worked on some Royal crafts.

The Princesses also learned how to do the Princess wave, the Princess curtsy and the Princess Spin. It was so cute to watch them learn. Next they were announced to the rest of the party goers. The Princess Helper asked each girl if they had one wish in the world what would they wish for. She then got them lined up to be announced and their wish was read aloud.

Here is Princess Kalia making her Grand Entrance. Her wish was for a Cupcake Set. It did somewhat come true since one of her gifts was an Easy bake Oven.

Hayley was next to be announced. Her wish made everyone one in the Palace laugh and Sean and I turn red. She wished for more brothers.

The Palace had outfits for the boys to dress up like Knights, but they decided they would just hold the swords and shields.

The Princesses received the Royal Treatment. They learned how to be good Princesses and Knights while eating and hoe to properly hold their tea cup. It was cute to see the kids try to hold their pinkies out, but with the tea cups being real they were a bit too heavy for most of the kids.

The boys even got to sit at the Royal Table, but were a little embarrass since they we completely outnumbered by the girls. They seemed to do much better then the Royal Pizza and Royal Soda was served.

Our handsome Knight and beautiful Princess.

We loved how they did Hayley's hair. She kept touching it ever so gently as to not mess it up. The only problem is now she wants me to do it for her. Yikes, I am not good with hair.

Cousin Nora Visits Us...

Tonight we had the privilege of having Cousin Nora come over to play with us while her Dad and Mom went to a fancy restaurant. We don't see her that often as we would like so tonight was such a great treat.

Hayley and Nora started their play time together by opening a Diner in Hayley's Room. Even though we have 2 aprons, Hayley decided she only wanted the Chef's Hat.

Hayley serving Trevor some soup.

Nora brought another refill of soda and a plate of chicken.

Nora is reacting to Trevor being a very picky and demanding customer.
Both were funny to watch.

After the Diner closed for the night, the girls went out back to play on the playground. Unfortunately Nora got here at 6:15 and by the time they decided to play outside they only had about 10 minutes before it was too dark.

Trevor was getting a bit bored with it just being girls, so he and Sean went to Best Buy to get Madden 10 for the Wii (Thank you Evan!). While the boys were gone Nora and Hayley switched gears and became Mommies. The each had a baby doll named Stephanie, but Nora called her baby Steph for short. They even took the baby dolls to school (Trevor's room) and then to the Castle to see the Princesses (again Trevor's Room, but top bunk this time).

When being Mommies was no longer fun they decided to play Dress Up. Then they had their ice cream for dessert and moved right along to playing with Play Doh.

Although Nora has only been here a little over 3 hours they have played enough to make up for not seeing each other that often. Thankfully we will see Nora in 2 weeks to celebrate her 5th Birthday. God is so amazing to bless us with such a wonderful family.