So much catching up...

We have a friend that lives in our new neighborhood and I got an email that other day saying that big things were happening at our new home. It is getting close to the finish, we have paint and....

We have cabinets! They are all dusty and were just installed so they still have some more work to do on them but this was exciting to see this week. We also found a renter for our home we are in now. That is such a huge blessing and relief. I wish we could have sold our house but it didn't seem possible right now. I am just happy things seem to be coming together.

Spring Break Fun

Our Spring break was pretty low key. We didn't do a lot but that is how I wanted it. One afternoon Geoff came home early and we took the kids to the Phoenix Childrens Museum. It was so fun. The whole museum is all about play. My kids loved it. We will have to go back soon. I took a ton of pictures but hardley any of them turned out. I have been playing around with my camera a lot and was trying out the manuel mode. Maybe I am not ready for that yet.

We rode the light rail to Phoenix to go to the museum. It was an adventure. My kids were excited to ride the "train". They thought it was fun for about 5 minutes and then kept asking the usual, "are we almost there"? I was surprised how packed it was. There were so may people on it. It was so hot and it took about 50 minutes to get downtown. The way back wasn't as crowded and didn't take as long. At least we can say we have been on the light rail. But I think we will be driving around from now on.

Nicole looks very happy to be riding the rail.

I felt bad for the people around us. My kids were not being quiet. But it was a fun day.

Pinewood Derby

Joey had his first pinewood derby race this week. His car was a police car. We learned a lot about making and racing the cars. Hopefully that will help us next year.

He also earned his bobcat that night. He got a blue paw print from the bobcat on his cheek.

He had fun racing his friends. His wheel did fall off on the first race and I thought we would see some tears but luckily one of the moms there had some super glue and we didn't have any problems after that.

He raced his friend Sevey.

He did win one race and that was exciting.

This is what Maddie was doing during the races. Not exciting enough for her. It was past her bedtime.



Katie had fun because her best friend McCray was there. They loved the doughnuts that were served.

Joey's Baptism

This was such a special day so it needs it's own post.

Joey was baptized on March 14th. He was very excited and ready to be baptized. He had to wait an extra month because his Dad was out of town in Feb so he could hardly wait.
He baptized and confirmed by his dad.

We went to The Landmark Restaurant after the baptism. We went there after Nicole's baptism and Joey wanted to go there again. It has turned into something my kids really look forward to. Katie was already talking about when we go back for her baptism. It must be the smiley face french fries that they love so much, and the wikki sticks they give the kids to play with.


Joey enjoyed opening all his gift. He loved his new scriptures but this gift from Great Grandma Shirley was the hit. It is a jar with jelly beans on it and you open it and get this popping out.

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson, Uncle Ben, Aunt Kara and Laci and Nicole.

That night Joey said that it was the best day ever. I hope he will remember some of those feeling that he had on his baptism day.

Katie's Birthday

Katie is a big 5 year old now. She was so excited for her birthday and we started the count down months ago. She is such a sweet girl and we love our little (now big) Katie.

She wanted a cake that looked just like her favorite teddy bear.

She got these lovely nails with a Barbie that you get to do her nails.

We had some neighbor kids over for cake and ice cream.

We also went to Chucke Cheese. She invited her friend McCray to go with us. This is one of the little boys she is planning on marrying because they are so in love.

Happy Birthday Katie!

Bowling with Friends

So I am not a great birthday party kind of Mom. I just wasn't up for having a party on Joey's birthday. We had family over and cake and ice cream. I would think that would be enough. But Joey was really wanting to do something for his birthday. So three weeks after his birthday he took some friends and we went bowling. He had fun and was happy about it. Next year I guess I owe him a real party.

House Update

We take the kids every Sunday afternoon to look at our home that is being built. They love going and will start to ask if we can go right after we get home from church. So far things are moving along pretty quickly. We are surprised every week when we go and see how much has been done.

This is the kids sitting at the top of stairs before they had the second floor on.

Joey loved running around in the backyard on all the lumber. I don't know what he was wearing. I guess anything goes on Sundays after church.

We even had some of our new neighbors come over and play. Joey was happy to see there were boys around to play with.

The kids also love to walk through the walls. They are excited to tell their friends someday that they have walked through the walls before.

This was last Sunday, 2/22/09

We still don't know how this moving thing is all going to work out. We haven't sold our house yet and keep watching our economy get worse and hope that somehow we can pull it off. We know we are in the Lord's hands and will be were we are supposed to be. The unknown is just so hard.

Katie Funnies

Katie has been so funny lately. She is such a people person. She loves to be with someone at all times and doesn't stop talking almost the whole day.

The other day she was jumping on the trampoline with the neighbor boy. His mom called to have him come home so I went outside and told them to stop playing. I left the door open but went back in the house. I heard her say, "don't leave until I get a hug and a kiss." I peaked outside and she was kissing him on the lips and grabbing him and hugging as hard as she could. Then she said, 'Oops, sorry I got boogers on you."

Last week we went to see The Lion King at Gammage. Geoff's parents surprised us with tickets and we tried to get our kids excited to go. They don't really like the movie so we built it up to be this amazing show. They all really liked it and Katie was really into it the whole time. Geoff's parents especially wanted them to like it because they spent a lot on the tickets, we had awesome seats. It was a fun night. But the funny thing happened the next morning. I was driving Katie and her friend to preschool and she was talking so fast telling him all about the show. She was talking about all the animals and the dancing. Then she said, " You want to know what my favorite part was? It was when we walked in and I handed my ticket to the man and he scanned it." I was laughing so hard. Little kids are so easily pleased. I called my mother in law and told her what Katie got out of the money they spent on the tickets. The ticket was actually her favorite thing.

Joey turns 8!

Joey had his 8th birthday last week. He is growing up so fast and becoming a great young boy. He had a fun day. His Dad came to school and had lunch with him and played all the 2nd graders in four square. Joey's friends keep asking when his dad can come to lunch again. We had a fun night with the Johnson's. Joey shares a birthday with his Grandma Johnson. (Happy Birthday Mom!) We had dinner and cake and ice cream. Joey loved his presents. He was hard to shop for this year. He couldn't think of anything he wanted. Now, a week later he keeps telling me things he wants. He will have to wait til next year.

He got a race track that they had a lot of fun with. Katie was the cheerleader.

His favorite gifts were his MP3 player and his whistle/compass/thermometer.