My little "hero" is growing up!

Devon turned four this February and he sure is a funny kid! I love having him at home with me...he keeps me on my toes and makes life interesting. He's my biking buddy when I go exercising in the mornings, he draws pictures for me all day, he helps me make dinner, and he's my "preschool" buddy as well. He amazes me with how fast he can go on his little 12" tired bike. We can't go on a bike without him stopping so I can get ahead of him. He then "lights" up his rocket on his bike and flies past me. Sometimes he'll even put a rocket on my bike for me, but mine never seems to go as fast! I am so glad he is not starting kindergarten next year because I'm not ready to be without my Devon. He does not lack for confidence and I love the conversations I have with him about how strong, smart, and fast he is...he likes them too:)! One time we were talking about how strong he is and Marissa said he's so strong he could pick up 10 houses. Without batting an eye or looking up from whatever he was doing he said, "20 houses!" Usually a day doesn't go by without that kid making me smile!

Devon had a "rocket" party this year. He got to help Daddy make his rocket pinata which he thought was pretty cool, and he gave it a good beating. Like our other homemade pinata (Marissa's castle pinata), Ryan had to eventually do the honors because it was just too sturdy!

His big gift this year was the "tag reader". So far he loves the games/puzzles book!

Grandma and Grandpa gave him a nerf gun...watch out!!

Christmas 2011

We decided to spend Christmas in California even though last year we asserted that we would never again try to transport our Christmas! We will be moving out there this summer and bought a house a little bit early so we thought we would take this opportunity to do some things with our house and of course, the kids love staying with Grandma and Grandpa! Unfortunately, we didn't get a whole lot of pictures but here's a few:

Here is my caped hero on his new, faster than ever scooter!

Although we did not wrap this scooter, Sawyer now claims it as his seeing as Devon has dubbed it much too slow for him!

We went out to get shakes with Grandma and Grandpa and we couldn't hide Sawyer's sweet tooth any longer!

These were the big presents for the kids this year...Ryan and I were hoping we passed some of the tennis gene on to our offspring. Since Christmas we have taken the kids out several times to find that indeed we did pass some of that gene on...in fact, it might not be too much longer before the kids could take us in a doubles match! (We really need to get out more!)

All Aboard the Polar Express!

Last year around Christmas time Ryan and I heard about the Polar Express train ride near Flagstaff. We both wanted to do it, but it didn't work out last year. This year we planned ahead and made it up there. We decided to keep it a secret from the kids until we went to put pjs on to board the train. We thought we would get a great reaction that way and we weren't disappointed. We maybe kept it a secret a little too well, though. The kids weren't as familiar with the story as they could have been, but luckily Marissa's and quick learner and Devon loves trains! We all had a great time and it was definitely worth the trip!



Devon looks pretty excited!!




We all got hot chocolate and cookies on the ride, had a visit from Santa after we picked him up at the "North Pole", and each received a bell to remind us to believe.


After the train ride, we went to a cute little cafe/diner for some pie.


It took us about 3 hours to drive to the train so we decided to stay the night afterwards in Flagstaff. The kids always love a night in a hotel complete with a continental breakfast and swimming pool! We thought we would try to drive up to the snow while we were there. Unfortunately (or fortunately, whichever way you want to look at it) there wasn't a ton of snow as you can see, but the kids still enjoyed putting on their rarely used winter coats and tromping around in it!

Happy Halloween!

I was pretty bummed that this was the only picture we were able to get on Halloween that turned out, but at least we got something. Marissa was a sailor, Devon a magician, and Sawyer looked adorable in his alien (from Toy Story) costume. We went trick or treating with some friends and the kids had a blast!

Our little soccer player!

This fall was Marissa's first year in soccer and she turned out to be quite a little player when she wanted to. The league we were in didn't have any practices during the week so "Coach Ryan" took her out and drilled her between her Saturday games. She had some great games with her high scoring game at 4 goals! We were all sad to see the soccer season end and can't wait until next year!

My baby is 1!

We call Sawyer the king of the "half smile". For his 6 month pictures Ryan, Marissa, Devon, and I tried until we were blue in the face to get a big smile out of him and he was just Mr. Cool. He had this look on his face the whole time he was eating his cake. This smile right here says "Yes, this is how I should always be treated!"


The cake just wasn't enough for this kid. We left him unstrapped and after awhile he climbed onto the table to get at the frosting can and lick it right off the spoon!


This is one of the biggest smiles we can get out of Sawyer. He liked it when he bumped his scooter into things and we all made goofy sound effects.


I can't believe Sawyer is one. Although he was not walking on his birthday, by three weeks after he was cruising around thinking he owned the place. Grandma and Grandpa gave him the Little Tikes scooter that he loves to walk behind but loves even more to get pushed around on!

Summer Family Fun!

Here are some highlights of our Johnson Family reunion trip:

1. Every person in the entire family was able to make it.
2. There were 28 grandchildren running around having an absolute blast with each other - we hardly saw Marissa and Devon the entire trip they were too busy playing hard with cousins!
3. Our kids also got some 'Aunt Elizabeth' time so Ryan and I could go on the golf outing! Thanks, Fuzzy!
4. The little girls had a sleepover at Uncle Kurt and Aunt Sara's cabin during which they had a hot tub party and watched a girly movie - Marissa had a blast with all her little girl cousins!
5. Hot tub parties for the kids was a daily occurrence!
6. The kids went to a real live rodeo - or at least a pretend one - but it was good enough for them!
7. Horseback riding was a much sought after activity (except for those adults whose seats couldn't handle more than one ride!) and our kids thought it was great!
8. We shared family history stories that were both informational and inspiring that left us all a little aware of the special heritage from which we come.
9. The Johnson Family Cup was a hit all the way from "hot potato" and Limbo to the treasure hunt, three-legged race, and cherry spitting contest!
10. It seemed like Devon always had an older buddy watching out for him!
11. We played "Somebody Famous" that had a surprising but welcome appearance from Spike Groscueus and Robert E. Clow!
12. Before we all left, we were able to go into Yellowstone to see Old Faithful and some buffalo - we also shared a hotel room with Uncle Dan and Aunt Elizabeth that was at least a roof over our heads (but that's about it:)!
13. On our drive home, we stopped in St. George for a couple of days and went into Zion's National Park. We did a few hikes, took a few pictures, and ate at some fun little places just outside the park. We even hiked to the end of the Narrows where the kids got to play in the river for a bit and Ryan and I could fantasize about actually hiking the Narrows someday (again, for me).


Cowboy Devon at the rodeo!



All of us at the rodeo.



The next few pictures Uncle Dan took for us at the little pond between our cabins and the horses at Island Park. Thanks Dan!







Sawyer like cousin Rachel!



Daddy and Devon fishin'!



Marissa had a great time riding the horses all by herself!



Devon and Caroline were buds. One time when we went to find them this is what we saw...they were in their own little world!



We were eating dinner one night and all of a sudden I look over at Devon and he'd fallen asleep with his head leaning on his hand with his face tilted upwards. By the time we got the camera he was like this! We knew Devon was playing hard out there!



Marissa and Uncle Matt - sometimes my kids had a hard time keeping all of my brothers straight but they had a good time with each of them! Here's Uncle Matt with the kids playing his 'Minute to Win It' games with the kids. Marissa and Devon had a good time trying the balance dice on a popsicle stick they were holding in their mouth!



Ryan looks like he is a champion cherry pit spitter, and while his spit was respectable there were some more impressive distances in the family.



Here's the three legged race where Ryan is half dragging poor Marissa - this was only one of the events that helped to earn their team (the red team) the award of "cheater pants" at the end of the Johnson Family Cup!



Hot tub party at Uncle Kurt and Aunt Sara's!!! This happened pretty much everyday!



Devon was too little to ride the horses by himself out on the trail so he and Daddy were horse buddies!



Here we are at the end of a short hike in Yellowstone.



After doing a short hike with everybody in Yellowstone we split up and went our separate ways. Here we are at one of the waterfalls in Yellowstone.



Sawyer and Aunt Elizabeth!



Uncle Dan and Aunt Elizabeth with the kids at the waterfall. We got to have Uncle Dan and Aunt Fuzzy with us on the ride from Utah to Island Park and back! This made for a much more entertaining car ride!



The kids and me in front of Old Faithful.



Devon's going wakeboarding!


Goofy pictures of the kids in the river at Zions.





This was after we did a little hike along a path that led to the end of the "Narrows" hike. The kids had a blast playing around in the river!