Merry Christmas 2009

WOW! What a year 2009 has been. As you can tell from our Christmas card, we added a member to our family. Veronika Alece Johnson offically became our daughter on November 16th. We have been working our way through the adoption since June 2008. It was an emotional rollercoaster of a ride but very worth it. We are now blessed with a sweet, caring, happy, intelligent and funny 10 year old daughter. Please watch our journey....

It is a little small here. If you would like a better version of the video, I can email it to you.

Veronika has been adjusting to American life better than anyone could have expected. She is learning more and more English every day. The language barrier hasn't been that big of a deal. It is weird how facial expressions, tone of voice and body language are just as effective as the actually spoken words. I could go on and on about Veronika but I need to move on otherwise this Christmas letter will get to be annoying long.

Our next source of pride and joy, Ryan. Sometimes I look at him and I can't believe he is 5. Where does the time go? It's a little sad for mom. Ryan started Kindergarten this year. He is doing well. Amazed by how much reading is taught in Kindergartner. I don't remember being able to read as much as Ry does when I was 5. It is fun to have him read a book to me. This year Ryan played spring and fall soccer, took swimming lessons, played t-ball and took gymnastics this summer and is now in wrestling. He really is most happy staying home playing around the farm though. He is his fathers son.

Ben went on guys trip again this year. Wild boar hunting in TX. This is the second time Ben, my dad and my step brothers have taken this trip. It must be a fun trip because Ben is already talking about going again. Otherwise, a regular farm year around here. Had another wet spring but if it isn't one thing it's another in the world of farming.

Veronika took this picture. I like it. You better look closely because as soon as Ben knows it is on the blog he will demand it be removed......

My world changed quit a bit in August. After being a stay at home mom for 5 years, I went back to work. I am working for International Spine and Pain Institute here is Story City. It has been a great opportunity. I work 5 minutes from home, I only work when the kids are in school so about 25-30 hours a week and my bosses are very family friendly. I can honestly say I enjoy being back in the work force. I still enjoy scrapbooking but have very little time for it right now. I was able to go on a weekend scrapbooking retreat in May. I would love to do that again. Such a relaxing weekend. My greatest joy is being a mom so being engaging in my kids life is how I prefer to spend most of my time everything else can wait or even be forgotten.

Many more things filled 2009 but I have already blogged about most of them so you are welcome to go back through the year and read about life in the Johnson house. I pray your year has been as great as our year. If it has, you are very blessed.

2009 Minnesota Vacation

Spring Break Trip to Colorado

Alabama

Here are a couple photos from the last couple weeks.

First time riding a horse

Not Ry's first time

Found the perfect Christmas Tree

Ryan trying to cut it down

Then the snow storm hit Iowa

Trying to push a path up to the house

Kids had fun though

Russia Trip #2

I am actually typing this blog update on trip#3. I didn't have time to blog while I was home in between trips. I am sitting in an internet cafe in St. Petersburgs, Russia waiting on the train.

We left for trip#2 to Russia on October 24th. This was an important trip. It was our court date trip. We had to present ourselves to the judge in hopes that she would grant our petition for adoption but I will tell you all about that in a minute. Right after we arrived in St Pete we went straight to Sortavala to pick up Veronika. She was a little nervous to see us. It had been to long of a wait since the last time she saw us (July). We started playing cards though and she warmed up. After a meeting with her orphanage director we went to Petrozavodsk for the rest of the week. We had two days to go swimming, shopping, play games, read books and just have some fun with her before our Oct 29th court date. Veronika LOVED swimming!! Petro has a nice indoor swimming pool with a big slide. She woudln't go down the slide until the very end. Then she didn't want to leave because she wanted to go down the slide some more. FIGURES!

COURT - OCT 29th

The BIG day! We were to be ready for court at 2pm. We traveled with another family from Iowa who is adopting a little girl from Veronika's orphanage and their court time was 10am on the same day as us. Well we get a phone call at 10am, the judge wants your case FIRST! So we go from sleeping to the court room in 20 minutes. YIKES, talk about frazzled. I had wanted to my hair and Veronika's hair in hot rolls, nice makeup, jewelry, etc but that didn't happen. Anyway, court went well. The judge talked to me the most. The legal interpreter prepped us for court the night before so we were ready for all the questions. It isn't like we can get the questions wrong because it is just stating facts about our life. After 3 hours, the judge granted us our petition for adoption. So we have a daughter, Veronika Alece Johnson. That night, us and the other family went to a nice resturant to celebrate. It feels so good to know that she is ours. The judge's decision was a big deal for Veronika too. As soon as left court she starts bonding with us even more. I think we BOTH had our emotional walls up until we got the offical decision.

Right after court. Notice how red our faces are? It was very warm in there.

The next day Veronika went back to the orphanage and we flew back home to wait out the 10 day waiting period that Russia requires. So we returned home on the 31st. It was so nice to see Ryan. I miss him so much when we are on these long trips.

Now I am back in Russia (Nov 15th) to bring her home. Ben did not come with me on this trip. I do have a travel partner so I am not alone. The mom from the other family is with me. We figured it would be easier on the girls if we came together to get them so they can support each other on the LONG trip to America. I will tell you about this trip later. We just got here so nothing has happened to blog about.

Once again, she refuses to be photos so I don't have very many of her. She took lots of photos of me though.

RANDOM PHOTOS!

Jumping rope in her orphanage

Veronika and Ilona (the other families little girl) lovin on some stray cat they found as we were walking around

The girls flipping through a catalog picking out Veronika's bedroom

Group photo at our celebration supper - Ben immediately changed out of court clothes haha.

Veronika took this photo of us. I think it is cute.

One last fun fact. She lost a tooth while she was with us. It was the first time one of my children have lost a tooth. Of course, I kept the tooth. Ben and Veronika were playin around, she looks up and gives a sigh. As she is running to the bathroom she says "Thank-you, Poppy." She must have been okay with that tooth coming out.

I will be back to post about TRIP #3!

Long Overdue Update

I am so far behind on the blog. UGH! I have lots to blog about though, which seems overwhelming. I think this is the longest I have gone without blogging. Wondering why....

I have gone back to work. Ryan is in school all day long and this ideal part-time job presented itself so I went for it. The company I now work for is a physical therapy consulting firm by the name of International Spine and Pain Institute. My boss travels around the US teaching continuing education courses to physical therapists. I stay back here in Story City and help in the office. I am an Adminstrative Assistant. I have flexible hours, I only work while Ryan is in school and the office is located 4 short miles from my house. It is a great situation. I am really liking it so far.

Ryan is enjoying Kindergarten. He has a great teacher, we are so lucky. I can't believe how much he is learning. He can read or sound out many words, it has only been 2 months since school started. Ryan wasn't really up to par one day, I tried to get him to stay home from school but he wouldn't hear it. He WASN'T going to miss school. He is still exhausted when he gets home. So bedtime is between 7 - 7:30. I was having trouble waking him up the morning so we bought an alarm clock. That did the trick, he gets up much better using the alarm clock.

Adoption Update: We got our court date!!!! Ben and I are headed over to Russia soon. We will go to court to officially adopt Veronika. After the court date there is a 10 business day waiting period before we can bring her home. So during the waiting period, Ben and I are coming home. I will go back after the waiting period to get her. I can't believe this is really going to happen! We are paying for her to have English lessons so hopefully that will help the language barrier a little bit. A family from Gilbert (8 miles away) are adopting a 9 year old from the same childrens home as Veronika. We have the same court date so we will be making this journey with that family.

A photo updated from the last 7 weeks

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

We went to Washington for the weekend. My cousin got married and we had two birthday parties for Ryan.

Katie and Isaac finally got married after being together for like 9 years or something

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Myles and Ryan had a birthday party with my dad's side of the family. Myles turned 6 and Ryan turned 5. It was a great party. As the boys get older they have more and more fun together.

Grandpa Randy and Grandma Mardi with all the grandkids (Ryan, Myles, Izzy and Chase)
My cute little niece is a tomboy

Chase enjoying birthday cake - grandpa allowed this to happen

Birthday party with my mom's side of the family - great grandma and great grandpa with 3 grandkids and 3 great grandsons

CENTER GROVE ORCHARD

I love fall. It is my favorite time of year. We normally go to WI to make the apple orchard rounds but it didn't work out this year. So we went to a local apple orchard. This was our first time going to Center Grove Orchard. It was a lot of fun. We will definitely be going back.

Ryan and Natalie petting goats
Can't really tell what is going on in this picture but I really like it so I posted it anyway.

Jumping in the corn pool

We found corn in all kinds of places (behind his ear)

In his ear

CORN MAZE - Ryan's favorite part of the day. We walked around 4 acres of corn searching for stamps to fill a maze search card. I am not sure who was more competitive, the kids or the adults.

Ryan and Mason

The boys following Lisa on search of stamps

FOUND THE PIG STAMP!!

He finished the card - all 10 stamps

Natalie, Mason and Ryan after the maze

Jumping on the gaint pillow

SURPRISE 30th BIRTHDAY PARTY for Jenn

Jenn's husband pulled off a surprise party for her. My job was to get Jenn out of the house so Correy could bring family in, make food and cake. I did it. We went to the mall for a couple hours. When we got back to the house, Jenn was surprised. She had no clue that this had been in the works! It was FUN!

PUMPKIN CROP

This was our first year growing pumpkins. It was successful. Our pumpkins are big and have a really nice shape. Very happy with them.

Yummy squash too

Had to think of something to do with all the pumpkins.....Ben's creative juices were flowing

LEDGES STATE PARK
We went to a playdate at Ledges. I love this place. I wish we could get over there more often. Water runs over the road in many places thoughout the park. The kids had a blast.

Mason, Jaden, Cainan, Treyton, Natalie, Ry, Aiden, Aubrey and Cole

Ryan and Mason up against a "ledge"

DYLAN FRANKLIN has arrived

Jenn and Correy were blessed with a third child. Dylan was born Oct 7 weighing 8lbs 13oz. Everyone is healthy and doing great. Dylan is a sweet baby.

Jack was so excited to meet his little brother
I love him already

H1N1

All I can say is YUCK! Dr's are not testing for H1N1 but pretty sure that is what Ryan had. He suffered all the symptoms. I felt so sorry for him. He was miserable. Starting to feel better now, gaining some strength and fever free. He still has the sore thoat and cough. We are hoping that Ben and I can avoid this illness since we are leaving for Russia soon.