The Johnson Family

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

February

Has it really been a month since I have updated? Where does the time go? I guess we are just busy enjoying what life has to offer.

Welcome to the family
My cousin and her husband had a baby boy on Feb 5. Jack Taylor weighed in at a whooping 9lbs 10oz (almost as big as Ryan was) and 23 inches long. I am very happy for them. Jack is a super cute baby. Congrats Mitch and Wendy!

Swimming Lessons
Swimming lessons have been going very well. Ryan loves the water so he loves swimming lessons as well. He goes twice a week for 5 weeks. He is in Level 1 swimming. Basically they just practice floating on the back, floating on the stomach, beginning arm strokes and proper kicking techniques. Ryan's favorite part is diving under the water to pick up plastic rings. The thing I really like about these swimming lessons is they do not teach the children by using cubes or floaties. Tonight was his last lesson so he got tested. We will know in a couple weeks if he got moved up to the next level. I haven't decided if we will enroll in the next session for just wait for summer lesson. I will probably let him decide between playing spring soccer or swimming lessons.

Ry went upstairs and got ready for swimming all by himself. The only problem, it was 12:30 and his lessons aren't until 6:30. He loves swimming.

Bye-Bye snow!

We had huge piles of snow all over the yard. I am SO HAPPY to see them go....melt melt melt! As the snow was melting is made for perfect snow balls. I was the target until grandpa showed up. Yay for grandpa!

Fun City, Burlington - Feb 20-22

What a fun weekend! Us and three other families traveled down to Burlington for a weekend getaway at Fun City. This is place had so much to do. We got down there Friday afternoon and didn't step foot out of the complex until Sunday. They have go-carts, bowling, arcade, casino, resturants and a waterpark. I kept asking Ryan what his favorite part of the weekend was and he said EVERYTHING. I believe him. We went to a Japenese restuarant on Saturday night. It was one of those places where the chef cooks all the food on a grill right in front of you. All the kids really enjoyed watching the food being cooked especially when the chef flamed up the grill and shot shrimp into our mouths. My favorite part was being able to wear flip flops all weekend. AND watching Ryan have so much fun. Ben had fun too except he kept saying the place was a money pit. It was but totally worth it. Just not something we can do regular basis. My tip to anyone thinking about going to a place like this would be to bring some of your own food such as breakfast and lunch stuff. Food was pretty expensive so that would have saved some money.

All the kids - Maddy, Cainan, Aiden, Natalie, Ryan, Aubrey, Jack and Treyton

Ryan and Aiden talking instead of racing

I really like this photo of Maddy getting a ride from dad

Ryan's 4.5 birthday at Preschool

Ryan's preschool celebrates 1/2 birthdays for the kids with summer birthdays. So I went to school with Ryan on Monday for his 1/2 birthday celebration. He got to blow out candles on his felt board birthday cake, the kids sang Happy Birthday to him and Ryan showed photos of himself throughout the last 4.5 years. His teacher asked him a few questions...

Do you want to have your party at home or somewhere else?

Ryan: I want my party at grandma and grandpa's house

What gifts would you like to get at your party?

Ryan: I don't know. I want it to be a surprise.

What kind of cake would you like to have?

Ryan: A robin cake

(we have been talking about the robins returning to Iowa in the spring)

Ryan and his preschool friends making a storybook on the computer

Valentines Day Party with playgroup

I organized a Valentines Day Party for the playgroup kids this year. I thought I would share a couple photos from the party.

Aiden, Ryan and Mason

Beautiful Weather!

Our first picnic and visit to the park of 2009. We couldn't help but enjoy the 50 degree weather we have had the last couple days. To bad it is ending as I type this.

I snapped this photo of Aubrey at the park this afternoon. I like it. Sweet girl!

Ryan and I are taking a trip to Alabama next week. I am really looking forward to warm weather and the BEACH! I am going to try really hard to update the blog when we are down there. So check back for trip photos.

Monday, January 26, 2009

More Snow Fun

Really what else is there to do in the dead of winter??

First a wonderful video of me getting plowed over by Ryan on the tube. Ben had been trying to knock me over (so unsafe but that's Ben for ya) but I always got out of the way. Well this time I had the video camera and was focused on shooting Ryan having fun. Forgot to pay attention to where I was aligned. Ben took full advantage of it. Don't worry no one was injured in the making of this video....I fell in about a foot of snow.

At least the sun was nice and bright....

Jake even got in on the fun

A couple weeks ago Ben heard about this used truck with a blade on it. The forecast was calling for 10 inches of snow so Ben fell into the pressure of having a nice warm place to sit while plowing snow. I wasn't real thrilled about shelling out the dough for a 3rd vehicle but I have to admit, this truck has come in very handy with all the snow we have gotten. So I would like to introduce you to Hillbilly Deluxe the new farm truck, oh wait, I think Ben and Ryan changed the name to Blue Thunder. Boys, they like to name all the vehicles and tractors.

We have been to several playdates lately. I can only stay at home for a minimal amount of time before craving social interaction. Unforunately (for me), Ryan is becoming a homebody like his father. I have to sweet talk him into the Tahoe but once we get out he enjoys himself.

*Sorry for the lack of good quality photos. I have been taking my little camera to playdates but the photos are not nearly as clear as my good camera. Maybe I am just not using the camera right.

Ryan and Aiden playing Hot Shots at the "Have A Ball" playdate.

Driving the train at Recess in Ankeny

Ryan and Treyton navigating the ship up the Mississippi River to get to Minnesota, so Ryan claims.

Ryan and Aiden at our house. They wanted their picture taken.

We had a pizza and movie night. It was really fun. Ryan got to eat in the living room while watching Space Buddies. He thought that was pretty cool because mom never lets him eat while watching TV, let alone in the living room (notice the blankets under him - nervous mama).

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

2008 WrapUp

Later on Christmas day we headed to my hometown for a 4 day visit. We didn't make it back to Washington (IA) very much this year so it was good to have a long visit.

How did we spend our time?? We celebrated Christmas, did some sledding, family bowling, Ben went deer hunting and I went to supper with a dear friend. We just hung out and relaxed most of the time.

I have some photos from Christmas but Emilee is doing some editting for me so I will post those photos when she is done with them.

My brother, Alex, getting whooped by Ry and Myles

Alex giving Ry a ride

Ben and Ryan sledding on the pond dam

Ben giving Ry pointers....

NEW YEARS EVE 2008

Several families went to Jenn's house for the evening. We had a yummy supper and enjoyed a few drinks. The kids all played together pretty well considering they didn't have much supervision. The adults were all playing games. It was a fun night.

It was also Anna's birthday

Jenn trying to open sparkling wine

The kids who were wake at midnight minus Natalie (Cainan, Maddy and Aubrey all crashed before midnight)

Tired boy!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

We made it....

through another holiday season. Kind of sad that it is over.

A lot has happened since my last post so I might as well get started.

Christmas Eve

Our nephew Colt was baptized at the family church while Lynn and Micheal were back in Iowa. Ben and I were more than honored to be sponsers for Colt. We didn't get any photos of Ben and I with Colt but here are a couple others.

Lynn, Michael and Colt

Colt and Ryan

Christmas Eve we spent the evening at Ben's parents house with his extended family. We always have an untraditional Christmas meal - fried shrimp, swedish meatballs, cold turkey, red cabbage salad, scalloped corn, fruit soup and of course pie and cookies.

Ryan and Great Grandma playing cards