Merry Christmas!

We've been getting into the Christmas spirit here all month long, although I didn't do nearly as much as I did last year with the kids as far as crafts and such. I wasn't sure if I'd have the energy to do much so I opted for simple and easy.

I did purchase the Playmobil Advent for M and the Lego City Advent for N, just as something fun to look forward to doing every day. They were a hit.

We have managed to work in a cookie exchange and Sunday School Christmas party to help celebrate the season which was a ton of fun. I am feeling very blessed and thankful this year to feel apart of a church family again after moving and to have activities to look forward to going to with friends.

Here's our two cuties before church one morning.

A fun tradition we started last year was to take the kids on the "Minivan Express." They love it.

We give them each a ticket to get punched as they arrive in their pajamas.

They get a bag of popcorn and a drink and off we go to look at Christmas lights. Maybe some day I'll get brave and let them have hot chocolate in the van. For now, they get water.

We also took a trip to North Pole City which is decorated from floor to ceiling with Christmas decor. Santa also comes and reads the story of Christmas....the REAL story of what Christmas is all about, Jesus' birth.

We topped off last weekend with making some sugar cookies to share with friends. Yum.

I used this recipe for the first time and I don't think I'll ever use anything else again.

If you like the soft, thick sugar cookies with frosting sold at places like Wal-Mart that are about 1,000 calories per cookie...you'll love these. And thank me later.

Being pregnant during Christmas time, again, always makes me even more aware of some of what Mary went through. Riding on a donkey while 9 months pregnant would put anyone in labor, I am sure. I think I could go into labor just riding in a car on a bumpy road. And the responsibility put on Joseph to find a place for their baby to be born. Stressful. And yet God chose such a humble place for His Son to be brought to earth. Born in a lowly manger. Amazing.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

No matter what your circumstance. May you feel the peace of Him this Christmas. Merry Christmas to you from the Johnsons.

Sound the Alarm! Happy 4th Birthday!

Last week we celebrated our little boy turning 4. He's been talking about turning 4 for awhile so this was a big day for him. I really like the idea of doing an activity together as a family to celebrate our birthdays, and N is in love with fire trucks lately, so instead of a big party we opted to set up a tour of the local fire station with friends, followed by a family party at home later that night. I was excited Lucas was able to join us for the tour as well since it was a work day.

I'm not going to lie, I do love throwing a party though. I love all of the details of a party. So even though we were doing something low key and getting a few friends together for the tour, I did end up putting together some cupcakes to send home with everyone as a little favor.

We also wanted to do something to thank the fire men and women for all that they do. I made a batch of this yummy popcorn to take to them. Seriously good.

I wish I had been able to capture N walking around holding the fireman's hand. It was adorable. They walked hand-in-hand while N asked what everything was on the fire truck and was awe struck by everything he was told. I love having him get to know real life heroes.

Little Miss enjoyed the tour as well.

The birthday boy had the opportunity to get a print out of his heart rate while being shown around the ambulance that had just come in.

Holding their ears while the siren goes off.

The group. How adorable are they?

Buddies.

These two are like two peas in a pod. What a great morning.

We set up the kitchen for our little family party after dinner. N had waited patiently all day to get to dig into his presents.

A couple of the gifts.

The big gift this year was N's first big boy bike. We had been planning to get him one anyway but it was really exciting for him since it was the one thing he had been asking for. We had taken him around to several shops to get an idea of what he liked and this Radio Flyer bike is the one he kept clinging to. I'm glad I was able to snag it on sale before the holiday rush.

It's hard to believe we put four candles on a cupcake this year. I'm so thankful to God for this little boy who made me a mommy.

Thankful

We've had a lot to be thankful for this year.

When I think about all of the changes, decisions, illnesses and uncertainties that our family has gone through this year it exhausts me. I've often joked with my husband about having this be the year I'd like to forget.

But truly, this is the year I hope to remember. I have seen the Lord's provision in so many ways. Most of the time it wasn't how I wanted it. Some of the times I'm not even sure I prayed for it. It didn't come in the pretty, wrapped package I had envisioned...but it came.

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you." Psalm 143:8

Every day I am reminded that God provides for His people.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9: 2-3

This weekend was one of the best we've had in a long time. We focused on relaxing, hanging out with our children and just enjoying each other.

We enjoyed watching the children's eyes grow bigger as the tree lights were turned on, and placed delicate ornaments in little hands to put on the tree.

Our Christmas books were unpacked and brought out for the month of December, ready for days of being flipped through on the couch and read from at bedtime.

Yes. I'm pretty sure this isn't truly the year I want to forget, but one I want to remember for a long time. And as we enter into the Christmas season, and I look at my nativity scene that sits atop our armoire, I am reminded again of God's provision and how He sent His Son for us, so that someday we could spend eternity with Him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

And for that, I am thankful.

Dallas Arboretum

The same weekend the little miss turned 2, we took a last minute trip to the Dallas Arboretum to enjoy their fall scenery and pumpkins. I had read about it in Southern Living magazine and really wanted to go, knowing it'd be our last quick trip before the baby is born.

I was excited when I realized my parents would be heading through Dallas the same weekend we were hoping to go, so we met up with them for a couple of hours to enjoy the morning.

The most important stop was Cinderella's castle. By far the best fairytale story they did at the arboretum.

My favorite pumpkin house was the step-sister house. It is amazing how many different kinds of pumpkins exist.

This would have been the perfect place to take fall family photos. Maybe next time. When I'm not as big as a whale.

This photo of my parents is probably my favorite one of the day. It was chilly in the morning but turned out to be such a nice, sunny day.

This was at the Beauty and the Beast castle.

It really was a beautiful day.