Lots to catch up on.

Looks like I'm down to posting once a month huh? As I was looking through my photos I realized I have yet to share our Valentine's Day or the kids first snow day here in Oklahoma.

Being a mom to three has definitely kept me on my toes.

In February we had our first and only snow day here this winter. We woke the kids up shortly after we had put them to bed to watch it fall.

And here was sweet A enjoying the snow inside.

My snow angels.

Lucas left for a work trip on Valentine's Day (ugh) so I sent a card I made and his favorite candy with his suitcase.

Knowing I would be playing it single-parent style for a few days I made sure to have plenty of activities planned. First off was making heart-shaped pancakes.

Valentine's Day loot. I decided to pack a gift bag with activities for us to do together throughout the week.

I also included a box of confetti cupcake mix for the kids to make.

My kids are crazy about having little notebooks to jot all of their scribbles down in. I figured they could decorate the outside to make it their own.

N used ALL of his stickers and put them throughout his book, while M just picked a few.

My sweet baby girl on Valentine's Day.

Letting the kids mix the ingredients for play dough was a huge hit.

I think the blue and pink were the favorites of the day.

More to come...

The photo dump

Well, I'd like to claim having a third child as why I've been absent from the ol' blog. While Annabelle has been a huge blessing in our lives and we love her to pieces, she has been pretty fussy the last couple of weeks leaving me unable to do much but hold her all day long. She went to the doctor this morning so we're hoping her mood will start to improve and she won't act like she's in pain any more.

Because of my absence, I'm left with a whole bunch of photos that have yet to be shared. So here comes the photo dump.

One of the kids favorite things to do at home is play store.

The kids LOVE their baby sister and if she is awake, they are by her side or asking to hold her. For some reason every one of my babies has come out tan...and later takes on our family's pale whiteness. Too funny.

Since my mom stayed to help out after A's birth, we were also able to celebrate Nana's birthday. We went downtown to this great shop called Pinkitzel. While we probably could have purchased 100 cupcakes elsewhere for the 5 we purchased there, they were really good and a fun treat.

This birthday was a big one for my mom. Since my brother's family lives fairly close by, they were also able to come, along with my dad, to help us celebrate the big 6-0. It was a fun surprise for my mom followed by a family photo session a sweet friend of mine did for us. I'll have to post those photos when I get them.

Here are the chicklets on our first Sunday going to church as a family of 5. I think we had to start getting shoes and coats on 30 minutes prior to make it out the door on time!

Who says girls can't play Legos? By the way, have you seen the new girls Friends Legos? ADORABLE. I might buy some just for myself.

Yes, I will be "that mom" who dresses her kids alike. How could I not?

Daddy and his girl.

And here she is, all 11 pounds, 12 ounces of her.

Two Weeks

It's been exactly two weeks since our little family of four became a family of five, and we welcomed our dear Annabelle Elizabeth into the world at 8:06a.m., weighing a whopping 8lb 6oz.

We had to wake up bright and early on Dec. 29th to go in for our planned c-section. Here is Lucas getting prepped and ready to meet his baby girl!

Lucas thought it'd be funny if I gave the sign for number 3. I was too tired to disagree.

It's amazing how in an instant, a baby can be brought into your life and you wonder how you ever lived without them?

I loved that one of the nurses stamped Annabelle's footprints on Lucas' scrubs. Because this girl is definitely stamped on his heart.

I'm thankful both my mom and Lucas' parents were able to be there for Annabelle's birthday. What a great day it was to share with family.

It was love at first site for this big brother and big sister.

The first expression from M was to head straight toward Annabelle with her arms out saying, "Me hold her..."

And N's smile was huge the minute he realized he could hold Annabelle all.by.himself.

Going home.

Since being home we've been blessed with meals from friends and just taking it easy as we figure out life with three children under the age of four. It'll be somewhat of a challenge, but we're loving every minute of it (unless you count her fussy hour starting at 10p.m.).

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.