Polar Express 2008

Last weekend marked our third trip on the Polar Express. The train leaves from the Grand Canyon Depot in Williams, AZ. Aboard we sign carols, eat cookies, drink hot cocoa and listen to the story of the Polar Express. We also get a visit from Santa! He brings each child a Christmas bell. It is a lot of fun. The kids wear their jammies and look so sweet.

The best part of the trip to Williams for the kids, however, seems to be not the actual train ride, but the SNOW!! I am sure friends and family in the Midwest are sick of it by now, but for our kids it is such a novelty - they love it. As soon as we checked in the hotel, the kids wanted to get out and play. Thank goodness my friend Mary let us borrow winter clothes. Otherwise we would have froze.

Morgan in Anthony's Red Wings Jacket.

Morgan and Grammy between snowball throwing.

Such a cutie!

It is cold, but Adam is loving it!

We were supposed to go with Mike, Lisa and Sydney on the Polar Express this year... then Mike couldn't go so Grammy was going to come in his place.... then at the last minute Sydney came down with a horrible ear infection and the altitude and cold would not have been good for her.... so, we called our friend Paige and invited her along (she brought her mom Laura, Granny Helen and baby brother Myles along on the trip too).

Hot - Hot - Hot Cocoa!

Paige & Morgan - Feel the Love

Three Great Friends

Best Santa Picture ever!

The day after the train (Sunday), we went tubing at Elk Ridge Ski Slope. I should say Jeremy & the kids did.... the rest of us watched. They had such fun!

Adam & Jeremy preparing to launch.

Waiting in line.

Paige was skeptical of tubing at first, but after she tried it she wanted to go again and again.

Pajama Party for Morgan's 6th Birthday!

Last Saturday we celebrated Morgan's birthday with a Pajama Breakfast at our house. It was a 'kids-only' party so parents dropped their pj'd kids off at 9 and picked them up about 11:15. I think we ended up with 19 kids.... but no fears! Jeremy, my mom, Gina & I were able to handle the chaos. My house was a wreck after, but it was worth it. Morgan had fun and I am fairly certain the rest of the kids did too. There was plenty to do - the kids played on the playset and the boys started a game of soccer in the backyard. Then we played hot potato and had an egg toss (don't worry, they were hard boiled!). Finally, the kids all made rice/bean/noodle shakers and we made music while singing Happy Birthday to my favorite 6 year old.

Posing with her cake before the party. Mommy's first attempt at decorating a cake! (Morgan liked it.)

Making shakers with Karen and Isabella.

Gina, Madeline & Morgan making shakers.

Lexi & Paige enjoying the nice weather on the swingset.

Future soccer stars.

The girls circle for Hot Potato. Sedona won. Anthony won for the boys.

Strong Sedona! She is smaller than Morgan, but can pick her up. :)

The egg toss. Grace & Lily were the last team standing.

Getting ready to shake and sing.

This picture was taken before the present opening madness began. We ended up having to put Morgan on a chair since she was being swallowed by the crowd.

Our Busy Weekend

Yes, I have fallen behind again in posting. Adam and Dylan are playing Wii so I am stealing a few minutes to do some catch-up.

On Friday, Kimberly & I took the boys to Enchanted Island with the MOMS Club. (MO was at school.) Dylan, Connor & Adam had fun on the train, carousel, cars, boats, etc.

Horseback riding on the carousel with Connor. Both boys preferred the animals that stood still.

It was too sunny for a good shot of the boys, but what a cool car!

Adam is scared of heights and has never wanted to go on the helicopters before. I was proud of him for trying. He enjoyed it for a minute or two then started to get scared. Fortunately, he was the only kid on the ride at the time so the operator brought him right down.

He had a great time on the bumper boats... until he got caught in a water fall! Still, he was a great sport about it and had fun on other rides while he dried off. Luckily it wasn't a cold day!

After we got home from the park, Adam and I played his favorite board game - Sequence for Kids. He was so funny putting the chips over his eyes I had to share a picture.

On Saturday, the kids and I met Gina, Mason & Madeline at Chandler Mall (where else?!) for a b-day celebration for Mason & Madeline. They opted to go to Disneyland instead of having a party (smart kids!) so we met for some play, shopping and a birthday lunch at California Pizza Kitchen.

Pizza!!

Since we went to CPK in part for the 3 free kids meals that Mason, Madeline & Morgan received for having November b-days. As part of their meal, they each got an ice cream sundae. We ordered an extra one as not to have our March boy feel left out.

I scream, you scream, Mason screams for ice cream!

Saturday morning morning before we left for the mall, the kids put on a show using the props they had won at Marin's Chuck E. Cheese b-day party on Thursday night (Morgan's ear piece) and at a carnival on Friday night (Adam's glasses).

ROCK STARS!!

On Sunday, Jeremy & I took the kids to see "The Velveteen Rabbit" presented by Childsplay at the Tempe Center for the Arts. The kids both enjoyed it - it was an hour long and kept their attention the entire time. After we went for dinner at Z'Tejes. It was a fun family outing!

Waiting in line with Tigree. Kids were invited to bring a stuffed animal to hold during the show.

Adam fell asleep 5 minutes before we arrived at the theatre and slept until the show literally was about to begin.

We attended the Target preview of the play and Target volunteers passed out free copies of Richard Scarry's "Day at the Firestation." The next play is going to be Richard Scarry's "Busytown" --- the kids and I are going with Grammy in January.

The set.

Just to give you an even better idea of how busy this past weekend was... on Friday night, Jeremy & I took the kids to a fall carnival at a local school and on Saturday we attended cousin Kaia's second birthday party after the mall. I just forgot to bring out the camera at those events. Is it any wonder I am always exhausted?!! This week... Paige and Morgan's b-day parties.

Morgan's First Ballet

Yesterday we had a last-minute opportunity to attend 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' presented by Ballet Arizona at Symphony Hall. One of the moms in our MOMS Club had 4 tickets and was sick - she offered them to anyone in our chapter and fortunately Kimberly was quick on the draw claiming them. She invited Morgan, my mom and I to join her. It was Morgan's first time at the ballet and my first time in years to go to Symphony Hall. Morgan sat on Grammy's lap much of the show to be able to see better and she was enthralled by the dancers. She clapped harder than anyone. It was a treat for all of us!

Best seat in the theatre.

After the show.

Although she didn't want to get her picture taken, Morgan truly did have a wonderful time.

Happy Halloween!!

On Friday night the kids and I went out trick-or-treating with Kimberly, Connor and Dylan while Jeremy stayed home at his 'haunted garage'. For the past few weeks, Jeremy and the kids have been collecting spooky items and decorating the small garage for the big night. It was a hit and though a few kids were too scared to enter, it was still a lot of fun.

Adam decided since he was already Obi Wan Kenobi for 2 other Halloween events, he wanted to dress up as a pirate instead. Morgan was a tiger and even carried around her cub "Tigree".

Daddy, Ad E & MO pose in front of the haunted garage.

What a gorgeous feline!

Trick or treating with the Blue Power Ranger (Dylan).

Collecting candy with Batman (Connor).

The kids each chose about 10 pieces of candy from their haul and left the rest in their plastic pumpkins for the GREAT PUMPKIN to take. This morning they found books in place of their candy. They were both thrilled with their suprises.

Morgan was impressed that the GREAT PUMPKIN knew which Pet Fairy book was next in the series. What a smart pumpkin. :)

Adam's Preschool Halloween Party

Today was Adam's first ever preschool holiday party... as a student that is. He's been with me to Morgan's in the past, but this was his year to begin the festivities officially. I was one of the two parent helpers which I thoroughly enjoyed. The kids made monster masks and frosted cookies. The cookies were the activity that Adam and I planned. The class also learned about trick-or-treating safety, danced to the Monster Mash, read a cute Halloween story and trick-or-treated with each other (they each brought a treat from home to share). The kids were adorable - they were dressed up as Spiderman, Batman, Superman, a Cowboy, a Pirate, a Witch, 2 Ariels, a Storm Trooper and my personal favorite Obi Wan Kenobi. It was a lot of fun.

Frosting his ghost and bat cookies.

Yum!

Waiting for the trick-or-treating to begin.

Passing out the treats he brought to his friends.

Class photo.

Catching Up... Again

It seems like I just can't keep up with life in general so this blog has been sorely neglected. Hopefully as I enter the second trimester I'll get some energy back.... and even more likely, when I finish reading at all hours of the night. I am about 3/4 the way through the last book in the Twilight series and am looking forward to getting my life back. The past week and a half has been consumed with reading and/or wishing I were reading.

Anyway... life continues full force for the Johnsons. No rest for the weary. At least we have lots of fun and have great friends to share our adventures with. Below are some pictures from the last few weeks.

Celebrating Gina's birthday at BJ's Restaurant.

Four out of control kids at the mall. Where were their moms?! :)

Morgan and other EAGLE students reciting the EAGLE pledge at their school talent show last Friday in honor of Character Counts week.

Below.... The Great Pumpkin Festival at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

Adam in a hay-maze.

Petting the miniature horse.

Holding a chicken with a new friend (she makes them everwhere!!).

Super cute boy with his pumpkin.

Beautiful girl and her pumpkin.

A fun day at the DBG - thanks Jen A. for the tickets!