Saturday, July 26, 2008

Christmas in July

I am one of those people who really starts to think about getting ready for Christmas....in July. I think the worst thing in the entire world for me would be to have to shop in late December for the family. I usually am shopping late December but that would be for the piano teacher or the preschool assistant...people I love but forgot to get a gift for.

I have tried all sorts of ways to organize it and make it manageable and fun for me too. But so far, nothing has totally solved the organizational nightmare that is Christmas prep. And usually it is full of fun craziness that I enjoy. But this year, as I started to get the toy catalogs in the mail (yes, they are already coming) I just felt sick. All that buying, all that getting, all that STUFF cluttering up our house. :) So, I have a new idea. In order for Mom to enjoy her holidays too, and so that we can really truly focus on the sacred nature of the season, I propose that each Johnson child gets ONE present and a stocking and then maybe a group family gift.

What do you think????

By the way, here is a GREAT Christmas blog: http://christmasmaking.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Happy Birthday to You!

Dustin really wanted Rice Krispie Treats for his birthday "cake." There is one candle sort of teetering on the top there. :) We got him a few good presents. As always, I would like to have bought him more and he said, "But I have everything I could ever want."
He picked a very casual dinner, one of his favorites: hamburgers and hot dogs.

We all played and swam together and then that weekend we went to see a movie: "Wall-E" Very strange show if you ask us.
It was a good calm birthday after so much travelling. It is always so great to do nice things for Dustin.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Almost Home

Well, it is with great mixed feelings that we finish out our last weekend here in Oregon. What an awesome trip! What a treat to spend so much time with family! Here are some of the highlights from the last few days.
We climbed to the first branch in a HUGE beautiful old pine tree in Grandma and Grandpa's front yard.
We took family pictures with our cowboy hats and jeans.
Here are the grandkids getting ready for their picture.We pulled the kids on the tubes.

The girls threw some pots on the wheel.What a trip!

Dove Self Esteem Fund