Family Pictures 2011

While we were in Utah over Thanksgiving, my sister kindly took some family pictures for us. Not an easy task with 3 grumpy kids and 2 grumpy adults (from dealing with 3 grumpy kids), but she put up with us and even managed to catch a few good moments (and there weren't many!).

First, please note that these pictures aren't edited. This is not a photography site and if I wait for that, they will never get posted. Ever. So here we go.

How she managed to catch us all smiling, I'll never know.

I couldn't choose just one of Khyah. Her cuteness just has to be shared.

Brandt, Mr. GQ himself. Thank goodness we got one last picture before he decided to chop his hair!

London had school pictures done, but I liked the tie theme, so he had to endure a few shots, too. He was not happy. Man, if you could see all the moments around the pictures. These things are deceiving!

And finally the two of us. I made Becca take about a million pictures before I was satisfied. Good thing she loves me. :)

So voila! There's a family.

Thanks, Becca!

Johnson Family Reunion: Part 3

Okay, because I know you didn't get enough of the beach before, here's some more fun:

London was the expert shell collector of the group. Here is a particularly fine specimen.

And Quincy was his partner in crime. Look at that beauty!

Thursday evening (our last one thanks to Irena), we all took a nice walk on the beach. Doesn't look like a hurricane is about to hit, does it? However, even then, the water was coming in higher than usual. Definitely past the established tide lines.

Khyah came with us and she was Daddy's little girl. She did not want to let him go.

Before the walk, we had changed the kids into regular cloths. Woops. A swimming suit would have been much easier to clean later.

Yep. Definitely much easier.

Rob and Tiff and Cadence came on the walk with us.

In preparation for Irena, the local news stopped by to film. Want to see what they're filming?

"Water Is Dangerous." Yep.

But we went in anyway. I know, I know. But it sure was fun! And again, I couldn't get to all the beach pictures, and I KNOW you're dying for more. Isn't that what a blog is for?

Johnson Family Reunion: Part 2

While the pool was definitely rockin', what would be a trip to the beach without the beach? We attempted some boogie boarding, built sand castles, went for walks to the pier, relaxed to the sound of ocean waves, and in short had a very good time. We loved being right on the beach . . . all we had to do was walk out the back door and there we were.

Unfortunately, I took so many pictures, I'll have to split it up into two posts.

Khyah girl.

Mic testing out the water.

The boys working the sand.

Brandt debating if he wants to get his feet wet.

Khyah deliberating how long it would take to dig a hole to China.

Uncle Greg making the trek from the house.

Rick being embarrassed that I made him make a hang-ten sign.

Rick ready to take on the wave.

Rick, riding the wave.

Me, sporting London's goggles and the cool shark boogie board.

Me, again. Boogie boarding is WAY fun. Just sayin'.

Cousin Mic taking on the waves . . . because London and Brandt refused.

Uncle Rob and Cousin Zach. Cool dudes.

The guys. Out to conquer the world. Or at least a couple of waves.

I really love the ocean. I just can't express how I feel in words. Just something that fills my soul and brings me peace.

And more beach next time. :)

Santa's Workshop

Okay, I started this post forever ago, and never got past the draft stage because I was waiting for some other pictures, but I think now that Christmas is two months past, I'll go ahead and just post it. :)

On Saturday (Dec. 18th), we took a trip to the national tree, and visited Santa's Workshop (after waiting an HOUR in line). London and Brandt got to meet the big guy himself and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.


Brandt wanted a red choo-choo train, and London wanted a Star Wars Lego Ship. Santa delivered the goods and both boys were thrilled.

Here are the kids with the National Christmas Tree (and some random guy) in the background.

We got all decked out for the cold and it took forever to find a parking spot. And even then, it was metered parking and we had very little change. But we put in what we had and crossed our fingers that Christmas would put the metermaids in a forgiving mood.

And the tree from a distance. I'm definitely glad we went at night. It was beautiful!

So we waited in line forever and finally got into Santa's Workshop. Our new friends in line offered to take our picture for us. Umm, yeah, the expressions on the kids faces about captures how excited they were by then.

Santa gets a lot of mail.

In case you didn't know, he has a naughty and nice alarm (it turned red SEVERAL times while we were in the shop. Not that we could see the name that popped out of the machine just then, but I have an inkling whose it might have been). ;)

And since I think this is pretty important, I wanted to share the pictures from Santa's "Most Wanted" list. Please keep an eye out for them and call the appropriate officials if you spot them. And don't try to apprehend them on your own.

Belated Merry Christmas to you all!

We're Alive!

Realizing I've been slacking in my duty by up-dating THIS blog, and waiting anxiously for my cute husband to get home through the terrible traffic in this snow storm (that would be 5 hours on the road now and counting . . . last we spoke he was almost halfway home), I thought I would take advantage of our new laptop (yup, Rick couldn't stand it anymore), and update ya'll on our little lives.

I apologize in advance . . . all our pictures are on the other computer, so this will be pictureless, but you get to read about US! So of course you're all happy. Right?

So first, if you did not see my latest post on the other blog, it was funny, so you should go take a look, just click here.

And second, I will give you one story about each of us:

Brandt story: I made pancakes and sausage for dinner tonight. When Brandt finished eating, he held out his plate and said, "You know, we usually eat eggs with our pancakes, Mommy."

It's a good thing I have Brandt to keep me clear on these things. And yes, I made him an egg. :)

London Story: We have spent the past month or so trying to figure out the cause of London's chronic sinusitus. We have visited all kinds of doctors and labs for him to get poked and prodded and have a CT scan done. He has been very brave (with our clever use of bribery) as he's given samples of blood, gotten extra vaccinations, held perfectly still in a big machine for the scan, and endured the 30 pokes on his back for the allergy test.

So, the results: He's mildly allergic to Bermuda grass. His immune system is in good shape. But apparently his sinus passages are rather narrow. Surgery is an option (though London gave his vote for 'no'), but we still hope to have Rick talk to the surgeon before we make any decisions.

Khyah Story: The other day, Brandt and London we having a light-saber battle. Khyah made her displeasure known at not being included. London is a sucker for Khyah-demands, and promptly gave her one of his.

Next thing I know, she's battling away, making the sound-effects and everything! She even used the force to throw London across the room (hand movements just like in the movie). Both London and Khyah thought it was great fun. But I'm wondering if maybe we watch too much Star Wars in our house. ;)

Rick Story: He might not be happy with me sharing this, but he has an interview in Iowa he's drooling over. They have a doctor who specialize in coagulopathies (a rare find) which is just what he hopes to focus on. Plus we could live a mere two miles from his work in a large house for less than we're paying now (he's been researching). Oh yeah, he's drooling.

Me Story: I went to the dentist today, and had no cavities. ;)

Okay, I can do better than that . . . maybe . . . ummm, okay. As I headed out to the dentist, I went out early to clean off the car (it had snowed then rained). The ground was a little slick, but mostly just slushy. So I got the car clean, and had the engine running to warm it up, but when I went to go back inside, the door was locked. And being the lazy person that I am, I didn't want to go back to the car to get the keys, so I pounded on the door. Unfortunately, the boys were in the basement. And I have to give her kudos, Khyah tried to open the door, but mostly she just pounded back at me.

Realizing the futility of it all, I rushed back to the van. Leap, bound, quick and smooth, until it wasn't. Swoosh! My feet were in the air, and my bum was in a pile of slushy mud. Yeah, I had to change.

No worries, my body was perfectly fine. Only my pride was wounded. I'm just still hoping no one saw it. But the kicker was that when I unlocked the door, the boys were standing right there waiting for me.

Thirty seconds! Could they not have come up thirty seconds sooner?

And these are our stories. The End.

Trip Downtown (part 1)

One of the things I love about living here is that it's so easy to head downtown and enjoy our nation's history. On Wednesday, it was rainy, giving us a small break in the wretched heat we get here, so we profited. Rick had the night shift, so he was able to come with us to see a couple of museum's and the Washington Monument (that'll be part 2).

Khyah was so excited to be going on a family outing.

And of course, you can't take someone's picture and NOT take Brandt's so here he is, too. :)

We stopped in front of the Hirshorn museum, but try as I might, I couldn't get the kids to pose for a decent picture. It was raining, and then the wind changed directing the fountain at us as well, so I gave up.

Next, we stopped at the Aerospace museum. London told me he LOVED this picture, and was hesitant to let me share it because he wanted to keep it, but I convinced him we could do both.

The boys were in heaven with all the planes and rockets and such. London wanted a tour so he could hear all about it (though he changed his mind when he heard how long it was), and Brandt absolutely had to visit this airplane.

(Sorry for the glare, but I'm not the best picture taker.) So once London determined the tour was too long, he wanted to see the first airplanes. Here they are learning about the models Orville and Wilbur Wright made before building the real deal.

And here is the real (authentically replicated) deal (you have to look past the little sweetie up front). Khyah was pleased as punch to get out of the stroller.

And just to prove I was there . . . but once we let Khyah out, this was my job: baby-wrangling.

I had originally planned to leave by noon, so I didn't pack a lunch. Luckily, McDonald's has infiltrated the government and has taken over the Smithsonian cafeterias. I would have preferred this outdoor one, but we ate at the indoor McDonald's instead. They charge almost double their normal prices, except the whole supersizing deal which is still 59 cents. We got 2 meals and supersized both, so I felt proud of "cheating" the system (although who cheated who I leave up for debate).

While I moved the car, Rick took the kids to the Natural History Museum. Rick didn't take any pictures though. But they saw the same exhibits we saw last time (the Forensics exhibit, and the mummy). Of course, Rick was at work when London woke up in the middle of the night screaming: "Mommy! Daddy! I need you NOW!"

Yup, he was having nightmares about mummies. Fun times.