Christmas 2007

The Johnson family has a Christmas party every year with the nativity. This year our little Sam was the precious baby Jesus. As I sit and reflect on Christmas this year, I am so incredibly grateful for the last year that I have had. We have truly been blessed. I have been blessed.

Last night was a great night, starting with the Johnson party, then on to grandma Johnson's for the opening of the night before Christmas presents. We got some new pj's AND I got a new pink fleece. I LOVE IT!! We got home around 9:30 and Kelton headed for bed. We had been tracking Santa all day long on the Internet and saw he was last in New York. We knew there wasn't much time until he arrived. He didn't fall asleep until almost midnight....

Kelton awoke bright and early at 6:30 and sure enough Santa came! It was just too exciting. Santa drank the whole cup of 7up Kelton left, and ate the fig newtons (since we forgot to make cookies), but he forgot the quarter Kelton hid under one of the figs. He opened the package from Grandma and Grandpa Wall first and got a real helmet, jersey, and pants. He got a whole city of Lego's from Grandma and Grandpa Johnson, and a real NFL Jersey and football trainer from Santa.

What a great day we have had. I miss my family up there in Washington and can't wait to be able to spend a Christmas with you again. I love you all and Merry Christmas.

I would scew up a dirt sandwhich if given the chance.

Every year when it comes time to think of an idea for Christmas gifts for friends and neighbors I struggle. I REALLY struggle. I want it to be something neat, something creative, and of course something somewhat inexpensive. My sister in law Shayleen emailed me a great list of ideas that Kelton and I pondered over. We decided to get some 7up and write, "there are 7 reasons why you are "up" on our list of favorites". We went to the store and bought some 2 liters, got home, then decided that for some neighbors that we hardly know, that it's sadly hard to think of 7 reasons. So, next on the list was a Santa or snowman ornament with silly phrases too. I went to the store, bought 6 of those thinking we could give those. After getting home, I thought to myself, this is lame, these are tiny. What do we do, just walk over there and give someone a little tiny ornament, that looks like it cost fifty cents, when really it was $2.99. I then talked to Michelle and she said melt some white chocolate chips, drizzle over some pretzels then put mini candy on them, put them in a bag and there you go. So here I at the store AGAIN, I buy 3 bags of white chocolate chips, pretzels, and a couple oven mits with brownie mix inside (just in case). This time everything sat on the kitchen table for almost a whole week, when Kelton asks me what he is going to give his teacher. I decide one of the oven mits, and throw in an ornament that says "just be "Claus" I think you are neat". On Thursday, I decide ok, lets do the pretzels, I layed them out on the table then realize I don't have any candy to put on them. So away the pretzels go in a zip lock. On Friday I decide to do the pretzel thing so we can get them delivered over the weekend. I spread out the pretzels on some wax paper, just like Michelle said, I start melting the chips. I tell Kelton to get ready to sprinkle the pretzels (with sprinkles I bought since I couldn't find mini candy of any sort besides nerds). I go to pour the white chocolate and it is just plopping huge plops on the pretzels. It must need to melt a little more I think, so I put it back on the stove and keep stirring, but it's not getting and more thin...ok, I will just add some milk, that ought to do it. Why have I never known NEVER to add milk to white chocolate. I figured MILK CHOCOLATE=milk= OK. Within seconds my not runny enough white chocolate is now a ball of modeling clay. A big massive ball of modeling clay. I can't tell you the thoughts going through my head at this point, since I was practically looking though my tears. What is so incredibly hard about melting chips and putting over some pretzels for crying out loud. I don't know why I bought 3 bags, but only melted 2, so thankfully I still had 1 more bag. I get a new pot out and start melting the last bag, I tell Kelton this time I am really ready, and I start to drizzle the ploppy chocolate. Kelton looks at me like I am crazy and don't know what I am doing, because obviously they aren't getting drizzled, they are getting dumped on some, and nothing on others. I let them dry, looking sad indeed, then goodness, what don't I have? Little cute Christmas bags to put them in. Off to the store again. After realizing that I should have done way more pretzels (since I could only fill 4 bags part way) I decide not all our friends are getting these ugly things. I put them in bags, put the ornaments on them to hide how gross they look, and type up the phrase "there are "snow" better folks than you!" I don't even want to put our name on it, but after I am into it $60 now they are getting delivered today. Next year I am buying candles.
P.S. The neighbors got the hideous oven mits with brownie mix. Sorry to those who got the pretzels.

THREE HOURS!!!!

THREE HOURS last night!!! THREE hours, I got THREE hours. I got THREE hours of sleep!!!! Sam slept for a little over three hours straight last night! I don't know when the last time I felt so completely rested. I don't know if it was from the Tylenol I gave him, or if it was something that I can look forward to tonight. On another note, it must seem to the nurses at the doctors office that I am on over-ractive mother. Sam is now 2 and half months and he has been to the office 4 times. On Monday morning Shad suggested I call the doc. and see if we should take him in. He has been sleeping less, and he sounds really congested still. Dr. Mower just looked at me and smiled, "his oxygen level is fine, his nose is clear, his lungs sound good and clear, oh is left ear is a little red. It could be a little ear infection. I will give you an antibiotic that will help if that's what it is. He has had a head cold and sometimes it is followed by an ear infection." Needless to say, I honestly think he gave me the rx to appease me. When we got home I was doing the balance thing with the syringe in one hand and Sam in the other and didn't put the cap on the medicine. Before I finished squirting it in I hear a little noise in the kitchen and Kelton saying uh, oh mom I spilled the medicine. Over half the bottle was now on our Christmas rug...I am sure I will have close to enough to give it to him until Monday, but honestly I don't know if I really need to worry about it.

Every morning this week, the first thing I hear out of Kelton's mouth are how many days are left until Christmas. I have gone over the real meaning a thousand times, but I guess at 8, the pile of presents under the tree are way more exciting. Last night we had the Wall Christmas dinner and thanks soooo much for the Chia pet Michelle, we know where that will end up and how long. The coat from the Matt Wall family "is so warm and cool, like a big guys coat for the mountains", and Ben and Britney you know the tin with the gift card will be on his special things shelf for years to come. Addie looked so cute in her perfect little pants and shinny shoes. The chicken was to die for and it was really a great night.

I am looking forward to Christmas this year and to see Kelton's face in the morning. I never thought that I would have so much fun shopping for someone else. I am so incredibly grateful for my family and love being a mom. Merry Christmas everyone!

I have fallen

So everyone seems to have a blog these days, and says it's so easy. I have been putting it off for while because you can't beat Erica's. Everyday when I get on the computer to work I find myself looking up everyones blog page before I actually do any work. So here we are--the Johnson family of PG doing a blog now too. Peer pressure sucks.

This week has really been a big blur. I still can't seem to get Sam to decide it's ok to sleep during the night and not so much during the day. Last night he was awake from 6-9 so I thought I was going to have a fantastic night. NOPE. He is like clockwork every 2 hours. It doesn't seem to matter how much or how little he eats before he falls asleep, it will still be every 2 hours. He loves to be naked, so everynight when he won't stop crying I get him all undressed and he will just lay on the floor smiling like crazy. I only will let him lay there with no diaper for a few minutes, then put the diaper back on. Within a few minutes he is crying again. If he wasn't so darn cute I think it would be a lot harder.

Kelton is doing really well with school. He got 100% on his spelling test last week, which was a huge thing for him. He always misses 1 or 2, so he was very excited. He is still playing soccer at every recess and swears he is the best one out there.

Sam had his 2 month check last week and weighs a 10.9 pounds. He is right in the average percentile. He is looking more like Shad everyday... Or should I say just like Kelton.

Shad is working a little more than usual right now, but not getting tons of overtime at UPS, so it's nice to still have him home in the evenings to hold Sam for a bit. Last week Shad put on his swimming trunks and took a bath with Sam. Sam loved it, they were in there for over an hour. Shad got all pruny, but Sam was just in heaven and was pissed when I took him out.

Okay, enough for the first blog, I am supposed to be working right now.