Yes, that's really how we used to roll!

There was a time in my life, not that long ago, that doing anything was fairly difficult.  At the time, I think I was in survival mode a lot of the time.  I wasn't as graceful or patient as I could have been, but you know what, we all made it!  This is how we used to have to go shopping.  One day we were making the usual rounds at Costco and my mom happened to run into us. At first she laughed, then she pulled out her camera and snapped this picture of us.  I'm so glad she did because that was such a crazy time, honestly I wouldn't want to go back...child independence is a wonderful thing, but having 4 kids in 4 years really taught me a lot about myself and what I can handle. 

 I have a nearly 0% tolerance for whining.  I yell at my kid way too often.  I love them fiercely and would do anything to protect them.  I'm closer to Kendall now and I'm grateful that our trials and blessings have brought us closer together instead of pulling us apart! Having kids super close together means they all can play really well together, or they are all worst enemies.  There is usually some sort of unity between two of them at a time and then the other two are not as included with the first two, and their loyalty changes frequently {luckily the other two usually form their own club.}  They are also really protective of each other.  {As a side note, I realize we didn't have to go shopping like this, I could have waited for Kendall to get home, but I'm the type of person that gets stir crazy being cooped up all day. Plus, if I was escaping out of the house without children, I'd much rather have it be for something funner than grocery shopping!}

A dad shown up by his four young kids!

Santa brought all the kids new sleds, so this Saturday we had to go test them out on some real hills.  Sam's made a little hill and jump in our front yard, but nothing compared to the ones we found.  This first hill was probably a hundred feet long and a little steeper than I thought the kids would go down.  So first off, Sam jumped right on and headed down.  It was perfect.  Joshy followed right behind.  Then Kendall made a train for him Mags and Jack.

 They were all in heaven!

 It was a pretty good trek back up the hill, but there wasn't any complaining.  They were just so excited to go down again.  The train lasted once, then they were all zooming down on their own.  Even Miss Mags. 

 Even Kendall was excited!

 It was pretty funny because our kids were the youngest ones, but even Jack & Josh trekked up the hill carrying their sleds.

 Josh had to show me the snow on his gloves.  He and Maggie kept eating it off their gloves & sleds.

Josh probably surprised me the most.  He wouldn't even let me hold his sled for him to get on.  He'd hop on and fly down the hill.

 Every day since, this kid has been begging to go back.  He loves playing outside...he'll come home from school and be out in the snow until dark...every day.  I love how happy he is in this picture. He was telling me how fun it was.

 After about an hour of sledding they found this part of the hill.  There were two jumps on this run and it was FAST!  I was freaking out a little, so I made them start halfway down the hill and only one jump...they were mad at me.  Even the little boys were zooming down.

 Then of course, the big boy had to have his turn.

 I was giving him a hard time because the kids would just ride it and not slow themselves down at all, and he kept putting his hands down to slow down.  Man I'm married to one handsome guy.  Not gonna lie, I was liking those snow pants...they are the same ones he wore in high school when we'd go boarding... :)

 So of course, he couldn't be shown up by his little kids.

 Ha ha, but he was!  He couldn't go down the hill without slowing down.  I loved it!  (Let's not mention that I didn't even go down at all; not even once...I get hurt every time I go sledding!)  Then he busted the sled on the second jump.

 It was such a beautiful day, and we had so much fun.

 While we were all busy laughing at Kendall, Jack decided to sneak on the hill from the top.  When I turned to see him, it was too late.  He was at the second hill; flew over it and had a good bounce, whacking his face on the snow.  Poor little choppy...he cut his lip and scratched up by his eye, nose, cheek and chin. 

 Don't mind his filthy face...he got a fat lip almost instantly and his nose swelled up too.  He's loved telling everyone that he got hurt sledding down a jump though.

 We had such a great holiday season.  It was so nice to spend so much time together as a family.  This week has been nice to return to a normal schedule though.  

What a fun week!

On Monday we got to go see the Zoo Lights with Grandma & Grandpa Johnson.  It wasn't exactly what we expected, but we had really fun.  The kids loved seeing the animals that were out.  

 Of course there had to be posing in front of the flexing gorillas.  Kendall is my favorite!  He is such a fun and silly daddy.

 Thanks grandma and grandpa for taking us...we had a blast!

 We normally have the Johnson Christmas party on Christmas Eve and this year we had it the week before, so we had to come up with new plans for a party.  My mom slept over and we had yummy food, watched Home Alone, and enjoyed each others company.  Then the big day came.  I was so excited I could hardly stand it.  I woke up at 4 and could not go back to sleep.  I woke Kendall up at 5 and begged him to let me wake the kids up and he said, "Just let me sleep another 30 minutes."  I said, "Oh fine." Then got up and started getting things ready.  I made a new recipe of Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls that sounded delish. (They were super good by the way!) I had made them the night before and just needed to warm them up and make the frosting.  I got the bacon cooking and waited and waited for everyone to wake up from the yummy smells....NOTHING!  Not even a stir.  Not even my mom woke up.  I woke Kendall up at 6:30 and he got a fire going.  Then Sam came wandering up at 6:45.  FINALLY!!!  He went and woke up the boys and I woke up mom and Mags.  We all kneeled together in family prayer and then the fun began.

 Josh had a rough start...he did not want to be woken up.  But once he saw his toy gun he snapped out of it.  Plus, he couldn't resist the green suckers...his favorite...that Santa brought him.  He opened up all his presents like this.

 The babies got snow boots and pants so they could finally play in the snow.  All the kids got new sleds from Santa.

 Santa brought Jack and Josh these guns.  "Sadly," the batteries have already worn out.

 Maggie got Barbies and outfits to change them into. She was so sweet and excited the whole time.  I love the look on her face in this picture.

Sam got Transformer Construct-Bots stuff.  He was so excited.  This was the face he had all morning.  He kept saying, "This is the best Christmas Ever."

I was excited to be able to surprise my mom.  She got herself a fancy new camera on the Thanksgiving sales so I made her a cute strap cover.  I slipped it on her camera on Christmas Eve, so when she got her camera out in the morning she was surprised to see it on there.  We were so glad she chose to come to our house this year!

 The boys have had so much fun sledding.  I haven't gotten any pictures yet, only video, so I will have to figure out how to post the video.  Jack checking out his new gloves.

 Getting ready.

 We had such a great Christmas this year.  Kendall and I got a fridge and stove in December so that was our Christmas.  We have been so blessed and I feel like the older our kids get the funner Christmas keeps getting!

Argh Matey!

This is Jack giving his best Argh Matey.

And the only picture I could get of Josh not running through the leaves.

I made Maggie a super cute witch costume this year and she wore it to two parties, then for her school party and Halloween she wanted to be her last year's costume of Rapunzel.  I didn't even get a single shot of her in her witchy costume...oh well...maybe next year she'll want to be it.

Cutie patootie Sam wanted to be Harry Potter.  He was so into everything this year.  He was really involved in making his costume and could hardly wait to go trick or treating.  This is going to be a fun age for holidays...love it!

We had a really great Halloween this year.  The kids were all so into it and had really much fun at all the parties they got to go to. 

This year we hosted FHE for Halloween.  We decided to do a doughnut eating contest, and it was by far my favorite game to watch.  So funny!

 

   The kids got all hopped up on candy, and the cousins LOVED giving them more and more.  It's a good thing it's only once a year because they are still coming down from their major highs.

 This is the only picture of Jack as an actual pirate.  I didn't get very good pictures of any of the kids in their full costumes.  Oh well, we were too busy having fun.

 We also had a pumpkin contest.  I think this duck dynasty character may have won a prize.

 These were the prizes for the best costumes.  When I saw these on pinterest, I knew I had to have a party this year so I could make them.  We ended up making two batches of them for the two parties we were involved in so I got to have double the fun.  They make me laugh!

I'm definitely glad this season is over and now on to relaxing Fall!!!

Spencer's Shadows

 On the 13th of October we were able to go to my nephew Spencer's mission farewell.  It was so weird to think of him as all grown up and ready to serve.  I carted that kid around for a lot of years...heck, I was only 10 when he was born, and I used to spend a lot of time up at Jeanette and Brad's houses in Ogden, sleeping over and spending time with their kiddos.  I can't believe how handsome and grown up he is.  He is going to do such an amazing job on his mission and I can't wait to see how much he continues to grow.  I can think of 4 kiddos who are not as excited for him as I am though.  They absolutely adore Spencer and are really going to miss him!

 I'm pretty sure at least one of these boys shadowed him during the whole lunch afterwards.

 Look how much taller he is than me.  I think he's stooping down and I may even have heels on!

My kiddos seriously talk about him every single day, and even though he lives a few hours away from us they always want to drive up and visit.  Luckily they are pretty smitten with the rest of the Atkinson clan too, so hopefully they can make do while Spencer's gone for two years.

Spencer I'm really proud of you and I'm so thankful that you've made the choice to serve!  I know you are influencing at least 4 little people already by your choice.  My kids pray for the missionaries every day and ask for our own missionary experiences since your farewell!  We love you and will miss you tons...but we'll keep in touch!