Putting up Christmas

We put up the Christmas tree and decorated the Johnson home while listening to the Christmas devotional Sunday night. These pictures probably don't really show, but it does really look pretty. Especially at nighttime with all the lights lit up.

House update

Here are some pictures of the house as of lately. The first picture is the stairs coming to the basement. The kids' area is all down stairs. Their rooms and bathroom as well as the laundry room. There is a log burning stove down there as well. The next picture is of the basement as you walk down the stairs. The next picture is of the pantry that seperates the kitchen from the living room. I am excited about this one, it is a nice sized pantry. The last picture is of the living from the front door. Hard to tell in pictures, but it is coming along pretty well.

More snow today, and very cold!! I am subbing again this week. I am in a 5th grade class. I was a little apprehensive with all the technology that teachers have now, but it all worked out ok. Plus, you always have those students that could pretty much take over the teacher role. I do like being back in the classroom, and I can feel my instincts kick in sometimes. I forget just how demanding being a teacher is, and go home exhausted. I feel for these ladies that work all day, only to go home and have the rest of the day to do more work. I will probably end up going back to teaching full time, but I sure hope it isn't very soon. I enjoy teaching every now and then, but teaching full time is one of the most demanding jobs because you can't just leave it at school, it follows you home.

This Halee is in the 3rd grade. It's crazy to think that this is the grade that I use to teach in school. She is growing and maturing in her thinking as well as her understanding. I can see myself in her so much sometimes that it's scary. She is a good, good girl and walks a straight line! She loves going to achievement days, and she already has a lot of her goals checked off. She made the 3rd grade Christmas musical and is one of the lead characters. She is animated and loves being in front of people. She loves animals and has a tender heart towards them. She is a good sister and loves to take care of her brothers. She is turning 9 years old on Tuesday and I am very proud of her.

This isn't the best picture of Ethan. But anyway, he is in kindergarten and absolutely loves it!! He loves getting up with the kids. Every morning he asks me "Is it school day?" And everyday I answer yes thinking he's going to moan and groan, but he jumps up and says" Thank you!!" He is a funny boy. He has such a personality it's funny. He will ask me to help him with things, and then he'll say "Thank you young lady!" The other day at the store he grabbed the door and said, "Beauty first!" His teacher tells me he says things like that to her and she loves him being around. He is a great sharer and most of the time surrenders whatever it is he has to Dallin for the sake of making him happy. He is like a little man, and he makes me proud to see him around others. He is very kind and thinks about their feelings. When someone is hurt and crying, he sometimes cries because they got hurt. I love this Ethan!!

Kid's school pics

Jeffrey is in the second grade. This picture about sums him up. He is always giggling and thinks things are funny. A lot of things pass over him and he is pretty clueless most of the time =). That is probably why he is always laughing. But, that's ok. He is very social and will talk to anyone. He enjoys talking to adults, and is learning the "correct" way to do that! =)He does think deeply about things as well and is always asking the "why does it have to be that way?" question. He likes science and figuring out how things work. One day the light bulb is going to turn on to the menial things of life, but until then, I love his innocence!

What's facing me today??

This never, never ending story.......

Doth mine eyes deceive me??!

I just filled up my van for #1.74 a gallon!!! Wow. I haven't seen those prices for a looooonnnngggg time. Awesome!! It cost me $37 to fill up instead of $75.. It is a happy day.. Now if the prices at the grocery store would follow the same pattern.. hmmm

A Snowy Day

Today reminded me of two things: the first being the children's Caldecott book called "The Snowy Day" and the other being the Christmas song " Oh the weather outside is frightful...." I believe that the snow is here to stay for the season, but it truly is beautiful throughout the valley.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving reminded me of this children's book. The owner of the house just kept inviting people in and saying," Come awa'in. There's room for one more. There's always room for one more." So travelers and people passing by came on in until his house literally exploded. The Johnson house was filled to capacity over the weekend with siblings and their families. Sometimes we felt like the house would literally explode!! Cousins galore, and we were packed in all the rooms. It was loud, it was crazy, but it was also kind of fun! It was nice when the kids were tucked in bed, and the adults could have fun and play games. We ended it with the blessing of baby Bryce who is doing great! Even great-grandma and grandpa Nicholls were here. I don't have any pictures myself, but maybe I can borrow some to post.