Answers

Before Christmas we were fasting and praying that we might have the means to finish building our house. Well, not long after that, I was offered a long term subbing job at one of the elementary schools. We then realized, that this might be what we needed. Although it is a sacrifice to leave Dallin, and have someone else pick the other kids up from school, it will definitely help pay the bills. It will also help us to work together, as mom can no longer be the only one "pushing" things along in the morning, I now have to get myself ready. This job is definitely out of my comfort zone, and a ton of paperwork being in the special ed part, but I will learn a ton I can see. It will also sharpen our organizational skills by getting things done and ready the night before.

3rd grade musical

On Thursday, Dec. 18th, Halee's 3rd grade had their Christmas musical. It was very well done. She was excited to have gotten a lead role as "Little Red Riding Hood." She worked hard memorizing lines, and she even had 2 songs that she sang. Her Grandma Beckie made her the little red hood for her part. It was called "A Storybook Christmas." Santa's elves were tired of hearing the same old nursery rhymes, so they decided to change them up. The wolf and his two weasel followers were the main guys finding out how the stories had changed. The 3 little pigs were now interior decorators after the wolf destroyed their homes, and little Red Riding Hood was now into whole foods. She doesn't do sweets anymore, but has an organic deli in which she tries to convince the wolf is better for him. In this song,she sings about spices and natural foods, an "almost turkey dinner," that will make his "palate rejoice." She was great, very animated and seemed like a natural on the stage. I just put a little bit of it here, but it was a very, cute well done play.

Jeffrey behind the camera

Last night we were sitting at the school gym waiting for the 3rd grade Christmas musical, and Jeffrey grabs the camera. Pretty funny. Dallin and Ethan were his victims, he took one of me as well, but I burned that one.. heehee

Bald Eagle on the fence

The other day I pass by the windows and see 2 bald eagles sitting on the fence post behind the house. wow! There was a bunch of smaller birds on the fence and then these two awesome huge birds sitting on the post!! I couldn't zoom in close enough, but wow that was cool. Then the next time I walked past the window, one was caught in the barbed wire fence. I got all suited up and bundled up with huge thick gloves, because I knew he would fight me, but I was going to help this huge bird. Well, by the time I got out there, he had managed to get himself free. whew. That was a close one.

Crazy Hats

The kids put on some funny snow hats before going outside to play. Dallin will finally join the kids for a picture instead of crying or running away!!

Gas prices

Gas is now $1.49 a gallon at the Maverick in town! What a drastic change, from just under $4 a gallon, to under $2!

Halee is 9

On Tuesday, December 9th, Halee turned 9 years old. She took Christmas Oreo's as treats for her class, then when we were all home, we had cake and ice cream and a few presents. Then we headed to the church for the ward Christmas party.

I hope she feels celebrated, and knows that she is loved!!

Happy birthday, Halee!

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.