Lucky # 13

Happy New Year hopefully 2013 will be another great year for the Johnson's. We had a wonderful Christmas here is SC with my mom and Tracy, Santa came and the girls loved every minute of it. We tried to keep the girls balanced on the meaning of Christmas and not let the "I want" be the theme for the holiday. Christmas came and I really expected excited little girls to run down the steps and rip open every present. Instead they just stood there taking it all in. Wishing everyone Merry Christmas, Grace even noticed Santa left stuff for Odie and wanted to open his gift for him first. We finally had to tell them to please open something.  One by one they opened them and were genuinely excited and thankful for each gift. Small things like this make me so proud of them, they surprise me everyday.

Third times a charm

We been here in Charleston for 3 years and just moved into our 3rd house on base.  Although I'm not complaining, two stories with a family room we made into a playroom for the girls. This house is beautiful and I cant wait to have everything settled in. We didn't expect to move so early and already had a trip planned back home so we left before we could finish getting unpacked.
So we are home now and nothing is more stressful then trying to fit everything and everyone into a week and a half visit. We did mange to spend a few days at the Jersey shore, it was bitter sweet taking to girls to the Seaside house and doing all the things I did growing up.
Of course the girls are having a blast playing with their cousins, tomorrow is our big slumber party with them, I'm sure we won't be going to bed early.

playing catch up

Once again I'm neglecting this blog. Summer is here and our days are full at the beach or pool:)
Our family trip to Disney World was a success..of course.

It was a wonderful experience to share these memories with my sister and her kids. One of the highlights for us was having lunch inside the castle with the princess. I expected Grace to be in awe but Jordan's reaction really surprised me. She really loved every minute and was not scared at all of the characters.

After Disney we had a special visit from one of our Air Force families. Military life has so many advantages as well as disadvantages. Growing to love a family and then having them up and move clear across the country is hard.





Just some more fun times

In these pictures Jordan is such a ham but it so funny when she meets someone she wont talk and because she is so small people think she is a lot younger and not as mature. Oh my I think if you only knew. I swear she is too much. Its so different to go from easy going, carefree Grace to persistent cant get anything by her JJ :0) Then again I wouldn't want them any other way.

Nana was able to bring the cousins here for a visit and although having five kids for a week was pretty hectic, it was so worth it. This is where I struggle with living away from our families, I feel like we are in a way depriving our girls from having relationships. But this is also a two way street, they will only grow to know the ones who want to be involved and that make me sad.....but that's a whole other story.

We have so much more to look forward to in the next few months, I will try my best to keep up.

boo boo and boyfriends

Jordan had a rough week, first she ran into Grace and bruised her chin then yesterday she fell face first out of the barbie jeep and scrapped her nose and forehead pretty bad.

Poor thing she is so tiny and I think she forgets shes not as big as her sister. I just hope its doesn't scar.
Something Grace heard in church today spiked her interest, she was asking us questions about taking someones elses wife once we got in the car. Sean explained everything to her and she said like I don't want anyone to take my Noah, because I'm his wife.We laughed and told her no and they are both kids and JUST FRIENDS lol. She was happy with that but said, he is my favorite boy though.

With a smile like that daddy better keep an eye on all them boys.

Moving on up

Its been a crazy stressful yet wonderful couple of weeks. We found out before Christmas that housing was letting people move to mainbase so we signed right up. Later we learned we would have to move ourselves and do all the normal outprocessing (painting) so we decided it wasn't worth it. Well housing called Thurs we looked at houses Friday got keys and starting moving. No packing no planning, but a whole lot of painting. Butttttttttttt now that we are settled in I'm so glad we did!! This house is bigger and a lot nicer.

The girls did really great with the move, I was a little worried about separation issues. Just the thought of something new can be stressful for kids but they were thrilled. I'm sure longer walks and more trips to their favorite base playground helps.
I'm also planning our big Disney vacation, this year my sister and mom are going. We are so excited for the kids. It will be Ryan, Kylie and Jennas first time and its so cool we all are going together. While planning I realized Sean and I will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary by having lunch with Cinderella and dinner with Pooh and Tigger. Last year I said it would be nice to go back to Jamaica where we got married. But Sean and I have so many years to do that. How many more years do we have to take the girls to have Dinner with their favorite character. Its only a matter of time before Grace realizes Cinderella is just another girl with too much makeup and a fake wig.
The fact that Sean is just as excited as me to spend our anniversary this way reminds me of why I love him so much.

Side notes:
Grace...... man she is getting old. I hate to see her maturing but I love watching her and hearing what she has to say. She has been telling us all about Noah.... when they get big he is going to give her a ring and they are getting married. (oh I dont think so)

Jordan......my itty bitty baby. Still mommas girl. She loves her big sister and anything Grace does you know she is going to repeat it. Working on colors and shapes with her is pretty funny. If she doesn't know something she says with a straight face "its a cheeseburger"

Merry Christmas

Santa came and left lots of gifts but more importantly we have lots of fun memories of this Christmas.

 Christmas eve was spent making cookies and getting ready for Santa. Although the girls are not old enough to really help in the kitchen, they did enjoy decorating them.

 We had some friends over for our Christmas eve celebration. Nana made some good food and directed the girls in some festive games.

Christmas morning was everything I had been hoping for. I wanted  to buy them a new Barbie Jeep for a while now. Well Santa delivered, and when they walked into the living room they were so excited. They opened half of their gifts then returned to the jeep to unwrap the rest.

We spent the day in our pjs playing with toys and enjoying every minute. I love the fact that my mom and sister have been able to visit with us the past two years. Sharing it all with them makes it that much more enjoyable.
I'm not sad its over, honestly I'm ready for things to go back to normal. At the same time I already started thinking of next year :)

Merry Christmas

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year

The window is open and I am loving every minute of it........
I realize there is a window of time regarding the "magic of Christmas" Both girls are now old enough to understand why we celebrate but not old enough to start questioning everything. Sean and I have spent many holidays together and the times before we had the girls were special in a different way, but we always though of how exciting it was going to be once we had children to share everything with. I have to admit Graces first Christmas was not all that exciting for her. Maybe it was because she was  only two months old.
Now we are enjoying all the small things, like decorating. Sean gave Grace a Santa and told her she could use it to decorate her room. She ran down the hallway with it so happy and said "oh my, Santa is going to love this"
I have memories of me and my sisters getting in trouble for rushing and trying to put the most ornaments the tree. Grace and Jordan were so sweet, they took time and was looking at each one and had to pick the perfect spot before placing it. Last year Sean let Grace place the angel on the tree so this year was Jordan's turn and after explaining that to Grace she was happy to let her little sister have her turn. We are counting down the days, Chip the elf on the shelf is here watching over them and every morning they are excited to see where he has landed. Grace is singing Christmas songs non stop and saying things like oh mommy I'm so excited its Christmas.
Every day they seem to be closer, we went to the annual festival of lights and they were walking around holding hands.They just make everything so much more enjoyable for us.