Handy men working hard!

Earlier this month, we replaced the faucet in the front bathroom at my mom's house. It was fun to do and it is so much easier for Calder to do all by himself. It looks great and works great too!

Pirate ships

This is on the Columbia River with a ship from Pirates of the Caribbean movie. This was at the beginning of December and we went with some friends, who so graciously took our picture. It wasn't as cool as we expected because they had just let the last group on board (teenagers and adults) and said they wouldn't have anymore until the next day. Let's just say we let our disappointed kids express their feelings of sadness as loud as they could.

Trick or Treat!

Here's our brave knight.
A witch must have put a spell on him because all he could say all night was "meow, meow".

Here's our little dragon.
And the enchanted sword off to the bottom that couldn't defeat him.

Well here are the boys dressed up for Halloween! We were going to all dress up as Monster's vs. Aliens but due to sewing machine malfunctions it wasn't possible this year. Jeff did dress up in his HAZMAT suit but somehow we didn't get a picture of that. I am sure I will get some better pictures of Halloween from some friends we went with. We had a "trunk or treat" in our church parking lot and we went to one family friend's house on the way home, and that was plenty for our boys. We had one group of about 5 or 6 kids show up at the house around 8pm but that was it! Needless to say they got HUGE handfuls of candy from our bowl. Phaelen knows what candy is and points and grabs for it when he wants some. Calder asks for candy for all of his snacks, but only gets some after he has something healthy. We also went to a little carnival that our church put on with fun stuff for the kids to do and win prizes and went to a chili cook-off at my dad's church the weekend before Halloween. It was a lot of fun and we are still eating our candy, but I don't think it will last until Thanksgiving.

Update!

Well the Johnsons are still plugging away at applications, testings and traveling in search of firefighting jobs for Jeff. We got pretty close in Jerome, ID but no luck. We were really disappointed to say the least and hope that we find something that fits just right and soon. So, here is an update on each of us in the pack.
Jeff is an official volunteer for East County Fire & Rescue and works part to full time (depending on holidays) at an events rental supply company. Jeff is also the Sunday School Secretary, which is quite a task because they haven't had one in 3 years. Jo is in school again working hard at getting her degree as a graphic designer plus staying home with the boys. She is also the Primary Secretary and the YW's coach (volleyball & basketball) at church.
Calder is enjoying learning, and was in a preschool last month and did really well. We are in the process of switching schools so he hasn't gone this month which has been sad. Calder likes writing numbers more than letters and loves learning things about animals and science. He also likes music and regularly sings along to songs on the radio. But don't single him out or expect a performance because he gets shy.
Phaelen is enjoying growing up and embracing big boy things like a new car seat, whole milk, sippy cups, lots of food, lots of teeth, shoes, climbing, jumping, running, and all time favorite of screaming.
We are excited for the holidays to come this year but also wish for a job to get us back on our own feet! Thanks for everyone's support and love in this hard process. We know a lot of people are out of jobs and we are blessed to have the option of living with family until we find something better.
Keep checking back to our blog for pictures of Halloween costumes and other fall festivities!

It's here!

I have started my creative blog people. Thanks to all and hope you all enjoy it. But remember I can't do it all alone, so participants will be needed.

My first assignment is from myself and will be a customized masthead, aka title.

http://creativejojohnson.blogspot.com/

Creative inspiration? YES PLEASE!

(note: I didn't draw the above picture)


To all of my lovely family & friends who read our family blog...

I think I am going to start my own blog, but only on the conditions of help from all of YOU. Yes, this blog will require participation which in turn will become my inspiration. I need to develop and exercise my artistic abilities. I feel it in my bones and it aches! Not only will this help myself but all of you as well. This is how I think it will work:

1. I make my blog

2. I post a theme or general idea

3. You comment and give specific requests related to that theme or idea

4. I pick one or more and create it

5. I post my completed project for all to see

and then the steps 2-5 cycle through again.

So? What do you think? Let me know and we'll see what unfolds.

Happy 1st Birthday Phaelen!

Well this is nearly a month late, but oh well. Phaelen's 1st birthday was spread out, but not in the same way Calder's was. We never really had a "sit-down" celebration, it was kind of disbursed throughout a few days. You know how schedules can be with kids...it was too late, not everyone was home, we didn't have any presents yet, we had to make the cake, etc. So we finally just did what we could when we could. Luckily, family was a little more insistant on the whole celebration thing and Phaelen had two "candle ceremonies" and a handful of presents. Thanks to all who contributed and planned better than we did! Seriously we were lucky to catch some photos.

Summer time fun

Here are some cute pictures from the summer so far. If you haven't experienced the crazy Johnson family in real life - at least you can get a glimpse through the pictures on our blog. Sorry it's been over a month!

Dancing

This one is from yesterday, or the day before, any ways he likes to "dance" and make noise while doing it. This is really interesting to me because Calder did the same exact thing but did it at the same time he learned to walk. We used to say he was "revving" his engine and peeling out before he could walk forward. I'll have to do a comparison when we get Jeff's computer up and running and I can find the files with Calder's photos and video.

More walking video

Ok this one was about July 7th. I know this because Calder is wearing his new Birthday pajamas that he got from Grandma J when we went there for the 4th. Phaelen could walk a lot better and longer but he was really tired and kept falling over.

More walking video

So here we are again trying to get Phaelen to walk. This was the same day as the video before but you don't have to witness me sniffling and looking miserable in this one. I am so glad that my allergies are gone! That was torture so say the least, but it happens as the seasons change and mostly spring/summer.

Phaelen walking!

Here it is...he just keeps getting better! We will post more pictures later of other recent events.

More Boise fun pictures

Calder loves his "green" aka mint ice cream! No chocolate chips though.

Funny picture of Uncle Brian, Calder and Jo waiting for their ice cream after playing/watching baseball in Boise on Saturday. Those present but not visible: Aunt April, Grandma B, Uncle John, Aunt Bethany, baby Max and Phaelen.

Trip to Boise, ID

Here is a picture of the "Barnum" family that was able to make it to Boise for Max's blessing at church. The weather was nice and though the trip was long and tiresome, MomB, the boys and I made it there and back. The boys and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family and having fun together too, most of the time. If you ever think that Calder doesn't talk, just stick him in a car and he won't stop talking or making noise until you turn the engine off! The previous week had been difficult for all of us with Jeff gone in Montana and Idaho, but hopefully it will get him closer to getting a firefighting job. We are just glad to have been able to make such a trip and show our love and support for Bethany, John and Max!

Jeff graduated!

Jeff is on the bottom row and second to the right.

Above: Here is the plaque. I didn't even see it put together until the ceremony. Hopefully Kathy & Dann got a few better pictures, but here is what came out on our camera.
Below: Jeff about to shake the hand of his main instructor Professor Milne. He was walking really fast so he is blurry, but I had 2 kids to wrestle. Calder kept asking "where is daddy?" really loudly and standing up on the chair.

CONGRATULATIONS JEFF!

EASTER!

Don't the boys look nice all matching? Lots of people at church remarked at how nice they all looked. We even got Calder to wear his clip-on tie so he matched Dad and Phaelen. He still doesn't trust me to put it on since I pinched him once or twice like 2 years ago putting one on him. I am going to get those zipper ties ones or real ones before we leave Utah.

The boys enjoyed their Easter goodies. I ran in the house after we got home from church to set it all up and Calder was super excited, like usual. I love how excited he gets (because you know he doesn't get that trait from me). Phaelen didn't get any candy but he got some new tasty baby snacks and a fun chewable book. Calder got some new paint, an egg he picked out a few days before with Car movie stickers inside and jelly beans, plus a crazy fast bunny tricycle jelly bean toy (Thanks Grandma Kathy for sending those). And of course we all got the traditional Reese's carrots we all love but are getting harder and harder to find every year. Maybe we'll just "make" our own next year.
Dessert was our family's assigned contribution to the Barnum-Barnum-Johnson Easter meal. This was my 4 layer masterpiece that quickly slumped over and was put into a deep clear bowl and then served. I was so upset, but another lesson learned with my "masterpiece" cakes attempt. It was two cake mixes, white and chocolate, with vanilla pudding mixed in to make it more sponge-y and then some vanilla pudding/whipped cream filler and lime juice sugared sliced strawberries. I even froze it in intervals but I guess not enough because it "melted" and fell over in the last stages of assembly. It was super good still! We had tons of fun at Garrett & Kricket's and thanks for the extra toys and candy Brian & April. We love spending time with you guys!

Utah Fire & Rescue Academy Class 52

This is Jeff's Fire Academy class (#52) and I will be designing a plaque to honor their training to become official fire fighters. I can say that before graduation because they took their state Firefighter 1 & 2 tests today and everyone passed! Whoooo! Go team! Now for the rest of the month they train and test on hazardous materials until the end of the month. Jeff's good friend Jake took a bunch of pictures and I think this is one of the best. Wish us luck in the coming months for Jeff to get a job. I am so proud of my wonderful and "hot" husband.

Camping!

Yes, we went camping. The weather here has been amazing that last few days and so we went out to the "desert" where Jeff used to work with troubled youth. We also had one of Jeff's Academy buddies come with his 3 boys and their four wheelers. It was a lot of fun and Phaelen did really well camping. This photo was right before we left. He escaped the blanket and took a crawl in the dirt. Yummy.

This was before the escape. Jeff set up this photo of Phalen's first "rock climbing" experience.

Me cooking oatmeal on our little stove with Calder playing in the dirt and Phaelen chewing on some water bottles. Who needs toys?

A really cute photo that was the best we could get of the boys smiling and looking up at the same time. Calder has such a fun time playing with the other boys. They thought he was pretty funny too. Oh, that is a teething biscuit in front of Phaelen. I didn't let him chew on rock, sticks or dirt... for the most part.
AND Jeff took the photos, except when he was holding Phaelen.

What Phaelen has been up to....a lot

Well here are his bottom two teeth, at 6 months. And the slobbery wet shirt that goes along with that lovely event of teething. He now, at 7 months, has his top two front teeth but it is really hard to get them in a photo. He loves brushing (aka chewing on his tooth brush) his teeth too. Oh and along with the teeth he gets to eat lots of food too! He likes: sweet potatoes, peas, butternut squash, regular mashed/baked potatoes, green beans, teething biscuits, and our home made apple sauce. He doesn't do well with carrots, bananas, or pears. Too much acid or vitamin C?

Here he is crawling/scooting for the first time and being successful, at 7 months. I don't think I'll ever get a break from these boys moving around! This was about 3 weeks ago. Note: this was at 6am so we are whispering so Calder doesn't wake up.

Here is one about 1 1/2 weeks ago. He is making progress fast!

So this is a photo of his sitting up, and then going to crawl mode/stance. He doesn't sit still for very long...just my luck.


And here is climbing. He wasn't fully satisfied just crawling, he wants better access and a better view of the world around him.


Now here is some more climbing, but the added new of these cool diapers we found! They are called "g diapers" and it's like a mix between cloth and disposable. It is basically an outer "cloth" diaper with Velcro tabs. Then a water proof snap-in liner with elastic around the edges to make them more leak proof. Then you put an insert in that is... flushable! Yes that is correct. You can flush it, compost it, or just throw it away. They biodegrade in 50-150 days! Not 500 years like regular disposable diapers. And you don't have to wash stinky cloth diapers in your washer or by hand. Google it and you can understand more if you like.

Here is the latest on Phaelen's speed and cute chubby smile!

The 6th photo in the 6th folder in the 6th folder

Ok, so this photo is of my cute Dad at our wedding reception in Montana with his huge ancient video camera. Doesn't he have an awesome smile! This photo really catches his personality too. Thanks to our wonderful photographer lady for that reception, she really caught a lot of good pictures that day.

Thanks April! I had to do this because we have so many pictures on our computer I had absolutely no idea what was going to come up and thankfully it isn't anything embarrassing. You know something like me ultra pregnant, or a dumb picture of an old apartment, etc. With our family being sick and all I have had a lot of "down/quiet" time in the last few days. Which is nice for both napping and doing things that I don't usually have a lot of time to do that I enjoy, like blogging!

Jam session, take 2

Phaelen is much more accomplished than any of us thought! Well, it helps that he can sit up for a long time now too. He is almost crawling as well...I am afraid.

Attack of the Phaelen!

Ahhhh! Run for your lives! It's Phaelen the sea creature devourer! Global warming isn't why the sea creatures are dying...it's a teething monster baby who's eating them all! He especially likes squid! Swim away creature of the sea! Swim away!
Yes that is correct. Phaelen is getting another tooth, on the top this time. Oh and just in case anyone took this seriously, he doesn't really eat sea creatures.