The Week

January 4, 2011

With the coming of the new year Max started back at his swim class.  During the holidays he asked many times about when he would go back to swim school.  Since it sounded like he was still interested we signed him up for the next swim semester.  He did great on his first night back.  He looked like he hadn't even missed the last session of 2010.  We were very proud of him and he was happy with himself.  This past week at class his teacher pulled me aside and questioned me about a different class.  YAY Max!  Once again, he is moving up.  This week he will start his first lap class with the older boys.  He is super excited about his advancement into another class.  When we got in the car he had to call his Daddy and both sets of grandparents.  Fingers crossed that it is not too big of a jump from his class, but I'm sure he will see the motivation of the older boys and do great.

January 11, 2011

Ha 1.11.11...fun

With the snow this week, Max has enjoyed some time outdoors.  I snapped a few pictures of him on the "jumpoline" after school.  He loves the way the snow bounces as he jumps.  Mary Kate wasn't too excited about the cold or wet.  She wanted to be picked back up when I sat her down on the deck.

Little Logan

January 1, 2011

Well, I didn't think I would be blogging this quickly into the New Year, but God had other plans as he brought Little Logan to us earlier than expected.  Amanda and Chance welcomed their little boy into the world on New Year's Day 1.1.11 at 7:47am.  He was five weeks early, but looks perfect!  He weighed in a 5lbs 7oz and 17in long and was the first baby born in the county for 2011.  Yay!  Winning awards the moment he was born . . . . that's our boy.  We are looking forward to many FFMs and chip parties with you little Logan.  First one on the calendar is Tahoe in March, better get your skis ready!

New Year's Eve

December 31, 2010

After Carter's Birthday Party, we headed on over to our Culdesac New Year's Party.  The New Year was rang in with great friends and a fabulous game of Minute to Win It.  The Johnsons worked really hard at recreating 15 of the games and all their details.  We then broke up into 10 teams of 2 to battle it out.  I got lucky enough to be matched with Cody (my 19 year old colleigate football player neighbor).  Sweeeet!  We kicked some butt and walked home with the overall win.  Happy 2011!

Cody and Jay attempt to catch 12 pencils off the back of their hand

Max and I celebrate after our victory in the cereal box puzzle game.

Jessica, Shannon, Camille, and Kerry...aka...Queens of the Culdesac

Carter's 7th Birthday

We were honored to get to celebrate Carter's 7th Birthday with him.  They will be driving back to Mexico on his actual day, but we got to party before they left town.  Family and Friends all went to a local Japanese hibachi grill to eat and watch the special cooking talents of the chefs.  I cannot believe he is already SEVEN!  Time goes by too fast.  Max loves his Carter and Emerson!!

Our Christmas

I have spent the afternoon compiling our Christmas pictures into one slide show.  It includes our Christmas Eve at the Kelleys, Santa at our house, and Christmas Breakfast at the Parsons.  Please sit back and enjoy!

This free photo slideshow created with Smilebox

Cookie Party

December 23, 2010

We had our cookie party before Christmas to make lots of good treats.  The kids loved making their own personal cookies for Santa.  It was a real mess, but they all got to ice, sprinkle, and draw on their cookies to their hearts content.  Abby, Amanda, and I kept it together some how or another, but our kids had fun and that is what matters.  Lots of special Christmas Memories.  I am beginning to see that FFMs (Fun Family Moments) sometimes look different from the parent end of the deal!

Abby, Emerson, Carter, & Kayla

Emerson, Abby, Jack, Max, Tristan, & Amanda

Jack, Tristan, & Max

Kayla, Emerson, & Jack

Sawyer & Mary Kate

Jack, Tristan, Amanda, & Max



Garth Brooks

December 22, 2010

On Wednesday night we got our turn to go to the Garth Concerts that had taken over Nashville. Garth planned on doing one show for flood relief, but because so many people went nuts-o over tickets he added more and more shows on to the schedule.  It was stated that he was going to add shows until the tickets stopped selling. The money raised went to the people of Nashville who were affected by all the flooding in the spring.  The mayor reported at our concert (the last of 9 concerts) that the expected economic impact of the series was close to $15 million for the city.  Un-be-liev-able!  It was one of the best concerts I have been to.  The crowd sang along to every song he sang.  Many times during the night he would just play a single cord and the crowd would start the song and carry it all the way through.  Crazy!  We loved the concert and the night out with some of our closest friends.

Crowds blocking the roads

Shannon, Jess, and Abby