~Happy Halloween~

HaPpY HaLloWeEn!
        I hope it was a super spooky, and bounteous in candy... oh and overly cute in costumes, of course! For us it was all of the above, as much as Maddix didn't like the spooky part! Oh man, there was one home he came to that was decorated to the hilt and as Maddix and Brenna (my sister came Trick-or-treating with us) walked to the door a coffin lid flew open and out popped a skeleton that sent Maddix to the ground in fits! Lucky for him he also had a little friend from the ward (Kendrix Bell) join us at the beginning of our journey and they ended up going door to door together, it was cute.

        Before the sun set and the cute little kiddies began going door to door we were lucky enough to get to carve pumpkins over at my mom's house with one of my life long friends, Vesi and her baby. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of this even, but I did snap some of the final projects tonight we when took my sister home.

These were Bryce's Pumpkins

Mine and my mom's fairies

After the carving we rushed home to eat the traditional mummy dogs, and spooky donuts before changing into our costumes and getting a few photos with Larisa's family before they left.

Little Cuties

Capt Hook,  Princess Aurora,  little fairy, Smee,  and Tafda
(from Wreck it Ralf)

Soon after this we were on our way around the block; and I mean that literally, we barely made it around the block before Maddix and Aaron were spent. I was okay with this because that meant less candy for me to be tempted by, and it was starting to get pretty cold. 

Say Hello to Nanna

Capt. Hook, Nanna, Smee
and Tinkerbell

Enjoying the beginning of the
outing

First stop was to see Summer

This home was doing an electric
show set to the song Sail. 

To end the night Vaughn, Maddix, Aaron, and I hopped in the car and made it over to Grandma Johnson's for her traditional Homemade donuts (they were tasty) and to show her our costumes; unfortunately, the boys didn't quite make it there awake :) 

-Party -Pirate -Past -Out.

...Children...

I don't know how many times I have said, "I'm just too tired," "I'm getting too old for this," or "My body is falling apart." Seriously? I'm 24. TWENTY-FOUR.
Why do I feel so old?

 Because of these lil' ones... these two little goofballs

 I have plenty of friends that are out partying, going to midnight showings of movies, or have a better answer than "Going to bed!" When asked the question, "Do you have any fun plans for AFTER work?"

And when we have cute moments like these just after we wake up in the mornings I'm reminded why I'm satisfied that my best plans after work involve me... and my bed.
Then there are days, like today, that are altogether pretty great.

After Maddix's nap we dropped Aaron off with my mom and Maddix and I went on a Mommy-Son date with some other mom's and his little friends. We went to see Disney's Airplanes and met up with one of his little guy friends, Mattix, and two of his girlfriends, Lilah, and Mercedes.
It was cute watching the difference there was between the girls and the boys viewing the movie. Our two little guys were glued to the movie and into the action scenes, while the girls lost some interest and cared more about what was making the plane sad. Once the movie was over the boys burst out the door and where did they go? Straight to the arcade to play with the guns and ride the motorcycles. Just after that came the two little girls holding their mommy's hands:)

I really enjoy the way these two
are together

Boys will be boys

Halloween Fun!

I am pretty into Halloween this year. I have to admit, Halloween doesn't always motivate me to call it one of my favorite times of the year, but when it's on... oh, it's on! I have enjoyed so many things about this October (aside from not having my husband, that just blows)! The weather, as I've mentioned as been perfect, and the leaves are too good to not be rolled around in, which is what my cousin had the kids out doing today:

Rolling in the leaves

Aside from the weather, October has held a certain type of peace for me. I feel like I've been given this amazing opportunity to show what sort of person I am without the one person who automatically makes me be better. Since Travis has left I am on Mommy duty full time and I really feel like I'm NOT tanking it; there are days that are extremely hard, and I'm not always the most patient, however I'm actually surprised at how much I just LOVE being with the boys, and going to work, and having busy days again. In Poland I had WAY too much time and I procrastinated so many things and now I have To Do lists again... with due dates, and it's wonderful.
That aside, while I've been at work other members of my family have been babysitting the boys and I just want to say Thank you so much to all of you who help us and make it possible for Travis and I to create the life we have. Also, I want to thank everyone for making this holiday such a great one this year. I am just LOVING Halloween this year, and all the celebrations we have been having!

While I had to work Saturday night, my family was kind enough to dress Maddix in his brand new, homemade by my mother-in-law, Captain Hook costume, along with his hook and sword that he saved up for and bought all by himself (he is getting so big), and take him to their ward Trunk-or-Treat. He told me he had so much fun pinning the leg on a spider and chasing a fat man around... don't know who that was, but he made an impression on him. After that party he begged to be put back in his costume; thankfully we had a party at my Grandma Wells' tonight where he was able to do just that thing. Also Aaron's costume was finished as well so we had the whole crew dressed and ready to celebrate!

Little Smee! Everyone
loved him! 

Baby Wars! 

Brenna: Peter Pan, Me: Tinkerbell, Aaron: Smee
Maddix: Captain Hook

Our crew, minus a few older ones

 Can I just say that trying to get all those kids seated together, while my baby was SCREAMING his head off was almost enough to turn me off to the Holiday all together! But in the end it was such a joy to watch the kids light up with excitement as the costumes came out and they went door to door where all us Aunts and Uncles waited behind each door to give them some candy; I love this tradition of going to each room to get the candy, and then when they get to my grandma's door she takes everyone in one by one and gets a hug and hands out the big treats.

Capt. Hook taking out Uncle Scott's eye

Now let me just say that while we were stressfully trying to gather all the children together for a successful photo, I very unwisely handed my phone to my Uncle Robert thinking he would take a photo, even just a decent one... not even a good one. Could I have been more wrong? I ended up with about 30 photos of this:

And this

This one

These

These ones

And this...Seriously???

What was I even thinking? Thank goodness I have other family members taking photos!

The Light In My Life

I love love love sunshine, don't you? There is something about sitting out in the grass, on a blanket,  and reading a book, or just watching my son lay on the blanket, just feeling the sun rays soak into my skin; it feels so much better than laying in my room doing the same thing. So that is what we did today and the past few as well: just enjoying the SUN. Can I just say what a BEAUTIFUL fall this has been? I haven't seen a more perfect fall in ages.

Afternoon Walk, plus a nap

Afternoon play, plust a nap

laying on a blanket in the
sun, plus a nap

Aaron's first time in a swing
(dressed for Halloween)

Add in a few other walks, and trips to the park with little friends from the ward and I think it's safe to say we have been enjoying ourselves... Too bad it's supposed to come to an end next Tues; guess it will be time to enjoy things indoors, we're good at that seeing as last winter lasted 7 of our 10 months in Poland! 

Speaking of Poland, that's where Travis is... have I mentioned that? 

I'm really glad we were fortunate enough to get the iOS 7 for free before he left (I think that's what the phone is... I just had to ask my brother-in-law). I learned how to use it and guess how great it's been? It's been a life saver with Travis gone. At any moment I can reach him with facetime on his i-pad, I'm constantly snapping moments that I wish he were here for so he doesn't miss out, and I can pull up the internet/movies at night when I'm feeding Aaron (which is ideal since Maddix is asleep just above me in his bunk).  These next photos are some of the shots I've been sending to Travis and they may not seem significant right off the bat, but they were precious moments that I didn't want him to miss out on, or me to forget:

First time building a
homemade pirate ship

Aaron's first time holding
himself up, unassisted

On our way to the Play date
at the park with friends
from the ward.

Realizing next year Maddix
will be big enough to wear costumes
that my brother used to wear
(he's a little boy, not a toddler!)

Said he was an Army Guy and
wanted daddy to see it

Everyone is always saying it, "life goes by too quickly." I've said this so many times, and yet it seems to be the theme for my life. If anyone ever made a slide show with photos of my life it would have to be titled, "I Had The Time of My Life... but could never quite hang onto it!" 

It never ceases to amaze me how blessed of a life I have. To some, they may think, "Oh, I bet you can't wait until you have a girl" or "you must be so alone while Travis is away in Poland." But the truth is I think I couldn't be the mother of a little girl right now, something the Lord knows very well about me, as well as that I would need little boys to keep me company while my Husband is away. 

He is in every aspect of my life; from the biggest choices that we're making, like Med school, to the smallest details like blessing me with boys first. He knows I am too rough and short tempered for a little girl right now, just as he knows Travis could never have been happy settling for something he didn't have to work hard for, and he blesses us accordingly. I have felt for some time now that I needed to express my gratitude to the Lord, as well as let those who read my blog know some of what I believe:

I am a Mormon (to the world), or a member of the church of Latter Day Saints more correctly. 

I am not a bible thumping, public praising, Gospel singing type of person, but the Lord is just as much the cornerstone of my life (and I have nothing against anyone that worships that way, I'm just saying that's not the way I am).  I believe that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings, as well as that you can feel the fleeting promptings of the spirit in your life when you need help, but that you cannot have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost unless you a worthy person, who lives the covenants they have made. 

I think there is nothing more important than trying to live like Jesus did, and emulate his EXAMPLE; example is the key word. I never realized, until I left Utah for awhile, just how important the smallest things we do in our day affect those around us. Really, everything you do and say is being seen and observed my someone around us. 

I know that missionary work is irriplaceable in this world today and the war that is continuously raging all around us. I like to think of our missionaries today as a modern stripling warriors: they've been raised by righteous mothers, they're led my an amazingly strong Prophet. And instead of fighting with weapons of war, they come prepared with The Book of Mormon, investigative lessons, and the spirit. No matter what you struggle with in your life, know that Satan may be winning the battle, but he will lose the war... and missionary work plays a PIVOTAL part in that; missionary work doesn't lie with those on actual missions either. 

I know that when he make a promise, and we truly keep it... 

When the intent of our heart is to please God always, and our actions match that...

That when we put others needs in front of our own...

And when we have an open mind, and a humble heart we will find the truths we seek, and they will lead us back to Heaven. 

AND in Heaven, we will find all our loved ones who also lives worthily; that through the Atonement of Christ we can live with our families for eternity in complete happiness. 

Playing House

For the past week the Johnson's were fortunate enough to go to California for Bryce's homecoming celebration. Where we had just visited California for our friends wedding, we couldn't turn around and go again so we decided to take the time alone in the house and make it our own vacation. I had to work most the days they were gone, but the times I wasn't working we were making the most of our time together!

First time holding a bottle

New Hairdo and birthday
coat

We worked on puzzles, enjoyed many walks in the remaining good weather, slept in separate rooms while they were available (which would have been great had my boys not been sick and up all night anyway... darn), had some movie nights, started Insanity, read lots of books, had some playdates and my favorite, was our first Family Home Evening Activity since Poland! 

My sitters one night while
I went to work

Pirate walk with Uncle
Colton

This was Aaron's 4:30am bath
after being up all night with
a backed up tummy

After spending the morning with my brother, then the afternoon with my baby sister, we had an F.H.E activity that started with scripture stories, followed by a song, and then we made cookies to give out.

Final cookie products

Then on Tuesday we were lucky enough to have a friend come over and help us finish baking our cookies. Although much of the time Maddix was extremely whiny and back in his room in time out, there were a few minutes that the two children got along long enough to play! It was pretty fun watching these two creating their own cookies and placing them in various spots on the tray. Some cookies were spiky, others were miniature. In the end we straightened them into rows and then divided them up so each child could take their creation with them; Maddix ate his gone in like 5 mins flat! 

Rolling out their
own cookies

Squishing and sharing just long
enough for a photo
then they were sad when I wouldn't
let them play in it:) Mean mommy all
over again! 

That evening a beautiful storm was rolling in and the valley just seemed Golden in the even light so we grabbed our strollers, my V.T. companion and we walked around the ward boundaries visiting our sisters. I really enjoyed the walk and being able to get to know my companion a little more. On the walk Maddix decided at one point to hop in the bottom basket of my stroller and called it his Pirate ship :) His attitude on the walk and his imagination as we walked home with him hidden in his little ship were probably my favorite "Maddix Moment" of the whole week. When we got home we fixed some dinner, put on an end of night movie and enjoyed time as a family; I just loved Monday and Tuesday so much! 

P.s. After a lengthy and complicated ordeal at Best Buy where I had to return my brand new cheapo laptop because it came broken, only to find out that model was discontinued in the week that I had purchased it and all sorts of PC problems.... we became Mac people: 

Say Hello to Peach... yes I just named my computer on the spot, just here and now, but it's fitting because she has a pink apple sticker on the back that makes her different... also it's pretty late and I haven't slept much in the past week so I'm getting a little weird as the night goes on, but ANYWAY, this is our new laptop. In the years our family has rotated through laptop after laptop, my sister-in-law has had the exact same Mac... so somehow we became those people who have an Apple phone (it was free), and i-pad (necessary purchase when you're constantly flying 17 to 18hrs), and now the computer; now the hope is that this laptop was a good investment and it will last us through the rest of Med school, until we're actually making legitimate money.... someday:)