The Adventures of the Johnson Clan: Our Theory on the phases of an Iowa Winter

When we lived in Poland we could always tell what sort of weather we would need to dress for

by looking out the window and assessing which winter wear the old women were dressed for.

Phase 1: Trendy coats

Phase2: Winter coats

Phase 3: Long- puffy coats

Phase 4: Pelts... where they'd look like bears walking down the streets, all bundled in their REAL fur coats/hats.. some of the hats still possessed the heads and paws from the animals they were made from. We always knew it was a day we didn't want to go out if the pelts were out an about.

Now, as the future would turn out, Poland WASN'T the coldest place we'd end up living, Hello Iowa!

After almost 3 years of living here, I think we're figuring out how the winter goes here.

Phase 1: Sudden shock cold- Bring out the winter coats

Phase 2: A little warm back up- Trendy coats

Phase 3: Snow and winds- too cold to play outside!- Winter coats

Phase 4: Freezing ice, winds, and it's WAY too cold to snow!!! -Don't leave your house! Keep your heaters on at all times, drip all the faucets, don't be outside for more than 5 mins or you'll get frostbite, and bundle up in your homes!

And then it goes back to phase 3, then 2, then 1.

These phases last from October until May.

And then the rain starts and basically lasts until the end of June.

So we've got a little bit of cabin fever going on as the town has shut down several times. We've reached -60 F!!!!

We've had 9 snow days and just received an email that from now on we will have to start making up any snow days from here on out, bleh!

So I haven't been blogging because I feel like between the weather, on and off sicknesses (not nearly as bad this year as others), and being so pregnant, there just really isn't anything concrete to report!

We are on each others' nerves.

There is so much pent up energy between these three kids + the dog, my house has something broken every couple of days.

The weather's been so bad that even half our indoor basketball games/practices end up cancelled!

In short, not so short, WE'VE ALL GOT CABIN FEVER!!!

TRAVIS

He's been going to the gym most mornings and running/lifting.

He coaches Maddix's basketball team on Tuesday evenings.

He rotates going to Mutual with me each week.

Plays basketball with the guys once a week.

Goes and plays racquetball on the weekends (thank you for no weekend shifts the past two months!)

He's been working some moonlighting shifts to save up for a mountain bike.

He goes on weekly date nights with me.

We attended a work bowling night in which we shared a broken and "magical lane" that seemed to give us more points that necessary, and short us pins on other turns... and would spit the balls back down the lane every few turns, instead of sending it up through the machine.

And...

I'm sure there's more, but I just can't think of it at the moment. All these snowy days just roll into one!

LACEY

I am in a spot of this pregnancy where I only have spurts of energy. One day I can clean the house from top to bottom, make it to the gym, and have quality time with each family member.

The next day i'll barely make it through a 20 minute stretching video, and then have to nap the rest of the day!

I've finished 7 audio books this year so far.

I coach Aaron's basketball team with another friend.

I coach Maddix's team with Travis.

I'm ready for the season to be over! HA Ha, but no, it's fun!

My wonderful friend, Jodi hosted a "baby sprinkling" where we went to dinner with a group of our gal friends and and played some shower games.

I have mutual I rotate with Travis.

I am a taxi driver... or maybe an Uber driver; that sounds a little more modern.

I constantly dream about the future and living somewhere we can be outside year round.

I love all my friends here.

I've also started dreaming about the day I won't be pregnant anymore, and I start to exercise heavier than now (i've had to slow it down a little because of frequent contractions); I really want to start triathlon training after I have the baby and compete in one during our Utah trip in July.

My belly button has completely popped... and I hate it!!

I just completed a 6-week health challenge that not only focused on nutrition, but also getting your life in line.

e.g:

You earned points for healthy diet, drinking enough water, sleeping at least 7hrs/night, no soda, creating a new healthy habit (Mine was staying caught up on laundry), dropping a bad old habit (Mine was to no longer leave my kitchen dirty at night), etc. It was so good in an all around way of getting my life together, and really helped me during this part of my pregnancy when I really think I've been needing it the most! Especially staying hydrated!

I have had some massive contractions and anytime I slightly get dehydrated I end up having to put my feet up and take it really easy because I get the strongest contractions, lower back pain, and pelvic pain!

Oh... I turned 30; that happened.

We had basketball the whole day and the boys forgot to even wish me Happy Birthday until the day was almost done.

Travis made a nice dinner AND a delicious cheesecake!

He bought me a beautiful dress for his residency graduation in June (hence, I really want a good workout routine so i'll FIT it come June!)

MADDIX

Has been doing a wonderful job in basketball. He has been great at defense all season, but these last few weeks he's really come alive on offense and made a few impressive baskets.

He's been practicing piano and really progressing.

With all the days out of school, we've had some rough days, but overall he tries his best to be a loving big brother, helpful son, and good friend.

He loves his chemistry set he got for Christmas, reading, playing Red Alert when he earns screen time, wrestling with his dad, playing boardgames with mom, and is currently reading Chronicles of Narnia with Travis each night (the other night Travis even built a fire for them to read in front of).

He just participated in his school's second grade musical performance.

He's looking forward to taking soccer season off and getting ahead on baseball season.

(And both boys attended a baptism for their friend. And "The best birthday party, ever" for another friend. And they both had haircuts this past week. And they loved having Addie and I show up to eat lunch with them at school. And they've both enjoyed going and playing at the gym to get out of the house on our snow days.)

AARON

He. Is. In. A. Stage!!!!

(Fits, eye glares, lying, mischievousness, sneakery, etc)

But then the next minute he can look up at with you those BIG green eyes and long lashes and offer you ALL the love in his big heart!!

I read with him at night and his reading is coming along so well! He likes to lay his head up on my chest and wrap his hands around my stomach to feel Avery. He talks to Avery. Sings to her. Lets her know how much he wants her to get here. And prays for her and her quick arrival every night.

He loves it when we invite the dog up into his bed for our book time and I let her stay with him while he falls asleep.

He doesn't really like basketball and is ready for it to end. He just wants spring and baseball season!

He asks up every few days if we can just move to Utah already.

Still loves to help in the kitchen as much as he can! He loves to cook.

He went to the dentist and had a spacer put in. He handled it like a champ. Then it fell out that afternoon, and the next day he handled it like a champ when he had it re-inserted.

Loves the simple things in life.

Also, so hard to handle sometimes!!!!!!

ADELINE

She is a cute little bundle of terror!! Oh my heavens she is so cute, funny, personable, and helpful.

She is also a real handful!

Today alone I found her in my room standing in the dog's water dish. Ten mins later she was in her room yanking out every wipe and scattering them all over her floor.

She throws monstrous fits if she ever gets her hand a on a phone and then has it taken away.

She can get into anything.

She climbs everything.

She is AMAZING at mimicking noises back at us; especially if we're singing a simple tune like, "La, la, la" and the we switch to "ma, ma, ma." She can not only say the correct amounts of la-la's to ma-ma's, but she can keep the tune you sing!

She is learning words left and right.

She loves hats; especially Travis's beanie.

She loves her necklaces that she stole from Aaron.

She is my hardest and worst napper. She is very inconsistent!

The CUTEST things that is all our favorites is when she goes to bed she'll yell, "Luh you!!!" for Love you. We will yell it back, then she'll say it again, and again, and we can end up in a "luh you/love you" conversation for as long as we can last... she won't give up; it's so cute!!

And she loves to throw the ball! She brings us basketballs all the time and wants to play!

Today we are celebrating Valentine's Day since we couldn't on Thursday. We made these "cute" heart pancakes I found on pinterest... it was a major pinterest fail.

We made our traditional Kisses shaped Krispy treats.

We are going to have a big dinner.

And say one thing we love about each other... considering Maddix currently has Aaron in a leg-headlock I don't know how well a calm tender moment will go....

again...

WE HAVE CABIN FEVER!!

WE'RE ALL GOING MAD!!!!!!!!!!!

When did he get so tall... and old?

Loved showing her off at school

One of our hot breakfasts one snowy morning

My veggie rolls on a date night with Travis:)

Valentine's day pancake fail. The left: pinterest. Right: how they
really turn out!

The boys loved this assembly of performers that came to their
school

I leaned in to smell my birthday flowers...
and ended up with a face of pollen,
and it only spread when I'd try to
wipe it away

They each worked on puzzles one snow day

She LOVES her brothers!!

My little Galentine.

There's even more snow now. Now you can't see the mailbox
anymore...

F.H.E. activity: Laser tagging!

My valentines day gift. I crave ice every
minute of every day during the end of
my pregnancies.
(no, i'm not anemic)

My birthday cheesecake

33 weeks

34 weeks

I was on the sitting bike and I looked down into
the daycare and found that Addie had pulled
her blanket out of the bag and was
walking around, cuddled in it.