The Adventures of the Johnson Clan: Our Simpler Life

It's funny.

We've taken out all the extras from our life and we don't go anywhere, see anyone, or have to get a specific anything done each day; however, the days seem busier than ever and are just flying by.

Each morning we take our time with breakfast; one boy assists me in making breakfast, while the other is in charge of watching the puppy. During breakfast we take our time with our ComeFollowMe Lessons; this is perhaps my favorite part of the day. From these lessons, I can see the wheels in my children's heads spinning the rest of the day. We seem to have honest and unprompted conversations far more often just because they are really engaging in our scripture studies and they just crave to know more!

Afterward we either head out for a quick walk (if the weather is doable, which isn't often), or we jump into our schoolwork. Math and writing workbooks, history, piano, and art are pretty standard each day.

The boys also do 30-60mins of reading/ipad learning, where one reads and the other is on the iPad and then they switch.

Each morning they make their beds right away and pick up their bedroom. And each day they help with 15 mins of laundry/cleaning. And then end the night with either helping clean up from dinner, exercising the puppy, or quickly picking up the upstairs; they're quite helpful!!

I seem to have a child (or dog) by my side every minute of every day and sometimes that can be quite overwhelming. In other ways it reminds me of what an honor it is for me to be a stay at home mom that doesn't have to work. That I have have four healthy children that I get to watch hit milestones and enjoy the blessings this world has to offer; I never want to take that for granted.

The other night after singing the girls to bed, the boys wanted the same. So we opened the blinds to watch the last of the daylight reflecting off the quickly rolling storm clouds, and we laid our blankets on the floor, conveniently over the heater, and I sang to them. They rested their heads on my chest as I tickled their backs, and I couldn't stop thinking about how these moments are limited and I don't want to miss any of them. I'll have a life time to go to bed with a clean house or to watch endless movies and each ice cream, but the days where the want to snuggle my side and just hear my voice lull them to sleep...

... Well I just need to enjoy each one for how special it is.

Travis

This man is amazing. He never complains about the demands he faces at work; even though they're great. He just rolls with it as if it's truly the blessing it is (it takes me longer to find the blessings in the unwanted changes). He's not only been in extra meetings as the hospital has worked on a plan for handling COVID-19, but he also was informed that he was one of the only people they could rely on to run the COVID-19 floor... nightshifts. It's like residency all over again: long shifts, weekends, and nights... and he now gets the added pleasure of wearing different clothes/shoes in and out of work and has to wear this crazy hazmat type suit and mask each time he's on the floor. His poor body is struggling to switch back and forth on the hours he runs, but he hasn't complained once. He's constantly researching the newest data on best treatments and how each treatment varies depending on if person is young/old, healthy/already prone to illness, etc.

He's a trooper.

And at home he just pitches in and makes due with whatever hours he's given with us.

This weekend his focus was on trying to obtain a play set for the kids to have this spring/summer.

And tonight to end fast Sunday, he prepared this AMAZINGLY tasty pot roast, homemade rolls, gravy, and salad........ oh yum; it was worth the wait!

Lacey

I...... am embracing my role as a mom. I'm living with clutter (something I hate). I'm trying to play with the kids. I'm rarely on my phone. I actually sat down and participated in an art project with the kids for a few days there; the assignment was to draw your own personalized treehouse. It was so much fun to create and see what the boys came up with. I'm struggling with this puppy. I'm also struggling with my eating... I eat a large breakfast, and then basically eat cookies all day, skipping lunch, then dinner, and then end the night with ice cream. And I've yet to figure out when to fit in exercising. I'd wake up early, but that wakes up the puppy who then yelps until she's taken pee... which wakes up the kids... so you can see that the mornings aren't great. And then honestly the rest of the day is so busy!

Maddix

I couldn't be more proud of this little man.

Each morning he makes his bed and folds his pj's, without any prompting. He's growing in confidence which has resulted in him pointing out other's flaws/mistakes less and less often. He is just the best son a parent could ask for and is becoming a wonderful example to his siblings. He is also becoming a wonderful babysitter (hallelujah) and thrives on the responsibility. He is witty, creative, thoughtful (most the time ;), and has a very obsessive personality. He finds one things and just locks on to it. For years everything was all about Pokemon. Then Beyblades. Now it's Star wars, and also Legos. Travis just introduced them to Legomaster builder (something like that?) and I have a feeling it's about to become his new obsession; he loves that show.

OH! And the other night Travis was tickling him until he laughed, but Maddix vowed not to laugh and he meant it!! He ended up holding his breath to avoid laughing until he passed out in Travis's lap!

Aaron

Aaron dreams so big and his imagination knows no bounds! This school year though, he's hit some stage that is amplified by our move and the loss of his best school friend, Jackson Fox, and now he's forgotten how to use his words to solve his problems or express how he feels; this has been rough to face because Aaron has always been our calm and selfless little boy. He's feeling the role of the middle child so deeply lately that I just struggle to make him feel special. But I will say this, he thrives on these ComeFollowMe lessons, as well as at home church. He just craves to know more. At bedtime and during his school reading time, he just wants to read our scripture picture books. He constantly talks to me about different prophets he's learning about and relates all their experiences to his own. He constantly says he can feel Satan tempting him to ... sneak into treats, yell, say a curse word, etc. but that he chooses to follow the Holy Ghost and is alway proud when he makes the right choice. And he says the most touching prayers! HE told me he felt bad that his prayers can take too long, so he tries to rush them so we don't get bored; however, after I explained to him that he should talk to God for as long as he wants, he said, " I guess that's true. I mean, Enos did pray for all day and all night." And since then his prayers continue to increase in length and sincerity. And he always includes that he can receive help understanding the scriptures and feel the Holy Ghost.

I will forever be grateful for the C.F.M curriculum.

Miss Adeline

She is a princess.

She is all about "cute Sunday dresses."

She is in love with her "baby sister Avery."

Currently must have her necklace and sunglasses always.

She melts down anytime she can't have her Frozen 2 blanket.

She still yells, "I did it" after each time he potty's on the toilet.

She is high maintenance and believes the world revolves around her.

She struggled on Avery's birthday between loving her sister so much that she wanted the day to be perfect, and also being Sooo jealous that the day, cake, presents, songs, and attention were NOT about her!!

Avery Elisabeth

My sweet baby girl is now "1!" Oh how I love that I am blessed enough to see her grow, and torn with how fast it's going!

She walks 90% of the day, has multiple teeth now, and says a handful of words. She sings... well! She is an animal lover, and a gentle soul; however, she giggles anytime she catches wind of mischief :D

She seems almost too heavenly for this world, and seriously lights up any room she is in. Her smile is so silly, and so stinking cute!! She scrunches up her whole face and her little crooked teeth looks so silly!! Oh I just love her.

My heart is seriously happy as I just think about her, and I can't keep a smile off my face.

We celebrated her birthday a day early, since it fell on the world wide fast for help against COVID-19. So Saturday she had a waffle bar brunch. We took a photoshoot, did her cake tasting, and then a tasty dinner, bath, book, and bed... all BUNNY THEMED; it just fit her so well.

And then today, her actual birthday, he had some rough moments! She fell down the stairs and has two sad goose eggs. Then she tripped over Travis's foot in the hall and hit her head into the wood floor and has a cut above her eye! My poor baby girl is in the "drunken sailor" stage of learning to walk and as a result her injury count has risen.

Nala

She's the best dog. I don't think I've even realized what an amazing dog she is until this new one joined the family.

She does this funny thing where she bares her teeth and pulls her gums back when the puppy gets up in her face. She is so patient with Lily, to the point that we keep telling her to teach Lily a lesson! She sleeps a lot these days. At the end of the night she has a harder time getting back up the stairs to our bedroom. She hesitates before jumping out of the trunk now, as if it might hurt a little. She's been throwing up easier. But she's still herself. Always under my feet and follows me wherever I go. Constantly shows up at the side of whomever is crying.

And never leaves those her are ill.

She's white in the face these days and I just ... I can't stomach the idea that she's going to be 11yrs old in a few weeks.

Lily

I... am.. still getting used to her. But she's cute. She can stare into your soul without blinking. Her eyes are changing from a crystal blue to more of a whiteish blue. She is a runner and likes to bolt when given the opportunity. Her instincts to herd are soooooo ingrained into her genetics that it just fascinates me to see each day, but also comes with struggles as she nips at our heels and tries to herd the kids. She howls in her pen all morning until she's had energy burned, and it's hard because most days are rainy and cold, so we struggle to get her out. On the days that are nice enough to get out we really enjoy sending the boys out to walk her; it gives them something to do and she is not a bad little walker most the time.

okay.... that turned out quite long. But I'm sitting here in the basement watching Pride and Prejudice, with Lily snuggled up asleep on my lap, and the house is quiet... so I actually have nothing to rush off too, and my mind has peacefully been running through the feelings I've had this past week.

Alway, I'm rambling... Here are the pictures!