Alyssa, Our little Dancer

Alyssa Loves to dance. We were watching the Hannah Montana movie and with every song she was up and dancing. She loves music and loves to dance to the music. She is such the character. We love her.

Spring Break

Benjamin and Tyler spent Spring Break this year in Arizona with their Grandparents. They loved it. Partly because it was just the two of them with Grammy and Papa and partly because they went to the movies, the went swimming, they played video games and had a wonderful time. The boys also loved the Hole in the Rock store and tourist area partway there. They had to stop going both ways to spend time there.
It was different going back to only two kids during that week. We missed the boys and were glad when they came back home.

Ashley's Graduation

Ashley Graduated from high school this year! (Hudsonville High School, Hudsonville Michigan) What an exciting time in her life. We were able to make the trip back to Michigan to be there for the event and spend some time with her. Congratulations Ashley!

Chritmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. It was nice and quiet with just our immediate family around. The kids woke up about their usual time, 7 a.m. and came to make sure we were up so that we could come downstairs. They know they cannot come down until everyone is awake and we can go down all together. We always start our Christmas morning with a family prayer to express our gratitidue and love for our Savior and all that He has done for us. All that we have is because of Him and His great sacrifice for us.



The week following Christmas we had our extended family around. I took the week off from work so that we could enjoy all of the cousins etc. Mindy Cody and their girls made the trip here. Tia, Seth and Grant were here as well. We were only missing Daniel and his family, maybe next year.



While everyone was here we went sledding, made a quick day trip to Ouray for a dip in the hot springs, late nights playing the Wii and lots of family time. Everyone enjoyed the time together. It was hard to see everyone leave to go back to their homes at the end of the week. We love our family!!!!!

Winter X games in Aspen CO

Lanny and Tyler went to Aspen yesterday to experience the X Games. They had so much fun last year that they were excited to brave the crowds again this year. Tyler loved watching the snowmobiles jump and race. The guys that ride those machines are crazy!!!! Whoever came up with the idea to do a backflip 50+ feet in the air on a snowmobile must have a few rocks loose.

Slacker Central!

I know it has been a long time since we have posted anything on our blog. We have had a busy summer and I do have a lot of pictures but I have not had a chance to sit down and put them on the blog. I will do my best to try to get some up this week to catch up as I have been asked by severals for pictures of the kiddos. Stay tuned...

Mud Springs

Over Memorial day weekend we took our camper and toys up to Mud Springs on Pinyon Mesa for some fun family camping and riding. We were expecting rain for most of the weekend but we went anyway. We still managed to have a lot of fun over the four days.

Tyler learned how to make a fire without matches over the weekend and was very proud of himself the first time he got the fire going. We were all impressed and proud of him for working so dillegently on getting it started and then keeping it going.

The boys managed to find the largest mud holes and plow their way through them. The wall of water as they flew through some of them was impressive. I should have made them do the laundry when we got home.

What fun we had that weekend despite the rain. Getting out was alittle frightening, it is a good thing that we have such a big strong truck. We look forward to many more camping trips this summer!

Our First Camping Trip of the Year

What a wonderful family trip we had. We spent 4 days in Utah around Goblin Valley State Park. What beautiful country we explored.

The boys were wonderful and hiked forever throught the slot canyons. We were hoping we could make it all the way to the waterfall but we also knew that we had to walk back as far as we went forwards. Ryan even walked 3 miles on his own.

We spent some time hiking through the goblins as well in the state park. Everyone had fun climbing on them, around them and in some cases through them. It was fun seeing differnt animals and shapes in the rocks around us. We found a couple caves to climb in and around as well.

The ATV trails around our campsite were fabulous. My mom came back to work telling everyone that I tried to kill her on the last trail that we took. At one point she even got out of the RZR and walked with Alyssa as I drove it down the "hill" and over the ledge. After that hill she trusted my driving skills a little more. The boys had a great area to practice their driving skills in their little RZR as well. They are really improving in their driving abilities.

We look forward to going back later this summer for more fun.

AHHHH Neighbors!

Today ended up being a good day despite how the afternoon began. It was a beautiful day out and we were all enjoying being outside. Alyssa, Ryan, Ben and I were out front on our porch planting some flowers in our planters enjoying the wonderful weather until our neighbors came out. They were having a party and were completely inconsiderate of everyone around them. They were all drinking and using language worse than a sailor. Their music was even worse. Half of the party was outside in their back yard which just happens to be right next to our front porch and the other half were inside their house yelling back and forth. I could not believe that they would be so inconsiderate of others especially while there were small children around. I was angry that they would continue with that type of language when they could see my children a few yards from them! We stopped planting and went inside. We could still hear them. That is when we decided to go out for a ride - I know it is Sunday but it was much better than sitting here listening and watching that poor of behavior in adults. We had a wonderful family afternoon and enjoyed the weather and eachother. I love the summers and being outdoors but these people make it difficut with our children. I do not ask much of others but...if you are going to behave that way DO NOT DO IT IN FRONT OF CHILDREN and others who are quite offended by it! Show some respect for other people and control yourself. Educate yourself so that you have more than just the "four letter words" to express yourself.

Update

It is definately time that we update the blog...sorry Mindy that I took so long and thank you for the little prods to get it done.

The kids are growing so fast! I love each and every one of them and I am so grateful that they are such a big part of my life. They each add something special and unique to our family.

Tyler...The big brother. He is so good with his brothers and sister. He has such a big heart and is incredibly smart.

Benjamin...What a comedian. He has such a wonderful smile and contagious laugh. He is very sensitive and concerned for others.

Ryan...He is my little cuddle bug. He loves to give and recieve hugs and kisses. He is so energetic and inquisitive. Oh how he can wear one out.

Alyssa...so sweet and happy. She loves to laugh and giggle. She is getting into everything, teasing the boys and keeping everyone on their toes.

Dancin' 'Lyssa

Alyssa LOVES music. She likes to dance as well. We have been watching Dancing with the Stars because of the music and dancing. I have mentioned that she likes to dance on her chair...well here are some lovely pictures of her dancing away. What fun we have around here.

Bella - Welcome to our family

Bella joined our family just before Christmas. She is a beautiful boxer puppy. She is almost 6 months old now. She has been so much fun. We all love her although the boys are not very good about taking her out and she doesn't voluntarily go out because she hates the snow. She does not like the cold so it has been a little trying. She is slowly getting used to it and will play some while outside. She is such a loving dog. She loves to sit on your lap and cuddle. It is fine now but probably not when she gets bigger. She follows me around the house most of the time and lays at my feet when I sit at the couch. Alyssa is learning to stand up for herself with Bella as they are the same height right now. She has been knocked down a few times but has learned to put her hand out and on Bellas nose to redirect her and not knock Alyssa down.

Bella is a smart dog. She knows how to sit and lay upon command. We are working on "stay" right now. When we go for walks she knows that when we get to an intersection we stop and she will sit next to us until we say go then she will stand and start to walk again. She walks very well on a leash.

We love Bella and are glad she is with us.

The Boys' Christmas Program

The boys participated in their school Christmas program the beginning of December. They did a wonderful job. I think this year was the best program the school has done. Tyler played the part of Santa Clause and Benjamin was a reindeer. Tyler has multiple speaking parts and never missed a beat. I honestly do not know how he does it as he never wanted to practice the lines at home. Benjamin did nothave any speaking parts but he knew the songs and sang them well. We were very proud of the boys.

Tyler's Birthday

Tyler turned 9 years old on December 7, 2008. It is hard to believe that he can be that old already. We are so grateful for him and that he is a part of our family. I remember the day we blessed him as an infant. We were all gathered at my parents home in Grand Junction Colorado; we have family and friends there to celebrate our little one. Tyler was blessed at that time and told that he would be a great and loving example to his brothers and sisters. We have seen the fruits of that blessing. He has always been wonderful with his brothers and sister. From the time Benjamin was born Tyler was always close by asking to help and hold him. We have so many pictures of Tyler with one of his siblings sitting on his lap. He loves them so much. He has such a soft and loving heart. His old first and second grade teacher said she would love to keep him in her class forever. He has been found back in that classroom during his recess helping the younger children with reading or math or other asignments that they might be working on at the time. We love Tyler for his loving spirit and brilliant mind.

Thanksgiving in Arizona

We spent a week in Arizona with Lanny's Dad and Stepmom for Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful trip! Both of Lanny's sisters and their families made it out for Thanksgiving as well as some of Lanny's cousins with their kids. There was quite the crew. We will let the pictures tell of our adventures and family fun. All of us cannot wait until we go back.

Moster Truck Tour of an Ostrich Farm - The boys LOVED it!

"Fishing" for Ostriches - Using bolts and orange slices.

Feeding the deer - Benjamin liked the deer better than the ostriches

Feeding the birds - Ryan was scared to death but Alyssa couldn't get enough of themSwimming with cousins

There was a lot more fun activities, but you get a good idea with these pictures the fun that we all had. It was wonderful being with family for the holiday.

Alyssa is 1!

Alyssa had her first birthday! What a joy in our life she has been. Our family is complete with her. What a surprise she was and a blessing she has been.

Her personality has begun to shine through. Like Ryan she loves to cuddle. She has moments of spontaneous laughter where her eyes sparkle and her laugh goes all the way to her toes. She loves to smile and play. She prefers the remote control to most of her toys even though it doesn't do anything. She has taken to climbing and we have found her on the desk in our room playing with the computer. She is definately drawn to the electronics. Somehow it runs in our family.

What a party we had for her and Grant for their birthdays. Tia planned and pulled off a fabulous birthday party. We had a costume party with games, food and cake. Oh, the train was a huge hit as well. The kids could not get enough of the train (Courtesy of Kevin and Jill Edwards).

Grant made a very cute sidekick as Robin.

Benjamin gets his cast.

Benjamin broke his arm at the end of September. He ended up going in to the operating room three days after he broke it. The surgeon ended up not having to pin it she was able to set it and cast it without surgery. It was very good news. He chose to have a purple cast. Right before surgery though the doctor found out that his favorite color was green and was surprised that he wanted purple. When he came out of surgery his green monkey had a purple cost on his arm and Benjamin had a purple cast that was accented with a bright green stripe to match his monkey. Benjamin was wonderful through it all. He was even disappointed that he could not go back to school until the following Monday. The cast is scheduled to come off on November 11 if all goes well and it heals as well as it has so far. He will most likely be in a long arm splint for the following 2 weeks.

OUCH!

Can you guess who this is? We had to make a trip to the emergency room on Sunday. One of our children - who wanted to remain annonymous to see if you could figure out/guess who it was - fell and broke his arm (okay it was not Alyssa). I must say us Johnstons when we do something we do it all the way - no holding back! Both bones are broke and are at different levels. He is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow morning to put a pin in the bone to stabilize the fracture. As you can see in the x-ray (below) it is displaced quite a bit and if we do not pin it he could lose all pronation and supination of the forearm; basically the ability to turn his palm up and down. We are very happy with the doctors who have treated him so far and are very happy with the surgeon that will be performing the procedure. We will keep everyone posted as to how he does with it all. Right now he is just bored because we can't send him to school until after the fracture is stabilized and in a cast.

Ryan is 3!

Ryan had this 3rd birthday on September 14th. What an exciting day. He has grown so much. It really is hard to believe how fast the time has flown by. We love our little Ryan!

Ryan has such a big heart. He loves to give hugs and kisses and loves to cuddle. He is a big helper around the house which is great because he makes the biggest messes in the house. He has a laugh that is so contagious. He is playful and loving.

We have been truely blessed to have him as part of our family.