Now Hiring....

Chelsea put in her 2 weeks yesterday. UGH! Now I have to find someone new who I feel comfortable bringing into my house, driving my car and especially taking care of my kids. I hate trying to find someone new. If anyone knows of someone fabulous let me know.

9 Years Ago

I married the man of my dreams.

I always thought finding the right person would be the hardest part and I'll admit it took me a good while and I had to kiss a lot of frogs to find my prince. But now I know better I've learned over the last 9 years how hard marriage can be and what real love is.

All of our disagreements and trials and hard times have brought us closer together. I can't imagine a day in my life without Todd there. Who would make me laugh? Who would I clean up after? Who would put up with all my crazy? Thank goodness we will be together forever. I love you so much Todd.

I am the luckiest girl ever. This guy rocks!!!

Flashback Friday - My first Christmas...

2002

Tayson's First Christmas

2002

Christmas Eve

Me, Todd, Tayson, Amy and Todd

2004
Luke's first ChristmasJan (My MIL) holding Carson and Luke
and Tayson (missing his pants of course) in the background


2006
Claire's first Christmas

soon to come....Sophie's First Christmas

Pictures with Santa

No tears this year...it was a good year.

Our Christmas Letter

I mailed out lots of cards yesterday but I didn't put a letter in them because my entire life is online for your reading pleasure.


So here are the highlights of 2008 for the Johnson Family:


Todd got a new job with Perficient a few months ago as Lead Technical Consultant. He is either traveling or working from home which is working out well so far since he's been at home more than on the road. It's the perfect job for him since he loves change and will be working with different companies, teams and projects every few months. He also did 2 triathlons this past summer.


I changed jobs at Nu Skin and am now the Regional Director of Web Marketing and I LOVE it! It's fast paced, fun and I work with great people. I had a baby last summer, went on a diet, started a goal to run in a 5K every month and am now training for the Moab half marathon in March (what in the world...whose big idea was that!?!)


Tayson is 6 and is in 1st grade and having a hard time behaving in school but he seems to be doing well academically and he likes school. (He can even spell school!) He loves to play outside with his friends but now that it's cold he can usually be found playing "Spore" on the computer.


Luke is 4 and goes to preschool. He loves to do homework, can even read simple books (the Sam at Bat type). He might not be a clone of Todd like Tayson but he has the same calm personality and those big brown eyes that I love so much.


Claire is 2 - need I say more? This year Claire has managed to destroy most of our board books and loves to tear magazines into tiny shreds while hiding under her bed (she's my little hamster). She loves princesses, butterflies, Dora and carries her purse everywhere. Every time she wets her diaper she feels the need to take it off herself wherever she is and then while she's at it takes off the rest of her clothes. We find her naked and her clothes and dirty diapers throughout the house on a regular basis. It's so annoying.


Sophie is 5 months old. She is such a good baby. She sleeps great and eats great and rarely cries. When she wants something she usually yells at us instead of crying. It's so cute! She loves to cuddle and smile and roll. She's getting good at sitting up and loves to swim when she's on her tummy.


We have been so blessed this year and are so grateful for our family and friends. I can only hope that 2009 brings as much fun into our lives.

16 Small Crickets

Today Todd asked me to go by the pet store on my way home to pick up 16 small crickets. I'm not a big fan of purchasing something alive for food but I did it anyways. The funny part to me is how different a trip to the pet store is for Todd and I.....

Two weeks ago Todd went to the pet store to pick up 16 small crickets and when I was online banking I noticed the bill was $58....HOLY COW that lizard is livin' large if he's eating for that price! Of course I found out that the high price was due to the fact that Todd can't leave the pet store without something for his fish tank. I bet he took his time and looked around and thought about things he would come back to get next time.

On the other hand, my trip was as fast as I could make it. It stank so bad in there and there was nothing I wanted there. My trip to the pet store for 16 small crickets cost $1.07.

Tayson and School

Tayson is in 1st grade. He is young for 1st grade (his b-day is in August) but we didn't hold him back. He seems to be doing ok academically - he does great on his spelling tests every week, he LOVES math and is doing really well with his reading.

But he has a hard time behaving in class. He talks too much and doesn't keep his hands to himself. I know he is trying but he still manages to get "thinking times" almost every single day. We have tried taking away privileges. We have tried rewarding good behavior. Part of almost every prayer said by the kids includes blessing Tayson that he will be good at school and not get thinking times.

I thought these were working....then last week he was excited everyday when he told us he didn't get any thinking times that day. Then on Friday we got his weekly report and it said his behavior needed improvement. We asked him and he admitted to us that he got thinking times everyday and even brought a note home that he threw away so he wouldn't get in trouble. He lied to us - I couldn't believe it!!! He was punished and we are now getting daily feedback from his teacher on his behavior.

But here is where I need help....how do we help him learn how to act at school? It makes me crazy that it's my kid who is bad in school and primary. I know he's social - but there is a time and a place for that. I'm sure at some point he'll grow out of it, but I want to make sure we teach him and that it doesn't affect him academically. Any advice?