Spring Highlights

 

We tiptoed through the tulips at Thanksgiving Point in May.

 And since Benjmain is totally into animals... probably because he is one :)

We decided to grab as many cousins as were available and go to the ZOO.

 Yes, that is my SON wearing a PINK hat that his dad promptly scolded me for when he saw these photos.

 When my cute nieces are around I actually feel like sanity in public places is possible.

 I had never seen any official shows at the zoo before and we LOVED the bird show. Benjamin is really obsessed with animals at home and knows the names of some irregular animals. He knew and named the macaw, Cockatoo, Eagle... he may not be potty trained... and sure, he may still drink from a bottle now and again, but he knows most of the animals at the zoo! I haven't failed completely as a mother!

 Thank HEAVEN for family to help make up for my shortcomings.

 Especially for my husband who has more patience for me than Gandhi... and does crown molding in our bedrooms in his spare time. Go Mitch!!

Bored...

We are a happy Family!

We love Benny, 

 He loves Me!

 We love Lydi, yes sir-ee!

She loves Dad! 

And Dad loves . . . JIMMER??

We are a HAPPY FAMILY!!

Say Cheesy?

Right before I filmed the below video, I was telling Ben to say "Cheese" for the picture I was taking. You have to know that Ben LOVES cheese. He LOVES LOVES LOVES it. Apparently he fixated on the fact that I said cheese.

Ben Translation: "Cheesy (quietely). Cheesy (slightly louder). Mommy Cheesy.........MOMMY SAID CHEESY! (giggles) Mommy said Cheesy."

Hey! Hey, Babies!!

KYLEE STAMPER

April 12, 2011

4 lbs 10 oz - 16.5 inches

The New Lizzie Mamma! Proud Daddy Charles!Excited Family!

LUCAS STOUT WEBER

April 19, 2011

8 lbs 3 oz - 21 inches

The darling Weber family! Proud Papa

The busy Grandma!

Welcome to the Johnson Family Kylee & Lucas!!

Conference Weekend

I don't have too much to say about conference except that this session, I was very grateful for DVR. I saw very little of conference live, but have since watched it on my DVR and LOVED the topics and words spoken.

We spent conference weekend in Centerville with family. I captured a few moments.

I put Ben down for a nap. He was very tired, but still wanted to play. He threw a fit when I took his shoes off and put him in bed, so i found him almost out the door. He was able to put one shoe back on and fell asleep before he finished the job.

The boys were boys.

And Lydia was as sweet as she always is. The picture below was funny because I was trying to get a picture of Lydia sitting up. The screen on my camera is broken, so I have to look into the little lense and I didn't even see Ben coming. Right as the camera went off, Ben put this mask over Lydia's face. I didn't see it until I took the camera down. Pretty funny though. It reminded me of Elder Lynn Robbins' talk on parenting.

"A sweet and obedient child will enroll a father or mother only in parenting 101. If you are blessed with a child who tests your patience to the nth degree, you will be enrolled in parenting 505. .... With which child will your patience, long-suffering, and other Christlike virtues most likely be tested, developed, and refined? Could it possibly be that you need this child as much as this child needs you?"

I'm not sure Ben is a child that requires Parenting 505 training, but maybe Parenting 404. Heavenly Father knew I needed that boy. And he also knew I needed my little Lydia to follow.

I love my kids and my family. I am grateful for living prophets, apostles and teachers who are inspired to share the spirit and gospel of our Heavenly Father.

A Few Fun Milestones

We spend LOTS of time at the park and Ben can climb all the ladders and go down all the slides by himself!

Milestone #2: Ben can open ALL doors (& unlock them) & he can crawl out of his bed.

Ben went on a "no-nap strike" for a few months. I fought it for a while and for 2 weeks I was really good about doing as the Super Nanny said and just returning him to his bed. It became such a game. Even if he was literally so drowsy he could barely walk, as soon as I put him in his crib, he got this burst of energy. I was putting him back in his crib 15 times every day.
Finally, I just decided it wasn't worth the fight. He could stay up. Eventually he learned to fall asleep anywhere. I have found him falling asleep on his truck, in his sister's car seat, in his high chair, and right when we got home from church, he fell asleep on the floor...

Milestone #3: I synchronized my kids' naps. (at least for that day)

Milestone #4: Lydia has been introduced to baby food. And she LOVES IT!

Milestone #5: Lydia is rolling over.

And I just think Lydia is cute, so I put this video on too.