Surprise!

I'm ready to commit to blogging again.  It's a great way to keep up with what's going on in your family.  It's a great way to post your pictures. It's fun. And that's the first surprise.

Surprise #2:

Lacie turned 8 on Friday.  She surprised her momma how fast she's growing up so I decided to throw her a surprise party.  I love birthdays.  I feel like it's a good time to let the kids know how much we love them.  It's a good time to make them feel special. And, it's a good time to make a few fun crafty things while we're at it.  This year I told Lacie that since we were putting on a baptism and a luncheon we wouldn't be having a birthday party.  Problem was, we're having her wait until Lincoln turns 16 and gets ordained a Priest so he can Baptist her. Kinda late for birthday celebrating, but awesome excuse for no party (secret party).  I decided on a cooking theme mostly because I thought aprons would be a cute party favor. 

 And of course, in true Kendra fashion, I procrastinated until the very last moment to get everything done.  So an hour before go time, this is what I'm looking at:

Really, really, really cute material that I spent way too much on to just abandon. (Fabric addiction.  Props to Wal-Mart for having some cute collections for $4 a yard!)

Enter the best guys and friend in the universe:

Yep.  There all sewing aprons while I welcome guests and get the surprise ready for Lacie. I'm so grateful for that help because I honestly don't know what I would have done without it.  It also made Lacie feel so special.  (And let's be honest, it's really funny to think of Golden and Lincoln sewing.)

Here are some pictures of the celebration:

Decorating cupcakes after the pizza is in the oven.

Gage blew up all the balloons for the decorations.

The adorable guests.

And blowing out the candles.  

Lacie is such a fun, sweet, spunky and cute little girl.  I'm so glad to have her for a daughter.  

For her birthday she wanted her ears pierced.  So I'm throwing that in here too. She was very brave and has been excellent at keeping them clean.

I just cannot believe how quickly time goes by.  I really, really, really love this little princess. 

Happy Birthday Baby!

Ward Halloween Party

So were in the new ward since we have the new house that I posted about all that long time ago (we actually moved in in May... and we love it... but I digress...more about that another day)   And in this new ward, Golden has a new calling. Its called 2nd counselor in the Bishopric.  We had a whole two months  before he got put in, (so much for sneaking in under the radar) but I'm not sorry... Its been so good for us.  Anyway, one of the big traditions in our new ward is the Halloween party and Chili and Cornbread Cook-off.  They sent sign-ups a couple of weeks before so they would know there was enough food to go around.  I signed up because I felt like 1- if your husband is in the bishopric, you sign up for stuff, and 2- If you are bringing a big huge family to a party and they send around sign ups, you should sign up.  So, I signed up for chili.
K. So Golden isn't a picky eater.  He pretty much likes everything I make.  He likes it better if it has meat in it, but never complains and he never has.
Except once.
And it was chili.
And it was disgusting. 
But I signed up anyway.  And then, I started to hear people talking about the cook-off. And talking smack.  And challenging each other.  And making bets (no, not really, but that would have been funny, right?) So, I start to sweat. And Google Chili recipes.  And Guess what? I *won* the HOT category (um,my chili wasn't supposed to be hot, but hey, I'll take what I can get.)

Uncle Adam Won the Scariest Costume award

Lincoln was right up there with him. At least this scares his mama

Angelic Shaunie

Mermaid Lacie (who refused to wear shoes)

Super-us. I needed an excuse to wear  my red boots.

Anyway, Golden didn't complain about this one. That was probably the meat.

Meat... One way or another.

I have fallen off the face of the earth.  I was abducted by aliens.  I have been plagued by a horrible case of malignant writers block.  Actually, none of those things are true, I've just been more than a little lazy.  And there has been so much going on that I should be keeping track of!!  Soo, I am going to post weekly now.  There I said it.  Committed to all cyberspace.  And I could be taken to cyber-jail for lying. And with each post, I will be keeping up with the Johnsons, and going back with a little bit of Family History.SO. Here goes:

For the Johnson family, October means deer hunt.  Golden loves the hunt and gets so excited he can hardly sleep because of it.  This year we were all so excited to get off that we forgot a few things.  Not such a big deal since we were only going overnight (except Golden... gone till he gets the big one!) EXCEPT one of the things was SHOES for Lacie.  Not just extra shoes, or "in case one pair gets wet" shoes.. Keep my feet warm, dry, and protected from stuff shoes.  SO..... I made shoes.   With duct tape and cardboard.  She thought they were ugly. But I think they're kinda cool..  or maybe I think I'm kinda cool cuz I made them. At any rate, we also left my bag, Lacies bag, and the scotcheroos. (peanut butter rice kryspie treats with chocolate butterscotch topping.  They're tradition.  And I did fail.  Now we have many, many at our house.  Come see me and I'll let you try 'em) But all in all, everything turned out great. 

 Shaunie has learned to handle the 4 wheeler all by her little ole self and (in missing her big-girl cousin Ashton, whose family we sorely missed this year) busied herself hauling little ones around the mountain trails.  She is getting old.  Which makes me feel old.  Sigh.

See this?  had to add it for the sheer cuteness factor.  Brings this blog post into cuteness overload, doesn't it? No pics of Golden, who hikes the hills till dark, and none of Lincoln, who had the excruciating decision to make ... Scout camp... Deer camp... Scouts won, but it was a photo finish! And... he missed the best dutch oven chicken I have ever had.  And that isn't an exaggeration. 

K.. Family History.  Since Lincoln wasn't at deer camp, I want to share a little history on him.  This year, Lincoln showed a steer in the 4-H Junior Livestock Show.  It was fun.  And Good for him.  His steer was named Jeffery.  And he was an enormous beast that quite possibly could have smooshed my kid if my kid wasn't so awesome and bossed that animal all around. It took months of working with that great beast to make him listen to him, and Lincoln and Golden came home with poop on them more than once, but poop and hard work build character.  The steer's name was Jeffery.  Lincoln liked Jeffery, and was sad to see him go.  The check he got in the mail made him less-sad. All-in-all, Lincoln stepped it up on the ladder of maturity,  and Golden now needs a dog because he can't lead the cow on a leash anymore.

New Home News

As I said in my last post, we are building a new house... and I am so excited as I watch it materialize right before my very eyes!  This week we  got the basement framed and the floor on.  Remember how I said my Father in Law is a genius?  He is.  And I have a new piece of evidence to support that fact.Tar.Sticky, black, stinky, messy, stainy (yes I know that isn't a real word.)  A necessary evil if you have a basement in your new home.  But still an unpleasant one.  Why does this make my dear father in law a genius?

 He had us paint the tar on the basement walls.

The Ghost of Christmas Past

The past two months have been very eventful for me, so please forgive the lack of news coming from this direction.  It started in November when Golden finally convinced me to put the house up for sale (gulp).  We were thinking this would be a good time to look into getting something a little bigger and more fun.  So, we listed our house.  This was Saturday.  Sunday came with lots of funny comments about the "joke" someone played on us.  Ha-Ha.  Monday came and we had two people come and look.  Tuesday came and we got an offer.  It was reasonable.  That was not a joke.  Wednesday, and we accepted.  So, two days after Christmas, we packed up all our junk (and seriously, who needs two storage units full of crap?  Where did it all come from?  If only Golden wasn't such a pack rat! did anyone notice my sarcasm?)  Now we are living with my kind, gracious, and slightly crazy parents.  Crazy because they let  all six of us stay here.  But in the mean time we are building ourselves a brand spankin' new house!  Actually, Golden's dad is building it.  And I have to say he is a genius.  Somehow I am getting everything I could possibly wish for at a price I can afford.  (so anyone thinking I should write infomercials?)

But our Christmas was wonderful, and I just have to record it.
Christmas Tree Hunting:
To Tree or not to tree: That was the question this year.  With the move coming up so close, I knew that it would be just one more thing to take care of after me, but the thought of no tree was just so grinchy! We made plans to go with Golden's Family  (a long-standing and well-loved tradition.)  The guys had to go get cows that morning and ended up getting stuck (which is another blog entirely)  so we girls hauled all the kids, coats, cans and saws up the mountain to harvest the perfect tree.  I was pretty impressed with us and are awesomeness.  The only hang-up of the whole trip was a lack of tie-downs, a problem easily remedied by a shoelace or two!!

Christmas Eve:
Talent Shows, lovely dinner, and a  Grand sleepover at Grandma J's house PJ the elf came and brought the entire house matching Pajamas!

For Gages talent, he drew pictures of the nativity and retold the story.  this was entirely his own idea and to be honest,  I didn't even help him! My favorite quote "Ok, everybody listen up! We're talkin about Jesus here so we need to have the spirit!"

 

Shaunie and Ashton sang an Angelic Duet.  Little girls with big voices!!

Lacie and her partners in crime did a dance to "the princesses 12 days of christmas"

Lincoln played the piano beautifully, but I Cant find the picture.  so imagine him playing the piano beautifully!

Halloween.

Yeah. I know It was like two weeks ago (but I can't help it... I still have to share..) I love this holiday.  I can spend hours on the ole' sewing machine and make whatever I want and it can look however I want it to, and if I screw up.... Repeat after me: It's just a costume!!! It's like all the fun without none of the guilt.  Kinda like broccoli that tastes like chocolate.  And exercise that makes you healthy without making you sweat or work.anyway... Here are some random pics of our Happy Halloween. Thanks for looking!

Rock Stars.. I told Shaunie she could be anything she wants.. as long as she wore her pettiskirt.

Gage was Hiccup.  And I MADE that Toothless.  He's a puppet and he "eats" candy.

Maridee.. here's the picture that you wanted of your little princess.

With Grandma at the ward party :)

get it?! Golden and SILVER

Caveman and Wilma