Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here!

Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here!

 
This whole week we have been treated to the most wonderful Christmas concerts and recital. Wow. On Monday Reilly's high school had their music department's Winter Concert. It was fantastic!! The high school's multiple choirs, bands, and orchestras performed. We are so blessed to have such amazing teachers and talented kids.

For your listening pleasure...

Reilly's Symphonic Choir




Reilly is the fourth from the left on the back row. It's just a snippet but they really get cranking around 0:37. They were so good. The video quality is poor...but whatevs.

They make the kids shimmy out of those choir robes asap so I could only get a post concert picture...and I was lucky to get that!!

But she would pose for a goofy family selfie...cause she's cool like that. I was laughing so hard I was crying in this picture. We all were a bit crazed after the concert...it was a tad bit long...especially for Bryn. She's practically asleep in that picture.

Then on Tuesday night it was Reilly and Ailey's Christmas piano recital.See photo at the top of the blog. They both did a great job. Ailey really worked hard and played her piece, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, by Bach beautifully. It was a challenging piece for her and she rose to the occasion. Reilly played a beautiful arrangement of O Holy Night. The recital was fun, festive, and a good time was had by all.

Wednesday night we were treated to the middle school music department's winter concert. Again, we heard from the Jazz Band, Regular Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Advanced Band. Kameron did such a fantastic job!!

(Video to Be Added)

Kameron also immediately ditched his trumpet and other band items and I had to take a super quick picture!! 

We also had parent teacher conferences for Ailey and Kameron. Both are doing fantastic!! Kameron is a straight A student and a leader in his class (comment from several of his teachers.) He has done superbly well with his transition from elementary school to middle school and that is having honors classes or "advanced" classes as they are now called. :) Ailey also had outstanding grades and is wonderful to have in class (to quote her teacher), is kind, and helps others. Great job Ailey and Kam.
 
The snow finally arrived today...and continues to fall...just as Christmas break has begun. Perfect timing!!

All my cards and packages are sent!! Oh yeah!! Now onto the Christmas baking and treat delivery!!

Yes, indeed, it is starting to feel like Christmas time is here.

The Christmas Spirit

The Christmas Spirit

When we keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the Spirit of Christ...It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.-- President Thomas S. Monson

This Christmas season has been stressful. It seemed to come on quickly and found me unprepared. While I have experienced beautiful moments, I have also experienced "grinchy" moments and have felt that Christmas was something to "get through" rather than truly enjoy. I am grateful for the fine examples of my children who continually teach me how to be a better person...more kind...more loving...more thoughtful...more generous.

Yesterday I was shown what the Christmas Spirit truly is by three sweet kids. Yesterday morning Ailey excitedly showed me a whole big stack of Christmas cards that she had made for every single kid in her class. In each card she wrote something that she liked about each child. They were all different and all sweet. Then she signed them from "Ailey and Emily" even though Ailey made all of the cards because "They can be from both of us!!"

Then shortly after that I found Kam rummaging for change. His middle school is doing a Candy-Gram fundraiser. For a dollar you can send a candy-gram to a friend and all of them will be delivered on Friday.  Kameron had already purchased candy-grams for his friends but yesterday he wanted to make sure that all the boys in his deacons quorum received a candy-gram on Friday...especially those "who probably won't get one from someone else." Then he and his best friend volunteered to help his band teacher send a candy-gram to all the kids in band. He said, "It would feel awful not to get a candy-gram on Friday."

Yesterday afternoon Reilly ran upstairs with a piano book of Christmas music under her arm and asked me to take her to work an hour and a half before she was scheduled to be there. Why? I asked. "Because I want to play some Christmas music for the little old folks. I think they will really like it." (They did.)

Maybe Christmas...doesn’t come from a store....

Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!”--Dr. Suess

The Elves are Tired

The Elves are Tired

Crazed Parents..fake smile and all

I am happy to report that we are DONE with our Christmas shopping!! Unfortunately it took two grueling weekends and this heinous Friday night to do it. There is nothing like going to the mall with your 17 year old daughter so she can pick out clothes for Christmas since she doesn't trust our taste. Wow. Now if that sounds like fun to you...kick it up a notch and make one of those items a church dress. It was hell. Pure hell. Hours of "No, too short", "Too skanky" , "Too tight", "Too sheer", "Too cropped", "Too much cleavage" and on and on. Hours of  "I can't believe you guys", "You want me to look ugly", "You hate everything", "That looks like something YOU would wear!!, "I am NOT dressing like my MOTHER!!", "You guys are SO RUDE..ANNOYING..."(fill in the blank.) Throw in pushy crowds of holiday shoppers and Christmas music so loud you couldn't hear yourself think and...Hot damn it was a good time. (Luckily some cute items were eventually found including a church dress.)

For Hannah who asked me for tips for parenting teens...

1.) When shopping with a teen never pick up any item of clothing to show said teen. She will hate it on principle. Let teen look around and find something and then say yes or no...if you are paying for it. If teen is paying for it...you are out of luck and have no say. Learn to deal with that... it will come in handy in many future circumstances.

2.) Leave store where teen is trying on clothes. Have teen text you pictures of her in the outfit from the dressing room...where you can say yes or no via text...thus avoiding screaming rages that most teens, from what I observed, no longer care if anyone else in the store hears. (We weren't the only weary parents.) It is much more delightful to be elsewhere sucking down an Orange Julius (for medicinal purposes) whilst making clothing judgements via text and only returning to the store later to see in person the "maybes." 

3.) Realize that when Christ is talking in the scriptures "...Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you..." I am 99.9% sure that he is talking to parents of teenagers.

4.) Avoid the mall whenever possible.

But all that delight aside... We are done with our Christmas Shopping!! Woot Woot!! I still have to mail packages and cards and do all the baking and wrapping but still...Woot Woot!!

In other news...

  

Ailey's elementary school choir performed at the downtown mall on Friday. It was adorable. It brought back memories of my childhood and singing at the University Mall. Good times. Bryn ditched preschool and we headed on down to watch.

This is a picture of Ailey's very best friends who are also in choir with her. Ailey goes to choir Monday mornings before school. When this picture was taken there were 8 moms all taking pictures of this group at the same time. This was the best of the bunch.

Here are a few snippets. Tyler was supposed to come and film but he had a meeting that got rescheduled that he had to be at so this was the best I could do which wasn't good.

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Ailey and her friend Emily. They hold the distinction of the being the 2nd smallest and the smallest girls in 4th grade. They are great friends!!

Another attempt at a BFF group photo: Emma, Gabby, Sophia, Allie, Jordyn, Ailey, Meaghan, Emily

Bryn danced and sang along with the choir. She loved it!! And...she got some Ben and Jerry's ice cream to boot.

We also finished another round of swimming lessons for Bryn and Ailey. We will take a little break until mid-January.

We ditched our ward Christmas party. We were just too darn tired and opted for a cousin sleepover instead.

The little girls made cookies with Daddy/Uncle Tyler

They look like little triplets!!

Putting the sugar crazed kids to bed. Tyler the camel has two humps. :)

My little nephew RJ had hernia surgery in Kansas City. He did great and seems to be on the mend. It's hard to keep that little guy down. He is a trooper!!

It was my beautiful mother's birthday yesterday. We celebrated with a girls brunch at the Davenport hotel. We had a great time celebrating this lovely lady. She is fabulous and I am lucky that she is my mom!

This December has been properly kicked off. Many more events and performances to come. I am loving that we have also had several opportunities to serve others this month. Several people have needed our help and I am so glad that we have been able to be there and give it. That has enriched our holiday season so much already. 

Gotta go! It is early release today and for the rest of the week for the kids. Remember when I forgot them last year? Well, so do they. I have many reminders around the house from Kameron and Ailey reminding me that they get picked up early today. So I'm off and then won't have to hear what I heard from the office lady last year, "I can't believe a mother could forget her own children..." Well, not this year grouchy office lady. NOT THIS YEAR!!

Christmas Time Is Here

Christmas Time Is Here


Where to begin? It feels like the calm before the holiday storm. All kinds of things kick in...parties, recitals, concerts, and activities... this weekend and continue through January 2nd. I am trying to enjoy the lull. My house is decorated. I am 2/3 done with my Christmas shopping and I have yet to start my holiday baking. It's kind of nice in the lull.

au natural

This year we purchased a fresh 7ft. Noble pine. We always do a fresh tree in our living room and I am happy to report that it still smells so good. We are seriously considering purchasing a faux tree from Taipan Trading whenever we are next in SLC because I really want a flocked tree for our living room and to pay to have a fresh tree flocked around here is ridiculous. So next year faux it may be...


We've managed to put up three trees...and believe me...if I could cram another one in I would. I am on the hunt for cute little trees for my kids bedrooms. When I was little my mom would put a cute little tree in my bedroom. I loved it!! I have wanted to do that every year but I am super picky and 17 years later I am still searching for the perfect trees. (Reilly has had a little tree in her room from time to time over the years...but not all of the kids.) Also, if I put a tree in one room, I need to put one in all the bedrooms... so the hunt continues.

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Things are getting festive...

We've started our Christmas book advent. This has to be one of my very favorite traditions. Even Reilly loves it when it is her night to pick the book and the whole family gathers together and reads. Every year I add a new book and it is always exciting to see who will pick it.

My favorite book for the kids to open is The Gift of the Magi which was a gift from my Mom to me when I was a little girl. The kids don't share my affection...it is long...the writing is not easy to understand...but the message gets me every time. Seriously. I love it.

This is like our own little gifts of the magi. Little heart felt gifts from Ailey and Bryn. On Sunday morning there was a lot of giggling and whispering going on as these two planned and wrapped special gifts to give to the family. Not having any money of their own to spend, they searched through both of their belongings to find special items that they would part with to give to their family members. They are giddy with joy to give out these presents on Christmas morning. I know what a few of these gifts are and they really did think hard about each gift for each family member and each one is something that person needs, or would appreciate, and each one is filled with love and sacrifice.

Don't you love the magic of Christmas?

Other Things That Happended In November Because December Is Breathing Down My Neck

Other Things That Happened In November Because It's Getting All Christmas-y Up In Here

 

1.) The first most notable thing that happened in November was that we got our first snow. Hmm... my feelings were mixed with first snow joy and the reality of a cold dreary winter ahead. Luckily not everyone felt the same...

This girl has asked me all summer when the snow was coming back because she just LOVES SNOW!! When I picked her up from preschool and it was snowing I could barely drag her back into the house. She ran around trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue. She did!! You can kind of see them but those suckers melt QUICK. She was dancing around with joy. Unfortunately for her...and not for me...the snow didn't stick around that long and was replaced with the sunniest November on record for the twelve years that we have lived here. It has been wonderful!!

2.) The second most notable thing was that we now have two teenagers at our house. Exciting and yet bittersweet.  Kameron entered teendom and is now thirteen and Reilly turned seventeen. These kids just grow up so fast!!

Both kids birthday celebrations included spending a lot of time at the mall and going to the movies with friends...in Reilly's case with friends and the boyfriend. Oh yes. She has one. His name is Andrew and he is on the football team. Kameron finally reached the age of getting a cellphone and Reilly reached the age of paying for her own. :) There is a heck of a lot of texting that goes on around here. It really is a struggle to curb it and try to try to teach them texting etiquette, such as texts can wait, especially when you are having an actual conversation with your parents/anyone or it is family time or dinner time or whatever. The constant beeps and buzzing are so irritating. The other thing that has happened is that Kameron is finally getting to be a moody teen...it had to happen sometime I guess.  For girls the drama starts kicking in at eight...it has taken Kam all the way to age thirteen to begin to be a little grumpy. It's been nice. He continues to sulk rather than screech and we appreciate that!! Seriously though boys seem handle the transition from child to teen with much more ease than girls do. Girls have it rough.

Our kids are now referred to as "the big kids" and the "little girls." Although the "little girls"are growing up too darn fast as well. We had to have "the talk" with Ailey already because Human Growth and Development is already starting. How did we get here so fast? I am happy to report that she took the news about how babies are made the best of our children so far. There was a blush, an embarrassed smile, and a shy "okkkaaayyy." Each kid has gotten progressively better from Reilly's freak out upon her hearing the news. Maybe it has more to do with us and how we inform them. I really think we have a great system down now. Brynnie should be a breeze. (Famous last words?)

3.) I went on an epic road trip to Montana with my mom, Stacey, and two hilarious friends: Penny and Rebecca. We were all vendors at the Vintage Whites Christmas Market in Kalispell, MT.

Love these two crazy ladies!!

Our sale was successful and we had a great time. We rented a house for our stay in Kalispell and it was nice to have our own rooms especially since I was sicker than a dog. Seriously annoying. I caught a nasty cold with laryngitis that lasted for three weeks. It was awful. We loved this vintage show and will definitely be back next year.



Vintage Whites Christmas Montana Market

 

4.) Ailey has had some great Activity Day Activities. She loves going and there is such a huge group of girls that age that they had to break them up into two groups with two leaders for each group and there is a whole slew of girls just about to move into Activity Days. Craziness. This was one of her favorite activities:

I love that even the nine-year old girls are excited about future opportunities to be missionaries. I love that they are preparing for and planning on serving missions...just like nine-year old boys. So many new and exciting opportunities in the Church right now. It is a great time to be a girl!!

 

 

5.) We have a person whose inner trumpeter has been thwarted. I wonder who? Our whole family has jumped on the old trumpet bandwagon. Pretty much every time Kameron is practicing someone else wants to take a turn tooting on that horn. Usually this guy:

 

 



 

 

6.) Brynnie can read 10 words!! I love that all my family are readers and book lovers including my husband and all four kids. How sad would life be without the richness of books? I don't even want to think about it.

 

 

All the old Dick and Jane books I've collected over the years are getting a lot of use. Bryn can't get enough of them. She is so cute and takes reading so very seriously.  I think she is probably closer to reading about 12 words now.

 

7.) Bryn brought this funny paper home from preschool. They were studying families and she had to fill out a sheet about all of us. Here is a section from her paper. I about died laughing when I read what she wrote about Tyler.

 

I think Reilly would disagree!!

  

8.) I can't get over how big these two are getting. Our little Ailey and Dane are looking so grown up these days. Glad they are still such good buddies as well as cousins.

 

9.) Had another fun lunch with friends at my house this month. I love these get-togethers. Wish I had more time and energy to entertain.

10.) We participated in another Vintage Christmas Sale...The Two Women Antiques and Craft Show here in town. It was fun. We are done with shows until March when we head down to Salt Lake to be in the Vintage Whites Market there. It will be nice to have a little break to build up inventory and relax. 2013 was a great year of growth and expansion for Sisters Creed. 2014 looks to be just as exciting. We are already lined up to participate in eight different shows in four different states. Can't wait!

Two Women Christmas Show

 

Okay!! Now I can move onto December!!

Thankful Day #30

Thankful Day #30

I am thankful that all things denote there is a God. I actually had written another post for Thankful Day #30...the end of the month. But I think I will hold off and post it in December instead. But I DO wholeheartedly believe that all things denote there is a God...things in nature, the universe, science, the human body, our capacity for love, a drop of water. You name it and He is there. I had a BYU professor tell us that in class. That ALL things denote there is a God and that if we would just look around us, we would see the evidence of the truthfulness of those words all of our lives. Well... his statement has stuck with me for almost 20 years and I have to say that it is true...and isn't it wonderful?

I saw this on Facebook and my old professor's words came to my mind once again...

If you didn't happen to see this on Facebook...check out the link HERE.

Yep, there is a God and He is amazing.

Thankful Day #29

Thankful Day #29

I am thankful that I made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom. It is such a huge blessing in my life. I love being able to be with my children during the day...and be there if they need me during the day...and getting them to all the different places that they need to go to in the evening. I love watching these kids grow and develop into amazing human beings. I appreciate all the hard work that Tyler has put in over the last seventeen years so that I have been able to be a full-time mother. I am grateful that he sees the importance of it. Sometimes people have said to me "You are so lucky that you get to stay home." Luck has had nothing to do with it...more like sacrifice. Sacrifice and hard work. The sacrifice of Tyler not being home in the evenings for MANY years, sacrifice of lots of luxuries, vacations, me-time, and all kinds of things, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I love my job...and no I "don't go crazy being home" nor do I "not work".  Some of my biggest pet peeves are people who say "I would go crazy being a stay-at-home mom!! Or "What do you do all day?" or "Do you work or are you just a stay-at-home mom?" Ha ha!! Hilarious. The most insulting thing I have ever had someone say to me...right after I told her that I was a SAHM... was... in referring to herself... "I am too intelligent to be a stay-at-home mom." Wow. I personally feel that the work (oh yes it is work!!) that I do in raising my children is the most important work there is and that I could ever do. I know that many women have to work for various reasons and I have had to go back to work twice in raising my own children and may have to go back to work again...you never know. Some women work because they want too...great... more power to you. But being a stay-at-home mother has been the biggest blessing in my life and I love it.

Tyler asked me on a road trip a few weeks ago what my "dream job" would be. I told him that I am doing it. I love being a mom and having my little business on the side. I am living my dream job and not everyone can say that. That is huge. That is a gift. I am blessed. Never have I felt like I have wasted my education, time, nor talents. I have put every single college course I have ever had to good use...particularly my major...psychology!! Not one bit of my education has been wasted. As far as intelligence goes... my kids are crafty little suckers. Thank goodness I am intelligent so that I can always stay two steps ahead of them at all times. As I like to remind them...I AM EVERYWHERE and for the most part ALL-KNOWING. ;)

I love that my kids know that I am there for them whenever they need me. Like this day:

Sometimes high school just plain sucks and you need to get away for 30 minutes. Sometimes you just need your mom to pick you up from school, go on a Starbucks run for cotton candy frappes, get a pep talk about how smart, talented, funny, and beautiful you are, and have her write you a note to get you back into class. It is my privilege to be the one to do it.

So while the hours are long; the job is exhausting and stressful; paydays can be few and far between; and I don't think I have ever laid eyes on a bon bon. The pay off is priceless. I can tell you that when my life is over I will never regret a single day that I spent being a stay-at-home mom raising my children.

Thankful Day #28

Thankful Day #28



The Johnsons Thanksgiving 2013

I am thankful for Thanksgiving. Truly. It has really risen to the top of my list of favorite holidays. It is so simple, beautiful, and calm... except for all of the cooking...but for the most part it is peaceful. I love that it is focused on being grateful for all that we have, giving thanks to the Lord for our blessings, family gathers together, and amazing food is enjoyed.

This year we spent Thanksgiving out at the lake. The weather was great. Frosty but no snow. Just how I like it. The lake hasn't frozen over yet...woohoo. I love open water. It is so beautiful and always changing. This year we had a bunch of Canadian geese and ducks swimming around.

Tyler and the kids and I headed out on Wednesday night to help my Mom with the cooking before everyone else came out on Thanksgiving Day.

Brynnie kept Granny company while the rest of us got busy preparing the feast for the next day. Even Ailey was put to work cooking on the wood stove. It really was pretty fun. It felt very Little House on the Prairie-ish. We even cooked in the oven part. Now dealing with that... I really don't know how anything ever turned out in the olden days. My Grandma's wood stove has a thermometer on it but you have to keep the fire stoked to the appropriate level...it is pretty much impossible...but still it was really fun.

Ailey playing pioneer

While things were cooking we busted out the brass instruments. My grandparents believed that all their children should learn to play an instrument. These assorted instruments are still stored at the lake so we got some out and jammed. Ha ha.

Kam with his sweet band skills played my Uncle Steve's trombone and my Mom dug out HER BARITONE. Ha ha!! That kills me. But she could still play. Kameron is all about band these days and he had fun trying out some of other instruments. My mom said to my Grandma "I can't believe you still have all our old instruments!" and my grandma said, "Well, of course I do! Why wouldn't I? We paid good money for those." :)

By the time all the prep work and nine pies were finished it was time for bed...at around 1 AM. The next morning was frosty and a little foggy but so pretty. Tyler and I headed out for a little morning walk/hike. It was beautiful and it felt so good to be outside. I have loved the weather this November.

We had fun having a little time together...sans children...and enjoyed being out in nature and getting a little exercise before the feast. The pine trees smelled divine. The lake was just starting to freeze at the channel and it was perfect black ice there.

Seriously! How gorgeous is the Northwest. Pine trees, mountains, water? You can't beat it. It was lovely. Right after our little hike the sun came out and burned off all the fog and we had a sunny Thanksgiving. Nice!

Kelley and Elle were there when we got back and boy was Bryn happy to have Elle there to play with. These two crack me up.

This year my mom, Ken, all of us, Kelley and Elle, Stacey and her family, Granny, and my Uncle Steve all spent Thanksgiving together. It was good for the kids to have some cousin time. They loved it.

Dinner turned out beautifully and I so appreciate and am THANKFUL for all the work that my Mom goes to each and every year. She is amazing.

Ken and Mom

Elle and Kelley

River, John, Dane, Stacey

It was a busy Thanksgiving and then the next morning we all left as my Mom and I (and Tyler, Reilly and Kam) had to set up for a vintage Christmas show in Spokane the next day. Big thanks to Aunt Kelley who took Bryn and Ailey with she and Elle to see the movie Frozen. They loved it.