Get down with your sassy self.

Some funky moments with the Johnson kiddos.

Aaliyah and her best friend dressing up - now those are princesses.

Mulu with a new hairdo - its about as bright as his personality.

3 years ago . . .

This same weekend three years ago is when Brian and I decided start the process and adopt a child. It was kind of an out of the blue decision as we had always thought we would grow our own kiddos first and then adopt - but after a nice relaxing weekend at a friends cabin, Brian suggested we adopt first.

and three short years later . . . .

Family Resemblance Much ? ! ? !

Brian's Mom found this photo of his maternal Grandmother as a baby and was shocked by how much Aria looked like her.



Check it out!

Baby Aria Update

It is really hard to believe, but Aria is now 5 months old and has grown so much. She continues to get longer and gain weight (she is already in some 9 month clothes because she is so long) and amazes us with new tricks almost daily. She is eating non-bottle foods like a champ- only cereal and now sweet potatoes, but does a great job at it. Aria has also intentionally rolled over and will do so to get at toys that are out of her reach. She definitely knows the sound of our voices and recognizes her name when called. And she is a huge fan of her feet. When laying on her back - she immediately pulls up her legs and starts sucking on her toes.

Here are some of the latest picts:

A perfect example of her foot-loving stage.

Just being her cute self
Her 1st meal of cereal - look at those eyes - she's intrigued. . .
Baby Aria & Cousin Charlie at their first UW Badger Hockey game - you can just see the excitement from their faces.
Mama & Baby Aria dressed up for Bucky's Hockey - I just couldn't resist.

OH, the snow!

Wow - what a Wisconsin winter we are having (and it is sooooo not over). I don't ever remember one quite like it. We have had 75.5 inches this year so far - yes that is over 6 feet of snow - & it is snowing again today. Thank goodness some of it has melted in between storms or we wouldn't be able to get out of our front door. As it is now, the banks on the edges of the sidewalks are almost as tall as Aaliyah - its like she's walking in a tunnel. I feel like we are stuck in a snowglobe! Its beautiful to look at and fun to play in, but I am soooo ready for spring.



Here is Aaliyah helping to shovel the driveway.

Mulu showing off an icicle he found.
Baby Aria chillin' in her sled.

The mini-van plunge

Well we actually did it - the Johnsons are now a minivan family - pretty sexy huh?

It was definitely time (cramming all three car seats in the back of our 4runner had long ago lost its cuteness), and we are all much happier, and much farther apart, for it. I actually kind of struggled with the idea of being a minivan owner - teasing my identity even more than being a mom of three - but I have had not one single doubt since we drove it off the lot.

We ended up with a Honda Odyssey and love it. Mulu especially loves all the new buttons and gadgets in it, Aaliyah likes having her own window again (she was in the middle in the 4runner) and Aria likes having space without her sister trying to open her eyes for her.

We haven't attached a name to it yet, just calling it the Silver Makina (spelling maybe iffy - but the Amharic word for car)

This photo was taken the night we purchased it.