Halloween fun

Mulu being tough and not minding the pumpkin goo.

He did his cleaning and carving completely

on his own this year.

Aaliyah diggin in the goo.

and yes, that is a pumpkin tattoo on her forehead

(her own contribution, of coarse)

and although Aria would NOT touch the pumpkin insides,

she loved the drawing part

AND THE COSTUMES

Aaliyah - as a witch

Mulu as a vampire

and, for months, Aria specifically asked for

"a spider with a skirt" soooooo. . .

the trick-or-treating crew

our Johnson kiddos and Cousin Charlie & Caroline

Aria and Charlie waiting for the goods

Mulu and Aaliyah trying to be patient wating for the little ones to catch up

Aria's birthday

In September, our sweet Aria turned 3! She is a funny, sweet and smart little girl. She loves to read, draw, be outside, play with her brother and sister and sleep (she is often the one telling me when she needs to take a nap).

She really "got" that her birthday was coming up and was excited for the weeks leading up to it. This year for her birthday she wanted to have a cookie monster party and told anyone who would listen (the check out lady at the supermarket) all about it.

On the morning of her birthday Daddy made her special pancakes -

in the shape of an A for Aria & the #3 for her new age.

but as you can see in the picture, she wasn't happy about it

"cause das not what pancakes look like!!!!!"

some of the party decorations

and, of coarse, cookie monster cakes and the adorable birthday girl herself! and her Raggedy Ann doll that Grandma made for her Blowing out her candles - she knew what she was supposed to do

and tried her best to blow the candles out - but in the end

(and after a couple dozen tries)

she needed a little help to get the job done

and the party goers - watching her blow out the candles all the kiddos lined up in the hallway for cake & ice cream and, of coarse, an adorable shot with Cousin Charlie

1st day of school

Having settled into our new home, the two older Johnson kiddos were eager to start at their new school.

Here is Mulu all ready to go to his first day of 3rd grade!!

and Aaliyah is more than ready to start on this school adventure -

look out Kindergarten -

here she comes!!!

and . . .I got them to pose together!

let's hear it - all together

"awwwwwwwww"

Aaliyah playing on the carpet during free time

sitting on her teacher's rocking chair



Mulu hard at work, already, at his desk yes buddy, one more picture

New House!

Last June we moved into a new home. When we decided to buy it were luke warm about it, but wanted to get into the school district and, although we had seen MANY houses in the town, none seemed perfect. So we settled, I mean, decided on this one.

That was our thoughts going into the move, but since the day we moved in we have been nothing but amazingly thrilled with our new place. It is fabulously more functional than our previous place, the backyard is AMAZING, the layout is great for both our family and hosting gatherings and it instantly felt like ours. We have filled it up pretty well already, but do have room to grow as our family grows up.

We have some painting projects to do, but nothing that needs to be done right away. We are happy and unpacked and content.

Here are some photos of our new digs:

The Johnsons in front of our new home

The living room -

double doors go out to the backyard

the other side of the living room (and Mulu :) )

the dining area

the toy room

the other view of the toy room

Mulu's room

the girls room

our room

our backyard

our trails blend into a forest - I missed the height of the color,

but you can get the gist

the other part of the backyard

Dance Recital

Mulu and Aaliyah have been hard working all year long in their dance classes. Mulu has been taking hip hop and Aaliyah has been taking pre-ballet (ballet and tap)

They were both in a dance recital last June and both did an AMAZING job. It was so fun to see them practice, get ready, be nervous/thrilled/combination of both, and then do an outstanding performance.

I was not able to get any action shots of their actual performances, but here is some photos of them in their costumes.

please overlook the squinty-ness

(it was a beautiful sunny day)

and afterwards - posing with one of their friends

and even more Jamaica

Again, no particular order. Just good moments.

posing with Elmo

Mulu on a horse for the first time

(thats a "real excited but kinda' nervous too" smile
ahhhhhh - now this is vacation

Aria was a maniac on the waterslides - no fear in this little girl

and her only disappointment was that she was too little to go

by herself - so the adults got lots of slide time too!

Nana and Aria - sunkissed and happy

Papa and Mulu - best buds

the kids watching a snake show -

(this is the moment when the snake guy put a huge one IN his mouth)

- oooops you should be ON the tube Papa - not behind it
all 5 of us