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

More Jamaica

In no particular order:

Mulu and I on a sailboat

papa and Mulu

Mulu showing off his breakdancing on the stage

Aaliyah and Aria by Zoe

Mulu and Aaliyah eating at the Kids Camp (faces painted after the festival)

the Johnson kiddos up in our room

Aria chillin in the pool

Mulu and I reading on the beach!!!!

Aaliyah with traditional Jamaican dancers up on the stage

Jamaica Mon!

We took a family vacation last May to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. It was an amazing getaway for all of us. The Johnson Kiddos' Nana and Papa came with too - in a separate suite, which created a nice combination of together time and an opportunity for a separate vacation for them also.

We stayed at an all inclusive resort that was sponsored by Sesame Street - it was a perfect combination for traveling with three kids. Characters, activities, beach, waterslides, a pool with a swim up bar that offered as many ice cream drinks they could want (and nummy drinks for Mama and Daddy too), and 5 different restaurants (4 of which were very kid friendly). We had so many wonderful family moments as well as some one-on-one time with each kid and we even etched out some couple time too!

Here are some pictures from our adventures.

The very excited jet setters - ready to get underway

the Johnson Kiddos checking out the planes,

eager and ready to get this adventure going

airplane seat partners!!!

the rest of the gang

the view from our room

another beautiful view

Nana and the girls posing before our first night going out

Papa, Brian and Mulu relaxing by the pool waiting for a show

Mulu is 8!

In April Mulu turned 8. He had a friends party with a Percy Jackson theme. Percy Jackson is a seies of books that Mulu is currently reading and has him enthralled. It centers around Greek mythology and he loves learning about new monsters and heroes.

Here is the whole gang in their orange Camp Halfblood t-shirts

Mulu opening gifts

Getting the cake ready.

working on clues for their treasure hunt

and, when all else fails, throw all 8 year old boys in the trampline together.