Santa and a bit more

Just in time (on December 23rd) the Johnson kiddos got to visit with Santa Clause. Mulu was excited, impressed and happy with the experience. Aaliyah was nervous, a little coy and then chatty with the big man in the red suit. And Aria was sooooo excited to see him. She squealed when we made it around the corner he was in view - immediately said her "ho ho ho" and was frusterated when we didn't approach right away. Even when we walked up and the bigger two were talking with him she was reaching out to touch him and all smiles . . . UNTIL I set her on his lap - she wasn't impressed with that! So below is our standard crying baby on Santa's lap photo.

enjoy

Christmas songs for you.

Mulu's rendition of Jingle Bells -notes: he is watching himself on the screen (it looks like he is reading a cue card or something) the fist in the face is a microphone and the ending is thanks to "A Christmas Story"!



Song via Aaliyah - this is very Aaliyah - the close up is so she can see herself better and the silliness is very much her right now. and of coarse, a cameo from her brother


Aria's contributions: Ho Ho Ho (and a couple of her other tricks)

Thursday funny: thanks to Aaliyah

On one of our busy mornings Aaliyah decided she wanted to "help out" and give Aria some more Rice Crispies cereal for breakfast. This is what it turned into. Aaliyah was proud, mentioning that Aria could play with it as well as eat it - and as you can see, Aria didn't mind! Make sure you are looking closely at the floor - as I was trying to clean up it just kept coming - under the tray - in the sweater - on her foot rest . . . and then when I picked her up - more Rice Crispies.

Johnson Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The count down to Christmas . . .

This year I remembered that we should probably get an Advent calendar once December had already started (and especially when it is cold outside my errand running with three kiddos in toe seems to be infrequent) so I came up with our own Johnson Family count down that only required red, green & yellow construction paper. Each day one of the kids gets to tear off a ring (and yes, usually an argument has insued by this point as to whose day it is).

It is much shorter now compared to when I took this picture, but the kids are enjoying it and it allows me to divert the "when is it going to be Christmas?" questions by pointing at the wall.

Thursday Funny!

Tuesday I was able to do a large grocery shopping run kid free - yup thats right! Me and a cart taking on the entire grocery store without the input of little ones (thanks to my wonderful hubby). I took advantage by stocking up on multiples of things - extra cereal boxes, extra snacks, stuff for Mulu's school lunches, etc.

Mulu was helping me carry the extras to the closet to store them (picture him with a wobbly stack of boxes stacked up to his chin) when he blurts out with

" hey mom - are we kinda like squirrels? stocking up on our food for the winter?"

yea - kinda!

Ara's 1 year pictures

Thursday funny

When I pick up Mulu from school today - I usually don't get a lot of information. "How was school today?" "good" "what did you do?" "I don't know"

I've started probing more specifically "What did you do in art class?" "Who did you sit by during math?" etc.

but sometimes he comes home with random bits about his day:

last Wednesday, November 29th (the day before Thanksgiving) Mulu gets in the van after school and starts the following conversation:

Mulu: "so Mrs. O (his teacher) changed our class calendar today to December - even though its still only November - but when we get back after Thanksgiving it will be December"

Me: "Oh, that makes sense"

Mulu: "she wanted to be on top of it"

pause

Aaliyah: "on top of the calendar?"

pause

Mulu: "I guess"

and who said she doesn't have hair

Aria after a bath . . . (that is almost enough hair for a comb-over)