flashback

Just for fun I had to pull up the old photo of Seth in the Easter Basket. Oh, he was so tiny, still only weeks old!

He is Risen Indeed!

I love Easter when the weather actually feels like spring and you can see the new life awakening around you! It was a beautiful weekend. He is risen indeed!

Eli and his book from the Easter Bunny.

Seth and his Easter Basket.

My handsome boys!

The J mom family Easter photo - not bad considering the effort this took!

Seth searching for Easter eggs. The neighbor girl saw him outside and came to join him. Seth was gracious enough to share his loot.

Plenty of eggs to open with Jelly Beans, quarters and Peeps.

My Easter Basket Boys.

It's tradition - my baby's always fit in the Easter Basket. Too cute!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas
love the Johnson Family
Jason, Mandy, Seth and Eli

A Little Christmas Decor

Spreading some holiday decor around the house!

I love to get Christmas cards but there is always the problem of where to put them. Since moving into our home there is NO extra wall space where we can see and enjoy them. Thus, I had to create some!

Step 1: I bought some beautiful wide red ribbon for 50% off at Hancock Fabrics on Saturday and went to work. It has stiffness in the sides which help make a great bow and keep the ribbon from spiraling out of control!

Step 2: I spooled out enough ribbon to hang to the desired lengths and then made two bows. Using a safety pin I wrapped a small amount around the curtain rid and then slid the safety pin through the ribbon, the back of the bow and the ribbon again to secure.

Step 3: Using a small stapler, I carefully stapled our current Christmas photos to the ribbon. I figure staples would be the strongest and most durable hold for the season.

My guess is that after this year's cards come down I can carefully remove the staples and photos and easily use the ribbons again next year! What do you do with your Christmas photos?

Sweet and Salty Bite Sized Treats

We are ready and waiting for our baby to come now. There is no longer church commitments, day care commitments, just a mom waiting to hold her little one. Seth has been sick with a cold, we all have been actually, so taking it easy has been the going thing around here. Today we needed a project in the kitchen. (Let's face it, I was craving chocolate!)

I had these cute little pretzel treats last year, but had never made them myself. We had no recipe just an idea in mind and went for it. I don't even know what to call them...

Pretzels with Rolos and Pecans

We laid small pretzel twists out on wax paper and then put a Rolo on each one. I put them in the oven at 350 degrees for just a few minutes, until slightly softened. Then we pushed a whole pecan into the top of each one and let them cool. They make a yummy bite sized treat.

While we were at it, why not make a bigger mess with more chocolate...

Pretzels with M&M's
My tiny man has become quite the model it seems.

Again we laid small pretzel twists on wax paper. This time I melted semi-sweet chocolate (almond bark would work great too) in a small metal bowl over a boiling pot of water (double boiler style, I just don't have one). We then spooned a glob of chocolate on each pretzel and poked M&M's into each of the pretzels three holes. Again, let them cool and harden. (Wondering about the all-green M&M's? I found a bag from Valentine's Day that had never been opened. They are those sweet sexy green girl M&M's now a cute candy treat only ten months later...he, he.)

It was fun and Seth loved being able to be a part of the whole process, minus heating the chocolate of course. We are enjoying our bite sized treats and waiting for the contractions to get stronger. Baby this week? We certainly hope so...

Oh Christmas Tree 2009

Our Christmas Tree 2009 - a bit sparse in places but it feels like home!

We wanted to make sure to get the Christmas decorations and tree up early this year. Normally we do not start decorating until the next week or so of December, partly due to the fact that there have always been small children in this house and that puts my decorations at risk. Also partly due to the fact that real Christmas trees have a tendency to dry out and lose needles as time goes by. I get sick of vacuuming them up so two weeks of a tree is usually enough for me. I just want to be able to sit and bask in the glow of the lights with my hot tea and listen to carols or watch my favorite Christmas movies.

This year we went back to Hermes Floral who hosts are favorite Christmas tree sellers: Glen Tower Pines. They are an elderly couple who are just too fun. I love their trees, though a bit pricey, their love and care and service makes it all worth it. They were more excited to see us pregnant than some of our own friends. I miss the smell but I love the White Pine we picked. It has long, tender needles that don't hurt when you touch them. It made it fun and special to pick out a tree.

Seth is more than able to help so our tree is very much to his liking this year. He even helped with the lights and hanging the ornaments. I got a little say from time to time on where they could go and got to put some up high that are special to me too. Our tree is the epitome of home and family. All of the ornaments are gifts from family and friends and the plain white lights give it a brilliant glow. I have yet to find a tree topper that I love so this is year number eight of creativity. We have an angel that we shove up there every year that has beads that sparkle and really it is pretty. Someday I will find one to replace it but for now it is...home.

Seth got a good hold on the tree to add the angel on top. Good thing Dad could lift him up there so he could put the topper on this year!

The best for last - a job well done.

Do you have your tree up? Seth was not the biggest fan of the Christmas music I chose to play while we decorated but that is part of the process for me. What traditions do you have that revolve around the Christmas tree?

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! We are enjoying the long weekend with my side of the family in our home. Baby is still sung inside me where we want it for a few more weeks too.

I am so thankful to our family and friends for their love and support through our lives.

GOD BLESS!

The Littlest Dragon

Here is my Littlest Dragon on a J mom photo shoot earlier this week...

The end of another show. What a cutie, huh?!

Earth Day Everyday

I think Earth Day is one of those holidays we really ought to celebrate every day because let's face it our earth requires it! I recently read this article from Growing Child: Grandma Says. I think it is the best way I can share with you how teaching kids to love and care for nature, even in a very small way, can make Earth Day a part of every day.

CATERPILLARS AND KIDS

Recently I came across this wonderful quote from Bradley Millar: "Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar." It resonated with me strongly, knowing what I know about both caterpillars and kids. I have spent my professional life watching kids. I know their boundless curiosity, their innate desire to explore, and their fascination with critters and creepy-crawlies. I also recognize their inability to look ahead and see the results of their actions.

I know that, unintentionally usually, children's exploration of tiny things can result in hurt for the creatures, and kids' reactions of surprise, confusion, and sometimes remorse.

On the fewer occasions when I have seen children deliberately hurt tiny creatures, it has usually been because they are fearful of what they don't understand, and no adult has ever helped them know their responsibility to the natural world around them.

In this world where we humans are supposed to be the smartest species, it behooves us to help our children assume their rightful responsibilities of protecting the living things around us. It will ultimately help our world, fragile as it is. But it will certainly help our children see themselves as part of something larger than themselves.

It is the nature of young children to be egocentric. Slowly, through experiences and explicit teaching, they move to being able to appreciate others' needs and rights. In coming to understand, appreciate, and know the stories of living things around them, children develop what Rachel Carson called "a sense of wonder."

The ability to marvel at life processes, and to appreciate the many forms of beauty in our world, will sustain children through the routine or dreary parts of their lives.

As we encourage children to explore with gentleness, and care for tiny creatures, they learn to control the impulse to smash and overpower, a very important kind of self-control indeed.

As we give them information and help them make connections between the caterpillar and the butterfly, we expand their understanding of the world around them.

As we validate their curiosity and help them learn skills for studying nature, we aid their understanding of what is important. "No, you can't keep it," we say. "What would that caterpillar need to be healthy?" Slowly the child learns to put aside his own wants in favor of what is best for another, no matter how small.

So when you teach respect for all things, even something as small as the caterpillar, your child is coming to be a caring, compassionate person. Your child is also coming to see herself as part of the larger human community to whom is entrusted the care of this earth, and all the creatures on it.

Those are important lessons indeed, all coming from teaching your child not to step on a caterpillar.

Receive your free subscription of Grandma Says at www.GrowingChild.com/FreeGrandmaSays or contact Growing Child customer service at service@growingchild.com or call (800) 927-7289

Looking for more ways to teach your young ones how to make Earth Day everyday check out Last Child in the Wood: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv.

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny left some surprises for Seth at my home awhile ago so it was fun to finally get them out and put them in his Easter basket. He came out of his room and saw them waiting on the dining room table and was immediately ready to open them up!

Nana and Papa Easter Bunny left a Husker bag of goodies.

Grandpa and Grandma's Easter Bunny left some new shark pajamas we had to wear today for nap.

Following the Easter service at our church I rounded up the family for some photos. It's been since Christmas that we had any of the three of us together! As much as we all hate taken them - they sure are fun to see!




While Seth and Jason went inside to change into some warmer and older clothes I hid our Easter eggs all around the yard for our first outdoor Easter egg hunt. It was so fun to see Seth's excitement at finding every one. The hard part was convincing him that the candy had to be saved for later, at least most of it. We aren't that mean!

This one was hiding in the mailbox!

Taking a few minutes to see what's hiding in those eggs.

Running with glee all over the yard.

Sneaking some candy out of an Easter egg.

Dad got some creative shots. Can you see the Easter egg hiding in this photo?

Since it was just the three of us today we grilled steaks and potatoes and enjoyed our meringue nests for dessert. We all enjoyed the relaxing feel of it all I think. Nap time could have been longer but a good day for us all! Happy Easter to you!

A Nest of Flavor

Basic Meringue Nests (another Martha Stewart)

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees with rack in lower third. Coat two baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray; line with parchment paper.

2. With an electric mixer, beat 4 egg whites and 1/4 tsp each salt and cream of tarter until spft peaks form. Very gradually beat in 1/2 cup sugar, adding 1 Tbsp. at a time; beat until stiff and glossy.

3. Drop 8 mounds of meringue onto prepared baking sheets; twirl a teaspoon in the center of each to spread to a diameter of 4 inches and create a nest. Bake until dry but still white, about 1 1/2 hours, rotating baking sheets halfway through; let cool on sheets.

I hope to serve these little cuties with strawberries and chocolate, but you could also use jelly beans, coconut or a mixture of mangoes and kiwi with a little sugar to sweeten.

Some Easter Reads for Little Ones

Here are some books to enjoy this Easter. I have to say the Easterville Miracle is my favorite as it shares the true meaning of why we celebrate Easter!

• Happy Easter. Emily!, Claire Masurel
• Little Bunny's Easter, Sophie Piper
• Looking for Easter, Dori Chaconas
• Pooh's Easter Egg Hunt, Isabel Gaines
• The Easterville Miracle, Melody Carlson

Easter Eggs with A Message

Time to hard boil some eggs and get decorating for Easter! We picked up a cheap dye kit at Target but Seth is so excited to get into it. I am hoping that we can keep the mess to a minimum but have some fun too. Photos will be in your near future...

On Sunday we plan to hide dozens of plastic eggs outside this year, weather permitting of course. Inside the eggs I like to put little treasures. Candy of course is great. Small plastic animals were fun last year, like those kind you buy in a tube. I am thinking about doing my own Resurrection Eggs this year. With the help of the web site you can gather your own items around the house. No time? Quick pick up a set at your local Christian bookstore or order online. I think Seth is old enough to understand the basic concepts and then in the future we can continue to help him understand them more.

Easter is a special time of year in our lives and now it is time to help our son understand it's special meaning too...

Sweet Times

Our Valentine's Day turned out to be a major success! Jason and I started the morning by spending a few hours sitting at Bruegger's Bagels sipping Caribou and enjoying some much needed conversation time. Then we ran a few quick errands and drove down to the Galleria in Edina. Neither of us had ever been there and wanted to check out Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn. Given our current budget we knew in advance this was window shopping but it was fun to dream! Jason got some great knife demonstrations, something he loves, and I oogled at stuff for my kitchen and fun things for Seth.

We ate lunch at Pepito's, a Mexican restaurant that was recommended to us. Finding it was an adventure in itself but the food was good and very reasonably priced too! We took up space their as long as we felt we could and then drove to Rosedale Mall to sit at Border's and work through some calendar planning. We had to spend way too much time finding a parking spot once again. It made me wonder if we really are in a recession. I find it hard to believe that there were that many people just "out to look."

We met up with our friends the Germann's for supper, yummy authentic chinese, and then headed to our favorite ice cream shop: Grand Ole' Creamery. It was such a great day to get away from the normal and enjoy the company of the man I love.

Note: I put ten URL's in this post. I think that is a record for me. Can you do it? Share your post with me...

To My Valentine

My Valentine and I are spending the entire day together thanks to my parents coming to town to watch Seth for us. My gift to him, was a pack of our favorite soda: Stewart's Orange and Cream. We already cracked a couple open to eat with BBQ's and Homemade Fries the other night. They were sweet - almost as sweet as my Valentine. I love you Jason!

A Valentine from 2006 when I was pregnant with Seth! Jason and I went to the Grand Ole Creamery for ice cream - our favorite spot. They always have a special Valentine flavor to enjoy! I can only hope ice cream in going to be a part of my day today...

Jason has now been my Valentine for 10 years! We celebrated our first Valentine's Day at a Wendy's. It was a candlelit supper too, look closely. Embarrasing? No - we were young and in love!

I love you Jason!

I Love Valentines

That says it all, especially if you are young and single and wondering what that cute boy meant by signing "love". Oh the memories of Valentines Days gone by...

Today at ECFE our kids exchanged valentines. It was the first time I have done this in a long time. It was so fun and brought back some great and very hilarious memories of elementary school days. Seth enjoyed the candy more than anything, but I can't blame him. He doesn't really get it, yet. Girls will be "yucky" for years. If he even hears a sniffled nose he will turn and say, "Don't get your slimy boogers on me." What a hopeless romantic we have breeded!

For our valentines, Seth painted a number of large paintings in red and blue. After they dried I traced hearts randomly all over them and then we cut them out. Well, we gave away the ones I cut out. Since he can't write his name on them yet I did that too. Seemed silly and yet the painting was all him and they looked very handsomely done in my opinion. Let's face it - they were also free as everything was available at home. It can't get better than that.

If you are looking for some Valentine Projects yourself check out these sites for more ideas:
Maya*Made - Flower Bouquets
Inchmark - Matchbox Valentines
The Crafty Crow - A children's craft collective

Let me know what you are making or doing for your Valentine. I would love to hear - I will be sharing in the days to come...

The Annual New Year's Disaster

Our batch of New Year's Cookies.

Ringing in the New Year has changed quite a bit since becoming parents. We used to get together with friends or get out on the town a bit more. Since Seth entering our lives we have been more apt to just stay home and get the little man to bed on time. J and I have stayed up with movies and favorite snacks but have not always "seen the ball drop" as they say.

Last night we stayed up and watched National Treasure 2 and Live Free or Die Hard. Two movies we have seen therefore knew we would enjoy. (We had a movie one year we turned off early and went to bed it was so boring.) We ate some super popcorn we popped our selves and drenched in butter and smothered in salt. It was way better than anything you get at the movies for $5.00 (yet how would I know as it was the last century when I went to a movie and actually bought popcorn!). We also made these to die for brownies and smothered them with melted Dove Dark chocolates, chopped Kit Kats, and Dark Chocolate M&M's. They were to die for if you are chocoholics like us. I think it actually can give you a buzz!

This morning life happened all too much like normal. Seth woke us up around 7 am yelling he needed to get the potty. Ahh, but it was too late, also as usual. Then the tradition started. I headed sleepily to the kitchen and started the New Year's Cookie batter. These cookies, much more like homemade donuts actually, are a tradition that goes way back in my husband's family and we are attempting to keep the tradition alive. I have to say they are so delicious to eat, but I still wish grandma was doing all the making!

You start by making some super sticky dough that must raise, then you scoop outthe dough onto pans so they can raise again. Then the fun part comes. The deep fat frying! Yikes - the smell is horendous at times, but again we keep the flavor of the feasting in mind. Once out of the fat we cover them in sugar and lay them out for all to enjoy. The disaster comes in the mess this whole process creates and the way it seems to take over my whole kitchen, and the smell, my whole house! This recipe is once a year stuff and therefore is never perfected. There are always little mistakes along the way but we pull together, regroup and then unite in eating our delightful confection.

Here is Jason transferring the dough to the hot oil on the stove and Seth dunking the fried ones in sugar and then placing them in a pan for eating. It is quite the process and requires everyone to help!

Seth immediately wanted to help with the choas so we put him in charge of the sugar. He did great! He has the job for next year too as far as we are concerned. His clothes might take a week to scrape of the sugar though : )

Seth loved the job and did great too!

Of course the grand prize was getting to eat as many as you wanted as this is breakfast and lunch on New Year's Day.

Now that the cookies are done we enjoy until we can't take another bite. I will spend the next hour cleaning my kitchen. The pans are everywhere, the oil is everywhere, the sugar is everywhere, the disaster has struck and left it's detritous! Then it's time to whip up some nacho dip for the big Husker game and hopefully watch our team bring us an end of the season victory! Of course, we will all be going to bed early tonight too...

Happy New Year's to you!

We Need More Sprinkles!

Our not so Martha Stewartly decorated cookies.

We makes tons of cookies during the holiday season! I froze a few dozen to have a little decorating party as a family while we were all home for a long Christmas weekend. Seth, as you can imagined, loved frosting cookies. He also really enjoyed the sprinkles. It turned out to be quite the mess but loads of fun...

I recommend a deep plate to help keep the sprinkles in one place! A kid-friendly knife goes along long way with the frosting too.

Sprinkles got completely out of control.

J Dad trying to show Seth the finer art of decorating.

The tiny man drunk on sprinkles!

Want the recipe? Check out my earlier post: More Cookies Please