YOU guys!

I love, LOVE, LOVE getting your family updates and/or photos each year! Thank you, thank you to those who sent me one and hint hint to those who didn't! ;) (there's still time) I know some of you have blogs and keep them updated--and that's even AWESOMER--thanks to all of you too. (anyone can start a blog, you know) But, for those of you who do/did BOTH--wowsers, thanks to you guys the MOST! I love it!!!

Christmas

Christmas was M-A-G-I-C-A-L at our house! We had SO much fun watching the kids' excitement on Christmas morning when they saw what Santa brought. Mark left a note for Santa asking if he'd bring a few elves along to help fix the toys that had broken over the past year (aka transformer pieces that have broken from full-time use since last Christmas)! He was OK with Santa's reply, but that was a tricky one. We woke up to a dark, chilly house (as the power was out for a few hours) and a huge wind/snow storm outside. As far as days go that I would like to be stuck at home with everyone--Christmas would probably be at the top of my list--it was tons of fun watching the kids play with their toys and just having a good time together all day long. I don't have too many pics because my camera broke on Christmas Eve--ya, good timing, I know! Luckily Evelyn (my sister-in-law) got a camera for Christmas and was able to take a few for me. Enjoy.

Christmas Eve
making candy houses with the Hokanson and Call cousinsdecorating gingerbread houses with the Johnson and Clark cousinsor, should I say, eating the candy for the gingerbread houses. . .
acting out the nativity for grandma, grandy, and the aunts and uncles Christmas MorningNeed I say more?!!

2008-at-a-Glance (part 3)

September: Dave teaches the kids jiu-jitsu a couple nights a week in our "fight school" downstairs--Mark has already earned his yellow belt and Kyra has earned a stripe on her white belt! They love having Jarod and Justin to train with.

Kyra started ballet with her cousin Emily--aren't they so cute?!

October: For Halloween Mark was Iron Man, Kyra was Aurora, and Darci was Minnie Mouse. Darci has been a huge fan of Minnie since we went to Disneyland, Kyra loves all the princesses, and Mark loves any super hero or comic book character. I love helping them dress up, and we all love trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. We had a couple family parties and got some pictures with all the cousins:

I had to add this one of Darci! (she really was excited to be Minnie)November: We hosted Thanksgiving with most of my family (about 40 people) here at our house. It was great just providing the home and having everyone else bring all the delicious food! I love get-togethers!

Isn't Mark adorable? I'm so thankful for my kids! :) December: Dave got his BLACK BELT in jiu-jitsu! He's been training and working toward this for about 15 years!!! You're awesome Dave, we're so proud of you.

Every year the kids write a letter to Santa. They let him know that they've been good (just in case he missed that part) and then continue to tell him what they would like since they were so good! Mark takes it pretty seriously! They usually get letters back within a couple weeks! (Thank you UPS) We all love this tradition.

Merry Christmas to all . . . .

2008-at-a-Glance (part 2)

May: Mark played soccer again. . ."go #4!"

and transformed a transformer in the 2nd grade talent show. :) June: We visited the zoo (Mark had to miss his class field trip because he had surgery, so Rachel and I took the kids so he could still have a chance to go).

The kids had fun riding their bikes

We had family pictures taken. Here's the whole Johnson clan:
and just our family:

July: I went to Nauvoo with all my "sisters" to visit my mom and Gordon (her husband) on their mission. We had a really great time together!

The kids rode their bikes in our neighborhood 24th of July parade and then got lunch afterwards(Kyra's favorite part!). . .and boy, was it a HOT day!

August: We had our BIG BIRTHDAY BASH! Mark turned 9, Kyra turned 5, and Darci turned 3! They love having all their aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, and cousins come for their yearly b-day party!

We love the "cookie" b-day cake from Mrs. Fields! DELICIOUS!!!

As you can see Becca (my sis) was pregnant as can be! Cute, huh? :)

2008-at-a-Glance (part 1)

January: Our dog of almost 10 years died. We miss Spike sooooo much!

February: Mark had his third and final ear reconstruction surgery (performed by Dr. Burt Brent in California). He is so excited about his new ear!
March: The kids got to have a big Easter egg hunt with their cousins

and got new clothes for Easter Sunday.
April: We went to Disneyland for 5 days! (need I say more?!)