Johnson Children Translation Dictionary

May I suggest that we begin compiling entries for a Johnson Children Translation Dictionary? They certainly do have a language of their own. The first word that I'd like to present for consideration:

attackle [uh-tak-uhl], verb

1.the method by which an infuriated Rory exacts vengeance upon her unsuspecting older brother for his unruly trespass on her private tea party.

Synonyms
storm, charge, assail, to seize, bring down

In a sentence: "Rory, what did you do to your brother!?" "I attackled him, and he's only crying because he's SUCH a wimp."

(old pic, but soooo Rory)

My kids are funnier than yours...

K, this is my practice post. Here's a few of the funny moments in our day-t0-day. If you're on facebook, you've already seen these. They made me smile, enjoy!
_______________

Today in Fast and Testimony meeting, Rory asks me, "Why is that lady so sad up there?" I told her, "Sometimes people cry when they're happy, or when something brings them joy or is very special to them." She says, "Crying 'cause she's happy? She really needs to just relax about it."


Real Steel is so fun to watch with my kiddos - they do cool moves as they dance and box along with the robot... then they turn their new moves on each other... then its a problem.


Yay, I get to do laundry twice today! Mason didn't want me to find out he had an accident in his pull-up and so he threw it into the washer with an almost finished batch of clothes. Joy.


In big trouble, Rory argues that she's been "accidentally" calling her brother names and shouldn't be punished. I tell her there's no such thing as accidentally calling names and that she better not do it again... and secretly, I'm excusing myself for a few profanities I may have muttered under my breath recently. I didn't mean to, so they were accidents, right? I like that idea. But don't tell Rory that.


I let my kids each pick a picture out of our gospel art set to talk about before bed and tonight Mason pulled out "The 5th Day." We were discussing how God made the animals and knowing Cole wants to be an engineer, I was telling him that God is such a brilliant engineer that he can build whatever animal he can think of. We went to the zoo today, so I was giving them examples like when he wanted to make a bird with all the colors of the rainbow he made the Scarlet Macaw, that one day maybe he was feeling silly and wanted to make the ugliest, stinkiest thing he could think of and made a warthog. Then it got really fun when the kids started suggesting things they'll make when they are Gods. Mason wants to make flying monkeys (no surprise there), Rory wants to make fluffy bunnies who's ears rotate like helicopter propellers so they can fly, and Cole wants to make giant tarantulas that camouflage by having flowers on their backs "so they can sneak up on their prey, and ya know, so boys can give them to their mommies for scary surprises."
Note to self: be wary of any bouquets coming from Cole once he achieves celestial glory...


"Mason, don't eat boogers! That's disgusting!" Defiant scream: "No it's not yucky, mom! It's nummy!" Um, how do I impress upon this child that this is not a good thing when his taste buds are apparently telling him otherwise?


At dinner: "Mason, I can see you blowing bubbles through your straw. Stop it."
"Mommy, could you cwose yous eyes for a li' bit?"

We love the red pea coats Grandma and Grandpa Johnson gave Ellie and Riley for Christmas. They are beautiful and almost every time the girls wear them, they are complimented on how cute their coats are.

Today if finally snowed, and we used the time after church to take pictures of the girls' in the snow. The pop of red and white with the red rose was just so so so cute.

Thanks to Grandma Johnson for getting these coats for the girls. They are well-loved.

We love and miss you all!

Now common people, let's get some other posts on here!

Virginia Johnson Update

Riley is sad that Grandpa left. She loves Grandpa Johnson more than any other person in the world. Sometimes she reminds us that, "We need to go to Grandpa's house. He misses me."

Not much is happening with the VA-Johnson clan, but I wanted to add a quick post and update everyone on our lives.

First, we had so much fun when Grandpa, Grandma, and Cole visited last month. Despite our unseasonably warm winter, we were blessed with a winter wonderland all weekend long. The trees glistened with ice and the flurries came down so vigorously that Cole hoped for a chance to go sledding. The snow didn't stick, but we loved watching it come down.

Now it is February, and were are about to start Spring Sports. Whew. I am tired just thinking about our upcoming lives. Here's what we are busy with (and man, are we busy).

Ken

• Writing 1 or more K99 grants that will ensure a faculty position at UVA if he is awarded the grant.
• Starting research and writing a MRI-Ultrasound grant.
• Writing a paper for Interferometry.
• Preparing to go to Melbourne Australia in May.
• Busy at church as the Bear Dean Leader, CTR 5 Primary Teacher, and an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.

Myra

• Full-fledged "soccer" mom (see below).
• Busy working two part-time jobs (one as a day-care worker at the local gym, and the other watching the cutest little boy in our home 3 days a week).
• Working as the Relief Society Secretary and Institute Class President.
• Preparing the upcoming ward activity, and counting down the days for it to be over so she can reclaim her sanity.
• Not writing, but hoping to find the time soon. 
 

Otho

• Finishing up basketball (and starting baseball).
• Continuing to master the piano.
• Learning tennis.
• About to earn his Bear badge at scouts. 

 Abe
 

• Just started cub scouts and has already earned his Bobcat.
• Is almost a yellow belt in Karate (and he can count in Japanese).
• Will be starting soccer in two weeks. 

Ellie

• Taking pre-ballet and LOVES to dance.
• Starting t-ball and is excited to wear her pink princess gloves to the games.
• During the day Ellie attends story-time, accompanies mom to all of her Relief Society meetings, and loves to go to the Institute play group. 

 Riley

• Staring Creative Movement dance class next week.
• Loves going to story-time, Institute, and all of mom's Relief Society meetings. 

Whew! We are busy. Hopefully we will find the time to post pictures of all these fun events. In the meantime, we love everyone, miss Arizona, and can't wait to see, swim, and socialize this summer.

Love Myra

Hurray for ordinary January

As a kid, I hated for Christmas to end and I dreaded January--back to school, cold weather, and a dormant back yard.  As a mother of four, however, I grew to love the boring first month of the year for some of the same reasons.  Christmas was over, the kids were back to school, I loved the cold weather, and there was much less yardwork!

But more than anything, after all the excess of the holidays, "normal" sounded pretty good.  Like a big grandfather clock with lots of rotating gears, it seemed the family functioned so smoothly when we were "back in our routine" of work and school and church and play and family time.

So...I propose a New Year's toast to good old boring everyday life!  And Happy New Year to the people I love the most--my family!!!

MOM