Veterans Day/ Thanksgiving

So, my blogging has been lacking, & there really isn't too much more to say, but to move on!

I went to look for the last couple months of pictures & found these from November, so I'll share.
On Veteran's Day, I took the boys to the Mesa Veteran's Day Parade.  My niece Jocelyn got to walk in it & we got to cheer for her.  There were lots of army tanks & vehicles & motorcyles for the boys to check out.  My favorite part was when the flags of all the fallen soldiers walked by & we all stood & applauded.  I was alot more emotional than I thought I would be when I explained to the boys why we celebrate this day.  

Aunt Nancie & Joey

Later on that month, we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Lindblom clan.  Now, I know that in the future I will look back & laugh alot at how the day started, but on the day.. not so much.  We woke up with plenty of time to do all we needed.. at least we thought.  Sean smoked a turkey & I made a pie & a few side dishes.  To make a long story short.. the turkey took longer than we thought (but ended up totally delicious!!) & when I put everything in the car so we could get going as soon as it was done, Sam didn't seem to see the sweet potato casserole & stepped into it.  I will admit I did cry at that point.. BUT- only about an hour late, we finally made it to my parents.  Everyone had waited, until I told them to finally just go ahead.  They were all still at the table when we go there to eat, but Sean's turkey didn't get enjoyed by as many as it should... & even though Sam stepped in the casserole, it was covered & still edible.  Life.. never a dull moment!!!  Here are some pictures that I took that day.

Joy

so this is the reason my blogs have suffered the past 3 months.. but I'm super ok with that :)
Here comes Johnson baby #3!!!!!
I had this ultrasound about a week or so ago.  The view apparently was very good & there is a 90% chance that this is a girl Johnson baby :)  I couldn't be more excited!!
I was looking at some other blogs, letting my insane emotions make me tear up - just as I have been every day for the past 3 months- & thought I hadn't shared my feelings in awhile.
This has been my most difficult pregnancy by far.  The past 3 months have definitely left a larger body print on my bed than I would have liked.  The first 5 weeks or so wasn't too bad, but I have been having afternoon/night sickness like nobody's business the past couple of months.  Already being the mom of 2 very active boys didn't make it any easier.  There was more than one night that I lay there, very emotional, feeling like the worst mom to ever be, because I couldn't get up to referee, or get the glass of milk they needed.  I know it's all worth it in the end, but it hasn't made it much easier!
The past week & half have been great & I'm feeling a TON better (minus today.. haha!!). You can actually see the floors in my house, & I'm starting to feel like me again!! 
It is so unbelievable to me how this little one growing inside me can change my life so much from the second it is there!!!  My emotions change ,my body starts changing, my heart changes.. & I'll never be the same.  After I had Sam I thought there was no way my heart could grown to love another child as much as I loved him.  And then there was Joe :)  Now there is no doubt in my mind that my heart is ready to be stretched again & I can't wait to let more love into my life!
Funny how the second we took the crib apart & I cried inside, there was already a baby heading our way!  Heavenly Father sure likes to keep us on our toes!!!

Halloween night

My ghostie & horsey :)  They definitely brought in the candy loot that night!   Unfortunately, I didn't get home from work til late, so we didn't get to go to our ward party.  We did go over to Grandma's house though & she trick or treated with us.  Although Joey  has been terrified of all scary Halloweenish type things, he did pretty well.  He was asleep when I got home, so there was some crying getting him into his costume, but once he got going trick or treating, there was no stopping him!   Sammy was very insistent on being a scary ghost this year.  The scary ghost only made it about 20 minutes after we were done trick or treating though :)  Good times!

Moments

This week we took down the crib & bought Joey a big boy bed.  Doesn't sound sad, does it?  Well it was.   A part of me whimpered inside.  It's been 4 years since that crib has been down.  How much longer until it is up again?  Yes.. it will go up again... but it will be later than I'd like.
I just watched a movie & it talked about how life is made up of moments & it made me think of my own life.  I love the moments I've been given.  I wouldn't trade a moment of the past 9 years for anything.  Meeting the person who would take my hand the rest of my life (even though he doesn't really like holding hands) & the 2 boys that bring a smile to my face every day.
I think I've been having some gallbladder attacks the past day & haven't been feeling very well.  Sean suggested we take a ride to get out of the house after not feeling well enough to sit through church.  We drove by a park Sean grew up near & ended up getting  out & walking around the lake.  I loved every moment of it.  When we all held hands together.. when I had to tell Joey to keep up -the entire time... the little huff/puff noise he made when he ran his stubby little legs to catch up with us... & the moment Sam told the stranger that smoking cigarettes is bad for you.  & the moment on the way back to the car when Sean carried Joe cause he cried when he had to walk.

he looks just like him.
It's funny how every person that sees us when we are all together first says- they are so cute!!- & then they say- don't blink.. the time flies by faster than you think.  It already is! 

Jumpy = happy :)

For Joey's 2nd birthday this past weekend, we got a trampoline for the boys.  I say for the boys.. but it was really for all of us.  I never knew what an awesome present it would be!  Both our families came to help us celebrate Joey's birthday, but Sean's mom & brothers stayed late & we all got on the trampoline with the boys.  We didn't all jump at once, mind you, but we took turns & I noticed something.  You cannot be on a trampoline & be sad.  Everyone was laughing & happy.  It was one of those really great moments when the world slows down.  Tonight for family home evening, we jumped.  Sean propped up the swamp cooler next to the trampoline, so cold air blasted on us & we all took turns jumping with each other.  Go ahead.. try to jump on a trampoline without having a good time.. I dare you!  We got a big one, so the boys could grow into it & I'm so glad I found a way for us to enjoy smiling together while the world slows down, just for a second or two :)

Love

I love my boys more than I could ever say. Yesterday we spent the whole day snuggling.. literally!  I just finished putting the boys to bed.  After prayers & stories I always say.. time to close our eyes!! Joey proceeds to put his pudgy little hands over his eyes.  He thinks to close his eyes, his hands have to be over them, & it is the cutest thing in the world.  I love their little voices & I couldn't live life without the crazy boys!!

Joe-sy & Samsy

 can we help?

Today we made chocolate, chocolate chip cookies w/pecans :)  YUM!  The boys love to help in the kitchen, & if you've ever had 2 boys under the age of 4 trying to help you.. you know how that goes!  I think they ate half a dozen of the first batch before Sean even got up to get one! Of course, Joe's face is a result of beater licking :)

This week has been good. I actually had Thursday- Sunday all to my  family :)  I only work Mon-Wed consistently, but occasionally work Thursdays or Fridays & with vacation & extra work, it's been a little hectic around the house lately!

Yesterday my niece Jolie got baptized.. I can still remember watching the 3 older kids while Michelle was in the hospital having Jolie (side note to remind myself how old I feel).  Earlier in the day we went to the lds bookstore to find something special for Jolie.  Sam & Joe fell asleep in the car, so my mom (who is awesome) rode along with me & sat in the car while I ran in the store.
Since we were already over there, I had to stop by & snap a picture of my favorite place in the world :)

It was a very nice baptism- minus the totally out of control little boy that wouldn't stop making car noises & yelling papa (Joe).  The Ayala girls sang a beautiful song that brought me to tears.

 Jolie looked beautiful in her pretty white dress & smiled big for the hundreds of pictures that were taken.

Afterwards, we went to the Ayala's for hot dogs &  a pluthora of goodies.  

Last Sunday we took a little car ride out to the new Gilbert temple site.  I thought it would be fun to see how it is looking... amazing, by the way.  There is a construction trailer on the site with some nice older male missionaries that explained everything you would want to know about what the floor plans are & how the grounds will look. It was awesome! 

Some day the boys can look back at this picture & feel old that they were around when this beautiful temple was being built.  Maybe one of them will even get married there :)

As for Brucey.. he is fitting in very well with our family.  The boys like to run him ragged, but he seems to like it just fine.  He is pretty obedient & very loyal.  Somehow he always seems to dig a hole to get out the side gate.  But when he does, he just ends up sitting on the porch for us.  Funny dog!  He also likes to spend some meditation time in the wagon out back.

Joey is saying more & more words & turning into a little boy instead of my little baby.  He started saying Sam's name this week.  Sammy!!
Sam's toe nail finally fell off yesterday.. yuck, I know.  A few weeks ago Joe threw a huge rock on Sam's foot.  Hopefully the nail will grow back quickly!

My nephew Des got his mission call on Friday to the Guatamala,  Retalhueleu mission.  We all went over that night to watch him open his call.  I seriously can't believe he is 19.  On the way to the Steven's house Sam jumped into the car & said " We've got a mission!!!!".  Then when I explained to him that he would go to South America & speak Spanish, he said - "with Dora?".  :)  :)  :)

We had some pretty amazing meetings at church today. I'm so grateful for a loving Savior, & for an amazing  & forgiving husband.  I only hope I can deserve all of my boys someday :)

thoughts

Even though I didn't go to bed til 1am, here I am at 7am up.. the life of a mother.  Actually, I should probably consider myself lucky that I got to sleep in that late!  Joey: " Milk mama.. milk!! Bot, Mama, Bot! "  - what I wake up to daily.  Bot is the character from umizoomi, Joey's obsession.
Last night Sean & I finally got a little time away together.  It's been awhile since we've gone on a date.  Grantylicious babysat for us & got both kids to sleep pretty early when... da duh da.....Joey woke back up freaking out for a good half hour for him :(  Hopefully this doesn't mean he will never babysit for us again!
We went to Pizza Al Forno in Glendale.  We saw it on diners, drive ins & dives last week & wanted to try it.  The pizza was amazing!
This last week was one of those rare weeks that I ended up working 5 days. YUCK!  It wouldn't be so bad, but.. oh wait.. yeah it is.  It's really really hard for me to be away from the boys that long! & my house suffers alot too.  It looked like a bomb went off yesterday before I kind of started cleaning.  Today Sean is starting his tutoring for the lsat.  His tutor is coming here, so me & the boys gots to scram later on.  Meaning, I gotta clean like a madwoman here in a few minutes!
Sam starts preschool in 3 weeks & I can't tell who is more excited, Sam, or grandma ! :)  My mom is going to be his preschool teacher & she it is really cute how much she prepares & really cares about the kids, I'm lucky to have her to teach him!
Why did I seem to think when I was young that as soon as I grew up, got married & started having kids that my life would be magical & easy?  Each day presents new stressed & problems. I feel lucky to have been blessed with a husband that really cares about me & who I know I can share all things with, & grow with.  I never thought a males opinions would matter more to me than my dads :)

Alright, one last note-  if you are reading this, & have never looked at my picture blog, feel free to check it out HERE.  Even though there have been a few times I've even gotten pretty far behind on it.. it's probably the closest thing to picture how my life has been this year & I LOVE to share it with people :)  & nobody ever comments on it, so feel free to do that do if you want  :) 

here we go!

I'm taking my sister JoDee's advice & just starting to blog again.. not necessarily catch up... just start to blog.
I'm trying to type while my boys climb all over me & Sean teases them relentlessly.  Sounds about right.
My boys are growing up so fast!! Joey is saying more & more things that just astonish me.  Yesterday he told me "cuckoo clock mama!".  He likes to repeat Sam a lot, & since Sam NEVER stops talking.. it's not hard to pick things up quickly!
Things at our house are, of course, insane busy.  We went on a trip to California & Oregon a week &  half ago, & I still haven't recovered.  I just barely finished going through my pictures, & I can't quite get the house to feel clean.  I'm working 5 days this week & I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through!!! I think of Sam starting preschool next month & Sean starting his new classes & my mind gets so overwhelmed.  The months fly by & I feel like with work, I can't seem to keep up with the days!  Sean starts his tutoring for the LSAT next week.  & it very well could be that in 6 months he will be applying/interviewing at a few schools.  Where is my life going?  I'm going to make a stronger commitment to blog a little each day.  So many things the boys say & do are going undocumented, & I feel badly about it!
The other day Joe teased Sam for the first time. Sean thought it was hilarious.  Joey held a toy up so Sam couldn't reach it & then just giggled & giggled that he couldn't get it.  Joey LOVES watching Team Umizoomi right now. He asks for Bot over & over again.  Joey's vocabulary ...(real meaning cereal, apes -grapes, milk, Bot, Bruce- the dog, mama- for both me & Sean, clock, B- for blanket, daha-soda, bac bac- chicken, his numbers, some letters, set.. go! ). just to name a few.  He has the cutest little voice in the world, so to hear him say anything just melts my heart.
Sam's vocabulary increases all the time also.  I guess I've been saying the word sweetie lately- Sam asked me, mom, what is sweetie?   :)
The boys play together all day & love to be outside, as usual.
ok, more to come, every day.. hopefully :)

Memorial Day fun!

We had such an awesome Memorial Day Weekend!! I loved it so much because every single night we were hanging out with family, bbquing, homemade ice cream, swimming, eating, & enjoying each others company.  I made a few collages of the fun times we had so that we can remember them. 

swimming & bbq at Philip & Melissa's

 

 bbq & homemade ice cream with grandpa & great grandpa Johnson

 the last one is Max's awesome graduation party.

It's been awhile since we spent so much time with both our families. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks when all my family is together.  Good times :)