Sugar & Spice...

Well, our life has certainly changed quite a bit the past 2 weeks.. all thanx to this insanely adorable little face...

 Seneca Marie Johnson.  She joined us on May 21 at 10:12 am.  I'll have to make another post all about how she joined our family, but for now, I thought I would share a few pictures :)

Here is Seneca & her biggest fan (besides mommy) ... her doting daddy.  Sean is IN LOVE with this little girl!! He loves to hold her & it seems like he can't help but smile anytime she is near him.

 Another fan of our new baby, happens to be her older brothers, one in particular, who is very goofy :)  He loves to be in pictures with her!
 

 Today my awesome family threw me a baby shower.  I wanted to wait until Kelli, who is visiting, was here to join us, so we actually had the baby at the shower :)
Here are a few pictures from today--
Grandma Lindblom & Seneca

 Aunt Wendi is a master at getting her to stop crying!  Even if it means getting her hands a little dirty :)

 We had an awesome array of toppings to add to sundaes, with a nice side of cupcakes.

 I was really happy to see lots of friends & family :)

My aunt Kathy & cousin Kristi with her cutie girls

 Cathy Lindblom & her cutie girls

 me & my friends Lachelle & Crystal

 Shanon, Kelli, Wendi & Jen

Seneca may be set for her baby life in the clothes department!! She had so many people give her super cute clothes & headbands! We are so excited to play dress up :)

 She wore this super cute dress her aunt Tiffany sent her, to the shower today.  She looked adorable in it :)

When I was taking a picture of her, the boys insisted on taking one with her.  They LOVE their sister soo much!!!!

I can't begin to express how grateful I am to all of the amazing people around us that have helped watch the boys, bring us a meal, give a special gift, or just a kind word that lifted my spirits.  We are truly blessed to have so much love in our life!!
It's funny.. you tend to forget how much change & how much work are brought into your life with the addition of a new little one!  It has been different around here for sure! But the wonderful spirit Seneca has brought into our life has changed our lives for the better & we can't wait to see all of the amazing things she will have to offer to our growing family!
One thing if for sure though... she is definitely gonna have to be one tough girl with these 2 boys!!!

today

nothing eloquent, just me writing today.

We slept in today (as we have alot this Christmas break) & just lounged around this morning.  I had some freebies on a photo websight, so I sat down to make a mini-book.  The boys were watching tv & playing in their room when I decided to get a drink of water.  I walked in & what do I find?  Black powder all over the carpet & the dog in the middle of it.  Sam admitted to watching Bruce destroy a few fireworks all over the floor.  Awesome.  Now, several hours later,  I am finally done shampooing the carpet in the family room & my bedroom- not something I had planned for the day.  Then Joey comes over for a hug- don't be mad at us anymore mom!.  My mind traveled back to our amazing day yesterday & how much I loved them every second &I have to remember that not every minute is roses with 2 little boys.
Yesterday we took off together & window shopped at Dana Park.  They have fountains ever few feet, it seems, & the boys had a great time spending at least 5 minutes at each fountain, throwing pennies in & dipping their hands in the water.

We walked in & out of a few stores, ate a quesadilla together & read books at Barnes & Noble.  As I watched Joey eat I thought- this is what life is all about!! We didn't have anything to accomplish yesterday, so we moseyed around & I let them take as long as they wanted walking & listened to everything they had to say.  It made me realize I should treat more days like that.  I guess I needed yesterday to deal with today.
Sean came with me for our 20 week ultrasound yesterday afternoon.  He got to hear her heart beat & news that this is definitely a girl.  She was pretty shy, keeping her hands at her face & crossing her legs most the time.  We almost left not knowing if she was really a she.  Sean told me it didn't really matter cause he already knew it was a girl :).   Last night when we layed down she was moving around quite a bit & I could actually see my stomach moving.  Sean got to feel her kicking for the first time.  It still doesn't seem quite real that our family will be added to in just a few more months.  I definitely feel like the nesting phase has kicked into full gear.  I want to clean & decorate like nobody's business!!  Last night Sean helped me finish the pin board I've had plans for for way too long!!!

now I have somewhere cute to hang pictures, invitations & announcements!!  We just have to get some wire to hang it with today so it can grace my kitchen.
and we ended last night with some smores made right from our fireplace

spaghetti for dinner & smores for dessert.  Joey was one very messy boy!!!  Sam ate more than I did at dinner!!!  When we stopped by the grocery store on our way home last night, they had teenage mutant ninja turtle action figures on crazy clearance, so I let them each choose one.  When we went to bed last night Sam told me it was the most awesome day ever.  I have to agree :)

Christmas time :)

This year was pretty much awesome!!! Christmas time was enjoyed from Thanksgiving & on, thoroughly by the Johnson family :)  They boys watched Christmas cartoons all month long (there favorite were the Prep & Landing I & II).  We saw lots of Christmas lights.  We bought presents for each other, we decorated, we sang.. & most important, we tried to really let the boys know why we celebrated Christmas.. the birth of our Savior.  We bought some presents to donate to some less fortunate than us, & tried to put money in the salvation army bucket every time we passed.  Sam wanted to give all our presents away, but I had to tell him that sometimes its nice to get presents too!
 We got our tree pretty early in the month (always a real one!! ) & so we had to take it down right after Christmas so our house didn't catch on fire!  The night we got it I was pretty sick, so I layed on the couch & directed the boys & Sean as much as I could.  Luckily, I've only been pregnant sick this season, not cold/flu.. something to be very grateful for!!
A few days before Christmas we made cinnamon rolls to take to our neighbors & Sean & the boys made a train wonderland out of our family room. Christmas Eve we spent with the Lindbloms, eating, exchanging gifts, & acting out Luke 2.  Sam was a wiseman & luckily, only ALMOST accidentally fell on baby Jesus one time... an achievement for such an accident prone child!
Christmas morning we woke up Sam, who was very excited to see what Santa brought.  Joe had to be dragged out of bed, but once he saw the racetrack that Santa brought, he woke right up!!

Christmas morning carnage

trying out the new quad

Joey, of course, couldn't move on from the candy until he was eating some!

Mommy & baby's present from Daddy.  Nobody still believes it will be a girl.

Grandma & Grandpa came to visit that morning

boys & trains!

Sean, trying out the new juicer

Uncle Ben got the boys rockem sockem boppers!!

Daddy & Sammy flying the remote control helicopter

Sam with Santa at the Ward party

treats for neighbors

the awesome quilt Sean's mom made us!

Sam's debut as a wiseman

We had fun unwrapping presents with Uncle Ben & Grandma.  We were also visited by Grandma & Grandpa Lindblom later in the morning, Aunt Nancie, & then Grandpa Johnson & Linda in the evening.  We had an awesome prime rib dinner with Sean's mom, Mark, & Sean's brothers.  We ended the night driving to a few Christmas lights. 
What an awesome Christmas time!!!!!!

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!!