Pumpkin Eating/Carving

God's gifts

When we first felt called to change our dossier from one baby boy, to 2 baby boys we were hesitant and anxious. We knew this was God's will and we were faithful. Looking back...God is amazing and all knowing obviously, but I reassured of that daily in the interactions of my boys. God designed our family, and for the two of them to be brothers for life, from sharing a wood box "crib" in Ethiopia to now. Today alone I was shown this during these moments:

1. I am pulling the wagon home from visiting the Payne family and I have my back to the boys, but hear "tickle-tickle" over and over again from both kiddo. I turn around and witness that they are taking turns tickling each others feet and saying "tickle-tickle".

2. At the gym the teacher gave Zeke a little bag of goldfish to-go for the car and he took them and signed thank you. He took one step away and turned back and reach up saying "tut-tut" and signing please. He wanted a baggie for Taft too, who he calls "tut-tut".

3. In the stroller Zeke must have finished his drink and wanted more because he threw his cup down and started saying more. Therefore, the kind hearted Taft grabs his cup from the pocket and hands it to Zeke.

4. In the bath this evening I have a director for each boys washing moments. When I am washing Taft, Zeke stands over and directs me saying "bubbles" and pointing to the places that I have missed to make sure Taft is cleaned well. Then they switch roles.

5. Finally, after reading stories I asked them to give Mommy a kiss, and instead of kissing me they kept kissing each other over and over again and giggling.

I could never imagine their little lives with out the other.

God is so great and mighty to have designed our family!

Does Taft have a twin?

Totally bizarre, but I saw this commercial and it shockingly reminds me of Taft! Well my goodness gracious I hope not the end segment of Cee Lo, but the Baby and Kiddo are seriously Taft's twin!

First Race for Mommy pushing the double jogger

We completed our first race with Mommy and the double stroller. I was 1 of 2 crazy enough to attempt the race with the extra 125 pounds. The other double just so happened to be good friends of ours! I started thinking how much easier the run would have been if we didn't live in the mountains of Tucson with way too many hills to maneuver up with what seemed like a ton of bricks in the stroller. We finished in my goal time of 8-9 minutes per mile! I only tripped twice over items the boys threw over board and then Mommy ran right over. The boys loved the post race food, bands and roaming around old down town! Their favorite was a lollipop a vendor gave them, second one ever. After the slobbering mess and screaming fit when I took it away, it just might be their last for a while. I look forward to many more active events with my little guys! Go Team Johnson!

Lesson learned: Do not be the very last person to start the race! I thought I was being considerate of all the runners to get my huge BOB out of the way, but then quickly realized I then had to run past all the "walkers" who were at the end of the crowd. Weaving in and out of large crowds walking while you try and pass running on narrow down town city streets is a bad idea. Live and learn!

Here we come fall!

Our To-Do List is our Done list

1. Halloween costumes(took 5 stores to get the right sizes)
2. Pumpkin patch
3. House decorated
4. Scarecrows up
5. First trick or treating experience with MOPS
6. First snow cone at the church picnic
7. Halloween cards made and sent
8. Halloween shirts that glow in the dark
9. Skeleton glow in the dark jammies
10. Halloween presents from Memaw and Pepaw opened and loved

Handy Manny

In prep for our Disney Trip the boys watch 15 minutes of Disney here and there, and Taft has a serious fascination with the Handy Manny song! He doesn't just enjoy it he literally goes nuts!

Best gift idea I ever had!

The boys and I made the best gift ever for Tyler! A pillow case that has the following embroidered in the center, with the boys hand and foot prints on either side of the wording:

Daddy lays his heads here, when we are apart he can feel us near!

Experiment

I have let the boys watch 10 minutes of Disney shows a few days each week for a week or so in preparation for our Disney trip. I am trying to teach them a few of the characters, simply so they are not afraid and have some sort of connection going into it. Until 2 weeks ago I was the ANTI-TV mommy, but for just a few weeks before Disney I am easing up a TINY bit. I tested T-bone..would you rather watch Handy Manny or would you rather have a snack? Go figure..I know that boy too well, of course the winner was....drum roll please....

Zeke asleep?

Just when I thought after an hour of quiet Zeke was fast asleep.....Nope!

Air Force Academy

Tyler and two other AFA grads, his buddy from Gardez and a visiting General, celebrate the Air Force Academy win over the Naval Academy!

Dove Newsletter

We got a newsletter from Dove today and I just now realized for months there has been something all too familiar about the agency letterhead. Do you see what I see?