Sunday, December 28, 2008

Happy 60th Birthday Mom!

Here are 60 reasons (out of hundreds) we love my mom and our grandma!
1. She gives the best hugs!
2. She has a huge heart!
3. She loves us more than anyone else in the world possibly could!
4. She always has good things to eat at her house (especially for her starving son-in-law!)
5. She lets us (the girls) sleep in her bed with her!
6. She likes to go camping and be part of nature.
7. She lets us stay up a lot later than our mom does!
8. She gives great advice.
9. She tells us stories in funny voices.
10. She was there when we were born, and she loved us before we even were!
11. She keeps me grounded - especially when I get too caught up in life!
12. She helps us remember that we are blessed.
13. She never gives up on us.
14. She carries us through the hard times, and is there with us through the good as well.
15. She supported everything I ever did in school - even if it meant cutting out 5 million things for posters and elections!
16. She believes in all of us!
17. She is courageous!
18. She is kind.
19. She believes in God.
20. She prays for us.
21. She always helped me chase my dreams.
22. She is my strength.
23. She is our friend.
24. She is fun!
25. She gives wise counsel.
26. She is always involved in things we do.
27. She is beautiful, inside and out.
28. She is special in every way.
29. She has a fierce competitive side, but doesn't mind when we win anyway.
30. She has amazing decorating skills.
31. She can make any ordinary thing extraordinary and beautiful.
32. She has countless talents.
33. She gives us confidence in ourselves.
34. She is a great listener.
35. She is adventurous.
36. She rubs our feet with lotion when we have sleepovers.
37. She "fixes" everything!
38. She loves each of us unconditionally.
39. She lets us have sleepovers a lot.
40. She buys us things we need - and even things we don't need.
41. She loves animals.
42. We can count on her for everything.
43. She constantly makes sacrifices on our behalf.
44. She is a healer.
45. She'd sell her soul for us.
46. She loves her children.
47. She loves her grandchildren.
48. She always has yummy treats - lots better than at our house!
49. She is forgiving.
50. She encourages us to be the best we can at everything.
51. She is respectful.
52. She brings us joy.
53. She is honest.
54. She loves to serve.
55. We love her laughter.
56. She can see the importance of details.
57. She doesn't judge us.
58. She protects us and makes us feel safe.
59. She teaches us everything she knows.
60. Her love is forever, and she is the perfect mom and grandma!

Happy 60th Birthday Mom and Grandma!!!

We LOVE you!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

A surprise visitor!

Merry Christmas!!!

We haven't been able to get to the mall to see Santa yet this year, but somehow he keeps finding us anyway! Thank goodness! He is checking in regularly to keep the girls in line! He showed up at our door the other night at 9:00 - which the girls loved, but I was convinced it was a mugger! Sorry Santa! Then we had a little get-together at my sister's house with her and my older brother and his cute girls - - and Santa found us again! The exciting part was that Mrs. Claus came with him this time! What a treat! Isn't it a magical time of year?!? Merry Christmas!
My cute niece, Gracie
My other cute niece, Addie
Camryn
Carsyn
Tyleigh
Gracie
Tyleigh, Camryn and Addie
Tyleigh, my sister Traci, and Addie
Thanks for putting all of this on Trac! We had a great time!
. . . And to all, a Good Night!
Chaco, the big brown puppy, all worn out!

Happy Snow Day!!!

What an amazing storm that was! The girls and I LOVED every minute of that snow - only because we didn't have to go anywhere, and we got to PLAY in it all day! We managed to stay out there for 4 1/2 hours! We made a sledding hill, built a snowman, and managed to gather half the neighborhood kids in our front yard in the process! We hooked the sleds up to Rod's Blazer and took the kids for rides around the block! We had a blast! We measured 13 inches total in our front yard! Incredible!
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Monday, December 22, 2008

The Trolley Ride . . .

The girls and "Grandpa Phil"

One of our newest and most favorite traditions during the holiday season is riding the trolley at Thanksgiving Point with our dear friend Phil as the driver! We love the stories Phil tells as we see the millions of lights! For the past two years, we have had the opportunity to share this ride with our friends, the Shipps and the Torgesons, which makes the tradition complete! We even got to see Santa's reindeer at the end of our ride this year! It was beyond freezing, but was such a treat anyway!









Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A Girl's Dream Come True


My dad has an amazing talent for building things, and my mom has an amazing gift for adding just the right details and final touches. When I was little, my mom and dad made me my dream Barbie house. I was fortunate enough to be able to save it for my own daughters - who destroyed a good portion of it! However, for Christmas this year, my mom and dad completely restored, remodeled and redecorated the whole thing for the girls! It is a little girl's dream come true! I know this is a funny post, but you have to see it just to believe it! My dad put in crown molding, a fireplace, new carpet, linoleum, trim on the roof, etc., while my mom painted the whole thing to look just like my house! She added the most darling drapes, beadboard, stenciling, mirrors, pictures in frames, etc. Hours and hours of work went into this thing! My mom and dad brought it down on Sunday and surprised the girls with an early Christmas gift! It is so cute - and who knew Barbie had so many modern conveniences?!? I'm tempted to play with it all myself - so if you see my lights on in the basement late at night . . .


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Monday, December 15, 2008

Torture!

My girls are dying for Christmas day to come! For some reason, the wait has been worse than ever this year . . . here's the proof!
Camryn brings Rod and I this cute little present with an "open" note taped on top of it, then runs away giggling with her sisters. Rod and I are so touched that she is being so thoughtful . . . until we read the note and discover the deal being made . . .

"Mom & Dad-

If you want to open this gift, you have to make a deal, you open a gift we all open one gift! Please, please, please!


Love, The girls


PS We love so much!"

Uh-huh - I know exactly what you're thinking! I am SOOO in trouble!

Friday, December 12, 2008

LOOK WHAT YOU DID!!!


Thank you so much to all of you who contributed to the drive for the Road Home! What a huge blessing you all are to those in need! Thank you for opening your hearts, closets, and pocket books to make a difference this Christmas! The picture on this post is only about a fourth of what was collected! Baby diapers, wipes, bottles, hygiene items, clothes, coats, hats, gloves, blankets, towels, pillows, shoes! WOW! As I have done more research on the Road Home itself and other charities, I am so overwhelmed by all of the need this year. While it is a hard time for all of us, you all gave of yourselves anyway! My heart is so full - and someone is warmer and happier thanks to you tonight! May God bless each of you, and may you feel the Spirit of Christmas in your home this season!

Innocence

I love the innocence of my children when they are sleeping . . . but what's the saying? "If only I could think of them as sleeping instead of recharging!?!" Tyleigh hasn't fallen asleep like this since she was tiny - apparently she was extra worn out tonight! We'll take it when we can!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Baby It's Cold Outside . . . But It's Warm In Here!

It's done! Presenting the fireplace! Finally!!! Thank you to all who helped so much on it - especially my Dad and Todd! It turned out better than I ever hoped it would!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Santa's Reindeer

We asked Tyleigh what Santa's reindeers names were the other night. She thought long and hard before she answered:

Comic, Pinocchio, Rudolph and Elmo!!!

I love Christmas through my children's eyes!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

It's been Madsen Madness!

Holy moly! We have been so busy lately! I decided to combine all our madness in one blog - rather than boring any of you - or myself - with fourteen different blogs!!! These are just a few of the things we've been doing in the last two weeks!

* Camryn and Carsyn entered the reflections contest - and Carsyn won! Camryn got an honorable mention! I am so proud of both of them!



* Carsyn got more dental work done! That poor child will never be the same! A baby root canal and a filling all in one day - and this is after the tooth extraction! I'll be paying for counseling for the trauma she has suffered next!


* Rod, my dad, and Rod's friend Todd have been installing a fireplace in our basement! LOVE IT!!! I can't believe what a difference it makes in our home! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Thank you to my dad and Todd for ALL of their help! And thanks to Ken for sacrificing the fireplace in the first place! (Finished product coming soon!)





* We had an early family dinner for Thanksgiving with my dad's WHOLE family (and it is NOT a small family!) - it's fun that the girls get to know their great-grandparents!

My Grandma Johnson

My Grandpa Johnson


* Ty had a feast at preschool, and was named "Smiling Rainbow!" How fitting for my happy little girl! She was so proud of her Indian name! The feast consisted of cereal, marshmallows, gummy bears, chips, raisins, and more candy! That is exactly my kind of a feast, baby!




Tyleigh and her best friend Ember

* We had an awesome Thanksgiving dinner with my mom and dad and little brother and sister-in-law, and my darling niece! We have so much to be grateful for! We have so many blessings in our lives, and have been given so much!


* My sweet sister-in-law and I took our husbands on a date to FINALLY see Twilight - and the boys didn't even complain too much! The movie was cheesy - but fun to see, and not nearly as bad as I had heard!


* My sister-in-law and I followed the movie by pulling an all- nighter for Black Friday (11:00 p.m Thursday night to 1:00 p.m. Friday afternoon!)! I swear it off every year, and somehow I manage to talk myself back into it every year! While we suffered no major injuries, we did get called naughty names! We got most everything we set out for - and had a blast just doing it all together! I love that girl!

My cute sister-in-law Vanessa and I in a "before" picture while waiting in line at the mall! The "after picture" (if there was one) would qualify us for a horror film!!!

* We got to attend an amazing benefit concert for the Salvation Army called the Holiday Pop's concert. My dearest friend, Phil, was part of the concert, as well as the amazing George Dyer, the Grinch and Santa Claus! Phil is another post in and of himself! What wonderful man! He has changed the course of my life forever! Love you more Phil!


* We painted our family room -for the seventh time since we've lived here! Yes, I am a project-aholic! Is there therapy for that?!?

* Camryn got a horrible case of Strep-throat, and a right ear infection! 'Tis the season I guess! The pediatrician's office now knows each of us by name - and even recognizes my voice on the phone when I call for an appointment! Is that a good thing?!?

*We got mostly decorated for Christmas - in the middle of all of our project mess! . . . And I'm almost done with my shopping . . . AND I got all of my Christmas cards out!!! Hallelujah!



* We were blessed by many "angels" in a tough month, and lots of prayers have been answered! You know who you are - and all I can say is THANK YOU!!!

* And last, but not least, I managed to get like six cavities - all under old fillings! How exactly does one manage that you ask?! Just don't carry dental insurance, and you'll get everything possible wrong with all of yours, and your kids teeth all at once!!! Tried and true!

Hopefully we didn't overexcite any of you with all these fabulous events! Maybe I ought to keep up a little better next time!