Kisses Anyone?

Only Cole . . .

Only Cole can pull off wearing a bowl cut, a mustache, women's jeans - with zippers on the bottom, a turtle neck, and a women's Christmas sweater and make it look so GOOD! Yes, it was Christmas sweater day at the school again and he's already planned his outfit for next year . . . so stay tuned!

Trimming the Tree

We've actually had our tree for almost 2 weeks- we like to get it early so we can enjoy it before we leave to visit family. It was just the kids and I decorating and it went better than I thought. Macie bugs the tree more than Dominic does. She gets the ornaments off and asks me all about them.

Early to Rise?

So does anyone get up before their children do to workout, get things done, or to just be able to shower and get ready with out the kids getting into your make-up? I've been pondering this lately and know it's in my near future and that I should do it. I have such a hard time getting things done in a timely manner (or even spending quality time with the kids) when I'm changing diapers, getting drinks, cleaning up messes, doing laundry, trying to accomplish things for work, cleaning up messes etc . . . I know if I get up before the kids I could actually feel more put together and it would leave me time to actually play with the kids like I should be. I know I'd feel like such a better mother and wife, but getting up early is hard. My goal this past week was to stay up after Cole leaves for school @ 5:45am since I get up with him everyday to read scriptures and say prayers anyway. But no. It's dark and cold and my bed calls me and I happily crawl back in and fall asleep until Dominic wakes up about 7:15.


Cole's mom & Tessa

Cole's mom had 12 kids and she has truly taken the council of "early to rise" to heart. She gets up about 4:30-5am all the time. Usually the first thing she'll do is go running- AMAZING!! So it can definetly be done (I'm pretty sure most of Cole's sisters and sis in-law do the same.)I have no excuse because I have a newborn- she only wakes up once- so I get plenty of sleep. So, are you early to rise? What is your motivation? How do you do it?

Tessa

She's my amazing sleeper- only gets up once at night and often goes 8 hrs. She'll be 6 weeks on Tuesday. I feel as though she's rather neglected . . . maybe it's because she's the third child, or maybe it's because she's the third child and I am an apartment manager. She isn't starved of attention from her siblings though. Cole is the master at getting her to smile and we love her dimples! So Cute!







Tessa with Great Grandpa Sellers

Why?

Why? is the question Cole asks when it comes to Dominic. His latest was shaving his face with Cole's razor, bleeding and not caring one bit. (Cole Later gave him lessons on the proper way for a 1 year old to shave- with a flosser.)


Dominic was yelling my name and I walk into the bathroom to find him sitting in the toilet fully clothed, even the coat (no we aren't potty training yet).


Dressing up is so fun . . . I got the picture just as he was walking away so he looks even more girly.

'Tis the Season

Our Christmas Photo for 2006 (above) was inspired by Ugly Christmas Sweater day at the Dental School. Doesn't Cole look amazing . . . ENJOY!!

Miracle Girl!

Yesturday was my sister Shayla's 2 year anniversary of being granted a second chance at life. She had a seizure 2 years ago that stopped her heart for 5+ minutes. She has had a miraculous recovery and I'm so grateful for her! I remember talking to her on the phone at Christmas time and she couldn't even talk, she had no voice. She has overcome so many obstacles and is a great inspiration and such a hard worker! She's now a walking & talking MIRACLE!! We love living close to her and being able to go to some of her therapies with her. My kids love to go see her at her horse therapy . . . she can do some amazing things on them! We had a great day with her yesturday to celebrate! We love you Shayla and we couldn't imagine life without you girl!! (By the way, she is such a great Aunt! My kids absolutly love her! Who wouldn't ?!)

Catching Up!

Where has the time gone! Tessa is 4 weeks today. Her first 2 weeks were calm and life was slow, but now it's back to swimming lessons, trying to rent 2 apts, making my own meals, school, and daily life. Here are a few of the highlights.




My Mess Maker
It never fails . . . you lock up one drawer and they become interested in another. Dominic is the royal mess maker. Some of his lastest messes are making "toilet soup" with kitchen utensils, squirting toothpaste all over the table, and licking the middles out of oreo cookies.







Catching Mice!
So it's been a month long saga of mice catching in our apt. I could go on and on about how horrifying it is to see a mouse run past your feet and then poke it's head out by your fridge and tell you how frustrated I am that I'm living with mice, but will spare you. We caught a total of 4 in traps . . .I insisted on covered traps so I wouldn't have to see them . . . seeing the tail was enough to make me put on gloves and quickly throw the trap in a garbage bag. After Cole would get home he'd let the kids see them and they'd take them to the garbage. Macie thought they were cute and Dominic was absolutly fasinated by them. This picture is of him crying by the dumpster because they got thrown away. He stood there for 5 minutes in the rain . . . the holes have been filled and hopefully we won't have any more creatures in our home!!!!

A Minivan Fam

We are offically a minivan family and there is no going back, and I love it. I tried and tried to get 3 car seats to fit in our 1991 Toyota Camry (212,000 miles), but it simply was not going to happen without the doors smacking the kids each time they shut. So we traded cars with my dad and now drive a 1994 Dodge Caravan (230,000 miles). I'm not sure who go the better end of the deal, but we're grateful and it's nice to have space. I've dreamed of a minivan for a long time, but never thought I'd be driving the same car my mom drove us around in as kids. Crazy huh, Oh well :)

My Rock Star Husband

Cole's band - Malpractice - played again at the end of October. I wasn't able to go since I just had the baby, but heard it was awesome!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone. I can't believe Tessa is a week old. She is a good baby and only wakes up once during the night (around 3am). I'm very grateful for that:) She doesn't seem to be too fond of the car seat and car rides. The kids are great with her. Dominic loves to stroke her hair, give kisses, and get me her diapers, wipes, blankets, and clothes, and he's great at throwing the dirty diapers away. Macie loves her to death and couldn't be happier with her sister!

Tessa Rae Johnson

Tessa Rae Johnson

So here's the condensed version of the story! I had an apt at 1:30 Tues and was in my hospital bed by 3pm to start antibiotics and oxytocin. The contractions weren't bad and Cole came about 5:30. We watched some tv and got my epidural around 7:30pm and was still only at a 3-4 dialated. At 8pm they broke my water and then I shot up to 7 cm. The epidural was great because this would be the point where I started screaming. I was at a 10 by 9:30 and ready to push by 9:35. Tessa was born at 9:44pm. It was such a calm and peaceful enviornment having an epidural, I loved it! I looked up at Cole in between pushing and said, "This is so weird not to be screaming!" Usually I'd be a sweaty worked up mess and would have Cole in a head lock etc. . . It was a great experience and we are so happy to have her in our family! Macie loves to hold her and Dominic likes to pet her head and face! We're a happy family!

Special Delivery!

Tessa Rae Johnson arrived last night (Tues) at 9:44pm. She is a light, but healthy 6lbs 14oz, 19 3/4inches. She reminds us so much of Dominic and has a full head of dark hair. We're doing great and go home tomorrow. Pictures will be posted Thursday so stay tuned!

Great Deals and Coupons!

I love a bargain and rarely purchase anything unless it is on sale or on clearance. Check out www.slickdeals.net (I found this link on someones else's blog) for great deals and coupons. I printed a "$5 off Tylenol" product coupon from that website - look at Oct 12 to find it. . . basically you can get some meds for free.

Happy Bargain Shopping!!

Our Costumes . . . 2007

Napolean Dynamite & Deb
(he does have the black moon boots on, I'll post a full shot later)


Football Player & Witch

Happy Halloween

Here are pictures of some of the fun things we've done this month.

Carving Pumpkins


Making Sugar Cookies . . .YUM!

A little about me . . .

So I've been tagged and am supposed to write 6 facts about myself. To join in the fun write 6 facts about yourself and ask 6 others to do the same. So I'm tagging the following people and anyone else who would like to do it: Tanya, Natalie, Nicole, Steff, Jessica & Sarah.

1. I love ice cream. I can eat a whole carton by myself before Cole even realizes I've bought any. My favorite is to curl up on the couch with the carton and a fork and enjoy it while the kids are asleep.

2. I'm an apartment manager. Yeah, you probably think I'm nuts for doing it, but it's really not that bad. We only have 18 units and I hardly do anything. I now understand what people say about how it feels like you're babysitting adults.

3. I love to organize. Give me a messy closet and I'm a happy girl!

4. In the 5 years since I've been married I've been called to serve in the nursery 3 times. 2 of those times I was big and pregnant, but i guess it wasn't too bad.

5. I'm a huge chicken and am for other people also. I never take risks, but am trying to be more brave. I remember on our honeymoon when we went to this neat cave and when Cole got off the path to walk on the rocks I totally flipped out. Sorry sweetie!

6. I met Cole, my husband, when I was just 14 and instantly fell in love. Once I got to highschool I basically stalked him. I would make sure I walked by his locker each time I went to class even if it was totally out of the way. It must have paid off because we've been married five years and are about to welcome our 3rd child any day.

Why do I . . . ?

. . . let the kids go outside to jump in the puddles even though they have colds? Because it's fun, if we didn't they wouldn't be able to go outside until next June, remember we live in Oregon, and they love it!




. . . let the kids make a mess in the kitchen sink? It gives them something to do while I rest for a few or finally get some work done!

False Alarm

Yesturday I woke up at 2 am with contractions. As in the the past they started out regular and by 4 am I got out of bed (obviously I wasn't sleeping) and kept track of how far apart they really were. Well they were 5-6 minutes apart. So I woke Cole at 5 am and called my mom to come over. We got to the hospital before 6 and they put the monitors on me. The contractions were getting more uncomfortable. About 7:30 they moved me to an actual room and then checked me about 8am. I was only at a 2 and 75% effaced. Cole had already canceled his patients so we headed to the stairs and went up and down about 8 stories hoping to get things going, I did this twice. However I noticed the contractions tapering off. AHHHHHHH! They checked me again at 10 am and I was still at a 2. How frustrating and sad. We headed home quite disappointed! So after having those regular contractions for 7 hrs they started to stop and faded completly by noon. Needless to say I'm still pregnant, not having contractions, and have sore legs:) Oh well, she'll come soon right?!

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Macie's preschool already took their trip to the pumpkin patch. A great way to start October!



There was a petting zoo.


Macie's teacher Senora Imma and friend Gabrielle.