the johnsons: June 2008

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The lazy days of summer

I love summer, and the lack of scheduling that goes on. I have started reading Anne of Green Gables with the girls and they are loving it (although I don't think they understand half of what I read to them, the author is annoyingly detailed). So, we fill our days with reading, movies, Barbie.com, games, arts and crafts, swing sets, parks, and friends. Does anyone have any fun ideas that they do with their kids during the summer that I could try out? Please share.
Hope you are having a happy summer.
Christy

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

WE ARE GOING TO CALIFORNIA!

I know what you are thinking, and NO we did not drive there, we all flew, and the kids were so excited. If I can figure out how to download movies onto my blog, I will put a little clip I took when we were taking off. It was HILARIOUS! We were in CA for two weeks. The photos in this blog are extra's that I wanted to include.This is what the kids looked like after a long day at Sequoia National Park. They did so great!

The kids loved all the rides at disneyland! We spun this thing till I even wanted it to stop. Paul wouldn't even ride it. He has his limits!

Paul having fun at the beach!

All the kids had backpacks. Andrew was so cute with his, he would carry it around and act so big with it on.

We got to visit with Granny. The kids love the dogs and her pool. We had a great time there. Our trip was so wonderful, we had a great time and I didn't want it to end.

The Beach House!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is where we were the first week we were in CA. Thank you mom and dad for renting this house for us to stay in and enjoy! We had such a fun time at the beach. The kids loved all the walks grandma and grandpa took them on, the beach, the shopping, the food, games, and all the fun.

This was their first day at the beach. It was a Sunday evening and we didn't intend to get wet and we were not dressed to get wet, but what in the heck were we thinking. Of course we would get wet. How do you keep 4 kids out of the water. Well, they all ended up drenched in the end and Lindsay got knocked over by a wave and lost her new glasses in the water. Woops. She was so upset. Note to self: glasses and ocean don't mix!

Oceans and diapers dont mix!

Photo of all the cousins there. Pictured with our kids are Brian and Kass' two little ones: Dayne and Bridget.

Here is the picture of the Fam! We will miss this place. The weather was heaven!

Disneyland and Sea World

Paul and I were a little concerned about the amount of money we were spending to go to sea world and disneyland, but once we were there, and were having such a great time, all of it seemed worthwhile. To see the look on their faces with all of the exciting things to do and see, it was all worth it.

They LOVED petting the dolphins, that was so exciting.

When we got to disneyland the first day, the first thing we did was meet Minnie. They were so excited. We saw lots of different characters, including the princesses. They were in heaven!

Of course we had to get a photo in front of the castle. Hello!!!!

Andrew was in heaven riding in the cars. We had to do it twice because he wanted to. Uncle Brent came the second time and spent the day with us. We had a great time both days. We were so exhausted on the way home, but we did everything we wanted to do. Such good memories!!

Visiting with Family!

The kids loved playing on Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Kent's play set.

Lindsay and Lauren were so excited to meet their cousin Emma. They are the same age and had a great time together.

This is Ben, Emma's little brother, and Andrew had a ball with him. They were buddies.

Left to right: Uncle Kent, Julie (my cousin), Mom, and Aunt Carolyn. They fed us very well! We stayed with them for one day and two nights and had a great time. Thanks!!!

The kids swimming together. I want more California weather. It spoils you!

Yosemite National Park

This was the first place we went for the second week of our trip. We were only here one day. We intended to stay here longer, but Lindsay and Lauren were sick so we cut it short. This is bridalvale falls, and we were getting soaked. It was spectacular and so easy go walk to. Grandma and Grandpa Johnson stayed behind with Lindsay and Lauren at the car.

Here is grandma and grandpa with us at a lookout at Bridalvale Falls. Georgeous!

Sarah loved climbing the rocks and insisted on trying to climb almost everyone she saw. But she did conquer this one! You go girl.

Here we are at the end of our journey through Yellowstone with Great Grandma and Grandpa Johnson. They were a lot of fun to be with and were very patient with us. Lindsay and Lauren were sick the whole time we were with them and they were very concerned about that, but they recovered a few days later. We loved being with them. We were able to sit and visit AFTER the kids were in bed and had a great time doing that.

Sequoia National Park

This was the best part of the drive through the park, driving through these giant sequoias. This place was unbelievable! We were here for two days and could have stayed for more.

We are inside the trunk of a fallen sequoia tree. HUGE!!!!!!!!!

Standing next to a medium size tree!

This is the grand daddy of them all. The biggest tree in the World. This tree has branches that are eight feet thick, and it is 2300 years old! Go visit this place, it was amazing. Well, this pretty much concludes our trip. We crammed a lot of things in but had a great time!!!!!!!!!!!