The Johnson Family: April 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Last Easter Post… (for 2011 at least)

I had to include our Easter Egg Hunt… for the Grandparents Winking smile

We hid the boys’ baskets and once they were both up, we had them sit on the couch and close their eyes… quite funny:

My two SILLY bunnies!

While they were still sleeping, the Easter Bunny hid eggs all over the backyard. The boys were SO EXCITED to realize them and get out there! I know, I really need to pull the video camera out more!!!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Preparing for Easter

I had to back track, with Daddy’s birthday and Easter, we had so much going on…

This picture cracked me up – Mason’s facial expression.

We made Easter Baskets – we took shredded coconut and some green food coloring to make the ‘grass’.

Then we had to taste test the ‘eggs’ – M&Ms now have coconut flavored!

Then I made a batch of rice Krispy treats and put them in the greased muffin tins. We put the coconut ‘grass’ on top. Last we put the 3 ‘eggs’ on top of that.

(I have to admit, the second picture of Hagen below… it looks SO much like me as a child… I was surprised when I saw this picture.)

Next (yep, I told you… we had a BuSy weekend!!), we dyed Easter eggs. The boys had fun with them and again I am discovering the words that the boys are still learning. I told them we were going to DYE Easter eggs.

What? Die them? Why are we going to DIE them?

No, not DIE. DYE. Like color them.

Oh… Why are we going to color them?

Monday, April 25, 2011

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Daddy’s birthday fell on Easter, so we were super busy. Not only with all the ‘normal’ things that happen… but with all the storms – Daddy’s work didn’t care that it was his birthday weekend or Easter. Oh well, we had plenty of time to work on our cards for Daddy:

We also drew pictures on our etch-a-sketches for Daddy, but I’m thinking those drawings didn’t last too long Winking smile

The next morning, Daddy’s Birthday, we gave Daddy our cards we made. He loved them.

After our Easter lunch with Gran, Paucci, and Aunt Amy, we had a birthday cake for Daddy. (He had a ‘4’ candle because that is all we could find Winking smile

Look Daddy – you are 4!!!

Then the boys entertained us with their mad monkey bar skills!

Not to be outdone, Gran had to show off her mad skills, too!

Paucci and Daddy relaxed on the porch while Gran and I monkeyed around with the boys.

‘Did you see me hanging upside down, Hagen!? It was super fun, you should try it!’

Hagen was not ‘super excited’ about trying it, but did anyway, and quickly learned he was still not a fan even after trying it.

Yet, Mason just had to do it one more time!

Happy Birthday, Daddy! We love you!!!

"How Preemie Moms Are Chosen" by Erma Bombeck

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?
Somehow, I visualize God hovering Earth, selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity." Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles.
"Give her a preemie."
The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel."
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I am going to give her has a world of it's own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
God smiles. "This one is perfect. She has just the right amount of selfishness. "
The angel gasps, "Selfishness! Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it. I will permit her to see cleary the things that I see - ignorance, cruelty, prejudice - and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"But what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.
God smiles.
"A mirror will suffice."

The Johnson Family

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