Happy 14th!

I had to do a quick post in honor of my oldest child. Jeremy is 14 years old today and I do not know where the years have gone. I can remember the moment I knew I was in labor with him....it seems like such a short time ago. He has richly blessed our lives. He is smart, funny, caring, helpful, competitive, strong, self-motivated.....I could go on and on. Every child brings challenges, but the blessings FAR outweigh them. We are excited to see the man he will become. I love him so much and am so thankful that he is our oldest. Looking forward to see what the year ahead brings!

One fun day.....

I am playing catch up on my blog again because we have been on vacation. right before we left, we went to the beach for a friend's birthday. It was a really fun day for the kids. I have almost no pictures becasue I spent the whole day sitting i the cage with Jonah...he was not happy unless I sat with him. Oh well...we made it through and the kids had fun.
Rewind....oh, and if you don't have boys, this will make no sense to you. Jeremy (my oldest) has been BEGGING for a fully automatic airsoft gun for months and months. Finally, we broke down and let him order one (after many many conversations where he educated us on every type of gun and all of their functions).Well, he had ordered it a week or so before this day. On the way home from the beach, he said to me, "Now, what would make this a REALLY great day is if my gun was waiting for me when we got home." And....it was. So....I had to take a picture of this much anticipated day!


One very happy boy on one very fun day!

Youth Camp!....already?!

So, I sit here in a somewhat empty house and it feels so weird.......like a sign of what my near future holds....and I am thankful, yet resistant. My 3rd son is at a sleepover, the baby is sleeping and my husband took my oldest son to his first youth camp this morning. He decided to chaperon and go up early with the group of kids that wanted to snowboard today. I am so thankful he went. It was hard for me to see my son leave for his first camp, but having my husband there, softened the blow. I am thankful for our church, great leadership and great teaching. I am praying that this weekend has a large impact on their lives for Christ and is a great bonding experience for them together as father-and-son. So, for the 1st time, I see a glimpse of my kids having their own lives and being busy outside of our home. That is what we are supposed to be training them for but it seems like just yesterday that I held Jeremy in my arms in the hospital....and in a blink, he will have his own life as an adult! (Lord willing) ! :)

Awana Drive In...

I always dread this night.....the night where they all have to decorate a box to watch the movie in and get it judged for prizes. You should see some of the boxes that the parents go "all out" on. Last yearm I sent them with no box. 4 boxes to decorate is a bit much. This year, we made a flower for Julia and jeremy helped josh make a "tank". jake had a plna, a box and paint but ended up staying home with H1N1......thei first of our vicitims......

Boy Birthday...

Jeremy's birthday was rather spread out. He celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson early, because they were leaving town. On his birthday, he opened our gifts (but we had already given him a wetsuit for his birthday in Refugio). Then, daddy made a big breakfast for him, and that night we went to Macaroni Grill wiyh his Aunt and Uncle.
His party was a week later. He simply wanted a couple of his closest friends to spend the night. It is so nice when birthdays simplify as they get older. He ordered In-N-Out for dinner and Banana Cream Pie from Marie Callendars for dessert.

Of Course, daddy had to get in on the X-Box

!

Andrew thought it was fun to wrap his gift in a pink, flower bag!

Next:Rock Band

Julia was excited that Cory's hair was a bit longer than her brothers. The next morning, she decorated him with curlers!

My First Teenager....

Well, on November 1st, I became a mom of a teenager for the 1st time. I dreaded this day for years, yet nothing actually feels different. The kids have gradually been growing older every day, and unfortunately, I have had to get use to that fact. Every stage has brought such fun times. I feel so old having a teenager. Yet, in the same year, I had a baby. So funny! I can't imagine my life without Jeremy. He is such a hard worker, is self-motivated, a goal-setter, (stubborn), and huge helper to me around the house (with the baby and my honey-do lists)...when he wants to be :). He is funny, loves adventure, always pushes himself to the next level, wants to do right, loves learning new things, and is very independent. This year he has improved in guitar and has taught himself songs from youth group, he has learned how to surf totally independent of Louie, he has learned to build things with wood while using Louie's saws, he has started golfing alone with dad, he has developed a desire to search God's Word for answers, he has become a sweet big brother to baby Jonah and so many more things that I can't even think of all of them right now. I have been blessed by him for 13 years. Not all of them have been perfect. My relationship with him has revealed to me many of my own weaknesses and sin. I see my flaws in him. It is both humbling and rewarding. I do love that boy so much and am so thankful the Lord has entrusted him to me for the last 13 years. I pray that there are many many more to come!

My Oldest turns 12!

It's hard to believe that Jeremy is 12....I am always told how fast the years go...but they seem to go even faster than that. All he wanted to do for his birthday this year, was have a group of friends sleep over to hang out, play games and eat junk food! So, he got his wish. On November 21st, we had 9 boys in our house. Everyone did so well. They had such a great time and I know it was just as Jeremy imagined...I am so glad!

Every kid's dream...lots of candy and chips..

Jeremy couldn't wait to play "Seafarers" with his friends but they didn't last through the whole game..too many other fun things to do!

" Wii " was a highlight of the night

Birthday "pie" and ice cream!

The boys got in bed to watch "Nacho Libre" after a fun-filled night!

How would the party be complete without an all-out "war" in the morning , while waiting to be picked up?!