Home with the boys.

Now that Adler is learning how to read

he is required to do homework everynight.

So here he is reading MANY books to Brock & I 

with sight words in them.

Brock tells him, "Good job Adler!"

And I smile, because I can't believe Adler is reading

& I love that Brock is encouraging his brother to read.

Since the snow melted it's time to get the go-cart out again! 

There was a little bit of snow on our hill,

but the key was that is had a little ice on it...

& the boys went speed sledding.

It was not a good deal

(we need to pad a tree & get the boys helmets I think!)

but it kept them busy for over an hour!

But I don't think I'll let them do that ever again without Luke or I outside 

standing infront of the one deadly tree at the bottom! 

They went flying!

Here is what 'rest time' consisted of yesterday...

Do you see poor Olivia being squooshed! 

I made Vance a soft pillow case 

& he just loves having a pillow in his crib now! 

Birthday party & wedding weekend.

Friday, November 1, 2013

It was Adler's 6th birthday 

and 

Loren (my 1st cousin) & Ashley's wedding.

My parents decided to get a couple rooms at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud

so we could have a good 'ol time with family.

They reserved the perfect rooms

where the boys could run all over & we could sit and relax.

When all the kids were sleeping we kept partying at the wedding

& great grandma Elois stayed up with all of use until 1am!

We had a blast...and didn't go to bed til the lights got shut off on us.

This was right outside our sliding door to the BIG open area.

We were in heaven...with slides, pin pong, workout room, pool, kid pool

& the most important...the arcade games!

I used the little tyke table & playhouse for Adler's b-day party.

It worked out great.

Adler said it was the best birthday party he's ever had!

Playing in the playhouse.

Grandma gave each of the boys $10 for arcade games.

They used it all up in a short time!

Grandpa Wayne had a good time with his grandsons.

He was probably thinking...ohh I remember these days when we were younger!

Because this is exactly what we used to do when we were kids.

Finally it was time for Adler to open his gifts.  

Socket set from grandma & grandpa.

Aunt Erin & Uncle Joe made the boys a cute halloween bag with "healthy" candy inside.

Erector sets!!!

And last, but not least...

Adler's 5 year photo book!

I did not print off many pictures of Adler from newborn to age 5,

because I knew I wanted to make him a big book

without the mess of photo albums & all the picture printing.
Instead I uploaded 1000 pictures in ONE small little book!

So every 5 years each child will get a photo book for their birthday

& since they have not seen the pictures before

it happens to be their favorite gift!!!

Adler wanted a football cake with tons of halloween sprinkles!

Later that afternoon we got ready for the wedding

& lucky for us it was just a walk down the hall!

Waiting for the wedding to start.

Vance found a little baby behind him & did this the whole time!

The boys sitting at the wedding was short lived.

Chairs were limited & a bunch of people still needed to be seated 

& the boys asked when it was going to be over.

Needless to say Luke said he's take the boys back to the room to play until the reception.

A table of Johnson's at the wedding!

Our family.

Some of the Johnson grandkids with grandma Elois.

More arcade games before bed.

The boys learned how to play air hockey & they love it.

Thanks mom & dad for such a fun night at the hotel!!!

Library sleepover

The boys & I continue to visit the library on a regular basis

for storytime, crafting events, & recently we had an

animal sleepover.

The boys did not want to bring their favorite stuffed animal

for fear that they might not get them back.

So they resorted to a stuffed pumpkin & blue bunny.

I felt bad for their true loves at home...they sure missed out on the fun.

The next day when we picked up their animals,

they too realized the mistake...because the animals

had the time of their stuffed life!

The library gave the boys pictures of what their friends did at their sleepover.

Brock's pumpkin got into the printer, played games & acted goofy.

Adler was a little upset that he decided not to bring Pooky

(his favorite bear),

so he took my camera & had his own photo shoot of Pooky having fun.

When I looked at all the pictures I just about died laughing!

 "Pooky's fun day out at home!" by Adler:

 Then I ran across these pictures Adler took of his brother

 in the midst of Pooky's photo shoot.

Then I laughed even harder...

 Here's to more library fun.

Halloween 2013

Like every year the boys & I set out to trick-or-treat 

at Monticello's downtown businesses.

This year Adler was Buzz,

Brock was Lightening McQueen,

& Vance was Thomas.

It was a beautiful night,

dad was working late

& we had a great night full of candy!

By the time Halloween night actually came

they surprisingly decided to wear the same costume as before.

Brock tried really hard to be Woody (from Toy Story)

but the costume was so snug that he even cried

because he knew it was too small!

Tick-or-treating at our neighbors. 

Our church also had a fun Trunk-or-treat event.

Tons of people decorating their trunks in the parking lot,

many games inside with candy prizes

& a free hotdog meal plate.

It was wonderful.

I sure hope they plan to do it again next year. 

Dad helped the boys carve their pumpkins this year.

Vance was so happy to sit at the table & be part of it.

And he got a sucker to keep him busy so he would stay away from the pumpkin mess. 

I made a trip to Target & noticed a big Halloween sale.

So what does a good mother do?

Buy more costumes for next year

& all through the year for dress-up playtime.

One day for breakfast I had two ninja turtles join me. 

Another day I had a crime stopper sheriff! 

Then Dusty the crop duster appeared,

being pulled around by his younger brother! 

It's Dusty!!! (with no pants!) 

The special police joined the gang too. 

When the boys finally bugged us enough

they coaxed dad into assembling the Dragon & Owl costumes! 

Boy have they had fun.

I literally spent $0.21 to $2.50 for each of these costumes.

Ohh yeah & the target guy even game me the cop hat for free!

I can't wait to find out what they want to me next year.