Rocky's Farewell Cake.

The Horses

My sister works for a resort just outside of town. They have lots of great anemities including a gorgeous pool, spectacular suites, beautiful mountain views, and yes horses! The girls were lucky enough to have such a nice aunt who got them an hour sesion of pony rides (and horses). Chloe LOVED riding the horses!! If there were a stronger word to use other then LOVE I would use it here. As soon as we pulled into the resort and she saw the horses her face lit up bigger then anything ive seen before. I mean sure she loves her vanity and baby princess nursery set that Santa got her this year, but clearly there was no comprison. Chloe went first and jumped on the horse without any hesitation. Candace, the ranch hand rode on the horse with her to help keep her balance.

Sophie loved the horses, but was scared out of her mind to ride on them. So Candace was nice enough to get out the pony for Sophie. She got on the pony and loved riding him. After about 4 laps around the corral the little pony had enough. Sophie on the other hand was not ready to let that little pony rest. Candace tried everything to keep the pony moving, but every chance he got he would stop. So we distraced Sophie with the other horses while Chloe had a turn riding the horse again.

The girls had a lot of fun!! The hour flew by and it was very hard to pry the children away from the horses but we promised that they could come back sometime soon and ride the horses again someday soon.

The Zoo

They say pictures say a thousand words. I hope so, because this is a picture post!

Family Pics

The Johnson Family

01.11.2010

On Monday we went to Sahuaro Ranch Park and had our pictures taken by Brittany. She did an AMAZING job!!

Thanks Britt!!!

Christmas

Christmas eve Bobby and I were up until 2am putting together the kids gifts. We didn't buy them small things this year. We had decided that we wanted to fix up there bedroom with toys that were durable and would last them. Last year we got them a toy kitchen from BigLots. It lasted 1 month. So this year we got durable thick plastic toys that would take them a little longer to destroy in hopes that it would occupy them enough to actually use the bedroom.

Bobby just wanted to put the big boxes next to the tree (they wouldn't fit under) and then he would put them together that morning. Now maybe if it were someone else I would have believed him. But knowing Bobby I made sure that we stayed up as late as we needed to make sure that it was done and ready for them the next morning. Besides, if they would have opened the huge box and just saw a bunch of pieces that didn't look like anything and liked the box more I would have been terribly sad.

Chloe decided that she was going to sleep in the couch so she could see Santa. It wasn't long before she was passed out on the couch and Bobby and I were bust at work. Chloe did wake up once in the middle of the banging and hammering. She sat straight up on the couch and said "I think I hear Santa".

The next morning we all slept in. When we woke up we got to call and talk to Pamella. It was so nice!! Chloe talked to her for a minute, told her she loved and missed her and asked Pamella if she was going to be her Easter present. I thought it was funny. She told Pam that she had to go because Santa brought her presents and she cant wait anymore. We let Sophie say hi to Pam next. I had been working with Soph to get Pam's name down!! And it was well worth it. She told her I love you and I miss you and some other things that I'm thinking were in a foreign language but that was okay because she got out the "I love you Pamella" and that was enough. I talked to her for a few more minutes and said out goodbyes. Then the girls and I went into the room to wake up daddy to tell him that Santa had come.

After they had opened all the presents under the tree I told them that I think Santa left them something in there bedroom. Chloe jumped up and yelled "what is it" as she took off running for her room. I tried to tell her to wait before she went in so I could get a picture of her excited face. Only, she didn't listen and she ran in. She was so excited. It was worth staying up those extra hours to put everything together just for her reaction. Moments like these remind me how lucky I am to be a mom.

After our excitement ran down we went to the Black's house. The girls made out! They each got the cutest outfit, PJ's, and dress up princess shoes. Grandma and Grandpa Black got them a wagon. After bobby got the wagon put together we came home to start cooking our Christmas dinner.

Bobby's mom and boyfriend (?) came over and had dinner with us. I made my dad a plate of food and took it to him in the hospital so he could at least enjoy some tasty food if he wasn't able to be home with us.

When I got back home the Elders were over. I offered them some dinner, they said that they had been to a handful of ward member's houses already and that they weren't really hungry, but ate anyway. Only, I think they became addicted to the ham sauce I made because they kept eating and eating and eating until they passed out. Literally!! After they woke from there nap and left the family and I turned on a movie and just sat in the living room. It was nice and relaxing.. and didn't take long for us all to pass out.

Since my mom wasn't able to make it over on Christmas day we went and visited with her the next day. She had tons of stuff for the girls and they had so much fun with her opening there gifts. My mom ordered pizza and the girls ate and had fun. They made out like bandits on Christmas with all of the gifts they got.

I love being surrounded by family. I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful support system here. The girls are surrounded by so much love and affection. We are truly blessed. I am so happy that I have the gospel in my life, just knowing that my family can be together forever is a wonderful feeling.

Sophie's 2nd Birthday

Sophie's birthday was the Wednesday before Christmas. Last year the weekend before Christmas we celebrated Sophie's birthday, but this year Chloe's surgery was the weekend before Christmas. Instead of trying to force Chloe into a celebration for her sister during her recovery, and for sanity sake of trying to plan a birthday party the week of Christmas, we decided simple was better.

Chloe and I went to walmart and I let her pick out cake mix for Sophie's cake. Chloe thought a pink cake would be perfect as she picked up a box of strawberry cake mix. She wanted her sisters cake to have sprinkles and balloons. Sprinkles, easy. Balloons?? on a cake?? That one was a little tougher.. As we were picking out the sprinkles Chloe noticed cupcake papers (those things you line the cupcake tin with) and they had balloons on them. She was sold. We were no longer making her sister a cake, we were making her dozens on cupcakes. As I was browsing the candles trying to decide if I should light 2 candles or get a number 2 candle I noticed the balloon candles. Sold. Sophie's balloon themed pink cupcakes were now complete with balloon candles.

We got home and Chloe was exhausted from the adventure to walmart so she and Sophie took a nap. I was going to make the cupcakes while they napped and that way when Chloe woke up she could decorate them. Only, I feel asleep too. I woke up to my sister calling for a ride home from work. So I woke up the girls, dressed them and drove out to the resort (which is so far away!!). Since we were already there, my sister and I took the girls across the street so they could pet the horses (to bad I forgot my camera). By the time we got home it was almost 6. I still hadn't made the cupcakes!!!

So I quickly threw all the ingredients together, mixed it, poured it, and baked it. While they were baking I started on dinner. Just as dinner was about to be served the cupcakes were done. I pulled them out of the oven and put them on a make shift cooling rake on our back porch so they would cool faster. By the time everyone was finished eating they were cool enough for decorating.

Since Bobby was at work, and it was just the girls, my sister and myself, I only decorated 4 cupcakes and set the rest aside for later. We sang Happy Birthday to Sophie, and enjoyed our cupcakes.

Chloe didn't want to eat her cupcake. She said it hurt her mouth. She was still kind of tired from all of her pain medicine. So I was happy that I at least got her to smile for me and take one picture before she put her cupcake away and went to bed.