Little Scientists

I found these cute little scientists when I woke up from a short nap.  They made quite a mess, figured out several different concoctions which blew up balloons on top of their test tubes, and used all of my vinegar. They love any science experiment that causes an explosion-- Alka-seltzer rockets, baking soda/vinegar volcanos, mentos in coke, etc. They don't think cleaning the mess up is quite as fun though.

We have 3 Kids!!

Sometimes it's still a little hard to believe that we have three kids, and are a family of five. They sure are cuties. 

Kinsey's Blessing Day

Notes from Kinsey’s Baby Blessing on November 2, 2014

Our Father in Heaven, by the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood we bring this infant before you to give her a name and blessing. The name which we have chosen is Kinsey Kay Johnson. 

We ask a blessing on her that she will grow in health and strength.  That she will have health throughout her life.  Please help her to make choices that will help her avoid illnesses in our world.  Bless her with a keen mind and an open heart. Please bless her to grow in wisdom, knowledge and understanding and to use that wisdom to bless her own life and those around her.  Bless her with a love of learning, to seek out the best books for her knowledge.

Please bless her that she will be able to fulfill her purpose in life, that she will bless those around her.  Heavenly Father please bless her with the gift of faith, that she will be a pillar of strength to those around her.  That she will have the faith to bring about miracles.

Please bless her with a cheerful personality, that she will be cheerful and happy and able to bring joy and be a source of comfort and inspiration to those around her. Please bless her to grow close to Thee through Jesus Christ, and access Thee through the Atonement. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen 

2 Months Old and Happy

Our little Kinsey Kay has gotten so smiley and grown so much already! Chandra and I had fun playing dress up with Kinsey and several special little dresses from my Mom's cedar chest.  This dress is one my mom made when she was a young girl, she was always so excited to be a mom.

Happy Halloween!

 Carving Pumpkins:  Kristi, Tyson, Kira and Kinsey, Chandra, Bracken, Brian, Melissa, Steve, Zedek, and Spencer took the picture.  Tyson: Owl Pumpkin, Chandra (and Daddy): KittyPumpkin, Bracken (proudly designed and cut out on his own): Bat, Kristi: Toothless the Dragon, Melissa: Larry Boy

 The kids had fun at the YM/YW Halloween Carnival.  Bracken thought the vampire teeth he won were awesome.

We had a week full of fun and dress up!  Bracken was a cowboy for the YM/YW Halloween Carinval, a Ninga super hero for Shay's work party, and a race car driver for trunk or treating.  Chandra was a princess, except for Shay's work party when she decided that morning she wanted to be a fairy pirate. (I'd never even heard of a pirate fairy before). So that morning we made Chandra a fairy pirate wand out of paper and ribbon, used a pirate hat Melissa made out of newspaper ages ago, and pulled on black boots and butterfly wings from the dress up.  With Bracken dressing himself as a Superhero ninja (blanket turned into cape, super hero goggles, and mismatched swords) they kind of looked like homeless trick-or-treaters next to all the other kids' store bought or parent made costumes.  But they were so proud of themselves. :) 

On Halloween we went to Shay's work party lunch/trick or treat, and that night went to our ward trunk or treat.  They had a blast and got way too much candy.  On the way home, Chandra kept saying, "This was such a fun day.  Such a fun day!!

Ready for the trunk-or-treat!

 Kira (dressed up as myself), Brian and Kinsey went as doctors, Chandra as a princess and Bracken as a race car driver. 

Church Parking Lot

We love living close to a church!  We play at the church parking lot multiple times a week...raking the leaves into piles, jumping into them, riding bikes, exploring behind bushes.

Our wonderful backdoor neighbors gave Chandra this trike.  Their grandkids were all too old to use it. She adores it, and rides it everywhere.  She especially loves the "trunk" that she uses to store all the treasures she finds on our walks or while exploring. 

 The boys helped me try out "panning,"  a camera technique where I followed them with my camera with a slow shutter speed to make the background blurry and them sharp to show motion.  It was fun for all of us.

We love having Tyson come visit us!

Kinsey likes being outside.  And we LOVE that she's started smiling.  Her baby smiles and the way she tries so hard to "talk" to us is adorable. She doesn't actually coo much yet, she just waves her arms and legs, smiles, and opens and closes her mouth and takes little gasping breaths over and over.  We love her!