Vincent

August Reunion

There are so many birthdays on the Johnson side of the family to celebrate in August that we make it a reunion get together each year. This year we did it 'banzai style' (as in banzai water slide) at Gma & Gpa Tigger's house.

I'm telling you - there are so many August birthdays that we just make a bonfire with the candles on the cake.

Gentry & Ethan playing with her new 'light up & make sounds' toy.
Did I ever mention that Vincent likes baseball (and sherbet).

%&$@# Cats!

We have a lot of stray cats on our property. In order to scare them away I started tapping/banging on the window and yelling "scram" really roughly. The kids quickly followed suit and whenever they see a cat on our lawn they yell it too. The best part though is Lauren - when she yells 'scram cat' the scram sounds like 'damn'. On more than one occasion (once with my mother-in-law) she ran to the window and starting yelling '!@#$ cat !@#$ cat' really loud. I've had to tell people what she really means.

August Birthdays

Half of our family celebrate their birthdays within one week of each other in August, including these two girls who remind me so much of each other.

On Saturday night Gma Tigger & A.Laura babysat the kids. When we got home from our Stake Conference meeting we were greeted with decorations & homemade party hats to celebrate Chris & Hadley's birthdays. The kids were very excited.
Hadley got some fun princess & strawberry shortcake gifts.

Sunday we celebrated at Gma & Gpa Cooper's house where Hadley got a Cabbage Patch doll with bangs.

Lauren got to help Gentry blow out her candles.

Can You Feel The Love?

well, you're about to . . .

(not really - Hadley bounces on that ball all day & Vincent wears that glove pretty much all day too)

Summer Fun

Haircuts were in order for the end of the summer. Lauren insisted on getting a shampoo at the sink. The hairdresser was so surprised that a two year-old would do that but after watching her older sister do it, Lauren wouldn't have it any other way.

Speaking of Hadley - getting bangs cut makes her look SOoo much older doesn't it? (The jury is still out: luckily she liked them but Mommy is anxious for them to grow out. sigh.)
Chris & Vincent went to an Angels game (of course) sans girls. I think this is a picture when they got home & have no idea why Chris is sleeping & Vincent is standing like that -  I promise they had a good time!

Gene Autry Museum

Gma & Gpa joined us for an outing to the Gene Autry Museum this summer. It was a lot of fun. Highlights included:

Vincent - getting to wear his holster & toy gun & actually putting it to use for some pictures.

Hadley - dressing up as a cowgirl

Lauren - riding on pretend horses

Gentry - the hardwood floors (Mommy got tired of fighting her and let her pretty much crawl a self-guided tour of the museum)

Climber

If we ever need anything out of the attic we just ask Gentry.

She's ever so-willing.

Orange County Fair

I mostly took these pictures just to prove that we did go to the Orange County Fair. Lauren wouldn't take a nap and the baby woke up early and I didn't know what to do with the rest of the afternoon so I decided to go for bust and take the four kids by myself . . .

Happy 1st Birthday Gentry

Dear Gentry,

Happy First Birthday! When I think back on the last year it amazes me and makes me glad to think that you were with us throughout it all. We moved into our home (where we plan & hope to grow old) one week before you were born. I can still remember the anxiety I felt trying to schedule your delivery with closing escrow & your sister starting Kindergarten. I can still remember the anxiety of not having anything set up for your arrival and moving boxes when I shouldn't have been lifting a thing. But mostly I remember how when you were born Daddy and I got to spend a long time with you in the operating room b/c there was another emergency and it seemed like the doctors and nurses all disappeared and forgot that they left you all alone with us. I also remember the night in the hospital when you wouldn't stop crying and all daddy and I wanted was for the doctor or nurses to come get you.

In your first year you have been well-loved by your three older siblings. They think it is fun to have a baby around the house. Hadley loooooves to hold you but now that you are moving you don't like to be held by any of them. You've learned how to crawl well before you could sit up. You finally started eating baby food/solids/anything after more than 9 months!
I am excited to learn more about your little personality. We all love you so much and the sweet spirit you add already brings us so much joy!
Love, Mommy

Happy 6th Birthday Hadley

Dear Hadley,

Wow, six years old! This is the first year that matches the same day you were born on - a Tuesday. I only know this b/c tonight I was thinking about your birth and remembered your baby shoe that says on the bottom: 'Tuesday's child is full of grace'. It is so fitting for you and I love how you loved that saying as well when we looked through your baby box a couple of weeks ago. You are the most incredible child to be our first born. Daddy and I tell each other all the time how lucky we are that you are our first b/c you set such a incredible example for your siblings. You are also a tremendous help to me.

This year was a big one for you and me in terms of growing up. You started school, lost your first teeth, met new friends, etc. I am impressed by how simple and easy you made it look and pray that you transition as easily into each new life stage. You are so full of imagination and can spend hours playing with your stuffed animals - telling stories or acting out scenes with them. You also entertain & play with your brother the vast majority of the time. I know he loves when you are home and he and I both miss you very much when you are away from us.

You are a positive thinker and always trying to find the bright side of any situation as well as trying to help your siblings do the same. I love that there is no place you would rather be than at home. You have such a way with your little trinkets and an interesting sense of decorating that involves anything that resembles a doily. You love watching tv or movies almost as much as you did as a baby but now after you watch something you go into the playroom and reenact or pick up a storyline from what you just watched.

I know this year will bring many new and exciting firsts as last year. I hope you will continue your efforts in learning to read - it is going to open up such a whole new endless world of imagination and wisdom. Please continue to be the peacemaker you are and the loving, kind, thoughtful daughter we know and all love. You have been such a blessing to your family. We love you! Happy birthday.

Love,
Mommy

Haircut

Lauren (2 1/2) helping U.Brig shave his hair.

Arboretum - For the Birds

We went as a family to a presentation on Birds of Prey at the arboretum. While the other kids got bored pretty quickly - it was right up Hadley's alley. She loved it and watched in awe as each of the birds were brought out of their cage.
Love these three little 'friends' and they way they stick together!

Random Day

Sometimes it's hard having a baby sister who gets into all of your things. Hadley is so patient.

Playing science/discovery together.

After a fall and bump nothing compares to a story on Papa.