Personal Progress

I have completed the Young Women's Personal Progress Program two times. The first when I was a Young Woman myself back in 1998. (the first girl in my Ward to earn it in 8 years!) Back then, you would get a necklace after completing each class, (Beehive = Praying Girl, Mia Maid = Scriptures, Laurel = Temple Spires) and then after finishing the whole program you would get the ultimate Medallion (Girl in the Field).The program was revised sometime between 1999 and 2003, so when I became a Leader I wanted to finish the program again to get the new Medallion. So, in 2007 I finished the program for the second time, as a leader. This was the Medallion at that time. Now they have revised the program again to include the new value Virtue. With that brings another medallion. Of course that makes me want to finish the program a third time so that I can get the new necklace to add to my collection.
With that said, starting tomorrow, January 1st, 2012, I will be committing myself to finish the Personal Progress Program for the third time. What better way to start out a new year, new month, new week, and new day? It's not very often that happens all at once! I will probably be using this blog as my journal. However, I also noticed that you can now finish the program online and not even use the book anymore. WOW - things are getting so fancy!

Duke - 2 Months

Duke is sporting his new blanket, hat & booties that he received from Grandma Lillie.

Duke is now 2 months! My how the time is just flying by. He is such a great baby. He's a snuggler, a great eater, perfect sleeper, and has a super cute laugh. He is always smiling or laughing, and loves to watch whatever Hoss is up to. He can fall asleep on his own and loves his crib, but he would rather nurse to fall asleep.

Both kids adore him, they are always checking in on him and wanting to hold him. They love giving him kisses and it has even gotten him sick. Poor guy. He has two bottom teeth that are trying to push through, and a big tummy, which Hoss is always trying to push down. He now weighs 11 lbs, 10 oz, and was 24 inches tall.

We all love him lots and are so happy he's ours!

Christmas Meltdown

Hoss has been asking for a "toolbox with no lid" for several months now. We looked everywhere in stores for one and found nothing. I finally just ordered one off amazon the week of Christmas. Then we went to a store in Weiser to pick something up for my sister and they had them there! Hoss BEGGED to buy it. Well, Lilli bought one the next day with her class at school, so then we ended up with two. I decided to give the one I bought to Duke, since he was who I had for our family exchange. Then, I would let Lilli give hers to Hoss. Well, I kinda forgot that we open our exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, so Duke would open his before Hoss. We were worried a meltdown would occur, and we were right.
For some reason, not sure if it was operator error or the camera, but the camera stopped, so we missed half the meltdown. However, this was the rest of the conversation, and it ended on a happy note. I LOVE his "YEEEEEPPPP!"

Here is Christmas when he was finally able to open his own. Talk about torture when your younger brother, who can't even play with toys yet, gets the item you had been begging to get for months.

Traffic Jam

I looked out the window and what did I see???A Stampede of sheep running right at me!!I love living where I do and seeing things like this right out my front window!

Book Advent Day 25

Our final book to open was "The Holy Bible" in which we read straight from Luke Chapter 2. I figured this would be the perfect ending to the Season, by reading the true story of what really happened on that sacred night.

For the ornament we made a manger scene. Hoss gave his Baby Jesus red hair, while Lilli went for black.The kids and I have all really enjoyed the month of December. Brandon said it was too much. He said the books were fine, but the ornament every night was over the top. Some nights it may have been a little crazy, but I think it is about the memories we've created.

Book Advent Day 24

We opened today's book early because of all the parties we will be attending today. We opened "The Forgotten Carols, a Christmas Miracle for Issac and Eliza" by Michael McLean.
I LOVE this play. We went and watched it in person last year when the tour stopped in Boise. We also own the DVD and I got the Music CD in my stocking last year for Christmas. On their website, they have a set of ornaments that you can download, so we did just that.Both kids love the show too, so they were happy to have opened the picture book edition.

Book Advent Day 23

Next up? "Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect" by Richard H. Schneider. I was making a dip to take to a Christmas Eve party at a friend's house so Brandon offered to read the book. He opened the first page and said - "Why do I always get the long stories?" HA! He's so funny. Needless to say, I ended up reading the book.
Hoss has LOVED every craft that involves painting. So, I figured we would make Popsicle stick Christmas trees, just so he could do some more painting. I had some stars left over from the manger scenes I made for the Young Women, so we topped them off with one of those and it even doubled as the hanger!They both got a little happy with the puff paint. :)

Book Advent Day 22

Our next book opened was "The Donkey's Dream" by Barbara Helen Berger. When I bought this book at the thrift store, I picked it up and flipped through the pages. I should have looked much closer because one of the pages is ripped out, and it was pretty much the most important page. The donkey went from dreaming of carrying different things on his back to being at the stable.
We have no idea how he went from dreaming to being there, so we were pretty lost. If we do this again in the future, I'm gonna have to make sure to get a version with all the pages included. However, we didn't let the missing page ruin our crafting! We made donkeys! I think they are super cute too! Hoss wanted two different size eyes, while Lilli chose pink!Look at those nails! Her school went to a local store to buy gifts for their families, and she got herself, fake nails. I've already found one in the kitchen, so I told her she can't make any food with them, since they are already falling off! That would just be gross if she lost one while preparing food!

Book Advent Day 21

Last night Lilli opened "A Star So Bright" by M. Christina Butler and Caroline Pedler. Hoss really liked the book because it has a Star on every page that keeps getting bigger and bigger as you turn the pages.
For our ornament, we made 3D paper stars, they were so fun and easy. The kids each picked out a page of glitter paper for their star. However, I now want a scoring tool, I better hurry and tell Santa!
The kids faces crack me up in this picture. I think they may be getting tired of posing for the camera every night! Good thing we only have four more left!

Book Advent Day 20

We opened "The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg. I really wanted to go ride the Thunder Mountain Christmas Liner Train as an activity, but we figured with Duke, it would be too cold.
At the time I went to the store and bought all of the supplies for this advent, they didn't have any silver bells. But, I noticed when I went a few days ago, they had TONS. If only I would have waited. Oh well, our gold ones do the same purpose.As you can see in the picture, Hoss won't stop ringing his bell!

School Christmas Program

Lilli had her School Christmas Program last night. She asked me to put her hair in "the spirals" so I took that to mean ringlets. I had her hair looking so good, but it went flat as soon as we walked out the door.Her class sang three songs:

• "Santa Claus is coming to Town"
• "The Little Drummer Boy" (which Hoss kept laughing hysterically and saying they were singing about bum bums)
  
• "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

As well as sharing the poetry of "The Night Before Christmas".
We sat in the wrong place because we couldn't see her very well in the back row to take pictures.
She did look pretty cute in her antlers.

Book Advent Day 19

Our next book to be opened was "Frosty the Snowman" by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson. Hoss loved it because it played music. The music stopped before I finished reading so Hoss made me close the cover and open it again so we could hear the music again.
I saw these Paint Chip Snowmen Ornaments on Etsy one day and laughed so hard that someone would actually pay for them. Anyway, we made our own, but for some reason the kids didn't even make them into snowmen. They are more people instead, with the funky hair and real facial features. But that's what makes them theirs, right? If you look close, Hoss' "snowman" has a pick in his hair as well as a band aid over his mouth!

Book Advent Day 18

Brandon LOVES Glenn Beck, I mean, really loves Glenn Beck. He even took me to one of his shows once. So we were able to open our second Glenn Beck book during this advent, the picture book edition of "The Christmas Sweater".We used the same sweater that my mom gave us for the letters to Santa ornament and made these sweater ball ornaments.
They were much harder to make than what the directions say. However, Lilli was really excited when I let her use my Bowdabra to make the bows.

2011 Christmas Brag

It’s Christmastime already! Where did 2011 go? We have been extremely blessed during the year 2011, so it’s sad for me to think that the year is over. I’m just hoping that 2012 will be just as good for our family.

Duke: After 3 ½ years of trying for another child we found out in February would finally have another little one join our family. Hoss was super excited when we found out that he would have a little brother. Duke Wayne Johnson arrived on October 21, at 12:47 am, not even 20 minutes after arriving at the hospital. He weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz, and was 20 inches tall. He is the sweetest baby, hardly cries, sleeps great, eats all the time, and has his nights and days in the correct order. We couldn't have asked for anything better.

Hoss: He LOVES being a big brother. He still tells everyone who comes to the house that Duke is ours and that they can’t take him. He is enrolled in a speech therapy class and is doing well. He has a hard time pronouncing words with the letters, F, L, S, T, and a few others. But those are the ones they have been working on the most. He enjoys going to work with Brandon whenever possible so he can help “work” on the equipment. He turned 4 in July and is one of 2 kids in his class at church. He really loves his grandparents and jumps at the chance to spend time with either Grandpa Johnson or Grandma Wayne.

Lilli: She is one of two 5^th Graders at her school, but is in a class of 12 because the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th graders are all together. She is on the Student Council and is really enjoying the responsibility. She turned 10 in May and loves Activity Days at church. We can always find her face stuck in a book or making a craft. She enjoys helping with dinner and loves to make brownies or cupcakes for the family. Just last night she told me that she needs to go to bed earlier, so I’m glad she can realize those kinds of needs.

Brandon: He took a new job this year with Sage Farms, managing the shop and some farm ground. We were extremely blessed to have sold both our hay stacking business and our farm shortly after placing them on the market. He LOVES his job and all the people he works with. He is the Young Men’s 1^st Counselor in our new Ward and only has 2 boys, 1 of which will move to the next class this coming week.

Me (Tiffany): I LOVE everything about life right now! The move has provided us with a beautiful home, my kids are amazing, and my husband spoils me. What more could I ask for? After Duke was born I didn’t have to cook for 4 weeks, yes, 4 WEEKS, it was great! I serve as the Mia Maid/Beehive Adviser at church and love it. I have 1 Beehive and 4 Mia Maids that make every Sunday hilarious. I feel like I have a constant glow around me because of how happy I am. Life is truly wonderful!

Merry Christmas!

Young Women Christmas Lesson

I had been thinking about what I was going to do for my lesson at church for the past few weeks. I had given each of my girls a 12 days of Christmas earlier so, I wanted to incorporate that into my lesson somehow. It was a 12 Ways of Christmas, with each day finding a way to become closer to Christ.

I LOVE the Sugardoodle website and utilize it as much as I possibly can. I took to their Christmas lesson section and found bits and pieces of what I was looking for. For family home evening one night, we watched one of the Mormon Messages, and after the kids went to bed, I watched a few more and found one that would be perfect too. I then put everything I had found together for my lesson.

I started by playing a "Guess Who" type of game, that is actually meant for smaller children, but figured why not make it for Young Women as well. We then watched the 3 minute film called "Christmas Spirit" from the Mormon Messages. I then borrowed one of my mom's 200+ nativity sets for the main part of my lesson. We read directly from Luke and each member of the class (Brandon brought his class to join us) would bring forward their piece of the Nativity and read a little more about that item, until we finished the story.

We then read a little from Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" that I found from a talk Elder Holland gave many years ago. After that we listened to "The Innkeeper" by Michael McLean off his CD "The Forgotten Carols". I closed the lesson and gave each class member one of these handouts:And then one of these:Brandon likes the Gold Stars better.
I found this Baby Jesus craft on Sugardoodle and knew I wanted to make one for each girl (and boy since we had them too). They LOVED them, and Brandon insisted we make one for ourselves too, and for the families he Home Teaches.As I write this, it sounds like I had too much prepared for the lesson, but it actually was timed perfect. I even heard two girls from my class (sisters) run out and tell their mom "Look at our handouts!". That makes me feel good, I just hope they learned something too.

Book Advent Day 17

Tonight we opened "The Littlest Angel" by Charles Tazewell. I've heard this book was really good, but some of the words were even hard for me to pronounce. Needless to say, Hoss kinda lost interest in the story.
My sister, DJ, and I were shopping at the Craft Warehouse one day and I saw these little angel kits for $1 each. I figured you can't pass that up, so I grabbed 2 of them and headed for the register, using a 40% off coupon, so it made them even cheaper.
We went to Vale to Brandon's parents house so the crafting was done there. Hoss was too excited playing with Blue Papa, so Lilli was the only crafter for this project. She was so precise though.Hoss did however sing to his "baby" (the head of the angel) before Brandon assembled it. It was cute.Hoss didn't want any dresses or arms, but LOTS of hair. Brandon piled all the hair on top of the head and loaded it up with the glue gun. It was hilarious to watch!

Letters From Santa

Lilli got the mail today and when she came inside she rushed to Hoss. I asked her what was so exciting and she said they got letters from Santa!I made them sit for a picture before opening the envelopes and I think that was probably the longest 2 minutes of Hoss' life. He was having a really hard time waiting.

When Hoss wrote his letter he mentioned that his dad has truckloads of corn that he could take up to the north pole for the reindeer. In Santa's return letter, it says that the reindeer do like corn, but with all the kids around the world feeding them on Christmas Eve, they probably don't need a truckload! I LOVE how personalized the letters were. Thanks "Santa"!

Book Advent Day 16

Last night we opened "A Christmas Dress for Ellen" retold by Thomas S. Monson the president and prophet of our church. President Monson had heard about the events of this story and then researched it by interviewing descendants of this family. He first told the story at the Christmas devotional of 1997.This true story is about a destitute family living in Canada in the late 1920's. Their family members in the States offer to send them what they need for Christmas. The family only asks for the bare necessities: a bit of coal, socks, used quilts without holes, and perhaps a hand-me-down dress for the oldest girl to wear. The family waits and waits with hope that something will arrive before Christmas Day. What follows is a display of compassion and service that is truly moving. President Monson reiterates that "when we are in the service of our fellow men, we are truly in the service of our God."The book talks about sewing patches on clothes so what better craft than a patchwork ornament? Can you guess which one is each kid's creation?

Book Advent Day 15

Tonight we opened the picture book edition of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson. My family had the longer version growing up, but I never read it, so I figured I would start with the picture book edition first.
I couldn't really come up with a specific theme for this craft either, so we made yarn wreaths. Hoss of course chose orange yarn, the same yarn we made his Easter Basket out of earlier this year, and Lilli used a pink/blue/purple mix. It made for perfect stripes, it's really pretty.She even went the extra mile and added holly and a jingle bell. She's so crafty.

Book Advent Day 14

After our Ward Christmas Party, we hurried home to open the next book. It isn't Christmas without Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and that was just the book we unwrapped.When I was wrapping all of the books, Hoss kept saying he didn't want to read this one because it has a "scary man on it". However, when we were in Rexburg, it was one of the movies we watched with Kelby & Karesa, so Hoss got a little bit more familiar with the Grinch.
I figured we would make Candy Cane Pipe Cleaners, but Hoss didn't want a candy cane, so he made flowers for me. Ever since we went to my sister's wedding, he keeps telling me that I need to marry him. I've always wanted to have a son that would tell me he wanted to marry me, so it's pretty much a dream come true.

Ward Christmas Party

We had our Ward Christmas Party tonight, and Hoss was able to be a Shepherd, and a VERY cute one I might add. I couldn't stop taking pictures of him because of how adorable he looked all dressed up!
Hoss was too scared to sit on Santa's lap, so Lilli showed him how easy it was. He didn't give in though, and never sat on his lap. He kept asking Lilli, "will you go tell him what I want for me?" When Santa left, he asked me, "How will Santa know what I want now?"
We tried to take family pictures for our Christmas Card, but they didn't work. Someone looks goofy in every single one we took.

Brandon- Brandon or Hoss, take your pick- Hoss - Hoss again - Don't you just love how Hoss & Brandon have the EXACT SAME face in this one? - So then we decided to just take a funny one, even Duke participated - But when we try to make our cards, it tells us the resolution is too low and they would print grainy. I guess we'll try again tomorrow. Now to finish off this sad post, I'll show another picture of our SUPER CUTE little shepherd. Adorable!