On Ice!

While Emmy and Poppy were visiting for Christmas, we decided to check out "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Ice sculpture exhibit at the National Harbor. None of us knew what to expect, so it was definitely quite the experience. If you don't mind paying for overpriced tickets to walk through a 9 degree tent looking at ice sculptures, you should go! I think we all will skip next time.

However, while we were there we made the most of it! After putting on our nice blue parkas we were off!

Jackson has not seen the movie or read the book, so he had a lot of questions about why the "Grunch" was so unhappy.


I will admit that the sculptures were pretty amazing. It is hard to believe that they are made entirely out of ice!




There was an ice slide that Jackson went down twice. His only complaint - that it didn't go fast enough for him.


At the end of the exhibit, there was an incredible Nativity scene. It is always refreshing when fun Christmas activities include the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

We had our first day of snow this winter! It might not last for a white Christmas, but it sure is pretty for now. Jackson just couldn't wait to get out there and play. So we finally bundled up and hit the snow.


After two record snow storms last year, our neighbor, Mr. Paul bought Daddy and Jackson their very own snow shovels. Jackson could not wait to break his out.


Jackson is such a shoveling pro, that I think we will put him in charge of shoveling us out during the next big storm!

No snow day is complete without making a snow angel. He had been practicing inside to make the perfect angel!


I wonder how many snow angels we will get to make this winter? Hopefully not too many . . .

Gingerbread Choo Choo

Every year while we are in Mississippi, Dee Dee and Jackson decorate a gingerbread train together. It quickly became a Christmas tradition. Since we won't be traveling home this year, Dee Dee sent the train to Jackson. He had been asking about it since Thanksgiving. It's funny what little minds remember.

We finally got around to putting it together to decorate. The engine kept falling over, but we kept working until we had a successful free standing choo choo!

Jackson made sure we had all of our decorations in order.


Then it was time for decorating and making sure that the decorations were tasty.


Eventually all of Jackson's hard work paid off! What do you think?


Next year Dee Dee, we will back to doing this at your house . . . with an extra pair of hands to help!

Doggy Playdate

Just in case you are wondering what a doggy playdate looks like. First you line up all the doggies and all the other animals that are invited.


Then you read them a story. And please don't forget to show them the pictures.


Then all the animals take a nap in your bed with the sound machine on and the lights off.

Christmas Party

Mark's company threw a Christmas party at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. We skipped out last year. However, since this bambino will be here before we know it, we were up for a fancy night out on the town. We had our choice of a private car or a nights stay at the hotel and we opted for the private car (I just hate not having grandparents closer). There was food, dancing, and even casino games. It was a great night out despite the fact that I had to endure pregnancy pantyhose!

Countdown til Christmas

Jackson is so excited about Christmas this year, he can hardly stand it!! So I decided we might need some structured activities to make it through the month of December. In addition to counting down the days with our Advent Calendar (my mom actually made me this one when I was a little girl),


we have an activity card for each day. We pull a card to find out what kind of activity we will being doing that day.


So far we have made footprint/handprint reindeer,

played Christmas dominoes,


made chocolate covered pretzels for Jackson's teachers, played a Santa dice game, and made a wish list for Santa.


Jackson wrote his very own list on the orange paper, and together we made a tree with all of the Johnson's Christmas wishes (some of us got more wish ornaments than others).

We even got daddy in on the action when we made piper cleaner Christmas trees.


Here are the finished products. You can't even tell who did which one!


Only 13 more days to go!

31 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 31 weeks

Size of Baby: Baby boy is the size of a squash (about 16 inches and 3 pounds)

Total Weight Gain: hmmm . . . who cares?

Maternity Clothes: Yes! I have been called a blueberry (when I wore a blue dress) and Mrs. Claus (when I wore a red dress) by my sweet boys.

Gender: Boy :)

Movement: At times it feels like baby boy is doing flips in my belly. He loves to roll around when I am stretched out on the couch.

Sleep: Rolling over takes at least 5 minutes and is a huge effort, and of course I have to get up at least once for a bathroom break.

What I Miss: Sleeping on my stomach.

Cravings: Nothing really - I will pretty much eat anything!

Symptoms: A growing belly, uncomfortable back pain, and a nice little waddle walk

Best Moment this Week: We are slowly but surely getting the nursery together. It is really sinking in that this little bambino will be here before we know it. Jackson even put some of his outgrown toys in the baby's room for him to play with.