Touch a Truck

We have had a week of sitting still and resting. After Daniel's concussion on Tuesday, he was limited to no television or outside playing for 48 hours. I knew we needed to do something fun after so much stillness, but it had to be small and not involve much movement.

The boys and I attended a local park's Fun Friday event, which happened to be Touch a Truck this week. We have gone in the past, but the really enjoyed it yesterday especially since it wasn't crowded and it rained for 10 minutes! The rain cooled us down quite a bit.

Touch a Truck is an event where all the city's service vehicles are in one place. The children are allowed to climb to into the vehicles and explore each one! They get to talk with the drivers/community helpers. It is both educational, fun, and free!

Elias Escapades

He really is quite the child. He has turned out to be the most rambunctious, energetic, and hilarious of our three sons, and not a day goes by that he doesn't drive me crazy. However, he can make me laugh more than anyone in the world.  

Just recently, for instance, this little bit:

* decided to pour a gallon of water all over the bathroom floor.

* has taken a liking to dressing himself in the most fascinating ways. Clothes are often inside out, socks are gloves, coats are acceptable in the spring, and anything goes.

* shovels food in his mouth.

* thinks he can avoid bedtime if he's pretending to potty train, which he clearly isn't interested in attempting or accomplishing yet.

* likes pretending to be the bad "die", which is guy, and runs at us with a water gun.

* figured out how to unbuckle his car seat, get really quiet, then fall asleep while we're on the interstate. Oh, yes, he did.

* ate both of his brothers' leftover pieces of birthday cake. Both of theirs.

* likes to have crazy hair... at his sleep study, they put this gel on the electrodes to keep them on his head. When they came off, his hair was everywhere, but he just laughed!

The Things Kids Say...

Lately, Daniel at three years old has become quite chatty and outspoken.  He seriously says things that people are thinking but would never say aloud.  I love his honesty, and his humor astounds me.  In the last week, Brian and I have found ourselves literally laughing out loud over things Daniel has to say...

• Mom, it's an ant!  RIGHT THERE!  Kill it fast with your shoe. - upon discovering some unwanted intruders in the house
• screaming at the top of his lungs - I'm a quiet mouse!
• while on a walk in the neighborhood - Ugh, gross.  Who did that right there?  Why'd they do that poop on the grass?  That's not good.  That is gross.  Why'd someone do that?  I explain that a dog must have done it.  He needs to go to the potty. 
• I don't like your booty at all.  Put some pants on! - details are not needed. 
• I am the boss, Mommy.  You are not the boss.
• exclaiming to complete strangers - I have a new baby brother at my house.  His name is Elias Joseph.  He cries a lot.  He shakes a lot.  He sleeps a lot too.
• I got a great idea.  See, isn't this a great idea?! 
• I can.  I think I can. - while trying to build a fort.
• We're making too much noises.  - upon hearing Elias crying.

Time for a Pizza Party!

We opted for a smaller, less involved party for the boys' birthdays this year.  Oh, and we knew their parties needed to be combined, seeing as their brother is due two days before Samuel's 2nd birthday.  So, since I was having early contractions, we scheduled their Pizza Party a week before Daniel's birthday.  We invited mostly family and a few neighborhood friends.  It was perfect!

Waiting not-so-patiently for Daddy to finish praying

Hugging on Grandpa during the prayer

Daniel was so excited that

Baby Josie came to his party!

Our indoor train table provided lots of fun.

The sand table outside was such a mess,

but honestly, so much fun for everyone!

We borrowed a bounce house from our friends,

and Daniel was thrilled...

so were most of the kids!

Getting their personal pan pizza cakes

on a picnic blanket in the backyard.

This isn't the best picture,

but please look at Samuel

eating his cake.

On his 1st birthday,

he actually shoved his cake away...

My, how a year changes things!

Daniel didn't care so much for the cake...

He liked all of the cake's toppings!

Possibly Samuel's favorite gift(s)

came from Mimi -

Stuffed Sesame Street characters,

Ernie and Cookie Monster.

He was very happy to hug them!

Daniel found this gift unwrapped a week or two

BEFORE the party and talked about it

every.single.day.without.fail.

He was PUMPED to FINALLY open it!

Whew, what a tiring party!

Slept like babies...

Happy (early) Birthday, Boys!  Thank you to everyone who came and made this so special for the boys and our family.  We truly are blessed with dear family and friends.

From the Mouth of Babes...

Seriously, the things that come out of their mouths is too much for me at times.  Sometimes, I'm completely embarassed, while at others, I'm in total awe.

• He's got pick-ups.   - Daniel, explaining to me that Samuel has 'hiccups'
• I'm wearing a Roll-up.  I have a Roll-up diaper on.  I need to pee, but not in my Roll-up.  In the potty, okay?!   - Daniel, making certain he remembers for himself to NOT have an accident in his 'Pull-up'
• Top, Danyule.   - Samuel, telling Daniel that he should 'stop' stacking the couch cushions in order to build a tower
• It's a six, see?!  Right there, you can see it.  - Daniel, shocking his mommy beyond belief when he recognized the number 6 on our gas station pump
• Samuel's coughing, Mommy.  He needs to go to the doctor check.  - Daniel, being a really great big brother realizing Samuel wasn't feeling well
• Doctor Check, you make Samuel better?  You give him medicine?  He's got boogers in his ear.  Get them out, Doctor Check.  Daniel's not sick.  - Daniel, speaking to Dr. B then 1)calling her by the name he has given every doctor, 2) telling her about the ear wax in Samuel's ears, and 3) making sure she knew he didn't need to be checked as well.
• It's stars, Mommy.  Look!  He made them for me.  - Daniel, noticing the display in the sky, and remembering that God made them
• God don't change.  - Daniel, recalling a family devotional his Daddy gave a few weeks ago

Just a Side Note...

Samuel is feeding himself yogurt with a spoon for the first time...

Need I say more?!


The view from my seat is amazing!  I'm truly blessed to watch our boys learn and grow on a cconstant basis.

Center of Attention

If there's one thing anyone who knows anything about our 2 year old Daniel, it's that he loves being the center of attention.  Since little brother came along, we've noticed a few fits of jealousy on both boys' parts, but without a doubt, Daniel craves attention.  He loves having quality time with us, being praised, and pretty much "awes" himself to death anytime he sees a picture of himself. 

So, I had NO IDEA this next event would occur.  Seriously.  I had my camera ready to video tape how amazing he was about to perform at his End-of-the-Year Mother's Day Out Program.  Daniel had practiced his five songs for weeks, and Mommy and Daddy were about to lose it if he begged to hear "Bees" or "Shine" one more time!  Imagine my surprise when Daniel did this...


Mother, Come Get Me! from Jenna Johnson on Vimeo.


Be the center of attention?  No, thank you, Daniel said.  I'd rather be in my Mommy's arms.

He's a Baller...

Yes, my son definitely has some b-ball skills.  My Pop got Daniel the cutest Little Tikes basketball goal for Christmas, and a few months back, Pop brought a vintage, autographed Vandy basketball (from his exclusive collection) for Daniel to have as a keepsake.  I have no idea on earth what year it's from or if it'd even be worth anything, so when Daniel kept having a conniption over this "bawl" (Daniel's "ball" has quite the southern drawl) on the top shelf in his closet, I had to let him have it.

The kid can shoot.  I mean, he really does.  Daniel is steps or so away from the goal, and he'll shoot and make it...  every time.  He's good, and I don't say that lightly.  He somehow always hits the square and manages to make shots.  For a kid who's not even two yet, I'd say that is pretty amazing. 

The best part about this is that Daniel's Daddy was ALSO a baller.  Brian actually walked onto Union University's basketball team his senior year, and in high school, he was known as "Burnout."  Yeah, he was good!  He still plays ball to this day...  He meets with a group of no telling how many men on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the crack of dawn (that is, when the boys haven't kept him up all night) to play basketball, and I'm serious, he loves it.  Any time we're out, we always run into "one of the guys" that plays with him.  I like that my husband is active and loves this sport, which makes it so fitting that his first born son is taking up with it too. 

So, with all that said, here's a little video of Daddy and Daniel being the ballers they are the other day in Daniel's room...


He's a Baller. from Jenna Johnson on Vimeo.


Oh, I can't post without mentioning our littlest Johnson baller...

 



Samuel loves sports too.  He was having a blast scooting and pushing this big kickball around!  It's official, I'm in a house FULL of boys, and my future is looking very much in the direction of bleachers...



Does Your Child Do This?!

It's been happening a little over a month now.  My 20-month-old has a very strange habit.  It's not a bad one; it's just different.  As a teacher, I've worked with all ages and types of children, but this is something I've never seen done...  by any of them. 

Here's when the obsession started.

We were finding "older" toys to donate before Christmas arrived, because we knew Daniel'd have more cars and trains and trucks than he'd know what to do with.  However, we noticed when we pulled out these cars/trucks from the garage, Daniel began lining them up...  with all of their faces facing the same way.

When he got trains for Christmas, he lined them up as well.

When he got home, he put his tracks together and lined every.single.train.and.tender up on the track.

When he realized that he had Cars as well, he lined them up in a separate line.  I suppose because Daniel realized they were "different."

Again, the cars are all facing the same way. 

Impressive for a 20-month-old, right?!

He even lines up his bath squirters!

And, when he got more from his Mema,

he did the very same thing at her house.

Daniel's most impressive car/train/truck/tender line yet!

They are ALL FACING THE SAME DIRECTION!!!

Today, he decided he could line up his cars and trains in a new place, the chair seat.  He even continued his "line" onto the arm of the chair! 

And, of course, there is always a line of trains somewhere left behind.

So, fellow friends and readers, does your child do this?!  Have you had a child that ever lined up his/her toys?  If so, share it with me.  If not, what do you think this indicates in a 20-month-old?!

I'm certainly hoping it means major organizational skills.  However, if you saw his closet, you'd wonder why he doesn't "line up" his books?!  I'm not worried one bit.  I love this little habit he's gotten into lately.  I'm so amazed by the detailed mind of my little one.

Bet You Didn't Know He Had M-O-V-E-S...

Eating lunch today with his Aunt Jessica ended up being one the funniest things I've ever seen!  I, for one, had no idea he had moves like he was showing us, and I was able to catch him on video.  Seriously, I never imagined that an old elementary-school-turned-Barney song would get him to "dance" over his apple wagon wheels!

Apples and Bananas, Dance Remix from Jenna Johnson on Vimeo.

And, just in case you really love the Apples and Bananas song, it teaches kids the long vowel sounds and goes a little something like this:

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.  I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.

I like to ate, ate, ate aypples and banaynays.  I like to ate, ate, ate aypples and banaynays.  

I like to eat, eat, eat eepples and baneenees.  I like to eat, eat, eat eepples and baneenees.

I like to ite, ite, ite, ie-ples and banie-nies.  I like to ite, ite, ite, ie-ples and banie-nies.

I like to oat, oat, oat oeples and bano-nos.  I like to oat, oat, oat oeples and bano-nos.

I like to ute, ute, ute u-ples and banu-nus.   I like to ute, ute, ute u-ples and banu-nus.   

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.  I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.

(just remember to use the long vowel sound for each letter as you go through the song)