2016 was good to us. It had its moments - all years do - but it also brought successful surgery outcomes for both Yogs and Fiona, a new job (and then a promotion at that job) for Mike, the transition to two school-agers, and the official end to baby-dom in our house. It felt fitting that we send it out in the right way. So that meant we headed over to B&C's house. They are our New Year's Eve people.
Even though we had absolutely no official plans (other than eating!), we had the best time. There was a rousing game of pie face (that had Fiona and Jack giggling hysterically), serious confetti cannon action, ice cream sundaes with all the toppings, and a lot of wildness in the basement. We stayed until almost 9:00, which is basically midnight for our kids compared to the normal bedtime. The bigs in both families cried when we left. Partly because they were overtired and mostly because they were having the best time together! Lucky for them, their parents used the opportunity to finish a sentence or two and plotted a joint Spring Break trip to the Dells - so they will have plenty of togetherness to look forward to.
In the most entertaining moment of the night, Mike did a throwback to a classic Emily move and, when he got up from the dinner table, tripped over Yogi (who blends into the floor) and suddenly disappeared from view. We could hear him though, as he slid across the floor and smashed into the bookcase. The lamp tottered, but didn't fall. And he never spilled his drink!
And with that drink, now definitely shaken and not stirred, we wished 2016 farewell and, with good friends, hearts full of hope, and a snack bucket full of wayward confetti and streamers, said hello to 2017.
I felt like 2017 was testing me today. Trying to see what I was made of. It's probably just me, but I don't really feel like the new year starts until the second week. The first week is just survival and re-entry and trying to find your way out from under Christmas decorations and thank you notes. Week two is when the rubber really hits the road. And today, I got road rash.
We have a fitness center at work. I'm pretty spotty using it, but I'm trying to get better. This afternoon, I headed down to use the treadmill. Only to discover that I had forgotten to throw socks in my gym bag. Mostly undeterred, I put my bare feet in my tennis shoes (shudder). Hopped on the treadmill. Discovered my iPod battery was dead. Ugh. So I dug out my phone, plugged in my headphones, and power-walked a mile. Which was the best I could do before my feet blistered. I was proud that I still walked - even when the universe gave me plenty of excuses to give up.
I talked to Fiona's school nurse today. She mentioned that Fiona's been really sad the last few days at school. She confirmed what we had begun to suspect since Friday. We are in a spina bifida valley. Tonight at dinner, she burst into tears and told us that she didn't like how she was born. Breaking the strict "stay in your seat during dinner" rule, I pulled her into my lap. We talked about how we think she is perfect just the way she is. Quinn listened so carefully to what Bugs and I were talking about and offered up the most compassionate thoughts to her sister. It won't be our last valley, but our chat hopefully helped. She had some serious belly laughs tonight that we've haven't heard for a few days.
As Fiona and I talked tonight, I told her the truth ... that she didn't get a choice whether she was born with spina bifida or not. And we're sorry that she didn't get that choice. But she does get a choice as to whether she stays sad about it or finds the things that make her happy and focuses on those. She is the only one who can make that choice for herself. She'll take the road most traveled and choose happy. And the rest of us have promised that when her path gets bumpy, we'll be here to help her find her way again.
We were all so happy to be with our families this year for Christmas. As the kids get older, they have more and more fun in the big, crazy family atmosphere. And as the kids get older, we can relax more and actually talk to the people we are related to ... at least a little bit.
We spent Christmas Eve, as we always do, with my extended family at my cousin Brenda's house. We started it out with the cousin sledding trip and then went back to B's for dinner, playtime, and presents. The kids quickly disappeared upstairs to the playroom with Otto and the four of them had a great time. They played near each other and had very few (if any) arguments over toys. We made them take a pause for dinner and then they headed right back up until it was present time.
Johnson cousins: Part II
After presents, we got them all dressed up in their Christmas pjs and forced them to take a picture together. It's no small feat to try to get five small people to cooperate. And Hux is not really one for group pictures (yet. He'll learn to just cooperate so it ends sooner. That's what mine do now. Or he'll eat a baseball like Declan did.). By 8:00 or so, the kids were getting tired, so we packed up to head back to Gma and Gpa's. We still needed to scatter our reindeer food, leave cookies for Santa, and read The Night Before Christmas. They feel asleep pretty quickly and Mike and I snuggled on the couch, watching A Christmas Story until bed. Because it's not really Christmas without a pink bunny suit and some Fa Ra Ra Ra Ras.
Johnson cousins: The originals
On Christmas morning, we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and then opened presents with my parents and sister. Dec was thrilled with his new umbrella (or "ba-brella") from Santa. I opened it for him and he walked around the living room singing "I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain ..." which was both the cutest thing and a proud parenting moment! He was also quite excited about his new marble run from Auntie and his big Hot Wheels track. Fiona was especially thrilled about her new Barbie camper and her vet cart. And Quinn was beyond thrilled about her Legos birthday set from Liv and her Sweet Pickles books.
Once we all got ready for the day, we went to Mike's sister's house to hang with her family and Mike's dad. Mike's mom and Bill didn't make it over because of the weather and we missed them very much. But since Mike had to scrap a quarter inch of ice off our car for the very short drive to Tracey's, we totally understood! We had a great day eating too much, playing with Kyle's new VR googles, building with Nate and Ben's old train sets, putting Q's new Lego set together, and just being together. I'm also officially way shorter than Ben now and I feel like for Christmas, he could have hunched himself up a bit for his aunt. Just nine months ago, I had him by almost an inch. That is how fast that boy is growing!
Vanneste cousins
Christmas night, after the kids passed out from all the fun, we played games with my family and Mike had the Yahtzee game of his life. Five yahtzees for a total of 715 points. Not bad for a guy who had to use his Chance on his first turn!
We had a pretty relaxing day on Monday - just letting the kids enjoy their new stuff and sending Mike and Gpa off on an ice fishing adventure. That night, we went out with the family for pizza at Sammy's to celebrate Grandma's 65th birthday (a couple days early). So fun to celebrate such an amazing person with the whole Johnson clan. Then we ended the big celebration by testing out Q's new Pie Face game - and vacuum-sealing Auntie's keys to make sure the new sealer worked. If that doesn't scream giggles and family fun, then nothing does!
As the kids get older, we've been establishing some fun family traditions for the Christmas holiday. One of our favorites from last year was our winter walk in the woods with Gma, Gpa, and Auntie. Unfortunately because of the carsick plus cold (with a side of Dramamine groggy) combo, Quinn was just not in game shape on Friday night for walk in the woods. And the weather didn't really cooperate for evening walks after that night. We've all agreed that it was a temporary pause and we will revive that tradition next year!
However, we added two new traditions this year and have unanimously voted them as keepers! On Christmas Eve, we headed out to Brenda and Mike's early to meet up with the cousins for a sledding party. Mike had hooked up the trailer to his truck, so everyone piled in for a group trip over to the lake lot. Then we spent about 40 minutes giggling and sailing down the hill to the lake, with a most beautiful sunset on the horizon. Quinn and Fiona had the best time. Dec did too ... until he didn't. Maybe next time he will listen when mama says to wear his big mittens. When everyone was sufficiently cold, we loaded back up in the trailer to start the family party. It was the best fun and we are already so excited for next year. The cousin group keeps growing (both in age and in numbers!). By next year, Hux will be flying down the hill too. And we'll have a new baby boy to introduce to the sledding hill.
Then on our way out of town, we stopped at cousin Otto's house for pancakes and playtime. Anna made pancakes to order (chocolate chips, blueberries, or sprinkles ... yum!) and the kids had the best time playing with Otto, his new easel, his trains, and his playdoh (and Yogi had a great time with Nyko). Otto is enamored with the girls and they are equally enthralled with him. They were so sweet to watch together. It was the perfect way to pack in a bit more cousin time and burn off some energy before the long car ride home.
These are the moments the kids talk about all year when they think about holidays. It's the experiences, not the presents, that mean the most to them.
Even though we had absolutely no official plans (other than eating!), we had the best time. There was a rousing game of pie face (that had Fiona and Jack giggling hysterically), serious confetti cannon action, ice cream sundaes with all the toppings, and a lot of wildness in the basement. We stayed until almost 9:00, which is basically midnight for our kids compared to the normal bedtime. The bigs in both families cried when we left. Partly because they were overtired and mostly because they were having the best time together! Lucky for them, their parents used the opportunity to finish a sentence or two and plotted a joint Spring Break trip to the Dells - so they will have plenty of togetherness to look forward to.
