Must Love Dogs

We have been dog-sitting this week for Jeff's sister. They have a cocker spaniel named Rocky. He's a really good dog, and Ashley is crazy about him. We've never had an indoor pet (except the goldfish), so she's been so excited about having him in the house. He's just her size and very tolerant of her affection.

Duckmaster Kay Kay

Last year, Nathan was the Honorary Duckmaster at the Peabody. Mikayla really wanted to have turn, but you have to be 4 years old to do it. She got her turn this morning (and just in time...they are moving tomorrow!) She was very shy and quiet, but I think she liked it. The kids' favorite part of the day was when the Duckmaster took them to the gift shop and let each of them pick out a rubber duckie to take home with them.

Kay Kay with the new Duckmaster (How old is this kid? Twelve?)

Duckmaster fan club: Mary Beth, Ashley, Mikayla, and Nathan

Little Miss Messmaker

I'm on call this week, and if we're home, I usually go upstairs when I have to take a call so that I can actually hear the person to whom I'm speaking. (It's difficult to have a serious conversation with a child begging for a snack or tattling on their sibling in the background!) Well, this has been a particularly busy call week so far. Last night, I was taking a call and left the kids unsupervised downstairs. Ashley promptly dumped out my purse and started putting on lip gloss. My camera was also in my purse, so I guess Nathan thought it was more important to capture the evidence first, then call for me later. Here's a picture he took:

Tonight I left my kids downstairs unsupervised (again), and they got into mischief (again). They got into a box of markers (why we had non-washable, bold-color markers in the house, I do not know) and colored all over their arms and faces. I was on the phone for at least 10 or 15 minutes, so I guess they decided to wash up after they tattooed themselves. I found them dripping wet, and there was water all over the bathroom floor. Nathan did a pretty good job of cleaning himself up, but Ashley was another story:

You would think that I would learn my lesson, but what else am I going to do? I had to hold her down and scrub her face to get it off, and then I threw the non-washable markers in the trash.

Alum Fork

We spent Memorial Day floating Alum Fork. For those not familiar with Saline County waterways, the Alum Fork just behind my parents' house and is one of the four rivers that combine to form the Saline River. The water was low in places, but the first half of the trip was really good. We only went 3 miles because we had the kids. This was Ashley's first float trip. She did okay, but she still doesn't like to be hot, wet, or dirty. This is precisely why I did not want to go to the beach this summer!

Even though we took the dry bag, I didn't risk taking the camera on the float, so here are a few pictures I took before we left.

Dazzling Display

Ashley, Audry, Jenna, and Nathan

On Sunday night, we went to the Big Dam Bridge with the Stanisors to watch the fireworks. Let me back up a few months...last July 4th, we wanted to go watch fireworks, but I was not up for the crowds downtown, so I suggested we go to the BDB to see if we could see any from there. It turned out to be a great spot. Even though we were far away, we could see the show really well. We could even see some fireworks from 4th Fest in Maumelle and some of the big houses overlooking the river had their own mini-displays (much more impressive the Roman candles and sparklers we set off as kids!) Fast forward to Sunday night...we had a picnic on the bridge, went for a walk, and then settled down to watch the big show. Well, I don't know if they changed the location from which they shot the fireworks or what, but we couldn't see a thing! We could see the outer rim of some of the big explosions. That's it! It was rather disappointing.

Florida Bound!

On Saturday, we had a "Going Away" party for the Amanda and family. They are packing up this week and leaving for Ft. Meyers on Sunday.

Fischer Family

Top Row: Renee, Granny & Papa Fischer, Mom, Me, Amanda, Josh, and Dad

Bottom Row: Lily, Jeremiah, Micah, Ashley, Nathan, Brandon, and Mikayla

Shake It!

The Johnson boys really know how to shake it. Check out this video.

In case I haven't mentioned it before, Jeff''s had a 3 and 1/2 week break between semesters. (Yes, I'm totally jealous.) He had some down time the first week, but last week, he played Super Uncle. While Renee and the kids were here, he took the boys to Chuck E Cheese and then to a bouncy house place in Benton. Tonight, he is taking Nathan and Brandon to see Speed Racer. (I don't know if any of you have seen the Speed Racer previews, but this is definitely one movie I'm going to pass on.)

Busy, busy week!

As you might have guessed from the pictures, the Johnsons are home! (Aaron didn't get to come this time, so I know looking at these pictures of his kiddos is killing him.) Renee - God bless her - drove from 8am Thursday morning until 2am Friday morning from PA to AR with all 3 kids! Yes, she's crazy! But we were all glad to see them. Renee, Amanda, and I had some "sister time" on Saturday while Mom and Dad watched 5/7 of the kids. (Amanda's were with her inlaws.)

On Sunday, everyone came to Fellowship with us for the first service in our new building. It was fantastic! We then had lunch with the Krebs and Stanisors bringing our kid-count up to 11!

On Monday, Renee, Lily, Ashley and I did some shopping. It is amazing how easy it is to get out with just the two little ones! Renee and I talked about how overwhelmed we used to get with just Nathan and Jeremiah. Now it seems like a piece of cake!

Last night, Jeff introduced the Johnson boys to go-carting. They had so much fun! Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera.

Mission Impossible!

We always try to do it...capture the impossible shot of all the kids looking at the camera without any nose-picking, hand-waving, or fit-throwing. It never happens. We didn't subject a professional photographer to our clan this time around though. We just took some pictures in the backyard before church on Sunday. Even though we didn't get the money shot, I must admit, they did pretty cute!

We are family...

...I got all my sisters with me. (Sorry, I just had to quote it!)