Our Five-Year-Old

It began as any other day, but as I kissed my little 5-year-old boy good night, emotions filled my heart.  Where has the time gone and how is he so grown-up?  It's just a few more weeks until kindergarten, and it hit me strong while I was praying on this lovely morning.

A pool cake for his birthday since we went to the pool the day before.  (P.S. He chose the characters floating in the water.)

Easton, you've been such a joy to me these past five years.  I can't believe the maturity of your testimony or your innate desire to serve and make other people happy.  Your ability to make me laugh and cry tears of joy has yet to be matched by another.  I can't believe you are sounding out and reading small words.  I can't believe you can count to 100 and aced your kindergarten pre-assessment.  I still want you to be little, but at the same time, I am so happy for the sweet boy you've become.  I just hope and pray that I can be the mother to match my mountain, my sweet, strong, perfect little mountain...Easton P. Johnson.

Natalie and Jon's Wedding Photo Shoot.

I have decided I love taking wedding pictures a week before the wedding.  It takes so much stress and pressure off of the wedding day and truly allows you to relax and enjoy the most special day of your life, without the pressing worry of pictures.

Engagement Pictures in the Wheat Fields.

Our little town lends itself well to picturesque photo shoots.  Thanks Natalie and Jon for letting me take your pictures. You looked perfect!

2060.

Last Friday we attended a parade that showcased Helaman's 2060 stripling warriors.  Two of my cousins were in it.  I think it broke some kind of Guinness World Record--most young boys in a parade dressed like warriors. :) They covered 4 football fields as they marched down Main Street. Their costumes and sticks were homemade and personalized.  They marched and beat their sticks and every so often stopped and chanted something about their mothers teaching them never to doubt.  It was special to feel the spirit so strongly in a parade.  I'm so glad we went.

Also, Jacee and Chad and their family were in it too--clad in pioneer attire.  So cute!!

Now that you're here...

A Tale of Peanut Buttery Tate

"Children raced outside.  She surveyed their trail - traces of sticky fingerprints across everything, like wee poems."   
~Dr. SunWolf, quotegarden.com

Tate has always loved peanut butter.  He's a boys after my own heart.  We both love absolutely anything with that special peanut buttery taste. 

But for the last few weeks Tate has been living on peanut butter.  He asks for a spoonful for every meal.  But it never stops with one.  He would eat the whole jar every day if I let him.  I try to limit him to half a dozen. ;)

Bean Boozled.

June 30th was definitely a day to remember.

To-do List:

• Take a picture with Maylie (or maybe two)
• Visit Jacee's family and bring Holland a birthday gift
• Take more pictures of Maylie (this time with Grandma)
• Cheer Sadie on for her temple run for Youth Conference
• Play Bean Boozled with Mom and Dad...details below. 
• Drop the littles off at Megan and Parker's
• Attend the Sound of Music play at the Hale Centre theater with Mom and Dad Johnson (by far one of the best plays I have EVER SEEN.  We loved it. So. So. Much.

Can you see her two precious little teeth?

And Bean Boozled?  It was one of those games you won't ever forget...for good or for bad.

[For those of you who don't know how to play: Spin the spinner and take the color of bean you landed on.  Each color has two flavors.  One good, one terrible.  Objective: Disguise your facial expressions so you can fool everyone.]

Mom with Juicy Pear [not booger]

Dad with Coconut [not baby wipes]

Patrick with Peach [not throw-up {I won't use the term on the box}]

And then me...with Skunk Spray [not black licorice]

I was quite prepared to disguise my expression, but there was just absolutely no way I could disguise skunk spray.  It was utterly awful and I had to spit it out immediately.

Later I got canned dog food (which wasn't too bad, but don't trust me since I used to eat dry dog food...).  Baby wipes tasted like baby powder and caramel popcorn was a welcome relief considering moldy cheese was the other alternative.

As for Tate, every single bean he picked was the gross flavor---rotten egg, toothpaste, centipede, pencil shavings...And the irony?  He said he liked every single one of them.  He even told Easton that skunk spray was his favorite.

We still have 2 boxes.  Anyone up for a round of Bean Boozled?? :)