Since we sent out our Christmas cards earlier this week, I realized that it just might be a good idea to actually follow through and write our Christmas letter online as promised. And so, here we go: It's time for a most exciting update on the rapidly growing family of Stephen and Mary Johnson!
First off, we certainly hope you are enjoying this most blessed of seasons. I (Mary) am learning in particular how nice it is to step back from numerous activities, focus on the basics, and actually ENJOY the Christmas season. Enjoying Christmas! Imagine! While I may have stepped down from some music responsibilities at church, I have been completely immersed in a new adventure on the home front: Homeschooling our children!
David, who turned 5 in November, started kindergarten in September, and he is doing very well. He is now reading, writing a bit, and never ceases to amaze us with his ability to sit through a good story and his incredibly active imagination. He loves to create "giants" by drawing on numerous sheets of paper, then taping them together. We go through sketch paper and scotch tape like mad, but it's all for a good cause, right? David's absolute favorite literary figure right now is Paul Bunyan. To say David loves Paul Bunyan is a gross understatement. He regularly requests that we call him Paul Bunyan, and his goal in life is to be a lumberjack. It is not unusual to spot David playing outside, hacking ferociously at the fence with a small plastic bat/golf club, etc. He is constantly making us laugh with the funny things that he says.
Daniel, who turned 3 in August, is immensely enjoying doing preschool work at home. He loves discovering new favorite stories, building with Duplos, helping me in the kitchen, playing with trains, and pretending that our treadmill is a train, and he is the conductor. What else would you use a treadmill for? He also loves having races outside with David.
And then there's Lucas! Lucas, who is just about 18 months old, is walking (finally), trying to run, babbling constantly, and generally being adorable and hilarious. Some current words in his vocabulary: "Mama" "Daddy" "Uh-huh" "Brown Bear" "Nana" "Yummm!" "Daydid (David)" "Day-ull (Daniel)", and my favorite: "Seahorse". Why are kids so funny?
Other highlights: we are highly anticipating the arrival of our BABY GIRL in April! Hurray! Such excitement is among all of us- we can't wait to meet her! I have been incredibly blessed to have had an amazingly easy pregnancy thus far (chiropractors are wonderful people).
Steve is continuing to make us proud at work. He is now a Senior Business Analyst, and recently passed the CMA (Certified Managing Accountant) exam. Go, Steve!! Steve is also kept busy with "Daddy Duties" at home (someone has to wrestle with those boys) and is active at church on the missions board.
That just about wraps up the past year for us. We survived a road trip to Vermont in August, and are looking forward to a few more epic traveling adventures this coming year. We have been truly blessed, and we hope and pray that God may bless and keep you during the Christmas season and in the year to come.
God's Blessings,
Steve, Mary, David, Daniel, Lucas, and Baby Girl Johnson
