Monday, March 28, 2011

Ollie's 4th birthday party

Check it...can you taste the excitement!
Ollie got a view of the bouncy house..excitement escalated
Ollie picked out a power ranger house because he said it "was for boys". He's never seen it but why would that matter. It just looks super cool.
Ami and Papa sharing a juice box
The gang of jumpers! Ollie had so many cute friends come to his party and we're so grateful to have so many people to love our little Oliver. And the best part was that a ton of my family flew in for Laura's homecoming for the next day so he got to have lots of cousins there. Parties are the best.

A seriously good idea



I had a grand idea one night to lie our sleeping mats on the stairs to see just how much speed we could get going down the stairs. Well, it did not disappoint:) This reminds me so much of childhood...smile:)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Our baby boy is 4!!!


Happy Birthday to my sweet Ollie boy! You are 4 years old and we can hardly believe it. I can still see your chubby little body with your tan skin and dark hair on the first day you were born. I remember wanting you to stay small so I could soak in every minute of you. Little did I know each stage past that would be just as fun. I love that you're becoming your own little person. You are very compassionate and extremely sensitive to others feelings. You want to be everyone's friend and I have never seen you exclude others from play. Whenever you're watching a show and someone is sad or gets picked on, you literally well up in tears sometimes, it's the cutest thing ever. I love that every morning you ask where Dad is and when I say work, you say "but he wants to be here!"

You love your little sister and try your best to make her laugh when she is crying or pick her up when she is running towards the street. You two are good pals and you do a great job sharing with her even when it's hard having a baby around messing up your stuff. Ami thinks you are the coolest.

I love that when I get you dressed in the morning you ask, "where are we going". You're always up for an adventure and looking forward to the next thing. The world is so ready for you. You are a very good listener. When we walk through a store and you want something but mom says no, you just say ok in a very sad tone but walk away, usually, with no questions asked. You love your friends and regularly include the list of them in your prayers.

I love your little boy body and how it jumps and kicks and karates anything in sight. You are a boy through and through and a bit of a rascal which I love. I always told Dad that I wanted kids a bit rascally so they had some good personality and boy I sure got my wish. I love that you're my little twin in personality and looks. Sometimes I wish that we could have been friends when I was four. I bet we would have really gotten along.

I love that you have a tender spirit and already have reverence for things. Whenever I point out a beautiful sunset or sky to you, you say, "yeah mom, its like Jesus".

I couldn't have imagined a more perfect little guy for our family and I am grateful every day for your loving heart and sweet, round face. I love you.

Here's Dad's birthday note:

Feliz cumpleanos hijo! I truly can’t believe that my little Ollie boy is 4 YEARS OLD! Ollie is pure joy in our family. He is the most enthusiastic and happy of boys. He is always happy to see you and will give you a “King’s Welcome” as Papa calls it when you walk through the door. Ollie has an un-paralleled ability to put a smile on your face. I love that Ollie is already so excited to do whatever is going on; a great quality which will definitely draw people to him.

Ollie is a people lover. He always wants to make friends at the park and wants to include everyone. I love how compassionate and sensitive Ollie is (a trait destined to be in-grained into every part of his being as the offspring of Becky Kelley and Ryan Facer). This gift will be one of the greatest blessings of his life as it will allow him to be perceptive and receptive to the spirit.

I love that Ollie is a peace-maker. Even at 4 years old and as active as he can be, Ollie has a way to bring peace back. Sometimes when I’m getting frustrated Ollie will look at me and say, “Dadda, dont be mad. Let’s snuggle”. And without fail it calms me down and brings peace back to the room. Seriously, what maturity for a 4 year old to be able to help his Dadda regain his composure.

Oliver is sooo talented. First and fore-most his artistic talent already exceeds my own; literally. He can ride his bike, skateboard, swim, surf behind the boat and in the ocean with me, play baseball, soccer, and so much more.

I could go on and on about Ollie. I love him so much. I’m glad he was born 4 years ago and that he is sealed to our family for time and eternity. I don’t know what I would do without him. Te quiero mucho mi hijo!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Destro Cat


Ok so I've seriously dropped the ball on blogging, I admit it. Just no motivation folks, sorry. But my dad did send me this pic from our trip to see Leah for Luke's blessing (pics to come). When I saw this cat I literally gasped. I mean I couldn't even believe my eyes. The picture does not do it justice but this was the most enormous cat I had ever seen. This is what happens when a dog and cat mate, or a cat lives by a nuclear power plant and morphs into something crazy. The best part was, it totally acted like a dog. It was not snotty or rude like cats usually are. It would have climbed in your lap or even sat in one of those lame dog purses people carry around. Secretely (or not so much) I hate cats but I would have taken this cat home. Awesome, just plain and simple.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy V Day

These are my valentines and I love them. You are all my valentines and I love you too. I'm so grateful I have so many people to love in my life and in return I am so loved.
Happy Valentine's Day

Friday, February 11, 2011

In LoVE wiTh jOySChoOl





Let me just say that there is a lot of LOVE at joyschool. Here are some funny pics of Ollie and his friends this past week as we talked about Valentine's Day. I just LOVE explaining LOVE to a bunch of two and three year olds. We had a lot of "oohhhh's" and "cute"(by ollie mostly) as I read stories about love. I am so grateful to know that these kids are truly LOVED, as ALL kids should be.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Skills

This my friend's is a pic taken by my amazingly talented cousin Andrea. Seriously, I love her and I love how she see's the world. And I love that this day I was totally at a birth and Ryan dropped the kids off and she watched them the entire day and totally dressed Ami up in some of Cam's old clothes and then found the time to snap a few unbelievable photos. I am seriously lucky that they decided to move so close. My built in sister/best friend:) You're the best, love you...

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Johnson time- Balboa style







Then we decided a trip to the original Ruby's for lunch was in order. Eating in the sun on the end of a pier with the wind blowing and vast ocean to watch is heavenly. I swear it put me in some kind of trance. The kids watched people fish and they were fascinated.



We rented this little Duffy boat off groupons and it was actually pretty fun. We cruised around coveting other people's yachts and all the vacant houses that no one seemed to occupy.








Ryan and Mary decided to surprise us and come to stay in Dana Point for 10 days, ahhh we love them. So they've been here this past week hanging out and taking in the sights and sounds of sunny California. They are staying in a beach house just about 10 minutes away. I could definietely get used to that. The kids have been having a blast together.

Family pic with the newest addition of Halle. We love the Jonhson's!

Reunion weekend!



Some of my all time favorite people came for a visit this last weekend. I happen to have met the best friends of my life in college and i seriously love these girls and wish that they all lived closer. Brooke came with her pregnant belly (baby girl Penelope) and Kristen came with her doubely pregnant belly (twins!!!) and Mary came to introduce us all to the newest addition to her family, 10 week old Halle. Actually all of Mary's family came down too but that's for the next post:) We were missing some of the allstars on this trip and they were indeed missed! Next time girls. It just happened that my client due in 3 weeks went into labor as well as my client who was due in 4, on the same night! It was insane and I finally got a real dose of the craziness of being a doula and having your life on call. Everyone was awesome and just had fun together while I was at the hospital. Here are some highlights of the trip...


-scotcharoo eating, of course. breakfast. lunch. dinner


-best of snl watching


-babymama viewing


-kristen laughing:)


-cheesecake eating


-beach going


-commonly used phrase "preggo time", when refering to kristen and brooke collectively


-lots of labor discussing


-"you can get with this or you can get with that" compliments of our sweet ride, the soul


Girls I love you! Thanks so much for coming to visit. I might need a quarterly girls reunion trip. Hmmm, maybe after all these babies are born. Wish I could be there:)

Kidspace with Dad

We went to visit my parents a few weekends ago and spent the day at Kidspace. Ryan had never gone which was so weird to me considering how many times I've been. Such is the life of a Dad:) So he finally got to experience it with the kids and I took a few pictures to remember.