Skiing in Idaho

Steve and his kids built this awesome sleigh over the summer and put it on skis. He hooked it up to his Land Cruiser and took the kids for rides behind their house.

 Jonathan said our kids took one ride and sat in the back of the car for the rest of the time.

Colby, Dean, Dawson, Wes

 While the kids were out playing, Jill made us pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and hot chocolate. Delicious!

 That night all the dads took the kids skiing up at Pomerelle.

 Dean had fun at first. This is his second time skiing.

 The fun didn't last very long. After 2 times down the mountain, he started complaining and saying things like "I miss my family," "I'm tired," "I miss Mom and Dawson and Bentley." I suppose skiing can be very tiring for a little 6-year-old's body.

 Jonathan and Steve inside the lodge

 Jeff and Wes

 Andrew, Walker, Dean

Post-Christmas trip to Idaho

The day after Christmas we took a road trip to Twin Falls to see Jonathan's family. This is how we do potty breaks in our family!

As you'll see in these pictures, our children had a blast in Idaho. They kept asking if we could move there. 

Ardith bought all the boys stuffed animals. Dawson got an alligator, Dean got a kangaroo, and Bentley got a giraffe.

The boys follow Grandpa Walker around like little puppies. He was sweet enough to read them a bedtime story.

Twin Falls had tons of snow that the kids played in.

 Jonathan took them for a ride on a sled hooked up to Grandpa's truck, just like Jonathan did when he was little.

 Then Grandpa got out the lawn mower and took them around the yard with it.

 I know it looks like Jonathan is in the sled all by himself, but Dawson is laying down in front enjoying the ride.

 The beautiful view from the Walker's backyard.

 The rest of the Walker clan that lives in Idaho came for a "Christmas" dinner even though it was after Christmas. They were nice enough to wait for us to arrive. This was quite the kid's table.

 Dawson and Dean both gravitated toward their older Walker cousins. I think it's because they have so many cousins in Washington that are their same age or younger. Dawson sat by Whitney, Annie, and Meg.

 Dean sat by Walker, Andrew, and Holly. Dean really looks up to Walker and calls him his best friend.

 As we tried to get the kids rounded up for the Christmas program, a few of the boys sat together and started chanting "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" 

 More joined in...

And it grew and grew until all the kids were sitting together chanting.

After everyone showed off their talents, Whitney put together a glow stick light show. She took all the kids upstairs and taped glow sticks to them. Then they came down and danced to "Gangnam Style."

 Then the cousins exchanged gifts. Andrew got Dawson crayons and a giant coloring book.

 Dean got Walker a watch.

 A.J. got Dean a headlamp and car.

 I gave all the older girls earrings.

After presents Whitney finally got Jonathan to wrestle with her. This has been a tradition as long as these Johnson kids have been alive.

 The next day all the dads took the kids skiing. Saylor and Dawson stayed home with us girls and played together all day.

 The morning after presents Grandpa Walker made everyone his famous huckleberry pancakes.

Christmas Day at Grandpa and Grandma Pettit's

After we opened presents at home, we went over to my parent's house with the Walthers and Perkins to open more presents. Dean brought his Beyblade dome and taught my mom how to play.

 Mom was pretty excited when she beat Dean.

 Santa was smart and brought Dean and Britton matching pajamas.

 Jonathan and I got these adorable monsters from my mom (she made them!) and Dawson. They came with this cute note:

Grandma: "Dawsie, what do you want for Christmas?"

Dawson: "I want a monster for my mommy and daddy."

Grandma: "Why do you want monsters for mommy and daddy?"

Dawson: "Because me and Dean and Bentley have monsters to sleep with and they don't. I want my mommy's to be beautiful and have a flower on her head. And I want daddy's to have a cool guitar on his shirt because my dad wants to be a rock star."

I think my heart melted just a little.

 Sydney bought candy bars for all her cousins and uncles. What a sweetheart. This was Dawson's reaction: "Chocolate!" Who knew all I had to get him for Christmas was chocolate and he'd be that happy?

 Waiting their turn for presents.

 Gary and Ardith sent my parents Christmas lights made from shotgun shells. Jonathan's brother Jared made them. They were a hit!

 Dean had Britton for Christmas and got him a Lego Batman game.

 Star Wars!

 I got Shelby new pajamas and a watch.

 Getting bored of waiting.

 My dad bought Jonathan the biggest watch I've ever seen. Jonathan had found it at a store and pointed it out to me, saying that he really wanted to buy it. I said no way, but then showed it to my dad so he could get it for him. I'm so sneaky.

My mom keeps one present out for each grandchild to open at the same time at the very end of the morning. 

 Dawson got a Batman jail.

 Dean got a remote control Lightning McQueen