Last Post Just Not Good Enough?

Nothing Like It

There is nothing quite like the first fire of the season. Joel went and collected firewood last weekend (thank you Matt, Beth and Jack!) and with all the rain and wind the past few days we decided to warm up the old fashioned way. You know, stand in front of the fire until you can barely stand the heat then run for the couch or chair sit down and feel the heat sink deep down to your bones. Always wondering if this is the time that you've gone too far and actually burned yourself! In my experience I've found that denim (jeans) always hold the most heat and a baggy sweatshirt can be deceptive...the little air pocket between your clothes and your skin fails to alert you to just how hot it is. Come over anytime and we'll put another log on the fire just for you.

Johnson Ink

Noah and Oliver were having a little fun this morning setting up their own business. They are still struggling a bit financially but we have faith in them and their ability to make it work.

At least Noah has learned the value of signing his work. Although, most tattoo recipients may not like that he puts his name in the artwork - we'll have to work on this one.

And now it's Daddys turn to be inked. Noah is teaching little brother the trade...

A Flower

Within 15 minutes of the boys getting out of bed the other morning, cereal on the floor, cat gak surprise and the final straw that broke the camel's back...a full cup of milk spilled in Noah's room. I took a mommy time-out and Noah decided to make me this flower, "because asking you to drive me to the store to buy you one would have just been silly." The boy has a point.

Sorry Baby Binky's Gone Bye-Bye

I don't know if I could count how many times I've said, "Sorry baby, binky's gone bye-bye" in the last three days. Nothing like a little bit of self inflicted torture to finish off your week. Oliver is/was extremely attached to his binkies. He always did like to have something in his mouth so it's no surprise to me that this became a great source of comfort for him. To be honest, I could have let the kid go on with his binky habit but I TRY to parent as a team so we took it away. When he got up on Wednesday he was told that it went bye-bye which was quickly followed by sobs and pleas for said item. The rest of morning was spent in one of three ways, the sobbing cries, him trying to take his anger out on me or destroying/getting into things he shouldn't have been. He went down for his nap with the reminder that he would have to figure out a different way to get himself to sleep followed by almost three hours of crying and what I'd like call toddler cursing. Couldn't figure out what he was saying but he was mad! So no nap that day, cranky kid in the afternoon and bedtime once again sans binky. He, again, cried for some time and I finally went in, picked him up and sat in the rocking chair with him. I sat there crying with him as he kept saying quietly between little sobs, "mama, beebee, pease, mama beebee, pease." Broke my heart but I stood, or sat firm, and rocked him to sleep. Tortuous first day. Yesterday was better, he is still asking for his binky, he only cried for about half an hour before falling asleep for a short nap and after a mild temper tantrum he fell asleep without it, on his own last night. We did have to go in and comfort him around 2am this morning but he went back to sleep until 9am. Thankfully, he went down relatively quickly this afternoon. He still threw a little fit, he threw everything out of his crib but I quickly went in tossed his blankets back into the crib and walked out. He fell asleep shortly after that. So I'm exhausted, my fuse is short and my housework is not getting done but the binky is no more. And you my friends and family got to hear my story because it makes me feel better to talk about fun times in the Johnson household.