GO COLTS!!!

Zayda thought it was really neat that she tackled her grandpa in the end zone. Okay so she doesn't really know what the end zone is but she really did think it was neat to tackle her grandpa.

Did Somebody say TOUCHDOWN?!!!!

My dad is a customer of M&I Bank and since they are a sponsor of the Indianapolis Colts, they had a customer appreciation day at Lucas Oil Stadium. My dad took Zayda and I and we could not be anymore excited. We had soooo much fun!!! The stadium was amazing!!! They had all kinds of games and prizes for the kids and adults. There was plenty of free food. And there were big screen TVs set up that displayed the Colts game. Zayda loved the field and kept making piles with the rubber pellets on the turf. The entire evening was GREAT!!! Thanks DAD!!!!!

Children's Museum

Zayda and Hunter together on the train.

Zayda in the yellow submarine. She was very surprised at small the inside of this submarine was.

Watch out for those Dinosaur eggs!!!!!!!

After a very restful night, we all headed to the Children's Museum. Parking was the biggest issue of the day but once we each found a parking spot, the day was flawless. We had so much fun watching the kids play together and hopefully begin developing lifelong friendships. Who knows what the future may hold but Zayda and Hunter are definitely off to a good start of being good friends. I know I truly treasure my friendship with Sara and her family and I can't thank her enough for being such a great friend. I love you guys!!

Lunch time - Re-energize time.

Garrett could have played here all day. This was a display that looked like all mulch but it was the rubber mulch. Garrett shoveled and shoveled.

Zayda was very proud of herself for building this boat. She even got to try it out and float it down the "river" that was there.



We ended the day with a ride on the carousel. Everyone really seemed to have a great day.

The goodbye hugs at the end are always the hardest. I hate saying goodbye to such good friends. Especially when it seems like it is so long before we get to see each other again. But, until next time, thank you for sharing such a wonderful weekend with us.

A visit with the Evansville Gang

My friends from Evansville came to visit for the weekend and after much convincing, I talked Sara and Dan into bringing the family to stay at our house. I sure am glad that they stayed with us. The kids had a ball and we were able to spend so much more time together visiting. We had dinner for them on Friday night and they were all so good and fun to watch together.
The whole group from left to right: Garrett, Zayda, Hunter, Sawyer and Cole. What a good looking group if I do say so myself.


After dinner, the kids played and played and played. Did I say played quietly?! I didn't think so. This is Sawyer and Garrett playing quietly together!!!! Sara and I enjoyed a loud conversation over the noise but enjoyable non the less.


Sara reading to Zayda and Hunter.

Zayda trying out the twins bed for the evening. It looks like they are all really tired!!!

Zayda and Hunter having some snuggle time with Dan before hitting the hay. Tomorrow we head to the Children's Museum for lots of more fun and excitement.

Trick or Treat

Zayda was so excited for Halloween this year. First, she loved her costume and the more she got to wear it, the better. Second, she really understood Halloween this year and was really excited to go Trick or Treating. She was even more excited when our next door neighbors (Zayda calls them her back door friends) asked us to go trick or treating with them. There were about 10 kids altogether that went in a group with their parents. Our neighborhood is crazy with kids on Halloween and even more fun is that most of the adults that are trick or treating with the kids dress up too. Our other next door neighbor had the haunted house on Pennswood and he had quite the costume for Halloween. (I took pictures of him but it was too dark and none of them turned out.) We are looking forward to many fun years of trick or treating with our neighbors.

Melanie our next door neighbor and the "back door friends mom" dressed up as a witch.

Zayda with Sophie (pink) and Abbey (far right) her back door friends.

The whole gang.

Halloween with Grandma and Grandpa

Follow the yellow brick road, Follow the yellow brick road, Follow, Follow, Follow, Follow the yellow brick road..........Or at least follow the path that leads to Grandma and Grandpa's House. This house is full of many treats - lots of hugs and kisses (chocolate kisses included) which seem to be Zayda's favorite by far.

My mom (Grandma Gandolf) made Zayda's costume. Zayda was very proud of her costume and I think she told everyone she saw for the whole month of October that she was going to be Dorothy from the Wizard of "Boz" for Halloween. I know I am a little bit biased but I think she was the cutest Dorothy ever!!!!!!! Special thanks to Grandma for making such an amazing costume and making Halloween so special for her this year!!!!!!!!!
Dorothy complete with Toto too.

Dorothy must have her ruby slippers!!

Cousin Andra the "clown" was also over for the fun. This is a costume made by my mom as well. I remember growing up that my mom made most of our Halloween costumes. I think that is part of what made Halloween so much fun. I especially remember an E.T. costume that she made for me when I was a kid. We can't thank you enough for all of the hard work you have put into making this holiday so special.


This was the best picture we were able to get with two one year olds. Bribe them with toys and tell Zayda to just keep smiling while the adults all make funny faces, noises and gurgles trying to get smiles from the little ones. Well, worn out adults and one smiling 4 year old later, this is the memorable picture that we captured. Not too bad huh?!

Halloween at Nana's

For the last couple of years, we have gotten all of the cousins together on an evening before Halloween and spent the evening traveling around to all of the Johnson Family homes. After exhausting evenings of strapping kids in and out of carseats and covering many miles, Nana decided to have a Halloween Party at her house with all of the Johnsons. It was complete with pumpkin carving (thanks to Daddy and Uncle Nick) and a costume parade. Kaden really enjoyed cleaning out the pumpkins - until he decided he wanted to eat the pumpkin insides. YUCK!!!!!!!!!! Zayda as "Dorothy"

Cowboy Brady

Kaden the Skunk and Garrett the Cowardly Lion

Kiersten (making her Halloween debut) the Flower

Aunt Erin getting some quality snuggle time with Kiersten.

A Tooth Brushing Obsession

Ever since Garrett has had enough teeth to brush, we have been brushing them. Lately, it seems that all Garrett wants to do is brush his teeth. Zayda says he is "assessed" with brushing his teeth. He is also a cleaning fanatic so I guess it just goes along with the cleaning obsession. I can't wait until he is old enough to clean the house!

It's a G thing.

Every other week, Zayda has show and share (old time show and tell) in her class. They do show and share along with learning letters of the alphabet. She recently had the letter G so there's nothing better than being able to share her grandparents for show and share. Especially when their last name starts with the letter G. We also decided that since her brother wanted to get in on the action too, that she should receive a little extra credit. So, here is...........

Zayda with her Grandma and Grandpa Gandolf and her little brother Garrett. It turned out to be such an incredible picture of the 4 of them.

Waterman's Field Trip

Zayda's class for school took a field trip to Waterman's and they had to be accompanied by a parent. I was off but Keith was also able to take the day off so we just made it a full family affair. Zayda had a great time playing with all of her friends. They both enjoyed picking pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.

This is a picture of her class: Frogs.