Christmas Time!

My kids hate when I make them stand by the Christmas tree for pictures

because it always takes us 20 min. because Davin will not cooperate, this is honestly

the only picture where he even looks decent!

Here we were able to get a normal smile, I guess because it is genuine, he was truly excited about getting his first BB gun!

Skylar got her baby and a new 4 wheeler, we had a hard time keeping up with her before, now that she has her own wheels it is really going to be tough!!!

Rylie is at the age where clothes have replaced toys and after a long talk with Mr. Clause, Mrs. Clause was finally able to convince him that she needed a "for emergencies only" (yea right) cell phone! I was as happy as Rylie was for this gift, I can't tell you how many times I have given her my phone only to realize I really feel naked without it and who is she suppose to call when I don't have a phone for her to reach me! (now you all know my side of the argument)!!!

Ashton got a new bike it was all she really wanted, good thing she is such a good girl!

Party Party Party!!!!!!

Nana & Papa Jacks Christmas party!!!!

All the grand kids sang the Nativity song and opened one of their favorite gifts, the matching Christmas PJ's!

Finally it was time for the long awaited Elf hunt. Where all the kids get their hats on and start looking for clues that have been left by Nana's elf. The hunt takes them all over the house and eventually to the magic spot where the Elf left them each a present! This picture has all of my parents Grandchildren in it except for my brother Aaron and his wife's kids, who live in Iowa. They were busy celebrating not only Christmas, but the birth of their new twin girls (on December 22) making a grand total of 5 under 5 and all girls, yeah we were all wishing them the best of luck!!!!!!

The Johnston Family Party!

It is always the best party ever when you-know-who makes a surprise visit.

The Ekins Family Party!!!!!


This new game was a hit with the kids!!! It started as a HUGE ball of toilet paper and the kids passed it around hoping that as it crossed their lap they would unravel a prize. Everyone came up a winner with tons of candy, prizes, toys and trinkets!



Let's Make A Deal, hosted by Grandpa Ekins is always a family favorite!!!
You just never know what you will end up with. This year Rylie gambled and came home with a purple Easter egg she was hoping was filled with some money and it was a shiney new penny! Oh well ,there is always next year!!!!!

Grandma Toni's Party!!!!

It is always fun to go to Grandmas house because we usually only see this side of the family once a year!!! We always play a giant game of BINGO where there are so many prizes the kids come home with "rustley" sacks full of everything from hotel shampoos to Christmas decorations to candy to card games!!!! Every year Grandma gives all of her 22 Great Grand Children hoodies or sweatshirts which they all love!!!!

Christmas programs!!!

I love all the hustle and bustle the holiday season brings! And getting each kid to their right performances on time with the correct costume, and accessories just makes it all the merrier!

The Willow Elementary Choir performed Christmas Around the World. They practiced before school, so I am really glad Ashton loves to sing because she is not a morning person. I was a little concerned about how this would work out but the days she has chorus are the only days she will get up!!!!

(Here she is with her two cousins Brecken and Tate)

Rylies Christmas piano recital was the first informal piano recital we have ever been to. However, in the Spring they are doing a Carnegie Hall Spring Concert where it will be a black tie event for everyone, even the spectators. So in contrast her teacher had a casual Christmas performance. Rylie is quite the little pianist!

Skylar's dance group had their Christmas program. She was also able to perform around the town for the seniors! I don't know what we are going to do with her, she was my last hope of having a dancer in the family. But she was far more concerend about the little girl next to her not standing on her sticker than she was about doing the moves. And as soon as her program was over she said "Did I do good? Now can I go back to gymnastics?" She said that she doesn't like dance because "All you do is stand still and move one thing at a time!!!" I will get her on the list for gymnastics again I guess!!!!

As you can clearly see from these photos Davin loved going to all the practices, dress rehearsals and performances. I asked him if he wanted to take is coat off and he answered "No, I am going to be the first one out of here!"

TIN IS IN!!!!

At our house anyway!!!! Rylie got braces on December 2, 2009! She was actually excited and had been counting down the days until we could officially call her the
"BLING QUEEN"

She is a patient of Dr. Horsley who I would just like to add is amazing, and his office staff is absolutely wonderful!!! They make having braces so much fun! Rylie also got to pick out a cool

t-shirt the day they put the braces on. It was fun for her to wear it to school the next day and break the ice for her new shinny smile she was sporting!

Do you work on Sundays????

Rylie got a gift certificate to get her nails done for her birthday and Skylar was with us

when she went to redeem the gift! So I thought instead of worrying about Skylar terrorizing

the innocent women at the shop who are there not only to get their pedicures and manicures but also to enjoy a few peaceful moments away from kids. I decided to let her get her nails

done also, just to keep her busy. She is super hyper and never slows down so I really

did not know if this would even work but to my surprise...

she did not move a muscle!

She sat so still I even had to convince her it was OK to turn her head for the picture.

So my only question now is...

Will this lady join me in church next week and work her magic on Skylar during sacrament?????

Surprise!!

Rylie nearly didn't make it through her eleventh birthday, we scared her nearly to death at her surprise birthday party! It was an elaborate scheme which her friends helped out immensely! My sister asked her to "baby-sit" so we could set everything up and get her friends over with out her suspecting anything. As my sister was driving her home she asked to borrow a book that I had conveniently had Rylie put in her bedroom that morning. So, as planned she ran in the house, down the stairs and clicked on the light. That was our cue to scream "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" !!!! It scared her so bad it literally took a few minutes for her to grasp exactly what was going on!The girls played Bunko and some other games, eat pizza, giggled and made it such a fun time for Rylie. I really love her group of friends they are the best girls ever! I had let Rylie plan a "party", even to the extent of buying invitations and letting her fill them out. At school she kept talking to her friends about her "party" and they all played along so well, thanks guys you did great!!! She had always said she wanted a surprise party but I don't think she ever thought it would scare her as much as it did!

It was a "Thriller" of a night!!!

The annual Johnston family Halloween party!!!!This year we went as Michale Jackson through the years. We had a great time finding our costumes, I am pretty sure I hit nearly every DI this side of the Mississippi, but we pulled it off. The kids were so excited to show off some of the sweet moves they learned off of

You Tube.
Skylar loved the Bad song and was disappointed when she had to sing ABC 123 instead of her rendition of Bad. But we brought home the best family costume and Rylie brought home the best child costume, so they were thrilled!!!

Austin and Chelsi were buzzzing and Brody was the cutest little bee ever!

They took home the most creative costume award!

Jackson the gladiator with his lovely lady!!!

Laurie and Jody came as tourists! They won the funniest costume award!

Even Venus and Serena Williams showed up looking for a tennis match!
(Husdon and Jolynn)


These two won the scariest costume award! These costumes look a little familiar....

(Grandma and Grandpa)

Daxton and Kelton were Bumblebee and Optimus Prime!

Dallin and Taylor teamed up to pull off the turkey and hunter costumes!

Kadee, Andrew, Alayna and week old Brigsen saddled up and partied all night!

And a Halloween party just would not be a Halloween party without Peter Pan and Tinkerbell!

Tink won the best adult costume!
(Paul and Deanna)

This wicked old witch kept all the kids in line!
(Jana)


Chad, Kori and baby Ellie came as cattle ranchers herding one cute little cow!

This family from Japan joined us and took home the most authentic award!

(Bub, Paige, Brecken, Tate, Avery)

It was a great year and everyone had a fun time bowling, eating , laughing and visiting. Can't wait until next year!