Picture Perfect

Hard to believe it, but Caleb and Matthew are 3 months old now...so, it was time for a "photo shoot" with our friend, Carissa. She came to our house last Saturday morning and we had a great time. She is a new "mommy" herself, she and Scott adopted a little bundle of joy just 2 weeks ago! Her little Evelyn is so tiny and precious...I keep telling Carissa that surely her daughter can find a suitable husband among my 4 boys!

She was able to capture each of the boys unique personalities in spite of the madness of trying to photograph 4 boys who are all under the age of 5. We started by taking pics of the little guys first, and it was a challenge. Matthew, who is normally a smiley little guy, was very somber and would hardly crack a smile. Caleb smiled a little bit, but not enough to catch his little dimple. They are just precious!

Sam was a little jealous and feeling the need to be in the spotlight for a bit - so, she took a few shots of him. He is growing up so fast...both physically and emotionally. He is a very tall 4 year old and people often think he is older than he actually is. He wears a size 1 shoe - the same size as his cousin Zack who is in 1st grade. My Sammy Boy is becoming such a little gentleman and so incredibly handsome.

Luke was totally uninterested in participating in the picture taking. He really preferred to watch "Larry Boy" cartoons and relax in the living room. We finally coaxed him into his bedroom to play - and Carissa was able to get some terrific shots of him. Luke has the sweetest cheeks and these amazing long eyelashes. What a cutie pie!

Wow - these pictures are such treasures. I am so thankful to have this time in our lives documented in a permanent way - so beautifully. These are sweet days. The sounds of barefooted little boys chasing one another through the house while giggling uncontrollably, little babies cooing and sometimes crying, and sweet mealtime prayers being shared around our table. It's absolute madness, also. Lots of little boys needing a lot of help with a lot of things! Being "momma" to Sam, Luke, Caleb and Matthew is a demanding job - but, one that I am so blessed to have. :) God has been so good to me.

The Great Outdoors

Living with these little boys of mine is an adventure to say the least. Watching them play outside is one of my greatest joys - they enjoy it to the fullest! Last weekend, my parents came to visit us. This is always a thrill for the boys. Sam and Luke watch for hours out the window in anticipation of their arrival...and Caleb and Matthew are grateful for some extra arms to hold them. My mom is the queen of gift giving. She always brings the boys something, usually something small like a favorite snack, candy, or a fun little trinket of some kind. This time, however, was different. Pa and Gran brought a "sand and water table" for the big boys. We got it assembled quickly and poured in 50 lbs. of sand - and the fun began! They played for hours that day and didn't want the fun to end when it was time for dinner and bedtime routine to begin. So, I am looking forward to bikes racing down our driveway, picking up worms after the rain, playing in the sand, swimming in our little pool...it is going to be a great summer.

Twin Shock

Three months after delivering twins, I still find it hard to believe that I actually had two babies at the same time. That sounds so silly, but it's true. Clearly, I know that there are two infants in our house - afterall, I change the diapers around here! Most of the time, I am just going about my daily "mom" business and don't give the "twinnyness" of Caleb and Matthew much thought. However, from time to time...I am overwhelmed by God's goodness to our family and His amazing sense of humor! :)

I am in awe of the way God gives just what we need - even when we don't know it! Had you asked me a year ago if I would like to have twins, I would have never answered "yes." Yet, here I am loving these toothless, grinning, chubby little boys who keep us up all night! I wouldn't go back now if I were able to. Adding Caleb and Matthew to our family has been so good for all of us...Brad has mastered multi-tasking, Sam has discovered the joy of making them smile and he loves it, Luke likes to touch their little toes and smile, and I am remembering to ask for God's help with my mothering and am amazed at all that I am capable of because of His faithfulness. God is good.

Freedom

I finally did it...I left the house with all four of my children by myself. Well, sort of. :) Sam attends preschool on Wednesday mornings at a church near our home. I dropped him off at 9:00 am and got some much needed "alone" time during the 12 minute drive home...I even splurged for a fountain diet coke for the ride. I arrived at home and Brad left for his office. So, this meant for the first time I was to pick Sam up with the 3 little ones in tow. I was only a little anxious - you just never know what might happen around here. To add to the drama, Luke isn't feeling so well. He has got it all: runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, not sleeping well, and miserable. I got everyone loaded up and arrived at the church a few minutes early. YAHOO! Sam's classroom is on the second floor of the building and there is no elevator. It's simply impossible for me to tote the twins in car carriers and Luke upstairs to get Sam. Thankfully, his teacher was willing to bring him down to the van for me. What a blessing! It was really exciting to think that I could actually do this - I am no longer a prisoner in my own home! Before I claim total victory maybe I should remember that it was a 12 minute drive and I didn't have to actually go into a store or accomplish anything - simply to bring everyone home again. :)

Heavenly Lunch Conversation

You can never be sure what lunch time will bring around the Johnson house - you can usually count on some food, a mess/spill, and some entertaining conversation. Today, our chat began with Sam asking me about career choices.

S: Mom, can I be a pirate when I grow up?

M: You can be a pirate if that is what God wants you to be.
He turned to his yummy pizza and yogurt for a few bites.

S: Are there waiters in Heaven?
I quickly scanned my memory for some scripture reference dealing with waiters and service in Heaven - came up blank. :)

M: I am not sure...what do you think?

S: I hope so...(long pause) I don't want to go to Heaven.

M: Why not?

S: I am afraid of heights.

I chuckled out loud...and then went on to explain that Heaven isn't a scary place at all - and we have no reason to be afraid because God loves us and will take care of us. Man, this kid keeps me on my toes. In case you're wondering what Luke was doing during this conversation, he was shoving cottage cheese in his mouth by the handful. :) Life is good.

Pretty Incredible

At 4 years old, Sam is at the height of imaginative play. He loves to pretend all of the time - playing with his action figures, his "little people" barn, with his stuffed animals, and he also loves to pretend he is a superhero. A good friend often shares the clothes that her sons have outgrown with us for Sam. In the last "batch" of clothes, Sam found these "Incredibles" pajamas. For the longest time, he simply slept in them. Now, they have become an obsession! He wears them at least 2 or 3 days a week, taking them off only to be washed sometimes. His "costume" also has accesories - gloves & boots (aka socks) and a "mask" (brad's freaky looking fishing glasses with the lenses out). Recently, I was standing at the sink washing dishes when he asked, "Mom, have you seen any crimes? I am a crimefighter and I need to find a crime." :) You can imagine the joy when I found some pj's in Luke's size! Sam nearly had a - and instantly began to plan a way for our entire family to have some. He was sure to include that i needed to have another baby so there could be a girl to be the "sister." I chuckled and suggested we'd have to remain an all boy crime fighting team - with a mom. You never know what the day will bring...these boys of mine are pretty incredible.

Calm?

In the past week or two, several people have commented on how "calm" I seem. One friend was even genuinely surprised that our home didn't feel stressful or chaotic. These sorts of reactions make me laugh. I guess because this is my daily life, my reality...it just seems normal - it's all that I know. I had never considered what other people must think when they learn about the number of young boys we have in our family. When you add Brad's teaching position at the seminary and his PhD work into the equation...it really makes people's heads spin! But, this is our life. Somehow, God continues to bless us with just enough energy (thank God for coffee) to keep up with the pace of our daily lives - and the return on our investment is so great. A "big hug" from Luke, the sound of Sam's giggles, a snuggle from Caleb, or the first grins from Matthew...it makes it all worth it! Now, don't get me wrong - it's nutty at times and I find myself desperately wanting even 5 minutes of silence! But, all in all, it's not as bad as folks might think. If fact, we LOVE this life we've been given! :)