Here are some updates!
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Audrey:
What can I say about my little princess? She was a cow for her first Halloween - the most beautiful cow in the world. We took her in for her 4 month check up a little while ago; she's in the 97% for head circumference, 97% for height and 97%+ for weight. Our little chunky-monkey is a silly girl. She laughs hard, but wants to make you work for it. She cuddles lots, enjoys long showers with daddy, and screeches at the top of her lungs - in a very cute and not demanding, just talkative way. The only time that she really gets upset is if we eat in front of her, or when she finishes drinking a bottle, before she thinks she's done...which is almost every time she eats - it's pretty funny really; and accounts for the height, weight and head circumference! She's not proportionately fat or anything like that. She just looks more like a 7 or 8 month old, instead of a 4 month old. Audrey has been sleeping through the night since she was 3 weeks old, so we've lucked out twice, because Boden was the same way. Here's the secret - let them cry; it's good for lung development, and essential in the latter years when you've learned to tune them out! J/K.
Audrey has her parents heart strings in her hand and knows how to pull them! _______________________________________________
Boden:
Our first little man, and #1 redhead: Boden is a good boy. He likes to learn and play (mostly with cars). One of his favorite movies is Speed Racer.
As you can tell from his picture, he's also into swimming lately. We're really proud of him for loving to swim. 2 months ago we started him in his first swim lessons and he had a really hard time the first couple of times. For the past few years, he's been one of those kinds of kids that has never liked getting his face wet. Well once he got his magic goggles, that all changed. It's all his instructor can do anymore, just to keep him above the water so that she can instruct. He loves holding his breath and seeing how far he can go without coming up. He's great at "Big Arms" (or the front crawl stroke), but still has a hard time, due to anxiety, flipping over to his back and doing "Monkey-Airplane-Soldier" (otherwise known as the back-float).
We've told our boys that they can only do one activity at a time, Boden keeps choosing to swim, and we're proud of him for doing things that he's scared to do - he loves it (the scones and chocolate shakes on the ride home with daddy might have something to do with this though...).
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Damien:
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Big "D". Yes this nick-name was sort of stolen from Harry Potter, but it works, and he likes it. Damien, our newest addition, has found his place in our family. He's the oldest now, and has taken on the roll of being a big help to mom, being silly with Boden and sweet to Audrey. Damien has a hard time being serious because he just likes being silly, but he's a VERY good boy, and we love him. He likes playing sports, math, science, chocolate and most of all, Boden. He and Boden are the best friends, and compadres in crime.
'Big D' just finished with his fall soccer games and is now signed up to start playing JR. Jazz basketball - he's WAY excited. Something that everyone that knows Damien will know about him is that he's a very kind and genuinely friendly kid. When we pick him up from school, he's sticking his head out of the window saying goodbye to all the kids, by name. Damien has a genuine love for people, what a blessing he is to our lives.
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Brandy:
Brandy - the love of my life and yours (you know it's true), is doing well. She struggles with us kids some times, but it's only when I'm not doing my part. She's such a good example for me in so many ways.
Brandy and I got to do some traveling before Boden was born - Bahamas', Mexico, Hawaii, but really haven't been anywhere exciting for several years. I was finally able to talk her into getting her passport though, and we're going to put it to use this Jan. when we take our first cruise.
She has been busy with her primary presidency calling. She's the 2nd councilor in the primary presidency and she really enjoys it. She loves the baptisms and the opportunities to spend time with all the kids in our ward. She even enjoys getting away from the house for a meeting or two (I can't understand why she'd like getting away though...).
Brandy makes our home a wonderful place to be, and I am so grateful that she's decided to keep me around this long.
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Me:
Well, I know what other people say about me, but I'm not sure I should repeat that here (family site and all). I can tell you that I have been enjoying my calling as a gospel doctrine teacher. It's been a blessing to be able to rely on the spirit and connect with others in the ward in such a wonderful role. I have really enjoyed being able to take Boden to most of his swim lessons lately , and look forward to being able to take him to a few more, from time-to-time; but the next few weeks are going to be a bit hectic for me. I am starting to branch out a bit more with other work opportunities, but I don't want to say too much until I know for sure how things are going to turn out. Other then that, and loving the snow that is on the ground today - I am doing awesome. Brandy and I are excited that our family has grown from 1 to 3 in such a short amount of time. We've truly been blessed.
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I hope that you will all feel appeased with these postings and accept my humble apologies.
Love from the Johnson Family~
