Fall Festivals 2012

Per tradition we headed up to Emma Krumbee's Scarecrow Festival on Saturday. And since it doesn't really take that long to walk through, we kept north and also went to Sever's Corn Maze. It sure was a hot day for the end of September, but the kids had fun with all the different activities, and as soon as the sun started setting, it was perfect.

Sheri bought Hudson this pumpkin and he was slightly obsessed with it. He had to hold it in the stroller, hold it in his carseat, he was nervous someone would steal it when we left it in the car, and he slept over at Grandma's house and the pumpkin even had to go with!

Our three.

The corn pit was definitely a favorite! Especially for Paxton since it was something he could do.

He might be a future farmer, or he just likes squirting "milk" all over the place!

After the two festivals, our day wasn't over quite yet! Hermann the German was open until 10pm because of the full moon, so Jamie and I took the boys and Carson up to the top.

How can you not love that smile!?!?!

And this pretty little girl found her toes today for the very first time, and she thought they were simply fascinating!

Paxton's Day Out

Paxton had a GREAT first day out of his cast!! Ditty came over with presents and a huge Dora cupcake. Nothing better than licking all that frosting off! After lunch we went on a walk. Packy so badly wanted to go to the park, certain he'd be able to swing...and he DID!!! He also played in the leaves, went down the little slide by himself, and the big slide with mommy. It was a good day.

You can tell by the smile!

He didn't want any leaves on Sister and picked off each and every one. He is a very good brother to her! 

 When he started swinging he said, "This is so cool. Hudson is going to be so happy I don't have hard pants anymore." Such a sweetheart.

 Getting brave enough to sit on his own. And check out Sister's shirt....drool much?!?!

 It must feel so good to separate and move his legs apart! And pick at those toes :) His still keeps his left leg (the broken one) pretty straight and still. Mostly just moves it when he's not paying attention.

And he ALMOST stood up! When he realized what he was doing, he gave us that face, and quickly sat back down. He's getting stronger and braver and I have no doubt he'll improve every day. 

After that fun day and supper at Sheri's, we took the boys swimming. Something the doctor said would be very good for Packy. He was able to move his leg a little more, kick a bit, and even took a couple very slow, very cautious steps! I feel like we're doing the basic milestones again and I'm so proud of each and every one! (P.S. That's a tattoo on Hudsy's tummy, not an open wound like the lifeguard thought. Ha!)

They're off!

Paxton's hard pants are off!! It was a scary process for him, watching the saw come down on his legs, but he was brave and watched the doctor's every move. And mama almost tackled the xray tech who couldn't seem to get a decent picture after trying FOUR times while my baby lay on a hard table, in tears. Seriously. Lifting him off that table, I swear he weighs 20 pounds less! I wish they would've weighed him somehow so we could know how much that darn cast really did weigh! And now, my boy looks the same. He has two beautiful legs, one slightly shorter than the other. You can tell when he lays down flat, his knees don't quite match up and one foot stretches a little farther. A bruise on each hip bone and wrinkly skin. He isn't quite back to normal yet, not standing or walking, and even nervous to sit. Those things will take time, possibly even weeks. And the doctor warned he might limp for months. All that is normal. But the likelihood of his femur breaking again is very low. His bone will overgrow and eventually become the same length as his other leg. And when he's an adult, the broken bone will be completely gone as we grow new bone and the old is absorbed. Something new I learned! For now, we take it easy, we give him lots of attention, we still snuggle, he still sleeps with mommy, he still army crawls, he still potties in a bottle but now wears undies, and he still smiles that amazing smile and says, "I can't walk yet, I still have a broken leg." It will come, and we will wait. And this mama is going to worry, nervous of his every step, run, and gosh forbid jump!

His last ride without the car seat. Most definitely his favorite part about having hard pants!

 The walk/carry into the doctor.

 And finally, his first bath in 4 weeks!!!! A two hour long bath, where he felt comfortable enough to sit and move his leg around just a bit. So proud of his every movement.

 Snuggling in for a book on "his spot" of the couch.

 HIS LEGS!!! Two of them!! Never has he looked so cute in undies!!

Hard Pants OFF!!!

The day has come....tomorrow, September 25th....Packy gets his hard pants OFF! He goes back and forth whether or not he's excited. The strange little man has actually become accustomed to his hard pants and kinda likes them. I am excited, I can't believe its actually tomorrow. 4 weeks ago I thought our lives were over as we knew it, I thought a broken femur was the worst thing that could happen....but Paxton proved me wrong. He was strong, resilient, and the same happy, sweet, polite, and loveable boy he's always been. And although it was exhausting, I'm still going to miss certain things....like sleeping with him every night, eating popcorn for snack in bed, snuggling for movies, seeing his smile when family brought even more presents for him, and watching him play with his baby sister both rolling around on the floor. What I won't miss....holding him over the toilet to poop, running for the "bottle" (urinal) when he has to pee, being crushed by his cast when he rolls over while sleeping, all the snags his cast is making on my sheets, the cast burn I get on my arm from carrying him all day, and that he's had to miss family moments because we weren't able to travel too far.

Good bye Hard Pants! You will not be missed and we hope you never return, in any shape or form, over any broken bone, on any of the Johnson children!

Maddi's BIG weekend

We went up to celebrate Maddi's college graduation, little did we know, or her, that would also be celebrating her engagement!! Harlow certainly didn't know, she was the "damn baby" that Maddi kept holding, preventing Zevlen from popping the big question! Ha, I overheard him say, "I wish someone would get that damn baby away from her!" Needless to say, I took the hint and grabbed my poor, innocent baby immediately....and Maddi was engaged within minutes! Congrats Maddi and Zevie....we love you!

 Tears flowed when Maddi included me as a sister. I couldn't love you girls more!

 Hudson and his favorite person in the whole wide world.

Amy wasn't sure when the last time she held a baby was, and I think Harlow liked her.

 The following day we went to the Mall of America so the kids could ride the rides...ALL DAY LONG!! Our little spoiled Harlow was held a little bit by everyone!

 Who's having more fun?

 Wild Maddi.....

 wiped her out! But of course, only for her usual 20-30 minutes!

 Hudsy and Zev on the swings.

It was a great weekend, but would have been better with Packy. He stayed home with Daddy. They had the first fire of the season and camped in the living room. He said he didn't even miss us!

Pac and the Wizard

Paxton has recently become OBSESSED with the Wizard of Oz!! He loves it! Usually calls it the "thunder movie". If you remember, the wizard makes loud, thunder-like noises and apparently that's what sticks out to him. And since Pac is still mostly immobile, he watches it 2-3 times a day....in its entirety!! And when he's not watching it, he's quoting it. I taped him with my phone, sorry I couldn't figure out how to rotate the video so you'll have to tilt your head.....(and he has a munchie mouth from some peanut butter toast for breakfast)...

Her...

Isn't she the cutest :)

skating again....

This handsome devil went skating again.

 And he keeps improving!

Vikings Sundays

Vikings away games have started, thus the beginning of our football season! We love Sundays during football season. We get together with family, either at our house or at the Ahlness'. Last Sunday we headed to the Ahlness'.

And ALL the girls were there!

 Being goofy with Packy.

 Mama's baby was with too....being a mama's baby.

 But she sure is pretty doing it!

Especially when she's all snuggled up.

Kevie's Wedding 9-15-2012

It was our nephew Kevin's wedding last weekend. We went as a family missing one. Packy stayed home with Grandma and we missed him.

Declyn and Hudsy. They were buddies and hung out all night.

 The nice picture of Daddy and Hudsy....

 But of course they had to do a goofy one too!

 This pretty girl came with us too....

 And she was a BIG mama's baby! She wanted no one else....

 Not even Daddy and brother!!

 She just held on to Mommy for dear life.

Congratulations Kevie and Liz!