Trick or Treat!!! Our newest family photos!!!

We had an amazing Halloween Weekend!
Here are some family photos that we took. See if you notice any big changes...

Brighton was a caveman.
Cole was Peter Pan.
Savvy was a witch.

YES!!!! WE HAVE A SAVANNAH!!! We have a baby girl!!!
On Wednesday we got a phone call from LDSFS telling us we were being considered for a baby that was born Tuesday at 5:40pm. She is totally healthy!!! 8 pounds 5 ounces. 20 inches long.

On Thursday, Oct. 29 we went and met with the birth mom, Octavia. She was ADORABLE! She was very cute and giggly and quiet. She is a beautiful girl. We had a really great visit with her. We did not get to see the baby, and it was so hard to leave the hospital without being able to at least kiss her and hold her for a minute.

On Friday morning, October 30, our LDSFS case worker, Christine, called and told us we would get to go pick up OUR BABY GIRL that evening from the hospital!!! We called Auntie Carrie Collins to see if she could come with us to the hospital because we needed someone to sit in the Lobby with Brighton and Cole while we went in and got the baby. Carrie was darling and said "Yes, of course!"

At the hospital we went and signed all of the papers for about 15 minutes and then she was legally our responsibility! We still have to wait 6 months before we can go to court... but those papers give us full rights as her parents until we go to court. The crazy thing is, we still had not ever even seen her! Not that we cared... we were just so excited to get her!

After signing the papers we went into the NICU, not that she was sick, but just that this hospital was so tiny that the NICU is the only nursery they have. Savannah was the only baby there the entire time she was there. She is darling and perfect! Totally healthy... It is crazy! Within a few hours we went from a family of 4 to a family of 5!!
We were done at the hospital at about 5:00pm. We stopped for dinner at Olive Garden and then walked around a little bit at the mall looking for an outfit that did not have footballs, trucks or construction workers on it. AAACKKKK!!! I have a darling little girl!! We got a few big bows... because the bigger the better!














And an adorable Halloween costume....



It was my very best Halloween EVER!!!!

This is Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween!!!
The moon is out, Ghouls and Goblins too,
We're throwing a party, and inviting you!

Wear your favorite costume, It will be quite a sight.
When we go trick or treating on Halloween night.

It might be scary, It will be fun,
Can we count on you, will you come?

Dinner starts at 5:30. But come and go when you can,
And of course Trick or Treating is a part of the plan.

Bring a favorite dish, something to share.
I'll make Taco Soup and Cornbread, try it if you dare!

Who: All of our cute fun friends, everyone is invited. If there is anyone else you'd like to invite, the more the merrier. We wouldn't want anyone to feel left out!
What: HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT DINNER PARTY!
When: Halloween Night! Friday, Oct. 31 5:30pm. Open house, come and go as you please.
Why: Fun, Fun, Fun!! Trick or treating is so much better with friends!!

See you for a Happy Halloween!
Charise, Bill, Brighton and Cole Johnson


We had such a fun party last night for Halloween! We started with dinner set up out in the front of our house. Taco Soup, Cornbread and Homemade Honey Butter, Salad, Pumpkin Sandwiches, Spiced Apple Cider, Old Man's Toes


Witch's Fingers

and Pumpkin Cake.

Everything was yummy delicious. Thanks friends for making yummy foods and playing with me! We have Kate Ingram's family, Lanay Swanson's family and Shaylyn Johnson's family with us. It was great.

Every year since we have been married, Bill sets up a full graveyard in the front yard with spooky special effects. He loves doing it! We always have an awesome Halloween Yard. (Well, almost every year. The year that Cole was in the hospital for the entire month of October, nothing got done. But that year doesn't really count since we can't remember much of anything other than living in a hospital!)


Bill had a full party dance atmosphere set up with strobe lights, smoke, bubbles, party lights, and Halloween music... LOUD Halloween Music. I kept expecting someone to call the cops on him because it was LOUD! But everyone seemed to love it.


We went trick or treating and had a great time. Bill always stays at home to pass out the candy. Well, actually the play dough. Yes, we pass out play dough. I don't need any more candy and junk and empty calories around the house. At weight watchers they always taught us to buy candy that we hate to use for Halloween, so that we were not tempted to eat it. But Bill and I love the opposite candy, so either way, one of us will eat it! So I have done play dough the past few years. It makes me very happy! And so far, no one has egged our house, as Bill was worried they might do.

I love the fun of this season!

My Mighty Knight Brighton.


Mickey Mouse Cole.


Seriously??? This is his smile! Cheese!!

Brick or Treat!

Legoland has a really fun "Brick or Treat" Party.
Everyone is dressed in costumes, and the kids get tons of free stuff. It was funny though, very little candy. They got little trinkets and toys, and apples and raisins, and a few candies. It was very "politically correct".

Mommy and both boys were pirates. Daddy was a cowboy.

We love Legoland because it is so clean and family friendly. Brighton is the perfect age for it this year! We got him an annual pass for $30 on Ebay. Daddy is a huge Ebay surfer. Then we have gotten lots of free passes for the adults through other sources. Since we had Wild Rivers season passes this year, each time we went we were able to pick up 3 Legoland tickets... good for children and adults. We ended up with 24 of those. We invited the Dittbrenners to come and go with us a few weeks ago and it was great, great fun! See next week's post! So we were able to go to Legoland six times this past year, and feel so blessed to have had that opportunity! It was Awesome!!

Picking Pumpkins!

Oak Glen is a favorite annual tradition in our family.
We go pick apples and pumpkins, and it feels like fall is finally here!
This year we invited Grammy and Papa to go with us, and they were a wonderful addition to our day. Grammy told stories all the way there on the drive. It takes about 75 minutes to get there from our house. Grammy had everyone act out the parts to our favorite fairy tales. We did Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Three Little Pigs. You would not believe the darling voices Papa did for his characters! So much fun.

The first thing we did was hunt for our pumpkins. They had a great selection. It is so fun because you actually have to cut it off the vine! Our rule is, you can choose any pumpkin you want, but you have to carry it yourself. The boys had an awesome time, and papa made it so much more fun! He taught them all about how to find the best pumpkins!

These pictures are from Saturday, September 27, 2008. I am a little late in my journaling, but better late than never!