Merry Christmas.

Dear Family and Friends,

As we reflect on this past year we can’t help but feel blessed! We are grateful for our loving Heavenly Father, His plan for us—his children, and we are deeply grateful for His Son, Jesus Christ. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the loving support we have received this year.

Matt graduated from UCLA School of Dentistry in June. He graduated with numerous awards recognizing his hard work and dedication over the past years, including the Dean’s Award. These awards also served as validation to me that all of those long hours and time away from home were worth it. After graduation we moved home to Orange County, where it all began., so Matt could start his own dental practice in Monarch Beach. We love living in San Juan Capistrano and are ecstatic to be living closer to family. We do miss our friends in Los Angeles a ton (more than they will ever know), though we are happy to not have to endure the traffic, tiny apartment, and harshness of the big city.

Bentley is now almost 5 years old. He loves going to preschool and always has a slew of girls following him around. He enjoys all sports, playing at the playground, drawing, riding his razor scooter, and is obsessed with Star Wars Legos on the Wii. He and Gaige play together for hours on end, without beating each other up, quite an accomplishment. He is a great helper around the house just like his daddy. He carries the laundry basket down, vacuums, cleans the windows and helps wash the car. His favorite places are the beach and the pool. He loves primary and has already memorized the first four Articles of Faith. He finally weighs more and is taller than Gaige!

Gaige is almost 4 years old. He is a homebody, probably because he knows his blanket and monkey are nearby. He loves to play with his super heroes, trains and animals. Once in awhile he sneaks away up to his room to take a snooze. He tells us that we are the best mommy and daddy ever and is great at saying ‘thank you.” Gaige loves to help cook and bake, and helps me put laundry away. He is gentle and kind, most of the time. He is always singing his own songs and has a happy go lucky attitude.

Over the past few months the boys have started getting more independent which has been great timing since we are expecting our first girl in April. The boys are excited to have their own baby, but are a little disappointed it isn’t a boy. Bentley even tried to get me to change her name to one of his girlfriends’ names! My pregnancy hasn’t been too bad, though I was actually sick at the beginning this time. I thought I was tired just having two boys, but now I’m even more tired! I’ve still managed to be a room mom, sew aprons and baby stuff to sell, teach my CTR 6 primary class, and keep the boys entertained!

We think of you often and hope that your holiday season is filled with love and joy!

With Love,

Matt, Jaime, Bentley, and Gaige Johnson

words of boys.

Gaige -
"You are the best mommy" (he says this to me at least once a day)
"You are the best daddy"
Finally stopped peeing in his pants!
Has a big boy (twin bed now).
Has suddenly decided he doesn't want to go to school and cries when I leave (what the?).
Sings to the baby and gives my belly kisses.
Whenever we get a big box the boys turn it into a sled to slide down on the stairs...hours of entertainment.
Gaige drew a picture of a hot pool today, full of red lava. He also drew a tornado....all scribbling. At least he sticks with what he's good at!
Loves to share his stuffed animals with his brother.
Wants to play Hungry Hungry Hippos all of the time.




Bentley -
"Am I smart now?"
"Why is there only one girl smurf and lots of boy smurfs?"
"Why are smurfs blue?"
"You are the best daddy." Matt: "Why?" B: "You make dinner." Matt: "Mommy made dinner." B: "You do the dishes." - I agree Bentley, he is the BEST daddy.

He gives me about 50 kisses a day (on the lips). I think he's trying to manipulate me into letting him play Star Wars Legos.
Loves listening to Christmas music in the car...a nightmare for me since I am not a fan.
Drew a picture today of our family. I had huge feet, a huge body and no arms. Matt had no body, just long legs coming out of his head! Though the pictures weren't flattering, he did a great job.
Is obsessed with stuffed animals and Spiderman.
Has memorized and passed off Articles of Faith 1, 2, and 3 in the past couple of weeks. Working on number 4.

P.S. Bentley actually weighs more than Gaige now - a first since he was 1 1/2. He is also an inch taller...37.5 lbs and 41 inches tall.

for real.

I went to the doctor today. Our insurance has been a mess so I have been to 2 PCPs and 2 OBs with this pregnancy. I went to my official OB today. I won't lie, since I went to find out the gender of this baby 5 weeks ago I have been a little bit skeptical, like I always am when things seem too good to be true (happens a lot in my life, super blessed). So when the doctor said it was a girl again I guess I can finally believe it. He also gave me some more great news: He will induce me at least a week before the due date because my boys both came super quick (I had to wait for my mom and my doctor to get there with Gaige). This is some very exciting news to me as my biggest fear is that I won't make it to the hospital. So we'll have this little lady by at least April 7th! So the update on baby Elle is that she is still hanging out upside down, measuring exactly along with my due date, and she is making super active (go figure, just like her brothers). And if you didn't catch that her name will be Elle Dianne Johnson.

stuff-ing.

The boys do not like any Thanksgiving food! The only thing they willingly ate was rolls with jam. I guess stuffing, sweet potatoes, turkey and green bean casserole are an acquired taste! I cooked my first turkey solo. It turned out amazing...perfectly seasoned (lots of butter), and not dry at all! I also burned two pans of rolls and lit the marshmallows atop the sweet potatoes on fire. Matt said that this something that regularly happens on Thanksgiving in his family so I guess I am just keeping up his family traditions. Note to self: Do not broil the sweet potatoes!

We got to do some pretty fun stuff the past couple of weeks. I got to spend my birthday with my SIL Leslie. She picked me up to go to the holiday boutique we sold our goods at and surprised me with a hot chocolate, money and a big bag of her delicious toffee. After the boutique Matt and I went to dinner and then the Newport Temple. We ate at an Italian restaurant. I've learned that I will never be disappointed if I order the plate that has lobster bisque or lobster ravioli...so I did.

Matt and I took the boys to Toys R Us for about 3 hours the other day. We discovered that Bentley wants everything for Christmas and thinks Santa will bring it all to him, and that Gaige could care less as long as he has something to play with. I asked Gaige what he would like for Christmas. His list included a new couch, a golden crown and batman slippers. Bentley's list is much longer and detailed. The boys had lots of fun playing for hours!

One of my awesome SILs, Carrie, took me to get a pedicure for my birthday. Then she took the boys to ChuckeeCheese for the first time. Needless to say, they loved it. Bentley woke up the day after and asked if we could go again that day.

And now it is almost Christmas! The decorations are up and I even went to my SIL Carrie's house the other night to get crafty. We made lots of cute Christmas stuff we found on pinterest. And I still have a list of things I want to make.

As for my growing belly...it's growing, along with everything else. Marvin took our pictures the other day. They turned out so amazing, but I was not prepared to see myself in pictures! I look a lot chubbier than I do in the mirror. I guess I have one of those awesome "skinny mirrors." Though my enlarging parts are gettin' me down it's pretty exciting to feel this little girl move around. On November 16th I felt her kick from the outside. And Matt even got a little kick from her the other night too. She is awake every night from 9-11 pm. The other night she woke me up in the middle of the night. Thank goodness that was only a two night thing this far. There is so much longer to go! 5 months down, 4 1/2 to go.

So far this is what I know about this little lady. She doesn't like vegetables, is a night owl - like me, and is already making me tired! It's going to be a long 4 1/2 months waiting to meet her.