Welcome to 2014

 Loved ringing in the New Year with some of my favorite people.  There's not a lot of people I feel like I can truly just be me around and these are a few of them.  There were a few more things we did during the Christmas vacation that were very memorable.

One of them was going to the Zac Brown Band concert.  Joe and Lindsay were coming through on their way up to Utah where they are now living so they said they would watch the kids while we went to the concert.  I almost didn't go because I wanted to spend time with them as well, but they insisted!  I was glad we did!  We had pit seats, well we STOOD in the pit but it really wasn't that bad!

 And look how close we were!!  The Zac Brown Band was AMAZING!!  These guys are so incredibly talented and not only did they sing their songs which I love, but they sang a whole variety of songs from every genre!  It was truly entertaining!

 Yes, this is my husband Randy.  I could barely believe it myself!  Randy was invited to go on a pheasant hunt with some vendors and he decided to go!  He was a little hesitant because how cold it was and he had never gone hunting before.  But this was a little different.

 There were different stations that the guys were set up at, and so it was someone else's turn each time that pheasants were released.  I was told he did great, which I'm not surprised at.  Randy is a natural at everything he does.

 He had a lot of fun and came back with pheasants to eat.  They prepared the pheasants there and sent them home in coolers, but I still didn't cook them!  We sent them over to Randy's parents house and they had us over for dinner.  The kids were so excited to eat something their dad had caught!  I just like the pictures!  He's so handsome!! :)

 We also took the kids ice skating during our Christmas break.  This was the first time for a least the younger two girls to go.  I think Austin and Avery have been before with friends but as a family, this was our first trip.

 Thank goodness for these little buckets!  They got Addie off of the wall!

 Austin was pretty brave!  I'm probably holding onto him for balance!

 Ashton felt safest between mom and dad!

 The kids had so much fun!

 Avery brought her friend, Peyton, with her.  They were both naturals.

 I believe Randy was trying to take Austin down and ended up going down as well!  I might have been the only one who didn't fall!

 Right before school was supposed to start back up, we had a huge snow that kept us out a little bit longer.  I believe at one point Austin was helping dad, but it looks like he might have been sitting here a while!  

We had all gone back inside to get warm and after a while we realized that Avery was no where to be found.  When we found her she was out shoveling our neighbors driveway.  We were so proud of her and her example.  So much so that we went and shoveled a few other driveways for some neighbors.  We love you, Avery!! 

Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas everyone!!  I've really started enjoying the traditions we have come up with for our family.  It has made for a fun, well-rounded evening which includes some spiritual moments and some great memories.  Each year we try to remind our kids just how blessed we are and try to do something for someone else to make their Christmas special as well.  This year, we didn't have to look too far to find out what we could do for someone else!

Sara was not supposed to have her girls for Christmas.  But with the help of a "camera", the girls ended up staying with Sara. ;)  Long story, but now she was left with no gifts and no plans for the girls.  My mom had gone to Nashville for Christmas so we took in our little family and did Christmas for them!

Christmas Eve we've been ordering pizza, and then hitting up a fun family movie.

When we get home, we read the scriptures and the account of Christ coming to the earth, and then we let the kids open one present.  This year, they all received nerf guns... which followed quickly with a nerf gun WAR!!!

 We had the kids all get ready for bed, but instead of going to bed we headed out on a Christmas Scavenger hunt which also included stopping at QuikTrip for some hot chocolate, and Christmas caroling to Randy's parents and Uncle Chuck and Mary.

 

 The kids all slept upstairs again.  Addie put in a school paper that we make the kids sleep upstairs so we can look at their Christmas presents first!  That made me laugh!  They actually started sleeping upstairs because on Christmas Eve because they all wanted to be together and of course always have a hard time falling asleep that night!

 I guess I didn't take a lot of pictures the next morning.  Ashton got a new jeep.  I went around to take a picture of her in it and while I was trying to go around she stepped on the pedal and it pushed me to the ground!  It was hilarious!  I wish we had gotten it on video.

Addie also got an electric vehicle, a motor scooter.  They are both pros already and drive them everywhere.

 After all the excitement we headed over to Grandpa and Grandma John's house for breakfast.  This will be a very memorable Christmas and we are truly grateful that we were able to do so much for our family.  It gave us the opportunity to be like Christ and make Christmas was it should really be about!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Tis' the Season!

Our Christmas Season always gets started with the ConocoPhillips Christmas party.  I love how they always go all out for the family and really make this a fun family event!

It begins with games and crafts for the kids, pictures with Santa and cookies for all!

 After all the fun, we get to go into the Auditorium and have a private concert just for the employees and their families.  We were entertained this year by an a capella group named Rockapella.  They actually used to be on the PBS channel with a show called Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?

    

 This year was extra special for us.  Our concert included an appearance by a special little 5 year old!  Ashton was asked if she would go onto stage and sing with the guys.  At first they asked for Addie because they were looking for someone a little older, but Addie said no way!  Ashton agreed to go but when they called her name out on stage, she hit the floor so fast to hide behind her chair.  However, when the guy came to get her she went up with him willingly.  They sat her on a stool and asked her a few questions and then began singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town.  When they would get to the "to town" part they would put the microphone in front of Ashton.  At first you couldn't hear her very well, but she warmed up to the idea and by the end you could hear her.  But you didn't hear "to town"... she was saying "tonight".  Everyone thought it was so adorable.  She was a star!  We were very proud of her! 

We also have a special guest that comes to town to help us get into the spirit of Christmas.  Georgey the Elf was back!  He is Santa's big helper who watches over the kids and makes sure they are acting good and stay on Santa's good list.  But he gets pretty silly at times.  Here are a couple of the things we found him in the middle of when we would wake up the next morning.  Rolling down the stairs, 

 taking a bubble bath,

 tea party with the American Girls,

building some snowmen, 

 and participating in a snowball fight!

 Each year I sign up to help with class parties, but I only sign up to help with one kid per party.  Ashton got the Christmas Party.  They decorated cookies and competed against each other by decorating their teachers instead of decorating a Christmas tree.

 I also took Avery to watch Mika and Sora in the Nutcracker this year.

The girls and I went to watch Avery perform a Christmas Concert with her school choir.

And we even got a little snow before Christmas this year!  Yup, I think we are all getting in the Christmas spirit!!

Thanksgiving Family Pictures 2013

We stayed home for Thanksgiving this year.  Jolene said she was coming into town which they don't do very often so that turned in to Ricky coming to town and then Robert and all of a sudden we all decided to stay home so we could see each other.

The original John family!  From left to right: Robert, Ricky, Ryan, Randy, Ed, Shirley, Julie, Jolene and Renee.  We also did individual family pictures.  Renee was missing her son Chance so she and Ashleigh didn't do a picture.

Ricky and Anne John with their children Tyler, Rachel and Drew.

Karl and Jolene Fails with their children Trevor, Amanda, Kurtis, Jacob and Zachary.

Randy and I (Shallan) John with our children Addison, Avery, Austin and Ashton.

Ryan and Jessica John with their children Emma, Jenny, Hannah and Logan.

 Derek and Julie Bradford with their children Tanner and Taylor.

 And Robert and Jennifer John with their son Hudson.

And one more picture with all the grandchildren!  With seven kids, there are a lot of cousins to play with!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We are always grateful for our family!!

The Magic of Magic Kingdom!

Awww... The magic of Magic Kingdom!!  We saved this park for last for a couple of reasons.  There really is nothing like walking up to the Cinderella Castle.  This park is so big and so crowded all the time so it isn't our favorite for that reason but it really is the most memorable park at Disney World.

My favorite part about this park are all the shows that go on in front of the castle.  They have all the Disney characters but they also have so many of the prince and princesses along with Peter Pan and his crew.  We made sure to be at all the shows throughout the day.

Another thing they have a lot of are parades.  It's always worth getting there early to find a great spot!

You can't help but dance to the music!

They have another Toy Story ride in Magic Kingdom but this one is mainly about Buzz Lightyear.

 Instead of 3D paintball targets, it's glow in the dark laser beams.

 Of course the competition was back on!  I can't remember who won though, I just know it wasn't me!

 They have built on a new part to the park but it wasn't quite finished yet.  Here is Gaston from Beauty and the Beast and right next to this is going to be a 7 Dwarfs ride.  We'll have to check it out next time we go! 

We love the Sorcerer's Hat show where Donald takes over Mickey's hat.

 We were so happy to have Joe and Lindsay here with us!  They have lived in Florida for around 3 years and they've never gone to Disney.  I was glad we got to take them there before they moved to Utah.

 Joe and Avery rockin' the carousel!

 I had so much fun watching Addie wave to all the floats with the Disney characters as they came by!  Ashton had fallen asleep so she missed a lot of this but I could tell Addie was in her own little magical world and loving every minute of this.

Even though it was the wicked step-mother and ugly step-sisters who came up to talk to her, she was so excited!

This was another one of my favorite moments I captured.  Randy pushing Addie in the stroller while carrying both the heavy backpack and Ashton on his back.  This man truly is such a wonderful father and husband.  I'm so proud of him and the role he has played in all of our lives.  It was his idea to come back to Disney World for the kids and I love him for always thinking of them and doing so many wonderful things with them.

 Ashton really is the reason we chose Disney World over another vacation.  We were so happy to be able to take her back and chose Magic Kingdom as the last place we would visit just for her!  This park is really about the little kids and we wanted it to be fresh on her memory when we left the next day.  She had told us she didn't remember going to Disney the first time.  Hopefully she will remember this one for a while!

 We had an amazing vacation and created so many wonderful memories!  Even though we had to pull the kids from school so that we were there at a less busy time with great weather, it was well worth it!

 Of course we stayed for the castle lighting up and Tinker Bell flying out of the castle to start the firework show!  It's one of the many magical moments you don't want to miss!

 Until next time, Disney!!