Merry CHRISTmas!

I just have to say that I love love love getting Christmas cards in the mail. However, we've been a little busy the last month or so, so this will have to do.

The year of 2009 has flown by faster than any other I can recall. We've done more than ever before, seen more places than ever before, and we even added another member to our little family.
In January, Jeff suddenly got old...he turned 30! We celebrated with a small surprise party with his siblings and our parents. The best birthday present of all was a sparkly new job. He would be starting a new job with Ortho Pro in February and then we would be moving to North Carolina just a few months after his training.
In February we got to go to Hawaii with my Ma & Pa. Oh wow, that was so amazing. Wearing a swimming suit while being 5 months pregnant is not ideal but when you're in Hawaii, you don't really care all that much.
March was exciting. Kamden turned 2! He is a monkey, a gymnast, an animal, and whatever else runs around like a madman all rolled into one sweet little kid. My ears have become fine tuned to the sound of silence, yet can tune out an extremely high-pitched squeal. We love Kamden Jeffrey so much and can't imagine our little home without his joyful presence.
April, April, April what can I say? That was the month of adventure. We moved 2,000 miles to North Carolina. About the farthest east you can go in the USA. Everyone said that we moved there in the most beautiful time of year. It really was. We got to do lots of fun things and oh yeah, we can't forget about enduring the sweltering humidity. We wouldn't want to leave that out!
The month of May was pretty uneventful. Jeff was getting adjusted to his job and me, I was still unpacking and waiting to have a baby.
Oh what a wonderful month June was. McKay David Johnson was born on the 16th, a few days early even. My mom and dad came to help and welcome McKay to the family. Mac is such a special little man. He is happy, content, and full of smiles. Now that he is 6 months, he is rolling all over the place, laughing up a storm, and smiling at everything we do. He loves to watch us all, especially Kamden. I feel that Heavenly Father blessed our family with McKay because he knew that we would need a ray of sunshine on cloudy days. That is truly what Mac is for me. He carries the Light of Christ with him in his smiles and there is just a warmth that comes from him. He is so special and I just can't believe how lucky I am to have him. It's hard not to be able to share him with our family because he is just so precious.
Well, Father Time came a ticking in July and I turned 27. Moving on...
August was so much fun! We got to go to Utah/Idaho to visit family and show off our new little addition. We blessed Mac while we were out there and even though Jeff had to go back to NC for work, the boys and I got to stay and play. Kam and Mac are so lucky cause they have 4 awesome grandparents and tons of cousins that they got to play with.
Just as we got settled back in from our trip, September was here. Brooks, Andrea, and Paisley all came to visit. We had a blast. We went to the ocean and all of us watched how brave Jeff was swimming and body surfing all by himself. (The rest of us were chicken) EVENTUALLY, Jeff got us all out there and we had more fun in the water than we could ever remember having.
October as you know includes Halloween. This year was hilarious. Kamden kept us laughing with his lion ROARRRRRRRR and McKay was the sweetest little giraffe.
Do you hear that? It's the winds of change. The middle of November Jeff's boss called and offered him a new territory in Ohio. Long story short...we moved.
December Wait...What? Is it...can it really be? Yes, it's true. It is December. The year has come to an end. Wow, I can hardly believe it. Looking back, it really has been amazing. We have sadly had to leave the comfort of family, 2 super wards and some awesome friends. We have made it safe and sound to Ohio and Jeff assures me that we will have a great ward and make some super DUPER friends here in our new home.
As I look back, I think about all of the things we have gone through this year. This has been the most challenging year of our lives. I have learned the kind of person I want to become. Now it's just getting there that's the hard part. We have been blessed in innumerable ways. We have wonderful families and exceptional parents. This girl lives under the same roof as 3 amazing boys. Jeff has worked so hard this year and has really pushed himself. He has stretched his limits and has become a better man for it. I am so thankful to have him as a husband and he is such a good daddy. My faith has been strengthened this year and I have had the reassurance that Heavenly Father knows, cares about and loves me and my family. The Church is such a comforting reassurance. We would not have been able to do what we have if it weren't for the church and the members.
Thank you, all of you, for your support this year. We look forward to 2010 and hope that it's a little bit more relaxed but just as fun. I love you and miss each and every one of you!


The states that we've visited in 2009:
Idaho
Utah
Hawaii
Oregon *
Colorado
Kansas
Missouri
Illinois
Kentucky
Tennessee
North Carolina
South Carolina *
Virginia
Washington DC
Maryland
West Virginia
Ohio

*Only Jeff