Third Anual Johnson Christmas Tree Hunt!

We kicked off our outing with a trip to the Red Lake Junction Railroad...Thanks Amy and Robbie! Caleb was thrilled. He asked his mom if we were going to get tickets and when we were all aboard and Robbie punched out tickets, Caleb loved it. When Robbie gave him the chance to blow the train whistle, Caleb was all over it.


Then we went to the "ranch" to pick out a Christmas tree...and this year was a hunt. The snow was hard on top and Dad couldn't get the truck even to the gate...time to hoof it! You know, I forgot how hard it is to walk in deep hard snow! We have got off easy the last two years and hadn't hiked far at all to get the perfect tree.

As Dad usually does, he went off in his own direction and eventually found a really nice one and the rest of us hiked to the sound of his whistle. The hike wasn't without cold-wet feet, a fall on my rump (while carrying Danae), bumping Danae into a tree branch, being more than ready for lunch and Caleb climbing into a down tree and getting stuck...when Jennie climbed over to get him he asked "are you coming to rescue me". Its amazing how much you can sweat in 40 degree weather and snow when your hiking around!

Mom trudged along with us and toward the end, Dad decided to give her a hand.

Danae was wiped, not that she was carried the majority of the time because she refused to walk. None the less, she was a little trooper...it was just her nap time! We culminated our day with a late lunch at Pine County Restaurant. Even with the snow trudging, I had fun! Now time to pack for Kansas...

My Little Helper...Already!

Danae started helping me when I sweep the floor about a week or so ago, all on her own...no one showed her this little thing she does. It used to be that I needed her in her playpen or for Michael to hold her so I could sweep, or I would even wait until she was asleep because she loved to crawl through the dirt pile...then walk through the dirt pile...then pick through it and see what she could eat.

Danae got her eating habits from mommy and makes quite the mess where she has been eating and chunks of food she has thown overboard lie in wait on the floor. I can sweep the floor when she is out and about now because she will leave it alone since she has a clear understanding of "no" and she usually listens.

She started doing the cutest thing and when I get the broom out and start a dirt pile she will now go to her mess on the floor and bring chunks of fallen food to the dirt pile and toss it in, if she missed the dirt pile, she picks it back up and gently places it in the dirt pile...then goes back for more chunks of food. I can't help myself...it just makes me laugh so I had to share. I love this baby girl!