christmas card 2012....

i'm linking up with my sweet friends, kelly and faith to share our 2012 christmas card. i finally got them all sent out, so it's time share it on the blog.

thank you to everyone that has sent us cards this year! it just thrills my soul (and my girls'!) to see all of these sweet faces each day!  

if you didn't receive one from us, i promise it's not because you were "cut" from the list. it was because i totally underestimated how many i needed and didn't order near enough. next year i'll plan better! :) 

the photos on our card were taken by our wonderful photographer and friend, justin of 375photography. the cards were ordered from shutterfly. 

here is the 2012 tippins family christmas card: 

{front}

 {back}

funny story about the back of our card....

we didn't set out to take pictures with our sunglasses on. we're not that cool. :) 

when libbi heard we were going to have our pictures made, she came downstairs in her sunglasses, tiara, and a purse and said, "I'M READDDDDY!" ha!

she had packed her entire purse full of sunglasses (about 5-6 pair) and she insisted on bringing them with her. we were able to talk her out of the tiara, but the sunglasses were a bit trickier. since jeffrey and i had our own pairs because it was so sunny outside, we decided to let laney borrow a pair of libbi's and go for the sunglasses family photo. and of course, out of all the pictures we took, these were some of the only ones were everyone {appears to be} looking at the camera. go figure! :) 

to see our christmas cards of the past, click on the links below: 

christmas 2011

christmas 2010

christmas 2009

Merry Christmas!! 

Daddy...

Happy Father's Day Jeffrey!!

Our girls are so blessed to have a Daddy that...

understands the importance of accessories and bows ;-)

will rock them to sleep

climbs in a bouncy house like it's his job

let's their momma buy coordinating outfits ;-)

watches over his girls

willingly shares his milkshakes

loves them and loves their momma

takes cell phone pictures at dr's appointments 'cause he thinks his baby looks cute

is proud of his girls

knows that a monogram really completes an outfit ;-)

will do whatever it takes to make them (and their momma) happy.

We love you and hope you have a great day!!

And to my dad - Growing up, you always made me laugh (even when I didn't want to) and now I have the blessing of watching you make my girls laugh, too!  I am so thankful for you and all that you have taught me and continue to teach me.  Thank you for being such a shining example of God's love.  I love you and hope you have a wonderful Father's Day!!

To all the great dads in our lives.....we love you!

Daddy (Jeffrey):

Buddy:

Grandaddy:

and Papa J:

Happy Father's Day!!


"Praise the Lord! 
How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in HIS commandments.
His descendants will be mighty on the earth;
the generation of the upright will be blessed."
Psalm 112:1-2

lullaby...

Mother's Song

(A Traditional Lullaby)

My heart is like a fountain true

That flows and flows with love to you.

As chirps the lark unto the tree

...So chirps my pretty babe to me.

There's not a rose where'er I seek,

As comely as my baby's cheek.

There's not a comb of honey-bee,

So full of sweets as babe to me.

There's not a star that shines on high,

Is brighter than my baby's eye.

There's not a boat upon the sea,

Can dance as baby does to me.

No silk was ever spun so fine

As is the hair of baby mine.

My baby smells more sweet to me

Than smells in spring the elder tree.

A little fish swims in the well,

So in my heart does baby dwell.

A little flower blows on the tree,

My baby is the flower to me.

The Queen has sceptre, crown and ball,

You are my sceptre, crown and all.

For all her robes of royal silk,

More fair your skin, as white as milk.

Ten thousand parks where deer do run,

Ten thousand roses in the sun,

Ten thousand pearls beneath the sea,

My babe more precious is to me.

snow day 2011

I woke up with a bad attitude about the snow.  I was ill because it "trapped" us in the house, cancelled Libbi's school, caused the news to be on for 7+ hours straight, and ruined any plans that we may have had for the day.

Then I read these verses.....

"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.' So that all men He has made may know His work, He stops every man from his labor...'Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders.'"

Job 37:5-7,14...

Instead of complaining about the inconvenience that the snow is, I should be thanking God for it.  What an amazing miracle and awesome display of his mighty power.  He literally said to the snow, "fall on the earth" and it did!  Not only that, but He did it as a way to slow everyone down and remind them of His works.  

I was convicted of my bad attitude, especially when I think of what this unplanned snow day is causing me to do: spend time in my warm home, bundled up under a blanket, eating home-cooked meals, and having extra time with Jeffrey and Libbi that I normally would not (due to work and school). 
How can I complain about that??!  

Thank you Lord for the snow!  Help me to "stop and consider all Your wonders"  and, when all of this freezes and extends our "snow-cation" by days and days, remind me that it is "the breath of God that produces ice." (Job 37:10)

....Now if only Libbi felt the same way ;0)  

christmas at mawmaw's....

Last Sunday we celebrated Christmas at MawMaw's house.  As always, it was full of laughs,  good food, and lots of fun!  Even though last year was Libbi's first Christmas, it is definitely a whole new experience this year.  Last Christmas, we brought the bouncy seat with us to MawMaw's house and Libbi basically "chillaxed" in her own little world the entire time.  This year, not so much.

Christmas at MawMaw's 2009

Last Christmas, Justin and Mandie announced their big news....

Christmas at MawMaw's 2009

And this year, Blakeley was as pumped as we were to be joining in the fun! :)

Christmas 2010

I love all of our Christmas celebrations, but they stress me out at the same time.  When we're in someone else's non-baby-proofed home with lots of tempting things to touch, taste, and throw.....I feel like I have to be on high-alert at all times.

These pictures pretty much sum up Libbi's experience at MawMaw's Christmas:

She was either a) getting into something she shouldn't

this was Libbi saying, "uh-oh" right after she knocked something off the table...

b)being fed all kinds of sweet goodness by her new BFF, Buddy

OR c) drinking out of someone else's cup when they weren't paying attention

Probably one of the highlights of our Christmas celebration each year is the "White Elephant" game.  We each bring a $10 gift and put it under the tree.  We then draw numbers and when it is your turn, you can decide to open a gift or "steal" someone else's.  I have to say that people get more and more "creative" with their gifts each year.  :)

Some of the gifts this year included....

a lava lamp (which Auntie Biotic STOLE and fought hard to keep....but that's another story for another day) ;0)

some homemade cookies leftover from a family function the night before

and a framed copy of this priceless photo just to name a few.

When it was my turn, I opened a pair of XXXL men's underwear that said, "Of all my talents, farting is my best" on the back of them.  Niiiiice. Can you guess who this classy gift was from???  We couldn't. Finally, someone 'fessed up....imagine our shock when it was - MAWMAW!

It takes a woman with an interesting sense of humor to be a part of our family.  What other mother of 5, grandmother of 11, and great-grandmother of  3 (soon to be 7!!) would find the humor in a pair of handcuffs?!

MawMaw is truly the pillar of the "Johnson Family." :)

Moments like these are what "Family" is all about.  When you can walk into a house that's not your own without having to knock.  When each room you go into, you're greeted warmly by a hug and smile.  When you don't have to worry about your baby running wild throughout the house, because you know that every person there loves her and will look out for her.  When hugs, babies, jokes, and plates are all passed freely around.  When you know that even though someone is not present, they're still an integral part of the family.  I am so thankful for our family and for the memories we make.

....but I'm not so thankful for whoever decided it was a good idea to send this "rapping" frog home with us...

if I hear him sing, "Deck the halls, YO!" one more time, I just might lose my mind.....

***And congrats to Commenter #20 - Nicole.  You won the CSN give-away!  I will email you shortly. Thanks to everyone that participated! :) ***