The Johnson Family
San Luis Obispo, CA
What is your favorite family tradition?
My favorite family tradition started with my husband's family and we've continued it with ours. At the beginning of every fall, we grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte or Pumpkin Spice Lulu as my husband Luke calls it 😂 then head to a local Apple ranch to buy apples, look at the changing leaves, explore and take photos.
We finish the adventure by baking a homemade apple crisp and enjoy it together. It's our very favorite way to kick off our favorite season of the year leading up to the holidays.
Tell us about your favorite family story.
I think our most memorable family story (it's hard to pick a favorite) is our trip to Paris with our two oldest who were 3 and 1 at the time. Looking back we laugh and call ourselves insane, but my parents offered to take care of the entire trip so how could we say no? The flight there and back was pretty rough - pretty much the whole trip was rough. But we survived. And we saw Paris, enjoyed the local food and museums, coffee and wine.
My husband and I hope to go back someday without kids to experience the most romantic city in the world, because let me tell you: Paris with toddlers is NOT romantic. Nor is it stroller friendly. LOL. But it will be a story we share the rest of our lives!
What is your family's motto?
Find joy in the small things.
Share Your Parenting Wisdom
What's your number one tip for new parents?
Don't sweat the small stuff. There will always be dishes and laundry - but your little will grow so quickly and you'll miss their smell, their coos, their sleeping sounds, the way they sleep on your chest - sooner than you realize. Take time to soak them in. Take photos and videos.
And be patient with them and yourself - it's extremely hard in the beginning with so little sleep, but even that season passes so quickly! (Maybe not as soon as you'd hope, but it does pass, I PROMISE).
What has been the most surprising thing you've learned as a parent?
I don't think I ever really knew what unconditional love felt and looked like until I had my babies. It's an incredible representation of God's unconditional love for us.
Tell us about your funniest parenting story (we all have them!)
When my daughter was two, she had a hard time pronouncing truck. You probably know where I'm going with this. Well any time she would see a truck or fire truck she would tell, "fire ****!" It was hilarious and also incredibly embarrassing. But mostly hilarious. Disclaimer: she can now pronounce truck correctly. 😂
You can find the Johnson family on Instagram at @luke_james1109.