Here Comes Santa....Ahhh, No.

Yesterday we took Kenyon to the Bank's Children's Holiday Party. The planets aligned as we were able to make it on time. The fact we made it at all was a small miracle. Those of you with small children know what I am talking about. You have every intention of going somewhere, but then she won't take a nap, somebody blows out their diaper at the last second, and when you manage to get them strapped into the car they spend the first 25 minutes of a thirty minute trip screaming only to fall asleep as you are turning down the street of your appointed destination.

We made it fine and Kenyon was in a good mood until we tried to take her newly won hacky sack from her. Then she went limp and fell on the floor in front of my co-workers. We stood in a much shorter line to see Santa than we would have at the mall. We got up there and she was having nothing to do with him. I asked if she wanted to sit on Santa's lap and she said emphatically, "NO" accompanied with a strong head shake. This is Kenyon's first brush with Santa forever to remain immortalized.

Then we went to the fishing game, she wanted to crawl into the swimming pool WITH the ducks. It made perfect sense to her, it is a pool, it has water and ducks, you crawl in. Luckily she only managed to get her hand in it before we spoiled her fun.

Kenyon had her first experience with a jump house. She liked it once she got the hang of it. She, however, spent more time on the ground than actual jumping. She had a great time nonetheless.

We didn't stay for the whole party, but she had a great time and wore herself out enough to take a catnap on the way home. So much for the life of a party girl.

My Commute

Some days I think I will go mad driving behind the person going 58 miles an hour in the inside lane during rush hour. Many days I ask myself what the hell am I thinking commuting 52 miles round trip, surely this isn't worth it. Then I see this....

And this....

And this....

And suddenly that slow car just doesn't matter anymore. I pick up my phone and call my husband reminding him of last night when he kissed me under a sunset just like this sunrise. Now that is what is important. This moment makes the commute worth it.

You peel your banana...

Then you take a bite. Kenyon is learning how to eat a banana with the peel still attached. She hasn't quite figured out not to eat the peel.

Kenyon enjoyed her time with Poppy and Mimi. No dad didn't finally trade mom in as he has threatened to do so many times. Kenyon can't quite get Gammy out just yet.

Miss K continues to love watching Jack's Big Music Show on Noggin. She sings and dances during the opening. She even makes the dog barking sounds of Mel. Hank continues to guide her music lessons. Occasionally she will give the bugle a try, but she has really taken to the harmonica.

Sara returned safely from her Thanksgiving cruise to Mexico. She now wants a big stack of white towels for Christmas because she took a towel folding class while on the ship. I told her I had plenty of towels she could fold for me, but she quickly pointed out these were ANIMALS that she learned how to fold. She didn't see my humor. She is getting to that age where she finds so little about her parents to be funny. She is definitely moving into the 'Tween stage. I can't wait! (insert sarcasm here) I told Hank we were nuts for ever thinking we could survive having a toddler and a pre-pubescent kid in the house at the same time. Nobody warns you about this kind of stuff before having kids. It is more like, "Oh didn't anyone mention this to you?"

Anyway, we had a relatively uneventful turkey day. We took time to share it with friends and some family, even though Dad left skid marks on the road getting back home. We took time to count our blessings and extend a prayer or two. Hope you all had one filled with love and peace. Christmas will be here before we know it.

This is what I am thankful for....

And this....

And most especially this......





Happy Thanksgiving.
Peace & Continued Blessings,
The Johnson's
Hank, Susan, Sara & Kenyon

Brush with Fame

Well, Nana watched Kenyon last week while Hank & I went to dinner. Afterwards we decided to go to see the new Michael's as they have redesigned the entire store. Walking through the parking lot we saw a black SUV limo with two men in dark suits standing by it. I knew Barack would not be at NE mall so we went in the store. I heard two ladies talking and found out ...

OMG! Martha Stewart was in Michael's!

Well, I called Jane and after she busted my ear drum (cuz you know Miss Jane had a MS wedding complete with the two huge appetizer tables.) Anyway, she was in the store shopping followed by what appeared to be an assistant, the store manager, and security walking discreetly behind her. After Jane declared I didn't love her if I didn't get an autograph she told me to stalk her to see what she was buying.


She bought some garland and other Christmas stuff. Not much. She was pleasant to people in the aisles, but there was an air of no autographs and don't even think about asking for a picture. She looked good and had the cutest pair of brown leather sling backs ala 1940. They had to be at least 3-4 inches. She has held up well.

Anyway, I just kind of followed her around the store gazing from afar. I did manage to get this one shot. Crappy camera phone version. How do people get these really great professional quality photos with a camera phone? Anyway, it really is her.

To the woman who was rumored to have run over her gardener I have to give her credit, she payed with her own card and then carried her own back to the limo. I guess prison takes a little diva out of you.

The funny part is right inside the store Michael's was having a Wilson cake decorating workshop. Would that not be your biggest nightmare? You are trying to get your icing on smoothly and have your roses not look like they had been chewed on my insects and WHO walks in? Only the Goddess of Cake Decorating. I told Hank I would have shoved my cake under the table collapsed on the floor and declared in Wayne's World fashion that I was not worthy. I would bet a million that MS stopped as she came in the store and commented on the class as well as made a "helpful" observation as only MS can do. When we walked in the group of women looked extremely uncomfortable...as if to say why me of all the Michael's and all the cake classes she had to walk into mine.

But wait there is more...

Hank tells me he wants to go to Best Buy to see if Bill gates is in there. Low and Behold....we run into the main anchor for NBC. Hank tells him this must be the night for famous people that we just saw MS at the Michael's. Looking unimpressed by us, he tells us she was just at their station. Oh, that explains it. He asked us out names and the said it was nice meeting us, turned back to selecting his soda and our brush with local fame came to an end. No Bill Gates, but I did see an ultra cool red laptop I want. I don't think Hank could stomach a red laptop, the red in the kitchen is enough. THis from the man who only owned brown and blue when I met him.

Exclaiming that he takes me to ALL the hot spots, we head over to B&N hoping to see George Clooney. Hank said if George is in B&N I am leaving. Wondered what he meant by that? :) No George, but we did manage to get some birthday shopping for Sara done. Hard to believe she will be 11 on Dec 15. She was 4.5 when we started dating. How time moves on when we aren't looking.

Don't want you to think this blog is all about me. So here is a gratuitous baby picture...well not so much of a baby anymore.

Milestones...

Well, Kenyon is now 16 months and one week old. Everyday is something new. Her vocabulary is expanding daily as is her sign language. I tell you when she says please, which sounds more like peas, and rubs her little chest in the proper sign you would give her the keys to the car if she asked.

In the last week she is getting better at drinking out of a cup, eating from a , spoon and getting her coloring mostly on the page. I gave her some smoked chicken, mushroom & barley soup yesterday. After every bite she would say "Yum" That's my girl. Already appreciating fine cuisine.

Baby it is cold outside.....to everything there is a season

As you can see the cold weather is upon us, for the weekend anyway. Yesterday Hank had to take the dogs to the P A R K (we have to spell it/can't say it in front of them) so that means I had to take Miss K around the block in the freezing cold wind. But all was not lost she got to wear her new coat that I picked up at a consignment sale for $9 and she got a free stuffed dog from the neighbors garage sale. Not a bad deal for going around the block.

Nana left Saturday morning to go home and take care of an ailing PawPaw. Hank got some studying in and I cleaned out my closet. I have decided to say goodbye to all the cute shoes that I could wear Pre-baby and can no longer fit into. My foot has grown a half size larger and I cannot wear anything past 2 inches, which ruled out all but about 5 pairs of shoes. Okay 7 if you count the $2.99 black flip flops from target. I know Hank was tired of finding me sitting in the bottom of my closet lovingly stroking my brown suede pumps with the perfect Louis heel. Sigh....

When pointed toed pumps came back in style I never understood Mom when she used to longingly tell us how she USED to be able to wear those shoes and to "just wait until you have kids" I now get that kids not only do a number on your mid-section, but on your feet as well. Thank God the curse of "having 15 just like me" never stuck, my feet would be as big as Shaqs and I won't even think about how low other things would be hanging. And I don't mean my ears.

In the end I would rather fall in love with this....


Than these...









Funny, how things change. There was a time when that would have been a tough choice.

Great Balls O' Fire!

Looking towards the cooler days and an alternative to standing in front of the swing set in 30 degree weather this is our answer to winter-time fun....



She loves her ball pit, especially throwing the balls out and watching mommy & daddy pick them up!


While Nana visited she assisted me in revamping a table & chairs set that gam & pop bought Kenyon for her bday. Here it is before, done up for a little girl named Emily. Poor Emily she outgrew her chair. Kenyon's gain.



Here is the after. Nana changed out the color of ribbon from lilac to yellow, added some yellow flowers and then Kenyon's monogram. When Kenyon woke up from her nap and saw it she promptly crawled on top of the table (her 5th favorite thing to do) and began to dance. Her dancing on the tables is a whole nother story that we don't like to think about.

It's a dog's life....until the little girl came along

Hank has fondly named our child "Little Miss Busy Body" and boy did she prove that last night. We all came home at the same time, and the first thing I have to do after letting the dogs out is get Miss K a sippee with some kind of liquid in it. She is not particular, just demanding. So I am in the kitchen doing her bidding, but not fast enough. She came in and reached up to get a sippee cup off the counter with no lid and promptly took it to the dog's water dish.

Not let me take a break from our regularly scheduled program to say her most FAVORITE thing to do besides watch Jack's Big Music Show and swing in her pajamas is to stick her hand in the dog's water and swish it around. Which is promptly rewarded with a hands washing in the kitchen sink.

Now, back to the story...she filled the cup with water from this bowl and began to drink it. Being the calm parents were are we yelled, "NNNNOOOOO!" Picture Hank sliding into home grabbing the cup before it made it to her lips. He took it and she stealth-like got another cup and proceeded to do the same thing. I finally got her juice ready and turned on Jack. She was happy as a clam.

The dogs not so much, they got a whack to the head with the book that they chewed up. Of course it had to be one of her favorites. Anyone know where we can get another copy of Snoozers by Boynton on the cheap?

Falling for you

I can't believe it is almost Halloween. Furthermore I cannot believe it has been since April the last time I posted. Sooooo much has happened. Kenyon is almost 15.5 months old, weighs 27lbs and is about 33+ inches tall, and has 8 teeth. Sara is approaching 11 in December. She spent Oct 6-10 with us. She got to go to King Tut and the DMA and the Alliance airshow.

Here are a few pictures of our pumkin excursion & Sara at the FT Worth Gardens.

Spring Has Sprung

I found this sweet little flower blooming in the front yard the other day. My irises have taken off this year they are almost as tall as the rosebush in the front flower bed. My pretty brown one finally bloomed along with the yellow, purple and white ones. I found some gladiola bulbs in the shed last weekend. I planted them in the rose garden in the back. My roses there are about to explode with blooms. I guess the gladiolas will bloom late summer. They always remind me of Grandma O'Bryan. She has so many of them planted around her trailer. Every time I see them or pansies I miss her even after all these years.


I was telling Hank that One of the things I learned from Grandma was to always give money to the American Legion when they were passing out paper poppies. She always had one in the lapel of her coat. It is hard to believe she has been gone 23 years this month. I remember a number of years ago I saw a bowl of those peanut butter logs. I almost began to cry. She had a small bowl of them sitting on the ledge in her kitchen of the Sycamore house. I find that there are several memories that are triggers, most are surrounding her gardens and flowers. I think she is the one who first taught me to appreciate a garden. She had a garden that I did not have to pick endless rows of green beans or wonder how much cooked, mushy squash I would have to eat before I could leave the table.

Sorry, Mom & Dad. I love your little baby carrots, just not the patty pan squash.

A Sweet Irish Lassie

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I know it has been a while so I won't bore you with a bunch of commentary on our life. I am fully aware that most of you look at this blog for pictures of the kids, especially if you are a gparent.

We are all holding up pretty well. The sleeping thing is getting better, but since the time change and the cold Kenyon is fighting it has digressed.

Little Bit is on the move and refuses to be contained for very long. here are some pictures of her in what we fondly call the Baby Jail

Kenyon is working on eating new foods every week. I introduced her to Mum Mums, rice crackers that disolve in your mouth. I was holding a piece while she ate them. Of course she got tired of that real quickly and she reached over and took it out of my hand and crammed it in hers. At daycare the other day she stole cut up waffles off another kid's tray and crammed them in her mouth. I guess she was telling us she was ready for solid finger foods. Two teeth and she thinks she can eat steak

February came along with visits from Nana, PaPa, and Sara. Here are a few pictures of their visit.

While Sara was visiting we she picked out the cutest blouse that she plans to wear today, St Pat's day. She looked so grown up in her shirt, new skirt, and new shoes. You could tell felt it too.

And finally, on March 7 we had snow, about 2-3 inches on top of about an inch of sleet. Needless to say it melted the next day in the 54 degree heat. Ahhhh, Texas weather.....

Once bitten....

Our little girl has her first tooth! I think she is working on cutting her second tooth. It was rough going and a few nights of endless whining, but with teething tablets and Tylenol we persevered.

February has been busy at the Hotel Johnson, we have had company every weekend this month. ALL the g-parents have been to visit in order to pay homage to our girl. She started crawling this month. Kenyon is a hoot. She is moving much faster and her goal is to get to the tile floor. The closer she gets the faster she goes. The first time she made it she looked around as if to say, "What now? I've never been this far before."

Kenyon has become quite the music protege. Hank came home from picking her up at daycare and found her sitting at the piano pounding out a tune and singing for all her peeps in Infant room 2. So we did what any good parent would do, we ran out and bought her a piano; a little tykes piano, not a baby grand.

Sara placed first in her group recitation. It is a regional competition where elementary school kids recite poems and plays. Her solo poem was Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Rold Dahl. I managed to get a couple of pictures off her school website

I'll post more this weekend. I have more from the g-parents, big sister, and Kenyon's new baby jail.

Happy Valentine's Day!