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.