The Johnson Family

Daddy Daughter Dance 2012

2012-02-07T09:19:00.005-06:00

Kenyon had a great time with Daddy at the dance. She looked so beautiful, especially with her little wrist corsage. She was very tired by the time she got home, but a good time was had by all!

She looks so grown up! It is hard to believe she is almost five, just seems like yesterday she was a tiny little thing in my arms.

A Budding Artist

2012-01-20T14:19:00.005-06:00

Here are the latest renderings by K.

Gone Fishin'

2011-09-02T14:32:00.003-05:00

Since Kenyon has been in Pre-K her writing skills have improved dramatically. She doesn't write right to left anymore (she is a lefty), and you can actually tell what the letters are. Here she learns to write "fish".

Father's Day

2011-09-02T14:28:00.002-05:00

I know its late, but Amy & I took the girls to paint coffee mugs for Father's Day. Kenyon & Jules had so much fun and the mugs turned out fabulous. I learned I need to be less controlling when it comes to arts and crafts.

The Wedding

2011-07-22T09:02:00.003-05:00

Last weekend my cousin Monique married her high school sweetheart, Chris. Kenyon got to be the ring girl while her cousins got to be the flower girls. They all looked like little Victorian bridal attendants.

We had a great time and are very excited to officially welcome Chris into our wild and crazy family.

Summertime...

2011-07-11T12:52:00.002-05:00

We are enjoying a hot, busy summer. How 'bout you?

Birthday Girl....

2011-07-08T07:15:00.003-05:00

I can't believe she is four today! Where did the time go?

In Three Short Years.....

2011-06-21T07:39:00.003-05:00

We went from this....

To this.

The baby isn't a baby anymore, and the little girl is now taller than I am and entering the 8th grade. Where did the time go?

Jesus is my BFF

2011-06-14T12:23:00.014-05:00

Kenyon was baptized on Sunday. We explained that Pastor Tom would sprinkle water on her head and say a prayer. After we clarified that she would not disappear, as if Pastor Tom was putting a spell on her (blame Disney), we told her that meant Jesus would be her BFF. She seemed happy with that. How else do you explain baptism to a four year old?

She did wonderfully, wasn't scared a bit. She was more concerned with showing off her "church necklace" during children's time. We got her a cross with pin cz stones in it. She loves it.

At the end of the service we officially joined the church, with Hank and & me transferring our membership from Baptist and Episcopalian to now Methodist. We wanted to wait until Sara was with us to join as a family. It was special for all of us. We have finally found our spiritual home, it has been a long journey - four years in the making, but we are home.

A special thanks as always to my dear, sweet, Amy for taking pictures and being Kenyon's Godmother. She and Jules are such a blessing to our family. And even though Aunt Erin & Uncle Chip couldn't be with us we know they will serve Kenyon well as Godparents too! My little girl is very lucky to be surrounded by such love.

An Outing With Friends

2011-05-16T12:31:00.003-05:00

Saturday my dear, sweet friend, Julie took Kenyon and Mia to the park and Chick Fil A for lunch. Kenyon had a great time. The best part is that I got to have some alone time to get my hair cut and enjoy the peace and quiet!

I admit I was worried how Kenyon would do at the park being that she likes to take off running to see how fast the adults can run after her. Julie assured me they always act better for other people. She was right. My sweetie was an angel according to Julie. Of course I figured she would just to prove me wrong.

The girls have gotten to be quite chummy. We look forward to having Mia over to swim frequently this summer. Here are a few pictures of the girls that Julie took.

Easter Part III

2011-05-16T07:52:00.003-05:00

One final Easter picture taken at the Eggstravaganza at church. It was a challenge trying to get that girl to sit still. She was very sweet to the rabbit. I felt sorry for him because he had about 100 kids grabbing at him, squeezing him and holding him like a baby during the photos.

We have finally officially opened the pool for the season so more fun in the sun pictures to come.

Easter part two

2011-04-30T09:56:00.009-05:00

We had a great Easter. Kenyon loved all the candy that was at her disposal. She immediately began popping open eggs and stuffing jelly beans, malted eggs, peanut butter cups etc into her mouth. If that isn't a good way to start the day I don't know what is except cake the morning after your birthday.

After Church we went to Nana & Paw Paw's for lunch and egg hunt with Candace and her boys. We are waiting the arrival of little Violet in a couple more weeks. Candace is ready to get that baby out.

The Easter Bunny brought another basket to Nana's house and scattered egg for the third egg hunt in a week. Here are the kids post egg hunt. Trying to get a 7, 3, & 2 year old to all look up at the camera at one time is nearly impossible.

Easter Eggstravaganza - Part I

2011-04-18T19:28:00.010-05:00

Last weekend we had two Easter Egg hunts, needless to say Kenyon is sugar happy. What a great holiday, furry animals that bring you candy. Almost as good as Halloween...a sugar addicts favorite holiday.

She was cute with her basket at the city egg hunt on Saturday. Here are some photos of the hunt and then of course counting her loot.

She even had a chance to sit on the Easter Bunny's lap. On Sunday our church hosted a picnic and egg hunt. My sweet friend Julie was there with her granddaughter, Mia. The girls had a great time cracking confetti eggs on each other's head. Mia told Kenyon, "You gotta do it harder" Apparently the harder the crack the better the confetti spray. Who knew?!

Kenyon was a bit more particular at this egg hunt. She only wanted to pick up the pretty eggs, meaning those that were decorated with insects or other designs. This hunt proved to be more fruitful in the candy department. Mommy was bummed there wasn't any chocolate.

Oh, I forgot the most exciting part of all...at the city egg hunt they were giving away Easter Baskets. The one Kenyon picked was the Hannah Batana (Montana) bucket, which she promptly put on her head when we got home. For some reason that kid likes to put buckets, boxes, and bowls on her head.

Stay tuned for part two of the Easter festivities. We will go to early church then on to Nana & Paw Paw's for ribs and an egg hunt. Paw Paw isn't letting me in the door without my potato salad and my butterscotch bitsy. It should be fun, Candace will be in town with her two boys. We all hope she doesn't give birth while she visiting as she is due any day now.

Many blessings this Holy week, and a chocolate bunny or two.

Spring has Sprung

2011-04-17T19:40:00.005-05:00

Last weekend was our 6th anniversary. To celebrate we took Kenyon to the Botanic Gardens in Ft Worth, although there is debate in that we think it should be called Botanical Gardens. Anyway, we had a great time chasing after Kenyon who had to smell every flower and try to climb in all the flower beds and fountains.

She loved seeing the wedding pictures being photographed of the princess, so we had to stop and watch that for a while. K was excited to get a picture in the butterfly chair that sister sat in last time she went to the BG with Nana & Hank.

Then we headed to Central Market for lunch and gelato. Yummy.

Saturday night Hank & I, thanks to Amy, went to dinner to celebrate sans kid. I have found after six years, being married to Hank just keeps getting better. Gifts this year were from the heart not because they were shiny or impressive. Just the way it should be. Although I did give myself the gift of a photo book filled with our wedding pictures and memories. I finally gave up on any hope that I would "scrapbook" my wedding memories. Thanks Shutterfly.

Read the next post for the beginning of the Easter Festivities.

Halloween - Part One

2010-10-18T12:40:00.007-05:00

We went to the daycare carnival Friday night and then the pumpkin patch Saturday. By Sunday...I was tired. Friday was a trial run for the pirate costume that I pieced together. I have to say she was pretty stinking cute.

On Saturday we met Amy & Jules again to visit Hall Farms Pumpkin Patch. We went last year with them and had a great time. Unfortunately, Miss K had not had a nap and things went steadily down hill to the point the cupcake making event back at our place was canceled. A fun time was had by all. I loved seeing Baby Ella, & Jules Grammy & Aunt Meredith as well.

As Halloween approaches this weekend, there will be a school party with costume pictures, hoot n howl on Saturday, carving the pumpkin, and of course.....Trick or Treating!

Committed

2010-09-05T14:03:00.006-05:00

I have been reading a lot laely and a theme seems to be appearing. Committed is the theme. One about marriage and the other about mental instituions. Now I am not saying that marriage and a mental institution for the criminally insane have anything to do with each other, although some might argue the fact.

I read Shutter Island for my work bookclub. I found it to be exciting and suspenseful. It was the first book I have read by Dennis Lehane. I have seen Mystic River and as of last night have seen Shutter Island. I refuse to see or read Gone Baby Gone. Don't want to see anything about a child disappearing.

I liked the book better than the movie because much of the back story was sterilized for the big screen. The last 40 pages of the book were going so fast my heart was racing and I could not read fast enough. DOn't miss a page or you will miss the whole twist unraveling coming to an end that leaves one guessing about their own sanity. If you are looking for a suspenseful read...give this one a try.

The second book I have read recently was Committed by Elizabet Gilbert. This is the follow up to Eat, Pray, Love. Being forced to marry Felipe in order of him to stay in the US she has to reconcile marriage with herself. She loves her man, but not the idea of a legal marriage. She does extensive research into marriage both in the US and in other cultures. I found the book to be educational and thought provoking. My copy is underlined and tagged on multiple pages.

I recommend this book for anyone married, about to be married, or divorced. I enjoyed the "What happened ?"aspect that you were left with after EPL finished. I look forward to her next book, which she is currently working on.

Both good books for very different reasons. The one common thing is that I found time to be committed to reading two books in a very short period of time. Of course it might have to do with the Fall season still weeks away on TV.

Fun-filled Saturdays

2010-08-28T18:57:00.005-05:00

Kenyon has discovered the library to the pleasure of her Nana, whose profession just happens to be college librarian. We go to the library every Saturday morning to turn in the pile of books only to check out an even bigger pile. We don't have to go weekly, but I can only read some of those books 10 times then I start to make stuff up when we read...or better yet skip pages.

The two books of choice are Clifford the Big Red dog and Arthur. Kenyon fell in love with Arthur's Underwear in which he keeps dreaming he has forgotten his pants. I was glad to see that one go into the library drop box.

These are also popular on our Netflix watch instantly. I guess it could be worse.

After our playdate with Ryan fell through today we decided to swim anyway. After dinner alfresco poolside we used our BnR coupon. Kenyon got pink bubble gum ice cream on a cone dipped in chocolate with sprinkles. It looked very cute with her twirly skirt outfit she had on today.

She wore this to the library with her Dora purse and Dora ball cap. She was just adorable. Even the librarian did. She tried to give the librarian money for her books. I tried to tell her they were free, but we had to return them I guess she confused it with the bookstore.

Nana & PaPa are coming tomorrow and hopefully Ryan will be able to come over next weekend. Have a great weekend...we are!

How in the world did it get to be September

2010-08-27T16:27:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it has been almost 10 months since my last post. It has been a crazy year in the Johnson household. First and foremost the Johnson's relocated, not to a deluxe apartment in the sky but to a bigger house in a neighborhood one block form K's daycare.

Many firsts have happened to us this year....

Kenyon's first "real Christmas"

Sara's first room that she got to decorate all herself

Our first major snowfall in the DFW area

The first Johnson 4th of July party coupled with K's third bday party...in the same day

The first year without Finn....sadly he was sick, but made his time with us so special. We still miss him

Hank's first year at the NE campus

Our first year with Nana & PaPa living close by

Our first year with lots of new playdates and friends for the girls

Perhaps the best thing this year has been our swimming pool! We have spent hours and hours playing and teaching K to swim. Don't worry we have been using sunblock 50!

Well, I am glad to be back in the blogging world. Stay tuned!

Friendship

2009-10-18T15:16:00.012-05:00

Yesterday Kenyon and "My Jules" as she likes to call her went to the pumpkin patch at Hall Farms in Grapevine. We had a good time. Kenyon ran and ran and ran.

Jules was a bit under the weather so she wasn't as active as she normally is, but Kenyon made up for both of them. She loved picking up the pumpkins and carrying them around. She slid in pumpkin roadkill. I think some other kid dropped a pumpkin and left the guts everywhere.

There were tractors to ride, photos to take and animals to visit. They had two potbelly pigs and rabbit that was as big as the pigs. If you go later in the evening there are hayrides, cider and a corn maze to get lost in.

We have been trying to get to this pumpkin patch since Kenyon was born. All in all it was a good way to spend the morning. A morning is always well spent when in the company of a good friend.

House Hunt Update

2009-09-27T13:49:00.008-05:00

Well for those who didn't read it on FB or hear us shouting from the roof top we have signed a contract on a house. We close Nov 6. We had an offer on another home, but our realtor, Barbara, emailed with a house that had just come on the market. We went to look on Wednesday evening with contract in hand...you know, just in case.

We signed the contract on the roof of her jag and she phoned the other realtor while sitting in front of our house. By Thursday at 3 pm we had agreed on a price. We got almost everything we had on our list. I wish the green space in the yard was bigger, but we did managed to get a heated POOL with attached hot tub. Fair trade I would say.

It is 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and 2400 square feet. The master is down, overlooking the pool. There is a game room upstairs along with the other 4 bedrooms. We will have a designated guest room and an office.

The kitchen has the dark cherry cabinets I like and black appliances. Pantry and 42 inch cabinets. I think it will more than meet my space issues. Just having a pantry will go along way.

Now the fun begins, packing! How we will get everything put in a box I don't know. If anyone knows some high school or college kids who might want to make some extra money helping schlep boxes let me know.

We had our first garage sale yesterday and made enough to cover one maybe two days of a rental truck. We will schedule the inspections next weekend. I don't anticipate any surprises. Overall the house is in good shape.

Did I mention I got my gas fireplace. Yippeee!

I am sure I will post again in the next two months as this process will no doubt provide plenty of blogging material.

Retro will always rule!

2009-09-16T20:21:00.005-05:00

So before I was pregnant I rescued a VINTAGE Fisher Price school house off the side of the road in Keller, complete with swings and teachers desks. This last weekend Kenyon discovered it and demanded to play with it. It had been sitting in the garage for over two years dusty and covered with God knows what.

Hank clean cleaned it as we say in preschool land and passed it to a new generation. Kenyon calls it her house and has used everything from the new little people which looks like an episode of Will Ferrell in Elf as he goes to school all the way to Little Pet Shop cats and monkeys as teachers and students.

It is nice to know that toys in which you played with 35 years ago have staying power. Retro Rocks!

P.S. we won't even discuss how grown up she looks in these pictures.

Poppy's Birthday Celebration

2009-08-26T19:40:00.008-05:00

It is hard to believe Dad's 70th was six weeks ago. I can't believe Labor day is just around the corner. What a summer it has been. Kenyon turned two, Sara is showing major signs of growing up and hitting puberty (Those of you with teens feel free to give some advice). My favorite Uncle passed away, Dad turned 70, we started house hunting, and managed to get a romantic weekend away sans kid. Whew....no wonder we are tired.

I could not have asked for a better party for Dad. Almost all the extended family was there, we missed Uncle L's family but we know grieving must take place. We had cake, a ton of food as only an Estes party can, and saw some fireworks. Here are a few pictures that captured the moments.

On Sunday morning Poppy made us all a huge Southern breakfast complete with homemade biscuits, thick sliced bacon and all the trimmings that made Pop the heart patient that he is today.

The weekend reminded me of the celebrations from my childhood, when no one was a stranger, there was always hot food off the grill, and the kids played outside until the fireflies came out. As I get older I wish for more of those moments for my own kids. With age you realize that these are the moments that sustain you in the hard times, give you a soft place to fall, and without even knowing it a true definition of what home and family really are.

So to my family I say I love you and miss all of you, especially you Uncle RL. May you rest in peace, Sailor.

Here's Looking at You

2009-08-26T19:37:00.002-05:00

Back in June Amy & Jules came for a visit. The girls had a great time wearing the potato head accessories. They are becoming good friends. Kenyon gets so excited when you tell her Jules is coming over. We were looking at pictures and she saw one of Jules and yelled"JULES!"

Such excitement in a two year old's life.

Go Climb a Tree

2009-08-26T12:00:00.000-05:00

If you ask Poppy he will only be too happy to tell the story how I got stuck in a tree. As the story goes, to my recollection, Mom & Dad couldn't find me (I wasn't even 5 probably). They looked everywhere. Well, they finally found me pretty high in the chinaberry tree. So it is told, Dad had to get the ladder and climb up to get me.

That story lays the ground work for the following pictures...Kenyon has discovered the beauty of sitting in a tree. The perspective that being in a tree provides to one's view to the world. Sara discovered this and now Hank is passing it on to Kenyon.

I still appreciate a good climbing tree. With age you realize it isn't as easy to get down as it used to be and I don't have my dad with a ladder to rescue me. Does it make me want to revisit that hidden desire to live in a tree, just like Miss Suzy did in my favorite kids book? You betcha!

Ice Cream. You Scream

2009-08-25T20:47:00.003-05:00

This is a little girl who won't eat her dinner. This is a little girl, however, that WILL eat her ice cream. With Sprinkles Please.

On her birthday we took her to get custard and she leaned over and kissed everyone and said she loved us, then leaned down and kissed her ice cream and told it she loved it. A girl after my own heart.

Rain Rain Go Away

2009-07-28T18:40:00.002-05:00

Kenyon discovered the joys of playing in the rain. It came a downpour on Sunday and Hank & the girls were out in it. Kenyon came in yelling it was "Raining, Mommy". After looking out the window and talking about it raining. hank opened the front door and K went out on the porch to "look" (Editorial comment: you see where this is going?)

K wound up dashing out in the rain and standing in the water coming off the roof. She was squealing and dancing and splashing. Utter delight that only a child can possess. She loved it and was totally soaked by the time we dragged her back in the house to get in the bathtub.

Put Your Big Girl Panties on...

2009-07-22T21:34:00.006-05:00

This is what a big girl looks like. Kenyon went for her two year appointment and the dr told me she is the size of a three -four year old. Tell me what I don't know. She weighs 34 pounds and is 36 inches tall. She has grown 5 inches in the last year.

She has her "heppie" (helper) chores she has assigned herself. She helps feed the dogs, carefully holding the food bowl with both hands trying not to spill. Same thing when cleaning her plate form the table. At first she would throw the plate in the garbage because that is what they do at school. Now it goes on the counter. She holds her plastic box while Hank picks the "matoes". Every Wednesday morning she collects the paper form the front yard when on her way to school. Finally she walks around the yard and point out the dog poop announcing "YUCKY!" so we can pick it up out of her way. She will be a CEO of a company, I know it because she is already managing all of us in the house - two and four legged.

Two weeks ago she was moved to the Preschool room at school - SIX MONTHS EARLY! Turns out she was more ready for it than me. I have quickly seen my sweet baby vanish and this strong independent young girl develop before my eyes.

In two weeks she can sing her ABCs every time she sees something with writing on it. She can count to 10 and when helped to 17. It is so cute when she says free and furteen. She sings patty cake almost everyday and coaches herself as to the things that she needs to do. If she wants milk we will tell her first bath then milk. Now she will sit around saying bath, milkie...or outside , no bath, milkie. Sometimes she will change the order putting what she really wants first to see if we are paying attention. I swear her vocabulary has tripled in two weeks. Now instead of "NO!" It's "I don't want it!"

The biggest growth has been the big girl panties. As of Monday she has been wearing panties at school. She had one accident on Monday, but has remained dry the last two. She naps in a pull up, but has been doing well otherwise. Yesterday when I went to get her the teacher told her to go potty before she left. She ran into the little bathroom, climbed up on the stool, dropped trow and sat down. I almost cried. She looked so grown up.

With or without me my baby is growing up. Every morning I am greeted with "Good Morning, Mommy how are you?" followed by a huge hug and a squeal and lots of kisses. That she will never be to old to do.

Dinosaur Valley

2009-07-21T18:21:00.006-05:00

Sunday we went to Dinosaur Valley in Glen Rose. It was hot but fun. The river was WAY down. Halfway across you could stand up and walk. On the upside Hank was able to get some good shots of footprints that are normally covered. Hard to believe two years ago the camping trip to DV was cancelled due to flooding.

Kenyon had a great time. It was her first time in a large body of water. She loved her floatie and water wings. She thought she was hot stuff and didn't want anyone to touch her. IN the gift shop she picked up every dino and said "Look at this" over and over.

Of course we took the obligatory photos in front of the dinos. I was remembering back how many times we have taken photos with a varying assortment of kids over the years. It all started with Mom & Dad when we took Hunt & Roz to Fossil Rim and DV back in 1998. That was the summer it was 105 degrees and Mom had that damn mafia car that was black with leather seats. We had to sit on towels going through the animal park to keep our butts from burning.

Then there were camping trips, day trips and now Kenyon's first visit of many. It is nice to have a place that will hold family memories just like Concan and the Frio river hold for my sisters and me. Especially the trip when the Scamper almost slid into the river and Mom forgot the eating utensils. I think that was also the same summer that Mom sent Dad to take me to buy Kotex., But that is for another post.

Hunt, Roz, & Sara 2003

She is two!!!!

2009-07-10T18:21:00.005-05:00

Kenyon turned two this week. Can you believe it? It just seems like yesterday. We had just got the house put back together after the great flood of 2007. Hank was at NRH2O with the kids when my water broke at home no less than 1 hour after he left. I was two days shy of a scheduled c-section. Miss hardheaded breech baby decided Sunday was a better day to be born than a Tuesday. Besides, 7/08/07 sounds better than 7/10/07. I had a friend rooting for 7/07/07....but that would be too trendy for our Miss K.

So there I was couldn't get Hank on the phone. I am sure he couldn't hear over the 1000 screaming kids. So I called Tom & Lucy our ever reliable neighbors. Well Lucy called the police to get an ambulance to the house. I walk outside and there are seven cute (sorry honey) firemen, an ambulance and a ladder truck form the local fire department all ready to bring my bundle of joy into the world. I told them they we just glad it wasn't another water rescue from all the flooding that went on.

I refused a ride to the hospital to let them examine me. Being big as a house I had not be able to shave my legs. I had all of these June Cleaver thoughts of being having my makeup and hair fixed, legs shaved and cute PJs on to go get my baby. Should have known. That crap only happens in the movies.

So I rode with Tom and Lucy in Tom's new SUV to the hospital sitting on a huge stack of towels. I finally got in touch with Hank and he proceeds to tell me his mom's flight got delayed. I interrupted to tell him my news. Sorry, Jeannette, I thought that kinda trumped your flight issues. He immediately said he would get "these kids" (Sara & Samuel) home and meet me at the hospital.

So, less than two hours after I arrived in L&D we had a beautiful baby in our arms. Only after my poor husband saw all my innards lying on the table in the reflection of the surgical cabinet. Nobody should have to see that.

Ever.

Happy Birthday my Sweet Kenyon. Born two years ago 8.10 lbs. Today is over 34lbs and the light of our lives.

We go for her two year check-up next week. More on that later.

Its raining!

2009-06-15T09:54:00.001-05:00

In the last few weeks we have been getting huge downpours lasting for hours. On one had it has been good for the plants and grass. On the bad side the tomatoes have taken a beating. The storm this week had about four to 6 inches of rain and 70 mile an hour winds.

The sunflowers that Hank planted around the tomatoes helped, but even they got a whipping. They are so tall, well over the roof line of the house. Here is a picture I took of Hank working to repair the damage.

He is fighting off grub, among a vast array of bugs that are getting into the garden, but he is in his element. He is a lot like Poppy in that respect.

We are crazy....

2009-06-14T10:12:00.005-05:00

We have decided to strike while the iron is hot and start house hunting. The rates are low and many are trying to get just get out. So...I called up my fabulous realtor Barbara and got her on board. Next thing we knew we spent most of Saturday house hunting.

Kenyon did very well. She loved running through the houses that were empty. Of course she had a fabulous outfit to wear .

We did quite a bit of narrowing down. We figured out what was going to work for us and what wouldn't. We did find one house we are interested in so we will see if it works out.

We will keep you posted. I have to admit having an updated house is exciting BUT the thought of packing all of this mess up and moving makes me want to puke or go to bed for a week.

I know. I know

2009-06-14T09:40:00.004-05:00

It has been months since my last post and I have heard aobut it. WE have managed tomake it through finals and the beginning of summer school for hank. Thank goodness he is only taking one class this summer so he has more time to do the things he likes and some of the things that we have neglected.

One of the things we did was visit Erin and Chip over Memorial Day. We had a great visit, although much too shoort and too long in between. We went to the botanical gardens which Kenyon slept through most of it.

Roz joined us, but Hunter was working. Hard to believe he is old enough to work now. He will always be my little Huntie no matter how old or tall he gets.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T08:46:00.008-05:00

Hope the Easter Bunny made it to every one's door last night. We are hoping he left some extra fertilizer in our garden so our tomato plants will grow.

We had a huge rainstorm come in last night. It dumped quite a bit of rain on our yard that really hasn't dried out from the two previous storms over the last few weeks.

Anyhoo...Kenyon experienced her first real Easter Basket. She opened the eggs and announced, "OOOh Canny" Then promptly stuffed several jelly beans in her mouth and dropped the rest on the floor.

As you can tell they make a potato head for every occasion. We are now up to five adults and two baby taters. It has become an obsession for her parents. Kenyon just likes dumping all the pieces on the floor and sticking them up her nose. I think we will take a hiatus from potato buying unless they are the cooking kind.

Sara got a new wallet and an iTunes gift card for her iPod Nano that she has. And we added a new Littlest Pet Shop to her collection. She is not the proud owner of a hermit crab. Kenyon got her first LPS. It was a baby monkey. She opened it and started saying, "monkey" and making the OOOHHHH OHHOHH sounds while itching her sides like all monkeys do.

Both girls got matching wiener dogs that are dressed like hot dogs. they are pretty stinking cute and it supported the March of Dimes.

It was a good morning, but unfortunately the cloud of departure day is hanging over us much darker than the rain clouds.

Happy Easter to All! Watch out for the little brown eggs for they may not be junior mints or milk duds!

Stockyards Part Two

2009-04-11T18:17:00.010-05:00

Headed back to the Stockyards today for a frontier show. It was fun. Kenyon kept yelling "horsey" and pointing at the riders. She had a great time eating popcorn and clapping. She even got to pet the horses after the show. She wasn't too sure about that.

The show had singing cowboys, ropers and trick riders. Sara and I agreed we would have like to have seen some women riders. There were all men riders and one belly baring assistant that got the twig snapped out of her mouth by the bull whip. That is all I'm gonna say about that.

After the show we managed to time it just right to see the longhorns parade down Main St. They were HUGE with BIG FAT HORNS! Don't want to be on the receiving end of that.

To wrap up the day we went to Joe T Garcia's for dinner. Needless to say we are thoroughly stuffed with fajitas. Another great day.

Tomorrow is Easter and we are having a big breakfast since Sara will head to the airport at lunchtime. The week has gone by much too quickly....but then again it always does.

Her next visit will be for the month of July. She will be here to celebrate the firecracker bdays...Poppy, Kenyon and me.

Check Mate

2009-04-11T18:12:00.002-05:00

Hank and Sara headed over tot he TCC Northeast campus to play chess on the giant board. It was reported that a small group of smarty college kids were talking smack and giving pointers. One challenged Hank after he finished his game with Sara. Although Hank maintained his pride, the collegiate know-it-all had bragging rights to beating the "old guy"

Kenyon's playdate

2009-04-10T17:29:00.005-05:00

Since our anniversary was yesterday our friend Amy took pity and offered to babysit for Kenyon (Sara was her helper). She brought along Jules for the fun of it. Those girls had a great time. We got home just after 11 pm. Kenyon had fallen asleep watching Spirit just before we got home. She has never stayed up that late before!

By the time we got home Jules was still awake! Poor Amy. Kenyon managed to sleep until 6 am. That was the best we got this morning. Needless to say she was a bit of a bear trying to get her ready for school this morning.

Thanks, Amy! We had a great time at the Jubilee Theater in downtown Fort Worth. We even splurged on a 1/2 lb box of chocolates at a nearby chocolate factory. We brought a white chocolate armadillo home for Sara to take back to her friend, Tempe, as a "Howdy from Texas!"

It's A Zoo Out There....

2009-04-10T16:21:00.013-05:00

Wednesday was a beautiful day! We headed to the zoo. It was Miss K's first trip to meet the animals. We practiced her zoo animals sounds for a couple of days prior to the trip. We had a great time. I don't know what was more entertaining the animals or watching Kenyon's reaction. We finally gave in and let her out of the stroller, or "ro ro" as she calls it. She ran and ran and ran. Which means we ran and ran and ran.

Kenyon's favorites among many was the monkey's she kept pointing and saying "monkey" and then making the HOOHOO WHOOWHOO sound of a monkey. As we were leaving the monkey house she wanted "mo mo monkey"

We visited the parakeet house and fed the birds. Of all of the birds flying around the one that Kenyon and I wound up with had some kind of crusty eye disease or something. Hank, on the other hand, got to see a cockatil doing it with a parakeet. I kept waiting for the bow chicka chick a bowbow music to start playing. We didn't get a picture. And if we did I wouldn't post it. This is a family blog after all. Okay well yes I would have. It would be just too funny to not post.
Although Sara had been to the zoo several times and attended camp there last year she had fun too. She really wasn't bored in this picture, I just caught her mid-yawn. Or so that's what she said. We are approaching the stage where your parents just aren't cool anymore.

Other favorites at the zoo were the white tiger and the "tur-tils" (turtles) As you can see Kenyon was talking to the turtle. She kept calling him Tuck from Wonder Pets.

Being Spring love was definitely in the air, besides the parakeet love fest going on we did manage to see some lizard love.

All in all a good day was had by all. The adults decided four hours at the zoo was just enough time to get totally exhausted!

The Stockyards

2009-04-10T15:59:00.006-05:00

Tuesday we spent the afternoon at the Ft Worth Stockyards. We had a great time. Kenyon had her first experience with a Longhorn. Afterwards she kept saying in the most pathetic voice, "cow moo, cow moo..." It was so sad. Needless to say she came home with a toy longhorn. (Amy, I know you are giving the hook'em sign now)

Once we tore her away from the cow, we went to the cowboy
hall of fame. It was interesting. Tommy Lee Jones and the guy from Northern Exposure were inducted this year. They had a large collection of old wagons. Kenyon was excited to see horses. IT was all about "more horsey"

We will head back to the stockyards on Saturday for a wild west show. Sara did a report on Annie Oakley in school this year so we thought it would be fun to see what kind of tricks she had up her leather sleeve!

Hank found a book on the Buffalo Girls at Half Price Books. Sara was excited to read more about the trick shows of the west.

An Open Letter to My Husband On Our Anniversary

2009-04-09T05:00:00.006-05:00

Four years ago today I walked down the path to begin a new life with you. I chose you then and I get up every day and choose you all over again. You are my heart and my soul.

Today I pause to reflect on all the reasons I love you so much. I love you for the father you are. When you are studying and Kenyon runs up to you with a book you take the time to sit with her and read. You know that is a moment you won’t get back. I love when you and Sara sit at the dining table, heads together working on the latest electronics project. You are so patient explaining to her the wiring and why the green goes with the green.

I love you for being my best friend. You make me laugh until I have to run to the bathroom. When we act out the Three Stooges or when you don’t mind that I quote the Little Rascals I love you even more.

I love that you want to continue learning. I see how challenging it is to balance work, family, and school. You may not always feel you get it right, but you keep trying; I can see it matters to you. I admire that. Staying up late to study, quietly sneaking in bed trying not to wake me knowing you have to get up in a few hours and do it all over again.

I love that we share our thoughts on the world, what we want for our daughters, and how we can continue to nurture our family. You are a man who was meant to raise smart, responsible, strong girls to womanhood. You offer kindness and love tempered with toughness and savvy that will see them through the dark times. You are their compass.

I love that you garden. A willingness to plant the seeds and tend the crops is a direct correlation to our relationship. You get that it take time to build and nurture a life-long commitment. You remind me over and over again to be patient. Blooms don’t happen overnight. It warms me to see you walk the garden each morning or each night keeping vigil over the tiny seedlings' development. You are the sentry of our family; always on watch.

Your concoctions in the kitchen and in the garage demonstrate to me over and over an adventurous side that I often forget to explore. You remind me seriousness is overrated and to appreciate the thrill of the unknown.

As you stated when you proposed, it has not always been easy, but having you by my side has made the rough times smoother and the good times that much sweeter. Thank you for the love and understanding you so freely give unconditionally. I love you with everything that I am, and all that I have. I look forward to a lifetime of choosing you.

My love always,
Sue

Potty Training

2009-04-07T18:49:00.000-05:00

Kenyon is warming up to the idea of potty training. The other day she insisted on sitting on the big girl potty....

It is still hit or miss whether or not she wants to use the potty, but we keep talking about it. We know there is plenty of time and like her mom and dad she will do things at her own pace. In other words when she is darn good and ready!

Typical Sunday morning at the Johnson's

2009-04-07T06:35:00.008-05:00

Last week I took several pictures to capture a typical lazy day. It was nice not having to be anywhere or have anything pressing to do.

There was music time...

There were cartoons and time with Daddy....

As the day wore on there was popcorn. This was the first time Kenyon had popcorn. She couldn't cram it into her mouth quickly enough. She really liked trying to get the unpopped kernels in her mouth.

Off to the races

2009-04-06T20:21:00.003-05:00

Hank and Sara went to Kennedale to see Hank's co-worker, Curtis race cars. They had a great time. Kenyon & I stayed home because I had fears that we would get there and she would scream from the loud noise. She can't stand it whe the blender or vacuum runs. Go figure.

WEEEEEE!!!!!

2009-04-06T20:18:00.005-05:00

Sara is home and that means fun in the sun! Kenyon i sso excited to see her. they had a big time on the swings. Notice Kenyon has graduated to the big girl swing.

Anything big sis does little sis has to copy. We are very blessed that Sara, despite the 10 year age difference, loves to spend time with Kenyon.

A rose by any other name....

2009-04-06T20:13:00.003-05:00

My roses have begun to bloom. Gosh I love spring!

New Do....

2009-03-22T09:24:00.000-05:00

Kenyon has decided she is a ponytail girl. She loves for Miss Kim to put her hair up in a rubber band. I try it and she promptly pulls it out. Lucky for her I don't use those bands with the plastic balls on it like mom did.

They would slip and crack her on the knuckles. She would cuss and pull our hair tighter until she was mad as hell and we were crying. Whoever invented those must not have been a mom.

I remember when Hank would fix Sara's hair to take her to daycare. By the time I picked her up at the end of the day her pigtails were lopsided and halfway undone. I could always tell how good of a day she had by how messed up her hair was.

With Kenyon it is how messy is her shirt. Non of the other kids in her class seem to get near as dirty or have half the amount of sand in their shoes at the end of the day.

Birthday Party

2009-03-22T07:38:00.009-05:00

Yesterday we went our our friend Jule's second birthday party in Keller. The park where it was help was great! Everything was very low so we didn't have to worry about Kenyon careening down the slide and landing halfway across the park. She started yelling "fing, fing" before we even got out of the car.

She had a chance to spend some time the her friend Conor, and the Daddies got to talk military, and other stuff they like to talk about. We even got a few good pictures of the bday girl.

Not sure what is wrong with Kenyon but she won't eat bday cake. She will eat ice cream, chocolate, and an occasional cookie but not cake. I think she only licks the icing off the cupcakes at school. Now don't get me wrong, we don't give her a bunch of these teeth rotting sweets, so when we do it is a treat.

At Conor's party all she did was stick her fork in the middle of the cake and picked the whole thing up. Then she looked at me as if to say, "What now?" Maybe a love for sweets is something she skipped out on in the gene pool. Unfortunately her parents love a good dessert.

We are still working on how to drink out of a juice box. She finally gave up and took the straw out and just drank it out of the tiny whole in the top. Tilted her head back and squirted it in her mouth.

All in all she had a fun time was had by all.

A Dog's 15 Minutes of Fame

2009-03-21T20:52:00.000-05:00

Our dogs are famous. At work they did a article on employees and their pets. Naturally I had to write in and tell them what greyt dogs we had. The article came out and people kept talking about Finn & Sylvie for weeks afterwards. I even had people email to tell me about their greyhounds. There were a number of dogs mentioned in the write up but I felt ours were the most interesting. Anyway, I really didn't like the flow of the write up, I had practically written it for him but due to space he had to chop it up. So, here is what a bit of what I submitted.

How exciting that Finn and Sylvie will be famous! Finn is a retired racer who is almost 6 years old. He has been retired since 2005. When we adopted Finn, who raced in Massachusetts as Scotch on the Rocks, he was emaciated and had been turned over by his current owner. Not the owner who raced him. How he made it to Texas we don't know.

He was not leash trained and was very territorial about his food, but was familiar with other comforts of home. Many former racers don't know how to climb stairs are scared of ceiling fans, etc. When we adopted him from the Ft. Worth Human Society he was about 70 pounds, now he is about 86. He is all muscle. He is built for speed, loves to run especially in colder weather.

But he loves to sleep and is very lethargic after returning from a visit to the dog park. Currently there are about 10-15 greys that visit the dog park in North Richland Hills. When they are all together it is like standing in a herd of deer.

Finn is disciplined and will listen when you give him a command. Due to his size he cannot sit like other dogs. He has a very docile personality and will allow my toddler to climb all over him without moving a muscle. The other day she was using him as a step stool to climb on the couch. It did not phase him in the least.

Sylvie, on the other hand is the polar opposite of Finn. Eliza Dolittle to his Henry Higgins. She is not tattooed in her ears which means she never raced, and therefore never trained. No training = no discipline. She is more love hound than greyhound. She likes to be in your lap in some capacity. When my husband is in class in the evening she will sit and whine until he gets home if I don't give her what she considers an appropriate amount of love.

She was found wandering on the streets and brought to the shelter. She had a very deep cut on her paw. So much so that her tendon is damaged and her toes are now flat unlike other dogs curved toes. She still manages. We don't know if that is why she was released or if that happened while on the run. She is smaller than Finn, and other greys. She helps Finn adjust to being a dog and he tries to teach her to be more like a greyhound. There are days he looks at her as if to say, "Have you no breeding!"

Sylvie was skin and bones when we took her in and now the vet tells us she needs to lose 5-7 pounds! I tried to explain to the Doctor that Sylvie and my toddler are partners in crime. Sylvie does the clean up after Kenyon is finished eating, but unlike Finn she draws the line at allowing her to climb all over her. Sylvie likes to be the one who eats first, but Finn has to be the first one in the door coming from outside. He won't tell us when he needs to go outside, that is Sylvie's job to whine and bark until we wake up and let them out.

Sylvie sleeps on the furniture, steals cough drops, loves to chase cats and tries to outsmart the squirrels at the dog park. She only runs when SHE feels like it. She hates when it is cold because she has to wear the ugly coat and Finn gets the sleek racer coat. She has been known to refuse to get out of the car. She prefers to go person to person at the park to get attention rather than playing with the other dogs.

When she eats she always leaves a bit of food "between her cheek and gum" as a snack for later. We believe it is because while on the streets she did not know when her next meal would be. It is kinda gross. Their favorite game is fetch, but only in the house, never outside. When asked if good dogs need treats, Sylvie always gives and enthusiastic bark "yes", literally. Not a day goes by that they don't start and end the day with a good howl. Greys are known for pointing nose to sky and giving a good woooohooooo! Ours are no different. My husband gets in on the action and occasionally my toddler will give it a good woohoo try. It is a family affair.

Bottom line we love our greys; they are an important part of the family. They are a great conversation piece and being with them is like traveling with Rock Stars.

Hanging with my gnomies

2009-03-20T20:11:00.009-05:00

Erin, this one is for you....

Hank HATES gnomes. I mean Hates them. When we were getting to know each other one of his questions was "do you like yard art?" Little did I know then he really meant "Do you have gnomes in your yard?" If he had his way this is what he would do with all the gnomes of the world....A gnome Gitmo if you will.

Well, my sister Erin and her dear husband, Chip love to figure out what gets under your craw then they peck away at it much like a chicken pecking your eyes out. Since Hank's hatred for the little magical elf came to light they have torn pictures out of magazines and put them on the fridge, bought a gnome in a box at B&N bookstore, and wrapped a little garden gnome holding a Christmas wreath and placed it ever so gently under our tree one year. It has gotten so bad Hunter & Roz have begun texting pictures of gnomes to him. Dang kids and their unlimited texting. No disciple and no respect for their elders!

Jane, never to be outdone gave Hank a t-shirt for his bday that said the "Slowly the garden gnomes are stealing my sanity." Now Hank loves that shirt and wears it quite often. Never has a statement been more true.

There is a point to this, I promise. So, when I was PG we went to OKC to spend Christmas with the Miles gang. Hank, being good natured, bought three colorful garden gnomes and began hiding them in the least suspecting places around Erin's house. One was in the kitchen and I forget where the others wound up. Knowing Hank in the bathroom on the toilet.

This weekend Kenyon discovered the gnomes that had been tucked away in the garage for several years now. Hank pulled them out and let her play with them in the front yard. He called me outside so I could witness our child holding the gnomes by the tip of their pointy little heads and making them dance. Then she would gently push them over and say "night night" The third she would cradle in her arms and pet as if to get it to go to sleep.

She kept referring to them as "My babies". It was pretty sweet. But not sweet enough to leave them in the front yard for decoration.

I really don't know what he has against them? Travelocity has been able to make a go of having a spokesgnome. They are pretty cute, especially when they are trying to make you laugh at breakfast.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T06:00:00.003-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May you always have walls for the winds,a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,and all your heart might desire.

As you can see Mr. Potato Head and Tater Tot are big in our house. Kenyon has graduated to a medium-sized bin to keep her spud family in. We are up to four adults and two little spuds. She will sit in our lap and play and play. What is really funny is watching her trying on the hats and sticking the facial parts up her nose like she is trying to put them on her. It is hilarious!

From our house to yours have a green St. Patrick's day with lots of potato heads, corned beef and ale to cure what "ails" you!

Love,

The O'Johnson's
Hank, Susan, Sara & Kenyon

Pooh

2009-03-15T13:23:00.001-05:00

As I have mentioned in other posts Kenyon has taken a liking to Pooh. I got her a little Pooh bear at the consignment sale. Needless to say she has to hold it while she watches Pooh and friends. Hank was lamenting at the fact all cartoons are all computer animated now. I think he still secretly roots that Wylie Coyote will outsmart the Roadrunner. He needs to give up that dream, just like the one I have that the Big Wheel although making a an expensive comeback will EVER be as cool as it was the first time. I know I am old school.

We have been casually working on potty training with Kenyon. The other day she managed to 'pooh" in her potty. It hasn't happened since, but we keep trying. We are not totally committed to hard core training yet. I know our friend Amy has the colored marshmallows in the ready for their potty training weekend. I haven't decided what method we will take. I guess I should do some reading.

This is how we ride

2009-03-14T13:06:00.007-05:00

So, Kenyon is growing up so fast she already thinks she should be able to drive my car. She likes to jump out of her carseat the second the latch is off and dive in the front seat. She did that Thursday as if she was ready to go cruisin' Blvd. I guess when she is old enough to sneak out and take my car I should make sure the keys are well hidden. With a face this cute you would give her just about anything.

On the other hand, Gam, Pop, Jane, Everley, Jacey & Maeve are all piled in the new Traverse headed to visit Aunt Erin. Rozalyn's prayers have been answered. She got Aunt Jane to Okie country. I have already called the Edmund PD to warn them they are coming. Dad has loaded the ice chest like he is going to a third world country. Of course Erin will tell you it is hard to get some Epicurean delights across the Red River.

We met the group north of Ft Worth to get our ice chest filled with ribs, a huge bag of jumbo shrimp, and steam bags of Parisian carrots that I can only find at HEB.. I wish we had a HEB up here.

Leave it to Dad to outfit the brand new vehicle with a deer hauler on the back. It was either that or hook a trailer up to it and I think Mom would draw the line at that. She still holds delusions that it is HER vehicle. Ha.

Welcome Home, Sir

2009-03-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

We are throwing up a prayer of Thanksgiving this week. Hank's buddy from West Point, Mike, made it home from Iraq after 13 months. I know Teresa & Jack are beyond crazy happy that he has returned.

We are thankful he has come home to the "right side of freedom" as I posted on his FB (Facebook to you novices) wall. Hank still has friends in the fight to varying degrees and we continue to pray for the safety and well-being of not only our soldiers but their families as well.

We long for the day when the troops are home and the world is at peace. So to Mike, welcome home Major and thank you for your service. And to Teresa, Amen.

Ding Dong the Bratz are Gone!

2009-03-13T08:15:00.000-05:00

Women around the world can breathe a sigh of relief, Bratz dolls will be removed from the shelves, or so the legal ruling states. I can't begin to express my joy for that judge who ruled in favor of young girls everywhere. Unfortunately for me I have already had to explain to Sara why she is not allowed to play with, dress like, or want to emulate those floozies.

But other Moms will be spared from having "the talk" with their daughters, and I don't mean the talk accompanied by a school film that leaves you bringing Kotex home in a paper bag hoping that the neighborhood boys don't yank it out of your hand to play catch with it.

I mean the one that helps young girls learn what a reputation is and how it can get tarnished very quickly and unknowingly. The one in which you explain how a girl dresses is what people think of her. You wear short skirts and revealing tops and the next thing you know boys are trying to get you on the back of the bus during the band trip. No I am not speaking from experience.

I know these dolls are supposed to represent, exaggerated as they may be, a certain ethnic group. In my opinion(thank God my blog is not widely read because I would probably get hate mail) it doesn't do a very good job advancing the culture. If anything it digresses what many Latina women have worked for: beauty, grace, intelligence, and being a positive role model.

Our girls are being forced to grow up way too fast in a society that thinks it is cute to dress your six year old like a Barbie Mini-Me and parade them up and down a stage singing some awful 70s song with sexual innuendos that the kid knows nothing about but the Mom is trying like hell to capture her youth by the tail.

I have to put a plug in for the movie Little Miss Sunshine. It is a testament to just what we will put our daughters through in order to make our dreams come true. And how far should a parent go to support their daughter when you know they are on the road to disater. The final pageant scene is priceless and will leave those of us with a little bit of sense in our head standing up and cheering for the underdog.

I know it is a different world than when I was a kid, walking to school in the snow uphill both ways, but are we doing our girls and their future partners any service by teaching them that sex sells and beauty (distorted as it may be) trumps brains every time?

Okay I have put away my soapbox. Just don't ask me about the Disney Princesses.

Nana Came to Town

2009-03-12T14:50:00.002-05:00

Jeannette came to visit last weekend. She had not seen Kenyon since Christmas and was definitely seeing a different kid. Her vocabulary has expanded tremendously since moving over to Early Preschool at daycare.

On Saturday Nana came to yoga with me and then we stopped at Kroger where Kenyon had her first ride in the car grocery cart. She loved it, especially since she could reach all the candy at the check out counter. She is partial to icebreaker sours.

Jeannette managed to get Miss K to sit still to read some books. What else would a librarian do with a book collector? Kenyon must have at least 50 books. I told hank that I would rather stumble over books than step on Barbie shoes that get stuck in my foot. I don't care how good she looks at 50.

Notice her Pooh bear. Kenyon has developed a love for Poooohhh and Mo Mo, which is a good thing since it appears Jack from Jack's big music show on Noggin has been taken off the air.

Kenyon's Kitchen

2009-03-11T20:31:00.008-05:00

is open for business. I picked this cute kitchen up at a consignment sale for $15. When Kenyon saw it the following morning she let out this deep "Ohhhh" and spent the next 20 minutes playing with it, which we all know is like a year in toddler time.

She is getting bigger and bigger everyday. Some days too big for her britches. Literally. She is wearing a 2-3t in shirts and 24-2t in pants. I am grateful for the clothes that Aunt Jane and Neighbor Lori passed from their twin girls. We are covered with plenty of dresses and fun skorts.

Lori gave Kenyon a Mo Mo dress (Elmo) and loves to sleep in it and wear it over her PJ's. She also has two more Elmo outfits from Jane that are the next size up. It is funny how she has become attached to certain things. I had to hide a pair of sandals that were too big for her because she kept wanting to wear them. She even slept in one of them.

She loves a brown Gymboree sweater that she not only sleeps in but has dug out of the dirty clothes crusted with dried yogurt from the day before only to wear it to school. What can I say pick your battles. Hank said that the teachers have probably seen kids come to school with s@!t on them. I said fortunately we have never sent her to school like that. Now whether we have gone to work with s@!t on us is another thing.

Full Circle

2009-02-09T18:00:00.001-06:00

Funny how things come full circle and you don't even realize it until the moment has passed. Last night during dinner Kenyon put her black olives on her fingers. I grabbed my camera and was reminded how I used to walk around with all five of my fingers covered in black tips. Yummy.

She is truly my child.

If it has to do with olives, cheese, pasta or something sweet (which we try to limit) she is all over it. God help her.

Growing like a weed

2009-02-08T14:46:00.006-06:00

Today Kenyon is 19 months old. At her 18 month check up she was 34.5 inches and 30 pounds. I had to buy her new shoes this weekend in a size SEVEN!!!! She is now firmly in a 2t-3t in shirts and 24 months to 2t in pants. She is growing and changing so quickly everyday is something new.

She is now making two to three work sentences or phrases. We still can't understand about half what she says. When all else fails she resorts to whining and pointing. Slowly I am trying to wean her off her sippy cup. I am so sick of those things.

Kenyon woke up on Saturday and decided that she needed to be in the "ro ro" which turned out to be the stroller. How she started calling it that I have no idea. It isn't even a word we say to her with any frequency. She was fine with being pushed around then watching MoMo (seasame street) in it.

Not a Little Girl Anymore...

2009-02-08T14:24:00.011-06:00

Yesterday we transitioned Kenyon into her "big girl bed". We got a steal of a deal on Craig's List that is working perfectly for her bed. It is a top bunk that put on the ground is very low. We got a new quilt set and mattress and instant big girl room.

Here is Kenyon's first exposure to the bed, and her trying to get up on it. it took her a couple of tries. Then after a bit of rocking in the glider she was open to taking a nap on it.

Last night was another story. It was after 9 pm before she passed out only to wake up a few hours later because she rolled out of bed. She woke up a couple of more times before deciding 5 am was a good time to get up. We have put the baby gate across her door so if she opens it she still can't get out of her room.

First haircut....

2009-01-25T18:00:00.005-06:00

Snip, Snip,. that will be $16.95. Would you like to buy some product? I fell victim to the pressure. Kenyon's hair was beginning to look like a goat chewed on it. Endearing as it was she needed a trim. Unfortunately I suffered from wrong thinking as Hank likes to say, I didn't trust that I could stick a bowl on her head and trim it myself. After all it was good enough for me as a kid.

Of course I kept taking the scissors to my hair and whacking my bangs off so Mom kept having to cut it shorter and shorter. Anyway, last Sunday off we went to Cool Cuts for her first haircut. She did very well. She drove that red fire truck like she was going to a fire at Mrs. O'Leary's barn. I am glad it was attached to the floor.

She sat pretty still and watched Dora on the video while Kim trimmed her hair. Afterwards we got a cute Polaroid (even though I took 20 pictures and video) set inside a nice commemorative card along with a few clippings of hair.

When I got up to the register to pay Kim expertly handed me some leave in conditioner that smelled like apples. She said, "This is the detangler that will help her hair." In my mind as I forked over a total of $29 bucks for a haircut on a 18 month old I am thinking, "Did I say I wanted conditioner?" Hell, I don't even pay that much for a cut and a eyebrow wax.

I guess I was overwhelmed by the moment; standing there watching my baby morph into a little girl right before my eyes. Hank was seated a bit of a distance a way came over to me as I was getting misty-eyed. I wistfully said she wasn't a baby anymore. He said in his ever practical way that burst my bubble on a regular basis, "It is just some hair". Ah, men....it will take him until she is 16 to realize she isn't a baby anymore. Just some hair, yeah right.

The Art of Cinnamon Toast

2009-01-25T12:00:00.001-06:00

We had cinnamon toast this weekend. It was good, but not as good as Mom used to make. I was trying to educate Hank on the finer points of toast making. To make the best cinnamon toast in the world I have decided you HAVE to have a gas oven. Electric does the job, but the sugar doesn't form that crust that cracks when you bite into it. That is why my next house WILL have a gas oven.

At the Pasadena house growing up we had a huge gas oven with the separate broiler pan. Now that was an oven! Whether steak, burgers or toast the flames would hit just the right way...perfection.

When making cinnamon toast don't go spend a bunch of money on artisan bread, just plain old sandwich bread is best. IN my youth I am sure it was white bread, but now that fiber and heart health is important I use whole wheat.

Next you have to have a good thick layer of margarine. Butter is too high brow for the job. Besides it is hard and breaks the bread. Then you have to sprinkle an even layer of cinnamon on. Don't go to the field of Africa or wherever cinnamon comes form to get it a 69 cent bottle from Walmart will do. Not too much or you get bitter toast which only rivals bitter beer face.

Now for the most important step....The Sugar. Plain white sugar is the only thing that will work. The sugar should be thicker than the cinnamon, sprinkled evenly, but not so thick that the butter won't mix with the sugar. You have to have the perfect balance and blend.

Don't leave it in the broiler too long or you will have scraped toast, which is another post in itself (sorry Mom). Leave it just long enough to turn golden brown on the edges, and with crisp, shiny sugar crust in the middle.

To this day cinnamon toast remains a household favorite. It reminds me of the comforts of home. It can warm the coldest morning. It makes a kid of any age feel special. I remember the first time I made it for Sara, having never had cinnamon toast before, after one bite you would have thought I gave her the moon and the stars wrapped in the sun. A number of years later she still lights up when I ask if cinnamon toast and hot chocolate is good for breakfast this morning.

This morning Hank walked into the kitchen after I pulled the toast out of the oven and said, "Something sure smells good!"

Just like my mom used to make. Thanks mom.

You know you are a mom when....

2009-01-24T20:47:00.003-06:00

Despite carrying my beautiful child for almost 40 weeks it took me a while to feel like a "mom". I have had a few milestones that have reminded me that I am now the person that will forever be referred to as "Momma momma momma momma"

You know you are a mom when you are at work only to looked down at your clothes noticing the dried formula caked on your shirt and pants.

You know you are a mom when you are watching on the daycare cam the first week in the toddler room and she is sitting at the table not doing anything (reading, playing or talking) for over 15 minutes. Just sitting there. It is all you can do not to grab your purse and run out the door to sweep her up in your arms to tell her it will be okay. Instead you sit at your desk and try not to cry for her and for you.

You know you are a mom when you reach in your robe pocket and find a rock that made its way from the outside walkway and into her mouth. You swiftly executed the pry and sweep method of rock removal.

You know you are a mom when at the end of the day you see her crusty face light up as she runs open arms to you from across the room and you know that THIS is where you want to be.

Here Comes Santa....Ahhh, No.

2008-12-07T15:24:00.007-06:00

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

2008-12-04T20:25:00.005-06:00

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 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...

2008-11-30T19:23:00.007-06:00

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....

2008-11-26T11:26:00.005-06:00

And this....

And most especially this......

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

Brush with Fame

2008-11-18T20:00:00.004-06:00

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...

2008-11-17T20:00:00.002-06:00

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

2008-11-16T20:07:00.010-06:00

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!

2008-10-24T14:06:00.007-05:00

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

2008-10-22T11:42:00.010-05:00

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

2008-10-20T11:50:00.006-05:00

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

2008-04-13T19:04:00.005-05:00

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

2008-03-17T08:17:00.013-05:00

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....

2008-02-21T20:46:00.007-06:00

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!

2008-02-14T21:14:00.001-06:00

2008-01-31T19:47:00.000-06:00

We had a milestone this week. Miss K began to crawl. She is still tentative, but she has figured out if she puts her hands out, picks them up, and moves her knees she just might get somewhere. Up until now she would get up on her hand and knees and rock back and forth all the while whining because she wasn't going anywhere.

This was promptly followed by collapsing face first on to the carpet in disgust. The dogs are not too sure about her new found independence. As you can see from these pictures they are in for a merry chase.

We are all still fighting the respiratory crud. Hank & I have reduced ourselves to hanging over Kenyon while we give her breathing treatments just to get a bit of steam. I swear we are all just passing it back and forth.

I lost the first weigh in for the Biggest Loser. Hank lost 3 pounds and I lost two. It isn't fair that he can finish off the last of a carton of Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream and still lose weight. Damn men and their fast metabolisms. It is wasted on a species whoe doesn't care how many months pregnant their beer gut makes them look. He is still trying to decide what my task is going to be, but if he doesn't hurry up time will run out. Our next weigh in is Monday.

Mom & Dad will be here on Saturday. They will not believe how big our little one has gotten. As of Monday she is 20 pounds and change. She will be walking before we know it.

We are very excited that Nana will be joining us in February for Sara's next visit. She hasn't seen Kenyon since she was three weeks old. I know it has been very difficult admiring Miss K from afar. Don't worry she had been saving some special kisses just for you, Nana.

On a serious note, please pray for my friend Gayle and her family. Her sister is going through a medical issue and could use a special thought or small prayer. Our friend Mike made it back from Iraq this month and will return in March, and last we hear Rob is scheduled to be deployed in February. Please keep the soliders that you know and those you don't in your thoughts and prayers. Pray for peace in the region and peace of mind for the families.

The baby count rises, Jess had her baby boy, Aiden. Julie is down to her last two weeks. Erin (not sister Erin, bookclub Erin) has a few weeks left as does Amy (cousin Amy, not bookclub Amy) That will leave Pam and Beth. By the time Pam delivers everyone in booklub will have had a baby since last January. We joke that we should write a book called, "The Bookclub Girl's Guide to Getting Knocked Up" We could have all kinds of literary references to getting PG, delivering, and parenting. I think we have something here.

I am the Walrus....

2008-01-21T17:17:00.000-06:00

No teeth for Kenyon, yet, but she loves using her binky as a chew toy. She cracks me up with the different ways she finds to cram that thing in her mouth. She will stick her thumb all the way in the nipple part and carry it around that way. I don't mind because she doesn't drop it so much. The other day, she was playing on the floor with it stuck on her thumb and every once in a while she would stop and stick it in her mouth.

Hank & I did our first weigh in for the Biggest Loser. I have bookclub tonight so I told him he could have the rest of the ravioli for dinner, he accused me of trying to make him lose the contest. I told him whatever.

We were both off today so we went to the movies and saw P.S. I Love You. It was a very sweet movie. It was the first movie we went to see since the 8th month of my pregnancy. We went to childbirth class and then went to see Knocked Up. It was a baby themed day.

Kenyon is getting to be mobile, we need to babyproof the house. Jackson gave us a test over the weekend. She still can't sit up on her own, but she will lean on one hand and play with the other. It is funny. She has also discovered Hank's hat. She loves trying to grab it off his head.

Our girl has learned to stand on her own feet. Hank helped her stand and she hangs on to the edge of the Pack n Play. She is trying so hard to get moving and shaking well before we or the house is ready for her to be mobile. Our house is a death trap right now.

Uncle Omar and Aunt Emma gave Kenyon her A&M t-shirt for Christmas. I managed to get a snap shot of her wearing it for the first time, but then she had a blow-out and I had to change her.

Hank thought it was kind of funny that she pooped on A&M.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-20T19:29:00.001-06:00

Better late than never. I can't seem to get ahead of the game this month, I can't believe January is inching to the end of the month. This year I am committed to kicking the blog up a notch, so I am going to try out a few new things. One of them is adding slide shows for certain groups of pictures. You are looking at my first slide show. This is Kenyon on Christmas day rolling around with some of her new toys that Santa brought her.

So much has happened since our Christmas post. Miss K has started cereal. She caught on quick to swallowing and spitting stuff out. We are adding a new fruit or veggie every Saturday. So far sweet potatoes and green beans are a hit. Bananas, not so much. I hope to reintroduce those later and fake her out.
Our little girl is not so little. She turned 6 months on January 8 and went to the pedi dr. to get h.er shots. She cried, but recovered quickly. She is 19 pounds and 27 in long. Both in the 95%. Her head is 17, and is in the 72%. We have got to transition her to her big girl car seat soon because I can barely lift her when she is in her infant carrier. We are debating price vs. safety ratings before we decide which ones to buy. We will buy two, one for each car. It is easier than hauling the car seat in and out of the vehicles everyday.
I started Weight Watchers at work on Dec 17th. I made it through Christmas with minimal damage. As of last week I have lost 7.2 pounds. I still have a ways to go, but I take it a week at a week at a time. I have begun working out (again) and am feeling better already. There is a group of us at work all doing WW in some variation, so we have started a support group. I told them I was able to lose the baby weight by the time I got back to work, so now I am moving on to the newlywed weight and then will have to tackle the fell in love weight.

Hank & I are launching our own rendition of the Biggest Loser. We got the idea form my friend, Holly. The winner for the week picks a task or chore for the other person to complete before the next weigh in. We both agreed NO SABOTAGING! No hauling B&J ice cream in the house.

This weekend Mike and Teresa Birmingham came to visit. Mike & Hank went to school together in New York. Mike is still in the service and will be deployed soon. Please keep him (and Teresa) in your prayers. We had a great visit with them along with their sweetie pie little boy, Jackson. He would come up to me and wrap his arms around my leg and smile up at me. Melt your heart. No wonder boys have their moms boonswaggled. As you can tell from the photo it is difficult to tell who is the kid and who is the 35 year old.

Well, you are now caught up on what the Johnson's are up to. Here is one more picture from Christmas. So, I know the new year has technically past, but you could look at it as I am early for the Chinese New Year!

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays From the Johnsons!

2007-12-23T15:57:00.000-06:00

All, as we prepared to go into the final push for the holiday I count my blessings that have been bestowed on my family this year. The Universe and Creator reminds me that to everything there is a season. Over the last year we have lost Aunt Granny, Granddad, and Mr. Gill, a second Grandfather to Hank. As these special people have been called to do work elsewhere, there have been many births this year and more to come in the first part of 2008. Everything eventually comes full circle. God doesn't take one that he doesn't replace his angel with a another.

I am sad that Aunt Granny and Granddad did not live to meet Kenyon, but I am very grateful that Poppy (Dad, Ralph, Uncle Ralph depending on your relationship to him) stuck around to meet his Rose Petal. I still laugh about standing over his bed, he was asleep and unable to speak due to the respirator, when he awoke and nearly had a heart attack. He said I scared him with my 8 month pregnant belly. I had a green t-shirt on and he described it as an Easter Egg. I told him he had used up about 4 of his nine lives. Thank the Lord Heaven wasn't ready for him yet. When it is, I am sure it will be conditional on whether he can BBQ in Heaven.

Since we won't see many of you for the holiday, we wanted to spread a little cheer as only we can do. Here are a couple of Christmas carols modified to fit our family.

Finny the Long-Nosed Hound Dog
(Sung to the tune of Rudolph)

Finny the long nosed hound dog
Had a very runny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows

All of the other hound dogs
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Finny
Join in any hound dog games

Then one frosty Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
Finny with your nose so straight
Pull my sleigh so I won’t be late!

Then how the hound dogs loved him
As they barked and howled with glee
Finny the sleigh pulling greyhound
You’ll go down in history!

You know how sibling rivalry is, so here is one for Sylvie:

Sylvie’s Bells
(Sung to the tune of Silver Bells)

In the bedroom, in the living room
Dressed in Sylvie’s dog style
In the air there’s a feeling of mischief
Toilet paper
Candy wrappers
Making the old greyhound smile
And from the dog’s bed you’ll hear….

Sylvie’s bells, Sylvie’s bells
Christmas treats for the greyhound
Ring a ling, hear them ring
Tells us a bad dog’s on the way

Hear the candy crunch
See the dog’s bunch
They’re as guilty as sin
And above all this bustle you’ll hear

Sylvie’s bells, Sylvie’s bells
Christmas treats for the greyhound
Ring a ling, hear them ring
Tell us a bad dog’s on the way

Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Solstice, and of course Happy New Year!

Love & Peace,
Hank, Susan, Sara, Kenyon, Finn & Sylvie

Birthdays, Boogers, and Bald Trees

2007-12-22T19:54:00.000-06:00

Okay, it has been a crazy week or so. In my last post I said I thought we are in the clear as far as the RSV and Kenyon.....WRONG! Hank took her to the Dr. last Thursday and came home with a breathing machine (sorry, I don't think I can spell nebulizer) So we have been giving baby girl breathing treatments. It really is the saddest thing. I have to sing Old MacDonald to get her to focus and not pull the mask off. Poor baby has a bit of a chest rattle, but the amount of snot coming out of her nose has subsided.

Problem is, I got a major sinus infection/cold on Friday of last week, just in time for Hank to leave for Georgia. So, Kenyon and I spent the last weekend in our pjs, blowing our noses, and watching the Hallmark channel.

Hank had a great time in Georgia celebrating Sara's 10th birthday. She was very appreciative of Hank coming. Her party was at the skating rink in Griffin. He called me from the party. he was hanging out on the wall, I asked if he has his big comb in his back pocket. Ahhh, that brings back memories, Pink Floyd blaring, the sound of the wheels of your skates squeaking as you sped around the corners. These days they use in-line skates.

Hank managed to snap a few photos of Sara & her posse.

I finally finished shopping for the two families that we adopted at work. Between them they have 9 kids ranging from 2 months to 9 years. I did manage to get some of my own shopping completed while marking off the list for the kids.

We have had the Christmas tree up for two weeks, but it has been absent of ornaments. I did buy an ornament at work for Sara and it hung on the tree. We finally got it decorated this week.

Congratulations goes out to our neighbors, who became grandparents yesterday. Tom's daughter Mina and her partner Ben had a little girl by c-section. McKenzie Marie was 5lbs 13 oz. Mom and baby are doing well. We will go visit tomorrow if Mina is up to it. If you remember Tom and Lucy drove me to the hospital when I went into labor just 5.5 months ago. I told Mina she owed me for breaking them in. We had dinner with the four of them on Thursday night. Kenyon was able to ride in her stroller without the carrier. She thought she was such a big girl.
Kenyon will be introduced to cereal in the next week. Yesterday, she tried to grab my sandwich and cheetos off my plate at lunch yesterday. She and her Daddy came to visit me for lunch. She impressed everyone with how alert she was. She had a great time visiting, but fell asleep before Hank got her to the car.

Well, we all are on the road to recovery and are looking forward to our trip to Gtown on Wednesday. Stay tuned for our special Christmas Wishes blog. It should be posted tomorrow.

A Day Late and Several Hours Short of Sleep

2007-12-09T20:16:00.000-06:00

The previous post was begun yesterday, but finished tonight. So our big trip to Wally-world was this morning (Sunday). Erin & Mom found this very funny that we were in WalMart at the butt-crack of dawn....literally. Do you know what kind of people go to WalMart at 3 am? Rough looking people. We fit in because we both had scary hair and I thought were were just going for a drive so I didn't even put on a bra. Good thing I had on a coat, or I would have fit in too well with the other patrons. I might have had to take up a 2 pack a day habit.

Here is a picture of happier times, we will get back there some day......probably tomorrow, but tonight it seems very far away.

Teething Stinks!

2007-12-08T19:41:00.000-06:00

Kenyon is having a rough weekend. She is teething and her head is on fire. Poor thing we are having to put a cool washcloth on her head. It seems to help. No sign of teeth, but they sure are hurting her. I was afraid that she had RSV, which is going around the daycare, but so far we are in the clear.

She seems to be doing better today, but not sure if we will get her to daycare tomorrow. She isn't as hot headed, but still not feeling her normal vibrant self. Last night she woke up around midnight and finally at 2 am we put her in the car. She promptly fell asleep so we stopped at WalMart to get our grocery shopping out of the way. That place looked like a bomb went off. You couldn't even get down the aisles in the toy section. It did give us a chance to check out the toys without running over kids lying in the floor crying.

Of course she woke up the second we got home (3:30 am) she slept in Hank's arms on the couch and then I took over about 6ish and she slept on my chest for the next couple of hours. Needless to say we are all a bit groggy around here.

Today it was cold and wet, but that did not stop the dogs from driving us crazy wanting to go outside. Hank finally gave in and bundled them up for a trip to the dog park. Fin was in heaven. He is from that cold weather back East. Sylvie on the other hand was pissed. She had to wear the big orange parka, while Fin go to wear the stylish, aerodynamic jacket. Hank said she wandered into the middle of the dog park and sat her butt down and didn't move. He even had to go out to get her to leash up to head home. Her tail was so far between her legs it looked like it had been cut off. You can tell from these pictures that she has the hang dog look about her. She reminds me of the little brother on A Christmas Story, the one with the big snowsuit on that he could not move, so he fell over.

Well, I got nothin' else. Too tired to even do the work that I should have done this weekend. Gonna head to bed before I am robbed of sleep for a second night in a row.

Christmas is coming....let's hope only the goose is getting fat.

2007-12-07T20:05:00.000-06:00

As promised I am giving a list of things the girls may want or need for Christmas.

Sara

Hoodie - XL or Womens M/L
Icoaster - is it made for magnetix
Webkins

Marine Tycoon (computer game)

Dragonology or Mythology books (check with Erin)

Hair Straightener (like a curling iron) - She used one at Kaley's house and she looked great!

Kenyon

Anything she can chew or gnaw on.
Socks - 6-12 months

Short /long-sleeved onsies - 6-9 months solid colors

Jacket (not a coat) - 6-9 months, not pink

Bibs that have a plastic backing on it

Plastic bibs

Sleepers, footed - 6-9 months

Soft blocks

Stacker s(rings, cups, etc)

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Piggy Bank

Fisher Price Nativity (Touch & Feel if you can find it)

OR any other Fisher Price Little People set

Chatter phone

Hair-raising experience

2007-12-05T20:52:00.000-06:00

Well, our girl is learning to love being in the bathtub. Her hair is finally getting long enough in the front to actually stick up. She sits in her little chair in the tub and kicks her legs and splashes. I can't wait until she can sit up and we can really get down to the business of taking a bath. She loves to have water poured over her with our bath time pitcher. I just have to watch her or she will pee on the towel before I get her in the tub. Hee!

Aunt Erin has been after me to take a picture of her feet. I guess she is wants to be able to visualize what the look like. I know she would give anything to bite her little toes. Kenyon is ticklish on the bottom of her feet so whenever I try to clean between her toes she will curl them under so you can't get to them. Hank told her she had so much toe jam she could make a PBNJ sandwich. Yuck!

She has been getting adjusted to her highchair. She loves it when I pile her babies on it so she can grab them and beat them on the tray. Poor LulaBelle, Aloha Monkey, Frog Prince, and don't forget Chicken. Frog Prince had to be emancipated from the exersaucer because he kept pissing Kenyon off. He was dangling from a plastic rod. She couldn't quite get the right angle for optimum gnawing. They get along much better since he has been freed. Problem is the dogs like him much better as well.

Last week was filled with milestones for the family. Everley turned 8 and I hear had a rip roaring party. Sadly, Aunt Granny passed away. She was a great lady. I agree with Jeannette when she said it marked the end of an era. I miss her and I know Hank & Sara do as well. Although we weren't able to make it to Griffin for the funeral, Jeannette represented us well. She was able to spend Monday morning with Sara's class discussing quilting. She even brought a family quilt to show & tell.

Speaking of dogs, they are on restriction. They have chewed up both of the remotes. When I say chewed up I mean it. The Tivo remote was split open with the guts scattered over the living room floor. Sara would have loved seeing that. She was taking her calculator apart on the bus the other day just so she could see what it looked like inside. That is her father's doing, they have been doing too many electronic experiments together.

Here are a few more gratuitous pictures of Special K.....

That is all for this entry. Christmas lists coming next....

What a Difference Four Months Makes

2007-11-26T20:06:00.000-06:00

So I thought I would throw you all a bone and give you two posts in one day. I took a picture of Kenyon with Gam & Pop this week. When I was saving it to my laptop I saw another picture of her at just a few weeks with the gparents. She has grown so much. It is hard to believe that she was ever that small. Here skinny little bird legs are a thing of the past. She has discovered her hands, looking at them and then cramming them into her mouth until she chokes. She has figured out there are things going on below her waist. She tries to "help" change her diaper. She grabs her feet, although she hasn't tried to get those in her mouth. Oh, to be that flexible.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder.....

2007-11-26T19:21:00.000-06:00

I know, I know, I have been absent for a while. Trust me Sister Erin has not let me forget it. She calls daily begging for pictures of HER baby. So here they are...... We had a great visit for Thanksgiving week with Mom & Dad and Sara. Of course we stuffed ourselves with turkey and ham. I didn't realize how much I had missed Dad's smoked turkey. He had ruined me, I tell you. I told him he will have to give someone his secret before he kicks the bucket. After that some discussion ensued about who would be the likely candidate to inherit the Master's secrets.

On to why you are here....pictures of Miss K. She got a new hat for the winter and is absolutely adorable. She is getting to be the big girl. Wanting to wake up in the middle of the night and have a party. We try to contain her wild party girl ways, but the girl has gotta sing. She will lay in her bed singing to herself so she won't fall asleep if that doesn't work she whines. eventually Mom & Dad win out, but now without some tears being shed, and I don't mean Kenyon!

Kenyon joined us at the table for Thanksgiving. She was sitting in her new highchair like a big girl. No solids yet, but she is practicing.

As you can see from the first picture, Sara is getting very grown up. She will be 10 on the 15th. Double digits, it is hard to believe considering she was 4.5 when Hank & I first started dating. She is hoping for a skating party in Georgia. Hank will fly out there on the 14th to spend her big day with her. She will return on the 26th for Christmas and will be with us until January 6. I have been trying to get her to pin down what she wants for the holidays and her birthday. I will post wish lists for the girls in a separate post. Sizes as well.

Fallin' Towards Turkey Day

2007-11-10T15:37:00.000-06:00

Fall is in the air, finally. Kenyon and I took a nice long walk around the hood today. On the way out of our front door I had to stop and take a moment to look at Lucy & Tom's red maple tree. It was alive with color. I love it when the leaves change. One day they are full and green, then you come home from work and the leaves are yellow and slowly drifting towards the ground. I told Hank I could sit under the tree all day and just watch the leaves. He then told me to go ahead and broke out into a sorry rendition of Sheryl Crow's "If it Makes You Happy". I had to laugh.

Kenyon has been hard at work in daycare and looking fabulous all the while. Next week is the fundraiser for Make a Wish Foundation part of it they will have special art work for sale that the kids made. I can't wait to see Miss K's. She has already painted pumpkins and leaves as well as a paper plate turkey with two different colored eyes.

Miss Peep has started working on her Christmas Wish List. I'll get that posted soon. I have asked Sara to get her list together as well. I nixed the pet rat. I told her that would be for her Georgia list.

Sara will be here a week from today. Hard to believe the year is almost gone. We are planning to stay around here for Thanksgiving, but will probably head to g-town somewhere around Christmas/New Years. Sara will be here from Dec 26 until Jan 6. I will be off the entire time. I am looking forward to it.

Little girl is getting quite squirmy. She wiggles all over the changing table, only tolerates the bouncey on occasion, ad goes to town in her saucer. I figure she will just stand up and walk one day because she is tired of laying around.

A Rose by any other name....

2007-11-03T20:10:00.000-05:00

Kenyon continues with her fall look by adding a crocheted ribbon hat adorned with a sassy rose. This paired with her Gymboree puppy dog jumper and her pink suede shoes, she is ready for an exciting day filled with tummy time, napping and a bottle or two, or three or four...... Being a fashion plate at daycare can be a bit dangerous. This week some little baby decided she wanted Kenyon's shoes and tried to pull them off of her on the way to the changing table. If it isn't her shoes they are all trying to steal each others pacifiers. It is tough social structure all ready. I guess she is getting prepared for school.
Hank is off hunting this weekend so it is just me and Miss Peep. Today we played, napped, and went for a walk in the hood. Already trying to protect herself from the paparazzi, Miss K is forced to wear shades to avoid her public.

Kenyon will turn 4 months on the 8th. it is very hard to believe that she is already doing as much as she is. She is rolling all over the place. She can bring herself to a half sitting position, and sits up on your lap with minimal assistance. Sara will be here in less than two weeks. I am looking forward to seeing the two o f them playing on the floor.

I captured this photo of her at daycare, trying to sit up. It is a bit grainy, but you get the idea.

Too Sassy for my Diapee......

2007-10-27T20:13:00.000-05:00

Well, Fall has finally arrived up here and Kenyon has been styling in her new wardrobe. She is so cute, I just want to eat her sometimes. Her cheeks are ripe for kissing. Our neighbor, Lucy, has been keeping our girl furnished in new outfits. Both times she has arrived at our door with outfit in hand uttering the words, "I couldn't resist". Kenyon's Halloween ensemble is sponsored by Lucy.

Happy Halloween!

We had plans to make it to the pumpkin patch, but Kenyon fell asleep before we could get there. So, we will try to get some costume pictures on Halloween.

Friday we went to her almost 4 month check up. She got 4 shots which she did not like a bit. She is still hovering at 15 pounds and is in the 95% for her age group as she is for her length. She is in the 72% for her head.

This week Fin joined Poppy in the near death experience club. He went in for a routine teeth cleaning and had a severe reaction to the anesthesia. It was touch and go for a while, but he pulled through with all of his faculties in tact. Sylvie doesn't understand why she can't go to the dog P A R K (we have to spell it so they don't get excited). Fin won't be able to go for another week.

As you can see, I have made some changes to the blog. Since I started this I have become addicted to blogging and reading others' blogs. I have added some of my favorite. I have to blame my friend, Jess for my new found addiction. Her blog is We Like It. On there she has many blogs and websites listed that I have fallen in love with. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Stay tuned more to come.

Smiles to melt your heart.. :)

2007-10-22T12:47:00.000-05:00

As you can see our girl has no shortage of smiles. She has begun to giggle and blow bubbles in the last week. She loves to lay on the floor and roll around. She is working towards reaching for her toys.

My favorite milestone this week happened in the nursery, I was feeding her right before bed and she reached up and touched my face. If that doesn't melt your heart I don't know what will.

We put in an appearance at her daycare carnival this week. She wasn't very impressed as it was her bed time. We used it as an excuse to try out her chickie costume. She did pretty well except she was starving so instead of collecting eggs with our little chick we wound up milking her, so to speak. As I was dressing her I begin to sing the song about the little chickie that wouldn't lay an egg so I poured hot water up and down her leg, the chickie hollered and prayed and layed a hard boiled egg. Well, Hank had never heard the song. he thought it was weird.

We are still hoping to make it to the pumpkin patch this weekend. The plan was to make it this last weekend, but there always seems to be so much to do. We did go out on a family walk on Saturday. The dogs kept looking for any driveway that they could turn in so they could quit walking. I put Kenyon's little pink sunglasses on her and off we went in the stroller. She managed to get in a good nap and look stylish while doing so.

She has really caught on to her exersaucer. She was going to town this morning jumping up and down smacking the pieces. See the princess and her royal court (the saucer has a royal theme). She still has to have a blanket helping her stay propped up, but she loves playing with the toys. Notice the princess had on her royal bib while her royal court stood at attention.

Ahh crap, I mean Audad

2007-10-13T14:30:00.000-05:00

Well, we have a new member of the family, one audad sheep. it is hanging in Sara's room finally. It resided under the dining table for several weeks. Our neighbor, Tom, helped Hank get it on the wall. Needless to say there was much backslapping going on afterwards. See the trophy pictures.
Kenyon is finally over her virus. She is growing like a weed. Hank took her to the Dr. this week because of her low grade fever. He said it was normal and not to worry. I told Hank that her fever was because she was so smart her brain was working overtime. I can't help it our baby is a genius. She had a big week at school. She got to ride in the buggy outside and got to sit in the exersaucer. Today I packed away her playmat as she rolls around too much and has lost interest. So, she has graduated to her exersaucer. I'll get some pictures posted of her in it soon.

Miss K is rolling around like she has been doing it forever. She definitely has places to go and things to do. Here is a series of pictures:

Kenyon's school pictures came back and were awful. There was one pose with her shoulders up around her neck and a big frown on her face. My picture that I posted previously was way better. We decided to keep our $50.

Hank managed to get a picture of Kenyon and me earlier this week. She was wearing an adorable dress I picked up at a consignment sale.

Finally, I selected her Halloween costume.....our girl will be a baby chicken. Her school has a fall festival next week. I will post pictures, don't worry. There will always be more pictures.

Pooh & I don't mean Winnie

2007-10-04T18:59:00.000-05:00

Well, we are on round two of the stomach virus. This time it is coming out the back end of poor Kenyon. Her butt looks like a baboons a@! She is still smiling and laughing.

Last weekend I bought her a bumbo seat designed to help her sit up. At first she wasn't too sure she liked it, but now it isn't half bad.

Tomorrow Hank has an interview for a coordinator position with Tarrant County College. This position will be a full-time employee of the college, not a contract position. He is at school tonight getting back his test. I think he will do well. I always tell him As go on the fridge.

Shower season is starting. I am attending a baby shower this weekend. Mina is one of the 8 women I know that are having a baby from January to April. I am glad I was already PG because something was definitely in the water.

Three Months Gone By

2007-09-29T13:39:00.001-05:00

It is hard to believe that Kenyon will be 12 weeks tomorrow. She had her pictures taken at school yesterday. As you can see she was adorable in Aunt Erin's dress. Hopefully the pictures turned out well. I forgot to ask Hank to remind the staff to check her nose. One picture with a snot bubble will follow you for the rest of your life, just ask Huntie.

I have started working out at the Bank's fitness center. I manage to get a mile in on the treadmill and some stomach crunches in during lunch. Tuesday I will head to El Paso for a business meeting. Luckily I don't have to spend the night. Our neighbor Lucy will watch Kenyon for about an hour before I get home as Hank will be at school preparing for a test.

I manged to get a few smiles from the girl today. She was playing merrily in her bouncy seat. That has been the best $20 I have spent.

This month we will hit the pumpkin patch and get a few shots of our little punkin' Still don't know what she will be for Halloween. We will make sure to post some pictures when that happens.
Sara has had a big week. She visited the state capital building and said it was very interesting. She also had her honor roll dance, but complained that they played only hip hop. Here is a picture of her and her friend Abby

She was selected Student of the Month for September. I think she has been SOTM every year since starting school. I think this is the first time it has been so early in the year. This picture cracks me up because she is so much taller than everyone in her group, even taller than most of the 5th graders. She is growing up so fast.

Alive & Kickin'

2007-09-25T19:28:00.000-05:00

Well, we survived a trip to G-town, a ride home with a sheep head, and the virus that is going around. Weekend before last we went to see the folks only to return with the car stuffed full of 2 greyhounds fighting for space, a baby, the sheep Hank shot last season (now stuffed) and a small trailer with the suitcases behind us.

Needless to say we were glad to get home, just in time for the barfing virus to hit me and then Hank. I think Kenyon had had it since Friday.

So, two weeks later Hank is preparing for his first round of tests and wondering how the auto strike will effect his classes he teaches. Once company does work for the auto industry.

Kenyon will have her pictures made at school on Friday, just in time for her 3 month birthday. She will wear the blue & white dress her Aunt Erin gave her. She is trying to push herself up. I managed to get a picture when she wasn't looking.

Baby's Got a New Ride

2007-09-13T20:37:00.000-05:00

Kenyon spent some time in her new bouncer today. She likes it almost as much as her playmat. She kept watching the fan so this the only picture in which she would look at the camera.

While I was taking pictures, Sylvie thought she needed to get in on it. She regularly reminds us that she is the real baby in the house. We even find Kenyon's binkies in her bed!

Hank is in class tonight. He is enjoying his classes so far, especially since it is a lot less labor intensive this term. No group projects with a bunch of youngsters who have no business exerience.

Sara made student of the month. I will post her photo as soon as it is available. We are so proud of her. If anyone wants to send her a note forward it to us and we will send it on. She said you have to behave in class, eat well at lunch and have good grades to get picked. I don't know how eating well in the school cafeteria is possible, have you seen what they are feeding our children and are calling it nutritious?

Gotta get back to my chores. G-town here we come.

They Say It's Your Birthday...NANANANAA....

2007-09-12T21:07:00.000-05:00

Just a blast to the past....picture Eric, I mean, Farmer Ted singing to Molly Ringwald.....that was many moons ago. Anyway, today is Hank's birthday. We celebrated on Saturday by having a delicious steak dinner at the Keg in Las Colinas. Lucy, our neighbor, watched Kenyon for us. She slept, ate, the promptly threw up on Lucy's shirt. She found out quickly why we had three burp rags in the diaper bag.

Tonight we went to Johnny Carinos for dinner so Hank could get the free chocolate cake they give out on customers' birthdays. Kenyon slept through most of the meal, but woke up when the smell of chocolate drifted into her carrier. That elicited a huge smile. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...I couldn't think of a witty chocolate inferrence to insert.

Miss Peeps is feeling a bit better today. Hung out in her bouncer at daycare....I bought her a bouncer at WalMart today as the swing is losing it's magic. Gotta keep things hopping and popping for our girl.

Here is Kenyon hangin with her homies. it is great being able to check in on her through-out the day.

Well I should get off to bed before the next feeding rolls around. On a final note for all of you Sixteen Candles fans (thus the Farmer Ted lead in tonight) I saw the actress who played the medicated sister bride on a HGTV show having her bathroom redone to the tune of 20k. She looked exactly the same, except a little older. But then again don't we all. If I become an aging 80s movie icon I wonder if I could get a bathroom redo....

Good night birthday wishers everywhere.

First Family Blog

2007-09-11T14:17:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Johnson family blog! I thought this would be easier to share moments with our family & friends rather than emailing a million pictures. I know that pictures of Miss K are in hot demand & her parents are merely the photographers.

I am back two work for the second week. Honestly it has been pretty uneventful. Nothing piled up on my desk while I was gone so it is like starting a new job. Kenyon is adapting to daycare. She has her first case of the sniffles. I caught the wrong side of her temper this morning as I shot saline spray in her tiny nose. I have become very adept at dodging her flying fist.

After one week of daycare she is holding her head up and trying to roll over. I told my mom that she would be driving when we head to G-town this weekend. Hard to believe she is 9.5 weeks old.

Sara is doing well in school and is taking Karate classes. She was a hoot on the phone th e other night explaining how to hold your had to give a karate chop. I told her she wasn't allowed to give one to Samuel in the front yard.