Snow Angels

I have four snow angels: Gene, Colt, Corey and Grace!

We got about 7 inches of snow last Thursday and Friday and it was absolutely beautiful while it was falling and watching it fall made me want to go play in it! So, all five of us bundled up and went outside to play. Gene was playing on the 4-wheeler and the kids and I were making snow angels and throwing snowballs! Grace loves making snow angels and I love the picture above of me and her making them.

Grace was so bundled up she could barely walk and she kept saying "I'm walkin' like a penguin!"

We went out two different times on Friday and then on Monday Colt and Grace went out to build a "Frosty!" During the whole month of December and part of January when we would put Grace to bed she would want us to tell her a story about Frosty in our backyard. So, we obliged. However, she had not ever been able to build a real Frosty, and she had an absolute ball outside with Colt working on these!! Well, in between throwing snowballs at everyone, including Layla!

And when Grace is not playing in the snow she is twirling in her tu-tu Aunt Stephie made her for Christmas!! She was sooo funny dancing around in it and she kept saying she was a rock star! I have no idea where she gets that. ;)

Gene has been gone all week in North Carolina at a conference for work and I'm so excited that he'll be home tomorrow! Today I'm trying to get the house cleaned up and a grocery list made so tomorrow Grace and I can get out and get our chores done and back home to get started on her party invitations! I can not believe my baby girl is going to be 3 years old, time goes WAY too fast. Steph and I are going to make her invitations, along with some of the decorations and I'm very excited to see how it all turns out. I will definitely be sharing pictures!!

Fall, Fall, Fall!!!!

It has been quite busy around the Johnson household and I have finally come to terms with the fact that I'm just not as good at blogging as I used to be! It's ok though, because everything else I spend my time doing is completely worth it!

Between work, school (the kids, not me...not yet anyway!), sick kids, airport runs, baking and sleeping (some) I've just only had time to read blogs and not the time to sit down and upload pictures and actually type something out. I don't really like posting without pictures, which is another reason I don't post a whole lot. However, I've got lots of pictures to share today and even though I've not completely adjusted to the time change in some ways it's a great thing. This morning, for example, Grace and I were up by 7:30 but I didn't feel tired because it still felt like it was 8:30 to me so she and I have had lots of time today to spend together!

We've been having some issues with her sleeping habits. I'm not sure what the deal is, but for about the last month, more nights than not, she wakes up at least 2-3 times a night and tries to come downstairs and get in bed with us. Most of the time I'm able to intercept her and lay her back in her bed, but that doesn't always work. And the times that it does work she wants me to lay down with her until she goes back to sleep so each time I'm up it's usually for 20-30 minutes and sometimes for an hour. On the nights that I'm absolutely exhausted I just let her get in bed with us or I'll eventually bring her back downstairs to our room if she's taking forever to go back to sleep. Last night was a good night though and she didn't wake up until very early this morning and she came and got in bed with us. So....I haven't had just a whole lot of restful sleep lately, which is ok I guess, because it's all part of being a mommy. I just really really REALLY like my sleep!! And I don't put her back to bed just because I don't want to cuddle and sleep with her, I just don't want her to get used to sleeping with us and not in her own room. She's almost 3 and I want her to know that mommy and daddy's room is not her room! We're working through it and I'm just taking each night one at a time.

On a lighter and more fun note.....we made homemade chocolate chip cookies this morning!!! The fall/holiday season always brings out the baker in me! I just want to cook, cook, cook!! And, as previously stated, we have had lots of time this morning to bond! This was the first time she's helped me and she had a few issues listening and not adding more ingredients than we needed, but she is only 2 so what did I expect?!

They turned out great though and we've already enjoyed one!! She loved it and just kept saying "Can I help ya?" in her cute little southern drawl! My girl is most definitely from the south and I love it!

She's also a little bit ornery! I know, I know, that probably comes as a real shock...especially if you know any of our family! She is a handful though and though we have still had some struggles with the "terrible twos" we're coming through it ok and she is getting better!

We are currently watching The Santa Clause 3 for the second time so far this year! This picture was taken the first time she watched it and she just lounged back the whole time completely in awe yet again with the Clause!! I'm pretty sure she's probably going to be just like her momma and her Nana when it comes to Christmas! Mom and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas and everything that comes with it! I'm so excited about putting out our Christmas decorations that I actually asked Gene last Friday if I could put them out now and he said "NO!" Boo! Oh alright fine, I guess I'll wait! Especially considering Thanksgiving is only like 3 weeks away and that's when we put ours out!!!! Woot!

My wonderful Granny is doing absolutely beautifully recovering from her surgery!! She had an appointment with Dr. Gallaher, her surgeon, a week and a half ago and he completely released her and said that she needed to be careful but she could return to her normal activities!! He also told her he didn't want to see her again...in a good way of course!! Her appointment was here in Fayetteville so Mom went and picked her up and while she was up here we had lunch at Guido's to see Tanner and then we had to pay a visit to Kirkland's! Ummm hello?! Who else LOVES that store? Oh my, they've got their Christmas stuff out too, so as if I didn't love it enough before I really do now! Mom and I could just get stupid in that store! Ahem. Anyways, while we were in there Granny found these yummy candles and bought Mom and I one! We all got the Cafe Mocha one and it smells yuuuuuummmy! I'm burning it as I type this actually.

This would be Grace's hot chocolate face! The first time she watched The Santa Clause she had a cup of hot chocolate. 'Tis the season!

My man, who is oh so ready for his 2 week vacation that starts next Tuesday, which will be spent in the woods with Jake (his other wife! ha!) hunting! Jake and his family own a ton of land over in Madison County and there's a cabin on it that Gene and Jake will spend much of their time in and around. I took this picture of him while he was cleaning one of his guns. Notice my kitchen cabinet became a work station. I was not real happy about it, but there's not much I could do or say considering the poor thing doesn't have a garage or a shop to do it in! One of these days (when we win the lottery) he wants to build a shop to keep his motorcycle and all of his tools in. But, for now, the kitchen counter will just have to do. The sacrifices a wife makes.

Very intent. The man is obsessed with guns. And hunting. All that is on our tv when he is home is hunting. It's so bad that even now Grace asks to watching the hunting channel. Really?! Grace, honey, you're a little girl! Oh well, it could be worse I suppose.

Colt and Corey love taking pictures, especially of and with their baby sister! I find it precious! Colt started feeling bad Saturday morning and by Sunday morning had a fever of 102 degrees. Lovely. So, we quarantined him to the upstairs portion of the house and doped him up on some Motrin and Tylenol Cold & Flu. By noon it had broken and never got up above 97. That is until yesterday morning when it was up to 100. So Gene made him a doctor's appointment and I took him in to see what was up. I was really hoping it was not the flu, and considering all of the kids have had their flu shots, I was hoping even more that it was not the stinking swine flu. Luckily, it wasn't either. He has an infection in his throat and was prescribed an antibiotic! He's back to school today and was very relieved because that boy hates missing school. Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic. He really was hating not being in school yesterday. I am certainly not complaining, it beats the alternative!

Saturday afternoon Corey and Grace were playing outside and Corey was capturing some pretty cool shots! I love this one of Miss Thang, well except for the fact that it makes her looks like she's a little girl and not a baby! I can't believe she's already almost 3, and that Colt is 16 and driving and Corey will be 15 in a little over a month. If anyone figures out how to slow time down would you please be so kind as to share it with me?!? Thanks!

Have I mentioned before that I am in love with this season?! Because I so am. With all the rain we've had this year the colors have been gorgeous! It's probably the prettiest fall we've had in a while. Another one of the advantages to living in the country....being surrounded by trees. The road out to our house is beautiful to drive while the leaves are changing because you're surrounded by bright pretty colors!

It's the eye of the photographer! Corey is crazy when it comes to the camera and loves to take pictures of anything and everything. The kid can make a rock look amazing! I just don't have any talent when it comes to that, or the patience to learn! I've already told Gene that when I reach my goal weight in my weight loss journey we're going to have family pictures taken, because ya know, in 4 years we've never once had a family picture done! Sad, I know. Don't judge!

Mom, Dad and Tanner spent this past weekend in Las Vegas celebrating Tanner's 21st birthday! Mom and Dad told us that they would take us to Vegas when we turned 21 and they took me back in '06 and followed through this past weekend by taking Tanner! They had an absolute blast and I'm sure when Mom gets a chance she'll post about it with some pictures and when she does I'll be sure to link to it so you can check them out!

This will be my 5th Christmas to work at the pd and for the first time I will actually have both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off!!!!! Gene also has them both off so I decided that this year I was not going to stress myself out about making arrangements and when we would have Christmas with my family and then when we would have it with Gene's family and having to rush around to eat or do presents before having to go to work so I am taking the WHOLE week of Christmas off!! I am so very excited about finally being able to really enjoy the holiday with our families!! I love my job, but I'm telling ya, having to work just about every holiday every year gets old! So, this year we won't have to! Yay for vacations!

Alright, I think that about wraps everything up that's been happening. The highlights anyway! I know, that was a long "highlight!" Now I've got to go fold some laundry and finish getting ready for work! I'm training a rookie and this is his last week before he's completely released and I'm very ready to be done training. As much as I love it, it's also stressful, so now I'll be done for a while. Until we hire some new ones, which will be soon, because we have 2 positions open right now. So, if you know anyone who is interested in being a dispatcher, send them our way!!

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!!

Seasons

Tomorrow is the first day of October and that does not even seem possible. I find myself in a new season of my life as we enter this fall season. I have two teenage boys (one of which is driving) and I have a toddler. I'm pretty sure they could not be any more different to parent! Even the boys are like day and night from each other yet they are so similar in many different ways.

Clearly being a stepmom means that I am not their mother and I have only been in their lives for almost 4 of their 14 and 16 years, therefore, I still don't know all there is to know about each of them. I find myself struggling with this often. Now when I say struggling, I really mean more like learning and observing, because the boys are FAR from a struggle and mothering them (even as a stepmother) is FAR from struggling. It's learning them and understanding them. Yes, I was a teenager once...not really that long ago...but I was not ever a teenage boy (obviously!) and I find myself sometimes stuck between being a "mother" and being a "friend."

When Gene and I first got together and before I ever even met the boys I told myself that I would not come into their lives as another "mother" but as a "friend." I didn't want them to resent me or their father and think that I was supposed to somehow replace their mother. I had absolutely no intentions of that whatsoever and quite honestly I think as far as that goes I've done a pretty good job. The boys and I have a wonderful relationship and because I am technically closer in age to them than their father (no comments!) we get along because I can relate to them. This fact actually helps things when they get frustrated with Gene for being their father and getting on to them or acting like a parent. They will vent to me about it and I have to tread lightly in letting them know that I am on his side because we are parents together but also help them understand that they are still kids and that they need guidance and discipline and that it's his/our job to hand those things down.

I have grounded the boys once and it was because they hadn't done their chores like they were supposed to. They were told that if they didn't they would be grounded for one week with no phone, computer or going anywhere. I got up with them the next morning and told them both to bring me their phones and that they were grounded for a week because they didn't do what they were supposed to. They did as they were told, no arguments.

This is where the struggle comes in that I'm talking about. By the end of the day I felt bad for grounding them because 1) I'm not their mother 2) they are NEVER in trouble and had done their chores wonderfully up until this one time and 3) I felt somehow like it wasn't my place. Gene backed me 100% and was perfectly ok with me punishing them. That afternoon when they got home from school I gave their phones back, told them that I would cut them a break since they'd done so great up until that point and warned them that next time it happened it would most definitely be for the full week. It never happened again. I told you....great kids.

Now they are older and we are all moving through a new season. Some of it together as a family and some of it as individuals. Either way I'm trying my best to figure it out as we go, which I guess is what every parent does, step or not, it just seems hard sometimes. No, I take that back, parenting is tough and probably the hardest thing I've ever done! In the same respect, it's also the most wonderful and rewarding thing I've ever done! I love it when Colt calls me because he wants to tell me how great his grades are (which really are great by the way and he's taking almost all pre-AP or AP classes) or that he's learning a new song on the piano and when Corey calls me Tay-Tay (which is all the time because he never calls me Taylor!) and he says he wants to go run with me and asks me to make a butterfinger cake or chicken enchiladas because those are his favorites and he knows I'll do it!

I love being a mother of 3, even if I only birthed one of them, and I love doing it with my husband. I get very impatient and upset sometimes but I remind myself that it's nothing that other parents haven't gone through and that it's just part of it.

As hard as it is being stepmom to the boys, it may even be more difficult being mommy to this 2 and a half year old little girl! Oh. My. Word. We have had quite a time this last month or so. She has discovered that she has a will, a very strong will, and that she doesn't agree with us most of the time and that she thinks she is entitled to say so! Who knew toddlers could be so dramatic and demanding. She is going through her terrible two's in a very real way and my patience, as well as her daddy's, have certainly been tested! I must say that Gene is much better at it most of the time because he's so much more patient with her. He's been there and done this twice before with the boys so he has a better understanding and what to expect with this particular season of Miss Grace's life. I, on the other hand, am going through this for the first time and I just get absolutely frustrated and upset. It's one of the those times I am somewhat thankful that Gene was married once before and has experienced the terrible two's because he can help guide and ground me when I get upset! He helps me realize that it's a part of life and that yes it is hard but we have to endure it. At least he's suffering through it with me!!

I honestly love that man more and more each day because of it and I thank God that he brought him into my life! I love my little girl so much and have finally come to an understanding that she will eventually outgrow this little phase she is growing through and we will all be fine! I can tell you right now that we don't have to worry about her being a wallflower and not having any friends. I'm pretty sure it will be just the opposite and we are going to have our hands full from here on out! Which is ok with me, she's a beautiful mix of her momma's personality and her daddy's personality and she gets along with everyone!

As hard as change is, it is also a great thing and being a parent is so neat getting to watch those changes happen and knowing that you are a part of that person's legacy!

I have had some struggles this past month and I think that it's mostly due to a changing of the seasons in the Johnson household. So, as we move into fall and all the wonderful things that come with it (amazing weather, leaves changing, hot cider, cuddling up under warm blankets and football!) we also move into this new season of our lives and I feel like now we have a better grasp on what is going on and things will begin to flow more smoothly!

What seasons are you going through? I'd love to hear from others who have, or are, going through similar situations! I would like to better get to know the folks who read my blog!!

I am soooo far behind....

There is just not enough time in the day for me to get done all that I need/would like to get done! I've put blogging on the back burner the past couple of weeks since the boys are fixing to start back to school and I've enjoyed just spending the time with my kids instead of on the computer. There's not been anything huge that's happened...just life. I don't have just a whole lot of time right now either to write a real long post so I've just posted several pictures to sort of highlight what's been happening!!

Grace LOVES LOVES LOVES to ride the 4-wheeler!! She has spent alot of time riding it with either her daddy or her bubbas! One morning last week she and Gene came running into the house looking for the camera because there was a group of deer next door to us and there was a little spotted baby! Grace thought it was just the neatest thing and they actually just stood there forever eating and watching us!

One of the things I love about living in the country is being able to look out and see deer in our front yard..or neighbor's yard!!

Gene has a love of guns and hunting and there is so much camo stuff in my house it's not even funny. It's typically scattered throughout our bedroom and closet and Grace found one of his hats and decided it was just her size!!

Now, I don't think I've ever shared with you about Grace's "look!" See....she started this several months ago and when we say "Grace, give us your look!" she does this! It cracks me up everytime!!

This is sort of the "look" but not quite. She's quite the little entertainer and there is most definitely never a dull moment in the Johnson household!

I had posted about wanting to find a hammock for Grace's stuffed animals and I didn't even know if they still made them but I found one on Target online and ordered it. Her room looks so much better with all of them off the floor! Plus she can't throw them all over the place now! I'm not realy crazy about the chain hanging across the front and will probably take it down. When we hang animals on the clothes pins they just look so sad! :(

I don't have a story for this picture, I just love it and the softness of it! My little girl is not so little anymore!

Grace is still a huge fan of bath time! She has now taken to trying to swim in the bathtub. Well, at least "going under water!" Since I'm only home 2 nights of the week I love giving her a bath and last night while she was sitting there playing I was filing my nails and heard her start talking so I peered over the tub and she was talking to her big pink duck. The conversation, obviously one-sided, went something like this:

Grace: "Here you go ducky, you want to hug? Give her kiss!"

Duck: (Silence)

Grace: "You want to go to my house? Ok. Come one." (stands up...walks to other side of tub) "Here you go, here's my house."

It was so stinking funny and I had to grab my camera!

She went on talking for a while and then realized I was taking pictures and said "take our pitcher" so I obliged! She kept squeezing her ducks up to her face and giving them kisses. She's so smart and so funny!

Yesterday while I was cleaning the upstairs living room I had to pull her tent out from behind the big bean bag and you would have thought it was brand new again! She asked me to bring it downstairs and she spent the better part of the evening playing in it. Colt decided he needed to play too so he started crawling through the tunnel! Grace thought it was hilarious and crawled on top of him!!

Colt had a doctor's appointment this morning and then I had to drop him off at his mom's house with Corey. Gene was supposed to be off today but ended up getting called out and worked most of the morning. When Grace and I got home she was watching Dora and they were going to the beach on a pirate ship so she turned the tile by our front door into the ocean and she and her babies went "swimming!" I was cleaning up after lunch and when I turned around she'd stripped down to her panties and told me she didn't need them to swim in. All of her babies were already swimming...as you can see! Quite the imagination!

In other news, the boys start back to school next Wednesday then Colt turns 16 the following Wednesday, the 26th. I can't believe he's almost 16! Corey is excited to be a 9th grader and now officially in high school! We're having Colt's party on the 29th and then the following weekend we'll be headed down to Alma because Gene is going to build a deck on the back of Granny's house!! She is so super excited about it and has wanted one for forever. Lucky for her I married a carpenter!!! There is other more serious stuff I want to eventually post about but not today. I need to get off here and get dinner started!

It feels good to be back!!!

No Destination

Gene and I decided on a whim yesterday to take a motorcycle ride since I had the day off. Normally Steve and Jennie go with us but Steve wasn't able to take the day off because he's been the only one in the tattoo shop this week due to Billy being out of town, so Gene and I drove it alone!

We really had no specific destination in mind but headed out east and ended up travelling through 5 different counties and just under 200 miles in about 5 hours. It was such a great ride. We drove along the Mulberry River, along White Rock and through several small country towns that, to be honest, I could not even tell you the names of because we never saw signs!

After we made our 50th turn onto an unkown highway (not much exaggeration there!) I said to Gene "I think we're lost!" To which he replied, " You can't be lost if you don't even have a destination or know where you're going!" Dang. He got me there! However, I was beginning to wonder a little bit if we'd end up in a completely different state without even realizing it. We didn't. Thank goodness. We ended up literally running right into I-40 about 40 miles south of Fort Smith. We had travelled a long distance and ended up making a huge circle by the time we made it home.

The timing and location actually ended up being perfect because it was about 1:30 when we got onto I-40 and we would go right through Alma, where Granny lives, so I told Gene we needed to stop and surprise them because Aunt Cathy is here from Atlanta. So, that's where we headed and luckily they were at the house when we pulled up!! You just never know with Granny..especially when Aunt Cathy is here. They are busy girls!! They were very surprised to see us and it was a great water and a/c break for us! We stayed and visited for almost an hour before heading on home. I don't have any pictures from our adventure but I'll be sure to take the camera on our next one!

The boys were gone to the movies and Grace was gone with my in-laws to my brother-in-law's house when we got home so I was able to get showered, laundry going, and stuff together for dinner while Gene washed the motorcycle.

Steve and Jennie came out to join us for a yummy dinner of grilled pork steaks, green beans, mashed potatoes and fried squash and everyone made it back home all in time to eat! It was a wonderful day and by the time my head it the pillow I was flat worn out!!

Just A Line...or Two

I don't have any pictures to post of my weekend and I don't really like posting without pictures but oh well. I don't really have a lot to share either! Yesterday Grace and I got haircuts and then we went to lunch with Mom at Guido's Pizza after I picked the boys up from their mom's. Tanner (my brother) works at Guido's and I hadn't seen him in a while so we decided to pay him a visit! Grace loves going to Guido's because alot of the employees know her and love playing with her! It was yummy...of course, but I only had 2 small pieces because I've been eating so much better and was proud of myself for the restraint!

Grace went home with Mom to stay the night and the boys and I came home to clean house. I accomplished all that I wanted to and a little bit more. The boys are such great help around the house! We finally finished around 8 pm and then ran in to Subway to have dinner. Gene was at work till 10 so after we ate we went to Gulley Park here in Fayetteville and ran for about 25 minutes. I would have liked to have gone longer but it got dark on us because we got there so late. It was certainly better than nothing and we had already worked out back and abs at home, which ended up being a mistake. I don't know what I was thinking doing that after I'd swept and mopped and that always makes my back hurt...then I decide to pick back to work out last night. Brilliant. My lower back has been killing me all day today! It was worth it though and I know it'll pay off.

This morning I slept in till just before 11, which felt great, because I'd stayed up late last night watching Australia when I should have gone to bed! I paid bills then Corey and I hit the post office and Wal-Mart for groceries. Oh how I HATE buying groceries. I'm seriously always broke after doing it! Prices have just gone up so much and it's depressing. Especially when you're feeding 5 people...two of them being teenage boys!

We finally made it home and got the groceries unloaded. Gene only worked about 5 hours today and after he got home decided to go for a ride on the motorcycle. Mom and Grace came out to the house and we all loaded up to go swimming. We got there a whole lot later than I intended and only stayed about an hour and a half. I was planning to make chicken enchiladas for dinner (at Corey's request) and they take a while so we didn't get long to swim. It was nice though!

I had asked Gene to put the chicken on to boil before we left the pool and by the time we got home he already had it boiled and all the stuff mixed up! All I had to do was roll the tortillas. They were absolutely delicious and definitely a hit. We had enough mixture for a whole big pan and then a whole small pan. The big pan was all but gone by the time we finished. I showed great restraint once again and had half of what I would have normally eaten!

I got the kitchen cleaned up and the boys and I went to the park again to run. Grace went to ride the 4-wheeler with her papa (Gene's dad) while her Mimi (Gene's mom) walked up and down our road. Gene was exhausted from having to be up earlier this week than normal for work and was asleep when we got home. Stan (Gene's dad) brought Grace home right after we got here and now everyone has had baths and most are asleep. Grace was exhausted and went right to sleep and I'm pretty sure it will be the same story for me!!

4th of July Weekend

My "4th" post is a little bit delayed but I don't really have much to post about because I had to work Saturday so...it wasn't that great for me! I love my job as a dispatcher but I have had to work more holidays than I have been off in the past 4 and a half years. Luckily I work with great people and they're like my second family so it's not horrible!!

Every year the city of Springdale has a 4th of July parade on the July 1st and the 4th. On the 1st it's at 3 in the afternoon and the 4th is 10 in the morning so the 4th is usually the one we go to because I go to work at 2 in the afternoon. The boys were with their mom that morning so Gene, Grace, and I met Mom at the pd parking lot to walk up to the parade. Grace looked really cute in her litte red, white and blue and her pigtails but I have no good bows for her so the hairdo was kind of boring! She always ends up messing it up anyways. She wasn't being very cooperative for the pictures either. It was cloudy the whole morning so it wasn't just unbearably hot and there was a slight breeze so it was good weather to be outside.

Once it finally got started we moved up to the curb so she could see better. She just kept switching back and forth between Gene, Mom and myself. She LOVED seeing the horses and just stood there waving at everyone!

We were awake early that morning though so she was getting really sleepy by the time it was over. Right as we were leaving Springdale headed home it started to pour down rain and then after we got home it started storming really bad. The boys got home and then I had to get in the shower to get ready for work.

Corey's best friend Rhianna came over and Colt's friend Sarah came over to hang out with them for fireworks. Grace, apparently, was pretty much attached to Rhianna and Sarah the whole time and never left them alone! Rhianna has been around for forever so Grace was already used to her!!

Two goofy kids! They played outside on the trampoline, took pictures, went swimming next door, ate lunch, shot off fireworks and just had a grand 'ol time! I got home at about 10:20 and they were still shooting of fireworks so we hung out till about 11 then called it a night. Grace was completely exhausted and covered in sweat and bug spray so I brought her in, gave her a bath and put her to bed. Her eyes were so heavy when I was putting her to bed that she was snoring by the time I finished reading her a bedtime story! I'm pretty sure we all slept good that night and then yesterday ate a big breakfast and hung out at home, that is, until I had to go to work! Saturday and Sunday night were both really busy after about 6 and I'm sure that pace will continue through the summer!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th this year and a very special thanks to all the men and women who serve our country and fight for our continued freedom!!!

Hodge Podge

That's pretty much what this post will be...hodge podge! It'll basically just be an overview of the weekend and I don't have any new pictures to post from the happenings.

Gene had dropped his motorcycle off at the shop last Thursday to have his rear tire replaced and a 10,000 mile service done. He told them before he dropped it off that the only way he would bring it to them was if they could have it done and ready by 9 am Saturday because he was planning on riding to Tulsa. They assured him it would be done. Well, that didn't happen. We showed up right at 9 Saturday morning and there was nobody there. Finally one of the owners showed up a few minutes after us and opened the business. However, Gene's bike had not even been touched yet. They told him it would be done between 2 and 3 that afternoon. So, he didn't get to ride to Tulsa. He was not a happy camper.

After we got back home I sent Mom a text asking if she wanted to meet at the mall and help me spend the rest of my gift certificate to Arty Crafty because I wanted to find some stuff for our bedroom since I'd re-arranged. She, of course, said yes so we planned to meet at noon! The kids ended up going with me and Gene just dropped us off at the mall then went to hang out with Steve until time to get his bike. I was able to find a couple of things for my bedroom, that I'll share at a later date because it's still not done, and it was too big to fit in my car so we loaded it up in Mom's and then the kids and me piled in! I called Gene when we finished at the mall and he was fixing to head down to the shop. So, Mom just took me down there to get my car. Gene ended up having to sit and wait there for almost 3 hours because his bike still was not done. I had run back into the mall and then down to the grocery store and right as I got home he called and asked me to come get him because it wasn't going to be done until the next morning. Oh, he was sooooo mad! They ended up putting a front tire on the rear and were going to have to fix it. The owner wasn't there most of the day Saturday and kept apologizing because he wasn't there watching what they were doing.

He promised Gene that he would be up and at the shop by 8 Sunday morning and Gene told him we'd be there sometime between 9 and 10 to get it. We got up, drove in, got there right at 9 and nobody was there. Shop was all locked up. So...we went back home. Gene tried calling him....straight to voicemail. We were supposed to go riding with Steve and Jennie too. Gene ended up going back up there by himself at 10 just to make sure and so he could say he was there at both times, but still no one was there. Right after he got home Steve called him and they were talking. While he was on the phone the owner tried calling him so he clicked over and he told him that he was now up at the shop and he could come get his bike. It was 10:30 by now.

I went and changed clothes and got ready really quick and Gene got Grace dressed and her stuff together because I was going to drop her off at Mom and Dad's to stay the night with them. The boys had gone to their mom's right after they woke up so we all loaded up and went back, yet again, to the shop. It was...finally done. Gene left for Steve and Jennie's and I headed for Mom and Dad's. I got Grace dropped off and then met everyone else at Steve and Jennie's house. When I got there Jennie met me at the door and told me that after Gene got to their house Steve was doing an inspection of it because he used to work on motorcycles and knows just about all there is to know about them and saw that his saddlebags were all scratched up. Jennie was able to buff and polish some of them out but they still didn't look great. It was seriously one thing after another and Gene called and left another message with the owner, who quickly returned his call. He was very apologetic and told Gene to bring it back up and he would take care of it. It was an absolute mess and I'm so glad that Steve decided to take the day off for us to go ride because it was exactly what Gene needed.

We finally got on the bikes and our first stop was Rogers and we ate lunch at Texas Land & Cattle at the Promenade. It was yummy!!! None of us had eaten there before but we were all impressed! After lunch we headed out Hwy 94 West and went to the Beaver Dam lookout. It was so pretty and there were tons of people out swimming and boating. I was jealous of that...I would loved to have been in the water! We hung out there for just a little bit then we drove on over to Eureka Springs and sat downtown for a while, ate snow cones, and just people watched. It's usually really packed on the weekends but it wasn't as busy as I expected it to be. We loaded back up and headed back to Fayetteville. There was a benefit BBQ dinner for the blind that night that we were invited to so we got there about 6 and hung out for about an hour but Gene and I were worn out so we came home, took showers, and settled in to watch Gran Torino. It was such a good movie! I had not seen it before but I'm definitely glad I got it for Gene for Father's Day because it's one I could totally watch again!

Overall, it was a really great 4 day weekend for me! Although we had the little situation with the motorcycle the good still outweighed the bad and I was able to just relax and spend some great time with both friends and family!! I did go back to work last night and I was soooo not ready for that! It was really slow though, especially for a Monday, so it wasn't too bad and now it's already almost my weekend again!! Gotta love that! I'm hoping to take the kids swimming again on Thursday because the boys are going to be with their mom Thursday and Friday night but then back hom for the 4th. I, of course, will have to work the 4th but about the time I get home is when they usually start the fireworks at my house. We live up on the top of a mountain and it's a dead end so we always get together with some of our neighbors and shoot off a ton of fireworks up here!

I guess that's about it for now, I need to get off of here and get the boys upstairs so we can workout before I go to work! Have a great week!

Back Where They Belong

The boys are back home where they belong! They didn't make it in until about 5 this morning and we were all in bed but I smiled while lying in bed this morning when I heard Corey in Grace's monitor talking to her!! She slept until almost 9 and Corey heard her first when she woke up and went to get her. I was the last one up and Gene was making us breakfast. As soon as the boys walked downstairs all was well again because my whole family was home together!!

They were both getting irritated with me because I kept snapping pictures of them! And while they were gone Colt cut off all of his hair!!

Corey bought Grace a Little Mermaid toy set and she had a blast opening and playing with it! He also got her some Scooby-Doo stickers that have her name on them!! She was waaaaaay excited about those since Scooby is now her absolute favorite thing to watch and we literally watch it all day long!

Remember when I posted about my laundry baskets being empty here? Well, that is no more! I should have taken a picture after they had emptied their luggage and before I started their laundry. Both baskets were heaping and overflowing onto the floor! I got it started and that will be their chore for the day!

Beethoven is on one of our movie channels and since Grace loves dogs so much she's been very intrigued by it. Colt was up in his room playing his piano because he had dearly missed it and the minute Corey sat down in the recliner Grace was up in his lap!

Colt came down to join us and watch the movie. Gene had to go to work so now it's just me and the kiddos...at least until I have to go to work. :( It is my Friday though!!! And my day is so much better now that my boys are home!!!!!

Happy Father's Day!!!!

I want to wish all those dads out there a Happy Father's Day, but most importantly, to my very special father, husband, and father-in-law!!!

This morning Grace let us all sleep in until almost 8:30, which is pretty late for her, and when we got up Gene made some biscuits and gravy for breakfast! Grace gave him his present which was the movie Gran Torino and the Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009 Wii game. He was happy with both! I took this picture while he was making breakfast and Grace actually cooperated!

This picture was taken the day Grace was born, obviously! And sadly enough, this is the only picture of Gene with all 3 of the kids, that I could find anyways. I've got to start doing a better job of taking pictures. The boys are still in Florida with Gene's parents so they get to spend Father's Day with their Papa but not with their Daddy. They will finally be home on Wednesday morning though!!!! I'm so excited! Gene is such a good daddy and loves his kids more than anything. He would and does do anything and everything for them!!

And of course, my daddy and Grace's Papa!!! Another tragedy, I couldn't find a good recent picture of Dad and Grace together and I couldn't find any on the computer of he and I together. I have an actual picture here of us together but I don't have a scanner to put it on here. I just love this one of them though!! He's such a good Papa and thinks the world of his girls!! Thank you Dad for always doing everything in your power to take care of me for the last 24 years!!!! I love you very much!!

And last but not least, Gene's dad Stan, and the kids! Stan and Jeanette live right next door to us and are always willing to do anything we need and help take care of the kids. Stan spoils them all too, which I suppose is most definitely one of the top jobs of grandparents. My kids are truly blessed with a wonderful daddy and wonderful Papas!!

I love you all very much and hope that today is a wonderful Father's Day!!!!

just a tuesday post

I don't really have anything brilliant to blog about so I'll just share a few pictures with you! This week at work has actually gone pretty fast considering I was off for 9 whole days and really did not want to go back! I only have 2 more days this week and then Thursday I'm going on a float trip on the Illinois River with Crystal, Stacy, and all the patrol officers that work B shift with me! All of us dispatchers could go too but me, Crystal, and Stacy were the only ones that ended up really wanting to go. The officers are having a shift change on Sunday so this is just a way for us all to hang out before some of them have to change shifts. We're supposed to leave by 8:30 Thursday morning and just float and relax all day long! We have one female officer on our shift, Allie, that we're good friends with and we're all using rafts instead of canoes and they fit 4 people so all of us girls are sticking together!! I'm really afraid we'll be picked on the whole time though! It'll be a nice change of pace anyways! And actually tomorrow we're having a food day at work and those are my absolute FAVORITE days to go to work!! Haha! I'm making a 7 layer dip and probably brownies and I can't wait to eat all the yummy food.

Ok, on to the more important stuff....like my kiddos! Here's my little artist coloring her Mama a picture! This was before I got her bangs cut so she wanted them pulled back out of her face and Gene fixed her little headband for her!

Corey got his braces taken off last Friday and he was very very excited about it! We made shish kabobs for dinner that night so Gene and the boys were putting them together. They didn't turn out quite like we wanted them to but they were still pretty good. If you have some suggestions I'm all ears!!

Grace is giving her Daddy either eskimo or butterfly kisses! Every night that I'm home and put her to bed she always has to give him a regular kiss, butterfly kisses, and eskimo kisses and then after I read her a bedtime story and turn her light off she has to give me all 3 also before she goes to sleep! It's precious and I so cherish those sweet moments with my baby because I know she won't always want to!

Say "CHEESE!!" Corey and Grace played outside Saturday morning quite a bit while I was doing stuff inside and he loves taking the camera out and taking pictures of her and of random things and this one was one he took! Isn't she so darn cute?

Have I mentioned that I love my husband and that he's amazing?! Well, he is. Just so you know. First of all, he built our whole house pretty much by himself and he built this corner entertainment center out of oak and behind the doors is our satellite, dvd player, stereo, and used to be all of our dvds squeezed in there. I had been telling him that I wanted him to build us a dvd rack because 1) we don't really have a good place for a big enough one on the floor anywhere and 2) I hadn't found one I liked. So, on Sunday afternoon he and Colt went to Lowe's, bought some oak, and came home and built this!!!! Oh I was so excited...and proud! It looks good and is out of the way, plus it's high enough up that Grace can't reach them! He's debating about whether or not to make doors to put on it. We'll see.....

Gene just got back from picking Colt up from school and he is now officially done with his sophomore year!! Corey has to stay the whole day but at 3:20 he will be done with his 8th grade year. It's so crazy to believe that Colt only has 2 more years of high school. I'm very proud of him because he's become very much more aware of his grades and realizing that they are now counting towards graduation and also for college and Thursday night I quizzed him for almost 3 hours for his Civics test. We have already ordered his class ring and before we know it we'll be ordering his cap and gown. I don't even want to think about it. :( When Gene and I first got together he was 12 and now he'll be 16 this year. It goes way too fast. Corey stands almost a whole foot taller than me and I can't believe that he'll be in high school next year. Next thing I know Grace will be starting kindergarten, and that is most definitely something I'm not ready for. I've been praying that God provides a way for me to go back to school and get my degree in education so that I can start teaching by, if not right after, Grace starts school. I've already got several credits, I just need to finish. So, if you think about it, say a little prayer for us!!

I think that's about it for now. I need to work on some laundry and spend some time with my cute dimple-cheeked husband, musically inclined son, and blonde headed toddling daughter before I have to go to work!

Our Trip to Atlanta

Oh boy. It's taken me 2 days to get this post done! Let me just warn you that there are a TON of pictures too! And it might end up pretty long so if you get bored and decide to go bathe the dog or watch paint dry or something more intriguing then I completely understand, really. Ahem.

Anyway.

Mom, Grace, and I drove to Granny's house Friday evening to stay the night with here so we could get an early start Saturday. We didn't make it to bed until almost 11 and were back up at 4 and on the road by 5! Although with all the excitement I really wasn't that tired. We loaded up the car, picked up Courtney and we were Georgia bound!! It was a 12 hour drive and my little 2 year old did wonderful! I was so very proud of her! I would just like to stop here and say a few thanks....1) thank you Target for having the dual screen portable DVD player at such a wonderful price 2) thank you sweet mother of mine for purchasing said DVD player at the wonderful price 3) thank you Scooby Doo for keeping that DVD player running 4) thank you Courtney for entertaining and feeding my child snacks!!! Moving on.

We stopped for breakfast and lunch and a few breaks in between to stretch, potty, get gas, etc and made it to Atlanta by 5 pm their time. As you can tell Grace was so happy to be able to once again move her legs in a front to back motion. Otherwise known as walking. Or running, whatever the case may be. The Gerens were very happy to see everybody, as they should be! ha! I drove the whole way there because well, I sort of have this thing about being in control and it felt so good to be still and not have to concentrate! Uncle Greg had made some gumbo for dinner and it was delicious...because it was seafoodless!! So, we stuffed ourselves and then we did it again because Aunt Cathy had made a special kind of rice krispie treats, a blueberry crunch, AND some delicious chocolate chip cookies! Oh. My. Word. I was so full I couldn't breathe! It was oh so worth it though.

Grace was completely in awe of J.T. the time and she followed him around everywhere! They bonded and it was so cute to watch him play with her! Of course J.T. was the whole reason for the trip because we went to attend his high school graduation! I can't believe all the grandkids have graduated now!

Sunday morning we got up and went to church and luckily Megan was in the 2 year old room so Grace was with her the whole time and I didn't have to worry about her being in a new place all alone! The service was great and then we all had lunch at a mexican restaurant called La Cazuela and it was yummy. We went back to the house after lunch and changed into comfy clothes. The weather had been yucky all weekend, but we decided that we wanted to check out the outlet mall. So, we all loaded up (except Granny, J.T., and Uncle Greg who stayed home to rest) and headed out. Folks, I discovered a very special kind of heaven that day when we pulled into the North Georgia Outlet Mall. It would have been even better if I hadn't been so broke, but I have the most amazing mother who just so happens to kinda like me...and my kid so we were both pretty much spoiled!! It was great! Love you Mom! Thanks!!!!! Ok. So, we spent a couple of hours wandering around in this newly discovered heaven and once we felt that all the necassary stores had been visited we loaded up to head back. Now, have you ever been driving along and you see dark dark skies above you and then about 10 humongous raindrops land on your windshield and you think to yourself "this can't be good?" Well, that's exactly what happened when we got back onto the interstate after leaving the mall. Holy mother nature. The bottom literally fell out of the sky and it absolutely came a torrential downpour! We were going 20 mph in a 65 mph zone. Whew, there were tons of people pulled over to the side of the road because it was so bad. Not me. I kept trucking, well ok, suv-ing. But you get the picture. It was miserable and it finally decided to let up a bit...once we got off the interstate! It was almost worth it though because after if quit we saw the beautiful rainbow pictured above! At first we only saw this side of it then eventually we were able to see the whole arch and it was amazing. God is quite the artist!

Grace also made good friends with Duke, their schnauzer! He has one ball that he plays with all the time and he and Grace played tug-o-war like crazy. It was the funniest thing to watch them and Uncle Greg was sitting down on the floor and kept telling Grace to growl at Duke and of course she did! Too funny! I have a hilarious video but it's so long that it would take 32 days to upload it on here. That may be an exaggeration. And it may not. I'm not going to find out either way though! It was cute and you'll just have to take my word for it!

Ok, just when we thought that our sweet tooth could not be treated anymore...Aunt Cathy made not only a chocolate chip pie but also a butterfinger cake!! Oh it's a little slice of heaven I tell ya! Megan did help with the pie as Grace looked on! Aunt Cathy was styling in her apron! It actually was super cute because it matched her outfit! No, she did not do that on purpose. I don't think. Hmmm....

Now, I know that you're surprised we ate anything else the whole rest of the time because we'd already had so much but oh no, we didn't let that stop us! We had a Memorial Day lunch Monday afternoon complete with cheese dip and veggie dip for appetizers then grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, and pork tenderloin, and baked beans, homemade mac n cheese, AND potato salad!!! I'm telling you...I spent the week in a southern heaven!

Grace loved the cheese dip in her patriotic get-up!

Way to eat your veggies Meg!

The filling of the plates.

Mmmmmm.....yummy food! We also got to meet, Heidi, J.T.'s friend that is a girl but not his girlfriend. Maybe? I'm not real sure. :) Either way, Grace just loved her and made great friends with her! It was kinda funny though because she kept calling her Katie-girl, which is what we call Tanner's girlfriend! Heidi thought it was funny. Thank goodness!

More food!

We little firecracker! Are those pigtails cute or what?! That's usually the only thing she'll leave alone for any lenght of time. If I try just a ponytail it's down by the time I turn around! Courtney was vegging on the couch after filling her tummy!

Granny relaxing after our big lunch!

We made a trip to Super Target (have I mentioned the word heaven yet?) Monday after our lunch had settled some and Grace got some new prizes. Shocking, I know. One of them was a little etch a sketch from Aunt Cathy so she and Granny were writing! That girl loves her Granny!

J.T.'s graduation was Tuesday night so that day we paid TJ Maxx and Home Goods a visit!! Gene got the goodies that trip! Megan also just completed her first year of teaching and had to work on Tuesday breaking down her room so we stopped by her school to see it and her! Very neat and I'm so proud of her and her accomplishments! I know she's the very best 1st grade teacher!! We got to graduation about an hour and a half early and they didn't even open the doors to let anyone in until 30 minutes after we got there so Uncle Greg took charge of occupying miss thang!! Here they are walking back and forth!

Megan and J.T.'s other grandparents, John and Pat, drove in Monday afternoon to attend the graduation and here they are (at the far end) with Uncle Greg, Aunt Cathy, Granny, and Courtney waiting for it to begin.

And the other end....Mom, Megan, Grace, and myself!

Grace actually did really well all through the ceremony as well and didn't fuss too much! She is a pretty big fan of her cousin Megan!! I'm pretty sure I see some family resemblance!!

And all the seniors walking in!

I know you can't really tell, but that really is J.T. receiving his diploma! Yay!!! There were about 540 some odd seniors in his graduating class and the whole ceremony ran so smoothly and only lasted about an hour and a half!

Afterward we were all outside taking pictures. And by we I mean every person that was inside the arena for the graduation!! It was a big sea of people and it's a wonder we even found J.T.!! Here's the whole Geren family!!!

Grace and the graduate!

Me, Grace, and Mom with J.T.

Granny and her baby grandchild!!

Courtney and J.T.

Megan and J.T.

After all the pictures were taken we headed back to the house for cake and ice cream! He graduated from South Forsyth High School, who's mascot is the war eagle and will be attending Samford University in the fall and their mascot is the bulldog so Aunt Cathy had each school and mascot put on it! It was chocolate and very yummy!!! The graduation didn't start until 7 and we didn't get back to the house till right at about 9. So, after eating, visiting, and packing stuff up, we were finally in bed around 10:45 or so and back up at 4 am to hit the road to head home. We were tired! It was all well worth it though!

We made even better time coming home and I actually sat in the backseat with Grace while Courtney drove for about an hour and a half or so. I was reminded of why I usually drive on trips like that because I was getting so light headed and head swimmy sitting back there. It took me a little bit to get adjusted to just riding and plus I think watching the DVD player was throwing me off a little too. It's a little weird watching it while the car is moving. Grace watched Scooby Doo.....over and over and over again. And slept some. Mom and Granny had also wrapped up several different prizes to give to her when she started getting a little restless or fussy and they worked wonders!! It is such a good idea for toddlers on long road trips! They ranged from crayons and coloring books to a little ball to stuffed animals to lick lip (Grace's word for chapstick)! She didn't sleep quite as much coming home as she did going, but we still couldn't have asked for her to be any better!!

Courtney has a little yorky, Chloe, that we dropped off in Little Rock to stay with Hillary and Josh while were gone and the morning we left Grace was still so sleepy that she wasn't completely aware of the fact that there was a little dog in the car with her! Now Wednesday when we came home and picked up Chloe Grace was fully aware of her presence! It was so funny and usually Chloe only wants Courtney to hold her but she actually sat in Grace's lap for a long time!! It was the sweetest thing because she was just Grace's size and of course she just loved having a dog that would fit in her lap!! That made the last 2 hours to Alma pretty easy as far as Grace is concerned!!

We got Courtney dropped off, then Granny dropped off, then headed on up the mountain (as Papa T used to always say) to Fayetteville where we finally arrived at the Johnson household! Mom helped us get unloaded then she took herself home! We were all worn out and ready for our own beds but the trip was SO SO SO worth it and we had an absolute blast! I'm so glad that it worked out and that my husband allowed Grace and I to leave for so long!!!!! I know you'll read this, so thank you honey!! And thanks again to the Granny and Courtney for letting us tag along and to the Gerens for letting us in!!!!!! We love you guys and can't wait to see you again!!!