Currently Listening This Is Your Life By Out of Eden see related

Hey!  Happy First Day of Spring at 1.26 p.m.  I'm a little early. 

Dan and I have a blog for all  you to check out.  He will keep that updated better than I do my xanga!  It can be found at www.djfoto.net  click on dan johnson photography blog at the bottom of the home page.  Dan is having fun w/ it!

Ellery is reaching all sorts of milestones.  I don't feel like I have an infant anymore, but she's not a toddler.  What is she called?  I don't know.  In the last two weeks she has cut her second tooth, rolled over, sits with help (boppy), tried her first cereal, and took a bath in her bathtub seat sitting up.  AHHHHH!  Her eyes are a beautiful blue.  Her laugh fills our home with joy.  She giggles when she is being dressed or undressed.  This past weekend she started growling, but it is so darn cute!  I keep forgetting that she will have long hair and I won't have to cut her's as often as we cut the boys!  That will be fun!

~jodi

Hello Friends!

Last weekend we had a wonderful trip to California to visit with my brother, Scott, and his girlfriend, Cari.  They moved to Walnut Creek (a suburb in the East Bay area of San Francisco) last November for Cari's new job.  We stayed with them in their apartment.  Saturday morning was spent touring Alkatraz.  Very cool.  In the afternoon we took a bus tour of San Francisco.  Very nice.  It was a beautiful day to see the city!  That evening Cari introduced us to Korean food.  Sunday was very rainy.  We headed to Napa Valley (wine county) and visited three winery's.  Very nice.  Scott and Cari took us to their favorite sushi restaurant for dinner.  This was my first experience with sushi.  I had a good time, very educated, but I don't know if I will do it on my own!   Monday we got on a plane and headed for Chicago and drove home to GR from there.  We had a nice time.  It was good to see my brother's new "stomping ground."

Ellery is now a frequent flyer -- she has flown to Atlanta and San Fran.  She is also becoming well rounded in the arts department -- We took her to see Beauty and the Beast on stage at a near by, hometown, theatre.  And she saw the Broadway stage version of The Lion King.   The perks of nursing.......she gets to go everywhere and to everything!  She knows how to behave too.  The going out to dinner thing is still on the "no way" list b/c it conflicts w/ the bed time fussy's.  The dinner table in a restaraunt is no fun w/ bed time fussy's!!!

Trey turned TWO on Saturday!  We did home-made pizza, chocolate cake and gifts w/ just our family!  We will do the big family gathering on the 14th b/c his counsin's birthday's are the 9th and the 13th.  Trey is yelling "mommy."  It is fun and cute, but there are times when it can get under my skin a little.  He bursts out in song with Darth Vaddar's theme or the Star Wars theme!  It is a hoot!

Ethan is enjoying his gymnastics class.  He likes to think of it as "going to school."  He has figured out that at the dinner table we ask Hayden about his day at school but we don't ask him anything.  So, daddy is making great efforts to ask Ethan about his day.

I just spent the last few moments taking a look at March.  We have a pretty quiet month, unless stuff starts to happen!  I have a weekly routine of several things:  Every other Tuesday morning I have MOPS at Ada.  Thursday morning is Ethan's gymnastics and I give my nephew a trumpet lesson.  Thursday night I lead a college age bible study.  We are studying the Fruit of the Spirit.  Friday morning I have joined a woman's bible study led by Robertta DeVries.  We are studying a book entitled "Help Meet."  Wonderful study.  That is my repeat stuff each week in my palm pilot.  My Monday's and Wednesday's are free days to stay home, do groceries, run erronds, meet w/ friends (hint, hint).  Of course, I also have every other Tuesday morning open also! 

Currently Listening Live Like You Were Dying By Tim McGraw see related

Hello Friends and Family! 

Well, two months later and I am back!  Oh, I love the Olympics!  Watching the woman's ice skating right now!

Dan left for CA today for convention.  I am flying out on Friday to meet him in the San Fransisco area to stay with my brother and his girlfriend for the wkend.  Kendra Kelly, my wonderful friend, is staying w/the boys.  Her boyfriend, Kevin, is driving me to Chicago so Dan and I can ride back together on Monday.  Plus the price of parking is incredible, so this is a good thing. 

Hayden is learning how to read.  He loves school and he works really hard.  He has some really good buddies and then there is Kayla.  She likes to call Hayden---A LOT!  She is very cute and we have had some wonderful play dates.

Ethan is 4!  He is in gymnastics class!!! It is soooo good for him.  He calls it "jumping class."  He loves to play "pretend" as Star Wars guys, Narnia, Spiderman, or whatever.  He has a great imagination.  He loves to be in his underwear all the time.  In the mornings when I ask him to get dressed, he asks "Why, are we going somewhere?"  Ya gotta love it!

Trey is my Hunk of Love!  He is husky and a lover!  He is starting to talk.........a little.  He says Mommy and Daddy very clearly.  Today I think I heard "toy" and "star wars."  He can sing two different Star Wars songs.  He is great singer.  He does a great job at keeping up with his brothers during sword fights and pretend play.  It is great to watch him want to do what his big brothers are doing.

Ellery has her first tooth!  She loves to put her toesies in her mouth.  She has a beaming smile with bright blue eyes.  Her laugh is delicious.  She giggles when I undress her, which is often b/c she knows how to poop!!!    She responds w/ delight to her brothers.  Ethan loves to interact w/ her and she responds to him!  Trey likes to "tickle, tickle, tickle" (that is another word he trys to say) her.  She is beautiful!

I have joined MOPS at Ada this semester.  I am blessed to be in a group of wonderful "mommies."  I am encouraged and affirmed.  I am also leading a college age bible study.  We have studied the book of James, Captivating, and now we are studying the Fruit of the Spirit.  These two things break up my routine w/ four kids which is good for me.

Dan is very busy w/ the Carpet business and the Photography business.  We guard our time as much as possible.  He loves to sword fight w/ the boys, "fight legs (can't explain this over cibar space)"  w/ them, and sometimes he's holding Ellery at the same time. 

We have been fighting an eye virus around here.  I think we are on the tail end of it.  That makes life a little bit busier and since it is contagious we have had to miss out on some things..... church, MOPS, gymnastics, play dates!  YUCK!

Have a great week!~jodi

Currently Gaming Robots By Vivendi Universal Games see related

Happy Thanksgiving!!! 

Yesterday, we had a very exciting morning in our house.  Hayden came bursting into our bathroom with two dollars from the tooth fairy!!!  He had lost one of his top middle teeth.  When he smiled, I pulled him in front of the mirror and told him to look at his smile!  His other top tooth had fallen out in the middle of the night!  We raced to his bedroom to find it and it was under his pillow!  NOw all Hayden wants for Christmas is his two front teeth (yes, I taught him the song)!!!

We are headed to my moms Thanksgiving day.  Her and her husband have a new condo.  My Grandma and my Aunt will also be there.  My Grandma will get to meet Ellery, her first great-granddaughter! 

Friday I might attempt to go shopping because Hayden and Ethan are spending a few days with my mom!  I only have two kids and they both go in a stroller!!!   I am also going to try and decorate for Christmas while the two are napping!

Saturday afternoon we are going to pick up the boys and then spend some time with my dad.  Sunday we are spending the day at Dan's dad's house.  A full weekend ahead of us, but very fun!!!

I enjoyed a delicious meal at Charley's Crab last night.  I was a seafood maniac:  Lobster bisque, Shrimp Trio, and Crab clusters!  Yummy!

Dan and I discovered The Studio at Ada Bible last Sunday.  I am in love!  I enjoyed sitting around tabeles with friends, singing, sipping coffee and learning about Jesus in a very relaxed atmosphere!  It was cozy and I loved it!

We rented "Madagascar" last Friday.  Cute.  The boys really liked it.  It was also our Saturday morning cartoons!!! :)

Have a great, long weekend!  Eat, eat, and Eat some more!!! Oh, plus the football!  And don't forget the parade! 

Much love! ~jodi