Starting A New Chapter

The last day of 2010...

Why is THE LAST DAY always a bit different?

After much snow and cold...

it rained here today.

Temps reached near 60!

No more signs of snow!

It's still raining...

getting the ground ready for a new year.

*****

Today was a bit of a nice relaxing day.

My sweet boy tried something new...

play-doh!

He wasn't in absolute love,

more intrigued.

Meanwhile, the girls painted up some new birdhouses.

We will hang them and hopefully have some new tenants over the winter!

The last day of the year...

we celebrate 2010....

but celebrate the new year ...2011...as well.

Last year's New Year's Eve post...

I wanted to be more at peace with myself.

Looking back, I'm not sure it was peace I was looking for.

I think I was trying to figure out who I really was.

I was looking hard.

Well, I found who I was in 2010.

At 36, I know who I am...and it finally feels good.

I feel more in control of me, my life.

I ask more questions, research more, talk more.

I know that I am much more capable of what I thought.

Everyone is.

My dear, dear girlfriends say that God doesn't give you more than you can handle.

I've thought A LOT about that statement this year.

Life...there will always be bumps and roadblocks,

but it's how we react to them, how we handle them and how we find peace with them.

*****
My goal for 2011 is to keep educating myself....

I get scared about things that I don't know much about.

Educate myself...tackle what's ahead in 2011.

*****

Full force ahead, while breathing in deep and smiling at the small things.

Because the small things are really life's pleasures.

For the past few days, Henry has really figured out what MOM means.

He says MOOOOOOM (it lasts about 3 seconds) and I answer...from wherever I am.

He knows I will answer.

I smile every.single.time I hear my name. MOM.

I will NEVER forget how he says it.

Bliss.

*****

The small things...and family...doesn't get any better....at all.

Tonight we went for pizza with Jon's sister, her hubs and cousins Megan and Madison.

Grandma came too.

Our whole lane...out for pizza!
The older girls are just growing up so fast!

And can you tell that I have a little drama queen on my hands?

My baby boy...a TV will keep him happy!

Here is to the end of 2010...

and to 2011...a new chapter.

I cannot wait to see what's ahead.

Whatever it is, I know that I will get through it!

Welcome To The NBA

Jon and I hadn't been to an NBA game in 7 years!

(We went for Jon's 30th birthday!)

Last time we watched the Indiana Pacers, it was courtside.

Yes, I'm bragging! It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us!

This was our view.

So...after 7 years....

WE WENT TO WATCH THE PACERS LAST NIGHT...

and...

WE TOOK THE GIRLS....Their 1st NBA game!

(My parents watched Henry.)

We did some shopping before the game.

While searching for some earrings for Emily in Claire's....

Look who we ran into!!!!!

It's Rupert from SURVIVOR!

He was just so sweet!

We chatted for a while (He's NOT happy that Boston Rob is going back BEFORE him!)!

We then walked over to the OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY for dinner!

We were seated in the trolley!

Jon and Laney's little friend....doesn't it look like an animal from the movie Madagascar?

After dinner, we walked across to Conseco Fieldhouse.
Of course, Jon got this pix...the girls with a Pacer gal!

Laney's feet compared to an NBA player's feet!

We weren't quite courtside, but were just as excited!

Cotton Candy...a must!

Getting started!

I honestly didn't think that the girls would last the whole game, but there was so much going on at all times!

I was playing with my zoom lens and caught this pix of my adorable college roommate's husband...He was across the arena!
(Oh, Austin Croshere in white...not the camera guy! Ha!)

Shaq!

Jon took the camera for a while.

I have tons of pix of these cutie pie gals!

Looks like me when I dance around our home! Ha!

It was such a FANTASTIC opportunity....to take the girls!

They loved Boomer!

And after the game?

We walked back to our hotel...

baths...cheetos...and CRAZY girlies!

This morning we took the girls to the hotel pool!

Now THAT was their favorite part!

My camera battery died, but trust me....

the spa temps...poolside...sipping my Starbucks ...It was NICE!

After checking out, we hit a few more shops!

Then it was home to see our baby boy!

We had such a great little getaway with the girls!

Since it was a night game, it sure was wonderful that my parents offered to come stay all night at our house!

Henry loved having the attention!

I can't wait until we get to take all three kiddos sometime!

******
So, we didn't sit courtside, but we took our little girls....I definitely chose the latter.

It was so amazing to be able to do this for them!

Now, when Henry is older...I wouldn't be surprised if you see Jon and Henry there together...COURTSIDE! :)

Happy 2 To My Sweet Baboo

Henry Oliver...

Today is your 2nd birthday!

*****

We had a lovely low-key family birthday for our special guy.

All of his friends were so excited for the party!

The girls' table (Emily, Laney and cousins Megan and Madison) was set with arts and crafts!
Birthday wishes were all over our home!

Henry's favorite red monster was a MUST!

Before our family came over, we gifted Henry with our gift.

He loved it so much that he wasn't ready to welcome his guests when they arrived!

We had yummy pizza for dinner!

And our cake lady was on holiday; therefore, we opted for an ice cream cake.

Best part...HENRY LOVED HIS CAKE!!!!

Guess our family singing wasn't as much of a hit!He knew the drill when he saw his cake!

Ready to put his little fingers in for a bite!

Yummy!
Yeah!!!!!

Jon always makes a slide show for each child's birthday.

Henry was absolutely tickled when he saw himself on the TV!

He would laugh...point...clap...

He even kissed the TV screen!
He received many cool John Deere tractors!

And he found out that it was quite fun to race them down his new slide!

It was a wonderful little party!

*****

And as I type, my baby is sound asleep.

He will be 2 years old at 10:57pm.

Little did I know 2 years ago exactly how much more love I could feel.

How many memories this little guy would create.

How truly special it is that he can continue our family's last name.

How many crazy hairdos he would have by age 2.

And how much he looked just like my dad when he was just days old.

Henry Oliver Johnson....

I am so very blessed to be your mom.

You are and will always be my favorite little boy!

Happy 2!

Christmas 2010

Another wonderful Christmas....

Ours started on Christmas Eve.

We went to celebrate at Jon's parents' home.

*****

What is exciting about Christmas?

Spending time with family

The girls with both of their great grandmothers.

The joy of Christmas spirit...

The anticipation of opening gifts...(I love this pix of cousin Madison. This is me at her age! My sis and I would sort and pile our gifts around us!)
the fun of actually unwrapping them...and the thrill of what's inside the packages!

We had such a great Christmas Eve!

Once home,

the children were off to bed!

Jon, the pets and I all waited up to hear Santa's sleigh.

I didn't sleep one wink that night

(Not sure if it was the excitement of Christmas or the my flu symptoms! Ugh!)

I was up before everyone else...sitting in the living room alone with a lit tree!

Emily was first,

then Jon...

soon Laney...

and finally Henry!
The children were absolutely THRILLED!

And the grande finale?

Jon lead everyone downstairs...

our gift to the children...

Yes, they were a bit excited!

******

My parents came over later in the afternoon...

wonderful goodies arrived with them!

Laney FINALLY got the Lanie doll!

And Emily got Julie A! I love this doll because we were born the same year...1974!

The children received such great gifts!
After unwrapping gifts with my parents, we got ready to host 21 family members...

Christmas dinner!

I made lasagna and everyone brought the best dishes!

I didn't get one.single.pix of our Christmas evening party!

(Probably because I was still feeling flu-like...By the end of the party, I was lying on the living room floor due to complete exhaustion! I was still having a ball though!)

*****

And today...

What have we done?
Well, let's just say it's been a pajama day

(I still feel like a truck ran over me, but I keep pressing on...probably what got me to this sick state in the first place!)

The children have played with every single toy...their own and each other's!

This afternoon, Jon and I took down the Christmas tree and all of the Christmas decor.

ALL OF IT!

Why such the rush?

Now that Christmas is over, we are getting ready for another party...

Henry turns 2 tomorrow!