Happy Birthday Tammy!

The girls were given Life Pointe Rocks t-shirts by Anne. They matched Tammy today and thought they were so cool. They went to the mall together while we were at a new member's luncheon. We should have been taking her out to lunch for her birthday and instead, she was taking care of the girls! Happy Birthday Tammy! Thank you for all you done for us throughout the years and for being by my side through 3 babies!!! 29 and holding forever!!!!! This is your birthday card... it's an e-card.

Ha - I got a real smile!

9 years ago yesterday

On February 20, 1999, Travis Johnson knocked on my door. It was a beautiful Saturday morning. The sky was blue, the temperature was perfect. The bummer was, being a junior at Lee University, I had all day homework. Travis asked me if I wanted to go to a state park that day. While it sounded nice, I insisted that I had too much homework and we would just have to stay in. Somehow (he is quite charming, you know) he convinced me to bring my homework to the park. So I got ready and off we went to Cloudland Canyon State Park.

Being the good little student that I was, I did homework on the hour drive up there. When we got there we decided to hike to the bottom of this waterfall. It was gorgeous. Travis had packed blanket and he spread it out so we could sit down. The sound of the waterfall was so pretty. Then he pulled my journal out of the backpack. It was a beautiful leather journal that he had gotten me the previous Christmas. He had written something in it and asked me to read it. I was still clueless at this point. But as I read, it started coming together and then I couldn't wait to get to the end. The last line was, "Take what little I have and stay with me. Forever. With Christ in the center, we are unbreakable."

When I was done reading I looked over and Travis had a ring box open. I was floored. I didn't even ring shop with him! We had never even talked about what kind of ring I liked, but he hit the nail on the head! I figured since we didn't get engaged at Valentine's Day (the weekend before) it was gonna be a while! The first thing I said was, "did you ask my dad?!" What kind of response was that!?!? I don't know. But of course I was thrilled and said yes. He did talk to my dad, by the way.

We hiked back up the mountain, me clenching my fist tight so as to not lose the over-sized ring. I didn't do a lick of homework the rest of that weekend. But it didn't matter. I was engaged and on cloud nine. We called our parents, told friends, and I felt like the whole world must be looking at my left hand.

So I have had my ring for 9 years now. That is crazy to me. It has been through a wedding, a honeymoon, lived in 5 cities, seen the birth of 3 children, and been stuck on swollen fingers for months. My nails are chipped today, there are toys all around me, my babies are in bed right now. But I am remembering the joy of nine years ago. Time is flying by and I am more in love now than I was on that day.

Shopping at home

This is 5 minutes long, but worth it if you like watching cute, silly girls. It gets really cute around 1:40 when Kourtney becomes the cashier or around 2:20 when McKenna announces out of no where, I love Grammy and Tammy (we were learning rhyming words yesterday). Notice McKenna's rain boots.

Blake the Snake

Blake has more nick names than either girl ever had. I guess it goes with being a boy. He is called (by the girls) Blake the Snake, Blakester, and Blakey Blake. It is so cute. Here he is (sorry about the pink blanket Trav) having some tummy time.

Here he is working on sitting up on his own.
Here is his "hair cut." He had some patchy baby fuzz on the back of his head so daddy decided to take Blake's appearance into his own hands. He buzzed it off! It looks so cute and feels nice too.

Too cool Kenna

Wannado City

We went to Wanna Do City today with the kids. It was very cool. Kourtney said her favorite thing was being a shopper at Publix... that's my girl! She was also a Veterinarian, an archaeologist, a baby doctor, a dentist, an EMT, and other things I can't think of. They also got to spend their wongas on the fair rides. We were worn out by the end of the day and the girls were still raring to go! I'm getting old.

On a side note, I must say I was a bit disappointed by the advertising and I have to air it out. Before we went we were told that 2 yr olds were admitted for free and parents were free with the purchase of one child's admission. However, when we got there, we discovered that 2 yrs old were allowed in free, but it they wanted to participate, it was the same price. Never mind that our 2 yr old opted out of almost every event. AND, there was a $3 "tax" per person! I need to write a customer service letter again!!!

Kourtney and McKenna in an ambulance...
Kourtney and McKenna being baby doctors...
I heard one girl ask Kourtney, are you guys sisters. She said yes, this is my sister, McKenna. I don't know why that made me smile, but it did!
McKenna and the dark skinned baby she picked out. Everyone says that our girls think they are latin! I love it!Here is Kourtney on the runway being a model. She was so brave and later told Travis, I wasn't scared even a little bit.
The pictures are a little blurry, but you get the idea.
At the end when everyone was cheering for all the models, Travis yelled, I love you Kourtney! She mouthed back (without words), I love you too dad. I think I saw his eyes get a little wet.
On the rides at the "fair..."A shopper at Publix. I taught her everything she needs to know (except that you don't weigh bread)...

Valentine Video

Happy Balentimes Day

Arrrrr shiver me timbers

Kourtney asked if we could build a boat. After watching the new Franklin movie, The Turtle Lake Treasure, I realized why. So I got a little creative and we came up with this. Kourtney and McKenna have spent the morning being pirates. Although Kourtney asked me if a real pirate came would I tie him up because she doesn't know how to tie a bow.

Waiting for pirates!

Fishin'

Baptism at the Bay

There were about 100 of us out at Bayfront Park in Homestead on Sunday. We had baptisms and a picnic. It was awesome. A bit windy, but very fun.

Storm rolling in...

This was the skyline on the way home from the Seaquarium. It was a beautiful scene. We actually didn't get a drop of rain on us the whole way home. We must have driven around it!

Miami Seaquarium

We went to Miami Seaquarium (every time I say that I sing the song in my head) on Saturday with Jt, Anne, Marcela, and Phil. It was hot, but a good time was had by all. The coolest part was that we got a free season pass for going in February so we can go back as often as we want. There was a "wet" playground with a pirate ship that had water guns. We didn't make it to that (no bathing suits) so we will go back on Friday to hit that up.

Lolita the Killer Whale (though I kept wanting to call her Shamu)
Blakey-Blake
Cooling off with a spitting walrus
I'm wet!
McKenna sitting with Papa at the Walrus show (my favorite)
The Miami skyline is behind them