Johnson Journal: May 2008

Friday, May 30, 2008

The end of another school year...

Blast-Off August 23, 2007

Today is Jared's last day of second grade! Hard to believe that eight years ago, I was teaching second grade. With the move and everything that has been going on this year, the school year has flown by!

May 29, 2008
Mrs. M has told me all year what a good kid he is- and it's true. We are very proud of Jared! He got an award yesterday for having straight A's all year long, and for being a "facts master". He also got a "fairness award" in his class. He was disappointed that he didn't get the "quiet worker award", too- no fair! (tee hee) We have loved all of the teachers at SV, and we will miss it next year. (Our new neighborhood is zoned to a different elementary school). I am a little sad that Lauren will not get to have any of Jared's old teachers, but I know we will love the new school just as much, and it's much closer! Jared is great at making new friends and I am sure he will do fine- and it's not like we won't see his old friends again...plus, I used to WORK at this school, so I know a few people, too! One chapter ends, another begins...

Lauren had a great school year, too! She had the best pre-school teachers ever! We LOVE Mrs. T, and Mrs. C! They are the kind that light up when they see your child- anywhere, anytime- and make them feel so special.

Lauren adores school. (She and a set of triplets were the only girls in the class this year.) She is already reading sight words and last night, she counted to 49! Since she has a Sept. birthday, she has one more year until Kindergarten. I think she is ready academically, but socially one more year will do her a world of good. She is becoming more confident everyday, and her speech is getting more understandable- so by next year, she'll be super ready! (And it will be so cool to have them both at the same school!)

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Great Wolf Lodge

How to wear out two kids:

First, drive to the Great Wolf Lodge:

Take your things to the room, but don't stay there too long!

Get your suits on and play outside for an hour or so:

Then, inside for several more hours:

Finally, head to the lobby for the clock tower show and story time:

Repeat the next day.

If you find that they aren't sufficiently worn out yet, play the "Magiquest" game and trek up and down (and up and down...) 8 flights of stairs in search of things to shake your wand at. Try to stay together, otherwise the hotel employees might have to search for your son if he wanders off and does not stay in one place...

Once you get your son back, pack up and head home. Throw in a side trip to the Gaylord Texan and your sister's new house, and you should achieve the results shown above.

Good luck!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Chopper

In February, I got my hair cut about 7 or 8 inches. Since then, Lauren has wanted short hair. I told her that after her dance recital, she could get it cut any way she wanted. (I needed it long to

go in a bun!) So, today was the big day! This is the most significant haircut she has ever gotten. For the first 2 years of her life, I didn't think her hair was ever going to grow! Look how long it was!

I think it turned out cute! A great summer-do for a 4 1/2 year old!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Busiest Weekend EVER!

Saturday, May 17th was one of the busiest days of my life thus far! I wasn't sure how I was going to squeeze everything in, but it actually went off without a hitch! We had a great weekend with family and the kids celebrated a few milestones...

Thursday- grocery shop, cook, and freeze a bunch of meals (for my family that was coming in for the weekend, and also because it needed doing...and if I'm going to do it, I might as well cook a whole bunch of things and freeze them so I can pull them out for easy dinners during the week. I think I made about 8 or 9 meals.)

Friday- Field Day at Jared's school

(Despite losing every tug-o-war, they came in second place overall)

Then, Mimi and Pa arrive, we eat, and my mom and I are off to a Southern Living at Home party with a sweet friend of mine.

Saturday-
8:30 a.m.- Lauren's dance recital dress-rehearsal

11:15 a.m.- Arrive at Jared's baseball game already in progress (My sisters were both there by then)

12:00 p.m.- Home for sandwiches and showers

2:00 p.m.- Jared's First Communion at church

3:45 p.m.- Shopping trip with mom and sisters
5:00 p.m.- Dinner, get Lauren ready for the recital (bath, hair, make-up, costumes, things to do backstage)
6:30 - 9:30 p.m.- Dance recital: WONDERFUL!! Lauren did great!

Sunday- Just church and a birthday party for Lauren to attend- (piece of cake...no pun intended)

Phew! We made it! ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Crawford Copters

One thing about living near the Western Whitehouse, is that you always know when George W. is in town or coming to town. Wednesday night, we had some F22 raptors do a fly-by.

And today, as Lauren and I were getting out of the car at her school, we heard and saw 10 helicopters caravan overhead. Not something you get to see everyday! I snapped a picture- Look! -->

Of course, we all know that they are getting ready for Jenna's big day:

There is a little boy in Lauren's class whose dad is in the secret service. He brought the kids some stuff for career day. I bet he is pretty busy right about now. A friend told me that some people from "A&M" contacted her mother-in-law asking if they could "watch birds" on their property (which just so happens to be adjacent to the Bush's Ranch). When they checked it out, they turned out to be some paparazzi from California. Crazy to think that all of this is going on in lil' ole' Crawford, Texas!