What we've been up to.

The last week seems to be a bit of a whirlwind!

Last Thursday, my Mom had surgery to repair some herniated discs in her lower back. Shannon and I met Mom and Dad in Wichita for her surgery.  Mom had been in pain for quite some time.  I am so thankful that she finally had surgery to get it corrected.  She had a rough day or two right after her surgery.  She was sick from the anesthesia and pain meds, but I think she is over the hump.  Praying she heals quickly and takes it easy!  It will be 3 months before she'll be able to do much of anything at all. 

Friday was my birthday.  The big 3-1.  I honestly don't feel that old!  High school doesn't seem that long ago until I say it out loud.  I have been out of high school for 13 years.  WOW!!!  The Sunday before my birthday, my Mom had Marleigh out to her house.  They made me an early birthday cake.  Marleigh was SO proud of it.  She couldn't even talk when I got there to pick her up because she was so excited.  I love that doing things for others brings her so much joy. 

We packed so much into the day on Saturday!  In the morning, I went out to my parents' house to check on Mom and get her some medicine.  Then, we had some good friends come over for lunch and the kids had an Easter Egg Hunt.  After our afternoon nap, we took the kids to a nearby town to a new bar and grill.  It was delicious!  We stopped by some friends' house afterwards for a little bit.  We arrived home just in time to get the kids bathed and to bed.  Then a few minutes later, we had some other friends from out of town stop by to visit for the evening. 

Sunday, we went to church, then out to my parents' house for another Easter Egg Hunt and lunch.  Marleigh and her cousin, Luke, had so much fun! 

Last night, Marc took Marleigh out to the silage field to ride in the push tractor with Papa.  She was wound for sound when she got home.  "Mom!!!  I rode in Papa's John Deere tractor.  We went up and down.  Up and down.  Papa let me drive!  I drove like this.  Vrrrrrrrrrr...... Up and down! Dad says I can go again tomorrow!"  (She's gotten into the habit of calling us "Mom"  and "Dad".  :(  Sounds incredibly grown up.)  After dinner, I went out to help my Mom with a few things around the house. 

Needless to say, we have had so much fun lately!  Bring on summer and more good times!!! 

~~~

A few other exciting things have happened. 

Marleigh has worn big girl pants since Saturday with only 1 accident!!!  I am over the moon proud of her!  :)

Kade drank out of a sippy cup last night.  Seriously.  He needs to slow down.  He seems to be growing up over night! 

I've got a Marleigh story and some awesome pictures to share, but those will have to wait til next time! 

Never a dull moment at the Johnson house

Marleigh had been really getting used to playing outside.  Then it rained for a couple of days straight last week.  On the second night, I found her with her little face pressed up against the sliding glass door.  She turned to me with the most pitiful face and with the most pathetic voice asked, "Mommy, is it going to rain for forty days and forty nights?"  I had to hide my smile, as I told her that, "No, sweetheart.  It won't rain for forty days and nights."  At least I know she is paying attention when we read our Bible stories! 

~~

Kade is REALLY keeping us on our toes.  That little boy has a sixth sense for getting into things he shouldn't!  He'll sit and play so good until you turn your back.  That's when he makes his move!  If you catch him in the act, and tell him no, he pauses for a moment, smiles over his shoulder, then continues to do whatever it is he shouldn't be doing (pulling lamp cords, opening drawers, trying to pull the cable out of the wall, picking up the floor vents, I could go on...).  He sure is lucky he's so darn cute, and has such a great personality.  :)  Here's what he was up to the other night.

He did this himself.  

And then continued to play. 

~~

Lately, we've been really making a conscience effort to turn the TV off while we are sitting down as a family for dinner.  We talk about our days, and just generally try to enjoy our time together.  Most evenings, Kade is laughing and grunting in his highchair.  You can't help but smile if you sit and watch him.  Marleigh eats a little, sings a little (we're working on what is appropriate dinner behavior), and makes Kade laugh by playing peek-a-boo with him.

Tonight, as per the norm, Kade was laughing and smiling.  Daddy commented, "Bubba, you should dress up as a cheese ball for Halloween, cause you're always cheesing!"  Marleigh laughed, then asked Daddy what she should dress up as.  Daddy responded with, "Marleigh, you should be a Princess."  Without missing a beat, Marleigh turned to me and said, "Mommy, you should be a witch!"   Marc had just taken a bite of food and about choked on it.  I'm not quite sure how I should take that one.  Maybe Mommy should try being a little bit nicer, and put on a little make up!  :)

Delayed

Today's blog post brought to you courtesy a fight delay at the airport in Las Vegas.  :(

One of Marc's good friends from college got married in Las Vegas this past Saturday.  My parents graciously agreed to keep Marleigh and Kade.  I was apprehensive about leaving my babies for so long. I can explain to Marleigh that Mommy and Daddy were going to a wedding and we'd be home soon.  Her response?  "Have fun!  Love you! Oh!!!! I get to go stay with Papa and Gigi?!?  Hooray!!!!"  But poor Bubba....I just kept thinking he probably thought, "Why did my Mama leave me?" Made me feel bad for the little guy. More about that later. 

So we thought we would be flying back home at 4:25.  I was so excited to get home to my sleeping babies, but that is delayed (unexplained 3.5 hour delay, ETA at Wichita, midnight plus a 2 hour drive), as well as a post about our trip.  

Spring

Marleigh has always adored flowers.  She loves to smell them, look at them, and touch them.  Daddy and the kids sent me some roses for Valentine's Day.  They were gorgeous!  I honestly think Marleigh loved them even more than her Mama.  She would ask numerous times a day to smell Mommy's pretty flowers. 

A few days later, February 19th, the anniversary of Natalie's passing, we took flowers out to Natalie at the cemetery.  Marleigh was questioning why we would leave such pretty flowers outside.  I explained to her that we were leaving the flowers outside so that her sister could enjoy them.  We left them outside for Natalie. 

Spring has come on in full swing in the last week or so.  We have loved being outdoors. The grass is greening up with the recent rain, and our tree in the backyard is beginning to bloom.  Last night, Marleigh came running to me.  She was overcome with excitement.  She quickly grabbed my hand and drug me to the kitchen window.  "Mommy, look!!!  The tree grew pretty flowers for my sister, Natalie!  I bet she loves them!"  Marleigh was elated.  She jumped up and down and was thrilled for her sister to have such beautiful flowers.  What an incredible heart my little girl has.   
 
I really needed that moment.  I had probably looked at that tree a dozen times and not noticed it was blooming.  I had been caught up in the everyday life.  Getting a little weary of the monotonous, winter days.  I wasn't taking the time to find the pleasure of the little things in our daily life. I always feel a little sluggish in the last couple of months of winter. The joy of Christmas has come and gone. Not only are the days short and cold, but we experienced two enormous losses in those months. In January of 2008, we lost Marc's brother, Matt. Then in February of 2009, Natalie passed away.  Needless to say, I find the winter months a bit challenging. 

We have endured many cold, dreary winters, but there is always the promise of spring.  Renewing and refreshing.  There's bound to be more winters in my future, but I hope that I can weather them gracefully, and remember there is always hope and spring ahead.  Funny how we can so easily relate most life events to our relationship with God.  No matter what we weather in our faith, He is always there to start fresh and renew our spirit.

Good Old Friends

I am very lucky. I live back in the town I grew up in. Two of my close childhood friends, Jami and Stephanie live within 20 miles.  Steph actually is the one that introduced Marc and I!   It is a great blessing to have them so close. Granted, I don't talk to them or see them near as much as I used to, we're all busy with kids, work, etc., but when we are together, it is like we never left off.  I truly enjoy meeting new people, and making new friends.  But, there is just a certain comfort and level of understanding with people that have known you forever.  These girls have always been there for me.  Through bad hair in the 90's to some of my best memories in high school, college, and beyond. They've seen me at my absolute worst, and they still choose to be a part of my life.  ;) 

So much has changed in the 13 years since we graduated high school, but one thing has remained the same.  These girls are the best good old friends a girl could ask for. 

Stephanie, Jami, and I a few years ago. 



What a fun night! 



Shortly after the girls were born, Jami and Steph came to Wichita to see us.  They gave me the bracelet below  (of course Kade's name wasn't on it then).  I could not think of a more perfect gift.  Everything about it is perfect. This bracelet was a great comfort for me while the girls were in the hospital.  It symbolized my sweet babies, so I felt like I had a piece of them with me, but it also was a reminder that I was loved by my friends and by God.   The sentimental value of this bracelet is priceless.  I wear it everyday.   

Thank you girls, for always being there.  Love you both! 

We are so ready for summer!

What a gorgeous day it was yesterday!  We took full advantage!

My two favorite people on Earth. 

He is such a happy guy. 

Did you know they don't make prescription sunglasses for kids?  Nor do they have any magnetic kind that fit kids' glasses?  Gigi found the smallest pair she could and modified them to fit Marleigh's glasses. 

Just hanging out.  Watching Sissy run around. 

So happy to be outside! 

Love those cubby legs!  Although, I think I'm going to have a hard time finding shoes for those feet! 

Beautiful blue-eyed boy. 

She's growing up way too fast! 

Taking a break from the nonstop running, swinging, sliding, and ball playing. 

This and That

Marleigh ASKED for Kade to snuggle with her on the couch the other day.  I was shocked!  She loves her little brother, but usually isn't much for cuddling with him.  He LOVES to be anywhere near his Sissy, so he was all smiles.  :)


~~

Marleigh has had a stuffy nose for the past few days.  Yesterday morning she woke up with a slight fever, so we gave her Motrin.  After she got up from her nap, it was over 102 degrees, so to the doctor we went.  Poor little thing has strep.  She was already feeling better this morning.  Now let's hope Kade doesn't get it!

~~

Kade is crawling all over the house now!  It is still kind of an army crawl, but he's got some speed.  He's actually pretty quick for all that weight he has to maneuver!  :)  Marleigh is less than thrilled that her brother is mobile.  A few days ago, I walked in to her taking his bink out of his mouth and saying, "Kade, I want you to pay attention.  Look at me, Kade.  Quit taking my toys.  You stay over there.  These are not toys for babies to put in their mouths.  These are my toys.    If you put that in your mouth one more time, you're going to time out.  Do you understand?"  It was incredibly hard to keep a straight face! 

Kade has a tooth!  Finally!  He's working on his other bottom front tooth, too.  I hope they all hurry up and come in. 

~~

Question for anyone that has both a son and a daughter:  Were they inherently different from the get go?  Marleigh and Kade are night and day. Marleigh was a little more reserved and timid.  Kade is ALL boy.  He knocks everything over.  Bangs anything he can get his hands on, and is just generally into everything!  :) It is so neat to see the differences in them already.  Or maybe it is the difference between a first born and a younger sibling. 

~~

I just realized that exactly two weeks from today, we leave for Las Vegas.  I know we will have so much fun watching our friends get married, but I am starting to freak out just a little bit.  I know there is no reason to.  They will be having the time or their lives at Papa and Gigi's, but I am going to miss them terribly!