Setting a Goal

Last year I set a goal for myself to get my MBA, which meant going back to college after an 8 year hiatus. Ugh. So this semester I've put that plan into action, still not really knowing how I'm going to find the time to do this.  Time is such a precious commodity when you work full time, have little kids, and all those other day-to-day responsibilities that come with being an adult.  I only thought I didn't have time for everything when I was working on my undergrad degree!

Despite not having that tiny little detail worked out, I'm officially a Henderson State University Reddie as of this week.  What's a Reddie you ask?  I didn't know either until I looked it up here. Go figure.  I'm fortunate in that I have three universities all within an hour of my home/work.  Henderson didn't require that I take the GMAT because I had a high GPA- score!

Last night was my first class, Marketing Trends, and one of the two that I'll be taking this semester.  It was really odd to be on a college campus again, to have that little parking sticker on my car.  I remember feeling so at home on UCA's campus (where I got my Bachelor's degree), now I feel like a strange outsider.  This is possibly due to the fact that I am kind of an outsider now.  In my class of 13 there are 7 international students (all young), and the remaining 5 students all graduated with their Bachelor's last spring.  So I'm directionally 8 years older than everyone in my class.  The only one with kids and a full-time job. 

I am officially that person.  The older student that we all remember having in our classes, and didn't really socialize with because we were on totally different planets because of all the differences mentioned above.  That's alright with me though; I'm counting on being a pretty hot commodity soon. See, our major project for this class is to work with a real client and create a marketing plan for their business.  Does this sound familiar to any of my UCA friends?  I'm fairly sure we did like 3 of these for undergraduate classes.  Plus my real life experience.  Oh yeah, if I were one of the young'uns in this class I'd be trying to be my BFF immediately! Ha!

One class down, and one more to go tonight.  At least now I can stop worrying about the classwork; and instead focus on finding the time to actually do the classwork!

Letters to Seeley

Seeley Bop,

Kiddo, I had to forgo the short monthly blurbs because you have been ON FIRE these past few months.  You have grown so much!  You're wearing 24 month clothes and a size 8 shoe.  Your big sister only wears a size 9.  So yeah, you're definitely going to fulfill the doctor's prediction and be taller than both your Daddy and I.  It's so funny to see you and Emma standing side by side; you are this close to being as big as she is!  No one believes us when we tell them you are only 18 months old.

At your 18 month check-up I was a little surprised to see that you hadn't gained much weight.  Well, I can assure you it's not because you go without any meals.  I swear that you are eating from the time you get home from school until we put you to bed at night.  Seriously.  One of your most used words is "snack?!".  You are also always on the go.  You're either climbing on something, running around the house, or climbing on something . . . you are a big climber.  Mommy has lots of gray hairs now.  Thanks.  Luckily, the Lord blessed you with balance and agility.  Otherwise I'm sure we would be making at least 1 hospital trip a week.

We turned your crib into a toddler bed this past month also.  Even though you love to climb you had never tried to climb out of your crib until recently.  And you didn't climb out actually, you climbed in!  So, Mommy decided it might be a good idea to go ahead and let you be a big boy.  Now you wind up in bed with Mommy and Daddy at least every other night.  When you were in your crib you'd just roll over and go back to sleep if you woke up during the night.  Now that you can get out of your bed you go to the baby gate and scream "Ma" until I come and snuggle you into bed with me. And if I don't come quick enough you start shaking the gate like some caged gorilla!  Spoiled much?!  That's ok though, you just want some extra Mommy snuggles.

And speaking of snuggles, you are the sweetest, snuggliest thing in the whole world.  Everyone agrees.  I love it when you snuggle up to me after your bath, or in the mornings.  You either wrap your arms around my neck and squeeze, or you tuck your little arms under you like you're trying to get as close to me as possible.  Melts my heart every time!  Pop Pop is one of your favorite snuggle buddies too.  You'll occasionally share your snuggle time with Parker.

Yes sir, you are sweet and snuggly . . . unless you don't get your way.  My sweet little angel inherited his Daddy's hair-trigger temper.  You have absolutely zero patience.  And when you get mad . . . the you-know-what hits the fan.  Sippie cups become projectiles, you turn your body into dead weight, throw yourself to the floor crying.  In all honesty, right now I can't help but laugh when you do these things.  Right now it's cute.  But we'll have to nip it in the bud pretty soon because it won't be cute forever.  Fair warning.

You've also discovered a love of music and performing.  At your very first Christmas program at school you had the entire audience in tears they were laughing so hard at you.  (And the reason this is not on film is because your Daddy forgot the camcorder.)  You were sitting with your class in your little chair on the stage and you were stomping your feet, swaying back and forth, shaking your head.  And smiling the cheesiest grin I have ever seen every time you would look at me.  It's like you were saying "Hey Mom!  Check me out!  I'm so awesome!" Absolutely priceless.  Random strangers were coming up to us after the program so that they could meet you.  My little celebrity!

You are also really interested in the dogs and cat lately.  You insist on feeding Jade every morning. And since you're giving her food, she decides to let you get away with pulling her tail and squeezing her neck.  You also love to squeeze on Bella, who also takes it like a champ.  Pancho, not so much.  He pretty much runs whenever you get close. You don't care for him much either, you're always telling him to "go" or "shut-up".

I'm so lucky to have you and I can't wait to see what new things you'll learn next.  I love you!

Love,

Mommy

Catching up

I was right (as usual): between the kids and the holidays I had 0 time to blog.  Here's what the Johnsons have been up to . . .

Presents from Santa . . .

Fighting over presents from Santa . . .

More presents.  From Mommy and Daddy this time . . .

Followed by an awesome family nap! Ha!

The rest of my vacation was spent with ear infections, a desperate attempt to make room in our house for all of the new toys, and art projects with the kiddos.  Oh, and ironing out the pesky details of going back to school in just a few short weeks to get my MBA.

Merry Christmas!

Once I leave the office today I'll be lucky to have more than 60 seconds of "alone" time, so I thought I better spread some Christmas love before it was too late.  LOL 

So to all of our friends and family that we won't get to see in person this year:

Merry Christmas from the Johnsons!

Each of you are in our thoughts and prayers and we hope you have a blessed day!

A little bit of this . . .

Babies, babies, and more babies.
I have a sweet friend who is expecting a baby boy in May and my sister-in-law is expecting a baby girl the same month.  So excited to start buying baby gifts after Christmas.  Emma is super excited to have another girl in the family; so far she has been completely outnumbered by the boys- 3 to 1.

Back to school I go.
I finally bit the bullet.  I'm starting graduate school in the Spring.  Lord, please help me.  I still have no idea how I'm going to find the time to do this.  Geez, I can barely find the time between work and the kids now to make sure that my house is clean.  I suppose everyone who comes to visit me will just have to step over the toys and look the other way if dust is visible. :)

The zoo is shrinking.
We're down 5 dogs.  Woo hoo!  No, they didn't die.  I'm not so cold hearted that I would say woo hoo about that.  They were sold to a friend who still trial hunts and needed some good dogs.  All I can say is buh-bye.  See you around suckers!

Fowl news.
Hubs brought home two ducks.  I guess he thought the loss of 5 dogs meant we needed to replace them with something.  Ugh.  And wouldn't you know, Emma and Seeley love those stupid ducks.  Rosetta and Donald.  Unfortunately Donald didn't make it.  Can you tell how heartbroken I am?  Rosetta is apparently made of sterner stuff and is currently residing in a storage container on my dining room table.  Double ugh.  Hubs says this is just temporary until he can get Rosetta a warm outdoor habitat.  I pray that happens soon.  Ducks stink.  Literally.  And I catch her head picking out of the storage container eyeballing me as I walk around the house.  Creepy.

Ornament theif, thy name is Pancho.

Hubs' dog eats Christmas ornaments.  His favorite are the glitter balls from Emma's tree.  Don't let the sweet face fool you- stone cold thief with an iron stomache.

New favorite game.

Keep away from the rats.

New favorite question.

Can I open my presents YET?!

Letters to Emma

Dear Emma,

You've had several big months little girl! I can't believe that you turned 4 last month; I keep asking myself where the time has gone.  This year you had very specific ideas about your birthday- what kind of party you wanted (Jake and the Neverland Pirates), what friends you wanted to invite, and especially on what presents you wanted.  Rollerskates were requested, but not received, and you have reminded me of that fact DAILY. 

My sweet girl, you need to face the fact that you are clumsy like Mommy. 

Skates + a clumsy 4 year old = disaster. 

I'm just sayin.

You and your sweet friend Ramsey at your birthday party.



Playing with Allie.



Convincing Seeley to come and play with the big kids.

You're 4!!!

Mommy and Daddy got you a trampoline for your birthday so that you could practice your gymnastics more often.  You LOVE gymnastics, but still get a little scared about falling and getting hurt.  Since you got the trampoline you've been practicing really hard on your cartwheels and are doing such a good job!  Mrs. Bethany says you've improved a lot.  You actually received your trampoline a few days early because we couldn't hide the fact that Daddy and Uncle Brian were putting it together in the back yard.  You have a stellar eagle eye.



We've also spent a lot of time talking about things that big girls do by themselves when they turn 4.  Like wipe their own bottom.  You proudly told Uncle Brian that when you turn 4 you'll "wipe my own butt."  He almost fell off the trampoline he was laughing so hard.  You've also started going to bed by yourself for the most part.  Sometimes you still like Mommy or Daddy to lay down with you though.  Daddy is usually the one who caves into this demand the most.  You've also gotten really good at saying your prayers all by yourself.

You've also decided that Christmas lights are the best thing ever.  Not that they weren't awesome before, but now they're apparently really awesome.  You flat wore us out running all over Garvan Woodland Gardens.  And Seeley was right there with you, trying to keep up.

Christmas lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens.

 I love watching you with Seeley.  You are the BEST big sister ever.  You are so patient with him, sharing your snacks and toys.  You're so good to involve him in the games you're playing.  Although Daddy does tend to worry when he sees you and Seeley having tea parties and pushing baby strollers so much.  Some manly nonsense about boys and baby dolls. :)

Seeley just adores you.  At bedtime he rushes to your room and climbs on your bed so that he can hug you and tell you "night night".

Life isn't always perfect though.  I've lost count of the times when I hear you scream "Mama! Seeley just hit me!"  Usually this happens when you both want the same toy and he tries to beat you into submission, or when you're doing your own thing and he wants your attention.

We also discovered that you are well on your way to being a genius. Or at least I think so anyway.  Mommy has been practicing writing your name with you, 5 minutes here and there as time allowed.  Imagine my surprise when you just started writing it all by yourself.  Really well.  I assumed that Mrs. Melba or Mrs. Michelle had been working with you too at school, but no.  They said they just saw you doing it one day and were so excited that they started clapping, jumping up and down, and yelling for you right in the middle of class.  You are the only one in your class who can write your name.  How awesome are you?! 

Mommy is so very proud of you, every day, all day.  Even when you're being a stinky butt.

Love,

Mommy

Christmas Traditions

A few of our family Christmas traditions:

 The Christmas lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens.

 The Santa Train.

Riding on the Santa Train.  Because who wouldn't want to ride on a train, right?!

Seeing Santa on the Santa Train.  This Santa is a friend of mine and has been the ONLY Santa that Em has ever seen.

And our newest tradition- the Elf on the Shelf. 

We just started this, and boy has it been fantastic!  If Em even steps the smallest little toe out of line we tell her that "George" will report to Santa that she's being naughty, and BAM, she gets right back in line.  I so wish that George could hang out with us all year long!

Now I'm just crossing my fingers that I can get in one more tradition this year-Christmas cards.  I'm sad to say that I still haven't taken any photos for our cards yet. Oops.  Hoping to get that done this weekend and then a rush order on cards.