Peek-a-Boo!

Last Saturday, we went to Austin to have a 3D/4D Ultrasound done at Clearview Ultrasound. My doctor does not have the 3D machine, and I just think it is super cool that they can now take pictures of the baby in the womb, so I wanted to have it done. My parents and Leslie met us there, and it was really neat! It was almost like a spa environment- dim lights, a comfy bed, and a couple screens to view the pictures on. We got about 20 minutes of DVD footage, 26 pictures on a cd, and she printed out 3 color and 2 black and white pictures. The baby totally looks like Lauren did when she was born! She was in a tight spot, though, and she kept putting her hand up over her face. The sweet ultrasound tech offered to have me come back again as a volunteer for a class she was teaching on Thursday for another chance to get some better shots (for free). I went back, but the baby was in the same spot and was shy again! We got 24 more pictures- but they weren't as good as the first visit. I was just glad to get to watch the baby again for another hour. It is so amazing! Once she is born, I'll have to compare these pictures to the real thing. I can't wait to see your sweet face in person, little one!

Sister Surprise!

Sunday after church, Steve offered to take me out to lunch for an early birthday celebration. He suggested Ninfa's, and of course I agreed! When we got there, I went up to the hostess and said, "4", and she asked me if my last name was Johnson. I said, "Yes.?", and she said, "Your party is waiting upstairs." I was shocked and surprised, and a little scared to go upstairs because I didn't know who was going to be there. It was my two wonderful sisters! How sweet! Laura came from Dallas and Leslie came from Austin to surprise me! Laura even made cookie cake!

After lunch, we came back to the house and played Farkle- a dice game, in case you're wondering. Then we got out Lauren's spin art and made some pretty pictures! I opened my presents and we had cookies and ice cream. What a perfect birthday celebration!

Miles and miles to Minnesota...

Christmas morning, Steve called his parents to wish them a Merry Christmas and learned from his dad that his Grandpa Johnson had passed away. He was 93 years old and had been in and out of the hospital with pneumonia lately, but was finally able to get his lungs clear and go home. Unfortunately, it had taken too great a toll on his heart and lungs, and he suffered a heart attack at home around 3 or 4 a.m. Christmas morning.

I first met Gordon and Hazel when they came to our wedding in 1998. I remember that a tornado had just gone through their town (luckily while they were on vacation) and totaled their house. Gordon was the epitome of a "grumpy old man". He liked to growl- literally- and when Jared was little, he called him a "little mugwump". You could tell that he was harmless, though, and that was just his way. I always liked him and thought he was an interesting character with a good heart. When I was pregnant with Jared, Steve and I flew to St. Peter, Minnesota to visit them. They came down to visit us in Waco when Steve's brother got married. (At that time, they owned a motor home and would winter in Arizona.) We saw them in California when Ron got married, and we drove up to Minnesota again one summer when Jared was 2 or 3, and went to the Mall of America while we were there. Gordon had a workshop out back where he tinkered with and fixed lots of things...mostly lawn mowers at that time. I remember him letting Jared drive one of the riding lawn mowers- I thought that was pretty neat! He was on oxygen, but was otherwise in pretty good health! I was amazed at how well he could still get around and even drive!

Steve looked into flights to Minnesota, but also wanted the kids and I to be able to go and visit his grandmother (we hadn't seen since before Lauren was born when Jared was about 2 or 3) and dad (who we hadn't seen since last Christmas in California). So, he looked at the weather reports and decided that they looked favorable enough to drive. 16 hours and 1000 miles one way, according to the interet.

We left Monday after Steve got home from work around 6 p.m., and stopped in Wichita, Kansas around 1 a.m. We hit the road again around 8:20 a.m. and drove the rest of the way through Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Jared got a kick out of getting to see Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Des Moines, etc... Places he had heard of, but never been. When we got into northern Iowa, it started to snow. Steve was driving, the kids were asleep, and I was watching the snow blow across the road. (Mom...you can skip to the next paragraph now) When we crossed the Minnesota border, I noticed the roads looked different, and the snow wasn't blowing anymore, but starting to stick. I asked Steve if that meant there was ice on the road now, and he assured me that we still had good traction. Well, about 1 minute later, we started to skid. I hung on for dear life, Steve managed to steer into the skids and keep us on the road, and the kids woke up wondering what the heck was happening. I was so scared, but could only laugh. We made it to our turn-off at Owatonna around 5:30 p.m. and stopped at a gas station to ask about putting chains on the tires. Of course, they informed us that we couldn't put chains on in Minnesota...so we drove the last 30-40 miles going about 25-30 miles per hour. Luckily we made it safely to his grandma's house around 7:20 p.m. (1030 miles so far!)

We visited with Steve's dad and grandma and ate dinner at his grandma's house, then headed to the hotel. Wednesday morning, the viewing started at 9 a.m., and the funeral was at 11. It was a balmy-9 degrees when we got up! It was a very nice service and several people shared stories about Gordon. Outside, we saw the military honors (21 gun salute and taps). Then, lunch was provided at the local "Red Men Club". We got to visit with several of Ron's cousins and meet some other friends and neighbors. After a little nap back at the hotel, we went back over to Hazel's house and ate pizza and Steve took the kids to play out in the snow. We celebrated New Year's Eve a little early- around 10:30 p.m.. The kids stayed up until midnight at the hotel for the countdown, and then we all fell asleep. Thursday, we went back to Hazel's and Steve got some of his grandpa's tools from the shed. We visited for awhile, and left around 12:30 p.m.

The kids did great on the trip! We brought plenty of movies, their new MP3 players, and snacks. I read them most of The Tale of Desperaux before it got dark. We stopped for dinner at Chili's in Kansas City, and then they fell asleep around 9 p.m. Steve and I ended up deciding to press on, and we arrived home around 6:20 a.m. Friday morning! Home Sweet Home! (Friday afternoon, we took the kids to see the movie The Tale of Desperaux. Saturday, we took down the rest of the Christmas lights and tree, and it was 84 degrees outside!) Hopefully we'll be home for awhile!

Ice Fishing Huts on the lake near Waseca:

Christmas 2008- cont'd at the Jones'

Christmas lunch at my grandparents' house in Sugar Land included a group of 20 this year! There was Grandma and Grandpa Jones, The Readings: Aunt Carol, Ben, Marcus, Lee and Nick (Banchetti), Carol's friend, Sarah, The Kerkstras: Aunt Debi, Jill, and boyfriend Chris, The Hamelins: Bruce, Beverly, Laura, Leslie, and The Johnsons- party of four (1/2), and Uncle Doug. We enjoyed another great smoked turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, fruit, etc... and many, many delicious desserts! Good thing I'm pregnant so I have an excuse to be gaining all of this weight!

We did our annual gift exchange, where you can open a gift, or steal one that has already been opened. It's always interesting to see what people end up with! The price limit this year was $25, and I ended up with a Pampered Chef food chopper. Steve got a utility knife and a hands-free flashlight you can wear on your head.

I'm not sure how much longer everyone will be able to keep this tradition alive. The family continues to grow and the grandkids are starting their own families. It's also quite a large group to feed and host! But, it's been nice that we have been able to keep getting together during the holidays for this long!

Hamelin Christmas 2008

Our family was blessed once again with a wonderful Christmas this year! I am so thankful to have such a wonderful family to spend the holidays with! (I just wished they lived a little closer!) We headed to Katy on Monday evening and spent Tuesday visiting two friends of mine from high school and their families. Wednesday, we worked on a puzzle while we waited for Laura and Leslie to arrive. We all went to church Wednesday night, and the kids each opened their traditional Christmas Eve present...a new pair of Christmas jammies! Thursday morning, we saw what Santa brought (Baby Alive, a "boy Barbie", and Barbie and the Diamond Castle dvd for Lauren and a huge Indiana Jones Lego set and an alien maker- "Martian Matter" toy for Jared) . We opened the rest of our presents at Mimi and Pa's, then went to Grandma and Grandpa Jones' house for Christmas lunch and the gift exchange (see next post). Friday, we did a little after Christmas shopping.

As one of his gifts from my parents, Steve got tickets to see the Houston Aeros hockey game on Friday night. After dinner, Steve, Jared, my dad, and I headed to the game at the Toyota Center around 6:30 p.m. My Mom, Leslie, and Lauren were at home while Laura was at a friend's house. Evidently, shortly after we left, Leslie's pit bull, Izzy, and Bosque got into a scuffle. My mom and Leslie were bitten and scratched up trying to break it up, as, of course, was Bosque. So, we made a little trip to the emergency vet clinic when we got back to Waco Saturday afternoon. She has to take some antibiotics and keep a bandage on for a week, but I think she will be ok. My mom and sister also had to take some strong antibiotics, and probably should have gone to the emergency room when it first happened. I don't think Izzy is invited back anytime soon =(