Monday, May 30, 2011

Sacrifice




 We're on our big Summer Trip 2011...
back in my hometown for Phase 1 of the trip.

Since Grandma Lene had today off,
we decided to go to the Memorial Day Ceremony at the cemetery.
I have no idea why we don't do this every year--I think this has just started a Johnson Family Tradition.
Um, Daddy will be all for it when he's home!  :)  Right, Daddy?!
  

My hope is that my girls will grow up understanding the sacrifices those in the military have made.
That some daddies and some mommies don't get to come home.
{Probably not the best message while their father is gone, but we talked about some aspects of it today.}  
I know that at age 6 and age 3, the girls only understand so much.
This seems like a good step though.
Take {at least} one day to remember.
To have a ceremony.
To shed a tear for those we know {& don't know} who have paid the ultimate price.

Not sure this is the best picture, but I was very impressed with the turnout.  
My hometown is military friendly...lots of veterans here, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.
It was wonderful to see all the families there.

Beks wasn't too fond of the guns...guess I should have warned her!  :)



Thank you to all who serve and have served.
The sacrifice is great, and your commitment is beyond anything most people will ever understand.
Thank you military families.
It is not always an easy road, but it is an important one.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  John 15:13


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

3x5 Folded Card

Classic Collage 3x5 folded card
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Sunday, May 15, 2011

free hermi...

Here is our little pet, Hermi...
you might remember that Uncle Joe picked him up for the girls before he left.


The girls were a bit freaked out by him,
{that is not a real shocker since they are frightened of flies!}
but they did try to feed him some interesting things...

 Much better...
we actually took these while the sun was still going down!


For some reason blogger isn't letting me post the pictures of Hermi after he was released into the wild. 
It's probably part of the hermit crab protection program.  HA.
Time for bed.
No. More. Bad. Jokes.

more proof...

See, the girlies really did like the beach!

We had our morning routine...the weather was so nice, we were able to walk on the beach every day!
The beach time would start with our walk...
maybe 45 minutes to an hour?
Then, we were off for snack time & play time on the beach!




This trip marked their very first experience building sand castles!
UB & Mommy got pretty into it too...
if you're lucky, I'll find the pictures of my Hungry Caterpillar.  :)

Saturday, May 14, 2011

we have a problem...

with chocolate!!!

Abby came up with the plan to make molten chocolate lava cakes for Grandma's birthday.
She's generous like that...
who do you think might like molten chocolate cake??  :)




My helpers take their jobs VERY seriously...

The finished product...




Maybe this makes up for our late celebration??

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

dauphin island surprise!

Two words.
Uncle Joe...okay, it's really Uncle Jeff.
But for some reason, 
my girls call him Uncle Joe.
I'm not sure Beks knows his real name any more.

He decided to make a surprise trip to DI this year.
It was so much fun to see him--I think he REALLY surprised GG Jane.  :)
To say the least, 
my girls adore him.

Smiles after getting special goodies...



Our first shot at the sunset pictures...

After dinner and a little wine...
it was shrimp scampi.  With garlic bread.  Two ways.
Yum.
Grandma Lene looks pretty happy the girls are in bed!  :)

Super pretty girly.
Love her so much!

Look closely...
it's our hermit crab!

Beks in her new sun visor!
She's working it...

Watch out...
do you think we're going to have another softball player in the family?

The sunset picture on Uncle Joe's last night...
we kind of missed it.

Beks made him work until he left...lots of snuggles & book reading.
His time there wasn't long enough, but it was a great surprise.
We missed hanging out with his girlies, so we'll just have to go & visit them soon!


Friday, May 6, 2011

Happy, Happy Mother's Day!





The BEST part is that my kiddos are walking around singing..."up in the Muthahood"  :)