The Graduation Trip (long post....)

I have not TRULY updated my blog for so long! I guess working full time and blogging just don't go together for me. I don't even know where to start.....LOL
The series of events that I have been both looking forward to and dreading at the same time have started to unfold. We really have only a little more than a month before we move from South Carolina to Oklahoma.
The beginning of the chain of events was Brian's graduation which was May 8. We had a very eventful trip back to Kansas to attend Brian's graduation. Katie's car broke down on the interstate just past Boonville, Missouri. We had it towed there. Thank God for the Roadside Assistance Plan which we have through our auto insurance. (I highly recommend AAA or a similiar plan- we have always gotten our money's worth out of those.)
We were delayed in Missouri for a couple of hours and almost missed the baby shower for Megan that Friday at the school Jake and Megan both work at as Paras. But we made it there right at the end. (I forgot to bring in my camera though.)
We went out to dinner with the kids. I love that I now have 5 kids and I love the days when we are all together!
Saturday was the graduation and I am so proud of Brian who graduated Cum Laude! After the graduation, we went to lunch at Old Chicago with some of Alli's family including her mom, Martha and aunt Carol and Uncle John. My parents were also there. (Jake and Megan went to Megan's brothers high school graduation which was the same day. (Congratulations, Ethan!)
That evening we played games at Alli's apartment and had a great time!
Sunday was Mother's Day and I feel so blessed to have spent the morning with my mom and all of the kids when we went out for breakfast. And the kids and Kevin and I ended the day with the hotel swimming pool all to ourselves!
Monday we headed to Salina for Katie to buy a car which Brian found on Craig's List.
We headed home after following Katie to Wichita where she got her tags. We left our Katie back in Kansas and now have an empty nest!. (Sad.)
One blessing which I should not forget to mention is the fact that we were supposed to travel to Oklahoma and have a look around. We were not able to do that as we had to go back up to Missouri to take care of the car there. We KNOW that our detour was perfectly planned by God as we would have been caught in the middle of tornadoes there in OK. Our friends there ARE safe, but really got a scare.
We are back home and today I start a list as the time is REALLY flying by. My last day of work was Friday and I spent the weekend resting as I caught an awful cold. I am thankful that I feel better today!
Here are a few pics of our trip to Kansas. I really wish I had taken more though!!!

I bet you didn't know that Brian had a twin! This is Kenny and Brian who constantly get mistaken for eachother!

Grandma & Grandpa Johnson with Brian. They haven't missed a graduation yet.

Alli and her graduate! We will go to MCC's graduation
next year to see Alli graduate!

Kevin and I are proud of Brian!

The 2010 graduating class of Manhattan Christian College!

Brian and his mom-ME.

After the graduation we celebrated over appetizers and pizza at Old Chicago. It was YUMMY!

Jake and Megan at Alli's apartment that evening.

Three Generations!

Breakfast at Hy-Vee for Mother's Day! Katie and Grandma Johnson!

Jake and Megan AND our grandbaby!
MY FAVORITE MOTHER'S DAY PRESENT WAS FEELING THE BABY KICK!!!

And Brian and Alli!

That's all for now......

"Franklin"

I have been babysitting a little girl who is almost 3. (I'll call her *P* for privacy purposes). Her mom brings her over a couple of times a week. One day shortly after I started watching her I picked her up at her house because it worked out that it was easier since I was already on my way to pick up Katie from school. *P* was not happy with the routine change and she cried and cried. I think it was just too different for her.
I picked up Katie at school and we headed home with *P* crying.
We were almost home when Katie noticed a turtle in the middle of the road. I stopped and Katie went and got it and we brought it home. And like magic the tears stopped. We set the turtle down in the yard and watched it for a little while. But we worried about the neighborhood animals getting to it. So, after we ate breakfast we went back out and got the turtle which we had named Franklin. He hadn't gotten very far.
Katie and I decided to take him to Swan Lake and let him out with the million other turtles that live there.
We drove out to Swan Lake and put Franklin out near the water and said good-bye. It was a very pretty day so we went to the playground and let *P* play a little while before coming back home. It was a nice little adventure.
After we came home and ate lunch, *P* took a nice long nap that afternoon.
Aren't they so sweet when they're asleep?

Quality Family Time

We had a fabulous time last weekend when our younger son Brian and his adorable girlfriend Alli flew in from Kansas to visit us. It was Kevin's first time meeting Alli and it's unanimous... we ALL love her.
The two of them arrived in Charlotte at about 9:30 Friday evening. It's about a 2 hour drive, so we got home pretty late. The next day, we all slept in a bit and then I made waffles for breakfast. The kids wanted to visit Swan Lake so we hopped in the car and drove over there.
That evening Katie had to babysit, but the rest of us had fun playing games. We taught Alli how to play Pennsylvania Dutch Rummy and Spades!
Sunday morning we woke up and went to church. (Great sermon by the way.) Then we came home, had lunch and drove out to Poinsett State Park for a 3 miles hike. More games for Sunday evening. And then sadly we had to drive back to the airport on Monday afternoon.
It was a great weekend. It just flew by as all good ones do. I kept wishing that Jake and Megan could have been here too. But, I am looking forward to everyone being here for Christmas!!!

Brian posing at Swan Lake.

Brian gives Alli a piggyback ride. Good thing she's tiny!

Katie Alli and Brian at Swan Lake.

Katie and Brian at Poinsett State Park.

The kids making lunch.

(That is bagel bites surrounding a little pizza in case you were wondering.)

Brian and Alli at beautiful Poinsett State Park.

Brian and Alli at the Charlotte Airport as they got ready to go back to cold Kansas!

Poinsett State Park

Yesterday was a gorgeous day and Kevin suggested we check out Poinsett State Park. South Carolina has the prettiest parks! I was excited to find out they rent out cabins at this park. Really cool cabins that were built in the 1930s. I hinted to Kevin that it would be a nice birthday weekend retreat. Hopefully he takes the hint.
We went to the park and walked the Coquina trail which was a little over one and a half miles. They have several trails and I can't wait to go try another. This park is only about 10 miles from our house.
There are alligators at this park. I thought I saw one, but can't be sure. That was scary. The funniest thing happened this morning. Kevin and Katie were on their way out the front door. He was taking her to school. They were surprised to see a hummingbird that seemed to be disoriented and kept bouncing off the ceiling of the porch. Kevin tried getting her to go off the porch, but she wouldn't. He was late leaving and had to go, but before he left he gave me a branch and told me to try and get her to land on it and then move her off the porch that way. So, I tried it and it worked Poor little thing. She probably had a pretty good headache after that. I didn't get any pictures, but here is a some pics of one of our little hummingbirds from this week. We also took a pic last week of these 2 hummingbirds on the back deck. THey were acting quite strange. And kept hitting eachother's beaks. And then one seemed to be sitting on the others' head. Kevin actually snapped a pic of it from the back door.
Not sure what that was about. Silly birds!
Brian and Alli are coming to visit in 2 days! I am beyond excited!!!
Blessings!

A La SWIFT

It's Saturday night. The Nationwide race is on TV. Kevin is trying to clean the carpets in Katie's car (for the 2nd time). And Katie is up in her room. And I've been sitting here looking at the pictures and videos Katie took at the concert last night.
Katie and I drove to Greenville, SC to see Taylor Swift yesterday. Katie had made all of the arrangements for us. She bought the concert tickets and booked us a really nice room at the Holiday Inn not far from the arena.

Katie has been a HUGE Taylor Swift fan since Taylor first came on the country music scene. I was excited for her to be able to actually go see her in person. And we had a great time. The opening acts were "Gloriana"

and

Kellie Pickler.

They were both pretty good too.
And then came Taylor. What a show! She sang all but 2 of the songs from her "Fearless" album and about 5 from her first CD.

She started out in her marching band uniform singing "You Belong with Me" and ended with "Should've Said No" with the rain coming down on her just like she did it at the awards show.
At one point she appeared in the audience and walked down to a small revolving platform and sang my favorite song of the new CD- "Hey Stephen".

Taylor was a great performer and she got emotional a couple of times. She seems to take it all in and not take the applause for granted. She is certainly not a spoiled Diva at this point in her career and I hope she keeps her charming down to earth personality.
Katie and I got up this morning and drove the little over 2 hours back home. Katie says it all feels like a dream.

But I know it's one mother/daughter time neither of us will soon forget.