Nicole Newton Eason

This is to my friend Nicole...what is up with your email? I have tried to send you so many great pictures from that mudpit town we were raised in and everything bounces back! You guys didn't skip town and not tell me did you? ;) Of course, I could try calling you! I just never remember until it's either midnight or like right now when you are at work! I miss you!!!!

Thankful

My best friend, Nicole, made a list of what she is thankful for and challenged her blog readers to do the same. Here's my list...

T - Togetherness. Our family is very close and I am so thankful for that.
H - Hot weather. I live in Texas for a reason, thank you very much!
A - Applebee's. I eat there every Monday night with my two boys and enjoy our time together.
N - Noses...my puppies cute black noses that I love to kiss!
K - Kids...all our kids, nieces, nephews and those who touch our lives everyday.
S - Shelter. We are blessed to have a nice, warm home. Our soft place to fall.
G - Giving. I love the giving spirit of the season and watching in grow in my kids.
I - Ivory's...love to hear my kids play on the piano. It's music to my ears!
V - Voice. We all have a voice in this country of freedom.
I - Imagination. With our imaginations we can do, see, be anything!
N - Nature. In all it's beauty...enough said
G - God...

Happy Birthday, Grandpa

Today, November 17th, would have been my Grandpa's 91st birthday. Roy Franklin Johnson, Sr. passed away in March of 1991. I have missed him everyday since. The memories are very fresh in my mind today since I went to see my Grandmother this past weekend. I had the honor of going through tons of pictures and sorting them for her. In that I found several of my Grandpa that made me laugh and cry. He was an amazing man. He had a very giving heart and did so much for so many. He loved me more than life itself and took GREAT care of me. You see, I lived with my grandparents from age 2 to 18. So, he was a very integral part of my life.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa. I love you and miss you so very much.

MIlitary Man

This weekend Kevin went to Camp Bullis in San Antonio for a preview weekend of what it would be like in the military. He got to participate in a sample of boot camp and even got yelled out for not having a freshly shaven face! And...he loved it! He is speaking to his counselor at school today to see about getting out of swim and into ROTC. He is planning to attend boot camp in the summer between his junior and senior years of high school. Since he is 18 he can do that. I am sad to see the end of swim but I am so proud that he has found a direction for his life. This will be so good for him. Thank so much Hugo for making this happen!!!!

Reds

Dalton is trying out for the Cincinnati Reds Scout Team this weeekend. We are so excited for him to be asked to do this. He has been playing some phenomenal ball lately and we just can't wait to see where it takes him. Good luck, Dalton. We're rooting for ya!

Parenting is highly overrated!

I need a vacation from being a mom. Is that possible to do? If so, please let me know and tell me where I can go! Teenagers are so impossible and those mouths! Ok, ok, I know I had the smartest mouth on the planet at that age. I got my face slapped many times for smarting off and rolling my eyes. I do have great kids but they really don't know everything. They like to think they do, but they don't. Unfortunately they will be 30 before they figure that out. I don't think I can wait that long! And, bad grades only 3 weeks into the year? Dude, if you can't do well the first 3 weeks, you are REALLY going to have it rough 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 18 weeks in. It just gets harder. What about boarding school? Is that a viable option? That way I don't have to go through this stress everyday? I'm just kidding. I could never send them away! I'm just venting and I thank you for allowing me to do it! UGHHHHHHHHHH

Going Pro, Baby!!!!

Dalton hit his first over the fence homerun this weekend!!!!!!!! I don't think I have ever screamed so loud. It was so exciting to see and you couldn't wipe the smile off of his face! I was definitely the proud mom and had tears streaming down my face! One of the dads went and got the ball for him to keep. Darrell didn't make it to the game due to our renovating the house so he missed it. I immediately called him, of course. I am so proud of Dalton and his drive to be the best he can be! Congratulations baby! I am so happy you finally did it. It's just he first of many!

Europe 2008

We went to Estonia, Finland and Sweden this summer. We visited our girl, Tii and her mom, Anne. They went with us all over the place and we had a great time. We took tons of pictures, many you can see on the following blogs. If you want more just email me and I'll send you the link to our photobucket!

Europe 2008

Europe 2008

Europe 2008

Europe 2008

Europe 2008

Labor Day Weekend Fun

Karen and her kids came up for the weekend from San Antonio. We had so much fun watching Dalton play baseball, swimming in the pool and just hanging out. I think I got Janna addicted to watching Man vs. Wild! She kept wanting to watch the man who ate gross stuff! Ivan started diving in the pool which was very, very exciting! Lukas had fun playing with his Uncle Darrell by being tossed all around. And, of course, Karen and I talked nonstop!