(Katie really has no clue what school is, or really, that its anything different that Sunday School at this point.)
Friday, August 27, 2010
First Day of First Learning Center!!
Katie-Bug started school today. She is going to a Mother's Day Out program at our church. She goes on Thursdays and Fridays. I'm so happy because her Teacher is Miss Denise. Denise was also one of Jackson's first teachers. She is awesome!!
(Katie really has no clue what school is, or really, that its anything different that Sunday School at this point.)
(Katie really has no clue what school is, or really, that its anything different that Sunday School at this point.)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
First Day of Pre-K!!!
Watch out Oakridge Sabercubs...HERE HE COMES!!!
He is so excited to start Pre-K. He went in today like such a brave boy. He stood in line with his friends waiting until everyone was there then they walked in line to their class.
He is so excited to start Pre-K. He went in today like such a brave boy. He stood in line with his friends waiting until everyone was there then they walked in line to their class.
When did my baby become such as big boy???
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Pre-K
So, tonight was "Back-To-School Night" (or for us: First-Time-Ever-To-School-Night). Needless to say, Jackson was so excited! I, however, was very overwhelmed. Wow. There were so many people!! So much noise!! So many things to join, buy, sign up for, decide on...just too much for me to think about! But, Jackson...oh, he was so. very. excited.
Jackson has been talking about a clock that would be in his school for months. I have no idea how he heard about this clock or where...but I have heard Mom when will I get to see that clock?, Mom, do you think that clock will be by my class? Mom, do you think that clock is in the school yet, and so on EVERY TIME WE PASS THE SCHOOL (which has been under construction for the bast several months). This is the first year for Oakridge Elementary, and we are so excited that Jackson will be starting in Pre-K and will be the first class to go completely through Oakridge!
Jackson is so pumped to find that clock that has been eluding him for months!! We had to find the clock first thing on our visit tonight!!
YEAH, OAKRIDGE SABERCUBS!!!
Jackson has been talking about a clock that would be in his school for months. I have no idea how he heard about this clock or where...but I have heard Mom when will I get to see that clock?, Mom, do you think that clock will be by my class? Mom, do you think that clock is in the school yet, and so on EVERY TIME WE PASS THE SCHOOL (which has been under construction for the bast several months). This is the first year for Oakridge Elementary, and we are so excited that Jackson will be starting in Pre-K and will be the first class to go completely through Oakridge!
Jackson is so pumped to find that clock that has been eluding him for months!! We had to find the clock first thing on our visit tonight!!
YEAH, OAKRIDGE SABERCUBS!!!
Jackson-ism
Jackson's new school is OAKRIDGE. And earlier this week, Mrs. Kirk sent a little letter to Jackson welcoming him to school and her class. So, in the note, she mentioned that they were in the Pre-K Wing, called Acorn Ridge. I didn't really say anything to Jackson about acorns making oak trees. He just all of a sudden said "OH!!! I get it! I am in Acorn Ridge because I'm little and and Acorn is a Little Oak Tree!!!"
oh. my. gosh.
WHAT???
oh. my. gosh.
WHAT???
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Make-a-Blanket Weekend
This past weekend I traveled to Abilene, TX for a much needed Mommy-getaway. I started the weekend with my good friend Samantha. We met in college at good ol' OBU and our friendship has grown as we were in the same young married Sunday School class until the Smiths moved away. Now, we maintain our friendship through the wonderful world of Facebook and blogging! (The Life and Times of the Smith Family). Samantha is starting a Project Linus chapter in Abilene, and graciously hosted a Make-A-Blanket weekend in which she hoped to have friends help her make 30 blankets for her 30th birthday to start the chapter.
I had so much fun catching up, chatting, playing with the kids, and having good ol' girl time! I made 2 blankets this weekend (a HUGE feat...). I think we turned out around 10 toward Sam's Project 30. Check out the progress...Project 30 Update
The second part of my weekend was a relaxing time catching up with my good friend Karen, from Elementary/Junior High days in Hereford, TX. Karen and I rarely get to see each other, but when we do...we pick up like we just saw each other yesterday!
Thanks, girls, for a wonderful weekend! Can't wait to do it again...
Love you!
I had so much fun catching up, chatting, playing with the kids, and having good ol' girl time! I made 2 blankets this weekend (a HUGE feat...). I think we turned out around 10 toward Sam's Project 30. Check out the progress...Project 30 Update
The second part of my weekend was a relaxing time catching up with my good friend Karen, from Elementary/Junior High days in Hereford, TX. Karen and I rarely get to see each other, but when we do...we pick up like we just saw each other yesterday!
Thanks, girls, for a wonderful weekend! Can't wait to do it again...
Love you!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Cemetery Marker
So, Chris died almost two years ago. That's almost 730 days. And, so far, we have only had a pedestal marking the place where his remains are. It's been almost 2 years, and no engraving has been done. Somehow, I feel that this is a problem!
You see, when Chris died, we had to go to the funeral home THAT DAY and discuss plans for a service and for his remains. They presented numerous ridiculously expensive options to us and needed to know our answer THAT DAY. And they wanted all the money THAT DAY. In my mind I remember thinking, 'Really, guys? REALLY?? I'm 5 weeks pregnant and I have a 3 year old at home. I do not have money for this!! How do you expect me to pay for it???'
In the end, we chose what seemed to be the most inexpensive option. There were numerous factors going into the decision, most of which don't matter and aren't of importance (Chris' size, a rental/purchased casket, etc, etc). But in the end, I knew that Jackson would need the opportunity to have a permanent place at which he could remember his Daddy. So, I opted for a pedestal that could be engraved and would hold cremated remains.
The engraving was included in the price that we had to pay THAT DAY. So, it has all been paid in full for almost 2 years. But, what do you know?? No engraving has been done. None.
I didn't really worry about it at first, I was pregnant, and wanted to know the sex and name of the baby before they engraved anyway. So, after I found out I was having a girl, I called Tom at the cemetery and told him I was ready to do the engraving. He made a big to-do of having me come in and fill out paperwork...which wasn't easy for me considering my emotions were still pretty raw (Chris had died just 3 months before). Tom promised the engraving would be finished withing a few weeks.
Well, time went by, and honestly, I forgot about it. Until Mother's Day of 2009. (9 months after Chris died). Katie was about 6 weeks old. I called good-ol' Tom to find out why it hadn't been done within the past 6 months. He says "oh good! I'm glad you called! Please come in and fill out this paperwork..." So, I did. Again. Same paperwork. Same engraving. It will be done in 4-6 weeks.
Fast forward to Mother's Day of 2010. Still no engraving. I call Tom, and he never returns my phone calls. Finally, I heard from him and he says, "I'm glad you called! I need you to approve the engraving style." Really?? Because I thought we did that oh...a YEAR AGO! But, I dutifully went in and approved what I had already approved before. (Just a side note: I HATE funeral homes. I hated them before, and I hate them with a passion now. I do not ever want to go in another one until I'm the one that is dead. So, to have to go to this one for a THIRD unnecessary time just really chapped me.)
Well, needless to say, two months pass and no engraving. So, I skipped the polite and pointless phone calls to Tom. I called my attorney, who was shocked at the timeline I gave him. He promptly called Tom who was "shocked" to learn that it hadn't been done. He assured my attorney that it would be finished. My attorney had asked when it needed to be done and I said, well, our anniversary is Aug 9, it would be great if it were done by then. So, Tom promised it would be finished by then.
I never dreamed that Tom would call ON OUR ANNIVERSARY to tell me that it was completed. Wow. Happy Anniversary, Honey! Your engraving is finally finished.
You see, when Chris died, we had to go to the funeral home THAT DAY and discuss plans for a service and for his remains. They presented numerous ridiculously expensive options to us and needed to know our answer THAT DAY. And they wanted all the money THAT DAY. In my mind I remember thinking, 'Really, guys? REALLY?? I'm 5 weeks pregnant and I have a 3 year old at home. I do not have money for this!! How do you expect me to pay for it???'
In the end, we chose what seemed to be the most inexpensive option. There were numerous factors going into the decision, most of which don't matter and aren't of importance (Chris' size, a rental/purchased casket, etc, etc). But in the end, I knew that Jackson would need the opportunity to have a permanent place at which he could remember his Daddy. So, I opted for a pedestal that could be engraved and would hold cremated remains.
The engraving was included in the price that we had to pay THAT DAY. So, it has all been paid in full for almost 2 years. But, what do you know?? No engraving has been done. None.
I didn't really worry about it at first, I was pregnant, and wanted to know the sex and name of the baby before they engraved anyway. So, after I found out I was having a girl, I called Tom at the cemetery and told him I was ready to do the engraving. He made a big to-do of having me come in and fill out paperwork...which wasn't easy for me considering my emotions were still pretty raw (Chris had died just 3 months before). Tom promised the engraving would be finished withing a few weeks.
Well, time went by, and honestly, I forgot about it. Until Mother's Day of 2009. (9 months after Chris died). Katie was about 6 weeks old. I called good-ol' Tom to find out why it hadn't been done within the past 6 months. He says "oh good! I'm glad you called! Please come in and fill out this paperwork..." So, I did. Again. Same paperwork. Same engraving. It will be done in 4-6 weeks.
Fast forward to Mother's Day of 2010. Still no engraving. I call Tom, and he never returns my phone calls. Finally, I heard from him and he says, "I'm glad you called! I need you to approve the engraving style." Really?? Because I thought we did that oh...a YEAR AGO! But, I dutifully went in and approved what I had already approved before. (Just a side note: I HATE funeral homes. I hated them before, and I hate them with a passion now. I do not ever want to go in another one until I'm the one that is dead. So, to have to go to this one for a THIRD unnecessary time just really chapped me.)
Well, needless to say, two months pass and no engraving. So, I skipped the polite and pointless phone calls to Tom. I called my attorney, who was shocked at the timeline I gave him. He promptly called Tom who was "shocked" to learn that it hadn't been done. He assured my attorney that it would be finished. My attorney had asked when it needed to be done and I said, well, our anniversary is Aug 9, it would be great if it were done by then. So, Tom promised it would be finished by then.
I never dreamed that Tom would call ON OUR ANNIVERSARY to tell me that it was completed. Wow. Happy Anniversary, Honey! Your engraving is finally finished.
Christopher Brian Johns
Dec 3, 1973 - Aug 27, 2008
Loving husband
and Daddy to
Jackson Dean and
Katie Ann
Monday, August 9, 2010
Happy Anniversary (??)
August 9, 2003.
I married my best friend that day.
Then, in 2004, we traveled to Branson, MO for our first anniversary.
In 2005, Jackson was only 2 weeks old, so we went to dinner and left Jack with Aunt Jami and Uncle Jason (I had to pump in the car to and from dinner, and our dinner was limited to the amount of time I had between pumping). Oh, the joys of a breastfeeding mom!
In 2006, we went to Dallas. It was our first night away from Jackson. He did fine. So did Mommy. (Daddy, however, wasn't too sure about the whole thing)!
In 2007, we stayed at a Bed & Breakfast in OKC, and just took a mini vacation in the city.
In August 2008, we went back to Dallas and stayed at an amazing resort, relaxed and had a wonderful time.
Chris died 3 weeks later.
So, our anniversary in 2009...this was one of those "firsts"...I wasn't sure what to do or where to go. I knew I didn't want to sit around crying...it was on a Sunday, which made it a hard day to plan anything. I ended up going to Melting Pot with 'the girls'.
So, this year on the anniversary, I planned a getaway. I escaped to Abeline, TX and had a girls' weekend. In all honesty, I almost forgot it was our anniversary! I had so much fun!! Then...I woke up on Monday morning. I woke up and read a facebook post of a friend who has the same anniversary as we did. "I've been married to my best friend for 7 years..." And there it was. Today is my anniversary. And, then the tears came. I was a guest in someone elses' home and there I was bawling like a baby. My wonderful, relaxing trip, somehow faded. An anniversary without my best friend.
As I got ready to get on the plane, I received a phone call. It was from the director of the Cemetery where Chris' remains are. Tom told me "Mrs. Johns, we finally have the etching done on Chris' marker. I hope you're pleased with it. It looks beautiful."
Really, Tom? On my anniversary?
Happy Anniversary, Sweet Chris. I love you.
I married my best friend that day.
Then, in 2004, we traveled to Branson, MO for our first anniversary.
In 2005, Jackson was only 2 weeks old, so we went to dinner and left Jack with Aunt Jami and Uncle Jason (I had to pump in the car to and from dinner, and our dinner was limited to the amount of time I had between pumping). Oh, the joys of a breastfeeding mom!
In 2006, we went to Dallas. It was our first night away from Jackson. He did fine. So did Mommy. (Daddy, however, wasn't too sure about the whole thing)!
In 2007, we stayed at a Bed & Breakfast in OKC, and just took a mini vacation in the city.
In August 2008, we went back to Dallas and stayed at an amazing resort, relaxed and had a wonderful time.
Chris died 3 weeks later.
So, our anniversary in 2009...this was one of those "firsts"...I wasn't sure what to do or where to go. I knew I didn't want to sit around crying...it was on a Sunday, which made it a hard day to plan anything. I ended up going to Melting Pot with 'the girls'.
So, this year on the anniversary, I planned a getaway. I escaped to Abeline, TX and had a girls' weekend. In all honesty, I almost forgot it was our anniversary! I had so much fun!! Then...I woke up on Monday morning. I woke up and read a facebook post of a friend who has the same anniversary as we did. "I've been married to my best friend for 7 years..." And there it was. Today is my anniversary. And, then the tears came. I was a guest in someone elses' home and there I was bawling like a baby. My wonderful, relaxing trip, somehow faded. An anniversary without my best friend.
As I got ready to get on the plane, I received a phone call. It was from the director of the Cemetery where Chris' remains are. Tom told me "Mrs. Johns, we finally have the etching done on Chris' marker. I hope you're pleased with it. It looks beautiful."
Really, Tom? On my anniversary?
Happy Anniversary, Sweet Chris. I love you.
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