John is 30

Can you believe we are getting "OLD"? It is amazing to me how fast time goes by. I remember when I used to think WOW 30 is so old but now I do not. I am now married to a 30 year old. I didn't post it then but I am now. We had a little quiet celebration at home with his parents. It was the night he got home and I had planned to do a big "surprise bash" with big Mike but John likes to be at home with Braedon as much as he can so anyway:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST HUSBAND EVER. I HOPE YOU HAVE MANY MANY MANY MORE YEARS LEFT TO PUT UP WITH ME.

Braedon's 3rd Birthday

I have done all of October's post so I guess I will go back and do one from September. It was hard to believe but my precious baby turned 3 this year. I had the cutest little party all planned out but at the last minute... Braedon decided to TELL me what kind of party he wanted which was new to me. I realized at the very moment, my baby was growing up. He acts so grown sometimes but he point blank told me that he wanted a "Pirate" party and there was no changing his mind at all. SOOOO we went with a Pirate Theme! It turned out really cute. The mascot at PA is the pirate so I was able to borrow a lot of stuff to go with the theme!!! Saved me a lot of money too. We had it at Land-O-Lakes. It was almost too cold but we made it. We enjoyed everyone that made it and we hate the ones that weren't there didn't make it. Nichole just happened to be home this time for Braedon's party, and Braedon ended up leaving with Briley that day. They loved getting to see each other when they do. I hope we are able to go to Briley's in March!!! Enjoy the pics.





Braedon blowing out his candles.

Braedon got a bb gun from Bradley and Haley.... They are expecting a little one in May.... Pay back will come.




Our family... All in our state attire at the party.

They played in a blow up Pirate Ship that sprayed water.

This was the food table. It had the "Taylor-made cake", I did X marked the spot breadsticks, sailing pirate ships (orange slices with pirate sail on top of blue jello), cannon swords (grapes stuck on sword picks), and bleeding juice....

This is the birthday boy and Laurel before the party playing with the big pirate man.

Braedon the pirate

Fortunate Few

I do believe that I have said it before but I am staying it again. Braedon is a very lucky little boy. He has the sheer pleasure of having so many great grandparents and ALL his grandparents. I do realize that this makes him a lucky little boy. I was blessed as well when I was little because I got to meet all my great grandparents as well. BUT Braedon knows them by name and loves to see them all any chance he gets. I have to say that unfortunately, he does not see the greats as much as we would all like. He did, however, see every single one of his grandparents this past weekend!!!! John and I decided that he is very fortunate and a very loved child. Thank you Lord for allowing my child to have this time with some of the most precious people that we know.

These are all his greats that are still living. First, its Grandma and Braedon, the Mawmaw and Pawpaw, and the monster is Grandpa!!!!!

Halloween 2011

We went to Caledonia like always this Halloween because it is so much fun to see all the kids dressed up and see Braedon trick or treat with all the houses beign decorated like Halloween. We look forward to this everyyear but this year John was home and got to with us. I am not sure he liked it as much as I do because he does not like a crowd. Grandma and Gerald had over 300 trick or treaters plus the entire family was there to join in on the fun... on every single side... it was so much fun and as usual I loved it and can't wait til next year.

This is my family on Halloween

Aunt Peggy, Lawson and Braedon checking out their loot.

Miles joined the fun this year. I can't wait til next year when he can run along with Braedon

Guess who this is.... Grandpa George... he scared my sweet baby to death.

Braedon and John trick or treating.

Braedon and Lawson, Frankenstein

The Johnston Family

The Boys... Miles and Braedon

Savanah's Party

We went to Savanah's 13th birthday party this month. I cannot believe this precious sweet child has grown into a beautiful teenager. She had a costume party with a hay ride. I was so glad she thought to invite us. We miss seeing her so much and I wish she was closer cause she would be an excellent babysitter!!! Here are a few pics from that night.

Braedon is Spiderman, Brody Buchanan is Capt. America, the birthday girl is a chicken, Jenn was a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, Missie Conner was "Dorothy", Tina Buchanan was the Dark Angel, Jimbo was crazy, and The monster man is Richy Buchanan

Savanah

Pawpaw's Birthday

Pawpaw and his Great grandsons, Braedon and MilesMiles
Mawmaw and Pawpaw and their Greats

We had Pawpaw's 83rd Birthday celebration this past weekend. It was really the 1st time we had all been together since Father's day weekend. Everyone is always pulled in all directions and for John and Daddy to be home at the same time was shocking. We ate a Beverly's house and as you can see from the pics I am about to post, Miles is growing up fast. He is crawling and pulling up. Before long he will be walking and Braedon will be thrilled. Braedon loves to see "baby Miles" as he calls him! Check out the cute pics.

June 2011

I seem to have stopped blogging when school got out in May. Unfortunately I don't have a A computer with internet service at home although I am trying my best to get it. I miss it something terrible. I can't do anything unless it can be done on my iphone. I need a laptop too.... I miss my precious students yet I am excited about getting a whole new bunch next year. I also miss ALL my coworkers. It is fantastic working with such great folks. So glad I found my way to right where I am at. It is also bittersweet because I am thrilled to get to spend all summer at home with my precious little boy BUT it is hard to take him back in August and jump back into a schedule. At first I did good keeping him on it but that has totally changed. Sometimes he gets his nap sometimes he don't. Anyway Summer has been great....we have at the pool or lake for days/hours on end. John broke down and got us a pool... its perfect for Braedon and my float. Although the little daredevil would rather be somewhere with a diving board. That is all he likes to do now.... do tricks off the diving board. He is still wearing his floaties but its really for my purpose... I have not pushed him like I should because he makes me NERVOUS. Anyhow that is all we have done in June. Happy Summer Everyone

Behind

Looks like I've gotten way behind again and I am sure that does not surprise anyone... We have just been going on with everyday life. Its always pretty interesting though with our little blonde headed wild child. He is growing and getting his own little personality although at some points I would say he is bipoloar. Most of the time, when he gets his way, of course, everything is just fine. We had a busy March as you can see from the last few post. The rest of March was pretty easy going. I had testing at school the week after Spring Break and we just took it easy after John left. After testing, we rolled right into April. It was a wild time with some terrible weather. Praise the Lord we all made it through all that just fine with no major damage. The April 15th storms jumped right over our place leaving behind a little hail damage. I rode that one out at Mama's. The April 27th Storm appeared in our front yard and Thanks to the Lord himself headed North west instead of just West otherwise we would be homeless or worse! It was awful. I rode this one out in the bathroom of our house screaming like a mad woman at my husband to get in there with me and off the front porch. It was awful. I hope I never go through that again and if I do I pray that I am not alone. We then lost lights for 3 days but never once did I complain after seeing the news about the communities around me and seeing the damage 500 ft in my front yard and down the road we live. I was just not easy to be around. We stayed with Ty and Jayden these two nights and went back home on that Friday night. Other than that, life has been pretty boring which has been great. I will do my Easter post when I have my pictures to go up. They aren't on this computer. Nichole and Briley were here so that was just wonderful. They will be here again this week and I am hoping we get to lay eyes on them with their busy schedules!!!

March 19, 2011

This is by far the best picture he took all day... Great Great picture of granny and Braedon

Johnathan and Haley at the reception


Haley and I at the reception

The Banks and The Beards

The Banks.. Notice he is saying Cheese

This is where he ended up after walking down the aisle. I did capture the shot before getting him

The crazy Groomsmen with Haley

Looking for the horses. I had to get him away from everyone for a minute

The cool picture with the groomsmen. Everyone had glasses including Braedon

Bradley and Braedon

Mama, Leave me alone!!!!

This was a big day for a lot of reasons. First of all, it was Bradley Beard's wedding day... Who would've dreamed that. I will say he picked the perfect bride, Haley Ross. They are just so much in love and seem to fit together perfectly. It was a gorgeous day for a wedding. The sun was perfect and the temp was just right... although it could've been cooler and we've been alright too. Second of all, Johnathan and Braedon were in there first wedding together. It was such an honor for Bradley and Haley to ask Braedon to be in the wedding. I was a little apprehensive at first cause I was thinking he is too little, I would rather just enjoy the festivities! But overall, it was fun and Braedon did OK to be two!!!! His daddy didn't think so but oh well. He got over it. We got to Circle M around 12:45. We left early so Braedon would get a nap in...I let him sleep in the car until about 2:30. Then we had to get the tux on him for pictures. He was not the least bit interested, but since the big boys had them on, he was ok this time. He got dressed and played pool and had fun with the groomsmens. He loved that part!!! Then pics came up... Not so much fun anymore. He did ok while taking them with Bradley and the groomsmen! Then we went to see the horses and play awhile. When it was time to take pics with the Bride. Braedon was not interested AT ALL!!! He literally screamed the entire time. Thank goodness this was his ONLY fit for the entire day which was pretty good. I hate it was with Haley though. My favorite pics of my wedding are those of Landon and I! But we shot them first thing because I did not want Landon to get ill on me!!! I still have them up in my house. Well this little ring bearer did not cooperate at all for these pictures. After these we got ready for the big moment. I was really nervous but I did not get my hopes up for. I had no clue what he was going to do. He was ready to get out the door of that house though. He was just not expecting it to be full of people. I walked on and took my seat in the front and he kinda just followed. He didn't actually go up to the front but he did walk down the aisle pouting the entire way. Once to the front he got loose from me and went and stood between to pine trees. He was determined to go fishing. Thank Goodness Big Mike was over that way and I just stood with him. During the prayer Braedon decided he wanted to go up there with the groomsmen so I let him in hopes that someone would get a shot of the ENTIRE wedding party while he was up theres. SO FAR... No one!!! anyway his daddy held him for a little while then he came running back over to me. He was ok but honestly not the best little fellow. We took a few more pictures with him acting like a typical two year old bad child and then we went to the reception where he turned back into Braedon!!!! He ate, had a good time, ate cake, played with the kids, played with caterpillars, and just had a grand old time. Then he went home with his grandparents again and then I commenced to have myself a grand ole time. Drank and danced the night away... It was a beautiful wonderful ceremony and reception. The band was great like always and it was great spending the evening amongst friends. I wish we could just lay back and do that all the time!!! Bradley and Haley had a wonderful day and sailed away to Mexico Monday. I hope they are living it up like they don't have to return to reality!!! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Beard! We love you and hope you are always as happy as you are right now!!! Welcome the "family" Haley!!!

Miles William Johnston

How could I forget the most important event of February???? On Feb. 3rd, we welcomed a precious new baby into the family. The baby has been very anticipated since early summer last year. It seemed like Leslie was pregnant forever. Thankfully her labor was induced and scheduled so I took off and was able to be there. Chad was an absolute nervous wreck. That goodness he held it together long enough to "birth" the baby. I don't even remember John being that nervous and I was having a C section. Anyway, Leslie did not have to wait to long like some people do. I got to the hospital right around lunch. If I am remembering correcting she had him right after 1 or right after 2... I can't remember. But I do remember it was a short time of them being in there alone. After the birth, the stingy parents kept the baby with them for over an hour. Finallly Chad came out and let the grandparents and great grands go back... well I missed the chance. Next thing we knew the nurse was holding the sweet baby up in the window of the nursery and no one was even around to claim him or look at him... I mean we could've been giving warning... Finally we realized it was him and we got a good look and took a few pictures. I then went around to see Leslie who looked like million bucks. After this of course, the baby has to stay in the nursery for a while... so we went to eat at the Tin Lizzy. Let me add... it was snowing! It was cold! and the roads were freezing!!! After our lunch, we ran back in to the see the baby! It was not in the room yet. We were getting phone calls and people were giving out road warnings so I decided to leave. I was determined to get home to my BABY that night. I finally did make it too. After seeing wrecks on every bridge between West Point and Scooba! It was bad. I hate I didn't get to hold Miles that night but I did go see him the very next chance I got the next weekend. Can't wait til the little booger throws his fits to come home with me... It will be before we know it. I will post pics asap. I don't have my pics on this work computer!!!!

March

SO far March has been really really busy. It of course really did come in like a lion with all its thunderstorms but thankfully I was staying at my mama's when all this happened because I was suppose to go on my field trip to Montgomery on March the 9th... Well that didn't happen due to the weather. Coach White and all I called it off because of the dangerous storms lurking on the Montgomery area. We have now rescheduled so my 18 little people are pretty excited again. That week was also the beginning of Spring Break. Boy, did it come in with a bang for me. I had been having a few little issues thinking I was getting old and just had heartburn or something along those lines then on Friday, March 11th, I got to hurting extremely bad and left school. By the time I got to daycare to pick up Braedon, I could not pick him up, I was hurting so bad. I literally thought I was having a heart attack... Anyway I got to Macon Medical at 11:50 and was rushed right on back... I have no idea why I didn't just go to the ER in West Point like I would have on a typical occasion.... AGAIN I thought this was heartburn. Well, it wasn't. After blood work, chest x-ray, and an ultrasound, I find out I have a severly infected gall bladder.. WHAT???? Yeah I am old now. So the talk of surgery came up... NO NOT ME.. .NOT THIS WEEK. I HAD TO MANY PLANS!!! SOOOO after a huge shot of rocefin (SP????) and a big bottle of antibiotics, I got sent on home knowing I had to return on Monday. I missed Justin's surprise Birthday party and I was so disappointed. BUT I was determined to make it to help Carrie and Jeff cater Lauren Nelson Scott's wedding reception that Saturday night and I DID!! I am so glad I could help out. It was so much fun and the food was wonderful. Congratulations to the Scotts'!!!!! Sunday I practically laid around all day, didn't feel like moving. On Monday, I had to go back for more blood work! Infection was practically gone but we still needed to see what was going on, so I had to go for a HIDA scan at the hospital that Wednesday. Let me just say it was awful. I think I'd rather just have another baby... least something sweet and precious comes about after that!!! I got stuck 4 times trying to get the IV going then the medicine they give you after laying flat for 2 hours actually BURNS your insides and makes (what is already hurting) the gall bladder contract.... IT HURT! Anyway, I made a few stops after that. I even made a little time to go see my new 2nd favorite little boy, Miles William Johnston. I gotta go back and do that post! How could I forget???? Anyway test back fine... no stones, no blocked ducts, functioning fine. I could have another flare up anytime, today, next week, or 3 years from now!! Who knows. BUt I do know the signs now. Hopefully I will be able to treat it with antibiotics next time. The rest of Spring Break, we practically just worked in the yard. Thursday night, Johnathan and I went to help Diann and Jr set up for the rehearsal dinner. It was beautiful. Diann did a great job. Friday night, of course, was rehearsal and the dinner. All went great. Braedon played ball with Bradley and only Bradley all evening. He did walk done the aisle just like he was SUPPOSED to do on Saturday. We really had a fun evening. After rehearsal dinner, Braedon went home with Maw and Grandaddy while John hung with Bradley and I helped set up for the wedding reception. Wedding post is later to come!!!! Spring Break was just great. I almost need a break to recover.

Family Fun Pictures

Uncle Ty and Braedon riding the 4 wheeler in the snow

John and Braedon riding the tractor one Sunday afternoon

Braedon got into some fondant icing after Haley and Bradley's couple shower... Yes it was blue... Cheese mama

Fun Days

Braedon looking at Laurel who was looking up at him from the bottom. They are so cute

Little Bad Boy

She sure is a little princess!!!!
Carrie and her sweet girls, Laurel and Layla

February had a few pretty days even though it snowed. As a matter of fact the Sunday before it snowed, Carrie and I took the kids to the lock and dam in Columbus to play and to Sonic for ice cream and pickle O's. We had a go to walmart too with all 3 kids!!! Anyway we used to see a lot of one another when we went to Weight Watchers every week but since we have become lifetime members we only have to go once a month and we never seem to get away with each other... I surely miss the "adult" time!!! Anyway, the kids had a blast! Here are a few pictures from that day!!!!