I'm a FAILURE! & Blogging Overload....

So.... At the beginning of the year I wrote this post about how I was "planning" on posting once a week.  I even went as far as to set it as on of my yearly goals.  You know those goals that I set for myself instead of resolutions. Well, they have been a JOKE this year!  Here's the short version of the year to play catch up and hopefully I'll do some more detailed blogs on some of this stuff soon because man have we had a doozie!  We finally found a house and moved in March. Actually it was the original house we almost closed on last October but that's A LONG STORY that deserves its own blog. The girls finished school which was Addie's last year of Elementary School. She's now officially a Jr High student and HATES it (again another story) I'm either going to have to start meds or take up drinking to get me through it!  To add to my instability Elliott leaves Elementary school this year... Boy Mr. Johnson & I are getting old! Summer started out great  we got memberships to NEW Hartselle Aquatic Center and spent several days a week there. Then on July 4th Addie was burned by a malfunctioning firework. We spent 12 days in the Children's Hospital Burn Unit in B'Ham and we are forever changed. This absolutely requires its own post and if you follow me on twitter or are my friend on Facebook you already know the story but I'll get to it here also. School started with no Vacay because of the accident. Elliott is loving it... Addie not so much!  I'm back to the grind at the office trying out a new role in marketing. And football is upon us!

It's a start right?

~vanessa

Good Bye 2011.... Hello 2012

So... 2011 was year of alot around the Johnson house... It was NOT the year for me to be committed to this Blog! Every year Mr. Johnson, the 2RedHens, and myself all make a list of things that we want to accomplish in the year. This along with every family member picking a "WORD" to live by for the year has been a tradition for a couple of years now. This past year was the 1st year that we were able to cross off almost all of the items on our list. Some items were amended and there is still the elusive turkey for Mr. Johnson, and those Taylor Swift concert tickets for the girls... but all in all this year has been spectacular! We made our 1st trip to Disney in April & now we are all ready to go back! Mr. Johnson & I went to the Windy City and Vegas. The 2RedHens skipped the 1st week of school to go with us on a business trip to the BEACH! I have continued with committment to get healthy, I am currently down 50lbs and feeling great! We SOLD our house quicker than expected and even though we can't find exactly what we are looking for we have been blessed to have found a great rental with a short term lease. The 2RedHens are doing FABULOUS and both have roles in the upcoming production of Wizard of OZ with our local art center. WE have our goals ready for 2012 and I'll share some of those soon.... because one of mine is to blog at least once a week.... Oh my! Let's get this New Year Started!!!!


Vanessa

Kristopher Dane Hassie Johnson 5-31-86 / 10-17-08

Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday. Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear. Happy Birthday Kris We Love & Miss You!

Elliott wrote a letter last night. Here is what she wrote.......

Dear Kris,
I LOVE you! I hope you are having a good life in heaven. I wish you could meet Ruby. Happy Birthday tomorrow. I miss you. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Love, Elliott

Somedays, it's hard to be the adult around here.....


~ Vanessa

My name is Vanessa and I Neglect my Blog.....

I cannot believe it has been a year since my last post and it was about how I was going to do a better job posting.... ugh! What happened you ask? Life! That's what, I have been busy working at Mr. Johnson's office, being Homeroom Mom for the Big Hen's class, helping out with the Little Hen's class, choosing a word for 2011 instead of making resolutions and I picked Committed.... Meaning if I started it then I would totally Commit myself to it and follow through. I think I have done pretty good with this concept but it has also taught me that just because someone throws me the ball doesn't mean I have to catch it... Now, I still have a long way to go with this, especially when it comes to people at the 2RedHens school asking me to help, but I am making GREAT strides.

Since I last Blogged I have ran my first 5K and Committed myself to better health. I have lost around 30lbs. I feel GREAT and my Goal is about 20lbs more. However, it's more about getting healthy than weight.

The 2RedHens are growing up WAY to fast. Addie turned 10 today and Elliott turned 8 while we were at Disney last month. They finish up 4th and 2nd grade next week and I am feeling very sad about that. Addie will start her last year at Elementary school in August. Seriously? When did she grow up? Where did my sweet little one go? Also, some new revelations have come to light about her after we pursued some further testing for her. I might share further later but prayers would be appreciated because I am quite overwhelmed. Elliott, well she had the BEST teacher this year who helped her BLOOM tremendously. We will miss Mrs. Godsey TERRIBLY and wish she could move to the 3rd grade with us. But, I want to say that she has FOREVER impacted Elliott's life and she is a better ELLIOTT because of her!

Did you catch that? DISNEY, yes we went to Disney in April for 8days and 7nights and it was FABULOUS!!! We could have stayed forever I think. It was a State Farm Ambassador Travel Trip and it was our 1st trip there. I don't think we will EVER be able to go any other way. We stayed at the Yacht Club. We mostly went to the parks during the Magic hours and didn't really wait in line for any rides 5 minutes tops. The 2RedHens really got into the pin trading (Thanks to the Henry's) and had their 1st plane ride. We chased autographs and finally collected them all. We were sad to leave but all GOOD things must come to an end RIGHT?

Now, I think that just about brings us current.... I'm going to try to do better.... I'm not going to make promises that I can't keep. But, I am going to check in more than once a year!

~Vanessa

ummmm....

well.... has it really been 6 months since my last post? I guess sometimes life just.... well, flies by! I'll try to catch you up with the Johnson houshold.... here goes....

we have been super busy at The Johnson Agency....

the girls finished up school... i cannot believe i now have a 4th grader and a 2nd grader...

I'm basically off for the summer..... the girls have been camping it up...

I've been working with Create.... oh, did i mention that my SIL's and myself have started a wedding and event company called Create? We provide pics, flowers, decor, planning, and directing your big day...

and there was a lot of stuff in-between but i'll spare you the details....

oh.... and we are awaiting the arrival of a new first cousin and niece.... baby johnson! She could make her arrival any day....

so.... that's about all.... I'll try to post again before december!

The Longest Post Ever......

Here is the Longest Post Ever....... I am going to pile all of the stuff that we did over the Holiday Season into this one post...... and believe me it has been alot! so, hold on tight and lets go.......But first here we are at the Christmas Tree Farm getting Pics made with Aunt Heb.......

First off we Jumped on the Parade circuit. The Patrick Johnson Agency along with the "Good NeighBear" and the 2RedHens rode in the Hartselle, Moulton, and Decatur Christmas Parades. It was so much fun....well, except the Decatur parade where it was raining and cold! But we had a blast and had fun promoting the family business.....

Next the 2RedHens skipped a day of school and we went to Nashville for a day of ICE! and Shopping.... I must say we weren't prepared for how cold it was going to be in the ICE! exhibit but it was fabulous! Granny went with us and her and the hens had some quality girls time shopping. We finished off the night by taking in the lights at the hotel and taking a boat ride on the delta. The hens took over the camera's at the hotel sooooo those pictures..... not so use able...

Elliott and all the 1st graders had the annual Polar Express Day at BBE. Mr. Land goes all out to make this a very special day for them..... he has a room decorated like a train car and we blindfold the kids and walk them through the halls to the room and then he reads them the "Polar Express" they get to drink hot chocolate and eat chocolate covered pretzels... they LOVE IT!!!

Addie was cast as Mrs. Cratchit in the 3rd grade production of "A Christmas Carol". And I may be bias but I really think this girl is meant for the big stage. She did fantastic! She not only got all her lines right but she delivered them with such gusto! And the rest of the cast was fabulous as well.

Next came Christmas break.... We had rough start with a sick little hen.... then the big hen was sick on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day..... but we were Blessed just the same! We were surprised by Santa with a New family member this year..... I would like to introduce Lola Johnson......

She is a yellow lab.... that is sooooo sweet.... and because it is so cold is having to stay in the house at night......that i'm not really loving.... but her we are loving.... and then mr. johnson brought home .........another puppy...... i haven't taken any pictures of him yet but he looks just like Lola only he's older than her.... by about 6 weeks...... his name is Ari Johnson..... Patrick was visiting his brother's grave and this little fellow and his brother who is now Ava's puppy Ace.... ( Ava is Patrick's niece) were just roaming around the cemetery... so, now we have 2 new family members... At least Lola has someone to keep her company when she is outside....

New Years was nothing big around here because by then mr. johnson had what the girls had the week before.... but he did take Addie for their what has become a 2 year traditional New Years Day Waterloo Dear Hunt....We did set some Johnson Family Goals for 2010 everyone got to pick 5 things they wanted to do in 2010 to add to the list.... but that deserves a post of it's own.....so, now it is a new decade and the 2RedHens are back at school and mr. johnson and I are at the agency working. We are waiting on the Winter Weather Event of 2010... i've got our milk & bread in true southern fashion..... and now i'm resolving to post more in 2010.....

soooo.... there is the longest post ever.......... hope you enjoyed..... and I still haven't gotten my year-end letters out! oh-my!!!!

~vsj~

Change Begins With Choice.....

Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, “The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth.We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life—if you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life, and it all begins with your very own power of choice....... -Jim Rohn


How...... I know I'm so behind on all the Holiday post and I promise they are coming..... I do have 2 new family members to introduce.......but for now...... Happy New Year!