Ice skating

This afternoon Piper and I went ice skating. It was her first time and the first time for me in almost ten years. It's amazing that I never went when we lived in New York. In any case, we had a fun time. It was a special parent/preschooler outing so there were cookies and hot chocolate. We skated for about 45 minutes. Piper didn't do too bad but she was tired and crabby near the end so I didn't get any smiley pictures. She did like it though. We'll have to try it again another time; maybe Rick could go with us.

Ready to go home

New arrival - our couch

Hooray! Today was a great day for the Johnsons. After waiting over six weeks we finally are in possession of a couch.

Here's a shot of it; sorry, it's not a great one. It's a Pottery Barn Greenwich couch in caramel brushed canvas.

I'm not sure about the furniture arrangement yet. I'm sure Rick will have somethiing to say about that when he gets home tomorrow.

Now we can all sit on the couch together. And have a place for guests to sit too.

Gingerbread house

Last week Piper and I made and decorated a gingerbread house. I think it was the first time that I had made the entire thing myself. I used my mom's tried-and-true recipes and pattern. I think that it turned out well. Piper enjoyed it too. She's been good about not eating the candy either. She's been really excited whenever someone comes over and she gets to show them the house.

The before shot


The after shot - a proud girl


Another after shot


The back of the house

Happy Anniversary!

Last week Rick and I celebrated our eighth anniversary. He was traveling so we exchanged gifts from a far. Rick sent me these beautiful flowers. Totally unexpected but just gorgeous. I had the hotel send him up half a dozen chocolate chip cookies. We then had a "virtual date," eating our respective dinners in front of the webcams. It was a fun night. Here's to eight and eighty more years together.

More dressing up

Piper found a pair of my pantyhose and put them on her head. I promise there was no coaching from me. It's surprising that she still looks so beautiful and put-together despite the hosiery dangling from her head.

Great Lakes Science Center

A few weeks ago Piper and I went to the Great Lakes Science Center. We had a fun time; Piper's favorite thing by far was the dressing up.

Eh batter, batter. Dressing up as a baseball player


Moo, moo



Snack time!

Folar Fress

Rick's office holds a kid's holiday party every year in addition to the adult one. This year the party was held on the Polar Express. These tickets are very coveted. Apparently you have to get them during the summer or you're out of luck. We watched the movie prior to the party so Piper would have some clue as to what was going on.

Piper was very excited to go on the train. So much so that ever since we've gone on it whenever she hears the train near our house she tells me, "Mommy, Folar Fress." That's Piper's pronunciation of Polar Express. It usually sounds like one word: folarfress.

It had been snowing all day on Saturday so the weather was very picturesque. The train left at 7pm. There were elves on the train that sang songs, read the Polar Express book, and handed out cookies and hot chocolate. All the kids on the train wore their pajamas. The train arrived at the "North Pole" around 7:45 where there were all sorts of elves, animals, and lights outside to entertain us while we waited for Santa to get on the train. Santa then came and gave every kid a bell, like in the book.

We arrived back at the train station at 9:15. Piper was out like a light in the car by 9:25.

What fun!

The tickets that were inadvertently forgotten at home. We still made it on the train.

Piper and me

Enjoying cookies and hot chocolate


Arriving at the "North Pole"


Santa giving Piper her bell. Do you like the snow boot/pajama combo?

Winter gear

Piper's new coat and boots came in the mail last week. She was pleased with both. The coat had looked more red in the catalog but apparently it's pink.

Visit with Santa

Piper's first introduction to the big man was a success.

A Dream Come True: A Guest Post by Rick

Can a post by one of the titular characters of a blog really be considered a "guest post?" Well, it is my first ever post on this blog which has been running for who knows how long so I say yes. So what's the occasion you ask? Good question. As the title implies, I have recently achieved a long-time dream of mine and, well, I wanted to brag a little. Am I referring to landing a job recently that had been a dream job of mine in college, a job I never thought I could realistically get? Um, no. So I got a job, big whoop. No, I'm referring to this:

A crummy fridge you say? How dare you? That's not just any fridge. That, my friends (ha, I can't even write that phrase without immediately thinking of John McCain), is my beverage fridge! And yes, I've dreamed of having this magnificent beast for many years. I can't trace my pinings to their origin, but I do know that the flames of this passion were certainly fanned by my friend Bunkero, who had a pop machine in his apartment(s) in New York. Visiting his place was such a treat, not only for the great company, but also for the comforting knowledge that a variety of ice cold sodies was always at the ready. The last time I visited Bunkero, at his new home in Utah, I discovered that his pop machine was out of commission. I was saddened, but Bunkero, to you I say, take heart buddy, and know that you're always welcome at my beverage fridge. Heaven knows I owe you a few (hundred). Now enjoy the pics:

Ready for Thanksgiving:

A Feast for All

We were lucky enough to host Thanksgiving this year. It was our first and one of my all-time favorites. I roasted a whole turkey for the first time. I'm happy with how it turned out and it wasn't as difficult as I was made to think it was. We were joined by three families that we've made friends with here in Cleveland. There were happy kids, good company, more than enough pies (despite Rick's worries that there wouldn't be enough), and a lot of great food.

Thanks to our Cleveland "family" for making this Thanksgiving an awesome one. All in all, an occasion to remember.

I made little Plymouth rock cupcakes with flags in them as place cards.

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

All I can add is "amen."

Washington, D.C.October 3, 1863

This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America's national day of Thanksgiving. During his administration, President Lincoln issued many orders like this. For example, on November 28, 1861, he ordered government departments closed for a local day of thanksgiving.

-----

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility

and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Forts and friends

We removed the cushions from the sun room furniture the other day. We took that opportunity to build an impromptu fort. It was a short-lived success.

We ran into Piper's friend Ellie at the mall the other day. They were ecstatic to see each other, to say the least, and took turns driving the car ride.

Playing in the snow

Piper loved playing in the snow except when she started getting too cold. (We've since bought her a proper snow coat.) I took an awesome video of her jumping in the snow; she was fascinated by making footprints. Now if we could only get a snowstorm big enough to make a snowman. That's what she's really excited for. We'll have to stock up on carrots.

First snow of the season

Birthday recap

This past weekend was my 31st birthday. Man, writing that makes me feel my age. Despite the torrential rain we celebrated by meeting friends for burgers and fries. Then everyone came to our house for cake and ice cream. It was such a good time. I loved all my gifts and being able to celebrate with my friends too. Piper was excited about my gifts and loved singing happy birthday to me. Thanks everyone for my wonderful birthday!

Gorgeous flowers from Mindy

Flowers and gifts from Mindy

Opening Piper's gift - 30 Rock, Season 2


Opening Rick's gift - a gorgeous new purse

From my in-laws - a red cashmere cableknit sweater

Enjoying some root beer and cake with some friends

Recent craft projects

Piper loves her craft class at the rec center. So much so that we signed up for the next installment. It's such fun and to boot she has a good friend from church in her class now too. Simple pleasures.

The owl on the left is missing his eyes and somehow got a star from the plate on the right instead.


The Q-tip skeleton was fun.


Indian corn, a fall foliage frame and a spiderweb made by putting paint on the paper and shaking it in a box of marbles.


A pitiful caterpillar, a leafed-out turkey, and snowflake bookmark.

The big day

Here are long-awaited pictures of our first American Halloween. And what would Piper be but a KU Jayhawks cheerleader?! We are of course both the NCAA football and basketball champions for 2008.

As for trick-or-treating, our town has time limits. I'm assuming that it's to avoid those crazy kids coming around at 11:00 Our alloted time was 6:00-8:00. First we went to a friend's house for some great company and chili and then I went home while Rick and Piper went trick-or-treating. We had great weather; I actually sat on the porch handing out candy. Piper came back after only 45 minutes because she couldn't carry her bucket any more. All-in-all a great night!

Our li'l pumpkin with our pumpkins. You'll notice the ghost jack-o-lantern I carved this year.

We taught Piper how to say "Go Jayhawks!"


Rick's costume got a few comments. Piper had insisted that he be a pumpkin so what else was I to do but take one orange sweater and scotch tape black fabric to it. I would have done safety pins but we didn't have any.


The spoils

Pumpkin painting

Yes this was last week. Gimme a break - I'm catching up.

Pumpkin picking

Last weekend we went to a local farm to pick pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns. We also got a free hayride out to the patch. That's three hayrides for Piper this season, if you're keeping count. Piper picked out a small pumpkin and then we went back to the barn so Rick could pick out a larger pumpkin. We had Piper paint her pumpkin and then I carved the one Rick selected.