Emma's big day

She's still smiling because I haven't tightened it yet.

The girls' orthodontist was also my orthodontist when I was pregnant with Kira. This is aging us both quite dramatically. I sighed and said "Here we go again." He laughed and said the bad part was that that meant we were getting older. We both have the wrinkles around our eyes to prove it!

Yay! It's Halloween!

Ayla is super-excited about the lid on Thomas coming off!

Ayla's Thomas Pumpkin.

Gary is Spongebob Squarepants pet snale. How David managed that, I don't know, but he loves pumpkin carving as much as the girls do.

Kira's traditional happy face. She did most of this herself at around bedtime. She had to finish her homework first and that took most of the evening, but it sure motivated her.

More from the fun weekend!

Ring around the rosey. Kira, and especially Emma, loved playing with their cousin Maddie. I am so thankful David got me a zoom lens because I could catch this from afar without interrupting their pure joy of playing.

Aren't pretty dresses fun?

Gabby, Jeremy's cousin joined the photo fun a bit later. She is such a sweet and beautiful child.

Who can resist dancing when Mike Wadsworth is in action! David requested The Wabash Cannonball for him.


I realized after the fact, that I didn't get photos of all 3 girls together, so we had a family moment before leaving Terre Haute on Sunday. Back to normal on the outside, but on the inside we were all still at the party!


Can you see the relief in their eyes?!!!! They rode away in the sunlight to get back to normal. Off to feed the horses, or something. What a weekend.

Caroline and Jeremy's Wedding... A few photos of our family

Mr. and Mrs. Caroline and Jeremy Johnson

This photo is so significant. No only is she adorable while "smiling" for the camera... I succeeded in sliding the half asleep toddler into this adorable outfit. It was still a fight, but no blood was drawn or fanny's swatted. A miracle brought on by the prayers of my sister-in-law, Christi. I must have worked as I never in a million years would have dreamed it would have!

These two are also quite important. Do I know how to predict my children, or what?!! At least this didn't occur DURING the wedding as I half expected. I knew she'd be down there fishing in her Sunday best.

Emma and Kira are pictured here with their cousins, Alex and Olivia (Matthew's kids that were in the wedding also.

Caroline and Jeremy, and their parents, of course, really know how to throw a party. It was truly a fairy tale wedding, complete with the horse and carriage. I don't have too many photos as I let the pro do his work.... and they did work... hard. I have many hours of editing my own shots, but couldn't wait for you to see my beauties at their finest.

Emma, as always, balked ferociously at first at my planned primping for the day. I didn't get her nails done, but pretty much informed her she was mine to do as I pleased on this important day, so get over it. She yielded quietly, for once. When I finished her hair and her dress was on, she told me that she wanted to feel and look like this on her wedding day. Pride swelled within me, but I calmly told her "Well, then honey, if you want to find a boy to marry you, you'd better start looking like a girl some of the time." Oops. I really am not ready for that either, so reminded her that she doesn't need to be in any hurry! "But you look beautiful, honey."

Kira, of course, sat quietly and let me fuss to her heart's content and came out smelling and looking like a rose. Always a feminine one, this was a day for her. I reminded her that it was important to at least not show up the bride on her wedding day. I think that made her blush. It was a close call though as Kira was beautiful.

It would have been hard to pass up Caroline's inner and outer beauty on her special day. I wasn't expecting such an entrance and was bracing myself NOT to cry. My girls walked down the "aisle" as well as my husband, handsome in his gold and black tux. Caroline made a grand entrance in a black carriage and even blacker horse (I am sure she knows the breed... I am going to guess Percheron and sound like I have a little horse sense.) It was huge, nevertheless. Needless to say, shock and awe brought the tears immediately. I didn't feel quite so bad when I turned and saw them in my mother's eyes too. We didn't bring enough Kleenex.

I could go on and on and on about what a delightful day it was, perfect, except for my cold toes. Unfortunately, it is bedtime and I need to head to bed. I can't wait to sift through my photos and get started on their album.

One last thought though. I am so happy for them. I adore Jeremy. I don't think I could have hand picked a better friend for her to spend her life with. I hope you enjoy a few pictures. There are so many I want to share, but am going to be selfish and just show my lovely children for now.

Cowboy Cookies

Here is one of our favorite family recipes... from many Facebook requests for the recipe, I will just post it here!


Cowboy Cookies:
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups oatmeal
1 pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bake 350 for 12 minutes. I remove them just before they turn golden brown so they stay soft longer. Leave them on the pan for 5 minutes before trying to remove them to cooling racks. If you like crunchy cookies, leave them in until they are golden.

Hey Grandma... Emma got a haircut!

A spoonful of sugar.

A sick day.

Had a very nice weekend. I went home-home to Warren County on Friday with the girls. Emma was a bit sick, but Grandma just doesn't care. She started feeling better on the ride home because she didn't want to miss the Jr. Youth Retreat at Mom and Dad's church. I love that they love to go there. They had a ball and made lots of new friends. Jim came home on Saturday with Raina and Kyla and Lisa also spent the day there. Another surprise for me was Grandpa and Patty coming also. It was a full house and mom spent most of her time in the kitchen, as usual. We had meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and green beans... there was bread too, but I missed that. Lisa also made homemade hot caramel and we used some of the season's apples to dip. None of us were starving, that is for sure. Dad and Jim took G'pa and Patty and all the kids to see the wind farms out in Boswell. All were quite impressed. Ayla saw a picture of them and kept saying "Oh my gosh, it's huge!" Can't imagine what she would have said in real life!

I woke up today feeling a little bit more under the weather than Saturday, but showered and got dressed for church. Dave asked if we should take Ayla. I tried to get her dressed, but her cough was just nasty. I ended up staying at home with her. She ate microwave popcorn at 9am and I finished the last book of the Baxter Series "Sunset" by Karen Kingsbury. No, our family isn't quite as cheesy as they are (I love them, don't get me wrong.) but I am so grateful to have 2 wonderful families. We may not gather EVERY Sunday like the ficticious Bloomington family, but we do gather and love one another. Looking forward to the Wadsworth gathering next weekend for Caroline's wedding.

Praying for Lisa's safety as she travels on her hard-working trip to Honduras. I know she is nervous, but God is with her. I know she will be blessed by this trip. I hope she finds enjoyment in her work-filled days. I wish I could go with her.

Praying also for Aunt Kay, as she has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Doesn't sound good, but we love a God of miracles. Same also for our cousin, Eric Hall, diagnosed with MS this past week. God will use their situations for the good of those who love him.

The house is quiet, except for the shaking washer and dryer, and I am at peace. Ahhhh....... (Ayla fell asleep in my arms before noon.) They should be home any minute. Freezer meal in the oven and life is sooooo good.

Go Colts.. or Horse as Ayla likes to say.

My cat.

Snickers looks a bit grouchy. Cats just don't seem to have the expressions that dogs do. Wouldn't trade him for a dog right now though!

New Haircut.

Still working on the style. I liked how Marsha styled it after she cut it, but I didn't get to watch. Sort of looks like it always does, but color is better and it has a little more body to it.