Okay I really don't have much to blog about. It's driving me crazy, so I invented this "Top Five" Tuesday to let you know the top five things Russ and I have done since we've been home from vacay! I know you are just SO excited to hear about a "Party of Two" and their daily summer activities! Haha!

1. Baby Photo Shoot. When Toby was born, Pat and Felicia asked Russ to take some pictures of him for his birth announcements. Although it took us forever before we were in town long enough to do it, they waited. I may be biased, but I think they are the cutest pictures I've ever seen! There are over 100 pictures, but here are a couple that I don't think will ruin any surprises on the announcements.

He is just the cutest thing ever!!

This is what happens when the girls leave the room! The guys have Toby doing backflips! I think this was an accident, but I love it!

2. Movies. Saturday night, Russ and I went to see The Proposal. I must tell you that this now ranks among my Top Five Greatest Movies of All Time list! We loved it, and we laughed the whole time!

Since we were in the "movie mode" with free time on our hands...we rented a few movies on Sunday. We rented Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Madea Goes to Jail, and Eagle Eye. You can guess which one Russ chose. Eagle Eye was by far the best of the three. Anywho, it was just good getting to spend some QT with my hubby before he begins this horrific thing called residency!

3. Eating. As you know, my family usually plans vacations around eating. So, I guess I've picked up on that! Haha! Okay...I'm exaggerating a bit. But, Russ and I have dined with some fabulous company this week. Sunday after church, we met up with an old high school friend and his wife for lunch. Braden (aka "Skeet") and Heather were in town for a gig. He played in town Saturday night, and he always calls to ask Russ to come watch. "Skeet" and Russ used to play in a band in high school. It was very nice catching up and getting to know the new bride.

Russ and I ate with our great friends Adam and Becca last night at Mint. We had two coupons for free entrees. So, Russ and I got out of there with two meals...including Russ's free fancy red fish dish...for only $17!! Woo hoo! We gave the other coupon to Adam and Becca. We always love getting together with them, and we always say we should do it more often!

Then, tonight we ate with my mom at Bonsai. My favorite food is Japenese hibachi! I very much enjoyed the evening...and I think Russ enjoyed that as his last meal of "freedom." (I'll explain that in a bit)

4. Games. Before we left for Seaside, I made trips to Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us in search of good board games and card games for us. I absolutely love to play games, but it's hard to play with just two people! So, I searched games that could be played by just us. We did play some in Seaside, but there were a couple we didn't get to. So we broke them out this week! Among other games in our closet are Phase 10, Scattergories, Aggravation, Mall Madness (a personal fave from my childhood!), and Sequence.

Russ concentrating on Scattergories while sticking his tongue out at me!

We finally played Operation in honor of Dr. Russ! This was a gift from my family for graduation, and it's still just as fun as it was when we were kids!

5. Residency. That's right. Tomorrow morning, Russ will leave the house at crack of dawn o'clock on his first day as an intern! He has been in orientation and trainings for the last couple of days. After his first orientation, he walked into the house with his box of prescription pads and said, "Okay. Now I'm nervous!" I know he will be great, but it's a good sign that he is nervous. Please keep him in your prayers as he starts this new adventure full of incredible responsibilities! This is why I say that tonight was his last night of "freedom."


So, that's it. Our Top Five fun things about the last week and a half. If you're still reading this, then bless your heart! I hope I haven't bored you to death. There's just not that much going on in the Johnson household. What are your Top Fives for today?

Movin' On Up!

Well, it's that time again! Time for lots of teachers to start planning for the upcoming school year. Usually, this is a very organized time for me. However, this year...I'm movin' on up! That's right. After four school years teaching third grade, I have been asked to move up to fourth grade next year. The closer August gets, the more nervous I become. What have I gotten myself into?!

I plan to do some things the same. But, I am looping with MOST of my students from last year (plus an additional 15!) so I'm going to have to change a lot of things too. Completely new back to school activities, new curriculum, new maturity level...which brings new attitudes!

I am excited about trying something new and challenging, but I will feel much better once I get some things on paper and organized.

Anyway...my question is to you! I know many of you are homeschool moms, former teachers, and teachers now. So, I'm asking for ideas. Anything. Small or big. Maybe this will give me a starting point for my stress relief!

How many marbles do YOU have?

What's important to you?

So often, we get caught up in the daily comings and goings of life that we forget what really matters. The important things. Daddy showed this video at church on Father's Day as a reminder for us to remember what's truly important. As I watch my grandparents (and parents! Ha!) age, I realize more and more how fast time passes us by.

Take time today. Take time to enjoy the things that matter!

Wordless Wednesday

Love Letter from God

Russ and I attended our home church Sunday when we were in Corinth. As always, I was moved with tears. Maybe it's from the comfort of being "home." Or maybe it was just from the joy of being around family. Or perhaps it was once again the weekend that I found out it's still "not our turn," as one of my blogger friends put it. Either way, I am always grateful for the message and the movement of His Spirit in my life.

So many times I find myself fixated on statistics throughout our journey of trying to become parents. I think about what percentage success rate there is. What is the percentage of twins? Triplets? More? What is the percentage that nothing will happen AGAIN? What is the percentage that something will go wrong? However, while reading Kingsbury last week on the beach...so many life lessons came into focus. Worded just right. Maybe it was the peace and serenity of the waves with nothing to distract me. I plan to share many of them in time. I digress. One of the books was written about a pregnant mother who had already given birth to a terminally ill baby girl. She becomes pregnant again, and she is consumed with the fear that this baby will have the same illness. The story line is so well written and I could never replay it for you. The mother's sister is worried too, and she comes to her father. The Baxters' father is such an incredible example of a spiritual leader in his home. After much discussion about percentages, chances, and statistics, the father looks at his daughter and says, "Yes, with us there is a chance that this baby will be born with the same terminal illness that took Sarah from us. But, with God the chances are 100%." The daughter looks at her dad puzzled. He continues, "With God there is a 100% chance that this baby will be just as He made him or her." How simply put! Yes, there are statistics that stand against us. But, with God there is a 100% chance that things will go just as He planned.

Although those plans are not always what we desire, His plans are perfect. Let Him take control. Leave your worries at the door. My mom actually bought a plaque when my grandparents were in the hospital. It says, "When you go to sleep at night, leave your worries with the Lord. He will be up all night anyway." It is so easy for me to say this to someone else. But, when it's me...why is it so hard? Things will go just as God planned. Just let Him work. Be patient. Trust Him. As Russ and I begin to change our treatment plan a little, I am glad to be reminded that with Him ALL things are possible. He formed my body. He knows when I sit and when I rise. He knows the hairs on my head. He wants to give me the desires of my heart, because He placed those desires in my heart. He is my Daddy. He loves me. He loves you!

My dad showed a video in honor of Father's Day before the sermon. It was a perfect reminder to me of who He is. This video takes scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, and put it into the form of a letter to His people - you and me...just as He intended his Word to be. A love letter to us. Please take a few minutes to watch this and let Him speak to you.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we continue down this road. I pray that we keep our faith, and we never lose heart. I pray that we keep His plan in our hearts.

Happy Father's Day!

Russ and I spent Father's Day in Corinth with our dads. We had a great weekend filled with fun surprises! My family went in together to surprise my dad for Father's Day and for his birthday (which is next week). None of us will be in town next week, so we went ahead and partied Sunday. The plan was to surprise him in order of Father's Day gift and birthday gift...all AFTER lunch. However, it didn't turn out that way!

The first place he went was to the window to look out at the yard. And he spied it.

Surprise! Happy Birthday (out of order)! Haha! He got a new grill.

After playing around with the grill until we all nearly died of heat strokes, we ate a wonderful lunch that Mama prepared. After lunch...we celebrated his Father's Day with a surprise!

Dustin and Russ bringing it in

"Oh my word!"

Daddy racked up: a nice grill and a big flat screen tv! Russ will definitely be itching for both now! Haha!

After spending the day with my family, Russ and I headed over to the Johnsons' to grill out. We all gave Russ's parents a new grill for Mother's/Father's Day last month. His dad put it to use this Father's Day, and it was delicious! It's always fun visiting with everyone. Well, everyone but Jimmy and his older children. Jimmy was on call and Olivia, Julie, and Clay are spending the week with their other grandparents. We missed them, though!

Russ with his parents

The guys minus Sam (He was off rolling around in the grass somewhere!)

The ladies looking quite summery!

There he is!

Since Russ will be starting his residency July 1, this was probably our last trip to C-town together for a while. We enjoyed it thoroughly and can't wait to be closer to home! Happy Father's Day to our wonderful dads who have taught us "Whose we are!" We love you both!

L.A.K.E. - Lazy Afternoons Kool Evenings

As if Russ and I had not had enough sun last week, we decided to drive straight to Corinth for this Father's Day weekend. Saturday, Lee was taking his boat out and who am I to turn that down!? That's on our list one day - a cabin at the lake! We absolutely love spending "lazy afternoons" out at Pickwick. Thanks Kristin and Lee for allowing all the "crazy" Smithites on your boat!

Just so you will know...there is NEVER a dull moment when we are all together!

The guys on the top deck! It actually looks as if Lee is singing Karaoke while Russ and Dustin are backup rappers or something. And, yes, Dustin forgot his swimsuit...

The guys decided to dive off the top instead of climbing back down the ladder. Dustin certainly had the best jump. He did a backflip, landing feet first in the water. I missed that picture though.

Dustin after his landing

Lee decided to dive

Not sure what Russ was doing...we looked up and he was just "gone!"

Aside from all the shananigans of these brother-in-laws that has come to be commonplace in our get togethers, we had a relaxing and fun day on the lake! We stopped by and hung out with some of Dustin's friends. We also rode around with Lee's mom for a while.

Me and Russ hangin' out

Our captain and his fiance

After spending ALL day on the boat, we tied up around 7:30 so we could meet Dustin and his friends for supper at Rib Cage. I'm thinking I will head this way next time the boat goes out! Haha! Thanks so much Lee for sharing the ride!

Home Again, Home Again...Jiggedy Jig

**Sorry about the title! This is what my mom always said when my family pulled in the driveway after family vacations.

Russ and I had a great week at Seaside on our second trip together. I'm thinking we should definitely do this more often! Beach pictures were in the plans, but we talked ourselves out of it on our last day because we were LAZY!! Nothing wrong with that! Instead, we settled for a picture outside our cottage.


So far, my summer has been fantastic! How's yours?

Beachy Keen

**I definitely stole this title from another blogger friend. Appropriate for this post I thought...so I "borrowed" it.

Wednesday was another lovely day at the beach. We did exactly that. Spent the entire day at the beach...not even going in for lunch. We actually ate at Pickles on the beach.

One of the pavilions adjacent to the one we used all week. Isn't the view great?!

Heading down to the beach

Russ spent most of his time under the umbrella napping, playing with his iPhone, and reading. The temperature had to be 10 degrees cooler under that umbrella too! I joined him when I got overheated.

Russ's view from his seat

Occasionally, however, Russ would come out from under his umbrella to take a little swim in the water. Of course I joined him a few times too. Take note that I rarely get in the ocean...or lake for that matter. The thought of fish and green slimy seaweed nipping at my legs has always made me a little jumpy. However, this was a week with my hubby...so I obliged and got in a while.

The beach bum himself out from under his umbrella

After a fun day outside, it was time for supper and evening activities. Russ and I decided to drive over to Panama City Beach (in honor of the Smith/Coon vacation) to eat at Captain Anderson's. The food was fabulous! Russ had Stuffed Flounder while I had (y0u guessed it!) popcorn shrimp! I tried to take pictures, but my photography skills are lacking.

Russ in front of Captain Anderson's

Me - when you vacation with just the two of you...all you do is take pictures of each other! Sorry!

After dinner, Russ and I decided to have a little "kid fun." It was time for Goofy Golf. My family has played Goofy Golf in Panama City Beach for as long as I can remember. So, I was super excited about the game!

Waiting on the group in front of us to finish the hole

Look at that form!

Russ played a great game, but unfortunately was outplayed! Yep. That's right. I whooped his hiney! He was a great sport about it though. The evening was just FUN!

Walking across the bridge victoriously!

Russ carefully tallying up the score - maybe he can find a mistake in his calculations! Haha!

Once again, a great day! Thanks, Russ, for such a wonderful week with no distractions, studying, and schedules! Oh, and thanks for "letting" me win in Goofy Golf! Love you!

A Day in the Life

Sorry to tell you that there are no sunny beach pictures today. Not because we didn't go. We did! Because Russ just wasn't feeling it I guess. But there are pictures from the later part of the day. Now, let me tell you about "a day in the life" of Seaside's Cloud Nine residents.

Russ and I woke up this morning and went for a short run. Russ was gracious enough to run with me and my slow self. Let me tell you...I did not run early enough! The sun and heat were almost too much to bare! We made it a little over 2 miles before I thought I was gonna pass out. After showers (because we were NASTY!), Russ and I headed down to the beach for the day. Let's see...I finished Someday, and I will start on Sunset tomorrow. I listened to my iPod and napped. Russ and I got in the ocean a while to cool off and jump the waves. Overall, we had another great day at the beach! We came in around 5 to walk around the town center, stopping at the market for water and butter, and grill hamburgers for supper.

Sitting on our front porch waiting to walk around after a day on the beach

Russ grilled wonderful hamburgers for us!

I watched...once again chillin' on the front porch!

After supper, we decided to walk around Seaside and grab some ice cream. We ended up stopping at one of the pavilions on the beach, shopping, buying even more books, and then got our ice cream before heading back to watch a movie.

Russ as we left Cloud Nine for our evening stroll

Russ strikes a pose!

My turn!

Russ eating his Seaside ice cream

So there you have it! A day in the life. Gotta go now...time for the movie to begin.