Real friends

My dear friend Angie came to visit last week. You know the type of friend that you only see once a year but it's as if nothing ever changes? She's that kind of friend. I consider it a pure blessing to be able to count her as one.

Some of the things we did are as follows....

Lake Eola

Once you start to spin, it's almost impossible to stop. Jordan's smile went from this happy face, to complete panic! He couldn't stop and Clay is smiling because he thought Jordan was joking when he started screaming to stop.

Angie had to grab him so he wouldn't fall down.

We then went to my parents for a night and walked around their local shops. It's so much fun to see so many people out enjoying the weather.

The next morning we got up and went to Homosassa Springs. It is a really nice state park where you can see animals native to Florida.

Don't let the picture fool you...It was COLD. Not compared to Hershey of course, but too cold for swimming!

We had to get a boat ride in.

Although we were all smiles on the boat, it was down right cold!

It was so cold that the boys were snuggling up with Mikaela under a beach towel.

Then a special friend of the family gave us 3 free passes to Disney. 

It was a beautiful day, unlike the freezing day we had in January.

I love the animals..I hope they're happy.

This was our first time to Hollywood Studios.

Clay LOVES Indiana Jones and this was a really fun stunt show.

The last ride of the day was the Star Wars simulator. Pretty amazing that this little guy can talk and move.

We had such an amazing week and I am so looking forward to seeing her again this June when we make the trip up to Hershey.

Partial dining room makeover...

This is an early before. Notice the flowered, vinyl covered chairs, I know, the picture quality is horrible. The black cabinet started in here and then I moved it, and we can't leave out the hideous light fixture.

I removed the curtains, recovered the chairs, painted the table creamy white, brought in my grandma's hutch and replaced the light. ($20 at a thrift store!)

 I can't show you the whole room yet because the table is a mess...

I removed the hutch and brought back in the corner cabinet. It is going to be painted white and wire added to the doors. I am still working on the details of the wall, but it is so much lighter and wider in there now. I also removed the shades.

I was always nervous someone was going to hit the glass in the hutch because the room is so narrow, now it's in my room and safe from accidental light saber attacks!

I did this..really, I did.

But I can explain :-)

Dave and Clay were in the back yard talking about 

football and other boring guy stuff. 

They were having a great time throwing and chatting. 

I decide that I'm going to be one of those moms 

that  enjoys football too...

Clay tosses me the ball, I throw it back..poorly.

Well, there's no way my 10 year old is going to think he's better

 than me at throwing (uhh..he is).

So, I give it a strong powerful throw.

You see how this story ends....

After days of hearing him complain, the swelling 

and bruising prompted 

me to take him for an x-ray. 

Fortunately, it's only sprained.

Needless to say, I think 

I proved I can throw...

A night of music

We have an awesome place in downtown Orlando 

that we've just been introduced to.

Downtown Credo.

http://www.downtowncredo.com/

It has an amazing concept and my kids played there 

this past Monday.

For Zac, It was a new place but not a new experience. 

He's a gifted musician and has truly been blessed.

Check out his video here

http://www.youtube.com/user/buildingjohnsonhome?feature=mhee

For Mikaela..This was her first time going solo during an open mic.

Zac did play the guitar on one of her songs, 

but it was all her on the other.

Her talent just amazes me.

Here is the link to her page and her videos

http://www.youtube.com/user/mikaelajohnson1/videos

A day in the life...

Remember when I bought the moss rocks at the dollar store?  

This is what I did with them. I bought the bowl for $2 at the thrift store we volunteer at.

Its the perfect size to fit in front of the window.

I have seen these wall rulers for months in blog land and decided that I wanted to have one as well.

I plan to transfer all the measurements I've taken for years onto just this one.

 Truth be told...It's been hanging for 2 months and I still haven't done it...maybe that should go on my February goal list :-)

These are a few shots of my bedroom, and we had the dog trainer visit our home last night. Are you wondering what those things have to do with each other? I'll tell you..

We have been having issues with our chocolate lab. He's big, strong and confused.

Evidently, the confusion comes from being weak and lazy...

us, not the dog!

He has learned from us that he is boss because we don't know how to be. The worst part...he doesn't know how to be boss either. He's a nervous wreck because he doesn't know his place.

You see, we had an Akita for 14 1/2 years. During his prime, he weighed 135 pounds. We did everything right with him. Private dog lessons, in home training and teaching submission. After he died we thought..oh, we'll just get a lab.

That's about how much thought we put into it. Period.

See why we're having issues? 

We've done NOTHING to guide him.

Austin

Back to my bedroom...

You see the chair on the left there? {picture below}

That is where we are going to try and have Auggie sleep at night.

The trainer feels that this will help him feel more secure and it will be easier for us to YELL

tell him to be quiet if he barks at night.

I could barely lure him in with a snack. 

The plan is to just leave the door open but provide him 

with his own space.

 I have no idea if this will work, but I'm tired of my dogs ruling the house...Yes, I said dogS..we have a beagle too.  She's a whole separate post!

February goals

Since today is the first day of the month, 

I am making a list of what I 

want to accomplish during the next 28 days. 

Wish me luck!

1. Paint my bathroom { for the 3rd time :-/} I can explain.  Remember when I said that the whole house was painted pale pink? Well, that included my bathroom vanity AND countertops! 

Not kidding. 

So I painted the cabinets white, the countertop brown. 

I have since repainted the countertop using GianiGranite.....AMAZING STUFF! 

so now, I need to repaint the walls a richer color.

2. Retrain my dog. My 95 pound lab who thinks he's alpha. I'm learning so much about dogs and their need to step 

into the alpha role when their owners don't....

one more thing to feel bad about!

3.Visit with my dear friend Angie. 

That sounds like it should be easy right? 

Well, for me, the other items on my list will pull at me 

{especially the dog training} 

so I have to force myself to let everything else go.

4.Start my online digital scrapbooking.

5. Paint my dining room.

6. Finish a multitude of little projects...

hemming the curtains in my dining room 

{after painting the curtain rods} 

Clean out my cupboards, clean my laundry room, caulk my bathroom sinks....and the list goes on...