Family Pics

We FINALLY got family pictures taken! My sister Sarah took them for us (thanks Sissy!) last Saturday and did an amazing job, especially considering she only had our wussy little digital camera to work with.













I really wish I knew how to edit pictures. I love this one and REALLY wish that Macy's eyes would have been open. I don't know how people with big families ever get a picture with everyone looking at the camera. We had a hard enough time with the three of us!

Macy's Room

I have been meaning to post pictures of Macy's room forever, but just have never gotten around to taking pictures of it until now. It was fun to see what I could come up with on a limited budget...and I have to say I love how it turned out! It's a pretty small room, but hopefully you'll get a good idea of what the whole thing looks like from these pictures.

My mom made this quilt, which was kind of my "inspiration" for the whole room. I can't even begin to tell you how long it took for us to pick out the fabric...we must have wandered around the store for at least an hour, picking 4 or 5 bolts of fabric, then seeing something we liked better. We had so much fun doing it though. Thank goodness my mom can sew and quilt so well. Macy will definitely have to go to her if she ever wants anything made. I can barely sew a straight line.

The sign didn't photograph very well, but it is a verse in Psalms that says "For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." (Thanks to my good friend Cassie for the idea...she has the same verse in her daughter's room. I'm an idea stealer!) The butterflies are made from a die-cut that I got when I worked at the junior high. We couldn't find a mobile that would fit on the edge of her crib, so I cut a bunch of those butterflies out and hung them from the ceiling with fishing line.

My friend Kelley made Macy's name sign. She actually got the pattern for the sign from the same book that my mom used to make the quilt. I had no idea she was making it, so I was thrilled when I opened her gift at the baby shower that everyone at the junior high threw for me. The rabbit is actually mine from when I was younger. I was surprised at how well it went with everything else, and decided to go ahead and put it in the room.

This one is taken from the doorway, so you can kind of see how everything is set up. The pink and white blanket is another gift from one of my junior high co-workers. Mark is one of the school's shop teachers and when he heard I was having a girl, he commissioned his wife to crochet a blanket. I thought that was so sweet!

Macy is making a little cameo in this one. She absolutely loves that jumperoo thing. Her dresser is actually my great grandma's that my grandparents refinished and gave to me when I was young. Brett and I stripped the old paint, repainted it to match the room and got new knobs for it.

While I am nowhere near being considered an interior decorator, I sure had a lot of fun decorating her room. I didn't want to do too much to the walls in case we decide to move Macy later on and use the room for something else. I'm just grateful I have so many talented friends and family members. Their gifts and ideas are really what made the room turn out as well as it did.

September 11th

I know it is kind of cliche' to say that I will never forget where I was when I heard about the planes hitting the Twin Towers on September 11th, but it's true. I didn't hear about it until I got to school that day, and I remember not truly understanding what was happening. All the news seemed to show was the same footage of one of the planes hitting one of the towers over and over again. It wasn't until days later, when I started seeing people on the news with missing posters, searching for family members, that feelings of sadness and anger really hit me. Later, those feelings were replaced by pride as I saw businesses and homes putting flags up and hanging signs in their windows saying things like "God Bless America" and "United We Stand." Two years later, when I went to New York to work as a nanny, I reached a new level of understanding of what happened that day. I got to know people who lost friends and family members that day. I even met a few people who were at Ground Zero. I guess all I am trying to say is that I hope I will never forget September 11, 2001. I hope I will always feel sad for the people who lost their lives that day, feel pride for the people who were willing to sacrifice their own lives to save others, and feel gratitude that I live in the most amazing country in the world.
I've never really liked the stories and poems that people write as if God were writing them, but I got this e-mail from a good friend today and felt like it was worth sharing.

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001 . Neither will I. I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me.. this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place You in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001 , was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.' I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

-God

White Trash Bizash

Yesterday we held our 3rd annual White Trash Bash. This is definitely one of my favorite traditions that Brett and I have started with our friends. Every year the outfits and decor get more outrageous...I love seeing what people come up with. I wish I had a clearer picture of our group, but we didn't get around to taking a group shot until it was pretty dark.

We were going to do awards this year, but since it was WTB, we spent our money on Koozies (those foam things that keep cans cold) and pork rinds instead (just kidding!). Here are the prize-less winners anyways.

BEST DRESSED FEMALE

Goes to Sarah, a.k.a "who's my babies' daddy" single mom.

BEST DRESSED MALE

Chase (far right) won this one with a combination of his outfit and acting skills. He can hold a cigarette pretty well for someone who has never smoked.

MOST WHITE TRASH MEAL

Corn Nuts, Mac & Cheese with Hot Dogs, Deviled Eggs and Jello Salad...classic!

MOST WHITE TRASH FAMILY

Maybe it's tacky to give yourself an award, but with Brett channeling his inner K-Fed and Macy sporting only a diaper, I think we had it in the bag.

MOST WHITE TRASH HAIR ACCESSORY

I have no idea where Maggi found this...but it was hands down the greatest WT accessory I've seen in a long time.

MOST LIKELY TO HAVE A SHOT-GUN WEDDING

Okay, so that's not true at all, but Annette and Brad did just get engaged, so congratulations to them!

BEST WHITE TRASH PHOTO

Nice pose Johnsons....you guys rock!

MOST WHITE TRASH COUPLE

Maggi and Phillip won this one thanks to Phil's awesome boots and flame bandanna.

CUTEST WHITE TRASH KIDS

Can cute and white trash be in the same sentence? They can if you're Will, Lee and Kate!

As you can see, we totally had a blast. Thanks to everyone for coming and making this the best Bash so far!

Labor Day Weekend

We spent our Labor Day weekend in Bear Lake and had a fantastic time. Brett's grandpa built a cabin up there in the 1970's, but over the years it has kind of fallen into disrepair because of the lack of use. So, Brett's uncle got a bunch of the extended family together to do some much needed repairs.

The guys spent all day Saturday working on the cabin. Here they are before hitting the showers.

Brett's legs are tan...but not that tan.

Macy and I, (along with Brett's mom Shannon and our sister-in-law Breanne) spent the day at the lake. I felt a little guilty for having such a relaxing day when Brett was working so hard...but what could I do? :)

Sunday was a little more relaxed. Brett and I took a ride on the 4-wheeler, (despite what it looks like in the picture, Macy did not come along.) played some games with the fam, then headed home. Thanks to the Carters for letting us tag along on another vacation. We would never go anywhere if it wasn't for you guys!

Party Like A Rock Star