Christmas in March

I actually scrapbooked four pages a couple of weeks ago! Every year I crop down all of the picture Christmas cards we receive, make about 4 pages, and put them in my Christmas album. I have every year done since 2002, the year we got married. I love to look back at how our family and friends have grown and changed. Here are my layouts for 2008...

Puffin Meets Bub

Since the weather has gotten warmer, we decided to move Puffin out of the garage and into the backyard. I think he really likes the sunshine and has really pepped up. He seemed to be a little depressed when he was in the garage. He still suffers from a tilted head after his ear infection, but now that he is outside he is really doing well. These pictures were taken when he and Bub met for the first time. We were a little worried that Bub might hurt him, but they have adjusted. These days, Bub, Piper, and Puffin seem to get along just fine and kind of just leave each other alone. In the mornings, we will look out and all three will be asleep on the porch.

Dinner at River Valley Cafe

A few weeks ago we had dinner out with our dear friends, Lori and Jeff, at River Valley Cafe. Apparently a lot of people still don't know about this place and the food is pretty darn good. The dinner menu changes weekly and the chef is a young guy who does a very nice job. He was Muhammad Ali's personal chef and has cooked for some very famous people. I also really like the atmosphere and it is not too busy yet so you can enjoy a quite dinner with friends. Click here to check out their website and if you get a chance I highly recommend giving it a shot.
On another note, Lori and Jeff are getting married in Mexico in July...We can't wait! We have never been to a destination wedding and this one is going to be extra special. Lori has been working on their wedding website and it looks great so I am going to add the link to my favorites if you want to check it out.

Dallas Trip

I have fallen a bit behind on my blogging. March has been a bit hectic, so I am going to attempt to catch up over the next few days. At the end of February my company sent me to Dallas for a few days of product training. Sutton joined me on the last day and we spent some time with his family. It was a nice trip and we enjoyed catching up with family and friends. Here are a few pics from the trip-

On Friday afternoon after my training ended, I met up with one of my oldest and dearest friends from high school. I had not seen Raquel in about 3 years. I feared it would be awkward and we would have nothing to talk about, but when someone is a true friend you just pick up where you left off. We ate lunch at Cheesecake Factory and before we knew it it was 3 hours later and time to go. I met Raquel in first grade when I was the new girl in school and she was appointed my tour guide. I never would have guessed then that over 25 years later we would still be friends. I wish we could still hang out every day, but thank goodness for Facebook, we can at least talk a few times a week. I am so thankful that Raquel is one of those people that always reached out and made sure we stayed in touch. She is a true blessing to my life!
On Saturday, the boys went to a seminar and the girls enjoyed lunch with Sutton's dad, Paul, at the Neiman Marcus Cafe. It was a fun day with just the girls and Paul:). I don't think we have ever done that before. That night, we all enjoyed dinner at Capital Grille. Sutton's mom, Nancy, was out of town, but I did get to enjoy dinner with she and Rick earlier in the week.
On Sunday morning, we met our dear friends, the Chois, for breakfast. We enjoyed catching up with them and meeting Bailey and Bennett for the first time.
I tried to get Allison to go home with us, but Esther and Phil said no...
The Pages with "Team Choi"

Maynard

This post is belated, but last week was hectic and it has taken me some time to pull my thoughts together to write it. My sweet grandpa, Maynard, passed away last Monday. He had not been doing well since before Christmas. Maynard was 91 years old and I know he is smiling down on us from Heaven. I also know he is so thankful to be home with the loved ones he has missed.

Maynard was one of my all-time favorite people. I remember staying with my Memaw when I was a little girl and her letting me go to work with her and pretend I was a secretary, too. I had a special dress and a red telephone and I sat by her desk all day. Maynard would come by in the afternoon for a visit and we would drink ice cold cokes out of the bottle. I remember him telling the greatest stories about when he was young. Maynard always had a green thumb. He was a cotton farmer and when he retired in the 80's, I remember him taking great care of my Memaw's plants. He dipped snuff most of his life...I think he told me once he started dipping when he was about 8 or so. A few years ago he decided to give up snuff- he said he was just tired of it after more than 80 years. He ate ketchup on his mashed potatoes which always intrigued me.

He traveled quite a bit later in life even visiting our homeland of Sweden. He visited his son in Malasia. He also saw much of the United States and even went to the Rose Bowl Parade one year. He saw a lot in his long life. He had a very dry sense of humor and always made me laugh. Maynard had a strong faith and went to Bethel Lutheran Church most of his life. He was a good one and though I am happy he is in a better place and find great peace in knowing that, my heart is breaking a little too, because I wish I could hear him tell just one more story. In the last few years, when I was leaving after a visit or getting off of the phone with him, I always remember him saying that he loved me. He never left that out and I always knew that he did. Below is an essay I wrote about Maynard when I was in high school. It pretty much sums up the way I have always felt about him.

Memoirs of Maynard
written by Johnna Oman on 8-20-93 for English class

You can see him on nice days sitting on the front porch just watching the traffic go by. You might have seen him at the Dairy Queen, drinking coffee and talking with his friends. You might have even seen him driving slowly through town in his little brown pickup . He doesn't get in any hurry because there really is no use. He is just enjoying life and its simple pleasures. He is my grandfather, Maynard. Actually, he is my step grandfather, because my Memaw married him several years ago after my real grandfather passed away before I was born. Maynard is the grandpa I never knew. He may seem rather ordinary to you, but to me he is very special.

I never really got to "know" Maynard until my seventh grade year when my parents went to New York City for a week and I stayed with my Memaw and him. I got sick and he made sure I had everything I needed, whether that be medicine or a cheerful word. His dry sense of humor and easy going manner are contagious and no matter how bad I feel, Maynard will always cheer me up.

Maynard and Memaw share a passion for baseball. Maynard especially likes the Atlanta Braves and watches most of their games. When I visit them, we always watch baseball and I have grown to love the game almost as much as they do.

The things I treasure most about Maynard are his stories. I love to hear the tales about when he was young and how things used to be. I learn so much from the wisdom he shares in these sketches of his life. Most of his stories have a serious lesson behind them, but they are always funny. It is hard to imagine Maynard being that young and doing some of the things he tells about doing. Maynard has taught me several lessons in life, but I feel the most important is to always look on the cheerful side and enjoy life to its fullest.

A Great Surprise Visit

On Friday night we had surprise company. My sister, Judith, her husband, Chris, and their twin boys, Josef and Johan, stopped by the house on their way home from the Houston Stock Show. Also with them were Chris's parents, Joe and Gertrud, and their nephew and his wife who were visiting from Germany. They all got to watch our nieces, Emily June and Laurel, each win third place with their steers. Our nephew, John Thomas won Champion Polled Hereford steer. This was especially exciting because this is the first time since 1973 that anyone in our family has had a breed champion at Houston. We are so proud of all three of them. They really had a great year! We enjoyed visiting with all of the Groteguts very much, but just wished they could have stayed longer...They were here for a couple of hours,and then they had to get back on the road home.

These two had a blast playing together.

I love this one of Judith and Johan...Reminds me of pics of us with our Mama June...Judith really favors her.


These guys were too busy to sit still for long, so this one is a bit blurry.


Josef showing off a full set of teeth. They have both really changed since we saw them at Christmas.

Even better than a romantic comedy...

So this morning Sutton and I got to do the coolest thing!! A few weeks ago, a guy called here one night asking for Mr. Page...Well, Mr. Page was at a meeting, so I got to take the message. The guy, Coleman, was calling because he was wanting Mr. Page to take he and his girlfriend flying so he could propose. He got Sutton's name from the man that we rent hangar space from, so that was the only connection. Over the past few weeks Sutton and Coleman have been talking and planning the proposal. I even got to help and suggested the addition of champagne to celebrate. The weather has been bad all week and the ring was burning a hole in Coleman's pocket. He had hoped to propose yesterday, Friday the 13th, but it rained all day. This morning the ceiling was just high enough that they were able to go up. I was to arrive at the hangar after they had taken off and get the champagne ready. Then I was to videotape them as they landed and taxied up. I had been told Coleman would propose in the air as they flew over the Public Lands, a place where he and his girlfriend, Emily, had spent a lot of time hunting and falling in love. They landed and I did my job of videotaping, but almost ruined the whole thing when I asked if she said yes. Fortunately, Emily did not hear me and Coleman ignored me. Then I realized there was no ring on her hand so I thought she either said no or he had not done it yet. Then he pulled her into his arms, told her how much he loved her, got on his knee and asked her to marry him. I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it! It really was better than a romantic comedy! It was so neat to be a part of such a thoughtful, romantic proposal even if they were complete strangers. Emily said yes and then we presented them with mimosas and a card that Coleman had written for her. I hate that my pictures turned out blurry, but you can see the love and excitement in their eyes none the less...


I pray that Emily and Coleman will live happily ever after and that God will bless and keep them always together. I also pray that they will never forget the love they felt today and that their love will just grow deeper and stronger throughout the years.

Happy birthday to Sutton!

Sutton turned 35 years old today. We kept the celebration low key with us going to see the movie, Taken , which he loved. Action movies are his favorite and this one was perfect for him. Then we had dinner at Outback and he had his favorite, prime rib, medium rare. We came home and enjoyed ice cream cake. He had a nice day with lots of calls, messages, and cards from loved ones and he enjoyed having lunch with his good friend, Justin. The only thing that could make the day better would be a good, long, soaking rain. We really need it and I know that is what he really wanted for his birthday. We'll keep praying...

I am hoping to make a scrapbook page about 35 reasons why I love Sutton to commemorate this birthday...When I get it done, I will share it here. Until then, I have to say how blessed and proud I am to be married to this amazing, humble, sweet, genuine, hard working, loving, funny, loyal, Christian man. He is dedicated, determined, and strong willed- If he sets his mind to it, he will achieve it. I really could go on and on...I am still in awe that he chose me and I thank God every day for giving me Sutton.

I think he might be little blue about this birthday, so please leave a comment and send him some warm birthday wishes. I know that would really make his day!

Hard to believe...

I can't believe that this little lady just turned one!
I am a little late getting these pics posted...Sydney turned one on February 24th and we celebrated the weekend before. Here are a few pics from the party....
Miss Sydney enjoying her cake
Three beautiful generations of ladies- Ashley, Sydney, and Grandma Susan...Can you tell we are scrapbookers? We all dressed to match the party theme (and we didn't even talk about it beforehand)- The pictures need to match the paper!:)

Ashley, Lori, and Johnna
Sydney and her Uncle Blake
The party was adorable! Ashley had the whole thing decked out in hot pink and lime green with the cutest cupcakes and cookies by Susan Ball.

Sydney had a great time, but I think the grownups had more fun than she did! The boys even had to make a beer run after the birthday girl went to bed...

Happy Sleep Week!

Just in case you don't know, we are celebrating National Sleep Awareness Week this week. Sleep week always falls the week before daylight savings time starts. This is typically a busy week for me since I have been selling in the sleep aid market for over 4 years now and we plan special events throughout the week... One of my dear friends actually sent me a Happy Sleep Awareness e-card the other day...I was shocked that they even make a card for this but it totally made my day.

Not only is it sleep week, but I recently trained on another product and I began selling it this week. We also have lots going on admin wise with end of year reviews due, expense reports, and follow up training. I am having a hard time catching my breath and feel slightly overwhelmed right now, but I can at least see a light at the end of the tunnel. I have to say other than having tons going on, this has been a really good week. It may be the beautiful spring-like days or the fact that my neighbor and I started walking again this week, but whatever it is, I have felt better than I have in a very long time. On our walk tonight, we just enjoyed the beautiful sunset and the amazing scent of mountain laurel in the air.

I promise this weekend I will update with pictures from the last few weeks. In the mean time, check out this website or the National Sleep Foundation for more information about sleep and good sleep hygiene. After selling in this market, I am very passionate about the importance of good sleep on your overall health. Good sleep habits can really make a difference and there are also very safe prescription sleep aids that can help. (I happen to be partial to this one- it does pay the bills after all- and even more importantly- it works!). Hope you get some good sleep tonight!