lovely models

The girls had an impromptu fashion show today. Fashion designed by Julia and Audrey.
Makeup and Hair by Julia and Audrey. Fashion and makeup donated unknowingly and very generously by mom and dad. Natalie decided to go au natural.

Comic Genius?

I never knew that a lime could be so funny.
(Natalie at 5 1/2 months)

Mother's Day 2010

For Mother's Day this year, the Johnsons decided to email a special video to Grandmas and since it features everybody in our family, I decided to post it here.

There's the Connie and the Leeza

Condoleeza Rice was in town a few weeks ago as a featured speaker for the Richmond forum. As part of her program, after the intermission she wanted to play the second movement of the Brahms D minor Violin Sonata. So the forum people called the symphony and the symphony called me. They announced me as the "accompanist" but I'll take it. The experience was a little surreal. I'm not prone to being star-struck, but this was different. A truly amazing lady.

But check this out too:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=meyXZoEsFC0

Progress!

We reached a major milestone today in our big project. The carpet guy installed the carpet out in our music room which completes the room. I did a couple of fist pumps and then brought the girls out to check it out. They liked the room quite a bit because there is no furniture in it yet so they've turned it into their very own dance hall/race track. It was fun to see them having a good time in the new room but my enthusiasm waned a bit when I looked over just in time to see Audrey wiping her bare bum along the new carpet. The carpet was also christened by Maisy moments later by all of slobber failing from her mouth due to the fact that the ceiling fan was on. A few months ago, I teased Maisy by putting one of her toys on the ceiling fan and then turning it on. Ever since then, if she sees a fan on, she assumes that one of her toys is on it and she will sit or stand under it for hours, staring with crazy eyes and breathing so loudly that you have to almost yell to hear over all of noise. So, the new carpet is no longer pristine but I'm still a happy camper. Special thanks to Dad who offered some expert tile help. I'll be adding a murphy bed in the coming months and the space will also have a full bathroom which should be completed in a month or so. So, family and friends, Hotel Johnson is now accepting reservations!

Audrey-Speak

Some favorite Proper Nouns in Audrey-Speak:

"Chicky" = Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's dog Tiki

"Buddy" = Woody from Toy Story

"Blue Tomato" = the Blue tango, which is Grandpa Jay's favorite ballroom routine to perform with any willing grandchild. Audrey is a fan.

I'll add more when I think of them

Natalie's Blessing Day

Today was Natalie's blessing. I (Karen) got to dress Natalie up for the first time. Before the blessing, I usually just take my babies to church in whatever sleeper they are wearing for the sake of convenience and less laundry. However, on blessing day, I love getting them in their white dresses, tights, and cute shoes for the first time in their lives. It's like a rite of passage almost as much as the blessing. (Notice Julia behind me taking the picture by remote. It was the only way we could get her to appear in the photo)