A little sparkle never hurt anybody!

Today was a misty drizzly day. Kind of reminded me of when I get a headache. Your cloudy and droopy and just waiting for the fog to be lifted off of your brain. The temperature was in the low 70's but until the rain was done falling on our heads, those 70 temperatures could of just as well been the 90's.

As I was walking to class trying to stay dry, I still couldn't help notice the beauty that was all around me.
I'm passed the nervous stage (well sort of :). Walking around the KSU campus has been more enjoyable the last 2 times, I'm letting myself enjoy all the sights. The nature sights and the student BODY sights.

Magnolia trees are as far as the eye can see on the school grounds. And there is always the smell of fresh Cypress mulch in the air. Those 2 combinations make this southern fried girl, very happy.

I'm assuming like most things in life, there will be stages....

• holy crap what am I doing!!


• nervous about being a freshman who's main talent has nothing to do with beer pong!


• OK we CAN do this!


• excitement, like a puppy that keeps going for the same damn toy over and over again


• comfortable


• relaxed


• and then like all good things that come to an end, AM I HERE AGAIN!

I'm at the puppy dog stage, I'm thinking I will be here for awhile. Comfortable is not ANY where in my future. I'm as far out of my element as I can possibly be. And I'm learning to love it. EVERY single minute of it!

As I'm writing this, I'm sitting in the library waiting for my Algebra class to open up. Yes I am a nerd and get here EARLY. I would rather wait for my professor and still have enough time to visit my friend (the restroom) before class each day. I walk up the 4 flights of stairs (can I add that to my walking schedule?) and wait, with a smile on my face.

As I'm walking the 17 miles to and from my car each day and then again waiting for my class, I'm always observing.

So many thoughts go through my mind....

My classes have been COLD, there is no chilly in that sentence, it is COLD! And sadly, I don't think some of these young girls walking around have been taught that short shorts and even tighter tank tops, in the fridge arctic air, show EVERYONE that you and your "girls" (no matter how big or small) are cold.

I also keep thinking that my dear sweet husband is a saint. He went through college, as I went through 2 pregnancies. I went from one of those cute, short shorts and tighter tank tops to Shamu the beached whale. People, there was nothing pretty about me being pregnant, N O T H I N G. And he walked around looking at "chilly girls" and having to go home to the cookie monster.

He has earned some points and doesn't even know it!

I also can understand how kids go to college and become someone else. Or maybe not really someone else, just the person they are suppose to be. In just my few classes, my professor have told stories about their reasons for things and how they learned things and it really opens your mind up to different ideas.

As I'm walking around, I also look at certain kids and think, is that going to be Hannah? Or Jakob? Or Alex? I'm curious at which one of those students they will be? How will they observe their college experience?

And lastly, I think I have come to terms with the fact that I'm probably going to enjoy this experience more than I ever thought possible. I'm curious to see how this will all end. Will I be a different person? I hope not! I like my goofy, non speaking correctly self.

I hope that I'm like a 34 year old wedding ring that gets taken in for some fine tuning and a good cleaning.

Still the same tried and true ring, but with lots more sparkle to it :)

203 of 365 memories... MANDATORY EVACUATION

You all know that I'm all about my signs. I look for them and pretty much find them in everything I do. Now I know some people (including my wonderful hubby) think that it's a bunch of nonsense and that if you really want to, you can turn anything into "a sign". If that's really the case, what's wrong with that?
I'm thinking NOTHING!

When I went looking for houses in Georgia, it was a tireless search. It was during the hurricane craziness. I was trying to find a house in a really good public school district and at one point I told my real estate agent, I feel like I'm on a hamster wheel. I keep getting up and running, but I'm ending up in the same place :(

And then, one day at the very end of my "papers of houses stack" we pulled up to what would be our future home. From the moment we pulled up, I told her (the real estate agent) this was it!! She told me, that she wished all her clients were this sure and (easy), I told her so did my husband :) and from that moment on, WE HAD A HOUSE!!

When Brian and I came back to look at the house together, he kept saying ARE YOU SURE?
And my response was, YES!!
And then when we were walking around, just one last time. I stood on the front porch of the house and looked at the front door.
This is what I saw.....

It's my Fleur De Lis sign.

I mean REALLY folks, if this wasn't a sign, I don't know what is?!

Louisiana was is disarray. My family and friends were spread all over the map and I needed a sign. And (critics or not) I got one.

Since that day, my home has more NOLA, Louisiana, Fleur De Lis loving, than it knows what to do with.

I'm a very proud, born and raised NOLA girl. And I still am ALWAYS on the look out for my signs.

Instead of focusing on the crazy stuff that was happening 4 years ago in my home state, I thought maybe it would be nice to remember some of the good that came out of the devastation (hurricane Katrina). Families pulling together,strangers helping strangers and the fact that so many people realized that New Orleans, Louisiana and all it's surrounding areas were worth saving!

I'm walking friends, down memory lane. 4 years ago, on this day. I was suppose to be getting dressed to have a night out with my family and friends to celebrate my 30th birthday and instead, we followed a MANDATORY EVACUATION and packed up our most important belongings, including our 3 children. And my husband and I ran away from the beast. We had no idea, of what was to come in the next few days......

looky, looky!!

I'm so excited (and a little nervous) to tell you all that I have a new review blog that I'm debuting today. I was asked by AT&T and blogher to try out a new product and review it!

Reviews have to be posted on a non ad run page.

Who says, you say?

The blogher gods, that's who :)

So click on over to my review blog and take a look around. Leaving a comment about my review topic, gives you a chance to win a $ 100.00 Visa gift card!!

No, I'm not joking!

But remember blogger friends please be gentle, this is my first time :)

Sassy, classy and still kickin' assy!

I wish I could take credit for that little title but I can't. Today is my 34th birthday and that little ditty was on the birthday card from my dear sweet best friend neighbor, Carol.


And I would have to say that I AGREE :)





I received early morning visits (with cards and presents!!) from her and my girlfriend Lena. (Thanks girls!)








My husband had 2 cards waiting for me. One from the kids and one from him.
The one from my strong silent type husband, had the best present EVER in it.





HIS WORDS.....





Every word meant something to me, more than he will ever know. (Thank you baby)


I went to my Algebra class and actually understood and ENJOYED the class.



Had lunch with my girl (Lena).



Got a surprise visit from another girlfriend (thank you Jackie) and she had chocolate cake and a 6 pack of Peroni in hand. I REALLY DO HAVE SOME ROCKIN FRIENDS!


And finished off the evening with my hubby grilling some delicious burgers and having birthday cake with the Davis's.

And did I also mention that Facebook ROCKS on your birthday!!


I know how blessed I am everyday.

But this day, this birthday was just a PERFECTLY blessed day!

And I am an unbelievably grateful woman :)

let's try it without goosing each other!

there we go!!

202 of 354 memories...and a little bit of other stuff

My kids wanted to know what I learned in my first week of school.

(they asked this question as if they have been asked it before :)

The first thing I learned is that spending hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of dollars on books is SO NOT fun and the books are no where as cute as my handbags....

and

I can not wear these cute little shoes and walk around campus with the skin on my heals still attached!

As long as I'm learning SOMETHING, RIGHT??

201 of 365 memories...let the games begin!!

1 week down, 7,000 to go!

will work for books

Tuesday was my first day of school (as you all know). We didn't do anything but go over policies and procedures and BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. It was my Math class, the teacher seems super nice and ready to help us unfortunate souls that couldn't even get into their desks correctly :)

When I got to school that day, I was surprised at how calm I really was. At no point did I start crying or breaking out into a cold sweat (as I've been known to do). I did almost pee on myself walking to class but for those of you who know me, know that is just, well ME!!

I made it to my building and the bathroom and into class with all of 30 seconds left. Not to bad after I spent 20 minutes in the parking lot nightmare.

When I left there, I felt like, OK if you have been brave enough to show yourself on this campus during regular school hours and you didn't fall on your face, walk into something OR pee on yourself, then you are OBVIOUSLY meant to be here! I have a whole thing in my head about the signs that are given to me and I take them very seriously (Lena you can stop smirking at me now:)

I ordered my books and I have to buy a ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR calculator!! TI- something or other. It's not even cute and as far as I can see there is no vibration mode on it, so REALLY what am I paying for??

After today when I pay my tuition, books and the non vibrating calculator, we will be POOR. I informed the kids no ice cream runs and we will be having sandwiches A LOT in the next 2 weeks.

But everyone was OK with that, because they know that it's mommas time.

And most importantly, so does momma!!

Thanks again ladies for your support, I received 2 emails yesterday that brought me to happy yet ugly cry tears. You guys are awesome and I'm so excited to be on my next chapter with you all!!

maybe just a pain in my right cheek

Today was one of those days where I know why I only had 3 children. And the 3 that I have are SLLLOWWWY going to kill me.

Before I start with that, let me say that I had a very nice first day of school. Thanks to you all who sent me emails and comments on Facebook!!
My dogs dug out of our yard right before I was leaving for my class and as soon as all 3 of the kids got home together they started with the mom, he is doing this and mom she is doing that and I'm all like HELLLO, remember me? mom? the lady that has dedicated the last 13 years of her life to you all? REMEMBER today was MY day!! Yea no, they didn't remember. They wanted me to make the other ones go away and most importantly they wanted a snack :)



There homework is killing them and then of course who else do they scream to call when something is killing them, MOMMMMM!



I told them all tonight at dinner, that I have officially changed my name and none of them have been given the privilege to know what it is.



Alex does his homework in his room, Jakob at the dining room table and Hannah at the kitchen table.



This year all 3 of them have REAL homework. That they all 3 need REAL help with. And there my friends is where I'm about to go a little nutty.



Let's just PRETEND that I know what Alex is doing at school, PRETEND would be the key word. He does his work and then asks me to help him study his challenge words, words like extemporaneous - done or made without much or any preparation, speaking or performing with little or no advance preparation. We go over that little jewel and about 700  55  more just like it.Next can I help him study his Spanish, I explain to him that I barely speak English correctly, so what makes him think that I can do Spanish. Just read off my paper mom, he says. ME NO SPEAK NO ENGLISH, I say. He gives me the eyes and says MOM and then I agree to play nice.

Next comes Jakob, mom what kind of graph is this? He shows me a blank box. (A blank box people!) Mind reading has never been my specialty, so I'm going with the big blank box graph. MOM, it's got to be one of these 4 graphs. Which one do you think it should be? Which ever one YOUR teacher taught you today that it should be :) We figure out the graph thing and then work on his words and then as were finishing he remembers he has some extra project thing that he needs to do and we need to make cookies for it. HELLOOO, my special day people!!

Then we have Hannah, her homework is (obviously) the easiest but on days like today, it's still a pain in the rump. She reads her story to me, she writes her Spelling words, we go over her Spelling words, we practice her address (she can not for the love of the lord remember our zip code), we do her Speech homework and then we go over her addition and subtraction flash cards.

I finish up dinner and start on preparing lunches for the next day.


We sit together and talk during dinner, we pray together before bed and I get to do it all over again tomorrow.
Pain in the butts and all, there mine and I wouldn't want it any other way :)

now children, play nice!

I am a Facebooker. I don't hide my addiction, I wear it like a badge of honor. I love the fact that I know when a person (that I haven't talked to since 8th grade) is getting a mani/pedi only after visiting with their momma and them at the store. I know, I lead a WILD and CRAZY life :)


Facebook has been a way for people that were important (for whatever reasons) at one time in my life to catch up with the Heidi that I am now.


My teenage years had nothing in them, that said I was going to grow up and become a very strong, confident, happily married, mother of 3.


I was wild and crazy and really didn't care what ANY one said.


I was also tall, skinny, bony knees and bad skin. The first time someone "friend ed" me on Facebook and it was someone from my younger years, I thought to myself, oh man, there probably thinking I'm a nut job! And then they get on my page, look at my pictures, read my status's and quickly realize that I'm NOTHING like the person I once was. The person who would do ANYTHING to make someone laugh, that would ALWAYS have to have the last word. And of course I've grown into my knees :)



I tell my kids all the time, the stuff you do as a teenager WILL stay with you ALL your life. The good, the bad and the knees!!


There was a girl that lived by me when we were growing up and she teased me mercilessly about how tall I was and how skinny I was and how pale I was and how I had no boobs. Let's just say there was NOTHING that she didn't tease me about. She recently friend ed me on Facebook and the fire in the pit of my stomach started to burn once again. She proceed to comment on how beautiful my kids were, how good I looked, how happy she was for me. And all my brain would do was go back to being a preteen and remembering how ugly she made me feel. I wanted to write on her wall and say REALLY REALLY, I look good? Because YOU DON'T!! You look like the boobs that you HAD back then (that I didn't have) are now visiting your ankles!! But I didn't, I put on my telephone voice and played nice.


I commented back saying yes, were very blessed to have 3 wonderfully delicious children and each other and we thank the lord each and everyday for our blessings. I told her her children looked like her (god bless them) and that she still looked the same :( no over doing it, just playing nice.


I pray that my kids never have one of these people in their lives, I know that they probably will but I hope that they have enough confidence to not let it get to them. It took me awhile and then I just ignored it, after I egged her house a couple of times :)


Did I mention I was little wild and crazy?!

Tropical Storm Heidi (for my dad)

As I'm sitting here typing this, it sort of feels like the calm before the storm. I hate to use those terms but I don't know how else to describe it.


Tomorrow is the day. The day that should of come 16 years ago but it didn't . I chose a different path. I chose not to give my parents the "first day of college" experience with their daughter. My head is pounding and I haven't been able to figure out if it's my nerves or a little disappointment in myself.


I know I know, but I'm doing it now. And that is really good and all but I REALLY want to share certain moments with my momma and daddy and can't. There in Louisiana, I'm in Georgia and that's that. I will be 34 years old next week and am very proud to say, that sometimes I still need my parents. Don't know why, I just do. I'm not even really sure if they realize how much of a big deal this is, there very calm, cool and collective people :). (Sigh) and then there's me, emotional, not calm or even a bit cool and you can forget about collective.


Tomorrow I'm turning a new page, a page that is scary because I've never read it before. I know by turning the page, that lots of insecurities will surface. I also know that with that lots of other parts of me will bloom.

My name is Heidi Johnson and I'm a 33 (almost 34) year college student, HEAR ME ROAR!!

200 of 365 memories...well excuse me!!

I told my daughter I didn't want flips in the house.

but mom, this isn't a flip

it's a ROUND OFF!!

199 of 365 memories...are you laughing at me or with me??

I have a slight addiction love of cooking magazines.

My favorites are Cooking Light and the Kraft Food and Family.

My girlfriend Lena gave me a subscription to the Rachael Ray one for my birthday 2 years ago and so began another love affair.

I used to be really good about tearing out the pages that I liked and then passing on the magazines to friends. And my tear out pile kept growing and growing. So I stopped tearing them out and just starting keeping the magazines. And then last Saturday after I finished having a discussion with my daughter the pack rat that she can not keep EVERY treasure (treasure being, rocks, BIRD FEATHERS, tissues, caterpillar cocoons, OH YES I SAID caterpillar cocoons and anything else she finds out yonder!)

I thought to myself well my problem is not as bad as hers but it is getting there.

So I took out all my magazines and laid them out and realized, yeah I need an intervention a plan.

So I started placing my pages in sleeves

And putting them in a binder.

Great idea, RIGHT??

Yeah well, did I mention that I have 100's upon 100's of these pages and I'm not even finished going through all the other magazines yet?

Do you think I can add this project to my kids chore list??

198 of 365 memories...I'm feeling a little itchy...

Jakob's Christmas present is STILL growing and I don't think there is any end in sight. This is Diablo's latest shedding and yes he is HUGE! Jakob is proudly taking the shedding to his Science teacher (who is a woman). She LOVES reptiles and was very impressed that his mother allows him to have snakes. I did explain to her that my husband helps him, so I don't have anything to complain about. I have my dogs and Brian, I mean Jakob :) has his snakes.

Warning : these pictures contain a lot of glare :)

last weekend we helped Brian's daddy celebrate his 64th birthday!

 

Happy Birthday Mr. J, WE LOVE YOU!!

197 of 365 memories...we did it, DID YOU??

I told you all there was a BLIZZARD a comin!!

Did you feel it??

WE DID!!

And it was YUMMY!!

Our Diary Queen was packed and I heard lots of BLIZZARD orders being taken.

We got to share a tasty treat with our favorite family The Davis' and my kids also learned that helping one of your favorite "causes" could TASTE really good :)

making your own forecast!!

Don't forget friends, today is Diary Queen day!! Click here if you missed my first post about it!

Today is BLIZZARD day!!

a little chitty chat goes a long way!

Were into our second week of the new school year. And as much as it makes me a little crazy having 3 different schools to keep up with this year, one thing that has been really nice, is the one on one time with each child.


I always try and set aside certain times where only one of them come with me to do certain things and I've also been known to occasionally hog tie pull one of my children out onto the back porch and make them listen to the crickets and watch lightning bugs with me, ALL BY THEMSELVES! I know the HORROR!


But in more times than not, it's me and 3 children and sometimes I can hear them and well sometimes I don't listen can't.



So the morning times have been PERFECT for me to get a little "it's all about you" time with each child individually.


Jakob and I had breakfast together on the back porch this morning. At 6:00 am the breeze was perfect, my coffee was hot, his bagel was toasty and our conversation was AWESOME. That boy is a talker (yes, I know where he gets it from :)!


Got him on the bus at 6:30 and I followed it up with a chat with Alex at the kitchen table. Just him and I, chitty chatting. About ABSOLUTELY nothing and I loved it.

He gets on his bus at 7:15 and then comes little Ms. THANG!! My partner in crime. Her and I spend more time together than anyone else because she LOVES to BE and DO EVERYTHING that her momma does. Lucky for me, I LOVE IT!

We had a little talkie poo about her loose tooth and her skin peeling on her toe. Hey I'm not picky about the talks, it just ALL ABOUT THEM!


Then I walk her down to her bus for 8:00 and my day starts.....


I've heard lots of little sayings about "the family that prays together stays together" and "the family that cooks together stays together" and I'm assuming that "the family that chitty chats about mostly nothing" stays together too.


As long as there's no sayings that go, "if your mom checks you out early for a doctors appointment and has to look around to see which school shes at and THEN remembers which child she is checking out and then can't remember that child's yes the one that I forgot their name! homeroom teachers name, that means that she has to wear the big L loser on her forehead, then I'm good.

Not to me of course, it was a friend of a friend :)

Hey no judging here people, I said I was enjoying the time together that the 3 different schools allotted us, I didn't say I mastered the process yet!

BLIZZARDS projected for the Atlanta area!!

My big boy had his annual check up today.

And no, I don't mean like "oh look at mommies big boy he went poopie on the potty", we've been there and done that. Alex is a very kind and patient young man living with me :)

but I don't think I could get away with that.

What I mean is MY kid is a BIG kid, a YOUNG man, a TEENager, a FUTURE adult.

He is healthy, he is happy and praise the lord he has HORMONES!!

The key word in all of this is HEALTHY!!

While we were sitting in the doctors office which seemed like it took HOURS, I checked my emails on my phone. Then my "big boy" politely pointed to a sign that said, "please refrain from using cell phones while in the building".WHOOPS, MY BAD!

But before I got busted by the hormone police, I read an email from the Public Relations Specialist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

She was emailing me, asking if I would pass along this TOTALLY AWESOME opportunity that most of us have to help sick children in our areas. Not just the Atlanta area, ALL OVER!

On this Thursday August the13th, Dairy Queen is having a Miracle Treat Day.

Buy a Blizzard treat on that day and the proceeds go to your local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. If you click here you can find out all about it and also you can find the Diary Queen that is closest to you and if they are participating.

I've never (THANK YOU LORD) had to use the Children's Miracle Network, but I know a few families that have. And just to know that if (god forbid) we ever needed them there here for us, no ifs ands or buts about it, is a WONDERFUL feeling.

At the end of the day, I'm thankful to have 3 children that are HEALTHY, HAPPY and ALL MINE and I'm even happier that I have an EXCUSE to enjoy a Blizzard from Diary Queen on Thursday August 13th!!

I'll be posting my pictures of our BLIZZARDS that evening.

To all my blogging buddies, post this on your blogs girls, lets get the word out!!

196 of 365 memories... SASSY fied!!

I took Hannah to see my hairdresser last week and Ms. Dani gave her some "sassy" hair!

She got the FULL treatment!

shampooed

she was offered a beverage but declined, politely of course!

getting SASSY fied by Ms. Dani!

I SWEAR I walked in with a 7 year old and walked out with a TEENAGER!!

She loves her new haircut and I love watching her bounce her head around when she walks by the mirror!

195 of 365 memories...just wanted to share the goodness!

Hannah told me last night when we were getting ready for bed, that she was a little nervous at school yesterday. I explained to her that being nervous is normal and that more times than not in life your going to be nervous. When we starting something new, going somewhere new or meeting new people. EVERYONE gets nervous, that's what the butterflies in your tummies feel like. Yep, that's what it felt like, she says!

Tomorrow I won't be nervous, she says. Sounds good, I tell her!

As we walked down to the bus stop this morning we saw a butterfly flying around, she told me, that's the one that just left my tummy :)

My little caterpillar is blossoming into such a beautiful hearted butterfly!

194 of 365 memories...and their OFF!!

The kids started back up to "the real world" yesterday.

The morning started off very EARLY (5:50 am) and by bed time last night, they were ALL ready to visit the inside of their eyelids (including momma :)

Were in 3 DIFFERENT schools now and will be until the boys are Seniors and Freshman in high school (really did I just write that? (GULP) SENIORS and (SIGH) FRESHMAN!!)

3 different schools, means 3 different bus times, that part is not so fun.

But in true Johnson fashion, it will be FINE :)

Jakob and I start off our day around 5:50 am and believe me

I'm NO where as cute as he is at this time in the morning!

Off to 5th grade he goes!!

Alex gets to sleep a bit later this year, his bus comes 30 minutes AFTER Jakob's.

(And for the record this is a RARE glimpse at Alex's REAL smile)

8th grade here he comes!!

And then of course there is this little beauty!

(Check out those sandals, sometimes I just have to let go!)

2nd grade is looking good for her!

All the kids had a great day back to school and momma

had BOO HOO breakfast and then a shopping date with Ms. Lena!

I have 2 weeks with NO kids and NO school, lord help the sweet tea industry!!

193 of 365 memories...I think I've taken this picture before!

(sigh) Were back to school tomorrow.

The kids are bathed, school bags are packed, lunches are made, the alarm clocks are set and its only 8:09 pm and the sun is still dancing around our windows and teasing my kids.

But they know the drill, 8:30 will be here and my house will be quite. (BOOO!)

And then tomorrow will come and my 2nd grader, 5th grader and 8th grader will be off to their next adventure in life. Tonight the boys and I talked about their excitement (Jakob's going to a new school), their nerves (Alex's is always wondering if he is going to remember his locker combination) and just how much they LOVE their momma and NEVER are going to leave her. (Oh wait that was my daydream, sorry)

I'm expecting a few butterfly tummies, tears and long hugs good bye in the morning.

Their expecting that their mother will (try) to keep it together and sniff through her camera lens :)

I think were all expecting to make some memories!

192 of 365 memories...no napkins necessary

 

What is SO finger licking good, your wondering??

home made rice krispie treats!! Our back to school dessert!
Just how big does she think her mouth is??

191 of 365 memories...the summer of '09 wrap up party!

As we continued to say goodbye to the summer '09, we carried on our fun at Ms. Lena's estate ( aka our other house :) on Saturday night.

Of course we MADE them pose for pictures

our up and coming kindergartner, 2 2nd graders, 2 5th graders and 1 8th grader!

YOGA ANYONE?

and of course when we ask for poses, sometimes we get a little more!!

like ballroom dancing

or the tango

or even a good old fashioned cat walk!

but most importantly, we get the "LOOK I CAN STICK MY FOOT BEHIND MY HEAD!!"

And of course that's MY CHILD :)