Happy 4th of July!!!

I hope everyone had a GREAT 4th of July!!  We did.  

My official 3-day weekend started on Friday with a road trip to Austin.  We are having birth certificate issues with the Passport agency, so we had to go to Austin to get them!!  As long as it was, the girls and I had a blast!!!  We loaded up my iPod and jammed the WHOLE way down and back!!  It was fun.  Once we got to Austin, there was a 2.5 hour wait to get the birth certificates, so we ventured downtown to the State Capitol.  I feel like such a bad mom....my kids have never been to the capitol.  They enjoyed it.  Megan had lots of questions, I told her to do some research online this summer (instead of watching tv).  Hopefully, she will do it.

After we got our birth certificates, we headed to Round Rock to the new OUTLET MALL!!!!  OMG!  That was such a cool place and we did some serious retail therapy!!  After emptying our wallets, we headed back.  I was thankful to have a 2nd driver!!!  We stopped at this HUGE fireworks store and got some sparklers and small fireworks.

SATURDAY, we got up and went to the Duncanville Parade...stopped and got our usual donuts while we waited (a many-year tradition).  Then home to get things ready for the Bracks.  The girls and made a quick trip to the mall for a new swimsuit, then to the Bracks for sun and fun!!  We had my niece, Alyssa, with us, too.  After a great BBQ dinner, the girls decided to watch a chic flick (Mama Mia!) then we cooked S'mores over the grill---YUM!!!

Around 830 we went to our usual spot on main Street to watch the fireworks!  They were great, as usual.  We came home to finish off the sparklers and fireworks.  It was a very busy, fun day!!!

Me and my Sparkler Star

Megan's Sparkler Circle

Alyssa, Lauren, Ashley, Sherre & Megan waiting for the parade to begin

Fireworks!

Fireworks!!

Toodles,

Chelley

Downtown Dallas

I went downtown yesterday looking for locations for a photoshoot.  I had heard about this spot on the top floor of the Jail's parking garage.  Not the view I was wanting, but it was nice.  These are three of the shots I got.

Downtown Dallas taken with a fish-eye lense.

The old court house

Reunion Tower & the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Toodles,

Chelley

Catch up

It's been a while since I posted.  Last week, Lauren and I were home alone while Mike & Megan were in Idaho with Mike's family. It took an act of congress to get them there, but they finally got there and had fun.  Needless to say, Lauren & I had fun, too!!!  I've been able to catch up with a friend from the past and we've had a BLAST!!!

Today is father's day.  We spent the afternoon at my sisters.  We were celebrating father's day & the June birthdays.  Afterwards, we drove by the cemetery to see if dad's marker was placed and IT WAS NOT!!!  I guess I'm going to have to call to find out what happened and why there is STILL no marker.

  

This is my Izzie.....she doesn't say much, but likes playing pat-a-cake & peek-a-boo.  She also liked wearing my bracelet.  It was fun playing with her today.

Toodles,

Chelley

STORMS

We had some severe storms come through last night (WED).  Lauren and I were at LA Fitness when the storms came through.....we had very hard straight-line winds.....The wind actually tore the front door off of LA Fitness.  We lost our electricity around 6:30.  We got it back about 5:30 pm Thursday!!!  About 12 am the tornado sirens went off.  Since we didn't have electricty, we weren't sure what was going on, so we went outside to see what was going on.  There was a lot lightening and no rain, so I ran in and got my camera.  These are a few of the photos I got.

Toodles,

Chelley

Bell Choir Performance 7 June 09 "Knowing You"

We performed our last performance of the season today.  "Knowing You".  We will be off for the summer.  Enjoy!

Toodles,

Chelley

Bells 7 June 09 from Chelley Johnson on Vimeo.

Last night was graduation!!!!  It was great!!!  She did great!  Of course, I started crying when she walked into the arena!!  I don't know why, but it is harder with Lauren than with Matt.   She made it home, changed clothes and headed to Project Graduation.  Lauren will be home this summer working at LA Fitness in the Kid's club and then off to Texas A&M - Commerce where she will pursue her degree in Elementary Education.  Below are the activities from last night.

Making her way into the arena

Hugging Mrs. B.---heading to the stage

On her way to the stage!

Lauren Elizabeth Johnson!!!

Got the Diploma!!!!

Taylor & Lauren

Me & my baby!!

dad and his girlfriend!

Uncle Randal & Aunt Paula came up from Fredericksberg for graduation!!!

Grandpa & Lauren

Toodles,

Chelley

Senior Recognition NIght at DHS

Tonight was the Senior Recognition at the high school.  They presented scholarships, and the seniors who chose to participate walked across the stage and they read a list of their accomplishments.  Lauren will be receiving a scholarship from the volleyball booster club (about $500)!!!  It'll pay for books!!!  She was also named a Texas Scholar!!

Lauren walking across the stage

going to her seat

My other daughter, Taylor & Lauren

Graduation is Friday night!!!  Hooray Class of '09!!!

Toodles,

Chelley