The Birthday Girl

Yesterday I had a senior photo shoot, so while I was there, I took a few of Megan for her birthday.  She decided she wanted her guitar in the picture.  

Even though she a surprise, I cannot imagine my life without her.  We had a rough start with her.  I was sick when I delivered her, so she got Strep & had wet lungs.  We spent 1 week in NICU.  That was the most absolute week of my life!!!  She is fine now and if you met her for the first time today you would never know she started her life sick.  Today as an almost 10 year old she is full of life, loves her animals, wants to be a veterinarian, loves listening to music, loves to draw and create masterpieces,  loves playing with her friends, wants so badly to be a teenager, is a good student, is a good athlete, sings in the shower (all the time), loves to help me in the kitchen, still likes to be snuggled and cuddled, in the morning when I go to get her up, I can never find her because of all of her stuffed animals that she LOVES so much and can't give any up and best of all she is a Child of God !!!  

Toodles,

Chelley

FINALLY!!!!!

I was well enough to get to the hospital to see my new nephew.  He was so sweet!!  He loves to be swaddled and held!!  I put him down for a minute to take a picture and he was not happy.  I also undid his blankie and he was not a happy camper.  Catarina was bouncing off the walls!!!  She was so funny!!!  Here are some of the pictures I got at the hospital.

Cousin Lauren & Carston                                     

Uncle Mike & Big Sister Catarina kissing Carston

The Silva Family

Cousin Megan

And Me, Aunt Chelley!!!

Toodles, 

Chelley

Someone is having a birthday this week!!!!

On Wednesday, April 30, Megan Sue Johnson will be 10 years old!!!  Unfortunately, it is TAKS testing day, so no lunch visitors and I won't be able to send cupcakes.  BUT, Papa called last night and he's coming for one of their dates on Thursday.  That made her happy.  Because of everything that happened last night, we decided to give her her birthday present.  We were waiting for the UPS guy to deliver it, so when it FINALLY got here, we surprised her with it.   She was so excited!!!!  Check this out:

We told her that on Tuesday, May 6th, she will be starting guitar lessons.  She was so excited!!!  She is already "playing" and singing!!!  Lots of original songs and she is singing praise songs from church so she can play her guitar at children's church.  

Next Friday night, her cousins are spending the night and we are getting up on Saturday to go to the zoo.  It's going to be a great day!!!!  So, stay tuned next weekend for some great birthday/zoo pics!!!

Toodles,

Chelley

My poor baby!!!

Last night Megan had to give up two of the kittens.  Merlin, the greeter at Costco, took two of the kittens for his girls.  The kittens have gone to a great home, but Megan was VERY sad!!!  When we told her that two were leaving tonight, she started crying.  We were going out to dinner, so that was REAL fun!!!  When we got home, she brought the foursome in and played with them.  I took some pictures of her and the kittens for her to keep.

When we did get to Costco, as I was pulling into the parking space, she fell apart.  She cried and cried and cried.  There is one kitten that she loves - the little striped face girl, JoJo.  Merlin picked JoJo to take home.  Talk about devistated.  When Merlin came back out with the box, he asked Megan if that was her favorite, she said yes and he picked another kitten.  

So, if you read this and are touched, leave Megan a note; yesterday was a really hard day for her.

Megan & JoJo

Megan & Precious - Adopted

Megan & Jake 

 

Megan & Nick - Adopted

Toodles,

Chelley

His day in court!!!!

For those of you who have been around since the beginning of my blog, you know we were robbed in November. I found most of our stuff at the pawnshops, thus finding out that it was the kid that Matt took to school everyday. Well, he went before the judge yesterday. He plead guilty to the robbery (not sure if it was still a felony or if it was dropped to a misdemeanor), but because this was his first offence, they were recommending probation BUT for him to receive probation, he had to bring a down payment on the $1100 he owes us for damages and missing items. So, he showed up with $600 yesterday!!!!! So, for him to be able to get off probation, he must pay off the rest of the money.

Unfortunately, our justice system really sucks for the victims!!! We could not send him to jail and ask for restitution, too---it would infringe upon his rights!!! This is were our society is screwed up!! I believe that the second he broke my window and walked into my house, he lost his rights to anything!!!! He should be sitting his butt in jail and he should have to pay me back. If it were up to me, I would have him drawn and quartered!!!

Anyway, there is a light at the end of this tunnel and I'm grateful that no one was home when it happend. The things we lost were only things and can and were replaced. So, I guess, this has a good ending.

Toodles,
Chelley

A New NEPHEW!!!

At 10:03 am, Thursday, April 24, 2008, Carston Stryker made his entrance into this world!!!  Mom and baby are doing great!!  Unfortunately, I have the office crud, so I'm not able to make it to the hospital to see them.  Hopefully, I will be better tomorrow night so I can get my hands on him!!!!  Here is a picture Joe sent from the hospital.

Toodles,

Auntie Chelley

Picture day

We had Alyssa and Jake spend the weekend with us.  So, when Cara and Bobby came to pick up the kids, we had a photo session with the kids.  Unfortunately, Jake didn't get his picture taken.  I think if Anthony could, he would spend 24/7 outside and with a dog.  He loved Avalanche!!  I have given Bella the street-gangster name of IzzieG, since she has started singing herself to sleep.  She is the cutest thing.  Lexie wasn't happy when it was time to go (which made me feel good!!)  She cried and cried!!!!  While I had the stuff out, I tried to get some of the pets, too.  I wasn't able to get Itchi or Tink.   I also did two senior boys.  I'm trying something new with one of them, I'll post it later when it is done.  I hope it turns out ok!!!

Toodles,

Chelley

4th grade field days

Yesterday was Megan's Field Days.  It was lots of fun!!  I even remember going to watch Matt & Lauren when they were that little.  

Megan jumped in the Broad Jump--no clue how she did.

She placed 4th in the 75 yrd dash

And her tug team WON!!!  They even beat the boys!!!!  It was so funny, the girls were cheering for specific girls, the I got them chanting GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS!!!  The the boys copied us and starting chanting boys.  But it didn't work!!!!  The GIRLS BEAT THE BOYS!!!  All the girls were jumping up and down, hugging each other, it was so cool!!!!

Here are some pictures.

4th place in the 75 yard dash

Tug Team!!

The winning team!!!

Girls pulling against the boys

ALL 4th grade girls celebrating their win over the boys.

Toodles,

Chelley

My city!!!

This is my city....Dallas, Texas.  I have lived here my whole life (except for those 6 months in San Antonio and we high-tailed it back as soon as we could!!).  Unfortunately, there is a bit of construction, but it is still a nice view. 

I have found a photographer's forum where LOTS of information is shared!!!  Did you know that tonight at 7:55 pm, the moon was perfectly aligned over downtown???  So, about 20 photographers met at Trammel Crowe park to shoot downtown.  The moon was high, but thankfully it was a clear night and since we got lots of rain last night, the pond was full and we got a great reflection.  Here are a couple of photos from tonight.  One is a closer shot before dark and one after the building lit up.

Toodles,

Chelley

I'm a MAC!!!

I am thrilled!!!  I have always used PC's and have even built my last 2 computers.  But this week, I'm officially a MAC!!!!  I have a new MacBook Black.  It's taking a little getting used to, but it is AWESOME and easy!!!  Right now I have my hard drive hooked up to the MAC trying to get all of my things transfered over.  

Oh yea, doing something really cool tonight, more details to follow tomorrow--and hopefully pictures, too!!!

Toodles,

Chelley

WOW!!!

I originally started this blog as a therapy to work through my dad's death. It has grown into a tool to let family and friends know what is going on in my family's lives. Well, we have gotten another huge blow. We found out Monday 4/16 that my youngest sister, Cara has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Cara is 33 y/o with 5 kids ranging in ages from 13 to 7 months. She is going to the doctor today, so we should know what the plan is.

You will notice on the right of the screen in my Blog Roll, Cara's blog. She created this blog to keep everyone updated through this journey. So, check it out, leave her a comment, let her know you are praying for and thinking about her.

The one big thing I ask now, is that you pray for her and her family. They have been through a LOT, but as Cara said, God knows how much she can take. She is strong, but she will be stronger knowing that prayer warriors all over the world are praying for her.

Toodles,
Chelley

Easter Sunday Bells

I finally got the video footage uploaded. We were having camera issues, so we were not able to get all of the songs, but you get the idea.

Chelley