Every Monday the principal of my building sends out a weekly newsletter called

The Happenings.

This is to let us know the "happenings" of the building,

anything special that's going on during the week, 

or things that might be coming up.

At the end of today's Happenings he wrote

"As you may know, Shannon Johnson will be returning to the building
this Wedensday.  We want to thank Laura Andrews for all that she has
done in the last three months while Shannon has been out."

As I read this, I realized two things;

1) my principal clearly recycles the Happenings year to year

and doesn't always do a thorough job of proofreading it.

2) this was the week I returned to work last year after having Oskar.

So, I thought it was time to do a quick year in review...

well, a year and 4 months in review...

and, no,
I still have not figured out why I can't download new pictures onto my laptop...

Greg is of course at the library...

so it will have to wait...

maybe I'll have Halloween pictures posted by Christmas!

Enjoy

July 5, 2010 arrival

 Meeting the sisters for the first time...

I would like to add that I went a whole day and a half with
no one telling me the hair clip Hannah Grace
had put in my hair long before we left for the hospital
was still in my hair.

I don't usually wear pink butterfly clips outside of my home....
and allow myself to be photographed.

 Chillin' at home.

Hanging with the sisters.

 First trip to Stormy Lake.

 First smiles.

 Hanging on for dear life.

 Da Bears.

 No one knows what's going on here.

My favorite picture of Bubba.

 Sporting a little mohawk.

Who can say?

 I don't know why but this picture always reminds me of Grandpa Ray.

 Smiles and giggles.

Christmas 2010

 First haircut.

Hanging with the cousin.

 Skip 6 months to June
(not sure where those pictures are.)

 Playtime.

 More smiles.

 This boy loves his daddy.

He's a mama's boy too.

 Special times with Grandpa.

 Eating sand with Burns.

 Cubs fan.

 Getting some help with his bottle.

and, this is where the picture story ends.

When I get the last 3 months of pictures uploaded I will share the rest!

The Face

and we wonder where she gets it from!

Birthday

Growing up, I always wished I had a sister.

Someone I could play with, share clothes with, someone I could talk about boys with...

all of my friends had sisters and while I knew there were times of fighting, I also knew that a sister was a different type of friend that you would have for life and I was a little sad that it was something I didn't think I would have.

Instead, this was the baby brother the good Lord gave me.

He didn't want to talk about boys and I didn't want to share his clothes.

But, we had a lot of fun moving around the world growing up together.

And, it is because of him that I can finally say I have a sister.

Bobby and Lauren were married five years ago this past October.

There are so many things that have happened in those five years

and one of them is that I have been fortunate to have Lauren in my life.

Today is her birthday and as I thought back on the last five years
I thought of all of the things she has brought into my life.

So, I thought I'd make a list of what I've gained,

because my baby brother got married...

1)I now have someone who loves my kids as only Greg and I can.  She has taken the time to get to know each of them and celebrates exactly who God has created them to be.

2) I also have someone who will come to my home for a visit.  Then one day at midnight start pushing the furniture around, rearranging and styling the whole room and all of a sudden the room will just work and make sense.

3) And, I have someone who at 1 in the morning will take all my pictures off the wall and start hammering in nails as she arranges a new gallery wall.  All while the men play golf video games and the 5 children sleep.

4) She is someone who feels comfortable enough with me to periodically, throughout the day just pick up my glass of diet coke and take some sips, no questions asked, no harm done.

5) She will talk with me about cute boys.

6)She also lets me borrow her clothes.

7) She is also someone who encourages me to look for the the fun in life, my family, my faith, my clothes and in my home.  She helps me to recognize the possibilities of the day.

8) And, she is someone who will ask me about my walk with Christ,  my life, things I hope for and things I struggle with...and will listen with intention.

Lauren, I know how Bobby feels about you, but I am truly blessed to call you sister.

I hope you had a fabulous birthday!