Tomorrow is Ben and Ryann's last swim lesson, then I will take them home to Vancouver. I have to admit I'm feeling a little bit panicky. What in the world am I going to do with myself now?
I've got 3 weeks before I go to Austin to see Kevin, Stephanie and the girls. I kind of feel like I need to check out the place and make sure its ok for them. Then...back to Oregon and...what?
I guess I need to decide what I'm going to do when I grow up. I'm being forced into it. I sure can't spend the rest of my days staring at the ocean 24 hours a day.
Oh well...whining is not attractive, so I'll shut up.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Sameness of Summer
Ben, Ryann and my adventures have taken on a sameness. We searched for new beaches yesterday because the weather was glorious. We ended up going to the lake so they could 'fish' for fingerling's. They managed to get every kid in the area involved with the search. They managed to catch and release several, so it was a good day.
Ryann decided that she wants a dog. For some reason yesterday became doggie day. Every time she came across someone with a dog, she would ask the owner politely if she could pet them. She always got a yes.At one point on the beach she was in the center of four dogs and throwing a stick into the water for them to chase. She was having a ball and all the critters loved her.She showed no fear in her interaction with the dogs or the owners. My little darlin' is growing up.
We have three more days of swim lessons, then I'll take them back to Vancouver. They start school next week. We don't have a firm plan for today. Maybe we'll just take it easy.
Ryann decided that she wants a dog. For some reason yesterday became doggie day. Every time she came across someone with a dog, she would ask the owner politely if she could pet them. She always got a yes.At one point on the beach she was in the center of four dogs and throwing a stick into the water for them to chase. She was having a ball and all the critters loved her.She showed no fear in her interaction with the dogs or the owners. My little darlin' is growing up.
We have three more days of swim lessons, then I'll take them back to Vancouver. They start school next week. We don't have a firm plan for today. Maybe we'll just take it easy.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Make your own adventure
Ben and Ryann and I have been trying to come up with a new adventure each day. We call them mini-ventures. Yesterday we went to the ocean science center in Newport, Oregon. We spent about 2 hours there looking at sea creatures and learning about the topography of the earth below the seas. I found it very interesting. The kids found it just 'ok'.
Today we went to the sand hill in Pacific City, Oregon. It's a very tall hill of sand...fun to go up because if you fall, you only fall into sand. Ryann actually rolled down it on her side with her hair flying. Ben ran down really fast laughing and grinning all the time.
Later today we took some bread and some Cheerios cereal that had been dumped on the floor...(long story)..to feed the sea gulls. The kids got very excited as the gulls flocked around us. They seemed to come from every direction.
Swimming lessons each day are going well also. Tomorrow will be day 4 of their lessons, and I can honestly say they are both swimmers now and becoming more comfortable in the pool each day.
I'm beginning to worry a little about what I'll do when they go home. Oh well, I'll think about that another day....
Today we went to the sand hill in Pacific City, Oregon. It's a very tall hill of sand...fun to go up because if you fall, you only fall into sand. Ryann actually rolled down it on her side with her hair flying. Ben ran down really fast laughing and grinning all the time.
Later today we took some bread and some Cheerios cereal that had been dumped on the floor...(long story)..to feed the sea gulls. The kids got very excited as the gulls flocked around us. They seemed to come from every direction.
Swimming lessons each day are going well also. Tomorrow will be day 4 of their lessons, and I can honestly say they are both swimmers now and becoming more comfortable in the pool each day.
I'm beginning to worry a little about what I'll do when they go home. Oh well, I'll think about that another day....
Sunday, August 15, 2010
You can't cure stupid, but.....
This has been an eventful week. We saw Stephanie, Sophia and Juliet off to Austin on Thursday. Grandma didn't do too well with the goodbyes, even though I'm going to see them next month.I'm using a new version of blogger and I'm not sure how to add pics yet, but when I figure it out I'll add a pic of them walking into the airport. Ahhhh, here we go...
Today we went north to Tillamook and went through the cheese factory. The reward was the Tillamook ice cream at the end of the tour. We came out to our car after, only to find that someone had parked behind our car! I was furious. About 3 cars had decided this was a good idea. I can't imagine why. I stood there fuming and the woman in the car parked next to mine (we were parked legally before the idiots parked behind us) came and we both lamented the stupidity it took to be the first one to park.
Ben and Ryann and I have spent the week together and then we have two weeks at the coast with swim lessons. They are both very excited about it. In the meantime we've been trying to have a little adventure each day. Yesterday we went to the lake so they could play in the water. Ben managed to catch a small fish in his hands, so he was very excited.
Today we went north to Tillamook and went through the cheese factory. The reward was the Tillamook ice cream at the end of the tour. We came out to our car after, only to find that someone had parked behind our car! I was furious. About 3 cars had decided this was a good idea. I can't imagine why. I stood there fuming and the woman in the car parked next to mine (we were parked legally before the idiots parked behind us) came and we both lamented the stupidity it took to be the first one to park.
As we stood there talking, the persons parked behind her car walked up and started to get in. I couldn't help myself...I started to question them. I asked in what universe it was that made it seem like a good idea to park behind already parked cars. She hemmed and hawed and said 'well there was no one....' at which point I stopped her and said 'oh yeah...we were already here before you got here! Here's a tip for the future...don't EVER park behind cars that are already parked where you'll be hemming them in. I can't cure stupid, but I can help you learn from your mistake and make sure you don't make it again.." Wow..did I really say that outloud? Oh yes. It was one of those times where I won't be saying later "I should have said..." because I said it.
After that adventure I was fuming for a good while. Ben told me.."Grandma, just relax and breath deep". We stopped at a lighthouse that I'd been wanting to see. It was a short hike out to it, but we loved seeing it.
All in all, it was a good day, and swimming lessons start tomorrow. Stay tuned...
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Ryann the TV Star
Ryann was on the evening news with a basketball star. I'm trying to imbed the link, so be patient.
http://www.kgw.com/video/featured-videos/Brian-Grant-fundraiser-to-fight-Parkinsons-99699279.html
http://www.kgw.com/video/featured-videos/Brian-Grant-fundraiser-to-fight-Parkinsons-99699279.html
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Pictures of Kerry
Mom know's a snow job when she sees one.
Best friend Emily and Kerry at graduation and horseback riding when they were about 15. Kerry running cross country in high school.
Sister Amy's wedding
First neice, Madeline and Auntie Kerry 
A Kerry montage: Budding Vanna White; showing off new duds in Beaverton Oregon house;with playhouse that grandma Stewart sent to Ames, Iowa; Kerry and Kevin in Iowa; Soccer Pic; at a family reunion in California at Uncle Bill's house.
Kerry's first day home from the hospital.
Kerry's first day home from the hospital.Thursday, July 22, 2010
Coming up on the 24th of July....
Yes, it's true. My baby...my youngest child...my heart...is turning 30! I'm not sure how this has happened. I did all the things I could think of to keep her a kid, but she's moved on anyway. Kerry Elizabeth Johnson, the last born of my children (but not the last to be profiled...Amy will be last in November because of where her birthday lands in the year.) will be 30 years old. It's a milestone of sorts I suppose, for both of us.
I've been dreading the day I would have to profile my daughters. Certainly NOT because they are any less in my mind, but because in a way, they are me. Okay, so maybe I'm getting a little philosophical here, but my daughters are my same sex. We have a bond that is impossible with the boys (the whole Mars/Venus thing I guess.) When they hurt, I hurt...when they are happy, I am happy, etc.,etc., etc.Okay, then....moving on.
Kerry was born in Ames, Iowa on July 24th, 1980. Her brother Kevin was only 18 months older, so I had two little babies. Amy was delighted to have the ultimate 'doll' to play with and if you ask her, SHE raised the two little ones. Steve was 10 and really couldn't understand what all the fuss was about...sure, another kid...so what...and a girl to boot! Big deal...and he was off becoming a pre-teen and running around the neighborhood with his best buddy. Me, I was just tired.
Kerry was different from Kevin at the git-go. While he was shy and easy going, she was inquisitive and a showman from the very beginning. When I asked Steve and Beth who are staying with me right now their impressions of Kerry, Steve said 'infectious laugh and ready to be with you in your idle time and have fun'. Beth's first impression of Kerry was at thirteen and her thought was 'loud'. I think the reason she said that was because when Kerry comes into a room, EVERYONE is aware of it. She is a force of nature. She is one of those lucky people that other people flock too. You can't walk through a mall with Kerry without strangers making comments to her, or randomly asking her advice. It just happens. I'm not sure why. It may be her head of golden-red hair that sets her apart, and that would explain why people notice her, but it goes deeper...it goes to her heart. She has a good and loving heart. Maybe that's it.
We moved to Beaverton, Oregon when Kerry was four. She loved to play with the neighborhood kids and spent most days at the park across the street. When she was 10 we moved to Salem, Oregon. By the time she got to middle-school (which was conveniently around the corner) she had met Emily Friess and they became best friends. The duo was joined by Jeanne Burke and became a trio. By high school they were inseparable.
The girls went everywhere together and had some great adventures. There was one time when I took the three of them to Canada for a road trip. I'm still not sure how they talked me into it, but we had a great time. At one point Kerry thought she saw a movie star on the streets of Vancouver that they were all in love with at the time so they piled out at a stoplight. I had to keep on driving. (this was before everyone had cell phones) so I circled several blocks for a long while hoping to find them again. I did, and all was well with the exception of the fact that it wasn't the movie star they thought it was. We went to the site of the Olympics and wandered around and saw some interesting sites. We also found some outlet malls with bargains we still talk about today. It was a good time.
After high-school they parted ways with Jeanne because they all had different goals by then. Kerry wasn't sure what she wanted to do, so she lived with her cousin Tammy for a year and acted as nanny for her two daughters, Kourtney and Kaela. Kerry went to college for a while after that and at the age of 21 decided to serve a mission. She spent 18 months in Chile and enjoyed that time very much. She came home and went back to school (changing her major many times) and then had the opportunity to go to Mexico with school on a work/study program. She did well at that and enjoyed the time and the opportunity to use her language skills. She went back to college, but came home after awhile because she couldn't seem to find exactly what she wanted to do with her life. I'm still trying to figure that out for myself and my life, so I don't worry about her a whole lot. Some of us are late bloomers and some of us will never bloom (talking about myself here) but it is what it is.
She and her sister started a business where they do personal shopping and style education for people. They found they were a great team, but they couldn't make enough money to live on, so the business has taken a back burner. She is now working a 'real' job where she has benefits and everything. She currently lives with her sister and her family, but is looking forward to the time she can purchase her own home.
As with all my profiles, this one barely scratches the surface of the incredible woman Kerry is. She is fun, spontaneous, soft-hearted, boisterous, loving, caring, awesome...and I could go on and on. I'm lucky to be her mom.
I'll have to edit this and post some pictures when I have access to them.
I've been dreading the day I would have to profile my daughters. Certainly NOT because they are any less in my mind, but because in a way, they are me. Okay, so maybe I'm getting a little philosophical here, but my daughters are my same sex. We have a bond that is impossible with the boys (the whole Mars/Venus thing I guess.) When they hurt, I hurt...when they are happy, I am happy, etc.,etc., etc.
Kerry was born in Ames, Iowa on July 24th, 1980. Her brother Kevin was only 18 months older, so I had two little babies. Amy was delighted to have the ultimate 'doll' to play with and if you ask her, SHE raised the two little ones. Steve was 10 and really couldn't understand what all the fuss was about...sure, another kid...so what...and a girl to boot! Big deal...and he was off becoming a pre-teen and running around the neighborhood with his best buddy. Me, I was just tired.
Kerry was different from Kevin at the git-go. While he was shy and easy going, she was inquisitive and a showman from the very beginning. When I asked Steve and Beth who are staying with me right now their impressions of Kerry, Steve said 'infectious laugh and ready to be with you in your idle time and have fun'. Beth's first impression of Kerry was at thirteen and her thought was 'loud'. I think the reason she said that was because when Kerry comes into a room, EVERYONE is aware of it. She is a force of nature. She is one of those lucky people that other people flock too. You can't walk through a mall with Kerry without strangers making comments to her, or randomly asking her advice. It just happens. I'm not sure why. It may be her head of golden-red hair that sets her apart, and that would explain why people notice her, but it goes deeper...it goes to her heart. She has a good and loving heart. Maybe that's it.
We moved to Beaverton, Oregon when Kerry was four. She loved to play with the neighborhood kids and spent most days at the park across the street. When she was 10 we moved to Salem, Oregon. By the time she got to middle-school (which was conveniently around the corner) she had met Emily Friess and they became best friends. The duo was joined by Jeanne Burke and became a trio. By high school they were inseparable.
The girls went everywhere together and had some great adventures. There was one time when I took the three of them to Canada for a road trip. I'm still not sure how they talked me into it, but we had a great time. At one point Kerry thought she saw a movie star on the streets of Vancouver that they were all in love with at the time so they piled out at a stoplight. I had to keep on driving. (this was before everyone had cell phones) so I circled several blocks for a long while hoping to find them again. I did, and all was well with the exception of the fact that it wasn't the movie star they thought it was. We went to the site of the Olympics and wandered around and saw some interesting sites. We also found some outlet malls with bargains we still talk about today. It was a good time.
After high-school they parted ways with Jeanne because they all had different goals by then. Kerry wasn't sure what she wanted to do, so she lived with her cousin Tammy for a year and acted as nanny for her two daughters, Kourtney and Kaela. Kerry went to college for a while after that and at the age of 21 decided to serve a mission. She spent 18 months in Chile and enjoyed that time very much. She came home and went back to school (changing her major many times) and then had the opportunity to go to Mexico with school on a work/study program. She did well at that and enjoyed the time and the opportunity to use her language skills. She went back to college, but came home after awhile because she couldn't seem to find exactly what she wanted to do with her life. I'm still trying to figure that out for myself and my life, so I don't worry about her a whole lot. Some of us are late bloomers and some of us will never bloom (talking about myself here) but it is what it is.
She and her sister started a business where they do personal shopping and style education for people. They found they were a great team, but they couldn't make enough money to live on, so the business has taken a back burner. She is now working a 'real' job where she has benefits and everything. She currently lives with her sister and her family, but is looking forward to the time she can purchase her own home.
As with all my profiles, this one barely scratches the surface of the incredible woman Kerry is. She is fun, spontaneous, soft-hearted, boisterous, loving, caring, awesome...and I could go on and on. I'm lucky to be her mom.
I'll have to edit this and post some pictures when I have access to them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)