Our First Halloween!!!

Our Little Stinker!!!

Our First House!!!!
Got tired and into the stroller we go


THIS IS NOT CANDY!!! WHAT THE....
But THIS IS ummmmmmmmmm
We had a very nice Halloween!!! Our adorable little stinker was the hit of housing, everyone loved him. He was well not fussy and enjoyed Mommy carrying him around for most the night. He made out okay, (not as well as I remember Halloweens being) Our friends Jerome, Kelly and Jimmy came to visit and trick or treat with us, have dinner and watch a movie. It is nice to spend Holidays with friends, though we miss Daisy Duck and our family!!!

Super mobile

Isn't this the most beautiful smile ever?

This is what happens when you are only 50% mobile


THERE HE GOES!!!
almost :)

Johnny is moments away from getting up and running away :( okay maybe not that bad, but I have spent the last three days baby proofing the living room and kitchen. Moving books from the bottom shelf of the book self to the closet and putting Johnny's toys there (since he kept removing Shawn's books and chewing on them) and then adding my craft stuff to that closet because Johnny likes my yarn! No matter what I put up to how much I vacuum he tends to go past his own toys to find pencils and whatfore :)

In My Arms by Plumb

your baby blues, so full of wonder
your curley cues,your contagious smile
and as i watch, you start to grow up
all I can do is hold you tight

knowing ,clouds will rage up
storms will race in
but you will be safe, in my arms
rains will pour down,waves will crash around
but you will be safe, in my arms

story books are full of fairy tales
of kings and queens and the bluest skies
My heart is torn, just in knowing
you'll someday see, the truth from lies

when the, clouds will rage and
storms will race in
but you will be safe, in my arms
rains will pour down, waves will crash around
but you will be safe, in my arms

Castles they might crumble
dreams may not come true
but you are never all alone
because I will always
always love you

when the, clouds will rage up
storms will race in
but you will be safe, in my arms
rains will pour down
waves will crash around
but you will be safe, in my arms

in my arms

MAYBE moven to APG

Just heard that there is an opening on APG for a SGT Mental Health Specialist. We have to do paperwork and it could still get denied at the higher level, but there is a strong possability with some chance of loss to move to APG...we will see....fingers crossed!!

crawling update

So I just thought I would wirte real quick that Johhny is getting scary close to crawling. Getting up on his hands and knees and rocking back and forth, it feeling like any minute he is going to make that first step. He has to wait though, we are on a trip to annapolis with Papa and Grams and the battery to my video camera is dead...wait John Robert...just a few days. We think our life chnaged a lot when he was born, but just imagine how tore up our house is going to be now!!! are we baby proofed? Holy crap!!! He is growing up so fast!!!

Pumpkin farm

So Johnny really loves his cousin!!! He is always looking at her and giving her his toys. He we see his want to play with his Cousin Ella.

Look closerly...Papa..."Jack"...Ella...and Grams

Out of the bitter barn and into the hay...he like it at first, but it got poky :)

Uncle Tommy and the hat eating nephew

The Hay ride, around the pumpkin patch, sitting with Papa and watching the strangers.

Our adorable Johnny sized pumpkin (and a little baby wearing)

So this week end was a lot of fun!!! We went to a local farm to make scarcrows, find pumpkins, take a hay ride and just spend time together. It was a beautiful day and Johnny was good. We discovered how much he loves his cousin and had some happy family time.

Johnny spent some extra time with Uncle Chuckles and Aunt Shell trying out Baby Wyatt's toys and helping out in his nursery. They are doing great and the room is beautiful. We can't wait to meet baby cousin Wyatt.

Johnny also got to spend some extra time with Uncle Tommy and Aunt Natalie (while mommy got to play with Ella and relax) banging on pots and laughing. He helped Aunt Natalie make pasta and rolled on the floor with Uncle Tommy, he loved it...really he was so happy.

I will be sad when we go back to Kansas. I hope and pray that our family will always be close. That Johnny will always have his aunts and uncles and always be friends with his cousins. It is wonderful to have people in your life that you always know will be there and love you...no matter what.

Speaking of which...we love you Shawn and we miss you so so so much. I will be sad to leave but I am looking forward to being with you again...I am always yours.

If anything was different

I have been thinking today how great everything is. How different my life would have been if any choice has been made differently. What if I had not joined the army? or married Shawn? or lost Shawn in eaither deployment? Or what if Johnny had been a girl? Would I be this happy? I really don't think so...my life is so settled...right the way I am. When I kiss that little monkey good night, and cuddle up next to Shawn, my heart soars as I finally relax. I stress and I worry, but at the end of the day...life is GREAT!!!!!

I was worried before Johnny was born that as his mother our relationship would be behind father son and mother daughter, but I was very wrong. My little man is just that. I don't know how to explain the way I love him, the special connection, it isn't the way I thought it was going to be. Right now I protect him, love him and care for him...but I can feel the prince in him, my big boy who will always my little man. I am not sure it makes any sense in words.

BIG BOY

Our first trip to the park

Ya he went down that slide and then jumped into the wood chips to play some more

NO more ducky...he loves to splash and roll around in the water all by himself

Our trip is going well and we are having a lot of fun!! Tomorrow we are going to pick pumpkins and get some fall pictures with Ella...then everyone is coming over to celebrate Mommy's birthday (2 weeks early) and spend some time together.

SGT BRANSON

YEAH SHAWN....HE GOT PROMOTED!!!! OFFICALLY AN E-5!!!! WE ARE SO PROUD AND GRATEFUL!!!!

Shawn also put in paperwork to pinpoint re enlist for APG, 30 minutes from mom and dad. We have no idea if we could get it, but they will give us a list of surronding posts that need an NCO mental health specialist!!! Shawn had a very productive day!!! (it will probably be a while before we hear about moving to MD)

On Vacation...again :)

Cousin Michele (who was visiting Ohio from school in Michagan) playing with John Robert

Cousins Krystal and Katrese loven on John Robert

Papa and and Grandkids

The Dennisons (minus Thomas and Shawn, who had to work)

Johnny stole this bat at the shower (it is actually Baby Wyatt's)

In the airport...look how cute!!

Watchen Baby Einstein with Cousin Ella, yes after this picture Ella moved away from the TV :)

playen in his Tiger Johnny Jump up at Gram's and Pop's house in Maryland

So here are just a few pictures of the last few days.

We left Kansas On Saturday and went to Ohio for Baby Wyatt's baby shower. It was a lot of fun!! We spent the week end in Ohio visiting the Penneys and the Dennisons. It was wonderful to see everyone!!! We even got to see Cousing Rachel (who is expecting in May) and Cousin Michele, they hadn't meet John Robert till this week end, Neither had cousins Krystal and Katrese, it was a wonderful addition.

Grams and Papa where so excited to see us, that feels so wonderful to be wanted so much. Ella has decieded that me and John Robert are her best friends (though so is her mommy and daddy and Grams and Pops) she keeps hugging me!!! I missed her so much!!! I love being home and showing off John Robert!! Though Shawn is stuck in Kansas again, working. Next week he gets to camp...okay the army calls it a FTX, but I call it camp. We love you Daddy!!

Why we reorganized the living room

Before:After:


Before and after what, we will never know. Johnny was playing in his swing, 5 steps from mommy, I looked away and looked back and he had flipped himself out of his swing (in which he was buckled) with no noise!!! no cries!!! and no warning at all!!!! He was happy out of it, playing with the bottom of the swing. We will never know the powers this ninja has!!!

Kansas City Renn Fair

Dragon slaying baby to the rescue!!!

Daddy helped Johnny launch fish into a pond, they did pretty well!

Daddy was amazed that Johnny could hold that heavy mallet all by himself.

Throwen axes, they all hit!

Our firend Jerome (the man Johnny is sitting on) thought getting Johnny's face painted would be cute. Johnny didn't fuss, only tried to eat the paint brush and the lady was really careful.

Just a little heart!

JOHNNY'S FIRST TRIP TO TEXAS ROAD HOUSE!!! THIS IS A DAY I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER :)

We had a long week end after a long week. Saturday was our yard sale and we got rid of junk while making a little to spend at the Renaissances fair in Kansas City. Sunday we went with our friends Kelley and Jerome and Kelley's son Jimmy to the renn fair. We had a lot of fun!!! Shawn and Johnny played games, we watched a few shows and walked around. It was nice to relax and spend some time out. On the way home, we where informed that there is a Texas Road House not an hour from Fort Riley!!! So we stopped to have a nice dinner with our friends, it was so delicious!!!!

Da Bears!!!

By high demand...I give you Bear's Butt!! We miss you Aunt Kimmy...Grandma Sharon...Grandpa George...Great Grandma Storm!!! I promise more in the second outfit soon.