Someone to watch over me!

My Mom was amazing! My Mom had a lap that could hold four children at one time, a kiss that could cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart. My Mom could reason and negotiate. My Mom had strengths that amazed everyone, she would bear hardships, carry all of our burdens, but she also held onto happiness and all that was good in life! My Mom would go without so that her family could have, she was so strong even when she thought she had no strength left. She loved unconditionally. My Mom gave her heart to not only my Dad but also her children and their families, and her dear friends. My Mom kept our world turning; she brought us so much joy, love and happiness. My Mom’s power is un-deniable and her influence and her ability to mentor isn’t limited to just her children. My Mom worked hard to instill faith and values in all of us. I admired the way my Mom effortlessly balanced the duties of motherhood, being a wife, grandmother and a friend. My Mothers strength of character, drive, determination and perseverance made her a woman that I aspire to be. My Mom always provided us a shoulder to cry on, a non-judgmental ear and words of wisdom to guide us through life’s twists and turns! I love you Mom!
Part of my Funeral Talk for my Mom, Terese Johnston January 5, 2005

Ho-Ho-Ho, It Must Be Jakob, I Mean Santa!

Jakob was (and is) such a funny kid!  He loved to play Santa, from October through Christmas!  It started with him taping Kleenex on his face for a beard, he then saw a white hand towel and asked if he could make it a Santa beard that could be washed, I of course couldn’t resist.  That beard started to get worn so we bought him a “REAL” Santa beard! 

And The Winner Is....

During Russ’ first deployment to Iraq, Megan thought it would be fun to enter a “Chanel 2 and Modern Display Holiday Home Makeover” contest. She had to send in an essay of 50 words or less on why her family should win, she won! She put in her essay, "My Mom is stressed, my Dad is deployed to Iraq and my Nana is on hospice. My Mom is sad, please help my Mom with a Holiday Home Makeover"!  She won our family one large tree, mantel decorations, three small trees, garland and outside lights!



Ally McKay from Channel 2 came out to do live shots at our house with Modern Display and a representative from Hill Air Force Base. Russ made the kids Build a Bears before he left and talked in them, Ally heard it and played it for the audience… Ally and the News desk were all choked up! It was a fun morning and the best part was having someone put my Christmas up (and winning a fabulous tree with decorations worth $5,000 plus)! Happy Holidays!!!

American Soldier - This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.

Russ has served his country with great honor and pride! Russ spent a year in 2004 serving in “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. It was a difficult year for Russ and for us here at home. Russ spent 5 months in Afghanistan in 2007. I am eternally grateful for the men and women who serve in our Military, the sacrifice they make and the sacrifice that the families here on the home front make. It isn’t easy but so appreciated! The Iraq deployment was especially difficult as my Mom was battling her own war of ovarian cancer. I was blessed to have my husband come home in time for him to say his last good bye to such an amazing woman which he loved with all of his heart. I am thankful to say that Russ and the entire group from the 67th Aerial Port Squadron from the 419th Fighter Wing all came home safe!

Getting some Z's!

Sleep little Baby!

Jakob could fall asleep at a drop of a hat! If it was quite for a bit in the house, I always looked forward to finding my little man; wondering what position he fell asleep in! Oh, the life of Babes!

Miss Dayzee Mae

Little Miss Dayzee was born on February 18, 2001. We got her in May of 2001 for Megs birthday, what a darling little addition!
Dayzee has had quite a life, she has had 3 puppies, a hysterectomy, is a widow and gone a little crazy in her short life!
She met her “boyfriend” or the father of her children/puppies the day the decided to have puppies together. Hootie (the Daddy) was a cute little (even littler that Dayzee) Yorkie, his owner was Heddy from Germany. I called Heddy to notify her of Dayzee being ready to make some beautiful puppies with Hootie, we made a date and nothing happened. The next day another date, nothing happened… finally the third time was a charm, now the waiting to see if Dayzee is “with child”! The night of the “consummation” we got a call from Heddy’s daughter, who was visiting from Chicago with her big black German Sheppard, she was hysterical. She told us that her dog got Hootie as if he was a toy stuffed animal thinking he was playing, snapped his neck and he died. Poor Dayzee, she was a pregnant widow! The silver lining… three beautiful little puppies, Mayzee, Cooper and Sarg (Seargent)!
We did great birthing those little rascals! It came time to get the dewclaws done on the pups; I gathered them up in the whelping box and took them to the vet. Dayzee was not happy with me; to this day she holds a grudge. As I brought her little darlings home she freaked out at me, I thought she would get over it. I went out to do some yard work; I came in an hour or so later to check on the puppies, the box was empty! Dayzee looked at me and I know just what she was thinking, “I dare you to try and take my puppies away from me again”! I asked her o.k. more like begged her, “Dayzee, were did you put your puppies”, she didn’t answer just scowled. I begged again and finally she led me to the deep, dark, cold (and dusty I might add) corner of my closet, I reached in and felt a soggy wet little puppy, then another and another. She had licked them so they were sopping wet, apparently didn’t like the vet smell on her little darlings! She has still not forgiven me…
We found good homes for the puppies, Mayzee went to my Mom and Dad, Cooper went to Russ’ Dad and Marion and Sarg went to my brother Phil.
When the puppies were about 4-5 months old I got a call from my Mom in the morning, hysterical! She asked how to give “Mouth to Snout”, I asked what was going on and she cried, “I was reading the paper in bed and my lamp zapped off, I started to smell burnt fur and looked under the bed and Mayzee was lying there not breathing, she chewed the cord to the lamp and electrocuted herself!”. Russ and my brother Dave ran over to her house and it was too late, poor little Mayzee! My Mom cried every time she thought about that day.
Come Halloween my Brother Phil’s dog Sarg got into the kids’ Halloween candy and ate a bunch of chocolate and went into seizures, he was in the doggy ICU for a few days and came out with just a few minor mental problems. Sarg ended up getting hit by a car the fall of 2009.
Happy to say that Cooper is alive and well and Dayzee, well she is alive!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

You are never fully dressed without a SMILE!

Jake always makes us Smile!  I'm so happy that I captured these moments, just some odds and ends that I have to share!

Meg's Pretty Little Face, Ouch!

Megan was riding bikes with her cute little friends; she fell off the bike right onto her face!  It was her 12th Birthday too!  She was a tough little cookie; she was back riding in no time!

The Blessings of Being a Parent!

Through the Years!

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”

Don't let the pictures fool ya, being a parent is the toughest job on earth!  We love being a Mom and Dad, having children is the most rewarding, happy, blessed, miraculous, crazy, unappreciated, "what were we thinking" job ever!  We wouldn't change a thing!