Overheard in the house this week 3...

7.  "Wook! An Egg!"  ~G-Bear, Easter morning, on the hunt.
6.  "My party!  Look, my party! Its my party!" ~G-Bear, sharing her enthusiasm over the decorations in the dining room for her birthday.
5.  "Daddeee, byeee byeeee daddeeee."  E-Bear, carrying around my cell phone, held up to his ear.
4.  "You play the p'ano, Mommy...I play the 'tar."  ~G-Bear, assigning air-piano and air-guitar instruments to play along with the songs in the car.
3.  "It feels AWWWsome out here, it is so nice 'n warm right now!" ~G-Bear, enjoying the sunshine and 70 degrees Friday afternoon.  
2.  Me: "G-Bear, what do you say if you want someone to help you?"

      E-Bear, from across the room: "Peese!"

1.  Grandmo (whispering) : "G-Bear, remember the cake we are getting for your mommy's birthday this week is a SURPRISE, so don't tell her, ok?"
     G-Bear (not whispering): "Ok, A Surprise! ...... Mommy, guess what?  We got you a CAKE at MoMo's house for your BIRTHDAY!


Happily Ever,
Queen B

Homemade Granola Bars

Mmmm, I can't wait to be home long enough to make these yummy homemade granola bars posted by a friend on her amazing blog, Finding Joy in My Kitchen.  

Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars - by SnoWhite

3ish C oats

2 C Rice Krispies

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 C dark chocolate chips

1/2 C dried cherries, chopped

In a large bowl, combine oats, Rice Krispies, chocolate chips, and cherries.

Add the sweetened condensed milk.

Stir to combine.

Pour into a greased 9x13 glass baking dish and, using a spatula press gently pack the bars down a bit.

Bake at 350 for ~22 minutes (a little longer if you want harder granola bars).

Slice into bars

Store in an airtight container for 1 week, or in the fridge 1 week longer.

Yum, I am hungry just thinking about them!

Happily Ever,

Queen B

An Outing with Dad!

Delicious!  
A sunny day, 70 degrees, and Jamba Juice with Dad while Mom is away on call.  What could be better?
But, wait.  What is wrong with this picture?
You may notice that the size of E-Bear's Jamba is decidedly larger than his sister's....Perhaps even larger than the size of his whole upper body....
He seems to have no problem pounding it down, however, and G-Bear seemed rather able as well....

The coolest dudes on the quad today were the Bears.

And it was pretty nice to spend the day chillin' with Dad!




Happily Ever,
Queen B

Earthen Vessel

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

~2 Corinthians 4:7

How can I make a difference in the world today?  I am a weak, earthen vessel, cracked and worn from life in this world.

'Let Me fill you with My Love, Joy, and Peace,' says the Lord.

My weakness is not a deterrent for God to work through me.  The more cracks in me, the more holes in my earthen vessel, the more His all-surpassing brilliance and power is able to shine forth onto others from within me.  

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:

"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength, 
but you would have none of it."

~Isaiah 30:15

Today I am seeking quiet in the midst of the busy world.  My heart is trusting in the promises of God.  If I am strong today, it is from the Lord.

Happily Ever,

Queen B

A Round of Applause

E-Bear does lots of things that melt my heart these days, among them are his sweet "peeese" (please), "sawwweeee,"(sorry) and "tang-too" (thank you).  Another is the way he eagerly applauds life right now---clapping has become his way of expressing excitement, delight, approval, or all of the above.

For instance:

~We finish praying before our meal.....E-Bear can hardly wait until the end of the prayer to applaud our efforts.

~In the car singing along with a song.....E-Bear is back in his seat, clapping along with his own rhythm.

~T or I walk in the door at the end of the day.....E-Bear is standing at the top of our entryway stairs, clapping his heart out.

~Time to go get paci and blankie for bedtime.....E-Bear is bolting for his room, clapping "Pappi, pabbbi!"

~G-Bear just went pee pee in the potty.....E-Bear is at her side with applause, a ready admirer.

That's our little prince. Keep it up, E-Bear! What a blessing to treasure today with you and all the joy you bring to it!

Happily Ever,

Queen B

Check, please?!

Life isn't alway a fairy tale here in Happily Ever Johnson Land. Two nights ago, for instance.

I always appreciate the way that my variable working schedule gives me glimpses into both full-time home motherhood and full-time working motherhood. T and I have noted before that when we are both working, the pressure to eat out is far greater (despite our limited budget and delight in home-cooked meals). No matter how good the intentions, it is just too hard to get dinner on the table all 7 days in a week when both parents are running late, tummies are hungry and kiddos need hugs and attention the moment mom and dad walk through the door.

So on Tuesday it was no surprise that when I got home 45 minutes late from work T thought eating-out sounded like a good idea. We settled on our favorite local Indian restaurant, because if we were going to eat out, we were going to splurge on our favorite. E-Bear was in a nasty mood, but surely food would help that, right? We should have known we were doomed as we put the kids in the car and G-Bear announced: "We're going to dinner? I want mac 'n cheese!"

So there we are, being seated in the restaurant, suddenly aware how small and quiet it is because E-Bear is already screaming and his highchair clogs up so much of the floor it is almost touching the adjacent table. T is holding his head in his hands already because he has a headache from not eating all day. Surely, if we just get some naan...

"Mommy, I want mac 'n cheese...."

Me: "Um, G-Bear, I don't think...how about some yummy rice?"

E-Bear: "uh, uh, uh! Ma, MA, WAAAAAAAAA!"

Waiter: "Can I bring you something to drink?"

Me: "Do you have chocolate milk?"

Waiter: "No I am sorry."

E-Bear: "--AAAAAAAAA! WAAAAAAAAAA!"

G-Bear: "Chocolate milk!"

Waiter: "I am very sorry---"

Me: "--Don't worry, regular milk is fine. We will have 2 orders of naan, the saag and the paneer. And for the kids..."

G-Bear "I want a MEAL!" (**Editors note: I think this is G-Bear's new way of requesting a Happy Meal--and given that we don't do McDonalds on our own as a family, I don't know why she would be requesting this...unless I have uncovered a little GrandMo babysitting secret. Confessions, GrandMo?!**)

Waiter: (mercifully) "I will bring some rice and chicken for the children right away."

You have never seen cuter Indian chicken fingers--curried chicken fried in tempura batter--or ones brought to a table faster. That placated E-Bear for about 2 minutes, the naan helped for another 90 seconds. T was almost feeling well enough to take a bite of naan when E-Bear lost it again. By this time, 5 of the 8 other tables are looking up from their plates to catch a glimpse of the action.

G-Bear: "Mommy, where is my meal? Can I have some more rice?"

Me: "Sweetie, your chicken finger is right here. Do you want some Ketchup? E-Bear, do you want some milk?"

E-Bear (throwing spoon and rice to the ground): "Nah! Nah! WAAAAAAA!"

T's head is now back in his hands.

Me: "E-Bear, do you need a time out?"

E-Bear: "Nah."

Me: "ok, then let's finish our rice and chicken..."

So, after 6 E-Bear meltdowns, 1 time-out on the front steps, 2 baskets of naan, 4 plates of rice for G-Bear and 2 tylenol for T , the whole restaurant knew my kids names and the waiters looked exhausted from checking on us. But, they still hadn't brought our main dishes. Queen B was desperate.

T: "Let's get our food to go. We can put the kids to bed and eat it at home."

Brilliant. Why had eating out sounded like a good idea again?

We tipped well.

Happily Ever,

Queen B

One week to a Match...

Tonight we are one week away from the Sports Medicine Match for T. We will find out the day before if he Matched somewhere for fellowship, and the following day we will find out what program he Matched with. This Match won't affect us until a year from this summer, because he has one more year of his current program to finish before he can start a fellowship. But, all the same, it will be nice to have a year to prepare for our next step, wherever that next step may take us. As for me, once we know about T's fellowship assignment I will get to start looking at residency programs for myself...many decisions to come in that regard as well.

Our prayer for the Match is: "Your Will be done, Lord!" We are trusting in His Great Plan and His Provision over our lives. All the same, we know our weakness too, and we always treasure knowing others are supporting us in prayer. If you think of us in the next 7 days, ask the Lord for ours to be willing, trusting hearts and that the plans we begin to make following the Match would first and foremost be glorifying to Him.

Happily Ever,
Queen B

He is Risen!

Here are some more pictures from our amazing Easter and G-Bear Birthday weekend together:

G-Bear with her candle at the Easter Vigil.

The whole Happily Ever Johnson crew at the park

Baby "Parkin"

Have you ever seen happier grandparents?!

Happy Easter! Love from us to you!

Happily Ever,

Queen B

Happy Birthday to you, G-Bear!

Dearest G-Bear,

Happy Birthday to you, my beautiful princess. Amidst the pink bunnies, boa "fluffies," and pretty party dresses for your birthday today, all I really see is the spirit of a precious child of God, growing up so quickly, one I love so dearly. Daddy and I are so proud of who you are: Saying "thank you!" with a hug after opening each gift, helping E-Bear up when he fell down, softly stroking cousin "Parkin" while sharing your toys, dancing your heart out in the aisle at the Easter Vigil, and, yes, even a big poopy in the potty--this is who you are today, the G-Bear who we love.

We have many more happy memories of you from this year past:

*April....Starting out this year at age 2, having just learned how to say your own name....

*May.....Running down the aisle at your aunt A's wedding, never dropping a petal, wearing your pretty "fairy" dress....

*May.....Your Baptism with your brother, our last day with Dee before he died....

*June....Gardening with Papa, planting our pepper plants together, playing "Set, Go!" running games on the track, sweetly telling E-Bear "whet go, baby, whet go," as he learned to grab her long brown hair....

*July.....Reading "Wocket in My Pocket," a then-favorite book, to yourself on the couch because you could remember the rhymes without any help, learning to count to ten, "three, eight, ten, three, TEN!", swimming in the pool with your floaties all by yourself....

*August...Saying goodbye to the condo and your crib in the closet, moving into a big-girl room at our new house...

*September...Starting to sing the alphabet on your own: "H, I, Jwa, K, blah, mlah, ba, bo, PEEEE...", hard nights sitting on the potty when we just couldn't poop

*October...Picking apples together at the orchard, giggling with E-Bear in the back seat, trick&treating in your fairy crown and tutu...

*November...the last month of your sleep sack and white crib, snuggling in the bunk beds at the cabin for Thanksgiving, saying the blessing at dinner for yourself...

*December...Christmas with the cousins in North Carolina, singing your favorite Christmas carol, "Jingle Bwells," getting your "Big-Girl-Bed," fluffy pink comforter and all, and sleeping in it for the first time, making sprinkle cupcakes for Ethan's first birthday and helping him open his presents so nicely....

*January....Standing in your Tower and playing playdo, reading "Jewemy Fisher" by Beatrix Potter together at bed time, making snowmen together in the snow (and you LOVED the cold so much more than your parents!)

*February....A trip to the "Beach" with all the cousins and Nana---a week of ice creams and wave pools, sun, sand and fun. Hiding under the covers in the morning when we come in to "wake" you up.

*March....Endless days on the potty and your first successes with panties, fearless trips down slides at the park, even the big twisty slide, all by yourself, learning to say "Ape-will forwth" when asked when you would be three and holding up how many fingers you would be when April 4th arrived...

G-Bear, we have so many prayers and hopes for your year ahead. Continue to love and grow with your brother: he already looks up to you so much and treasures your smiles and hugs. Continue to grow in your love of God: your prayers and tender heart already please Him so much. Continue to smile your gorgeous smile and dance your joyful dances that bring joy to everyone who sees you. Daddy and I love you so much. Happy birthday, dear G-Bear, happy birthday to you.

Happily Ever,

Queen B

Overheard in the house this week 2...

8. "Puppy!" ~E-Bear, pointing to a squirrel.
G-Bear, knowingly: "No, E-Bear, that is a SQUIRREL."

7. "My Daddy! My Daddy! My Daddy is home!......Daddy, I went Pee Pee!"

~G-Bear at the sight of picking up T from the airport.

6. "Puppy!" ~E-Bear, pointing to a kitten.

G-Bear, now insistently: "No, E-Bear, that is a KITTY!"

5. "Nummy, MUMMY, NUMMY, peese, Peese, PEESE!"

~E-Bear insisting, er, requesting, to have a piece of the "Sprinkle Cake" we ate at T's welcome home dinner.

4. "Puppy!" ~E-Bear, pointing to Big Bird.

G-Bear, now exasperated: "No, E-Bear, that is BIG BIRDIE!!"

3. "Have fun with the babies, mommy. Keep them safe."

~G-Bear to me as she, T and E-Bear departed from visiting me at the hospital on my pediatrics call night.

2. "Puppy!" ~E-Bear, pointing to a person coming out of a store with a large bag.

G-Bear, giving up: "What! Where!?!"

1. "Goodnight, Mommy-princess. I love you very much. And I love my Daddy very much. I am sooooo happy."

~G-Bear kissing me goodnight.

Happily Ever,

Queen B