Mark, Tamara, and Grace Johnson

Happy Easter!

2009-04-07T14:44:00.004-04:00

Playing Catch-Up

2009-03-19T20:15:00.017-04:00

The big news around here: Mark turned 30!! Before Mark's birthday, we talked about our 20's and if that decade was all we had hoped it would be. We decided that it surpassed what we had hoped. We have traveled quite a bit (Brazil, Hawaii, Cayman Islands, Mexico, several states in the US), both earned Masters, got married, and had a baby. We feel very blessed for our opportunites and for the gift of our little Gracie. In the course of the coversation, Mark said that he has always wanted to learn to play the guitar but never has. A brand new Fender acoustic guitar is what is in the large box... Happy Birthday, my love. Every day with you is a gift.

I pray that your 30's are a time of spiritual and relationship growth, that you reach career goals, and that you also have some wonderful surprises along the way. I love you! It's hard to believe that we are well into the middle of March. As all the Michiganders know, we have paid our winter weather dues and at about this time of the year, we all have spring fever! Grace is 18 months old and is constantly surprising me with the way she is developing, mentally and physically. Already this month we have celebrated my Grandma's 85th birthday, my father-in-law's birthday, my sister-in-law's 32nd birthday, and Mark's 30th birthday. Grace went to a party of her own - a Princess Party celebrating Faith King's 3rd birthday. It was a wonderful party that my friend Veronica threw and the kids had so much fun!

As my 8 year old niece Anderson likes to say, "Behold, Grace the Bold."

This is a facial expression we see on a daily basis when we tell her "no" or don't let her play with something she wants. She is a very expressive child. She must get that from Mark. In this picture, sweet little Ella Harrison wants the same chair Grace wants.

Veronica King brought out the bubbles, one of Grace's favorite things!
Uh oh, kissin' cousins! Here are Grace and Jackson at my Grandma's birthday party. They are 5 months apart to the day and yet Jackson (younger) is a little bigger than Grace. Tiffany and I drove out to St. Joseph to visit with my brother and his family. Grace loved it! She cracked up at everything Anderson did and told Wyatt "no!" more times than I can count. I guess she has figured out that boys are more rambunctious. Here are Anderson and Grace. Anderson is such a big cousin - she was constantly watching out for Grace as well as entertaining her. Wyatt helped with that as well. They all played "Ring Around the Roses" about a million times for Grace.
On a swing but intently watching her cousins on the merry-go-round.I love this picture.

Places to go...People to see...

2009-02-09T13:44:00.005-05:00

16 Months and Counting...

2009-01-09T20:15:00.015-05:00

Life with Grace is more fun every day! She is such a sweet, lovable, fun-loving little girl (if I do say so myself). These are a few of my favorite things:

She has an evolving love for bananas. She will point at them no matter what else she is eating and loves to hold the banana and take a great big bite!
When she sees an animal, she either makes the noise it makes or says, "E-I-E-I" - the O doesn't quite make it.
She squeezes her lips together and gives "fishy kisses," puts her nose to mine and gives "Eskimo kisses," or just gives me a plain ole' kiss with the mmmwwwwaaa noise and all!
She loves raisins and grapes. She will eat just about as many as I give her.
If she sees you are getting her something that she wants, she does a little happy dance, complete with tapping her toes and a head bob.
She says, "Ma" until I answer and then when say, "Yes, Grace?," she babbles a stream of incoherent speech that makes perfect sense to her.
She loves to drink from a cup like a big person.
She start many of her baby-talk sentences with, "Ummm" and then clicks her tongue.
Sometimes she says something so funny to her that she cracks up. I really need to get that on video. I can't help but laugh with her.
She loves to clap her hands.
Her nemesis is the car seat. There are times that only Daddy's singing puts her at ease.
She is a smart little cookie and can point to her hair, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, arms, hands, belly, and feet.
She has figured out how to put her hat on her head and likes to walk around the house with it on. She likes to put laundry on her head too, for that matter. (see below)
She is currently calling Mark, "Mar". We keep trying to reinforce "Daddy" and she consistently will call him "Mar". We try not to laugh every time she does it!

Our dear friends, the Burchams, came over last week. Grace had fun playing with sweet little Brooke and Annie. After dinner the girls were walking around playing. Melissa and I were sitting on the couch and Grace walked into the living room, holding and eating a whole piece of bread. Melissa and I quickly jumped up to see where Grace got the bread. We walked into the kitchen and this is what we saw:
We had fed them dinner a few hours earlier but I guess they needed a snack... They're suprisingly self-sufficient!

Happy Holidays!

2009-01-03T09:42:00.015-05:00

It's time for updates! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! We spent the holidays in town and celebrated with friends and family. On Christmas Eve, Jim and Amy Lewis came over for poppyseed chicken and a movie. Christmas morning was relaxing and fun. Grace was hesitant to rip the wrapping paper (since we try to teach her the other 364 days a year to not rip paper) but she gradually became more involved in opening presents. She was so excited to see her new toys and saw the need to multi-task. At one point, she was scribbling on a Magni-Doodle with one hand and pushing buttons on her new "laptop" with another hand! She is so drawn to our real laptop and always wants to "type". So, Santa brought a Sesame Street laptop that says number, letters, shapes, and colors. She loves it!
We went to my parents after we opened presents and ate french toast casserole. My extended family came over my parents for Christmas dinner. It was wonderful to visit with family! The next few days we visited with my brother and his family. We had such a nice time. I miss them already!
Mark and I went to a wedding on New Year's Eve. A good friend from work, Sarah Lynch, got married and then had a beautiful reception that also served to celebrate New Year's Eve. It was a blast! Before midnight, they handed out hats, streamers, and horns. They had a large screen where they showed the ball drop in Time's Square. Mark and I stayed at the hotel in Ann Arbor where the reception was held and Grace spent the night with my parents. It was my first time away from her overnight (except when I was in the hospital). Grace did wonderfully and I'm sure she would have been happy to spend a few more nights there! Grace adores my mom and will reach for her even when I'm holding her. All in all, we had a wonderful holiday season!

Opening presents at Grandma and Papa Tittle's house

Boys will be boys... Wyatt loves to wrestle with Uncle Mark!
Grace and her big cousin, Anderson. This is Grace's new "camera smile." What a ham!

Grace and her big cousins...
Mark and I celebrating New Year's Eve

"Happy New Year," from the ER PA's at Royal Oak Beaumont! Sarah looked so beautiful!

Wait A Minute...Santa Who?

2008-12-10T21:31:00.008-05:00

Mark, Grace, and I just returned home from taking Grace to get her picture taken with Santa Claus at Somerset. I was torn between wanting to lounge on the couch all evening since I am still not feeling well from this cold and needing a picture for our Christmas cards. Three and a half hours later, we're home with pictures of a very distressed 15-month old with Santa Claus. And now I'm going to bed (with dreams of sugarplums dance in my head???)

Baby Mullet no more...

2008-11-24T09:37:00.014-05:00

I recently took Grace to get her first haircut! Her hair wasn't very long but the back of her hair was growing faster than the rest = a little mullet. The occasion was so momentous to me that I asked my cousin Chelsea to do it. Chelsea has been a hairstylist for a few years and has been working out of her basement since she had her adorable son, Jackson. Chelsea did a wonderful job! I was shocked (and of course SO PROUD) at how well Grace did. She sat on a Bumbo on a chair and looked at a book while Chelsea cut her hair. It was like she had had it done a hundred times before...

Being a ham, or just reacting to the water in the spray bottle...
I love this picture of Chelsea and Grace.
That cute little baby profile
"This book is riveting..."
"Seriously, I can't put this book down!"
"Wow, that was fun! Can I have another one?"

No Tricks, All Treats!

2008-11-08T21:49:00.011-05:00

Mark, Grace, and I had a very Happy Halloween! Earlier in the day, Sonia Campbell brought over her two cuties, Dylan and Alexa, for a play date. Grace had such a fun time playing with them! She kept wanting to hug Dylan, and being the sweet girl she is, let Grace hug her as much as she wanted. Thanks for coming over and do it again soon!

We celebrated Halloween with Jim and Amy Lewis; we enjoyed yummy beef stroganoff for dinner, took Grace trick or treating, handed out candy, and watched a scary movie. I was wearing my orthotic boot and trying not to trip in the dark, so Amy carried Grace to her first house to trick or treat! Grace carried her little container like a pro! We went to a few more houses and then returned home to give out candy. We had many cute little trick or treaters. Grace was amazed by the nearly constant flow of little kids to our front door. That was definitely her favorite part!

After Grace went to bed, we watched "The Strangers." We turned on the moved and when the menu page popped up, a creepy voice says, "Is Tamara there?" It was a real line from the movie!! How creepy that they used my name! (And just for more scares, Jim and Mark kept repeating that throughout the movie.) The movie definitely makes you want to make sure the doors are locked! Oooh, spooky!!

I can actually see her tonsils in this picture!
Amy carrying Grace for her first trick or treating experience
Where are these kids coming from?
Ready to hand out some candy!
Here is Grace furiously hugging Dylan. You would think this girl never gets hugs!
And yet another hug...Aren't these girls precious?

Election Day

2008-11-04T10:06:00.003-05:00

I am so thankful to live in a democratic free country. We need to honor those who gave their lives so that we have the freedom to vote for our country's leaders. Whether McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden win the Presidential and VP offices, it will be a historical election!
So get out there and vote!

Trunk or Treat!

2008-10-28T10:28:00.008-04:00

This was the first Trunk or Treat that Mark and I have attended. We were very impressed and had a fun time! Thank you to everyone who put in so much time and effort to decorate their cars, to everyone who organized crafts and games for the kids, and everyone who brought yummy treats that grown-ups couldn't get enough of!!!!

Faith King and Grace. Grace loves being around Faith and kept trying to hug her. Awww!

Grace standing by Snow White, I mean, Brynn Miller. I was so happy to meet Brynn's little brother Derek (dressed as a little monkey)!

One of my favorite trunks: this lobster was so warm in her pot that she fell asleep! I could just dip her in butter and eat her up!!

Veronica, Holly, Caleb, and Faith. What a cute bunch!!

I took this photo yesterday. There are days that I want to freeze Grace in time and keep her this age and other days that I can't hardly wait for the fun things to come. This picture reminds me that I have no say in the matter...she suddenly looked older yesterday. I'm trying to savor every moment, even the getting into absolutely everything, spitting out baby food, playing in the dog's water dish moments!

TP'd

2008-10-18T21:37:00.010-04:00

I'm sure every parent has noticed things were unusually quiet and walked into the bathroom to witness this scene...

Sidebar: Do any of you photographers out there know why my camera is blurring the white? Is that a normal occurrence?

Fall Fun

2008-10-15T09:55:00.022-04:00

A few updates: Grace is walking and has one tooth with three coming in! I guess she is trying to play catch up. As joked about, Grace started walking before I did. She took her first step on September 11th, and was walking by the end of the month! I was given the OK by my doctor that I could begin walking on my foot on October 2nd. I am in a walking boot and should be able to transition to a tennis shoe in 3 weeks.

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. I love fall tree colors, cider and doughnuts, carving pumpkins, pumpkin and apple-scented candles, seeing children in their Halloween costumes, and doing things around the house with football games on in the background. Mark loves fall for another reason: DEER HUNTING!! He LOVES going out into the woods, enjoying quite time with nature, and sitting in his tree stand and waiting with anticipation that a large buck will venture by. It is, without a doubt, Mark's favorite time of the year.

A few weeks ago, Mark, Grace and I went to downtown Romeo Harvest Days with Jason, Melissa, Natalie, Brooke, and Annie. We had a wonderful time!! We had a very yummy lunch at a local pub, walked around downtown (I hobbled), painted pumpkins, ate cinnamon doughnuts, and drank cider. It was great to see Brooke enjoying the activities like the big-little girl that she is! She even gave Mark a break and pushed Grace in her stroller! (: It was fun times with dear friends!

Melissa and I matched! Great minds think alike. (:

Brooke and Grace are painting pumpkins...well, Brooke is. Grace would much rather stick her fingers in the paint.

A week ago, we decided to meet Casey and Justin at Yate's Cider Mill. Apparently, everyone else in Oakland County decided to go that day as well! I have never seen so many people there! We still bought cider and doughnuts (notice a trend?), apples, and walked down by the river and had a great time!

I think this should be a tradition...

Casey helping Grace walk by the river. Notice the Baby Remsing bump! Casey couldn't look any cuter! We are so excited for them!

Grace enjoying her time with Casey and Justin. They will be awesome parents!

Last weekend, Mark, Grace, and I went to Traverse City. I attended the Michigan Academy of Physician Assistant meeting all day Saturday while Mark spent the day with Grace. We drove up the peninsula (I got teased by Mark for the way I pronounce that word - I guess I pronounce the "u" and everyone else inserts an "i") on Saturday night and met some PA's from work at a delicious, quaint little restaurant across from a vineyard.Then, we enjoyed some family time on Sunday and Monday. Sunday we went to a yummy restaurant called "The Omelet Shoppe" and had delicious omelets! Then, we went shopping downtown.

Here we are in downtown Traverse.

We stayed at my parents' motor coach at the Traverse City RV Resort...and resort it is! It's located next to the Grand Traverse Resort and nestled in the most amazing property with beautiful landscape. The colors of the changing trees were the best part!
We have discovered something very funny about Grace...she doesn't like the feel of grass. We watched her walk around, fall, and try to get up without touching the grass. Mark and I couldn't stop laughing! What a little girly girl. Sorry, Mark, I'm starting to think we don't have the outdoorsy child you were hoping for. You never know, though...

Notice the myriad of expressions she goes through. It is a constant entertainment!

Aunt Holly requested a video of Grace walking. If I was technically savvy, I would have merged the two. Notice her little temper flare when I pick her up... I'm sure she gets that from Mark!

Leaves, Pumpkins, and Polka Dots!

2008-09-25T16:55:00.015-04:00

I just took Grace for her one-year-old portraits (with lots of help from my mom!). I am such a proud momma that I have to show them off right away! I also wanted pictures of her in her Halloween costume, even though it's a little early. (:

I should have only one week left on crutches...

Happy Fall, everyone!

Adventures of the Bionic Foot

2008-09-16T12:20:00.026-04:00

I was telling Mark how strange it is to think that I have foreign pieces of titanium in my foot. I don't like the idea of having it in my foot forever, but what can you do? Mark, as usual, looked on the bright side and started talking about my bionic foot. Just think about how hard I can kick a soccer ball! Perhaps I can even jump higher or use the foot as a defense weapon, if need be. I know, I know, complete silliness. Has Mark been taking my pain medication? Really though, I appreciate him so much. He has truly kept my spirits up through the whole ordeal, by making me laugh or just being silly.

My last doctor's appointment went really well. Everything looks as though it is healing as it should and I might be able to walk on it starting October 2nd. I'm off work until the beginning of December.

Notice: included below are more unpleasant X-rays to update you who are curious and my PA colleagues. (:

A few more pics of my hospital stay... Mark thought it was hilarious to make my cast look even bigger than it was!

Grace took a few naps at the hospital with Mommy! She made my day when she visited me!
I have the best friends! Bekka Gresham made an awesome sign for me...

Also, for being in the hospital, it's not a bad view!
At home before the cast was removed...Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, the bionic foot!

Mark and I have a running joke that he closes his eyes in every picture I take of him. Like father, like daughter! At least I captured some great smiles! Grace was enjoying the delicious spaghetti bake Casey Remsing brought over. As I said, I am so blessed with such wonderful friends!

Last Saturday, Mark and I were going so stir-crazy that we HAD to get outside! We decided to take the boat to Stoney Creek. Jim and Amy Lewis came with us. Jim and Mark fished and Amy helped me maneuver on the boat with Grace. We had a great time! I wasn't sure I was going to make it down the skinny dock at night on crutches. I'm so glad I didn't fall in! However, Jim and Amy did witness me literally fall into the house when we returned home. I am not the most graceful person on crutches!

I LOVE this picture of Grace and Amy! Her new favorite thing to do is to throw her head back so you can tickle her neck.

Happy First Birthday, Sweet Baby!

2008-09-09T14:36:00.029-04:00

I know, I know. You would think not being able to walk, I would have nothing else to do but be on-line, updating our blog every other day. While that's mostly true about not being able to do much else, our wireless router has been crashing about every 20 minutes or so. For you non-bloggers out there, that's hardly enough time to write out a little paragraph, much less download pictures. I think it's fixed, so here I go!
I have always known that I have wonderful parents, but I have concluded they are probably the best in the world! My mom stayed with us the week of the accident, taking care of Grace and helping out around the house. Then, she went home that weekend and my mom and dad threw Grace's first birthday party for me. They did everything, from buying the food and cake and putting up all the decorations! I can't even express how much that meant to me.
Grace's first birthday party turned out wonderfully!! We had almost 30 family members show up to celebrate with us. It was a great first birthday party for Grace- just what I had hoped for!

On the morning of her first birthday...

Her new surprised expression she loves to make...
"Happy Birthday to you..."
A closer look at the expression while everyone was singing... I thought we might actually see tears but she didn't cry!

Her cake before...

Her cake after...

The cake everyone else ate... The bakery did such a great job!

A glorious and never-experienced-before sugar rush... Notice the dilated pupils. (:
My brother surprised me and drove all night from Connecticut to be there! I was so touched!!

Opening presents with Grandma... You can see my gargantuan cast in the background!

Playing with toys...what a smile!
Hanging out with Uncle Jeff...

Recovery

2008-08-26T21:36:00.004-04:00

Thank you all for your concern, words of support, visits, phone calls, balloons, flowers, signs (thanks Bekka!), cards, and most importantly, prayers. Also, thanks to my mom and sister for helping Mark with Grace! My surgery went very well last night. I will now be that person who holds up the line of people at security at the airport. I have three titanium plates in my foot and a large screw holding my first metatarsal joint in place. I will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow (yay!). I will be on crutches/walker for 6 weeks and then on restrictions for 6 weeks. I'm off work for 3 and a half to 4 months.

All of this is really starting to sink in. I guess the "space boot" on my foot, as Mark calls it, is hard to ignore. (: However, I'm still somewhat shocked every time I look at the pictures of the car. I still have the accident replay in my mind but that is happening much less now. I can't express the feelings I have about Grace and Mark not being in the car now that the reality of the whole situation is really starting to sink in. I thank God with all my heart that He spared us that.

On a much lighter note, we received word today that my car is totaled (obviously). I will miss my little car but Mark is already on a mission to replace it.

Also, our baby is turning ONE in two days...stay tuned! (:

A Reminder of What's Important in This Life

2008-08-24T22:19:00.020-04:00

Hi everyone! I was involved in a car accident on Saturday. For those of you who don't know, I apologize for you finding out on our blog. Please accept our apologies that we haven't been able to call everyone. Mark has been busy with Grace and I'm pretty doped up! (:

The driver of a red mustang ran a blinking red in the left turn lane (turning north onto Dequindre) and turned directly in front of me while I was going full speed through the intersection (driving west on South Blvd). After the accident, there were people surrounding me immediately, helping me from the car, calling 911,and even giving me a pillow to lay under my head as I layed on the ground since I was feeling a little faint. THANK GOD, THANK GOD, THANK GOD neither Mark nor our precious baby were in the car with me. All I have are 3 broken bones in my foot. Mark thought I should put pictures of my poor little Toyota Corolla up on the blog. It has been a great little car, never needing any work more than the usual maintenance and averaging 34 mpg. It was a joy to drive! My car's last "gift" to me - it crashed perfectly, leaving me completely intact with the exception of three little bones. (They turned out to be pretty important bones and I am in still in the hospital awaiting surgery Monday around 5PM.) Thank you all for your well-wishes and offers to help with Grace, food, etc. My wonderful mom has packed her bags and is prepared to stay with us for the meantime since I will be on crutches for a minimum of 6 weeks. I thank God for keeping me safe, as well as the driver of the other car.

Here are pictures of my car; they are pretty morbid but I wanted to include them to show how very blessed I am. Also below are pics of the X-rays of my foot. Note: they are not for those of you who get queasy with that sort of thing. (:

Grace visiting Mama and bringing a smile to all the nurses' faces.

We just replaced this windshield 2 weeks ago. (:

Remarkable

2008-08-18T23:12:00.002-04:00

I hope the Martin family won't mind this post. A friend of ours, Kyle Martin, has a mother who is fighting Stage IV breast cancer. I am inspired and completely blown away by Kyle's mother and father as they share their deeply personal journey through cancer on their blog. Please go to the blog link "Friends of Kathy Martin" to share in this family's incredibly courageous story.

Love Is In The Air

2008-08-14T10:10:00.021-04:00

We recently returned from Louisville, Kentucky to attend my aunt's wedding. My Aunt Joni has been widowed for 14 years, a hardship that I can't begin to appreciate. She raised my cousins Chelsea and Jordan as a single parent. To testify how well she did at that arduous task, Chelsea proudly stood as her Matron of Honor and Jordan, in a very sweet moment, gave my Aunt Joni away. It was a beautifully surreal moment and truly an answer to many, many prayers. My Aunt Joni's new husband, Terry, is a wonderful man, also a widower and charged with the task of single-parenting. His children were gracious and were as excited as the rest of us to see the two marry. It was a beautiful wedding that marked a beautiful new beginning. Congratulations, Terry and Aunt Joni! Have a wonderful honeymoon!

CJ, the minister at Gateway C of C, Terry, his two sons, Seth (Chelsea's husband) and their son Jackson (quite possibly the cutest little groom's man ever)

Jordan giving Aunt Joni away. Chelsea, Aunt Joni's Matron of Honor, smiling at the sweet moment.

The bride and groom.
The wedding took place in Louisville, where Terry lives. My Aunt is from Michigan but looked every bit the beautiful and elegant Southern Belle.

The kiss

Grace, looking beautiful in her new dress.

I was so tickled by this...Grace had her own little place setting, accompanied with a high chair.

Chelsea, Jackson, Grace and I
My sister Tiffany, Aunt Joni, and myself
Grace tired out after all the excitement, being held by my mom.
Grace being silly at Cracker Barrel.

Looking shockingly like my Dad with that serious expression...

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of Mark and I at the wedding with my camera but my Uncle did. I'll post them when I get them. Sorry Mark! (:

Cousins

2008-07-21T10:12:00.009-04:00

My niece, Anderson, and my nephew, Wyatt, were staying with my parents last week. I was able to visit with them and watch Grace interact with her big cousins! She loved being with them! No matter where Anderson was, she would crawl over to her and climb into her lap (something I have never seen her do, not even with me). They entertained her and had a wonderful time together!We took the kids to the local park and let them play. It was SO hot we only stayed a while, then went to Target to cool off and drink frozen cokes. You can see how flushed Anderson's face is!
This day was a momentous day for Grace. It was her first time eating chocolate and biscuits! I know, many are not familiar with this amazing combination. It is a family tradition (and very Southern recipe). I imagine that one day in the late 19th century in the deep South, a brillant woman sat down and wondered how to incorporate chocolate into a breakfast of biscuits, eggs, sausage, and gravy. And so, chocolate gravy was born. As you can see below, Grace is thoroughly enjoying Grandma's homemade biscuits and chocolate gravy. Wyatt and Anderson love it as well! (Really, what's not to like?)

Winding Down Up North

2008-07-15T11:07:00.023-04:00

This past weekend we went to Lincoln, MI at the Greshams' family cabin with the Greshams, Burchams, Cagnetts, Lewis's, and Heemers. It has become a small group tradition to all go up together once a year. It is a time to get away from the busyness of life and enjoy nature and each other. It was an awesome time, full of relaxation and fun. We missed the Kings and the Pawleys, though. It is so wonderful of the Greshams to open up their place for all of us. Thanks again, Gresham family, for being such great hosts!

The girls hanging out - we had so much fun with Brooke and Annie! Brooke provided endless entertainment with her impressive vocabulary!

Amy, Danny, and Rachel relaxing with our favorite snack: Double Stuf Oreos!

Chillin' out.

The wonderful hosts, Bekka and John

A common view from the cabin

Mark enjoying fishing with the guys

Jim Lewis taking time out to wave

Scott and Ryan ready to ride the trails

Danny enjoying some time with sweet little Annie
Grace having fun
The whole gang

Going home re-charged and relaxed

God Bless America

2008-07-04T22:45:00.004-04:00

Happy 4th of July!

Adventures and Misadventures in Virginia

2008-06-16T22:06:00.033-04:00

Mark, Grace, and I drove to Richmond, Virginia this past week to visit Mark's sister, Holly and her husband, Jeff. Overall, we had a wonderful trip! We loved seeing Holly and Jeff and getting to spend so much time with them. They were the perfect hosts, not to forget fresh flowers in our guest room! The weather was HOT! I don't think it ever cooled lower that 75 at night. It was 90-103 each day we were there!

We went to some delicious restaurants, including "Buzz and Ned's." For you Food Network die-hards, you may recognize that this restaurant was featured on "Throwdown with Bobby Flay." It was one of the few episodes that I have seen that Bobby Flay lost. That should tell you something about this barbecue!! It was amazing!! Definitely the best pork BBQ sandwich I have ever had. Mark had ribs and LOVED them!!

We went to the historic St. John's Church where Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech and watched a reenactment of it. The air conditioner could not keep up with the 103 degree heat. Even in the heat, it was great to watch. Knowing such great minds like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Patrick Henry were once inside that church discussing the future of our country was awe-inspiring.

Mark and I took Grace to Colonial Williamsburg. It was really fun to walk around and see the historical buildings. It was too hot to stay long. We enjoyed what we saw and booked it back to the air conditioning.

I have a charm bracelet from Pandora and have been collecting charms for holidays and my birthday. During the trip, I lost a charm spacer that my sister gave me for my birthday. I was messing with the bracelet and it fell down in Jeff and Holly's carseat. I looked all over and realized it had fallen down into the crack where the seatbelt is. I felt terrible about it! Well, Mark came to the rescue. He actually unbolted Holly's back seat. We were making jokes that when he unscrewed the last one the whole car was going to fall apart. It didn't, of course, and he found my charm!! My hero!

We're becoming pros at finding a Blue Cross provider in all 50 states. Grace developed thrush and so we had to take her to a pediatician. The one we found was wonderful and just minutes away from Jeff and Holly. We started Grace on some medication and went back to vacationing.

The night before we were leaving Jeff and Holly's and driving to Virginia Beach, Grace woke up crying. I stuck her pacifier back into to her mouth, patted her, and walked away. A minute later, she began to cry again. I walked back to where she was sleeping and she had puked ALL over her pack n' play and her pajamas. It was even in her hair! I picked her up and she started throwing up again. I did what any mother would do to her puking baby who was throwing up all over her Aunt's carpet and put my hand out to catch it. In case Casey Remsing is reading, I won't go into any more detail than that. (Although she has probably already skimmed past this part.) I gave her a bath after which she promptly threw up two more times. Mark, like a good daddy, cleaned up the carpet and her bedding. Sorry, Aunt Holly and Uncle Jeff! It probably won't be the last time she throws up at your house. (:

The next day, after a trial run of breakfast for Grace, we left for Virginia Beach. She seemed to be doing much better. We enjoyed our time on the beach and I ate the best salmon I have ever had. We only stayed at Virginia Beach one night because we decided to divide our trip back into two days. The first night on the way back to Michigan...Mark got sick! We think he had food poisoning. I'll spare the details for you all but it wasn't pretty. He held out until we got to a hotel and then had a miserable night full of, well, you know, and shaking chills. We left the next morning and began the second half of our journey. Thankfully, Mark was feeling some better and he and Grace slept almost the whole way home. Grace is currently not eating well and stressing me out. Hopefully, now that we are home, she will start eating better. As for Mark and I, we ate enough on this trip to not have to eat until July...

We miss Jeff and Holly but are happy to be home!

Grace and I at our standby travel restaurant, Cracker Barrel.

Jeff and Mark

Holly and I

Cutie Pitutie!

In her stroller, braving the heat at Colonial Williamsburg. (It actually was only in the high 80's that day!)

Our little pink patriot.

Probably my favorite picture of all time...

Grace and I with the Scottish Bear
Mark exploring his heritage...or just trying on a funny hat.

Can we go home now?

My hero! He found my charm after taking Holly's car apart!
Like a needle in a haystack...

Grace's first view of the Atlantic Ocean...

Can you find Mark and Grace? This is a picture of "Neptune's Park" in Virginia Beach.

Loving the beach life!

We've seen it all, done it all, and are ready to go back to Michigan!

Air Races and Seasick Faces!

2008-06-16T21:33:00.011-04:00

On May 31st, we were invited to go on John and Bekka Gresham's family's boat to watch the Red Bull Air Race. Mark, Grace, and I went with Jim and Amy Lewis, Ryan and Rachel Heemer, and of course John and Bekka. It started out by being a gorgeous day, but as we started to head down Lake St. Clair to the Detroit River, the clouds rolled in and the wind started to blow. When we arrived the river was so choppy that everyone started feeling a little woozy. Actually, the only one who didn't seem to mind the rough waves was Grace! The air race was postponed because of the winds and poor Rachel became seasick. We didn't stay very long. We were all anxious to get back to calmer waters. On our way back, I was walking up the steps from the cabin to the deck and we hit a huge wave. I fell forward and grabbed out for whatever was in front of me - that happened to be John's legs (and maybe a little rear end). Amy was sitting on the seat near the cabin and she reached out to grab me, lost her balance, and did a 180 degree's ariel somersault. She landed directly on her shoulder blade and managed to tuck so that she did not hit her neck or head. Thank the Lord, she wasn't hurt and I didn't fall down the stairs (and take John with me!) Needless to say, we couldn't wait to get back to calmer waters. Turns out, we didn't get that until we went back to the marina. Once we returned to the marina, the sun popped back out. Ah, Michigan.
I wish I had a picture of us all but we were all a little green and not wanting to capture the moment...

Amy reinacting her amazing ariel gymnastics.

Grace and Amy having fun!

I just love this one even though her eyes are closed. She looks like she is saying something very important!

Amy took this picture. I love it!

Happy 60th Birthday Mom!

2008-06-02T16:17:00.002-04:00

Friday we had a surprise birthday party for my mom. It turned out wonderfully! My mom is the kindest, most generous, most caring, and most thoughtful woman I know. We love you, Mom. I hope I look half as great as you do at 60!!!!!

Looking sassy and spunky in the glasses we
picked out for you!

Not one, but two cakes!

Dan and Jennifer Tarjeft

2008-05-21T11:20:00.005-04:00

Our hearts are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of a phenomenal couple, Dan and Jennifer Tarjeft. Dan and Jennifer are survived by their three children, Earl, Daniel, and Alisha. Dan and Jennifer were faithful Christians and worshiped at the Gateway Church of Christ, the congregation at which I grew up. Dan served as an elder, among his many services to the church. He was a remarkable man, with a strong yet humble presence. Upon first meeting him, you might have first noticed the patch of white hair near the front of his part that sharply contrasted with his dark hair. You might have noticed his warm smile and kind brown eyes, wise beyond their years. His eyes were windows into deep thought, a state in which he always seemed to be. Or it may have been his gentleness that caught your attention; a gentleness that seemed a stark contrast to his size. Dan worked with the teenagers while I was in the youth group and also taught our class for some time. Dan was open about his life before knowing Christ. He embodied the gratefulness and love for Christ that one can only have after experiencing His saving grace. If you have ever visited Gateway, you can be sure that Dan introduced himself to you.
Jennifer was one of the secretaries, and like Dan, served the church in many other ways. Whether it was a bridal shower, baby shower, anniversary party, graduation party, or another other gathering, Jennifer would be sure to be helping in the kitchen, preparing food and sharing in a laugh with close friends. Speaking with Jennifer, you couldn't miss her soft, gentle voice and full, expressive eyes. The way she articulated was so sweet; whether she was asking how you are doing or, on rare occasion, reprimanding her children when they were young, her soft voice remained just as soft and sweet. She was empathetic to all she was around, quick to laugh or quick to cry, sharing joy or burden with her friends and church family. She was an especially wonderful friend to my Aunt Karen, with whom she was as close as a sister.
Dan and Jennifer will leave a void in the lives of their family and in the lives of the Gateway family that will never be filled. To their dear children, family, and friends, we pray God's peace and strength for you. Our only comfort is this: "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:54-57

First Tiger's Game

2008-05-21T10:38:00.004-04:00

Garth Pleasant gave us tickets to the Tigers' game last night. It was Grace's first game! She seemed to really enjoy watching all the people. She especially enjoyed the clapping, something she can join in and do. (:
We left at the seventh inning stretch because it was cooling off and past bedtime. We look forward to more games this summer! Go Tigers!

Back to Our Roots

2008-05-21T10:06:00.004-04:00

My dad, mom, and I took Grace to her first trip to Collinwood, Tennessee, a sleepy little town where many of my mom's family still live. Collinwood is about 2 hours south of Nashville, approx 30 mins from the Alabama state line. If you blink you will miss downtown, even with a total of one four way stop and two lights. It's the quintessential southern town, where everyone knows everyone; there are plenty of porches with rocking chairs, and unsweetened tea is just not as refreshing as sweet tea. There is plenty to do, as long as your recreational choices are fishing or hanging out by the "crick", hunting deer or turkey, four-wheeling, "mudding", watching the Vols or taking a shopping trip to Florence, AL.
My cousin Jimmy married his high school sweetheart, Kristin, in a beautiful outdoor ceremony on his parents property. It was wonderful to see family that I haven't seen in much too long. To our deep sorrow, we found out that dear friends Dan and Jennifer Tarjeft were taken from this life tragically in a motorcycle accident. Dan was an elder where my dad serves, Gateway Church of Christ. We left the following day.It was a quick trip and I look forward to going back to visit longer.

Mom and Grace relaxing on my
Uncle Pat and Aunt Sabrina's porch.

Grace and my cousin Jeff's daughter,
Brooklyn. Note the John Deer tractor!

Grace and the groom, my cousin Jimmy.

Grace and my mom's little brother,
my Uncle Pat.

My uncle Pat set her in this chair on their property. It turned out to be a wonderful picture!

The beautiful outdoor wedding...

Wild Sleeper

2008-05-08T20:48:00.003-04:00

I remember checking on my niece Anderson while she was sleeping when she was little. Anderson would be lying upside down on the bed, covers wrapped around her like a cocoon, completely sprawled out. Shawn and Susan called her a "violent sleeper." Imagine my surprise when I walked into Grace's room to check on her and this is what I saw...
It must run in the family. (In case you can't tell by the picture, she is at the head of her crib and turned sideways.)

A Princess Party!

2008-05-08T17:19:00.012-04:00

Grace was invited to her first birthday party! It was for Brooke's, the daughter of one of my coworkers, third birthday. Grace made her own crown (with help from Mommy), had her first taste of icing, and played with Brooke's little sister, Tessa. As you can see below, Grace was very interested in little Tessa. In fact, Grace was very interested in everyone. She was quite busy checking everyone out. We had a great time! All in all, it was a party fit for a princess.

Sunday School

2008-04-26T23:30:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago Grace went to Sunday school for the very first time. It is really incredible to witness that milestone for someone. She did wonderfully and I was so happy that Anne Nichols was teaching the class. (I'm sure all of the teachers are great; it was just nice to leave her with a familiar face). Anne guessed right away that it was Grace's first time in class. Not by her demeanor, but by my apprehensive expression. Anne told us that it is normal for a child not to make it all the way through her first time in class. Not only did Grace make it through, I really don't think she wanted to leave when I came to get her! Way to go, Grace and thank you, Anne!

Six Month Pictures

2008-04-10T11:47:00.012-04:00

Here are a few of our favorites of Grace's six month pictures. If only that child would smile more...
We fall in love with her more everyday. She is a constant joy.

She has discovered all sort of new things! She claps, waves (at herself), babbles, "ma ma, ba ba, da da..." She hasn't directed it at us, although she does say, "ma ma ma ma" when she's upset, so she hasn't officially said her first word. She can also gum food with the best of them! We're still waiting on that first tooth...

Bring on the Carbs!

2008-03-27T11:38:00.004-04:00

Grace tried pasta for the first time this week. She had a sample of pasta primavera. She was a little confused about the chunks of pasta - she has only had finely pureed food up until now. I think she is going to love pasta just like Mommy!

What a silly face!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-27T11:29:00.005-04:00

We got back from vacation late Saturday night so that we could celebrate Easter with Mark's family. Mark's grandma cooked Easter dinner and we went to visit Mark's grandpa after dinner. He is doing wonderfully considering. Thank you all for your prayers. God is faithful and is giving us more time to be together. It was wonderful!

Loving on Grandma Johnson

Family photo

Family Vacation

2008-03-27T10:30:00.022-04:00

Mark, Grace, and I took a much needed vacation last week to Gatlinburg, TN. Our new Canon Elph camera came in and boy, did we make up for lost time! I hope you enjoy! The vacation was just what the doctor ordered!

Liking the sunshine!!

Grace with Daddy making her signature face - sucking on upper lip and smiling.

Notice the "Warm Inside" sign on the door. It was a balmy 67 degrees outside. That's pratically boiling for us Michiganders!

Wyatt enjoying some Papa time.

Wyatt and Anderson enjoying a little Cracker Barrel fun!

Wyatt and Uncle Mark - let the "noogie" exchange and tickling begin!

Too cool for school! I could get used to this vacation business!

Big cousins Wyatt and Anderson

having fun!

Anderson is such a great big cousin! She held Grace, fed her, and told her what just about every word starts with. Anderson said she can't wait to help Grace learn how to read. What a cutie!

Having fun with Mommy.

Grandma and Anderson sure are entertaining!

The second to last night in Gatlinburg, Grace developed an ear infection. Even at the doctor's office she's putting forth her best effort to smile.

Wait a minute! What do you mean we have to go home?!?!?

Bath Time!

2008-03-27T10:09:00.005-04:00

As you can see by the picture, Grace is completely over RSV. Praise God! She has been doing wonderfully and we were able to take a planned vacation that we had postponed.

Last night was bath night. She is still somewhat ambivalent toward the water. She's most interested in whatever bath toy she can chew on. Look at those rolls!

48 Hours

2008-03-09T18:14:00.002-04:00

Thank the Lord, Grace was discharged from the hospital today. She has improved quite a bit over the last 48 hours in the hospital. We are so happy to be home with our beautiful baby. Thank you all very much for your prayers.

Stressful times...

2008-03-09T10:12:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone,
We want to ask for your prayers. Grace was admitted to the hospital Friday with RSV (and an ear infection). She seems to be improved and we are praying for a quick discharge. She hasn't needed any supplemental oxygen the whole course of the hospital stay, which is wonderful. She is getting breathing treatments, and is on steriods and antibiotics. Mom and Dad have been by her side, with much help from Grandma!
Also, Mark's grandfather was diagnosed this past Monday with Stage 4 lung cancer that has spread to his brain. He had brain surgery on Friday to remove some tumor growth and to reduce the pressure is his brain from the tumors. He made it through the surgery well and is alert and talking. The family will meet with the doctors tomorrow to discuss his course of treatment and the goals of his treatment. Please pray that his family will be given peace and strength during this difficult time.
Your prayers would be much appreciated.
Love,
Mark, Tamara, and Grace

Stay tuned...

2008-02-29T11:53:00.005-05:00

A brand new digital camera is ordered and on its way! Thank you so much to the Harrison's for so generously offering to let us borrow one of theirs'! With our track record with cameras, we were hesitant to borrow anyone else's. Ha Ha.
Our beautiful daughter turned 6 months old yesterday! She is truly the joy of our lives. Here is a video of her two new favorite things to do: shrieking and blowing raspberries!

Digital-less in a digital world

2008-01-31T22:08:00.000-05:00

This will be a boring post without any pictures because...we cannot find our digital camera!!! I am frustrated daily by cute moments that I am missing with Grace. If you have any information to offer about our camera please, please tell us. We will offer reward money for any information that may lead us to our camera. OK, not really but we really want to find it!

It's been a while...

2008-01-23T19:07:00.000-05:00

I can't believe my last posting was well over a month ago!! I have really been slacking!
Grace is 5 days away from turning 5 months old. Right now she is under the weather with a cold that she can't seem to get rid of. The poor baby is so stuffed up, she sounds like she's snorting when she breathes through her nose. We have been calling her, "little piggie".
It's so fun to watch her accomplish new things! Grace can roll from her belly to her back, babble non-stop, laugh, and eat from a spoon (well, sort of - I'm pretty sure more gets on her face and clothes than actually in her mouth). We thank God for our beautiful healthy baby.
Here is a video of the first "gut" laugh. I think she was as surprised to hear it come out of her mouth as we were. It's amazing how many times I said, "Clean the little butt" just to get a laugh! Jim and Amy Lewis were there to laugh with us. There is really no rhyme or reason to what sets the giggles off as you can see...

Rewind

2007-12-14T01:39:00.001-05:00

I remember three years ago, my technically savvy husband told me to create a blog. I was in PA school, complaining that I felt I was losing touch with my friends because of my crazy schedule. A blog? What is that? He explained it to me and I shrugged it off. Like that will ever catch on... And here I am. Better late than never, right? (Although I have still been untouched by Myspace and Facebook.) Blogs are so fascinating to me. In them, everyone can be creative coming up with catchy titles and telling interesting stories. You can be a philosopher, comedian, narrator, poet, or pragmatist. You are an autobiographer, published with the click of the mouse.
Anyway, I missed out on showing some fun and important events. Here are just a few pictures of the past... P.S., Mark, you were right as usual. What a great way to keep in touch!

Without a doubt, the hardest thing I have ever done.

I believe Mark's words were, "NO WAY!"

In gossip magazines, they call this a "baby bump"

Visiting Jeff and Holly in Richmond. This is the oldest plantation in the U.S. We started every sentence that day with, "Surely..." (Note the name of the plantation.) I swear it was funny at the time.

I love my goofy husband! This is after the baby shower my mom threw me.

Having a little frontier fun in Wyoming! 7 months pregnant and they actually got me on a fake rodeo bull. I didn't think I was going to be able get off of it!

Before Grace's first concert: John Mayer.

The end of my last day at work before maternity leave. I was huge and my feet were killing me!!!

How talented is Amy Lewis? Thanks for the wonderful pictures!

Well, there are. A quick glimpse of our past year. Fast forward to present.

My Dad is famous

2007-12-11T14:58:00.000-05:00

View Larger Map

This is a little different from our usual post but I had to add this post. Google is posting street views of the greater Detroit area on google maps. So I looked up my parent’s house and the above picture is what I saw. Yes that is MY DAD standing between his two cars! My dad is famous, he unmistakably on google maps! Peace, Mark

Happy Holidays

2007-11-28T14:03:00.000-05:00

Our little Gracie is getting so big. She turns 3 months today. Mark and I are so thankful for her. P.S. These photos will be coming soon to a Christmas card near you!

Thankful for Our Family

2007-11-23T15:59:00.000-05:00

Turkey and stuffing and gravy, oh my! We enjoyed celebrating Grace's first Thanksgiving! From the delicious turkey to the sweet apple pie, we ate to our hearts' desire and then some! We are so thankful for our beautiful, healthy daughter, our wonderful friends and family, and all of the many blessing God showers on us every day.

Sweet Pea

2007-11-02T11:39:00.000-04:00

We enjoyed celebrating Grace's first Halloween. Grace was dressed up as a little pea pod. The costume was so warm it lulled her right to sleep! I guess if I couldn't eat candy I wouldn't understand what all the fuss is about either! (As you can see, she looks completely unimpressed!) We also had a surprise visit from the cutest little giraffe - Trent Jones. Grace didn't wake up for that either - what a sleepy girl!.

Aunt Holly

2007-10-25T23:48:00.000-04:00

I really miss my Aunt Holly and I know she misses me! Since she lives in Virginia, I decided to have my mom record a video of me in my bouncy chair and put it on our blog. For anyone other than my Aunt Holly that decides to watch this, there are no special tricks. I don't crawl, walk, say anything, or even roll over. I smile, coo, kick my legs, and move my arms around; all the things babies my age are supposed to do. (And I'm pretty cute doing it, if I do say so myself!) I want Aunt Holly to see my development (and my cute new pumpkin slippers). I sure do love and miss her!

Big Cousin Anderson

2007-10-24T12:09:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, we had a visit from my brother, sister-in-law, and their two children Anderson 7, and Wyatt 5. Anderson is such a good big cousin! She held Grace closely and sang lullabies. Grace was handed off to Aunt Susan and Anderson walked into the kitchen and announced that she was sooo thirsty because she had just been singing to Grace in her "lullaby voice". After she rested her vocals and was ready for an encore, she held Grace closely and sang "Hush Little Baby". She was a few stanzas into the song and everyone was listening when Anderson, intent on being a great big cousin by singing her best, sang very seriously, "Hush little baby, don't say a word; Mommas gonna buy you a ...."(pause to think of the words) and out escaped the loudest toot possible from little Grace! The sheer volume could have come from an adult! A stunned Anderson looked up at the rest of us and began laughing when she saw the rest of us cracking up!

Relaxing with Uncle Shawn

Anne Geddes? NO...Sears Portraits!

2007-10-16T12:23:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, Mark and I decided to take Grace for newborn pictures. We tried Olan Mills and were greatly disappointed, in fact, have yet to receive the pictures we actually did order! We decided to try again at a place with no sitting fee to try to save some money. I had heard good things about Sears Portrait studio and decided to try it out. Our photographer was incredible and she did a wonderful job!! She actually reminded Mark and I of Amy Coe. She was great with Grace, moved quickly and worked hard to get the shots we wanted. We are so excited with the way the pictures turned out! To see more, go to Mark's website: http://home.rc.edu/mjohnson

Postpartum Fog

2007-09-27T13:04:00.000-04:00

I'm starting to emerge from the no-sleep postpartum fog! Grace and I are actually getting out of the house and slowly rejoining society. She is doing wonderfully and is beginning to sleep for 4 hours at a time at night! I can't say how wonderful that is! I can't believe Grace will be one month old tomorrow!

Mark and I, as well as our dogs, are adjusting to our new family. We are in awe every day of our beautiful little girl. She has initiated both of us into parenthood by pooping on Mark (ask him to tell the story), crying inconsolably for no known reason, and doing all of the things that babies do. However, we wouldn't trade one moment of it...

Grace is home and doing great!

2007-09-02T16:06:00.000-04:00

Our prayers were answered and she was able to come with us on Thursday afternoon! The neonatologist said her breathing problems after birth was just due to a difficult delivery. She is doing very well and has, in fact, already gained 2 oz. Mom and dad are sleepy but adjusting well to Grace joining our family. Thanks for you calls, concerns, and most importantly, your prayers.

Love, Mark and Tamara

Grace Sophia Johnson

2007-08-29T15:04:00.000-04:00

We have finally committed to a name! Grace is doing much better. She does not need any supplemental oxygen and her respiratory rate has normalized. Since Tamara developed a fever in the last few hours before Grace was born, they are being extra cautious and won't discharge Grace until her blood cultures come back negative. We are expecting the results tomorrow afternoon. She is already showing a hearty appetite - she fits right in with us!

She is finally here!!!

2007-08-28T22:02:00.000-04:00

She is finally here!!! We have been blessed!!! Our baby was born after 6 hours of labor and some intense pushing due to the fact that she was 8 lbs. 9 oz. and 22 inches long. She was born at 2:23 PM. She came out having some trouble breathing and had to be taken directly to the special care nursery. She is currently doing much better, but we would appreciate your prayers. Please pray specifically that her breathing will improve tomorrow and she will be able to come home with us on Thursday. We have been able to see our little one, but we have not been able to hold her yet because she is under an oxygen tent. If all goes well we will be able to hold her tomorrow, at which time we will decide a name. Tamara is doing well, she is just anxious to hold her baby. Oh...and the proud dad is doing well too!!!

Love,

Mark and Tamara

Our Dogs

2005-05-04T16:57:00.000-04:00

For our first post here are pictures of our two beagles. They are the best dogs in the world, dumb as rocks, but hearts as big as texas!

Dakota “the princess” Johnson

Josie “what you lookin at?” Johnson