Big Boy Bed

Bye-bye crib and hello "big-boy" bed! Cole has a convertible crib, and this past weekend we transformed it from a baby crib to a day bed. We waited so long just because we could. Lots of kiddos like to climb out of their crib as they grow, but Cole has never been a climber/explorer. He has always been content to stay in his crib and say "Mommy! Let's Go!" when he was ready to get down after a nap or in the morning. He would probably be content to stay in the crib alot longer, but we knew that it was time for the transition. Cole helped put together his new bed guard, and was in awe as Uncle Kyle helped take down his crib railing. He climbed right in and kept saying "Big boy bed!!" over and over. He has slept great the past few days and loves the freedom of his new bed. He still waits for me to come get him after naps, etc., but we are just waiting for the day when he will greet us in OUR room with a cheery "Good Morning!"...as long as it's after 7:00 a.m. that's fine with us :-)

We also rearranged his room a little by getting rid of some "baby" things (changing pad, etc.). It looks so different! I'm waiting until we transform his crib to a full size bed before I totally redo his room with a new theme. I've seen some super cute things at Pottery Barn Kids that I absolutely love, but we can stick with the pastel blues and yellows for now :-) Although it is a little sad watching my sweet baby grow up, I'm excited at all the new things that the days ahead will bring. We are so blessed!

Spring Is Here!

We are so glad that spring is officially here! Although it's brought many stuffy noses and a few coughs, we're excited to get outside and enjoy the rebirth of God's creation. Michael especially loves the spring weather for a rather odd reason...he LOVES to mow the yard! He says it's good "thinking time" and that working up a sweat (we have a pushmower) is an added plus. Cole also likes to help daddy mow the grass with his little mower, but got distracted this time by all the pretty purple flowers, aka weeds. He wanted to pick them all!This past Sunday, we dusted off the bicycles, pumped up tires, and took our first '09 family bike ride. Cole still fits in his bike seat from last year and had a blast riding down Walton Ferry Rd. and exploring other neighborhoods. We hope to gain the endurance to pedal to the lake for a picnic one day.Happy Spring everyone!

Meeting with Uncle Sam

I want to say a big THANK YOU to all of you that prayed for our audit meeting on Wednesday. It went very well to say the least. The lady that Michael met with was very nice (total opposite of the IRS stigma) and was very impressed with our organization. As the meeting was ending, Michael asked "So...what made you choose us?" She said that our company was randomly chosen (along with tons of others), but that they still had to find some "red flags" in order to mandate an audit. As they were looking through our 2006 and 2007 tax records, the red flag occured when they checked our contributions. They found it hard to believe that we actually gave the amount that was recorded considering our income. Now I'm not tooting my own horn here, but it was such a neat God orchestrated moment as Michael showed her our tithing/giving records to prove that we were honest. She said, "Oh...so you're a tither?". Michael then shared with her about how the Lord has blessed us and that our giving didn't even compare to what He had done in our lives. I wish I could've been there to see her expression!
We praise the Lord for seeing us through these past two weeks and know that He is always faithful!

Odds and Ends

These past few weeks have been busy for the Johnson house. Here's a little about what we've been up to...

* Cole and I are so glad to have Michael back home with us. He and Kyle (my brother) spent a week in San Antonio, TX taking an insurance adjusting class. After the real estate market took a plunge last summer, Michael wanted to have a backup plan in case that ever happened again. Now he and Kyle are both certified and can inspect your roof, basement, etc. in the event of a disaster :-)

With class only lasting from 9-5 every day, they also had the opportunity to explore this beautiful city. They strolled the Riverwalk, saw an Alamo wedding, and took in a Spurs game on Friday night. I hope to upload some pics soon...

* As many of you know, Michael is a self-employed real estate appraiser and owns Johnson Appraisal Service. We operate out of our home and were shocked to receive a notice that our business had been selected for a random IRS audit. They are choosing tons of self-employed taxpayers...especially those in the housing market. We've spent the past two weeks gathering paper work and organizing to make sure that all of our "ducks are in a row". Praise the Lord that my OCD tendencies kept the office organized over these past seven years, and we were able to find all that we needed with ease. Keep us in your prayers as Michael meets with the IRS on Wednesday.

* Our MOPS Grace's Closet Consignment Sale was a huge success! Not only did we raise funds for our MOPS group, but I found tons of good deals on brand name clothing...yay for me! Cole's summer wardrobe is almost complete. (If only it was that easy for adults...)

* Speaking of Cole, I can't seem to keep my sweet boy well :( The first two years of his life, he never had more than a sniffle (I know, we were spoiled) and since February, we've visited the doctor four times with two ear infections and severe colds. I think I am personally keeping them in business. Hopefully when the weather evens out, it will help this viral mess disappear.

* Cole also had his first major boo-boo. And can you believe that it was my fault!?! We were visiting my parents and had gone for a stroll around the block. Cole loves for us to say "Ready, set, go!" and give him a big push in his stroller. Well, that's what I did...when I let go, Cole leaned forward and his weight flipped the stroller on top of him on the concrete. I think it scared both of us more than anything, but he now has a bruise and scratch on his forehead. Needless to say, we won't be playing that game again anytime soon.

* We are ready for spring! This random warm weather has been a treat, but we are ready for it to stay! We've enjoyed playing outside when we can and can't wait until trips to the lake, park, and strolls around the block are once again part of our daily routine.

Playing outside with bubbles

Consignment Sales

For all of you consignment junkies out there, it's that time again! My MOPS coordinator sent this website out to our group...it's a great way to find out about the upcoming sales. If you are out and about this weekend, visit our MOPS sale in White House at the Church at Grace Park. We have TONS of clothing, toys, shoes, infant/toddler items, and housewares.
Hope you all find lots of good deals...happy hunting!

**If you have any info. about some sales or consignment shops that you like, please leave me a comment. I'm always looking for a great deal!

Restaurant.com

Just thought I'd pass along a GREAT website that lets you dine out for much less than you are used to spending. Visit Restaurant.com, choose your zip code or state and tons of participating restaurants are shown. For each location, you have the option to choose a gift certificate in varying amounts. The deals are... a $10 gift certificate for $3, a $25 certificate for $10, or a $50 certificate for $20! It seems too good to be true, but a lot of my friends use this website for date nights or to try out a new restaurant without breaking the bank, and they LOVE it!

Every week there is also a promotional code you type in at checkout to give you a further discount. The promotional code until March 9 is CHEF. Type this in at checkout and you get your $25 gift certificate for only $5! To get the promotional code every week go to http://www.couponmom.com/ (another fantastic site!).
After you purchase your certificates, you print them out from your own computer...no waiting for something to arrive in the mail. You can print them out immediately, or wait until you want to use them. Bon Appetite!

Some local restaurants I noticed on the site were:
* September's
* Fattoush Cafe
* Fulin's Asian Cuisine
* Doogie Ray's
* Avanti Gourmet
* Old Hickory Grill
* Woody's Steakhouse