Ok so I suck. Here are some pictures of the Neves reunion at the airport, and random pictures from then on. Ya this was like 4 weeks ago..

This picture below was totally staged.. Nice try guys

I have missed you sooo much. Let me just squeeze your head a little

and a little more..

and a Kiss for "Hodie"

sunday best Mac-n-Cheese face bath tub buddies (say that 3 times fast)

sweet endings*

More to come!

Recently my friend BreAnn took these pics for me. She is just starting her own photography business called Picture You Photography. Check it out! We loved her contagious laugh and eye for detail. Thanks again Bre!

No Words

It was a typical day. Running out the door with Oaklee on my hip, hair in a crazy bun, forgetting to shut off the bathroom light and dropping Oaklee's sippy cup in the garage. This was all part of the normal daily routine. But one crucial thing was forgotten that day. One 20 pound puppy was left on her in leash inside the house.

I'm sure you can imagine what is next, but first here is a little background before I go any further. Colton is building Tug a dog house. The framing of the house is up, but due to some late working days, the sides and roof of Tug's new house are still under construction. So while Tug's house is put on hold, she is spending the nights with us. I told her when she cuddled up on the bean bag to realize that this was ONLY until her house was finished. This was not permanent. She tilted her head to one side, and starred at me.

Well in my rush to get out the door that day, I buzzed right past tug without even thinking about the devastating results of leaving a teething puppy in the house unsupervised. I went to my Moms' house happy as can be. Oakey and Grace roamed the house. Oaklee swiffered the floor (her new obsession) while Gracie made a house out of couch pillows. We ate lunch and ran to wally world for the necessities; Mickey Mouse shaped cheese and lunchables for Grace. M&M's and yogurt for Oakey. After a day of couch houses and an imacculate swiffered floor, I went home to spend some time with Colt; he has been kind of neglected since Amie came into town.. When I walked through the door my jaw dropped. They're was tug, chewing on a chunk of carpet she had separated from the glue and nails. Carpet pieces were scattered around her like confetti. Then my eyes met the next disaster. She had found the cabel cord that hooks from the computer to the wall. Pretty much it looked like a chewed up licorace rope. Completely obliverated. No salvaging this one. Good bye internet. At least until the cabel guy comes. So for now my blogging is limited to when I'm at my Mom's, when a computer is free and when I'm not chasing and cleaning up after Oakey, which translates to about 1 hour a week, (seriously) and in that hour I want to be spending time with my long lost penslybania (as Grace calls it) toddler. So for a bit, my blogging and pictures will be put on the back burner.

Note to self: Do not leave a puppy, cabel wire, and carpet alone in the same room. Lessoned harshly learned.. This was totally my spacey fault, all in all what can I say? They're simply are "No Words".

Am I close enough to feel the hay...can I stay here and slide all day?

If I crinkle my nose will it make you laugh?

If I get to close will I take a bath?

Can I squish and spill my mac and cheese?

Can I take this laundry with me please?

I am guilty of naked-ness

it's only a little dirt Mom it wont make a mess

I want to touch and play and grow,
I want to see and feel and know
I want to splash, and laugh and roll
what happens if I put this down that hole?
I want to cry, and bite and say "no!"
I want to feel the cool grass below
I want to gaze at the open sky
I want uncle Chad to throw me up high
I want to see the sun so bright
I want Dad to kiss me goodnight
I am full of wonder and awe
"Life is short, live it up!" to quote my grandma
The simple things in life are worthwhile
so laugh and love, and don't forget to smile.

Leaves and Tooth Aches

Today I woke up with a throbbing toothache. You know that annoying pain that threatens to ruin the whole day. I heard Oaklee crying in her crib. I went in her bedroom to find her looking up at me, patting her cheek with her chubby little hands. Those big blue, melt your heart eyes, looked up at me with a sad expression. She smiled to see me, but kept patting her cheek. I looked into her mouth to find a crooked jagged little tooth peeking out from her gums. So Oaklee had a toothache too. After breakfast and doses of Tylenol we wrapped up in our favorite blankets on the bean bag and turned on Barney. She laid her head on my shoulder (for 2 seconds) and patted my arm with squishy hands as if to say "I understand what your going through Mom, my tooth hurts too." It those kinds of moments that make any day, a great one.Then she was off the bean bag in .5 and onto the next event. We went outside to get some fresh air and Oaklee collected rocks and leaves of all kinds. It was a beautiful clear day, and we did forget our teeth for a bit.

5th Generations and a wedding
So my computer is going to blow up. Literally it's just a matter of time before I start feeling the desk shake and see smoke.. We probably should have just bought a new computer when he moved in, but this computer, so lovingly called the "dino" (as in "dino"saur) was free! You can't beat free! So I'm trying to make the best of it and let it hold on a little longer before the dino will be laid to rest. The dino has no more space to hold anything, which is why I have 3 weeks of posting to catch up on....

Oaklee woke up in her crib like this and it cracked me up. I wonder how she managed that one?

My good friend from back in our High School days (I say that like I'm sooo old) got married October 10th. It was a great day, and so special. Congrats Mrs. Harrison!

This pic was at her reception later that night... pretty self explanatory. Long day, tired baby..

This picture was taken on Oaklee's birthday and the dino threaten to eat it so I've had to wait to post it, but I think it's pretty neat! There are 5 generations in this picture. From Oaklee, to her Great Great Grandma and Grandpa Lewis.

Haunted House nightmare

A little background: I have never been to a haunted house in my life. I see a commercial for haunted houses on t.v. and immediately change the channel. I love Halloween, but always dread when the Haunted Houses open up because I know that it's inevitable that one day I will not be so lucky to avoid it and actually have to walk through one and live out my nightmares. Well that day came Saturday. After dinner at Dalton's, Colton, Sherise, Cole and I were debating on what to do. We always rent a movie and go back to someone's house to watch it so this time we thought we should spice it up a bit. With Oaklee snug as a bug at her Grandma's house, we had all the time in the world, so "Why not go to a haunted house?" My stomach went into a tight not. "Um how about a corn maze!?" Everyone looked at my frightened expression, told me I was lame, and that we were definitely going to a haunted house. I thought about running home, or bumming a ride with some stranger, anything but the Haunted house. The drive to American Fork I was literally sweating, the knot in my stomaching growing bigger with each passing exit. When we arrived at the House I thought I was going to faint, and we weren't even to the door yet. We got our tickets and headed for the line to enter the "Haunted Forest." To make matters worse, while waiting, shivering with fear and bitter cold, these creatures can come up behind you and get in your face and scare the living sh*% out of you, and apparently I was an easy target because I got harassed the whole time. I clung to Colton for dear life as we entered the doors to the spooky mansion. I buried my head in his coat and tried not to cry (seriously!) The forest/mansion was filled with mine shafts that had wet floors and things dangling from the ceiling, clown alleys, and my personal favorite, the chainsaw men. Whenever I would hear the sound of a chainsaw firing up in the distance I would literally think I was going to pee my pants, throw up, and cry simultaneously. I have never ran so fast in my life then when I heard the sound of the chainsaw in my ears. When the living nightmare finally ended, I had lost my voice and my knee's were knocking together from fear. So lessened learned, I will never go to another haunted house in all my life! I will bum a ride at Dalton's on the corner if I have too! Am I the only one with an experience like this!? I'm dying to know!

Husband Tag
1. Where did you meet? Mr. Moody's History class, Junior year.
2. How long did you date before you got married? 2 years
3. How long have you been married? A little over a year
4. What does he do that surprises you? Puts the lid down on the toilet...
5. What is your favorite feature of his? His eyes
6. What is your favorite quality of his? How hardworking and dedicated he is to our little family.
7. Does he have a nickname for you? Staco
8. What is his favorite color? Blue
9. What is his favorite food? Seafood and Steak
10. What is his favorite sport? He's not a big sports fan, but he loves bull riding!
11. When and where was your first kiss? In his basement....
12. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Cook a big dinner, rent a movie, and watch it together on the bean bag.
13. Do you have any children? Yes, Oaklee
14. Does he have a hidden talent? He can cook a mean steak.. he also plays the harmonica (country boy for sure)
15. How old is he? 19
16. Who said "I love you" first? He did...
17. What is his favorite type of music? Country
18. What do you admire most about him? His ability to find the humor in almost any situation, good or bad, and he always finds a way to put a smile on my face.
19. Do you think he will read this? Probably not, he doesn't even know how to get here on the internet!
20. I tag: AMIE yes you.

Happy 1st b-day Oaklee Mae**
We gathered family, delicious food, and lots of love to celebrate Oaklee's one year b-day. Oaklee's great grandma Connie let us invade her house and pretty much take over with our dishes, decorations, and balloons. It was so rewarding to watch Oaklee on her 1st b-day; tearing blissfully into her cake, helping Dad open her presents, and being with lots of warm family. I couldn't help but have flash backs to this day, one year ago, when the doctor placed a bundle of pink Oaklee in my arms. I was terrified, but I felt the same rewarding satisfaction of love and peace in my heart. Happy Birthday my sweet baby girl*

(above) Not very happy to be restrained for a picture...

(above) Hot Pink decorations....

(above) Delicious food
I totally copied Meagan on the cupcakes.. (thanks Meg! They turned out great!)

(above) Drunk on frosting..

(above) Sweet ending to a happy day...*

Boring...
As I'm sitting here, eating a raspberry filled powered donut and sipping on Pepsi with Dr. Phil on the T.V. and a blanket over me snuggling into my bean bag, I think to myself, "Stace you are really boring. Look at yourself! Sitting here on the bean bag, consuming who now's how many calories and watching Dr. Phil. You never have really anything exciting to blog about, rarely do you blog, and everyone's blogs are cute and updated." To put my mind at ease, I tell myself that I'm just really "busy" and that's the lack of exciting blogs and fun pictures. Or is it that my computer is really ghetto, or maybe it's because right as we speak I have about 5 loads of laundry and soapy dishes in the sink? I have a million excuses to ease my blog troubled mind. But really it just boils down to, I have nothing exciting to tell really! Life is just as crazy as ever, and we're loving every minute of it. I am famous for summing up what's happened with a gay slideshow of pictures, so today I thought I would think outside the slide show box and actually give an update in writing for the sake of feeling like a good person for keeping this blog updated. So here it goes, hang in there, please try not to fall asleep.
Colton is still working his guts out for Best Vinyl. He recently got promoted to "Finishing Foreman" and recieved a much needed raise. I'm so proud of all his accomplishments, and his determination. He truly has made me a better person by his example and his patience. Not to mention putting up with me. Yikes.
Oaklee is turning one next Sunday! Her days are filled with peek-a-boo, wabbily walking, lots of attitude, reading countless books, playing with tug (our new dog) and lots of exploration. Her new favorite thing is to crawl in the sliding glass door space my t.v. sits on and squish her body into the cubby hole. It's like she's amazed everytime she actually can fit herself in there! She loves food, her grandma's, who spoil her silly, and her new obsession is pointing at everything and going up and down stairs. She continually teaches me new things, and my love for her is unconditional.
Tug or new dog is a lab weimerheimer mix. She is dark chocolate black and a everything a puppy should be. She is hyper, slobbery, and likes to chase me when I feed her. Can you tell I just love her? She was a gift for Colton from me, and I'm not sure how I feel about her yet.... I'm sure with a lot of patience, I will learn to love her. haha
As for me? I am just loving life as a stay at home, nerdy, glasses wearing, pajama's till noon, lunch on the go, dinner at 7, never ending laundry crazy busy Mom. I have recently been taught how to can peaches (I know nerdy right?) and now I kind of want to can everything. I trim Models for my dad's business, and that is my "Job." So that's it! That's the Johnston's summed up for a about another month. I am hoping to become a better blogger, so as to keep some sort of a journal, but you know how it goes!
Thanks for listening...

Capital P*I*L*L

I think Gracie and Oaklee must have some "spunky" genes they inherited from Mom or something! Today I asked Oaklee if she wanted to go to bed, and she literally stopped what she was doing (eating cheerios in her car seat) looked up at me with those big blue eyes, pursed her lips together and clearly said "No". She said it almost like she knew exactly what I was asking her. So out of curiosity I asked her again "Oaklee do you want to go ni night?" again she looks up at me and says "No." I'm like ok you don't know what I am asking you to do, and you definitely don't know what NO means yet!!! Then she fell asleep in her car seat covered in cheerios, and apparently she only ate a few, judging by how many were left over in the car and her car seat. She also had them stuck to her cottage cheese bum and legs, in her hair, and a few stuck in her rolls. When we got home from various errands, I took her out to put her down for a nap. Ever so gently, like an unknown art form, I un-buckled her straps, delicately picked her up careful not to wake her, and my goal was just to make it to her crib.. Please oh please! I tiptoed all the way, and she stayed asleep, until, of course, I laid her down in her bed and then POOF perfect timing, her eyes open up and she smiles at me. I James Bond style roll out of her room, trying not to be seen, but it was too late. She stood up and said, "Ma ma?" My own personal cryptonite. How can you resist that? So after my delicate mission had failed, I get her out of prison and we go upstairs to play. I gave her a cup of lucky charms to occupy her interest making note to only put a very few marshmallows in the mix because I know how much of a sugar high she would get and the little ideas that would formulate in her head of what to do with the marshmallows, like squish them ect. I was oblivious to her dumping out all her lucky charms and squishing them in the carpet, occasionally eating a few. I look up from the computer to this little mischievous grin on her face and she has marshmallows stuck to her lips, and smeared all over her face is left over bright green, red, and yellow marshmallow goo. There are lucky charms everywhere on the floor, crunched and smooshed into the carpet like glue. No wonder she was being so quiet! I wonder what her little brain was thinking when she was doing all this? Today she has been nothing short of a PILL! I'm sure we are just in the beginnings of the naughty pre-toddler stage of curiosity and "I wonder what will happen when I do this?" mind set... GREAT..
*Not to self: Toddlers and Lucky Charms don't mix.

Just a little story of a day in the life of Oaklee...
*I would have pictures but my ghetto computer is not cooperating, so just picture a little devil with pig tails... JUST KIDDING..

Craziness*
So it's been about a month since I have blogged, I have no excuses except for I feel like summer has been crazy! There has been a baby learning how to crawl, watch out, Josh's Graduation party, Grandpa Bart's 40th b-day party, 4th of July, Gracie's b-day party, one year anniversary, and all the day to day in between craziness! Here is a look into what we've been doing this past month..

Pool Party*
Amie and I have been itching to get a pool for the girls, and today couldn't have been a better day to be outside, so we made a quick trip to Walmart for sun screen and this blow up pool and we headed out into grandma's backyard. The weather was perfect and we all had a great time being in the much needed sunshine!This is all Oaklee wanted to do... eat the sides..

and this is all Gracie wanted to do... roll her eyes at me when I tried to get a pic

and they both are in their own little worlds and stages which means getting pictures of them TOGETHER, was like pulling teeth! oh well at least we tried!

Who's bigger?... haha Oaklee takes the cake, and would probably eat it too!*

Finally a light at the end of the tunnel.. *

For the last 2 weeks, Oaklee just hasn't been acting the same. She would bug her ears, throw up, have a constant running nose, and other attributes of the "common cold." These symptoms went on for a couple of days, with no fever. It is when the fever came along that I got worried. After going to the doctor, Oaklee's diagnosis was an ear infection and possible sinus infection, and a prescription for Augmentin. I thought that in a few days we would be back to normal... (whatever normal means) So I gave Oaklee the Augmentin... If she was not throwing it up, it was coming out the other end and I mean bad. Along with the nasty symptoms of a cold, she now had what was like the flu. I called the nurses concerned about her bleeding, painful diaper rash, and each time they would tell me to just finish the prescription and get her acidopholus for her diarrhea. After about the 4th day of constant morning and night diarrhea, I called back the nurses. It seemed as though Oaklee was getting worse, and not better! They gave us a new prescription and told me that obviously Augmentin is too harsh for Oaklee stomach... At least we learned that in all this!! After the old antibiotic cleared her system, and the new one kicked in, I started to see improvements! Thanks to Amie and Josh's Nebulizer, we made it through lots of long nights. Also thanks to Grandma for letting Oaklee sleep over while her mom and dad got much needed sleep, and thanks to Amie and her witch doctor methods, (garlic oil??) I think Oaklee is finally feeling better! YES!

Colt giving Oak her Nebulizer Treatment ....

and playing with her to make her forget she's sick

and having some much needed relaxation time on the bean bag together.. (nice farmers tan...sexy)

and most importantly, making her smile... Thanks colt for all your help, your such a great dad!
P.S. Just a reminder to give me your e-mail address's so when I go private, we can still keep in touch!

*A Little More Safe

So I was watching the news the other night, and this story came on about a creepy man that followed a three year old little girl around in Wal Mart, and it made me realize even more that this world is a scary place, (even at wally world) so it is about time my blog became a little more secure, I don't want just anybody looking at our family, or some creepy Wal Mart man... so if you want to continue viewing our blog, give out your e-mail address or e-mail me, I will be going private in a week, so please e-mail me asap so we can continue to keep in touch! Thanks!*
p.s. I'm very computer illiterate, so I hope this will work! ha let me know...

If only money grew on trees...

Colton and I have an inside joke about having a money tree in our backyard, and today is his 19th b-day so I thought it would be perfect to have one for a day! Happy b-day Colt, we love you!