My world

 

July 4th

I took off work the week of July 4th so I had off the weekend before, and the weekend after.  I really treasured this week to spend with my baby girl. 

We hung out at the pool

And Laila figured out how to swim with her floaties... Now she just wants to go and go and go and isn't afraid at all!!

I wrote this blog while out of town.... I'm late posting, but here it is anyway.
I'm in Washington D.C. this week and have one more week here.  This is my 1st out of town assignment that I have had to stay over the weekend.  I cried for a whole day before I had to leave. 

But just to tell you alittle about God's grace, he knows what I can and can not handle.  This is something I didn't think I could handle alone.  D.J. and Laila aren't able to come out and see me over the weekend, not for a lack of trying! We just couldn't get it worked out with flight arrangements, work etc... But the first week I was here, my friend and co-worker Scott was here and he showed me the D.C. ropes. How to ride the metro, where to go run, eat and just a great dinner partner for a night or two during the week.  It was so nice to not be alone all week long.  Also my cousin Kristin lives here so she is taking me out tonight (Friday) and on a tour of the area on Saturday.  I am so excited to see her and spend some time together.  I am also so thankful for not having to sit in my hotel room all alone all weekend!

I got to Skype with Laila and D.J. the other night, that really took the edge off. I just wanted to jump throught the camera and kiss and hug, but it was better than not seeing their faces at all.  This is such a great training class I am attending this week, and I am grateful for the study time (Test is in September!!!) but definitly miss home.

Johnson Family Reunion

Johnson Family Reunion

The weekend before the Fourth of July, we took off to South Padre Island for the annual Johnson Family Reunion.  Oh did we have so much fun! We spent 3 days with all my extended family, playing games, hanging out at the beach and just talking and laughing so much.  We are so blessed to have such a loving, amazing family who are all in love with Christ.  It's alway been a normal for me to know my second and third cousins, aunts and uncles etc. We grew up together.  I never even realized it wasn't that way with everyone's family until I was older.  I have been blessed to have big families on both sides (mom and dad)  I love it and I love that my husband (who has now been around my family the last 10 years) is just one of us.  If I had to guess there were probably about 50 of us.

My child LOVES the beach, the water, the sand, all of it!  So we played and played.

Laila with her 2nd cousin (my cousin's baby) Marley.  They are only 2 months apart!

S. Padre is a beautiful beach. I miss it already!

The first night we were there we all got to go on a private charter and dinner on a boat out across the bay.  Once the sun went down we got to watch some fireworks! Laila just sat amazed!

Laila loves her Uncle Benjamin. They sat and looked at the water for a long time. and then when she got tired that night, she just laid her head on his shoulder and relaxed. So sweet!

Adorable newlyweds! 

My sisters and I

Me, Laila, D.J. and my sisters with their soon-to-be husband/husband, wow!  Dad's head is hiding.

Playing with Papa! She sure loves this guy 

My pretty blue eyed girl 

Watching Fireworks

Laila also used some floaties for the first time....took her awhile to figure them out, but now, she's a fish! We ate some very yummy watermelon at my dad's.  As you can see, Laila loved it.



Shower Time

We hosted a bridal shower at my house last weekend for my sister Suzanne.  It was so much fun and such a beautiful day celebrating her upcoming wedding.  She got so many wonderful things and now its waiting time until the wedding in August!

We had alot of fun decorating and making fun recipes that I found on Pinterest like these stuffed strawberries and zucchini boats.  You can find the recipes on http://pinterest.com/earsenault1/ my Pinterest Boards under Food.

Cousins!

 The girls with our mom

 I love my sisters

 Our beautiful grandmother

 Aunt Suzanne with her Laila love

My precious girl

Travel

Unfortunately my job requires that I occasionally have to travel.  IT SUCKS! Ok I said it. I'm not one you will usually hear complain or gripe.  I KNOW that I'm incredibly blessed.  My life is amazing, I have a job, I like my job and I have a wonderful husband and precious baby girl.  It's things like this that help keep my thinking in perspective.  I just hate being away from my family.  It's something I never would have chosen for myself and it gets increasingly harder.  It was hard enough when it was just D.J. and I, but now I have Laila.  I breaks my heart everytime I am away. 

On a POSITIVE note, I have an incredibly encouraging husband, who takes care of everything while I'm away.  Our moms are close by and help as well.  I know this time, in our lives, in my career, is temporary.  There are big positive changes coming our way and hopefully after I pass a big test I am required to take for my job, I can adjust my work schedule and be home much much more.  There may always be a week here or there of travel, but this year and the last 4 years (in preparation for this test) has been the worst for travel.  I know God has put me here for a reason. This season in life is a trial, but He is refining me, to trust him, to be patient, and to rely not on myself but on Him entirely.  These things I pray for constantly. 

It made me so happy and excited that my sister, Samantha, came in town mid-week last week.  Laila got to spend two days with her Aunt.  It made me feel so good that she was there with her and having fun.  She sent me this video of the two of them, helping to tide me over until I came home.  I'm sorry the video is sideways.  I don't know how to get it to turn.  If you know how, please let me know!

Laila is so full of energy.  She is so loving.  She can say "Iwuvou" I love you! It's the BEST!  She has also really gotten good at clearly pronouncing so many words and phrases, her favorite, "MOMMY, MOMMY"! I love it.  She's becoming my little shadow, I love that too.  It's still so amazing to me that God has given me this perfect little angel! I know many of you Mama's out there feel what I'm feeling with your own little ones. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week, tomorrow is already Wednesday! :)

Lake Fun

The weekend before last, I got to spend some much needed time with my cousin Rhea. She is more than a cousin, she is like a sister, best friend, someone I can laugh with no matter what. I love her so much!

 Then we met up with the boys and had fun listening to music, dancing, and eating chips and salsa!

Saturday we went up to Lake Livingston, where my parents have a place, and spent the day on the water.  It was nice to relax and spend time with family.  D.J. and I dominated in washers, and overall it was a really great day.

 Laila loves her Aunt Samantha!

 I haven't done this since before I got pregnant with Laila! So much fun.  I don't know why but I laugh hysterically the entire time, like someone told a really funny joke! I dunno... it's fun!

 My little mud bug

 She was so entertained playing with a tub of water, rocks and mud! I think she looks so

 much like her Aunt Suzy in this picture!  It's the cheeks!

So glad we got to spend time with the Newlyweds!

99 Things

I saw this post on a blog here Jen's blog and it looked like fun to fill out. 

Looks like I have some things to do! Things I've done are in Bold

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii


5. Watched a meteor shower


6. Given more than you can afford to charity


7. Been to Disneyland
 (been to Disney World, that count?)

8. Climbed a mountain


9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo


11. Bungee jumped


12. Visited Paris


13. Watched a lightning storm


14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning


17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty


18. Grown your own vegetables


19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France


20. Slept on an overnight train


21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort


25. Held a lamb


26. Gone skinny dipping


27. Run a Marathon (half marathon, yes!)

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice


29. Seen a total eclipse


30. Watched a sunrise or sunset


31. Hit a home run


32. Been on a cruise


33. Seen Niagara Falls in person


34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors


35. Seen an Amish community


36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person


39. Gone rock climbing 


40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt


43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant


44. Visited Africa


45. Walked on a beach by moonlight


46. Been transported in an ambulance


47. Had your portrait painted


48. Gone deep sea fishing


 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person


50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling


52. Kissed in the rain


53. Played in the mud


54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie


 56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business


58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen


61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies


62. Gone whale watching


63. Got flowers for no reason


64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma


65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy


70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt


73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades


75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person


80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican


82. Bought a brand new car


83. Walked in Jerusalem


84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House


87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish count?)


88. Had chickenpox


89. Saved someone’s life


90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby


95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit


98. Owned a cell phone


99. Been stung by a bee

Now you give it a try!