Daddy Daughter Dance 2011

It's February and you know what that means....

Flowers and candy and the

Daddy Daughter Dance at Hope!!

This year Dave and the big girls got all

dressed up and hit the town for an evening.

They met up with some friends at Culvers

(hmm, fine dining!) then headed over to the dance.

As always, they had a groovin' good time!

They danced, and laughed and enjoyed

their time together!

I love the Daddy Daughter Dance.

Not just because they get to dress up.

Not just because it's an excuse for me to snap more pictures.

And not just because it's a great holiday tradition.

I love it because it reinforces one of the most important

relationships in my girls' life:

the relationship with their Daddy.

I pray that this tradition continues for as long

as they are allowed to go. (Claire informed me

that it is only until 6th grade, with a hint of

sadness I think)

I pray that the girls never forget how great it

felt to get dressed up and spend some special

time with their Daddy.

Avery, expressing her opinion about being left at home.

Next year sweet Aves.

The traditional "silly shot"

One proud Daddy! Three happy girls!

A picture from the dance ~
Thanks Hope for sponsoring and reinforcing
special family times!

Johnson Family Birthday Celebration!

The Johnson Family started a fabulous family tradition

a couple of years ago.

Because the majority of us have birthdays in January,

we decided to celebrate in mass that month.

What better way to celebrate January birthdays

in Iowa then at the Indoor WaterPark!

Grandpa and Grandma reserve the rooms and

the rest of come to swim, eat, swim, eat

and of course play a few games too!

We have a blast! The girls love the swimming,

the adults love the food.

Doesn't get much better than that!

Enjoy ~

Happy Birthday Grandpa, Grandma, Janelle,

David, Jamie and Kyle!

Ella and Aves on the hunt for some water shooter victims!

Grandpa giving Aves a taste of her own medicine!

Ahh, what a good lookin' group!

Ella's favorite game was the "Kyle tossing game"

Dave got in on the swimming fun too!

Claire, always looking for a chance to swim a lap!

Daddy and his girls!

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma for another

great yearly celebration!

We love you so much!

Don't forget ~

I was driving today and was overwhelmed with the feeling of time literally flying by me.

Now, yes, I do drive fast. But that wasn't it. It was much deeper than that. It was a realization that time is marching forward, with or without me.

It started when I said good morning to Claire. She was in her room, listening to music. This is something she does now. She sits, in her room, listening to music or reading or doing things that resemble a "pre-teen" way too much! That was the first "time flash", as we'll come to call them now.

Next came my goodbye to Claire. "Bye baby, I love you. You'll do great on your ITBS today, it's reading. No problem. Just relax, you're a reader, you'll be fine. Read the questions carefully and you'll be fine." Claire, looking at me with an all-too-knowing smile, "yea, mom, I know." Time flash #2. My daughter is taking the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. I'm sorry, but I remember taking those and it wasn't that long ago! (stop laughing, I'm not that old!)

After that, I said goodbye to my sweet Ella. She was in bed, sick again. But, even in sickness, she is growing up so much. She is so caring. With a fever so high for the last 4 days she can hardly move, she still managed to make homemade Valentines for me. Love that kid.

Time flash #3 came as I was getting ready to leave. I opened the car door to put Avery in, but she climbed in herself. You see, she's in a booster seat now. Why? Because she's potty trained. Yes, that's right. I have been changing diapers for over 9 years. I have been lugging a diaper bag, never leaving home without wipes for 9 years and now nothing. Well, an extra change of clothes in a plastic bag, but no diapers!

So, Avery climbs into her seat by herself and we're off. As I back out of the driveway I ask Avery if she wants her movie. (Side note: Avery always wants her movie. Since the day she discovered we had a TV in the car, she's wanted a movie. This is a rhetorical question in our car.) Anyway, I ask her if she wants her movie, as I'm leaning over to turn it on and she says, "no mom. I'm just going to sit back and relax." And that is exactly what she did! For the 20 minute drive to Ankeny, she just sat in her butterfly booster seat, looking outside and occasionally asking a question. Time Flash! When did my baby grow up to relax? Where did the whining, I want TV, entertain me baby go?

Over the last several weeks I have been relishing in my new found "freedom". I have no kids in diapers. I have no kids in child safety seats. I don't have to carry a big bag around if I don't want to. I have no high chair, no baby monitor, no crib. I have no baby.

I have been enjoying this freedom that comes from children growing up and growing independent. But, I want to be careful. That freedom comes at a cost. I can't get those years back. I can't break out the high chair when my big girl won't eat her dinner. I can't break out the crib when my big girl won't go to bed when I want her to. I can't break out the baby monitor when my big girl spends the night away from home at a sleepover. My freedom comes at a cost.

I have to trust that as my babies grow up and grow independent, they will also grow strong.
Strong in faith, strong in integrity, strong in kindness and strong in responsibility. I have to learn how to parent a child, instead of a dependent baby. I have to learn how to balance the art of letting go, while still be close enough to offer a shoulder or ear whenever they need it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the freedom. But, I don't want to love it too much. I don't want to take for granted the nights Claire wants to snuggle, or Ella wants to read together, or Avery want to play puppies. I don't want to miss opportunities to be needed and listened to and depended on.

I can't stop time. I can't stop these "time flashes" from sneaking up on me and knocking me on my behind. But, I can slow down. I can take the time to snuggle, or read, or play. I can choose to enjoy the moment, watch for the good, and sneak in late at night and watch them 'sleeping like babies'!

Proverbs 22:6 - Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Flash back post!

This post comes to from way back in August, 2010!

The scene: Claire and mom, prepping for her Adenoid surgery

Ella, prepping for stardom with The Fabulous Traidmarx!

While Claire was under the knife,

Ella was basking in the spotlight.

Ella was lucky enough to head up to Okoboji

with Grandpa and Grandma Johnson for

a rockin' good time with Grandpa's band.

While many of you know Ella as the shy and

anxious child, you should see her on stage!

She is a natural rock star!

Watch out American Idol.... it's Ella!

The Fabulous Traidmarx ~

Grandpa rockin' the sax, Ella on the tamborine!

Ella was so comfortable on stage,

she started drifting toward Tim, the singer,

on the other side of the stage!~

Even rockstars need to relax and have some fun!

What a Grandpa!!

I happened upon these pictures tonight when I was updating some stuff.

It made me so happy to see Ella in all of her glory.

I remember when we were discussing whether she should go, without me.

I was so nervous. Not that I didn't think she was in good hands, but

it's Ella. She's my baby, she needs me more than the others.

Well, as you can see, she did just fine.

And, I couldn't be happier about that!

Thank you God for the wonderful family you have

allowed me to be a part of and to share with my girls!

The exciting adventures of Avery Suzanne!

Avery is so lucky to attend the best preschool in the world!

A bold statement? Yes, it is! Bold and true!

I love her teachers and the great adventures they have together!

I love the freedom of knowing that she is in good hands, even if their not mine ~

The Fab Four!

I can't do it alone.

I love being a mom.

It is my life's work, my passion, my everything.

But, I can't do it alone.

I firmly believe in the whole "village" concept.

For our family, the center of the village is God.

He guides us, cares for us, and loves us.

We find him in everything we do, especially who we choose to

surround ourselves with.

That is where God often shines the brightest.

Our first circle out is our family.

Our strongest support, our closest relationships.

My girls have no idea how blessed they are to

have so many family members loving them,

supporting them, watching and praying for them!

Our next circle out we find our family friends.

These are the people that we turn to,

in good, bad, sad, exciting, all times.

Our family friends no everything going on

at the RouseHouse and love and support

us through it all.

Our family friends know we love them, no matter

how long it's been since we said it.

We have standing appointments with our family friends.

Camp, swimming, church, holidays, special occasions, everything!

The third circle finds our "best friends".

This is where it can get tricky.

These are the girls that help shape my girls thoughts,

decision, actions, values, ideas, music......

I can't control who my girls choose to befriend,

but I sure can influence that choice!

Luckily, Claire has an amazing group of friends.

They are all kind and honest through and through.

I like them, I like their families.

Doesn't get much better than that!

This year we decided to celebrate that friendship

with a time capsule.

The "fabulous four" as they call themselves,

all descended upon our house for a time capsule

creating sleepover!

They came up with some great things to include,

pictures, new and old

a scarf one of them made

letters to their "future-selves"

a CD compilation of their current favorite music

a few odds and ends.

They also took some time to knot a blanket to

give to a shelter for those less fortunate.

The fab four our well-cared for,

but are learning that not everyone

is as privileged as them. They are learning

that to those much is given, much is expected

in return! And, that it can be done with

a full and joyful heart ~

The Fabulous Four, kindly including Avery!

The Fab Four ~
Making the time capsule, to be opened January 2020!

Making the blanket, took much longer than expected,
but they had a great time!



Settling in for bed, and again, kindly including
a little sister!

Thank you to my village. My circle of family,

friends and moms who help me so much.

Often, without even knowing just how much!

Thank you for your amazing examples

of faithful parenting, friendship and discipleship!

I am so grateful for each and every one of our

friends, near and far!

An unexpectedly great New Year Celebration

Grammy and I decided to take the girls and head up

to Minneapolis during Christmas break.

We needed our "baby Sophie" fix, so we packed up

car for a short trip.

On the agenda, quick afternoon at Mall of America

and then quality time with the family.

Lucky for us, the weather had other plans for us!

Our quick trip turned into 4 wonderful days!

First stop: dinner out in St. Paul

Great times~

Avery at the American Girl Store, "oh mom!"

Claire treated Chrissa to this trip

Ella, always hamming it up for the camera!

Time allowed for a whole day of fun at MOA, lucky us!

Claire and Grammy had so much fun!

We all enjoyed a trip to the Aquarium ~

New Year's Day - a little bowling!

And of course, no Wangerin gathering w/out games!

Thanks to my brother Dean, sis-in-law Rachel,

and cousin Sophie for so graciously, and comfortably

hosting us! You have a wonderful, warm and

loving home! We can't wait to visit again, and we'll

bring extra clothes next time!