What's in a name???

Olivia decided to change her name this afternoon. I guess she figures that she has had the same one for over three and a half years, so it is time for a new one. She now wants to be called Butterfly Little Kim. It is kind of catchy, don't you think? Of course, we should not get used to it. Earlier in the day, she went by Katherine Little Kim, so who knows what it will be tomorrow(maybe "The Daughter Formerly Known as Olivia?!?)! Maybe someday one of these trendy names will be her stage name! You just never know what will happen next with Olivia!

I have heard it said...

Here are a few of my favorite quotes I have heard around the Johnson house lately...


--"I have lived a long time... seven years!" --Isaac (said very seriously!)


-- "Well, how rude!" --Troy Stuart (when the toy farm magnet oinked at him when he opened our refrigerator door)


-- "I have always thought the devil is shaped like a kite!" --Bailey (I am still trying to figure that one out!)

-- "My one leg did not get a lot of sleep last night." -- Olivia

-- "That was just a bird singing in my nose." -- Olivia (when she was blowing her nose)

-- "Oh well, I will just have to get another one!" --Bailey (Said during a game of pretend in which Olivia told her that the prince was dead.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a great Valentine's Day! Our morning was "normal". We worked on school and chores around the house. Isaac and Bailey are part of a science co-op on Thursday afternoons, and they had a little party after class. They exchanged Valentines and ate enough sugar to last until Easter. After they had consumed as much as they could hold, we headed home for our own family V-Day celebration. We had a special dinner -- stuffed shrimp (the girls said "No Thank-you!"), pizza rolls, french fries, and crab dip with crackers. The pizza rolls, being a rare treat, were the hit of the party. I had bought a red, plastic table cloth for the table. Bailey said, "It looks beautiful Mom" (I think that it might be time to invest in some table cloths and napkins!). Anna Grace consumed her weight in crab dip. The children each got a little bag that had watercolors, a straw, pencil and candy in it (it is wonderful how little things still thrill their heart). I had fixed a basket of treats from Fresh Market for Mark and included a cd of Weather Channel music (we call it MTV for older people!). My sweet husband gave me lotion and chocolate and a promise of a new Bible. What a sweetie! My favorite part of the day was just being with my family!

Tornado sirens, volcanoes and talking trees...

We had our first experience with tornado sirens last night. We knew there was a possibilty of severe weather before we went to bed, but we were both able to fall asleep anyway. "Nature" called Mark out of bed around 3:00, and he turned on the television. There was a severe thunder storm heading our way, and a tornado had already touched down in a nearby county. They were advising everyone in our area to "seek tornado shelter." The tornado sirens were going off, which made the situation seem more serious. I was thankful that Mark had woken up, because I do not think the sirens alone would have worked. They kind of sounded like an ambulance siren off in the distance.

So, we woke the children up (what a painful thing to do!!!), and we all huddled in the laundry room until the weatherman gave the all clear. The two younger girls had no understanding of what was happening, but the older ones, especially Isaac, knew enough to be afraid. Isaac said, "Should we pray?" So, we prayed for safety and tried to reassure the children. It was very strange to hear reports of "funnel activity" in places near our house. The storm was past our area by about 3:50, so we began trying to get everyone to go back to sleep. Isaac was still afraid of the thunder and lightening, so he got in our bed, and I headed to the guest bed. I went to check on the girls a couple of times. At one point, Olivia said, "Is there really a volcano out there?" I was able to say with confidence that there were no volcanoes anywhere near us!

Everyone eventually went back to sleep, although everyone is still a little groggy this morning. Olivia told me that she had a dream in which Daddy rescued her and Bailey from the "talking tree at church". What a night! Praise God that He answered Isaac's prayer!