First Time Ever

So Katie, Will and I are in the San Diego airport waiting in line at Southwest (the only remaining affordable airline). We had been down there for the weekend visiting friends. I start staring at the mandolin-toting guy across the aisle dividers and, since he was totally out of context, asked "who is that familiar dude?" Then I said "Hey, Wynn!" He looked at me like "who is that familiar dude?" and we talked for a few minutes before our lines took us in different directions (Vegas and San Francisco).

I don't think I've ever run into any of you at the airport. The only other time I ran into a random Johnson was Uncle Tim when I was in the bathroom at the Blind Pig on Katie's 21st birthday in 1995.

Anyway that's the big news in my life.

Andy

Something Old, Something New, and Something Well-Deserved

Hello all you million Johnsons,

Well, our dear little house has sold. We will be moving at the end of October to a newer, flatter house. It's with some sadness that we contemplate this move. We have loved living here in this cosy little house. We have a wonderful neighborhood full of wonderful friends who have helped us through difficult times with my illness, and who are a great lot of fun in these healthier times, too. In the end, though, we know a better house for me will be better for all of us - so there is some peace in that, and the beginnings of excitement about having a new place and making it our own.



Here is a photo of the new house.
It is in West Saint Paul, a suburb pretty much due east of here (don't ask me....???). You can see that the lot is wooded, which Ben is very excited about. The house is close to lots of our favorite places like Dodge Nature Center and Super Target. Also close to Dave's office. The kids will stay at their current schools, since the new house is still quite close in, and not much farther from their schools than we are now. We close on October 17th, will spend a week doing some small jobs (floors and painting in the kids' rooms), and we'll move in on October 25th. My mom and dad are coming to help us move - thanks Mom and Dad! We invite anyone and everyone to come visit us in our new house once we're settled.


And last, but not least, from the Well-Deserved Desk,
a few weeks ago we received the great news that Dave
has been promoted to Director. This is a big
promotion for him morale-wise, and I am so proud of him.

That's pretty much it for us right now. The kids are all doing great in school, and we are muddling through the beginning-of-the-school-year viruses. We will be busy packing boxes and getting ready to move. Love to all of you,

Molly and fam

Here at the Pics that go with post below!

Life at 50!

Hi All!



Skip and I had a wonderful time at Chanteu Chantel on Mission Point Peninsula north of Traverse City. Thank you very much for the great gift! We were there Sunday, Sept. 7th through Tuesday, September 9th. We drank some great wine and had two delicious dinners. We even purchased a few Christmas gifts - just a hint if you pick our presents in the grab bag! We took a drive along the Pierce Stocking Trail along Lake Michigan and visited historic Fishtown on the Leelenau Peninsula. We were able to stop by and see Tim/Jana's and Kate/Jim's paradise on the lake. The "cottage" home is beautiful as is the view on the bay! What a great retreat. If you ever get a chance to visit them be sure to take the drive on the Pierce Stocking Trail. It is spectacular.



Our summer went well. The weather was great in Michigan. We spent two weeks on Mullett Lake -- the last week of June and the first week of July. It was very relaxing.

I took a trip to Saugatuck for a few days with my girlfriends who also are turning 50 or turned 50 this year. One of these friends I have known since we were 3, two others since 2nd grade and the others from high school. We are also getting together for dinner next Tuesday.

We had a great time at the Johnson Reunion! Skip especially enjoyed the day seeing all of his cousins. We drove by the farm, as did everyone else.


Joe is home, applying to law schools to attend next September if he chooses, and he is working for Skip full-time as a Legal Assistant. He is well and happy for the first time that he can remember that he is not in school this September!



I worked as a volunteer at the Junior Olympics this past July and hope to be selected to work the NCAA Championship which will be held at Ford Field in April. (I am on the volunteer list as I worked the Super Bowl a few years back when it was in Detroit.) I am also looking for some other type of volunteer work in the evenings or weekends -- still trying to find my niche.



We got to meet Ethan this past Sunday (his Baptism) and I was fortunate to be able to hold him for a long time. He is beautiful. It was nice seeing Abbi too! (and the rest of you too.....)



Other than that, we go to work, come home, I walk, Skip watches TV, we eat dinner and on the weekends go to a CC football game.

(I tried to add pictures but I don't think it is working. I will try to add them later -- with the help of Joe.)



That's life at 50!



Hope to see everyone soon.



Love, Nancy

jude

ok - lots of typo's in the last blog, and no picture of jude. i just fired myself.

here is a picture or two of handsome jack

kaliforneyeeh?

Hi all,

Thanks for all the updates you have been posting. It's a great way to keep in touch. Nice funnel cloud Tim!

Ella turned 5 today! Thank you all for the notes and gifts. She has had a wonderful weekend. The birthday part was a sleepover with a few of her friends and a morning visit by a princess. This princess, while viewed skeptically by one of the guests, pefrormed magic tricks, sang songs, and did some face painting. Ella told Trish that her dreams had come true. It was quite lovely.

You probably know that Ella started Kindergarten this year. So far so good. She seems to love it, and is quite fond of her teachers. First day pictures are included.

Jude is doing awesome as well. He is talking up a storm and having a great time trying to be as independant as his sister. He cracks us up with his seriousness and focus. He can hit the golf ball like it's nobody's business. That's my boy!

Trish just returned from another trip to Europe - only this time with a stop in Dubai. She loves to visit the foreign lands, but was not impressed with Dubai.

We are starting to think about our holiday plans, so we'll let you know details soonly.

Miss you all, Jon

Audrey's first day of Kindergarten

Sorry about the editing - for some reason, it isn't letting me move pictures around this time. Audrey loves Kindergarten. Here she is all dressed up for her first day.

And here is a picture with Gabe:

Note the box of tissues on the steps behind Ingrid. Audrey's teacher was prepared.

And lastly, there is a picture of Audrey with Miss Donahue.

They have after-care in Audrey's school, and it is run by her Kindergarten teacher. She loves it.

No pictures of Ingrid's first day - that was back in August. Ingrid still can't stop talking about how much fun she has there.

Nobody took pictures of my first day teaching at Clark.

Heather

Spencer Summer pictures

Jacob and cousin Laura












Dave and Molly who you often hear from and about, but never really get to see. Aren't they a handsome pair!!










Lots of people pictures from the reunion, but here is the farm-where the aunts and uncles spent lots of time as kids. ok, Elaine and Eli are next, but I can't get the cursor to go down there!!!!!!!

Torch Lake update

The Spencer family had a few days together at the lake in August. We enjoyed being together and took advantage of everyone being here by taking a family picture. Since we had a 'professional' come and take them, I can't post them on the blog, but will be sure everyone gets one when the holidays roll around.

Most of you know that Matt has a new job as the principal of Sparta High School. This happened fairly suddenly in early August when the principal he had worked with took a job in Montcalm County. Jacob started kindergarten this year and loves riding the bus with the big kids to go to school. Eli considers the childcare at the YMCA to be his school and proudly announces that whenever he drives by. Of course, Jacob tries to set everyone straight by reminding us that it isn't a real school!!

Molly has kept everyone pretty well posted on life in St. Paul. We sure enjoyed having the Parker clan here for a few weeks this summer. Hard to believe that Ben is seven!!

Andy, Katie and Will made a quick (four day) trip to Michigan in August. It was such fun to see all the cousins together! Katie's folks joined us for a couple of the days, staying at the golf course since we were full!

The new Community Services Building that Bob has been working on for three years is completed, dedicated and in full use. This has taken quite a bit of pressure off of him so the job seems more manageable. Still we are looking forward to November 20th at noon when the new Supervisor begins his work. We are hoping to take a long week-end in Chicago soon after he finishes.

We have enjoyed having Tim and Jana and Kate and Jim so close. We see them and any of their visitors regularly. So, we've been able to see Gary and Michelle, Nancy and Skip, the Lisenbee extended family and all but Ben in the Tim Johnson family. Life is great up north and we invite any and all of you for a visit!!

The responses to the inquiry about the family Christmas party lead me to believe that we should have it the Saturday after Christmas at Lisenbees. All in favor? Then it is settled. Details to come later but I think you can pretty much plan on a repeat of the last several years. Who has the owls?

I didn't do my homework with summer pictures before I started this so I can't send any. I tried to add them to this from Picasa, but failed. I will try again sometime.