Halloween Videos

Trick or Treat!

 We had a wonderful time trick or treating last night. Ada is now a pro at it. She never was quite sure what to do, sometimes she barely knocked on the door but others she banged on it with all she had. Most of the time she tried to "help" people put candy in her bucket and always inspected her goods after every door. She was a trooper. The night started out her swinging her bucket from side to side taking in all the sounds and strange creatures wondering around. Ada never thought anything was scary. Pumpkins, spiders, and ghostly creatures were eagerly pointed out and called "cute" while dancing skeletons and glowing eyeballs were looked at with her head cocked to the side as if trying to figure out the mechanics of it all. It did not take long before she was dragging her bucket on the ground to carrying it with two hands, but never once, even after several offers from both Adam and I, did she want to give up load. By the time we had gone about fifteen housed further than Adam and I had anticipated, Ada had learned that cutting through yards was a lot easier than walking on the road. She was always headed to the "next one" and consistently pointing out all the "next ones" she could see with their front porch and decorations glowing. By the time we had reached the steep driveway side, and the last leg of the neighborhood, she finally said she was going to take a break and sat down at the end of someone's driveway. After a brief conversation about the urgency of moving on and not being allowed to eat anything till we got home she was up and at it again, but this time Daddy was allowed to carry her bucket between houses. With just a few more houses to go, she completed her trick or treating journey on foot, said her last "Thank you trick or treat-er", wished everyone a "Bye Halloween" and gladly took a free ride in my arms with a blue sucker all the way home.

Happy Fall!

Picking Pumpkins in our clown suit! Grandmother Leslie made it in all pink for the little princess!

Apples!!!

We went to Mercier Orchards this weekend for pick your own weekend. Little Ada and her Daddy were in Apple Heaven!! Ada and I were able to go both days. Saturday with Grandma Martin and then Sunday with Daddy. Pink Lady and Cameo are in season and Mercier only has one 2-day weekend open to the public to come in and pick there own. I'm not sure Ada really cared about the picking part, but she loved the tractor ride up the hills to the orchard and the eat while you pick.

On Sunday, Ada got to experience a true Georgia treat, fried pies! Her and her father split a cherry pie, and I say split only because Ada let her dad have a few bites. We came home with huge fresh apples that I have no idea what to do with but I can promise that they won't go to waste! I think we have found a new fall family tradition! There was nothing more relaxing than walking hand in hand with my family eating fresh apples with gorgeous mountain views!  Thank you Mercier! See you next year!

Click on the picture till it shows the video

Fall/Winter Micro Garden

Well, we have decided to attempt to grow a mini micro garden. Adam started researching online about how we could do it and I found a publication from UT about good winter plants for the area. So this morning we ran to the Mayo Garden Center, they confirmed our study fines and directed us to the winter seeds. So we now have seeds in little planters. Carrots, spinach, Georgia collards, roman lettuce and green onions are all in the ground thanks to our little helper. In addition to that we also have sprouts, rosemary, basil, chives, and garlic in separate containers. The rosemary and basil we got from a friend and got them to sprout in a water jar. The garlic I bought from the grocery store a while ago and noticed this weekend it was growing so we planted it as well.

Ada loved it! It wasn't just getting to play in the dirt, but she understood that we were building little homes for the seeds and this is where they were going to live and grow. She enjoyed watering them and both Adam and I were impressed that she did not try to flood them. Ada was oh so careful patting the dirt down and making sure they all had their "blankets" on. I think she is going to be a good little gardener and I really hope that she inherits her Nana Carol's green thumb!

Bread!

So Adam and I have been in bread making mode for a few weeks now. I haven't bought store made bread in about a month now and now, I don't think I will buy it again. We have made several traditional loafs that some have turned out great and some have turned out a bit flat. Here lately we have started to branch out. Sunday we made a honey wheat round loaf and last night we made bagels! Both are delicious! Adam and I are really enjoying this new hobby. We hope to get good enough at this to start being able to give it away to people and them be able to tell what it is!

New house new stuff to do

In the middle of unpacking and getting settled, last night we decided to take a break and introduce Ada to the swimming pool. Saying that she loved it would be an understatement. She did not run and jump in the first time, but she thought about it. It took about ten minutes of making ourselves look like fools for Ada to understand that she needs to kick and paddle her arms at the same time. Once she grasped that she was dog paddling across the pool between Adam and I, well with assistance. She did swallow a bit of water a few times so we are now working on swimming with our mouth shut. She looks kinda silly b/c she is wiggling and frog kicking all while making a "kissy" face. Adam let her get out of the pool and jump back into his arms, but that opened a whole other can of worms. She liked that a lot, but wanted to try launching herself into the pool from every corner, so Adam and I got our workout b/c we were having to swim as fast as we could to opposite ends of the pool as she ran around it.
We both were very impressed at how quickly she picked up on swimming and really do think that she will be dog paddling with floats by the end of the summer.  The best part of it all, she slept like a rock last night.

We are on the Move again!

Just to let everyone know that we are moving, again! Ha! Our phones will stay the same so email me if you want the new address. Here is a cell phone picture of the townhouse. Its a 2 bedroom 2.5 bath house in the west side of Knoxville. This is a lot closer for my first 2 years of school, great school system for Ada and close to work for Adam.

Cooking with style

Nana Carole sent Ada a new apron she made. So we put it to the test this weekend making sugar cookies. Ada loved "helping". I think she may end up sharing my love for baking. It was fun, a huge mess, but fun. 

She loved the elephant!

I think making the dough "turn around" was the most fun for her. 

She didn't grasp the idea of putting the cookies down in rows, she just kinda put them where she wanted.

I think she was kinda surprised that she "cooked" something.

Random 2010

Thumbs up for Dad's BBQ

 Showing her personality

Showing more of her personality

May showers

(Ada's new way of surviving the grocery store)

It's almost half way over, and I am just now getting to writting the first post of the month. Shame on me. It's been busy keeping up with the Johnson's this month. It seems that the warm the weather gets the busier our calender become. But, hey, can't complain.
Ada is talking up a storm. She has mastered simple complete sentences and is starting to work on some more complicated ones. She knows how to ask for a towel and loves to "clean" up after herself. The only problem with that is that I am the one that ends up fishing out the silverware from the trashcan. Found a plate in there the other day, so there is some room for improvement. 
Adam has extended the services he offers with the company to include printing now. He is very excited b/c it allows him to do more graphic design.Other than that, he is doing well.
I go next week to pick out my class schedule for the fall. I guess then I will be an official college student...again. I'll let you all know what I am taking when I find out.

The great fall of Easter 2010

Today we went to Look Rock on the Foothills Parkway just south of Maryville, TN, along side the Great Smoky Mountain park. Had a great time. It was a good short day event with spectacular views of the mountains. The observation tower is about half a mile up the mountain on a nicely maintain gravel path. Ada loved running from rock to rock and tree to tree. She saw a few squirrels and tried to call them over, but they weren't having any of that. Ada also had to pick up every pine cone along the way. By the time we got to the top we had enough to make a wreath.
Before we started the hike, Ada took a tumble trying to jump onto the sidewalk. We did not realize the extent of the scrapes till we were well on our way up the mountain. She was a trooper and hung in there all the way to the top and back down again. Once we were back in the parking lot, we converted the back of the SUV into a first aid station with a snack and drink bar. Adam and I were about ready to break out the fan and grapes for little Miss pitiful when she decided that she was ok with the "sticky's" on her knee, elbow and finger.
We ended the day with a stroll along creek at Abrams Creek camp ground in Happy Valley at the bottom of the mountain ridge.
It was good to spend Easter Sunday surrounded by all things good, green and peaceful. It was kinda nice to have the cell phones turned off.

The Great Smoky Easter

We went to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park today to take Ada's Easter pictures. We has such a wonderful time. Our day started by meeting Grandpa and Grandma Martin at Newfound Gap. It was very windy and a bit chilly. You could still see snow up there! Adam and I were able to walk on the Appalachian trail for about 200 feet and it was enough to confirm in us that hiking the whole thing from Georgia to Maine would be worth every blister.  After lunch in Gatlinburg with the Grandparents we set off for Easter pictures in the park. We stopped off at Sugarland's visitor center and took advantage of the meadow in front of the Ranger station. We then set off on a little hike to the waterfall. We really had lots of fun and Ada had a blast hiking in her Easter best. After trying to hug the waterfall it was clear that Ada was ready for her afternoon nap so we set off to Cades Cove about an hour away, just long enough for her to get a good rest. Once there, we pulled over in the picnic area and got our feet wet in the little creek running along side. It may have been a warm sunny spring day, but that creek was still stuck in the winter! Boy was it cold! Ada loved standing on "her rock" while holding on to Adam for balance to pick out river rocks to "skip" in the creek. Once she threw a big enough one that the splash got us all a little damp we decided to wash our toes off and set off for dry land. The cove itself is currently closed so the park can do much needed road repair, but we able to stand at the entrance and look down. There were wild deer that had wiggled their way into the horse pen. Then off in the distance you can see the horses running in the meadow. It was just breath taking to watch. Adam and I are counting down the days till June when the road opens back up.
Only with the amazing views we were consistently reminded that it is now bear season, so that maybe the only downside to this whole adventure, but for now, we will roll with the punches.

We wish all of you a very happy Easter. May you all find your own joy in this season.

Love,
Adam, Elizabeth and Ada

Ada turns 2

So, Ada turned 2 today. She is getting so big. Her latest measurements puts her right under 3 feet tall and about 29 pounds. Everyday she learns a new word and she is starting to talk in simple sentences. The cartoon movie "Bolt" is her favorite movie hence why Adam got her the stuffed animals of the the two main characters, Bolt and Mittens. We still haven't figured out if she is left or right handed. She uses both hands equally and truly shows no preference to either. He hair is really starting to curl in the back. There is one long ringlet that I can stick my pinkie finger in and it hugs it nicely. Ada is learning how to order Bentley around, sometimes he responds to her sometimes he doesn't. She still hasn't met a stranger. If I would let her, she would run and hug everyone, so there is good and bad to this. Time is flying with her. Potty training is her next project.
Due to Mom having surgery last week, we reworked our birthday party plans and moved the party to Birmingham, AL, to Grandpa and Grandma Martin's house so that Lauren and I could go see Mom in the hospital in Huntsville that weekend as well. The weekend prior we met the pre-surgery Mom and Bug in Gatlinburg, TN, and had a mini party there. Mom wanted to make sure she was able to celebrate with Ada and I think she did a great job!

This past weekend in AL, Grandma Martin was such a blessing in organizing a party for Ada so I could have plenty of time to spend with Mom in Huntsville that day. Before the party, the Martin grandparents decided to take Ada to the park and I think she had a good time. What I do know was that everyone came back pretty darn tired. That night we had the party, and Grandma Martin did a wonderful job, she copied the underwater theme from the birthday cards that was the original idea since Ada really loves the aquarium. The bakery that she used for the cake did a fantastic job in decorating, and it was a perk that the cake tasted as good as it looked. Great-Grandma Martin was able to make it to the festivities and she may have been the only one more excited than Ada. It was a good day and we are so happy that we have a such wonderful family to share it with.

Good times

Wow! I have been a bad little blogger! We have been so busy that I just haven't had the brain power left at the end of the day to blog. I feel horrible about it! Well, I am just going to upload a few pictures of things we have done recently. We have really enjoyed exploring our new area.