Weekend in Aggieland and a New Addition

Last Friday, I headed to College Station to spend a weekend with the Stockers.  It was so fun playing with Callie and Macie and catching up with Charlie and Kels as well.  Apparently Callie has a teacher at school this year named Katie as well so she called me Miss Katie all weekend.  It was so cute!  Friday we just hung out at the house and played with the girls.  Callie helped us make cookies, and we all enjoyed way too many of them.  Once the girls were in bed, Kels and I watched a movie and stayed up late having a girl's night.  Saturday, Mike and Susan had two extra tickets to the Aggie game.  Charlie offered to be super dad and keep the girls so Kelsey and I could go to the game.  Thanks Charlie!!  I hadn't been to a game in years, and it was so fun to be back on campus.  Despite our very disappointing loss, we had a good time.

 Callie

 Macie is 10 months (hard to believe) and is moving all over the place now.  She is such a good baby.

 Callie kicked back in the recliner to watch Mickey Mouse.

 Love this girl

 Me, Kels and Susan

 The game was packed (over 86,000 fans)

 Charlie text this picture after one of the Aggie touchdowns.

WELCOME TAYLOR ELAYNE JOHNSON!!!

I left College Station Sunday and decided to stop by Ross and Kim's to deliver their baby gift and meet Taylor on my way home.  Ross and Kim welcomed baby Taylor on Thursday, October 27th.  She is precious and looks just like her older sister.  Taylor makes #50 in the Alden Johnson clan.  Congrats Ross and Kim on the newest addition to our family.

 I also got some dress-up stuff for the new big sister.  Shelby put it all on right away and struck a pose for the camera.  What a ham.

 

  Shelby was so excited to introduce me to her new baby sister.

Welcome Taylor.  Can't wait to see you again soon!

Pine Cones and Pumpkins

Decorating for fall is something I have always loved to do, and it puts me in the best mood.  It was exactly what the doctor ordered a few weekends ago so I pulled out my storage tubs of pumpkins and leaves and got to work.  I did pretty much the same thing as last year and have really enjoyed the warmth it has brought to our home.  Here are some pics below.....

 Top of the fireplace 

 Dining room buffet

 This is the only new fall thing I got this year.  My mom bought it for me when we were in New Mexico, and I just love it!

 Dining table

  Media stand....of course fall also means football is always on this tv in our house

 Coffee table

 End table.  I love the picture of Jason and his dad we added here. 

 Half bath

 Kitchen table 

 Kitchen buffet 

 Entry

Texans

Last Sunday, Jason and I attended the Texans vs Raiders game at Reliant with my manager and his girlfriend.  This was my first Texans game so I was excited for the experience.  It was a packed house, and the crowd was really in to the game.  It was back and forth the entire time, but unfortately the Texans lost on the last play of the game (We threw an interception in the end zone as time expired).  :(  After months and months of no rain in Houston, the clouds opened up on Sunday, and it was POURING rain when we left the stadium.  Of course, we had parked about a mile away and didn't have an umbrella.  We were totally drenched by the time we made it to the car.  It was really nice to finally get some rain though, and it made for a great afternoon of lounging in our cozies on the couch listening to the rain drops on the window.  Bliss!!

 Jenn let me borrow her Texans jersey for the game so I could be festive.  Thanks Jenn!!

Totally drenched. 

Wrox Stars

Saturday morning, Jason, Deanna and I headed over to meet Jason and Jenn at the soccer fields to watch Jackson's game.  He is playing on a co-ed team with 4 and 5 year olds.  They are so precious and unphased by most everything that goes on.  Jax's team got beat pretty badly, but I'm not sure they even realized.  They had a great time, and it was so much fun cheering them on.

 

GO JACKSON!!

Takin' a break between quarters

Just chattin with his buddy

Ready for kickoff

Breakaway

This ball just barely missed the goal.  We were all holding our breath for his first score of the season. 

SO CLOSE!!

Precious family. 
Jax was too excited about his after-game cookie to pay attention to the camera.

Tribute

Last Sunday, we headed back over to Jason's mom's house to spend a little more time with Deb and Drew before they headed back to Seattle.  Alot of the family came over for lunch, and it was a great afternoon.  Jason's Uncle Harry wrote a poem in honor of Howard which I thought was so sweet and made us all smile.  I wanted to include it here for our memories.

Motor Man Mayeaux

by:  Harry Chambers

At 52 I met our Lord

Was standing there outside his door

Invited in to stay a while

To talk of giving, love and trials

Then I realized all had changed

Gone was my hardship and the pain

But left was memories held so dear

My wife, my children, gone was my fear

Was asked to sit and judge myself

The good, the bad, where I helped out

I asked for mercy from the Lord

You see in heaven, they all drive Fords

And I reflected back the years

The good times that I hold and cheer

And many folks who got helped out

Benefitted greatly, without a doubt

We need to cherish everyday

As if out last, in every way

To love your family, with all your heart

Bring them together, and not apart

Someday you'll be where I am now

We'll meet each other, I know not how

To think of how we lived our lives

With open hearts, it's no surprise

It seems like not so long ago

Jason was born, then Jenn, you know

But time flew by, the decades gone

Now celebrate with God, in song

Our lives are like a project car

With many parts, found near and far

And placed together with loving hands

A shiny, brand-new, old, tin can

It does not matter, what you drive

So long as you are filled with pride

And get on where you need to go

For charity or auto show

My judgment came on for the Lord

But He laid down his mighty sword

Lived not my life for financial gain

Here I'll remain with God to reign

Reach out your hand, I'll be not far

My new project, a special car

And with my Lord, I now will stay

He loves his Hot Rod, Cheverlot

Shattered

Last Saturday, we spent most of the day at Jason's Mom's house so we could spend time with Deb and Drew who were in town from Seattle.  We had dinner and got to enjoy family which was great.  We were having such a good time that we ended up staying til after 1am.  We were heading down 290 on our way home just chatting and looking forward to a good night's sleep when the passenger window of Jason's Tahoe just exploded and cracked into a million pieces.  It scared us both half to death.  Since it was right by my head, I did some more inspecting to notice that there was a distinct hole in the window.  We tried to convince ourselves that it was just a rock even though that seemed unlikely.  Upon further inspection, we have decided that we were shot at with a pellet gun or something similar.  The company that came and fixed Jason's window also said it looked just like a small bullet hole.  Scary....   I am sure it was just some punk kids causing trouble at that time of night, and we are just thankful that nobody was hurt.  I will say though when I was driving down 290 earlier this week I was a little more aware of my surroundings.  After everything that has gone on recently, Jason and I are just hoping for some uneventful weeks to come.

Howard Paul Mayeaux

On September 22, 2011, Jason's dad ended his brave, 3.5 month fight against lung cancer. He was in such good spirits and still fighting to the very end. It has been a sad week for our family as we have thought back on all the memories we have of Howard and realize that his life was cut too short at age 52. Last Friday (Sept. 30th), we had a memorial service to honor his life. So many people showed up which was a true testiment to how caring and helpful Howard was to so many people. The service was beautiful and was followed by a reception at a friend's home. One of Howard's good friends began the service by singing Amazing Grace, and it was ended with Jason, Jenn, Ray, and Donna speaking. They all did such a wonderful job and made everyone laugh and cry. I never want to forget what Jason and Jenn said at the service so I have included the text below for our memories (Donna's and Rays were not written or I would have included those as well).

For most everybody, your Dads a special person in your life. And for me that wasnt any different, as my Dad was very special to me too. Of course for all the typical father/son reasons, but we really shared a lot in common. We both loved cars, motorcycles, and baseball.

Dad forgot more about cars than i'll ever know. Some of my greatest memories growing up were him and i going out on Saturday nights to watch (and dont tell Mom, but alot of times participating in) drag racing. And then we’d spend most of Sunday talking about what we did and what we saw.

I remember waking up almost every Saturday morning as a kid and feeling like it was Christmas morning. Saturday, amongst other days, was riding day. I'd be in his room bright and early to wake him up so we could hurry and load up the bikes in the truck to go burn a Saturdays worth of 2 stroke fuel. After about the ten-minute-mark of me pestering him, and him realizing he wasnt gonna be able to sleep in THAT Saturday morning either, we’d do just that.

Dad loved baseball too. He had two favorite teams, the Stros and whatever team i was on. Most parents sit in the stands and watch the games from afar. And Sometimes i wished thats what Dad did also. Instead he was usually found in the dugout pacing back and forth trying to get everyone fired up and always passing out animal crackers. I STILL dont know why he picked animal crackers.

There was alot left we wanted to do together. Go to Bondurant and spend a weekend trashing some z06's. The lakehouse is finally just about done and we were able to drive up to enjoy the place instead of driving up to work on it. Getting a boat and a couple jet skis to put in the boathouse so we could finally spend some time on the water out there together. Finally putting the stereo in the Chevelle. Going back to London with him, where he spent a good chunk of time growing up so he could show me his old stomping grounds.

Unfortunately he’s not gonna be here physically to do those things, but i still plan on doing each of them knowing he’ll be there with me in spirit.

I love you Dad, and i’m gonna miss you.

-Jason

Even when you know the end is near, it still comes too soon. There are Always things you want to say or more memories to have. even toward the end of dads brave and strong battle with cancer, he was high spirits telling funny old stories or making new happy memories I'll hold on to forever.

I could stand here today and tell so Many memories of my dad like the times he'd sit with me at our cedar ridge home and look at this big blue atlas and show me all the places in the world. It's most likely what inspired my love for travel. Or i could talk to you about then countless sporting events he'd never miss and some of the long road trips we all would have to take to get to. There's no better way to get to love and know your family than in a car for 10 hours.

But those events aren't even what I remember most. It's his kind and sweet heart. It's the smile he had that seemed to come from deep in his soul. It's the light in his eyes that would warm my heart. Every time I'd walk into the room or he'd answer the phone, I could feel his love.

I'll keep that warm, sweet smile of his with me forever knowing he is still there. Knowing that he will always be part of the many wonderful memories to come.

I love you daddy.

-Jenn

Ray and Howard were as close as brothers, and he spoke so fondly of Howard and all the memories they have made over the years dragging their wives to the car shows and spending time in each others garages. His words were so heart-felt and made me smile through watery eyes. Donna made everyone laugh outloud while having to wipe tears from their face as she recalled all the things Howard had done to her growing up....jumping off the roof onto her barbie cars, using her first bra as a swing in the hampster cage (haha), etc. After listing all the things that mischievious boys do to their younger sisters she went on to say how Howard was always the first one in line to help her whenever she needed it. Her ending line was so well stated as she said..."Although I don't miss growing up with my brother Howard, I will miss growing old with him." It was the perfect ending to a beautiful service.

 Beautiful Mother and Daughter

  Deanna and her kids

 Family Pic

  Jenn, Deanna, and her other daughter/Jenn's best friend Amber

 The girls

 Jason, Grandma Bev, and Jenn

 Flower Arrangement from the Fam

 David, Donna, Jess, and Justin

Jason was so blessed to have so many of his friends show up for the service.  Tim flew in from Reno and Shane drove in Dallas and many of his friends took off work to be there.  It meant so much to us, and we will never forget how supportive everyone was.  The reception was beautiful, and I am so upset I did not get my camera out for pictures.  Thanks to Ross and Tami for opening up their home and hosting everyone for the afternoon.