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Seven month letter.

January 15, 2010 by Brittany Johnson

Dear Shane,

You shouldn’t be surprised to hear that we have been married for seven months now! This year is ticking by so fast, and December was one of the quickest months yet. We were so, so busy, and then (not literally) hungover after everything, that I fell behind here. So I’ll let the pictures do the talking!

In the last month, we celebrated the end of your first semester of law school and our first six months of marriage with a weekend getaway to San Antonio, which is very romantic at Christmastime. I love how I can go to San Antonio again and again, and yet see it in a new light each time.

We checked out the missions, where we pretended to be in Europe and I made it my job to compare door heights, some of which were not included in the montage below to spare you from my cheesiness:

We stayed at a luxurious hotel on the Riverwalk:

We got out and saw the town:

We went to a Spurs game:

And we spent a romantic evening walking beneath Christmas lights:

It was the perfect way to reconnect and rejuvenate after a grueling three and a half months!

Just three days after getting home from our San Antonio weekend, we packed our suitcases again and flew to Santa Fe to spend our first Christmas as a married couple with my family. It was 8-20 degrees the entire time, which was quite a shock to our Texas born and bred systems, especially since the house had no heat!

We saw the sights, and pretended like we were in Europe again:

We spent Christmas Eve braving the cold on the annual Canyon Road Walk, taking in the beautiful luminarios and Christmas lights. Then I nearly peed myself when we couldn’t find a public bathroom ANYWHERE. And then we got lost, for all of about ten minutes, but it was 10 degrees out, so it wasn’t an opportune to lose our way. And then, after all of that, we enjoyed a lovely nightcap at the gorgeous Inn at Loretto, where we were told we were the loveliest family in the entire restaurant. (Ha!)

You even skied for the first time! I will never forget watching you from the ski lift as you flailed your arms on the bunny slope! Of course you got things figured out pretty quickly, right up until about 3:40 pm…

And if that weren’t enough for one month, we also celebrated our first New Year’s as a married couple! I seriously might break my blog uploaded all of this! It was so much fun to get ready for New Year’s 2010 and thinking back to last year when I was 95 percent certain you had my ring but I didn’t know when you’d ask. I’d already survived Christmas Eve and Christmas Day without a proposal, and 15 some-odd days in between, but maybe New Year’s Eve would be the big night? I was disappointed when I realized we REALLY WERE going to that college bar and it wasn’t in the cards, but looking back, that month where I knew you had my ring was the most exciting month of my life, and I wouldn’t change a day! And I’m not going to lie, I had a few moments down on the Riverwalk and leading up to Christmas and New Year’s where I caught myself thinking, “I wonder if he’ll ask!” Of course, you already had, and I am so glad you did!

This year we spent New Year’s Eve first at home pre-partying with a few friends from law school and your sister, her boyfriend, and his friend, and then went down to Sixth Street in true Austin style. It turned out to be a really wonderful time, but then someone taller than me might have overindulged on the champagne, and we called it a night rather early.

I will never complain about not having enough photos for the monthly letters ever again!

I think you’ve probably figured it out by now, but it’s worth repeating:

I love you, I love our life, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Love,

Your Wife

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Christmas Cookies!

December 20, 2009 by Brittany Johnson

Shane and I have committed to making Christmas cookies every Christmas, and this year makes year two!

Between finals, work, Christmas shopping, and preparing for our two Christmas trips, we didn’t have much time to make cookies (or blog! so this will be quick!), but here’s how it all turned out!

The stage was set:

The cast of characters was ready:

And it was time to roll up our sleeves!

Too bad nobody bought the rolling pin off our registry, but hey, we are resourceful:

He was made of snow but the children
Know how he came to life one day:

Meet Frosty and Tenenbaum:

Shane is an icing master:

Almost ready to eat!

Not that I did, not a single one. I like making Christmas cookies way more than eating them.

The end!

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Six month letter.

December 15, 2009 by Brittany Johnson

Dear Shane,

I have been so busy telling everyone that today we’ve been married SIX WHOLE MONTHS (!!!) that I almost forgot to write you this letter!

First and foremost, tonight is the VERY LAST night of your first semester of law school! Your last final, criminal law, is tomorrow from 1:30 to 6 pm, and I know you must be about to die. But I know you will finish strong. I am so, SO proud of you! From watching you think about law school, to studying for and taking the LSAT, to applying everywhere and finally deciding on UT, to starting school in August and now wrapping up the semester, you have amazed me! You are the most dedicated, focused, diligent person I know. Oh, and you’re smart, too, not that turns me on or anything ;) I really cannot tell you how proud I am to be your wife, and to call you my husband. Thank you for marrying me!

Not too much changed for us this last month. Honestly, even though I saw a little less of you this semester, you were still completely present in our home and in our relationship. You have completely dispelled even my last law school fear, that finals would make me a law school widow. And while a few areas still suffered a little (as naturally some areas must at any time of enormous stress), I have so much more faith and trust in you than even four months ago, though I am ashamed to admit as much since it means I didn’t have enough faith in you as you deserved in the first place.

Despite your extra-studiousness, we still managed to have a good time and are enjoying the holidays, like at Sam and Jon’s Christmas party last weekend, where we ran into a couple (whom we had NEVER met before) wearing the EXACT same tacky Christmas outfits!

You even indulged my incessant requests for pictures under the mistletoe!

And it should be noted that while you don’t say those three little words enough (hopefully you’ll read this in 10 years and think about what an idiot you were back in the day!), I adore that I can tell just from a picture how much you love me. Your face is different when you look at me. It’s almost strange, but your face is softer, your eyes light up. It’s no one’s face but mine. Sometimes, like when you’re talking to “real” adults, especially new acquaintances, you look to me often in the sweetest way, for confidence, for support, for a laugh when you say something clever. Your look is so intense, your face so full of emotion, that I can’t help but be a little embarrassed, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I don’t think whomever you’re talking to doesn’t notice, either, because it’s pretty darn obvious. I only hope I never, ever lose that face.

I wish I had a long list of things I’ve learned about you in the past six months, but I don’t have much new to report, other than you are every single thing I ever thought you were, but even more, even better. I know there is still a treasure chest of secrets and hopes and quirks to be unlocked, but it will take much longer than six months to learn your heart as well as I know the rest of you, it will take a lifetime.

A lifetime I am more than happy to spend with you.

I can’t even believe how lucky I am.

Thank you, for these last five years, these last six months, and for every day and month and year to come.

Love,
Your wife

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The first Johnson Christmas.

December 15, 2009 by Brittany Johnson

This is a big Christmas for us, what with it being our first Christmas as a married couple and all! This season has shown us how truly blessed we are, even while Shane has had his nose in a book for four months straight and I’m sick of fighting rush hour traffic (I’ve only been at it for six months! — how do people drive the same commute everysingleday for 5, 10, 20 years?!).

We don’t have very much in the way of Christmas decor yet, since we still move every year and have limited storage, floor space and money, but I really do love what we have. Just about everything is a Pottery Barn knockoff, and while it’s not *quite* as cute, it was about 25 percent of the cost, so I’ll take it!
These stocking holders are just like these from PB, except that mine were two for $7.99 from Target and PB’s are $19 a piece!

Then there are the actual stockings, which are very close to these PB stockings, but my Target stockings were just $10 or $15 each, whereas the PB version was $29 each.

We don’t have a mantle, but I think this worked out just fine:

And then we have our tree. It’s probably the one thing I am not truly satisfied with, even though I know we are fortunate to have one. It’s just…really short. I mean, really. It’s a mere three feet tall. But I was lucky to talk my scrooge frugal husband into a tree at all, so I’ll take it!

That is, at least until Shane graduates law school!

I haven’t entirely chosen our Christmas decor theme, so for now any and everything must be somewhat neutral so I can use it later on no matter which direction I take. I have two boxes of ornaments I bought last year, and I invested in four silver stars and four gold stars for a total of $2 at Target as my contribution this year! (The stars aren’t in the picture above.)

And while there aren’t many presents under the tree, I know that two very special young girls will have lots of goodies under theirs, because Shane and I adopted two Angel Tree angels this year. It really was so rewarding to buy warm clothes and toys for two little girls who would otherwise go without. Yes, we are trying to save money (ie simply spend less than we earn), but the truth is, we have plenty of money in the bank. And even though we can’t “afford” to buy these girls warm clothes on our budget, we can afford to because there is a mother out there who genuinely can’t. I am so glad we were able to help.

And all they wanted was a Barbie and one extra change of outfit each. My heart nearly broke in two!

We are committed to adopting at least one Angel Tree child each year as a new Johnson family tradition. As for the rest of our new traditions, we are opening Christmas PJs for the first time ever on Christmas Eve, and we’re making Christmas cookies later this week! We did that last year, too, so it’s already on its way to being a real tradition! The only thing we’re missing is a First Christmas ornament. I found the one I want, but it’s $36. So maybe, maybe not.

In other news, Shane and I have been married for six whole months today! But that’s another post!

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Another (!) open letter to my husband.

December 9, 2009 by Brittany Johnson

Dear Shane,
I know you are busy, what with “law school” and “finals” and all. But you are SUCH a good husband that these “trials” (no pun intended, honestly!) and “challenges” have barely registered on my radar. This is to your credit. Unfortunately, you know what *has* registered on my radar?

Adorable baby shoes, that’s what.

I know we have had this conversation before, but I don’t know how long you are going to be able to fend me off. As much as I like the five-year-plan, I like these $6 Target baby knock-off Sperry’s better.

I think I am going to buy them. And put them in a box I will label “hope chest.”

Don’t test my patience. I think you and I both know I am not a very patient person.

Love you! Good luck on finals ;)

Your Wife

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A long-overdue November recap

December 8, 2009 by Brittany Johnson

I’ve neglected this little blog a bit lately, so it’s (past) time to give a (long, but photo-rich) November update!

Shane’s 23rd birthday was the day before Thanksgiving. I had a half-day at work, so I brought home a six-pack of Sam Adams and a birthday cake!

I also went and chopped off my hairs!

Before

After

Not exactly sure how I feel about it, but it’s at least good I tried shorter for a while.

We spent Thanksgiving in Fort Worth. We were *supposed* to eat Thanksgiving lunch at 12:30 at Shane’s parents’ house, but the power in their neighborhood went out at around 10 that morning. At about 1 pm, we were all starving having not eaten breakfast to save room for all the turkey goodness, so a search party was dispatched to procure us some lunch. The source of said food? Whataburger. That’s right. Thanksgiving lunch = a Whataburger, french fries and lemonade. It WAS tasty, though!

Two hours later, the power still wasn’t back on. So we packed up the cars with a half-cooked turkey, cans of green beans and cream of mushroom soup, uncooked rolls, and unpeeled potatoes and headed to my dad and step-mom’s house.

Note to self: Half-cooked turkeys do not travel well and will spill on the unfortunate low-man-on-the-totem-poll in the car, which then leads to ugly Lockheed Martin sweats. Also, don't give four-year-olds a box of leis.

But while the food was a’cookin’ (for the second time) in the kitchen, there was soccer to be played:

Shane, you're not making me want to have babies with you any less.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that looking cute with a kid is NOT an effective form of birth control BY ANY MEANS.

Alright, you can stop teasing me now.

No, really.

Last one. I'll stop torturing myself now.

Introducing the new family dog, aptly (?!) named "Broccoli Stumor" by my 4-year-old brother.

The dog-namer himself.

Don’t let his looks fool you. Because you know what IS an effective means of birth control?

A four-year-old running around for six hours farting (very stinky farts) on you and sticking his tongue inside your ear, thankyouverymuch.

Finally, at 6 pm, we sat down for Thanksgiving “lunch.”

Somehow my side of the family isn't in the picture, with the exception of 1/3 of my Granny's face! And I should note that this room is currently under renovation/redecoration.

It wasn’t the Thanksgiving my new MIL worked so hard to put together for us, but we had everything we needed. We were all safe and accounted for. We are happy. We were together.

I know the Johnsons won’t believe me, but this really was one of my best Thanksgivings ever.

Looks like he didn't get the memo that I got my hair cut.

No, really. I mean, how often do you have a preschooler make a place mat that says he’s thankful for you?

And there you have it. My first Thanksgiving as a Johnson. Hopefully the next one will include electricity, and a turkey that doesn’t threaten you with salmonella poisoning.

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Time for change.

November 23, 2009 by Brittany Johnson

I think “Brittany” might be synonymous with “long hair.” Long, limp, fine hair. Curly-at-the-ends hair.

I thought I’d just had this “style,” with only the simple variation of long and VERY long, since spring semester of my senior year of high school, but then I found this:

That’s me. IN EIGHTH GRADE (for those of you counting, that’s nine years) WITH THE SAME HAIR CUT AS TODAY.

But in case you don’ t believe me, although I’m sure you do, here I present the evidence:

May 2005, Senior Year of High School

April 2006, Freshman Year of College

 

Summer 2007, Sophomore Year of College

May 2008, Junior Year of College

 

October 2008, Senior Year of College

May 2009, College Graduation

October 2009. Post-college.

That is a lot of long, straight, boring hair. Apparently I don’t like change. But it’s time to grow up my look a little bit, and look like the sophisticated, college-educated, married woman that I am.

And that can only mean one thing: short.

And not the “short” like in the above pictures where I decided to “chop off” my super long hair and then have regularly long hair.

And maybe even bangs.

GASP!

I have 48 hours to decide. The big hair appointment is Wednesday at 2:45.

Any ideas? Because clearly I cannot make this kind of decision for myself!

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Five month letter.

November 14, 2009 by Brittany Johnson

Dear Shane,

You know what is crazy about writing the five month letter? That next month I’ll sit here and write the six month letter, that already it has been (nearly) half of our first year of marriage. These past five months have flown by, but I guess life has a way of doing that.

I am not in a particularly sentimental mood on this fifth monthiversary, so I’ll keep it short and sweet.

Halloween was fun, but disappointing.

DSC00018

I’ve said it before, but it is worth saying again: Law school is managing to not be so bad after all, and I say this even as you prepare for your first semester’s finals. Maybe I’ll have a different perspective come December 14 as you spend our Six Month Anniversary studying for your last final instead of out to dinner with your bride, but hopefully the light at the very-near end of the tunnel (December 15), will keep me pacified.

I love being married to you more every day. I still love to fall asleep next to you and wake up next to you, although one night last week I woke up in the middle of the night because something smelled bad. It turned out you had your head next to mine and were breathing in my face. Oh, the joys of co-sleeping!

We’ve had a really quiet month. I have a new best friend called a library card, and I go shopping every three weeks for four books and I keep myself occupied that way. It gets dark early now, and I’m in my annual phase of extreme homebodiness. I really just don’t want to go out during the fall/winter. I’d rather come home and snuggle up with you, a glass of wine and a good book, social life be damned.

I have a feeling that if we can come through this next month relatively unscathed, that the rest of your time in law school will go just as easy on our relationship. I hear all these girls complaining constantly about being law school widows, but that has hardly been the case for us. I’m hoping we are the exception :)

Love,

Your wife

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Dear Shane,

October 28, 2009 by Brittany Johnson

me and nolan

Please finish law school quick.

Love,

Your wife

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Who the…?!

October 16, 2009 by Brittany Johnson

I really, really hate unsolicited mail. It is probably rooted in the millions of mass emails sent out by my classmates these last four years pandering football tickets, begging for notes, asking when the next test is (tomorrow was generally the answer).

If you (and I’m still looking at you, annoying fellow Longhorns) send me an unsolicited email I will either 1) write you back a mean note asking that you remove me from your list or 2) report that student to the proper authority for abusing the class email policy or 3) click “unsubscribe” if that’s an option.

So you can imagine how annoyed I was when I got a spammy political email today asking me to “Make [my] voice heard!” from Michael Johnson.

WHO THE HELL IS MICHAEL JOHNSON AND WHY IS HE ASKING ME TO SIGN A PETITION?!?!?! SPPPPAAAAMMMM!

michael johnson email

Oh…wait…

Michael is my husband.

My husband’s name is Michael.

His name’s not really Shane. I mean, it is. But it’s not his legal first name, nor is it a name I have ever once called him by.

I’m not a stranger to this whole middle name game. My mom grew up going by her middle name, and my brother Austin goes by his middle name.

But it’s a punch in the stomach each and every time I realize I’m married to a man named Michael. Because I’m married to a man named Shane.

So. freaking. weird.

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