He Won't Stop Singing

My son loves to sing. He sings so much and so often that we've blocked it out.

Well we blocked it out until last year when he decided to sing Let It Go at his school's talent show. He did an amazing job. That's not just proud mama, many people told me so.

He hasn't stopped singing. He still sings all of the time. We don't block it out any more but it's more like background music.

Every so often he starts singing and I have to stop to listen.

Stop and sing. #titanium #clevelandkids #humansofcleveland #kids #singing #instamood

A video posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on May 28, 2015 at 3:16pm PDT

Instagram Again Saturdays - Princess to President

Disney Live starring Sofia the First is tomorrow but,

RD has been rockin' the look for a year now. And, yes, she will be breaking the dress out for tomorrow's performance. Last year she wanted to be a princess and this year, Elsa or president.

Tea time

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Mar 1, 2014 at 1:33pm PST

What I really need to know is how to clean the damn dress!

Instagram from this year-

Instagram Again Saturdays - Mothers and Daughters

It's almost a year...

The first anniversary of my mom's death is coming up and I am a little beside myself. I posted this photo last year thinking back to the last sunny day we spent at the pier.

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Feb 8, 2014 at 10:55am PST

Mothers and daughters have such complicated relationships.  She was one of my closests friends in junior high and high school, but as I started to work and go to college our relationship suffered. It took years to mend our relationship and forgive the hurt, but I am so lucky to have so many wonderful memories.

I miss you mom.

Time continues forward and I hope to make many memories with my daughter.

Instagram from this year-

Instagram Again Saturdays - Doodles and a Song

I use to draw... 

I was even pretty okay. I took art and photography classes through high school and college and had aspirations of being an artist of some sort or at the very least work somewhere where I could be creative.

Life does not always work out the way we planned and I still get to be creative, just not how I envisioned it.

Instagram from last year -

Draw a dinosaur day

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Jan 30, 2014 at 10:54am PST

Besides... my kids are way more talented than I was...

Instagram from this year-

Instagram Again Saturday - Little Ballerina at the Beck Center

A year ago our little on started preschool ballet at the Beck Center...

...she is still taking lessons, making friends, and growing up so fast!

There is only one class parents are allowed to see, I forgot, again, and did not do her hair.

Having the perfect bun may not seem like a big deal but it seems that once the hair is pulled back and she looks like the a ballerina, she does better, like putting on her uniform and going to work.

I know she is only four and she will probably tire of this soon but I like to see when she tries her best just as much as when she is having fun.

Instagram from last year -

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Jan 25, 2014 at 1:03pm PST

Instagram from this year-

Instagram Again Saturday - #SnowDay

#SnowDay!

This week Northeast Ohio saw the first snow day(s) of the year and most schools were closed due to negative temps and not so much the snow.

Last year we had snow for New Years day and I sent the kids out side with kool-aid to color in the snow,

Instagram from last year -

Trying to color in the snow

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Jan 1, 2014 at 5:59pm PST

Instagram from this year-

Instagram Again Saturday - Looking Back at New Years

New Years! Past and... past?

The last few years we celebrate the night with my sisters watching the Twilight Zone marathon but this year we stayed in, watched Firefly and All Hail King Julien on Netflix, and watched the ball drop from the comfort of our couch. One year, we'll go out again but until that happens I could not ask for a better night in with these guys!

How did you spend your New Years?

Instagram from last year -

Ready for the New Year :)

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Dec 31, 2013 at 6:16pm PST

Instagram from this year-

Looking Back on 2014 - Instagram

I joined Instagram in 2011 but only really embraced it this year. I'm hooked.

These are not the most liked but they are my favorites Instagrams of 2014.

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Jan 1, 2014 at 1:03pm PST

Corey reenacting Singing in the Rain

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Feb 2, 2014 at 7:31pm PST

Instagram Again Saturday - Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas!

We may not have a lot, but we have each other; that is enough.

Instagram from last year -

Happy Christmas!

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Dec 12, 2013 at 9:15am PST

Instagram from this year-

Instagram Again Saturday - Past and Present #LightUpLakewood

It is no secret I love the city I call home as well as most of Northeast Ohio. Proof of that is the annual lighting ceremony that was once this sad little affair that has grown into a wonderful festival.

Instagrams from last year -

Lunch with Santa #mykindofholidays #nofilter

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Dec 12, 2013 at 10:27am PST

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Dec 12, 2013 at 10:30am PST

Instagrams from last week -

Instagram Again Saturday - Kids and a #Christmas Tree

You know when you start snapping pictures and you forget to write about them, tag them, or even add a location? Well, I have no idea where I took this photo last year. All I know it is not our tree since the kids have coats on and it was apparently raining because RD is holding an umbrella.

Note to self: Need to be better at writing instagram captions!

Instagram from last year -

#mykindofholiday

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Dec 12, 2013 at 5:45pm PST

Instagram from this week -

Instagram Again Saturday - Cupcakes

The Hubs and I celebrated our birthdays last weekend with a pub crawl the ended with our favorite cupcakes. Coincidentally, a year ago today they opened a shop in Lakewood. Hooray for cupcakes!

Instagram from last year -

Food porn in Lakewood. Popcorn, cupcake and cotton candy Nirvana @CampbellsSweets

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Nov 11, 2013 at 9:53am PST

Instagram from this week -

Instagram Again Saturday - My View of CLE

I love Cleveland, the view from my office, and even the drastic weather changes.

Cheers to the CLE!

Instagram from last year -

Lake effect in CLE

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Nov 11, 2013 at 6:40am PST

Instagram from this week -

Instagram Again Saturday - Starbucks with Kids

I spent my twenties contemplating life in smoky coffee shops and I even worked at an Arabica for a week or two.

Now, I take the kids, to a smokeless Starbucks and contemplate things like - which pony is prettiest and finding minecraft villages.

I would not trade it for the world.

Instagram from last year -

Coffee date

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Nov 11, 2013 at 7:23am PST

Instagram from this week -

Looking Back on Fall in Northeast Ohio

Autumn is coming to a close and with it all the fun fall activities!

I feel like we did a lot more outside last fall than this but we certainly did a lot and I wanted to take a moment and share our memories.

Looking Back on Fall in Northeast Ohio

Halloweekends at Cedar Point pretty muched kicked off the season for us.

Halloweekends #bloggingatcp

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Sep 9, 2014 at 12:15pm PDT

Instagram Again Saturday Take 8 - Halloween

Halloween! My second favorite holiday! Any guesses on my most favorite?

Instagram from last year -

The Doctor and his new companion #doctorwho

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Oct 10, 2013 at 4:50pm PDT

Instagram from this Halloween... okay, not really. Would you believe it - no instagram this year of the kids in their costumes! So, here is one from last week when they got their pictures take with Captain America!

Instagram Again Saturday Take 7 - Kids in Black and White

My favorite classes in high school and college were my photography classes. I had some great teachers and some of my favorite memories were in the dark room. Now, I have instagram and kids but I still can take pictures in black and white.

Instagram from last year -

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Nov 11, 2013 at 7:20am PST

Instagram Again Saturday Take 6 at the Beck Center

Don't you just adore little ones in their ballet gear? Especially, the preschool and pre-ballet divas.

Instagram from last year -

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To excited to stay still! First dance class :)

View on Instagram

Instagram from last month...

Instagram Again Saturday Take 5

For the last few years we have been going to the Holden Arboretum for Goblins in the Garden and we have a great time enjoying the fall weather and kicking off Halloween fun. 

This weekend the Cleveland Foundation's gift to Northeast Ohio includes free admission to the Holden Arboretum today and Lake Metroparks Farmpark on Sunday.  It is absolutely worth the drive for the breathtaking scenery, drenched in fall colors. 

Instagram from last year -

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View on Instagram

Instagram from last week...

Instagram, Again Saturday Take 4

A friend of our family is a general manager for a Starbucks and the Husband took us to the soft opening of his new store.

He took some really wonderful photos of the new store even with a sleepy little one on his lap.  Yes, she is really sleeping in that photo.

So, here is an instagram from one year ago...



As much as I once wanted to be a photographer and enjoy pretending to be one - he really is one.