A hot scene
Kids play: Houston's Extreme Makeover sisters talk about their new house for thefirst time
Eric and Elaine Johnson with their five daughters and a few of the legions ofvolunteers who helped make their dream home a reality.Photo by Caroline Gallay
The new house of hope on Goodhope street.Photo by Sarah Rufca
When you're a kid, you don't care about Ty Pennington. You care about new hidingspots for an epic game of hide and seek.Photo courtesy of ABC
The Johnson family, who were the first-ever Houstonians to be selected for a project by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, gathered outside their new 4,500-square foot home Tuesday to meet and thank a few of the folks who made it all happen.
Much had been made of the Johnson family's irrepressible upbeat-ness, and the rumors are true. They're the type of family that goes in for the hug.
Elaine Johnson forsook the handshake for a bear hug with every person who walked up — one that was quickly followed by embraces from all five of her girls. It was impossible to tell who was family, old friends or new acquaintances.
Everybody was a good sport (especially the Johnson's five daughters) as the thanks dragged on in suffocating afternoon heat. When the girls got released from photo-op duty I pounced on an opportunity to sneak indoors and chat with the five sisters about their new digs and their trip to Paris.
The most exciting thing about the new house (the interior of which the allowed press was repeatedly asked not to give so much as a passing mention to)?
The improved potential for hide-and-seek.
Zoe, 11, says in the family's old home (which was 700 square feet and had just two bedrooms) there were only two places to hide — under the bed or in the closet. Now the girls all seem to have their eyes peeled for a potential hiding place.
Angela, who at 14 is the oldest of the girls, will be enjoying her very own room for the first time. Nine-year-old Jessica says she's happy to be sharing. "It doesn't matter who shares with who as long as we've got a better house than the last one."
Every question is answered with a "ma'am," tacked on the end. But this isn't a reserved bunch. Five-year-old Reagan dives in for a hug or two between admiring this reporter's colorful pen collection.
The family is waiting to move in while finishing touches are being put on, but the girls don't hesitate when asked about their first order of business post move-in.
"We can't wait to have our cousins over."
If you want to see more photos of the thank-you scene, KTRK Ch. 13 — which broadcasts Extreme Makeover — has an exclusive gallery on its site.
Feges BBQ is in the running for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year. Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma 