Conversations from the backseat and Wii are having fun now;-)
Published 8/27/2008 8:55:07 AM -
Dawn
Wii are having fun now.
Jchon has only bought me 2 very extravagant and waaaay out of our budget (which is so tight it squeaks;-) gifts in our marriage. I am eternally grateful for both!! One was my iPod 2 years ago. I do not have a CD player in my car and my tape player has never worked. This is the only way I can actually play any music I want! The other, was our Wii. Jchon bought that for my last birthday. We have had a lot of fun with it. Even JJ begs to play a game of tennis before bed most nights;-). So this leads me into the Wii Fit.
After months looking for a Wii Fit (Of course I won't say "I told you so" to Jchon when I suggested we pre-order it;-)I finally found one. Unfortunately, I got it a couple of weeks ago- right in the thick of MOPS prep craziness. Now that training is over and I have the vast majority of the speakers set up, I have had a few minutes to play. I am having SO MUCH FUN!!!! I have to say, for those of you who have seen the YouTube video about "Why every guy should buy his girlfriend a wiifit", I DO NOT look like that. Hopefully some day;-)However, if anyone wants to come over and do some Yoga or Balance games with me, my house is open. Anyone who wants to come over and see someone looking smooth and put together- make an appointment;-)
Conversations from the back seat
On the way to gymnastics with JJ's best friend Avery:
JJ- Look Avery, there is an Merican flag
Avery- Whats a Merican Flag?
JJ-Its where we live. In Merica....And our state is Texas. It is shaped like this (makes shape with hands). Aunt Christie lives in the state of Oklahoma. It is REALLY far
Avery- My Gammy and PaPa live in Colorado
JJ- WOW! That is REALLY REALLY far!
Avery- No it isn't. We get in the car and close our eyes. When we open them again, we are at Gammy's house!
Conversations from the backseat Part II
(On the way to go have lunch with daddy for the first time with his new job a few days ago)
JJ- Mommy, where are we going to eat.
Me- I'm not sure sweetie. I think we will let Daddy decide. He works there. He knows what is around.
JJ- Mommy- we should let the earth decide cause it's round.
Conversations from the snuggle in bed
JJ- Mommy, what are you going to dream about tonight? (a game we play most nights)
Me- Hmmmmmm. I think I am going to dream about You and I and Daddy and Daniel going to the circus. that sounds like fun. What are you going to dream about?
JJ- WOW! I think I am going to your dream!
And just a cute photo to end on. I know I am such a proud mama. I love the way they play so sweetly together (most of the time;-).
Posted by: Dawn
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Blueberries, Peaches... Now What? ;-)
Published 8/16/2008 4:03:06 PM -
Dawn
Well, obviously harvesting grapes. We got to go harvest grapes and then do an old fashioned stomp;-).
The boys in the grapes
Daniel ate his weight in grapes...and they weren't even table grapes! They were full of seeds~but he didn't seem to care;-)
JJ was very proud of his grapes.
The bountiful harvest. We got a full bucket!
Daniel really DID NOT like the feel of the grapes. He refused to put down his other foot and was asking to be "all done". 
JJ on the other hand had plenty of fun in the grapes. I think the clothes are now toast- but I do have them soaking in the sink right now;-)
And my own little Tiger. Can't even walk yet- and already golfing.
Posted by: Dawn
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Oh My!
Published 8/11/2008 4:02:48 PM -
Dawn
We just finished a marathon session of "Battle of the Wills". Daniel, Who normally is in bed by 630, has just gone to bed and it is 845. We have a family rule that at each meal everyone must have a "No Thank You" bite (one bite of everything). Tonight, Daniel decided he did not want to eat a bite. Now I am sure you must think me a horrible mommy who was forcing my poor poor child to eat some poisonous morsel, but in fact, the thing he refused to eat was a bite of pear. It is one of his favorite foods! It was absolutely just a power struggle;-). I learned long ago, and it has been re-enforced many times to me as a parent, that when it comes to a Knock down battle of the wills- the parent MUST win. Now there are many many things I do not make issues, but if there is a "You must" statement- then we will live and die by it. This was one of those times. Daniel has been showing signs of being strong willed, and I knew we would have to prove to be Alpha dog or trouble would be rising quicker than we could handle it. Indeed, the two and a half hour struggle was still validated;-). Now I was just telling Jchon yesterday that one of the more difficult things about being a mom is not having much positive feedback or the fulfillment of a job done to completion. Unlike most jobs in "the real world";-), you don't have much that can be done with a sigh of job well done. Laundry will be there tomorrow, meals just eaten will need to be cooked again soon and messes just cleaned will be quickly made dirty again. Now don't get me wrong- I LOVE my job. Just making a point that sometimes the accolades are few and far between. Tonight was one of those nights. But then again- maybe that is why God has us have children at different intervals. As I struggled with the will of my 15 month old, I could also hear my 3 year old dancing and singing from the other room "Seek ye first the kingdom of God". That definitely does warm my heart and give me strength for the battles tomorrow;-). goodnight all and I wish you all a fun and fulfilled day;-)
Posted by: Dawn
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Mini Vaca
Published 8/2/2008 8:56:44 AM -
Dawn
Woohoo. Off for 2 days in OKC shopping ALL BY MYSELF!;-) Weeeee. Penn Square here we come!:-)
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Busy, Busy, Busy
Published 7/23/2008 1:11:41 PM -
Dawn
I am dealing with an NSF situation right now. No~ not in my bank account, in my attitude. The last couple of weeks have been crazy. JJ was sick for about a week. Now he is better, and Daniel is sick. One being sick makes that one extra needy, and in return makes the other more needy as well because someone is getting more attention. Jchon has had a slightly altered work schedule this week, meaning that instead of being home for dinner, if traffic goes well he makes it just in time to hose off the kids and tuck them into bed. I have been to the urgent care clinic for myself for twice in the last week and a half. It is 9:00 pm, and my child who is always alseep between 630-645, is still awake. It has just been one of those (2) weeks. My car's transmission has been slipping and there is no way we can afford a car payment right now. In addition, I am watching my mom's adorable but not yet potty trained 12 week old puppy. I am just feeling a bit overwhelmed. I would not give up my job as a stay at home mom for anything!!! But, every resentment for broken promises, every negative word, lack of appreciation and when things dont go as planned~results in a withdrawl from my emotional tank. That earlier mentioned NSF notice appears as a short fuse. I am finding myself quick to frustration and it breaks my heart. I feel like I need some emotional deposits - appreciation, recognition and maybe even a little adoration. But, instead of some deposits, I know I need a reality check. Even if jchon is not here to help as much (and naturally this is a week that I REALLY could use the extra help), I am not a single parent. I keep thinking of all those women (and men) that are working 2-3 jobs just to stay afloat and NEVER get a break. My entire family is very healthy (a small virus is nothing- I have friends with a child the same age as JJ with lukemia). We are all loved, healthy, have food in our tummies, a roof over our heads, and are wealthier than 95% of people in this world. We are so overwhelmingly blessed. I am so thankful for all that God has blessed me with. I am going to try to get a good night's sleep and hopefully tomorrow will dawn brighter and with a better attitude;-). I wish you all sweet dreams of our beautiful realities. Tschuss
Posted by: Dawn
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Last Week Blueberries - This Week Peaches
Published 6/28/2008 7:14:32 PM -
Dawn
So last weekend we went blueberry picking- this weekend we went peach picking. WHile we were there, we visited a lavender farm just a few miles away There we got to cut our own flowers, pick squash, tomates and peppers (woohoo fresh salsa). We had a lot of fun! So here are a few cute ones!
And one final one... I finally got a picture of the cute way that daniel sleeps;-)
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Houses & Blueberries
Published 6/22/2008 2:35:40 PM -
Dawn
So here is a picture- we are very excited about it.
The two story house on the left is ours. The very well manicured one story on the right- is under contract- by my parents! We are very excited and can't wait to tear down the fence in between the back yards! We are just trying not to get too excited until the papers are all signed (probably in august);-)
And on saturday- we all had a lot of fun picking blueberries! I am pretty sure daniel ate his weight in blueberries! Thank goodness they don't weight the kids before they pick and after;-) I kept picking and picking and looking down to an empty bucket and a very big grin!;-)
And one quick one for Aunt Christie
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Decidely Quiet
Published 6/15/2008 2:34:17 PM -
Dawn
I know I have not posted lately. I have been decidedly quiet. We have a nasty cold sweeping through the house, and unfortunately- as a stay at home mom, I can't call in sick (though we can sit on the couch and watch cartoons all day;-). The real reason though, is a little tougher. We once again find ourselves in a sad situation. Once again- 12 weeks pregnant, we find we have a "Blighted Ovum". Basically, this means that through what is probably a genetic abnormality, the cells stopped growing around 6 weeks. Before there was a fetal pole or a heartbeat. It is amazing to me how God instills us with instincts that tell us (though we hope) that there is something wrong. We are of course very sad, but very at peace as well. I can already see God's blessings surrounding this. And it is not difficult to look ahead. Last time this happened, if everything had continued, we would never have had Daniel! So I choose to trust God. And personally- I am very thankful I am NOT the one in charge... I would have messed everything up in the first 2.8 seconds:-) So thank you all for the prayers. We are grateful!! We will soon be back to normal posting and I appologize for the delay!
Love
Dawn
Posted by: Dawn
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Happy Birthday Daniel!
Published 5/21/2008 4:21:20 PM -
Dawn
Friday was Daniel's first birthday!! Time sure does fly. We went to the "Picture People" to get his one year pics..just like we did with JJ. So here are some of my favorites. Pardon the watermark on the pictures, but Jchon can't find the power cable for the scanner- so these are from the web site. THe first one is of Daniel the Gap Baby;-) 
The boys loving their Cowboy Hats
Gap Boy JJ;-)
I know it looks like Daniel is about to bite JJ, but I promise it is just a kiss- he is still doing those open mouth kisses.
Here is a decent one of the whole family
And my personal Favorite! The Paradise Boys
And the whole reason we went back to the picture people(besides the fact that they rock)....this is a shot they took of JJ at his first birthday...and we wanted to have one of daniel the same way..So the first one is JJ and the color one is daniel;-)
One small note...I am sure I will be getting flack for not being more forthcoming about this, but I am having back surgery tomorrow. Being pregnant with Daniel herniated 2 disks and pinched my sciatic nerve. I will be getting the sciatica repaired tomorrow...can't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk or drive for 2 weeks! I would love it if you could pray for me;-)
Posted by: Dawn
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Funny for the day
Published 5/7/2008 4:22:01 PM -
Dawn
We were at the cottonwood festival this past weekend and we passed a painter named Dick Zimmerman. He does really attractive oil paintings. (www.dickzimmerman.com) We paused near the picture above of Jane Seymour, and JJ in his sweet little voice asked "Mommy, is that a picture of you?". Ahhhh.. my sweet blind son;-)
Posted by: Dawn
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