Tool Belt

Watch DOGS

Gabe's school is participates in a National Program called WATCH DOGS (Dads of Great Students) It focuses on the prevention of violence in our schools by using positive influence of fathers and father figures for the 2 purposes 1) to provide an unobtrusive presence int he schools and 2) to be a positive and active role model for students at their school. John is at Gabe's school today. He is essentially being an extra set of eyes and ears and helping with a sense of security of the school by making sure everything is locked up and helping teachers throughout the school.. Gabe really really wanted him to sign up and who can say no to this face. John has been busy and called me once while walking the perimeter of the outside of the building. He was able to eat lunch with Gabe and his best buds and John says Gabe seems very excited and proud to have him there. So Thank you again John for loving our boy and being his wonderful Dad... xoxo to you both!

Double Digits

Dear Gabriel,

I can not believe I have a 10 year old son! You are getting so big and its exciting to see you grow into such a wonderful young man. Its also a little bit scary that you are getting so close to being in high school and then leaving the nest one day. You are my first born bird and no one could ever replace you. You are an absolute treasure in our family and we are all so very proud of you.

YOU are so Smart!!

YOU are so kind and thoughtful

YOUR big brown eyes melt my heart

YOU are an amazing big brother

I love to watch you play football, basketball, and baseball. LOOK OUT Gardner!

I love that you think I'm the best cook

I love that you always tell me you love me when you leave the house or hang up the phone

I love that you make friends easily and are a friend to everyone

I am thankful you are forgiving of my mistakes, you have made me a better person from the day I had you.

I love to hear "MOMMA"



I will always be available and accepting of you as long as I live. I trust you Gabriel, and I hope you will always trust me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY

I love you unconditionally

MOMMA

Coffee Water

This morning Jack woke up in a rotten mood. He fussed over the clothes I picked out for him and fussed over the episode of Dora the Explorer that was on. He wanted the "Dora Ice Cream Truck" whatever that is...who knows..He fussed over the blanket he wanted from his collection and wanted a particular two different ones. He was an all around pocket of sunshine this morning I would say. NOT... but after he got settled down he came into the bathroom where I putting on my makeup and said "come mere mom" and so I followed him into the kitchen and he points to the trash can and tells me it was yucky.. Low and behold he had taken the trash out to garage and put a new bag in the can perfectly.. He was beaming and very proud of himself. I gave him a squeeze and told him how proud of him I was..Then he wanted his coffee water which led to another meltdown because he wants to pour it himself. His thing in the morning when I make my coffee is he wants coffee water...He likes for me to fill up one of my to go coffee cups with water and then add a dash of coffee..then he sips on it and sighs "good coffee water mom".
Gabe started football practice last night and has his first game next weekend. Coach wants to get 3 practices in before then and also asked John to help by being an assistant coach. He agreed to it and hopefully nothing happens at work to keep him from being part of the team because Gabe was pretty happy he was going to help coach. Next weekend we are going to celebrate Gabe's birthday which is actually the 14th by having 3 boys spend the night. We will take them bowling and then bring them back for a sleepover where I imagine they will stay up too late playing video games. On his actual birthday he wants Grandpa to make chicken n dumplings so he is going to call this evening and put in that request. Its hard to believe he is going to be 10 years old! Sure makes me feel old..........

Buzz

Someone got a new haircut

To the Sea Tour

Ok so its finally here. yeah!! Tonight is the concert. It will the 5th time Ive seen him but we are taking Gabriel to it tonight. It will be his first concert and I can't imagine a better person to take him see. He is pretty excited and I just wish it wasn't a school night but sometimes you have to bend the rules to make some great memories.. He has been listening to Jack since he was a baby and he even took his ukulele to daycare when he was 4 and sang a Jack song. Too stinking cute!

p.s.Thanks Mom for the tickets , couldn't think of a better gift, we love you .

Here is some lyrics from a sweet little song he wrote on his latest album To the Sea. Im pretty sure its for his new baby girl. Awww...

Hey, little girl You might not know this song This is not the kind of song That you can sing along to But hey, little girl Maybe some day At least that's what all The good people will say Hey, little girl Look what you've done You've gone and stole my heart And made it your own You've stole my heart And made it your own Hey, little girl Black and white and right and wrong Only live inside a song I will sing to you You don't ever have to feel lonely You will never lose any tears You don't have to feel any sadness When you look back on the years How can I look you in the eyes, And tell you such big lies? The best I can do is try to show you How to love with no fear My little girl You've gone and stole my heart And made it your own You've stole my heart And made it your own

Nuggle

Jackson said yesterday when I picked him up from school. "Where my Gabriel" and for the 963rd time I told him he was still in Colorado on a trip. I told him we would be going real soon to go get him. Jack then says " I want to go get my Gabriel today, right now". Needless to say we are missing that boy. I can't wait to see his big brown eyes and squeeze him and rub his super soft chubby earlobes. Like Gabe, Jack has become quite the snuggler.... Jackson will tell me "momma nuggle me, nuggle me" and then he will say squeeze me. It's sooo freaking cute. Every day when he gets home from daycare he strips down to his scivees (is that really the word) and wants his blanket and cup of milk and watch Dragon Tales. But the other day he went to the other room and stripped down like always and then came out and looked at John and said "Mere" which is come here.. and made the finger movement to come to him.. And then he told John "lets nuggle"..We about fell over died right there.
So we leave for Colorado July 30t to get the boy.. We will spend a few days there visiting with Ryan, Nicole, Abby, Ryleigh. We haven't seen them in over a year now so that will be exciting. We will stop in Tribune on the way back to KC and visit with Wayne and Kathy. It will be fair time there. We will also have cutie patooties coming in from FL next week as well for their summer KC vacation. Alisha is bring some R & R (reese and reagan) this way.. Yay!!!

Necklace

Im in love with these stamped pieces from the vintage pearl. I keep looking and looking and can not decide which one I just really need. Check them out cuz I bet your gonna want one too.. Precious

http://www.thevintagepearl.com/

Summer Days

Day at the KC zoo

Jack and Sienna making mudpies

A day at Bubbas baseball tournament

A visit from Gpa and Gma Krayca

Just a swinging.... Jack and Sienna are the best of cousins these days...too cute

Lame Blog

I am by far the worst blogger! How do I even pick up and go on with this..Hmmm.. So I do have updated photos from the basement.. Which I will get on here. Its not complete but very close. I chose a very pale blue for the main living area and then Electric Blue for the guest bedroom. When I went to see the 1st Sex and the City movie, its the color from her apartment.. I just fell in love with it. You'll see, its purdy. Then Lemonade Slush for the bathroom. Ahh.. the bathroom, it has been the most tedious task of the basement and still needs some work for sure.


Gabriel has been playing competitive baseball this year and well the team hasn't done so hot but it sure is exciting to watch him play. I just love it. He is currently in Colorado right now for the month of July. We miss him dearly and Jackson keeps asking" Wheres my Gabriel"? We just tell him he is on a trip but he does not quite understand.



John Wayne is back on nights for the summer. Its good that he does not have to endure the horrible heat of the day at the plant but I sure miss him at night. Jackson has been in bed with me more than he should but I HATE being alone at night.. One noise and my mind starts up its own horror movie.



Hmmmm.. what else.. We got our garden going this year and the tomatoes are gigantic. The bell peppers and jalapenos are getting up there as well but the cucumbers keep getting munched down by something. Not sure if its the birds or what but I dont think they will make it. Were planning to have a garage sale tomorrow morning to rid the basement of nonsense that's in the way and make some cash to go on a float trip with our neighbors here in a few weeks.

We did take the kids last month on a camping (cabin of course) trip in MO. It went well although some nasty storms came through. Gabe caught some craw fish and tadpoles. Jackson has decided he can swim just fine. He is a daredevil for sure.. He wants to jump in with no floaties and try to jump past you and not be caught so I need to look into swim lessons for that monkey.

I saw another doctor, a physiatrist recently who diagnosed me with chronic sacroilitis. He believes there is little hope for my pain to ever subside. He recommends that i have a hysterectomy to relieve the pressure from those ligaments. I know I have endometriosis on those ligaments so instead of going thru with the hysterectomy i am currently on Lupron for 6 months to help me make the decision. My pain doctor has prescribed my lidocaine patches in the meantime along with a new pain med. He is researching a new procedure as well to see if I could benefit. I would do anything at the point to have pain relief, sometimes it is just too much to handle some days.

Please keep my mother in your prayers right now. The MS is really getting the best of her right now and she is going thru with a new therapy to fight the disease that is really wiping her out. The treatment she has started has really changed others lives so pray that it does the same for her.

I will try to get this blog updated more often again..I'm just such a bore, and more so than anything really really tired.
peace to all
pictures to follow

Basement Update

The drywall was finished up last night. John is downstairs now painting the ceilings.. It my duty to find a color that is light and bright enough to paint a basement without painting boring white or even Johnson County beige. I will get some samples on the wall and then post those pics and maybe you let me know.. We cant wait to get this done.. It will fantastic to send all the boys downstairs to play and especially when Gabe's friends come over.. We also have a continued dilema in the backyard.. With all this rain its like a marsh out there.. I think we may drive to go rock shopping this afternoon.. Ill keep you updated..

Happy Belated Birthday Post

Happy Birthday Little Boy. The big 2! You are twice as ornery as last year, twice as loud , twice as stubborn, twice as big and twice as defiant.. You are no longer a little monkey but rather a chimpanzee maybe .....definitely on your way to one day a big ol gorilla. You are definitely a handful that's for sure. None the less you are twice as sweet, twice as smart, twice as imaginative, twice as cuddly and most of all twice as loved!! You are an amazing little boy and could not imagine our home without you.. You are a blessing and so much fun .. Here's to you and the year ahead of us... I love you Jackson Wayne.... my little primate. Oh-Oh -ha-ha-

Spelling B-i-s-c-u-i-t

Gabe qualified for the school spelling bee. He has some pretty tough words and made it to the last few. I was so nervous for him throughout the competition. It was like being on a roller coaster with each word. He did sooo good and we are SUPER proud of him. He missed the word Biscuit.. He left out that last i. It was pretty funny when he was walking down off the stage. Grandpa Dwane said "He may not know how to spell biscuit but he sure knows how to eat them" The lady in front of us turned around with sort of a scowl but I don't think she realized who he was to Gabe and how it was a classic remark from Grandpa. Gabe still likes to say it.. I think these pics were pretty funny showing the build up to the end and with each picture Gabe gets more and more nervous. .Good Job Gabriel.. we love you !!xoxox

Our Baby Avatar

So this weekend was pretty eventful. Sunday morning the kids came and got in bed with us and we were watching my favorite cartoon Handy Manny. Jackson and Gabe were messing around a bit on and off the bed and Jackson started to climb up the foot board of our bed instead of the side like he normally does. In a split second SMACK, the bed vibrated and Jackson looked up with blood pouring from his face. It was impossible to even see where it was coming from. It was of course a very dramatic accident and it took awhile to get him to settled enough to clean his face up so we could see. I was freaking out wanting to rush him to the ER and John was telling me to chill out and lets wait a bit.. It took awhile for the bleeding to stop and we decided to wait a bit for the walk in clinic to open up. Jack is already back to telling me No! and being a naughty little $#%! by the time we leave to go get this wound checked out. He didn't need stitches just a little band aid glue. On the way home from the clinic I tell John " He sorta looks like Avatars off that movie" (Ive only seen the trailers for the movie) because it started to turn blue and swelled from eye to eye. So we get home and Gabe looks at him and smiles and says "Mom he looks like the Avatar commercial" He is doing fine and hasn't seemed to miss a beat. We took him to see Elmo Live later that day and he enjoyed that!

Takes my breath away

Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris covered Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah on the Hope for Haiti Telethon last night. It was amazing and beautiful. They covered the song with sheer perfection. I have been listening to it over and over. It will be in my heart for a long time. Click on this blog title and you can listen to it. Listen to it loud and without distractions and I think you will feel it too.
I truly feel devastated by what is happening in Haiti. My heart hurts and I have not ran out of tears watching the footage of all those hungry and heartbroken orphans. If there were a way I could get on a plane and go to help I wouldn't think twice. I would go. Our family has donated the money we are able to and I know that is what they need. It is so hard to wrap my mind around what God's plan is when you see the tiny babies in the back of a truck starving and dying of thirst. I would take one into in our home if there was ever a way.

Smartie Pants

Gabe got another excellent report card. They are graded with - which is does not meet standard, @ meets standard and + exceeds standards. Im happy to say he had mostly + and nothing less an @!!! The teachers comments were "Gabe has really excelled in math and reading. I am very proud of how hard he works at both. It is still a joy to have his personality in the classroom. He makes me enjoy my day all the time"... so umm.... yes we are very proud of him. He also just imformed us a few days ago that he qualified for the school spelling bee. We did not even know he had been competing. I dont mean to be such a bragger of a mother but how can I not be.. I am SOOOOO proud of you Gabriel.. John and I are actually considering on taking him to the WWE Wrestling at Sprint Center in Febuary to reward him.
Jackson has gone potty at school for the last two days without any accidents. Yipee!! Its pretty cute when he finishes. He gets a big grin and gives you a high five!

Peanut Butter KISS

He pops these crackers apart and eats the peanut butter off one side and chocolate off the other and the crackers are...well I am still picking them up. The school says he is SUCH a good eater all day long and usually has 2nd helpings... Why not at home??

Fast Forward to 2010

Once again I have been failing miserabley at this blog so I shall add that task to my resolution list which consist of the same exact ones from last year..
Go to church.....we start this Sunday. (Yes John you heard me correctly, hunting season is over!)
Be patient with the boys... Im still working on that!
Lose weight-25lbs ......... I am a bridesmaid in a June wedding so theres some motivation

Lets see since my last blog I finished the Twilight saga..in 9 days I read all four books 2400 pages... (yes I googled that) They were soooo good and I plan to reread them all.I got my neighbor across the street, my sister n law and my mother all hooked on them and reading them now.
So Thanksgiving came and went. We went to Tribune to for the holiday. It was a good time. Jackson despised the long drive but we made it. A few pics





And then it was Christmas time. Alisha, Ross, Reagan and Reese drove all the way from Fl for the holiday. The kids had a whole lot of fun being together. Justina made it from Texas as well. We are really glad they all came. Grandma Gay drove up from Oklahoma city with Aunt Teresa and Uncle James. It snowed and iced and sleeted on Christmas Eve and Day It was just a mess but we still have a wonderful time. We spent time over at G-pas and the kiddos were spoiled with gifts! Grandma Rhonda and Ernie came to spend the New Years and we ate and ate and ate... She brought the yummiest stuff called "white trash" It was big tub of cereal,peanuts, M&M's, pretzels...drizzled and drenched in white chocolate.. YUMMY!!The last pic is of her with her "granddog" Kale...no one can spoil that dog like she does ...