The moving truck

Dawson, being a boy, was quite impressed with the moving truck. He spent all day with Derek 'helping' prepare the truck for the trip & he even got to load a few of his items on it. He mostly loved running up & down the loading ramp. The last night we spent in our Texas house, I was giving the kids a bath & Dawson said "Look Mom, I made our moving truck." Derek & I both got a huge kick out of it...so I of course ran & grabbed my camera to take a pic of it. Derek said "You are going to put that on the blog aren't you?" I just smiled.

Getting to Minnesota...

To get all of us & our stuff to Minnesota, it took an entire week. Derek & I drove up on Sunday & Monday, we unloaded & set up the house the best we could Tues & Wed, flew back Thursday to pick up the kids, & then flew back to MN with them on Sat. It was definitely the craziest week I have EVER had! I took pics while I was driving (sorry Mom for any danger I put myself in) to document our road trip. It was a really long drive & I am so glad that is behind us. Derek drove the biggest UHAUL truck you can rent while also pulling my car on the trailer...that made him as long as a semi-truck...which made it very difficult every time we stopped. I drove Derek's truck. Here are our road trip pics 'nutshell' style. More blogging to come now that I have finally downloaded all my images off my camera.

Dawson's moving funnies

The move to Minnesota has, of course, provided Dawson with ample funny conversations. So, here are a few that I remember from the last couple of days.

1. When we told Dawson we were moving, we just told him that we were moving to MN & never told him the name of the town. So, he overheard Derek & I talking about Bemidji, and he said "Where are we moving? Ve-Vege?" He his still struggling to remember how to say it correctly.

2. While packing up the kitchen, Dawson saw me putting all of our fridge magnets into a box. He asked what I was doing with them & I told him I was packing them for MN. He gave me the strangest look & said "they don't have MAGNETS in Minnesota????!!!!???" So, then he began asking about other items. "Are you taking the fridge to MN? Because I love our fridge. Are we taking the stove...I love our stove too." I told him all of those items were staying because the house there already them. So, now he is really confused...he can't figure out the reasoning as to why some things get to stay & some leave. He asked me "Mom, you aren't taking your dresser hu? Because they already have those in the house." I told him "Actually, we are taking all of our furniture." He just furrowed his brow & walked away.

3. This has to be one my most FAVORITE Dawson stories yet. Dawson was supposedly 'helping' Derek pack something & the two of them were arguing more than anything. I could hear them from the other room. Derek was saying things like "No buddy...put that down please. No, don't spray that...Okay, stop please I don't need that right now....." Dawson was saying things like "DAD...it's okay. I just need to put this right here. DAD, just let me do it. I CAN DO IT DAD!" Then, Dawson comes into the kitchen & says:

I just DO NOT understand my Dad. And my Dad just DOES NOT understand me. So, even if we switch places, we still won't understand each other. How 'bout that?!?

Moving to Minnesota

If you have not heard our BIG news yet, we are moving to Minnesota for a year for Derek's job. And, we are moving next weekend! It has been a crazy whirlwind to say the least, but we are really excited. It seems like a wonderful opportunity for our little family & we will be back next summer before Dawson starts kindergarten. Derek got to travel to Bemidji, MN last week to find housing for us & he found the most AMAZING house for us to live in. We will even have a guest bedroom for all of our guests...so come on up! I will keep everyone posted about our Minnesota adventure here on my blog, so check back for updates. Here are some pics of the house that Derek took while he was there.

Outside of the house/ driveway

Sunroom

part of the kitchen-looking into the laundry room

living room

part of the wrap around porch

The AMAZING Dawson turns 4

My baby boy turned FOUR years old last month. So, I photographed him in all of his superhero costumes for his 4 year old pics. Well, I say ALL of his costumes...but we actually left several more at home. He just LOVES all superheros...Spiderman is definitely his favorite, but to quote him, he "loves the superheros that save the day." He is ALL boy & I am constantly having to keep up with what he is doing. In the last month, I have found him on top of the fridge, trying to swing from the ceiling fan pull-downs, trying to hang from the wine glass holder which is on the ceiling above the bar, & of course crashing through the window in the living room! To him, all the furniture in the house is something to climb & jump off of...I wish I could record myself saying "GET DOWN OFF THE FURNITURE!" so I wouldn't have to say it over & over & over...

If you read my blog, then you get to hear most of Dawson's funnies (some of them aren't post-able)...he is such a hilarious kid! He has me cracking up several times a day. Today while we were coloring he said "Mom, I'm just glad with you." Then he kissed me on the hand. How sweet it that...and, I think I am going to start using that phrase...I'm just glad with you.

He is such a sweet boy though. He is constantly telling me he loves me, or that I am the best mommy in the whole world, or that my hair looks pretty or he like my outfit. He has such a sweet, sweet spirit and I am so blessed to have him.

This is a little collage I did for all the grandparents.

Everyone has just LOVED this shot, so I thought I would put it on here.

And, this is the poster I did for his new spiderman room.

Stinky, Stinky Boy!

Okay...is it just my husband, or do ALL men sweat like pigs when they sleep? Before I was married, I easily went two weeks between washing my sheets. Now, we barely make it a week, before the scent of the husbands side of the bed begins wafting over. Yesterday morning, Dawson woke up really early & climbed into bed with me. Derek had already left for work so Dawson laid down on Derek's side of the bed. I was already drifting back off to sleep when suddenly, Dawson's face was an inch from mine saying "Scoot over mom." I scooted over & we were now both laying on my pillow with our foreheads touching. Dawson looked up at me & said "I think Dada tooted on his sheets over there...its stinky." I said somthing about boys getting stinky when they slept, needing to wash the sheets, and we both went back to sleep. Well, as soon as Derek walked in the door from work that afternoon, Dawson says to him "Dad, Mom called you a STINKER today...she said you are a stinky, STINKY BOY!" Tattletail.

Zoo trip!

My mom & I took the kids to the zoo a couple of weeks ago. It prooved to be a very trying day for me. The kiddos were extremely whiney & cranky...which made for a whiney & cranky mommy. The kids were NOT getting along that day. Some days they do wonderful together & play together so nice...this was not one of those days. We did have a good time overall though. I did not take very many pics because I was having to referee all day. We also rode the train when we first got there & they loved that. I think I will hold off on any more zoo trips until next year...maybe when the kids get a little older, they will behave a little better. Wishful thinking hu?

Here are some pics from our recent vacation over Memorial Day to Galveston. We stayed at the Point West Condos again...it is such a great place. We had such a wonderful time! All of these pics were from our last evening there, we had absolutely gorgeous light that evening. Thanks to Aunt Hettie for doing such a great job taking pics for me...it is nice to actually be in some now & then!

My poor Andi. She gets over stimulated sooooo easy, and the beach prooves to be a little too much for her. She doesn't like to be dirty (dirgy as she calls it), she doesn't like the wind & she doesn't like wearing swimsuits for very long. And, this day, we were running around all day & she didn't get a nap. All of that, made for a bad combo.


Dawson on the other hand, loves the beach. He loves doing all the boy things: flying kites, jumping waves & building things in the sand. Here he is building a rocket ship. Unfortunately, he got stung again this year by a jellyfish...that make two years in a row for him. Maybe jellyfish are attracted to ultra white legs!

A funny day

With the exception of one of these stories...Dawson said ALL of these funny comments today. Here we go:

1. After seeing a commercial about some type of 'limited spiderman' toy, Dawson says "Mom, can I get a limited spiderman costume someday? That way I can be limited ALLLLL over."

2. While getting another load out of the dryer, I returned to the living room to find all of my neatly folded stacks of laundry, spread out all over the floor, and the kids were jumping on the couch where the stacks had been. I groaned & told Dawson I was sad because I would have to re-fold all of it again. His response, "MOM, I'm gonna fold you into a square, then you won't be a mommy anymore."

3. He asked me, completely out of the blue today, "Mom, do you like the roof better or my spiderman costume better?"

4. We had a very in depth discussion again today, while we were driving to the store, about strangers & how you never leave with them...etc... After questioning him, he answered all of my questions correctly & I thought perhaps he totally understood the subject. So, we go in the store, and he says to the first person he sees "Hi Stranger. My name is Dawson, what's your name?" Nevermind.

5. This is the one from the other day. He was very tired & driving me crazy by not following directions...I told him "Dawson, you are pushing the limit." He glared at me & said "MOM, I AM NOT fishing the lomet!"

My two addictions

I am a huge Harry Potter fan & Twilight fan...so I am just going crazy now that both have movies about to come out: Harry next month & Twilight not til November. Seriously, what can you not love about these two series? Both kept me up all hours of the night, I just COULD NOT stop reading. I honestly wish I could re-read both series straight through, with out any interuptions. I think what make these books so amazing is the characters. I feel like the characters are people who are very dear to me, like they will stay with me forever. Thirty years from now, I feel like I will still think of Harry & his spells from time to time, and the intensity between Edward & Bella. Here are the two movie posters...these will have to keep me content until the movies come out.

My new toy

Meet my new tiny IPOD radio. I am in love. I just carry it around the house with me, and it creates whatever mood I need at the moment. It is like having my own personal movie soundtrack playing while I cook dinner, fold laundry or get ready in the morning. I am not sure how I lived without my ipod...it keeps me sane when my kids & other stresses are testing my sanity.

7 year anniversary

We just recently celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary. That really seems like such a short time...probably because we dated for 5 years before we got married. So, we have actually been together for 12 years now. It is fun to look back at all the changes that have taken place in that time. We have moved 4 times, bought our first house, popped out two kiddos, and changed jobs about 8 times between the two of us. It is even funny to think about how much technology has changed in that time. I remember our first Christmas together after we got married, someone got us a DVD for Christmas...but, we didn't own a dvd player yet since they had just come out!

But, I honestly like to remember the things that haven't changed at all in 7 years. Like how I can be my complete-crazy-goofball self around him...and he likes it; how his smile affects me; his sweet romantic side; how handsome he is; and how crazy in love with him I am. I am so blessed.

I remember when I was pregnant with Dawson, I was worried about having to 'share' Derek...I kind of envisioned that we would almost be separated for the next 20+ years until the kids went off to college...and then we would finally reconnect after all that time. Now, I know some of those feelings were pregnant hormones, but they were also real fears. I honestly LOVED just being us & was afraid to mess with something that worked. Four years later, those thoughts I had seem very humorous to me. It has been so amazing to watch our marriage grow, and in only ways that becoming parents could have grown it. Sure, we are crazy busy & have our hands full...but I would not change a thing. Tonight, I was giving Dawson a bath & Derek was snuggling on the couch with Andi, and I hear him whisper to her from the other room "I love you baby girl." Sharing children with someone takes your love for them to another level. So, as much as I love remembering the things that have NOT changed in 7 years, I sure do love the changes too.

Here are a few photos from 7 years ago...

Engagement photo
One of my fav wedding photos

Another one of my favorite wedding photos
And, us at dinner this year celebrating!

Derek's 30th Birthday

Okay...here are some pics from Derek's birthday. The first two pics are from when we went out to dinner with his family to Ichibon in Kemah (which the kids love.) The last four pics are when we celebrated at home with the kids. Dawson completely picked out what Dada's cake would look like & say! So cute...

Happy 30th Birthday Babe!

Dawson...again.

Here are a couple more funny stories about the crazy things Dawson says:

1. Dawson & Andi were fighting over Andi's baby doll & doll stroller the other evening. A would not share, so D went into the other room to pout. He then yelled at her "That's not FAIR...I AM THAT BABY'S DADDY!" It was like a Jerry Springer episode in the kids playroom.

2. The other day Granna was telling me how they were battling racoons in their attic & how they had to set traps to catch them. D was listening to the whole conversation & then asked with a perplexed face "Granna...the racoons pulled down the string in the hallway to get in the attic?"

3. We go to a restaurant called Rancho Mexican Restaurant a lot, and the kids love it cause they serve free ice cream. Well, the other day I asked D what was his favorite restaurant & he said "Rancheerios."

4. D & I were talking about fruits & vegetables the other day & I was having him give me examples of each. He listed several veggies & then all he could come up with for fruit was 'fruit snacks."

5. When we went camping, Derek stepped inside the visitor center to pay for our stay at the park. Dawson said "They are going to give Dada one heck of a fight."

6. This was our conversation last night:
D: 'Mom, I don't like my room. Why is there Thomas on my walls?'
me: 'Well, when we decorated your room in Thomas, you really liked it.'
D: 'I want a Spiderman room."
me: 'Can we decorate it with all the superheros that you like? That would be cool too.'
D: 'Yea...but, not the bad guys. Only the guys that save the day."

7. I was occupied with Andi a moment ago & D was yelling at me to come do something. He was getting more & more frustrated that I was not coming immediately...then I heard him say "Okay mom...JOKE'S OVER."

The 'Good' Easter pics...aka 'non-crying ones'

The NIGHTMARE photo session.

Last Friday, I took my kids up to the studio for Easter pictures with the live bunnies. Now, as a photographer, these are my ABSOLUTE least fave pics to take, because live bunnies make for INSANE sessions. Photographing children is hard enough without adding live animals into the mix. As soon as you get the kids posed, the crazy bunny is hopping off...or peeing/pooping on a child, eating their expensive easter clothes, or my personal favorite... humping a baby's head. And yes...these have all happened to me while photographing bunny pics.

This year, we had three bunnies. The first day, one of the bunnies could not stop humping everything...so we left him at home the second day. The second day, one of our remaining two bunnies had some diahrea issues. We even had to hold up sessions for about 15 minutes at one point to scrub the diahrea off his belly & feet in the sink, and blowdry him with the hairdryer...talk about FUN.

So, with that preface, here is what happened when my kids came in. Of all the sessions I have ever photographed in my 10 years as a photographer...this session was the worst by a mile...no, by 100 miles. Seriously, who raised these kids?????

So, I bring my kids in, pose them...and hand Dawson a bunny. I reach for the next bunny to hand Andi...and of course there is diahrea EVERYWHERE. So now, my kids are going to have to share a bunny...great, they don't share. In this pic, I just told Andi she couldn't hold the bunny in the cage.

Now, Andi is about to whack Dawson on the head for touching 'her' bunny.

Dawson is now trying to keep the bunny away from Andi.

Andi is now pinching Dawson's arm & twisting it behind him for taking 'her' bunny.

So, I took the bunny away. Dawson is pouting...Andi is running away.

We took the bunny & Dawson out of the picture...this is what I got from her.

Then of course, the allergic reaction began. She began sneezing about 20 times in a row, broke out in hives on her face & arms, her eyes turned blood shot & started to swell shut, and her lips swoll really big.

Needless to say, there will NEVER be another bunny session for my kids. We did get some really great shots of them & I will post those later. For now, I am just enjoying the 'real life' photos.

A few Easter pics...

Here are a few pics from Easter. I photographed the kids at the studio for their official easter pics with bunnies...it was a COMPLETE nightmare! I will post those after I load them...you will see what I mean by nightmare. These are just a few candids in Hettie's backyard after church.