I licked Chuck Norris because someone offered me1,000,000 dollars

If you were privelaged enough to get this email from me yesterday (see post title) I think you should leave your sentence in the comment section. Kate sent this to me yesterday and brightened my day! Here is how it's done:

Pick the month you were born:
January-------I kicked
February------I loved
March--------I karate chopped
April----------I licked
May----------I jumped on
June----------I smelled
July-----------I did the Macarena With
August--------I had lunch with
September----I danced with
October-------I sang to
November-----I yelled at
December-----I ran over
.........
Pick the day (number) you were born on:
1-------a birdbath
2-------a monster
3-------a phone
4-------a fork
5-------a snowman
6-------a gangster
7-------my mobile phone
8-------my dog
9-------my best friends' boyfriend
10-------my neighbour
11-------my science teacher
12-------a banana
13-------a fireman
14-------a stuffed animal
15-------a goat
16-------a pickle
17-------your mom
18-------a spoon
19------ - a smurf
20-------a baseball bat
21-------a ninja
22-------Chuck Norris
23-------a noodle
24-------a squirrel
25-------a football player
26-------my sister
27-------my brother
28-------an ipod
29-------a surfer
30-------a llama
31-------A homeless guy
...
Pick the color of shirt you are wearing:
White---------because I'm cool like that
Black---------because that's how I roll.
Pink-----------because I'm NOT crazy.
Red-----------because the voices told me to.
Blue-----------because I'm sexy and I do what I want
Green---------because I think I need some serious help.
Purple---------because I'm AWESOME!
Gray----------because Big Bird said to, he's my leader.
Yellow--------because someone offered me 1,000,000 dollars
Orange--------because my family thinks I'm stupid anyway.
Brown---------because I can.
Other----------because I'm a Ninja!
None----------because I can't control myself!

...

Now type out the sentence you made in my comments section because you're cool like that.

The one's I received through email yesterday:

Kate- I had lunch with a goat because I'm cool like a Ninja!!!!

Aunt Diana- I had lunch with my dog because I'm sexy and do what I want

Jason- I karate chopped a fireman because I'm cool like that

My sister B- I loved your mom because I'm NOT crazy

I actually laughed harder at her response to her sentence:

"Mine was not so funny, Joy... :( Actually, it makes sense...And to be completely honest, sounds somewhat like therapy..."

I love my sister, she is so funny!

Anyway...

I have been reading in Genesis. And recently 2 things struck me as being very funny.

Genesis 26

34 -When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Not that I'm happy that Isaac and Rebekah Sue felt tortured... Do you think Rebekah's middle name might have been Sue? Maybe she was from the "southern" part of Mesopotamia?

Genesis 27

46 -Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I'm disgusted with living because of these Hittite women."

Ahh.. Now is she female or what? Not that I can relate...

Then Rebekah goes on...

"If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living."

A little melodramatic wouldn't you say?...

Now just to end with a little something fun...

Jason, are you sure you weren't homeschooled?

And lastly. Because I can't leave out Dawson. This is Dawson on coffee.

Not really about the cofee...

Explosive Poop

I am really hoping that if people get online today and decide to google "explosive poop" that this blog post will pop up. But then I thought, why would anyone be online googling "explosive poop"?

As a side note... I'm not so sure my college buddies will be real thrilled about having their lovely names and pictures brought up in my post under the title "explosive poop" but I like to keep things fresh, innovative, fun. So I'm sure they'll get over it. And those who have blogs and want to do the same will probably post theirs under something like, "Joy is no longer my friend".

Anyway,

On Saturday a bunch of us college friends got together for a little reunion. It was so good to get together and I actually got to meet the kids of some for the very first time and vice versa. I've never liked the second half of that word: versa. We had initially planned to meet at a park, which we did, but it felt like we were letting our children play in Antartica because it was so cold that day. Proof here:

Look what else I found at the park:

Some of you have wondered what I do for a living. This is not it.

Needless to say, it was too cold to stay at the park with the kids so we moved the play date to this wonderful place with CHOCOLATE!

Do you see how nervous Dawson is about us getting ready to take a bite out of that 8 layer cake?

There was also a kiddy play land inside. I do believe Dawson eventually had fun playing there. While I was out scoping the plethora of chocolate selections, Dawson got stuck up in the tunnel of the play area. He got scared and started crying so Jason had to climb up the claustrophobic winding stairs, through the even more claustrophobic tunnel and rescue our son. But I did get us some yummy chocolates..

Dawson was also scared of the talking M&M.

I'm thinking maybe it was nap time...

Before we left I was determined that we all get our picture taken together.

Let's see...

Michelle begat Camilla and -wait a minute. This isn't the Bible.

Are any of you wondering what any of this has to do with explosive poop? Well, while the other mommies fed their children healthy, nutritious meals, Jason and I fed Dawson McDonald's. (Please no Supersize Me comments for those of you who have watched that documentary. gross.) When we were about home Dawson started squirming around in his carseat saying "Mommy, I poopy!". And he was. We could smell it. When we get in the door I had my hands full so I just told him to follow me down to his room to change him. However, I didn't see the little trail of fun he was leaving behind as he followed me. That's right, he was leaving a little trail of poop all the way down the hallway. It ran down his leg, onto his foot and then to the floor. *sigh*.

This is a little something special for you girls who didn't have to leave as early as Jason and I did. This was what we got to see on our drive home.

Is anyone else disturbed by a dancing chicken?...

The Neighbor

We have a little neighbor boy that we sometimes get thoroughly annoyed with. I’d say he’s a late 4 year old. (Doesn't that make him sound so mature?). He rides a little PowerWheels 4-wheeler up and down our drive way entrance, stopping real fast and leaving black skid marks everywhere. Then he brags to his little 4 year old neighbor buddies that it’s so easy and to “just watch him”! He also takes no heed when Jason and I get home and are ready to go up the driveway. He's doing doughnuts, happy as can be, so we have to wait and wait to pull into the garage. Why do we say "pull in?" I don't understand that. THEN he proceeds to drive the devil 4-wheeler around in our front yard which Jason has spent many, many hours seeding, and reseeding and watering and loving and singing to. (not really on the singing part but I wanted to make the abomination of the little neighbor boy driving his monstrosity of a 4-wheeler through our yard more evil in the eyes of all 10 of my readers). He also has a big chocolate lab that follows him around and poops on our new little grass sprouts. No! No! *sigh. Poor little grass sprouts.
So,
One night Dawson is playing with his cars at the windowsill like he usually does. I’m busying myself with matronly things around the house such as watching tv and painting my toenails. Actually at this particular time I know I was in the kitchen because I kept hearing talking, and Dawson knocking on the window. So I went over to check and see what he was doing…
This is what I found:

(it's getting darker...)
But here’s the deal. The neighbor boy wouldn’t leave. So I closed the blinds. No I’m kidding. I yelled through the window that Dawson had to go night-night and the neighbor is just looking at us, like, why?? And I’m waving at him and Dawson is just smiling away. And not too long after little mr. 4-wheeling happy rider hops on his ride and drives home. He’s a good kid. I think. Really, I don't know. But that's the story of the day the little neighbor came to the window.

Totally off the subject…
I was just noticing-You know how industrial paper towel dispensers always tell you to use 2 hands to pull on the paper towels? Well I don’t ever use two hands. And the paper towel always rips. So maybe I should use two hands from now on. Or maybe I should tell our business department to “go green” and purchase a blower like they use in the movie theaters. Except that those stupid things always take 10 minutes to get my hands dry and by then I have to pee again. And I always have to push the start button with my elbow because I don’t want to get it wet. Why is that?

Thank you and have a good day.

JOY Comes In The Morning!

My favorite color is green. Yay.

Warning:

The beverage I'm consuming is from Starbucks, courtesy of my favorite sis-in-law Jenessa, (thanks sista!) and is loaded with sugar which may have an effect on the outcome of this post.

Because today is my birthday I thought I would share the story of my birth. Isn't that nice of me? Really, I think it's a great story, because it's a God story and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

My mom became a Christian when she was pregnant with me. Because of this, she sought God on the name He would like for me to have. So-she went into labor and was in the hospital reading her Bible when God told her to read Psalm 30:5 which says: "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. My mom labored all through the night (hence the weeping part, I'm sure) and I was born at dawn on April 22, 1977. God told her I would be her joy. And I'm sure I was and still am. I mean when I was in high school, I only asked to borrow money like, once a week, instead of 3 times like most my friends did to their parents.

...

Mom had no middle name for me, so the doctor actually suggested Dawn as my middle name due to the time of day. So she did. And now I am Joy Dawn.

(photo courtesy of Aunt Diana and Uncle Jeff who saw the plate, thought of me and snapped the picture.)

Surely there is not another Joy Dawn in the world! How can that be???

And, to set the record straight, both dish soaps were named after ME! Though I've never gotten any royalties or patent money from anybody. Are you out there? Are you reading this? Because I could really use some of that $ to go shopping today!

I have only one picture of me taken on my actual birthday. (That I could find) and I'm really a cutie if I must say so myself.

Now a few pics of me from much smaller days...

That's my mom's handwriting at the bottom. Don't you just love Polaroid? And can I just point something out? To this day, I'm still called Joy Dawn by most extended family. Anytime they see me somewhere in the real world, it's always "Hey, there's Joy Dawn"!

That little chair I'm sitting on is actually a plant holder. Obviously I was having issues, thinking my butt is smaller that it really was.

Hey, I fit into this chair!

My sister Sherry posed me for this one. I think I look like a grape. Is anyone loving the retro wallpaper in our kitchen? I think it's making a comeback.

Me with my Grandma Gaurd. (my dad's mom). I wish I still had that easy bake oven. I'm hungry.

Now who dressed me like a little boy? I'd like to know. I showed this picture to Dawson thinking he'd say the picture was of him. I said "Dawson, who's this?" And he pointed at the guy holding me and said "Jesus". Now can any family member reading this post please clarify who that guy is? Because I don't know. Or was this the year Jesus came over?

Last but not least...

I'm wearing my favorite color! Green! Those color combinations look so great together. I'm pretty sure everyone can notice my buck teeth that I had from sucking my index finger right up until I was in kindergarten. When I looked closely, I could see that someone had attempted to paint my fingernails at one time. It may have come off the day I wrecked my brand new bike into the back of my dad's truck because I found some of his chewing tobacco and wanted to try some because I liked the smell. Except... I swallowed some. Then I got sick and crashed.

Ahhh. Happy Birthday to me. Yay.

Pizza Crust Recipe is here.

Here is the recipe for the yummy pizza crust:

-1 pkg yeast -2tsp sugar

-2C warm water -2Tb olive oil

-2 tsp salt -5C flour

*mix yeast in warm water until dissolved. mix flour, salt & sugar. Add olive oil and yeast/water mixture. Stir until combined. Let stand 5 minutes. Knead mixture. Let stand 5 more minutes.

Spray pizza pan (I used a pizza stone) w/cooking spray. Spread dough out.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

*NOTE: Jason saved my pizza dough because it's all sticky when you try to spread it out on the pizza stone. So I panicked. But he grabbed enough flour to tame the shrew and all was well with the world. I still did all the hard work. hmph.

.......................................................................

I overheard this conversation yesterday between Jason and Dawson as they were walking down the hallway to Dawson's bedroom:

Jason: Let's go change your stinky poopy diaper.

Dawson: NO! I don't wanna change poopy diaper!!!!

Jason: Well, you shouldn't have pooped then.

So in to todays issue of Homemade by Joy...

It's

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!

My friend Ashley was talking about making strawberry shortcake, and who is the queen of copying ideas? Well I am. All day long I plotted at work as to how I was going to go to Walmart, buy the strawberries, bisquick, and cool whip and go home and create a most beautiful masterpiece of strawberry shortckae... the likes of which none other can compare in the world. But the above pictures were the best I could do. But hey! The strawberries were only 98 cents per container! Can't beat that. I'm going to bet Rachel Ray pays more for hers. This recipe is so easy and can be found on the back of the Bisquick box so I won't bother reciting it on this post. But boy was it oh so yummy. Even Jason said so. Though I'm the boss.

And if you'll flip to page 157 of this great issue you'll find my recipe for:

HOMEMADE PIZZA!

This one I got from my friend Mindy, whom I called this weekend panicked wanting to know what kind of yeast to use! She came to my aid and below you will see the beautifully sculpted crust of a succulent pizza. Notice my use of alliteration. That's why people buy my magazine.

Actually, let's do this... if you really are interested in hearing how to make this yummy crust for the pizza, just leave a comment. Then I will come back and post the recipe tomorrow. Do you want to know how I remember to spell the word tomorrow? I learned this little secret in 1st grade. You split the word up. tom. or. row. See? Never again will you be caught misspelling that fantastic word. I gotta say, I'm rocking the adjectives on this post.

Add the pizza sauce...

Doctor it up with all kinds of mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and I threw in a few hand sliced green olives for color!

And.. the funny thing is I was so stinking hungry by the time it was finished that I forgot to take the picture before cutting it up. So here's half of it!

Yum!

In next's issue of Homemade by Joy

• peanut butter and jelly made with love
• spicing up your food life!
• Put it in the dishwasher (life lessons for husbands who won't clean up)

Jeremiah 29:11

My senior year of high school I began to panic about the concept of college. I had little clue what to expect, what to study or where to go. We were assigned a guidance counselor to help us along the way but she pretty much gave me a packet of applications, had me fill them out and she sent them in for me. She didn’t discuss with me any options. I wanted options. What do you do in college? What’s it like? I had only one sister out of all 5 of us who graduated from high school. She did go on to college but because of the distance in years between us, I never talked to her about college. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even know what she got her degree in until a few years ago! I floundered and cried and was all confused. Where should I go? Should I go? And the biggie- how on earth could I even afford it? How much does it cost to go to college?

In 8th grade I signed up to be a part of the 21st Century Scholar program. To this day I don’t even know what all that entails but I do know that they give you a sizeable chunk of change for a scholarship to help with college.

This is what I thought I did know. I wanted to go someplace small, with a Christian atmosphere that is close to home. I wasn’t even going to dwell on what to study. I’m terrible with decisions to begin with. Can’t I just be doctor/lawyer/singing/actress with no schooling? That’s what I had planned to be from the time I was about 6…

I had applications in to Evansville, Taylor, Central Bible College and Bethel.
Just before graduation the panic set in. So I got on my knees and began praying like nobodies business. God, do you want me to go to college? If you do, where do you want me to go. And oh the tears. I think God filled 3 bottles. That night I was reading my bible and came across the verse in Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I had actually never heard of that verse before. God was speaking directly to me. I finally came to a point where I really didn’t know what God wanted, and I didn’t want to do anything without knowing what He wanted so I gave up. But I had that verse so I just stopped worrying about it. In the meantime, Bethel College had a recruiter calling me. He would call every now and then and check on my decision. One day he finally just told me a day we could come and check out the school. So my mom and I went.

Before the big day my mom said that she wanted to talk to me because she had a dream. She told me her dream, and that the dream was of the college I was to attend. Somehow, I don’t remember anything else other than that. Just that mom had a dream.

We got to Bethel and had our tour. We went through the cafeteria and there on a huge banner hanging up at the front of the room were the words of Jeremiah 29:11. I felt a little tickle in my heart that said I was in the right place. We ended the tour and on the way home my mom described her dream and said Bethel looked just like the dream she had except for a few things. But she never told me those things.

So I wound up at Bethel. By the end of my freshman year they had the new Fine Arts building up and the pond put in that is just in front of it. When my mom came to visit me around that time she just kept looking around the campus grounds. Then she told me: “Joy, that building and that pond were in my dream. When we came to see the school for the first time, they were the pieces missing from my dream.” God gave my mom the dream with a picture of the completed campus. (At least completed up to the 4 years I attended.)

All that just to say. Isn’t God amazing?

I did graduate in 1999 with my degree in Church Music Ministry. And now.. I'm a secretary. But that's beside the point. 

And coming up someday soon: "Study to Worship: My College Experience".

No hug for you!

Saturday I had the opportunity to get together with my friend Mindy. We were roomies in college. And I told her I was going to make her wait another week before I post our get together because she commented about how I didn't. But I changed my mind. Instead, I'm going to post a picture of her with no makeup on. JUST KIDDING MINDY! Acutally, I had a nice picture of my butt crack but I decided against posting it on the blog. The blog police might track me down and swipe their visa in it or something.

As you can see by this lovely picture before the motion started I had two content toddlers sitting in my lap. I was reading them a book, but Dawson was determined to turn the pages and Cora was determined to slide the little door hiding the numbers back and forth and Dawson kept pushing Cora's hand out of the way and finally Cora got fed up and left. I don't blame her. I tried my best to appease both parties but.... failed.

Since Cora was finished with the shananigans I decided to take pictures of her cute little expressions. Here she is saying "You cant' fool me. I know my mom didn't give you my Charlotte's Web movie" Phsaw...

Here she's saying. "Don't mess with me when I want a hug."

Look at those beautiful blue eyes though!

Here they are both intent on whatever item they are holding. Dawson, what are you holding? Of course, no one wants to know what I subjected myself to in order to get the picture of them both looking up at the same time.

They both wanted the balloon and ended up breaking the string in half. Such violence these days!

I think the big problem of the day was that Dawson wouldn't let Cora hug or touch him. He was like the hug nazi or something. (Hence the reason for the title of this post). Cora was so sweet and cute and tried her best to give him a hug and he said "I want to go home". And he broke little Cora's heart. She flung herself to the ground and when I asked if she was okay she sobbed! So Mindy scooped her up and comforted her while I gave Dawson the "look what you've done" look... But I have to admit that I absolutely thought the display of drama on Cora's part was so stinking cute that I still giggle when I think about it. And I have doubled up the doses on hugs and affection determined to make Dawson a lover, not a fighter. Here is evidence of my plight:

The Spankin'

Ahhh... how I love a child that causes a scene in the middle of a large store.
This is the tale of a little boy named Disobedient Dawson.

Yesterday morning I wasn’t feeling well so I took a day off work. As the day progressed I felt much better so I called in and told them I’d be coming in for the rest of the day in the afternoon and just be taking a ½ day off. I had a good portion of the morning left before I had to be in to work so Jason and I decided to take Dawson to Rural King to pet the bunnies. Shouldn’t there be an award for this? Maybe that’s called “Mother’s Day” & “Father’s Day”.
Anyway,
When we arrived at Redneck King, oops, Rural King, Jason said he saw the cages where the bunnies should be, but he didn’t see any animals in them! Not good!
Thankfully there happened to be one bunny left in his cage which Dawson prodded, poked, pet, and loved. But Dawson got bored with him quickly because I wouldn’t take him out of the cage. So Dawson takes off running to explore the store. Jason had to go find some parts or something for our lawnmower so I was left with the terror now taking over. Each time Dawson headed for something potentially hazardous I would pick him up and he would scream and kick and practically turn upside down in my arms to wiggle free. So I’d put him down and chase him again. Until… HE FOUND THEM. A whole shelf full of toy tractors, semi’s, cars, the entire loot of treasure was all his to pillage, plunder, and otherwise call his own. This is where he spent the rest of his time taking each toy off the shelf, driving it on the ground once, and continuing to do so until he had driven each and every toy on the shelf. Where on earth is Jason?, I began thinking. Probably in some corner laughing watching us and thinking it was funny what I was dealing with at the moment. But he wasn’t. He was talking to a worker to find out if the lawnmower parts he was planning to buy were the correct ones. Finally he comes walking over and we are ready to leave. So I let Jason take over and started out of the store. Here is his version of the drama that ensued:
I put the toys back on the shelf and Dawson started screaming. Then I grabbed him to head out, holding his kicking feet away from my- “any sensitive areas” (editor’s note:I had to edit that portion of Jason’s story) and told him we had to leave. Then Dawson looked right at me, yelled “NO” and slapped me in the face. So I put him down and gave him a good spanking!

And all the store got quiet…
Is this a tantrum at it’s finest? Why do baby Einstein movies not include this drama in their videos?
Here is MY version of the drama that ensued:
I left Dawson with the toys and let Jason take over. And I practically ran for the door to leave. The next thing I know I hear screaming and shouting by a certain toddler who shall remain nameless, but I didn’t look back. I had a goal. The EXIT sign was just ahead. Then all of a sudden the whole store stops what they are doing, grows very still and looks right in my direction to the scene going on behind me, so I turned around to see what was happening. And by that point, I had missed the NO, the slap, and the spanking. Clearly the exit sign had a strong magnetic pull on me up to this point. And within 2 seconds of looking back we were ALL out of store. Though I don’t remember who got out first now. It’s all a blur…
And that’s the true life adventures of the nice parents who took their son to pet the bunnies.

Of course, after stories like that, I always have to share at least one cute one to counterbalance and create wholeness in my blogging world.

This morning Jason called me at 8:30 and said he went into Dawson’s room to grab some diapers for the diaper bag, but Dawson still hadn’t woken up from all the noise. So Jason walked over to his crib to check on him. Dawson was breathing real heavy so Jason assumed he was still in a deep sleep. Then Dawson turned over and looked up and said “Daddy!” And Jason said “What Dawson” to which Dawson replied “I ready to wake up now!” So Jason got him up.

All that said, here is a non-related video that makes me laugh. Briana took it while we were staying at their house over Easter.

And last but not least... We have a WINNER!!

Jodi, you win the prize for knowing what Tabgha is-A city near Galilee known to be the place where Jesus fed the 5,000. (see my 7 random facts post and comments) even if it WAS sort of kind of cheating. But I'll let you win because no one even bothered to guess. And now for the revealing of the prize!...

(batteries not included)

Dawson and interpretive dance

Churches, -he's for hire. Shoot, they both are!

Here is a video clip of Dawson and his first time painting! He got this paint book for Easter.

And lastly, this picture is dedicated to Miss Pink. It's of Dawson in the TENT we made him. -In our home, with a big blanket and chairs. I'm sitting in it with him and he looks happy, yet... slightly doped up somehow. We also shut off all the lights and gave him his toy lantern that lights up. We are cool parents.

The Bandit

Chalk this one up to Jason.

Comb Over

I am loving this weather! No more windshield* factor, or snow. Blue skies, sunny. Bring it on.

So, not too long ago Jason was getting Dawson ready for bed after his bath. And much to my surprise, I come into Dawson's bedroom to see Dawson standing there looking like this:

Sort of a toddler version of Donald Trump eh?

Yeah. I'd cry too Dawson...

Dawson got into trouble today at daycare. Yep. I was told he got a t-i-m-e-o-u-t. (and you have to say it spelled out, like I have written here, because that's how she told me.) I had gone to see Dawson over my lunch break and Jan, the daycare director was in the hallway. I really like her. She's a sweetie. And she told me of Dawson's woes. She happened to be in his room, and I think they were getting ready to take them outside to play. But they had to clean up the toys first. Here is the following dialogue that ensued (per Jan):

Jan: "Okay everyone, let's get the toys picked up now."

Dawson: "NO."

*editor's note: I do everything I'm told. Obviously this is the devil's influence.

Jan: "Okay Dawson, then you have to sit right here on the floor until we are all finished"

So he did. Then he saw Zoe putting toys away so he got up and helped too. (I think she's his girlfriend). After I left I called Jason right away and filled him in on what bad parents we are.And how I guess we have to really start putting our foot down because I don't want Dawson to be the naughty one in the group. Although they did have a new girl who started working today and she had overheard my conversation with Jan. She said Dawson was too cute to be defiant. I agree.

But if it makes any remote difference at all, his new thing is telling people to have a good day when he is going bye-bye. ...

Did you know?

I’ve been tagged by Ashley. Thank you Ashley! I’m excited. I love randomness.

The Rules:
*Link to your tagger and post these 3 rules on your blog
* Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
* Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
* Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Okay, Jason and I discussed these last night. So I feel it’s only fair to have 21 facts. 7 for Jason, 7 for me, and 7 for Dawson. Because I can make up the rules. It’s MY blog.

Jason
1. I am scared of midgets
2. I once farted and burped at the same time.
3. I had to wear a speedo for a swim team
4. In highschool I used to think the octane numbers of gasoline corresponded to the year of car you had. I always wondered how really old cars got gas.
5. My favorite drink on a hot summer day is milk, straight from the jug.
6. In 2nd grade I got in trouble for forgetting to wear underwear, and I had on shorts.
7. I used to hate green olives but now I love them, thanks to my wife.

Joy
1. My foods can’t touch on my plate or I won’t eat that part that does.
2. My all-time favorite sweet treat is melted miniature reese’s peanut butter cups. I discovered this by accident several years ago after I left a bag in my car on a hot summer day.
3. I got lost in Harlem New York at 9:00 at night and saw a drug deal.
4. I have a scar in the shape of a triangle on my left leg from burning myself with the tip of a clothes iron.
5. I once siphoned diesel fuel from a bulldozer in order to have gasoline for the 4-wheeler. Surprisingly, the 4-wheeler still ran on diesel! (at the time, I thought all gasoline was the same!)
6. I used to be the lead singer of a band called Tabgha. *Prize to anyone who can tell me what Tabgha is.
7. Up until recently I thought the weather man was calling it “windshield” factor. Not “windchill”. Jason figured it out when I typed it that way in my blog and called me laughing. So I had to correct it.

Dawson
1. When I was first born, one time I pooped in my mom's hand.
2. My first word was “hi”.
3. I had the hiccups regularly in my mommy’s womb.
4. My mom and dad had to rent a bili-blanket for me because I had jaundice.
5. I peed in my mouth once cuz daddy didn’t get my diaper on quick enough.
6. I got my head stuck in between the guard railings of steps at a wedding… just as the grandma’s were about to walk up the aisle… And I screamed.
7. My favorite foods are “cancakes” (pancakes) and “kacorn” (popcorn)

*And now the 7 people I tag: Mindy, Ang, Miss Pink, Briana, Kelsey, Danielle, & Steph.

"O"

On Monday in the midst of this crazy spring/winter weather, we had a thunder storm. And this is when we found out: Dawson is very very afraid of thunder. He was standing at the window ledge playing with his cars and thunder rumbled. Immediately he started to scream, cry and run to the kitchen. I was in the living rom with him doing my walk away the pounds workout, so I was thinking, "what's in the kitchen that's more comforting than mommy?!" (for me, that would be food!). So I ran and scooped him up and he calmed down. But here's the thing. Have you ever heard the loudness of a Harley Davidson motorcycle come barreling down your street on any given day? Because it's loud. Louder than distant thunder. And yet when Dawson hears that, he runs to the window ledge shouting "Mommy! Momo!" So I tried explaining this to him. Didn't work...

In other Dawson news...

He has just started this new thing where he says "Mommy! Watch this!" or "Mommy! Look at me!". I busted up laughing the first time he said it. He was laying on the changing table and he said " mommy, watch this" and proceeded to make an "O" with his mouth. I have no clue where he came up with that. From that point on I've tried desperately to get him to do it again which is the reason for the following pictures and video clips.

Jason and I have been trying to teach Dawson to pray with us at our meals. He grabs our hands, bows his head and repeats what Jason says. Though he can't quite grasp the idea of closing his eyes. He bows his head and squints to look up at us and watch what we do. And of course I think it's so adorable that I captured it on video.

To close... Why does Jason think it's so funny to put boxes on Dawson's head?

Oh. I see.