Our AC induced Mini-Stay-Cation

We had an exciting week last week...our AC died at our house and it was the hottest week of the summer...technically the first week of the summer but none the less...SUPER HOT!! Scott does not do well with hot temperatures. We have learned that his body is flooded with toxins (especially now that he is in treatment) and when he gets too hot he has been known to pass out...so we do all we can to prevent that. Our AC struggled all day on Monday but we were in and out of the house, going to treatment, running errands and going to the pool so we gave it a chance to rest in the hopes that it would be ready to work when we got back home...but it wasn't and it was 100 degrees in our house! The kids managed to fall asleep but I woke them up a few hours later to move them downstairs where it was a few degrees cooler. On Tuesday, we told our wonderful landlord and she insisted that we stay in a hotel until the AC got fixed. Scott put up a good fight but she insisted...and so we checked ourselves into a small hotel with a pool. Scott felt horrible so he stayed in the room trying to cool down while I took the kids swimming. We stayed there for 2 nights and we had a nice little Mini-Stay-Cation. It really felt like a vacation except for the working on my laptop and going to the hospital thing..but at least we were cold! Scott had our rooms so cold that I had to wear a sweatshirt and the kids were cuddled under the blankets most of the time. They had a great time watching cable cartoons (poor things don't have cable at our house), sleeping in, swimming and goofing around.

Eli kept hiding from the camera but Sissy was my little helper...


Notice Eli's head next to Sissy's...


Aha...I caught him...up close and personal...


She is getting so tall and more beautiful everyday!


And of course...a silly one of me...

Happy Father's Day

So, have I mentioned I'm trying to get caught up on my blogging? I have been sleeping 3-4 hours a night the past month just so I could get everything done and it hasn't left much time for bloggy therapy...so today I am catching up while I wait for Scotty to be done with treatment.

We had a pretty laid back Father's Day weekend as we had to fit our festivities in between those pesky IV treatments. The kids made breakfast for daddy and wanted to surprise him while he was still in bed, but daddy gets up at 5:45am and thankfully, the kids do not!! :) They surprised Scott as he walked in the door from treatment and we all watched him open his homemade cards and then ate breakfast together as a family.

We gave daddy a small gift and then we let him take a nap! Naps are very important when you are as old as he is....I mean as old as we are.... After his nap I took the whole family to Bass Pro Shop for some air conditioned, FREE kids activities. They are having "camping" classes & activities for kids and we got to take a fishing class. We learned all sorts of things about when and how to fish and how to tie knots to keep the fish from getting away. It really made us want to fish. I know, I know...that's the point... After our class, we headed upstairs to the BB guns & Bow & Arrow shooting range. The kids each got to shoot the gun and some arrows and they LOVED it! Noah loved archery and the rest of the kids liked shooting BB's. We ended our time at the shooting gallery where we got to shoot at the targets for FREE...then it was time to take daddy back to the clinic.

After a great Father's Day dinner at home we celebrated a little more with Smores. We had hoped that Scott would be done with treatment this summer so that we could go camping while Autumn was at girls camp...but since that was not possible we just brought the fun indoors...thus the smores...

I know you don't want to see someone eat..but look at that toothless mouth! He lost another one last week and has another one on its way out...Notice the marshmallow all over everything...nose...cheeks...chin...hand...

Overall, we had a very nice Father's Day weekend. The kids love their daddy very much and he could not be more proud of them. I keep praying for the day that we wipe out Lyme so he can wrestle, run, throw and play with them again. In the meantime, I will keep "providing" ADA approved activities! :)

Monkey Bars & Merry-Go-Rounds: Trying to catch up...

When Grandma Holly was here in April we took her on a little walk to our neighborhood park. It was such a beautiful day and I got my exercise in for the day by spinning the kids on the merry go round....it is such hard work but the squeals are well worth it!

This is a shot by Eli DURING the ride...Great shot Eli!

Noah's impression of a bunny rabbit...

Eli getting ready for our Monkey Bar game...

The infamous Monkey Bar game...catch the Eli...

Happy Birthday to Me!

I had a great birthday this year in the midst of trials & tribulation. Scott skipped treatment and we spent the morning at the hospital with mom, who had been back in ICU for another week. Her mind was clearing more and more and I had some sweet moments with her before she went in for her second pacemaker surgery. The dr. was not sure that she would wake up from that surgery so we spent a lot of time with her Thursday night and Friday morning. Thankfully, mom made it thru surgery and woke up right away. Our family friend M, spent the afternoon with mom and sent Scott and I out the door to enjoy a birthday dinner date. Scott picked an amazing restaurant and we really enjoyed the dark, quiet atmosphere and loved being waited on!! It has been a long time since anyone waited on me...and it was just what I needed! Did I mention the AMAZING birthday carrot cake that they gave me? YUM!

After our early dinner, I took Scott home to rest and decided that a birthday nap would be good for me too...so 2 hours later I hopped out of bed and went back to the hospital. Our friend M was still there when I got there and I was so touched that she had spent the afternoon with mom so I could spend some time with my hubby. On the way back to see mom I was blessed by a beautiful sunset, gorgeous clouds and my heart was at peace. I had been given a gift with mom surviving her surgery and with our sweet conversation. I knew that there were hundreds of people praying for our family and that I was loved. What more do you really need on your birthday?

We got to have a small family celebration on Saturday when all the kids came back home. The boys had sent me a silly e-card for my birthday and autumn sent me a super sweet email with the promise of the BEST BIRTHDAY CARD ever when she came back home. She brought me a homemade card that said I was the Best Bonus Mom Ever and that she LOVED me VERY MUCH! They are such sweet kids! The boys were upset that they were not going to get to see me on my birthday and they tried to come up with good excuses for missing their VBS but we assured them that we would celebrate in style on Saturday. Our sweet neighbors J & L provided a lemon birthday cake with extra yummy ice cream for my party and we had a quick little "event" after lunch before we went to the hospital. We ended my second day of birthdayness with a family dinner of lasagna, garlic bread and salad. I had a great day getting loved on by my kiddos and hubby before I went back to the hospital.

Sissy captured my reaction to Noah adlibbing to my birthday song...something about me being old...and 32...not sure where he got that number from...its more like 29...


Again, sissy did a great job with the camera! They decided on only 4 sparkler candles because Noah was afraid we would burn down the house....although I don't think 29 candles would do much damage...now, maybe if it was 32...

My Mother's Heart...

February 3, 1997
I am more content today. I only have today. I look to the future, but I only have tody. Tomorrow is in your hands. I can affect today. What shall I do?

I have sunk beneath the depths and my tears covered me in sorrow. The salt was heavy and the eyes burned deep within. And you who sees the storms can control the storms. You lifted me out after floundering for days in human pity, greed, uncertainty, and sorrow too deep for words. I had been tossed to and fro in words and thoughts till I did not know what was real or unreal.

I have learned Jesus is my stability in any storm of life. I need to keep my eyes on Him at all times or in His direction even if I cannot see Him. I must reach for Him in the darkness. I saw no hope in any direction and then you in your love pulled me very quickly to yourself. I needed to reach to you.

I am now safe knowing today is the day of salvation. Today I must trust totally. But you wanted me to keep reaching, not just call. Help me to continue reaching knowing you are there to lift me up on dry land. Praise your name.

February 15, 1997
How Beautiful! I again was chosen and placed in the Lord's own garden. A garden takes much care and time. You must really know the plant and its needs. And this is true of each and every plant. He looks at me from afar to spot a need. He comes close to inspect. He touches with such a gental touch to meet my needs. So many factors keep me alive and growing and he checks daily to keep me stable. He plans ahead for future growth and beauty. He trims and cultivates and waters.

I might be wilted at the moment or sick with disease or needing something special, But I know you are working on the problem. Praise You, Praise my Lord and God. Praise You through out the day. (thoughts from Psalm 92)

November 28, 1996
I seek to know my Jesus because I'm so thankful I belong to Him. I want to know more of you Lord. Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that nothing can ever seperate us from his love. Death can not and life can not. The angels won't, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are - high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean - nothing will ever be able to seperate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us."

He can not take back that death therefore his love can not be taken back. It is eternal. Many decisions we make are forever and can not be changed. We need to realize this concept and use wisdom in all our decisions.

I'm thankful He gave, I'm thankful I was given the opportunity to know of His love. He loved me first. He loved me before his death for me.

I want to be just like my mother. I love her heart and her spirit.
Would you join me in begging God for her precious life?

Back Yard Fun

The kids finally had a chance to "break in" our beautiful back yard on Saturday by camping in their new/old tent. Grandma Mary bought them this 3 room tent before she was their "Grandma" and we have a lot of fun talking about the memories from that. The kids were only 7, 5, 3 & 1.5 and Lucas used to crawl thru the tunnels while the kids would chase him. Scott set the tent up in their bedroom and they would crawl from one bed to another. We set the tent up in the basement of our Red house and then we packed it away for the last 3 years...so they were very excited when I remembered where Grandma had packed the poles!! :)

I made homemade strawberry ice cream on Saturday night (with about 4 lbs of strawberries!) and the kids ate their dessert in the tent. I have NEVER had the kids put themselves to bed before but lo-and-behold, put a tent up and they are willing to go to bed when it's still light outside!! Shh, use this secret wisely as they may realize what you are doing after the 10th, 15th, and 25th night in the tent...

Eli had his own mini tent and his sleeping back/feet were sticking out the door for most of the night. It's a good thing that it only sprinkled a little on Sunday morning and that it waited until Sunday night to really storm...


The kids slept late, stayed in the tent till around 9:30am and even ate breakfast in the tent!


What brave little children! They stayed in the tent all night long and were safe and sound as neighbors on both sides of us watched out for them too. We love our neighborhood!

What Was I Worried About?

I have to admit that a houseful of teenage boys frightens me...think about the food they will eat...the smells they will create...the craziness that will abound...and the Mud Mask product that I will go thru! It makes me shudder! :) Every once in a while we like to have a spa night where everyone gets a foot massage and a facial...the kids like to be pampered...sissy gets to do some girlie things and it's a great family event...although daddy has never joined us...hmmm.

The kids are trying to smile in this photo but the mud mask is like concrete...and they couldn't do it..Lucas turned his mask into an indian design...its the Choctaw in him...he can't help it.


I'm keeping this one to show his high school girlfriend... :)

More Girl Cousins!

My sweet niece Sarah has been here for a week spending time with 'grandma' while I am running around trying to catch up. She spends hours at the hospital reading, singing and laughing with grandma. They have really had a chance to bond and we are so happy that she could be here! I haven't really spent much time with Sarah since she was 10 so I have really enjoyed getting to know her as an adult. She is super sweet, loves the Lord and has a heart for missions. She has grown into a beautiful woman who is excited to change the world...and her excitement is contagious! Autumn met her the day she was going to camp and the boys got to meet her on Monday. We took her out to eat breakfast so she could be fully immersed in our family fun. (Ha Ha) The boys don't seem to mind adding more girl cousins to the mix either...

Aww, what sweet angels...


Sarah fit right in with our crazy boys...


Do we look like we are related??


Last but not least...the adults...acting like adults...

Crown Center Fountain Fun

As you might have guessed...our summer theme is FREE...how many FREE activities can we come up with before the kids start to catch on...and start to get bored...but I am not worried because I have a very long list...free movies, free concerts, free art exhibits, free swimming, free kids events and lots of free time with daddy & dawma...what a priceless summer! :) (ha, ha, I crack myself up!) One of our FREE adventures included the fountains at Crown Center.

Anybody can join in and cool off...but I chose to "document" the day.






Eli kept trying to control the water...which eventually turned into a spraying contest...








In order to get FREE parking I had to validate our parking ticket...so we had to spend a little money on some sour candy & gummies...I know, I know...it's a racket....but I found my all time FAVORITE gummies...Grapefruit slices!!...during a break from the water the older boys decided Lucas needed to share in their experience of the PUCKER face...


Here it comes...


There it is....nice...

One of my favorite parts of documenting our activities are the faces that I capture when they are just enjoying life. Here are some of my favorites from Crown Center.

Loose Park : Dawma Day

When daddy has a bad Lyme day I usually take the kids somewhere for a little Dawma Day or Dawma Date...last week we ended up at Loose Park in KC, Mo. Tweety introduced me to it last month so I decided it was time to explore our new neighborhood with the boys. As soon as we left the house it started to sprinkle but we are the Dawson's...we are not afraid...we got our McDonalds and sat under the Rose Garden shelter for our picnic. We explored the lake and walked in the rain. It was so much fun. I wasn't sure the boys would like it but they had a great time. We saw birds, ducks, geese, huge cat fish, chipmunks and lots of rocks with plaques so we had to read each one...and they decided that each one represented a ghost...but other than that it was very educational...

We explored some of the herb garden but then it started to pour...and all the visitors ran under the shelter...except you know who....they ran up and down the huge grassy yard racing in the rain...they were great entertainment for a group of ladies eating lunch.

I promise it's raining in this photo...lots and lots of rain...

I bet they ran a couple miles by the time they were done...up and back...over and over...


3 exhausted and soaked little boys...

The best part of the afternoon (according to all 3 boys) was the car ride home...we drove down Wornall and it had rained enough to cause flooding....and of course the boys had their heads sticking out the window so the pouring rain could pelt their faces...they didn't see the wave coming...and they screamed in delight as it sprayed over their heads and barely missed them. We made waves for about 10 blocks and they thought it was the greatest thing ever! Noah yelled, This is the best day ever!! as we rounded the corner to home...and a waiting warm shower. I love it when the kids enjoy themselves at a FREE activity...This is the final photo of our day...soaked and happy...wish I had gotten one with a wave but um, I was driving!