Christmas Cheer

Our Christmas fun started with Jackson's Tia Penny coming over on Christmas Eve, Eve. She got Jackson a dinosaur, book, and the boys matching PJs. She got me some fun make-up. It has never made sense to Jackson to call her "Tia Penny" so he has taken to calling her "Tiny Penny" and she is great with that too! This was Jackson's first gift. He loved it. (No Texas Chainsaw jokes please). After he opened it, we had to sing Happy Birthday to my mom and then to Baby Jesus. (Dont ask why.) Then following ever other gift opened, (the entire night) we had to clap and then repeat after him, "Everybody say, Great Job. Everybody say, Do Your Trick. Everybody say, Angel." We decided he is going to be a motivational speaker when he grows up.

Here we are together. Notice how Jackson has grabbed Harrison's hand, I think that is so cute. My parents were so generous, they got Shaun Omaha steaks, and me some new pots and pans and silverwear. There were also clothes, toys and fantastic stocking stuffers. Thanks Fey Family!

This is the next day. You should notice the dramatic change in picture quality. Yes, Santa got me a camera. Thank you Santa Shaun. I love it. My baby looks great!

My poor grandma fell a few days before Christmas. No broken bones, but she did need 10 stitches in her chin. My mom said maybe we should have played, "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" as she walked in, but we decided against it. Good decision, right?

Harrison loved the stuffed animal he got from Nana and Grampy. We loved all our gifts. They also got Jackson a dinosaur, a work bench and us a new rocking glider for the Harrison's room. Thank goodness, because Shaun broke the old one and nursing in the middle of the night was becoming a pain. Thank you Hedgepeths for the large variety of gifts, we are so glad that you came over for Christmas.

Here Jackson is discussing some issue. Notice the rocking chair. It was a gift from Tiny Penny and has been in her family since the late 1800s. I know, it is over 120 years old. I hope it lasts.

Our vacation has been great so far. The house is a disaster and I think that is normal following Christmas. I hope you all got your Christmas wishes and spent some fantastic time with your family. I got everything I wanted and more. Happy Holidays!

Songs from Friends

This is the list I got from my dear friends when I asked for running suggestions for my ipod. They are listed in no particular order (but grouped by friend) and are quite diverse, like my buddies. Merry Christmas Eve.

U Don't Dance 2 Tekno Anymore Alabama 3

Up for Breakfast Van Halen
Woke Up This Morning Alabama 3
Hump De Bump Red Hot Chili Peppers
E-Pro Beck
LockJaw Davíd Garza
Photograph Def Leppard
Vertigo U2

Stronger - Kanye West
Umbrella - Ciara (?)
Rocky IV songs get me going :)
Fighter - Christina Aguilara

Let's Get Loud - Jennifer Lopez
2. Got To Give it Up, Part 1 - Marvin Gaye
3. Freedom - George Michael
4. Holiday, Madonna
5. Vivrant Thing, Q Tip

Devo, Crack that whip, brake your mamas back!

The Distance--Cake
Fall Behind Me--The Donnas
Since you've been gone--Kelly Clarkson
Let's Get Loud--J Lo
Dark Latin Groove—DLG

Walk Through the Bottom Land – Lyle Lovett – Anthology Volume One
Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room – Dwight Yoakum – Dwightyoakumacoustic.net
Black River – Amos Lee
Gira Con Me – Josh Groban
SexyBack – Justin Timberlake – FutureSexLoveSounds
Hallelujah – Rufus Wainwright

Shania Twain - She's not just a pretty face
Dixie Chicks - Not ready to make nice

Gonna Make You Sweat- C & C Music Factory
Groove is in the Heart- Deelite
Ray of Light- Madonna
White Wedding- Billy Idol

Low - Flo Rida
Easy - Paula DiAnda
Love Song - Sarah Bareilles
I got it from my mama - Will I Am
Calabria - Enur (this is more of a dance club song)
Whine it up - Kat deLuna

Bon Jovi's "Keep the Faith"
AC/DC's "Back in Black"
Ricky Martin's spanish version of "Cup of Life"
Devo's "Whip It"
Def Leppard's "Animal"
Duran Duran's "Wild Boys"
The Go-Go's "We Got the Beat"-

The Offspring – Keep Em’ Seperated
J lo Play, I’m Real, Jenny from the Block
itunes – go to Army Cadences

Watch the leg

Harrison is now turning over. Watch his right leg - he really uses it to turn over. Don't you think his brother is so helpful too? I hope this is not too many videos, because I am really enjoying these boys and their antics.

Jingle Bells or Mail Fraud

This is Jackson at his finest. He has climbed a top the mailboxes and views it as a stage. His brother happily participates as his audience. I hope this gives everyone a better picture of my sweet, wild, funny, crazy child. What do you think?

fighter

I asked many of you for some running song suggestions. A few of you mentioned Christina Aguilar's "Fighter." This has become Jackson's favorite song. The stage is an accident waiting to happen.

Orange Belt

Jackson got his Orange belt this weekend. It was a pretty big deal. He is the youngest student; all other students are 4 years old. I have great video but cant figure out how to upload it (the sound is there but not the video -Help me if you know how. I am so frustrated!)

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,
May I please have a new camera for Christmas. My current one has a long delay and flashing "flash" that causes any hope of a smiling 6 month old to dash before my eyes. It literally makes Harrison all silly faced. I promise I have been good.
Love, Dawn

Our weekend

We had a fun weekend. Friday night was Luby's and the hot tub. Saturday was Nordstroms and the Olive Garden. Today we had McDonald's for breakfast (tip, there is no one there on Sunday mornings), Lowe's for flowers, and HEB for this week's food. This afternoon we went to my parent's for Sloppy Joes (Shaun's favorite) and to the park. The house is picked up, the boys are in bed (it is now 8:27 pm), I just finished running for the first time in months (okay a year or more), my hair has new highlights, and I'm going to go watch the Grey's Anatomy I taped. What a great life I have.

Random Facts

So, I have been tagged by Melody to play this game where you list 7 random facts about yourself. There are these rules that you are supposed to post …

1. But those who know me well will tell you that I am a rule breaker. Thus, I wont post the rules or tag anyone else. I know, I am a rebel. But really, this is just me. I don’t wear my name tag at work. I try to use expired coupons. I am always looking for the best deal. Sometimes at a restaurant if I ordered water and the waiter comes back and asks if I want more iced tea, I take it – without paying! I often don’t use my blinker when I change lanes. This is a flaw, a big one. And the strange thing is I am surrounded by the most honest people…you know who you are.
2. I love being a mom but getting pregnant or pregnancy did not come easy to me. With my son Jackson, I threw up (a lot), I was super swollen, and I labored for 22 hours. With Harrison, I threw up (at least daily for a while), I had gestational diabetes and I broke my ankle at 35 weeks pregnant.
3. When I was little I had a Doberman Pincher named Bo and a Toy Poodle named Tilly (at the same time). I am not a cat person. We got our Schnauzer, Hanzi in Germany and had him for about 14 years. We do not have a dog now, and I really don’t want one.
4. I love TV but don’t get to watch as much anymore. Shaun and I have really bonded on Sundays (Dream On, Sopranos, Sex in the City, 6 Feet Under, Big Love, Entourage, and Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Thursdays (Friends, Survivor, and E.R.) over the years. I love me some good TV. For my 30th b-day I even got a TV for out bathroom. There isn’t that much great TV on right now, in my opinion.
5. In 6th grade I did a jazz dance to Centerfold by the J. Giles Band.
6. I was never athletic. Then in my 30s I walked marathon, and ran a half marathon, and did quite a few triathlons. This was before Jackson. I started working out again after he was born (a little). But since Harrison I have lost my mojo. I have no desire. I wish I did, I know it is good for me, but the desire is gone. I’d like it back.
7. I am an only child. Yet, I have some fantastic girlfriends. I have had them for years and I seem to be only getting more. I love talking and bonding with females. Girls are great. I hope to raise fantastic boys who can be wonderful to the women in their lives (including me).
8. I wish I was more creative. I love to scrapbook and take pictures, but I am not great at either one. I love my job. But if I could do something else (and do it well), I would be a photographer, or open some sort of Hallmark store (you know, that sells invitations, fun things and cards… things that make people happy). It would be great to only have people see you when they are happy.

Look I broke the rules and did a list of 8…you’ve got to love that.

The story behind the naked Santa picture

This is how the evening parade started. All the cuties were lined up in a row waiting for Mr. & Mrs. Claus to appear on the parade route. Little did we know that they would be the last float...about an hour later.

Jackson spent half of his time with Melody (she took our fantastic pictures a while back). He loved sitting on her lap and thankfully Melody's daughter, Vienne didn't mind sharing her mommy.

Pryia loved playing with Harrison. He was happy or asleep until the "incident" happened.

What a cutie and look at those blue eyes!

Devan and Jackson looking towards the parade, wondering, "Where is Santa???"

Once the Boerne parade was over, we made it to the Gazebo to get our pictures done. It was a beautiful setting; there was a rock garden, strolling little river and bridges over the man made water features. Jackson was warned by his dad and I that he needed to be careful or he might fall in the water. And yes, he did fall in. Of course, this was in complete view of the forty plus people in line to see Santa. And man, can this 3 year old scream. He caused quite a stir as he shrieked in shock! Everyone was looking at us as we stripped him down to his tidy whitties. Harrison who asleep in the sling had to be jostled awake and thrown into Animesh's arms so that we could attend to Jackson's emergency.

We insisted that we had to leave and go to the car. This caused even more crying because he wanted to see Santa so bad. Now, he was cold, wet, tired, naked and longing to see Santa. But wait, our first Christmas miracle of the season happened.

We ran smack dab into Mr. and Mrs. Claus (and an elf) on our way to the car. Thus, the naked Santa picture.

The best ever Santa picture

If you want the story behind this picture, I'd like three people to leave comments that have not heard the story. ..