Happy New Year

My 2009 Goals

Help a Stranger

Praise a Child

Light a Candle

Share my Love

Sing for Joy

Lend a Hand

Pray for Peace

Understand

May Love fill your heart in 2009

Here the boys are on Christmas Eve. We had a great two days. Christmas Eve with my parents and Christmas day with Shaun's family. I will update you on more later. Happy Holidays!!

P.S. After we picked this picture and paid, the lady noticed Harrison's hair sticking up and said, "would you like to redo the picture?" No thanks - I love it!!

Dont forget this on Christmas morning

After they wake up remember the below. Yes, this really is Jackson asleep.

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." ~ (1919-), American writer, producer, humorist. " — Andy Rooney

The Christmas card photos you WON'T see

Take 5, The happy jump. It only goes down hill from here.

Take 40, Harrsion - don't play with the pretty lights, just stare at the hay. Jackson is now giving the glazed over smile.

Take 78 - "Get this scarf off of me!"

Take 78, Jackson - "I dont care if they match, I must wear my orange shoes," qoute was stated before we left the house.

Take 92 -"You can't place these on my head and not expect me to touch them."

Take 132, The puppy is not helping.

take 178, Mom and the barn scene don't help much either.

take 222, "We are done! Can we leave now?"

We did our best for christmas cards this year. Drive 30 minutes to the small country farm. We had the red chair, the christmas lights, a scarf & hat, a new puppy, reindeer antlers, a bench, and a professional photographer. But most importantly we had a sick (runny nose) 17 month old and a just woken-up 4 1/2 year old. Those two things trump any props. If you want to see the final Christmas card picture and are not sure I've got you on my list, e-mail me at dawnfh@gmail.com to see the real deal.

How many Santas are there?

We went to a little parade a few weeks ago. Usually you wait until the end for Santa. This parade was filled with Santas and Jackson never questioned it. It was the first night that Maime has ever spent the night with us too...it was nice to all get out together.

Kris Kringle

We had a great day in Gruene yesterday. I love Texas weather this time of year. It is amazing. I got some other great shots, I'll need to upload later. Hope your weekend was full of some outside fun too!

You pick the caption

When I saw Jackson put this on his head all I could think of was the scene from Grease, "Beauty School Dropout." What do you think is a good caption for this picture?

Happy Thanksgiving 2008

Here is sweet little Harrison as our little Thanksgiving Indian. He loves this this little outfit and will show it off to everyone. This is a great age because you can tell him things, like "Go show Papa & Gaga your outfit" and he knows exactly what you are saying but doesn't really have any words to respond. I am really grateful that we have him and our stolen moments alone. He is starting to cry when we put him to bed. A new issue. It is so painful when he screams out "MAMA & DADA," tonight, when I caved after 8 minutes and went in to pick him up, he said, "tanku" (thank you) - what a heart breaker.

On the way to my parents Jackson insisted we stop to see Grampy to wish him a happy thanksgiving. It is so wonderful and innocent. As soon as we enter the cemetery he starts saying, "Hi Grampy, we're here." He wanted to leave him the note he made when Grampy first went into the hospital. He insisted on leaving it tonight. Then as we leave he says, "Bye Grampy, see you soon." It is strange how you can be happy and sad all at the same time.

Well, bye friends, see you soon. Happy Thanksgiving. Dawn

kid free

I am sitting here kid free. My parents have both boys. I had these plans of organizing my house, reading the whole book Twilight, napping, a dinner and movie out, and putting up my Christmas decorations. I started with the Christmas tree. It is old and should be pre-lit. One tiny section works. Now I am paralyzed and doing nothing. Really, nothing. It started with looking up trees on line to this...nothing. I can do anything right now and I am doing this because my darn tree won't work. So, now what? I guess I kind of feel like Harrison in the above picture. Happy, really happy, but also a little afraid of what will happen next. Send me energy to get off my butt and do something.

Happy Birthday Hubby!!

Hey Sweetie - I love you bunches and I am so glad you picked me to be your bride.

This is Harrison's new face for everytime I get out a camera. It just cracks the whole family up.

Since Shaun is turning the double 44 today. Here are four reasons I love him...

1. He is super cute

2. He is super funny

3. I think he still like me

and the fourth reason I love Shaun....

4. He is a very good driver and he gave me his hash browns at his birthday breakfast at Jims ...which I ate guilt free because of my weekend run.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY

My family

We went to a little family farm this weekend (before the marathon) to try to get some Christmas pictures. Here is a shot of all of us together. Hope you like it. I am counting the days until we are off for Thanksgiving.

I did it!!

What did you do today?

Here is the list of of strange things I did today that I never do -

Got up at 4:11 am

Met Mary at Central Market at 5:45 am

Rode a Via bus

Peed in a port a potty

Began a 1/2 marathon

Ran 6.8 miles to see my family

Hugged my boys and then left them at mile 6.8

Ran until mile 10ish when the knee and calf started bothering me

Ran/walked the last 2.5 miles

Ran .6 miles to finish line

Finished a 1/2 marathon

Threw up in a trash can in front of 40 people

Rode a school bus back to my car

Took a bath, nap and still had to go to HEB

Hope your day/weekend was equally eventful.

It is not surprising that I finished this race, it is surprising that I had the courage to start.

Soccer or...

When I first saw this picture. I thought - look at Jackson. Look how he just kicked the ball and what a great action shot this was. Then I enlarged the picture (you should too) and looked again. On second glance it made me laugh out loud. Who does he look like? He looks like he is doing the Ed Grimley dance (from SNL, with Martin Short, in the 90's). I mean it is crazy funny right. Cute kid either way. Okay, so I'm going to put this out in the universe.I have been hesitant to mention it, as I don't want to jinx anything. I am doing the 1/2 marathon this weekend. I will finish, I will have fun, and I will survive. Maybe I'll even do the above dance when I am done. Positive thoughts, positive thoughts, positive thoughts...

Halloween Update

What a great day we had on Halloween. Shaun and I took the day off from work to get massages, take naps and go to Jackson's Halloween party at school. That afternoon it was pictures out in front of the house. The evening was spent at a friend's house. We got some late tricksters (about 9:30 pm) which Jackson invited into the house to pick out their candy. I was getting ready for bed and Shaun did not hear the door, but friendly Jackson was so helpful....thankfully the kids (strangers) were too nervous to enter our house. Disaster avoided.

Tomorrow is Harrison's baptism. We sure will miss Max being there. Keep us in your thoughts and thank you to everyone who has sent Shaun (and I) such nice cards.

Brene Brown is coming to town

If you live in San Antonio, make plans to attend this lecture. You will not regret it. She is a great speaker and it is free. No matter the age of your children, you will find her informative and inspirational.

It is open to the public, so bring a friend.
Check out her blog at http://ordinarycourage.squarespace.com/
See you Wednesday.

update

Maime was released late Saturday from the hospital. She is okay, under the circumstances.

Here are the arrangements for Max -
Viewing, Wednesday Oct 29th from 5 - 9 pm
Funeral, Thursday, Oct 30th at 10:00 am
Both will be at Maimie and Max's church, Chapel Hill UMC
Burial will be at Fort Sam Houston, Thursday at 11:30 am

Thanks to everyone for all your love and support. It means the world to us.

Max Hedgepeth

Just one year ago, here we are celebrating fall. Max was so worried about Harrison and didnt want him to get too cold in the pumpkin. But he laughed just like the rest of us.

Max and Maimie celebrating thier 50 year wedding anniversary. Still in love.

Max at Jackson's baptism. We are supposed to baptise Harrison in two weeks...that and the holidays will be very difficult without Max.

Our dear Max had a massive stroke on Wednesday night. By Thursday morning he was on a ventalator. Things got super tough then. Thursday evening at about 10 pm, Maimie's heart broke and she had a heart attack in the room with Max. For the rest of that night we were all going between two rooms until we could get them a hospital room together. I felt like I was in a scene from the movie, The Notebook. The wonderful nurses pushed their two hospital beds together and Maime was holding her husband's hand of 51 years when he passed away. It was gut wrenching and heart breaking. Maimie is still in the hospital and we are unsure when she will be released. She can't pass the stress test (who could under this kind of stress) and until then we really cant begin to make plans for Max. Please keep us in your thoughts.

Let me tell you about Max.

Max was a man who was forever predictable. You could always count on his stories (you know the ones you've heard a 1000 times, and yet you laugh again & again) - he was really loved.

I wish right now Shaun, Jackson, Harrison and I could just "Hug his neck." - Something he always asked for as our visits ended. Well, this visit ended way too soon.

pick me up

This is what I see when I look down and Harrison wants me to pick him up. Cute huh?

But it is also how I feel lately. I've got these re-occurring ailments that make me feel 90 years old (I just have to ask my grandma). Oh, and work has been super, super hard. I'm good at what I do, but that doesn't make it any less hard.

So, in honor of Harrison and I, give yourself a good cry...that is, until someone is nice enough to"pick you up."

Pumpkin Patch

Where have I been you ask?

Hum, let me see...work, HEB, graduate school, diaper changes, books, soccer practice, running, little sleep and then I do it all again next week.

But, today we managed to get to the pumpkin patch. Here is sweet Harrison enjoying fall. And another picture of his brother attempting to torture him. I was so hoping for "the shot" of them together. No luck.

Happy Fall!

Your gonna glue my eye??

What a day. By 7:45 am today I had blood on my shirt and my face from this guy. Seems as we were walking into school and me telling him to "hurry" he somehow walked into a

door frame. Luckily we have a fab doctor who was able to "glue" Jackson's eye brow back together before 9:00 am. He didnt want to go to school, so he got to spend the day with GaGa.

What a way to start your week.

Happy Monday!

Two Cuties

It is pretty impossible to get both kids smiling at the same time. Here they are both smiling (my wish) but I forgot to add that to that wish that they both be looking at the camera. Oh well.

We had an exciting weekend. Jackson's first soccer game, a pool party, my 20th reunion and the circus. Last week was busy too - I got to see Brene on Friday and celebrate Cheryl's birthday (which I forgot) on Thursday and have Stephanie come over on Tuesday of last week while the boys were in Karate. I am lucky to have my boys and all my important girl friends.

A special thanks to Jenny who made last night so much fun. I may tell you more later. But this is Sunday, so clothes need to be washed and dishes put away. It is not all fun, but it is all worth it.

Where have I been?

I don't seem to be posting lately. Harrison has hid my card reader so I can upload any pictures. I started my graduate class and work is kicking my butt. But I do miss posting and keeping everyone up on my life. So, imagine how happy I was to see this post. It has pictures of edible Harrison and sweet Emily. Yvette is Emily's mom and oh how I wish she was here tonight for the reunion....I let you know how it goes.

Sneak Peak

Melody finished the pictures and I think they turned out great. Take a sneak peak at her site.

We've had a good week at our house. It has been busy and I feel like I am always tired, but good. You know why? Because Jackson has been good. Amazing how one little person can make or break your week. He is getting himself dressed in the morning, putting his dirty clothes in the hamper, and brushing his teeth and hair. That really helps - just that little bit. And Harrison - three days back in school and he already has a cold. Gosh is that frustrating. Poor little guy - I hate it when he looks all snotty and pitiful. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

harrison

Can this kid get much cuter? I don't think so - it breaks my heart sometimes to look at him. Other mothers know what I mean. I hate that I have to leave him while I work. He is just edible!