My Abigail

We love her so much!!

I don't know what I would do with out these 3 monkeys

This was her favorite shirt, she wore it everywhere!!

This is the day she was born

My sweet Abigail just turned 9. I can't believe my baby is so old. I remember so well the day they put her in my arms for the first time. I remember that her eyes were wide open and she looked so curious about life. I remember thinking well, here we go!! I have always wanted to be a mom. I had no career aspirations other than this. I remember being so thrilled to find out that I was pregnant and again thrilled that she was a girl. She was my first experience with being Mommy and I am still learning from her every day. She makes me laugh and her pure and unassuming love for me touches me deeply. I see the kindness she has for others and the great friend that she is to those around her. She is witty, charming, and silly all at the same time. I can't wait to see what she will do in the coming years, but sometimes I wish time would slow down so that I could appreciate her more and take in every moment. I love you Doodle Bug and I always Will!!!

Off The Beaten Path

My friend Jessica invited us to go to Dauphin Island again a couple of weeks ago. We had a blast again and the girls now want to have our own house there!! On the way back home the girls wanted to eat donuts for breakfast. I put a donut store into my GPS machine and it lead me to Ocean Springs Mississippi. I had recently read a non fiction book called Approaching the Magic Hour. This book describes the life of an artist named Watler Anderson. He had undiagnosed schitzophrenia and was a fabulous artist. His wife wrote the book and described what it was like to live with him. He would go off for months at a time and live in a canoe and paint pictures of the ocean animals. He also rode his bicycle everywhere once even to New York City. While traveling to the donut store, I saw a sign for the Walter Anderson Art Museum and I had to go!! I remembered being so touched by his story and so moved by his paintings. I took a few pictures but they do not do them justice. Someday when you are hungry for donuts, travel off the beaten path and go see these for yourself. You won't regret it. When he died his wife found a locked room where he never allowed anyone to go. In the room there was a fabulous mural where every spot of the wall was covered in paintings. They moved this room into the museum and it is wonderful! Enjoy!! Love to you all, Dawn

Idol Fever

We got a big surprise while shopping at Target today. While in the check out stand, we spyed Alexis Grace from American Idol browsing in the make up Isle. We approached her and asked her if it was o.k. if we took a picture with her. She was very gracious with us and I think a little thrilled that we would want to. Here are the pictures. We had Abby's friend Lexi with us who has essentially become one of my kids and hangs out with us a lot! She was also very excited to see her and told Alexis Grace that she wished she had won! Enjoy!! love to you all, Dawn

Blog guilt

SO whenever it has been a while since I posted, I start to feel guilty!! Thanks Laura!! So.. I am copying Cat and putting my 25 random things from face book on here. just in case youguys don't see me there!! Have fun!! Love to all, Dawn

1. I love being a mom. I didn't always love it, but now I do
2. I drink about 5 diet cokes a day (yes I know it's bad)
3. I sleep with the T.V. on
4.I miss my brother every day
5. I wish my sisters lived closer, we always have so much fun together!
6. I sleep with a special comforter that Chad says belonged to one of his old roommates I can't sleep well without it(It is very green and very ugly!!
7. I now have 2 fake front teeth
8. I read about 3 books a week, sometime I read 4 books at a time
9. I don't know how to type, because my sister cheated for me in senior year in typing class because I couldn't do it.
10. I was on the rachael Ray show with my mom. It was so fun!!!
11.I was on bed rest for 10 weeks with my last pregnancy. I do not recommend it!!! I nearly lost my mind!
12.I recently went to Alaska with my husband. It was truly awe inspiring! The scenery was breathtaking and made me firmly believe there is a God
13. I have many amazing friends(including my husband, sisters and my mom). I am so blessed in this department. I have people in my life who truly love me for who I am and I love them the same way. It is awesome!!!
14. I hate to drive and I am not very good at it. Ask anyone who has been in the car with me!!
15.I love Cardigan sweaters
16. I love to cook. I find it therapeutic. I think sometimes when I feel other things are going wrong, If I can push out a fabulous batch of cookies all the world is right again
17. I love to do things for other people when I can. I love to see how small acts of service can brighten someone's day
18. I hated high school and I never felt like I fit in anywhere(except for the part where I met my oldest and dearest friend Tracy). I love being a grown up much better
19. I always help at least one elderly person in a grocery store. They seem to flock to me. Yesterday at Sam's I helped a man get his lunch, and I cut up his hot dog for him. I hope someone helps me when I am old!!!
20. I love to laugh! Life is too short not to! I really do have inappropriate laughter problems but I have learned to become less and less embarassed by this trait
21. My favorite sound in the whole world is the sound of my children laughing!!
22. I have seen twilight 5 times and I want to see it again.Among my sisters, I am the only one who liked it that much!!
23. I am back to school now after 8 years, It is really hard!!
24. I do stupid things all the time like leave my keys in the car, lock my keys in the car, leave my wallet places, leave my phone places, etc... I am really flighty!!
25. I love life. I want to stick around a lot longer to try and experience something new every day!!!