"boy"friends

These boys are great friends. They aren't afraid to tell the other know how important they are to them, how glad they are to have them as a friend and it warms my heart to see and hear them encourage each other, comfort each other, stand up for each other, teach each other and to do it so unabashedly and without fear of teasing, or they plum just don't care if it happens. When James was in a car accident 2 weeks ago, their innocent worlds cames crashing down. Tyson cried. A lot. He would walk into my arms for just a hug. and I would hold him for as long as he chose to stand there. He and Kyle were on the phone with each other constantly, sometimes not saying a word, just having that connection I guess, was all they needed at the monment. No words needed to be said, they knew what the other was thinking and feeling. We prayed. Harder than I remember praying for a long time, and we waited. and waited. and waited. and prayed some more. Ty was finally allowed to go see James, after a l-o-n-g week, when he was finally taken off the ventilator and moved off the PICU floor. You can only imagine the joy they both felt. Now multiply that by 100, when tonight, I took Ty and Kyle to see James because he is now at HOME. And even though they don't put on a mushy show of hugs and kisses and squeals like we girls do, I could see it on their faces. They glowed. They stood shoulder to shoulder for a picture, and you could see the love and friendship in their eyes. Their world is once again good. They're 10 and they already get "it"  -hope this never changes.

Kyle, James, and Tyson <3

making happy memories

Did pumpkins last night. 

Ginger kept sneaking into and stealing from the gut bowl. 

Seems she loves pumpkin! LOL

After pumpkins, the kids and I made apple nachos ...

They were delicious!

Trick or treating tonight. It was a gorgeous, beautiful night!

Tyson's friend, Kyle,  came into town and went with us. 

I don't mind at all, he's such a good kid.

Trick or Treating is exhausting. She fell asleep in my lap. 

Was a challenge to drive with only my right hand =)

They were playing around with Ty's blood capsules. 

I was dying with laughter. I know, I'm sick and twisted.

I have...

...4-5 blogs to write with pictures included.
I need to sit and do it! I also need some quality, pamperin, lovin "Dawn" time =D

nightly ritual

I am.

I am enough. My name is Dawn and I am enough.

I shall now launch into my enoughness manifesto. Not to brag or dance a little narcissistic dance in the mirror, but to inspire YOU to write your own.

I AM ENOUGH.
I am full of sparkle and compassion. I genuinely want to make the world a better place. I love hard. I practice kindness. I’m not afraid of the truth. I am loyal, adventurous, supportive, and surprising. I am a woman. I am enough. I make mistakes, but I own them and learn from them. Sometimes I make a bunch of mistakes.

I am enough. I am open, juicy, artistic, curvy, full blast. I am also emotional, demanding, and looking for answers. I am a woman who is open to mysteries, accepting of miracles. I am diving in, devouring, loving, protecting, peeling back the surface of petty desires to the hunger for connection, for belief, for truth.

I am less concerned with doing things correctly than I once was and more concerned with dancing, bowling, and singing loudly even if I dont know all the words.

I accept that I try hard to see the good in everyone and that it usually backfires on me. I accept that I usually dont stand up for myself, and for not always saying whats really on my mind, and allowing myself to slip into self imposed isolation. I accept that dont like to play by the rules, or answer questions or have the freedom to do what I want, when I want it. I am still enough.

I am a lover of salty popcorn, a full moon and stars in the midnight sky, a big ol barn sitting in the middle of nowhere, the smell cotton candy, laughing until I can’t breathe, having someone reach for my hand. I am a dreamer, a friend, a jokester, a daughter, a confidant, and a life long student.

I am enough.

How To Treat a Woman:

1) If you like a girl, LIKE the girl. Make sure she knows. Tell her that you like her. If it was me, I’d say something like, “Hey. I like you.” I’m creative like that.

2) Don’t play games. You’re probably not smart enough to win them.

3) Text or call her at least once a day. Even if it's a simple "you just ran through my mind"...and sometimes leave out the 'you were naked part'.

4) If she says “I’d like that” in that cuuute voice of hers when discussing the idea of you watching a movie with her involving sparkly vampires and werewolves with a strong aversion to wearing shirts, just watch the damn movie. It’s not that big of a deal.

5) Once you get her, keep working as if you haven’t succeeded yet. Use whatever skills you have. If you’re creative, create shit. Every single day. If you can cook, then cook. If you’re handy, then build and fix things. Put in the effort. She’s worth it. Because at the end of the day…

She lets you see her boobs. Her. BOOBS. Come on.

6) Go the extra mile. Think about what you could do that would embarrass you if your buddies heard about it. Then go 30% further.

7) Slap her on the butt in the bedroom and tug her hair, really.

8) Listen. To everything. I don’t understand dudes who can’t think of gift ideas for their girls. She gives you hints all year long. Keep track of them. Christmas is rolling around and you’re trying to decide what to get? Refer to your notes. In September she mentioned the next book she wants to read. In November she mentioned wanting a longer necklace to wear with that shirt that fits her so sexily that it makes your inner monologue stutter. So you get her that necklace.

a) You make her happy.
b) She loves you for listening.
c) She wears that shirt more often… ManlySwoon.

9) Try to get to know her. (And NOT just because her feeling like you know her — really know her — will make her more likely to do that thing. You know that thing. *Nods slowly* She’ll see through that. Do it because you like her. I know your male brains are conditioned so this will take some effort.

It's like this, if you don’t know her middle name, favorite flower, favorite cheese, then you’re doing something wrong.

10) Talk to her. Girls want to know what you’re thinking. Trust me, you do not want their imaginations filling in the blanks. That’s just bad bananas all around, yo.

Tell her what you’re thinking. Good (with a smile) and bad (with delicacy.)

Opening up makes her feel closer to you. (You will like the fact that it will make her feel less inhibited with you.) And it feels nice to have someone you can talk to. No. Really. (Plus if you get all those thoughts out of your head, it leaves you more room for thinking of ways to get her to do that thing… you know, the thing ;)

And if, after you’ve bumbled your way through all of that, she decides to keep you around…

Hold on tight.

You probably still don’t deserve her.

and they call it puppy love...

Love this little girl SO much!

dont bring me down.

...I shake my head with disbelief at some people. Its takes just as much effort to find something nice to say instead of automatically jumping to the negative. I'm just doing my job guys, a job I really enjoy, and I'm not going to let your rant change that. Or me...

I -love- Halloween

Karoline and Tyson with their best friends, Raeann and Kyle.
They both spent the weekend =)

Karoline decorated the door =)

Sad Sunday

Son
Brother
Friend
Driver
Husband
Daddy

He was 33.



Dan Wheldon, won the Indy 500 for the second time this May, he won 16 times in his IndyCar career and was the series champion in 2005. He was airlifted from the Las Vegas track at 1:19 p.m. local time Sunday and taken to a nearby hospital.

As word began to spread that his injuries were fatal, those at the track could not control their tears. Television cameras captured his best friend and fellow driver Tony Kaanan crying shortly before the official word came.

The remainder of the race was canceled. Drivers sadly returned to the track for a five-lap tribute to Dan, almost all of them hiding their eyes behind dark sunglasses after being told their colleague was gone. His No. 77 was the only one on the towering scoreboard. Dario Franchitti sobbed uncontrollably as he got back into his car for the tribute laps. Over speakers at the track, the song "Danny Boy" blared, followed by "Amazing Grace" as hundreds of crew workers from each team stood solemnly. Everybody in IndyCar died a little today. The race was only minutes old when Dan, who started at the back of the 34-car field and was in position for a $5 million payday if he could have won the race, was one of 15 cars involved in a wreck that started when two cars touched tires. Several cars burst into flames, and debris was all over the track, some of the impact so intense that workers needed to patch holes in the asphalt. Video replays showed Wheldon's car turning over as it airborne and sailed into what's called the "catch fence," which sits over the SAFER barrier that's designed to give a bit when cars make contact. Rescue workers were at his car quickly, some furiously waving for more help to get to the scene. His injuries were "unsurvivable."

Off the track, Wheldon had varied interests, some of which had almost nothing to do with his driving.In 2010, he released a photo book he called "Lionheart," (THAT I MUST FIND!) a coffee table book that he described as "almost like a photo biography from my career in IndyCars up until this point." He spent years editing the book, which included dozens of photos of his life away from the track, including images from his wedding. "I wanted it to have a lot of my input," Wheldon said last year. "Obviously, it's a reflection of me. "He also wanted that book to provide his fans with a glimpse of his life that they would never have known otherwise."There's a lot of my wedding in there," Wheldon said. "I wanted there to be a lot of photos of my wife. She was the most beautiful bride on her wedding day the world had ever seen."

Even though he made me mad cause he was SO good and won A LOT- (causing my driver to lose) I will miss him.

city country girl

Green acres is the place for me.

Farm livin' is the life for me.

Land spreadin' out 

so far and wide

Keep Manhattan, 

just give me that countryside.

New York is where 

I'd rather stay.

I get allergic smelling hay.

I just adore a penthouse view.

Dah-ling I love you 

but give me Park Avenue.

...The chores.

...The stores.

...Fresh air.

...Times Square

Good bye, city life.

Green Acres we are there.

my nephew Chaz

Dennis and Lori's son...

I am so damn proud of him!

My Gawd! LOOK at those high waisted, straight legged, taperd  jeans! 

forever

Da Bears

That awkward moment when you get hacked on blogger by your daughter!

yuckies

Spent last night and today sick and on the couch. I'm pushing myself too hard. Trying to get the 17%  finished before it gets cold. (which means every year we re-inspect 17% of the county) We have 1 township left, a big one, which includes all the houses and trailers at the city lake. Will start that Tuesday. I will spend tomorrow in the office finishing up paperwork, sketches and photos of the township we just finished Friday.

Karoline snuck this today and put it on my facebook... stinker ;)

Weddings...

Going to another one today. I will cry. I will remember that there is true love out there. Someone who thinks you are the world and promises to do his best to always make you smile, to encourage you, to push you, to help you, to stand beside you. And I will cry. For her happiness. For her hope for all these things. and for me, because I no longer have this.

good days

Friday night

 My best friend from Kansas City came for the weekend. We had an awesome time. It was our town's Octoberfest Saturday and we couldnt have ordered better weather. Saturday night was the big night. Had a dance in the community building and it turns out I love Cake Vodka. I know this because I am seeing the pictures starting to appear on Facebook! LOL. I bought a puppy Saturday. She is the sweetest thing! A Engachon- The Engachon is a hybrid mix of a English Toy Spaniel and a Bichon. They are most appealing little dogs that love human companionship and need gentle attention. The Engachon has an independent spirit, is intelligent, affectionate, bold and lively. This charming, mix is not a yapper. She wears one of my bracelets as a collar! She will weigh 7-12 pounds full grown.
 A definate purse puppy.

Took me 2 days to name her and I chose Ginger. 

Karen bought a puppy too! A mini dachshund. Named her Daisy instantly. 

Daisy and Ginger became best friends <3

Sunday I taught Karen how to make Bierocks... YUM!!

She sleeps on her back like a baby
(Notice Tyson's fingers photo bombing me?! LMAO!)

See my Bracelet... her collar for now =D