Summer Days

My little make up artist! Thank you to Pam who bought her barbie makeup... thanks Pimpsy!



After seeing this lovely picture of me, I am thinking I need more than a make up artist to grow old gracefully!
Evening baseball... Wyatt is determined to be the next Benny from sandlot

handsome boys

Figuring out how to finally ride her bike! Notice the new haircut?! I love it, it has been SO much easier! Here is a feather we found on a walk.. Papa makes everything more interesting. A rubber band and you have one little Indian Girl.
Papa Chief

We have had a quick July.. I looked up and it is almost over! The kids have been at First Pres this summer every Tu/Thurs and I am really sad that after Thursday we will be done with their program. The best program in town... I remember waiting in line at 5 am to get Wyatt in almost 5 years ago thinking, " Will they really love my baby?" I had no idea what blessings were in store for us... and the lessons I learned there. Sweet Mrs. Goldie took a crazy, new mom and made me feel like the best mom ever. I think everyone needs a Goldie in their life. Next month we open a new chapter with both kids at Hillander... I know they will do well bc of what they have learned at FP. I just feel like they are growing up way to quick.

We have enjoyed the "Cooler" evenings at a mere 100 or 98 if we are lucky. It seems like the only time we have as family time and not die of a heat stroke. Papa usually comes down and visit us once a day, he bought Wyatt a baseball tee.. and surprising Wyatt loves it. (To my surprise he can hit the ball!) Zach has been working with him and doing pretty well. I honestly think gymnastics has helped his coordination more than anything. Well that and Wyatt watching the Sandlot movie and wanting to be like Benny. Emily June finally figured out her Dora bike was there to ride, so she started figuring out how to keep up with her brother. She has a mind of her own, and when she is ready she will do it.. otherwise forget it!

Speaking of my sweet little precious girl.. we have been going through a "phase" this summer. Forget the 2's it is 3's you need to prepare yourself for!!! She might be the most hard headed, stubborn child I know. ( I say that will lots of love!) I am sure one day this energy and determination will be focused towards something positive.. but now it seems we go though drama everyday over something. Usually over getting dressed or something as simple as mommy saying "No" to something. I am amazed at how quickly she can melt down and the crocodile tears, folding of the arms and just exactly how far her little lip can stick out. I am sure she will be an academy award winning singer or actress with her lungs and flare for drama! Until then, I am getting gray hair... and drinking skinny girls. :) I do have to say she can also be the sweetest, most loving and charming child you have met...almost split personalities. Everyday is a new adventure.. that is why I love them so much!

On a sad note... We had to put our beloved tinker down last night. It was rough. I never knew it would be so hard for a dog that drove us crazy for 7 years! I have to say she was a good dog. Zach and I were laughing last night as we thought about when the kids were learning how to walk and Tinker would run over and stand there so they could pull up on her ears. Zach was strong, he took care of it.. knowing I could never do it. It was time, she was in so much pain. After Zach got home he went and talked to the kids about Tinker and how she has gone to see Jesus.. EJ was sweet.. she said" I am glad she is not hurting anymore." and that was it. Wyatt had a few more questions for Zach and said, " How do you know she is with Jesus and will I be with Jesus if I die?" Zach said, " Yes, we will all be with Jesus bc we believe he died on the cross for us and is our Savior..." Then asked Wyatt.." Do you believe in Jesus and that he died for us?" Wyatt said, "Yes! I love Jesus! He is awesome!" So after an awful night, my heart smiled and was filled with Joy.

Wonderful Beach vacation

Papa and EJ .. the morning we left for Corpus. We stayed at Pam's to break up the drive.
Come one RAIN! Everything was so dry in the hill country we thought we might help out and try to get some rain.. it obviously did not work.
Relaxing on day one.. is one nice place view to wake up too.
EJ doing a rain dance.. praying for rain!

Day one of the vacation... typical family picture.. but the only one. Cowgirl EJ
The view drinking coffee in the morning.. we had to leave this to go to the beach.. life is rough!:)

Wyatt surfing in... barely see him, but I was so proud he did it the first time.
kisses
Paddling out..
The boys and EJ in the middle..


Wait for me!
The first time Wyatt saw the beach during the day. We went crab hunting the night before, and saw several sand crabs.. He was in awe and ran as fast as he could to get in.
My beach babies
Digging sand "princess" castles
Sea slugs.. these were very entertaining.. you fill up your bucket with a hand full of these with some sand and watch them disappear. It provided lots of entertainment for EJ!

• We had a wonderful break from the dessert scenery this past week. We went down to see my best friend growing up (my Emily) and her family and enjoyed every minute of being on the beach and in the water. There is something so peaceful about being on the beach... barefoot and you can care less what you look like in your "grandma" bathing suit as my BFF of 30 years and husband told me on day one.... One thing about vacation, you know no matter how bad you feel there is always someone else who makes you feel better by the life size, stretched tattoo, or gorilla hair, or bigger gut than yours.. how mean is that? And why do I even care?! Anyways, we had a blast. I got rid of the grandma suit on day 2 and loosened up quite a bit. The guys went deep sea fishing.. Emily and Ryan have a great boat.. the kids are going to be completely spoiled after this trip bc a boat in our vocabulary fits behind a car.. this one was 60 feet with three bedrooms, full kitchen, living room and satellite tv. Bragging.. yes, bc it was so much fun and extremely nice of them to take such great care of us. Zach caught a red snapper, Ryan (Em's husband) caught a blue marlin.. Z came back with a new adrenalin rush and new love for deep sea fishing.I always thought it was kind of boring, but the way he describes it, it sounds exciting. I would be throwing up the entire time with my motion sickness, so I took it easy on the beach.
  
• Wyatt is a water kid.. he did not come out the entire time. Whether we were in the ocean, the pool, the boat.. he was in the water. He learned how to surf which was very exciting and he kicked and screamed when we left. EJ likes the water, but also is more like me.. likes to lounge outside, eat snacks.. play in the sand and get in when necessary to cool off. We saw dolphins.. they literally were a foot from the boat, they catch the waves behind the boat and ride along.. might be one of the most favorite things I saw. It was so amazing.. then we saw a fisherman catch a baby shark on the beach.. after I assured Wyatt there were not sharks at the beach! He let all the kids touch him, then released him back into the ocean (yes, right were we were all swimming.. the guy obviously did not have kids or their limbs to worry about!) So, that was big excitement. Almost as exciting as getting stung by a jelly fish! (Those things hurt like heck!) I am sure the story will get bigger and bigger by the time Wyatt tells his friends. All in all it was a great weekend. Great friends, great food, great weather and great memories.
  

June has flown or dripped by?!

Keeping up with Brother.. hard to do, but she will do it!
oSlow and steady...
Can you tell Pink is her favorite color ?
Character marks... or clumsy going down the stairs at the soccer game.
FINALLY! learning how to ride her bike..
Neighborhood boys.. not exactly the safest way to ride.
Jay and Wyatt
Premier of CARS 2... could hardly stand it for weeks.. and finally the day came.

This week we celebrated Skeet's Birthday... HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKEET!
My homemade pie and the kids blowing out the candles ( ok, so Marie helped a little:))

Our favorite look.. sweaty boy.
Happy Birthday Locker... It makes me sad to see these three so grown up! Party girl... who else will wear a sequin dress to a gym in 110 heat... my princess Emily June. Some battles are not worth fighting.


Sweat has filled the Doss home this month. (We still have had no rain.. (since last September...) and it has been over 100 every day of this month.) I hate to say I feel like a bad mom as well. We start early in the morning, but by 11 we are inside until late afternoon. Which means more TV, movies, and sitting around. I try and be creative, but that means more messes with my children and they can turn what I think should be a fun, hour long project into a huge mess and done in 10 minutes. So is it worth it?! I need to be more creative! I feel "quiet and free time" develop their ability to think for themselves and use their own mind for creatively.. at least that is what I tell myself. Somehow the quiet time usually turns in too WWF at the Doss house. A small hint on the winner... is the same child who will do it while wearing a princess dress and her tiara or a sequin twirl dress. Such class.



We are headed to the Beach next month to see my bff Emily.. cannot wait. Hope to post some "cool" beach pictures! :)

It is one hot summer.

The old saying it is too hot to do anything.. True. It is too hot to even swim in the afternoons. 110 degrees everyday is miserable. We are praying for rain! The kids and I have been up early, napping in the afternoon and staying up later. It seems to "cool" down at night to a cool 90-95 degrees.. Did I just say cool?! It is even too hot to take pictures. WE have had a good summer though, the first week I worked VBS at FP.. both kids went and it was great fun. Then I pawned Wyatt off on Nini who works the FBC VBS so he was there the next week. He loved it, I was a little worried two weeks in a row, but they put on an incredible program. (EJ was too young) She did do princess camp at Ballet studio.. she enjoyed it, but did not exactly follow the rules the teacher said. It was more like, "Well, how did EJ do today?" Teacher..." Well, not as good as yesterday." and they said that everyday! One thing about her is if you do not set the rules and enforce them early, she will walk all over you. I think this was a very soft spoken teacher who was very sweet, but EJ needs a little bit of fear (and a good spanking sometimes!) She has more personality and is hysterical, but very strong willed. Have no idea where she gets that from. :)
We have had a great month catching up with old friends.. Lala and I see each other but the boys who were inseparable at birth to 3, have not been able to play as much with different schools, schedules.. which is pathetic bc she lives less than a 1/2 mile away. So we have been making up for lost time and fortunately we are blessed with little hunters... they have killed everything in the back yard and hunted anything they could find. Sammy, EJ and Lizzy are not near as disturbing and play well.. usually inside where it is cool! :)
I need to get the camera back out.... we have had a lot of fun avoiding the heat. Hard to believe we are 1/2 thru June and I have no pictures for this month!

Memorial Day

Sweet Pam and EJ
Outside the CAF
Missing Man formation, they played taps afterwards and it is always so emotional.


I actually made the kids sit and listen to the speech, it was hot.. they were tired of sitting.. but I do feel it is important even at a young age to show some respect and one day remember why they had to sit and listen. Zach was sweating buckets and I made him sit too:)
All my boys.. are they not handsome?!
Devil Dog is the new airplane they are trying to restore and keep flying.. very similar the Fifi campaign..

Daddy's Girl

Thank you to all of those who have served and died for our freedom. A freedom I know I take for granted. I hear of those people who are oppressed, cannot make their own decisions, forced to live in conditions we consider unbearable, forced to worship a certain religion, and I realize the older I get just how blessed we are. I know we do not live in a perfect country, but we live in a free country that so many have fought for. I am so appreciative. I never really understood the importance of Memorial Day and Vets Day until I got older, I use to just think of it as a another school holiday. I know look at my Dad, who served in Vietnam, differently.. he has always been a hero.. but now to more than just me. He is someone I am so proud of, someone I respect even more for the selfless act of fighting for our country. Along with my Peepa (WW2), Zach's granddaddy, friends, cousins, and so many I cannot even begin to thank.
This year we celebrated at teh CAF, it was great. It was hot, but what is not hot in West Texas these days! The kids love the CAF, so it was fun for them to see all the airplanes, they had games, clowns, all sorts of stuff for the family.

Happy Birthday to my first EMILY!

I love you! Hope you have a great day! So hard to believe we have been friends for almost 30 years. You are more beautiful every year.

Last Day of School

The two JUNEbugs.. Mrs. Christina's daugher is named "June" as well, which lead us to calling ours "Emily June" I think they are the cutest Junebugs!
Our favorite teacher.. Mrs. Christina!
and Mrs. Allison! So sweet :)
Wyatt's class..

The last days always comes so quick! I guess that is life in general, things seem to fly by.. including another school year. I was really sad this year bc we will no longer be at First Pres... the best Children's Day out program in town.. or anywhere for that matter. Mrs. Goldie is incredible and I will be so sad not to see her sweet face on a weekly basis. We also had another year of wonderful teachers.. Mrs. Christina was incredible.. and Mrs. Allison was just as sweet!

Wyatt had his last day with is class and Mrs. Evans.. We will hold him back so he will repeat Pre K next year ( he is so young, just not old enough to go to Kinder) so I was not as sad with him, knowing we will have another great year next year. EJ will go to Hillander too, so they will be one grade year apart. I am already thinking how hard it is going to be when Wyatt is in college and EJ is a senior then they will both be gone within one year! I told Zach, I will just get an apartment where ever they go to school:)