love them.

sneak peak of the pictures that were taken of my kiddos.

They are f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s.

9.9.1.

a few things I have learned recently I thought you might want to know................

1.  Yes, if you call 9.9.1. in that order it DOES successfully call 9.1.1.

how do I know you might ask??

2.  I will share the story, because I would hate to leave you hanging.

JD and I have left the kiddos at home with a couple of extra equally responsible children (you know the ones you could claim as your own because they spend so much time with you at your house) for just a couple of hours only about 2 miles away.  We are enjoying our dinner, when JD receives a call from our home phone.  JD leaves the dinner, only to rush back in tell me we are leaving and not to forget my coat.  JD is practically running to the car, as I trail behind begging for him to explain, all while I keep hearing him say......"Calm down Lawson Joy, and tell me again."

3.  I am not a very patient person.  Surprised?  Well, I love for my kiddos, my students, and JD to answer me or do the things I ask them right after it comes out of my mouth.  With JD, I think the Lord is trying very hard to teach me patience.

4.  back to the story..........

We are almost home before he puts down the phone.  My heart was beating 90 to nothing and I still had no idea what was going on!  JD quickly explains that someone called 9.1.1. from our house and the police are at the house.  LJ is hysterical, and JD - he is livid.

5.  LJ's hysteria.

I think was mostly caused by the thoughts of, "What is my daddy going to do and the knowledge of she is in the biggest trouble she has ever been."

6.  fRiGhTeNiNg!

I can not explain the feelings pulling up to my house and seeing NOT 1 BUT 2 police cars, yes, with flashing lights and 2 police officers standing on the porch.  I let JD deal with the police and I go in and see if I can't get to the bottom of the story.

7.  Interrogation

 

JD interrogated each child one at a time (even the 2 borrowed children) on the front porch.  

Enough tears were shed that night to make us a Dumas pond.  Please note - JD is quite the interrogator, but it was not working each child had the same exact story that went like this.....

"LJ, Cully, and Phleps were on the computer.  Haley and KD were on the piano.  Watkins was watching t.v.  The phone rang, Watkins picked it up and low and behold the police were on the way because someone had called 9.1.1."

8.  IMPRESSED and fUnNy.

Did you catch the fact that the police were on the front porch waiting on us?  LJ was taught well.  Remember the rule, "Never let strangers in."  That's right she even followed that rule with the police.  In fact, that might be the bEsT part of this story.

9.  No, confessions.

1.5 hours have passed and no one will confess.  Watkins keeps saying over and over again, "I did not call 9.9.1."  Well, that eliminates him, RIGHT?  JD is beside himself wondering why in the world won't these kids confess.  Honestly, I would have confessed even if I hadn't done it by this point if I were a kid.  

10.  then even later in our bedroom

Watkins' question, "I need to tell you something.  Will you promise I won't get in trouble?"  JD is a softy when it comes to this boy.  Why?  Not sure, but I do know he is the sweetest thing and his face, well it melts your heart.  JD agreed.  "If you tell us something, you want get in trouble."

THE CONFESSION

You guessed it.  Watkins confessed.  "I called 9.9.1. tonight because I needed to know if it worked and if I could do it."  What do you say to that?  I am not sure what we said, but I have you know I was holding back tears.

CONCLUSION

If your wondering, did he get in trouble?? No, he didn't.  Do I think he will ever call 9.9.1. again for no reason?  NEVER.  There you have it people. 9.1.1. works even if you call 9.9.1.  If you don't believe, ask the Dumas children.

Our life is NeVeR dull. 

cHeEsErS

this little hammock

that sits on my momma and daddy's porch is very much liked by these two,

and helps make some of the sweetest smiles!

don't you think so???

they heart it.

 

 

cousins, golf cart riding, all of Grandy's food, the pool table, deer hunting,

tractor riding, palet parties, Daddio's pancakes, millions of giggles..............

who wouldn't just love Prentiss with the 17 cousins and loads of fun they all have together.

I love watching my kiddos make sweet memories that will last forever.

turning 3.0.

truthfully.......it has taken me a couple of weeks to admit it, but I turned the big 3-0.

It wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be, mostly because the SWEET husband

surprised me with a trip to New York.

He showed me the sites and made sure I ate some fabulous food.

The highlights were the Broadway show, seeing the statue of Liberty, our LONG walk in Central park, and eating at Mario Batali's restuarant.

thank you to the sweet husband.  

I love you so!

park sMiLeS.

kAtHeRiNe's SoNg

 KD and her sweet piano teacher Mrs. Anderson

KD had her fall piano recital and played a song she wrote herself.

Very impressive!  And of course, the song was entitled "Katherine's Song."

 

KD and her daddy

sometimes

these sisters act like this.

yep.  it is hard being nice all the time, even with Santa's visit fast approaching.

oh, what fUn

it

 is

 to

 play

 in

 a

BIG

 ole

 pile

 of

  

LeAvEs !

1.5 days

until cHrIsTmAs break and this face tells exactly how I will be feeling until then!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

something about Santa pictures make me smile!

that's my daddy

with all my girls!

love

best friends these two.

love watching them together.

they are something else!

the one and only brother.

falling leaves with a smile.

sisters

my helper

making the cornbread muffins all by himself.

(with a little direction from his momma)

sweet, sweet boy.

such a cute little chef.

Day 3 (yes, I am still doing this)

My First Love

Jeremiah Percy Dumas became my boyfriend when I was in the 7th grade.  Yes, the same man I am married to today.  I know it might seem weird to some to think of only having 1 boyfriend throughout junior high, high school, and college but honestly I could not imagine it any other way.  I think the best part of it all if just growing up with him by my side and all the memories we have together.  I can honestly say no one knows me better than my one and only.

Our Wedding Day

11.5 years ago

yes, we look like babies.

some questions you might want the answer to.

did we ever break up?

yes, one summer and another time for a couple of months

best memory growing up with JD?

there are several so here is a run down of a few. 

1 - the first time he came to my house (he was 13) was for Sunday lunch.  my mom made jello with some fruit in it.  JD had just learned that jello was made with horse hooves and despised it.

did he eat?  well of course, gagging the whole time!  sweet boy.  he reminds my mom of that still today.

2 -  JD was quite the little slugger in baseball, and my parents drove me to just about every one of his baseball games.  I gave him a Gatorade for every homerun he made.  One time he needed 4 in one game, told you he was quite the player!

3 - JD sending me on a scavenger hunt for my b-day present in 9th grade.  What was it?  The hottest item at the time - Timberland Boots.

4 - JD's brother is a joker to say the least.  I was in the 7th grade when I went to JD's house for the first time, so a little shy and nervous to say the least.  His brother was so sweet to leave out a magazine open on the table with girls in their unmentionables, so I could see it and then accused JD of leaving out the magazine.  Not to mention he called me Heather the whole night on purpose, saying "Whoops, that was last week's girl!"  Yes, he still refers to me as that today.

5 - I wrote him a poem every football Friday telling him he was the best and how to beat the other team.  We still have a few of those, so funny to read.

our first kiss?

homecoming dance

well, I could go on and on BUT the final fact is that I would not trade my first and only true love for anything.  yes, we have ups and downs, laughs and fights, smiles and frowns but there is no one else for me. 

I love you JD.

yes, I will try to keep up with this blog challenge.

it is tuff.

it's tRaDiTiOn

in the Dumas household to celebrate HaLLowEEn for days!

is it really November 16th and I am still posting about Halloween?  

Yep.

I always go by the saying, "Better late than never."

is it a bIrD, a pLaNe, ?????

NO - it's SUPER-WATKINS!!!

to play superman follow these

simple instuctions - 

1.  parent lays flat on their back and lifts their legs halfway to the sky

2.   the child leans in on the parent's legs and holds their hands

3.  the parent holds on tight to the child and lifts them into the air

4.  enjoy lots of laughs and smiles playing sUpErMaN!

caution - play at your own risk.

to the front and then the back

all these costumes are talking s.m.a.c.k.!!

Jeremiah Masoli, The Black Bear, and 7 and 2

love.love.love. this football season!!!

tail ends

my zebras, 

oh my, how cute!

once upon a time there was a......

 a hippie,

 2 zebras,

and a ninja

(a.k.a. GI-JOE)

who were the cutest their momma had ever seen, trick-or-treated until they dropped, 

and made lots of memories celebrating Halloween to the fullest!

dAy 2

meaning behind the name

"all our dumas days"

#1 I thought it was catchy.

#2 That is what this is all about after all - all our dumas days - as the 6 

Dumases here in Starkvegas as we make it through our days that are long or

 short, happy or sad, busy or slow, healthy or sick, or just plain bad or good.

#3 i liked it.  Wondering if I asked JD if he liked the name before I entitled it?? well, nope.

Although, I would give myself credit as being quite creative I'll have to admit JD has me beat in that category and sometimes I like to go with what I came up with just because.  

i like our blog.  mostly because I like sharing pictures of our 4 cute kiddos.

but I will confess it is time for a new look.

don't you think? 

Day 1 - I am up for the challenge.

Day 1 - Introduce, recent picture, and 15 interesting facts

introduce
Rebecca Hope Lawson Dumas is my full name.  Yes, I go by Hope my middle name.  I am the almost 30 (oh, no!) year old mother of 3 sweet girls (Lawson Joy, Katherine, Phelps) and 1 little man (Watkins), and the wife of my sweetheart Jeremiah, that I often refer to as JD.  I teach 3rd grade and yes, I LOVE all my 3 graders dearly!  I spend my time running around with kiddos, and trying to keep up with the husband.  All while working to keep them fed and bathed, our clothes washed, and having a little fun along the way!  I absolutely love MSU football and tailgating.  And I never could make it without all my fabulous friends! 

recent picture

(sorry it is a re-run,  but I don't know exactly how to load pictures on JD's laptop.  I will say though it is one of my favorite of late.)

15 iNtErEsTiNg facts

1.  I love it when it rains on Sunday afternoon!  The absolute best time for a nap.

2.  I am a spender and NOT a saver, my husband is trying to change me, and has been for years.  Sorry JD.  I promise to do better.  :)

3.  I LOVE diet pepsi!  It takes 2 to be exact to get me up and going in the morning.
Sad, I know, but I don't drink coffee.  Don't judge.

4.  JD and I started being boyfriend and girlfriend in the 7th grade.  Sweet I know!  I love all our memories together growing up.  Thanks for sticking around JD - I know it has been hard putting up with me at times.  I love you so!

5.  I wake up between 4 and 5 every week day.  That gives me just a little quiet time before all the kiddos and JD get up and the mad dash starts!


6.  I am addicted to "Teen Mom" and "16 and Pregnant."  Pitiful.


7.  I really like it when things are organized, too bad I am just not good at keeping them that way.


8.  I have tons of hair on my head!  Yes, my hairdresser (love you, Lindsey)  says that over and over again when she cuts my hair.  Her exact words, "You have the most hair of anyone I have ever cut."  My mom started getting it thinned when I was in the 2nd grade.


9.  I aLwAyS knew I wanted to be a mom and teacher.  I love my 4 precious babies and all my 3rd grade kiddos!


10.  I am loud and love to laugh!  surprised??


11.  My favorite breakfast food is a bagel, from City Bagel that is
 toasted and jalapeno Cheddar with pineapple cream cheese. yUm! 


12.  I am definitely a daddy's girl, and he is a Baptist preacher.  BUT to this day if I am sick I want my momma.


13.  I am not athletic by any means, but did love cheering in high school.  Yes, I could still show you a few moves/cheers if you wanted me to.


14.  I lOvE it when my kiddos sleep with me!  Something is so sweet about them all cuddled up and peaceful.


15.  My most important goal in life is to grow old with JD all while watching our kiddos grow-up to be successful and happy.

stay tuned while I complete this challenge

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

Day 3-Your first love

Day 4-Your parents

Day 5-Your siblings

Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 7-Favorite movies

Day 8-A place you've traveled to

Day 9-A picture of your friends

Day 10-Something you're afraid of

Day 11-Favorite TV shows

Day 12-What you believe

Day 13-Goals

Day 14-A picture you love

Day 15-Bible verse

Day 16-Dream house

Day 17-Something you're looking forward to

Day 18-Something you regret

Day 19-Something you miss

Day 20-Nicknames

Day 21-Picture of yourself

Day 22-Favorite city

Day 23-Favorite vacation

Day 24-Something you've learned

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 26-Picture of your family

Day 27-Pets

Day 28-Something that stresses you out

Day 29-3 Wishes

Day 30-a picture

yell it LOUD and cLeAr

beat the WILDCATS!

hearting the bUlLdOgS.

cutest cheerleaders around!

these friends

are surely some of the sweetest around!

hOmEcOmINg

snapshots!

views of waiting.

 she loves fruit chew snacks.

yes, I let her have them.

please don't judge.

 confession #2

orange soda!?!

sorry to disappoint but I allowed that too.

 all while helping my big girl organize her binder.

and don't forget this - grades that make me proud!

Mondays are not easy especially while waiting for 30 minutes for the 

missing brown-eyed girl to finish her "Cheernastics" class.

Fruit snacks, orange soda, my diet pepsi(not pictured), and LJ's funyuns(also not pictured) make it all bEtTer!

promise.  try it.