Our Babes and Dude

Playing in Prentiss

Our kiddos love going to visit Grandy and Daddio in Prentiss. Of course, they do!

A swimming pool, pond, golf cart, lots of yard, Grandy's good food, and tons of cousins always make it a blast! We went through Prentiss on our way to the coast to drop the kids off for a few days. They had to go swimming right away, so we headed poolside to watch them splash around.

Daddy took a seat...........to the ground! Take a look.

A good laugh!
Watkins and James David kept the bad guys away so all could enjoy the water.

Katherine and Lacy putting on some shows.

Swimming "in sync"

Phelps taking it all in.

Lawson Joy was a good sport, even though she could not swim.

Doctor's orders!

She was the judge to the many ways Katherine jumped off the diving board.

How many different ways can you jump off the board???

Belly Flop

Knees to Chest

Diving through the Ring

Very talented!

a toe-touch

a cartwheel

She kept us entertained!

Watkins joined in the fun!

First ever jump off the board!

If they get tired of swimming, they are always in for a game of baseball!

They were so cute hitting the ball, running the bases, and yelling homerun!

James David has it down!

The stance and all - a future ball player, no doubt!

And then there is football!

Look at our little muscle men! All that playing requires a bath, and what better way than to throw them in the tub all together!

The soon to be clean Dumas 3!

We love going to play at Grandy and Daddio's!

Saturday Morning Must and a NEW computer!

Every Saturday morning before we head to the Farmer's Market guess where we stop????

That is right - Shipleys! Our kiddos think it is a Saturday MUST!

They all request very special orders and I know those ladies that work there hate to see me coming.

It is a Dumas tradition!

Good news on the home front!

We have purchased a new desktop computer. For the longest time we have been using JD's laptop from work and my computer in my classroom, well that is no longer!

Although - I think it might take me a while to learn all this computer's tricks and the dos/don'ts of working this thing. I have to confess I am not real computer savy, but

I am sure I will grow to love this thing!

forgetful Friday

I know many of you read MckMama and she has "No, Not Me Monday" - so I decided that today I could have "FORGETFUL Friday". If you want to make me feel better and not look so bad, you are more that welcome to post/share your "Forgetful Friday" moments. Here goes.............

FORGETFUL FRIDAY

1 - no I did not FORGET to buy bandaids for my big girl when I went to the store this morning to get cream cheese for my bagel that I can't do without

2 - no I did not FORGET to go pick up KD's softball pictures everyday this week even though the lady has called 3 times to remind me

3 - no I did not FORGET to take the babies' birth certificates by the Sportplex so they can play soccer this year (I hope it is not to late.)

4 - no I did not FORGET to email my sister her graduation invitation that JD designed for her

5 - no I did not FORGET to turn on the fan in the bathroom when I took a shower today, even though JD reminds each and everytime because he thinks we will have mold if we don't

6 - no I did not FORGET to feed Phelps breakfast and not remember until she scarfed down her lunch

7 - no I did not FORGET one of my favorite former student's name when I saw her in the grocery

8 - no I did not FORGET that these children not wanting to wear what I want them to not being a big enough deal to argue over

9 - no I did not FORGET to remind the big girls to take a bath each day this week (we are in the pool at least 3 hours everyday) and she confessed this to the doctor last night in the ER

10 - no I did not FORGET that two of my good friends just had babies and I have not made them dinner and I am about to be gone for two weeks

THE FINAL FORGOTTEN FRIDAY FACT

I often FORGET how thankful I should be that I have 4 beautiful/healthy children and a husband who cares, loves, and provides for his family of 6 successfully.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Jesus for blessing this Dumas family.

2 things I am choosing to FORGET -

- school starts in less than a month. Boo-hoo!

Where has the summer gone?

- my classroom is a MESS!!!!

stitches

The night was for sure going to be a busy one. I was returning a favor and keeping Lily (5) and Joseph (3), so my 4 + 2 = 6. My plan was to keep them outside as long as I could to try and wear them out. I sent the big girls outside to keep an eye on all the little ones and I was in the kitchen. Jeremy and Ashleigh were in charge of supper, and Jeremy had just walked in with the main dish to put it in the oven.

Lawson Joy came to the door crying and limping holding her leg. All I saw was alot of blood, Jeremiah took a look asked for a towel and said we must go to the hospital. Well, that meant Jeremy and Ashleigh to the rescue again, they became the babysitters so JD and I could head to the ER. The cut was not as bad as we thought, but still a pretty good cut behind her left knee. After 2 1/2 hours in the ER, the doctor sewed her up with 6 stitches. LJ did a great job, no screams and only a few tears.

Here she is with her hospital braclet and check out that bandaid!

the wound

How did this happen?

She was swinging on a gymnastics bar in our yard, she jumped off, her leg hit a chair, and it sliced her leg open.

Funny quotes by Lawson Joy from the night.

- Lawson Joy explaining, "I came inside and Jeremy just looked at my leg and said ohhhh." I don't think Jeremy is good with blood and it was dripping everywhere. I promise I saw Jeremy sweating before we left.

- "Well, I have never had surgery before," Lawson Joy talking through the ER visit in the waiting room.

- "This is going to be a great story to tell my friends when school starts," Lawson Joy smiling.

- "Can I see your phone momma to text ------------?" Lawson Joy asking. She just wanted to let various friends know what was happening.
I am sad to say we will not be swimming today or for the next 8 days. I am not sure what I will find for the children to do for entertainment, but maybe I can come up with something.

Good luck, Grandy keeping them entertained in Prentiss.

Suggestion - get the golf cart good and charged and the fishing polls ready.

a quiet morning got me thinking

Thanks to this sleeping beauty,

this sleeping beau, and
and one of my favorite families.........
(my big girls are at their house)
I had a very quiet morning until around 9. I could have used this time wisely, but instead I caught up on facebook/blog, had breakfast, and surfed the internet to come across the place we will be headed to on Sunday.
Doesn't it look inviting?

Our kids will be staying with Grandy and Daddio, and JD will be busy in meetings.

So..........guess where I will be sitting?

by this pool

Looks nice. It helps some of my buddies will be there to.

Can't wait!

it is a shame and sad

Well - I have to confess our sweet babies are still sleeping in baby beds, but it is has come time to put them in big beds. I know, I know - I should have done it a year or two ago, but they did not care. It will be the first time in 10 years we don't have a baby bed in the house. So, I am sure tears will be shed when they are disassembled. We have the beds, Jd's when he was growing up, and now comforters have to bought. They share a room and will for quite a while, so their colors/comforters have to compliment each other. I first saw these at a friend's house, and then found them online. They are precious! Take a look and tell me what you think.

Phelp's Big Bed Covers

Wathkins' Big Bed Covers
Cute, cute, cute - Is what I think!
They are even organic which their daddy will love, and not expensive which he will love too, for sure!

better picture explains more

Here is an even better picture of that big bar-b-que sandwich!

JD looks to be having fun.

I still must be in the kitchen.

I can smell it, still right now.

a new little political family

Yesterday, we headed to Brandon to see Jd's brother-in-law sworn in as alderman.

Cris Vinson is the new alderman for Ward 2 in Brandon. He will serve until a special election is held in 2 months, and I believe he will even run for the seat. Cris was appointed by the board when the person serving that Ward resigned last week.

Sorena, Cris, Stella, and Onsby

Check out our big girls. They are CUTE, and getting so big!
I am thinking maybe their daddys' titles might come in helpful scaring off some boys in the next few years, so keep up the good work! We are proud of you two.
Also, a congrats goes out to Mayor Charley Dumas, who was just sworn into his 3rd term as mayor of Prentiss.
Charley is Jd's uncle.

They're back........

Jeremiah and I had a quiet and less eventful 4th than usual because our babies were all gone.

I love to get all of them dressed up in their red, white, blue each 4th, but they all were missing. I am sure the older two did not miss our annual 4th picture session. I just had to include a few snapshots from last year.

Hope you had a Happy 4th!

I love this picture of my parents and our kids.

Thanks to them we were able to have a little R and R during our holiday weekend.

I hope they recuperate quickly, I know they are handful - to say the least!

They're back and busy as usual, although I think a couple of them wanted to stay a few more days.
Lawson Joy picking tomatoes for her supper.

Katherine hanging out!

Phelps was so TIRED, she did not even wake up for supper!

Watkins was not as tired as his sidekick, he even had the energy to ride his bike up and down the street over and over again!

I love our babies and am glad they are home sweet home!

I don't like big butts!

from the Starkville Daily News

Jeremiah Dumas, left, and Grady Dixon place the first half of the top bun on the world’s largest barbecue sandwich as the crowd gathered at State Theatre watches.

Hope Commentary -
Do you see how big that sandwich is?
Want to guess just how big?????
Well - it is a whopping 482 pounds. The "Bistro" in downtown Starkville will now be listed in the Guiness Book of World Records for the largest sandwich ever.
After the market on Saturday, we headed down to the BIstro to help out SYP put on the event. Silly me thought I was being invited to the kitchen to see all the meat piled up and ready to go but I was WRONG. I was quickly given gloves and an apron, and I realized I was brought to the kitchen to pull pork from Boston butts. I pulled pork for 2 1/2 hours. Let me tell you alot of work!
My husband, did he help? Of course, not in the kitchen, but on the stage. He helped put the meat on the bun. Thus, he made the front page of the paper!
Congrats to the Bistro!
Needless to say, I took a major shower to get that smell off of me and then after a nice nap, my husband and I -childless- headed to the Winston's for a nice bar-b-que.
Did I enjoy the ribs? No, they looked good, but I think it is going to be a LONG while before I will be able to enjoy pork.

he swears.

The day was event filled.

1 - a mad dash to get everyone ready

2 - a door fell on my head and I got a big goose egg immediately

3 - made it to the prayer breakfast on time

4 - kids were extremely good, my SWEET babies

5 - I was able to hold ice on my head during the service.

6 - the swearing in - can I say HOT? Eric you are funny.

7 - a nice reception

8 - a great lunch at Tyler

9 - lots and lots of errands

10 - a hunt to find red shoes for the gala

11 - a ride around the block to finish listening to a good song before the gala

12 - the gala, FUN, lots of good friends and a surprise visit from Russ and Cindy, LOVED the tie

13 - dancing and a lesson of new moves thanks to Lee

14 - a fabulous egg sandwich

15 - lots and lots of laughing - good times!

the prayer breakfast

new aldermen, mayor, preachers
the highlight of the prayer breakfast
the bug on the floor
look closely
Family
Shelby, daddy, momma, Grandy, Sorena
Thank you for coming.
my sweet daddy and babies
They love their papa!

on the steps of city hall

JD and I match. Cute.

the reception

Chicken was good!

I was not the best picture taker this day. Please excuse me.

When I get more photos, I will add them.

Thanks to Jeremy the neighbor, photographer, planner, campaigner, stuffer, and the list goes on and on and on.......

It is NOT nice to stick out your tounge!

Watkins is the only one who remembered.

"Snowcone Tounges"
Yes, this was mother prompted.
Summer Tip #1: To stay cool in the summer, EAT AS MANY SNOWCONES YOUR MOTHER WILL BUY.

In Style Backyard Garden

Are you growing your own tomatoes this year?

Well, take a look at this festive gardening tip.

Paint you tomatoe stakes different colors.

Look closely and you will see these are yellow, orange, and purple.

Our friends, John and Dixie, came up with this cute idea and I had to share.

Watkins' Favorites

Our little man loves being all boy. Balls, bats, Superman, cars, trucks, sticks, policemen - you name it he likes it, but I would have to say at the top of that list for him would have to be Batman and firetrucks. We got to meet Batman and get a special firetruck tour at the park, that yes we have discussed in great detail each and everyday since.

Batman and Watkins
Watkins and the Firetruck
He even got to blow the horn.
Phleps said, "That is the biggest and loudest horn ever."
Lawson Joy had to try it out first. I guess Watkins wanted to make sure that big red truck would not take off with him in it.