Catching Bugs

I've been doing lots of looking for bugs lately. Notice I said "looking" and not necessarily "catching." Aunt Cat bought this bug catcher for me and taught me how to use it. We caught one Grandaddy Long Legs, and I was so excited. But, as soon as we got it in the jar, I wanted to let it out. Which has been the case with the other 2 bugs I've caught in the past 2 weeks.

Do you see any dead bugs anywhere?

For Christmas I received a handheld minivac. It is intended to be a Car Vacuum, but I like to use it as my own personal dust buster. My favorite thing to do with it is to vacuum up dead bugs. (Austin Willoughby gave me this great idea.) Mama is always more than happy to let me know when there is one that needs to be picked up. Now, I like to put the dead bugs in the bug catcher. I usually look at them for a minute or two and then want to "let the bug out." (A side note....I don't quite get the concept of "dead" and tend to call every bug I see a dead bug. Flies are a whole new concept that I've been trying to figure out over the past few days.) Well, you probably know my Mama and can imagine how much she LOVES this activity. (She didn't even do her own bug collection in school. Her next door neighbor did it for her and she edited several papers for him in exchange.) So... the story gets better.......

Mama was cleaning up the kitchen the other day, and I quickly ran up to her saying, "mama...there's a dead bug over there." She didn't pay me a lot of attention and said something about how we don't have time to catch dead bugs all day. A couple minutes later, I went back to her in the kitchen saying the same thing, "mama....mama...there's a dead bug over there." Finally, she exasperatingly puts down the dish towel and follows me to the back door where I show her this:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My New Lawn Mower

Gigi bought me a new lawn mower, and I am crazy about it! For two weeks now I've been constantly begging to "go outside and play with my new lawnmower." It blows bubbles while I push it! On the day I got it, after Dada got home from work, I insisted that he help me mow the yard. Lucky for me, he was leaving town the next day and needed to mow the yard anyway. I followed him around the entire backyard and copied everything he did - from cutting corners around the plants to emptying the grass clippings (or at least pretending).

Eventually, I got tired of pushing and discovered I could keep up better by pulling the lawn mower.

This was actually one of my Dada's last nights at home. He is now working at his new job and living in Sparta. We have been incredibly busy lately! Our house has sold! Praise the Lord! Now, we have to pack and find a new house in Sparta. I have spent a couple of weekends lately at Nana and Pop's house. There is a great playground in their neighborhood, and I have a newfound love for swinging. Dada has promised me a "new swing" at my new house, and that's all I can talk about when someone asks about moving.

No, not like that!

(Read to the tune of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss) I do not like white vans, no maem. I do not like them Dawson-I-Am. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere! I will not ride in a white van, I do not like them Dawson-I-Am! ********************* For about a month now, I have had a strong dislike for white vans. Every time I see one, I begin to point and repeatedly say, "no. not like that." I have quite a radar for white vans and can spot them from a mile away. You would be surprised at how many are out there! If anyone has an idea as to where this dislike might have stemmed from, please comment and let us know!

Sick

I found out on Thursday that I have the "croup" and strep throat. Yes, this is the THIRD time I have had the croup! arrghh! Do I look absolutely pitiful in this picture, or what?! I've been drinking lots of juice and - naturally - feel my best right after taking my medicine. After a recent dose of medicine on Thursday, I wanted juice in 4 of my favorite cups and had a great time playing with them. Mom laughed at me as I was lining them all up, counting them, and talking to them.

After she took a picture of my "cup game" I asked her to take my picture holding every cup. "pikchu wi is up peeazzz"

"Cheese!" This is how I have spent a large portion of the past few days - laying in the bed or in mama's arms watching t.v. I haven't spent this much time being still since before I started to crawl.

Haircut

I went to get a haircut on Saturday - just a little trim. I was really good - again! I sat perfectly still the entire time!

Are you finished yet?

Gone are the days of alphabetized "sprinkles!"

I love to stand in the chair or sit on the counter and help cook. Using the "sprinkles" (i.e. spices) is my favorite part!

Here, Dada....Let me show you why my organizational ways are better.

Enjoying the fruits of my labor!

Breathtaking Beauty

Well, as you probably know by now, we are moving to Tennessee. Dada starts his new job on May 5th. He and mama went to Sparta this weekend to meet people and look at houses. Gigi and I had a wonderful weekend together! I guess I'm going to have to start sharing my blog and branching outside the busy days of just Dawson. So, "here ya go Mama." You can borrow it today.

*****************************

Many of you have asked to see pictures, so here are some of my favorites. The above pictures are from a scenic overlook which is located in Sparta.

This is actually the "side yard" of a person's home on a residential street.

This is the view from a beautiful home on "the bluff" - which is a residential area known as Rim Rock Mesa.

another view from a home on "the bluff"

This is the view from a residential area on Story Mountain.

the side view of a home in one of the popular neighborhoods - known as Gillen

This is actually the "side yard" of that house and right in the middle of the neighborhood. Many of the homes in the residential areas have farm land - or "side yards" - as I like to call them. It's not unusual for there to be cattle in your neighbor's backyard.

The crazy thing about this is that the "natives" think nothing of it. They laughed at the realtor for taking us to the scenic overlook. This beautiful area causes you to truly step back and take in the amazing wonder of God's creation. As one of our new friends said so perfectly yesterday, "it is good for the soul."

Now Open!

my swimming pool!

Now, we just need some warmer weather. The water is extremely cold! I had a great time helping Daddy clean the pool. My favorite part was watching the "vacuum." Oh no! Where did the vacuum go? (That is one of my favorite questions, and I always do the hand motions with it. Where did it go?)

Easter

We celebrated Easter at Great's and Sherri's house in Hoover on Saturday, and we went to hear Great preach at Riverchase on Saturday night. I had a wonderful time eating candy and hunting Easter eggs! Thanks so much, Savages, for a very special day!

Oooooh.... look! The Easter bunny came!

Ok....I'll smile for the camera and try to act like I give one flip about this little stuffed duck.

Now, back to the candy.

"Little duck, would you like some jelly beans?"

Aunt Sherri and I played Easter hymns on the piano. I kept going back for more all day.

"more peeeayo peez"

my very first chocolate bunny!!!! It was Deeelicious!

hunting Easter eggs