Movie Time!!

Now, dont get me wrong my boys dont watch a whole lot of tv. But even when they get a chance to, it is still a challenge for them to sit still. But this movie in particular is Zeek's favorite - "The Ant Bully". One day at the mall, Zeek decided to yell a line from the movie several times - "I......said.........DOGPILE!!!!!!" It was great, and it echoed, and people stared. Oh well, that's Zeek.

Sitting for 3 seconds....Literately

I took this photo right before I left for work. My mom calls me about 20 minutes after I have gone and says "Moria, how come you didnt tell me you left?" I usually shout "im out" when I leave but for whatever reason I didnt. So I said "What happened?" My mom then tells me that she's cleaning up the mess right now. =/ They, my boys, were suppose to be watching a movie on my laptop. Go figure.

Hammer Time!!

Besides the fact that I had to watch my fingers, Zeek did really well in helping build this little castle from Lowe's "Build and Grow". He was very helpful and eager, but like any other 3 year old, could not sit long enough to finish. Maybe I was a little slow, i dont know.

As I mother I try to find ways to spend quality time with Zeek and am trying desparately everyday to have patience with him. So, when my dad had brought this little building project and dress up apron, goggles, and hammer i knew this was just the thing to get me started. So do pray with me that I gain the patience to spend time with my first born, cause honestly it doesnt happen as often as it should.

Man, I got all personal with it didnt I??

Cunningham Park Reborn

May 22, 2011 an F5 tornado wiped out the heart of joplin starting from i think Duquesne all the way past Shifferdecker road. Cunningham park was one of the hotspots - i would say - that was destroyed. Today, after i took my boys to the barber to get their haircut, and since it was really nice out, i decided to take Zeek and Manny to the park the team of Extreme Home Maker and many many volunteers helped rebuild this park in particular that was right next to St Johns Hospital. Although, it wasnt like it was before with the huge trees and the fall leaves - I fell in love with this park again like i did before, as ive taken many photos of Zeek here.

In this first photo is what the park used to be, Zeek was about 17 months in this one. And then a couple pics of what it is now - renewed and revived. There was alot of people there today!! =D

Cant forget about bath times!!

So in the first photo is just both of the boys enjoying splashing the water, playing with toys and whatever else kids do to stay entertained while taking a bath. The second photo is Zeek showing me that Manny pulled out the plug so the water flows out. "I fix it," Zeek says. Haha!!...Then in the third photo, Manny decides to pull the plug out AGAIN. He was yelling at the water to stop. I had already gotten Zeek out the tub and dried and lotioned up by the time this happened...Enjoy the laughs!! Because I sure did get a kick out of it. =D

The Friday Outing

So, as we all know I work 10 hour shifts overnight and come home around 5 am. On Thursdays, we get to get our checks after we get off. After I cash it and return home, my mom takes Zeek and my pay to go run errands and visit Zeek's uncles....This is when Zeek and my mom returns home. Just wore out. =D

Manny....

Aside from the fact that my boys broke my mom's living room window today, this is another thing they like to do. Climbing. And i dont think an inside jungle gym will solve this problem. This is....Manny at his finest. Haha!!

Groceries!!

Yes! We went grocery shopping today and, with the two boys, their behavior was fairly well. I kept Manny occupied with a peanut butter sandwich and a sippy cup of milk. It seems that I have to constantly keep food around to keep this boy contained and not trying to crawl out of the shopping basket. Zeek, on the other hand, wanted his Teddy Grahams. He seems to want those EVERY single time we go to Walmart, just to have. He does eat them, he may even share a few with his brother.

Arriving home, Zeek wakes up from his super short nap (the short drive home that is), and decides he wants to help put the groceries away. He was a big help!!

A few months before Zeek turned two, my dad had purchased his early birthday present...a john deere tractor. It didnt take long for Zeek to master his driving skills. He started out just going in circles - then my dad had an idea to have Zeek chase him with the tractor so he'll know how to turn =D. Now, that Manny's here, my dad had purchased another limited edition john deere tractor, a two seater. Yes, it was mainly for Zeek - so spoiled =P. But this is one tractor that him and his brother can enjoy.

Encouraging the Youth

In August last year, ladies from my church hosted an activities week for all the children. There they were, learning the amazing stories of faith from the bible, playing games, winning prizes - that week was just a blast. Today was the first annual youth banquet where every child or teen was recognized for memorizing certain scriptures and for attending class every saturday morning. The ones that did quote their scripture received a medal. There were also two guest speakers that spoke with them, encouraging to stay on the right path they're doing now and not to stray away from church, and how to stay obedient to their parents. Zeek, who has attended saturday morning youth classes, received this ribbon and was fairly proud. Its always been important to me to keep my boys in church, and this banquet today not only encouraged the youth of our church, but encouraged me as well.

Cook's Helper

Zeek has always had a fascination when it comes to cooking. And as he has grown older, he gets more curious and curious. No matter whats cooking, he's ready to pull up a kitchen chair, and watch, sometimes help even...and sometimes help too much. =D ...okay okay, so they're not from scratch, i know you see the Hungry Jack box hiding in there haha!

That's Not a Toy!

No matter how many toys any kids have, they will always find something else to play with...whether it be pots and pans for drums, stirring spoons and spatulas for drum sticks, the vacuum cleaner hose in place of a sword, the list goes on.

Legos!!

Well, you get the picture. I cant even count on both hands how many time I had to pick up or help pick up their legos. Ive even tripped over them a time or too. But other than that, I believe that legos bring out the greatest imagination in kids. This, is another toy that I have grown up with.

The Cereal Box

I remember when my brothers and I were growing up we always wanted to do the activities and puzzles or even just read the cartoons behind the cereal box. Watching my son do the same?? Priceless. Even when it came to collecting the toy they have hidden inside. We always looked forward to that when opening up a brand new box of the sweet cereal. =D

This also marked the day when Manny decided to eat with a spoon for the first time. And since he LOVES to eat, he barely made a mess, no wasting food here!

60 Degrees in January

This winter so far has been more desirable than ever! Here Zeek is, mid-day playing with his baseball set outside. I never thought we would be about 50 degrees in January at that... I can only pray that the weather could stay this way longer.

Really??

So here's the story....I work 10 hour shifts over night and my mom watches the boys while im at work. I get home around 5 am, feed Manny his breakfast, change his diaper, then put him back to bed - which is next to mine. I get my sleep in while my mom takes care of Zeek and gets him his breakfast when he wakes up. But this particular morning, they were not going to let me have it. I got in a good 2 whole hours!! Attempting to go back to sleep, i end up waking up ever hour to their laughs, hollering, toys banging, flute blowing, playing swords, shaking Manny's bed - you name it!! So, when i finally managed to wake my self up completely, the house was a total mess. I was upset!! I made them pick up all their toys, and got them dressed so I can take them with me to run a couple of errands. Got them both in the car and after their rampage that morning, this is the picture i got while we were heading into town...

Manny being Manny...

And this is what he does when I do TRY to get a decent picture of him. Zeek was so much more cooperative. =D

Meal Time!!

So we have Zeek who is more of the picky eater and Manny who has never refused anything Ive ever offered him. But, when it comes down to a nice home cooked meal or peanut butter and jelly sandwich, they both will get in on it. Yum!!

At the Mall - Jan. 1, 2012

This is one of the first times I have ever let Manny walk around the mall. He had his big brother's hand to help guide him to our next destination. (taken with my android)

Meet Zeek and Manny!!

Zykius Eric Dewayne aka "Zeek" as we call him is my firstborn. When I was pregnant with him I just knew my first was going to be a boy. I claimed it that he was going to be a boy. I even bought some boy infant clothes before I even knew he was going to be a boy. And when they declared that he was (and he wasnt ashamed to hide it LOL) my heart filled with joy and excitement!! Then to top it off, I gave birth to him on July 4th which is my favorite holiday...so you know his birthday is always going to be on and poppin' =D

Emmanuel Leon Dupree aka "Manny", my second child and son. His story slightly opposite of Zeek's, as I thought I was going to have a girl because being pregnant with him was totally different. Just turned out that Manny was my bigger baby - he was born a 1 1/2 pounds bigger than Zeek. And the second he was born, it was like falling in love all over again. His birthday is a lil more personal. I went into labor Sept 25 which is my mother's birthday, then he was born the next day, and left the hospital on my birthday Sept 28. Manny is now 15 months and such a momma's boy. But dont let that fool you, he's a tough lil cookie as he has to keep up with big bro Zeek.