Shout out to our friend Ashley and her baby boy Colton

        During this Christmas season I would like to give a rather late welcome to Colton Daison.  Colton is our friend Ashley's little baby boy.  Congrats Ash and have a merry Christmas.

'Tis the Season to be sick

    Well as the cold weather starts to settle in for the winter here in middle America it's also the time for our most common illnesses.  I am witnessing this firsthand as my son is fighting RSV right now.  Respiratory syncytial virus is a very common virus that causes as infection in the lungs, but it is especially dangerous in babies and very small children.  Alex has been very sick for the last twenty four hours.  He is running a very high temp and is constantly coughing.  We were able to get him into the doctor yesterday and now we are administering his medicines every three hours.  He has stopped coughing but we still haven't broken his fever yet.
    He isn't really eating but at least we are keeping him as hydrated as possible.  I have to say that Tonya has been giving most of his medicines to him because I kind of sleep like a rock and it is just plain hard to wake me up in the middle of the night.  So now I am letting her nap while me and Alex are watching marathon episodes of The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.  I have to get back to it because Alex said I'm missing The Hulk.

This is my review of Confident Parents, Amazing Children 8 principles to raising amazing children you will love to live with

                I have to say that when I first heard that you could have a well behaved child without ever having to actually punish them I was a tad skeptical.  Then I started hearing things from the other parents in our inner circle start singing this book's praises.  The first chapter in the book very clearly states that your child wants to be successful.  As I read this it really resounded with me because I know deep down that even when Alex acts up he doesn't want to be bad.  Then as I read further I realized why it happens.  Sometimes it can be because he is emotionally frustrated and is trying to get my attention to feeling.  Or sometimes he is just mirroring what we think of him.  Like if there is an expectation of bad behavior it really isn't surprising that he fullfills all the things we think he will do.  Once you realize that the standard order and punishment is a faulty one that only confuses your child's natural cues.  A child naturally wants to be good but sometimes there are stumbling blocks in the way.  Not only do the principles improve the behavior of your child but it is going to drastically improve the your understanding of your child but it will also improve the bond between you and your child.
            Bonnie Harris isn't just some lady that decided to write a parenting book.  Bonnie Harris has a Masters Degree in childhood development with a specialization in parent/child development.  Not only does this provide the groundwork for the future it also provides examples of how to apply these things in real life settings.  There is only one thing that I can definitely about this book is that it works.  Period.  Just think about it, if there is even a small chance that you won't have to dole out heavy handed punishments or make empty threats or even cave in on your own ultimatums anymore and things get better rather than worse.  ( You don't have to say it I know because we all do it, sometimes I just can't resist my adorable little man)  Give it a try I did and it has made bonding with my son so much easier.  I would like to give a big thanks to Caitlin Mason, Marketing/Publicity Coordinator for Adams Media as well as Adams Media for giving me a chance to review this for you all.  I was not reimbursed for this blog post but they did send me a copy of the book to review.

Moving moving moving

                       Well today I spent the majority of this evening helping my mom and sister move all of their things into their fabulous new home.  In my family he who is tallest helps move so at 6'4" I help people move a lot.  So we set up the u-haul contract and then all the fun begins.  There was a couch, love seat, washer, dryer, deep freeze(which is a sit down freezer in southern speak),and many more things of which there is far too many individual items to possibly name them all.  I thought that it would be just me with this collosal task ahead of me to complete alone, but alas I underestimated the kindness of my circle of friends.  My brother actually showed up which is amazing considering he is late to bed and late to rise.  I'm just kidding Jacob thank you for all the help, we have loaded that deep freeze without you.     

                         Then we get to my dear friends Sara and Dee who were so instrumental in pulling this off that we would have literally never got started without them so to you beautiful ladies thank you gals as well.  My sister ironically was the brains of all the coordinating of this move.  She managed to get a couple of friends to come help out with everything and even though I will not name thier names without their consent I am officially in debt to you both for this.  My mom got everyone connected from the home base so if you are reading this Thank you too and you know that I got lotsa love for ya cinny poo.  Well now is my time of rest and I leave you with this.  Just because you lose in life don't lose the lesson.

P.S. Thats my brother Jacob with D'nea and my friends Dee and Sara in the pictures above.  

Happy Holidays

        Well it seems that the holidays are a time to pull all your loved ones together, whether its your family or just your close friends.  Its a time to hold them close and truly be thankful for the things that you have in your life.  I Have to say that I'm thankful for both my family and all my close friends.  My sister Shannon recently moved into town to help take care of my Mom.  So this post isn't gonna be super long but I just wanted to tell Shannon and Cindy(my mom) that I love you guys and I'm looking forward to a wonderful Christmas with yall. By the way spellcheck yall is a southern word for the term you all. 

Laura Faison Rest in Peace

Laura we will miss ya.  I hope you have more peace in the afterlife than you ever did in life.

Product Review

                 The Wii
Over the next few weeks as Christmas approaches I am going to try tp start reviewing some of the hottest toys for the kids or really anything  that could be good for the family to spend together.  The first such thing that I have had an opportunity to review is The Nintendo Wii.  While we were in Tennessee Alex, Ryan, Tonya and myself had a chance to put a Wii through its paces.  Ryan is a little older than Alex so he recognized the Wii immediately.  The boys started with playing the baseball game(with a little help from me and Tonya).  I didn't think that Alex would be able to play it but my theory was soon proven be wrong as seen in the picture below.  The game was very basic and easily geared towards younger children but I think older kids like me and Tonya lol would be bored quickly with it.  We switched to the boxing and I noticed right off the bat the controllers aren't very accurate at all.  We also played the tennis (boring) and then the bowling which was excellent.  So all in all the Wii and Wii sports was a blast for the little ones but I wonder if it has the staying power to compete with the new peripherals for the PS3 and XBOX 360.  I hope to be reviewing the other two motion devices in the coming weeks.    

Brothers Unite

Well this weekend was quite the event for me and the family.  This weekend the wife and I took a trip to Tennessee to see the Grease play that I told you guys about.  Tonya had the great idea that we invite Laura, B.J., and Ryan to the play.  Ryan and Alex are half brothers, they share the same father( Laura and B.J. are Ryan's mom and stepdad). I hadn't ever met any of them before and I was a little leery about how everything would go.  Alex is three and Ryan is six so I didn't know if they would get along at all.  Well needless to say from the pictures above that my fears were totally unfounded.  Laura and B.J. were very nice and completely cool about everything, and Ryan was totally adorable.  The boys were fast friends and they got along marvelously the whole night.  Ryan was well behaved and a perfect little gentleman.  As a matter of fact things went so well we had Ryan spend the night with us over there so he and Alex could spend some more time together.  They played games and watched movies. It was a total blast.

Grease Jr. the premiere

I have to say that this was an amazing play starring my niece Kaillen whose expert acting held this production together.  First of all I have to tell you a little backstory about this play.  They are doing a PG version of Grease that is extremely charming in and of itself.  But the real reason that this was such a good play is that behind the scenes the cast has been ravaged by a stomach virus that takes out fifteen of the cast of fifty.  But now only did the show go on it was a total success.  I have never seen any version of grease so it was an entirely new experience to me.  With that said its hard not to fall in love with these fourth and fifth graders as they give the performance of their little lifetimes.  Tonya and I took our son Alex with us and he had a great time for the most part(with the exception of when he lost his ringpop at the beginning of the second act to which he was heartbroken over).  Needless to say it was a blast and I'm posting a few pictures of the action.

Christmas continued

Ok so now that I have figured out the eternal riddle that is what to get Tonya next is Alex.  I guess its pretty safe to say that he can't read .... yet.  So I can talk all about his Christmas.  On the way to daycare today he informed us that Santa Claus (which I have always been curious as to why this mythical mysterious man hails from Germany) is going to get him the Iron Man mask and repulsor gloves.  By the way spell check repulsor is a word I am not making it up or misspelling it.  I was nervous that he might say something else as we have already bought the mask, gloves, and chest arc reactor (which is just a lit up triangle that sticks to his shirt).  My son's birthday is just a couple of days from Christmas so we have to double up on the gifts so that its fair .  The birthday stuff is probably gonna be a lot of Buzz Lightyear stuff.  We took him to see Toy Story 3 when it came out and he was instantly hooked.  I know this may be a little off subject but the movie was amazing.  It was a very tender movie that had a surprisingly sophisticated story.  The people at Pixar know exactly what they are doing when they make a movie.  Anyway Buzz and Woody have been regular characters in our playing ever since.  He is usually Buzz and I'm Woody because we are best friends I guess lol.  So he is running around flying while I'm saying there's a snake in my boot. Well that's all I have for now but keep coming around because I always have something new here and I'm starting to review books and things very soon.

Christmas is approaching.

        So currently I am wondering aimlessly across the internet I am mentally scrambling.  I thought that I had the perfect gift for my extremely beautiful and smart wife.  But as I casually brought up the item I was intending to get her I am blown away as she shows almost no interest in it at all.  What am I to do?  She even went so far as to say that it sounded like something I would want.  I am speechless and as I lift my jaw from the floor I begin to wonder if I superimposed some want of mine unto Tonya.  Now I am running a complete blank.  I have a feeling about something that she might want even if it doesn't serve an useful purpose.  I forget that sometimes women aren't quite as utilitarian as a lot of men typically are.  Okay wait I think I just figured it out.  I will keep you guys informed on how it goes.  By the way this is a picture of my hunny.

Alex "The Brains"

The Legend of Taderpole

   The Legend of Taderpole

The other day me and Alex were playing in his room when he very calmly informed me that I was a "taderpole".  When I asked him what a taderpole is he just smiled at me and said,"You are, daddy."  Suddenly like he had revealed some playground mafia style secrets, he clams up and wont say anything more about it.  So later I nonchalantly call him a taderpole which he responds to by unleashing the legendary  Alexander Axe strike.  I was totally at his mercy with only my begging and crying to save myself.  Later as I nurse my wounds I begin to wonder what kind of Illuminati sort of secret was I dealing with.  Tonya told me that she thought that this was some kind of pronunciation of the word tadpole.  When I proposed this to my resident genius, Alex, nodded that no it wasn't a tadpole all the while with that knowing smile and a slight giggle.  I have always known that my son is stronger and faster than me, but now I am beginning to suspect that he is a super intelligent mastermind secretly running the household all while giving Tonya the illusion of control.  Alas I lost any delusions that I run our household long ago.  So now I am left to wonder about the untold legend of taderpole.  
   

Introduction to Josh

Well everyone, my name is Josh and I'm writing this blog.  I hope to detail my experiences as a husband and a father.  This journey has been nothing short of amazing for me.  I never realized how rewarding it could be to be a father, to have a family.  I look back at the last three years and I couldn't imagine my life without them.  Well enough reminiscing let's dive right in.  My wife Tonya is a CNA and is a compulsive workaholic.  It's funny how even though I'm the man she really is the rock in our relationship.  I truly believe she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.  This same dogged determination defines everything about her.  She brings out the best in me whether or not it wants to.  This was one of the first things I noticed when we first met.  I had never met such a strong, confident woman before.  A single mom that saved her son well being by leaving his biological dad .  She left with nothing but three dollars and Alex.  But when met her she had already rebuilt her life from scratch.  And then there was Alex.  This handsome little man who was so young and yet you could see the strong will he got from his mom.  A boy that as long as I have known him doesn't have any fear.  My son, Alex the great lover of scooby doo and superheroes (Iron Man is topping the list right now).  Well I will back soon, till then I leave you the words of Oscar Wilde - Life is far too important to be taken seriously.