Category Archives: GIT Personal

Life in my 4 runner

21st July 2020

Now that we have three kids, we have officially outgrown my 4Runner… the very same 4Runner my parents surprised me with for my first car back in high school. As we are looking to upgrade in order to accommodate our growing family, I was surprised, and a little embarrassed, at the emotions that came to light.  I mean, it’s just a car right?  But looking back, there has been a lot of life in my 4Runner.

Surprise!

My parents surprised me a few months after my 16th birthday by taking me to ‘pretend’ shop for a car they had already bought without me knowing.  When they finally let me in on their surprise, I was literally speechless.  Besides being grateful, I felt a little guilty knowing how expensive new cars were, but mom and dad insisted that ‘new’ meant ‘safe’ and ‘long lasting.’  After 16 years and over 235,000 miles… I think they were right. 

getting my car at the dealership

School

This 4Runner skipped out on a lot of driving in high school in order to save hard earned gas money. This 4Runner was a concert venue for Destiny’s Child and my best friends on our way to all our high school games.  This 4Runner failed at transporting a homemade Spanish project and leaked melted chocolate all over its backseat.

This 4Runner took me to college and only got one parking ticket at Texas A&M and one big Aggie going away present when it got towed on Northgate graduation night.  This 4Runner has made countless Sonic runs with my roommates, and was a favorite study spot for me with my moon roof open. This 4Runner spent a lot of time at Baylor University too… where it attracted a homeless man to its driver’s seat, who was rummaging through its console!  My now husband, Joe, and his roommates didn’t catch him, and this 4Runner has been without its User’s Manual ever since.

Family Life

This 4Runner has been a big part of mine and Joe’s relationship, taking us all the way back to high school.  This 4Runner witnessed our first kiss.  This 4Runner knew the 13 minute route down Stahl Lane between our houses all too well, and how to get back just in time for curfew.  This 4Runner defines long distance relationship, knowing its own way back and forth on Highway 6 between College Station and Waco. 

This 4Runner was my limo to church on our wedding day. This 4Runner navigated itself through the NFL, bringing us, and all our stuff, all the way from Seattle to Jacksonville, and back to San Antonio again.  Literally, across the country. 

loaded down for Seattle

This 4Runner escorted our first two babies home from the hospital and has learned to like fruit snacks and french fries over the past few years.  This 4Runner has hosted picnics in the back, lugged around strollers and bicycles, and even played driving simulator in the driveway for our toddlers.

bringing Madeleine home from the hospital
welcome home Joseph

You can see how this 4Runner is so hard to part with, because it has become part of our family. I can’t imagine my mom and dad giving my 16 year old self such a gift, such an important gift: a safe, reliable vehicle for an unsafe and uncertain life. My 4Runner has lived a lot of life, and now you can bet we will be investing in another Toyota, another vehicle to last us the next part of our lifetime.

Madeleine is ‘growing’ up-a birthday party

6th September 2018

We celebrated Madeleine’s 5th birthday with a flower themed birthday party.  You know how we love a good theme:)  We decorated flower pots and planted flower seeds then sang happy birthday before digging into some dirt cake.  What a happy, and hot day celebrating our big girl!  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day and some of my favorite party details…

baby #3

28th August 2018

Our family is excitedly anticipating the birth of our third baby just about any day now.  We cannot wait to meet the sweet little boy that we found out was on his way in early January.  Madeleine and Joseph have been so excited to welcome a new brother into the family. Even though Madeleine really wanted a sister, she is confident it will be a girl next time;)  Joseph is just eager to be older and bigger than someone…lately he is not a fan of being the youngest/smallest.

As with my first 2 pregnancies, the first trimester was full of nausea and food aversions, but luckily those went away around 12 weeks this go round.  My cravings have included Caesar salad, french fries, fruit and fruit flavored things (especially banana bread and banana pudding), Big Red, red meat, and Honey Bunches of Oats, especially late at night.

It is so precious to watch Joe and the kids love on my growing belly and very exciting when they feel his kicks and rolls.  Madeleine says they feel like little ‘heart beeps.’ My favorite part is laying in bed at night feeling him move.  Throughout the night, whenever I roll over, he always readjusts his position and I just imagine him snuggling in tight.

We have our bags packed, nursery set up, and I’ve washed pretty much anything I can detach and fit into the washing machine.  Now we are just waiting for his arrival and praying for a safe, happy, healthy delivery and baby.

3 year old joseph

20th August 2018

Joseph is almost 3 1/2 and I wanted to document some of his favorite activities, habits, and quirks before he moves onto the next level of cuteness.  How easy it is to forget their tiny little voices and take for granted their personalities at each stage!!

Speaking of voices, Joseph has the most high pitched little boy voice, especially when he is talking about something very exciting, like a passing firetruck or seeing a bug.  I know someday his voice is going to be deeper and more manly and I just want to record every adorable inflection!!  Lately he has been asking/telling us ‘you copy me,’ and then proceeds to make the silliest sounds and we just repeat after each other until we can’t understand the next one through all the giggling.

Some of Joseph’s favorite activities are sliding cars down a wooden ramp Joe made for him.  He props it up on the stairs and races his cars down over and over, excited every time for whoever wins the race.  I love that he plays with all the Disney Pixar ‘Cars’ characters but he only knows some of their names.  It doesn’t slow him down tough, he just makes up names like ‘Reddy,’ ‘Busy’ and ‘Rainbows’ for the ones he doesn’t remember.  Another activity is riding his balance bike and scooter, which would terrify anyone watching for the first time because he is SO fast.  Lately, Joe has been taking him down to the end of our cul-de-sac, which is at the bottom of a pretty steep hill, and they throw balls of all sorts up the street and watch them roll down.  It’s extra fun if they go down into the drainage ditch and they have to ‘explore’ to find them.

So Joseph has some imaginary friends and they’ve been around since he was about 2.  Deedee, Stony, and Deer Deer are their names, don’t ask, and they come up when we are telling stories about our day or something from our childhood or the news.  Deedee reminds me of the DosXX most interesting man.  No matter what, he tops our stories, scores a little higher, or just simply outdoes us.  I think it’s Joseph’s way of being included in ‘big’ conversations.

This summer, Joseph’s obsession with the water hose has continued.  He could literally play for hours with the water hose.  He likes to make waterfalls and rivers in the rocks and dirt.  I like to send him out in his pajamas in the morning and then once he’s soaked, we get dressed for the day.

Joseph hasn’t napped since a few months before his 3rd birthday.  The only time he naps is if he falls asleep in the car and we can transfer him to the couch.  But, honestly, he wakes up so cranky that I try to keep him awake:)

Joseph is mamas boy!  He told me the other night after his bedtime story, “Mama, I love you to all the numbers. And did you know they never stop?  They just peek on going.”  Whenever Joseph gets hurt, he only needs a kiss from mama and he immediately stops crying and all is well again.  At bedtime he kisses Madeleine goodnight and hugs her so BIG and then races to beat Joe to his room.

These are just some of the special parts of Joseph as a three year old I never want to forget.  Below are his answers to his 3 year old interview that we did the week of his birthday.  Joseph you are such a sweet boy!!


What is your name?-Joseph Charles Pawelek

What is your favorite color?  Blue, blue and red

What is your favorite snack? Fruit Snacks

What is your favorite song? Old McDonald had a Farm (Joseph calls McDonald’s the restaurant, Old McDonalds)

What is your favorite toy?  That toy…up there

What is your favorite drink? Root beer (The kids love to get root beer and Joe always teases them that they too young to have beer)

What is your favorite Restaurant? Taco Cabana

Who is your best friend? Madeleine

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A priest

Where do you want to go to college?  Texas

What is your favorite thing to do at the playground?  Go down the slides

Do you like your bike or scooter better?  Bike

Who do you love? Madeleine

What is your favorite movie? Dora

What is your favorite book? Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site

What is your favorite Breakfast? Peanut Butter Toast

What is your favorite dinner that mom makes?  Sausage Pasta

What is your favorite hat to wear?  Cowboy hat (it’s really his Astros cap)

Where do you like to go for fun? Chuckee Cheese and ChickfilA

joseph is 3, it’s an emergency!

5th June 2018

Joseph recently turned three years old and we celebrated his birthday with one of his favorite things, emergency vehicles.  Here are some of my favorite ‘action’ shots and decor from his special day…also, a growth chart photo shoot with Madeleine’s ‘rediginal camera’ at the end;)

Joe teaching Joseph how to use his first nerf gun that his uncle Michael picked out for him

 

Growth chart measuring time!!  I love how Joseph shows ‘three’ with his fingers.

mermaid hair don’t care, madeleine’s mermaid birthday party

19th October 2017

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We recently celebrated Madeleine’s 4th birthday with a mermaid pool party.  I love organizing parties for the kids because they love everything about them…the cake and presents, yes, but even the invitations, party favors, and decor get my kids pumped up.  And me too.  We’ve been known to play pretend parties at home where the kids will color invitations, wrap their toys and sing happy birthday just for fun.

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I’m not sure where she got the mermaid idea, but Madeleine made up her mind almost as soon as she turned three! The whole ‘mermaid’ thing was extra fun with a summer birthday.  We made a game out of collecting seashells from our annual beach trips and then turned around to use them as party decor.   Warm temperatures + the in-laws pool = fun party activity!  We bought some extra large floats that went with the theme and the kids tried not to fall off while Joe pushed them from one side of the pool to the other.

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The birthday cake was a personal victory at this party haha.  I am always drawn to the beautiful cakes that go along with party themes but I feel silly spending a lot of money and my baking, plus decorating, skills are unreliable (revisit Becky’s baby shower blueberry cake and Joe’s german chocolate birthday cake).  But even so, I decided to tackle a diy cake.  I even let the kids help;)  It didn’t turn out exactly like the inspiration picture but it sure was close and sure was good. Madeleine was proud too #designassistant

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Some of my favorite party details were the party favors (water bottles with swirly straws and juice powder), the goldfish in a large fish bowl, and the pirate/mermaid bathroom signs.  Oh and all the pictures that Madeleine and her cousins colored for her party decoration and personally hung up all along the patio.

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Happy Birthday Madeleine!!  I can’t wait to party with you again next year.

baby babble

13th September 2017

funny things our kids have said lately…

Watching golf with Madeleine- “Here goes mint boy.” (The golfer wearing a mint color shirt) “Oh no he missed it.” (Practice swings) “Why are they clapping he hasn’t made it into the hole yet?”

“Marks aset go!”- J

M-“My eyes are burning from the pool.”  Me-“Yes that’s the chlorine.” M-“I’m allergic to chlorine then. Does the beach have chlorine?” Me- “No, it’s salty.” J-“Why?” M-“Because God sprinkled salt in it and just mixed it all up.”

Madeleine practicing her rhyming words as we pull up to our house and our neighbor ‘Mr. Rich’ is outside…,”Mama!  Rich, bitch!  That rhymes!!”

“There’s a bug! Clap it mama!” – J

“Wow! Joseph got money lines for his birthday!” – Madeleine’s reaction to one of Joseph’s birthday cards that had money inside.

IMG_1925“Oh! I had a tooty in my mouth!” – J

“That skeleton has bad skin.” – M

“Dad, these shrimp are dead right?” -M before shrimp for dinner

“My dad is as fast as a car!” – M

Playing ‘house’ with Madeleine and she tucks me into bed and then says, “Goodnight, now I am going to have wine downstairs on the couch with my husband.”

Joseph LOVES chapstick and says, “Don’t kiss me on the lips because I have chapstick on, you can kiss me on my cheek.”

Joe asked for a bite of Joe Joe’s ice cream at chick fil a and he says across the table, “No, because I’m too far away.”

“That gun shotter is shooting for a woodpecker.” – J

IMG_1796“Mama, you are such a great mama I wish all kids could have you as a mama. I think we can fit 18 kids in the guest room.” – M

“1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10!  You better not, here I come!”

“A moth is  a butterfly at night.” -M

“I can talk now, I am all warmed up.” -M

“I got nail polish on my dress, but don’t worry, we have oxyclean.” -M

M-“All T-Rex’s are dead.” Me- “Yes that means they are extinct.” J-“Yeah they are pee eww!”

“It’s just like real life.” M’s reaction to her dance recital dress rehearsal and seeing the big stage

IMG_7802Me-“Joseph, wipe that mean look off your face.” J-(grabs a wipe) “Where is it??”

“Mom, can you get ‘space’ on your phone and ask whoever is driving anything to space and see if we can see Jupiter and all the planets?” – M

“How did you get that scab on your nose?” M- “Well, at the wedding party it just flew on there.”

“My voice is running out of battery.” -M

“Daddy, when you put cologne on you smell handsome.” -M

“When you make a mistake in the toilet you use a plunger.” -M

“If you have a lot of boogies you need a tissue.  If you have a little boogies, just pick it.” -M

IMG_1428Madeleine was spinning in circles on the stool in the doctors office and she almost tipped over. I said, “Woah, that was scary, you almost tipped over!”  Madeleine said, “Tipping over is always in style.”

At the dinner table one night Madeleine out of the blue says, “You know, we should really go to Great Wolf Lodge.”

M-“Daddy, why do you have hair on your chest?” Joe- “Because God made me that way.” M-“Papa doesn’t have any hair on his head because it all went down to his legs.”

There were some ladies speaking spanish in the bathroom stalls and Madeleine says out loud, “They are being silly when they talk!”

“Mama can I have Modelo? I’m a dult.” Me- “Oh you like beer?” M-“I like white wine.”

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tiny dancer

12th July 2017

This past year we enrolled Madeleine in her first extra curricular activity, dance class!  It was so much fun because she was right in the middle of a ballet phase and often played “ballerina,” at the house.  Classes began in the fall and lasted until spring, ending with a dance recital at the beginning of summer. Madeleine’s recital number was a ballet routine to “Every Girl Can Be a Princess,” and her costume included a tiara and wand.  Right up her alley.

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Classes were an hour long each week, starting with half an hour of tap and then half an hour of ballet.  The hardest thing was keeping Joseph entertained for those hours:), but now he wants to take dance when he “grows older.”  Madeleine enjoyed it and learned a lot but what I think she loved most was the freestyle and imagination activities her teacher did with them.  I loved the tiny ballet slippers and tutus and watching her from the waiting room:)

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As the end of the year approached, I was so worried about the recital because Madeleine became increasingly shy over the year and I was afraid she would freeze on stage.  But dress rehearsal went smoothly and Madeleine didn’t want to stop watching all the other numbers and analyzing all the costumes;)

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In the end, the recital was adorable and Madeleine did so great! I hope I always remember her big “stage” smile, the precious way she held out her tutu, how deliberate her wand waved and the way her spins were delayed yet intense.  She didn’t seem the least bit nervous on stage.  The whole thing was so sweet I wanted to cry and laugh the entire 2 minutes she was up there.  We can’t wait to get the recital DVD so Madeleine can watch her own performance.  We are very proud of our tiny ballerina!

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two year old joe joe

10th May 2017

IMG_6580 copyWe have a tradition to interview the kids on each birthday starting at 2.  It has been fun to look  back and hear their sweet voice and also how fast their “favorites” change.  Here is the commentary from Joseph’s 2 year interview complete with his adorable “um’s.”

What is your name? Joseph Chawles

How old are you? 2 (as he holds up one finger)

What’s your favorite color? Um, brown. Brown? Yes.

What’s your favorite snack? Um, trains.

What’s your favorite flavor ice cream? Um, chwaklit.

What is your favorite snack to eat? Um, golf ball hahaha! Do you like gold fish, fruit snacks…? Can I have some fruit snacks?

What’s your favorite dinner that Mama makes? Um, sausage paaaaaaaasta

Who’s your best friend? Um, Madeleine.

What’s your favorite shirt to wear?  The piwate (pirate) one.

Where is your favorite restaurant?  Um, ketchup.

Do you like Chipotle or Freebirds? Um, Freebirds.  Freebirds or Chickfila? Um, Chickfila.  What do you like to get at Chickfila? Chicken nuggets and Friiiiiiiiiies

What’s your favorite drink? Sausage Paaaasta! No, sprite, root beer, lemonade, juice? Sprite. I’m making a choo choo train on my tummy.

What do you want to be when you get bigger? A choo choo train.

What’s your favorite toy to play with? Um, pink.  How about Paw Patrol, trains….? Trains, I’m gonna play with my trains (walks away).

What is your favorite book? Go Dog Go

Who sleeps with you in your bed? Um, Chase doll and horsey and puppy and puppy blanket and gray blanket and blue blanket.

What’s your favorite thing to do at the park? Sliiiiiiiiiides

What was your favorite present you got for your birthday? Um, dirt cake!  I ATE THE DIRT!

Who do you love? Madeleine Are you going to get married one day? Yes.

Where are you going to go to college? Ride the airplanes.

What do you want to be when you get bigger?  Ride the yewo (yellow) airplane

IMG_6750There are so many precious things I want to remember about him at this age and I’m trying to write them all down before I forget but when I start to put them on paper I almost go blank.  I feel like I need a notepad in my pocket 24/7 to jot down his little quotes and mannerisms. Like, how he always asks to hold my hand when he is scared or upset (even when I am driving and especially when I’m trying to eat). Or when I am putting him to bed at night and he protests me turning off the lamp with, “I wanna talk a widdle bit.” So we talk a little bit and then I say it’s time to lay down and he says, “I wanna a cuddle a widdle bit.”  Well ok:)

IMG_9448Lately he has been super mischievous, but when I correct him he tells me he is only “attending” (pretending).  “Mama I only attended to throw that at the TV.”  Yes.  We had to get a new TV.  I love how particular he is about HIS side of the rocking chair and how he always wants a stool to see what I’m doing in the kitchen.  And his sweet little way of asking questions that begin and end with “why.”  “Why do birds have wings mama, why?” “Why is it dark outside, why?” Or how he will hurry and eat his fruit snacks super fast or chug his chocolate milk in the morning and no one notices until he says, “I beat Madeleine.”

IMG_9652I know there will come a time when he doesn’t want to cuddle or hold my hand and he won’t really ask for my opinion, but for now he is my two year old little boy and this is the time of our lives.

happy easter

26th April 2017

Easter is such a wonderful season of the year and our family kicks it off with lots of celebration and tradition; dying eggs, holy week masses, stations of the cross, egg hunts, and bbq. Highlights: Dying eggs with whisks (life changing), Joseph sleeping on the cousin club pallet in his sleeping bag for the first time (woke up at 5 AM wanting to look at tractors on the computer with Pops), rodeo at Grandma Pawelek’s with Honeybun the calf/puppy, Joseph looking out our front window for the Easter bunny on Sunday morning, and Madeleine calling Nerds candy “turds.” Here are some of my favorite pictures from our Easter weekend. Happy Easter y’all!

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