Dodge. Is that a last name?

I have cute kids.  I know that.  And I like all their names.  Especially Dodge's.  However we do get a lot of different reactions to the name Dodge from people.  

My neighbor exclaims, "Dodge? Ooh.  I like that!"  He has said that about 4 times now.  Exactly the same.  Every time.  I'm starting to doubt his mental capacities.  

A guy from our ward just loved it.  Thought it was manly and unique.  Manly is what I was going for so that was a nice compliment to hear.  

I often get, "Is that his first name?"  Yes, it is.  But even though I clarified the pharmacist still put his name down as Taylor Dodge because-in her words-"I thought surely Dodge wouldn't be the first name."  

Recently a person I had never met before gave me a long, awkward pause after hearing his name.  I think she was formulating an appropriate response because she then elaborated on how kids and names have to go together and that must be it for his name.  

I think the best response came from my Uncle George who pretty much disowned me until he got a Thank you card in the mail but since I'm back in his good graces said, "Dodge?  Is that because he was made in the backseat of a Dodge?"  

I've told Ben we need a good story for his name because I get asked all the time where I got his name and my lame answer of "I was just driving behind a lot of Dodge trucks while pregnant" is not sufficient.  

I'm currently taking story ideas for such a thing.  I don't want to say it is family because even if it was he was not named after some superficial sentimental attachment.  I can't say he is adopted and that was his name already because I am claiming my 50% contribution to his good looks and my 100% contribution to his studly name.  I just need a better story to tell.  If you have one, please submit it in the comment section.  Thank you. 

Blaker Butts

This post may seems as if it is more geared towards Dodge but I promise it really is about Blake.

Blake turned four.  Finally.  He has been pretty excited and even kept an accurate countdown himself.  He asked for an Olaf cake.  This is my non crafty, I'm-not-going-to spend-money-on-cake-decorations version of a much cuter looking on on pinterest.  It didn't matter anyway because in the end he didn't even eat the cake.  I've decided I'm no longer doing the whole birthday cake/breakfast/dinner anymore.  He asked for chocolate donut with Gummi worms on top.  I picked them up on my way home from a 5 mile run and carried half dozen donuts the last mile for him to just eat the gummy worms. Then he didn't eat dinner because all he wanted was cake.  Then he didn't eat the cake, just Olaf.  I'm pretty much done putting all the work into it for very little payout.

Dodge enjoyed the donuts though. 

For his birthday Blake got a gift that represented his top five interests.

1. Cars-2 remote control car and money to buy more Cars cars.

2. MarioKart-little mariokart cars

3. Angry Birds-Stuffed angry bird that makes the crashing noises

4. A Charlie Brown-Great Pumpkin Book

5. Superheroes-underwear and a batman shirt

From us he got a ceiling fan.  You might think that is an odd gift but he has been asking for a ceiling fan for 6 months so that he can throw his sticky worms into and watch them fling across the room.  Sadly he lost all his worms and they are no longer available ANYWHERE.  

Along with the ceiling fan (not shown) I redecorated the boys room.  It's all baseball themed and I love it since my plan is for Dodge to be a baseball player. 

All in all Blake's birthday was an awesome day; as much for me as for him.

I love having boys.  Blake loves having Dodge.  From the day we brought Dodge home he wanted Dodge to crawl.  He crawls now to Blake's enjoyment and distress.  If you notice, Blake is sucking in his cheeks.  That is proof that he is my son.  Yes, I did that as a child and yes, my brother teased me for mercilessly.  I even had the nickname of 'Big Fish' at school because of it.  Whenever I would be getting worked up I would suck in my cheeks.  I'm over it now.  Now I just eat ice cream.  But since Blake doesn't have free reign of the freezer he sucks in his cheeks when he is upset, thinking, determined, tired, etc.

The boys also are wearing Palermo Pirates shirrs.  Seriously, how in the word was I able to find Palermo, California shirts??  I had to buy them.  Blake loves matching with Dodge.  Blake has been patiently waiting for a brother he could interact with and now that he has one it is funny to watch.

Dodge can pull himself on things, climb over things and most importantly, destroy whatever blake is working on. He is constantly trying to keep Dodge out of things.  He is good about it-hasn't gotten too physical yet-but Blake will be happy when Dodge plays by interacting instead of throwing.  Although I'm not sure why that bothers Blake since his favorite game is to take every single car he owns and throw them at each other trying to get them to turn upside down and be 'dead'.

My living room often looks like this except worse. Normally the books and fake kitchen food are also strew across the floor.  Boys are fun but they leave a huge mess in their wake.  Blake loves having a brother though.  And I love having Blake.

OK, my Blake post is done.  Now here are just some more cute pictures of Dodger Dog.