Good job, Grammy!

I should have known to take Grammy out of the running. She has been listening to me whine about wanting to take the kids to Branson for Christmas. So here is your prize Grammy!!

Here is a Big 'Ole Hillbilly "Yee Haw" just for you. There will also be three happy kids with lots of stories to share arriving at your house in about a week.


Keep an eye out and I will post some video and pictures in the next few days. I kept meaning to get one of all of us together, but we were having too much fun and I actually didn't take a lot of pictures.

We are going to head out for home here in a little bit. Bass Pro Shop in Springfield awaits us.

More later from home!

Where in the world are the Dunbars?

Here is a little holiday game for you. First to guess correctly gets a prize. Not a great prize, but hey something is better than nothing.

You have all heard of Where's Waldo. Let's play, Where are the Dunbars?

Here is the scene....

Friday morning Abby and I head to her class for the big holiday party. Jamy stays home with the little ones. We decorate cookies, we cover all sorts of things in frosting and chocolate. Right after lunch I get a message from the office that there is a home call waiting for me. Huh??? I go in and pick it up. It is Jamy saying something has come up at work that he needs me to come right home. As you all know Jamy is in the Air Force. I am thinking 9/11 scenarios all over again. I say, "Okay, can I leave Abby here?" Then he scares the life out of me because he says I can't leave her at school but need to bring her with me. Now I am worried because what could have happened so bad in the world that I need to pull Abby out of school? I am trying to remember those Cold War nuclear strike drills from elementary school as I hurry and try to get everything together to go home.

Abby and I walk in the door and there is Jamy with a big grin on his face and a bag packed at his feet. He says, "Merry Christmas! We are going on vacation. Run pack what you need to go for the weekend. The kids are packed already!" Isn't he awesome!!!!

Apparently, he has been planning this trip for several months and even had several of my friends in on it. Including the friend I was room mother with. Tisha, you are good!!! Through all of that planning you never gave any hint anything was going on. If I ever need a secret kept, you are my gal.

He told my dad where we were going so if there was a crisis we could be found, but other than that noone in the world knows where we are.

So here is the game.....can you guess? Here are some clues:

1. We are within a 7 hour drive of home.
2. Our cell phones don't work here.
3. Christmas is the name of the game in these parts.
4. The town we are in has a population of just over 6,000, but if you drive down main street it will take you an hour.
5. Salt water taffy, fudge and the best hot chocolate in the world.


I know by now my Mom, sister and brother at least can figure it out but how about the rest of you?

One last clue. A visual one.....

Ideas please.....

I need HELP!!!! Time to put your thinking caps on, people, and help me out. Miss Skylar has a new trick and my washer can't take it.

You give her a kiss, give her Binky Boo, tuck her in and say "Nite, Muffin". She kisses the air like the sweet angel she is. Then you close her door and go on downstairs. Before you go to bed you check your sleeping angel to make sure she is okay.

Here is where the trouble starts. I don't care what time you check her she is laying there in her crib, butt-ass naked! No jammies. No diaper. No covers. The girl LOVES to be naked. Problem is she pees all over her bed. So you change jammies, diapers and crib sheet and tuck her back in. Then in the morning you go in to get her up and yup, you guessed it, butt-ass naked again. Again sheets all wet!

So help me. Any ideas how to keep her diaper and jammies on her. We have tried zip up jammies, snap-on jammies, tied jammies, diapers, pull-ups, and stopped just short of duct taping her into her clothes of the night.

Seriously I only have three crib sheets left and my washer can't take the overuse.

Last one tonight.....

Grammy wanted to see the lights at our house so here is some video of the Griswald family Christmas for those of you who are interested. We have a dream of someday really lighting this place up, but for right now this is what we have. You should see the kids faces. Christmas just wasn't the same before we had kids!!!!

And finally, here is what Abby has been busy doing.....

We are going to be paying the tooth fairy overtime. Miss Abby has lost five teeth now and has three others pretty loose. She had one tooth just barely in there. She came running in with a bloody mouth and a tooth in her mouth. I thought it was the tooth that was so loose. Nope! Her and Weston were playing and he accidentally kicked her in the mouth knocking loose a tooth that really wasn't that loose. So she lost it and then a couple of days later the really loose one came out.

Anyone have a food processor I can borrow? This poor kid is going to need her food pureed at this rate!

For Aunt Kristi

Poor Aunt Kristi! You have been trying to see the ABC's as performed by Skylar for a couple of months now. We finally remembered to get it on video for you. For those of you counting out there, she still isn't two yet!!!! Why is this baby trying to grow up so fast???????????

As promised....

Here is the video of Weston that I promised the other day. Sorry it took so long. My computer came down with a one-year old virus and had to be taken in to get fixed. Note to self, keep the baby away from the laptop. Those little fingers can do some damage.

Anyway, here is the background. As many of you know, Jamy has had to travel much more than normal lately. Last summer when he was gone Weston was having a hard time with missing Daddy so was being very clingy to me. We went to my Grandma's and at some point during the trip I ran to the store for Grammy while the kids were resting. Weston didn't want me to leave him. He was afraid I was going to be gone for a long time like Daddy. I snuggled him and explained that when we love someone even if we can't see them they are still in our hearts and that is what keeps us together. All you have to do is close your eyes and think about the person you miss and you can remember them and how much they love you. Sappy I know, but it got me out the door and to the store without my three year-old shadow.

Fast forward, six months. Jamy was gone again and I was putting Weston to bed. He hadn't said anything about the whole keeping me in his heart business during that whole time. Then as I was tucking him in he told me that when he was sleeping he missed me, but he was putting me in his heart so we could be together. The next day I made a video so you all can see.

I tell ya, Mr. Sensitive is going to make some woman very happy someday! That's if I decided to let him date!

Technology is weird.

So after much pressure from many people in my life, I joined Facebook last night. I figured I couldn't really comment on it until I tried it. I just have to tell ya, what a weird freakin' experience!!!!

I accepted an invite from a friend from high school. Next thing I know I am having a "conversation" with my sister, a friend in KC and a friend in Seattle all at the same time. Jamy was laughing at me and saying that at any minute my brain was going to explode.

On the sidebar Facebook kept finding all of these people I might know. Yikes, does it scare anyone else that the computer can find people from my past and link us all together?

I also have a feeling that there are all sorts of rules of ettiquete that I have no clue about. There are strange terms like "writing on someone's wall" and "poking" people. I have no idea what I am doing, but it is good to hear from some old friends again.

So if you are on Facebook and "see" me there don't laugh too hard at me as I try to figure it all out and stop by and say "hi".

On another note, Thanksgiving was nice. We had a nice family day and then a nice visit with some old friends. It is always so good to see everyone.

We found out my thyroid is messed up again so that is why I have been feeling so yucky lately. I started the new meds today so within six weeks we should know if they will work or not.

Jamy is off again. He headed out this morning for just a couple of day trip to St. Louis for a conference. I really wanted to go with him, but I was too chicken to ask anyone to keep my kids since Abby and Weston are in school. Oh well, maybe he will have a little trip this summer and I can hop on with him.

Finally, Weston said something last night that melted my heart. I am not going to tell you all about it right now as I am going to try to tape him saying it later today so hopefully you can see the live version. Let me just tell you though, grab some Kleenex. He is too sweet!

I will also try to take some pictures of the Griswald, oops I mean Dunbar, family Christmas. Let me just apologize now to all of you who live in Osage City and the surrounding area. I know every evening your power blinks off when we click on the lights. If you would like to come over and read by the glow of our house you are welcome. Heck, I may even fix you some hot chocolate for your trouble.
Okay, gotta go for now!

Hey Daddy, Look at Meeee!!!

Daddy,

I wanted you to see what I have been up to since you have been gone. Wait until you hear the way I giggle when I put the potty in the potty.

Check it out. Diapers are almost a thing of the past in our world. Do you think with all of the money we will save I can have a pony? Just a little one! Phleaseeee......

I miss you and I love you.
Skylar

Sometimes they make you pee......

The great thing about being a parent is that on any given day, at any given time, your children can actually be so funny they make you almost pee your pants. Tonight Skylar decided it was time for her to go to "pweschool". She went and got on Abby's headband and backpack and kept telling us, "Bye-Bye. I wuv you! See ya later. I go to pweschool." Then she added some funny glasses my friend Carey gave her and the rest of us were laughing like crazy.

Daddy, I hope you can see this where you are. Your daughter is a hoot!!!!!

Thank you!

Veteran's Day.

What does it mean to you? To me, it is yet another opportunity to remember why I am able to sleep safe at night. I can think about why I just got to vote last week in an election to choose who would be our next leader. Today, I can reflect upon how very blessed I am to be an American. Most importantly, I can say thank you to the people who have made my life possible.

All over our country and the world there are men and women who have served or are serving our country and not asked for anything but a "Thank you" in return. So many families have been or currently are separated from the one they love as that person sacrifices the conveniences of their life to protect my right and ability to enjoy those conveniences. So to all of those who serve and to all those who support them I say, "Thank you!"

Look around you today. I bet someone you meet or someone you know is a veteran. Thank them today for what they have done for you.

To my husband who is currently away from us serving his country, I love you and am so proud of you everyday. The kids and I are fine. We miss you but know that our sacrifice is tiny compared to so many others. Hurry home and thank you!

Think about the words of this song by Toby Keith today and remember to thank a vet!

I'm just trying to be a father,
Raise a daughter and a son,
Be a lover to their mother,
Everything to everyone.
Up and at 'em bright and early,
I'm all business in my suit,
Yeah,I'm dressed up for success,
from my head down to my boots.
I don't do it for money
there's bills that I can't pay.
I don't do it for the glory,
I just do it anyway.
Providing for our future's my responsibility,
Yeah I'm real good under pressure,
being all that I can be.

And I can't call in sick on Mondays
when the weekends been too strong,
I just work straight through the holidays,
And sometimes all night long.
You can bet that I stand ready
when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady,
hey I'm true down to the core.

And I will always do my duty,
no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost,
I know the sacrifice.
Oh, and I don't want to die for you,
But if dyin's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free.

I'm an American soldier, an American,
Beside my brothers and my sisters
I will proudly take a stand,
When liberty's in jeopardy
I will always do what's right,
I'm out here on the front lines,
So you can sleep in peace tonight.
American soldier, I'm an American,

American Soldier,
An American


We Love you, Daddy!

A letter to our president-elect.

Dear President-Elect Obama,

Tonight, I trusted you with something with which I have trusted only one other man. I trusted you with the future of my children. Tonight, I stepped into a voting booth with all three of my young children by my side and I cast my vote for you. Then tonight I listened to you speak to our country and promise to protect that future. It is a moment in history I will not forget.

You did not earn my vote easily. John McCain is a great man who has served his country and sacrificed more than most of us Americans can ever imagine. I also believe he could have made a great president. You earned my vote because in the end I agree with more of your ideas and I believe you are the leader who can energize our country and lead us in a new direction.

There will be those who disagree with me. Some of those people will be my own family and friends. These are the people you spoke of tonight. These are the people who did not vote for you and whose help you requested tonight. The strength of our great nation lies in our freedom to disagree openly with our elected officials. While we exercise that freedom, I would ask that all Americans step up and realize that the majority of American people have spoken. Let's unite again as a country and come together to support you, Mr. Obama. My grandmother taught me that while you have the right as an American to disagree with or even dislike the president, you do not have the right to disrespect the office of the president. I hope all Americans can unite and come together to work with you and move our country in a direction that will serve us all well.

There are those Americans who fear you. It will be up to you to show them you are a man of your word. Show us Americans that we can trust you. I believe that one of the greatest challenges that America faces is that the average citizen simply does not trust our leaders anymore. I know that is one of the reasons I struggled so much with my decision. Once a politician gets to the level of office you have achieved, how do I know I can trust you to do what you say in the best interest of the most Americans? Over the next four years I expect you to show me that I can take you at your word.

I hired you tonight to protect my future and the future of my children. I expect you now to live up to your end of the deal. I remember when I was a little girl going camping with my mom and grandpa in the mountains of Colorado. Grandpa and Mom always taught us to leave our campsite better than we found it. Now, I have three small children of my own. Whenever we go to the park or camping or even out for a walk I try to pass that lesson on to them. Leave the place you are a better place than it was when you got there. President-Elect Obama, I do not envy you the challenges you will face during your time in office. Our world and our nation are struggling right now. I pass the lesson onto you though. Leave America a better place than how you found it. Fight everyday you are in office to make sure that our world is better when you leave office than it is right now as you go into office.

I am a stay-at-home mom who proudly supports my Air Force husband as he serves our country. I am also trusting you with him. You will make decisions that may place him in harms way. Be sure as you make those decisions and ask us and every other military family to make sacrifices for our country that you are doing it for the right reasons.

History was made tonight when you were elected. It is a proud moment for America. Your children and mine will never truly remember a world in which America sat waiting for the first minority to be elected to its highest offiec. It has happened and I pray that while we never forget our American history, we can now move into a new and exciting future. I pray now that we can all come together as a nation and remember that what unites us all is that we are human and we all want to live the American dream. The world and your citizens will be watching to see how you lead us into the future. Do not fail us.

Thank you for your willingness to sacrifice so much for our country.

It doesn't get any better than this!

Happy Halloween everyone!!

It is late. I am tired. But man, what a great day. Great weather, great friends and great fun. Here are a few pictures so you can see a bit of what we did. I will post more tomorrow with details.

Can you guess Abby's exciting news for today from one of the pictures?


Have a great night!

My baby.....

So here is a little of what Skylar has been doing lately:

For about a month she has been able to clearly say her ABC's.

Tonight she counted to ten.

She plays make-believe games all of the time. Her favorite is to pretend she is a hungry puppy.

She can carry on a full conversation with you including asking you questions.

She was saying her phone number with Abby last night. She was just repeating what Abby was saying so don't get too excited.

She can "read" her favorite book. She basically has it memorized and says the words along with you.

She attempted a cartwheel this weekend. Not a great attempt, but the stinker got her little legs up in the air.

She has started putting on her shoes and socks.

She clearly sings several songs.

She can say her prayers.

She can change her baby's diaper.

She is freaking her mom out a bit. Where did my little baby go and why is she growing up so doggone fast? She just turned 22 months old for heavens sake. Why does time go faster when it is your last baby?

I guess I just have to accept that this one isn't going to stay little long. It makes me appreciate her all the more!

Fall Fun!

The Dunbars have been having so much fun these last few weeks. I realized the other day I haven't put anything new on here in awhile. I want to go spend a quiet evening with Jamy so am not going to type much tonight. Here are some pictures instead.

We went apple picking on Saturday with some friends we hadn't seen in awhile. (Thanks, guys! It was awesome to see you again.) I haven't gotten the pictures off of the camera, but I will soon.

Enjoy!

Doin' a "secial" job

Oh, how I love that boy of mine!!! Jamy is awesome, but this time I am talking about the littlest man in my life. Watching him go to preschool has been so much fun. He LOVES school and much to my surprise, has had zero problems with me leaving him there. He takes his teacher's hand, waves bye and heads up the steps without hardly even looking back.

Weston is so many things. He can be wild and crazy. Sometimes he is more than just a little ornery. Under it all though, there is a sweetness and sensitive little man that makes me so proud. He holds Skylar's hand to help her down the stairs. He has carried a little caterpillar around for about 24 hours now. He says it needs him because it can't find its mommy and daddy. Never mind, the reason it can't get home is because he put it in a bug house. Doesn't matter, Weston just knows he needs to take care of it. He hugs me constantly and puts my face in his little hands so he can look at me. He thinks Daddy hung the moon. Since Weston has started school I have really come to appreciate what a sensitive guy he really is.

His new question/comment for me is, "Look, Mommy, I did a secial job!" or "Mommy, did I do a secial job?" He is so proud that he is doing a "secial" job. We have a bulletin board in the kitchen where we display the kid's school papers. Every time he walks by and sees his stuff from school he has to remind us that he did a "secial" job. Hearing that sweet little voice full of pride for the job he has done makes my day.

Hug your kids tight today and remind them how "secial" they are to you. And yes, Weston, you did a "secial" job.

Finally,

I was finally able to get Weston's preschool video up. Here you go!



I wish each and every one of you could see his little face when it is time to go to school. Then when I pick him up he lights up again. Weston reminds me everyday how important the little things in life really are and how much joy you can find just by being open to the world around you. He has this smile that can fix anything that is wrong.

I hope you enjoy watching him go to school!

New video!

Here is a quick video I put together a few days ago of Skylar.




Weston had an awesome first day of preschool. I have some great video and pictures to share but for some reason my computer isn't uploading those. I will work on it again at naptime today so check back later or tomorrow and hopefully you can see him.

He did a great job! He pretty much ran the whole way to school. He hesitated for a moment at the top of the stairs where he could see the classroom. It was almost like he realized the reality of school. Just took him a minute though and he ran right on in and got busy.

So now I have two school kids. It is a strange feeling. Yesterday for a couple of hours it was just Skylar and me. It has been about three years since I just had one baby to take care of. She seemed to love it!

Okay, off to play a game. Have a great day!

Another baby out of the nest

In just a few hours, I will push another little hatchling out of the nest. There should really be some rule about not having to have two major milestones with two of your children in the same week.

Yup, Weston starts preschool at 10:30 am today. How can it be time already? It seems like it was just a few minutes ago that Kathy, our midwife, said, "You have a son!" At that moment, I remember feeling something I had never felt before. I guess it is that special love that a mother has for her son. Daughters are amazing in their own way. Sons tug at a Mommy's heart. He is my little man and I am not sure either of us is ready for preschool. In just a few hours we will be though. I will strap his adorable little backpack on his back, take some pictures and send him off to school.

Part of my brain is frantically trying to figure out some way to keep him from growing up so fast. The other part of my brain knows and believes that letting go and giving them some Independence is the best gift a parent can give. I am pretty sure at any momont the two halves of my brain could collide and the universe will explode.

So if the ground beneath your feet shakes at little at 10:30 and the sky turns black for a moment, don't be frightened. It will just be my brain wrapping itself around the idea that another of my babies is really no longer a baby.

Hang on tight!!!

What did he say????

Okay, we just watched Michael Phelps make history. Eight gold medals!!!!! Amazing!

Now I need someone to correct me here and tell me that he didn't just say what I think he said on the medals stand. Did anyone else catch this or am I completely wrong? It looked to me that right before the national anthem began his teammate asked him if he was going to sing. I swear I thought he said, "No, I don't even know half the words."

Please tell me that we have done better than this with the athletes who are representing us to the world. It means so much to be an American and I would hope that those that represent us at least know the song that binds us together as a people.

I am hoping I am wrong. If you saw it and understood what he said, enlighten me please. Right now, his Olympic feat is tainted for me.

For those of you Americans out there who do not know these lyrics.....LEARN THEM!!!


The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814



Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

More Kindergarten

Here is a little movie I made of the first couple of days of school.




Abby was pretty wore out after her first couple of days. She really had a good time though. She did tell us she had to put her head on her desk "just once" for talking. Can you imagine?????? :) She packed her own lunch (PB&J), laid out her clothes and got herself all ready for school both days! Her homework on Friday was to read a litle book to us. Guess what, she did it!!!!! I know they practiced it at school but, holy cow, what a trip hearing her read is!!! She has some old friends and some new friends in her class. Apparently, there are a few new boys, but Abby told me they aren't as "cool" as Logan! Logan is her boyfriend of about two years now. I guess his position in her world is safe for now. My hope is that the excitment for school you see in the video stays with her throughout school. I bet her teacher hopes she tones it down a bit though!!!!

Kindergarten pictures!

What a crazy kindergarten day! Abby is tucked into bed now but I think is floating about 5 feet above her mattress. She had a great day and LOVESSS school! Ask my Grandma if you don't believe me. Abby called her this afternoon to tell her about school and I bet Grammy's ears are still smokin'!

I am just going to post some pictures tonight. It has been a long day so will type more about it tomorrow. I will also post more pictures then.

For now, enjoy these.....

We have lift-off!!!!

This morning at 7:45, Miss Abby blasted her way into kindergarten. She was so excited I didn't know if she would be able to contain herself. We have a back-to-school night tonight at her classroom so I will take some more pictures then and post them.

Pat me on the back.......I didn't even cry. I didn't even tear up!!! It was so much fun watching her and watching how excited she was that there was just no room for tears. The whole family escorted her into school where we dropped her off at the gym for the morning activities the principal does with them. She sat right down,gave us kisses and was ready for us to go. I had to take her meds to the school nurse so when I came back I was able to walk her to her classroom. She found her seat and never looked back at me. About 10 of her good friends from preschool are in her class so she was right at home.

So her journey has begun. I am excited to see where this stage of her life will take her.

Check again later today for pictures!!!!

T-minus1 day!!!

The day is almost here. It is almost time to push my first little hatchling out of the nest and see how she flies. Kindergarten starts tomorrow. We went to the parent meeting last night. My first experience as the mom sitting in those way tiny kindergarten chairs with my daughter's name written on a cut-out apple right in front of me, like she is actually old enough to be going to school. Over the last five years occasionally I have thought about her starting school. I am finding as the day gets closer that the idea of kindergarten is way different than the reality.

The idea of kindergarten is happy little children playing together in games where everyone gets along, graham crackers and milk, crayons, paints, tasting the glue, and rainbows everywhere. The reality of kindergarten is the first place that someone other than me will be spending more time with my child than I am. Other people will start influencing her values and beliefs. Public schools are where kids can be mean, guns sometimes show up on the playground, and the milk is usually warm. Taking off to the park for the morning because it is only 80 degrees in August is now a happy memory.

I know all over the U.S. moms, both working and stay-at-home, are facing the same milestone. Our babies aren't babies anymore. It really is time that they step out of the nest, spread their wings and start out on the adventure.

A child's school years have such a profound effect on who that child becomes. Think about your own life and your own experience in school. I bet that a big part of who you are today is based upon the experiences you had during school. Maybe that is what is so hard about letting the babies head off to school. For the first time, they have to experience the world outside our safe little home and learn how to live in that world where not everyone will think they are the smartest, funniest, most amazing person on the planet.

I am so excited for Abby as she starts her schooling. She is going to learn so many new things. She will make new friends, maybe ones who will stay with her for her whole life if she is lucky. She is going to have experiences, both good and bad that will change and shape the way she sees the world and the people in it.

My wish for her is that the idea of school and the reality of school are actually one and the same. I wish for her to have rainbows, crayons, graham crackers and milk even if it is warm. I hope she not only meets amazing people, but also a few mean kids. She needs to learn that sometimes people are mean and how you react to them says so much about you. I hope she discovers a love of learning that will last her whole lifetime. I also hope that as she ventures out into the world she always remembers how much she is loved at home. This is the place where we will always think she is one of the three smartest, funniest, most amazing people on the planet. We will always be here standing behind her, trying to not get in her way but always watching to make sure she is okay.

So, the million dollar question.....have I cried? I have friends who have been crying about this day at least a couple of times a day for the last month. Not me though, I am a rock!!! No tears here. Okay, at least not until last night. Something happened sitting in that tiny little chair last night listening to Abby's new teacher briefing us on Operation Shove-Your-Kid-Into-the-World. I was doing okay until she started talking about how she will be sending home books and the kids are supposed to READ them to us!!!! What, Abby reading??????!!!!! How in the world can that happen? Isn't that my job? For five years, I am the one who reads the stories around here. We pick out a book, curl up together and go on all kinds of adventures together as we read book after book. I guess when her teacher started talking about reading, I realized that it won't be long and my baby won't even need me to read to her anymore. Matter of fact, she can use her reading skills to escape from me if she wants, like I used to do when I was a kid. Anyway, right there in the middle of all of the parents I started tearing up. Of course, I looked around and six other moms were doing their best not to let loose a geyser of tears.

Jamy and I went out to dinner after the meeting. As we were sitting there talking when he looked at me in that certain way he has and, dang, if the tears did almost start coming again. I gently reminded him not to laugh too hard at me. His day is coming. One day in the not so distant future our little girl is going to show up with some motorcycle-riding, tattoo-wearing, purple-haired, pile of raging teenage boy hormones and we will see which parent starts crying then!!!

Wish me luck as we go spend our last day of summer together and prepare ourselves for the start of the next chapter in Abby's life.

Oh yeah, did I mention that I get to do it all over again next Tuesday when Weston starts preschool? Kleenex, anyone?

Correction!

I know, I know there is a typo in Kelsey's video. I finished the dang thing at around midnight one night. I had looked at it for days and days and hours and hours. I will get it fixed and repost it.

A special prize to the person who can spot the problem!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Kelsey!

My niece just turned 11. It is really hard for me to believe that 11 years have passed already. Kelsey, you are growing into an amazing person and I am so proud of you.

Here is your birthday video!

Enjoy!!!

Share the Magic

I have a very important challenge for all of you parents out there. Do something with your kids that you aren't supposed to do. Mix it up a bit and teach them that while routine is great, it gives you something to depend on, the magic happens when life throws you the unexpected.

Every so often I try to "break the rules" with the kids. Every time some amazing memories are made. Our most recent "magical memory" was made Friday night. The kids were all bathed, read to, prayed over, and tucked in by 8 pm as is routine at the Dunbar house. Then I took off to walk up to the gym for my workout. As I was walking across town, I passed a house that has a giant yard. The moon was huge, full and the most amazing orange color. Its moonbeams were shining across the lawn of this house making it almost glow. As I got closer to the house I noticed the lightening bugs! I am not exaggerating when I saw there were close to a million of them. I couldn't believe my eyes!

Right then I decide this was one of those times to break the rules. I called back to the house (I know carrying a cell phone to the gym, what the heck) and asked if the kids were asleep. Jamy said Abby was still up so I had him get her dressed and meet me on the porch. I ran back, put her on her bike and we headed out. When we got to this house I just stood and watched her. The sight of her running around with a million lightening bugs all around her in that moonlight is not something I will forget for a very long time. We probably stood on that corner for 20 minutes while she played. We decided to make a night of it and went for a long night walk together after that. I never made it to the gym, but, man, did my heart get a workout anyway.

So, take your kids and teach them that the world is a magical place just waiting for them to discover it. Heck, you might even learn the lesson as well.

A Life That Matters

I woke up last night for no apparent reason. Nothing wrong, no worries, just "poof" wide awake! It happens to the women in my family. By nature most of us are night owls. If we aren't night owls than any amount of sleep at night counts as a really good nap. If we get woken up in the middle of the night going back to sleep becomes virtually impossible. I have found I often do my best thinking during those times in the middle of the night while the rest of the house is quiet. Maybe because it is the only time the house is quiet!

Last night among other things I began thinking about an old friend of mine. I hadn't seen her in awhile and I missed her. We used to go to DQ in college and get blizzards. She went with me the first time I cut my hair short. Of course, the plan was for her to do it as well. I buzzed mine like a little boy in the back. Next thing I know, she is stepping around the corner with maybe a centimeter cut off of her hair. Friendship, you can't beat it can you???

Thinking about my friend made me think about life in general and what really matters. I know, I know, deep, huh?! I began to think how the meaning of life has varied depending on what stage of my life I was in at the time. Who I wanted to be and what I wanted to achieve has grown and evolved with every experience life has given me. When I was a kid all I could think about was being an astronaut. I was ready for the space program, let me tell ya! Then I went to college and discovered that I could have a career doing the things I loved to do, hiking, camping, playing with animals. That realization centered me more and put my feet back on the ground. No longer was I going to fly to the moon; now I was going to stay right here and save the planet's animals from destruction. I was going to spend my days hiking in the woods observing animal behavior and my nights sleeping in a tent.

Not long after I was blessed with my first niece. All of the sudden, running off to the mountains wasn't so important anymore. It was more important to me to stay closer to home and be the kind of aunt who makes a difference. More nieces and nephews followed and I discovered I REALLY loved this aunt gig. I don't think my oldest niece knows how much she influenced the direction my life would take. I hope someday she can really appreciate the impact she makes on the world around her. Just a month after she was born, my first nephew came along. I was in love with the little elf the first time I set eyes on him. I don't get to see him or his brother and sister as much but his arrival just reaffirmed the decision I had made. The girl was going nowhere!

I then I took a job working as a student advisor at KU. It was just going to be a six-month filler job while I waited to go to grad school. Again, my priorities changed and the meaning of life became something different. I discovered a love of teaching that almost rivaled my love of biology and nature. Now what to do!! Off to get a teaching degree I went.

Meanwhile, the two most life changing events happened. One, I married the man I had loved darn near all of my life and two, we had babies! Anyone who has done either one of those things can tell you that the meaning of life really changes when you become your own family separate from mom, dad, brothers and sisters.

So last night as I lay there thinking about all of these things and marveling at the way my life has become something pretty amazing I realized something. I realized that even though my goals, dreams, priorities and the meaning of my life have seemed to change so much over the years one thing really remains constant. Through all of the places I have been, no matter what I thought I wanted to do with my life my priority has always been to live a life that mattered. I think that is really what we all want when it comes down to it, isn't it? We want to make a difference in the world around us. We want to touch a few lives along the way. We want to stand at the end of our life and be able to say with pride, "That was my life and it mattered."

I realized that, sometimes knowingly but most of the time just by the grace of God, I have always tried to live every day so that it matters. Every day can't be rainbows and sunshine, but it should make a difference in your life and the lives of the people around you.

When you are faced with a scary decision or a challenge, decide in favor of the choice that really makes your life matter. When you are stuck in a rut and seem to be spinning your wheels, do something that matters!! Make a change. Don't be scared, just do it. Quiting my job to stay home with my kids was such an unknown for me and for Jamy. Financially, could we make it? Would I be bored out of my mind? What would happen to my identity? Blah, blah, blah, blah!! In the end though, I knew in my heart making the choice I did was the way that would lead me to a place where I could have the greatest impact upon the world. Raising our kids to be good, happy, healthy citizens makes my life matter.

As I get older, I know there are even more stages of life to come. Each one will bring me to a new place with new goals, dreams and priorities. I still hope someday to figure out a way to teach while also spending time in the woods studying animal behavior and sleeping in my tent at night. I just know there are more important things I need to be doing right now. The rest can wait awhile. I also know that when I stand at the end of my life if I can look back and say, "That was my life and it mattered!" I will have achieved everything I wanted to do.


In the spirit of my new found realization of the meaning of life, here are some pictures of what we did this weekend to make our lives matter. We had so much to do around the house, but made sure to take lots of breaks to spend with the kids. I have much better memories of swimming at the lake with the babies than I ever would have if Jamy had spent the whole weekend on the roof and I had a houseful of clean toilets!!

Enjoy!!!