Thursday, November 5, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Many faces
Alert
Content
Happy
Hilarious
Curious
Puzzled
Sweet
Zerbert face!
Determined (and focused on getting those toes)
Kendyl these days...
Kendyl is changing so quickly. Her personality is starting to come out and play. The newest thing are her zerberts. She does it when she's happy, when she sad and just because. This is what we hear from Kendyl all day...
She is a great sleeper. LOVES her sleep actually. She sleeps from 9:30 pm til about 6:30 am. She wakes up to nurse and then goes back to sleep - sometimes til noon!!! This child can sleep just about anywhere...
She is so smiley! Loves to interact with people and really wants to get that laugh out. A few times she's kinda giggled, but she's not quite sure how to handle those tickles yet. Laughing is still a work in progress but til then, her smiles are plenty enough for us.
Still loving to nurse even though we have been dealing with 3 month long, stubborn thrush that will not go away! Tried formula and she just can't keep it down. So, for now we are dealing and it almost seems the norm since it's been like this since nearly day one.
Kendyl has found her LUNGS! There is a new scream in the house! SURPRISE Haidyn! You're not the loudest anymore -- well maybe. (I will spare you that video)
About a week or so ago she started becoming really interested in holding/hitting rattles aand toys. She loves to snuggle up to her bo-bos -- her cuddly, soft, mini-sized blanky.
And, here is bo-bos...
As you've seen in previous posts, Miss Kendyl is a thumb sucker but more recently we've seen this too...
So that's it for now. She is a great baby! She's so easy going, so happy, so adorable! We love our little Kendyl Rose.
................
This hat has been around for over 10 years! This was the very first baby item Gramma Dee purchased for Ashlee when we found out we were expecting a girl. I love this little strawberry hat. It has blessed and warmed Ashlee and Haidyn's head and now it blesses Miss Kendyl's. Love it!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
A CAT PICNIC
I come around the corner to find this...
and it was most definitely a CAT PICNIC.
This cat puts up with WAY too much.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Our Cub Scout
I am so behind on blogging and have so much to share! But I couldn't let tonight go by without sharing Nolan's news. He is joining cub scouts! He is really excited about it and can't wait to earn as many badges and awards as he possibly can. Ryan and I are very excited for this new venture. He already feels so important -- like he has this great duty to achieve. We gave him his new uniform today and he's been walking around doing his "scouts honors" and vowing to do his best at everything (except vegetable eating of course).
He's so handsome is his new uniform!
Our little man! We're so proud!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
A Sunday Night Cool Down
We took the kids to the clubhouse tonight for a swim. It was another hot day. Kendyl and I decided to take a dip too. Kendyl loves her baths so it was no surprise that she loved the pool too. It was my first swim this year. I wasn't too excited to squeeze back into my swim suit nor expose my whiteness from lack of sun all season. But I did and it wasn't so bad after all. Here's to another week. It will be a short one. We leave for Sea Ranch on Thursday! Can't wait!
Our four kiddos
Mama and her wee one
Just like Happy Haidyn, we have a Happy Kendyl
Haidyn still loves to catch air! Especially when it lands in a SPLASH!
The big kids.
Miss blue eyes. Kendyl gets lots of comments on her crazy hair and bright blue eyes.
Happy again!
I think Daddy likes tossing her around (in an evil sort of way)
ENJOY YOUR WEEK!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sugary Afternoon
It was so nice to have a long weekend. Yesterday, we claimed it family day but couldn't decide what to do. Ryan suggested Apple Hill and everyone cheered! So off we went. I purposely left my camera behind. I wanted to play with my kids yesterday and not just watch them play though the lens of my camera. (although, I was thinking about my camera a lot and wishing I had brought it) So without any photos to share, here's the gist of our amazingly, yummy trip to Apple Hill.
1 dozen apple donuts
1 candied apple with sprinkles
1 caramel apple
1 caramel marshmallow stick
1 homemade candle (by Haidyn) with bubble gum scent
2 face paintings
1 bucket full of apples
2 bbq tri-tip sandwiches
6 bottles of water
1 square of pumpkin fudge
$ .50 for petting zoo food
It was an afternoon packed full of clear blue sky, fresh air and lots of sugary treats. Maybe that's why Nolan got sick at bedtime. He seems fine this morning so I'm sure it was from the overwhelming consumption of sugar. We are bloated and feeling a little sluggish today - but it was worth every bite!
Now -- what to do with all of these apples...
Saturday, August 29, 2009
When It's Hot!
If you're ever stuck inside when it's 104 degrees outside,
try this...
If you didn't quite catch it, that's our cat, Antonio being a good sport.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The New Ashlee
Miss Ashlee had been complaining about headaches. After being fed up with her complaining of yet another one of her ailments, we finally decided maybe she wasn't crying wolf after all. Lo and behold, our baby girl needed glasses!
So, here she is. They suit her well. Don't you think?
ADORABLE!
LOVING HER NEW LOOK!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Haidyn's First Day of Preschool!
Today was Haidyn's first day of preschool! She was so excited and so anxious. I woke up to find her sitting at the top of our stairway. She was dressed, had her backpack on and she was holding a brush and some hair ribbons.
"I'm ready for school mom! Can you do my hair like Ash?"
She looks up to Ashlee so much -- it's cute.
She's a big girl!
Haidyn, Miss Tracy and her classmates
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Penngrove and a New Toy!
Ashlee, Kendyl and I headed out west to Penngrove, to visit my grandparents yesterday. My Grandpa is not doing so well -- we were long overdue for a visit. It's such a relaxing drive and so beautiful out there. I love the endless vineyard covered rolling hills. It's even more breathtaking in the fall when all the leaves are changing color. I really miss Sonoma County and it's calm. It was nice to go back home again. I wish I would have taken more photos to share.
While we were there, we scored Grandpa's old food dehydrator! Grandpa used to make the BEST beef jerky for all the grandkids but now he is too weak to conquer such a task. We are going to give it our best! But first, Ashlee and I decided to make some yummy snacks for this week's lunches. First in the making are nectarine fruit rolls. Secondly, we added some apples to the bottom racks. We'll let you know how they turn out. We are so excited for our new toy!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Why We Love Cool, California
Today we drove out to see Ryan's parents (Papa Dennis and Gramma Jan) in Cool. It was far from cool out there today though. It was hot. The kids just love going up there! They love to run around on the property and feel the sense of freedom. There are no fenced in 20 x 30 yards in Cool. It's country at it's best! It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We feel relaxed and ready for our crazy week -- in the suburbs. (sigh....)
Why we love Cool, California...
Papa and Gramma live there!
The trees have personality.
You find color bursting everywhere.
You find houses waiting to become homes.
Mario is there and ready to play and cuddle.
We get to sit back, chat and eat while the birds do the same.
Fifth and Third
It's official! We have a 5th grader and a 3rd grader! Where has the time gone? I can't believe this is Ashlee's last year of elementary school - crazy! Aside from first day jitters,
the kids are adjusting well to their new school.
It's gonna be a great year!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Mad Scientist
How sad is it that Haidyn got this science kit for her birthday last year (in November) and I am just now getting around to doing it with her? Super duper sad! We made erupting lava, predicted color changes and made growing crystals. Haidyn loved it and was so proud. I need to make a better effort at sitting down to 'play' more. We had fun!
Auntie Shelly stopped by and joined in the fun too!
Monday, August 3, 2009
They Say...
They say you can't spoil a baby by holding them too much. I don't know -- she looks pretty spoiled to me.
Still loving every minute of her!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Done Seeing This...
I am so ready for school to start. Mostly because I'm sick of seeing this! It's so nice outside. I don't get it. I'm glad we limit our kids on their video game playing. But they sure make certain they get their daily dose. (sigh...bigger sigh)
A Victorian Tea Party
Ashlee was quite pleased to receive an invitation to a Victorian Tea Party. Her friends, Korena and Karissa (twins) were turning 10 and she was invited to tea at high noon. She was to wear her best dress and speak with a British accent. When I dropped her off, to my surprise it was the real deal -- fine silver, china, mini flower shaped sandwiches, handmade cupcakes and treats galore! I wanted to stay and have tea! They played fun games from the era; Pass the Slipper and the Don't Smile Game. Ashlee came home in this stunning hat in which she crafted. What a fun party!
Her very own Victorian original: by Ashlee
"Lovin' My Crib -- Call MTV!"
"Cousin Kaihla became a big girl almost over night, so when she moved into her new big girl bed I scored this awesome crib! I love it! I sleep so much better now and Mommy is loving my 5 hour stretch at night. Life is soooo good!"
See how well rested she looks?!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Getting Bigger
Miss Kendyl is 5 weeks old tomorrow. She is so much fun. Smiley as can be! She's filling out and is starting to feel a little less fragile. I held off on the one month photos to spare you of her florescent purple lips. We are fighting a bad case of thrush and our medication stains everything! Unfortunately her lips were purple too -- til today! So here's a picture of our normal faced baby. Enjoy!
Look at that head control!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
3 Weeks New!
More pictures? Of course! I want to capture it all -- every stage, every expression, every pose you can imagine. After all, she is our last baby and I just can't get enough of her. Pretty soon she'll be at the next stage -- less moldable and less sleepy and her photos will be full of smiles. So for now I want to capture the innocence of her while sleeping. Like I said in the previous post, this girl likes her sleep. So far the task has been a piece of cake!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Sleepy Girl
Kendyl has been such a good baby. She definitely loves her sleep! Mostly she likes to be held or worn in the baby sling as she sleeps. But occasionally you will find her dreaming here, in her little buzzy seat.
I wish I was getting this much sleep.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Our Four Babies
Here are our four babies! Things are going pretty smoothly with our new addition. I can't believe Kendyl is 2 weeks old already! It was a sad send-off today when Gramma Dee left. No more sleeping in for mommy, unlimited access to the pantry for the big kids or hourly arts and crafts for Haidyn. It was such a blessing to have her here. We miss you already! Thank you for a wonderful week!
WE MISS YOU GRAMMA DEE!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Saturday, July 4, 2009
4th of July - 2009
What a great day we had! Tammi, Sean and Co. came out for the weekend. It was nice to have all the grandkids together for a holiday again -- Grandma and Papa were thrilled! The kids were so anxious for fireworks and talked about them non-stop. Then, the time had finally come! All were ready, except Haidyn and Kaihla. Kaihla eventually warmed up to the sights but Haidyn was having NO part in the fun. She hid under a blanket all evening until eventually she fell asleep in Grandma's arms. Miss Kendyl hung out inside where it was a bit quieter. Everyone had a super fun day!
Grandma & Papa with Kaihla, Shad, Haidyn, Nolan Kendyl & Ashlee
The grandkids
Nolan, Haidyn, Ashlee and Kendyl
Kaihla and Shad
A little sand to help kill some time -- what they really want are fireworks!!!
Still waiting....a little game of Memory may distract them.
Haidyn before she realized what fireworks were...
Haidyn after one sparkler
Nolan showing his spirit
Oh yeah, and TODAY was Kendyl's due date! She was officially due on the 4th of July. But we welcomed her 8 days early.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Miss Dimples...
I forgot to mention... Kendyl has TWO of the most adorable dimples! They bring tears to my eyes when she flashes them in her sleep. Must be some sweet dreams.
Kendyl - One Week Old
I can't believe it's been a week already. She has fit so nicely into our family - almost like someone just slipped her there while we weren't looking. She makes the cutest faces and the messiest of diapers. She is just heavenly! Happy one week birthday Kendyl Rose.
We love you! XOXO
I posted more pics of our little miss on my photog blog. Click HERE
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
4 Days Old
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Our Family...bigger and better
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Still Waiting...
No baby yet. Looks like with a little help she will be welcomed to the world this Friday, June 26th. We are scheduled to be induced in the morning. Can't wait!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
We're Settled!
The move went so well. We were amazed at the support of our friends and neighbors. We had friends show up with friends we didn't even know! I can't begin to tell you how grateful we are! The house is feeling so much like home already. My nesting has gone into overdrive and for those who know me well, I don't need to tell you that my pictures are hung and most everything has found a place. Amazingly -- we feel settled.
Just getting back into a routine and waiting for our newest addition to make her debut. It all went as smoothly as we ever could have imagined. We feel so blessed! Thank you everyone!
Our Special Thanks to:
My parents
Ryan's parents
My sister, Lincoln and Cousin Becky
My grandparents
The Gossells and Zack's awesome crew
The Wonnacott Family
The Dyer Family
The Nichols Family
The Lacoste Family
The Tully Family
Heather Lerwill
Heather Gillespie
Heather Wonnacott
Sherry Kobane
This list is just amazing to me! Whether you helped load the truck, watched a few kids or made yummy treats, we couldn't have done it without you. You guys are the best!!!
XOXO
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Please Wait Baby Kendyl
As miserable as I am, I am hoping Kendyl waits at least another week so we can move and be somewhat settled for our baby girl. Crossing my fingers and legs.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
All Packed Up
Haidyn: "Mommy, come watch the movie with me."
Mommy: "I can't Haidyn, I have packing to do."
Haidyn: "Why?"
Mommy: "I have to pack up everything that we want to take to the new house."
Haidyn: "Pack me! I want me to go to the new house!"
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Brothers
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
10 Years Ago...
10 years ago today I gave birth to this amazing child! Ryan and I were so excited for our little princess to arrive. We were ready for parenthood and couldn't wait to start the journey! It has been an amazing 10 years! Ashlee has been such a joy and has brought so much laughter and silliness to our family. She's blossoming into such a young lady -- almost overnight. Here are some fun things to share about our Ashlee Marie...
1. Ashlee wakes up early and happy - everyday!
2. She loves to sing and dance
3. She is an aspiring artist and is constantly drawing or crafting something
4. She's a little bit of a pack rat
5. Loves to collect little "treasures"
6. She loves Haidyn to pieces but gets frustrated with her easily
7. Surprisingly, she loves Nolan but they fight sun-up til sun-down
8. We've even caught her yelling at Nolan in her sleep
9. She's a daddy's girl all the way
10. But loves her girl talks and shopping trips with mom
11. Her favorite color is blue
12. Her favorite dinner is Tuna Casserole
13. She likes her pancakes with just butter - no syrup
14. She makes friends easily
15. She loves school and is exceptionally smart
16. Sometimes her mouth gets a little smart too
17. She plays the piano
18. Drama, Drama, Drama Queen
19. She HATES spiders
20. She loves animals
21. She's a princess all the way - never liked to be dirty for too long
22. She loves the beach
23. She has a special bond with her grandmothers
24. She has more purses than me
25. Every year she cuts her hair short and regrets it
26. She's a good friend
27. She loves playing softball
28. She bites her fingernails
29. She sucked her thumb til she was 7
30. She LOVES to read
31. She is very thoughtful and giving
32. She needs to work on her "freak out moments" (hormones are brewin')
33. She was an easy baby
34. She's very independent
35. Her nicknames are: Ash, Ash-lls, Biddish, Ash-bi-dash (thanks to her dad)
36. Her giggles are infectious
37. She's left handed (little lefty)
38. She always tells a story with a smile
39. She thinks she's funnier than she is - which makes her all the more funny!
40. She's our first born and we couldn't be prouder!!!
Thanks for being the child that welcomed us into parenthood! We love you more and more each day! Happy birthday Ash! Love Mom & Dad
Friday, May 22, 2009
Gone Buggy!
Haidyn has never been afraid of bugs before. But lately she has been terrified! Nolan had a class project last week. He has been studying the life cycle of silkworms. Haidyn was FREAKING out about the silkworms -- trembling, screaming and clawing her way up into Ryan's arms. I can't even describe the show she put on at school - my words wouldn't even give it justice. Let's just say, it was over the top! We had never seen her this way before. Now she is starting to have nightmares about ants and bugs being in her room. Not sure where this is stemming from but it's almost entertaining in a way. Ashlee has been working with her. She finally got Haidyn to hold one of Nolan's silkworms (he got to bring 2 home as pets) the other day.
Today, she found a ladybug outside. She was kinda upset to find it. After some encouraging, I got her to hold it -- for about 3.5 seconds. Then she said, "I'm done. Make it go away now!"
Baby steps
Twinsies!
This morning I put on my little blue sundress. Haidyn saw me and ran to her room. She wanted her blue sundress too. I obliged. "Look mommy, we match!" Too bad I had errands to run. I'm sure people wondered what the matchy-matchy was all about. Oh well, whatever makes my princess happy!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Ashlee's 10th Birthday Splash!
Yesterday we celebrated Ashlee's upcoming 10th birthday! She wanted a swim party and boy did it turn out to be the day for it -- it was a scorching 102! She invited a few of her closest friends to Grandma & Papa's clubhouse. It was a pretty simple party. The kids just swam the whole time. It was even hard to coax them out of the water to enjoy the melting cupcakes! I have to say, it's nice that our kids are getting older now and I can actually breathe and somewhat relax at the pool, not worrying about them drowning every second.
Happy (early) birthday to our 1st princess! We've reached double digits now!!! Where did the time go? (sob...sob...sob)
Monday, May 11, 2009
If Nolan Only Knew...
If Nolan only knew that while he was away, Haidyn played dollies in his bed. I think we'll keep it to ourselves.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
A Happy Mother's Night
It was a pretty uneventful Mother's Day but I'm not complaining. I spent yet another day in bed, still trying to get over this flu. Ryan and Ashlee cleaned the whole house! What a great start for the week!
Nolan let me pull out his tooth and he hurried off to bed early, anxiously awaiting the tooth fairy.
Ashlee went to bed like a pro - as usual. Tired from all the cleaning I suppose.
And Haidyn....well Haidyn wasn't too thrilled to see the day come to an end...
But it doesn't take much to snap our happy Haidyn out of her stink. Daddy laid down with her and after a comical version of the Three Little Pigs, he had her smiling once again.
Good night and Happy Mother's Day to all the deserving mommies out there!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Enjoying Haidyn
Haidyn and I have been enjoying our one-on-one time lately. It makes me sad that soon she will have to share me with her new baby sister. I know there's enough of me to go around -- I just hope she does.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Lil' Helper
I am soooo tired today. After we got the big kids off to school, I curled up on the couch with the remote. Haidyn was fine playing with her stuffed animals and keeping herself busy while I half-watched an old episode of 'Supernanny'. She soon cuddled up to me and rubbed my hair, "Mommy, you sick today?" I told her that Mommy was just a little sleepy. She said, "Don't worry I help you Mama. I do your dishes fer you - Otay?" I gave her kisses, said thank you and figured she'd head off to her play kitchen to wash her dishes. A few minutes later I heard water running and dishes banging in the sink. I rolled off the couch to discover this...
Feet in the sink, dress soaking wet - all to help out a sleepy mommy! Gosh, I love this child!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Our #2
So our first born is actually our #2 this year. This season has been fun for Ashlee. She has been working hard at her pitching and it's starting to pay off. The girls had a fun game in the heat on Tuesday - tonight's game should be much cooler. Here are some pics from Tuesday night's game.
Up to bat: "It's #2, Ashlee Dunn"
Ashlee: "WOW! We just made an out at 2nd!?"
Here's our little pitcher!
She's ready...
Little pep-talk from coach...
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Water Slide
Today was unbelievably hot! When we got home from Nolan's baseball practice tonight we needed to cool down - we literally melted out there! Ryan pulled out the water slide and the kids had a blast. This water slide has been great! This will be our 3rd summer with it. It has split a few seams - but nothing a little fishing line and needle couldn't fix. Ashlee and Nolan wanted this water slide so badly, that they saved up their money and bought it 100% by themselves. It was a great buy! I hope it lasts them many more summers.
(it's a great babysitter and the kids love her)
Our #1 - 2009
Nolan had a great game on Saturday. He's getting hits off the pitching machine every time and man that kid is FAST! His positions are first base and pitcher (next to the machine). He is really loving baseball this year! So much so, that last night he was filling out his poster for 'student of the week' and more than one of his answers involved baseball in some way.
Here's is what Nolan put on his poster...
My favorite color is: "Red and golden."
My favorite food is: "Chili cheese dogs."
My favorite animal is: "A king cobra."
When I grow up I want to be: "A fire fighter."
If you had one wish: "I would wish for a baseball field in my backyard."
My favorite thing to do is: "PLAY BASEBALL!"
See our little pitcher (top left)
He's so fast it was hard to get the shutter speed just right
Monday, April 13, 2009
Our Easter
We had a great Easter this year! It started with our annual egg hunt at my mom's clubhouse on Saturday. Ashlee opted out of this venture - choosing to play in her softball game instead. She has decided that she is getting too old for egg hunting. So I took her place because I LOVE hunting for chocolate! Nolan was most pleased with himself this year because he found a "silver egg"! He's been after one for the past 3 years. There are only 3 and you can trade it in for a huge chocolate bunny - he even shared it with me! By the way Ashlee's game was amazing - tied up and went into extra innings. So fun for them! We even got to see a lot of it after our egg hunting.
Sunday morning we were awaken at the crack of dawn by our kids (much like every other house in the world) to enjoy the Easter bunny festivities. We had toaster waffles for breakfast since I neglected to grocery shop before the weekend and then we were off to church - 5 minutes late as always! We met up with Ryan's family at his Grandpa's retirement home for Easter brunch. Haidyn and I got a mid afternoon nap while Daddy took the big kids on a bike ride.
Four Generations of Dunn Boys
Ryan, Dennis, Nolan, Ken & Terrell
And it wouldn't be a holiday without someone getting sick - we put Nolan to bed early with a fever once again. We didn't sleep much last night. But at least it was a relaxing and fun weekend. We need to get used to lack of sleep anyways - right?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Opening Day Madness!
Yesterday was opening day for baseball/softball season! It is always a CRAZY day! The kids love it though and get really pumped up for the season! It all starts at 8:00 am - parade of all the teams, opening ceremonies at the park, lots of early morning candy, and then of course each of then have a game!
This year Ashlee is on the team Lightning. She has a few of her friends from class on her team and Principal Reed is her coach - so she's pretty excited. The weather was rainy on and off so I didn't take my camera to their games today. Ashlee pitched the first inning of her game (in the rain). She was cold, wet and a little nervous but she still managed to strike out a batter. Not bad for our "girly girl"! Even with a few tears and frozen fingers from the freezing rain, she managed to get a hit and eventually bring in a run for her team. Way to go Ash!
LIGHTNING - Girl's Softball - Minors - 2009
Nolan is on the Florida State Seminoles this year. He didn't know anyone on his team. And to our surprise, our little bashful dude wasted no time making new friends. Nolan is such a natural out there on the field! He loves the game and is so focused! It's the perfect sport for our concentrated little man. He plays first base amazingly well and seems to be really understanding the game this year. He is new to Minor League this year and with that comes the infamous pitching machine. It's a little intimidating for these pro-tee-ballers but Daddy is taking Nolan to the batting cages today for some more practice.
FLORIDA STATE - Little League Baseball - Minors A - 2009
Baseball season is always stressful and go-go-go! But with all the stresses of life right now, this is exactly what we need!
Our kids are awesome!
Friday, March 20, 2009
My Patient
Today is my birthday. How does a mother of (almost) four spend her birthday? Why, at home with a sick kiddo of course! My morning started off great and then....the call came. Nolan was in the nurses office with a fever. I should have half expected it, it's been making it's way around the neighborhood. When I got to the school to pick him up, he said he was sorry and he hoped he didn't get me sick on my birthday. He's such a sweet guy!
My little man refused to take a nap. Instead he wrapped up in a blanket and started on a 3-D puzzle - but guess what? He didn't get too far before his little aching body fell asleep. He's a pretty good patient, I have to admit. I'm so sad for my sweet little man. I hope he feels better soon.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
"P" is for Princess!
Today for Haidyn's preschool our lesson was on the letter "P". Fortunately, we have an all girls preschool at this time, so we were able to celebrate the letter "P" the best us girls know how - WE HAD A PRINCESS PARTY! We curled hair, put on some sparkles, dressed in princess attire, made magic princess wands and ate popcorn for our afternoon snack. Haidyn had so much fun! The only way I could coax her into bed tonight was by promising to have another princess party very soon.
"P" is for Princess!
Princess Haidyn
Princess Sydnie
Princess Noelle
Thursday, March 5, 2009
What Makes It All Better?...
We have been dealing with a lot of stress in our lives. But today I sat back and really noticed what I love.
- I love when I'm staring off into space in deep thought and Haidyn comes and put's her happy pizza face in mine!
- I love that when Nolan walks in the room he always touches my belly and asks if the baby's awake. He loves to feel her move.
- I love that Ashlee leaves me little notes like these: "Dear Mommy, I love you very much. I love you as much as the earth itself. I know our baby has good health. I watch you as the stars go by and you know that Daddy wears diamond ties. (???) I love you mommy. Love your eldest daughter, Ashlee"
- I (kinda) love that this baby does acrobats inside me at night while I'm trying to sleep - it means she's healthy
- I love that Ryan cleaned the garage today and told me to go lay down and rest.
- I love that my mom has been so supportive and takes my phone calls even when she's working. And that when I don't call her, she calls to check on me.
- I love that my magnolia tree is in bloom.
- I love that the dog and cat have become best friends.
Today, I am thankful for what is truly important.
(and yes, my tree is one of those things)
Monday, February 16, 2009
10 Years of Bliss...
Ryan and I just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary! We had a great time alone together - and we needed it. Times have not been easy for our family these past few months. It was just what we needed to de-stress, reconnect and just enjoy each other! We sent our kids off to friends and family for the weekend. Frugal us, had a gift card for a great dinner and a gift card to the movies. It was the perfect "get away" for us, given our current situation. Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible!
February 14, 2009
xoxo
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Discovering With Cousins...
Today we met my sister Tammi and her family in Sausalito for a day at the Kids Discovery Museum. It was so nice to get out of town and the weather was spectacular! Thanks for inviting us! We had so much fun!
Ashlee (9), Nolan (7), Shad (3), Kaihla (19 mos.), Haidyn (3)
Monday, January 26, 2009
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away
Haidyn loves to be outside and even the rain can't keep her away. The other day Ashlee bundled her up and took her out to jump and play in the rain. That child has way too much energy!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Haidyn and Her Kitty
Haidyn is in love with Antonio, our kitty. She is a bit too love-y with him at times - a little 'Lennie-ish'. But good ol' Antonio takes it without any complaints. He seems to like the extra affection.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tree Deal!
Due to the crappy economy, most of us are pinching pennies this year. If you are looking to save a little on your Christmas tree this year go check out 'Wise Buys' in Roseville. They just got a shipment of 700 trees and all of them (6 - 12ft.) are only $9.98! We drove out this morning and got one for us and one for my parents. Just thought I would pass on a good deal for those who are interested! Better hurry - I heard they sold out their last shipment in 3 days.
Our annual tradition is to drive up to Apple Hill to cut down our tree. But this year value outweighed our tradition.
'Wise Buys'
1159 Roseville Square
Corner of Douglas & Harding
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thank You
I just want to say thank you to my husband and to everyone who has been so concerned over my health lately. This pregnancy has been a rough road these past few weeks. Ryan has been amazing! He's Mr. Mom, Mr. Dad, Mr. Nurse and so much more. Today he took me to the hospital and I was given fluids for my dehydration and some nausea medication. I truly hope that I can not only start to feel better, but start to enjoy this FINAL pregnancy.
Thanks again for all of your concern - we (me and little fetus) will be okay~ Kimberly
Thank you Ryan - I know it's been hard for you but I love you =0)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
SURPRISE!
It's time to share the news as I can no longer hide it. My belly is growing and I have been so sick that people are beginning to worry. Yes, it is true - baby number 4 will be arriving hopefully sometime before July 4, 2009!
The kids are very excited while Nolan is already planning for bunk beds - he just knows it's going to be a baby brother.
I guess we'll be needing a new license plate soon. Any suggestions???
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Haidyn Turns Three!
I can't believe our baby girl is 3! Exactly one week after Nolan's birthday, we celebrate Haidyn's! This year they each had small parties with their friends and then one Saturday we had my parents and Ryan's parents over for pizza to celebrate both their birthdays.
Haidyn loves her new Dora bike from Papa Dennis & Gramma Jan.
My mom bought her an American Girl (Bitty Baby) with matching Christmas clothes - too cute!
And our little mastermind loves his new Erector Set!
Haidyn's Dora Party: We had the party last Friday morning. It was a Dora fiesta! We had a small jumper, a pinata and for lunch we made tostadas. It was lots of fun. Here's Haidyn waiting for her friends to arrive for the party - she was having a hard time being patient.
Haidyn's famous tongue - so purty!
Cousin Shad beating up Dora.
"Thank you friends for all the fun presents! We had a fun day!" ~Haidyn
Trick-or-Treat
Every year we carve pumpkins the day before Halloween - which is Nolan's birthday!
Halloween night was fun! We went over to the Dyers' house for dinner with our Allaire Circle Family and then off we went to find the candy. This was Haidyn's first year where she really understood what was going on. She loved it! After every house she would ask, "Mommy, can I go trick-or-treating again?" She wanted to be assured that this venture would never end!
Of course it did and she was thrilled with her loot!
When we got home we had a ton of candy to hand out to other trick-or-treaters. So, Ashlee and Nolan plopped themselves on the front porch and took over the task - it was great!
Backed Up Blog...
I am so behind on blogging! I don't know where to begin and there is so much I will have to just leave out - I can't find the time these days. I will start with the Piano Recital.
Ashlee has been in piano now for about 3 years. This was her first recital. We were all so nervous for her. Papa Dennis, Grandma Carolyn and Papa Larry came to support the kids too. Here is a little clip of one of the songs she played. She did great and recovered from her little mishap marvelously! (notice no music, she played by memory)
Nolan has been in piano for about 3 months now. He is learning fast and seems to really enjoy it. I was so proud of him! Nolan does not like to be in the spotlight (like his sister). The fact that he not only got up there, but performed wonderfully is just amazing to me. Our little man is maturing. Unfortunately, Haidyn was being a handful during Nolan's performance so I don't have his recording on my camera. Daddy did video the entire performance on our camcorder, but I have yet to figure out how to upload those files. So here is a photo (of his back - sorry)
Miles, Nolan, Raelynn & Ashlee
Thanks Carrie, for teaching our kids to play piano and enriching our home with the sound of music!!!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Why We Keep Going Back...
We love fall and we LOVE APPLE HILL! This is one of our favorite times of year. Our family has been heading up the hill every year since Nolan was born and as long as we're Californians, our tradition will never die. You may wonder what is so great about apples and the hill in which they come from, so we are hoping this blog posting will bring you a little piece of what us Lil' Dunns call, "Apple Heaven."
Apple Hill is located off HWY 50 just above Placerville - less than an hour drive from Sacramento. It's the perfect day trip and such a beautiful drive. There are over 30 farms you can visit and some are even open year round. We usually head up again in December to cut down our Christmas tree. So, here are the reasons why we keep going back...
#1. The Free Shuttle: it runs only during the month of October. You can park for free at Schnell Elementary School and the shuttle takes you on the apple farm loop. Shuttles run about every 15 minutes. (make sure to get your boxes of apples and pumpkins last)
#2. The Food: It's like going to fair - but better! Ryan is always a fan of BBQ anything! I have to admit today's pork tri-tip (is there such a thing?) was delicious!
It was FINGER LICKIN' GOOD!
#3. Apples, Apples and more Apples! There are too many yummy apple treats to list.
But our favorites are caramel apples, apple pies, apple fritters & of course the apple donuts.
And fresh apple juice to wash all that sugar down!
#4. COLORS! There is an overwhelming abundance of color - it's sensory overload at it's best!
#5. Choosing our pumpkins: despite all the fun local pumpkin patches, the kids like hauling home their pumpkins. The deal is that they have to be able to carry it themselves since Ryan and I are usually loaded up with boxes of apples. I think it makes them feel important - this year Daddy did end up carrying the brunt of our goods.
#6. Crafts & Fun: Each farm offers different activities for families. There are street markets of various hand crafted goodies, produce stands galore and crafts for the kids. The girls enjoyed getting their faces painted.
While Nolan made his own candle.
#7. Time??? What? We find that there's no such thing as a schedule when we're at Apple Hill - the best part is taking our time to enjoy every bit of "Apple Heaven". After all, our next visit is a year away.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Alice, the Sorcerer and the Queen
Tonight was the fall carnival at the kids' elementary school. We didn't take the camera with us - we wanted to make sure we were able to enjoy every minute but of course I snapped a few before we left.
Let's start with Miss Alice. Haidyn isn't really that into movies yet, but she does love Alice in Wonderland. We were lucky to have borrowed this great costume from Taylor (all the way from Texas!) Doesn't she make the cutest Alice?
Next up is Nolan! We bought this super hat while we were in DisneyLand last year. He mentioned back then that he would like to be Sorcerer Mickey and Nolan never forgets. So I made him the robe, we found the perfect gold rope and voila! Sorcerer Mickey!
Last, but not least is Miss Ashlee. She had quite the time making her choice of costume this year. I still have a bag of fabric sitting here on my desk - someday it will make the cutest Little Red Riding Hood costume. She was all over the place; Little Red, Princess Lucy, Pirate Girl, the list goes on. But one day we were in Marshalls and found this great Queen of Hearts costume. Knowing that Haidyn would be Alice, it was perfect! Done deal! She won best overall costume tonight at the carnival for her grade level. She was very proud!
Tonight when I was putting Haidyn to bed she was throwing a big fit (obviously from the excess of sugar tonight) She was screaming, "Off with your head!" to me while I was wrestling her down to slap some jammies on her little heiny! I think we may have to save Ashlee's costume for Haidyn. It's her new favorite line.
Our little trick-or-treaters!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
"Legos Rock!"
Today was Nolan's birthday party trip to the Lego store in Santa Clara. The Lego store and it's employees really went above and beyond to make this day extra special for our little dude and his friends -- we were blown away! It was so fun, the boys had such a hands-on experience. I have to admit I was a little worried about taking four boys on a trip but the boys were so mellow, so well behaved and so intense in their building and creativity. The employees were so laid back - the boys pretty much had the store all to themselves for over an hour before it opened to the public.
Nolan and his best buds (Miles, Blake, Liam and Nolan)
The wall of LEGOS! Every boy's dream! They stood in front of it, mouths open and just stared...
Our first activity: the boys were given a cup of legos to custom build their own car.
They took this job very seriously...
Once they had their cars complete, Travis (our Lego go-to-guy) set up a ramp so the boys could take turns racing their cars. They were able to tweak their designs to enhance speed. (they were little engineers)
Then they were given a cup of Legos and had to guess how many were inside -- the winner got to fill a cup with Legos from the famous LEGO WALL!
Next, they each got to choose a Lego kit to build and take home.
Taj Mahal
We had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen
Cheers birthday boy!
Our little man will be 7 years old on the 30th!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Miss Natalie
Our time with Miss Natalie is almost over. Natalie has been Haidyn's speech therapist since April. Haidyn has come so far and will soon be graduating and moving on to continue her speech improvements through our school district. It has been such a joy to watch Natalie work with Haidyn - she is patient, loving, encouraging and highly professional. Our family will miss you Miss Nat, you have played such an amazing role in Haidyn's development- THANK YOU!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The BIG FOUR-0
He made it! Ryan survived turning 40! Hooray! I have been secretly planning his 40th getaway trip for quite sometime. It couldn't have come at a better time for us. As some of you may know, Ryan was recently given a final employment date of December 31st - he was laid off. It has been an emotionally draining past couple of weeks so this trip was even more special. Saturday we flew out to Palm Springs for 5 days of relaxation and pampering. It was a great trip once we got through day #1. Unfortunately, our first night there we got food poisoning - we thought we were dying. It's not fun being sick with only one bathroom. But we pulled through and had so much fun the rest of our trip. On his actual birthday (Tuesday, September 16th) I had a convertible delivered to our hotel for the day. Ryan was so ecstatic! It was the highlight of the trip for him! I, of course enjoyed the pool and our spa day. We had an 80 minute couple's massage - it was heavenly! Once we were feeling better, we enjoyed some great dinners. We highly recommend Bing Crosby's and Le St. Germain Restaurant ~ spectacular!!!
The Car (2008 Audi A4 Convertible)
Heading off to Ryan's birthday dinner @ Le St. Germain
"I wish to be younger."
Cruisin' in the desert...
Lunch in downtown Palm Springs (9-16-2008)
Ahhhh......the spa day......ZZZZZzzzzzz
Oh, did I mention the waterpark at our resort? Here's Ryan...
Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (our home for 5 whole days)
One of the many pools...
Bing Crosby's Restaurant (best meal we ate the entire trip!)
My sexy 40 year old husband...
Us...
Room service - Ry's birthday breakfast
Our room #411
Happy Birthday Honey!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Too busy to blog...
Life is so fast right now! I haven't a second to spare. You can follow what's new with Haidyn on my daycare blog. (Click here)
We'll settle into our new routine soon and I'll be back to blogging - maybe.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
They're Off!
Today was the first day of school. They were both so excited and ready to go bright and early. We had a family meeting last night to remind them of our morning routine and go over what was expected of them. Here's our plan:
Ashlee
1. Don't get out of bed until 7:00
2. Get dressed
3. Make your bed
4. Feed the dog
5. Eat breakfast
6. Brush your teeth and hair
7. Get your backpack and lunch
8. Get in the car by 8:40
9. No fighting
Nolan
1. Don't get out of bed until 7:00
2. Get dressed
3. Make your bed
4. Feed the cat
5. Eat breakfast
6. Brush your teeth (no hair to brush - his idea)
7. Get your backpack and lunch
8. Get in the car by 8:40
9. No fighting
Day ONE was a huge success! Everyone was dressed and fed and happy! I even had time to snap a few pictures.
Nolan (2nd grade) and Ashlee (4th grade)
Awesome job Ashlee and Nolan! Hope you're having a great first day back at school! See you at the bus stop - we love you!
(Mom, Dad & Haidyn)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Last Weekend...
The last weekend of summer! My parents came with us to take the kids miniature golfing. Again, it was hot.
The girls taking a break to plan their strategy.
Nolan couldn't decide - left or right? Mostly he was trying to drive the ball rather than putt it.
But once he figured it out, he got a HOLE IN ONE!
Ashlee was patient - taking her time to look cute.
Haidyn's golfing abilities are still a work in progress. Mostly she attacked the ball with the club. Getting mad at the ball for not moving.
Until....she figured out that it was easier to just put the ball in the hole - with her hand of course.
Here's Papa Larry in quite the predicament.
After a hot day golfing it was only fitting to sit down and enjoy some blue raspberry ICEEs. Yum Yum!
HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT SUMMER! WE SURE DID!
Camp
I'm a a little behind on my posts but now that summer is officially over for the kids tomorrow - Whoo hoo! (Oh wow, did I just say that? I meant, how sad - I shall miss them dearly.) I decided it time to add the final summer posts. So, here is our ever so fun trip to Lake Mendocino. We took the kids camping for 4 days. It was fun although by day 4 we were ready to head home - back to hot water and electricity. My sister, Tammi and her family joined us on day two and that made it even more enjoyable. Despite the killer heat and the lingering smoke from nearby wild fires, the kids had a blast! We decided in the near future that there will be no more camping at the lake without a boat - it's an essential. (so anyone reading this who has a boat - we would love to have you over for dinner and a game night) hee hee
Sean, Tammi, Kaihla, Haidyn, Kimberly, Ryan, Shad, Ashlee & Nolan
Us
Ashlee...
Nolan...
Kaihla...
Haidyn...
Monday, August 4, 2008
A Gym Swim - (or not)
It was a nice night so we decided to go for a swim at our gym. We were disappointed when we got there and the pool was closed - earlier in the day they found a "floater". Yuck! But we decided to stay and play in the water park area. I brought along my camera and snapped a few before I was told to put the camera away by security. I wasn't aware cameras weren't aloud at the pool but once I thought about it I was in favor of the rule. I wouldn't want just anyone snapping pics of my kids in their suits. So enjoy the few that I got.
My boys
This is such a rare shot for me to have captured - Nolan hates the camera. But isn't he handsome?
Miss personality!
Ashlee - "Weeee!"
I don't think I'll ever understand why Ry calls Haidyn, Hai-a-lot. I think it somehow relates to the CareBears and the land of Care-a-lot??? So far, she doesn't seem to mind though.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Movie Night!
It's 'Movie Night' at the Dunn house! I needed some down time this afternoon so I promised the kids if they all took a nap then we could rent movies and stay up late. To my surprise they were all in their rooms asleep within minutes! When they woke up we went to Blockbuster and rented some movies - as promised.
Playing tonight: Nancy Drew and Snow Buddies
They love setting up the hide-a-bed and falling asleep to movies. And it wouldn't be the perfect slumber party without the popcorn their favorite cuddle quilts (made by Auntie Linda)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Fort Update..
Okay, so here's the update on the fort. It's done - as done as it's gonna be this year. Maybe next year we will add a canvas top but for now it is what it is. The kids don't seem to mind a bit. They spend all day up there! They draw, read, write and eat up in that fort. I'm sure if we let them sleep up there, they would.
Today I decided to head up and see what all the excitement was. I found that Ashlee is the ring leader - of course. She has a schedule of what they will do daily. She cracks me up.
Nolan taking me and my camera for a tour of the clubhouse
Artwork they created for today's art show
Their fort is equipped with a rope ladder, two chairs, a table, carpet, a clock, trash can, art supplies and a fake potted sunflower. Let's not forget the dry-erase board with clubhouse rules, the agenda charts (by Ashlee) and a ton of beautiful artwork created by my ever so talented children!
Bye-Bye Binky!
We have been trying to find the right time to take away Haidyn's pacifier (a.k.a. Binky). It has just never seemed like the right time - a vacation was coming, we had potty training going (which by the way we have pretty much accomplished! Hooray!) or there was something going on that required having Binky around to make things a little more "doable" for us (you binky moms know what I mean). I really thought she would wean herself one day. She weaned herself from nursing and she weaned herself from the bottle. But no - Binky was staying!
We just got back from camping on Sunday and we knew this was our last trip of the Summer - it was now or never! We told Haidyn that we had left the binkies at the lake. She was soooo sad! She sobbed and cried the first day but after that she has been okay with it. She knows now that binkies are for babies and she is now a "big girl". A big girl that goes on the potty and sleeps without a binky! I can't believe we did it! Bye-Bye Binky!
Our baby girl is growing up.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
First Cut
Haidyn got her first hair cut this morning. We needed to get rid of some of that tangly, brittle baby hair. It had been 2 1/2 years and mommy was ready to say bye-bye. We had not cut it before this, other than her bangs. She was very excited for a hair cut - but squirmy! I kept questioning her over and over again, "who cuts hair Haidyn?" and she would answer, "Mommy do it." "Does Haidyn cut hair?" "NO, Mommy do it." Hopefully she will only use scissors on paper. Wish me luck on that one.
BEFORE
AFTER
I cut about 4 inches off the back!
"Awe, I cute!"
Monday, July 14, 2008
A Sugary Sweet Day
Yesterday, we took the kids to the Jelly Belly Factory. We took the factory tour and had to wear these awesome hats! Ashlee and Nolan LOVED the sample station! Haidyn fell in love with a little red Jelly Belly bear and insisted it was her baby. We bought it for her and she has named him, Belly. It was a fun day...
Our Favorite Jelly Belly
Ryan: Root Beer
Kimberly: Orange Sherbet
Ashlee: Cotton Candy
Nolan: Cinnamon
Haidyn: Very Cherry
We must have worn them out because all three of them slept the whole way home - and so did I.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Happy Birthday Papa Jimmy!
Here's how we celebrated...
and they were YUMMY!
Happy Birthday from Sacto to Vegas!
Our Family Reunion - We're Home!
We are home from Oregon - and it was loads of fun! It was so good to see everyone and the weather was nicer than expected!
Get ready for a ton of photos!
Family Photos...
The McCann Kids
The Grandkids (well, most of us) we missed you Tim, Craig & Jeff
The Great Grandkids
Our time on the beach...
Family Olympic Day...
Wheelbarrow races, piggy back races, crab walk race, sprints, water balloon toss, and bouncy balloon race. The kids really had fun!
Everyone was a winner!
The Volleyball Tournament!
Here are the teams...
TEAM #1
TEAM #2 - The Winners! (the cheaters)
When the parents are tired and there's nothing left to do...
Play in the dirt!
The Game Room...and games!
The place where we stayed (Osprey Park) was equipped with a game room. There were 2 pool tables, air hockey, arcade basketball, foosball and ping pong!
Our family likes to play games! Scrabble, Poker, Pictionary and Cranium were among the favorites this trip.
Karaoke Night!
The Deep Sea Fishing Trip
Loretta, Nathan, Ryan, John, Scott, Jacob and Ray went on a deep sea fishing trip early Tuesday morning. I was so upset to hear that NOONE brought their camera! They had a blast though. They all caught loads of fish and crab! (Ling Cod and Sea bass) They had the fish filleted so we couldn't take a picture when they returned either. So here is a photo of Scott and Logan. Logan wanted to help: "Let me crack it dad!"
It was a great trip! The place where we stayed was quiet and secluded and seemed spacious enough. It only sleeps 24 but my Aunt and Uncle brought their trailer. Nolan got to camp out in the trailer with his cousin Logan. And Loretta brought her tent trailer and Ashlee got to camp with her and Robin. Thanks for making it fun for my kiddos! They were quite the happy campers!
I think history will repeat itself - Summer 2011!
Someplace a bit warmer hopefully!
_________________________________________________
P.S. Cousin John saves the day with cameraphone!
My cousin John just forwarded me the few pics that he took on the fishing trip with his phone! I love technology. Now there is proof that these guys didn't just pick up some tasty fillets at the market.
Leaving Newport Tradewinds
Here's Scotty pulling up his crab pot
The backs of Loretta, Ray and Ryan
Saturday, June 28, 2008
We're OFF!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Peanut Butter - gotta love it!
Okay, so Haidyn's new infatuation is gum! We have always had very strict rules with gum in our house. Ashlee can still only chew gum if her hair is pulled back in a pony tail. Well, today Haidyn was chewing gum and when she was done with it she gave it to me and said, "all done mommy." So, to the trash the gum went. Later today, I noticed GUM IN HER HAIR! My worst nightmare! It was pretty high up and all mashed and tangled. YIKES! I had always heard that peanut butter can remove gum from hair, but due to our strict gum-chewing-rules I had never encountered this situation. I dove straight for the tub of 'Jif' - it worked like a charm! Her golden locks are good as new!
The funny thing is, earlier today I was NOT a big fan of peanut butter. My kids (mostly Nolan and Haidyn) are always wanting a "peanut butter spoon". It's one of their favorite snacks. But this morning as they were enjoying their peanutty spoon, Nolan decided it funny to chase Haidyn around the house. She ran to me, clenching to my leg and laughing while drooling and wiping her tasty spoon all over my booty! Not so fun. But now, I have a new appreciation for the peanut butter!
Places we've found peanut butter smeared...
1. on my booty
2. on the kitchen counters
3. on the underside of the table
4. on my curtains
5. on the couch
6. on the dog
7. and even the cat
8. Haidyn's hair
9. bathroom sink
10. all over towels
11. on their clothes
12. AND surprisingly...the toilet (at least we thought it was peanut butter)
Thanks 'Jif' - we are now forever loyal consumers of your product. Sorry 'Skippy', I won't be conducting any new research in the near future.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Daddy's Day
Today was a very special day for our family! We honored our Daddy! This Father's Day we surprised Ryan with tickets to a Sacramento River Cats game. The game was at 1:00 so Haidyn spent the afternoon with grandma. I know it sounds sad that she missed out, but it was scorching hot today and the game was smack in the middle of nap time. We made sure Daddy got his fix of Haidyn today - no worries.
This was Ashlee and Nolan's first baseball game. They had fun but it was a little hot for them (for us all). We enjoyed sno-cones, ice cream and lots of water! We decided to leave sometime during the 7th inning. The kids were tired and hot, the Rivercats were getting creamed and we wanted to beat the rush of traffic. All in all, it was super fun! Definitely not for Haidyn - someday though for sure.
Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy I know! Ry, you are so much more than I ever hoped for in a father for our kids! We love you!
Thanks Whitney, for the great seats! It was a great day!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Idol Party
Ashlee's 'American Idol' party was a huge success!
(Simon was NOT invited. We tried to book David Archuleta but it was past his curfew)
The star herself...Ashlee!
The Contestants!
Raelynn, Marisella, Ashlee, Leah, Riley, Gwyneth & Claire
The girls had so much fun singing karaoke and dancing their pants off!
It was a great day and the perfect party for a nine year old girl - she had a blast!
She informed us last night when we were putting her to bed that she was looking forward to her next birthday. When we asked her why she said, "because it's double digits mom and I'll have a one in the ten's place - and then I can get a cell phone!" When we told her that wouldn't be happening she continued on that, "all my friends are getting cell phones..." We explained that what is right for one family isn't necessarily right for our family. Then I listed off about 8 friends off the top of my head that do not have cell phones. When she replied, "Well so and so does and you do." I said, "Yes I do, and I am an adult and I have a three in the ten's place." She had nothing more to say except for, "You just don't understand."
And I'm okay with that!
LOL!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
We can't believe it's been 9 years!
It's hard to believe it's been nine years already. It seems like just yesterday they were handing us our new baby girl. We loved her from the first moment we laid eyes upon her tiny cone-head full of jet black hair and her sweet little rosebud lips! It was love at first sight!
As parents, people are always telling you, "Enjoy it, because it goes by so fast." Yesterday, we realized the complete truth behind that statement. She's NINE! We are half way - half way to graduation, half way to college and half way to having an empty room in our house! It's sad and emotional for Ryan and I. Our baby girl is a tween now and we all know what's coming. More of the, "You don't understands" and the "It's not fairs" and of course the dreaded, "I hate yous." Wish us luck because ready or not here we go! Here's a quick peek down memory lane ~ our little princess!
Birth Day - May 27th, 1999 - Ashlee Marie Dunn - 7 pounds @ 2:01 pm
(I think Ryan was a little worried when she came out looking Samoan - but then my mom showed him my birth photo and the trust was back)
1st Birthday - Howarth Park - My first carousel ride, pony ride and train ride! Everyone came to celebrate!
2nd Birthday at the park - with Sno Kone machine, water balloon toss and lots of family and friends!
3rd Birthday - at home with Power Puff Girls Jumper - she jumped from sun up til sun down! Explains why she's about to fall asleep here...
4th Birthday - Pony party at Papa Dennis and Grandma Jan's - Pony rides on 'Magic' the pony. For a few years, Ashlee actually thought that 'Magic' was her pony that lived at Papa's house.
5 years old! First day of Kindergarten (can't find b-day photos ???) It was a Strawberry shortcake party with a strawberry shortcake jumper. Katie made her a Strawberry Shortcake faced cake! We had a berry good time!
6th Birthday - The Princess Party - all her friends dressed up as princesses. We did fancy hair do's, painted nails and had a princessy good time!
7th Birthday - Pool party at our hotel with family - Went to Aunt Carrie's wedding in Southern Cali!
8th Birthday - The Luau Party! Hula dance lessons, smoothy bar and let us not forget the limbo competition!
9th Birthday - Family party on Memorial Day! AMERICAN IDOL party next weekend! Can't wait! Karaoke baby!!!
Ashlee is off to a great start! She's smart, funny, loving and very caring. She loves art, music, softball, piano, reading and even school! She's a great big sister and a joy most of the time (sassiness has set in) We are very proud of our Ashlee! Happy Birthday Ash !
WE LOVE YOU
Love Mommy and Daddy
_____________________________________________________
tween (tw
n)
n)n.
A child between middle childhood and adolesence, usually between 8 and 12 years old.
[Blend of teen1 and between.]
Friday, May 16, 2008
Happy Birthday Big Papa Jim!
Birthday wishes for a terrific grandfather and a super great-grandpa!
"Happy Birthday"
Starring: Ashlee & Haidyn
Nolan's Notes:
The Easter Bunny brought Nolan this cute pad of paper. It has been getting a lot of use lately. We've been finding little notes from Nolan all over the house - I will share a couple recent ones.
One night he was showering in our master bathroom. Ryan went down the hall to check on him. When he reached our bedroom, the door was shut and this note was taped to the door...
This one speaks for itself...
We love Nolan's notes!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
"Haidyn's Turn!"
As most of you know, Haidyn is our little tomboy! She is usually not at all interested in dress up. Lately, I've been doing a lot of work with little girls in tutus. Today, Haidyn found my 'glamour bag' and decided, "Haidyn's turn!" I was so excited and ran for the camera - of course!
She was a natural in all that frill and fluff!
She is so pretty - she makes my heart happy!