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...

Shad...

Makin' S'mores...

________________________________

Oh, and let's not forget Max, our newest addition to the family.  Caught by Uncle Sean at Lake Mendo.  We brought him home and he is now Nolan's new pet...

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.

Yogurty Cute

Enough said.

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)

The Puppet Show...

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.  

View from Ashlee's window

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.

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!"

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.

Happy Birthday Papa Jimmy!

Here's how we celebrated...

and they were YUMMY!

Happy Birthday from Sacto to Vegas!