Time flies!!!

Where has the last month gone? I can't hardly believe that we are less than a month from Christmas! I am trying to get in the groove and start preparing for the holiday. I also hope to help Noah and Rachel realize that Christmas is so much more than presents under the tree and treats in their stockings...

The next days and weeks will be wild and crazy, but I will try to do better about posting and keeping everyone up to date with the antics of the Dunn family.

One of the first things to do in preparation for Christmas is to take pictures for our card. I have posted a couple of shots from our recent shoot. These are NOT the pictures that will be on our card, but I thought you might enjoy them anyways!

Hope you all have a fun and meaningful holiday season!!

the QUEEN Bee

Last night, as we were trick or treating, Rachel told me she wasn't just a bee, she was the QUEEN bee. How fitting, seeing how she definitely has the Queen Bee attitude!! Noah dressed as a Bee Keeper. They were so cute! It was a joy to watch them as they enjoyed a treat of childhood. Now, we just have to hide all the "bee food" they collected...

Cub 'N' Pal 2007

Here are a few pictures from Cub'n'Pal. I hope you enjoy them! We had a great time!!

Fall is on it's way!!

OH! I love the cooler weather we have been having. I think fall, at least what little we have, is my favorite season of the year. I look forward to the changing leaves, the cool nights, and all the fun activities that come at this time of year. Watch over the next days and weeks... I will post about the fun things we are planning... We have a camping trip, pumpkin patch visits, fall carnivals, and more!

My children, my treasures...

Recently I gave my photography class an assignment for a shoot - treasure. It got me to thinking. What would I call "treasure"?

Of all the things I have been given in life, my children are my most precious and treasured gifts. There are so many lessons that I learn each and every day just because I am a mom. I learn so much through these innocent little lives. They are always bringing me to new realizations and new perspectives. The most fun I have is often in playing chase around the yard or a board game. The most content feelings are often in an hour spent "snuggling" on the couch and watchng t.v. together. My family is the anchor that the Lord has provided for me to help me stay focused and centered in this world. Those days come when I feel so down and discouraged that I just want to quit, but then I go pick up Rachel and she is so thrilled to see her mommy, or I go to get Noah and he can't wait to tell me he made a 105 on the spelling test I helped him study for. I recognize the Lord's voice telling me, "For right now, for this moment in time, they are your reasons to hang in there. I gave them to you and it is your purpose to raise them in My ways and to teach them about Me." At those times I am renewed and refreshed and filled with both peace and joy. They are my children, they are my treasures...

Life in the hive...

The kids were out of school today for a staff development day. It was nice to get to sleep in and not be rushing to get here or there before a certain time. We slept in and then just hung out, watched t.v. and "loafed" all day. Of course, Monday morning will be back to reality. Already on the schedule: Matthew will arrive around 6:15a.m., I'll take the kids to school at 8ish, my photography class is at 11a.m., pick up Rachel at 3, pick up Noah at 3:30, PTA meeting at 4:15, Cub Scouts at 6:30, fit in errands and such.... Yeah, I think we deserved a day off!:-) Don't get me wrong! I am not complaining- life is good and I enjoy all that we are involved in, but it was nice to have a day where I had no deadlines and could just enjoy being with my two most favorite kiddos! We had a great time!

This moment in time...

Wow! It has been such a busy and crazy week. And next week is looking to be the same. We seem to have so many irons in the fire of life - Cub Scouts, school, PTA, Building Bridges, Bees, yada yada yada. We have to be really careful to be sure we prioritze and put first things first. So far, we seem to be O.K. Noah came home today with a 105% on his spelling test and Rachel did well with the Potty Thing at school for the second day in a row. Isn't it funny? With all that is going on, it is the little victories that are the most meaningful each day and are the greatest stress relievers. Noah's mood has been good all evening and Rachel is so proud of herself that she has stayed dry (and clean) and in panties all evening as well. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but for right now, for this moment in time, all is good in my world.

The Wheels on the bus...

go round and round,
round and round.

Rachel has been going around the house singing this since the first day of school. She is loving school. My little social butterfly loves being with all the other children in her class. She is learning so much and is really blossoming and growing at an amazing pace.

Bees, bees, bees...

I was so proud of Noah yesterday!
Noah, Roscoe, and I did a presentation for Noah's 2nd grade class about bees, bee hives, and bee keeping. Noah did a great job and seemed quite comfortable in front of the whole group. He shared many facts about bees. We also showed the kids a bee hive and even let them taste some honey from our own hive. It was alot of fun!!