Time Off

I am going to take a couple of days off of blogging. Our church is doing a fast and since I can't give up food, I'm giving up the internet. AGH!!! Wish me luck.
I'll be back on Wednesday, with details.

Final Review

I had an easy going birthday, not too much of anything big. I did make an impromptu visit to my sister-in-law's house so the kids could play and the creative thing that she is had an impromptu party put together, with a welcome banner, flowers, cake, lunch, and present. In the evening we went to El Torito and let Monkey run around in the water out front.


Thanks for all of the calls, cards, and well wishes. It made me feel so special.

Check back for more interesting posts this week. I'm spent. Oh, no, wait a minute, I'm just old. Ha.

Clinch

The Los Angeles Dodgers have CLINCHED the division!! We are going to the playoffs!!!

I can see it now , the Dunbar crew decked out in Dodger Blue, eating Dodger Dogs, sipping on diet coke (lemonade for the lil' ones), nachos, garlic fries, and the crowd shouting "Manny, Manny, Manny!!!" I'll be able to see him up close, because we'll be in field level seats behind home plate, right DAD???

If anyone else would like to offer us free tickets, we'll be sure to take them off of your hands.
Most Sincerely,
Mrs. Dunbar

Yo quiero leer

We visited some of my grandparents the other day. Matthew had my Grandpa reading to him in English and Spanish over and over again. Then I made my grandpa hold Bogie while I fed him bananas. Twenty minutes later, Grandpa went to take a nap. I didn't get to snap any of the banana eating but here a few pics of the language lesson.

Purpose...

... my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly... Phillipians 3:10 AMP

Friday is my birthday. I'll be thirty. Yup, that's right, THIRTY! (Crazy, and I can't seem to forget it because my good friend Erin has told me every day for a week.)

But in the midst of my reflecting time, and upon hearing Tim McGraw's Next 30 Years, I've started to wonder what the next 30 years of my life will look like. Am I going to get fat? Get wrinkles and grey hair? How long will I be able to stay home? Will I be a soccer mom or a baseball mom? Will Scott's job take us out of state? Or keep us here? All of these questions run through my mind... But what's more important, what am I going to do intentionally in my life for the next 30 years? Of course I want to be a good wife, an attentive mom, a reliable friend, but what is at the core of all of this?

Jesus.

My purpose is to live a life that is a reflection of Him. Can you start a new year's resolution on your birthday? I am. I am recomitting my life to being 'set apart.'

(And also to start dying my hair every six weeks!)

Like Riding a Bike

Although I missed my boys terribly, I got back into the classroom and it was like riding a bike. (Once you learn, it just comes right back.)

Mrs. Dunbar was back in full swing. My good friend Kim, and former teaching partner, left me easy peasy plans, along with duty (YUCK!) And in the afternoon Dawn also left me simple simple plans. But let me tell you; today I taught, I gave out instructions, I monitored and clarified, I answered, I observed, I double-checked for understanding, I strategically led problem solvers, and at the end of the day I am exhausted!!

If you have kids in school, be nice to your kids teachers. They really do work so very hard!

If you are one of my former teaching comrades, may the force be with you!! I'll see you next week.

Work

Wish me luck, I'm off to work as a SUB. I haven't done this in over 6 years... I was a Miss V. last time I subbed. I'm sort of nervous. Will I be able to control the class? Will I be able to get through all of the plans? Do I remember where the bathroom is?

All of these thoughts are running through my head right now...

Bargain...

Yup, that's right, this picture says $2.24. I got two tee's, elbow length scoop neck for less than five bucks!! Is that awesome or what? I am so the bargain basement shopper. They are in orange and green, so so perfect for the season. I can already see it; my new $2 tee, dark rinse jeans and flats or boots. Fabulous. How many Target-groupies are out there? How many times a week do you venture the aisles of this trap? Average amount spent?

Sunday Mornings

We go to the 8:30am service for church. So this is a snippet of my morning:

Hold Bogie with left arm.
Grab toothbrush with right, stick handle end in mouth , grab toothpaste.
One handedly open with right hand, sqirt toothpaste and wet.
Brush teeth.
While brushing teeth, continue to hold Bogie, close shower doors, hang towels, kick dog toys out of bathroom, move kids' toys back to basket, put combs away.
Spit.
Move Bogie to right arm because left is about to give out.

Monkey: "Mommy, you got make-up on Mommy?"
Mommy: "Yes, Monkey. Do you think I look pretty?"
Monkey: "No, you look ugly!!" (Walking away laughing says "Silly, mommy.")

Guess I have some work to do on raising a gentleman.

ABC's of Life

Here's a little bit about me:

A. Attached or single? Attached.
B. Best friend? Mr. Dunbar

C. Cake or pie? Cake. Always....german chocolate.
D. Day of Choice? Every other Friday, 3 day weekend for our family.
E. Essential Item? Sunglasses and lipstick.
F. Favorite color? Favorite color today green. Signature color- pink.
G. Gummy bears or worms? Never anything gummy. But a "G" I LOVE is GIFTCARD!
H. Hometown? MoVal, CA.
I. Favorite indulgence? Cinnabon
J. January or July? July... fireworks, swimming, hot dogs, and flip flops.
K. Kids? 2 rambunctious little men and one precious angel in heaven.
L. Life isn't complete without? Jesus.
M. Marriage Date? 11-1-03
N. Number of brothers and sisters? Two crazy brothers.
O. Oranges or apples? Apples, granny smith.

P. Phobias? Dead birds
Q. Quotes? Wherever you are, be all there.
R. Reasons to smile? My men, giggles from the crib, and my new birthday present.
S. Season of choice? I love em all. Fall right now.
T. Tag 5 people: Ali, Casey, Amber, Kim, Lisa
U. Unknown fact about me? I secretly want a sewing machine.

V. Worst habit? Talking over my husband.
X. X-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound, always the ultrasound.
Y. Your favorite food? Fruit.
Z. Zodiac sign? Libra, but I don't know what that means?

I thought this was fun..., thanks to Julie.

Free Juice

For all you Mama's who are trying to lower sugar in the kiddlings diet, here is a juice to try= Honest Kids Thirst Quenchers. I even like the name. That is a conversation we can have over dinner- What is an honest kid?

They make drinks for us grown-ups too. See right.

If you'd like to score some of it for free check out Mama's Manifesto. They are offering a giveaway.

Smile

Doesn't this picture just make you want to smile?

Tutorial

Can anyone tell me how to shrink my banner down at the top so that it is rectangular and not a huge square of a picture?? How do I get one of those cute designs? Do I have to be some sort of web designer? Any free sites out there? Oh, and how do I add links inside my posts?? I'm sure I'll figure it out but maybe someone can just tell me. Please.

A Pirate turns 50

Yesterday my dad turned fifty. We are totally into pirates in my house. So we are constantly singing " Yo Ho Yo Ho, A pirates life for .... Papa. We've also been singing a song for the past few months that goes like this, "Papa is fifty, fifty, fifty... Papa is fifty, fifty, fifty." Yesterday Monkey finally put some of it together and says "When's Grandma going to be fifty?" Ha. Mom, you're next!
My parents decided to head out town to celebrate so we had our own celebration for Papa at home.

Rise and shine

I have decided to get up before the kids do. This way I can workout, shower, check emails, and hopefully get breakfast going before they are up. This morning I got up at 6am and turned on the whole house fan, which is white noise in our house. At 6:45am Mr. Dunbar comes into Monkey's room where I am polishing furniture and says "I couldn't hear my alarm over the house fan. Umph! So now I am running late. " Then he exits. Well good morning to you to dear. It made me laugh. I'm sure he's over it by now, that's why I love this guy.

Okay this is it...

I am actually going to try this blog thing instead of just reading everyone else's everyday. Wish me luck... hopefully I'll think of some interesting things to say. We'll see.
Irene