We are getting there

Okay, so it has been forever since I last posted. I even missed my Sunday Thought.
We, in the Dunbar home, have been super ill. Remember on Valentine's Day how I was changing diarrhea diapers? Yeah... well those lasted like TEN days. Along with crazy coughs, volatile sleeping, spiking fevers, and enough boogers to fill a bathtub... you get the picture don't you?

Then this past Sunday, Mr. Dunbar's dearly beloved Auntie Jean, who was 106, passed away. Family is coming into town today throughout the weekend.

So if I haven't called you back or emailed you or Facebooked you I will in a few days.
Hope all is doing well and I will try and find some more interesting things to post other than our sickness very soon.

On a lighter note...The letter "C"

Okay, here's another fun one. Here and Home assigned me a letter and now I have to come up with 10 things I like that begin with the letter "C".

1. Candy, is the first thing that comes to mind, since I've probably eaten a pound of Valentines Hearts this morning. (Another "c" that comes to mind is cavity, but I don't like that one, so we'll move on.)

2. Cooking- I don't love it but I do enjoy trying a new recipe. I try to do this 2-4 times a month.

3.Cuddling- There is nothing like cuddling with a baby who is sound asleep in your arms, or a 3 year old who asks "Would you like to cuddle with me, Mommy?"

4. Cocoa- Technically it would be hot cocoa I love. You can see my fave here.

5. Chai- Ummm, definetely my most favorite new drink at Starbucks is the Hot Apple Chai. Oh, its all what apple cider wants to be and then some.

6. Candles- I love good candles. Love em. My friend Mrs. C know this and I can always count on her to get me the latest and greatest new scent from Yankee Candle. But I also love White Barn and another brand whose name is escaping me right now? Which is your favorite brand?

7. Clothes- Okay, what girl doesn't love clothes? Right now I am in yoga pants and a sweatshirt that I've had since college, but I do love new clothes. Thanks mom, for my new tee's. She bought me a new shirt that says "Don't be jealous." HUH? And a really cute orange tee.
We were busting up last night. But hey, its new clothes and I didn't have to spend a dime.

8.College- I did enjoy it very much. Maybe not the academic part, but 4 years of living in a bubble was so much fun. And at the end of it I was dating the man who would become my hubby.

9. Clean house- Haven't seen this one in a while. But a girl can dream can't she?

10. Christ- Okay, I know, I know, He should have been number ONE. But I was saving the best for last.


If you would like to play along, just leave me a comment and I will assign a letter to you.

OUTRAGED

California sucks!!

Mr. Dunbar ~ we are moving ASAP. I just made an executive decision.

58,000 inmates may be release back into society here in our Sunshine State.

Let me repeat 58,000!

The reason? Some judges say the prisons are too overcrowded. I'm sorry since when do inmates get a right to square footage over, I don't know, 12 cubic feet?

Check out this very short video clip. About a minute or so. I couldn't dump it directly into this post.
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=12102252

Did you watch it? Are you outraged too? Unbelievable. So let me reiterate they are going to release up to 58,000 prisoners without jeopardizing my safety or those of my kids? Please tell me how that is possible? All those stinkin inmates were just at the wrong place at the wrong time right? They are just innocent people? I don't think so.

My favorite part? The inmate who said "When I was in here in 1990 and I had a toothache I got it fixed right away. I've been waiting 2 years to have my knee fixed."

Are you freakin joking?!?!?!?!

When I have a toothache, according to the insurance that WE PAY for it costs like $300. Why the heck am I, are we, paying for his toothache? Do you know how much knee surgery costs? The taxpayers, in a bankrupt state are responsible for his knee? No, no, no, no!!!

Where has the common sense gone people??? Where? What state? Please do tell me. The Dunbar's just may be your new neighbors. Oh, and don't even get me started on the 8.6 BILLION dollars they want to cut from education. EIGHT BILLION!!!! From innocent children. Then we wonder why we have so many prisoners. Again, common sense people.

So, how do you like your state?

Order when you're ready

So, we were in the drive-thru at Carl's Jr. the other night. One of Monkey's Valentine's gifts was a $5 gift card to Carl's. Who does that? Each kid got one.

Anyhow this is how it went...
Kid employee: " Order when ready..."
Mr. Dunbar: "Yes, can I have a kids meal..."
From the backseat... "With NO cheese!"
Mr. Dunbar: "With no cheese"
From the backseat: "And NO salad!"
Mr. Dunbar: "That's a regular hamburger with no lettuce."
From the backseat: "And NO broccoli!"
Mr. Dunbar: "And no broccoli."
Kid Employee: "HUH?"
Mr. Dunbar: "Nevermind, that's a regular hamburger, right?..."

The kid acts as if he is allergic to cheese and broccoli. I hope this is just a phase.

(National Geographic- Google)

We also got Monkey animal picture cards with facts on the back... flashcards of a sort. He decided to tell us the facts:

Monkey, diligently 'reading' the back of the flashcard: "Elephant. You can not put an elephant in the car. They are not nice, and they are dangerous. Did you get that, Mommy?"

"Of course I did Monkey. You are so smart."

Did you know those facts?

Sunday Thought

Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Acts 14:17

Wishing you

and

Happy Valentines Day.

Now I'm off to go change diarrhea diapers and to give Monkey some more cough syrup.
How romantic, don't you think?

School Valentines

I found some fantastic ideas for school Valentine's on some great blogs this past week or perhaps it was a few weeks ago...

Anyhow here's our stuff for school tomorrow. Little Birdie Secrets showed "boy" Valentine's that Monkey just loved. Here is our finished product.

Their post shows where they got the idea and how to make it. I bought 3 sheets of camo paper at $0.42 each, used card stock and smelly markers that I already had and wha'la; boy valentines. Thank you Little Birdie Secrets, I was so not looking forward to doing a Dora or Diego Valentine.

Oh and that big card stock rectangular thing coming out of the back is a coupon for a Free Kid's Sized Icecream from Chick-fil-A. I got 10 of those for $2.50.
(And if you go there on Saturday night they are having a candle light dinner. We won't be going but you may want to.)

Just a Girl also showed some fabulously frugal teacher gifts. Hand sanitizer people. Let me repeat: Hand sanitizer. Totally the best cheap gift ever for teachers. Why oh why did I never think of this myself?? Umm, because I am totally un-creative.

But I gave it a shot to make her same idea. And let me just say that Goo Gone is my new BFF. It took like 10 seconds to get all of the gunk off.

I did have to buy ribbon and Goo Gone, but I spent $6 at JoAnn's with my coupons and I have ribbon for something else. What else? I don't know but I'll be on the hunt to use this stuff elsewhere.

So I think I spent like $11 bucks for Valentine's and teacher gifts and I had to spend $1.49 for frosting for the party. Not too shabby and I am totally pleased.

Wordless Wednesday

WHY?

Oh Dear Valentine,

You know one thing I just noticed? If you look over there to the left, you know the small profile pic of Mr. Dunbar and I. The one where he looks intent on kissing me? And I look intent on smiling for the camera. Yeah that one. Well, if you look closely enough you will see a black strap over Mr. Dunbar's shoulder, the black strap to the diaper bag. Manly, isn't he? He really is and he is the best darn dad and husband a family could ask for. You see, I am married to a man that carries the diaper bag around the Mission Inn while we are having a full-on photo shoot (that I haven't yet paid for- because I suck). He sees what has to be done and he does it. That's just the kind of husband he is. He is the dad that says "Boys, it's been raining all day and you've been cooped up in the house and your mom is going to lose it, so lets go outside." He is the husband that comes home every single day with a smile on his face. Every. Single Day.
He is the guy that says if I don't get the big raise that I am entitled to I'll get a second job so we can keep the lifestyle that our kids are accustomed to (and in order to pay the bills and keep my wife home.) He is the guy that gets up at 4:45AM to go to the gym to stay healthy and sexy for me, his-sleeping-in-my-cozy-bed-till-6am-wife. He is the guy that insists on ironing our clothes on Saturday night for church on Sunday morning, because he knows I will be running around like a crazy lady if we are not all primped and primed for church. He is also the same man that puts his hand on my knee to pray at church, no matter what happened in the car on the way there. (You know an argument is inevitable on the way to church.) He reads his Bible daily. He leads our boys the way a father is supposed to. He makes us laugh. He lets Bogie and I yell.
He is my love, my best friend, my biggest supporter, and my Valentine.

I love you, Mr. Dunbar.

I'm a Bliar...

So everyone else I know in the blogosphere is talking about thier Blissdom weekdend today. Nashville is a little too far for me to travel right now, so instead I'll just keep it real.
I'm a "bliar," according to Mr. Dunbar. He told me this laughingly, is that a word, yesterday after church. Laughingly??
Remember way back last month when I told you all I was giving up Diet Coke?? Yeah, well I haven't. I still crave it daily. And I haven't given it up, only for a day at a time. So I must confess, I am a blog liar (bliar) after all.
So sad, I know. Perhaps we'll try again when the Bogster is sleeping through the night...

Rainy Day

It is finally raining here in sunny Southern California. We Dunbar's tried to head over the the "happiest place on earth" but it was just too wet. So instead we went to another fun place. Here is a sneak peek of our afternoon...

The food here is a bust, but kids don't care right? That's why mom bring snacks that are just a wee bit healthier.

Shooting hoops is the most favorite pastime at Chucky's.

Monkey cashing in all of his tickets.

Everyone was exhausted... nap time.

The Perfect Donut

The perfect donut is from Donut City around the block from our house. All of the big companies in town order their donuts from Donut City and any time I went to a meeting, when I was working, the donuts came from this place. But we have never actually been to the donut shop. Monkey has been asking for months to go there. So this morning Mr. Dunbar took him. Mr. Dunbar never carries cash, but they only take cash at the counter. Good thing I always keep change in my car. My two courageous men came back with 2 donuts. One for me, one for Monkey.
They were in a little bag.
Monkey carried them in.
Can you tell whose donut was on the top?

It was still dee-lish!!

25 Random Things About Me

So I was tagged on another Social Network to come up with 25 random things about myself.

Here goes...

1. I was born in an Air Force Base Hospital.

2. I talk really fast and always have. One of the jokes in jr. high and high school was that I should be on a Microcar commercial.

3. I went to the State Science Fair in the 8th grade. Sounds geeky, I know, but it was loads of fun. I was also in ASB, drill team, and on the speech team.

4. I worked at a bank in college. The bank was in a "take-over", I had to put my hands up, then I had a gun put to my head and was kicked by the bank robber. I quit after that.

5. Sorority was one of the best things I did in college. I am a Gamma Phi Beta.

6. I met my husband at a fraternity event at the river... 4 days, 40 kegs of beer... Yeah, don't really know how we're going to relay the story to the lil ones.

7. After college I backpacked through Europe for 2.5 months. Visited 11 countries. Italy and Greece were my favorites. I lost my camera at the Vatican, I always say that the pope stole my camera. Bad joke, I know.

8. I have a Master's Degree in Teaching and a credential. I have taught 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th grades. Second is my favorite followed by 4th.

9. I am the typical Type A- everything has a place and that's where it should be. I'll get up really in the morning to do some of my chores if something is really messy.

10. I planned my wedding in 3 months. The only thing I would change about it would be the photographer. My pictures suck. Oh, and I miscounted the number of bouquets to get for my bridesmaids, I was one short. My Maid of Honor's bouquet was put together from flowers out of the center pieces, it came out really well.

11. I don't mind doing laundry, it's the chore that least bothers me. The chore that most bothers me is cleaning the bathroom. Too many chemicals.

12. I have a pair of scissors in almost every room of my house.

13. I keep a notepad by my bed so if I think of anything in the middle of the night I can write it down and not forget about it the next day. Otherwise I can't sleep.

14. My house was built in 1947. I chose white tile when we moved in. Never again will I choose white tile with light grout, EVER!! In most of my house I have beautiful wood floors. Oh, and one side note, we do NOT have a dishwasher. These fingers that are typing this here blog post also do all the dish washing in this house.

15. I LOVE to go to Dodger games with my husband. He watches the game and I eat a Dodger dog and garlic fries followed by an icecream cookie. Don't get me wrong, I pay attention to the game, only most of the time I forget my glasses. So I can't see a thing on the field.

16. Africa is on my heart. What does this mean? I don't know yet.

17. I don't like to text unless its really late at night or really early in the morning. If someone needs to get a hold of me they should call me.

18. I'm a relational person. Quality time is one of my love languages. (As well as gifts.)

19. Blogging is my number one time waster.

20. I am keeping a list of things I want to accomplish at certain points in my life. Characteristics of people I like are always journaled there.

21. My favorite TV show right now is the Big Bang Theory. I laugh every Monday night.

22. Target can suck all of my money out of my bank account. So to curb this, I always go in with a list, always. And I only go once a week, mostly Mondays. Other money suckers: Nordstrom and Home Depot.

23. I don't like to have real plants in the house. Somehow they all die. I just don't know why. And I tried to keep an indoor herb garden in my kitchen, all of a sudden black gnat things were flying around my head. I threw it away immediately.

24. Mr. Dunbar and I having a standing date to be in Belgium for my 50th birthday.

25. God is molding me daily. I understand who I want to be and it is a long hard road.

And 26 is a bonus: I like to wear big sunglasses and most pictures of me are taken by yours truly, otherwise there would be NO pictures of the mom in this here Dunbar Fam.

Sunday Thought

Search me , O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you , and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23-24

P.S. Help me to listen to Mommy, too.