Been workin'

I normally work about two or three days a month.

This week so far I've worked, three days in a row.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

I used to work three days, which was good. A good break down of time. A good balance between work and home. But I've been spoiled these past 20 months and I am just not used to the craziness of getting up and going to work each and every day, so too say the least; I am exhausted. And thrilled to have gotten to see all of my friends and some of my old students. And bummed that one of my co-workers had to take a leave, but honored that they asked me be the temporary fill-in. And exhausted just thinking about it. And grateful that I can still make up a schedule that works for my family. These guys make each day worthwhile.

(We don't really let our kids drink soda. Only for pictures. )

Back to normal blogging next week.

And the winners are...

Julie from Jam and Jilly won the Starbucks gift card.
Ali of The Spatz Family won the Target gift card.
Karen of Some Days are Diamonds won the Home Depot gift card.

Thanks for playing everyone!!
Have a wonderful Fall weekend.

"Berry" Neat Trick

My "crunchy" sister-in-law showed me the neatest trick ever to get out (semi -fresh) berry stains. The kids had berry smoothies for breakfast and we did this about an hour later.

In order to do this, you take the garment that has berries all over it and stretch the area where the spots are. She used a mixing bowl and a rubber band to keep it stretched out in place.
The following picture does not do this t-shirt justice of how many berry spots were on it and how dark they actually were.

Then you take boiling hot water and pour over the spots.

And Wha-laa!!

Spots disappear.

Seriously. It totally worked. We did this small procedure on two different t-shirts and a pair a pants and the (semi-fresh) berry stains all completely disappeared.

I was amazed.

Am I the only one who didn't know about this?

First Day of Fall

Well the weather guy says it can get up to 107 degrees today,
and we don't have to many trees that change colors, but I am so in the mood for fall.

Can you tell?

Happy Autumn Everyone.
You still have time to enter the giveaway.

Well I was...

I had every intention of showing you fall decor

but the others had another plan for the morning...

How was your Monday morning?

Don't forget about the giveaway from the last post, it's open until Friday.

I am so sad, so why don't we have a giveaway?

Mr. Dunbar sold my baby yesterday.

The baby I've had since high school. I remember the day I got her...
All of the cheer squad followed me home, they knew, I didn't.
All the neighbors were outside waiting with my parents, my song was playing.
She was waiting for me on the driveway with a big red bow, just like I always wanted.
Chloe. Honda Civic.

She got me through my senior year of high school.
She drove me to college, drove me home on graduation day.
She drove me to get my make-up done on my wedding day.
She drove me to my school on my first day as a teacher.

Then, eventually, she became Mr. Dunbar's commuter car. I got a new car, but she was still here.

I loved that car.

But now it was time. I told Mr. Dunbar it was okay to sell.
I cried when he told me that she sold.

On another note, my blog is 1 year old. I think the actual one year mark was actually on Wednesday. So to celebrate let's have a small giveaway.
I'm offering three different prizes.

$10 Starbucks Gift Card
or
$20 Target Gift Card
or
$20 Home Depot Gift Card

Just leave a comment on this post until Friday September 25th at noonish.

My only condition tell me where you are, geographically.

Oh and you can sign up to "follow" this blog for another entry.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Sending Birthday Wishes your way!!!

Love, Monkey and Bogie

The Outakes:

The Start of New

Yesterday was the official day for the "New" in the Dunbar home.

Monkey started his new school year. (Finally.)

He also entered the realm of sports.
Organized team sports.
And so it begins.

Of course these two just have to play together.
Ms. Casey made sure that they are on the same team, she's just efficient like that.

Vans, even for Pee Wee soccer will not do. They kept slipping off, so we will be buying new shoes for soccer. No cleats yet.

Mr. Dunbar and I figure we will spend about the next 18 years at sporting events for our sons. It just goes along with our plan for Raising Men. We believe that sports teach young men a great deal. Things like teamwork, sportsmanship, persistence. Of course, those qualities will come in time.

Pee Wee soccer is all about fun. There are no games until the last two weeks. These 4 year olds are still learning the basics. The basics of basics. The laughed, we laughed. They ran and kicked and we cheered. They took "water breaks" often. The boys felt so big and mature running to the sidelines for their water and then running back. Smiles and high 5's were had by all. It was a good time. A good experience. A little memory to tuck away in time. Pretty soon I'll be like Patty with a high schooler being rushed to the hospital. I have no doubts I'll be making trips the emergency room.

This is the start. The beginning. The start of outside sources helping to mold my boys into men, with me watching on the sidelines, praying for safety, for victory, for confidence to let them be.

Balloon Races

This past weekend we went up to go see Mr. Dunbar's brother and family and made our annual trek to the Great Balloon race. It was a nice long weekend. Only one kid was throwing up this time around.

Our Saturday morning starts way early, 4:30 am.

But its neat to see the balloons lit up in the dark.

Some of the balloons had problems getting air-borne this time.

Bogie is telling me he doesn't know where they went.

Monkey's face when quite a few lifted off at the same time.

No make-up and Starbucks in hand.

The sky is amazing when all of the balloons get air-borne.

And a sneak peak at the rest of our stay...

Bogie on Zo's bed, bottom bunk.

This little guy is amazing.

Projectile vomited consistently throughout our stay and never got grumpy once.

Let me remind you, these are our "crunchy" cousins.

Homemade beanie, Roots t-shirt, and leg warmers?

Isn't he just super adorable?

Bedhead was the theme of the weekend.

She's coming down stairs to make sure her cousins are still there.

I took over 500 pictures, but now I'm just too darn tired to go through any more.

Monkey wants to ride in a hot air balloon next year.

Would you?

Lemon-ee Yummy Breakfast

I've got a new favorite quick breakfast.

Plain or wheat bagel, with low-fat whipped cream cheese and lemon-pepper.

I'm serious. Try it.

Pure yumminess.

Mr. Dunbar and Bogie like it, too.

What are your favorite toppings for bagels?

(Steph, this was all because of you.)

I remember

I remember 9/11 vividly.

It is a day that is etched in my memory as America was under siege. I remember the feeling of helplessness. Of confusion. Of fright. But I know there are so many others that can still smell the smoke, taste the ashes, feel the deepest darkest pain imaginable because someone they loved lost their life that day. That tragic day.

My prayers are with everyone affected and with all Americans.

May we turn from our evil ways and look to the One whose plans are greater than ours could ever be.

Frugalista Fashionista, sort of

I try to be conservative with how I spend my money, okay our money, Dunbar money these days. Back when I was a working woman I had "personal spending money." Money that was all mine to do with as I pleased, and got to spend All. On. Me.

It was fab.

These days there is no more personal money. You know that whole one income with kids thing. (It really throws a rock in your "personal stuff.") So now I have to get creative and get only the things I really truly like or love or need. And when you find a cute dress for 75% off at Target for six bucks that is rockin'. Seriously, I hardly ever peruse the clearance racks because I usually only find junk. But today there were some good steals. If you haven't made your Target run for the week, head over there, lots of good things were 50 - 75% off.