Tagged X 4

I was tagged by my friend Casey.
Here's the deal:
Pick the fourth photo from the
fourth folder in your computer.
Post it and tag four other people.

This is mine.

Monkey got into the food coloring. This picture really doesn't do him justice... it was EVERYWHERE. His hands, his mouth, his hair, his legs, my floor. We were calling him the "Blue Man" for a while.
Ahh.. the joy's of parenting boys.

I tag Christian, Lisa, Lisa B. and Jamie.

Kicking the habit...

I'm sure one of the resolutions on a lot of peoples lists every year is "lose weight" "eat healthy" yadda yadda yadda.

I ran across this article on Yahoo today. As I was drinking my Diet Coke for an afternoon pick-me-up. It was pretty interesting and just coincides with a few other articles I have run across in the past month.

I don't have a lose weight resolution this year, thank goodness. After nine long months all of the baby weight is gone, only the flab remains. (Just keeping it real.)

But I am going to add, drop soda, onto my list. Of course, after the two 12 packs in my kitchen are gone...

How are you doing on your resolutions thus far?

Inspiration

So Mr. Dunbar read one of my previous posts and said "You want everything in 2009!"
Of course I do. That's just me. I want. I want. I want. But it makes me happy wanting.
Biblical? Maybe not, but I don't get angry any more because I don't have, that would definetely be un-biblical. So...I have settled upon being happy, just wanting. Not every minute am I happy just wanting, but most minutes.

So my inspiration for 2009, is to be happy where I am at.

I want to be thankful each morning that I wake up and see my boys with bed head and not have to rush out the door by 7am.

I want to enjoy the fact that my husband comes home every evening with a smile on his face, whether or not dinner is ready.

I want to relish in the fact that we have a home that is ours, and I am going to put plenty of holes
in the walls this year, and some paint too.

I want to look in the mirror and think "This is me." and be completely happy with it. Hey all of the baby weight is gone and I'm 30. And a box of hair dye is only $7.

I want to walk my dogs and appreciate how they protect my boys and my home.

I want to chit chat with my friends, recall memories with my mom, and make plans with my husband.

I want to take pictures and capture the moments that are my life.

2008, was not the best year. But it was a year that I won't soon forget.

My Bogie was born, healthy. That was the greatest blessing.

March 14, 2008

Decenber 26, 2008

Taker Downer

I read a great lil post from Pink and Polka Dot and just had to comment, so I am tag teaming on her post Taker Downer or Keeper Upper.
I am a definite Taker Downer; the tree came down Christmas night, all of the decorations came down yesterday, and everything was rolled or pushed and shoved back to the garage this morning by Mr. Dunbar. (Thanks, Honey!) I love putting my decorations up but I also enjoy seeing them come down. I can't wait for the new year. Especially this year, 2009! It may be a big year for our family, most likely a year of changes, probably a year of struggles, definetely a year of growth. I can't wait. I've also been working on some new stuff.
I'll share it with you in the new year. So are you a keeper upper or a taker downer?

Hello, Telemarketer?

The other day I got a phone call at 8am. Who could possibly be calling that early??
My mom?
My husband?
Erin?
I had the shower running, 10 minutes for a Handy Manny episode for Monkey, and Bogie just about to awaken from his morning nap. Agh~!
And from the other end I hear, "Hello, this is Omaha Steaks calling..."
And I very quickly said, "Umm, no thank you we are not interested."
CLICK.
Again, agh!!! Those telemarketers!! Calling at 8 0'clock in the morning???


A few days later we are heading out to go look at Christmas lights and lo and behold there is this HUGE box on our porch. From whom you might ask?
Omaha Steaks, of course.
Mr. Dunbar's grandparent's ordered us this deluxe package for Christmas.
I had stuffed crab and a double-baked potato for dinner last night. Don't mind those 70's-ish looking vegetables, they were supposed to be for a different dinner, but I had to throw something on the plate to make my meal look complete.
Sometimes you should really let those telemarketers talk...

Family Pictures

We had our family pictures taken last weekend. I think they turned out pretty good.

www.calhounphotography.com

Great photographer, totally prepared and capable assistant, really reasonable prices.

I still wish they had done my wedding.

E's Insight- Guest Poster

I am at a lull. I don't know what it is and I can't pinpoint any one thing. So let's just call it a lull. I don't have any words today, I haven't in a few days, probably more. Have you noticed? Anyhow, my non-blogger friend, sent me an email... she called it her Non-blog, Blog.
So here you go. I'd love to know your thoughts...

Thankfulness and counting your blessings are themes that people seem to throw around at random this time of year. However, what does that mean??? Does that mean that we don’t fill out our Christmas list because we are seriously content to receive nothing? What girl is okay with not getting at minimum one pretty wrapped package? Does that mean that we are submissive to our husbands and actually stick to a holiday budget? Or does it simply mean that we look at what we have and reflect on not being spoiled brats compared to the rest of the world, where so many have so little.

This year I have had to deal with this issue quite a bit through my study of Moses and his life. I am not far mind you, he just got the 10 commandments. However, I realized that I am extremely quick to judge the Israelites for their dumb decisions, and whining. I need to stop. You see, I whine. I complain, and if God isn’t giving me exactly what I want, when I want it, I usually am pissed off.

I have grown in this area as well. I ironically am surrounded by fertile myrtile friends, I am NOT in their league, neighborhood, or state when it comes to that. I had to learn to wait, and be content on HIS timing, HIS plan, and if it came down to it, dealing with the reality of having only one child (NO Cal**** has one kid! We multiply people it’s in the name), or possibly in the early days having no children to call our own naturally. I had to come to the place where even though I was extremely unhappy, that I had to believe that although this place was hard, it wasn’t the hardest I would have to face yet. It was quite simply a place that was preparing me for what was to come.

I had to grow again being a stay at home mom. Many days I fail in this area financially. I want to spend money as if I were still making booku bucks teaching, even part time. I want to spoil my children when I find the “just right thing”. I want to spoil my husband, who coming from a family of seven has a different history with gifts, and therefore is a gifts person. I want the latest fashions, name brands, shoes, handbags (not purses, those are for men). I struggle with greed. Yet in my struggles, I also want to see my kids leave for school, be the one to pick them up, and provide for them the calmness of home that is, when I am home. I want their sheets to be clean, our house to be in some sort of order, and for me not to be frantic over what isn’t being done, because I am taking care of someone else’s kids. I want my cake and eat it too with Starbucks on the side! These things don’t have a price tag. Oh sure there are sites that you can go to that put a price on a stay at home mom, but who are we kidding, it doesn’t in the long run matter if the check isn’t coming in the mail. I don’t think California is going to start paying us for raising responsible, healthy, and morally sound children (not in the budget this year for CA).

So to count my blessings means what? It means to be thankful to a God that has more in store for me than I can see. To continue to strive to be obedient in my spending even when I don’t want to. It means that when I don’t want to count my blessings, I give the respect to God that HE deserves because HE is the one who gave them to me in the first place. I am not in Africa fighting malaria. My kids are not dying of cancer, or spending tonight in some strangers hell taken from me. I have a puppy. I have a family. Now things might not be how I dream of them to be, and there is always someone who has more, but I need to be content on what I do have, so that I am not a bitter, angry mom, who stays home with her kids, and focusing on the things that I am giving up, so they can have new underwear. I need to be content and count my blessings so that I am a happier person who never regrets my decision to give up earthly possessions in order to hopefully be growing Heavenly possessions. I need to be thankful for all God has given me so simply I don’t forget the struggles of wanting something I almost physically couldn’t have. I need to count my blessings, because even though I might want more blessings, they probably aren’t coming unitl I am truly thankful and content with what HE has already given me.

If you've read this far, WOW! It's me again... I'll be back tomorrow with my own post and my own thoughts. I've got some things on the brain.
I have just one question. Why can't Christianity be EASY?!?!?!

Turkey Day Re-cap...

Several years ago my mom started the tradition of having Thanksgiving Breakfast to ease the travelling between families for my brothers and I. This year with all of the chaos of my Grandpa's passing my sister-in-laws and I put the meal together, which I think turned out fabulous. And with all of the work divided, nobody was super stressed. Amber made eggs, a fruit platter and cinnamon rolls. I made a ham, some of our traditional side dishes (yams and green beans.) Erica, ok Adam, made the potatoes and brought tortillas. Us Mexicans always have tortillas instead of rolls for breakfast. Anyhow, here are a few pictures of our day...

All of the V cousins, all six, even the G-Man who slept pretty much the whole time.

Trying to get a family picture... yeah right!

Bogie and I.

The kids table... Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, now that's Thanksgiving!

I made the ham, Monkey helped. Check out the recipe here.

Thankfulness

Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name. Let the heart of those who seek His name be glad.
1 Chronicles 16:7

I am thankful for a God who is bigger than I am. I am thankful for all of my blessings, and even those things that I am not counting as blessings right now, He knows.
Have a happy day.
Oh and if you are reading this, I am thankful for you, too!

Friends and A Funeral

Yesterday was my Grandpa's funeral. It was a cold (California cold) day. Gloomy, supposed to rain. The services were in in Spanish and actually not that long... My brother gave a beautiful speech of my grandpa's life with my grandma.

We didn't take the boys. With all of my family attending the service I was in need of a babysitter. I had two friends offer to watch my boys. TWO.

I am so blessed to have such wonderful women surround me and love me.

If you know me, you know that I am not the "nice one" (that's another post coming soon). But I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends. My friend Erin offered to watch the boys with no time attachment as soon as she heard things were towards the end for my Grandpa. As soon as my friend Katie found out my grandpa had passed, she immediately offered to watch the boys. To be honest, I don't think I would have ever thought of offering such a relief if the tables were turned. (Hence, I am not the nice one.) But I will think of it now. It was a such a comfort to know that my boys were going to be taken care of and I wouldn't have to worry about them.

I did pick the boys up and take them to my Grandparent's house for the reception afterward. Babies have a way of calming everyone and bringing joy to those around them.

Thanks friends for your prayers, your wonderful thoughts, and your love.

Hot Topic

Money seems to be a hot topic these days. Or atleast the lack of money seems to be a hot topic.



I don't like the word "budget". I think it should be considered a four-letter word (aka bad word.)



I like to spend money, well I like new things. I do.



When Mr. Dunbar and I got married he put me on a budget. Talk about a source of contension. I was so angry and frustrated. We were on a dual income with no kids and a small house. I wanted to do what I wanted when I wanted. ( Because that's how marriage works, right?) Mr. Dunbar stuck to his guns and didn't let me waiver on what money would be allocated where. I was still sore about the whole budget thing. But you know what, it gave me boundaries, it gave him a sense of leadership, and it put money in the bank. Hence, I am at home now. I wish I would have gotten to read this article five years ago.

What I loved about Grandpa Elias

Grandpa Elias passed away yesterday morning. He had his wife and all four of his kids by his bedside.

I was told it was peaceful.

I've been keeping myself busy. Busy, busy, busy... its what I do to keep functioning. But I was eating lunch with the boys today and my memories of him kept flashing in my mind.

I loved how my Grandpa would open the door and in his broken english accent say "Who ees theees moooo-veee starrr??" (Who is this movie star?) Every single time I rang the door bell to my grandparents house.

I was also his " Aww-glee g-errrl" (Ugly girl) that pee peed in his car. Hey I was two!!

He would always always buy me a package of saladitos on his 7am run to the store.

No matter how early I got up he would always be sitting in his chair.

I loved hearing the stories about how he and my grandma would put records on the player and dance in the living the room.

My grandpa was a great dancer, always booogying on the dance floor.

I loved how he would wear shorts with dress socks and loafers and his twiggy white legs sticking out.

I love how he always just smelled the same.

I love how he looked at my boys like they were angels.

He was a sentimental man, kind, old school, dedicated... and loving.

I will miss Grandpa Elias.

The Adult Version

You can order a sausage at Costco instead of a hotdog, and you will be ordering the adult version. Just so you know.



As said by E.

Lunch Today

I subbed today for one of my closest teacher friends. So it was sad that she wasn't in the lunch room, but I finally got to sit at the tables and just chit chat with my friends. I miss that.
Kim was talking about the seasonal allergies of her son. The other Kim was telling me about the cruise she's going to take. Ali was elated about her new house and sharing about all of her plans... starting with new flooring and paint. Casey was telling us about her snowman mailbox that she just had buiilt. The snowman brick monstrosity that it is was not intentional. She thinks it's hideous.
And I was laughing so hard.
I miss my girl bonding time. I'm glad I have a job of sorts where I can still peek in on their lives and share in their moments and then come home to my life and my men. (Who knows how long this will last.) I've learned to be careful of what I wish for. But this time I am wishing for lasting friendships.

Not your typical...

We had a baby shower for my sister-in-law this past weekend. But it wasn't your typical baby blue and fuzzy cozy shower. It was a real grown up shower.

It took me like 20 hours to put the gift bags together. Next time I'll leave that to my other SIL. She's the creative one. The visionary of sorts. I'm more like the Technical Director. They turned out okay in the end. There were also little boxes with drawer sachets. Very ladylike.

Dessert. YUM! I don't like cheesecake but this one was very decadent.

Can you see all of the vintage spoons? Check out the history of the "silver spoon."

I thought I was taking tons of pictures, well I did. It just wasn't with my camera. So there are no people pictures to post. Oh well. You get the idea.

Any other non-typical baby shower ideas you have to share?

I WON

I won an award!!!
It's the "I heart your blog" Award.
OH my, oh my.
First off I'd like to thank the academy, and then of course my husband, and my precious boys who give me things to write about. And I couldn't have done it without you, all of my fans...

THANKS CHRISTIAN!!

There are all kinds of things I have to do now, but I am so giddy I can't think straight. I'll take care of it as soon as I can.

Okay, I am a moron and I can't figure out how to post the little picture of my award. HELP.

Wedded Bliss Among Other Things

This past weekend Mr. Dunbar and I went to the wedding of one of my oldest and dearest friends. (Old in friendship, not in age.)

Kristina finally got married. It was so great to see her. I hardly ever do now. She is a high-powered executive person who takes the subway at 11pm and dines in fancy restaurants. And her beau is just perfect for her because he does the same and they love that lifestyle. (Which is so so different from mine.)

My other oldest and dearest friend also flew in from the east coast. Nicole is brutally honest and histerically funny with her quick wit.

I love them both dearly. Seeing them brought a flood of memories back to my mind. Too many to type...

And although the three of us live in different states in different parts of the country our friendship remains. Its a precious gift. You know what the beauty of childhood friendship is? Its that those people love you and know you for you.

For me these girls were there before the make-up, before the zits and the crazy raging horomones.

They knew me when big bangs were in and MC Hammer was cool.

They knew me when my heart was first broken.

They walked together with me down that graduation aisle.

They stood beside me when I walked down the church aisle.

They smiled and said a prayer when my babies were born.

They encourage me in my marriage and motherhood.

They know me. My crazy, self-possessed, critical thoughts. And they still keep calling me their friend. Wild, I know.

Powers that Be

Bogie fell asleep on me this afternoon. So I held him and watched the palm trees that line our street sway in the wind. It gave me a few minutes to think about my morning. We had a really powerful sermon at church this morning.

Well it was powerful to me, you see, I am a patriot.

I love being an American.

I am proud to be an American.

I am thankful to be an American.

I do not take for granted that I am an American.

You see, I was in the Air Force for 20 years. Well, no, not actually me, I wasn't enlisted. If that was the case I would have had to have signed up before I turned 10 and last time I looked they weren't letting kids sign-up. Anyhow, my dad served 20 years. Which in turn means that my mom served 20 years also. (Military wives work just as hard as the been they stand behind.) I have seen the sacrifices that some choose to make for this country. I don't just mean war either. I mean the life of serving this country so that the rest of us can go to sleep in peace on any day of any season of any year.

Okay, back to church. We were urged to pray for our leaders. We were urged to pray for McCain and Palin as well as Obama and Biden. Now, no, I am not going to go on a rant of who I believe should be president and why. You can make your own choice based on your own knowledge. What I would like to say is that if you are a Christian please pray for all of these people including the Office of President and whomever wins. (Whether or not its your choice.) Its our duty as Christians;
"I urge you, first of all to pray for ALL people. Ask God to help them; intercede on thier behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity."1 Timothy 2:1-4

I used to hold our President in high esteem because he is the President and because I was raised to believe that he deserves it. I continue to hold the President in high esteem as an adult because that is what I am called to do as a Christian. And its not just the president, its all of our governing authorities.

As an American I have the right to voice my opinion and to vote to get my say. I may not agree with the politicians on a lot of issues, but I will continue to pray for them. I will pray for thier families and their advisors and their children. I hope you'll join me.
If you're not a christian and you've gotten this far; WOW. Thanks for reading through my ramblings. I hope you will also vote because you are an American.

(I can't figure out how to get the pictures side by side...)

Favorite Place

Okay I have a new favorite place...

The Home Depot.

I bought paint. Pictures to follow soon.

Homemaking 101

I like to live with order. I've said before I am a planner and I plan my days. But there is something my mom taught me about homemaking and making a home. My schedule before Mr. Dunbar gets home is always the same; have dinner either in the process or complete, be refreshed, clean the kids, and put on a smile. Now, does this happen every single day? NO Way! Not with my lil' demanding men. But I try and I pray that I will continue to refine my late afternoons, so that my home is a haven for my man.

I ran into the following on someone else's blog. (Sorry I can no longer find it, so I can't give credit. Really truly sorry.) But the following ideas came from a 1950's Home Economics textbook. Little did I know that I was born into the wrong decade!

• Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
• Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.
• Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.
• Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
• Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad he is home.
The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
Taken from a 1954 high school economics class textbook

What do you think about this?