DUNMAR... FAMILY

Cleaning the closets...

2008-02-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

It'll be hard for me to part with some of these... LOL, it means that I don't have "little ones" anymore! I haven't told the kids yet, I'll have to break it to them gently (even though they haven't played with most of these things for ages!!)

Oh, well, onto to new stuff (they got alot of nice things for Christmas to keep them occupied)

It's a good feeling to give these away and bless others with them!!

Freezer Stash!!

2007-12-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

Cookie Swap Cookies... YUM!

Cinnamon Rolls and Christmas Bread... YUM again!

I left out some treats for us to enjoy now, and wrapped these plus five dozen eggnogg cookies to put in the frezer till next week, when we give out plates for gifts to neighbors, and also have our family Christmas party.

Snowy Day at Home...

2007-12-16T17:32:00.000-08:00

We spent most of the day at home baking, with the exception of sliding on the back hill, plus snow removal. We made Christmas bread, cinnamon rolls, and eggnog cookies, some of our favorite traditional Christmas foods. The kids have such a blast painting the cookies with the bright egg yolk paint!

Christmas Fun with Friends!

2007-12-16T17:13:00.000-08:00

Kids, babies and bunnies...what could be better?!! (And, so nice to see my Haley smiling again...)

One of our friends' daughters, Leah, with the remote control car :o)

Well, it's been a very busy, very fun past few days! After having a sad beginning to our week (Haley lost her beloved pet bunny Rosie), we were blessed with some very happy events to offset our grief.

On Friday, we hosted a cookie swap/Christmas party for the homeschoolers group. We did grab bags and a craft, and the kids had fun sliding on the back hill. The moms had a nice visit, and it was overall just a great day. (I wish I had more pics to post, but I managed to snap only a few...)

Saturday night we went to some friends' house for a caroling party. It was another great time of food, fun and friends. I think we sang just about every Christmas song ever written- it was a blast!

My Bass is Here!

2007-12-02T10:39:00.002-08:00

My acoustic bass guitar came on Friday- Dunc and I were so excited!

He has been playing guitar for about seven months, practicing intensely, and he likes to have me play basslines for him. My new bass has a nice deep sound that is way better than the guitar I've been using.

Dunc and I had some coaching yesterday from the music director at church, and to our surprise he's asked us to play at church a couple of times this month. We will accompany the youth choir, which Haley, Austin and Carter are a part of. It's so much fun practicing all together as a family!

Cooking Class

2007-11-19T17:32:00.000-08:00

Today we had a cooking class here with some homeschoolers (five kids, ages 8 and up). The menu was:

...

Eggrolls (compliments of Christina and her mom- thank you- they were SO yummy!!)

Sweet and sour chicken

Sesame noodles

Stirfry veggies

Chocolate-filled fried wontons with berries and whipped cream (This went over big, LOL!!)

...

The girls were fighting with Noah over the remainder of the chocolate ganache!

2007-11-19T17:20:00.001-08:00

Taejan... the cutie in my cupboard!!!

2007-11-19T17:05:00.000-08:00

The kids also set a really nice table...

Well, that was fun... I'm a little tired (LOL) but Haley and I can't wait to do it again this winter!!

More Progress...

2007-10-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

The sheetrock, mudding and sanding is all done...

Next comes the tub kit- that was Dunc's major project today...

2007-10-13T13:31:00.001-07:00

The 2x4 in. braces will stay there til tomorrow, then he can remove them. (They are pushing in the tub-surround so the adhesive will bond with the sheetrock firmly.)

Dunc put in this nice decorative post, to match the ones on the ledge near our bed. He snatched them from the trash years ago, and they've been sitting in the shed- it's cool we can use them now. He's calling the over-all look of our room "eclectic-funk" because we are piecing it together with 'whatever', LOL. I think it's coming together nicely, though.

I had to take a close-up of the beautiful cherry wainscoating around the tub- it was also rescued from the dumpster! It cleaned up so nicely.

We have been waiting quite awhile to save enough to buy a tub- we wanted a six footer. Then Dunc found this tub on clearance at Greenburg's for a steal. It's just the right length and very deep. I can't wait to take a bath in it!

Fun at B.S.R.

2007-10-12T06:03:00.000-07:00

OCT 6TH, 2007

While I was at a ladies' retreat in NH, Dunc and his parents took the kids for a ride on the Berkshire Scenic Railway. They all had a blast! (I was a little disappointed that I missed it, but I had a nice day also!)

Dunc and the kids at the train station... he told me that they had a nice piano in the station also, which Haley couldn't help but try it out, of course. I heard that she attracted quite an audience, lol.

2007-10-12T05:27:00.001-07:00

Grampie Clark and Haley

Carty enjoying the ride...

Camping On Back Hill

2007-10-12T05:05:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY OCT 5, 2007

Dunc and the kids decided to camp up on the back hill behind our house. I had to get up early the next morning to go to an all-day ladies' conference so I got out of sleeping in the tent ;o) I went up and joined them for smores and fireworks at night though- we all had a great time!

Haley said she woke up wet from the dew, but she's a trooper...

Maybe next year we'll do "real camping" again!!

My Hardworking Man

2007-10-05T16:25:00.001-07:00

Dunc, standing by his latest accomplishment!!!

He put in the tub and kneewall and finished the plumbing for the shower.

Yay!!!!! I now have a nice home for the pottery I've been painting at Diva Night at Bisque, Beads and Beyond. I just need a canister to put coffee in, and I'm in search of a red coffee pot to put there also.

I'm so proud of Dunc- he's spent like a zillion hours in the miserable crawlspace under the house this week, hooking up the plumbing for the sink and shower unit. He also built this vanity,

kneewall and tub enclosure in his "spare" time! I was amazed at how beautiful the cherry wainscoating is, in front of the tub. Much of the valuable materials he has used has been salvaged demo or left over from old jobs- some he rescued from dumpsters, LOL!

(Next comes the sheetrock, then the tub-surround, fixtures and faucet.

I was so excited to place my coffee cups and sugar bowl on top of the vanity he built! Underneath is a little dorm fridge for half-n-half and snacks. We'll never have to leave our room again!

Outing Today...

2007-10-02T14:28:00.000-07:00

Today we did one of our favorite activities- we went to the nursing home to help Rev Don. My new friend Alison met us there- it was a truly blessed day!

Alison and her kids were so wonderful and helpful- the residents really enjoyed seeing all the kids. (Her 2 y.o. even danced for them LOL- TOO CUTE!!!)

I know that it was a huge shot in the arm for Rev Don and I, and a real answer to our prayers.

Alison invited us to her house for a nice lunch, and the kids and I had such a great time. I am thankful to have met another 'kindred spirit'. Ok, yes, I'll admit... Haley and I have been watching Anne of Green Gables alot lately. But I mean it! Alison rocks!

Ok... seriously...As many of you know, Dunc, the kids and I have gone through a hugely painful transition recently, leaving our church 'family' of 16 years. While we long for relationships lost, and hold out hope that they will one day be restored, we are SO grateful that the Lord is providing us with new, wonderful, supportive friendships. God is so good!

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY AUSTIN!!!!

2007-10-02T13:59:00.003-07:00

October 1, 2007

Austin w/cupcakes (sorry, my pics are coming out blurry- I'll have to stop cropping them!)

Austin got a drum, race track, camo hat, art supplies, stffed dog, and a remote control jeep. He wanted so badly to sleep with his jeep, LOL, but he had to settle for the stuffed dog!

ABOUT AUSTIN:

He was my biggest baby, weighed in at 9lbs. 9oz. I had a c-section for him, and since he was so big and delivered by C- he was so beautiful and perfectly formed when he was born- cute and chubby!

He's always had a very sweet disposition, but also very sensitive to people and surroundings- he takes rejection pretty hard. Dunc says that comes from being the middle child and having a younger brother that's close in age. He and Austin have both those things in common.

Austin is also a wonderful artist (I'll have to post some pics of his art sometimes). He has great rhythm too (thus the drum gift for his B-day).

The thing I value most about Austin is that he is naturally caring and compassionate. He doesn't have his own bunny yet, but he always makes sure the others feeds theirs. He gives the bunnies plnety of love and attention too- they hop right to the door when they see him coming, because they know they can trust him!

He's like that with people also- when we give him a treat, he wants to make sure everyone else gets one too. When someone is sick, he sticks by their side. He is kind to little children. I always tell him that he'll make the best Dad in the world. (Not rushing that though, LOL!)

Fall Foliage Parade

2007-10-02T13:27:00.001-07:00

Sunday, Sept. 30th was the FF Parade in N. Adams:

It was perfect weather for it!

I have very fond memories of watching this parade when I was young, and now I'm glad the kids can enjoy it with us! They loved watching the bands and floats go by, and esp. grabbing up the candy that was being thrown, LOL!

A pretty blurry pic (above), but it's Austin, and Haley and her friend Christina in the background

NOAH'S ARK

This was our favorite float... it happened to be sponsored by our new church that we've been attending for about a month, Stamford Community Church. It won the "Grand Marshall Award".

Nibbles, Our New Bunny!

2007-09-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

Rosie and Nibbles...
Austin with Rosie and Nibbles (He is so excited, because he will get tp pick out and keep one of their babies, if and when they have some!)

2007-09-27T10:26:00.003-07:00

Fluffy Boy!
Haley and Nibbles...

BUNNIES!!!!!!!!

2007-09-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

Our new bunny is settling in...

He are Rosie and Nibbles... Rosie is a 3 y.o. REW (ruby-eyed-white) Jersey Wooly. Nibbles is a Pointed White Jersey Wooly (thus the black points on nose, ears, feet and tail) He will be four months old on Oct. 9th. (We plan to breed them when he is ready- could be any time in the next month or two!)

A VERY Happy Boy!!

After many months of waiting (and bugging Mommy and Daddy) the kids got their new Jersey Wooly bunny. It belongs to Carter, who named him Nibbles, (The pedigree papers says that his name is Scottie, but the breeder told Carter he could name him anything he wanted :o)

Huggy Kids

2007-08-12T18:05:00.001-07:00

Carter (age 5) Haley (age 9) Austin (age 6)

The Back Half of Our Bedroom is Done!

2007-08-12T17:51:00.003-07:00

Well, here it is! The front half is still in process, but we are so excited to be enjoying our new room. I was pleasantly surprised at how everything came together- The furniture, hanging light fixture and curtains were given to us, and all the mirrors were bought second hand. The orange paint color was a bit of a risk, LOL, but we really like it.

The Addition is Coming Along!!!

2007-08-12T17:39:00.001-07:00

Dunc is measuring for the trim...

The front half of our bedroom will be a bathroom and coffee nook. Dunc is putting the finishing touches on an enclosed stall for the toilet. We will put a sink and tub in the main part of the room. I'm also planning to paint a mural on one wall :o)

HALEY'S 9TH BIRTHDAY

2007-04-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

Haley turned 9 on Sunday (hard to believe my little girl is so BIG!) Her party was on Saturday, and she loves horses so we did a horse theme. The kids dressed up as cowboys and cowgirls- they were so cute :o) We had a horse pinata and a horse cake. And, they played Pin the Tail on the ... Horse, of course!

2007-04-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

Haley got a stuffed dog from us at night. As you can tell from the pic below, she was happy to get the dog, which she had asked for months ago when we said she couldn't have a real one ;o) She named it "Piley" and has been carrying it around the house constantly.

2007-04-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Dunc took this at the end of the day, LOL- I was a just a little tired out by then!

Skating Lessons

2007-02-21T17:10:00.000-08:00

2007-02-21T16:04:00.000-08:00

The kids are taking iceskating lessons this week. I knew Haley would love it, but I wasn't sure if the boys would like it, esp. Carter, but they've done great. Austin picked it up within a couple of minutes. The teachers are really good with little kids and know how to motivate them. They've refused to let the mothers near them and insist the kids stay on the ice for the entire one hour session. I think it's been harder for the Moms than for the kids ;o) esp. the first day when they fell alot!

But now all three of them are skating very well without holding on to anything, and they know how to fall correctly and how to get up without help. They are learning little tricks, too.

Yesterday Carter was yelling to me from across the ice at the top of his lungs, "Look at me skate, Mom! I'm so PROUD OF MYSELF!!!" Everyone cracked up :o)

Settling into the new room

2007-02-21T15:30:00.000-08:00

Duncan took some pics of the kids in the new room the other night. He built the top part of the bed for to make a bunk and stained it to match the bottom- I was pretty impressed with the results.

Haley's bed is in the "old part" of the room temporarily. She has her dolls and books set up so she is happy as long as the boys don't touch them!

It is working out nicely, and there is enough room for them all to be comfortable.

Now I'm just waiting for the border to come in!

The day after

2007-02-15T19:49:00.000-08:00

Thurs. 2/15/07

Duncan spent almost two hours snow blowing this morning. It was hard to tell exactly how much snow we got because of the drifts, but it looks to be about 2 feet. That's a pretty impressive amount for one storm, especially after getting only a couple of inches so far this year!

This afternoon we took the kids to their music lessons and then swimming. The bitter cold was almost unbearable, but the hot tub sure felt good once we got there!

Happy Snowy Valentine's Day

2007-02-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

Dunc and the kids had a great time going out to play in the show in the middle of the day on Wednesday, right before the wind and snow picked up again. They even went sledding in the back yard. The kids have been waiting all winter to do that!

Painting Fun

2007-02-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

We are doing a stars and planet theme in the boys room. Last night the kids painted the ceiling with a stamp and sponge paint kit their Aunt gave them (with some help and supervision from Dunc and I, of course ;o) They had a total blast! (finished product below).

We are almost ready to move the boys in. The wallpaper border will have to wait since it's on backorder for another 2 weeks. Haley will sharing a room with them for now while we work on room #3.

2007-02-08T10:13:00.000-08:00

Goals for Week

2007-02-05T16:12:00.000-08:00

Mon. 2/5/07 7:13 pm

Duncan is out doing a job estimate, and I'm taking a break from shuffling around furniture and cleaning out clutter. Dunc painted the boy's room late last week- I was happy with the color, and even happier with the price: it's Ben. Moore and we only paid $1 for the whole gallon. I ordered a border that hasn't come in yet, but it should be really nice. Today Dunc put in all the baseboards, window trim and outlets, and shampooed the rugs. After schoolwork I spent the afternoon going through lots of STUFF. We were joking that we almost have enough to fill a dumpster, but it's no joke- it's kind of overwhelming.

Luckily my inlaws are going to take the kids on Wednesday so I can do a clean sweep. It will be good all the way around- they will do schoolwork with them and maybe take them on a field trip, and I will have time alone to get rid of stuff while no one's there to protest ;o)

I really feel like what is going on in the physical is related to my spiritual, mental and emotional state also. I know that God wants us to simplify our life so that THINGS are not clouding our vision or bogging us down. I need to get more disciplined in other areas also, but this is a good start.

Dunc's Birthday Dinner

2007-01-31T15:11:00.000-08:00

Today is Duncan's birthday (he says he's turning 30 for the 18th time). I told him he could bring home anything he wanted for dinner and I would cook it. He got a four pound lobster on sale. He was actually in pain in the picture because the lobster got him with his back claws! He got even though- it's boiling in the pot as I write this ;o)

Haley and Alexsis

2007-01-31T11:50:00.000-08:00

We are doing respite care every Wednesday for a four month old baby. Her name is Alexsis and she is so cute and sweet- the kids LOVE her, and Haley is like a little mother to her :o). She has a cleft lip and palate just like Carter had, and will have her 2nd of four surgeries next week. We feel blessed to be able to give a little of the care and support that others gave us when we were going through this.

Snow Man!?

2007-01-30T09:49:00.000-08:00

Dunc sanded out room #2 today so he can prime and paint. He loves snow storms, and I joked with him that this may be the closest he will get to being in a blizzard this year. :o)

Mima's Puppies

2007-01-30T08:17:00.000-08:00

My Mom got two puppies last week; they are husky/beagle mixes. She brought them up to see the kids, who were so thrilled! She had to practically pry them from their hands when she left, LOL! Of course, the kids tried to wear us down about getting a dog. I love puppies and these ones are sooooo cute, so my emotions were getting stirred, until one of them piddled on the rug, and I snapped out of it. I've got my hands full enough! But it's wonderful to have them visit :o)

photos of addition

2007-01-29T17:02:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics taken tonight of the progress Dunc is making on the house. The dining room is totally done (see pics below), and is already being put to good use. We've had church here for the past 3 Sundays, while wating for the closing on the new church building. It has worked out very well- we have fit around 20 people in the house comfortably.

The second photo is of the extension on what will be the boys' room, which has almost doubled in size. We will put bunk beds in the new part, and use the bigger old part for a play/school area. The third wall has not come down yet, which will be our room with a second bath built into it. (I will post more pics as that develops).

2007-01-29T16:41:00.000-08:00

Tea party today

2007-01-29T15:30:00.000-08:00

first post on new blog

2007-01-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

Today's Monday and I am trying to get things on track for the week after a busy weekend. The computer room is such a mess- a big catch-all, so I'm going to spend some time tackling that. Everything gets thrown back here when we don't know what to do with it! Dunc is builiding additions onto the bedrooms one room at a time, so I am determined to put back much less in each room than we took out!

I find that I can think better when I compress the clutter and keep the house neat. The kids seem to be in better moods and learn better too. We didn't do much formal schooling today, just some reading and educational games, and a tea party which became a lesson in manners and self control! Well, we will hit the books tomorrow!