Crab Castle

 We hit the beach today while the tide was CLEAR out.  I'm not a fan of walking through all that seaweed.  Ick!

Speaking of icky things, I walked around the beach and found all the crab shells for the kids sand castle they were making.

 Soren kept finding clams and wanting to bring them home.  I made him set them free.  I pulled the "they need to go back to their family" thing on him.

I just didn't want smelly clams left in our van!

 My beautiful girls!  I did the wonderful hair style Anna is rocking!

 Can't stand how cute her feet were.

 I ended up in the action, getting all covered in sand.

Soren and Olivia brought along their friend Joey.

What a wonderful way to spend the day!

Elliot

Elliot is the newest member of the Dunow Bunch.  We are the luckiest of families to have gotten him.  He is two years old.  Mother was a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Dad was a German Short Hair Pointer.  I probably got that backwards.  Oh well, he's a beautiful dog.  

Elliot is so well behaved.  Izzie and Elliot get along wonderfully.  The cat's can't stand either dog so it doesn't matter.  My little Guinea Pig men are up on a table, out of harms way now.  One big happy family.

 The reason the his last owner were waning to get rid of him was because he acquired a taste for their chickens.  This isn't good for a hunting/working/bird dog.  They were actually going to shoot him.  

So know we have a very loving energetic dog.  I'm amazed at how smart he is.

 We won't be using him for hunting or retrieving birds.  I will be doing some field training with him, just to keep him happy and mentally stimulated.  Elliot is with us just to enjoy life and to be loved.

Something in which he wants.  So for right now, we're trying to get him fattened up a bit, worming him and giving him lot's of affection.

Oh, and poor Izzie.  Elliot is making her so tired!

Bath time for the Piggies

Who knew how much I would love these little guys?  Most people get guinea pigs for their children.  I get guinea pigs for myself.  The kids and Troy laugh at me when I talk to them.  What's really funny, is that I catch them talking them all the time.  

 I can just kiss those little lips.

 Mo did not like having a bath!

Canuck didn't mind it so much.  He's also much more calm having his nails trimmed.  Mo is just mad all the time.  My goal in life is to melt his little cold heart.  

Good life goal!

Mr. Mo, as I call him and Cunuck just add a little more craziness to our household.  More for the kids to love.  More for me to love.  More for Troy to cuss at every morning as he tries to get breakfast.  

The second Troy opens up the fridge in the morning the piggies go crazy.  

Buddha and the Dunows

It's been a while since I have posted anything.  This summer has been difficult for me with the passing of my Mom.  I would always post my pics and them call her to look at them.  I need to get back into the swing of things and playing catch up.

Troy and I took the kids up to a Buddhist Temple in Richmond, BC, Canada.  We thought it would be a good educational and cultural experience for them.  My goodness, it was fascinating!  

 I don't know much about Buddhism, so it was interesting to read and learn.  The kids did great with being respectful of others beliefs and being in someones temple.  It was difficult at time to keep a straight face at some of them though.

 This one is for you Heather!

 The kids asked questions, we tried to answer them.  This is just one more experience for them to have in their lifetime and to learn from it.  Everyone is different.  WE don't have to agree with it, but be respectful that others do.

 I enjoyed the day with my family.  Not many more of these outings before Logan takes off for school.  Until then, I will drag him around with us.

Eagle watching

Ella's Graduation

 Ella graduated elementary school.  Next year it's off to middle school.  It has been nice to have her at Custer with the two other kids, but I think she's ready to be on her own.

This is Mr. Adams.  This man has had to deal with more drama than any man should have to endure in a lifetime and all in one year!  Talk about one amazing teacher.  I know when my kids have a good teacher, when they talk about what they are learning.  

 All the teachers in the school stood in the receiving line for the kids.  Most of the kids at Custer have been there since the beginning.  It was very touching to watch.

 Mr. Mitchell was Ella's 5th grade teacher.  Sorry for the bad pictures.

 I think Ella cried more than any of the kids there.  I am so glad she has such wonderful friends.

 I was glad that I caught this moment between Angie and Ella.  Seriously going to make me cry again.  Good thing they will be going to the same school next year.  

I truly love having my kids at a small country school. All the kids know one another.

I was happy for Ella, sad for me.  

That's one more child of mine getting that much closer to being a grown up.  

My Woodland Fairy

One of my goals this year is to learn Photo shop.  I took the pictures of Olivia wanting to put fairy wings on her with Photo shop.  So far I just have the cutest pictures of my little girl.  I did however touch them up and took the bruises off of the little beast.

 She looks like she belongs in the forest, doesn't she?