Running for cover

 I was so sad when these pictures didn't turn out.  This morning as I was walking out the door to the bus stop with the kids, there were a pair of bald eagles in our front yard.  One of them flew just feet from Soren and I and dove to the ground.  I think it got a mouse.  Soren ran in the garage screaming.  I ran screaming.  It was actually a little terrifying having such a large bird come at you.  After I got back from the bus stop I was able to sit out on the back steps and listen and watch them.

 For such a big beautiful bird, they have a really annoying chirpy, screechy call.

 What a magnificent way to start the day!

Grease Monkeys

 Can I just say how lucky I am to have a Husband and Son that know how to change brakes?

Well they kind of did!

Good thing we have the internet.

 It amazes me every time they fix our cars.  I get so proud of them.
There's always the occasional swear word and always blood.

Last time Troy worked on Logan's car, he hit his head and split it open.  This time he put a hole in one of his fingers.  

The brakes are fixed, the guys learned something new and no trips to the ER.

Mission accomplished.

Date night for the kids!

 I'm going to embarrass Anna just a little bit.

Last night she had her first dance night date.

 IT was TOLO, which is a girl ask boy dance for Ferndale High school.  Anna asked a very nice young man to go with her.  Troy met him at the door with his shot gun.  Anna and I were horrified   I have to give it to Paul though.  He put a smile on his face and laughed.  Hope he wasn't scared!

We asked the kids to stand together so I could get individual pictures of the couples.  Just as I was snapping this shot Logan jumped in.  He was feeling a little protective about his sister.  There was no need to worry because Paul was the perfect gentleman.

 So cute!  See, I'm embarrassing her.

 I can't get over the fact that Anna is dating.  What a gorgeous girl Troy and I have!

 Big Brother and Little Sister.  I'm so glad they have a good friendship.

 The group of kids that went to the dance together.  I have to say, they were a really good bunch of kids.

I'm glad that she had a really good time.  The thought of her dating gave me an ulcer.  After meeting her date I was fine.  It's just hard for us Mom's to let go of that control.  Anna's growing into a responsible young adult.  We are so proud of her!  I have to say, I had an old person moment at the Safeway store earlier in the day.  I'm standing at the register buying a corsage for Logan's date and a boutonniere for Anna's date, it hit me hard.  I am old enough to have two kids in high school.  

I am old enough to have two kids going to school dances.  I am old enough to have two kids driving.

Yikes!

A foggy morning with Mr. Darcy

 For about a whole week, the fog was so thick.  It's finally cleared out know and the rain has begun again in earnest.  Washington, I have learned does nothing in half measures.  If it rains, it pours.

If it's foggy, it's as thick as pea soup.

If it's warm, it's paradise.

I grabbed the camera walking out the door taking the kids to the bus stop.  I had been hearing the Bald Eagles lately didn't want to miss my chance at a picture.  I wasn't thinking about the fog at the time!  Duh!

The kids went off to school and I walked back up the lane, my mind started to wander....

Mr. Darcy.

I could just imagine him striding toward me with his black great coat billowing in the wind.

I'm thinking of the moment in the Pride and Prejudice movie with Kiera Knightly, when Mr. Darcy comes to proclaim his love for Elizabeth.  They both are out walking in the early morning, with mist all around them.  Off in the distance Lizzy spots Mr. Darcy coming toward her.

Except in the movie it wasn't freezing cold.

Lizzy looked much better in her pajamas than I did.

She didn't just get 5 kids off to school.

I have to say, I like my "Mr. Darcy" aka Troy, more than the ones on the screen.

I do believe that Troy will be getting a black great coat next year for his birthday. 

A girl can dream, can't she.

Faithful Friends.

Christmas was over, kids back at school and husband back at work.  What do Andy and I do?

Well, I kept him from walking on paper thin ice on the pond.  He really, really wanted to do it too.  

We took walks went to the ocean and laughed A LOT!

Izzie is looking at me pleading me to stop Andy from walking on the ice.

"He won't make it Momma"

That would of been funny if he tried it though.  I just didn't feel like dragging a freezing cold, wet Andy up to the house while he is hypothermic.

 One of our little jaunts was to find shells for all his students.  I looked up when low tide was and off we went.  The first beach didn't work out so well.

 Second beach we ended up finding a star fish.  Andy was so grossed out/ fascinated by it.  It was still alive but we decided to take it home anyways.  He was determined to take it home to his students.

We found out how to dry it out, after we tried to boil it.  I guess that just works for lobsters.  I had Andy put it out in the garage under a heat lamp to dry it out.  Oh my heavens was that the nastiest smell!  Then we put it in Clorox water and back under the heat lamp.  When we next checked on the poor starfish it was burnt to a crisp.  He boxed the dang thing up and took it home anyway.  Oh the things Andy and I do.

 It was time for Andy to head home to Albuquerque.  We stopped and took him to Pikes Place Market Place in Seattle.  I had driven past it several times but had never walked through it.  

WOW!

Such a fun place to go.  The smells, colors, sounds.  I really want to take the kids.

I was completely sickened by all the fresh seafood sitting out.  How anyone could look at dead things and want to eat them is beyond my comprehension.  

 We had a wonderful lunch at a little cafe, not this one.  On the way back to the car we came across this little french cafe.  Next time I'm definitely going there!

Andy stayed for two weeks.  That's a long time to put up with our family and for us to put up with Andy.  I have to say though that I am so thankful that he came to visit us.  He is a faithful friend.  He accepts us for who we are.  The most important thing is that we laugh.

We laugh a lot.

We laugh hard.

Thank you Andy for your Christmas visit.  

WE love you!

Our last year.

I have come to to conclusion that I will never be able to get Christmas letters out.  I don't think it's in my DNA.  So coming to terms with this has taken a great weight off my shoulders.  Wish it was my hips, but oh well!

So instead of Christmas letters, I am going to do New Year letters.  Just a recap of what has happened in each of our lives in the past year.  So here we go.


Troy-
He has been with the company Turner and Townsend for over a year now and loving it.  He is working as an estimating consultant for mining projecs.  The commute he makes to downtown Vancouver BC, Canada everyday is not his favorite but he does it because we love living in Custer, WA.  His job has taken him all over Canada and he has been involved with projects in Canada, the US, Argentina, Chile and England.
Emily-
I started off last year with a hurt shoulder and had surgery for it in May.  It was a long recovery and I wasn't able to have the garden that I planed on.  I now have use of my arm back and am making big plans for a big garden this spring.  I spend my days doing Mom stuff and love it most of the time.  I try to get out and explore everyday.  I can't get enough of this beautiful green area.  My big passion is taking pictures.  My goal this year is to really learn how to take good pictures and good editing. 

Logan-
Logan is a Junior in High school this year.  He is very active in the DECA program at school and will be going to state competition for it. In November he went to Seattle for a DECA conference and loved it.  This last year has brought a lot of growing up for Logan.  He got his first job working at Van Huesen outlet.  All those paychecks are bringing him a little bit closer to getting his dream car.  Logan was able to spend some time in Rio Rancho this summer catching up with old friends as well as having friends come visit him here.  Between school, DECA, work and his social life, we don't see much of him.

Anna-
I can explain Anna's year in one phrase.  One Direction.  She's completely obsessed.  Every waking moment is spent thinking about 1D.  Logan has had a nervous breakdown over it.  The rule in out house is they can't say anything 1D related while we are at the dinner table.  Anna started her freshman year at high school and drives to school with Logan.  This Fall she got braces on her teeth and went to Homecoming.  Not long after that she started drivers Ed.  So many grown up things going on in her life.  It's all very hard for me.  I cut the apron string a little bit more right before Christmas.  I let her go to a concert in Seattle with a couple of her friends.  There was a Dad that drove them, but still!  She's not suppose to grow up so fast!  She has gotten involved in the FFA at the school and will be going to a conference out of town soon for that!  On top of all that she is learning cake decorating as a hobby.

Ella-
If you think Anna is obsessive about One Direction, then you haven't been around Ella enough. It's bad......real bad!  She is in the sixth grade and taller than most of the teachers.  She grows more beautiful by the day.  Boys are falling all over her!  This needs to stop.  She's still my baby!  School and choir are keeping her busy this year and she excels in both.  I'm hoping to get her un-afraid of volley balls coming at her so she can play this next year.  Use that height to her advantage.  Ella loves to mow the lawn and help cook when ever she can.  Just a few days ago I played "let's stump the 1D fan."  Couldn't do it.  She even knew what time they were born at!  As always Ella is always smiling and laughing and everyone her loves like crazy.  She has recently taken to jewelry making.  Just one more thins to crowd into my craft room.

Soren-
This year Soren in in the fourth grade and loves it.  He is a whiz at math and joined the Math Olympiad.  Competitions start this month.  I am forever trying to get grass stains out of his pants because of his love of kick ball.  When he gets home he will go into these huge stories about each game.  I love it!  Lego's are always on the floor in his bedroom or as I call them, small little booby traps laying on the floor.  He will spend hours playing with them.  As always, he is always on the go whether it's his bike, football, fishing, Lego's or video games.  His migraines are getting better.  Fewer and farther in between.  He has seen a specialist that came in from Seattle.  We know more on what triggers them and what to do for them.  Red dye is the number one culprit.  As a family we have had to change a lot of eating habits.  It's been good for all of us.

Olivia-
First grade and it's tearing me up!  She reads everything and it looks like she has the knack for Math also.  Making friends is a gift that Olivia has. Where ever we are at she wants to make a friends with someone.  A baby doll is always in her arms.  On one hand she still loves to play with her babies and in the next breath she's screaming for One Direction.  A big step for was when she started sleeping in her own be this last spring.  It's been life changing for Troy and I!  He stomach and swallowing problems have improved greatly but still have to deal with it.  It doesn't help that she loves to jump rope all the time.  Even when she's not actually jumping, she pretends she is.  She's developed a sense of humor that has us rolling all the time.   

As always our family is busy all the time.  Something is always going on.  I love our dinners as a family (without talk of you know who).  I guess as parent's we are really lucky that our kids love to tell us everything and talk our ears off.  I was impressed with the kids and my great hubby when I had my surgery.  They took over everything for me.  Time is flying by.  Soon kids will be leaving us and starting lives of their own.  Too soon.  I try to make the year slow down.  Love each day as it comes.

We miss our friends in New Mexico and talk about them all the time.  We have made new friends here in Washington and are grateful for that!  Family is far away for us and it's extremely difficult sometimes.  Especially now while my Mom is sick.  I could be sad and I am sometimes.  There's just to much that I have here with me now not to be the happiest I could be.  We wish friends and family a positive healthy year.  Don't sweat the small stuff.  Love, love, love!

                                                                                                The Dunow Family.

Can I swim in it?

 We took Andy to visit the ocean while he was here for Christmas vacation.  He brought his swim trunks and was ready to go for a dip. 

Um ya....not going to happen. 
It's kind of cold here. 

 Girls were all bundled up. 

Soren was too.

Look how mischievous he looks in this picture.

 It's always fun to go to the ocean.  We love to find all the little creatures that are hiding in the rocks and shells.

 Andy called me Mary Poppins. 

Hey, it keeps the rain off my head.

 Olivia with her new pink boots. 

 After we played on the beach, we went up into the woods.  We found so many mushrooms.  Troy and I were telling the kids that the smurfs live in the mushrooms.  Such a fun magical moment.  What did Soren do?  He went and stomped all over them.  Olivia got hysterical.  Needless to say, I wanted to wring his neck.  He apologised and made his little sister feel better.  We went off and found some more mushrooms and imagined little blue smurfs living happily ever after.

As always with Andy, it was an interesting experience.  He has gone back several times by himself.  One of the times he thought it would be a good idea to take some bread to feed the sea gulls.

He was attacked.

YOU DON'T FEED THE SEA GULLS!