We had a busy and fun 4th. We went to Crowell, TX for Roscoe's uncle's 75th Birthday. It was really nice to spend time with quite a bit of his family. The kids got to shoot fire works and had an absolute blast!!! (Pun fully intended!!)

Rachel: (The one with the sparklers is my current favorite of her...)



Noah learning to set off fire works. Don't worry there was an adult close by at all times!!



Well, I have to run. I have to get everybody cleaned up and ready. We are having family pictures made this evening....

reynolds family reunion

For those of you who are not related.... sorry!!

I AM a REAL princess, you know!!

R: I am a real princess, you know...
Me: Really? Why is that?
R: Because I like to wear dresses - ALOT!!

Rachel's goal for the day was to perfect the "Princess Twirl". I think she has it down, don't you?






Here are a few more from our impromptu shoot in the front yard:




One more. This is my favorite from the session:


She is growing up so quickly. I just nearly can't stand it...

FRAUD!!!!!

OK... 7 weeks ago we thought we were getting two sweet PUPPIES - we were wrong. We are the proud owners of two sweet, lovable miniature horses!!! When we took Thunder and Storm in for their first checkup and shots they weighted 11 and 14 pounds,respectively. Last week (4 weeks later) at check up #2 they now weigh 25 & 28 lbs.!!! That is 14 pound each!! They are eating about 50 pounds of dry food every 2-3 weeks. Oh my!!



We have been busy as ever around the Dunn Hive. Noah is out of school for the summer. He ended the year on a super high note! He scored 100% on both the Reading and math portions of the TAKS. He had the highest number fo AR points in his class, and managed to pull off all A's in both grades and conduct. He also managed to have perfect attendance for the whole year. We are very proud of him!! Here are some pictures from the last day:



I am taking a summer class during the first summer session. It is a micro-computer applications class. It is going to be fast and furious!! If you are so inclined, you might pray that I make it through without losing my mind and maybe even pull out a decent grade!! :0)

We are heading to OK next weekend for a Reynolds family reunion. The kids are looking forward to getting to camp out at the farm and play with some extended family. It is going to be a lot fun. Hopefully I will return with some fun pics.

Well dinner is about ready adn we still have gracoery shopping to do. I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Life...and then some!!

It has been way too long since I have updated this blog!! So much has happened sinice I last posted. Let's see if I can recap our busy and crazy life!!

We suffered some sad losses. Frankie Jo, the sweet chocolate lab we were blessed with was hit by a car after she got out of the yard. We were sad and still miss her. She was a sweet and good dog.

On March 15th, Ellen, Roscoe's mom, went home to be with the Lord. She was a tough little woman and she ran a good race and fought a hard fight. We miss her greatly, but are comforted by the knowledge that she is out of pain and is in the presence of her Lord and Savior. We would ask that you continue to remember our family as we are still working to get her estate settled.

As most of you know, I have returned to work full time. I enjoy my job, and it has been good for all of us. We are still adjusting to the "new normal. The kids are doing well. I think that we are leaqrning to appreciate the time we have together a bit more now days. Soon, our routine will take another direction as the kids get out of school for the summer and I start taking some classes. I am tqaking a mcro-computer class during the first summer session. I am a bit nervous after being out of school for so long. i just pray my mind is still capable of absorbing and learning... We'll see!!

The kids are doing great! Rachel is outgrowing everything!! She is getting taller each day and turning into quite the "big girl". She just recently celebrated her birthday, turning 5 years old!! Where has my baby girl gone?
Noah is doing well in school. He made a 100% on the TAKS reading test. He was very excited and we were very proud of him. Today was the Math portion. I am sure he did very well. He, too, is growing by leaps and bounds. It is hard to believe he is 9 years old, and will be in 4th grade next year!

We have two new additions tp our family! Thunder and Storm are two of the cutest little Malamute-Lab mix puppies!! We are enjoying them and eager to watch them grow. We took them for their first puppy check-up yesterday. At 7-8 weeks old they are already good sized dogs! Thunder weighs 11 lbs. 1oz. Storm wieghs in at 13lbs. 15oz. Here are acouple of pictures of our new babies. I hope you enjoy them!!

Life as we know it...

has definitely changed for the Dunn household! It has been a big adjustment in our home! Some of our new "craziness" is permanent, some not so much so.
My job is going well. I am catching on and should have a pretty good grasp on it, I think before our other teller takes off a couple of days following Spring Break. April will be hectic, though, as we have a new cashiering system coming on and then summer early registration starts. I am really enjoying the work so far. This week I took care of a lot of the "housekeeping" (paperwork) and the benefits package is going to help us SOOO much. I am still thanking God every single day for opening the doors for this opportunity!

Please continue to remember Roscoe's family in the days ahead. Ellen is still in the Hospice Center and continues to decline each day. I am sure that the Lord is close to calling her home. It will be sad for us, but she is ready. We talked just last month about how good it will be for her to "go home". She will not hurt anymore, and she will be with so many that she loves - her mom and dad, Ernie, Sam... As I said though, it will be sad for us and we will miss her. Pray for Roscoe. There will be a lot of responsibility placed on him to take care of settling most of Ellen's affairs.

Today will be spent taking care of quite a few chores. Rachel and I are about to go grocery shopping and much of the rest of the day will be spent doing laundry, dishes, etc.

By the way, does anyone have any advice on how to keep an 85 lb. lab inside the fence?!?! Frankie Jo has decided that she does not belong in our backyard. She climbs the fence and spends most of her time on the front porch. Last night she tried to follow me when we left to run to McDs. My biggest fear is that she is going to get in the road and get hit. That would absolutely devestate the kids. Any suggestions?

OK- gotta run and get things done! Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

This picture represents my blessing for today. I am blessed enough to live in the greatest country on earth. Not only that, but I am privileged to live near a base that is home to many of the heroes who protect that country every single day!! When we first moved out here, the sounds of the planes was a major annoyance. Now, we have gotten used to it and the days they aren't flying seem overly quiet. It may be crazy but I have come to find a certain comfort and security in the noise of those planes flying overhead. I also feel fortunate to count among my friends many who either have served or are currently serving in our military forces. I would like to take a moment to express my personal thanks and gratitude for all that you sacrifice to protect my freedom. As i have often heard, "Freedom isn't free." I know that our lives would be so different if it weren't for you. You are my heroes!!


This picture is also representative of a common sight around our home. As summer begins to approach sunflowers will pop up all over the place. They are one of my favorite flowers. Somehow they always seem to remind me of God's wonderful creativity when He made this earth and all that is in it. Isn't our God good?

Today we are moving pretty slow around here. Last night was a late, long night. My mother-in-law, Ellen, has taken a decline. She is not eating or drinking right now. Hospice is doing all that they can to keep her comfortable. Roscoe was over there until very late (or rather very early this morning) trying to do what he could for both his mother and his sister. His sister has taken very good care of their mother, but is having a hard time accepting that she just is not really going to get better. If you would, please remember our family in prayer throughout the coming days/weeks.

I will spend much of the day getting ready to go back to work. I start my new job tomorrow. I am looking forward to it!! After our "trial run" in January I can be confident that the world will not come to an end because I am working again. Actually, I think it proved to be good for us in many ways. Today, however, it means there is a small mountain of laundry that must have some attention. Also, a few errands to run and some phone calls to make. I suppose that all means I must get up and get busy! I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed day!