Slogging through January
January was a big month for us. Billy turned 8 and then he was baptized. It seemed that after we celebrated these occasions, it was time for a nap. Yet January continued on. Billy started basketball practice and is a Wolf in our church’s Cub Scout Pack. He is really enjoying going to Scouts with Bill. Billy’s first basketball game was a couple of weeks ago and the team lost 16 – 8, but they redeemed themselves and won on Saturday 24-8. It is a lot of fun watching 7 & 8 year old kids play basketball. The Pinewood Derby was on the 25th and Billy won 3rd place overall. He had a blue and red Sonic car. He even had his own cheering section of friends that chanted, Billy, Billy every time he raced. Baden continues to keep us laughing. He sings, dances and says the funniest things. Bill is flying nonstop. He is also going to school and finishing his degree. I have been out interviewing for, wait for it, a job. I know it will be a big change from stay at home mom. The boys are excited especially Baden. He wants to stay at school all day. I am excited too and a bit nervous. It will be a good change. So as we slogged through January, it hasn’t been all that bad. We have celebrated, cheered, laughed, studied and gone topless (without a coat!). Now what will February bring, maybe some winter as Phil predicted or maybe more fun for Dunowland.
A very special day
Billy was baptized today. He was excited. I was nervous. All the way to church I had butterflies in my stomach. I asked him if he was nervous, but he said he wasn’t so I guess I was nervous enough for the both of us. He was so excited to get in his baptism clothes and to be with Bill. What a special time for father and son. He listened intently as Grandma Dunow talked about how the prophets of the church had been baptized. Most were baptized in creeks or rivers. It was snowing outside today and some prophets were baptized in a river with snow and ice, too. He said his favorite part was being in the font. He did great. He doesn’t like to get water in his face, but he came out of the water a new kid with a smile on his face. Then Bebe (grandma) Barnes gave a talk about the Holy Ghost and gave him a treasure box with a compass, flashlight and a picture of Christ to help him always remember the Holy Ghost. Then Grandpa Barnes confirmed him. Billy had three of his namesakes in the circle, his dad, father and great grandfather Hurst. It was so special to see this sweet little boy be baptized. Even though Jessica couldn’t be with us as she is on her mission, we know she was there is spirit. She said she told everyone she talked to yesterday that her little brother was getting baptized. We are so proud of him and of his decision to be baptized. We love you, Billy.
Billy & Bill
Three baptism towels Billy received from Bebe & Grandpa, Grandma Dunow and the Primary Presidency(l to r)
Billy & Mom
l to r: Grandpa Hurst, Grandma Dunow, Bill, Billy, Baden, Jana, Bebe & Grandpa Barnes
Three of Billy's namesakes: Devon, William and Wesley (l to r)
Billy with Bebe & Grandpa.
It’s Great to be Eight!
Billy turned eight today. It’s hard to believe he is 8. I am still 29 so how can he be eight? 
He started the day being able to watch a little TV before school. Then he had cupcakes with his class in the afternoon. He returned home ready to open presents and see his cake. After presents and blowing out the candles on the cake, he was ready for a Happy Meal. He spent the rest of his birthday being able to play his new Wii game and then watching episodes of Mr. Bean. He told me it was a great day and you could see it written all over his face. Happy Birthday, Billy!
Getting ready to open presents in the official birthday chair
Billy's favorite character, Woody, from Toy Story. He does a mean impersonation, too.
A new game to conquer
The official gift holder
Clothes on my birthday! That's okay, Bebe & Grandpa got him Bullseye from Toy Story, too. Redemption.
Baden picks out the silliest cards and now he acts like them, too.
Baden picked this out for Billy. Now he has a pillow pet for his pillow pet.
Yummy cake
Waiting to blow those candles out
A holiday full of snowflakes and Santa
We stayed home for Christmas. My mom and dad came to spend Christmas with us. They arrived in a snowstorm. I was constantly watching for updates on the road and praying they would make it safely. The boys awaited Santa’s arrival with Baden asking every day if it was Christmas. During the week, we shopped for all those last minute items. We ate and ate. We made snowflakes that outdid the ones outside and we just enjoyed each others company. We spent Christmas Eve wrapping presents and watched “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and then it was off to track Santa on NORAD. Of course, we had chicken enchiladas which is a Dunow family tradition on Christmas Eve. Trying to get Billy off to bed was a breeze. Baden, on the other hand, was up and down all night. Finally he climbed up in Billy’s bed and fell asleep. Christmas morning came early. We woke up at 5:00. The boys were so excited, but they weren’t sure what to do. Do they run or just casually stroll into the living room. We all had a fun time opening all of our gifts. Then it was off to Church. A wonderful reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. Then back home and ready to take a nap. But wait, we had an important call to take over Skype with our favorite missionary in Brazil. It was the best Christmas present. She looks great and she speaks Portuguese so well she had a hard time speaking English. We miss her so much, but being able to see her and talk to her made it that much easier even if it was for a small amount of time. So another Christmas come and gone, but one that will bring happy memories for years to come.
Making another gingerbread house
This one survived!
Can't wait to eat it
Well it almost survived
Making Q-tip snowflakes
Fun with glitter
Baden's snowflake
Billy's snowflake
Making cookies for Santa
Making the perfect cookie
Milk & cookies for Santa
The stockings were "hanging" on the couch with care
The calm before the flurry of wrapping paper
A Stars War Christmas for Billy
Baden jumping right in to figure out his new toy
Mom and Dad opening their stockings
Pillow Pets! Thanks, Bebe and Grandpa
A new game from Tia Blanca and Uncle Jeff
Some jazzy new slippers
A movie I can watch over and over.
A wonderful memory book all about Bill's dad.
A Kindle Fire. Yay!
Who can resist Spongebob Memory? Thanks Tia Blanca & Uncle Jeff
Thanksgiving in Oklahoma
This year for Thanksgiving we headed east to Oklahoma. We spent Turkey Day at my Great Aunt’s in Northwestern Oklahoma. Her son and daughter-in-law put on a great feast. It was great to see my great aunt and cousins. After dinner, we had some time to play in the pasture. The boys loved it exploring the windmill and all of the old tractors. I remember this pasture as a kid, but there were cows roaming around so we didn’t venture too far. Post holiday activities included seeing the new Muppets movie. Two thumbs up! It was fun to be able to share with the boys one of my favorite things, the Muppets. I remember watching the Muppet Show every week. We also attempted to make a gingerbread house. My mom and the boys made the gingerbread. Billy wanted me to help, but I was busy taking pictures and he Billy said well you don’t bake anyway. That is semi true. I probably would have just gone with the kit, but making the gingerbread was way more fun. As the gingerbread was done, the house started to take shape. It wasn’t a force of nature or the big bad wolf that blew the house in just soft gingerbread. We all had a good laugh and it will definitely go into the memory bank. We are thankful for our family and friends and so thankful for our sweet missionary, Jessica, serving in Brazil.
Baden hitching a ride on our cousin, Sis.
Billy in the Oklahoma prairie
Playing under the windmill
My mom and I holding each other up in the Oklahoma wind
Playing on the old John Deere tractor
Hoping it will start
Gathered around for the family picture
My great aunt with her two favorite nieces
Making the gingerbread
Trying to hold it together
Oh well!
The boys acting sad.
It finally fell out
Billy has been waiting since about 1st grade to have a loose tooth. All of his friends were loosing teeth left and right. Every day he would check his teeth and ask me if any of them were loose. Finally, one of his bottom front teeth became loose. He wiggled it. He had me wiggle it every day just in case. It seemed like he had a loose tooth for months. Then I went to pick him up at school and he came running out with a huge grin. There in his mouth was a spot with no tooth. He had finally lost the tooth at school. The school secretary helped him (the nurse wasn’t in that day) and he gave Billy a small treasure box to keep his tooth from getting lost. He was so excited for the tooth fairy to arrive. So now that he has one down, he can’t wait for the next loose tooth.
A missing tooth =
a nice payout
Another installment of laughter is the best medicine
Billy: “Bonjour! See I speak Franch!”
Baden: “Mommy, are we here yet?”
As we were driving by the McDonald’s on base (it is currently being remodeled), Billy said I bet they are going to make it look like a fast food restaurant. Hmmm…. you think?
After playing Baden’s favorite game of America’s Got Talent, he told me, “Sorry Mommy you are not going to Albuquerque.” Now what do I do?
A conversation between Billy & Baden:
Billy: “Baden I thought you wanted to watch the Little Drummer Boy?”
Baden: “No, Billy. It has a mom in it. We can’t watch that.”
Billy’s response to what he did at school on the second day of school: “Same old, same old.”
Baden: “Billy, my birthday is coming. Not your birthday. My birthday!”
Billy: “Mommy, Baden said I’m his maid!”
Baden when asked what he wants to be when he grows up, “A human.”
After watching an episode of the Incredible Hulk series from the 1970s, Baden said “See I told you Hulk was a frog.”
Going out to dinner:
Billy: “Where are we going?”
Daddy: “Little Anita’s.”
Billy: “Not Mexican food. Why do we always eat Mexican food? We are not Mexicans!”
Baden raising his hand: “I want to be a Mexican!”
The Best Halloween Ever!
This is what the boys proclaimed as we walked from house to house collecting treats. Our Halloween started on Saturday at Zoo Boo. The boys were dressed in their costumes ready to collect candy from the various vendors and play games. They got some surprises, too. Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers showed up along with some super heroes plus Beaker and a minion from Despicable Me. The zoo was crowded, but it didn’t stop us from having a good time. Then that same night, we headed up to the church for trunk or treat. The kids had a blast going from trunk to trunk and seeing all of the costumes. Then it was time for trick or treating. Since we live on base housing, the commander decided to have trick or treating on Sunday. This was a tough one for us, but we ultimately decided it was okay. We walked and walked and the boys were dragging their bags on the ground when we finally arrived back at our house. So on the official day of Halloween, it was a nice break but we did stop in at IHOP for a scary pancake. We had a lot of fun especially with Grandma Dunow and Alice here to share in the fun, too.
Getting the design ready for the pumpkin
Mr. Pumpkinhead
Darth Vader, Luigi and Obi Wan Kenobi
A gaggle of super heroes
Going into the enemy's camp
One of our favorite Muppets, Beaker!
Minion!
Getting ready for the pumpkin race
Neck & neck
Catching up
A prairie dog nibbling on his treat for Halloween
Me & my favorite boys
Getting ready to trick or treat
Just being silly
Happy Birthday, Sister Dunow!
Our favorite missionary turned 22 yesterday! Here in her own words is how she spent her birthday in Brazil.
Now I will tell you about a birthday I will NEVER forget! The day started like any other day… except for the fact that we lost an hour of sleep due to daylight savings here. My companion surprised me with a cake and a banner that said Happy Birthday (in English). We hurried to get ready and went to church. Of course I wore my favorite outfit- because you have to look good on your birthday! During Relief Society (which is first in this ward) I was holding someones purse on my lap. After a while something dripped onto my foot… To my surprise it was coming from the purse on my lap- grape juice- All over my skirt. Luckily it was my flowery skirt, and you couldn´t really tell. However, I was pretty wet so I went into the bathroom to clean up a little. On the way out of the bathroom one of my favorite members stopped me to wish me a Happy Birthday (he is in is 70´s and he and his wife always have us over for lunch, they have the cutest little house and garden). I was talking to him when I heard a commotion, and someone go, ´´blaaaaaa´´. I then felt something warm all over my arm and back. My first thought was, ´´why is someone throwing water at me? Is this a birthday tradition in Brazil?´´ Noooooooope. The source of this warm liquid was a very sick 4 year old (in the arms of her horrified mother). Now, you my be imagining a little bit of throw up on my arm and shirt… Noooooope. I´m talking about projectile vomit ALL OVER ME (and my favorite outfit… on my birthday). At this point I kind of stood there shocked not knowing what to do, as everyone backed away from me. My companion was in another room (Sunday school had started) and I motioned for her to come out. As soon as she came out she plugged her nose, because I apparently smelled really bad at this point. We ran home so I could shower, luckily we live close! Also, luckily it was not in my hair! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAAAAAAA.
The rest of the day was great though! Everyone wished me a happy birthday, and some tried to sing in English which was pretty funny. We had lunch with a family- the dad is from Italy, and his food was amazing! That night we had an activity at the church with a lot of cake and food. The activity was all about Joseph Smith, and it turned out pretty great. In the end everyone sang to me, which was a great end to the day! So, it was defiantly a day to remember start to finish!
Balloon Fiesta 2011!
It’s Balloon Fiesta time!
