Bill’s last TDY (temporary duty for all you civilians) was in beautiful Alamogordo.  It is way down south.  The boys and I packed up and headed down on Friday evening.  On Saturday, we drove to Carlsbad, home of Carlsbad Caverns.  The last caverns we visited were Luray Caverns in Virginia.  Luray Caverns are nice, but Carlsbad Caverns are awesome.  There is an easy way to get to the big room which is by elevator, but we walked all the way down.  It was amazing.  The boys had a blast. Baden was in heaven surrounded by rocks.  Billy read all of the information stations along the way.  He was fascinated.  It was a long trip and once we got to the big room I think we were all ready for a break.  We trudged on and it was worth the sore legs and feet. The Big Room is 8.2 acres. That’s 6.2 football fields that would fit inside!  The next day we went to White Sands National Monument. It is the largest gypsum dunefield in the world.  We brought the sled and slid down the white mountains of sand.  It was one of the neatest places we have ever been.  The boys loved it and so did we.  We didn’t spend a lot of time here as it was getting hot.  We definitely would love to go again, but maybe in the fall.   It was a fun trip and a great way to end Bill’s last TDY.

So this working thing is going pretty well. I am enjoying my job. I am not enjoying getting up in the morning, but I had to do that anyway no matter where I worked at home or away.  But for the most part things are going well except my blogging.  I love to blog because I love to write. Dunowland is our family blog and it has been sadly neglected.  Things have been happening and I document them with pictures, random notes and promises to myself I will blog, but I would rather just relax when I get home.  I spend all day at work on the computer so getting on the computer at home is not my first thought when I get home.  But I really miss writing and keeping up with everyone. We have family and friends all over the country  so blogging has always been the best way to keep in touch.  So I apologize for the lonely month of March that went unblogged.  I am back now and I plan on keeping things up. Just don’t expect a post every day or even every week ( I will try). Big things are happening and it involves boxes and packing tape.  So now let’s see what we missed in March (parts of February, too).

After eight years of being home, I am back at work. I started last week and I am digging it.  I haven’t really gotten too deep into all that I will be doing, but I am excited about this opportunity.  I had been applying for jobs, but not really thinking that I would actually get one.  Lo and behold, I did.  I am working as an academic advisor. I am finding that not much has changed in the advising world since I stepped off to take care of my first son and then my second.  This seems to be a good time to be back to work.  Bill is retiring from the military this year after 24 years of service.  It will be a big change for all of us.  We have decided to stay here in the Land of Enchantment. We really like it here and we are in the perfect location to be close to family.  The boys are adjusting pretty well.  Billy is in a before/after school program and Baden switched to full time care at the child development center.  I feel like I am not muddling through the day.  I am finding that I get more accomplished now that I don’t have as much time.  I also think that I treasure my time with my boys more and I am finding they are feeling the same.  Nothing is better than the hugs and cuddles I get from the boys after a day at work.  I am excited for this new opportunity and all it entails.  Now it’s time to head to bed. I have a bed time now, too.

*Sorry no pictures again for a second post.  I should have had Bill take a picture of me on my first day.  🙂

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.

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.

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.

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.