Happy Friday

I'm really looking forward to this long weekend. We have birthday parties, hiking, indoor camping and football planned. Honestly I'm just really excited to spend time with my sweet family. With Dusty's travel schedule and my work hours it will be nice to hunker down with my little team. Hoping you all have a wonderful long holiday weekend.
xoxo

Day 18

Williams

Two things from facebook that I have been loving over the last few weeks.

"Williams Syndrome is a complicated blessing. It's a series of short straws followed by infinite extra long ones. You get the joy of seeing the purity of love like never before displayed in a human being, and you get the realization that most of the world will never appreciate your child's heart. It's like that song that you can listen to again and again and never be tired of it, but when you stop and really listen to the words, you can't help but cry." -by Natalie Mrotzek

Picture a day recap

These little ditties are super late. I was having some "blogger" issues. But we are back up and running :) 

 Day 5: Work video call

 Day 6 Date Night!

 Day 7: berkley kids museum 

 Day 8: Cooper self portrait 

 Day 9: Back to school after the holidays 

Day 10 Family X box game night 

Day 11: Personal Playtime  

 Day 12 Cuddles with Allie

Day 12 Breakfast 

Day 13: cankers = no eating for 4 days and no sleep for Cooper...or Mom

Day 14 Kitchen Menu

Day 15: January Park Action 

This week for Dinner

I'm a little behind this week.. what's new right? If I need to put something on the back burner it is always this little family blog. Oh well! Dusty is out of town the whole week and poor Cooper has Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Poor little man can catch a break which means mom is not sleeping. Boo!

Sunday: Chicken Parm over egg noodles and steamed peas
Monday: Steamed Salmon, broiled fingerling potatoes and squash
Tuesday: Homemade Mac and cheese with steamed broccoli
Wednesday: Ham and scalloped potatoes with steamed peas
Thursday: Whole roast Chicken, mashed potatoes and asparagus
Friday: Left Overs

Day 3

Old Lady: Miss Lucy Faye Dunaway

Day 2

Best Big sister ever.... 

Holiday Recap

We had the most amazing holiday season. Can you believe that we fit 11 people in our tiny little house? We were bursting at the seams but I wouldn't change a single thing. We started the holiday celebrating Dusty's birthday. I sent all the boys to a gun range for a little "zombie shootout", after words Dusty enjoyed a massage ( Thanks Mom and Dad for the 3 month massage gift: I can pretty much say with certainty that you know Dusty to a T.... A great gift idea!) and than a fancy adult dinner in the city. The whole day seemed wonderful and I could tell that Dusty really enjoyed himself. I always feel so bad that his birthday and Christmas are so close together so I am thankful that my family made the effort to separate the two events.

Christmas was magical! I adore having kids during this time of year. They make everything so shiny and happy. Overall all three sets of Grandparents went above and beyond as usual. The highlight for Taylor and Cooper has been the mini Cooper from Grandpa Ernie. The best part about it was that my parents and Dusty mom had mentioned that they would like to give him the same thing, so it worked out for everyone!!!! Now if we could just get Cooper inside after riding it without a major melt down! Taylor is also over the moon for her fancy tea set and cart. But the best gift of the season has been the xbox. The adults  officially took it over and played hours upon hours of games. It was a blast!

I love having my parents in town and I wish I could zap them to the Bay Area permanently. They truly are the best most supportive people in my life and a constant inspiration. They have taught me how to be a wonderful mother, a great wife and a good friend. I think the one thing that inspires me the most is that they truly love and support everyone. I have never heard them talk negatively about another person, they want the best for everyone they meet, they are the perfect example of our family motto. Working hard and being kind!!!  Team Dunaway is beyond blessed to have them in our lives.

Enjoy a few of the family pictures. I will have more after I get ahold of my sisters camera!

 Spreading out the reindeer food.

 Santa's helpers

 Santa's helpers round two

 After the sugar plums we dancing in there heads. 

 Unwrapping gifts 

 Tea Cart

 High tea service 

 Grammie and Papa

 grandpa Joe and "Taylor's Man" Uncle Brent

( she was obsessed. I honestly have never seen her so attached to anyone like that other than Allie... Hilarious!) 

 Little X Box Action!

 Mom was the world record holder in javelin toss. 

Happy New Year

Happy 2013! 

We are back to the swing of things in the Dunaway house and I am thrilled to be back up and sharing updates on team Dunaway. 2012 was a wonderful year for us. I love this time of year. I love setting myself up for success and working as a family toward a common goal. This year like last year we are sticking to the same theme. Lame I know, but it worked and it might be our family motto going forward.  Just like last year we will focus on the wise words of Connan O Brian ( insert laugh here) 

Dusty and I had wonderful year professionally (actually the best for both of us in our professional careers), but the best part about it is that we both love the companies that we work for as well as what we do every day. This makes life a lot easier for the entire team. Taylor has been a true light for the whole family. She has grown into a wonderful little lady and we are so proud of the girl she is shaping up to become. Cooper has shown the most improvement this year. Just in the last three weeks he has started TALKING. I know right?!? The best part of my whole year last year was on Dec 31st at 9:15pm ( we stay up for the New York New Years around these parts) I put Cooper to bed and he said " Nigh Momma" You should have seen Dusty's face when I got out of his room. You still can't wipe the grin off my face. Just a month ago he couldn't say Mom and at school he said Triangle. HELLO AWESOME!!! 

For me, my biggest achievement was my number one new years resolution from last year. To focus on my family and decrease /cut out the people and influences in my life that don't lift me up. I spent far to much time in my life fighting for people to like me, wondering what people were saying behind my back and being devastated when people didn't accept me. ( Isn't it funny that you always hear EVERYTHING that people say about you behind there back. Every time someone told me something that some said about me I was heart broken) Giving up the silly need to be "liked"was the greatest gift that 2012 gave me. I am happy with who I am and if others are on not board I respect that decision and move on. This has made my relationship with Dusty better and our family is happier because I focus on people to enrich our life for the better. 

This year I am looking forward to growing my career, spending oodles of time with friends and family and continuing to better myself personally. I am going to take more time for myself! I also made a goal (copy cat goal from about 2000 other bloggers last year) To take a picture of our family life every day. Random little snippets of our life. I will share them on the pickled bean and hope you will enjoy the experience and much as we will. 

Day 1