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

A little early gift lovin

PHEWWWWWW: For a quick second on monday Dusty and I thought we would need to move again. Not far just out of our house. We had aready found a cute place and were ready to sign the new lease ( to move in 2 weeks p.s.) when we found out that we could stay here for at least 6 more month. Thank goodness. I was not looking forward to the move with everyting that we have on our plate.

 

Here is a picture of the team watching our huge new 3D TV. Happy Christmas Dusty!!!!

This Week for Dinner

Hello Lovelies!

Well I am a little stressed at the moment but like Dusty says "you just have to take one thing at a time"....lets hope that works because I have A LOT on my plate over the next few weeks. Work is NUTS-- I am working on one of the hardest projects I have worked on in over a year. I am planning the Williams Syndrome Association party for this Saturday ( I can't wait to see everyone!) alone with some other big changes that are coming down the pipeline for our family. We should have more on that later in the week. Let me just say.... HERE WE GO AGAIN! on top of that you add holiday parties, doctor appointments preschool, 200+ Christmas cards, and Christmas shopping  EEEEEEKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!

Okay, OKAY, enough of my banter.

This week for Dinner

Sunday: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and steamed peas

Monday: Shrimp Po Boy sandwiches and garden salad.

Tuesday: BBQ chicken, baked potatoes and broccoli

Wednesday: Ham and Bean Soup with grilled cheese sandwiches

Thursday: Skyline Chili ( Thanks Ernie and Cindy for the delivery!!!!! I think it's easy to say that is Dusty's favorite Birthday present hands DOWN!) 

Friday: Left Overs 

Gobble Gobble

We had a lovely Thanksgiving. Dusty's mother came to visit from Oregon and we had a full house with lots of yummy food and festivities. We only get to see Nana once a year so it was nice that we could celebrate thanksgiving and set up for Christmas with her. It was like we had two holidays at once!

 Allie brought these darling hats for the kids

 Nana and Sinead cooking in the kitchen. Dinner was amazing. Nana is a fantastic cook. I mean fantastic like the best food EVER.

 Happy to see Nana!

 Make-shift table in our tiny little house.

 Dusty cutting the turkey. Brads face is priceless. 

 Taylor took the gravy boat into her own hands

 Pies. yummy!!

 Thanksgiving Night Charlie came back from the north pole. He brings a little gift with his book and was ALREADY hiding in the house. The kids were so excited. I think Taylor talks more about Charlie than Santa.

 Picking out the tree!

 Turning on the lights. Look at Taylor. Pure Joy.

The tree at union square, a little shopping and ice skating made for a perfect end to the weekend!

Well Hello There!

After a little blog break I am BACK. I would ask if you missed me but I got so many emails over the last few weeks asking to see my sweet babies that I now fully understand why I have so many readers.... because of little Taylor and Cooper. I am sad that I missed the rest of my little Thankful posts because I had to much to share. But honestly... what I am NOT thankful for is how little time there is during the day. Between work, traveling, visitors, planning the WSA Christmas party and getting ready for the holidays I had to prioritize the Pickled Bean to the back of the to do list. I'll be better I promise, not 100% until after the new year but much better.

I have to much to share but first I wanted to mention that I am sad I didn't get to spotlight my parents and sweet nanny/lifesaver Lily in my Thankful posts. More on that to come ( I'll spot light them later in the week)

Back to our regular scheduled program:

This week for Dinner

{Once again Dusty is traveling for work this entire week so these are very kid friendly} 

Sunday: Braised Short Ribs, Mashed Potatoes, Garden Salad and Chocolate Pie.
Monday: Chicken and Broccoli casserole and rice
Tuesday: Ham and funeral potatoes with asparagus
Wednesday: Slow cooker beef stroganoff, egg noodles and peas
Thursday: Chicken taco's, black beans and corn
Friday: Left overs

My little team getting ready for the holidays