Farewell to my favorite barista!!!

Yes, this is really a sad day for all in the Dustin household. Well, maybe just for me... After almost two years of working at Starbucks, Matt is leaving. This was his last morning to work, and the kids and I went down to say our farewells. Farewell to free coffee. To seeing Matt working cheerfully behind the counter. To mornings of him waking up at 4:00 and hearing him turn the dryer on to fluff his uniform. To all the free pounds of coffee he brought home each week. Also, farewell to the last two years of Starbucks mugs and gift cards for Christmas and birthdays. To hearing stories of the interesting people that come into Flower Hill Starbucks. To bringing Matt chinese food for dinner when we ate next door. Ah yes, I have so many memories associated with Matt being at Starbucks, and have enjoyed many "perks" from his employment there. (Get it, perks?? haha)

I always enjoyed seeing him at work, and watching him relate to people who came in. This was a wonderful job for him, but now he is moving on. He is going to work as an intern for the summer at Dustin Construction for some business experience. It will ultimately look good on his resume when he graduates from college. Matt is really thinking ahead to his future, and for that (among many other things), I am very proud of him, taking the steps now to help his career.

Matt, even when you are no longer at Starbucks, you will always be my favorite Barista!!!! Love you!!

Hannah's Art 2009

My sweet daughter has spent much time this year doing art - from art class, to the history fair project, to ceramics to drawing and doodling at home. One thing about Hannah is that she is ALWAYS drawing - during read-aloud times, at night in her bed, during lunch, every moment she can get, she draws! And she absolutely loves her art class - she and Jacob have come home this year with many wonderful things. I will showcase Hannah's first and later I will do Jacob's. They both still have two projects going for the year but I will save those for later...She did her history fair project this year on "Hannah Dustin" - a famous ancestor on Danny's side who is known for killing and scalping the Indians who kidnapped her and her children (after killing her newborn baby... ) Yes, Hannah was sorta named after her, and I have to admit, I sometimes see the same fiery spirit in her! I mean that as a compliment. Yes, Hannah, I do.

This is the kind of drawings Hannah just "whips out" while we are doing reading...

These pictures are of a Botany Notebook Hannah worked on in the Fall.

One of my favorites - a watercolour frog!!

How can I possibly do any more school?

The temptation of our pool lurks outside the window as we try to do math and history... it's an ongoing battle now... you can see who won today...

Happy Mothers Day Mom!!

Mom - Happy Mother's Day!! I wish I could be in Minnesota with you, but since I can't, I wanted to honor you from here!! This is my mom a long time ago, when she was footloose and fancy free, working for the airlines and travelling all over the world. Mom, you look so beautiful!! I can totally see why Dad fell for you in Chicago with your high heels and fur coat! haha Little did he know what was under all that charm and beauty!!! What he discovered was a person who is as beautiful inside as out... And by the way, my mom is as beautiful a woman today as she was all those years ago. She has a natural beauty, no fancy hairdo's or makeup, just a natural beauty that I envy...

Another shot of mom in her single years... mom, in your own words, you were "hot"!!! haha


Here she is as a young mom, always smiling, always cheerful. That is the mom I remember as a child - always doing fun things, cooking, gardening, helping Dad, making sure her kids had a wonderful childhood. And we did!! Mom still always puts the needs of others before her own. She is always serving. She is always encouraging.

Here is mom, 40 something years later, still being goofy, still making us all laugh. I believe Ryan took this picture a few short months ago of mom being silly with some grapefruits. This is just a typical day with mom... she has turned out to be a pretty fun and terrific grandma too.

As a matter of fact, here is Mom with Dad on St. Patrick's Day having her Irish beer!! Mom, here's to you!!!

One of Mom's favorite places in the world is Gettysburg, and one of her favorite historical figures is Abraham Lincoln. Here she is in Gettysburg, the oldest one of us there still willing to pose for a picture with a statue. Mom never will stop laughing and having fun!

Mom, you have done much in your life that is worthy of honor. You are an example to us in so many ways: your generosity towards others, your servant's heart, your willingness to try new things, to be silly with the grandkids, to embrace new challenges, to move around the country with your husband, to live in some undesirable places, (and I do mean undesirable!!), to love your children despite their many sins and failings, to open your home to others, to give away all that you have if need be, there are so many other ways. I am so glad that God gave me you to be my mother. I love you and miss you very much. Happy Mother's Day.

The Making of a Castle

The above picture is the finished product of many weeks of work and creativity for Ryan. He was to do a project for the History Fair, and this is what he decided to make. As a fan of knights, swords, and medieval times, making a castle was the perfect choice for him. (Later I will post Jacob and Hannah's projects as well!)

It started with weeks of collecting boxes - every single box we used Ryan would say "Don't throw that box away!!" Weeks later this was what our schoolroom looked like...


Next, Danny and Ryan spent some evenings gluing all the parts in place.

It was then moved outside for a really cool spray paint - it had sand mixed in with it, so the finished product actually looked like stone.

Back in the house for all the finishing touches. Ryan took some old tile we had leftover and smashed them, and then laid them out like stone pathways. He really thought of all this on his own and seemed to know just what he wanted to do and the look he was going for.

Okay, this was the hardest part to watch. LOOK AT THAT MESS! There was glue and moss and stone and paint EVERYWHERE!!! But, it really was okay because Ryan was having the time of his life. He is a very creative boy, and I never really knew just how creative until this project. He is a careful, persistent laborer, and worked until it looked exactly how he wanted it.

His hands here are gluing the delicate pieces to form a garden in the castle courtyard.

Getting closer here.....

The finished product on display at the history fair!! Way to go Ryan!! You did an amazing job!!! Most people were in disbelief that an eight year old had done this. It really was an incredible project!

Did I mention that he had to make a board to go along with it that had some amazing projects all of their own? Plus a sword displayed in a glass case??? The history fair was a definite success for Ryan, and totally the highlight of his school year.

Happy "Hobbit" Birthday Ryan!!

We celebrated Ryan's 9th birthday last week! And as you may be able to tell from the cake (or maybe not!) we had a "Lord of the Rings" birthday, in particular, a hobbit birthday. The cake was supposed to be the home of the famous hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, known as Bag End. Ryan and I had so much fun making this cake - we worked on it together one whole afternoon.

Ryan woke up that morning to a decorated room filled with streamers and balloons. Green of course, to mimick the Shire. I put a candle in his little bagel and we started the day.

We called the day off school and spent it playing Lord of the Rings Monopoly as well as a version of Lord of the Rings Pictionary that Hannah had created the night before. It really was fun. Danny made Ryan's favorite meal for dinner - steak, garlic mashed potatoes and glazed carrots. Then we went into the living room to give Ryan his gifts, but that was where the Hobbit part of Ryan's birthday came in. If you aren't familiar with hobbits, they have what is known as a backwards birthday, where they give presents to everyone else on their birthday.

Ryan and I had spent time shopping secretly to give everyone else a gift. I really do believe he had more fun with this part of his birthday than any other. And the sneaky little hobbit even lined up with his Dad to get me a present as well! I was sooooo surprised and blessed...

He had a puzzle for his grandparents, a dagger for Jacob, a basketball for Matt, a game for Hannah, and some grilling equipment for his Dad. He gave me a beautiful pair of earrings... His sweet and generous nature was shining once again. He was sooooo excited about his birthday, and I think that it was really because he was excited to surprise and bless everyone else!

Here is Ryan with his giant Lego set - one of his birthday gifts from us.

We all went to a new bowling alley and played a couple games - a fun place for sure.

We came back and lit up the shire! Ryan had trick candles on his cake that wouldn't go out!! (Those of you who know Ryan know how appropriate this was for him!!)

I cannot thank the Lord enough for the amazing gift He gave to our family when He gave us Ryan...

Happy 9th Birthday, my sweet little "hobbit"!!!

Off to Philadelphia

A couple of weeks ago we went to Lancaster for an educational session for Ryan, and we took a day trip into Philadelphia! We had never really been there before and found it to be quite a charming city...

The science museum there (the Franklin Institute) had a special Narnia exhibit which was FANTASTIC! We spent an entire afternoon looking at props, sets and costumes from both movies and viewing the excellent displays. It was well worth it for fans of Narnia. We were disappointed that we couldn't actually take any pictures inside...



Of course we saw Ben Franklin while there...

It was fun - we actually plan to go back again and spend a couple nights in the city and explore more of the history there. From this trip we will always remember the visit to the joke shop, almost running out of gas, tasting Turkish Delight for the first time, seeing an Imax movie about caves, Panera bread, Maple Donuts, and irish music!!