Moving Day

There is a reason I haven't posted anything this week. One that, fortunately, doesn't look QUITE like this picture! haha

Danny's office is moving to a newly constructed building today and the CRAZINESS that has led up to it has been unbelievable. He has worked long hours, he has hardly slept, and the stress has been at a record high. He has been in charge of finishing the buiding as well as preparing the old office for the move as well as doing his own job! The kids and I have tried to help and support him as much as we can, but there is little we can practically do. Please pray for strength and peace for my husband - we would greatly appreciate that!

I will update later with pictures of the new digs - it is an amazing new building!!

The Mercies of God

I read something today that totally convicted me of the complaining heart and lack of contentment that I sometimes feel. From John Flavel:

"Consider your spiritual mercies and priviliges with which the Lord Jesus has invested you, and complain at your providential lot if you can. One of these mercies alone has enough in it to sweeten all your troubles in this world. Consider also your sins, and that will make you contented with your lot. Consider what your sin deserves from God - eternal ruin. Consider how near you are to the change of your condition. Have but a little patience, and all will be as well with you as your hearts can desire.

It is no small comfort to the saints that this world is the worst place that they shall ever be in; things will get better every day with them. If the traveller has spent all his money, yet it does not much trouble him if he knows himself to be within a few miles of his home. If there are no candles in the house, we do not much trouble over it if we are sure it is almost break of day; for then there will be no use for them. This is the case with us' 'for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.'"

Welcome Crystal

At least a year ago, Hannah started writing notes to Danny regularly (and I do mean regularly) asking if she could breed her bunny or get another bunny. She wanted some babies, or another bunny like her first one that died over a year ago. A holland lop. We seriously have at least 40 notes in a pile that we have saved - some begging, some listing the top 1000 reasons she should have another bunny, etc.

Last week, Danny took Hannah out to dinner and wrapped a gift for her. A bag of carrots with a note that said "YES YOU CAN GET ANOTHER BUNNY!" Can I just tell you that we had one excited young lady!!! We wasted no time - we visited a breeder on Thursday and came home with a bunny on Thursday! Let me introduce you to Crystal - Hannah's broken frosty holland lop. A totally cute and adorable little baby bunny!!!!!

Crystal is only 11 weeks old!

Hopping around Hannah's bed

Happily eating some food

Isn't she cute?!

She is such a fluffy, fuzzy, cuddly chunk of bunny with white fur and gray tips. Don't you just want to pick her up and snuggle her? We can hardly keep our hands off her - we just want to hold her all the time!

Trying to hide



Adorable clip of her cleaning her face

Welcome to the family Crystal!!!

Jacob's Art 2009

Yes, we have more than one artist in the family! This year Jacob has also created some amazing projects in his art class. We have decided to go ahead with another year with the same art teacher for next year. This will be the kid's third year, but it has been such a wonderful blessing to have someone else teach them what I cannot.A watercolor frog - I LOVE the colors of this one!!!

This one was done with chalk, NOT Jacob's favorite medium... but the finished product is amazing.

Ceramic plate

Jacob's cabin (not to be confused with Jacob's cabin - for those LOST fans!!)

This was Jacob's project for the history fair - the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkein. It was fantastic, and he was able to include a sword he has from middle earth. He and Danny worked hard to actually build the case that this is displayed in. I must admit that the sword was a hit at the history fair - especially with boys! He always had someone crowded around his display with questions about the sword! Someday I will post a picture of the sword collection that my boys have; it is so extensive that they have an entire room (meant to be a closet) dedicated for nothing but displaying their swords. Very cool.

This is a video that Jacob, with all his creative talent, made for me this year as well. I can hardly watch it without tears each time, it has so much of the kids when they were little...

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...