My "Baby Boy" Turns Eight!!!

Today we celebrate the eighth birthday of our youngest "baby" Ryan!!! Happy Birthday sweet boy!!Ryan as a baby

Ryan as a toddler

Ryan with Ginger at three

Ryan's fourth birthday (how little he was!!)

Ryan celebrated his 5th at Magic Kingdom!!

Ryan turns six with a Curious George party!

Ryan's 7th birthday (a very "magical" time)

and finally, Ryan turns eight!! Here he is receiving a hug from his biggest brother Matt.

Ryan's cousin Zack flew out from Minnesota to help celebrate his special day. What fun it was - we went to Dave and Busters, had campfires in the back yard, and had cake and ice cream. The Vigil's (Mrs. Vigil and Cassidy and Abigail) showed up this morning with donuts to help bless Ryan on his special day. Tonight we are going to Ryan's favorite restaurant for dinner and them coming home for some special family time.

Ryan has been a very wonderful addition to our family from the start. He is full of life, love and humor. He fills our family with lots of joy and laughter. We cannot thank the Lord enough for bringing him into our life. Ryan is always the first to tell a joke or play a trick, but he is also quick to be encouraging and loving and sensitive. He has a deep sense of compassion and caring for those whom he loves. His favorite things at eight are whatever Jacob is doing - and doing it with him, like airsoft guns or legos. He loves to collect coins and he loves to play with spy gear, walkie talkies, anything that has some kind of "secret" component to it. He loves to surprise and bless everyone, and is an extremely generous young man. We are so proud of our cute little "dude", or as I have called him since he was little, our "teeny little super guy!!"

Thank you Ryan, for always being so loving to me and Dad. We LOVE to read to you at night and snuggle with you in your bed. I love to scratch your back and make you giggle. I love to spend time doing school with you, listening to you read, and working on your lapbooks. You are a joy to teach. I love the way you protect me and encourage me. I love the affection you shower on me, especially at bedtime. That is my favorite time of the day with you! I hope you had a wonderful birthday, my sweet little man. I love you.

Happy 70th Birthday Mom!

We finally celebrated the long-awaited birthday of our dear mother, grandmother, wife, and mother-in-law!! We had a wonderful, three day celebration full of honoring, laughter and just plain old fun! We started off with an overnite to Gettysburg - mom's favorite place to visit. We played miniature golf, ate dinner at Mom's favorite restaurant (the Dobbin House) and went to see a movie. The next day we toured Gettysburg a little and came home. Monday we had a special tea where we presented her with tickets to tour the White House and then a dinner in her honor, where I read a note or letter from every single member of our family honoring her (that took a while - there was 27 notes to read!!) Mom was very touched, and she deserved every word. She is the world's greatest mother and grandmother and wife!! This is a picture of "Grandma Potter" (as in Beatrix) trying to do some writing but getting interrupted by sweet little bunny lips trying to steal the paper! Luckily, mom loves bunnies and loved every moment of the distraction...

The bunny gave up and decided to just give her a kiss instead!!

As we were packing to go to Gettysburg, Mom literally crawled into the closet to get her suitcase, fell in, and then couldn't get out without laughing and needing a helping hand from Dad!!


The first thing we did when we arrived in Gettysburg was check into the hotel, and then head out for a game of miniature golf! It was a beautiful spring day with lots of blossoms and the smell of spring in the air. Mom had a blast - as did we all! Something about golfing makes you feel like you are on vacation...

This is a shot of an old alley in old-town Gettysburg. Very neat perspective.

We met up with Abe Lincoln while we were there!!

For those of us who know mom, this will come as no surprise. Mom loves to meet people wherever she goes, and can strike up a conversation with literally anyone! We have met many interesting people through the years, gotten tours of ships, had travelling woodcarvers over for dinner, I could go on and on, all due to Mom's outgoing nature. She met these soldiers who appeared to have travelled in time, and after disposing of their modern day pizza, they posed for a picture with her.

We got home on Sunday night and had a quiet evening. Monday was her actual birthday, and Dad took her out to breakfast. That afternoon, we had a "high tea" set out for her on our table. The teapot and warmer were actually part of her birthday presents. She was very surprised and blessed as Hannah led her out blindfolded to see the table set with candles burning and soft music playing. We also gave her tickets to tour the White House which she was sooooo excited about that she didn't believe it at first! The tickets usually take months in advance to get, but somehow my sister knew someone who knew someone who knew someone type of thing, and due to an unusual cancellation, we have tickets to see the White House!

Then we had lined up a special dinner to cap off the day. Of course, at the last minute, Danny realized we had no gas for our grill, and I couldn't get a hold of friends to allow us to run over and use theirs. (We were serving filet mignon, so you HAVE to have a grill, right?!?) So, Danny ran out to the backyard and made a makeshift grill out of leftover brick and used charcoal. It was some of the best steak we ever served!! After dinner we did our time of honoring, and there was so much to say, we ended the evening with no time to even eat birthday cake. (We had that the next day)

Mom, thank you for being such a wonderful Mom. It was an honor to celebrate your birthday with you here.

Oh, and I wanted to mention how "young" of a 70 my mom is. She just embraces life with a zeal that I envy. She makes everything fun, and just does NOT act like a 70 year old woman. As a matter of fact, as I am typing this, my parents had friends over (another older couple) and as I sat here, I heard a very strange sound coming from the basement - the four of them are down there playing pool and want me to bring down some refreshments! haha I hope and pray that I will be just like her when I am that age.

My "Baby" is Growing Up!!

I had a "where did the time go" moment - I looked out the window and Jacob was driving the tractor!! We all ran to the window and waved - what a moment! Of course Danny's emotions were FAR different from mine - I saw my "baby" driving a dangerous, huge, sharp-bladed machine, and he saw another son who can cut the grass for him!! haha

Don't let his cute face "fool" ya!!

I know it is past April fools day, but this year was unforgettable, and actually Ryan just finished his last "prank" last night, so I wanted to post it so we would never forget it.

April fools day is quite a day for the Dustins - for those of you who know Ryan - this is his favorite day of the year! He was born with mischief in his soul! He just loves to get people, make them "lose" their keys so they cannot leave, put plastic bugs in your bed, etc. you get the point. Anyway, this year was no exception. It was the same day my parents arrived, and after my Dad convinced Hannah that he had cut his foot with an axe and was bleeding (BBQ sauce) and that he was having chest pains, Ryan REALLY got in the spirit. He wanted me to call Danny and tell him that our friend who was over hanging some window treatments, had actually dropped the wrought-iron rod and it had busted out the window. I just couldn't do it. It is Danny's favorite, HUGE picture window that had already been cracked once...

So, Ryan set his sites on the rest of the family. That night everyone went to brush their teeth and found we couldn't get our toothpaste out as everyone had toothpicks shoved into their tube of toothpaste. Danny was the victim of the old shaving cream and feather trick. Somehow Matt escaped all of this - Ryan had actually forgotten to go in his room and "get" him. Hannah convinced my Dad that she needed surgery on her arm and elicited much sympathy from him, thus his revenge with the old bloody axe routine.

That night, Jacob went to crawl into his bed and found it was full of airsoft pellets that he had to spend time tediously picking out - yep, Ryan struck again.

Jacob sent Hannah out to get the mail and she got soaked with a squirt gun - this time Jacob - and in that mail was a fake package - it was actually an empty lego box wrapped up...Jacob had set his sights on Hannah this year.

Well, that is all I can remember (now that it is six days later!) but I wanted to print it so we would never forget April Fools Day 2008!

Working Hard

Today was fence-painting day! Danny and the kids have been waiting for the right weather to go out and stain the fence - today was finally nice enough. We had absolutely perfect spring weather! Jacob was working so diligently I could hardly get him to look up for a quick shot! Hannah kept up with the boys - working right alongside her dad and brothers. I went out there myself, but only for moral support. I never picked up a brush - although I did hold the brush a couple times for the kids when they needed me to! Does that count?

And Ryan, he was so cute, he worked hard, and then he found the perfect stump to sit on and rest, and then he would be right back at it. He was shorter than the others so he had to reach high to get that top rail!

It is fun to have spring and be able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful, milder weather. We are supposed to go and see "Joseph" (the youth drama) tonight but it is almost dinner and I cannot get the guys in for a break and a shower! Joseph may have to wait for another day...

A Different Kind of Resurrection!!

Easter this year was so busy, we didn't seem to have time to squeeze in all of the traditions we usually have (dying eggs, watching Jesus of Nazareth, doing the Resurrection Eggs) but we did manage to do some of them. Danny's family was coming over for Easter dinner, and so preparations for that took up much of the weekend. On Friday night, the kids asked if I could try to make homemade rolls - which by the way I have never made before - but a dear friend of mine promised she would teach me how to make hers. So, Friday night I e-mailed her and she replied with these words "Sure! You are the FIRST person outside our family for generations to EVER get this recipe!!" No pressure. I felt bad at this point for asking, but she assured me it was okay and she was even willing to come over and help me.


I didn't want her to come over the day before Easter as she was having her family over on Sunday as well, so I told her I would attempt them on my own. First mistake. Four hours later, the dough had NOT risen! When she called to check on the progress, and I told her, she insisted on coming over and we make another batch together. GREAT! Four hours later - this batch also did NOT rise! She called at around 9:30 pm and I told her that even though they hadn't risen, we were making a new Easter tradition, checking the bowl every 20 minutes to see if anything had risen! (very symbolic for this particular holiday, huh?) Luckily, I had no faith in my baking skills, so I had purchased "backup" rolls at the store that morning and told her I would just serve those.

Easter morning comes. Danny and I go to the side porch and discover a huge bag of freshly baked, homemade, famous recipe rolls with a note that said "Behold! They have risen!!" After laughing at her sense of humor, we just stood there in awe and very touched that someone would make such great efforts to make sure we had homemade rolls on Easter Day. It takes some time first to make the dough, let it rise, shape, rise again, and then bake. She had stayed up who knows how late to do all this, and then have them on my door by 6 a.m. We will NEVER forget this kindness, and every time we make these rolls, we will always remember her amazing, selfless love for us. I sense that I will always make these for Easter too!!

This is a picture of the infamous rolls that we feasted on for Easter. Thank you dear friend, who must remain nameless, as I am sworn to secrecy never to reveal the recipe!!

Well, Monday came along and I decided to try again. I was determined to learn how to make delicious rolls for my family. I have wanted to do this for years! But alas, God has a sense of humor. Once again, my rolls did not turn out, and as I pulled them out of the oven, we found this one (below).

Do you see the smiling face, mocking me for my complete inability to make a light, fluffy, delicious roll??? This hardened lump of stone was just too much. The roll story had just gotten even better!!

Jacob ate it anyway.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Hannah, my beautiful, sweet, fun-loving, affectionate and creative little girl. Did I mention creative? Hannah always has something up her sleeve that she is making - she loves to draw, cut, glue, decorate, draw some more, etc. Today was no exception. I failed to really plan anything for St. Patrick's Day (other than a two hour history review!) and so Hannah decided to celebrate the day on her own, with her bunny of course.



First, she woke up this morning and wore all the green she could find. Then she decorated herself with a headband and bracelet made of paper shamrocks. She proceeded to make something for Ryan to wear. Then she decided that her bunny needed to be "decorated" too! This picture is the bunny seriously trying to hide from Hannah! haha I was laughing so hard I could barely get a picture. The bunny thought that maybe Hannah would fall for the old "the white cookie jar is the REAL bunny" trick! Well, Hannah won the battle. She managed, with lots of giggles, to get hold of the bunny and decorate her with a paper shamrock of her own! Actually, I think the bunny didn't mind it once she had it on!

Here they are, two sweet girls, both decorated in paper shamrocks. Thank you, Hannah, for always managing to brighten up my day with your perpetual cheerfulness and love for life. You make homeschooling you pure joy with your creativity and zest for life. You make everything fun with your sense of humor and sweet, encouraging personality. You are very humble and teachable. You love the Lord with all your heart. You are an example to me in so many ways Hannah. I cannot tell you how grateful I am that God gave you to me to be my one and only daughter! Keep on shining with your wonderful, creative gift!