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...

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.