Haven't fallen off the face of the Earth...yet

Sorry for the delay in posts. We were out-of-town on an extended weekend trip to the deer lease, and I'm still trying to catch up...if that's ever possible! Tomorrow, Thursday, is my precious first child's last day of 1st grade! SCREAM!! I. can. not. believe. it!! This year zoomed by I tell you, ZOOMED!! We have plenty of plans for the summer to keep the kiddos busy, including a trip to this fun place. I can't wait. I plan on sending Carleigh and our friend's daughter to the little girl spa, and visiting the grown up spa myself! :) Whoo Hoo! The deer lease was tons of fun. For those of you who quite possibly don't know what a deer lease is, it is the property we lease from a rancher in the Texas Hill Country with a whole buncha land in which we (Kelvin) hunt deer during deer season. We have our 1970 Avion camper there and have a ball camping out in it, sitting around the fire, roasting marshmallows (what else?), wading in the creek, and just hanging out in God's country. The kids took turns being "gate boy/girl" and loved it! Hee Hee! They hunted bugs and the like and saw numerous deer and wildlife. One day we went into town to shop, which is always fun. Our kids played with the rancher's grand kids one evening while we visited with his daughter and son-in-law. We had a really great weekend. I think even Emma enjoyed herself. She was outside a lot of the time in the shade, and the weather was nice most of the mornings. She seemed to like the wind in her hair, the crackle of the campfire, and the smells of the deer lease. We even took her in the jogging stroller down to the creek and splashed water on her feet. I don't think that was her favorite thing, but at least she got to feel the creek water. The ride home wore me out. If Emma wasn't crying, Cora was. I hopped back and forth from the front seat to the back to tend to the babies the entire trip. It was a long 5 or so hours! I was never happier to see my driveway! While we were gone, the room fairy came and decorated Carleigh's room for her birthday. It is sooo CA-YUTE! I love it, and more importantly, Carleigh loves it. I hope to post some before and after pictures for your viewing pleasure in the morning. It's so much fun to decorate a child's room! I can't wait to tackle Luke's. We had our VBS planning meeting tonight. I am going to tackle the music leader position. Can you remember to say a little prayer for me every day until and throughout the week of July 6? I will be leading music for approximately 150 1st through 5th graders. I want to be energetic and fun for them, and you never know what my night before might look like. Can't hold my eyes open much now, so I guess it's time to turn in. I'll be back with pictures tomorrow.

Last Day of School

**Updated with pictures**



Today was Emma's last day of school. When I went in to get her and give her teachers a gift, she was lying beside her new Abby Cadabby doll! If you read my post the other day, you'll remember that I believe her old one was washed away with Hurricane Ike. Her precious teacher, Mrs. Allison read my blog, went around the school and shared the story about Emma's lost doll, and collected money to buy her a new one! Is that not the sweetest thing you've ever heard?! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful school for our babies! The entire staff has been wonderful to Emma (and all of our other kiddos.)

The camera batteries pooped out this evening while we were taking pictures of Luke's church choir performance. After I've charged them tomorrow, I'll post some pics of Emma and her new Abby doll and Luke singing his little heart out about his heart bubbling over since Jesus made him whole! I've gotta get the details from my dad about the sweetest conversation he had with Luke and Carleigh yesterday evening. You won't believe how precious it is.



Have a good night, and check back soon for updates.

Just a swingin'

Yesterday evening the big kids were at Grammy and Papa's. Kelvin and I had a great time around the fire chatting while we grilled some red fish. It was gooood! I thought it would be fun for Emma to swing outside a little bit. While she seemed to enjoy it for awhile, her tummy didn't like it too much. She threw up all over herself and the swing. Poor baby...what we thought was a good idea was probably nothing more than a huge wave of motion sickness for her. Mark me down for the Mother of the Year award.

Today is her last day of school for the year. I hope she's well enough to go back next year. I think she really enjoys the hustle and bustle of her energetic toddler class. Her teacher, Mrs. Allison has been a blessing. She loves on Emma the whole time she's there, and basically just holds her all day. The other teachers in her class are precious too. Our little school has a great staff. All the teachers there are incredible.

Today Cora, or #4 as Kelvin sometimes refers to her, is two months old! WOW! She is so sweet. Her little smile is contagious. She is strong too! She's been holding her head up since birth trying to look around to see what's going on, and sister has a pair of lungs on her that reminds everyone she's in the room! She's a blessing.

unofficial start of summer and a walk down memory lane

I love summer...long days, muggy nights, campfires, roasting marshmallows (of course!), swimming til you're wrinkly like a prune, playing in the sprinkler, vacation, wearing your bathing suit all day...

Today marks the unofficial beginning of summer being Memorial Day. Carleigh still has two weeks of school left, so we'll still have an early bedtime for the next couple of weeks, but it's fun to celebrate all things summer today. We've had a lazy day so far. We're planning on having a fish fry this evening. I hope to make some lemonade to go along with it as well as some homemade fries, some salad and maybe a watermelon! YUM-O!

Our niece, Priscilla, graduated this weekend! (sniff, sniff) I. can't. believe. it! I remember getting the news of her arrival that cold December day! I remember the night she stayed the night with us and she could barely talk, and it took me forever to interpret "rotchu" in the middle of the night. Only after several minutes of crying and me asking her, "do you want me to rock you?" did I realize that's what she had been asking all along! I remember watching Barney with her and seeing her off to kindergarten in her cute little uniform skirt! I remember hearing her scream and giggle with her girlfriends and thinking they couldn't be any louder or more silly. Boy was I wrong! I remember watching her grow from a young girl with braces to a young lady...seeing her at Cotillion, getting her driver's license, and later watching her at Debutante Ball. She has grown up to be so beautiful...just like her mother...how we miss her so. I can just imagine her beaming with pride as her daughter walked across the stage to get her diploma...I know I was. Congratulations Priscilla!

My Brain Hurts

Sorry it's been so long since a post. I don't know how the time gets away from me so quickly. We've had the most amazing weather the past several days, and we've been spending our evenings outside around the fire pit doing my favorite thing...roasting marshmallows!! YUM, YUM!

Kelvin is going to the zoo with Carleigh and her class today. It's another be-you-tiful day, so they should have a great time! She is sooo excited. We put new batteries in her camera, because her teacher said she could take one. She told me she had to be responsible for it. Can't wait to see her pictures when she gets home today.

Our weekend was great. I can't believe we're about to have another one tomorrow. Carleigh's recital was precious! Here's the video for your viewing pleasure. Sorry about the wobbling. I don't have the steadiest hand in the world.



Tomorrow is also Kelvin's birthday! Really can't believe that! We aren't getting older...at least I don't feel like it most days. There are those days I feel like my body is falling apart. My knees don't work as well as they once did, and my skin isn't as elastic as it once was, but I'm still the same spring chicken on the inside!

Emma's had a couple of good days. She was totally laid back on Monday and worked well for her OT. She loves her teacher, Mrs. Becky and her OT, Miss Jeannie, and PT the other Mrs. Becky!

Mrs. Becky brings fun songs!

There's a wiggle in my toe, Teacher don't you know
I'd love to stop the wiggle 'cause it makes me want to giggle.
I've done everything I can,
and I wanted you to know I just can't stop the wiggle in
my toe.

There's a lot to think about these days. We've been getting bids for some home improvements. I've also been doing website work for our non-profit, trying to get things organized around here, and planning a birthday room remodel surprise for a certain little girl who turns 7 next month! I can't wrap my mind around how in the world she's turning 7 already! And how did my little baby boy just graduate from preschool!?! So, my brain hurts a little bit.

Well, there will be more videos and pictures of all the precious Dunnam children to come, so check in again soon. Have a good one!

Flasback Friday (a little late) and Silly Saturday

I had in mind to do a Flashback Friday post on Thursday evening. Yesterday I don't think I ever sat down to even look at a blog, so I'm doing it today. When I was pregnant with Carleigh, we were at a check-up, and the midwife asked us if we had any questions. Without hesitation, and as serious as a heart attack, Kelvin asked her when I would get my memory back. She laughed and said I wouldn't and with every pregnancy you lose brain cells! So, that might explain the foggy headed state I've been in the past couple of weeks. Lord, help me! All that to say, I want to do Flashback Fridays so I can remember the adorable things Emma used to do before Batten Disease reared its ugly head. When we were at the beach she would eat the sand! Nothing like a big piece of sandy watermelon! She loved doing whatever her siblings were doing... She was so excited about Wee School. I really think she still likes going. Of course, she's still adorable. I love cuddling with her. She still loves to eat even though it's pureed food, and she's still pretty spunky, even if it is in holler form. Come back next Friday and learn more about our m (little M), as I like to call her.

So this morning, Kelvin was doing You Tube stunts with Luke and got me to join in the fun too...


This one is great! Luke wants to flip Daddy! Here goes...

Waitin' for the Weekend

Boy do we ever have a busy weekend! Carleigh's dance recital is Saturday evening. Her church choir musical is Sunday. She has dress rehearsal tomorrow night and choir practice Saturday morning. We're looking forward to it. She is so talented. I can't wait to see her perform. She is such a doll. She's growing up so fast...her little baby face is quickly fading into a big girl. I look back at pictures and videos from a year or two ago and I'm sad I didn't realize how little she was. I know I can't go back now. I intend to treasure the days ahead. Here are my two girls not so long ago...



Emma was quite fussy with her OT yesterday. She was napping when her PT got here today and wasn't feeling very much like work, so she got a tummy massage instead. We are so blessed to have some great therapists. It's hard to see her like this. I wish so badly there was a way to turn back time and give her the missing enzyme she needs to thrive. She was such a little pistol...always into something. I miss seeing her running around, carrying her Abby Cadabby doll. I tore up the house looking for her doll this week with no luck. I guess it must have been at the beach house. I hate hurricanes! The weather is warm and perfect for the beach, but there is no beach house to go to now. Last weekend we took the kids down with the intention of letting them swim, and Luke ran upstairs to get his stuff ready. He always filled a pillowcase with his favorite toys of the week to take to the beach house with him. Kelvin had to explain to him that we wouldn't be staying there because the hurricane blew it away. Hurricanes stink! I think I'll get Emma a new Abby doll. She loved that thing. The doll's voice was kind of annoying, but how I wish I could be annoyed again and see Emma holding it and listening to it sing to her. Batten Disease stinks too! Emma's resting in her beanbag right now. I'm glad she's getting some rest. It's good to see her calm.