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Showing posts from July, 2014

Three Birthday Celebrations for my Three Year Old

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Cosette turned three today. It is tradition on birthdays we each say something nice about the person. Here are three things about Cosette: 1. She tells the best knock knock jokes. 2.She is exceptional at doing puzzles. 3. She is very good at making friends where ever she is. Oh there are so many nice things I could say about this kid! She really is special. There are not many sweeter kids in all the world. Me, Lyndon, and Henry are so lucky to have her in our lives. That is why we celebrated her birthday three times this year! I did not plan it this way, but that is how it worked out. What can I say, we like to party! The first celebration was the big family celebration. About half of the family was going to be gone on her actual birthday and instead  celebrating it later we celebrated it early so people would be here. And I think with the homemade cake and ice cream they were happy we celebrated it early too. Ready to open her presents! Her favorite would have to be a pla

Mahan Family Reunion

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The Fourth of July was a busy weekend for us. We had the Mahan Family reunion to attend on July 5th for my Dad's family out in Cookeville, TN.   The Mahan family is my Ma's (my Dad's mother) family. The reunion happens every other year and it has been a very long time since I have been. My Ma was one of 14 children and I think about nine of them are still living. Sadly my ma is not one of those nine. She passed away about seven years ago. Those family reunions are always fun because you go and you meet a ton of people you never knew you were related to. It was cool to look out across this large room and know that everyone there I was related to. Families are awesome! I was able to talk to some of the older sisters my Ma's sisters and it is sad to see them getting older and passing. But I am so grateful I know them and have memories from throughout my life they are in. Pictured above is my Dad with his Uncle Keith.  Dad and Henry with Uncle CG.  Ellen with Aun

Boys Four Generation Photo Session

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While in Utah we got the boys together and took a four generation photo. I have taken a couple with my Momma, Grandma, and Cosette and they are so nice to have (picture here ). I really wanted H to have one with his Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa whose middle name by the way is Henry as well. I hope that my kids will see these pictures as they go throughout their lives and know that they have met their great grandparents and grandparents. My relationship with my grandparents is very special to me and I hope that my kids can have wonderful relationship with theirs. Grandparents are the best! On the left Great Grandpa Roger, Grandpa Phil, Daddy, and Henry. Henry I hope you know that you are so loved. So, so, so, so, loved. While at the studio we got some of the kids together. It's their first real photo session as siblings. My heart is melting. And then this happened in several pictures. Really, what in the world Cosette? I guess Henry's ear is yummy? I don

Cosette's a World Cup Fan

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This was David's reaction to Germany winning the World Cup. He got Cosette to cheer for Germany with him. They were chanting "Germany! Germany! Germany!" over and over again. She had fun. Lyndon and I were cheering for Argentina, so we were a little disappointed. Watching the World Cup this summer has been fun for us. We have not been religious about it, but have kept up with it pretty well. My parents still do not have cable, so we wold go down the street to my Grandma's to watch the games, which she loved. She liked having us come over. She would call us up whenever there was a game and ask if we were coming down. My money was on Brazil or the Netherlands. Lyndon was rooting for Chile since he served his mission there, and then for Argentina when Chile got out (because Argentina is the next best thing to Chile). The World Cup gave us a good excuse to hang out as a family and therefore brought us a little closer together. And I am a huge fan of that!

RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival

Back in June we headed to Bellbuckle, Tennessee to attend the annual RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival! We found out about it while reading in the Food Network Magazine. When we saw it was in Tennessee and we would be in Tennessee for it there was no question about it. We were going! Who doesn't love a good festival, especially when Moon Pies are involved?  Every year Bell Buckle which is home to the Moon Pie, hosts this festival. All usual fair eats are involved. There is a 10 mile race in the morning before all the festivities start. If I was more in running shape I would have probably done that. There was a summer market with a variety of great picks. Giant belt buckles with with the John Deere symbol on them. My brother had to make a stop there. We got there right when the parade was starting so we watched it from our cars. What I really wanted to see was the skit that is all about Moon Pie and RC Cola. Other Southern favorites like Goo Goo Cluster also make appearance

Our July Life

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It is summer time in Tennessee! And we are loving it! I mean loving it! I mean I grew up here and know what there is to do here, but experiencing it with the kiddos is making life even more exciting! This picture is from my favorite day this month. We met up with friends at the World's Fair Park splash pad and spent the day frolicing through the water, taking a trolley to Market Square, and going up in the Sun Sphere. I seriously did not know that Knoxville could be so fun. I am dying, I mean dying to repeat this day again.  I love trees and taking walks at dusk in the neighborhood. Life is beautiful, literally! We (meaning my parents) got a new dog. Well inherited a new dog. Schnitzel was my cousins dog and she needed a home. And the Dunn house needed a dog. Our beloved Moses passed away at Thanksgiving and my Momma was missing her doggy companion. Schnitzel is a good fit. And the kids cannot get enough of her. We took her on a walk and Cosette held onto the leash the w

The 4th of July and Barron Family Reunion

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Happy 4th of July! This year was a pretty subdued festivities compared to others. Every year my Mom's family has a family reunion the week of the fourth. In years past all the aunts, uncles, cousins come into town and we have a week of celebrating that we are family. This year not many people were able to make it (boo!), but we had fun with those who were able to come and participate. We spent a day at Kentucky Splash water park. I got to go down one of the big slides which is all I wanted to do. People had fun floating in the lazy river and soaking in the sun shine (I love the summer sun!). On the fourth we kicked off the day with our annual Barron 5K walk and run. We used to do a race in Knoxville, but the registration fee got to be too much so we started our own. This year we had more walkers than runners (only five people ran). Eston finished first and surprisingly I finished second. With at time of 22:59 I have to add (sometimes you have to give yourself some recognition.

June

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Before we head to far into July, I should post about June. June was a pretty fabulous month. We made it to Tennessee where we will be spending the summer while Lyndon studies for the bar. The first week we actually headed to South Carolina and spent the week at our favorite beach (watch the video here ).  The day after we got back from the beach we jumped back in the car again and drove to Cookeville, TN where my Dad is from for decoration day at the cemetery where my Pa and Ma Dunn are buried and a lot of other Dunn family members. Here are all the cousins that showed up this year with Pa and Ma's grave.  And another picture with my Dad, his brothers, and spouses. We saw a lot of other Dunn family members there. It was nice to catch up with people. One cousin is taking a trip to Europe and it was so fun talking to her about all the wonderful things she was going to do and see.  That Tuesday we celebrated my sister Ellen's birthday! We dinned on delicious Japanes