RUSTY'S SNOW DAY

Rusty would stay out all day in the snow if we let him!

Molly is in charge of the project.

Tim uses a shovel to add more snow.

Jack brings chunks of snow for the fort.

Rusty loves to help!

A very happy Puppy!

Pond Hockey 2011

The neighbors down the street have the coolest ice rink in their back yard!  They invited us down to play today.  We have enough kids to make a Hockey team since it is the weekend and Robbie's friends are with us.  Rob, Molly, Jack, Tim, Sean and Jared bundled up and braved the 8 degree weather to go skate on the pond.  The twins are getting really good at skating and even Molly is getting more comfortable on the ice! Robbie was a good sport and wore my figure skates. The older boys are used to handling an Xbox controller, not a hockey stick, which made them hysterical to watch.

Jack and Tim face off!

Molly scores!

Robert John

Some "Bunny" turns 18 today! 

After 24 hours of labor, Robert John was born on January 9, 1993 at 2:42 pm (during the middle of the Buffalo Bills AFC championship game).  He weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and had beautiful gray eyes and lots of black hair. 

At 10 months old Robbie was a delightful baby who adored his dog Marta and being read to.  He was already diagnosed with life threatening food allergies to milk, eggs and peanuts.  Aunt Sue called him the "exorcist baby" when he would accidentally ingest something that wasn't safe. 

As a toddler, Robbie wanted to spend every moment outside. He loved his big wheel and all kinds of sports. Robbie was the apple of his father's eye and would love coming to school with Mommy everyday.

In elementary school Robbie made a lot of friends and loved to play baseball every spring.

In the fall he played football for the town.  He was on the undefeated Raiders team for years and followed professional football very closely.  Robbie also loved to read and would always have his nose in a series of books.

In middle school Robbie grew his hair long.  Got his ear pierced, a few tattoos and ended up in prison.  Just kidding!  Eventually he cut his hair short again and his mother relaxed!  He joined the cross country team and the adventure club.


Rob was always one of the smallest kids in his class but what he lacked in stature he made up in heart.  Here he is with a broken finger which we ignored for awhile during football season until they had to re break it and cast it up to his elbow.

 In high school Robbie spent a lot of time with the cross country and track team.  He excelled in all of his classes.



The high school years flew by fast!  Robbie? Robbie who?  We hardly see him since he is so involved in school and sports and friends.  Especially spending time with his good friend Alex Yudelson (okay so you made the blog, happy now?)

 

Robbie at 18 is a high school senior, works at Wegmans, takes 6 AP classes, plays first board chess and if you are recruiting for jobs or giving away scholarships and this blog post sounded like a resume...PERFECT!

Christmas Decorations

There are a lot of "funky" Christmas decorations available in stores these days. You can purchase inflatable Santa's or metal Reindeer that light up and move. However, I feel fortunate to have inherited special Christmas decorations that are not only beautiful, but also very meaningful and will last for generations!

More than 40 years ago, my father made choir boys out of wood that every year adorned our front yard on Rye Road. These young men would "sing" around the lamp post and, as kids, we would stand between them pretending to sing carols.

Years later, these 3 unique ornaments stand in my yard every holiday season, singing hymns for my friends and neighbors to enjoy. My kids love to pose amongst them too.

 

Jack and Timothy, at age two, playing between the Choir Boys!

All the kids in 2007!

After more than 40 years, the "'fellas" needed a touch of paint.

A few hours to dry on the dining room table, and the boys were ready to go outside.

2010 and the twins are taller then these exceptional Christmas decorations.

 We were also very lucky to have inherited Grandma Dunn's nativity scene.

My Daddy even made this barn for the creche.

Christmas  is filled with many joys, but when I bring out these extraordinary treasures every year,  I am filled with such thankfulness for my family and our traditions.

Daddy (Robert Dunn) and Grandma Dunn

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

was the smell of Lasagna and Dustin in his Christmas blouse;

 The children were crowded around the dining room table with care

in the hopes of getting right to the dessert fare;

All decked out in their new "jammies" and ready for their beds,

While visions of "Despicable Me" danced in their heads;

 And Mom in her polar bear pj's and Dad with a night cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap;

With memories of what a decade ago, did appear,
Not "hamsters" at all, but identical twins, 10 weeks early, oh dear!

But this Christmas eve, they are so lively and quick,
We thank the Lord every day and today even St. Nick.
Happy Birthday Tim and Jack, now get out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Snowball Fight!

There is nothing like a good old fashioned snowball fight, especially boys against the girls! The family Christmas party provided a great opportunity for some mayhem. The cousins took cover and went to work bombarding each other.

Ella and Molly set up camp behind a snow drift.

 

The boys make their "ammunition".

Ready, aim, fire!

A direct hit! 

The problem is...not a lot of snow for making snowballs...hmmm.

The solution:  Molly abandons the safety of the snow drift and attacks from behind!

Watch out boys!  Girls can throw just as well!

Family Game Night

Lately the dining room table has been utilized for games:  Risk, Sequence, Stratego, Life, Pitch and tonight a little game of Monopoly!  The wheeling, the dealing, the blowing on the dice -this is serious game play!!!

Rusty would very much like to be the "dog", or maybe the "slipper".

Look at all the money!  And who made Molly the banker?  OMG

This takes a lot of concentration!

Hmmm, how much is this property worth?

Let the trading begin!