Keeping up with the MN Dunigans

Happy Half-Birthday, Mr. Griffin!!!

2012-02-11T10:55:00.000-08:00

Today, Griffin is five AND A HALF years old!!! It's true, I had the honor of becoming a mother 5.5 years ago. And seriously, what an honor it is to be blessed by this little man.

School is still going quite well for Griffin. He loves recess (of course!) but loves "stuff inside the classroom too!" I am amazed on a daily basis because of how much he is learning. I am completely intrigued about what he learns in regards to food. He now frequently asks if something is healthy for him before he eats it. Or he will say, "Mom, which one is better for me?" After reading off the wall at school that chocolate milk has more calories than regular milk, he told me that he is only going to choose chocolate milk once in a while :) While we talk about the importance of exercise on a daily basis, we rarely talk about healthy foods beyond the need for fruits and vegetables. I don't know exactly what they have talked about at school in regards to nutrition, but I love that he has already started to apply his knowledge without prompting from us.

His reading and writing skills also continue to bring a smile to my face. Just this morning, he typed me a note on my kindle that read, "We are goin to the mal toda." And the other day, I was brought to tears when I recorded the video from below. Each day, he brings home a book that is at his reading level. He can keep the book for as long as he wants, but he chooses to get a new book every day (this is completely separate from the books he is allowed to check out from the school's library). The books are designed so that kids can learn new words through patterns and repetition. The also contain sight/high frequency words. When I busted out the video camera, it was Griffin's second time through the book. Unfortunately my battery died before he finished, but you get the idea.

Basketball and swimming continue to be his activities of choice. (Let's be honest, though, he would be in swimming lessons whether he liked them or not. ) At lessons on Monday, I watched him swim freestyle across the entire length of the pool. He had to stop and catch his breath while treading water in the middle (he hasn't quite figured out the whole breathing thing), but he made it without touching the ground or grabbing onto the side. His form needs a little work, but I don't concern myself with that. I just want both of my boys to be strong swimmers. I could care less if they swim competitively; I just want them to be strong swimmers from a safety standpoint. And for now, Griffin truly does enjoy swimming lessons and learning different strokes. In terms of basketball, Griffin's favorite activity is a game called sharks and minnows. He is constantly telling me that he hopes to play it at practice.

Griffin is my happy-go-lucky kid. Even the nurse at school says he smiles more than any kid she knows. (Griffin visits the school nurse each day for daily asthma/allergy medicine...twice a day when his asthma is acting up). He definitely likes routine (like his mother), and he is a great older brother. He currently loves salad and ranch dressing, and he would put an entire jar of mayo on his sandwiches if we let him. The two of us also share a passion for mustard pretzels.

And that is just a little update on Mr. Griffin.

I just can't believe he is five and a half years old!!!

Takes After Me...

2012-02-02T19:13:00.001-08:00

So apparently Griffin is a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to school. Hmmm...I wonder where he gets that from?

Today was his second Kindergarten Conference. I am still in love with his teacher, and so is he :) But she shared that Griffin has a hard time with trying new things for fear of being wrong. For example, if he is asked to try reading a new word, he might say, "I don't know." But when she prompts him to just try and sound it out, most often he can read it. Or when he was being tested last week on sight words, he only got 12/22 correct. But it was only because he didn't attempt them all. If he came to a word that he had to think twice about, he would say, "I don't know." Yet today, when I tested him, he knew all 22. But my test came after a long talk about how it's okay to make mistakes, and that when we learn to read, we don't always get things right. Thankfully his teacher knew that his score wasn't really indicative of his ability. (The next day when he was asked to spell the sight words, he could spell them all).

For now, we just have to work on reiterating the fact that making mistakes is a part of learning.

A lesson I could remember now and again myself :)

Mom, I'm Grumpy!

2012-02-02T19:07:00.000-08:00

Grayson declared he was grumpy today. But then his frown turned upside down :)

Anxious

2012-01-24T17:07:00.000-08:00

A new class starts for me next week. A research class. As in, I need to really narrow down my thesis.

And I'm anxious. The thing is, I am NOT an anxious person. The only time I suffer from any form of anxiety is when it comes to the health of my kids. Other than that, I tend to handle stress pretty well. Pretty sure that is the only reason why I am able to be a mom, work full-time, and go back to school. So being anxious is new to me. And I don't do well with anxious. Did I mention I need to have a real dissertation topic soon?

With that being said, I know there is one sure-fire way to make sure my level of anxiety doesn't skyrocket.

Run.

A lot.

No matter how busy my schedule gets, the best lesson I have learned since becoming a doctoral student is this: Giving up my runs is NOT an option. Unless you want a crazy woman for a wife, mother, and teacher.

I know exercise is often the first thing to go when life gets busy. But for me, it's just not an option. Some people watch t.v. Some people drink a glass of wine.

Me? I run.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Bullying...Even in Kindergarten

2012-01-24T16:43:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, last week brought about a first for the Dunigan Family. And not a happy first.

When Griffin got off the bus on Thursday, he began telling me that there were two twin boys (older) bullying him on the bus. They were teasing him for being a baby kindergarten student, and they were pulling on the hood of his jacket. Griffin and I talked about asking them to stop and finding a new seat on the bus. He didn't seem overly upset, and I thought all would be okay.

The next day, the two boys threw snowballs at Griffin when he exited the bus and started walking to our house. I witnessed the whole thing because I watch from our front door each day as Griffin gets off. Even when Griffin yelled at them to stop, the one shoved snow down Griffin's jacket, so I eventually had to step in and reprimand the boys. The boys froze and stopped. I talked with Griffin about how he could handle stuff like this in the future. I suggested making sure he didn't sit near the boys. I reminded him that when someone does something he doesn't like, he should say so. I also told him that if anything else happened he NEEDED to tell the bus driver.

Yesterday, Griffin exited the bus and was visibly nervous. He kept his head down and walked as quickly as possible to get to our house. It was then that I knew I needed to contact the school. In hindsight, I probably should have contacted them on Friday, but I have never dealt with this as a parent.

Fortunately, I am very pleased at how the school handled the situation. They got back to me quickly, talked with Griffin and the boys, and consequences were given. My goal was not to get these two boys in trouble. Instead, I wanted to make sure my son wasn't afraid to ride the bus. And when he walked to our house yesterday after getting off the bus, he was grinning from ear to ear and walked by the two boys without a care in the world. When I asked him why he was so happy, he replied, "Because I feel safe again on the bus."

It breaks my heart that he had to experience this at such a young age. I still have a hard time wrapping my head around how early bullying starts. But, for now, all is okay.

The Lion King

2012-01-20T22:00:00.000-08:00

So excited during intermission...

Mean Scar Face!!!

What I know is this...I don't ever want to forget last night. Ever.

I am so thankful that Griffin and I were fortunate enough to attend the traveling Broadway production of the Lion King last night. I could only snap a few pictures with my camera, so I hope the memories of the entire night stay etched in my mind forever.

It was such a privilege for me as a mom to watch Griffin be so excited and entertained. This was his first experience at a theater, and it was a joy to watch his reactions. I seriously would still have been satisfied if I had been forced to face the back of the theater the entire time. My glee was not from the show; it was wrapped up in the reactions of my precious son.

Up until the show started, he was a little unsure of how it would all work. I had explained on the way that it would not be a movie screen, but there would be real live people. He then replied with a HUGE GRIN on his face, "So I am going to see a real lion?" Melt my heart. I ended up buying a kid's program we arrived, so I was able to walk him through the characters and their puppets. His excitement just continued to grow.

From the moment the show started, Griffin had a smile on his face. He was on the edge of his seat the whole time. If he wasn't sitting, he was standing. If he wasn't standing, he was dancing and singing. His eyes said it all.

One of my favorite parts of this production is the use of native African tongue. While I was entertained, Griffin turned to me and whispered, "Mom, I don't understand the monkey's English." Insert smile here.

Still not sure of how the whole people/puppet/animal thing worked, Griffin turned to me after Mufasa's death and asked, "Did he die in real life?" Ahhh, the innocence of a child.

The first time the theater got dark and the audience applauded a big vocal number, Griffin turned to me with a frown and inquired, "It's done?" I explained that it wasn't done. After this happened a few times he leaned over and whispered into my ear, "How about every time it goes dark, I will look at you. Just shake your head if it's not over yet."

During intermission, Griffin began complaining that his throat was dry, so we decided to experience the concession stands and purchased a Sprite. The people around us were very entertained by Griffin's description that his nose felt tingly (from the carbonation) after a few sips.

On the way home, I interviewed Griffin to find out his favorite parts...

Favorite Character...Scar
Favorite Part...When Rafiki hits Simba over the head with a stick :)
Favorite Souvenir...Key Chain

Blessed to be living THIS life :)

Just Write

2012-01-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

So many books. So little time. I mean really. My Wish List on Amazon is over 20 books long, and that doesn't even count the ones I have listed on my desk at school...the ones I plan to borrow from the library.

The library is a great idea. It is. But, for some reason, I have a hard time using it. Do you know that I don't even own a library card for our public library? I only check out books from my school's library. Otherwise I buy them. I LOVE owning books. I know that makes me super priveleged. And perhaps snotty. But sometimes I hate giving books back to my library at school. Especially if it is a really good book. I get knots in my stomach when I turn it back in. Weird. I know. But books are powerful things. Books open your mind to a whole new world...even if it is non-fiction. And giving the book back...it just makes me feel like my world got small again.

Linking up to Just Write today for the first time...visit here for details. I had something completely else in mind when I decided to write an entry. Love how this process works!

I couldn't have said it better myself...

2012-01-15T13:12:00.000-08:00

"Sometimes my heart aches at how my life turned out...but in a good way. That doesn't mean there haven't been hardships; there have been. But I'm here. And here is good."
~Brooke---One Tree Hill

In the last 24 hours...

2012-01-14T10:10:00.001-08:00

I read an entire book (paper copy) and half of another one...ON MY NEW KINDLE TOUCH!!!
I actually spent time with my husband who happens to now work super late every day due to it being tax season!
I was able to replace Griffin's winter jacket (broken zipper) with a brand-new one I bought for only $5.98!
I went shopping with Griffin to buy a present for his first school birthday party!
I completed my first post-surgery run!
I took the boys bowling!
I planned out and scheduled Grayson's bowling birthday party!

I have had a WONDERFUL last 24 hours...And now both boys are napping, so I am going to join them!!!

First Post-Surgery Run

2012-01-13T18:49:00.000-08:00

The sweaty, happy glow of my first post-surgery run...pain free at that!!!

Griffin Updates

2012-01-12T01:07:00.000-08:00

Griffin started allergy shots in November. We go once a week, and so far so good. He has yet to complain that it hurts, and he is easily occupied during the 30 minute wait period afterward. I can't say I notice a huge improvement in the allergy department because he still gets itchy, watery eyes quite frequently, and he still has bags under his eyes each and every day. However, his breathing is under control. Since finishing his antibiotics in November, his peak flow tests have been hitting high numbers. Even after visiting houses with dogs, he seemed okay breathing wise. Still got itchy, watery eyes, but hey, it's an improvement.

While at the doctor's office recently for shots, Griffin had two funny quotes that just left me laughing. At first he said, "Mom, I recognized my nurses face, but I didn't recognize her hair." This cracked me up. It was his favorite nurse, but she wore her hair straight that day rather than curly. I found it humorous that he noticed, but I was also amused at how he verbalized his observation. At the end of the 30 minute wait period, the nurse checks to make sure you aren't reacting at the injection site. Griffin receives two shots in one arm and one in the other. When she took off his bandaids, Griffin turned to me and exclaimed, "Isn't it magical that she can take both my bandaids off at the SAME time?"

In other news, Griffin was invited to his first "school" birthday party the other day. The boy is not in his same kindergarten class, but they both attend the before school program Adventures Plus together. These two kids must be two peas in a pod because the birthday invitation was creatively written and decorated in a Star Wars theme. (Not going to lie, I might steal the invitation when it comes time to sending out ones for Griffin's party!) Griffin is super excited and can't wait to go shopping to buy his friend a birthday present.

Next week, Griffin and I will be going to see the Broadway production of The Lion King. I am SO SO very excited to share this with him. I can't wait to see his face light up when the show starts. I also can't wait to see his reaction when the characters dance in the aisles. His seat is actually on the end, so he will have a perfect view!

My little man is growing up, and there are days when this is hard for me. I still can't believe he is a school-age kid in the beginning stages of reading. But, thankfully, my five year-old still needs me to tuck him into bed at night, he still likes to hold my hand, and he still likes to cuddle up next to me and read. I can handle the growing up part if he continues to do that :)

MN Winter ???

2012-01-11T15:53:00.000-08:00

Frosty Frolic 2012

2012-01-10T22:30:00.000-08:00

Due to my veins, the Frosty Frolic was out for me. I cannot even begin to tell you how disappointed I was that I could not run this race. My friend, Mel, was able to run with both of her kids this year. I was ecstatic for her and her family, but I was also very jealous.

The good news, though, was that Griffin was able to participate in the Kid's Fun Run. In previous years, the temperature has been below zero. My boys are TOO young to run in below zero weather. However, because of the amazing January weather this year, Griffin was able to run. I think the pictures show you exactly how happy he was. Furthermore, the race shirts could not have been more perfect for his introduction to this annual race. A picture of Yoda was placed in the center of the shirt with the words, "May the Course be with You!"

A few precious children to love...

2012-01-10T19:50:00.000-08:00

PERFECTION

2012-01-10T19:44:00.000-08:00

It's going to pop...!!!

Say "CHEESE!"

Such concentration...

Ah, Shucks!!!

Who remembers playing this game as a kid? I do. And to be honest, I am still really bad at it. I am just not a visual learner, which is why I despise puzzles. My brain just doesn't function that way, I guess. Nevertheless, both boys were very excited to receive this game as a Christmas Gift from the Madison Dunigans.

Santa

2012-01-10T19:28:00.001-08:00

Milk, Cookies, and a Handwritten Note

Can barely contain himself...

Excitement is in the air...

Griffin's Presents from Santa:

Darth Vader Key Chain---this is what he specifically asked Santa for
Walking War Machine
Leap Frog DVD

Grayson's Presents from Santa

Kid's Trampoline
Transformers PlayDoh
Leap Frog DVD

WI Christmas Celebrations

2012-01-10T19:13:00.001-08:00

Thanking Goofy Uncle Christopher

Anything Star Wars makes this little man happy!

Clone Trooper vs. Thor

Trying to divide out the nuts one by one...

Almost there...

VICTORY!

Is it so? Does a child of mine actually look like me?

Family Love

Resting with Great-Grandpa Lloyd

Star Wars Cooking Buddies

Crazy eyes for the presents he loves...I swear he would get this crazed look after opening every present...

I am THOR!

MN Christmas Celebrations

2012-01-10T18:57:00.001-08:00

In addition to regular presents, Griffin was adamant that we wrap up a few of his old toys to give to Baby Jackson...he was so proud that he wrapped them himself!

SUCH a fun age to watch open presents!!!

JUST love this family!

Who needs presents when there is wrapping paper to play with?

Griffin loved all of his gifts...hence the crazed smile after each one he opened...

Celebrating Christmas just the four of us before heading to WI.

Is that a Star Wars toy? You might notice a theme...

Yep, there is that crazy look again...

Lego Box. Enough said.

Nothing like going old school with games...oh the childhood memories...

I miss my treadmill...

2012-01-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

It's true. I miss it. I see that thing every day. My shoes sit on top calling me. But I can't hop on because of my stupid veins. And to make matter's worse, I can't run the Frosty Frolic---a race I have done many times (even before I actually liked running).

Since Thanksgiving, I have only run a handful of times. Maybe clocked in 2o miles. And it's killing me. My mind is all over the place. I always knew how much running did for me physically. But I never knew exactly how much it did for me mentally. This is the longest I have gone without consistently running since deciding to train for the half marathon back in April of 2010. And I miss it. I miss the me time where my mind just wanders. I miss the prayer time. I miss the day dreaming. I miss the feeling of accomplishing a fast pace. I miss my heart rate racing as I push myself to go just a few minutes longer. I miss the runner's high. I even miss the sweat.

Two weeks can't go by fast enough.

Recent Quotes

2011-12-28T21:23:00.000-08:00

Grayson to Griffin: "You are my best friend."

Griffin to me: "Christmas is not about presents because they can't be born and they are NOT our king."

Grayson to anyone and everyone: "What's your favorite color?" or "Do you have dogs?"

Griffin to me: "Can you teach me more words with the silent E?"

Grayson to anyone and everyone: "We don't eat dog food. We don't eat bird poop. We don't eat dog poop. And we don't eat our poop."

Griffin after seeing his cousin Samuel wear pajamas: "Can I get a pair of pajamas?" This from the kid who has always worn just a t-shirt to bed and despised pajamas.

Grayson to me: "Where's daddy?" I replied "At work." To which he responded, "Not again!"

Just Run

2011-12-28T21:19:00.000-08:00

Run Happy
Run Grumpy
Run Speedy
Run Slow
Run A Lot
Run A Little
JUST RUN!

I saw this on someone else's blog, and it made my day. I have been dying to get on the treadmill post surgery, and today was the day. I only ran a mile before my leg throbbed, but MAN it felt good to run. Seriously. My lungs and my heart are so happy right now. Well, that is until I remember that I can't run the Frosty Frolic. Heart. is. broken.

Hoping to get in a few more miles before Friday. Then it should only be another 14 days until I can run until my heart is content :)

Early Presents

2011-12-21T11:48:00.001-08:00

My boys got to open up their Christmas presents from Grandma Laurie yesterday. To say they were in heaven would be an understatement. They played with their new gifts ALL NIGHT LONG. They barely stopped to eat dinner, and then they resumed playing until we forced them to go to bed. My friend, Rebecca, hit it on the nose when she said, "The bat cave is like a doll house for boys." SO TRUE!!!

Vein Update

2011-12-17T10:36:00.000-08:00

Tuesday was quite possibly the worst day of my life. I do not remember a time when I was in so much pain. Even the pain before receiving an epidural for Griffin's birth wasn't as bad as this. No joke.

As usual, the surgery was more complicated than the doctor thought it would be. When I was being wheeled away, the doctor told Brandon the procedure would take an hour. It ended up taking three. Par for the course. I swear I should just live in a lab and be researched. I could at least make some money off of all my weird medical issues.

The doctor described removing the clot using these words..."It was like scraping cement off of your leg with a crochet needle." Fun images, huh? After that was all said and done, they were surprised to discover that I have a duplicate greater saphenous vein. Basically that meant that after they took out the clot, they had to ablate two veins and not just one. Hence the three hour procedure. The worst part about all of this is that you are not put all the way under. I distinctly remember looking at the clock at two different times and thinking, "I should not still be in surgery," but I didn't have the mental capacity to say anything. (Thankfully they did inform Brandon halfway through that it would be a longer time frame than expected).

I don't remember much from Tuesday except for pain. In addition to the leg pain, I got sick from anaesthesia and ended up with a migraine as well. I was admitted overnight even though I was originally supposed to be able to walk out of the hospital a few hours after surgery. In hindsight, the doctor thinks that a nerve was nicked when he was scraping away the clot. Most of my upper leg is numb to the touch and bruised, and I have a tearing sensation every time my muscle is fully tightened. The doctor is unsure how long that will last.

We are still going ahead with the second surgery the week after Christmas. I just want everything to be over and done with. I also want to have a break from school because keeping my classroom up and running last week put me over the edge in terms of stress. I ended up going back to school before I should have, but to me that was easier than letting my classroom fall apart. If you aren't a teacher, it might be hard to understand that. But those of you who teach totally understand that it is sometimes easier to work when you are sick then prepare for a substitute. Thankfully, if something goes wrong during the second surgery, I will have some time to regroup before school starts again.

I am frustrated (I am sure that's obvious), but I am also thankful that the clot is gone, and I am not in any danger of other issues. I was also reminded that we truly have amazing friends. Holly O cancelled her own plans to watch my kids on Tuesday night; Auntie Kelsey took over so the kids could be put to bed at their own house. And Holly J was my personal driver this week, so that I could stay on pain meds.

I am in pain, but I can still honestly say that Life is Good.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas 2011

2011-12-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

St. Nick Visits---December 6th

Not quite sure he wants to be close to Santa...

Okay....I guess I'll smile

I can't believe how old Griffin looks...

Waiting for the sleigh ride in my new winter coat :)

LOVE THESE BOYS!!!

Mr. Grayson

2011-12-12T17:16:00.001-08:00

Right now, Grayson is at SUCH a fun age. He makes us laugh each and every day with his funny faces, hilarious remarks, and constant barrage of questions. As I reflect on the day, I am constantly reminded of something he did that made me stop in my tracks and think, "Man, this is such a fun stage!"

His enthusiasm is enviable. His energy is never ending. His curiosity is entertaining. His comments are witty. I could literally nibble his ears off. And man, I melt every time I hear, "I love you mommy," or "cuddle with me." I am ENAMORED with this little man.

Sometimes I feel guilty, though. Did I miss this fun age with Griffin? When Griffin was this age, Grayson was a baby, and we were just beginning to see his acid reflux issues creep through. I worry that I didn't get to experience this age with Griffin. But then I am reminded that life isn't perfect. I'm not perfect. I can't be a perfect mom. I try to soak up every moment, but sometimes frustration gets in the way. And that's okay. Because even though I can't be a perfect mom, I can find a million ways to be a good one.

Photo Card

2011-12-05T08:31:00.001-08:00

Believe In Christmas Religious

Creating Christmas cards have never been this easy.

View the entire collection of cards.

Brothers

2011-12-03T21:20:00.001-08:00

Blood Clot

2011-12-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, my friend Holly (or as Brandon calls her, Jolly) had to take me to the ER while Brandon stayed back with the kids. I woke up that morning with intermittent stabbing pains in my upper inner thigh, and by the time I was done teaching at church I could barely stand to walk. The vein in my upper leg was slightly swollen and solid at this point, so I knew I had to be seen.

Well, despite the fact that I am still in my twenties (at least for a few months), I was diagnosed with superficial thrombophlebitis, otherwise known as a blood clot in a vein that isn't a major one. At the time, my only instructions were to take ibuprofen regularly and move as often as possible. I was also prescribed a narcotic for pain.

Unfortunately, by Tuesday afternoon, almost the entire length of my vein was rock solid and VERY painful. I was seen immediately by my regular doctor, along with a few other doctors in her practice. They also conference-called a vascular surgeon. It was determined that another ultrasound was in order to make sure the clot wasn't moving to a deep vein.

The good news is that while the clot is building up and moving down my leg, it doesn't seem to be moving towards my major vein in the groin area. While they are still concerned with the fact that the clot is building, the level of concern isn't as high when it isn't moving towards a major vein. The bad news is that the clot doesn't seem to want to go away. The pain is MUCH better, but my vein is still rock solid. Until it goes away, there will always be concern that it could travel. Currently, I am taking ibuprofen around the clock because it is considered a low-grade blood thinner. I am also trying to move as much as I can. I ran today for the first time since this started, but I only made it a mile before I had to call it quits because of the pain. On Wednesday, I will be seen again by a vascular surgeon. If the clot is still there, I will most likely be started on regular blood thinners. I really hope to avoid this, but if the clot isn't dissolving by then, I don't think I have much choice.

Leave it to my family to have more health complications. Did I mention that one of my tonsils is growing back? Yep, it's true. Despite the fact that I had them removed when I was ten, one of them is growing back. I bet you didn't know I had secret powers like those of the X-men group...

I digress.

In the meantime, I am trying to think happy thoughts and follow the doctor's orders to the best of my ability. I am strangely calm about the whole ordeal, which is nice for a change :) I also felt very validated when I was told by the vascular surgeon that the amount of running I normally do has helped me avoid further complications. (Too bad that was after he told me I had veins of a 60 year old. Thank you, Rash Genes.)

Learning to Read

2011-12-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

Griffin is definitely learning to read. He understands how words are put together, and everywhere we go I can hear him trying to sound out new words. While he only knows a few basic phonics rules, I am already amazed at how many three and four letter words he can sound out and ultimate read. Just today, after asking what sound the "sh" makes, he was able to figure out and read the word finish.

I have tried to record words he has sounded out for me. They are:

top
cat
pat
up
help
mop
rock
bell
kick
bad
hand
bat
egg
belt
fell
hop
finish

I continue to be so proud of the progress he is making in Kindergarten. I am beyond amazed that his Kindergarten teacher can run a class full of 23 five and six year old children for an entire school day. It is obvious, though, that she is doing something right!

Griffin, your world just got exponentially bigger. The power to read changes everything, little man. It changes everything.

Snapshots

2011-11-23T08:07:00.001-08:00

There are little rituals in our house right now that I want to remember forever. Scenes that are played constantly, yet I know they will only last a short while. Scenes that can't be captured by photographs for fear I might ruin the moment.

Click.

I want to remember that when my boys get out of the bathtub, they put on their towels (one duck, one frog) and pretend to disappear underneath them. If I don't yell out, "Where oh where are my babies?" or "Where's Griffin and Grayson? I can't find my babies!" they get mad at me. They do this each and every time, and the giggles that ensue when I "find" them are priceless.

Click.

I want to remember that Grayson plays every trick in the book to try and not go to bed. He leans on his hands at the gate and just chatters away to anyone (or nobody) until he thinks it is necessary to actually crawl into bed. Meanwhile, Griffin falls asleep INSTANTLY and doesn't wake up despite his brother's loud chatter and shouts.

Click.

I want to remember nose kisses that are always followed by giggles and smiles.

Click.

I want to remember all the times Griffin asks me to "stay for awhile" after we pray before bed. All he wants is for me rub his forehead for about thirty seconds.

Click.

I want to remember their bursting imaginations. Both boys can talk to their action figures and animals for hours creating scene after scene of fun.

Click.

I want to remember the tickle fights. The times I "eat" their toes or ears.

Click.

I want to remember all the times Grayson crawls into my arms and says, "Sing rock baby." This is his way of asking me to rock him back and forth and sing the song "Rockabye Baby on the Treetop." When we get to the part "Down will come cradle, baby and all" I must pretend to drop him to the floor. Nine times out of ten, the minute he hits the floor, he begs, "Again."

Click.

I want to remember all the times I see Grayson put his arms out and say, "I sit with you?" I want to remember all the times I say yes.

Click.

I want to remember all the times Griffin goes to our printer, takes out paper, and makes me a card. Just today I received a card on my pillow that was an outline of his hand with a heart in the middle. (Copied from the book The Kissing Hand). He wrote all by himself, "Love You Mommy." While I can keep the card for as long as I want as a visual reminder, I don't ever want to forget that proud and loving look on his face when I open each of his creations.

Click.

Too many snapshots. Too many fleeting moments. They grow up so fast, and I want to remember it all.

I Hate Allergies/Asthma

2011-11-21T20:40:00.000-08:00

Griffin's allergies and asthma have been hard to control as of late. Twice a day we do something called a peak flow test, and Griffin's numbers haven't been stellar. As a result, the nebulizer has been frequently used along with a few other "rescue" meds. I hate making him sit for 15 minutes in order to use the neb, but it does its job fairly well. And hey, he looks pretty cute doing it, no?

Oak View Talent Show

2011-11-15T20:11:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddl0S-0qSxI&feature=channel_video_title

No Words Necessary :)

Grayson Quotes

2011-11-10T09:11:00.001-08:00

Whenever I ask him if HE wants to do something, he responds "Sure you can."

On the way to day care this morning he told me, "I no go Gail's house. I go to church."

He has also said, "I no go ______(insert any place we might be going). I go to beach." I will blame Mexico for that one.

Allergy Update

2011-11-07T17:55:00.001-08:00

We finally had Griffin's re-check appointment at the allergy/asthma specialist today. I knew going into the appointment that something was going to get changed. While his breathing treatments seem to be working for the most part, he still has had a pretty consistent cough and/or cold. His eyes continue to be a little bloodshot, and the bags under his eyes weren't really improving. (His dark circles are from sinus issues not lack of sleep).

After some discussion and such, it was determined that Griffin is going to start Immunotherapy, which is more commonly known as allergy shots. While I am not thrilled that my five year old is going to endure four shots every week for a while, I am confident that the doctor is doing what he thinks is best. (Okay, I checked with the internet and Dr. Papa Tom before being 100% confident.) I can only hope that it makes more of a difference than the numerous medications he started back in September. Unfortunately, we won't see an improvement right away, so the doctor did change a few medications for some immediate relief. The interesting part will be how he reacts to one of the medications, as it is likely to make him quite drowsy for 1-2 weeks before his body gets used to it. If only I could send a video camera to school...

Through all of this, I continue to be thankful for good health insurance. Each time I pick up his medications at the pharmacy, I am reminded of how truly blessed I am to have a job I love that provides fantastic benefits. Griffin's one medication alone (he is on a total of 5 regularly and one extra for flare-ups) would be over $300 a month if I didn't have insurance. And when I checked with the insurance company today, his allergy shots are completely covered under our plan. I know how rare good health coverage is, and I couldn't be more grateful.

Thank You EBC

2011-11-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

Last weekend at church, Kid-O-Deo started a Clean Water initiative with the kiddos. Griffin came home with a water bottle that he was supposed to fill with coins and such to bring back to church to donate. The money collected will be given to Healing Haiti and World Vision to support efforts to bring clean water to Haiti and the Horn of Africa. The kids were encouraged to consider donating some money from their piggy banks or to do extra chores to earn extra money to donate.

The next day, Griffin opened a card from Grandma Laurie for Halloween. Inside the card was a two dollar bill. I asked Griffin what he wanted to get with his money, and he responded, "I want to put it in my water bottle." I immediately told him how proud I was that he made that decision. He quite simply replied, "Mom, there are kids who need clean water, and I want to help them."

While I was so very proud of his decision, I was more overwhelmed with gratitude for our church. Brandon and I love being involved with EBC from an adult stand-point, but we are consistently blown away with the ministry for kids. We are blessed that our kids see caring adults each and every weekend who truly aim to help us raise our kids to be followers of Christ. For that, I am forever grateful.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T23:42:00.000-07:00

Griffin's Allergies (Overdue)

2011-11-01T22:28:00.000-07:00

Griffin went to the allergist in the middle of September. (That seems like forever ago. Really. You have no idea how long ago that seems to me. Okay. Back on topic.) After a few things that happened this summer and speaking to the doctor at his five year check-up, I had a sneaking suspicion he was allergic to dogs. Let's be honest. I knew he was allergic to them. Should have been a doctor.

Or not.

When the doctor walked in, he asked me to tell him "Griffin's story." I was about to get all long-winded on him before I realized that by story he meant, "why are you in my office with your five year old son?" I explained that twice over the summer I had to use Griffin's nebulizer on him after he was around dogs. End of story. To be clear, I seriously thought this was going to be an easy appointment. I figured we would find out he was allergic to dogs and maybe cats, get some medicine for when he is around those animals, and we would be set to go.

Um. Or not. Good thing I'm not a doctor.

After sharing Griffin's "story," the doctor responded, "Well, I can tell you right now he is allergic to more than just dogs." Oh really? How so? (I should have never asked). Basically the doctor rattled off numerous things about Griffin's appearance that I had been oblivious to. All signs that point to suffering from allergies. And not just animals you see every now and then. Gee. Thanks, doc, for making me feel like the worst mother ever. I'll put my award next to the one I got when I slammed Grayson's finger in the door, and he had to get stitches.

After talking to the doctor, Griffin had to go through pin-prick testing. That didn't work so well because Griffin wouldn't relax enough for the teeny tiny needles to poke through his skin. So guess what the next course of action is? Individual shots in both legs of what the doctor thinks he might be allergic to. You can imagine how fun that was. Not sure the nurses (or the people in the surrounding rooms) can hear perfectly anymore.

The results? My son is allergic to a lot of outdoor and indoor things. He is on multiple inhalers, Zyrtec, eye drops, and a nasal spray. We have steroids on hand if he ever falls into the "red zone" on a breathing test we have to administer every day. He has medicine at school and an emergency plan on hand if his allergies get out of control and affect his asthma. My house is the cleanest it has ever been (minus the week we left for Cancun), and our towels and sheets get washed multiple times a week.

Griffin is taking it in strides. The one medicine tastes absolutely horrible, but he takes it like a champ. There were many tears the day we had to throw away all of his stuffed animals, but he hasn't complained since. It's only me who complains...

Cancun Preview

2011-10-26T08:54:00.001-07:00

Autumn Classic Fun Run

2011-10-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

Griffin used his fast super hero button :)

Kindergarten Conference

2011-10-13T18:56:00.001-07:00

Today was Griffin's first conference at school. Yep. My boy is growing up. And so am I. It has been so hard to be a mother on the other side of things. I know so much as a teacher, and I catch myself wearing that hat too often. Today, I had to be the mom first. In an academic setting. This is harder than it sounds. Trust me.

But, as far as conferences are concerned, I am not sure it could have gone any better. Griffin's teacher clearly knows my son well, and it is obvious she knows his strengths and areas of growth. She repeatedly told us what a pleasure it is to have him in class. As a teacher, I loved learning exactly where he is academically. As a mom, I loved hearing that my child is kind, helpful, and a great participator.

As a mom, I knew my child was ready for Kindergarten this year. As a teacher, I struggled with not holding him back because you hear the horror stories from teachers who deal with "young" five year olds. Today, we were reaffirmed. We made the right decision because Griffin is flourishing in Kindergarten.

When I asked Griffin what he thought Mrs. Egan would say about him, he responded, "Um...that I am awesome." (And apparently humble too.) Well it's true Mr. Griffin. She used those words. She agrees with us. You are one awesome kid.

He Gets Me

2011-10-08T10:43:00.001-07:00

Me: I am now positive that I want to run a marathon.

Brandon: I knew it was only a matter of time.

Quotes from the Dunigan Boys

2011-10-01T18:37:00.000-07:00

Griffin: Pheasants are show offs.
Me: Why?
Griffin: They have fancy feathers.

Grayson: Mom, that bug so cute. I step on it. (Crunch)

Griffin: Sometimes Mrs. E calls me, Payton, and Paige silly monkeys.

Grayson: Stop. Hammer Time. (Okay, I admit. I taught him to say this.)

My life is insane. Running is not.

2011-10-01T15:03:00.001-07:00

I was told the other day that it is impressive that I find the time to run despite my chaotic schedule right now. Here's the thing. Is my schedule nuts? Absolutely! Am I amazed that I haven't gotten sick yet? YES! Is cutting out the running an option? NOPE. But it's not because I am super woman. And it isn't impressive either. It's because running is my lifeline right now. I can say with 100% certainty that I would shut down, mentally and physically, if I stopped running.

This fall has been exhausting. School only started a month ago, but I have done more in the last month than I ever thought possible. My responsibilities at school became more demanding as the number of different classes I teach increased. Furthermore, I DO NOT recommend teaching full-time, taking a doctoral class, teaching/interning in a grad school class, and then finding out your oldest son has allergies all at the same time. Especially if you have two small children. But alas, my schedule lined up this way, and unless I took a semester off, there was nothing I could do about it. Let's just say I am thankful that my children are in bed by 7:30, and I have an incredibly supportive husband!!!

(The good news is that I have most of November and all of December and January off from Bethel. The doubling up on stuff this fall provides me with a MUCH needed break! Plus, our Mexico trip will be here in a blink of an eye!)

There have been many times during the last few weeks where I have been close to tears. My mental capacity is at its limit each and every day. I do not get overwhelmed easily, but when I do, I crash. Running has prevented this crash. Not only has it given me time to pray, reflect, and/or watch television(when I run on the treadmill), it also afforded me almost 80 minutes of conversation with my dear friend Holly. It's pretty rare that I get to spend alone time with my close friends, but it is hard to pass up a situation where I can accomplish a run and a conversation at the same time. Enter an 8 mile run last weekend with Miss Holly.

Last week, running also gave me some short stints of alone time with Griffin. When I run outside, Griffin often runs the first mile with me. My attention is 100% on him during this time. I am not running my to do list in my head. I am not making dinner or cleaning the house. I am devoted to just having a conversation with my five year old. I also love that we are exercising together. He loves to run because it is fun for him. And I love that he wants to have that fun with me. Although he is still too small, Grayson has asked to join me for runs too. I pray his desire stays when he is old enough.

Some knit. Some scrapbook. Some watch television. Some meet friends for a drink. I run. It's not impressive. It just keeps me sane.

Conversations with Griffin

2011-10-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

Both of my boys are talkers. Right now, I love hearing Griffin tell me stories about his life--especially ones about Kindergarten.

Minutes ago I asked him a lot of questions, and he was happy to fill me in on his life :)

When I ask Mrs. E to tell me about you, what do you think she will say?

"I like centers. There's this table. It's called a sensory table. It has corn in it. I love it. And I like the mystery box. It's kinda tricky."

Do you raise your hand in school? "Yes (insert eye roll). Mrs. Egan says, 'No blurting out.'"

"I love recess." What's your favorite thing about recess? "Me, Noelle (boy), and Mitchell chase Tessa around. She's so fast; we can never catch her. Then when we all run back inside, we look like a bunch of canon balls."

When we went running earlier today, Griffin told me how excited he was to run in next week's race in Maple Grove. He proceeded to tell me, "At the end of the race, I will push my fast animal button. Then I can fly through the end of the race." Hmm...I think I need one of those!

Happy Half-Birthday, Grayson!!!

2011-09-18T18:11:00.001-07:00

Today is September 18th, which means my youngest son is two and a half years old. I've said it once, and I will say it again forever I'm sure, but how is this possible? I am a mom to a 5 year old and a 2.5 year old. My baby is 2.5 years old. AAHH!!!

I digress.

Grayson, oh Grayson. He keeps us on our toes. Between never knowing whether or not he will eat a single bite at a meal and his lack of fear for most things, my hair is turning gray. Not kidding. (Perhaps my 7th grade students are contributing to this, but we will never know for sure!) He is a jumper and mover. He is HILARIOUS to watch at gymnastics because before he even finishes one station, he is already moving on to the next. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have told him to walk down the stairs from the trampoline instead of JUMPING OFF the trampoline. And my goodness, this boy LOVES to talk. (Not sure where he gets that from.) He has to give you a play by play of EVERYTHING that is going on at all times. Pretty sure my little dude would walk around with a microphone all day if we let him! He has also entered a stage where he blames other people for something HE did. Just tonight he told us Claire did something. Um, reality check little man. Claire doesn't live here. She's at day care. But thanks for the laugh.

On a more serious note, tomorrow I take Grayson in for a weight check. His eating has been HORRIBLE lately, and he hasn't grown much this summer. As we took out clothes from last winter, they all still fit. If his weight is unacceptable, back to the GI doctor we go :(

Thankfully, despite his health battles, Grayson is one happy little dude. He lights up a room with his smile and his nose scrunch, and I thank God daily for bringing him into our family. I'll take the gray hairs. He's definitely worth it.

Dunigan Family or the Taco Family???

2011-09-15T18:42:00.001-07:00

"Mom, since we like tacos so much, we should be called the Taco Family."

Recent Griffin Quote

2011-09-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

"Mom, is it okay if I, like, love Mrs. Eagan?"

Sometimes You Just Have to Jump

2011-09-12T18:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, when life hands you a puddle, you just have to jump!

Can I Bottle Your Enthusiasm?

2011-09-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to bottle up enthusiasm? If you figure out how, please let me know. Because I don't want Griffin's excitement for school to fade. EVER.

This past week was quite possibly the best week of Griffin's life. Not exaggerating. At all.

First Day:
Cinnamon Rolls for Breakfast? Check!
Photo Shoot with Mom? Check!
Smiling ALL DAY long? Check!
Seriously. Excitement was oozing from his pores. I am not sure how his face didn't hurt.

Like any curious mom, I grilled him with questions the moment he got off the bus each day. Here's a sample of our conversations:

What was your favorite part of the day? EVERYTHING

Did you pick out a book from the library? No, we need to learn how to pick out just the right book first.

Did you read any books? (with fists pumped into the air) Kindergarten, Here I Come.

Oh, with the teacher named Mrs. Bindergarten? Hey, how did you know that?

Did you sing any songs? Um, yeah. It was about going to the moon. And space.

Anything else you want to tell me? It was someone's birthday. So for snack, we got a cookie! And I got to go outside. TWICE!

Are you excited for Day 2? YES!

Hey Mom, can we schedule a play date this week? I want to tell someone other than you about my first day of school.

Did you read any books today? Yes, in fact I read two! And watched a video.

And Mom, we did math today. We got to compare shapes. (yes, he used the word compare). I got to tell Mrs. Egan which shape was bigger.

My new favorite shape is the .... what's it called. It looks like a circle with a lot of sides....an octagon? YES!

Kindergarten Starts Tomorrow!!!

2011-09-05T17:56:00.001-07:00

(Picture from Open House on 8/30/2011)

Griffin starts Kindergarten tomorrow, and I am a puddle of emotions. I am so very excited for him to start school, but I am also sad to let him leave "my" nest. I can no longer monitor his choice of friends (at least not to the extent that I can now). I won't be there to help him open all of his lunch fixings. I won't be there to help him pick out a book from the library. I can't remind him to say please and thank you. I can't make him remember to bring home his lunch box. I can't help him get on the bus to come home. I can't be there. And as much as I know he is ready and doesn't need me to do any of those things, it still makes me tear up just thinking about my baby in school. In a classroom. All day. Like the one I teach in. Do you hear that? Those are my tears falling on the key board you hear.

Griffin and I went for a run tonight, and we talked about school the whole time. He just beams with excitement when you ask him what he is looking forward to doing. And he could hardly contain his smile in bed when I went through some last minute reminders. There is no doubt in my mind that he is ready to enter the world of education. I might not be, but he definitely is :)

Sadness aside, I am excited for tomorrow's sendoff and welcome home. I bought cinnamon rolls to make for breakfast and root beer floats for dinner. I am thrilled that his teacher is letting me bring him in early to take pictures before I have to get to school to welcome my own students. I plan to fill up my camera taking pictures, and I am glad that the excitement of my own classroom will help make the day go by quickly.

Because let's be honest, I also can't wait to see him get off the bus.

End of Summer

2011-09-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

Recent Griffin Quotes

2011-09-03T05:59:00.000-07:00

After I explained what a Root Beer Float was, Griffin responded, "Root Beer and Ice Cream! How does it get any better than that?"

When asked what he is most looking forward to about Kindergarten, he responded, "Being there ALL day!"

When asked what he is most excited to learn about, he replied, "Nature."

When asked what he wants do first when he gets to school, he responded, "Check out a book from the library!" (Can you tell he is my son?)

Running in the Fall/Winter

2011-08-31T09:42:00.000-07:00

Okay friends. What's the trick to running when the sun is rarely out?

Here I was, ready to run this morning at 5:45AM. I got dressed, ate a banana, grabbed my iPod, and was ready to go. That was, until I realized it was still dark outside.

Change of plans. I went to our local clubhouse and ran on the treadmill instead. Remember, mine is broken. I HAD NO DESIRE TO RUN ON THE TREADMILL!!! Cranking out those three miles this morning was torture! Normally I don't mind running on my treadmill, but when you are prepared to run outside, it is hard to shift your mindset.

So, how do you run outside when it is dark most of the time? Do I have to buy one of those dorky headlights? Are there paths you know of that are lit?

HELP!!!

Change is Hard

2011-08-29T15:44:00.000-07:00

Today I started back to work. And that was hard.

Let me be clear. I LOVE TEACHING. I cannot imagine my life without a classroom. Really, I can't.

But at the same time, change is hard. I have spent most of my summer loving on my kids, and today that was Gail's job. Even though my kids have been going to day care for a few school year's now, I cried when I dropped them off. For the mothers who tell you it gets easier. They're lying!

Thankfully I got two huge hugs when I picked them up. And another one when we got home.

Going back to work has also put a damper on my running schedule. I'm TIRED. I don't want to run. But at the same time I do. Did I mention I broke my treadmill? So, now I can only run outside. Since summer is ending and fall is starting, I can no longer run outside past 8. And dude, I am NOT getting up to run before school. So, while I wait for my treadmill parts to arrive, I have to be super efficient with my time so that I am ready to walk out the door when two little G's go to bed. I don't do well with that.

Did I mention change is hard?

But alas. School is back in session. I will continue to run. It's just taking me more time to get used to it than I would like!

Final Days of Summer

2011-08-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

We are living it up in the Dunigan House this week! With only a few days left before I start Teacher Workshop, I am trying to cram in lots of fun! Yesterday we went bowling and to Bunker Beach.

What's in store today? Swimming. Haircut. Park. Run.

So excited to go for a run with Griffin. He has asked me twice this week, but my legs just didn't want to go. Today's the day!

Pretending fall isn't right around the corner...

Race Re-cap

2011-08-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

Nick and Becca were at Mile 11 and the Finish

My little track star...

My cheering crew :)

Holly and Me...can you tell we are tired?

The aftermath of running 13.1 miles :(

Sunday Evening---feeling less exhausted :)

Celebrating with Holly...drinking peach daiquiris!

Yesterday, I ran the Minneapolis Half Marathon as part of Team World Vision. Last year was my first ever half marathon; this was my second. Click here if you want to read last year's race re-cap:) I warn you...this re-cap is ALL OVER THE PLACE!

My emotions about yesterday are still all over the place. I oscillate from being ridiculously upset to being happy. It was no secret that my goal was to finish this race in under 2 hours. I followed two training plans for a total of 18 weeks, and I kept a pretty good running schedule during the school year. While I never ran more than five or six miles at a time during the school year, I went into this year's summer training at a much better spot than I did last year. Last year, I was a rookie. Don't get me wrong...I am still a novice runner, but I had WAY more experience going into this year than I did last year. But alas, I did not reach my goal. Official Time: 2.00:32. Yep. I missed my goal by a whopping 33 seconds. This is where the anger comes in. At mile 11, I will still on track to finish with a minute to spare. So with only 2 miles left, I crashed and lost too much time. I can blame a few things, one being that my watch failed me, but the reality is, I KNOW I could have gone 33 seconds faster. Because of that, I am mad.

Despite my frustrations with the time, I am still pretty happy with the race, though. In one year's time, with no professional guidance or training, I dropped over 9 minutes off of my time. I have two kids, teach full time, and go to school, yet for an entire year I kept up with running. Friends and family made it possible for me to raise over $800 dollars for World Vision. My fundraising page is still open for another two weeks, so if you want to, CLICK HERE. I also got my friend Holly into running, and she had an incredible performance yesterday!

I think I am most proud that I ran 13.1 miles without stopping to walk once. Last year I stopped to walk a few times for a minute, and I came to complete stops (only for a few seconds) at way too many water stations. This year, I only grabbed water at three stations, and I never fully stopped. Last time I thought I was going to die after the big hill around mile 6. This time around I thought, "That wasn't as bad as I remembered." Last race I thought I was going to have to stop and quit. This time around, I felt good. I was tired, and my legs were like jello by the end, but I never felt like I wasn't going to cross that finish line. So, despite the fact that I am disappointed in my final time, I can still hang my hat on a few accomplishments.

Here are a few things I learned from yesterday:

If you properly hydrate the day before, there is no need to grab water before mile 6.
I need to figure out how to go down hills properly. My knee KILLS when I go down hills. Going down a hill seems to energize other runners, yet it makes me have to slow down.
Dynamite is a perfect song for a pick me up!
Around mile 8 or 9 is a must for people cheering on runners. Seeing my family at that point really boosted my spirits.
Training primarily outside prepares you much better than the treadmill.
STRETCH as much as possible after the race.
In my head during the whole race, I planned to go ALL OUT the last .1 of the race. Bad idea. After 20 seconds of going all out, I almost vomited all over my friend Jill towards the finish. Instead, I plan to try and pick it up just a little for the last mile.
I am going to follow a slightly differently training plan next time. I need to finish with a 12 mile run as my last long run or do a few more 10 or 11 mile runs than just one.

Today is hard. My body is TIRED, and my knee is in more pain than I want to admit. Yet, I just sign up for two more races this fall, one 10K and one 5 miler. Running is a part of my life now. And I am happy that it is becoming part of Griffin's. On the day of my 10K, he is participating in a kid's 1K. He is pretty stoked to get a race bib and a t-shirt :) I am also already registered for this race in 2012. I am committed to breaking that two hour mark!

To all of you have helped make yesterday's race possible, I thank you. I want to especially acknowledge those of you who donated to World Vision. It was an honor to run with your names on my arms. Praying for each of you during the race was a great way to keep me focused on the big picture. It is through Him that all of this is possible.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

2011-08-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

And this one pretty much sums up Grayson!

Getting Anxious

2011-08-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

In five short days, I will be running my second half marathon. How am I feeling? Nervous, Anxious, Excited, and Pleased. Am I allowed to admit that last one?

I am nervous because I REALLY REALLY want to meet my time goal, which is to finish in under two hours. I don't care if if I finish in 1:59.59. I just want to see a one and not a two. My last long run went amazingly well, so I am hopeful. I am, however, trying to not focus on the time too much. Will I be disappointed if I am slower than that? FOR SURE. But, I know that merely training and running 13.1 miles while having two small children is an accomplishment. I have also raised money for an incredible cause. I am honored to run in support of World Vision, and I am super thankful that friends and family have donated on my behalf. Click here to visit my fundraising page.

Fundraising has also left me anxious. I have not quite met my goal yet, and I want to make sure that I do. I only have a little over one hundred dollars left, so hopefully by Sunday I can make it! I am also anxious because I know that many friends and family members are holding me accountable for this race. I want to have fun, but I also want to make sure I do a good job! The weather for race day is also causing me anxiety. Praying that the predicted weather is true!

I am excited for so many things come race day. I am thrilled to be able to pray for my sponsors. Most of my forearms will be covered in names, and I am stoked to send up so many prayers for some amazing people. My favorite part of last year's race was the amount of spectators. Last year (and I am assuming this year will be the same) my name was on my race bib, so people I didn't even know would cheer for me and yell out my name. My family and a few friends also came out for the race, and their presence was crucial to my success. I can't wait to wave to Griffin and Grayson! I am also excited for the post-race fun. While I won't be drinking the free beer, I know that I will take part in some of the other festivities. Lastly, I am BEYOND excited to celebrate with my dear friend Holly. This is her first half marathon, and she has done an incredible job with training in the midst of some of some pretty difficult stuff. I can't wait to give her a BIG sweaty hug at the finish line :)

And if I am honest, I am pleased with what training has done for me. Training has been hard at times, especially with school and two small kids. Yet, during the 18 weeks of my two training guides, I only missed two runs. And technically, if you count the extra times I ran during my little competition back in May, I didn't miss any :) I am also so pleased with the amount of prayer/quiet time running has afforded me. I rarely get alone time, but running has thrust quite a bit of "me time" into my life. It is amazing how much thinking and praying one can get done during an hour long run. I even drafted a five page paper during one of my runs. (In my head of course.) So, while I plan to take a week off from running, I know that I will continue. I LOVE going on runs with Griffin, and I am forever addicted to the Runner's High after completing a good, hard run.

FIVE more days. I can do it!

Bowling Party

2011-08-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

ACTION SHOT!

Griffin and Peter---They share the same birthday!

Emma and Griffin doing the CHICKEN DANCE!

Grayson wasn't a fan of the cosmic bowling...

PIZZA!!!

Love that smile :)

The party crew

Grandma Laurie, Griffin, and Baby Jackson

Me, My mom, and Baby Jackson

Missy and Holly---I couldn't ask for better friends!

Griffin with the Birthday DJ

Mommy, Daddy, and GRIFFIN!

Today was Griffin's birthday party with friends. Not everyone could come due to a variety of circumstances, but those who did, had a ball. (Pun intended!) I would definitely recommend Brunswick Zone for any birthday party!

Let's Celebrate at the MOA!!!

2011-08-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm FIVE!

Loving his presents from family!

Can you tell he is excited to be five???

A little nervous about his first big roller coaster...

All smiles at the end!

Big enough for ANOTHER big roller coaster...

Grayson and Grandma Laurie

My little man :)

We started out the day with presents and a cupcake. Then we went to the MOA after the Summit. Kids get a free unlimited ride wristband on the day of their birthday. We had a blast celebrating with the kids on Thursday night!!!

Best Quote from Griffin's Birthday

2011-08-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

On the morning of his birthday, I had to wake up Griffin early so I could get to a conference. I was encouraging him to get out of bed and go open his presents. His response was this:

"Hold on. I have to check if I am taller." (Stands up to look himself up and down.) "Yep, so much taller than when I was four!"

Happy 5th Birthday, Griffin!

2011-08-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Griffin,

Five years ago today, I earned the best title I have to date, "Mother." Five years ago today, I welcomed you into my arms. I couldn't believe you were FINALLY here, and you were mine forever. As I held your gooey, slimy body against my chest, my heart grew to love you more than I ever thought possible. If you listen closely to the video your daddy took when you were born (I wouldn't let him press play until you were placed on my chest), I kept repeating "You are finally here. I can't believe you are mine, and I will love you forever." You rocked our world, little man. And our lives haven't been the same since.

As I watch you grow, my heart bursts a little more with love. It's interesting how the heart works. Just when I think my heart is to the max, I begin to love you, your brother, and your dad even more than I did the day before. I am so proud of the little man you are becoming. It makes me so proud to watch you use your manners, comfort your brother, and be helpful at church, day care, etc. I am amazed at how much you care for others and how much you notice about the world around you. Today you turn five, yet sometimes I swear you are a grown-up.

In a few short weeks, your world will be forever changed as you enter Kindergarten. This is bittersweet for me. As a teacher, I am psyched to watch my first born son enter school. As a mommy, I am sad that you are growing up so fast. How is that I am a mom to a kindergartener? Is it really possible? Alas, it is. You are so excited for school, and I hope that never changes. Just a few weeks ago you asked me if I could buy you a shirt that says "I love school." I haven't found one yet, but it made me smile when you asked for it!

Currently you are OBSESSED with Star Wars. While you have only seen a few scenes from the actual movie, you are familiar with the characters because of the Wii game. You are constantly asking to play Star Wars, and for your birthday, you asked for anything Star Wars or Transformers. You also like Rescue Heroes. You still love Mario Brothers, and you are so fun to watch when you pretend play. You are learning sight words, and you love to count to 100. You still need my help with a few of the higher digits, but your face lights up when you finally reach ONE HUNDRED!!! The two of us have been reading Magic Tree House books together. We almost read an entire book in ONE SITTING! Your love languages are Words of Affirmation and Physical touch, and you definitely know how to love others using your languages. I am constantly told what a wonderful mommy I am, and you ask to cuddle often:) You still sleep with the same Bear-Bear you have had since you were a baby, and that makes me smile. It's a little reminder that although five seems so old, you are still a little boy. My little boy.

Happy Birthday, Griffin! May you continue to grow strong in your faith and love others like Jesus!

Sparkling Clean

2011-08-06T18:27:00.001-07:00

My mom came to visit us last night. And guess what? My house is starting to Sparkle. It's true. Just today my mom magically made the inside of my microwave sparkle. Ask Griffin. Even he called her magical.

Yep, it's true. My mom loves to clean, and I am NOT ASHAMED to let her clean my otherwise messy house.

SURPRISE!!!

2011-08-02T15:14:00.001-07:00

Beyond Excited!!

Fell asleep within minutes of leaving!!

Our wristbands to enter the parks!

This past weekend, we went to Oshkosh to visit Grandpa Lloyd and Sharlene. We then made our way to Door County to celebrate Brian's Wedding. On the way home, Brandon surprised us with a night's stay at the Wilderness Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. I didn't have my camera, so the above photos will have to do. Had I brought my camera, here are a few things I would have taken a picture of:

Griffin going down the HUGE slide on a mat
Griffin's face when he realized we were in the Dells
Grayson being dumped with water underneath the Dinosaur Bucket
Griffin and Grayson playing in the GINORMOUS jacuzzi tube in our room
Griffin and Brandon playing in the Wave Pool
Grayson crawling around like a caterpillar in the zero depth entry pool

Today Felt Good

2011-07-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

Training for long races is tricky. I know, I know. 13.1 miles really isn't that long compared to how many other long races there are out there, but it is long enough that you have to actually train for it consistently. Yes, there are people who complete half marathons that don't train consistently, but most of those people can't run the entire race without walking. My goal is to finish the Minneapolis Half in under two hours. And gosh darn it, I am going to do it. But in order to accomplish my goal, I have to be diligent with my training. If I miss one long run, I risk not meeting my goal.

For those of you who know me, I am a pretty competitive person. I am competitive with others, yes. But most of all, I am competitive with myself. I make goals for myself all the time, and when I don't meet them, it bugs me for a very long time.

Running is no different. Last year, the pacer of my goal time passed me at mile 10. I was crushed. But there was no way I was going to let her finish before me. So, even though my legs felt like jello, I sped up and made sure she stayed behind me for the rest of the race. I knew that if she beat me, I wouldn't meet my goal. Not meeting my goal would have been hard to swallow. I have once again set a goal, and suffice it to say, I am going to be one disappointed woman if I don't meet my goal come August 21st.

That's where today comes into play. Normally, Thursdays are hard days. I only run about half the distance of a long run, but I am supposed to go all out. This Saturday I am supposed to run 7 miles. Well, I am going to be quite busy on Saturday. I didn't want to get so tired or overwhelmed and skip a long run, so I switched things up and ran my long run today. I just finished a 7.25 mile run outside, and I feel great. Unbelievably great. For two reasons. One, I am glad that I thought ahead. It is easy to let runs slip away. But I didn't. Two, my pace today was super successful. I have been struggling lately with running all over the place. I would plug my watch into the computer and realize that my mile by mile pace could vary by more than 40 seconds. Each mile would get slower and slower, and because I would go too hard in the beginning, I would basically die at the end. NOT GOOD. I was determined to not let that happen today.

I started out slow. I felt really slow, but it really wasn't that slow. But after a couple of miles, I felt great and was able to pick up my pace. My last two miles were my fastest and the most consistent. By the end, I still felt like I could keep running without too much fatigue. And best of all, my average overall pace was FASTER than what my goal pace for the half marathon race is. I really hope I can repeat this success with my future runs.

It really is true what they say. "Slow and steady wins the race." (Okay...not really wins the race. But it means my goal of finishing in under two hours is realistic again!)

Happy 8th Anniversary

2011-07-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

(Brandon said he wanted an "artsy" picture)

(Me and My Lobster Tail!)

(The waitress brought this out to us with a sparkler!)

Last night, Brandon and I celebrated eight years of marriage at the Melting Pot. We try and go here every year on our anniversary, and I LOVE IT! I also like that dinner takes a few hours, so we get in some fun, uninterrupted conversation. Here's to many more years!!!

Almost Five!

2011-07-10T19:22:00.001-07:00

One month from tomorrow, Mr. Griffin will be five years old. I am beyond amazed at how quickly time flies. I cannot believe that my first-born is almost five and ready for Kindergarten. It seems like yesterday I was in the hospital holding him for the first time. But alas, almost five years have passed. I love you Griffin! Thank you for "almost five" years of motherhood!

Closing in on Week 6

2011-07-07T20:56:00.002-07:00

I just finished my 6th week of Official Training for the Minneapolis Half Marathon. I cringe putting this picture up, but it shows the real me after a HARD run. I run four days a week, and Thursdays are designated HARD days. Today was no exception. I ran my very first ever four mile0 "tempo" run. I did a little research into how to get faster for race day, and many different athletes advocate for tempo runs. Basically I ran one mile at an easy pace, two miles at a fast pace, and then one mile at an easy pace again. Normally I alternate every two to three minutes on my hard days, but I think it is messing with my long runs. After purchasing a GPS watch, I noticed that I can't keep a pace for the life of me. I always knew pacing was my weakness, but I didn't really know how bad it was until I got my watch. So, today, I tried with all my might to keep a consistent slow pace and then a consistent fast pace. It was hard, and my legs feel like jello, but I did it! This picture was snapped right after :)

Gymnastics

2011-07-07T20:56:00.001-07:00

Is it my turn yet?

He does this station at least 10 times each class...

Penguin Lover

2011-07-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

4th of July 2011

2011-07-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

Today has been super fun for the Dunigan Family. At first I was a little disappointed because Grayson is fighting off a cold, so as a result, we took easy on Saturday and Sunday. However, today, on the actual 4th of July, we have had a wonderful day! I started out the day with an 8K race around the Lakes, and then Griffin joined me after for a Kids Fun Run. After we burned a few calories, we spent the day at the beach! This is the first time going for both boys, and the pictures clearly show they had a blast. Within minutes, Grayson was covered in wet sand, and he spent most the day like the picture above. My favorite part of the day was getting ice cream as a family. I can see this becoming a tradition!!! We ended the day with fireworks. Neither boy was really impressed. Oh well!

My Favorite Running Partner

2011-07-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

Getting Nervous

2011-07-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

Today I ran an 8K race supporting a local shelter devoted to ending domestic violence. The race started about 8 minutes from my house, so it was nice to not worry about getting up super early to drive anywhere. Unfortunately, the race didn't start until 8:30am, so it was already super hot at the start of the race. Not a good sign when you are already sweating at the starting line:( Most summer races start at 8:00am or before, so I am not sure why this one started so late...

Believe it or not, my 44 minute time landed me in first place for my age group. Definitely indicative of my age group, not my performance :( I can't say I am proud of my time, but I at least finished in under 9 minute miles. I know the heat made a big difference too, but I am still disappointed in my run. Furthermore, today's race has officially made me nervous for my half marathon. My goal for that race is to finish in under two hours. Considering I barely kept that pace for a 5 mile race today, I am worried I won't make that goal. Here's to pushing my self harder in the next few weeks!!!

One-on-One with Grayson

2011-07-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

Because Griffin is involved in morning activities four days a week, Grayson and I are enjoying some time just the two of us. I love that this summer is allowing me the opportunity to be with each of my boys individually. I keep forgetting to take my camera to gymnastics, so look for some of those pictures next week!!!

Mr. Popper's Penguins

2011-07-02T18:25:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Griffin and I started reading Mr. Popper's Penguins together. We finished it yesterday, so today we went on a date to see the movie. Although the film is different from the book, both were good. I especially enjoyed that there were moments when Griffin laughed out loud during the reading of the book and the watching of the movie. On the way home, we stopped at the bookstore to purchase the Boxcar Children. So thankful that during Grayson's nap time, Griffin and I are enjoying being silly, eating freezies, and reading books!!!

During Grayson's Nap...

2011-07-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

This is what you might see at the Dunigan House!

Griffin Questions...

2011-06-28T13:07:00.001-07:00

"When a bee stings you, does the stinger go all the way inside of you? Like all the way where God lives. You know, in your heart?"

"What happens if we spray bug spray right on a bug?"

"What does (enter multiple letters) spell?"

New Beds

2011-06-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

Tried just using the crib mattress on the floor...

Griffin's Top Bunk

Night #3...asleep, but half on the floor. (switched to a real mattress)

Griffin Sleeping...Night #3

Night #4

Nap #4

We have our ups and downs...Grayson goes to bed pretty easily durnig Nap Time in his new bed. I wish I could say the same about bed time.

Right Here, Right Now

2011-06-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

Summer is here. AND. I. LOVE. IT!

Despise the icky weather, we are enjoying the here and now. And here is a post so I don't forget the Right Here, Right Now! Don't mind the random statements/lists. I just want to get stuff written down.

Griffin is loving Play Net and Preschool. On Monday, he wanted to know if he could make a journal for home like he has at school. I wish I could bottle up his enthusiasm for school. HE LOVES IT, and I am loving it too :) He gets so excited to learn something new, and I just pray that he stays this way forever. I want him to be challenged in school, but more importantly, I want him to want to be challenged.

We talked today about going to see the movie Mr. Popper's Penguins. Since he likes to read, I am going to pick up the book first to read aloud. I hope to then take him on a "date" to see the movie.

Believe it or not, Griffin has also started asking for nap time. I think perhaps he is going through a growth spurt---either that or he really likes his new bed! Regardless, he has taken a nap the last three days, and it hasn't messed with his bedtime.

I am also discovering more and more that Griffin's Love Language is Words of Affirmation. He just beams when I tell him how proud I am of him. Oh, and let's not forget his devotion to church and learning about God. Just yesterday, he told me, "Mom, did you know that God knows how many hairs are on my head?" And tonight, when I commented that perhaps God forgot it was June (because of the crummy weather), he replied, "Mom, God knows EVERYTHING (insert eye roll). He did not forget it was June."

Grayson started gymnastics at Jam Hops this week, and man that kid has energy. He doesn't even finish one event before he is racing off to another station. Thankfully, Grayson is the second person in the class, so the two little kids have free reign of the place. He makes me nervous because of his lack of fear, but he is super fun to watch!

Grayson has also started to take a liking to The Letter Factory. He is constantly asking to watch it, and he has now learned to identify a few letters as a result. Lately, Grayson loves giving hugs and kisses to EVERYTHING. He even kisses his sippy cups goodbye. Not joking. But hey, I'm not complaining. I have been on the receiving end of a lot of those hugs and kisses.

Because Griffin is signed up for activities Monday through Thursday, Grayson and I are getting a lot of one on one time. And man, I love making that kid smile! He is a ticklish little man, and you better believe there have been lots of hugs, tickles, cuddles, and kisses. And verbally, he is growing leaps and bounds. There isn't an ounce of fear about him lagging behind anymore.

So here's to me remembering the here and now!

Mommy Guilt

2011-06-16T06:17:00.001-07:00

Why is it that mothers are constantly plagued with guilt or feelings of being not good enough? Sometimes it's absurd when I think about it, but I am no exception to this guilt. I am constantly comparing myself to other moms and think, "Oh, why didn't I think of that?" or "Oops. I probably should do that with my boys." When it comes to spending time with my kiddos, this is an area where I constantly feel like I let my kiddos down. When I spend time with stay-at-home moms or moms who only work part-time, it takes me a bit to stop feeling guilty about the fact that I work. Full-time at that.

But right now. That guilt is far far away. My first week of summer has been heavenly. I get to watch my boys be silly in the morning. I get to go insane trying to find foods Grayson will eat for ALL THREE MEALS. I helped Griffin memorize three more sight words during little g's nap time. I took the kids to pick out a new pool toy. We have had TWO play dates. I am soaking it all in because I know not all working moms get this luxury. Yes, I have a class this summer, and I am attending a few trainings, but for the most part, I am spending quality time with my kiddos. For that, I am forever thankful.

I know I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. I love teaching middle school students, and I hope to one day work at the college level with pre-service teachers. But I also love my kids to the moon and back, and I am thankful to have this time with them.

Garage Sale

2011-06-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we are having our very first Garage Sale. For the most part, the only things we are selling are my clothes and the kids' clothes, toys, and things that they have outgrown, but that still amounts to a TON of stuff. I am definitely guilty of buying WAY TOO MANY outfits for my kiddos.

Now, writing about a garage sale might not seem blog worthy. But IT IS DEFINITELY BLOG WORTHY!!!

We are getting rid of everything baby. Bottles. High Chairs. Onesies. Baby Swings. Sleepers. Car Seat Covers. Strollers. Yep...we are OFFICIALLY out of the baby stage, and we won't be going back.

Part of me is excited. It is so fun and rewarding to watch my boys grow up and develop unique personalities. I love watching Grayson learn about his surroundings, and Griffin amazes me with his intuitive statements and questions. But the other part of me is just plain sad. I know that I have written about this in the past, but putting things away is different than getting rid of and/or selling. There will be no more evidence of "babyhood" in our garage or storage space. It will be gone. (Well almost. There are a few outfits and things that I can't part with, so I have one box of things that will be mine forever. Yep. I will be that mother who will one day open the box and cry as I remember these first few years of life as a mother. Yep. No doubt about it). Gone forever. This finality is liberating. It is. But it's also so very sad and emotional.

It's true. I've said it before, and I will say it again. Kids grow up way too fast. And unfortunately, parents (including myself) sometimes wish periods away. We can't wait until they sleep through the night. We can't wait until they can feed themselves. We can't wait until they can walk. Sadly, though, we should wait. Babyhood is a gift. With all its struggles, it is ONE HUGE gift. If only we could remember that in the moment and not in hindsight.

Griffin's New Friend

2011-05-30T08:25:00.001-07:00

Funny Faces

2011-05-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

Minneapolis Half Marathon

2011-05-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

Once again, I have chosen to run the Minneapolis Half Marathon benefiting World Vision. The race isn't until August, but I officially started my training program six weeks ago. I am determined to finish this race in under two hours--almost ten minutes faster than last year's race. If I stay on top of my training and stay focused, I know that I can do it.

To be honest, there are many reasons why I have chosen to make this race an annual event. I love being a part of something bigger than myself. It is such a pleasure to partner with an organization as amazing as World Vision. I also like setting goals that require me to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of doing. Last April, I never thought I would run 13.1 miles. But I did. And now I plan on doing it again at a faster pace. Each time I start a run, I push myself, and the feeling I get after is so worth any of the pain I go through during it. And, let's be real here, I would be lying if I didn't mention how much I like fitting into my pre-pregnancy clothes:)

But more importantly, I have chosen to continue raising money and running this race to set an example for my boys. Even at the age of two, Grayson knows that Mommy is a runner. Recently, I began changing into my running clothes about fifteen minutes before putting the kids to bed. As soon as I do this, Grayson asks, "Go running, mommy?" Because I sometimes go for a run while he is still awake, he knows what my running outfits look like. When I kiss Griffin good night, he asks, "Are you going to run, read books, or do homework?" As a parent, it is my job to be a role model and set an example. I love that my boys know what is important to me. They know I love to read. They know I am working hard to obtain my doctorate (well, as much as they can understand that). And they know that running is a priority. As I mentioned in the previous post, Griffin has also become a runner. Even though he is only four, he can run a mile, and he is starting to understand what it means to be healthy. As they continue to get older, I hope to have more and more conversations about these priorities and what it means to be all around healthy. Griffin is also at the age where I can start discussing World Vision with him. It's never too young to start teaching your kids what it means to care about others!

So, will you consider partnering with me? My goal is to raise $655--fifty dollars for every mile. Stop by here to make a donation on my behalf.

Will you help me stay focused on this journey? Check in now and then to see how I am doing.

Thank you in advance for your support!

~Sandra

Club West Fun Run 2011

2011-05-14T09:14:00.000-07:00

Today, Griffin and I ran our very first "Fun Run" together. My little man "wowed" me today by running 1.15 miles without stopping once! We crossed the finish line with a time of 11 minutes and 30 seconds. I can barely put into words how much I enjoyed doing this with him today. I love that the two of us got to share my passion for running together. I love that when he got tired near the end, he asked if we could finish the race holding hands. I love that he wants to do it again. I love that I got a kiss without asking for one. Most of all, I loved creating a memory with my first-born son that I will NEVER forget. Thanks, Griffin! I LOVE YOU!!!

A Letter to My Children on Mother's Day

2011-05-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

Today is Mother's Day. Since the two of you are the reason I get to celebrate this day, I find it fitting to leave you with a letter. My heart has been heavy lately due to a variety of circumstances, and I want to impart a few things I have learned as a result.

Advice for the little lights of my life,

Smile... someone, maybe even yourself, will be encouraged by it.

Laugh often...the wrinkles are worth it!

Give generously...not just money, but of your time too!

Be respectful...if you disagree with someone or something, your points will be better heard when presented respectfully.

Challenge yourself...your mind and body is always capable of more than you give it credit for!

Forgive...we are forgiven, so we should return the favor. ESPECIALLY when we don't want to.

Nobody's perfect...when dishing out criticism, make sure you are criticizing yourself too!

Seek Truth...God's word is readily available for a reason!

Don't be afraid of failure...sometimes it is the only way to learn!

Love BIG...the only way to do this is to make yourself vulnerable, so don't hold back!

Be passionate about something...I don't care what it is, but find something to really care about.

Big hugs solve many problems...at least for a little while.

Never forget you are loved by your mom and dad...we are your biggest fans!

My last piece of advice comes from a current popular song on Christian radio. They aren't my words, but they are so true and so important!

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say.

I love you, Griffin and Grayson. More than you can ever imagine.

Recent Griffin-isms

2011-04-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

"I don't particularly like that."

"Is that even legal?"

"Can we eat at Jimmy John's?" (The kid is OBSESSED! And, he eats a WHOLE sub!)

"How do you hug a porcupine?"

"Okay, Dad. Why does Roger (as in Roger Federer...we are on a first name basis you know) only do tennis?"

"It's really hard when there is only one grown up" and "Dad doesn't know me like you do."
This conversation revolved around a breakdown Griffin had on Thursday. I was at conferences, and he was very upset that I wasn't home to put him to bed. When we talked on the phone that night, he was bawling. The statements from above were part of a conversation we had after this meltdown. Needless to say, some Father-Son time is scheduled for the future:)

Let the Easter Festivities Begin

2011-04-23T14:18:00.001-07:00

Another Round at the Children's Museum

2011-04-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

Griffin's New Routine

2011-04-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

This past Monday, Griffin gave us a scare with his asthma. While he was diagnosed with asthma a long time ago (age 1), he has never had too many problems. His controller medicine has always kept his wheezing at bay, and his rescue inhaler has stopped anything from being too serious. Unfortunately, Monday changed all that. After taking him to Urgent Care and being ushered right back without waiting, it was determined that his pulse oxygen level was only at 92. After a nebulizer treatment and a dose of steroids at the doctor's office, he improved significantly, and we were sent home with a nebulizer to keep at our house. For the past week, we have hooked Griffin up with this machine every 4-6 hours. While his symptoms have improved, at his check-up yesterday, it was determined that he is still wheezing, and his lungs are still fairly constricted. He was placed on another round of steroids, and we now have a new controller medicine. Here's to hoping we don't have another scary Monday!

Just Like Daddy

2011-04-11T16:04:00.000-07:00

SPRING!

2011-04-11T16:00:00.001-07:00

Doing Dishes

2011-04-11T15:59:00.001-07:00

Feeling Blessed

2011-04-07T19:56:00.000-07:00

Today was an all around good day. It was one of those days where the smile on your face rarely leaves.

The day started out with some extra cuddles with Grayson. Normally he is a mover and a shaker when he gets up, but today he wanted to snuggle. Not a bad way to start off the day.

When I arrived at school for a committee meeting, I came to find out that a different meeting for next week is going to be canceled. Yay for eliminating extra work!

My first hour class is a dream. I love them. Really. They make me laugh EVERY. DAY. Today was no different.

The day kept getting better because I had PREP today. I only get PREP every other day, so PREP days are happy days for me. It was during PREP that I received an email saying that I was chosen as a finalist for a Let's Dish! Teacher of the Year award. (http://www.letsdish.com/mnteachers/) See. I told you my day rocked. Hopefully people vote because I would love free food! Hey, that means you should vote! But really, it was an honor to be chosen as a finalist, and it definitely put some pep in my step.

My great day doesn't end there...I got to play with my kids. OUTSIDE. with chalk. AND bubbles. WITHOUT jackets. LOVE SPRING.

After the kiddos went to bed, I clocked in 3 miles. Day 3 of training complete. Man I love crossing off those days!

And I saved the best for last. Griffin asked if I could teach him how to read today. "You know, like the words, Mom, not just the letters and sounds in the words." So, I started busting out some common sight words today. My little man is going to Kindergarten.

Building Blocks of Reading

2011-03-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

Griffin has successfully mastered recognizing all of his letters and the sounds they make. He loves watching the Letter Factory, and he constantly strings letters together and asks what they spell. Most of the time the words are nonsensical, but I love seeing his brain begin to understand that letters form words. As a reading teacher, I love watching him figure out the first letters in different words. Most of the time, if you ask him what a certain word starts with, he can correctly identify the first letter.

Recently, we ordered some new books through Scholastic Book Orders. Yesterday, we read ABC Animal Jamboree for the very first time. Because he grasped the concept of the book right after page one, he wanted to try and "read" the book by himself. When we got to the letter G, the picture was of a Giraffe. He immediately got a puzzled look on his face, and asked, "Why is G for Giraffe? The letter J makes the "ja" sound Mom. Not the letter G." I had to explain to him that some letters can make a couple of sounds, and then we continued on with the rest of the book. Needless to say, I was pretty proud as I witnessed him develop a bit of phonemic awareness. Too bad only about 50% of the English language actually follows traditional phonics rules. But hey, he has to start somewhere!

Griffin-isms

2011-03-27T11:57:00.001-07:00

Griffin: Can I take my pants off?

Me: I guess.

Griffin: Yay! Party Time!

Me: Why do you like ducks so much?

Griffin: Because I like seeing them as one big family.

Me: Maybe one day you would give me a granddaughter.

Griffin: Does that mean you will be old?

Me: I would be like Grandma Laurie.

Griffin: Oh, that's not old.

Griffin: How you doing little mama?

Me: Please don't call me that.

Basketball

2011-03-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

Griffin started a four week basketball session through Community Education. When I told him about going, his face just lit up. He is definitely in love with basketball. It is fun to watch and learn with him!

Birthday Pictures and Updates

2011-03-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

On Grayson's actual birthday, we had two mini-celebrations. Henry, Ella, Isabel, Emma, and Addison all joined Grayson and Griffin at Pump it Up for a bit of pop-in playtime. After some energy was released, we all headed back for some lunch, cake, and a bit of Wii fun. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all of the kiddos play, and it was great catching up with the adults.

After nap that day, we headed down to the Mall of America. Kids get free unlimited ride wristbands on the day of their actual birthdays, and because we got there around five, we were able to purchase one for Griffin at a discounted price. I was AMAZED at how much Grayson enjoyed the rides. I was nervous he was still too little, but he had a blast. It was fun to see the pure joy on his face.

On the following Monday, Grayson had his two year check up. He wasn't due for any immunizations, but they did draw blood to check for lead levels. Not Fun. We also found out that since December, he has slowly dropped in weight. He is only down 10 oz., but considering he is so small to begin with, it is a little worrisome. While we thought we were done seing the GI specialist and nutritionist, our regular doctor suggested we go back in for another visit. To put all of this in perspective, Grayson is five pounds lighter and 2.5 inches shorter than Griffin was at his two year check-up. I am not overly concerned about all of this, which is a nice surprise. Grayson sleeps well, he doesn't seem to be in any pain, and he is meeting all of his developmental milestones. If something is still off with his tummy, I trust the doctors will figure it out. In the meantime, I will enjoy that I have a tiny little man to cuddle with:) On a positive note, we did find out that Grayson doesn't need to have a surgery that was possibly in his future. Finally, the Dunigan Boys get a break!

Enjoy the pictures!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Grayson!

2011-03-18T05:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Grayson,

I can hardly believe that you are two years old. My baby is two. I try to convince myself that it isn't true, but alas, you really are two. And man, you have a lot of spunk in that little body of yours. And seriously, spunk is an understatement.

My little man, you are the very definition of a wild child. You love to jump, run, and do all things that require a LOT of energy. Currently, you like to bounce in your crib as if it were a trampoline. No joke, I caught you doing a seat-drop the other day. We are in TROUBLE when it comes time for you to be in a big boy bed. A gate will cover you door for sure:) Two weeks ago you went to the Little Gym for the first time, and you were such a natural. The coaches could hardly believe you had never been to gymnastics before. You LOVED walking on the balance beam, but you gave me a heart attack every time. You never looked at your feet, so I was convinced you would fall. Thankfully that never happened. I was also amazed at your ability to bring your feet up to the bar. You are such a strong little dude!

You are still in love with reading books, and you love to cuddle. My favorite part of putting you to bed at night is the BIG bear hug you give me. Then you kiss my cheek and put your head on my shoulder. Warms my heart EVERY night. And just yesterday, you walked up to me with a blanket and said, "Cuddle Now!"

Every day you repeat new words and phrases. This makes it a lot easier to figure out what you want. It also makes you more demanding at times, but even in your demands, you often manage to say please or thank you! You are also understanding more and more about the world around you. You know what needs to be opened and closed, you understand when things are "icky," and you know to walk to the pantry if you are hungry! You definitely exercise your power with the word "no!" Thankfully you are good at saying you are sorry and giving hugs:)

Eating is still a roller coaster ride. One day you will eat just like a "normal" two year old. The next day you hardly eat at all. You are pain free with eating, though, so I quit worrying about it. Right now you like doughnuts, milk, fruit snacks, juice boxes, cheese, chips, tuna, shredded chicken made for tacos, raisin bread, mac and cheese, bananas, apples, raisins, carrots, and pretzels. To be honest, there isn't much else that you eat. You tried pizza the other day. You didn't like it, but I was impressed that you tried it! You also ate a few bites of a cupcake once the frosting was taken off. Hopefully you will continue to try new foods.

Happy Birthday, cuddle bug! We love you!

Almost Two!

2011-03-17T06:11:00.000-07:00

I went home to Wisconsin this past weekend, and while we were there, we had a mini-birthday celebration for Grayson's upcoming birthday. As soon as he "blew" out the candles, he exclaimed, "AGAIN!" So of course, we lit them a second time:)