Play ball...

Briggs played in his first baseball game Saturday night. He did awesome and his team won by one run. We're so proud of him. He still needs to get used to paying attention to the game while in the outfield or waiting to run the bases, but he did great and he had a great time too. He loved it and we loved watching him.

Feelin' Hot! Hot! Hot!...

Jens rode his bike all morning on Saturday then spent some time with the kids outside planting and gardening. There was a nice cool breeze, but the sun was brutal and I found them all staring at the pool, mouths watering. It looked so inviting, so, they went for a swim. It was freezing, but they soon got used to it and it didn't take them long to warm up by laying out in the sun.
Her future's so bright, She has to wear shades....and goggles. (Eryn calls them "gobbles!")

a day at the Zoo...

that's just a normal day for us, usually. But, I took my kids to the actual zoo on Thursday with my mom, brother David & his kids. It was warm and was a bit tough on me, but we had a great time.

The kids love being with their cousins.
Haley, Reagan & Stephanie at the petting zoo.

Eryn thought the goats were, "soooo cuuuute!" She named this one LUVABELLE!

Max on the tractor.

my favorite place at the zoo...sitting on the bench watching the giraffes.
Briggs needed a quarter, but I didn't have one!

Michael, Big Man! Briggs really looks up to him and loves to hang out with him. He wants to be like Mike!

Their favorite part....Sting Ray Bay!

Briggs was miserable the whole time, until we ended up here. He couldn't get enough of it!

Joseph & David. Joe stays behind the scenes, but I just have to say how much I love this kid. (p.s. I love all my nieces and nephews) He is so helpful, polite, cute. Eryn Jane adores him and he's got a cute sense of humor! It was fun spending some time with him.

The girls were frightened at first, but before we made it out of there everyone of them had touched a sting ray. Even Eryn Jane.

more funnies...

Before bed we try to read scriptures together and each of the kids take turns reading a few verses. Eryn has always made us laugh because she wants to do it all by herself, but she can't read yet. So, it she usually comes up with things like "and God loves us...and Jesus too....and we love pokemon...and I want new polly pockets."
Well, last night she was quite cute she started saying...

"and I love primary and God and Jesus and primary is very important, and the gospel is very important, but I can't listen in primary, and I can't listen to my teacher, I can't! (in a very sad tone!)
and with liberty and justice for all, amen!"

It makes me wonder how reverent she was being last week! and as for the pledge of allegiance..?!??>:? I don't know what goes on in my kids heads sometimes....it's fascinating!

Daily Funnies...

I haven't written these in a long time. It's either that I wait too long and then forget what she's said or most of the time, these days, it's not really what she says but the way that she says it. Eryn Jane has become quite the Sassy little girl and her attitude either cracks me up or makes me really upset.
So, on with it....She's been playing the Wii while I've been going around the house doing morning things. So, I finish and come in and ask her..
Mom - "Hey Eryn, why don't we get you dressed and you can come outside with Mommy and we can plant some flowers together?"
E.J. - "Ugh! MMoomm! I'm busy!"
Mom -"Hey, be nice!"
E.J. - "I'm just busy Mom! Okay!"

How many 4 yr old girls would rather play a Pokemon game than plant pretty flowers with their Mom? Well, we know one, that's our Eryn Jane!

We Love Easter!

One of my kids favorite things....coloring eggs. They love to be creative and get dirty! So, for them, it's the perfect activity.

We've been noticing, lately, that whenever she's trying her hardest at something, she sticks her tongue out.

We spent Saturday at my sister Kelli's house with the Bonham Family for celebration.

The Water Gun Fight. Our favorite family tradition.

I'm surprised that Denis didn't end up soaking everyone with the hose....that's usually what ends up happening. He was kind this year.

Emma and her battle scar! She's one tough little girl! A pretty big fall and yet not one tear!

Kickball at the park!

I wasn't aloud to play....they were afraid someone would mistake my belly for the ball.

Reagan didn't really want to play. But Briggs and Eryn were in the game the whole time. You might say they take after their father....ultra competitive. I guess they had been arguing a little with each other and so the next time Eryn got up to kick (Briggs was pitching) he says, under his breath, "THIS TIME IT'S PERSONAL!" Okay Briggs, she's 4 years old......I wonder how he's going to act at his first baseball game this Saturday....I'm nervous! It's time for the "Good Sport!" lesson for F.H.E. right!

Egg Hunt!

After losing the kickball to his 4 year old sister, Briggs didn't feel much like hunting for eggs. So, sweet Eryn Jane found them for him.

The Easter Bunny (Gigi) always hides some money eggs around. When we were little, my sister Kaci always got lucky and found the BIG $! Looks like Reagy Lee is following in her footsteps. "Jackpot!" she said!

EASTER SUNDAY!
We went to church early so we could get good seats and it was a really nice service! Primary was crazy, but the kids just can't help it, they get so excited on Holidays.

My kids found baskets the Easter Bunny had hid in the house while we were gone. They got lots of cool stuff. Then Oma brought over a Honey Baked Ham and lots of food. The family came over and we had a very nice afternoon, eating and visiting and enjoying each other's company. It's great to be around family again, especially during the holidays.

wondering why Reagan isn't wearing her glasses? They got stepped on during the kickball game the day before.....she was so upset. She thought she was going to have to give us the money she had gotten to pay for them to be fixed.

Our Trip To Tombstone...

Jens took some time off during the kids spring break so we took a little trip last Thursday. Having been born and raised in AZ you'd think it wouldn't be my first trip to Tombstone. But, Jens was the only one of us who had been there before. It was an experience...we all had a really good time together and the kids loved it.

Taking a short snack break. Briggs and Reagan ate nachos while Eryn enjoyed an ice cream cone.
We drove back up to Tucson and stayed the night at the Hilton against the Catalina Mtns. The kids enjoyed swimming in the pool. Even though it was a heated pool it was still a little too cold, so they jumped in the hot tub.

In the morning we took a little nature walk around the hotel. It was a perfect time of year. There were spring flowers and lots of green, amazing.



The kids found some bunny rabbits on our walk and it got them very excited for Easter.

We came back home the next day to get ready for Easter. It was nice to get away together. Probably our last chance for a while...

"Mom, I'm Bored!"

"There's nothing to do."
"Are we going anywhere today?"

My travel distance being greatly shortened during these last couple of months, I've found it hard to keep my kids happy during their 2 week spring break time. Especially because they specifically told me that they did not want to do anything or go anywhere. They just wanted to stay home and play with their toys, wii's & ds's, and watch cartoons. I knew that wouldn't last long, but I felt they needed the experience to learn that lesson instead of me just telling them. By the end of last week they were at each others necks and I, of course, had completely had enough. This week has been better. More planning, more doing, less fighting and less of Mom locking herself in her room. One more week to go and then it's back to school with them!
Sorry I have no pictures, maybe at the end of this week. I'm a space cadet these days and simply just forget to bring it along.

she lives...

Yes, people, the Dunford family is alive and doing very well. A combination of things kept me away from the blog. I'll try to keep up from now on, but I can't promise anything. Our little William ( Wil ) should be arriving around Mothers Day this year. It's gone by so fast and we're feeling a little unprepared. But, we're very excited. For some reason my nesting urge has been to redecorate my house and my bedroom instead of getting ready for Wil. I know, I'm terrible. Do you just become a little more selfish as you get older or is it because this is the 4th & Final?
I thought I'd back track a little because I haven't posted since before Christmas. But, the thought made me really tired. So, short version... Christmas was fun. Its been a great New Year. Briggs turned 10 yrs old in January. ( I feel so old! ) My niece, Alyssa, got married 3 weeks ago. ( I feel really old, did I mention that? )

Reagan got glasses. ( she looks so cute! )

Eryn finished pre-school!

Briggs has to get braces during Spring Break. ( he's a little nervous! ) and he's playing baseball this year. We got rid of my cute little Mazda 3 and bought a Yukon. ( all my spending $ goes to gas! But the kids love it. )
....and we're in the now! The kids just got home from school and are very excited for their 2 week Spring Break! HELP!!! Jens gets to go to San Jose this next week and I want to go with so badly, but I can't.....big tummy and all! So, I'll need to try to get creative with our time here, at home, with the kids.....what am I doing having another.....did I mention this one is IT!!!
WARNING: I just have to make everyone aware: during these last two months of pregnancy, and I'm sure for much more than a few months after the birth, I am going to seem very extreme! It's okay, I really am fine and happy, just very, very hormonal, emotional and a tad bit crazy!

Piano Recital

Oma Babsi & Grandma Bonham joined us this evening for Briggs & Reagan's first piano recital. They've only been taking lessons for about 4 months and they have learned so much. They both did so well. We are so proud of them.
Reagan played Jolly Old Saint Nicholas...

Briggs & Reagan played a duet...Jingle Bells...it was so great!!!

Briggs played Silent Night...

I think they enjoyed everyone clapping for them and bowing the most.
Thank you Oma & Gigi for coming out and spending this special evening with us! We love you!

Here Comes Santa Claus...

 

Eryn was so excited to go and visit Santa. She told him exactly what she wanted...a Wii. Pretty big Christmas present for such a cute little girl.

Zoo Lights...

We went to Zoo Lights tonight for Family Home Evening with lots of family and friends. We had a great time. It was chilly...a great night to bundle up and walk around to see the lights.


Dan, Heidi & Melissa

Crazy Girls...

Aiden snuggling with his Uncle Gary

Eryn Jane & Kaci Jane

Cute Cousins (Allie, Reagan, Ethan, Max, Ryann & Eryn)

Christmas Time Well Spent...

It's been a while... We've been enjoying this time of year...our family's favorite. There's lots we've been up to so we thought we'd share all the fun things we've been doing...

On Friday night we took the kids to their elementary school where we got to ride a horse drawn carriage around our neighborhood. The kids were so excited. We looked at all of the neighborhood Christmas lights, sang Christmas Carols and when we got back to the school they had hot cocoa and cookies waiting for us. It was a cold night to be out but we loved it.




Growing up there were two times of the year that I loved dressing up for church....Christmastime and Easter. Now that I'm a mom and have little girls of my own, it's even more fun to dress them up. And they look a lot cuter too. Here are my girls all dressed up for church. Eryn picked out the skirt that she is wearing and was so excited to finally get to wear it. She likes to spin in it.



We spent last Saturday evening with our good friends, the Gazeley family, at the temple. This is one of the reasons I'm so very glad to live back in the valley. I really did miss seeing the lights at the Mesa Temple during Christmastime. It was fun to share it with our friends and the kids had so much fun!




Now, as you well know, the Holiday Season is not near over. We still have one more week until Christmas, then one more week after that until New Years. Much more Cheer to be had and Celebrating to do. We'll be heading out to Zoo Lights with family and friends tomorrow night for FHE, then baking and visiting and parties and lots of fun.. I'll try and keep posting. And, on the 26th is our scheduled ultrasound. Hopefully our little one is growing and healthy and we'll be able to find out...Boy? or Girl? What do you think???