Mother's Day - Having the girls Dedicated

On Mother's Day at our church they have child dedication ceremonies, so this coming Sunday we are having both girls dedicated. It is such a great opportunity offered by our church, knowing that as a congregation we will have their support in so many ways. I think its great. The dedication is during the morning service for anyone who can come :)

Whoo She's got it!!!

Its funny because last week I posted that Emma wasn't potty trained, well guess what?? She got it! On Thursday she decided that she wanted to be a "big" girl and go on the potty and has ever since! She's had only a couple accidents and that's been it, today she even went #2! This is great! I am so excited and keep praising her! She keeps asking me "you happy??" Yup ! I am!
Thanks for the advice ladies. Its funny because I've asked a few people about it and they seem to give me the same advice "when she is ready, she'll go". Now I know what they mean :)

Did I mention that I have started a tap dancing class?? I've never really thought much about it, but a lady from our church gives lessons for free, so quite a few adult woman have joined and its turned out to be alot of fun! So I ordered myself a pair of tap shoes and am looking forward to the next class.

The weather has finally warmed up some here and is expected to be in the 60's most of the week, yay!!

Might be heading to Canada for a couple of weeks next month, as crops will be ready to put in in a few weeks, which means my hubby will be gone too much, oh well its only for a few weeks.

Thanks to those who leave comments it sure means alot to me.

Potty training is for the birds!

Okay I think i'm going to have my one year old potty trained before my 2 year old! Isn't that pathetic??
Honestly I haven't really worked that hard at getting Emma potty trained so its my own fault. But Dakota is soo cute I wish I could have taken a picture of her this morning sitting on the potty, her legs crossed and bouncing them, she had this huge grin on her face and she was humming, like this was the best place to be. She didn't go, but at least she looks like she likes it.

Well I have to go. My oldest is up from her nap and isn't happy.

ANy potty training tips, I would love it!!

About the Time again :)

Easter Family Picture

Easter Dresses (Thanks to Cheryl Hvidsten)

Emma and Titus reading together

Jes Jes David

Jessica, Jesse, David and us, spent an afternoon at Bemis Hill a few weeks ago. We had brats, and smores it was a good afternoon. Unfortunately Emma was not feeling well, so she didn't have a good time, kept crying and crying and wouldn't tell us what was wrong :( Oh well



Okay the title can be taken several ways, time to blog, time to have babies again (not me this time), birthdays, that's about all I can come up with.


We have been doing well. Ryan is enjoying his job, I'm busy at home cleaning and cooking, and trying to wait patiently for nicer weather, the girls are busy growing, learning ABC's, 123's, walking and talking! Wheeww!

We had a very nice Easter visiting Grady and Jill down in Waterviller, Iowa. We started pre-weekend in Fargo visiting our friends Daniel, Stacy and Kendra, it was really good to see them again. Too bad it wasn't longer. It was nice travelling both down and back again which is a blessing. Grady fed us very well! We had a couple good games and some really good chats, one really late night! I got to visit my Amish store and pick up a few treats. It was fun to meet our little nephew Cody! What a sweet little boy! On our way home we stopped in to see Jed's homestead, it was fun to have a break from sitting. The kids had fun running around working off some of the Easter sugar rush. We made it home in time for bed. It was a good weekend.

I've decided that being a first born is somthing I wish I could change about myself. It doesn't seem to matter where or whom you know someone reminds you of this or wonders if you are one. Its not usually in a nice way and if you want to make me feel bad just ask me "are you a first born??" because it usually means I've done or said something wrong to affend them. Wish I could change this but I'm stuck with it so if I say something wrong or hurt you again, please know that if I could change this about myself or be someone different....I definately would!!

Does anyone else feel this way about their birth order?? I know it can't be changed but it was on my mind today.

ANyhoo, not sure where my pictures will be posted on top, or bottom of this post :P

Family Picture

Our family picture with great grandpa Elijah taken over Christmas this year.

Home today

It was funny I was upstairs vaccuming and carrying Dakota on my hip and I had to smile because I still get those moments where I think am I reallying doing this??? Being a mom, a wife etc. I love our little family! Does anyone else do that from time to time??

I'll fill you in a little bit about what we are doing since we moved back to Roseau. We have moved in with an older couple, the wife (she's 59) has progressed into early alzheimer's. She is still capable of alot of things, but her communication and thought process is not always there. Her husband is here most of the time, and we are glad that we can help him out as needed. We are living with them in there house and we have most of the upstairs. Husband and Wife have been going out for ALL their meals before we came, and now eat at least two meals a day with us about 4 days out of the week. We are blessed to be here.

Ryan just called his new employer this morning to let them know he will be working for them and starts Monday. Its been a long break for him and he is anticipating his new job and having something to do again. He will have a 40 minute commute (each way) and doesn't look forward to that, but the job itself sounds like one he will enjoy.

I have started a new bible study with my sister-in-laws (sils) and Ryan's mom. We are studying what it means to love God with all your mind. Its been very good so far and its been real nice to get to know my family better.

The girls have been adjusting to well. Emma is learning to count and can count to 11, and a little bit of her ABC's. Dakota is a lazy crawler, she doesn't do much of it. She puts alot of things in her mouth (Emma never did) so I have to watch for all the little things. I was definately spoiled with Emma as a baby. Dakota is learning to sleep through the night, she is up around midnight for a little snack and then usually sleeps till morning. That's pretty good. She is a little bit bigger then Emma was at this time, and has started to wear 12 month clothing already. She is a sweet doll and we love her. We took her to her first hockey game last week and she had fun watching the old ladies next to us cheering for their teams. She just sat there and stared!! it was too cute. Dakota has been sucking her thumb more and more. I wish you could have seen her this morning. She thought I was upstairs and realized that i was in the living room which meant she had to crawl back, in between she stopped for a break stopped to suck her thumb and lay down! It was cute.

Anyway, Roseau has a hockey game tonight I think we are going to.

Elise is writing her test tomorrow, just wanted to let her know we are thinking of her and praying for her.

Have a great weekend
Melissa

Braids

Emma's hair is finally long enough to keep french braids in. She sat real still getting them in
Gotta go baby crying

Finally!

Okay I don't think I have any pictures right now, but I will try to get some on real quick.

We have finally moved back to Roseau and we are getting settled in our new place. We are working at getting a routine with the girls and letting them get used to our new surroundings, so it will take a little time. I will fill you in more on this move later on.

I started a bible study with the ladies in our family, and it has been good so far. I am looking forward to getting to know them better.

Ryan continues to look for a job, but has a few leads again I'll let you know more about it later.

Thanks for being patient I will try to do better and let you all know what's happening.

Posting Pictures

Mostly pictures from when I was in Red Lake with the girls. But here are a couple from visiting grandma Becky's place too.

Twin cousins - David and Dakota
Emma riding her tricycle, okay not exactly pedaling just riding down the drive way.

Uncle Mike reading to Emma and Scotty.

Miller boys. Aren't they a cute bunch!

The stroller we used to go on our walks in Red Lake.

They rode like this between Elise's and Grandma's.

usually I had Emma riding and I carried Dakota on my back.

Scotty and Dakota

My sister and little Scotty

Jenni Graber's birthday. It was fun to see eveyone. We were at Kendra's for the evening.

other stuff....

Went to GF today to do some shopping...by myself! Ryan was soo nice to let me go out by myself. It was nice but busy as usual. I'm such a terrible and indecisive shopper, I don't like that but I do enjoy looking at alot of things.

This week went by pretty fast.

I had a turkey dinner here on Thursday, it was pretty simple, turkey, corn, stuffing and pumpkin pie for dessert...mmm!. We invited Jarod and Jessica and their little girls over for supper, it was a good time. It was nice to visit and get to know them a little better. Their oldest daughter is the same age as Emmy and their youngest is only a month old. It was a good evening, sure made me wish we got to know them sooner. We'll just have to make the best of it while we are still here.

Emma growing up, she is starting to want to do things herself. Tonight Ryan was showing her how to put on her own diaper, it was too funny.

Dakoty loves to smile, she just laughs, and smiles all the time, what a sweet heart!! She is eating well, but doesn't like to be on her belly too long.

I've decided this week that I'm going to put Christmas cookie plates together for my bible study ladies. I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to get this done, but it has to be done in couple weeks. Thats okay, it will help me fill in my time.

I got my new double stroller, and I LOVE it! I don't know if I can be that expressive about a stroller, but it it really nice. Its a jogger stroller, the girls sit side by side and the visor has front cover that protects them from the wind, its great! I'd show you a picture but I don't have one yet. :)

We still haven't found a job yet, but Ryan is slowly working on that. We are trying to move back to Roseau, but jobs are few. So we will keep praying. Ryan has till the new year (not many weeks left)

Our internet works again!

I know its been a couple of months since Ryan's birthday but I thought pictures were still fun to see. The first picture, a typical Eric "hugging" Ryan picture. Eric often tries to wrestle with Ryan and most times Ryan will just hang on but not fight back. On his birthday he finally fought back , hehe, but not for very long :) it was still fun to watch and cheer him on. The second picture Ryan blowing out his candles. It was a beautiful day! that day, the weather was beautiful and we spent most of the day outside.

I finally got my wish for a new double stroller, its my Christmas/ Birthday gift. I should be getting it sometime in the next few days. I'm so excited to use it. Its a double jogger stroller with a swivel wheel, red, with a nice canopy, and handles really nice. Thanks to my wonderful hubby!

Okay I was reading a friends website and she posted a question about children's vaccinations, whether to have them done or not. To be honest, I've never heard of NOT getting them done. I guess I've never even questioned it. I read all the responses that people left for her and feel that they are a good thing to have done, even if you have to watch them get poked. I don't like to see my children hurt but I think its worth it to know they will be protected against possible life threatening diseases. okay so there is my two bits.

We went down to Fargo last weekend for the day, spent some time Christmas shopping and then had supper with good friends of ours. It was worth the trip even if we didn't buy much.

Last week was nice, I was able to host Bible study at my place. It was really nice to have everyone here, even though it made me a wreck all week (is my place clean enough?? what do I make for afterwards??) Ryan took Emma out to Cabella's and I had Dakota with me. It was nice because when Dakota was ready for bed (at 8pm) I just put her to bed. That was nice. It turned out to be a nice evening. The next morning a few of us ladies that have had children this year met out at Janelle's and we visited while we watched the little ones play, or we fed. We got to talk about our children, our marriages, our husbands, you know the usual stuff. It was good. God is good, he answers our prayers, I feel like he has answered mine. What a great reminder!

well that's that for a few days. i have more pictures but that will have to wait again for another day.

Home again

One of family picnics we had this fall. There has been a couple of days where the weather has been so nice, we just had to have a picnic. So here is our little family.

Dakota and I going for a walk with Ryan and Emma.

Emma posing and saying cheese.

Well we finally made it home. We were in Red Lake for 17 days. It was really great to spend so much time with my sister and little Scotty. We had a great time and I am soo thankful for a wonderful sister. I sure wish we lived closer so that I could see her more often. We walked almost every morning, and then spent some time just hanging out. She was a big help with the girls too. It was fun to be with my parents also, fun to see them interacting with our girls and loving them as grandparents do. I struggle with being back again. I admit I get lonely. Do you ever long for your old friends back again, the ones who know you for you?? I do. Anyhoo. I have a few pictures to share, I have more, but need a little more time to get them ready.

A few pictures

Emma loves to be outside. I feel bad sometimes when I see her perched in the window, I wonder if she is just wishing she could be outside. One of these days we'll be out of the apartment.

A few pictures from when we went up to Red Lake. Ryan was able to help Jeff out with his garage. I captured him up in the rafters :)

Ryan and Jeff working hard.

Grandpa Mike and Dakota

We were able to go blueberry picking on Saturday afternoon. I didn't get a picture of the blueberries that we had picked but I got a good one of Derek holding Dakota. Derek baby sat the kids while all the rest of us were in the bush picking. Emma was in the car playing around, Scotty was in the pick up sleeping and here Derek got to hold Dakota for a bit.

After blueberry picking on our way home we made a stop at Pineridge, built a fire had some tea and enjoyed a beautiful evening out as a family. What a great day and evening!! Here is my mom holding Dakota.

Our family picture. Me, Dakota, Ryan and Emma

Just one of the pictures I took from our trip to Iowa. In the picture is Becky, Me, Dakota, Jill, Emma and Grady. We had a nice visit with Grady and Jill. It was nice of them to open their house up to us travellers. Jill and Grady are expecting their first baby beginning of December.

We made it home again!

This past week has zoomed by!
Last weekend we were up visiting at the farm when my mother-in-law asks me if the girls and I would be up for a trip down to Iowa to visit Ryan's brother, Grady and his wife Jill (who is expecting their first baby in Dec.) Sure! Why not, what else do we have going on in our lives?? So Monday night (Labor Day) we drive back to Warren so I can do a couple loads of laundry, repack our bags so we can leave first thing in the morning. Becky came we packed up the car and headed down to Iowa for the week. It was a great week to spend at their place. It was nice and relaxing, and good to get to know my sister in law better. She hasn't been feeling well with her pregnancy, so maybe it was good to be there to maybe get her mind off of it for a few days. She took us around showing us a little bit of the area, but most of the time we just spent enjoying some nice end of the summer sunshine, and gorgeous evenings. Grady sure know how to cook, we enjoyed some great bbq meals!!

I have to tell you that the girls were troopers! They travelled soo well, I can't complain. Emma didn't cry at all, she looked around, sang, talked some, read some books, played with shoes, took a nap, but didn't fuss at all. Dakota slept alot, she cried about a half hour, but was a great traveller for such a long car ride!! They did great! They are soo precious!

Jill took us to 3M where Grady works, we can't go in, but at least we know where he's at. He brought us home some 3M treats to take home with us, that's fun. They have a few amish folks living down the road from them, so we went shopping at the amish stores in the area, it was fun for me to do that. We picked up a couple amish bonnets for the girls, and they look so cute in them. We enjoyed some delicious cinnamon rolls from the bakery on Sat. morning. What a treat to be there.

We left on Sat. noon, to head up to Jesse and Jessica's place to see their little apartment before the big move up to Roseau. We were planning to drive with them, but it seemed that we always kept just a little bit a head of them. We got home at 11:30pm last night, and we are just hanging low today. we are all pretty pooped from our trip. The girls just woke up from their nap, and I think we'll go for a short walk around, and then to the grocery store, since we are really low on food right now.

I have more to post but it will have to wait for another day.

We're going to Red Lake - Yay!

My surprise visitors last weekend, Mary Jane (good friend), my sister Elise and her little boy Scotty came down for Emma's second birthday.

Emma after blowing out the candles.

Emma blowing out her two candles - I can't believe she's two already, time sure does fly!

This is my crazy hubby dressed up like a baby, wearing a sign saying " I was born 2007". He had to dress up for the parade. It was a fun parade with over 130 entrys. Emma got a lot of candy that evening.

Misc. Pictures

Look what I learned to do...suck my thumb!

Emma picking daisy's with Grandma Becky

Reagan Kvien, Dakota Dunham, and David Dunham (Dakota and David were born on the same day, Reagan was born 3 weeks earlier)

Faith Dunham, Emma Dunham and Titus Kvien

Picture for Baby Contest

Dakota 3 months

Cutest baby Contest

We entered a picture of Dakota in the baby contest at the fair and she won! She got the first prize, a $200 savings bond, there was a second and third place but we haven't been over to see the results yet. Okay she didn't win because of her looks, they drew names and they drew her name. That was a nice surprise.

Another Picture

These are our girls posing so nicely. Okay I took about 20 shots and this was the only nice one. Emma is 22months, and Dakota is 3months. They are best friends already - hehe.

Okay, I'll blog!

Not that anyone is asking for an update, but I'll give one anyway.

We had a fun time down in Wisconsin, visiting family and more family. We got to stay at a hotel with a curfew. I'll tell you about this...it was kind of funny, but we came back to the hotel and put the girls to bed and a few of us (family) were going to visit in the lobby for a bit. They had turned off the lights and we asked if they could turn them on for a little bit. The owner looks at us and says, "its 11 o'clock everyone has gone to bed." We looked at him like he couldn't be serious but he was, so there we sat in the dark visiting. I've never stayed at a hotel with a curfew before. Besides that it was good to see everyone again. We stayed at Merrilee's place downtown Minneapolis on Friday night, that was fun to see. She had a sweet place there. Sat. am we went to the reunion, it was a little over an hour a way. We played games, drank coffee, watched the kids play, ate some delicious meals, laughed, visited some more, it was well worth the trip.

Lately we've been home at our apartment just hanging out. We've been eating store bought blueberries, and I'm starting to forget what bush blueberries taste like, guess I'll have to go home and pick some (I wish).

The girls are growing up, its fun to see progress. Ryan was getting Emma ready for her shower and was attempting to take out one of her ponytails, it was a bit of a struggle, and it pulled some of her hair. Emma puts her hand on her dads arm, (getting his attention), then points to her hair, and says "no". It was cute, like she didn't want him to do that anymore. we had a good laugh at her.

Dakota is starting to teeth, hand are in her mouth alot and she's starting to drool. She likes to talk and loves to stand up. She's a sweet girl!

As for Ryan and I were doing ok. We've been taking walks almost every evening , its been nice to chat and dream together. Although it has made me wish that I had a jogger stroller for easier pushing. Maybe one of these days I'll get one. We still would like to move back to Roseau and continue to think of how we can work that out. We'd like prayer for that.

So that's all for now. I hope to make it to Red Lake some time this summer, but I'm not sure when yet.

I'll post more pitures one of these days.

Ta-ta for now. Mel

Pictures Finally!

Our two little dolly's :) We are ready to go to the Baby shower they had at the church for us. We have been blessed by our little church.

We took my mom out for a picnic at Florian park while she was here. It was great to see a bit of the outdoors finally after a long winter. We had brats and a salad and Emma got play around a bit. Just plain..nice!

Our family picture taken at the baby shower they had for us at the Bank that Ryan works at.

This is our Dakota Nicole, this was taken when she was about 2 weeks old, and was the baby annoucement that we sent out.