Tidbits

We are leaving tomorrow morning for our trek up to Oregon for Thanksgiving. This will be a great time to see friends, family, eat, enjoy the rain and no sales tax, have a baby shower, and watch OSU cream U of O during the Civil War. As you can see, we have plenty to look forward to and much to be thankful for. 

On an unrelated topic: I finally made my decision on my students' recycled animal projects. And while I know some of you felt that the parent participation was a little much, I was relieved. Getting parents and kids involved in recycling sounds like a grand idea to me. So, here are the winners:

Most Artistic: The Eagle

Most Creative: The Owl

Most Interesting: a tie between The Elephant and The Scorpion (I couldn't choose!)

Thanks for your input! I told my students that their animals were so good that I needed my friends' help to decided. That made them feel like superstars!

I don't mean to brag...

but I'm pretty sure that Steve & I have the best jobs ever! No, I didn't say easiest job ever, becuase contrary to popular belief, we don't show up and leave when the kids do. Teaching is demanding, and anyone who thinks differently should follow us around for a day. Ok, I'll get off of my soap box now...

Anywho, one of the greatest and most frightening things about teaching (and parenting as well) is the opportunity I have to share my passions with my students in hopes of it becoming "contagious." I should know how this works, as I am the product of a very passionate father who loved sharing his passions with his kids. That's why I believe that Coke is superior to Pepsi, John Deere tractors are the best, and it is of my utmost American duty to root for the Oregon State Beavers, in good times and bad.

I am also passionate about many things, and God's creation is pretty high on my list. That's why I was so jazzed to teach a social studies unit on community resources and recycling. As we ended the unit, I challenged my students to create a 3-D animal using only recycled materials that they found around their homes. I allowed them to use new paint and glue, but that was it. My kiddos loved this project, and I was blown away by their creativity. Now comes the hard part: I told them that I would give out three awards and I can't decide on who deserves what! Will you please help me? The awards to be given are Most Artistic, Most Interesting, and Most Creative. I took pictures of my favorites in hopes that you would all give me your input. Here they are, in no particular order:

The gorilla: made out of a 2 liter pop bottle, bits of paper, newspaper and paint

The scorpion: made out of egg cartons and paint

The bald eagle: made out of a 2 liter pop bottle, cardboard and paint

The owl: made out of a gallon milk jug, cardboard, and cut up grocery bags

The elephant: made out of bottle caps (for the trunk), water bottles (legs and body), cardboard, pop can tabs, and newspaper

Here's a closing shot of the whole little recycled zoo:

Busy Little Bees

Dos Dunlaps have been busy around this here joint. This weekend was a whirlwind, and we have the pictures to prove it. It started off with a long-overdue visit from our very best friend from college, Mrs. Candace Morris. We had such a great time just being with one another; it's so refreshing to be with a friend that knows you, your quirks, your history, and still loves you. Candi is so easy to love and she loves us back without even batting an eye. All of the pictures below were taken by her, as she has become quite the little photographer. 

Candiass and Karen getting our cheese on

Trying so very hard not to giggle

3 BFFS + 1 Brundibar= Good Times

Candace & Charlie

Charlie does not often allow people to see him, let alone pick him up. Candace has captured all of the Dunlaps' hearts!

This weekend was also Steve's Grandpa's funeral service. We had a weekend full of family and remembering Grandpa. The service was beautiful, and there is a sense of relief now that it's over with. Thanks to all of you who have remembered our family in your prayers during this time.

Pink is the new black...

No, this isn't a post promoting breast cancer awareness, but that is a good and noble cause, to be sure. This is a post stating that it seems as though we are going to be having a baby girl! Why the ribbon? Well, my appointment was for this morning and I told my students that I would be back at lunch. They have been dying to know what I'm having, it's like I'm their personal science experiment! They requested that I wear a pink or blue ribbon, depending on the sex. So this is what I rocked when I came into my classroom. We had previously taken a poll, and MOST of them were convinced that I was having a boy. I have to admit, I got a few sad faces when they saw the pink ribbon. They'll get over it.

The ultrasound was unreal. For starters, I took the instructions to heart that stated that I needed a full bladder. I was so afraid that I was going to accidentally pee on the lab technician. Thankfully, she let me relieve myself half way through. The radiologist was having difficulties with the machine (it was a new model) and so I was smothered with jelly stuff for close to an hour and a half. She wasn't a Chatty Charlie, so I didn't really know what was going on for 99% of the time. At the end, she told us that she didn't see anything that indicated boy parts, and that all signs were pointing to girl. We were very excited; we would have been happy either way, but knowing the sex makes everything seem more real now. Steve is beyond thrilled to have a little girl, and is already plotting on how to make every man that enters our daughter's life uncomfortable and intimidated. Oh, Stevie...

Garage sales and moldy pumpkins

So today was the day of the big sale. Unfortunately, we didn't get the ad in the paper on time, so our day started out pretty slow. Below is evidence of our boredom.

Brundibar, Karen, and our loot. Where are the customers?

We were a little disappointed at our poor start.

However, things did pick up and we were able to finish off the day with only a few bags to take to Goodwill and a whopping $76 to help with our friends' international adoption. Hooray! Please note in the above photo our super duper moldy pumpkin. Hey, California--It's not supposed to be 90+ degrees on Halloween! Your stupid weather makes our pumpkins gooey and gross. 

P.S. We have our ultrasound scheduled on Monday morning to find out if we're having a boy or girl Dunlap. We're very excited, and you should be too!