Our holiday season started a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving.  The best present we got this year was the return of our missionary, Jessica. She served honorably in the Florianopolis Brazil mission.  It was so great to see her. I had to pinch her to make sure she was real.  She had a hard time speaking English at first, but it all started to come together for her.  We loved having her for the month of November.  She is now back in school at BYU.  We miss her, but are so happy she is home.

I have fallen off of the blogosphere and really need to update Dunowland so here it is goes…

Our summer:

That was our summer in a nutshell!

So even though the official date was 1 September, Bill had his retirement ceremony on June 1st.  It was a day that seemed like we had waiting for since he actually decided to retire.  My parents and Bill’s mom came out to be here for Bill’s big day.   It was a low key ceremony. Bill isn’t a fussy guy so nothing fancy.  The squadron commander had a lot of nice things to say about Bill. It was really nice to hear all of his accomplishments and also hear some stories that I don’t remember ever being told.  Bill gave the boys and my dad a squadron coin and his mom and my mom flowers for all of the support they have given him.  As an Air Force spouse, I received a certificate of recognition for all that military spouses do. I also received yellow roses. Maybe I wasn’t suppose to do this, but I requested yellow roses because my mom received yellow roses when my dad retired from the Air Force.  My mom was my example as a military spouse. She dealt with a lot and did it all without ever being upset that my dad was away because she understood the importance of his job and his duty to the country.  I am so proud of Bill.  All he ever wanted to do was fly and he achieved that dream.  Bill is a modest guy. If someone came up to tell him thank you for his service, he would always say your welcome, but I know he felt kind of awkward accepting their thanks.  Well I want to thank him for his service to our country.  He deserves it.

*This post is long overdue.  I am slowly catching up so stay tuned for more adventures.

Bill is retiring.  It’s official in September.  On May 17th, he had his final flight (fini flight) in a military aircraft.  He was able to fly to Monticello, Utah. It’s his hometown where he was born and raised.  It seemed fitting that he was able to go to a place that holds a special place in his heart.  When he landed, he was surprised to not only see his mom and grandpa, but his brother, sisters, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles plus friends.  He didn’t have much time, but he did get to eat lunch with all of them and visit.  On his return flight, me, Billy, Baden and members of the squadron were on the flight line to greet him.  Baden manned the water hose and Billy was in charge of the Diet Coke spray.  Plus there was a cooler of water and ice.  After he landed, the fun began. Baden loved spraying Bill down and Billy had a blast getting Diet Coke all over Bill.  It was a special day capping off a 24 year career for a man who always dreamed of flying.

**Thank you to Etta Dunow, Nancy Dunow and Kim Henderson for all of the pictures that were taken in Monticello.

Bill’s last TDY (temporary duty for all you civilians) was in beautiful Alamogordo.  It is way down south.  The boys and I packed up and headed down on Friday evening.  On Saturday, we drove to Carlsbad, home of Carlsbad Caverns.  The last caverns we visited were Luray Caverns in Virginia.  Luray Caverns are nice, but Carlsbad Caverns are awesome.  There is an easy way to get to the big room which is by elevator, but we walked all the way down.  It was amazing.  The boys had a blast. Baden was in heaven surrounded by rocks.  Billy read all of the information stations along the way.  He was fascinated.  It was a long trip and once we got to the big room I think we were all ready for a break.  We trudged on and it was worth the sore legs and feet. The Big Room is 8.2 acres. That’s 6.2 football fields that would fit inside!  The next day we went to White Sands National Monument. It is the largest gypsum dunefield in the world.  We brought the sled and slid down the white mountains of sand.  It was one of the neatest places we have ever been.  The boys loved it and so did we.  We didn’t spend a lot of time here as it was getting hot.  We definitely would love to go again, but maybe in the fall.   It was a fun trip and a great way to end Bill’s last TDY.

So this working thing is going pretty well. I am enjoying my job. I am not enjoying getting up in the morning, but I had to do that anyway no matter where I worked at home or away.  But for the most part things are going well except my blogging.  I love to blog because I love to write. Dunowland is our family blog and it has been sadly neglected.  Things have been happening and I document them with pictures, random notes and promises to myself I will blog, but I would rather just relax when I get home.  I spend all day at work on the computer so getting on the computer at home is not my first thought when I get home.  But I really miss writing and keeping up with everyone. We have family and friends all over the country  so blogging has always been the best way to keep in touch.  So I apologize for the lonely month of March that went unblogged.  I am back now and I plan on keeping things up. Just don’t expect a post every day or even every week ( I will try). Big things are happening and it involves boxes and packing tape.  So now let’s see what we missed in March (parts of February, too).

After eight years of being home, I am back at work. I started last week and I am digging it.  I haven’t really gotten too deep into all that I will be doing, but I am excited about this opportunity.  I had been applying for jobs, but not really thinking that I would actually get one.  Lo and behold, I did.  I am working as an academic advisor. I am finding that not much has changed in the advising world since I stepped off to take care of my first son and then my second.  This seems to be a good time to be back to work.  Bill is retiring from the military this year after 24 years of service.  It will be a big change for all of us.  We have decided to stay here in the Land of Enchantment. We really like it here and we are in the perfect location to be close to family.  The boys are adjusting pretty well.  Billy is in a before/after school program and Baden switched to full time care at the child development center.  I feel like I am not muddling through the day.  I am finding that I get more accomplished now that I don’t have as much time.  I also think that I treasure my time with my boys more and I am finding they are feeling the same.  Nothing is better than the hugs and cuddles I get from the boys after a day at work.  I am excited for this new opportunity and all it entails.  Now it’s time to head to bed. I have a bed time now, too.

*Sorry no pictures again for a second post.  I should have had Bill take a picture of me on my first day.  🙂

January was a big month for us. Billy turned 8 and then he was baptized.  It seemed that after we celebrated these occasions, it was time for a nap.  Yet January continued on.  Billy started basketball practice and is a Wolf in our church’s Cub Scout Pack.  He is really enjoying going to Scouts with Bill. Billy’s first basketball game was a couple of weeks ago and the team lost 16 – 8, but they redeemed themselves and won on Saturday 24-8.  It is a lot of fun watching 7 & 8 year old kids play basketball.  The Pinewood Derby was on the 25th and Billy won 3rd place overall.  He had a blue and red Sonic car.  He even had his own cheering section of friends that chanted, Billy, Billy every time he raced.   Baden continues to keep us laughing. He sings, dances and says the funniest things.  Bill is flying nonstop.  He is also going to school and finishing his degree.   I have been out interviewing for, wait for it, a job.  I know it will be a big change from stay at home mom.  The boys are excited especially Baden. He wants to stay at school all day. I am excited too and a bit nervous.  It will be a good change.   So as we slogged through January, it hasn’t been all that bad.  We have celebrated, cheered, laughed, studied and gone topless (without a coat!).  Now what will February bring, maybe some winter as Phil predicted or maybe more fun for Dunowland.