December Excitement!

David had a field trip to the Museum of Natural Science and I signed up to go as a chaperone. I had a group of 5 high energy 1st grade boys!

This past week the kids all had appointments with the dentist, I could not resist taking this picture. I just thought it was so cute all three in chairs at the same time. Mary is in the red chair, Sarah is in the yellow chair, and David is in the blue chair. All three cavity free.
Steve took the kids to Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 and I got to tag along.

After the show, everyone enjoyed the performance!

November Excitement

After Thanksgiving Day, we had the opportunity to attend the University of Tennessee football game against University of Kentucky in Knoxville. When we arrived, one of the gentleman in our box had access to the field and took us down there for about 15 minutes before the game started. It was pretty exciting to be so close to the players and coach. (There were some big boys!)

This is up in the box where we watched the game.

For a while now, we go up to White Top and cut a tree down for Christmas the weekend of Thanksgiving. We ride a horse and wagon up to the trees and then walk around looking for the perfect tree and as you can tell, we found another one this year!

Andrew and I standing by to mark this tree while everyone else continued to search, we ended up liking this one the best!!

Thanksgiving!

This year for Thanksgiving we ran a 5k in Johnson City Thanksgiving morning. It was a great way to start the day and build up an appetite for our wonderful meal. Andrew and Marianne pushed Lucy in the race. It was Lucy's first 5k!

Before our feast, we went around the room and talked about the things in our lives that we are each thankful for. It seemed a common thing was in each of our comments - there are many many things to be thankful for, small and big, but our family and faith in the Savior seemed to stand out the most. I am very thankful for the love of my family and the Lord!

Ragnar

Ragnar came to TN!! A year and half ago our family ran in the Wasatch Back in Utah from Logan, UT to Park City, UT. This year we decided to run the race Ragnar put together in TN from Chattanooga to Nashville - 195 miles of complete bliss. We started at 7:30 am and finished 30 and half hours later. Our team included: Jeff Bauserman, Steve Stubben, Martha Oyston (our driver) ,Bill Oyston, Trace Bratton, Trish Dunn, Christopher Dunn, Jamie Dunn, Danny Dunn, Jackie Dunn, Elizabeth Dunn, Caroline Dunn, Tracy Paul. My three legs added up to approximately 16.5 miles. I survived my first two legs, the third leg was a bit more difficult. Everyone had a great time even with the rain, snow, and sleet that three of our runners got to run through. Also, our night runners got to run in 23F weather. The fall colors were beautiful and we got to see lots of great Tennessee back hills.

Team C.A.T.I.E.

Mama getting ready for her middle of the night run We were getting a little bit of night sleep at 3 am in an elementary school cafeteria
Hanging out in the van while Elizabeth ran her last leg, still smiling after 28 hours of running
Trace handing off to me for my last run - 6.3 miles Team C.A.T.I.E. at the finish line - yea The Dunn's celebrating our wonderful accomplishment (Mama brought us home strong at the end she was our last runner)

North Carolina State Fair

The North Carolina State Fair was in Oct. for 10 days and it was great! I had the opportunity of going twice. Sarah and I went and checked out the sights and sounds to prepare for a visit from Grandmama and Grandpapa and a second trip to the state fair. We got to see and pet lots of animals, watch cloggers dance, eat some yummy fair food, and ride two rides, compliments of Grandmama and Grandpapa. We also got to see a picture of David's that was entered by his art teacher in the fair and won a gold medal. It was tons of fun and we are already excited for the fair to come back next year.

David's picture is to my right - a dog!

Sarah is sitting in front of a 600 lb. pumpkin
We did not try this - but it is a krispy kreme hamburger

The garden exhibits were very creative

Sarah, David, and Mary on the ferris wheel with Grandpapa - Grandmama and I kept our feet soundly on the ground

Mary and I about to enjoy our ride

David and Grandmama getting ready to enjoy their ride

Everyone excited to see David's artwork - we are so proud of him, Mary, and Sarah - they are great kids!

Linville Falls

HEY HEY HEY!!! So, about a month ago I went camping with some people from church near Boone, NC. It was beautiful. We got to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and hike through the beautiful fall colors. The night time got pretty chilly, low 30's, but it was still wonderful to be in the great outdoors!

Family

I have the most amazing family! This past weekend my brother, Jamie and his family, who live in Utah flew into TN. Miriam, my second oldest neice turned 8 in August and they came here so we could all be a part of her baptism. My parents, Danny and Jackie Dunn, have dedicated their lives to teaching and taking care of my siblings and I. They would give their lives for us if they could. I love them for everything they ever have and continue to do for me each and every day. I also love my siblings and for their wonderful examples. They each bring happiness into my life in different and unique ways. It was a wonderful weekend together and here is my beautiful family:

Mt. LeConte

This past weekend, my dad and I went and climbed Mt. LeConte in the Smokey Mountians. It was a most beautiful day. The leaves have started to change and the weather was perfect. Our hike started in the cool autum air and ended on top of the mountain with the sun pouring down with warm rays. There was not a cold in the sky and we could see for what seemed like miles. The rolling hills are turning yellow, orange, and red. I have lost count of the number of times I have climbed the mountain but I think it is somewhere around 22 times. I look forward to the next 22 times!!

Track Out

David and Mary attend year round school which means they are in school for nine weeks and "track out" for three weeks. During their track out, we went on lots of adventures. For the first two weeks, we explored Duke Gardens, several small parks around Apex, Old Mill Park, went to Wrightsville Beach with Steve, and spent an entire week in TN. While in TN, we went to Andrew Johnson's house, Davy Crockett State Park, slept on the trampoline, visited Holston Dam, Steele Creek Park, went to Christopher and Elizabeth's cross county meet, played lots of games with Grandmama and Grandpapa, went on a scavenger hunt downtown Bristol for the Hungry Hungry catepillar, and picked strawberries at Glenmary's Farm. The kids had a great track out, as did I. Here are some pictures that document our adventures:

Sarah pretending to sleep during the hay ride

Our own personal hay ride from Farmer Mike

Mary and David picking strawberries
Elizabeth showing off Sarah and Mary to her team

Petting a snake at Steele Creek Park

Eating at Burger Bar in Bristol

Davy Crockett State Park

Outside Andrew Johnson's house

Enjoying the beach

Exploring at Duke Garden's

Pilot Mountain State Park

Over Labor Day weekend, our family went camping at Pilot Mountain State Park. It is just north of Winston-Salem, NC. We could not have asked for a nicer weekend. The weather was beautiful and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Our campers included: Grandmama, Grandpapa, Christopher, Elizabeth, Caroline, Andrew, Marianne, Lucy, Steve, David, Mary, and Sarah. We had three tents and two hammocks set up. Our days passed with eating lots of great food cooked over the fire, listening to Elizabeth play her guitar, going on walks, playing games at the campsite, and sitting around the campfire watching it burn. Camping is one of my most favorite activities to do and hopefully I will get in at least one more this fall!

The Tents

Sarah, Andrew, Mary, Elizabeth, David and Grandmama around the campfire
Appalachian Mountains

Getting ready to drive up to the top of the mountain in the back of Grandpapa's pick up truck

Cooking eggs over the hot coals for our breakfast bagel sandwiches (just imagine: eggs, bacon, cheese, and fresh tomato)

David, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, Grandmama, Caroline, Grandpapa, and Christopher during our hike around the top of the mountain