Abby's First Day of School

Waiting in front of our house for the bus.

Colton didn't really care when Abby got on the bus.

Dominic did not want her to leave...or he wanted to ride on the bus, too. We are not quite sure.

She made it to school!

Ready to learn!

Well, it finally happened...I had to send my little girl off on her first day of school. Sure, she went to preschool last year, but that was only 2.5 hours a day twice a week. Hardly enough time for me to get a load of laundry done an have to go pick her up. Now, I had to load her up on a school bus and entrust her safety in the hands of the Gladstone School District bus drivers. Granted, we all met her at school to make sure she got there safely and to walk her to her classroom, but the point is for an hour she was on a bus all by herself. She was cool as a cucumber. I, on the other hand, had a little bit of a nervous breakdown. I have never had experience with school buses. We lived to close to school to ever get to ride the bus, so I had the joy of having my mom drive me everyday. Abby was brave. Braver than I would have been. Her brother did not want to go. Or, I should say, he wanted to go with her. He missed her terribly all day. We are not used to a whole day without her. It was a day filled with trains, cars, and trucks instead of dresses, dolls, and headbands. It was quite the change for me. But, alas, this day was not about me. I had to remind myself that on more than one occassion. It was a rite of passage for my little girl. Her FIRST day of school....Kindegarten Readiness...she will never have that day again. And I have to say, she did fantastic!!! She said she only cried once at lunchtime because she missed me. And I felt bad when I looked in her lunch and her fruit snack (the only junkie thing I sent her to eat) were in the bottom unopened because she couldn't open the package. But she did it. She rode the bus, stayed all day at school, chose to "play with a girl instead of a boy" at recess, had an adult help her find which bus she had to take home, and made it home safely. Whew! I'm so glad the first day is over, and more importantly, I'm glad she's really excited to go back tomorrow!

Summer in the U.P

At the U.P. State Fair...we all need a family photo by a cow.

3 months old and 3 years old...I don't think it will take long for Colton to pass Dominic up.

Well, it is the end of August which means that we have had a whole summer full of fun in the U.P. It was our second summer here and we are starting to find new things to do and see. This summer the kids discovered fishing (with daddy), camping (with Nana and Papa), A Day Out with Thomas The Train (with Grammy-for Dominic's birthday),the State Fair (in which Abby and Dominic got wristband which allowed them to go on as many rides as they possibly could before it closed), walks through the woods behind our house, and that the trip back to Green Bay for some Grammy time and retail therapy really isn't that bad. In fact, 2 hours is starting to feel like a drive across Green Bay for us. Once we get to Menomoniee/Marniette it feels like we are basically there. Abby starts Kindegarten Readiness in less than two weeks. I am not at all ready for it. She can't wait. It will only be 2-3 days a week (they go every other Friday), but I'm not ready for her to be school-aged already. It seems like just yesterday that she was born. Dominic is 3 and all boy. That kid cannot sit still for 2 minutes. He cracks me up. I wish I had his energy multiple times a day. He has the biggest heart and is never one to shy away from a snuggle or hug and kiss. He loves his baby brother and shows him so with all of his kisses. Sometimes I think Colton tries to slink away before Abby and Dominic get to him, but then he remembers that he can't really move yet. Colton is almost 5 months already! I can't believe that. Although he is sized more like a one-year old. He is 6-9 month clothes and growing at a rapid rate. He is rolling over now as soon as you lay him on his back. Then he remembers he doesn't like being on his tummy and gets all mad. It's rather cute. Josh opened his new office in Gladstone earlier this summer and absolutely loves it! He is 5 minutes from home (which also comes in handy for me) and is really starting to get involved in the community. He is a member of the Jaycees and a board member of the Chamber of Commerce of Delta County. (He is, by far, the youngest member, which is quite an honor.) I just keep watching my family grow and wish I could stop time. Alas, I suppose they have to grow up. I just wish the time wouldn't fly by so fast. I looked at Abby the other day and wonder when she grew into such a beautiful young lady. She was just a toddler and BOOM, she's grown up. I see the same thing happening with Dominic and Colton. I guess I'll just have to deal with it and soak up every minute that I have with them now.

There are now 5 Durst's

It's only 3.5 months late, but on March 28, 2011 we were blessed with the arrival of Colton James Durst. He weighed in at 8lbs. 5 oz. and was 21 inches long. He was born at 11:14 am and passed the Apgar with flying colors. He has by far been the easiest of the 3 (with Dominic coming in at a close second). Either that or I am getting awfully good at this parenting thing. :) He is a happy baby...always ready with a smile, laugh or coo. His eyes sparkle and will melt your heart in a second. He has a big brother and big sister who love to smother him with kisses and hugs. He takes it like a champ....mom and dad like to smother on the kisses, too. Everyone has adjusted well to the third (and final) baby Durst and can hardly remember life before him. Here are a few photos from the past couple of months.

Christmas 2010

Teagan helping Abby comb her hair.

Auntie Whoa (aka: Annie) showing T and Dominic pictures.

One of our favorite presents from Nana and Papa: New stockings for the entire family...even those of us who are still in utero.


A rare family picture in which everyone is smiling. Dominic, that might be your fake smile, but it's still cute!


After many failed attempts, we were finally able to make frosted sugar cookies as a family. The kids had a blast decorating them.




The cousins! We were lucky enough to be able to spend some time with Teagan.


Feeding the reindeer before we head off to Green Bay for Christmas. Abby wanted to be sure they knew how to get to our house.


Papa playing dollhouse with Abby.


Nana and Dominic


Happy kiddos...they had just opened presents from Nana and Papa.

Newest Addition

We are happy to say that we are expecting another little boy around the end of March/beginning of April 2011! We had the ultrasound a few weeks ago and baby looks healthy. We also got a free 3D ultrasound because I let them use my pregnancy to set up their new machine. By the looks of it, we're going to have another snuggler like Dominic (a mom can hope!). Abby was a little disappointed when she found out it was a boy. She still insists she will call him Allie or Baylie. Those are the names she had picked out for a girl baby. I think she got over it a little bit once we put the crib up in Dominic's room and she realized that having a boy meant she didn't have to share her room. Dominic, on the other hand, sees my growing belly as another fun thing to step on to use me as a human jungle gym. I also have a medical issue that should correct itself soon (we're hoping!) that does not allow for me to lift Dominic anymore...well, at least I'm not supposed to. I think once Dominic realized that it has made him want me to lift him more. I have a feeling Abby will be a little better adjusted for this one than Dominic, but I know that they will both be awesome big siblings!

Fall in da U.P

Abby's fairy Halloween costume. She is so excited to go trick-or-treating. She missed last year because we had a wedding to go to and the year before her brother was just a baby so she could only go to a few houses. This year she will be rocking the candy collecting for the full 2-hours I'm sure.

Dominic insisted on trying on her costume, but to make it a little more manly he put a colander on his head for a helmet. I don't think it worked, buddy.

Daddy and the kiddos playing in the massive leaf pile that has become our front and back yards.

This makes me think of Napoleon Dynamite, "Whoa, you got like 3 feet of air that time." Future long jumper??

Daddy always makes things fun. He made a giant leaf pile at the end of the slide that ended up being taller than Dominic. They had fun sliding into it...and then we had fun rebuilding it every time. :)

It's been a while...a see there are pictures of sun and sand on here as our last post. Things have changed quite dramatically. The leaves have fallen, along with the temperatures and we've traded flip flops and shorts for sweaters and boots. Fall in the U.P. is fun for the kids. They explore in the woods, play in leaf piles that are taller than they are, and enjoy the watching the leaves fly off the trees when the wind blows hard. Although we aren't looking forward to the snow and cold we are enjoying the fall and all that it brings.

A Day at the Beach

Dominic is always all smiles when he gets near the water. He loves nothing more than splashing around and getting soaked. With or without a swimming suit.


Abby getting her feet wet. I'm sure her dress ended up wet as well.

Josh swinging Dominic around. The blue slides in the background are what Josh and Abby usually go out to. She is getting pretty good at going down it and plugging her nose. Dominic still isn't a big fan. Perhaps next year for him.

Walking down the beach

Of course Abby has a flower in her hand. She always has a flower in her hand these days.

Hanging with my kiddos on the beach. Nothing more relaxing and peaceful than that.

My two handsome men. Josh and his mini-me. They sure do look alike.