Dollar Family Blog

Music in the Park

2010-08-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

Julia dancing with Doris.

Once I thought Julia was shy... not lately!
Here she is dancing with a bunch of our friends!

Johnny was happy holding onto Mom... I didn't mind the cuddle time.

Catching A Grape

2010-08-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to catch a grape...

Do you see the grape?

Getting closer...

She gets it!
Fun at music in the park with Greg and Carol.

Beach Day

2010-08-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

Surfing time with Daddy.

Johnny always puts his face in the sand.

Jakes first day at the beach... 12 days old... nap time.

Julia Swimming

2010-08-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

Goggle buddies!

Julia learned to swim this summer! She loves it and would stay in all day!

Swimming to Daddy.

Swimming

2010-08-16T07:14:00.000-07:00

Johnny yells 'Canon Ball!!'

No fear!

Some how he would end up with his legs up like this. Loves to be under the water.

Fun time with Grandpa.

Nana Visits

2010-08-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

A great time with Nana!

Jake's first bath.
Julia was helping, she loves to help with diaper changes, getting him dressed and putting him in his car seat as well.

Johnny and Jake

2010-08-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

Johnny loves to hold Jake! It ussually a quick hold - maybe 5 seconds!
Johnny also hugs him and kisses him, say's 'he's funny' and tells me 'put him in the swing'.

Where's Johnny???

2010-08-15T23:12:00.000-07:00

Where has Johnny been in all the photos lately....

Watching the 'Blackbird' and 'Squirrel', two u-tube videos Grandpa introduced to him.

Being a cowboy!
- it's actually hard to get him to wear this hat that Grammy and Papa bought him.

Riding his bike of course!
Lately he asks Daddy for rides on his Dirt bike almost every day.

Jake

2010-08-15T23:05:00.000-07:00

Woody!

2010-08-15T23:03:00.000-07:00

Woody was a gift to Johnny from Grammy and Papa... Julia was the easier target for photos and was happy to hang out with Woody.

Grammy and Papa

2010-08-15T22:59:00.000-07:00

Sweet photos of Julia and her Grammy (photos by Papa!)

Papa and Jake!

Julia loves her Papa!

Dad, Julia and Jake

2010-08-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

Photo time before Grandpa leaves.
Johnny couldn't handle more photos so we are missing him here!

A proud big sister!

Home from the hospital...

2010-08-15T22:35:00.000-07:00

Uncle Steve arrived to meet Jake and take him home from the hospital.
We headed home on July 8th - Julia's 4th Birthday!!

3 Kiddo's!!!

Proud Parents

2010-08-15T22:27:00.000-07:00

Meeting Jake

2010-08-15T22:21:00.000-07:00

Julia was very excited to meet baby Jake! It was just difficult to leave him and Mommy in the hospital for two days.

Our first family photo of 5!!!

My Dad was my first visitor at the hospital!! This was really amazing and an answer to prayer. It was my desire to have one of my parents make it to the hospital with this baby.... my Dad booked a ticket about 4 months ago... he arrived the DAY Jake was born, about 1 1/2 hours after his birth!!! My Dad called after landing in Santa Barbara to learn I was in the hospital holding my new baby! He came straight to the hospital... really special!

Jake Benjamin Dollar

2010-08-15T22:13:00.000-07:00

Jake arrived July 6th a healthy baby boy!!
We are once again amazed at God's creation and how he has blessed us with 3 children!!!!

I took advantage of two nights at the hospital to enjoy my new little bundle, he's a cutie!

I see a little Johnny and I little Julia.

more time in the water...

2010-06-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

We spent a lot of time in the water and Julia loved it!
Here she is learning to squirt water with Jess.

Johnny floating.

I'm surprised how many smiling photos we actually got of Johnny considering he had an ear infection and was grumpy most of the time!!

Julia loved the kids pool and also loved going down the water slide with her Dad...

Friends...

2010-06-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

Julia and Clayton.

Sweet picture of Julia and Annella.

Leah had an accident...

Trip to Palm Desert

2010-06-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

Johnny having fun with friends and all the squirting water...

M&M Cake

2010-06-17T16:03:00.000-07:00

So we had two cakes... the night before the party Julia and Johnny had fun decorating the m&m cake...

Johnny was very excited to hold one of the dirt bikes from the 'dirt bike' cake.... he probably sat there half an hour playing with it and driving it over the m&m cake.

eating and playing...

2010-06-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

The boys table...

the girls table.

The kids had fun riding bikes, blowing bubbles and jumping in the jumper.

Johnny's Birthday Party

2010-06-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

The Dirt Bike Cake.

Shawn set up a road for the kids to ride on.

Johnny's new bike... he's not too sure about it.

Trip to the desert

2010-05-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't been on here in forever!!! I thought I would back up to February...
In the desert with friends... trying to keep Johnny warm at night.

Fun on a quad with Daddy!

Julia at the Beach

2009-08-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

Digging.

Julia finally likes the ocean! She has always liked playing in the sand, but the last two years she has been scared to go in the water. This year she is running in and out of the waves and loving it!

Johnny at the Beach

2009-08-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying the beach the last couple weeks... lots of warm weather.

Johnny is most interested in the rocks, picking them up and throwing them.

No fear!

Johnny's Walking!

2009-08-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

Johnny started taking steps on our trip to TO, but now he is pretty much walking all the time!

It's lots of fun to push big sister!

Trip to TO: Time with Lorrie, Jimmy and Johnny

2009-08-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

Lorrie and Jimmy, it was so fun to see them and hang out! Lorrie was due with boy number 2 in a few days.

Johnny in a pink jeep! The girl who owned it gave Julia a ride in it.

Ice Cream!!!

Johnny and Johnny.

Trip to TO: Time with Jenn and Kids

2009-08-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

Reading with Noah, apparently it was very funny!

The splash pad, Julia loved it! It was cold, but soooo fun.

Johnny loved it too, once he got used to all the spraying.

Jenn's youngest, Joel. It was great to let the kids play and visit with Jenn. I loved seeing how well Jenn is doing, it just went too fast.

Trip to TO: Shawn's Nature Pics

2009-08-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

Trip to TO: In the Cottage

2009-08-22T15:22:00.000-07:00

Reading before bed.

Johnny loved crawling around with this ball in his mouth.

Julia with Daddy's hat.

Julia loves to line up her toys.

Trip to TO: Glassy Water

2009-08-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

Mydad in his boat and our lake on a glassy day! I was so excited and thankful for the great water.

Enjoying the glass! It's been 2 years! Notice, there are no other boats around!

You can see my reflection!
Shawn missed out... he hurt his shoulder wrestling my cousin... but I guess he had fun winning the match and he was able to kneeboard.

A glassy evening.

Trip to TO: Boat Rides

2009-08-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

Remy asked to go for boat rides a lot while we were at the cottage, but when it came time to get into the boat he got a little nervous!

It's windy in grandpa's boat!

The boat driver.

Johnny got to drive the boat! He loved it! He was the only one of the three kids that wanted to try.

Trip to TO: Time with Nana at the Cottage

2009-08-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Going for a walk with Nana, probably looking for the sheep.

Picking raspberries.

On the dock.

Ready for a boat ride.

Trip to TO: Dressed for the Wedding

2009-08-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

Here's little Johnny ready for my cousin Luke's wedding.

We were all excited to see Nana!! Nana went to the ceremony, but stayed home with the kids so Shawn and I could go to the reception. Thanks Nana!

Uncle Rob, Aunt Mary and Remy.

Julia 'Loved' the wedding!

Trip to TO: Remy's House

2009-08-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

Julia and Remy played really well together. Lots of cars!

Hugging Remy.

I think they were watching the 'Cars' movie, Remy's favorite. Julia is in her new dress from Aunt Mary.

Cute Remy!

Buttefly Cupcakes

2009-07-03T14:26:00.000-07:00

We sang happy birthday with candles and then I brought out the butterfly cupcakes.... they turned out pretty cute!

Julia taking a neat bite...

Johnny going for it!!!

A fun time with friends!!! Julia especially enjoyed the party and loved all the gifts!

Butterfly Party

2009-07-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

We had a butterfly party for the kids at our house...

Coloring butterflies...

catching fish...

the little ones playing in puffed rice (Johnny and Matix).

Johnny and Brandon's 1st Birthday Celebration

2009-07-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

Johnny and cousin Brandon both turned 1 in June. We met in a park with family and friends in Eureka.

Johnny LOVED his cupcake!

Flying a kite and painting

2009-07-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

Julia and friend Justus having a fun time flying Julia's kite.

Julia started out painting the paper...

It turned into body painting!!!

Playing

2009-07-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

Johnny loves spinning wheels! He finds wheels everywhere and tries to spin them.

Johnny is very curious about Daddy's dirt bike.

Julia playing the drums at church.

Father Daughter Campout

2009-07-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

Julia and Daddy leaving for the night for a father daughter campout through our church.

I guess the best part was watching Ice Age in the car (where they slept for the night), cuddled up in sleeping bags.

Playing in the river.

Catching tadpoles.

Easter Day

2009-07-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

Our two cuties!

Johnny in his new hat.

Julia and Parker hunting for Easter eggs. We had a great lunch at the Rider's house.

Johnny trying to push Clayton... he was starting to have a meltdown.

Day Before Easter

2009-07-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

Julia and Abby had a fun time at Goleta's Railroad Museum.
We rode a train, played games, ate cookies and checked out the museum.

Abby is always giggling!

Standing and Swimming

2009-04-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

The night we got home from our dirt bike trip Johnny discovered how to stand up in his crib! He was so excited he had to keep practicing! Not much sleep that night!

Trying out this water squirting, splash mat...., that I thought was a pool. It was a little chilly, but Johnny got right in!

Julia stayed on the side...
We have been in our community pool about 3 times so far this spring, both Julia & Johnny love it!

Johnny and James on the Swing

2009-04-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

These are the better pics, taken by Shawn of course, on a new day.

At the Park with Grammy and Papa

2009-04-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

Pics at the Zoo

2009-04-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

Julia had fun playing with friend Emily and her sister Audrey.

More Dirt Biking

2009-04-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Here's some pictures of our camping group.

Johnny loved all the time outside.

Here is the new bike - the white one on the left... now I guess I need one.

Dirt Bike Trip

2009-04-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Johnny and Dad on our first trip to the desert as a family.

A couple cold nights in a tent trailer... but it was a fun time with friends and family.

Julia made a new friend Ava, and still talks about her.

Playing in the dirt with Ryder.

Goodbye Senta!

2009-04-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

Senta was with us from Germany from January to end of March. She was a wonderful student to have in our home and we will miss her.

Boat Ride

2009-04-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

We went for a boat ride on the Lil' Toot with our friends Kara and James on Thursday while on our weekly walk.

Julia had fun...

And Johnny LOVED it!

Johnny cried when we got off.
The ride went from the Harbor to the Pier. While on the Pier we saw a whale!

Random & Silly

2009-04-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

One of Johnny's silly expressions.

Playing ball together.

Starting to scoot and get around.

One of Julia's CRAZY outfits.

Valentines at Parker's and Clayton's

2009-04-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

Johnny's on the far right.

Julia jumping with Katelyn and Ava.

Johnny & James on the swing

2009-04-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

Here's our little Johnny's first swing ride. This was probably back in January!

This was fun, but a challenge to get them both smiling.

Dressing Up

2009-01-24T13:18:00.000-08:00

Julia loves to dress up! She received her first princess dress from her Aunt Daelene for Christmas and then received a whole bag full of dress clothes from a neighbor.... As you can see she is enjoying herself!

Our little princess with the crazy smiles!

Time with Sahara dressing up and playing.

It's all about the layered look!

Feeding Johnny

2009-01-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

Julia likes to help feed Johnny...

as you can see it's very messy...

Johnny doesn't seem to mind.

Johnny loves to sit

2009-01-24T13:10:00.000-08:00

Johnny loves to sit and will grab at any toy in his reach. Lately he is getting very frustrated that he can't move like he wants to... he will be very excited when he figures out how to crawl.

I love this picture! This is January in Santa Barbara... we are at the park near the beach enjoying a beautiful day. Johnny was checking out another boys truck.

This must be Johnny's favorite outfit... he loves finding the little dog that sits in the pocket, it's a great chew toy - thanks Aunt Mary!

Time with Nana

2009-01-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

Sorry Mom, I know it's morning... I still think it's cute!

Johnny likes his new sippy cup.

On the train, at the zoo with Nana.

Another photo shoot...

2009-01-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

Our beautiful girl.

Uncle Steve and Aunt Joyce

2009-01-24T12:55:00.000-08:00

Steve loves spending time with his neice and nephews.

Julia and Johnny really enjoyed time with Aunt Joyce.

Aunt Daelene...

2009-01-24T12:49:00.000-08:00

So I think I should hire Aunt Daelene to buy my gifts next year! She is really good at it!

Johnny had fun playing in Brandon's exer saucer... it was very exciting.

Fun with Brandon.

GG (Great Grandma Dollar)

2009-01-24T12:36:00.000-08:00

GG travelled down from Oregon with Aunt Daelene and Ron for Christmas. This was her first chance to meet Johnny. We didn't know if she would make it due to the bad weather... we are very thankful for the time we had with her and it made Christmas extra special.

Julia showing GG her new watch.

It's becoming a very tight squeeze around the table... but somehow we always make it work.

Julia and cousin Jaydin

2009-01-24T12:26:00.000-08:00

Johnny with Grammy and Papa

2009-01-24T12:22:00.000-08:00

Johnny and cousin Brandon

2009-01-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day

2008-12-17T14:07:00.000-08:00

Julia found a doll house Christmas morning... she was very excited! She was also excited to find 'Baby Jesus' in a basked wrapped in a blanked under our tree. She asked to hold him and carried 'Baby Jesus' around most of the day.

Johnny is sitting! He sat long enough for me to grab the camera and take pictures! He is looking at some new Einstein books from cousin Audrey.

Singing 'Happy Birthday' to Baby Jesus.

Early Christmas Eve

2008-12-17T13:59:00.000-08:00

Since we are going away to visit family for Christmas we decided to have our own early family Christmas.

Yummy frosting!

Julia wasn't too interested in the cookie, just the frosting.

Elmo PJ's!!
We also watched a Veggie Tales Christmas movie, Julia enjoyed the time hanging out with Mommy and Daddy.

Elf Apprentice

2008-12-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

Here is our little 'Elf Apprentice' and big sister!

He's very cute in red.

Taking pictures with my boy.

Cousin Audrey

2008-12-09T12:42:00.000-08:00

My brother Kevin, wife Allison and daughter Audrey came to visit. We had a special time together, Julia and Audrey got along very well.

Uncle Kevin is lots of fun!

Johnny the centerpiece.

Fun in the bath with Audrey!

The Bumbo Chair

2008-12-09T12:33:00.000-08:00

Johnny's first rice cereal! Sometime's he loves it other times he wants nothing to do with it.

So I bought this bumbo seat for Johnny...

I never thought Julia would fit in it!

Julia likes to climb into Johnny's crib at the end of his naps, and take his binky... it's pretty cute.

Goodbye Ines!

2008-12-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

Ines (from Germany) stayed with us almsot 3 months as a part-time live-in Nanny. Talk about being spoiled! She helped me out with the kids and our home. She loved our kids and we loved her. She's a beautiful girl and we are so thankful to get to know her. This was a very sad day - saying good-bye at the Santa Barbara Air Bus.

A silly picture of Johnny trying to get the giraffe in his mouth.

October/November

2008-12-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

A fun time at the pumpkin patch!
So I'm sorry, I've been slacking on updating the blog... I will try to do better.

Our cute pea pod... Julia was a ballerina, she loved it!

Silly Julia!

Johnny is growing.

Redwoods

2008-09-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

On our way home from Eureka we stopped and enjoyed the redwoods. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed a beautiful walk through these amazing trees.

Here is Ines, our temporary nanny from Germany.

Julia was trying to camouflage herself by putting dirt on her face!!!

Johnny enjoyed the ride and Shawn was there - the photographer!

Handsome Johnny

2008-09-24T19:57:00.000-07:00

More great pics of Shawn's.

Fun with Wesley

2008-09-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

We had an evening with friends and their son Wesley in Eureka, here's Julia and Wesley playing play dough.

Wesley's nightly routine - diving off the couch onto the cushions.

Julia got to join in the fun, although she wasn't quite so daring!

Hugs are cute when kids are 2 years old.

Brandon & Johnny

2008-09-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

Shawn's parents had an open house for Brandon & Johnny. Cousin Brandon was born June 2nd - two weeks before Johnny.

How fun to have two little cousins so close in age! This is Daelene, Shawn's sister.

Two very cute little boys. It was hard to get two smiles...

and hard to keep them both awake!

Grammy & Papa's House

2008-09-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

Julia was very excited to visit her Grammy & Papa's house. I should never have told her two days before leaving where we were going... it was a tough wait for her!

Papa enjoying little Johnny.

Grammy reading to Julia and cousin Jaydin.

Julia and Jaydin played very well together.

Travelling

2008-09-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

We just took a trip to Eureka to see Shawn's family... we had some fun times in the car, we won't talk about the not so fun times.

Julia was scared of the headphones at first, then she realized how fun it was.

Smiles

2008-09-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

We love smiles! Here are some of the first on camera.

Fun with Emily @ Daddy's work picnic

2008-09-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

Fun on the swings.

Julia's first time in a jumper! She didn't want to go in, but then she had soooo much fun it was hard to get her out! Emily liked to tackle Julia, it was pretty funny!

Eating watermelon with Emily and Audrey.

Mary, Rob and Remy

2008-09-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

My sister Mary, husband Rob and son Remy came to visit in August. We love to have family visit and it was very fun to see growing Remy, he turned 1 the end of July. Aunt Mary was happy to hold little Johnny.

Eating with Remy.

Very cute family!
I think it's pretty funny that Remy's first word was 'truck', he hasn't said 'mama' or 'dada' yet!

Reading with funny Uncle Rob!
Thanks to Uncle Rob I am finally able to get 4 pics on the blog at a time!!! Yeah! I was getting so frustrated. It was my laptop, I am back on our other computer and I am even able to get Shawn's pics on the blog - yeah!!!

Wormy

2008-09-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

Here's Johnny' s favorite toy - wormy! As you can see wormy is his sleep buddy, but only for naps so far. This was Julia's first toy, but I think Johnny is a little more fond of wormy.

Johnny happily takes a nap in his pack n play while we have dinner - it's great!

Wormy is very helpful to keep the pacifier in!

Time with Nana

2008-09-22T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the dark picture.
Nana was here for Julia's 2nd birthday and Julia had lots of fun opening up a gift from Nana.
It was a simple birthday this year, but Julia had fun sharing cake with the neighbors, sliding down her new slide and wearing her new jewelry from Nana.

Nana loves to hold the little guy.

Julia and Johnny

2008-08-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

Julia loves to touch Johnny, she also likes to hold him, kiss him and give him her toys.

Playing baby with Johnny.

1 1/2 weeks old

2008-08-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

Time with Papa.

Computer time with Daddy.

Dinner with Abby

2008-08-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

Eating pizza with Abby!

Yum salad.

Salad is fun to eat out of the big salad bowl.

What a cute pair!

Home with Johnny

2008-08-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

Julia likes to pull the little bears off Johnny's bassinet.

Grammy with her two grandchildren. As you can see, Julia is not too sure about sharing her Grandma.

I love his little stretching poses.
I can't believe I have another sweet and content baby!

Jonathon Cole Dollar

2008-08-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here he is - Jonathon Cole Dollar! Born June 15th at 10:15am, 7lbs7oz, 193/4". We are so thankful everything went well. I don't think I would have made it through labor with out the support of my husband and friend Susan Rider. What a team! It's all worth to hold my little newborn in my arms.

I spent two nights at the hospital. Johnny and I had lots of bonding time. It was great to have visitors, including bis sister Julia! She was curious about her little brother - sorry Shawn took those pics on his camera so I won't be posting them.

Big Slide & Desiree

2008-06-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

Julia's first time on the big slide all by her self!

We had a nice dinner out with our student Desiree from Germany. Three more weeks to go for me in this picture.

Lucy & the New Stroller

2008-06-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

Here's Lucy, another one of Julia's friends! Lucy is very good about being fed one piece at a time.

Lots of fun!!!

Julia's new favorite toy! Her babies get lots of walks. Thanks Terri!!!

Chrissie & Sahara

2008-06-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

Julia loves Chrissie. Whenever we go upstairs Julia calls for Chrissie to come too.

Sahara was reading to Julia. For a few days Julia took the red purse everywhere, along with her baby.

Another Fun Day with Abby

2008-06-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

Pushing Abby. The pink hat was once an easter basket.

Smoothie Time.

Abby taught Julia to slide down the stairs.

Pregnant Bellies

2008-04-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

Here's me and some pregnant friends at one of Julia's friends birthday parties. I almost didn't put this picture in, but then remembered one specific complaint after my last blog update - so here's the belly! Today I'm at 32 weeks... getting close!!

Julia

2008-04-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

Here's my girl with her friend Pooh Bear, she is taking Pooh for a ride on the swinging chair - saying 'wee, wee, wee'. She is a sweetie, although she doesn't understand why she can't get her way lately. Last week she started saying her name. It's been a tough one to learn, but now that she knows it she talks about 'Julia's shoes', 'Julia' in pictures, 'Julia's swim suit'.

Saying 'cheese' for the camera.

New Chairs!

2008-04-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

Abby's grandma bought Julia and Abby these cute chairs! Here they are having a great time eating P&J sandwiches outside. Somehow I kept them in the chairs! Thanks Grandma!

Julia and Abby.

Julia and Sahara.

Sahara

2008-04-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

Julia and Sahara (our neighbor) reading books. Julia now calls Sahara, hara - she is almost there!

I can't remember, but I think they were just pretending - it doesn't look like anything was in that cup.

Washing hands

2008-04-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

Julia loves using the step stool to wash her hands. This was taken one morning we were practicing using the potty. We taught her baby to use the potty and wash her hands. Julia is very interested in the potty and the possible 'treats', but hasn't had success yet.

Tutu's at the Party

2008-04-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

All the kid's got a tutu, as you can see, it was very cute!

Ava's Birthday Party

2008-04-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

Enjoying her cake!

Papa & Grammy

2008-04-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

Riding in the car with Papa and Grammy - it's very cozy!