bowling

"I am so excited to go bowling, but I forgot my swimsuit."  -Ellie

-bowling w/ the Duncan clan

-12/27/10

-Ellie's first time, she loved it!

Merry Christmas!

This year, I have resigned to the fact that I am not going to get out a card, and neighbor gifts might just be a miracle.  I am grateful for this baby coming, but my body does not like it one bit.  I just told Paul that maybe I am a hypochondriac.  I would take that over a pinched sciatic nerve, an aching back, puke...still, and just today, carpel tunnel pain.  My house doesn't get picked up unless Paul is home, or I get out my broom and sweep everything (and I mean everything) into a pile and then I can take care of it easier.  I think I am being taught patience, I still have 2 months left, but I am not patient enough to learn patience.

Our year has had it's many ups and downs.  Some I talk about, some I don't.  Regardless, we have been so blessed.  I know that through our trials we grow and become stronger people.  I also know that it is hard to see that growth until we are at the end of the road.  That being the case, we've grown a lot this year.  Our kids are troopers and have lived through it all.  They are so full of energy and love and we are grateful that they chose to be in our family.  As Ellie says, "You want to join the family hug?  I love my family."  Wise words from a three year old.  I love my family.

An attempt at a family letter might look like this:

Dallin is five and a half, and is in Kindergarten this year, and although he would rather stay home everyday, we know he enjoys learning.  He loves to draw, paint, cut, and play with his Legos.  He would sleep with his dad's ipod every night if we let him.  His dad is his best bud and he loves to be involved in any project going on around the house.  Ellie is now a spit-fiery three year old who loves pink, although informed us recently that her new favorite color is purple.  She loves to help mom in the kitchen.  She adores her brother and misses him while he is at school.  She loves her dolls and any little toy.  She loves to give her toys baths multiple times a day.  Dallin and Ellie are really good at making us laugh.  They are really good at making each other laugh.  They love to wrestle each other, and giggle until someone gets hurt, which leaves them both crying.  They are good friends.  Paul is our rock.  He does most everything.  He is Mr. Mom and Mr. Dad.  He is going straight to heaven with all that he does to support us.  We are so grateful for him.  When he is not cleaning up throw up or wiping a poopy bum, he is hard at work somewhere inside or out, trying to get our home to where we want it to be.  Kristen is Kristen.  She hobbles around and is really moody.  She is ready for baby boy to come in February, as is the rest of the family.  We feel blessed to be so dysfunctional at times, because what would be the fun in being normal?

We love you and hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Rock Candy

A while back, the kids and I tried to make rock candy.

I know I didn't do it right,  but in the end two LONG ANNOYING weeks later the kids were able to sink their teeth into some tiny, cute, and tasty crystals.

Blue Raspberry, Pink Lemonade, Lime, Mystery Mix

Sugared Venison

These were tasty, tasty reindeer!

(I promise I don't say CHEESE when I get out the camera!  They just really like to push my buttons and smile REALLY REALLY big, 'cause I tell them not to.)

Snowman...snooooo-man

Dallin posing with the most awesome snowman that he, Ellie, and their daddy made.

In the rain he melted, small, small, small.

{Title in reference to "Once there were some snowmen"}

The Bug is Back

My thrift shop bug is back.  It went away for a while and has now returned just in time for the cold, cold weather.  I am not really sure Paul is happy about it.  Spray painting will have to wait unless I buy a gas mask to spray away in my garage.

I had to share this amazing find.  I am really quite proud of it.  This puppy is huge!  It measures about 2 1/2 feet by 5 feet (chair next to it for scale).  It was marked at $24.00, and at the register, I found out it was 50% off!  

$12.00!

One day, it will get a new color and something different in the middle...It might take me a while to figure it out.

 My next find where these cream chairs on ksl.com. 

They are going to hang out here at my table so I can figure if I what to paint them (and my other chairs) black (and paint the bottom of the table black?), or keep them as is.  Regardless, I kinda like this arrangement at the moment.

I found a thrift shop down the street from where I live that has most items at $1 each.  It is glorious, although the big things she seems to charge an arm and a leg for.

Happy Thrifting!

{why I love my table and chairs:  the table is my parents.  i grew up eating Sunday dinner on it.  i tried to do homework on it.  for the past couple years, it was sitting in my grandma great's basement collecting dust.  i saw it and knew i wanted to store it instead.  the occupants of my grandma's house (my sisters) were more than happy to deliver it to my house.  the brown chair come from the small table that we bought right before we moved to Kentucky.  Just the right size for our little kitchen there.  the cream ones i just purchased.  the previous owner painted all of them but one, which sits in our garage at the moment.  they are old and still in pretty good shape.  i can't help but wonder where she got them from and what there history is.  all the bums that have sat on all of these chairs, and all of the meals served on this table, all the memories made.  my husband has turned me into a sentimental fool. ;) }

sometimes you drive a different way

Wednesday morning, I was grateful for the University exit in Provo.  Grateful to get off of I-15 a little earlier.  Grateful to drive down University until I came up on Provo High and remembered that that was where I turned to get to the hospital.  Grateful to find my way to my mom's little corner of the hospital and grateful that her surgery went well.  Grateful that I had passed the Provo Tabernacle, as I do anytime I drive through Provo.  Grateful that this particular time, I not only saw it, but really looked at it and admired it's beauty, it's history, it's memories.

I consider it a tender mercy that I decided to stay on University all the way to the hospital, because I couldn't remember if the hospital was on 5th or some other road.

image from here

I know these extra hormones have made me more prone to tears, but I couldn't help shedding tears when I woke up this morning to find out that the Provo Tabernacle was burning up in flames.  It is truly a sad loss for everyone who has grown up in Utah county.