The P*dunc Clan

billy rat pretend mr. incredible

2009-11-11T20:52:00.000-05:00

"I love you , too, Mom!" -Dallin Duncan

"Daddy is my best friend" -Dallin Duncan

(socks on hands = "pretend mr. incredible")

a joke, by dallin duncan

Why did the chicken cross the limb?

Because he didn't have any chairs!

me asking dallin a joke:

Why did the chicken cross the road?

dallin's answer:

Because he didn't have a car!

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Dallin likes to call names lately (although he insists it's NOT calling names).

His favorite phrase: YOU BILLY RAT!

And sometimes, if we are lucky, he shortens it: YOU BILLY!

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Dallin: (lifting up his fist) Punchers going to punch you!

Me: And you will straight to time-out if you punch me.

Dallin: (still holding his fist up) But I will not punch you, Puncher will punch you.

Me: Then Puncher will go to time out!

Dallin: (realizing that he, too, will go with Puncher, changes the shape of his hand) It's not Puncher any more, it's Mr. Moo!

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Dallin LOVES his little sister. He is starting to call her by his own nicknames:

Elle

Ells

I just die of the cuteness when he says these!

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I love you, too, Dallin!

growth chart

2009-11-11T13:31:00.000-05:00

{growth chart}

woe is me....i have no cricut

so i bought the vinyl on etsy

Veterans Day

2009-11-11T13:20:00.000-05:00

Some pictures that we have on hand:

Paul's paternal grandfather Clinton Lee Duncan

Paul's dad Stuart Von Duncan

Kristen's maternal grandfather Robert Lavern Breseman

Kristen's maternal great uncle Albert Boyd (Uncle Red)

Kristen's paternal grandfather Robert Que Steele

Grandpa Steele's platoon

KITCHEN UPDATE

2009-11-11T11:33:00.001-05:00

a little antique white paint on the beadboard

a touch up or two or three

a couple things on the wall

THEN complete!

did you notice my COMPLETE color change?

i like to keep things exciting around here

i LOVE it

it's bright and calming

it makes me happy

dance, magic, dance

2009-11-08T21:33:00.000-05:00

she's still got moves

even in her brother's shoes and socks

really cool clouds

2009-11-08T21:17:00.000-05:00

in the sky

in our back yard

makes me want to go back to my 5th grade science class

(Mrs. Steele? Why are they wavey?)

He did it. Not me.

2009-11-08T16:53:00.001-05:00

The left over birthday cake sat on the counter.

"I just want to shove my face into this cake." Paul mentions.

"Then do it." I challenge.

Forget Ice Water

2009-11-08T16:47:00.002-05:00

It seems as though Ellie fixed the water/ice dispenser to spit out what she really wants.

DIY show off giveaway

2009-11-08T15:00:00.000-05:00

There is a super fun giveaway going on at The DIY Show Off.

Lots of prizes!

Head on over and sign up for the fun!

get well, get well soon, GET WELL, GET WELL SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-11-07T20:51:00.000-05:00

Just a week after my body (and mind) felt normal again...GORY BE!!!....I got sick for a week.

Then Ellie got sick for a week.

Then Dallin got sick for a week.

Then Paul got sick for a week.

Now Ellie is sick again.

Here's to hoping that we will get well and stop cycling this horrible

coughing

sniffling

fever

body ache

head ache

YUCK!

On a positive note, it has been nice to be together, holed up in our house, watching movie after movie after movie.

Kind of like a tylenol/nyquil/advil vacation.

Leen the Graphics Queen Giveaway!

2009-11-03T10:36:00.001-05:00

{image}

yes, please!

These are beautiful and they are being given away at Leen the Graphics Queen!

The braches would look smashing above my bed and my kitchen is almost done being painted (yeah, yeah, still not done, life happens!) and it needs some new art!

Now, if you don't mind, I have an new Etsy shop to ~~drool over~~ look at.

caramel apples

2009-11-01T20:56:00.000-05:00

butterfinger was the winner this year

yum!

and yum!

All Hallows Eve, part II

2009-11-01T20:49:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning, we headed to the library for the magic show. Dallin laughed his head off. He kept saying, "Daddy's friend [the magician] is SO funny!!!" Ellie wasn't too interested in the show, but she loved the candy.

We finished up the jack-o-lanters.

Then we told the kids NOT to look at the camera, OR smile!

They managed to disobey us a couple times!

Oops! How did that picture get in there?

(cute bum, hun!)

Then we entertained ourselves, waiting for trick-or-treaters!

the mommy had a birthday

2009-11-01T20:26:00.001-05:00

"mommy, you're gorgeous!!" -dallin duncan

(complete with wrap job by dal. he picked the sports wrapping paper. LOVED IT!)

boy singing his heart out!

(devils food with milk chocolate icing. DELISH!)

and lots of calls, texts, and messages from loved ones

two great babysitters for two great dates

GREAT BIRTHDAY

riddle me this....

2009-10-29T12:08:00.000-04:00

does the new blogger editor not have spell check? or am I just blind? it is my crutch. i can't really spell.

Prehistoric Trunk-or-treat 20009 bc

2009-10-29T10:23:00.004-04:00

Archeologists in Winchester, Kentucky made a recent find during a rare, but important dig. Below, you will find evidence that there was life on earth in the year 20009 bc. Our findings:

Ooga booga ug ug ug. Uuug buuug huug-a-lug!

OOOOOGGGGAAAA BOOOO!!!!

Uugaagaa bugaagaa ugla bugla!

Lug-a-bug a booog doo boog.

Gooba booba looba AAAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Gooba looba dooba gooba hhooooba!

Booobaalaa hoobagaoauuubahuahao!!!!!!!!!!

{groundbreaking evidence of the first ever vampiress}

{thanks for the costume idea steal Jordan}

dress for emmi

2009-10-28T10:33:00.000-04:00

This pattern has become my go to.

I really hope my kids give Christmas presents to all girl cousins this year. (hint, hint ;) ages 12 months (or younger) to 5 years)

Halloween Thrifting

2009-10-28T10:16:00.000-04:00

Here are some (last minute) fun thrift store halloween decor ideas at Savers.

Our ward trunk-or-treat is this evening!

Our costumes? Hint: It will be dirty!

GLAMOROUS

2009-10-25T21:27:00.003-04:00

The REAL Duncan party!

2009-10-25T21:14:00.006-04:00

Grandpa and Grandma Duncan's (& Brady's) visit came just in time!

We had so much fun! And as you can see from the picture below, we had some last minute and very welcomed visitors. Paul's brother Clint and his family drove down from Hershey and brought with them their brand new little baby!

Uncle Brady was a hit with the little girls.

And his skills are a-MAZ-za-zing!

Grandma Duncan was so great to play with the kids.

Playdough

Ring around the rosies

Reading books

Taking Dallin to the potty (it's undies OFFICIALLY, and we are NOT going back!)

Putting Dallin to bed at night

She was truly heaven sent after a stressful couple of weeks!!!!

The other Duncan fam. We are so glad they made the long trip!

Their posing skills are equally a-MAZ-za-zing!

Dallin and Ellie had so much fun playing with Emmi.

Dallin kept calling her "my girl cousin." And the girls loved to dance around.

We (minus me, Ellie, Jordan, and Easton--much needed naps were taken) went to Court Days in Mount Sterling.

Grandma bought Dallin this really cool (loud) pop gun, which he LOVES!

We also made it up to Natural Bridge to enjoy the beginning of the pretty colors.

And ride the tram.

It was quite romantic (with a 4 year old sandwiched in between us).

We still snuck in a kiss or two. ;)

The boys thought they were dangerous and climbed rocks. Even though they probably weren't supposed to, and someone got mad at her husband (please wait until you get a million dollars worth of life insurance, honey!), they had fun!

This visit came at just the right time and we are so glad that everyone came. We had so much fun, watched a lot of movies, ate a lot of food, and made some great memories! Helen and I got in a little shopping, and Jordan and I even fit in a craft. ;)

on a plane--aaahhhchoooo!

2009-10-19T19:31:00.003-04:00

Our visitors (Damma, Dampa, and Uncle BrAAAAdy) are on a plane.

We had a wonderful visit and are so glad that they came.

We were also fortunate to have a tiny little baby Easton (and Uncle Clint, Aunt Jordan, and "where's my girl cousin" Emmi) come all the way from PA at the last minute.

We had a full house, lots of fun, lots of laughs, lots of food and lots of love.

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Fake Sneeze

This evening, as I was helping Ellie to say her prayers:

Me: Say, "Bless Ellie."

Ellie: AAAAAAAAHHHHH-CHOOOOO!!!!

friends to the rescue

2009-10-13T06:48:00.004-04:00

THANK YOU one and all for your sweet comments.

Sometimes, I just have to write about things. Sometimes I lay in bed early in the morning, I can't sleep, and my mind races. It isn't until I get up and write about what I am thinking about that I can get on with normal day to day. I am feeling really great this morning (knock on wood) and I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. I have had so many amazing friends help out. Yesterday was the first time I let someone clean my house for me. Talk about humility on my part. If you are my friend, you are going straight to heaven.

AND>>> In two days, the in-laws are coming!!!!!!

Last Tuesday, I found myself in a major rut late at night. I didn't want to go to bed, Paul wasn't home. Before I got "sick" a trip had been planned to my friend Andrea's house, only two hours away. I had been putting it off because I was feeling like crap. I woke up Wednesday morning to get Dallin up for school, and instead, made a split decision and packed bags for our trip instead. I had to get out of my house and pretend to lead a different life for a couple days.

I am so grateful for Andrea and for letting us crash for a couple days. The kids had fun playing and I had fun acting like a teenager again (or maybe a college student). I will say one thing, I am not young anymore. Staying up until 2 in the AM is fun, but it sure makes for a rough morning!

I only snapped a few pictures and I will be honest, I wouldn't let Andrea take any pictures of me. She was nice and "didn't get any pictures taken". Dallin and Gabby had a love/hate relationship--They are a match made in heaven {wink-wink}.
Oh! This smiley picture of Ellie makes me happy. Although I wish I could have gotten the front of her face better, because........

This is her rockin' "CHEESE!" face lately, any time I tell her to smile for the camera!

Andrea,

Thanks for saving my life

and wiping bums.

Love you!

Free PG tests

2009-10-11T10:16:00.001-04:00

That being said, I just found this.

Humor for the day

2009-10-06T11:39:00.000-04:00

Rotten Peaches and Curdled Cream

2009-10-05T05:26:00.010-04:00

Wherein you jump into my head (a week ago) for a spell.

Life is always peaches and cream. Always.

Sometimes, however, we eat rotten peaches and curdled cream.

There is a certain anticipation that comes with peeing on a stick. Yes, I wrote PEE. Regardless of your circumstances, I believe that anticipation is always there. Good or bad. Always.

Take, for example, at church four weeks ago, when Sister So and so asked me if I was expecting. The question came from across the room. I was frozen on the spot. My body had been changing, and much to my protests, my clothes were becoming ill-fitting. I wasn't gaining weight, but exercise wasn't rewarding me with anything but tighter fitting clothes. I blurted out, "No. I'm just fat." I was in shock. No one had asked if I was pregnant since the old lady at Kroger, as I was carrying 2 month old Ellie in her carseat. The thought of being pregnant, this time, had not crossed my mind.

Four days later, after feeling sick on and off for 2 weeks, and almost throwing up, I took a test. I lied. Not always the anticipation. There was no actual anticipation as I took this test. This was the fifth test that I had taken in two months (probably the 15th since January). Not because I always think that I am pregnant, but because I am impatient and irregular. And because I always think that I am pregnant.

It was positive.

It was positive?

It was POSITIVE!

IT WAS POSITIVE!!!!

Later in the day, I was on the phone with Paul, holding back the news. I wanted to do something fun. I gotta go, he said. I'm pregnant, I said, and hung up the phone. That was fun.

That night, I had Paul give me a Priesthood blessing.

Okay. We are going to have a baby. And it's probably going to be boy, I thought. Bring on the unisom and B6. Brace yourself for the pukes. All the first doctors appointment brought was a yep, your pregnant, and a two week wait for a "due date determining" ultrasound.

If you have experienced a pregnancy, you may be fortunate enough to button up your pants until your 16th week. I, on the other hand, last about 5. With a rapidly changing body, I expected other things to come, but the pukes, for example, never came. I was really tired, but the unisom and B6 stayed in the cupboard. This was weird. And different. I had hope that this pregnancy would be amazing and I was feeling amazing. But everything was different. I even changed my mind. It was going to be a boy or a girl. Throughout the whole thing, I couldn't help but feel that something was, indeed, different, wrong. But I felt a great peace and love from my Heavenly Father.

"I'm nervous." Paul announced as we walked out the door to head over to the ultrasound. I couldn't help but tell him that we will accept whatever the outcome.

"What's your guess?" the tech asked. 8-10 weeks, came my reply. The real answer: 5.4 weeks. That doesn't make sense. A positive home test at 3 weeks? None of it made sense. Although my appointment to see the midwife wasn't for another hour, they rushed me into an exam room. It didn't look good. I was prepared, I thought. No tears, I thought. NO TEARS, I thought. Tears, tears, tears.

For the next three days, I waited. I got poked and poked. And I waited. And I locked myself in our office, glued to Hulu and my sewing machine. I wanted to avoid real life.

Fight or flight? I fly away.

Friday, came the final answer and we were placed with a couple difficult choices to make: D&C or let my body naturally take care of itself. Another hard choice, Paul had a week long business trip planned; to cancel or not to cancel. After much prayer and fasting, we felt the spirit strongly in our hearts and our decisions were made. Neither choice what we thought it would be.

So, this morning, as I kissed Paul goodbye for a week, I sit and wait for my body to take it's own natural course.

I have been blessed with wonderful friends who have taken care of my children, and brought dinner. I have been blessed with amazing family and friends who have prayed for us. I have been blessed with the constant companion of the Holy Ghost. I have been blessed with a wonderful weekend of spiritual guidance from our Prophet and Apostles. I was blessed to read a wonderful scripture (Mosiah 24:13-15) on a friends blog.

I mentally prepared myself to be sad or even jealous of those who where pregnant (I am human), but those feelings never actually came. With blogs and Facebook these days, word spreads fast if you want it to, and you find a lot of baby birthing! Within the last week, I have found myself more than happy for my friends or family members who are expecting or who have recently had babies. Overjoyed, really. The amazing power of the Atonement in my life is so real! I am so blessed.

I know that the Lord has a plan for me, for my family. It is by this knowledge that we are carried through life's unexpected. I am grateful to be a member of Christ's church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This church is true. I am Mormon. I am Christian. I know that God lives. I know that my Savior, Jesus Christ lives. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real in my life. I am so grateful to Paul, who holds and honors his Priesthood. Who has blessed our home with amazing love and power. I have two wonderful children who bless our home with their amazing spirits and love.

I am blessed. Always.

Life is always peaches and cream. Always.