ABC's about me

Auprielle tagged me, so I thought I'd play...look at the letter "T" to see who I tagged:

A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friend: too many to count...do I have to choose? My chosen few know who they are:)
C-Cake or Pie: Pie mmm, yummy blueberry:)
D- Day of Choice: Friday b/c my hubby is off work at 2
E- Essential Item: cell phone
F- Favorite Color: kelly green
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Yuck to both
H- Hometown: Houston, TX
I- Indulgence(s): computer, caesar chicken sandwish at Tropical Smoothie Cafe
J- January or July: July my bday month
K-Kids: 3
L-Life is incomplete without: family
M- Marriage Date: December 17, 1999
N- Number of Siblings: 3 brothers
O- Oranges or Apples: bananas
P- Phobias or Fears: fear of heights
Q- Quote(s): "Every person you meet has a story to tell that will bring you to tears." I like to remember that when I come across mean people...they must have something that brings them sadness.
R- Reason To Smile: looking at buying a new lens for my camera
S- Season: Fall.
T- Tag Six: Emma Jo, Linda, Tobi, Amy, Jenn T., nikko
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I broke my collar bone when I was 7 and I still don't know how...woke up with it hurting
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: love the meat
W- Worst Habit: i say whats on my mind:)
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: huh? ultrasounds i guess....like to see my babies
Y- Your Favorite Food: homemade mexican tacos, pizza
Z: Zodiac: Cancer

A little bit sad....

President Gordon B. Hinckley, our beloved prophet for nearly 13 years, died at his home last night. We knew it was coming, as he was 97 years old, but he'd been so present lately, we weren't quite expecting it. His wife passed away 2 years ago and he's just looked a little less "full of life" since then. Always so jubilent and positive, one of his characteristics that was so endearing. Optomistic and hopeful, he taught us to "do our best." So revered, so respected, our boys even calmed to listen to him when he spoke in General Conference.

For our Family Home Evening tonight, we talked about what we loved about President Hinckley and that it was ok to be sad, but that he was with Heavenly Father and his wife. Tyler mentioned that he never got a chance to meet him and wondered if he would be able to when he went to heaven, and we assured him that he could.

I love the song, "We thank thee, Oh God, for a Prophet...to guide us in these latter days" I am so blessed to know that we have a prophet on this earth and that our Father in Heaven is guiding him. What a peace I feel in that knowledge.

I didn't know of his passing until this morning when Michael called, and he found out driving to work and it was spoken on the radio. After calling a handful of friends, I found out I was the last to know. I've read a few cool articles and the utah news sites have reel's to watch online that are nice. We also watched those for FHE.

President Monson is the next in line of Authority, (shown above on the left).

Just came across this cool video feed, 2.5 minutes, check it out...click here.

the rental car

Back in September, I had my first fender bender. Someone backed into me as I was driving on a side road and they were in a parking spot. On our way to Houston, mid way in a small town with only a few antique stores (which I had stopped at for the first time in 5 years of wanting to stop). I was with the kids and had left Michael behind in Austin for a 2 day trip. The lady was annoyed with me that she backed into me, but still admitted fault. She owned the antique store that I was driving by and was making a delivery. I wanted to have the police come for a report but after she called and said they couldn't come for 2 hours (small town, the police are an hour away) and against Michael's wishes, we exchanged info and left. Luckily we could drive away. She dented the sliding door, but it was still closeable and ok to drive. No one was hurt, only going a few miles an hour. (I can't believe I never took a picture of my damaged car, but here is the antique store just after it happened) So I've had to deal with the mess of it all the past few months. Estimates, another insurance, people asking "what happened to your car" etc. Checks sent for damage and car rental. Fortunately the other insurance was very helpful. On Monday I dropped off our van and rented a full size car. That's all the money I got and I didn't realize I just had to ask for more to get more $ for a van. So after a few hours of this, and frustrations from it all, I called the insurance, they approved of more money and I went to trade it in for a mini van...yay! Makes this so much easier for me, since it will be 9 days. Crammed in the back seat...kicking and the boys had a hard time plugging in their seatbelts.
The mini van....Yay! It even has electric doors, which my kids love:)
Don't worry, I'm not drivng and taking picts, stopped at a light.

a new baby

...for michael....after saving and pondering for several years, he placed the order in September, and the bike shop said he'd get it in October, and it came last week. He is lovin' it. Built to fit him, he better not grow.

Here's what I've been up to the last week and a half...

New Years Eve fireworks with our neighbors brad, clair, and violet

New years day michael ran a race and so did our friend Dan, so Stacy, the kids, and I cheered them on....

Stacy's birthday dinner with friends...the heavenly Tres Leches at Chuys

(me, Michele, Becca, Emily, Stacy) We went to Ft. worth to see the newest edition to the duke family

the kids even got to see Grandma and Grandpa

Matthew and I came home early, and had a nice time bonding while playing games. On our car drive home, I brought a scrapbook from the days of Michael and I dating and getting engaged. It was good conversation and story telling that we both loved.

Potty Training

Matthew at the Dentist...he was a champ! It helps that they have TV's mounted on the ceiling and candy flavored rubber gloves.

The demise of my camera...the kids taking turns taking pictures...not working properly ever since:(

to san antonio for michael's conference where I met new photographaer friends...russ and kim act as my nanny's and assistants

Call me old fashioned.....

But I LOVE getting Christmas cards in the mail....I know everyone else does, too. I love the letters, I love the pictures....I wish everyone sent BOTH, but I am satisfied with 1 or the other. I love to hear from people that I don't keep in regular contact with. I love to hear the fun stories of what your kids are doing, I love to hear about your travels, and to hang the pictures up on my wall. I keep them up well after the holidays end. It brings me such joy to walk by my wall of friends who live all over the country/world. I have to stop and smile nearly every time I walk by. I love the people whom I've had the opportunity to cross paths in life. It's hard to not live near those that I once did. I wish more people would blog, not feel they are "bragging" and just share themselves! I LOVE everything about this....getting mail is fun, too!

Our Modern Miracle

Michael and I caravaned up to Ft. Worth on Friday. We went to see family and I needed to be back for Sunday that he was staying for. We left about 4pm, he drove the Honda with the boys and I drove the van with Alyssa. He had a great time chatting away with the boys and I had a great time with Alyssa napping half of the way:) A 3 hour drive, we planned to stop to eat, and when Michael called me on his handy dandy pay per minute cell phone and said Matthew needed to pee so it was a good time. He hung up and about 10 seconds later I see him put his hazard lights on and pull over to the side of the freeway. Luckily there was construction, so it was actually about 2 lanes worth of shoulder. I thought matthew must have really had to pee. Michael got out and motioned with his hands that he thinks he has a flat tire. He looked at all 4 tires and came back to tell me he heard a clunk. We were almost to the exit, so I figured we just got the 1/2 mile and eat and check it out better.

I said I wanted anything but mcdonalds. We get to the exit (both still have hazard lights on) and the first place off the exit, he turns in to, which happens to be a mcdonalds:) When we got out and he told me he couldn't brake, he had to use the emergency brake, so i was ok with the mcD's choice. He is very concerned as we go inside to order and call triple A for a tow. When we found that wasn't an option (small town), he decided to take the tire off and tinker around, and found the brake pad was barely hanging on with 1 loose bolt on the tire. He has not worked on cars since our marriage, but i guess he used to do a lot on his old clunker in high school, so had a decent knowledge base. With the help of his brother, david, (if only we got that navigational system) he found an auto zone that was supposed to have a bolt that could match it. Well, a.z. was not helpful b/c "sorry we close in 5 minutes, try O'Reilly's" so since we had the van, he drove to O'reilly's while we played at mcdonalds. Long story short...he found a replacement and tool and only spent $13, fixed it, took a test drive around the parking lot slamming on the brakes, and we were ready to head out. He is mad b/c we just had brakes redone last month and he says they didn't attach it properly so he's gonna complain to them. Only a 2 hour detour, we made it to his brothers home by 9pm. Our modern day miracle. We feel blessed that we were protected on the road, and a fairly quick solution.

Check out my photog blog....

www.kristendukephotography.blogspot.com

I'm going to be sharing tips and tutorials and posting creative shots for those who want to learn more about photography. It'll be an open blog, so feel free to pass it along to friends with photography interests.

The kind of flawless I wish I could be.....

I'm up past midnight, so I guess I should say, Happy New Year! All my fam went to bed...Michael made it to 11. I'm watching Dick Clark while doing stuff online and saw Taylor Swift sing "Teardrops on my Guitar" which is a song I've enjoyed in the past week. I got her CD and have liked her other songs, too. Alayna (my sis in law) quoted the phrase in the title, and its a fun line....catchy tune about a girl with a crush on a boy who likes someone else. Oh, the woes of young love.

Cleaning is fun again!

Well, maybe not, but vacuuming will be fun for me, again! I actually enjoy vacuuming. When I can see speckles on the floor and then suction it up, I get little thrills. We've gone through a few vacumms in our 8 years of marriage, and the past few months the last model was twittering out. I told Michael it was about time to get a new one, and several friends have raved about the Dyson. I figured we'd eventually get it, but when Michael surprised me on Christmas morning with an already found and purchased vacuumed, I was SO excited! I shouldn't be so excited over a vacuum, but really, there wasn't much I really wanted. I like domestic gifts. I like even more that it isn't just an I.O.U. stating I could go get the vacuum, I already had it! Yay for vacuuming!