November 1, 2009

Dear Family,
    Happy Halloween! We’ve had lots of celebrating this year!—school parade and class parties, friend parties, no school on Friday, Ward Chili Cook Off (Brian took 2nd!)& Trunk-or-Treat, and even real Trick-or-Treating!! Schwew!! This Halloween on a weekend really spreads out the fun!
    I was in charge of Emily’s class party, and helping w/ Brent’s, so after sweating a bit the night before, we had quite a fun day being a part of the festivities.  I let Spencer and Anne play at the park a little before coming home, after being such good sports through it all.  I love that our school still does a Halloween parade (w/ costumes) in the morning for all of the parents to watch, just like I remember doing way back in Waynesboro, VA.  Of course, no weapons or masks, so when Spencer, dressed up like an Inja (the way he says it), was ever asked to do some of his Ninja moves, he would answer, “Not at school—no weapons.”  He spent the whole time at Emily’s party trying to hide, and when I asked him later why he was so shy, he said that he didn’t want Emily’s teacher to see him—he had heard Emily saying that she didn’t think younger children were supposed to come to the class parties, so he didn’t want to get us in trouble! He is quite the entertainment to us.  When he delivered some ghost cookies to the neighbors, he’d hide until the door was answered, and then jump out w/ them, saying “BOO!”  We made applesauce Friday thanks to a free bushel from someone at aerobics who wasn’t using them, and Spencer thought it was cool to learn how many jars made a gallon.  When we were done that night, he looked on the counter and said, “Oh, wow! We did 3 gallons?!!” To which, when he is right, he loves to exclaim, “I’m a genius!!” He’s catching on at school too—he was telling me in the car the other day, “Did you know Mom, that we can’t pick our nose at school?” I tried to let him know that was a good rule for everywhere, but he just couldn’t get over how hard it was to get things out w/ a tissue, and that, “I sure can’t wait to get home sometimes!” He was at a little girl’s birthday party over the weekend (the only boy again!), and got along just fine, until they wanted the girl to open her new Little Ponies to play with.  He just said, “UM—I’m a boy here, and I think I’m going to have a problem with that!” At least he had befriended her Grandpa who was there visiting, and talked his ear off when things got too girly.  He is quite a character.
    I had a fun birthday last week, and first tried to get a rug for our living room, only to find the store doesn’t carry the size I need anymore.  I’ve tried 2 others as close 2nds, but they didn’t do the trick, so now I’ve got 2 big rolls sitting here to return .  Then, I was so excited to find a new temple dress at Distribution that I loved (and can even wear pregnant!), but not only were they out of my size, but it’s on backorder, and when I called Salt Lake, they said it may be several months before they have it ready. So instead, I’m trying to find a pair of shoes.  So far, only 2 pairs to return so far, and one very hopeful pair on the way .  I am a ridiculous shopper! (though I have found a few tricks to get free shipping).  Brian brought home roses that night though, and the kids gave me sweet things they had made—Emily even wrote a little book about “The Best Mom in the World.”
    We had a great stake conference last weekend—we even got to sing in the “family choir.”  I thought Anne would make it—it was just the prelude and opening song, but she was climbing into the organ pit one verse into the first prelude song, so Brian sat down w/ her.  The whole weekend was focused on families, and our stake-in an effort to strengthen our families was challenged to read the Book of Mormon before our next stake conference in 6 months.  We are trying it w/ the family this time—and becoming fast readers! Elder Bednar was quoted a lot too, about the importance of being consistent in our efforts.  I got to go and do sealings w/ Nate & Stacey and some cousins early Sat. morning too (we were having our stake temple day at the same time), so it was a great kickoff to those meetings.
    Brian’s enjoyed being able to get trained on the new Family Search program the church has, and he bore his testimony about the importance of Family History today.  After a few snow spottings this week, we were glad to have such good weather yesterday, and again today—enough to walk home from church again! Anne learned how to say “Trick or Treat” just in time, and though she tried walking into every house we stopped at, thinking we were there to play, she eventually got the hang of things and had some fun.  She’s a new girl w/ nursery now too.  Today during Sacrament Mtg., as the closing song began, I asked her if she was ready to go to Nursery, and she scooted down to the end of the row, where it was all Brian could do to keep her from running to her class before they were even there! It’s a fun and beautiful time of year here that is flying by! Have a great week! Love, The Duncan’s

Blowing out birthday candles

Bingo at Emily's class party (she's the cowgirl)

I found this wizard hat and comfy graduation robe at DI, so I thought Brian could be my Magic Wand--he let me take this picture, but when Emily said he kind of looked like a fairy thing, he left the headband home--at least he did well in the chili cook-off!--he spent a LOT of time on how to use those jabaneros from the garden!

We carved these on Halloween--okay, Mom carved them w/ some help from the girls, and I LOVED how they turned out!

One last look at the costumes--this was between trunk or treating and trick or treating (why both??!!!), so they were already happy w/ candy! Maddie was a princess (made the costume herself and I got her "tiara" from a 75 cent holiday dish at DI)

Spencer the Inja, or Ninja, Emily cowgirl, Brent skeleton (DI again--and just his size!) and Anne as a Funshine carebear (a $3 costume on clearance a few years ago)--we try to dress her in happy things to remind her to smile and not shriek 

October 18, 2009
Dear Family,
    From wonderful General Conference weekend, to Brent’s first pinewood derby this last week, we’ve had a great October so far! Nick and Laurie were great to come and stay w/ us for Conference—we couldn’t find the TV remote (again!) and had to watch w/ Spanish subtitles, but had a great time relaxing with them.  Brian showed Nick how to fill his pockets w/ candy for the priesthood session, and the rest of us made donuts while they were gone.  They left Sunday after we ate, and Monday night, Dad flew in for a couple of days! We felt so spoiled with fun company! He took the children to school Tuesday morning, attended to Chemistry things at BYU, and then took us out to a new little Italian place for dinner Wednesday night.
    Brian got the garden cleaned out last weekend, now that we’ve seen some frost, and I loaded all of our canned goods onto the first set of shelves he finished in our storage room.  We dropped off our new van to get our last bench installed, and while that was gone (of course!) our mini-van stopped working.  Fortunately, it turned out to be just a really drained battery that wouldn’t jump, but we were down to one car for 3 days.  It also pulled a little trick on me last week—I’d filled up the gas tank, and after being at the church all night w/ a VT Conference, it showed empty when I went to leave!! I wondered in mild horror, if someone had siphoned gas right out of my tank! I was already to call the police dept. the next morning, but when I double checked at the gas station—it was still full!!—the gauge was just off?!
    I’ve had a few treasure hunts online lately as well.  I found an ad selling buckets of white wheat—they were taking orders for a farmer in ID, and bringing them back here, all loaded into buckets and everthing—at quite a good deal, so Brian and I picked up our order of 1800 lbs of wheat yesterday!!—he’s gotten those shelves together just in time! I also found a $15 bench to go w/ our kitchen table—a perfect match, and perfect for kids!—then came just the dresser I was looking for to go in Maddie’s still unfurnished room—w/ a hutch on top and everything!
    Spencer is loving Kindergarten w/ gusto—they’ve taken a couple of “walking” field trips that he’s loved, and is getting the hang of his reader books he brings home.  Emily just learned how to blow bubbles w/ bubble gum this weekend, and her biggest concern at school is who is playing with who at recess every day—it’s a science in and of itself in her mind.  She is also our handwriting girl—and though it takes an enormous amount of time, we all gawk at her spelling lists, etc., because they look neater than the printed sheets! (could she be my daughter??).  Maddie just had an Egyptian feast where they dressed up and ate “authentic” food after a unit they’ve done in Social Studies—she is reading about a book a day—sharing lists w/ her teacher, and staying up way too late w/ her reading lamp! Brent had a blast w/ Brian getting his car ready, and is daily amazed at how little his Mom knows about Utah history (they study it in 4th grade).  He is convinced that I need to go back and learn these important counties, Indian tribes, fur traders, and other tidbits.  It is fun, because most of what they learn is via fun songs for a program at the end of the year—I think Emily may have them learned before 3rd grade! Anne seems to learn a new word a day now, and LOVES being a big girl.  She loves getting ready to go “bye-bye”, getting her “joojoos”(shoes) on (she’ll wear anyone’s) and smacking kisses off of her hand.  She knows how to put all my make up on, or at least dump it all over the bathroom, put gel (or lotion) in her hair, take care of her “babies,” and is becoming a great helper in cleaning up (when its her idea).  She LOVES her “Tooweys” (stories) and trails books all around the house and knows where the “eeese” (cheese) is in the fridge.  She says “MAMA”(amen) to the prayers and asks everyone “Re-ee” (ready)?, and is crazy about saying “BOO!” w/ all of the Halloween decorations she sees.
    Brian took me out for my birthday on Friday—we tried a new Japanese restaurant that was quite a kick! The whole bldg was the size of our garage—no wonder they only took reservations!—and this cute Japanese couple made all of their own sauces and fairly authentic food (if Dad’s recipes were anything to go by) at good prices, and SUCH a fun atmosphere! I felt like we were in another country—eating in someone’s kitchen or something—you’re practically sharing a table w/ the people next to you, and everyone else there seemed to be regulars—all one big family—it was such a find! YUMMY gyoza, and tempura vegetables, giant shrimp—a lot of fun! We were so happy to find a good restaurant in this sea of chains we seem to live in up here.  We saw the movie Up at the dollar movie after that—almost as unique as the restaurant, and we really enjoyed it .
    General Conference was such an uplift, and how do you think I felt after that first session, when I had prayed specifically about how to be more in tune w/ the Spirit, and how to have a greater love for others? If I learned nothing else, it was again, that prayers ARE answered, and the Lord definitely speaks to us. We have a little treasure of a man in our ward who grew up in Pres. Monson’s stake when he was the bishop of those 84 widows.  This man’s mother took in 4-6 widows at a time in a nextdoor home they owned, and cared for them there, and what experiences he shares about the future prophet visiting every December to bring them chickens and give them blessings, including his parents and himself, and then to speak at all of those widows’ funerals and then, his mother’s—just a couple of years ago.   We’re so blessed to have a prophet! There’s still plenty I’m trying to figure out—like how to have a “house of order” while still feeling love for my family , but it’s so reassuring in all of the chaos life has to offer, to be able to look to the prophet for what we should be focusing on, and what attitudes we should have.

Maddie's homemade Egyptian wear

Emily's first day of BUBBLE gum
Anne spilled the cup of water on the floor, and before I knew what had happened, she had dropped her baby (also on the floor) and gotten out the mop to clean up the the water!! HOORAY!
Brent w/ his car (yes, I think he may be cooler than his Mom)
watching the derby w/ the digital speed read and recording--Brent's down in center w/ the orange tee under his cub shirt

September 27, 2009

Dear Family,
Happy Birthday to our Brent today!! 10 years old—believe it or not!! He is a great and determined young man, and we’ve had a fun week celebrating for his birthday.  In between, I took Spencer and Anne’s over to our Bishop’s “farm” to pick green, yellow, and red peppers to freeze, went visiting teaching, and hosted 2 bookclubs Tues and then Thursday mornings—we loved Guernsey Literary….Society at one, and discussed Uncle Tom’s Cabin and The Little Prince at the other.
For Brent’s birthday party, I said it would be okay when he asked to do something w/ some friends this year (he hasn’t had a friend party since going to the park w/ all the Sept. birthdays when he was 4!).  We made a list of 6 boys, and planned on taking them to a local fun center, where they have “$2 Tuesdays” where each activity is only $2/person, and they have an inflatable slide/bounce zone area he wanted to try out.  We looked at the Tuesday before and after, and I chose this week, since our Ward Temple Night is the last Tuesday of the month.  I was also up all night one day when I realized that piano was on Tuesdays, and how did I forget that would coincide w/ Temple night?? Between my being sick, and the craziness of summer, we’ve had a hard time making it to our ward temple nights, and I was really determined not to miss this month, since it’s the one chance Brian and I get to go together.  I sat sleepless for a while, figuring out options w/ piano lessons, so that I could be back in time, felt resolved w/ my plans and backup plans, as well as planning on getting a sitter good and early, and the went back to focusing on Brent’s party.  We made some invitations, printed them off, and then delivered them around the neighborhood to the boys on Saturday.
I was playing the organ on Sunday, and nearly fell off the bench when they announced Temple night as this (the same as the party) Tuesday!! I couldn’t believe I’d had the days wrong!! It turns out we go the 4th Tuesday, not the last, and I also couldn’t believe Brian hadn’t noticed my error, since he’s in charge of Ward Temple Night! I tried not to panic, and just called the boys after church to tell them we’d move it up half an hour so as not to interfere (we also had the JS lesson on Temple Work that day, so I was renewed in my determination!).  Then I noticed on the bounce place ad, that their $2 deal was only advertised from 5-9PM!! (we had to end the party at our house, having eaten, by 5:30, and the fun center is at least 15 minutes away!—in other words, it wasn’t going to be possible!).  Brian suggested just moving the party to the next week, but that seemed ridiculous, given that I’d just called everyone to reschedule once already, and their piano lessons, that were off for this week, resumed next week, and would make things too late! I checked around, and found some coupons for the bowling alley, that’s also closer to us (practically across the street), and figured, so long as they let me use a coupon for each boy, that we could do it for $3/person.  I was also figuring only about half of the boys would be able to make it, but we had 6 out of 7 able to come!!—good thing we had the big van! After printing off all the coupons, and getting all the boys here immediately after school, it turned out the bowling was all halfprice before 5 anyway, and I didn’t need anything.  Being not the party person that I am, I was so nervous about being in charge of all of these 10 yearold boys I scarcely know, and can hardly seem cool to, but it all turned out beautifully! They were all sweethearts, and still just kids, really, all just talking to me like a Mom, telling me funny stories, or their favorite things, etc., etc.—I fell in love w/ them, and was so glad Brent has some good boys to be around! I was so worried too, about bowling taking too long w/ that many, but we were done just in time to go over to the pizza place, where the owner is a client of Brian’s, and has loaded us up w/ gift certificates.  We got pizza, opened presents, ate cake, and they boys had fun w/ the place to themselves, watching football replays on the big tv’s there.  It turned out great—Brent had a blast, and I got home just as Brian had picked up the babysitter—we made it to the temple as early as we ever had, and all was well, or better!! Our lesson today was on Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk on not getting distracted by the small things, and when they quoted Nehemiah from his story of rebuilding Jerusalem amid so much adversity, I knew just how he felt, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down! (or put off one more month of ward temple!)”—and his miracle of finishing in 53? Days was as good as my miracle of a smooth temple night!
Brent got an extra surprise when Brian got tickets to the BYU football game for Sat. night, and was able to go w/ his Dad to the game, since I was clearly tied up.  I was a bit stressed at first, that Brian wouldn’t be home w/ the children while I was gone all day (we had to leave at 12:45), but just left it up to Brian to get a sitter, etc., and handle it all, since I didn’t want stress to ruin this day I’d been looking forward to for so long.  It did all come together—Masina, our niece was able to stay w/ the girls and Spencer, which they loved, and they were all in bed by the time we got back—close to the same time! We even fit in a free hayride and pumpkin patch visit that morning! I also got in a run and Institute, since I could NOT sleep in w/ the excitement of the day! I had butterflies (and a baby kicking!) all day!
Singing in the choir for the RS Broadcast WAS such a highlight! The rehearsals alone, were always such an uplift, and that last practice the afternoon before the meeting was a thrill.  Sis. Beck dropped by to speak and visit w/ us a bit, the whole general board was in and out—we even got to see them prep in front of the camera—and get coached on which pearls to wear (made us feel better to know they get help!).  We practiced for about an hour, and then the Conference Center provided sack lunches for us to eat in the “Little Theater” in the free time before we had to be seated.  The 4 of us from our ward snuck back out to the main area of the Conference Center to find some artwork of an old friend of one of their husband’s.  We also ran into some other sisters from our ward just getting there to watch.  We freshened up in one bathroom, and then, not to miss any experience, we went like giggly schoolgirls into the “Backstage Dressing Rooms” to pin on our corsages, just before our prayer meeting.  It was neat to be led through all of the under-routes of that vast building up to the choir loft, and then to walk in to CROWDS of people, and see Sis. Dalton’s face, and Sis. Dibb, and all of those other great women a few feet away! We had a perfect view of Bonnie Goodliffe on that amazing organ, and felt like we were sitting just behind the first presidency as they came in! This was my first meeting ever in the Conference Center, and what a seat! They told us at our first practice, that Sis. Beck had chosen white for all of us to wear, after seeing a women’s choir in Brazil, singing many different tones, etc. but unified by all wearing white.  They carefully chose celebratory hymns from the hymnbook that are in every translation of our hymnbook, and then Sis. Allred had the assignment to narrow down the list to those people knew and loved the most.  They wanted a feeling of unity and celebrating sisterhood.  They told us how they had visited sisters during other broadcasts, and what a connection they feel as they hear—and sing along to—favorite hymns that we know.  We all fell in love w/ our vivacious choir director, Kathy Jolley, and she told us of a daughter and daughter in-law, not at all active in our church, who were planning on attending a broadcast of the meeting, and what a neat opportunity to share the Spirit through that music.  There was a unique feeling of unity and sisterhood—no competitiveness or contention (most of us barely knew each other to start w/ !), and it made me appreciate sisterhood even more, and feel a connection w/ all of our sisters more than ever.  SUCH a great experience!!—and no, for all of our nervousness about our shirt buttons being white enough, and our lipstick dark enough, etc., I wasn’t ever on the camera close enough to be recognized! I showed the children (they now ALL sing “As Sisters in Zion”) the video of it online, and pointed out my seat when the cameras would get close.  My seat, and up to my neck were on camera during the opening song, but the insert of the director and words just covered up my face .  Still, I got a picture of where I was sitting there in “G3,” and I’ll  never forget being there! (I’d forgotten the rule that cameras weren’t allowed, and even asked one of the security volunteers to take our picture when we got there!—they didn’t seem to mind, but I wasn’t anxious to make the obedient people upset!).
Besides Brent’s birthday today, which we celebrated w/ grilled burgers and nobake cookies for dinner—we also had our Primary Program.  It was the best year I’ve EVER heard of singing!!—those children SANG EVERY word to EVERY song, and it was beautiful!!—all testifying of the importance of Eternal Families in our Savior’s plan.  SO much was quoted from that great Proclamation, and how could anyone hold it together, when 5 of those same bowling boys (including Brent) got up in their white shirts and ties to sing confidently, the second verse of “Families Can Be Together Forever.”  They even volunteered for it!!—to sing, “While I am in my early years, I’ll prepare most carefully, so I can marry in God’s temple for eternity”!! It was a great day—even Anne (though she cried at the beginning of Church) didn’t shed any tears for Nursery today! We are certainly geared up now for General Conference this next week, and so glad for that opportunity!  Spencer keeps singing to my belly to see if it will make the baby “dance” and Anne still has SUCH a fettish w/ babies—loving to say “BABY!” whenever she sees a carseat or stroller, and carrying around a doll to feed or rock most of the day! Emily’s put in lots of piano practice time this week, Maddie’s now learned violin posture—we’re hoping she may be able to play a note next week, and Brent is already getting the hang of the new “Ripstick” (crazy skateboard) that he got for his birthday!As long as you don’t count sticky floors and still undusted blinds, we are doing great! Have a great week! Love, The Duncan’s

Party at the sports themed pizza parlor

Here's the bowling crew:

Derek, Jordan, Brent, Cortland, Joey, Bryson, and Karston

This is our ward's lucky 4:  Becky Snarr, Linda Barney, me, and Janice Pierce

from Becky 3 little ones at home, to me w/ mostly school-aged, to Linda w/ her youngest in JrHigh, and Janice w/ all of her children grown--we were a mix!, but became great friends just riding to all of these rehearsals together and enjoying the experience together

 

Here's my nervous smile at Seat G3 (now that I knew cameras were illegal!)--but I was there!

Sept. 20, 2009
Dear Family,
In a quick month update—to start with, we found out the pattern is breaking, and we’re having another girl (with a very cute profile!) this winter!! It was very fun (and a little rambunctious after an hour wait) to have everyone there at the ultrasound, and after that, we picked up a violin for Maddie to start 6th grade orchestra, and then had some 50cent tacos for supper on the way home!
Right after school started (and I negligently have NO pictures of the first day!!—except one Mom took of Spencer on his first “official” day), we got to have Mom and Dad visit for the Priday reunion, and enjoyed seeing them most of the weekend.  We had fun w/ all of the Priday’s too, and hearing from the returned mission family.  We went to a charming (quaint?) little workshop on panning for gold in Timp Canyon, attended the temple that morning, had lunch at the dell, and a birthday dinner for Grandma that night, before coming home.  We slept at G&G Duncan’s one night, since they’re also close, and got to visit w/ them as well.  I forgot my camera all weekend, and missed some fun shots in the great weather, and should have at least caught a picture of Dad playing one of about a million board and card games with Spencer, who we’re beginning to call our company leech!—from hometeachers and family, to presidency mtgs and visitors, he cuddles right up to whoever is visiting, chats into their ears nonstop, like they’ve missed him his whole life, and becomes their new best friend!
The next weekend was the Duncan reunion, that our branch of the family was in charge of this year.  We just had a day at the park w/ Stacey’s yummy bbq pork and coleslaw sandwiches, egg hunt for the children, humanitarian blankets, bead crafts, croquet, a giant human trampoline, and games all day long.  We went to a ward swim party that night (can we say tired!?!) where Brian listened in glee to the BYU game on earphones—HOORAY cougars (until this sad wkend!)!!
Labor Day we enjoyed Brian’s parents w/ us, and took them w/ us to shop the grills on sale.  That was for our anniversary, but we wanted to wait until the end of season—we found a good one—thanks to a salesman from Shallowford Ward in GA!!—and have LOVED all the cooking out we’ve gotten to do!! Put that with our fresh tomatoes, peppers, and herbs, and eating has been SOO delightful lately!! We’ve had brats and chicken teriyaki, steak, hamburgers, and hotdogs, and from the garden:  pesto sauce, grilled havarti, tomato and basil sandwiches, and EVERYTHING w/ grilled red peppers!!-yum! We also took a day to go up and visit G&G Mildenhall in Perry (I’ve been trying to collect family stories!), and get some SCRUMPTIOUS peaches on the way home—half the price of last year too! We were halfway home, when, again, getting used to this new van, we ran right out of gas on the freeway!!! What a silly disaster! Thank goodness Brian was already home, and could bring us some gas pretty quickly, while Spencer watched a nearby gas station under the overpass, and kept trying to convince me that he could throw them a note, and they would surely save us! What did we do before cell phones??!!! (walk a lot!) I had a RS Super Saturday the next day, and thought I’d get home early, but had forgotten it was also our turn to clean the bldg, so I stayed after to help w/ that, and was a little worried about starting canning as late as 3:30!—but thanks to my wonder girls, we still put up 40 quarts before 8PM!!! Emily and Maddie were both so excited to help like last year, and peeled and sliced those peaches like lightning!! I only had to pour on the syrup and process them, and I even got to bathing Anne in between!! Brian took the boys on a trip to pick up a barely used sette for the front room I’d found online, and worked on the storage shelves to hold the peaches in the basement!
The children are loving school so far.  Spencer gets pretty excited about Kindergarten—the first day he came charging in and said, “MOM!!! WE GOT TO PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND AT RECESS!!!! AND TOMORROW WE’RE GOING TO THE GYM!!!—I AM DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE LATE FOR THAT!!!!” He thinks his teacher is the nicest ever, and all the children are pretty pleased with the year.  I’m just excited to be feeling so normal again, and to be back to a good routine.
One other bit of excitement—I get to sing in the Choir for the RS General Broadcast next weekend!! There are about 10 stakes involved, and each ward could send 4 people.  I was worried when they had a limited number, as singing is not my “forte,” but due to the schedule commitments, etc., the list shortened, and I was still on it! I feel like such a cheater, sneaking in like that, esp. as they give us these devotionals about using our gifts, etc., and how so many people wish they could do what we do (as in sing well), and I think, “Uh-Oh, I am one of the people who’s always wished I could sing!!” Still, I have LOVED the whole opportunity—walking into the chapel that is overflowing w/ women singing hymns—even just during warmup is like sneaking into a RS in Heaven for a minute—my voice is weak, but my heart is just singing the whole time I get to be there!! We practiced in the Conference Center yesterday, and I’m in the stage-right section, 4 rows from the top, and 2 seats in.  We’ve had visitors from the RS General Board and presidency at EVERY rehearsal, meticulous instruction w/ wardrobe, security, etc.,--it has really been quite the experience!!—moreso than I even imagined. This will be my first time getting to attend any meeting in the Conference Center, and I’ll have a great seat!!
Brent turns 10 next Sunday!- and it will be on the Primary Program—we’re putting together a little party for him this week.  We got to have the Madsen’s over for dinner Thursday night too—they were in town for the sosad BYU game, and it was just delicious to have them with us for a few hours, and just like no time had passed b/t us! Anne’s successfully started nursery, (though she went from crying at the door, to crying in the hall on the way, to crying during the closing song of Sac. Mtg—she is improving, we think!), Emily has lost a few more teeth, and waited patiently for days for the tooth fairy to finally notice, Brian’s firm is steadily doing well, despite their occasional worrying, and I think we’re all quite happy.
Well, I think that wraps it up for now—we are SOOO blessed.  I sometimes wake up in the night now, and can’t go back to sleep, but I’m seldom irritated by it—I am so content to just lie in my comfy bed and think of how cushioned my life is with blessings right now.  I love, love, love our children, am so grateful for Brian, and am amazed at all we are able to experience: from big things like glorious creations, to all of the countless little things like being able to can peaches, read Great-Grandma’s journal, talk easily with faraway friends and family, get our piano tuned, and having a garden and good health.  There is so much goodness in life! It’s nice to have a Sunday to sit back and remember that—hopefully I’ll do better at still remembering, in the middle of being often overwhelmed w/ all the to-doingness too! I did get to read, while Mom was here, some of Grandma Farnsworth’s journal the year she was expecting her 6th child, in 1933(?), and I was SO impressed w/ how, even in the short little entries, she was so simply positive:  “What hard workers the children are,”  “What a great husband I have,” “Barbara’s already doing so well on the piano,” “Thelma made great waffles today—what a cook!” and so little of the nitpicking and complaining! What a good reminder of how much better it is to see the best in each other! Happy Fall to everyone-Love, The Duncan’s
                                                                      Anne w/ Grandpa

               Panning for "gold" (despite Dad's intent look, it was just fool's gold) 
 

                                              Duncan Croquet game (Grandpa won, I think!) 

Charlotte and Carrie

Anne w/ almost long hair!Brent said one night as we took out her pigtails, --"Hey Anne looks like a girl now!"

Spencer's first day of school (this was before he was actually ready for his afternoon kindergarten)

Yellowstone

August 2009
(written on)
Sept. 20, 2009
Our trip to Yellowstone was such a blast!! (just like Old Faithful) We left on a Wednesday afternoon, drove as far as Idaho Falls, where we spent the night at Dad & Kathy’s house, then got up Thursday morning, (cut the boys’ hair—hadn’t had time in packing, and school started right after we got back), and then drove into the park a couple of hours later.  We saw geysers and hotpots, waterfalls, canyons, and TONSSSS of buffalo!!—all over the road, leading traffic, near the road, watching Old Faithful, etc.,  It was really amazing, even if we never did spot a wolf or bear (we TRIED!)—all except Spencer, who saw not only many bears, but an elephant and giraffe as well.  My favorite was one buffalo chewing bark off of a tree in a little wooded area right next to the road.  At first we only saw a brown lump and thought it could be a bear, but as we got right next to it, it was a buffalo.  We took a picture anyway, and then Spencer said as we drove off, “Actually, Mom, it WAS a bear!!”  We packed 2 big coolers full of food for our lunches and breakfasts, cooked some ravioli and beef stew over charcoal at a campsite for one dinner, and ate in a cafeteria another night.  We had also just bought our NEW VAN the week before we left, so we reveled in all of the space of our new 12-seater.  WE got a great deal on this vehicle from a gov’t auction, where we know it at least had to be well-maintained, and though older (2002), it only had 45K miles on it, and we got it, w/ new tinted windows and a cdplayer added, all for under $10K!!—saving us having to get into a carloan!! We’re quite happy to have found it—at Beutler Auto, where Brian’s family has bought cars for years—and are slowly getting used to driving such a beast!! In getting used to this new car though, I did have the unfortunate trouble of having the backdoor swing shut (I wasn’t used to the swinging) the first night we were there outside our cabin.  It was 10PM, the doors were all locked, and our 2 sets of keys were inside!! It made for a little later night, but bless the great Ranger who wedged open the back door that hadn’t shut too tightly!! HOORAY! Brent had something stuck in his eye for most of one day, we had to purchase some emergency dramamine from all the twisty driving, and Anne was getting over her shots for the first day, but other than that, no great catastrophe, and a LOT of fun!! They even had a Customer Appreciation Day in the gift shops where there were hats and T-shirts and stuffed animals all for $5, so the kids’ little spending $ they had brought went further than I expected! We drove home through Grand Teton Nat’l Park, enjoyed a lunch there by Jenny Lake, and got home around 9:30 Saturday night.  The next morning, I took Laurie to the airport to visit GA, and we later attended the Oquihr(sp?) Mtn Temple Dedication, then had dinner at Nate and Stacey’s w/ the huge brood of children they watched during the 2nd dedication (of course the only cryer was their own niece Anne!).  We did love the time on our vacation together, loved the little cabin and wood burning stove we got to stay w/ (the children sometimes asked through the day if we could just go back to the cabin!), and marveled at the REAL majesty of creation all over there.  It is just driving and hiking through post card after post card!—just breathtaking and overwhelming!!—amazing how many different features are found in one small area! One night there, the children fell asleep to us reading the account of the Creation for scriptures—quite the object lesson for that one!
Tower Falls (Brian had remembered going here as a child, but couldn't remember what it was called or where it was--he kept hunting for it, and we were so excited when we figured out where it was)

inside the cabin














Hayden Valley--what I always pictured Adam-Ondi-Ahman looking like!

A Rainbow over the Upper Falls (this was the waterfall that unexpectedly overwhelmed me to tears!)









Upper Falls from afar, and a view of Yellowstone's "Grand Canyon"

In front of Mud Volcano (where Spencer was sure dragons live!)













Our new van and cabin (when lined up, they were about the same length!)





























Whenever I hiked like this, people would always consult w/ us--it seemed that if a pregnant baby-toting Mom could make it on the hike, it must be pretty do-able


In front of Canyon lookout point

A vacation favorite:  playing Balance on the Logs w/ Dad

paint pots and hot pots and buffalo

Anne in front of Jenny Lake















Having lunch by Jenny Lake in the Grand Tetons
p.s. I'm sorry I can't get my captions lined up w/ my pictures!!! I'm at wits end trying to figure it out!!??!!

County Fair and Treehouse Museum

August 2009
(written on)
Sept 20, 2009
Dear Family,
    As my sickies went away, we continued cramming the fun into the last weeks of summer.  A week before our trip to Yellowstone, we visited the DUP Museum in Odgen right next to the temple, and then the Treehouse Museum (children’s museum) across the street that we had coupons for.  A couple of days later we took in the County Fair, which, except for $1 parking, is free, and this year, besides pony rides, holding scorpions, magician show, and a petting zoo, we also entered watermelon and pie eating contests, saw the flying dirtbikes warm up, and watched an Alligator Wrestler!!—Kachunga, which I’d never seen the likes of before, and was really amazed by!  We took a picnic lunch, and exhausted ourselves with all the fun

August 9, 2009
Dear Family,
The days of summer are still flying by, and we’ve been trying to pack in the fun! As soon as I felt halfway well, we took the family up to Idaho to visit G&G one last time this summer. We’d planned to see them on our way to Yellowstone, but when we moved our trip to August, we ruined that part, so we thought we’d fit in one more visit before their "at-home mission" ended—which was today! We went up Pioneer Day weekend since Brian had the Friday off, and had quite a blast, despite my sickness not being totally cured. Friday, we went to 9 mile(?) cave just a few miles away—in a field—totally disguised, unless you know where to look. Judging by the litter and graffiti, more people have found it since Brian had gone camping there, but it was so dark, we didn’t have to focus on that. We scrounged up 2 working flashlights, and walked through the almost ½ mile muddy cave—it was made from an airbubble in the lava of a volcano. Spencer was a bit worried for the first bit—it was pretty cold, obviously dark, and sometimes slippery in flipflops, but by the time we headed back, everyone thought it was definitely cool.
This is what it looked like on top of the cave--no sign of it!

going in...

making our way back out

After conquering it!

On Saturday, there were some neighbors throwing a neighborhood breakfast in their Garden of Eden yard—it was the most beautiful morning on these better than parklike grounds w/ pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, tons of fruit, muffins, juice, and milk—SO pleasant and delicious! After that, we trekked over to Tautphaus Park for a trip to my favorite zoo in the world!! The admission is SO cheap—okay, not free like DC, but then, there were no ½ hour lines to see one panda either! $2.50 for kids over 3, and $5 for adults, --so I thought, well, it will be nice, but they may not have a wide variety of animals, etc., but at that price, it’ll be fine. We had taken Maddie when she was small, so I remembered it must’ve been affordable for us to splurge in our broke days, but I forgot how great the animals were too! Penguins (that we couldn’t even see at Hogle Zoo here in JANUARY!!), lions, tigers, zebras, red pandas, monkeys, peacocks, the works!! I was thrilled, and we could see most everything—only the tigers and otters were sleeping, and the grounds were beautiful and not crowded and shady and great!! I could write their ad if they need one, though I’d be afraid they’d realize then how much they could charge!! Anyway, it wore us all out, but we had a great time! We came home, packed up, visited w/ G&G Stewart on our way out of town, and got home around 9 that night. I thought I’d be in the clear by the next week, but progress is a little slow, so Brian, sweet man!-took the children (all, but Anne) to the Ward Campout up Morgan Canyon, joined in the potluck dinner, and made the most enviable breakfast the next morning w/ sausage, eggs, hashbrowns, and juice. They had rock-paper-scissor tournaments, told scary stories around the campfire, roasted marshmallows, and had bocce and other games the next morning. It took Emily half an hour to fill me in on all the details! I rented a movie w/ Anne, and did feel well enough Saturday to help clean out the van a bit, and even mow the lawn!! (what I’ve been dreaming of returning to these last weeks!). This week’s been even better, and we’re racing to use all the free coupons the kids got at the end of school. The original plan was to use one each Friday, but we’re down to squeezing in all we can these last few days. We went mini-golfing for FHE Monday night, to the dollar movie Tuesday morning, to the library and then free laser tag on Wednesday, I got the stomach flu on Thursday (dejavu!), and then Friday I took Maddie, and Brian took Brent to the newest Harry Potter movie. (Since it was PG, we told them if they read up to that book, we’d take them to see it in the theater). It was so fun!, and for the matinees, we nearly had the theater to ourselves! To even out the date-time, I took Emily and Spencer to Applebee’s on Saturday w/ a coupon Emily had earned, and they LOVED: "all the great service," " the comfy benches that are like eating on couches," "all the good food," "wonderful rootbeer," "playing the games in the kids menu," and "everything but leaving." We probably pushed our luck to go down to PG for a wedding reception last night, but it was fun to visit w/ a lot of Duncan family there. Anne cried through nursery today until I joined her the last half hour, but she’d been doing fairly well! (I’m sure the late night didn’t help)—and we were SO excited for her, and talked about it nonstop to her the weeks preceding. She’s finally trying out more sounds than "dada," does a pretty mean impression of the McDonald’s "ba Ba Ba Ba Ba" jingle, loves brushing her teeth, helping herself to half of our Sunday dinner "Celestial Cake," getting ready for prayers, talking on the phone—or anything that looks like a phone, and being "crazy" w/ her siblings. They all like to tell me in a surprised and almost worried tone, "Mom, Anne’s really crazy!" I don’t know where she learns it from?! We’re getting SO excited for our Yellowstone trip next week, then school starts the week after that, so life is zinging along! We had a sweet returned missionary speak today—a son of our Stake Pres., our favorite, named Brian Paul J , and I felt thrilled seeing all of their family gathered together, and thinking of our growing family that will be welcoming missionaries, etc. in NO time, and I’m overwhelmed w/ how full and blessed our little lives are! It is wonderful, and family is the best! Love, The Duncan’s

of course I didn't have the camera when Aiden and Anne were hugging or feeding each other fruit loops, but they did have a blast together!

sleeping otters

Emily w/ her favorite zoo animal--penguin (there are no horses or dogs there)

Not only could Aiden and Anne feed the goats, the could talk to them!

the fun here was getting a pelican to bite your arm?? "Don't you want to try it Mom?" Oh, I'll just take pictures, thanks!

lions, and tigers, and Brent, Oh My-can you tell which one is real?

is this priceless?-this was Sat. morning right before we walked around the corner for the neighborhood breakfast