My Blessed Life

Funny conversation with J

2009-08-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

Jonathan-"Mommy, will you still love me when you get old?'
Mommy- "Of course honey, I'll always love you. Will you still love me when I'm old?"
Jonathan-"Uh huh"
Mommy-"Will you take care of me when I'm old?"
Jonathan-"???? hire someone to take care of you."
Mommy-"You'll hire someone???"
Jonathan-"No...you'll hire someone to take care of you."

Funny boy.

Happy 3rd Birthday Emily!

2009-04-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

The birthday girl loves her daddy

The sweet fairy godmother told Emily she reminded her of her "little Cindy"
The whole family with princess Minnie
Grandpa didn't want to go on Small World at first, but was glad he did when he realized it was really well air conditioned

This is the new section on Small World-everything on the ride seemed to be newer and brighter and they've added Disney characters throughout the ride
Happy boy hitching a ride
Fun with Tinkerbell

Face painting in Pixie Hollow
Garrett LOVES Jesse
Dinner time
Birthday girl

We had an amazing time celebrating Emily's 3rd birthday on Sunday at the happiest place on earth. We had been promising to take Emily to D-land for her b-day. I told a patient of mine that we planned to go, and she managed to get us 4 free tickets. I could not believe it. Dave's mom Susan has an annual pass, Emily got in free for her b-day, Garrett is free until he's 3. That left the tickets for Dave, me, Jonathan, and Dave's dad Richard. It was really really hot, but we managed. The crowds seemed to clear out early, and we never had more than a 15 minute wait. Because we didn't have to pay for admission, we were able to splurge on a really fun dinner at the Roundup BBQ. All was included with this all you can eat family style bbq, including a cowboy themed variety show with Woody and Jesse from Toy Story. It was definitely worth it.

Good little soldier.

2009-02-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

We have the Dish Network guy here this morning. After Dave was done showing the guy around, Jonathan had a talk with his daddy.
"Daddy it was nice of you to show the guy around our house. That's how you make friends. Then you can tell him about how Jesus loves his heart."
No pressure Dave :)

Things that made me smile today.

2009-02-04T22:14:00.000-08:00

Garrett smiles and kisses
Emily playing princess
Emily's coloring at church-she's really good.
Jonathan having a good time at church after the teacher prayed with him.
My mom on facebook
Aunt Judi coming through surgery just fine
Dave going to church at 3am to pray for an hour-such committment
A quick lunch time nap in the warm car
99 cent cheeseburgers
finding Dove chocolate in a drawer at work-yummy
Curves workout
Penny leaving me a message-she's so grown up
Jonathan making a "successful" paper airplane
Great worship and prayer service at church
Finding a good friend on facebook

What an amazing time

2008-10-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are still in SoCal. It has been so much longer than we anticipated, but we have had a really nice time. We don't know how much longer we'll be here, but we are ready for it, whatever God decides :) Jonathan got to go to his first pro baseball game, the Angels. He loved it. Emily has fallen in love with going to the mall. She mentions it at least once a day. Garrett has discovered many new talents. He walks around furniture now and crawls everywhere. When we went to Disneyland a few weeks ago, he learned how to wave (such a little smarty). The kids love being close to both grandmas and most of their cousins. Last Saturday, all of the Duffield grandchildren got together for pictures. This was quite an adventure with 11 kids under the age of 9-wow! Dave's therapy is going well. He's had a few setbacks, but seems to be moving in the right direction now. Work is going well for me. It's had it's challenges, but overall been really great. We miss all of our Burney family and friends, and look forward to being home soon. Love to all of you.

Diaper Mountain

2008-07-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, my neighbor Trinity is introducing me to the world of coupons and how to get the most for your $. She is truly a master of coupons. So, she got me the most amazing deal ever last week. She went to Walgreens on Thursday and came home with 15 packages of diapers (all sizes) 2 boxes (400 each) of wipes, and 1 large can of formula. All of this came to $33. Amazing right? Another neighbor Dede heard about this deal and decided to donate to the cause :) She wanted me to be able to do the same deal again, what a sweet heart. So, we went to Redding Saturday night while Dave stayed with the kids. We came home this time with 30 packages of diapers for $30 which meant I didn't spend anything thanks to sweet Dede. It's kind of hard to explain exactly how it happened, but boy am I excited. So, we built a huge diaper castle of which Garrett is king.

I love you Dad

2008-06-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

A little girl needs her daddy
To love her with manly charm,
To soothe her when she’s hurt,
And keep her safe from harm.

A girl needs her dad
To show her a man who’s good,
To help her make right choices,
As only a father could.

A woman needs her father
Just to be aware,
He’ll always be there for her
To sustain her and to care.

You’ve been all these things, Dad.
I hope that you can see
How much I treasure you;
You mean everything to me.

2008-06-11T23:18:00.001-07:00

Update

2008-06-09T22:35:00.000-07:00

As you can see from the newest slide show, we've had a very busy few weeks.
My birthday was wonderful. Just when I thought it had been a quiet uneventful birthday this year....SURPRISE!...Dave pulled off a major surprise party. He turned all of my friends and family into liars, but it was all worth it. As if my beautiful party was not enough of a shocker, Mom and Dad, Dave's Mom, and Marguerite Love (longtime family friend) were all there to help me celebrate. I could not believe it. What an absolute sacrifice of love from everyone. Our good friends Sommer and John really helped Dave to pull of the surprise. I am so grateful.
The kids have been enjoying some warmer weather, and it was finally "hot enough" to bring out the baby pool. Of course as soon as we filled it with water, clouds came over and made it a little chilly. That didn't stop the kids from having an absolute blast.
A couple of nights ago, I had a bit of a shock from Emily. She came up to me with her finger in her nose saying "owie, owie". I didn't see anything on the outside, so I asked if she had something in there. She said "in dare, in dare". I held the other side of her nose shut and told her to blow. After several blows, I was ready to give up, but she sneezed hard and out came a hard yellow object. It took me only a moment to realize that it was the piece of corn she had put up her nose about 9 months or a year ago. It had been in there the whole time!!!! I could not believe it. I am keeping it in a jar, and intend to place it in her baby book asap.
I had Garrett weighed and measured yesterday to find out that he is a whopping 18lbs. 9oz. and 27in. long. What a chubba bubba.
Jonathan decided to play barber last week with his safety scissors. He had lots of fun cutting his sister's hair, along with a barbie pony's tail, and his own, already very short, hair. I actually laughed at first. I figured almost every kid does it at least once in their life, but he did have to be punished to learn not to EVER do it again. He spent the rest of the day "thinking about it" in his room. I really hope he learned that lesson. The funniest part is that he told me that Emily just sat still, because he told her to. I am definitely taking him to her next hair cut.
We have been doing a lot of walking lately. In our small town, it only makes sense to walk when we can to avoid the gas pump as much as possible :) The kids love being outside and it's good for all of our health. I am trying to figure out a way to either drive a golf cart that would hold car seats, or design a bike for 5 people, but until then we will only drive when necessary and live on top ramen and frozen burritos-lol

I am so blessed

2008-05-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

I got a chance today to just slow down and enjoy my kids. I have found that I get too busy to just have fun with them. Jonathan and I rested together for a while today with baby Garrett. It is always fun to watch my kids interact, and Garrett is soooo interested in his big brother. After Garrett went to sleep, Jonathan and I had a big wrestling match. It was so great. He was definitely the winner. When Emmy got up from her nap, we had an all out pillow war. We only use the little bean filled, squishy animal pillows, so usually no one gets hurt. They love to try to get mommy, and I must say their aim is getting better each time. I love my babies more than I could ever express. It is overwhelming sometimes to think about how much I love them. I am truly blessed.

My Beautiful Mother!

2008-05-11T00:04:00.000-07:00

This is my mom. She is truly the most beautiful woman I know. She is the most generous, loving, kind, fun mom in the world. I know I've said it before, but I really do want to be like her when I "grow up".

Tough little soldier

2008-05-06T22:22:00.001-07:00

Here is Jonathan after his injury last week. He was wrestling with his buddy Kenny on Kenny's trampoline, and, well, he hurt his arm. After a couple days of him feeling puny and not using the arm at all, I took him in for x-rays and luckily it was not broken. "Just a bad spray", as Jonathan said.
He's been asking me all kinds of questions lately that I really don't know how to answer simply enough for him to understand, and he always catches me off guard.
Jonathan-"Mom, why does God love us?'
Mom- "Because he created us."
Jonathan-"Oh! Why did he create us?"
Mom- "Ummmmm, because he loves us?"
Jonathan- "What?"
In church on Sunday he really wanted to take communion like everyone else. I told him it's only for people who are saved. He said "I got safed." I said, "you did honey, when?". "Ummm, well I'm gonna be later, tonight." "You are? Do you want mommy to show you how?" "No, maybe next week Mom. Can I have some blood, grape juice?" "No, we'll talk about it later." "K!-Can I have a sip? I'm thirsty."
Such a great, inquisitive boy. I love him so much. He is so sweet and loving and really a good boy (most of the time) :)

Funny 2 year old girl

2008-05-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

Emily turned 2 a couple of weeks ago. She is such an amazing girl. She is really getting better at talking. She loves to laugh and to make the rest of us laugh. She is such a ball of energy. She challenges me every day in so many ways, and it's really easy to focus on that. I am trying, however, to just enjoy these moments with our spunky little miss. She's almost all the way potty trained-hurray! She doesn't wear diapers ever, and when I tried to put Pull-ups on her just at night time, she said "no taint you". She wants to be a big girl and just wear panties-amazing isn't it? I feel so blessed to have this smart, loving, entertaining girl in my world. I wouldn't know what to do with myself without her :)

Hunk-A-Monk!

2008-05-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

Garrett had his 4 month check up today. He weighs 16 lbs 6oz and is 26 1/2 in long. Dr. says he is at the top of the charts for height, a little above average on weight, and his head is perfectly average. So much for all those who said he has a large melon :)
Garrett is such a sweet and good baby. He smiles "all the time", and we can make him laugh really easily. He realy loves watching his big brother and sister. He is starting to really notice his toys. He likes to lay on the floor and play. Of course I have to watch really carefully to make sure he doesn't get stomped on or bopped on the head. It was a couple of weeks ago that I decided he needed to start having "floor time". I put him on his tummy on a blanket on the floor, and he immediately rolled over. Wow! I didn't know he could do that. He tried cereal for the first time the other night, and l-o-v-e-d it. He couldn't get enough. Unfortunately I was alone, so no photos of his first "meal". I am falling more and more in love with this boy every day, as is the rest of the family. I can't imagine life without him, and I really don't want to :)

Easter revisited

2008-03-25T10:49:00.001-07:00

I did this last year on another blog. See how we've changed since Easter 2004.

Happy Easter!!!!

2008-03-23T21:05:00.001-07:00

We had a great Easter. It started with a fabulous egg hunt on Saturday at the Word of Life church here in town. The kids got lots of eggs filled with candy. After that we drove to Redding to pick up my good friend Emily at the airport. She moved from Burney to Idaho about a year and a half ago, and we're so excited to have her here for a whole week. Jonathan planted jelly beans in the front yard before he went to bed and when he got up, suckers had grown in their place (an idea I stole from Freddy). The kids got Easter baskets. Emily's was princess themed and Jonathan's was Spider Man. We went to church yesterday dressed in our Easter finery. It was a really good service, and I got to sing "Was it a morning like this" by Sandi Patty. There was a little egg hunt for the kids after church. We had a nice lunch out and dinner at home. Before the kids went to bed, we opened our ressurection eggs, which tell the whole Easter story with little items in each egg. It was a great day, and we are all so thankful for Jesus sacrifice for us.

Jonathan's Look-alike Meter

2008-02-28T18:58:00.001-08:00

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Free genealogy - Family reunion

Emily's Turn

2008-02-28T18:53:00.001-08:00

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celeb - Collage - Morph

Duffield Look-alike Meter

2008-02-25T22:09:00.001-08:00

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Descendants - Family tree chart

7 weeks tomorrow

2008-02-13T17:21:00.001-08:00

We caught Garrett's first real smile today. He's been working on it for a few days now. Like I mentioned before, he started doing sleepy smiles in the hospital. He smiles when he's falling asleep, but his was the real deal today. Notice in the pictures, he is looking right at his daddy. What you can't see, is that he was cooing the whole time.

5 Weeks

2008-02-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

Time is flying by with this sweet little man. He was 9 lbs. 4 oz. on Monday and at last check he was 21 in. (although I'm sure he's longer by now) We are all feeling better now, so things are getting back to "normal". It was a little scary with Garrett being sick. I've never had one of my tiny one's be so sick. We were so blessed by everyone's prayers, and by dinner 3 nights in a row from our church family.

So Surprised!!!

2008-01-18T17:03:00.001-08:00

Last night was a "lady's night out" with our church. It was a big deal because it was the revealing of the secret sisters we had this last year. Ruth offered to pick me and Garrett up and leave her girls to watch Emily and Jonathan. I started to worry at about 10 til 7 when she still wasn't here and we were supposed to be to church at 7. She finally arrived and off we went. When we pulled in the parking lot there were a lot of cars. It was clear we were the last ones there. When we walked in to the church all the ladies were sitting around tables staring at Ruth and me. All at once, the women shouted "Surprise!!" It was a shower for me and Garrett. What an amazing blessing. We received over 900 diapers and over 2000 wipes along with several cute outfits and other baby items. I am still in shock. I had told the ladies that I didn't need a shower this time, but they wanted to celebrate Garrett's arrival, and boy am I glad they did. We will be set with diapers and wipes for a very long time. I'm not sure how to begin to thank my church family, but I'm sure I'll find a way.

3 Weeks Old!

2008-01-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

Our sweet baby is 3 weeks old today. The time is going too fast already. Garrett is a really good baby and has fit right in with our family. He is really easy going and seems happy most of the time. He smiles a lot as he falls asleep, and we've even heard him laugh several times. It's amazing how God gives moms the ability to love each child the same, but I can truly say I love this boy as much as Jonathan and Emily, and am growing more in love every day with all 3. Emily and Jonathan really love their baby brother, sometimes a little bit too much. I have to watch Emily around the baby all the time, so that she doesn't hurt him. This morning she tried to put her fake eyeshadow on him, and ended up putting the applicator in his eye before I could stop her. Every day is a new adventure and I am so thankful for it all.

Brothers

2008-01-03T08:22:00.001-08:00

Jonathan is totally in love with his baby brother. He's had lots of practice being a big brother, and he's so good with the baby. He has said some really cute things since we brought Garrett home.
Yesterday, he said he had to tell the baby a secret. He leaned down and whispered "you're the most fabulous thing I've ever seen."
"Mom put him on the floor and see if he can crawl." "Hey, did he grow teeth yet?" "Does it hurt you when he eats?" "Mom, he likes swords!"

Guest Blogger

2007-12-28T19:44:00.000-08:00

Welcome Baby Garrett Alan Duffield
Born 12/27/07 3:44 pm
7 lbs 3 oz. 18.5 in. long

Merry Christmas and Getting Ready...

2007-12-25T22:24:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone. We had a great day today. We stayed home and enjoyed each other's company. The kids had so much fun opening their gifts from Santa and from all the friends and family who were so generous this year. When asked what their favorites were, J said his walky talkies (from Uncle Bob and Aunt Judy) and E said "Elmo". We had our neighbors over this evening for traditional turkey dinner. It was a precooked meal from the market-so yummy, and not very much work at all. Unfortunately, our camera is broken and we don't have anything downloaded from the video camera yet. I'm sure I'll figure it out someday.

As far as getting ready for tomorrow...I am feeling quite a mix of emotions this evening. Tomorrow we will go to the doctor who will check and see how I've progressed on my own. Then in the evening he will start the inducing process. Thursday, he will induce me and hopefully our new little guy will be quickly on his way. Tonight as I tucked Emily into bed, I got very teary thinking about the fact that this is one of her last nights as the baby, and my last night to sing her lullabies and tuck her in before baby brother gets here. Jonathan and I had a talk about what was in store for the next few days for him. He seems totally ready and excited for his brother to get here. I talked to my brother tonight who said I must be feeling a little of what Jesus felt in the garden of Gethsemane the night before he knew he would be crucified. (Ok, I know it's a stretch-but track with me) I know that I am about to go through something pretty awful and painful, but it is totally necessary and will result in something awesome. That pretty much sums it up. I'm praying for a good night's rest for all of us and a smooth day tomorrow, especially for the kids. I'm also thinking of Mom, Dad, and Charif, who will drive all day tomorrow to get to be here for our big event. Can't wait to see them and have their support in all of this.

Check back soon to "meet" the newest member of our family.

Our Big Boy

2007-12-13T09:22:00.000-08:00

A week has passed since Jonathan turned 4. I do not know where the time has gone since he was born. He is becoming such a big boy. He loves to help and says the sweetest things to me and Dave. He is so excited to have another baby in the house, which is making the rest of us even more excited too.
We had 3 celebrations for Jonathan's b-day. First, we had cupcakes and presents with Grandma Becky the Saturday before the big day. On his actual birthday, we went to Redding with Jonathan's friends Caleb, Hannah, and Gracie Wilkins for a doctor appt. and some shopping. We went to Chuck E Cheese for lunch. It was soooo much fun. There was only one other family there, so we had run of the place. This last Saturday, during a youth event at the church, we had a party in the nursery with Jonathan's friends Jackson, Langston, Caleb, Hannah, McKenna, Harper, and Carissa. We hung streamers and decorated his cake with a dragon and a knight. We ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the shape of dinosaurs, and watched movies. When it was all done, Jonathan said that it was the best party ever.
*Unfortunately I did not have my camera at Chuck E Cheese, and my camera broke, so the pix are not great.

Thanksgiving and a visit with family

2007-11-27T11:59:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun photos from our visit with Sara, Tim, and Christina Joy. Olen and Marcy came for the weekend too and we had such a fun time. Olen sang at our church and, of course, got rave reviews.
Our Thanksgiving was very quiet, but very nice. I cooked my very first turkey and it actually came out ok. Thank goodness Dave was here to lift the huge bird and carve it beautifully. The kids really liked the "formal" (read-we lit a candle and used our nicer dishes) feel of our meal. We went around and shared what we were thankful for. Jonathan said he was thankful for his knight and his mommy :) Emily, with a little help, said Daddy and Mommy and brother. Dave and I are so thankful for all of our blessings, especially our kids. Our Thanksgiving dinner was all given to us by a local charitable group, which I think made it taste all the better. We are thanking God every day for all he has taught us this year and for his perfect provision for all of us.

What are you thankful for?

2007-11-16T14:33:00.000-08:00

In this week before Thanksgiving, I would love to know what you all are thankful for.
I am personally most thankful for the grace and mercy God shows me daily, and the way He has shown himself so faithful during this whole year. I am soooo thankful for my family and the beautiful place we live. I am thankful also for all of my extended family and friends who are always so loving and supportive even though we are far apart.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

Here are the kidees enjoying the big day. We started out trick or treating and ended up at a local church for their Harvest party. Emily had to have a piece of candy in her hands at all times. I had to take away her bag so she wouldn't bite through all the wrappers. Jonathan had a great time and is still in shock over the obsene amount of candy we got. He told everyone he was a "shiny armor". By the way, he decided yesterday morning that he wanted to be a knight, so I had to pull all of my suzy homemaker powers and come up with what you see in the pix (we glued the Duffield family crest to his "breastplate"). Poor daddy had to miss all the fun because he was working, but we'll catch him up on all the fine details tomorrow. It was great fun.

Thank You Is Not Enough

2007-10-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, so yo would have had to be at my house to see what a complete disorganized mess it's been for a very long time. An angel and her two cherubs arrived last Friday and stayed the whole week to get us "ready" for the little fella who will be making his appearance sooner than later. My house is now "platinized" (check wordimp for the definition) by Charif and it is all flowing so so much better. We took an entire suburban full of garbage to the dump and another car full to be donated. Jonathan has chores and school work. Emily has "school" in her playpen (which she does not yet love). Furniture has been moved, shelves have been cleaned and organized, laundry and dishes are caught up, baby clothes washed, and so much more. I could never thank Charif enough for her hard work and sacrifice. Enjoy the pictures.

Old Fashioned Sunday #3

2007-10-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

Today was our 3rd Old fashioned Sunday. It is always a great time. This year Jonathan dressed as Don Johnson in Miami Vice. I think if there had been a contest he would've won :) Emily was in a sailor outfit-cute hand me down from cousin Bonnie's girls. Dave and I just wore jeans, cowboy shirts, boots, and hats. We sang old hymns, had a chili cook off, and cider pressing. Jonathan had fun with bobbing for apples, a water race, and a gunny sack race.

Sweet Moments

2007-10-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

I must admit that I was not very thrilled when Jonathan came into my room at 6:30 this morning to say that he was ready to get up. I got up to my very cold house and decided to build a fire. It turned into such a sweet time with Jonathan and me. We built the fire (I finally got it to work-yay) then made hot chocolate and cinnamon toast. It was so nice to just enjoy each other's company in the quiet of the morning.
*Note-Emily is feeling much better today and getting back to her normal self. Thanks everyone for your prayers.

Sicky

2007-10-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

Here is little Miss Emily. She is one sick baby this morning. She hasn't recovered from her ear nfections and staph infection. She's been running a fever since yesterday, so we are going to the pediatrician in Redding today at 3:30. You can see in the picture that she's trying to smile even though she's miserable. Please pray for us today that she can get some relief and that the doctor won't be too irritated that we didn't see him in the first place.
*Note: She slept in her brother's old robot jammies last night. She doesn't care, but it's funny to see a little girl dressed in boy pj's.

Uncle Ken

2007-10-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

We had a really nice visit with Uncle Ken last night and this morning. He arrived about 8PM and stayed the night. This morning he took us to breakfast and then we went to Burney Falls. Jonathan really liked Uncle Ken, especially being tossed around by him:) He is headed to Portland and Washington to visit family. He may stop back by on his way home, which willl be a real treat for us.

Happy Birthday!!!

2007-09-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

F-Funny/ My brother Fred is one of the funniest people I know.
R-Ready/ He is always ready to lend a helping hand and an ear.
E-Example/ Such a great example of what a godly person should be.
D-Dynamic/ Everyone wants to be around him.
D-Dad/ He's a great one :)
Y-Year older/ That's right, he is another year older today (9-18).

Happy birthday to one of my favorite people in the whole world. I love you.

Go-Kart Fun

2007-09-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

My cousin Karen's little boy Parker (age 6) came to visit his Grandpa (my Uncle Hal) last weekend. We were lucky enough to get some time with him. The boys rode Parker's go-kart and made bubbles with string and soapy water (an Uncle Hal invention). Parker came back to our house for a little while to play afterwards, and the boys had such a fun time. I'm not sure I've ever heard so much giggling :)

Fair Time and a visit with family

2007-09-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

The family hiking to Burney falls

Our little superheroes

Emily LOVED the pony ride

Jonathan was quite the pro this year on the pony ride

This baby cow was days old and had been abandoned by it's mama. We found out later that one of the goats was nursing it.

What a fun trip with Dave's mom, sister, and her 3 kids, Philip, Timmy, and baby Katie. The "fun" started with a 12 hour car ride from SoCal last Wednesday. We were all very ready to be home by the end of that day :) We kept everybody busy with a visit to the falls, playing at the park, the fish hatchery, fishing, church, and of course, the fair. The cousins seemed to really have fun. Dave's sister had never been here before, so it was great getting to show her the sites. They headed home Monday morning. Jonathan and Emily were sad to see them go, and our hoping for another visit soon.

Friends-All In A Row

2007-08-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

Here is the group of kids that played at our house last night. Makinna is the oldest at 9 years old, then the kids stair step down from 5 to 0. It is always fun to have these friends together.
From L to R: Lilianna Newkirk(4 mo), Emily Duffield(1), Harper Tate(2), Jonathan Duffield(3), Langston Tate(4), Jackson Newkirk(5), Makinna Newkirk(9)

Little Sister

2007-08-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Here is Emily enjoying the benefits of being totally girly, while enjoying her brothers boy stuff too.

Three Amigos

2007-08-06T15:11:00.001-07:00

Jonathan has two buddies he's been spending most of his days with lately. Meet Langston and Jackson. Jackson is 5 and Langston is 4 1/2. These 3 have been church buddies for a while now, but this summer their friendship has really blossomed. It is so much fun watching these 3 play real boy games like wrestling and pirates and construction. They have been in swimming lessons too, which has bonded them a lot. Saturday night these little guys took their mommies on a date to Ratatouille. We sat them in the row in front of us, but by the time the movie ended they were all in our laps. It was so cute. Here are some pix of these guys hamming it up before the movie started.

You give the quote

2007-07-25T15:17:00.001-07:00

Please tell me what these girls (each a year apart) are thinking.

Long standing Summer tradition

2007-07-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

The kids and I ran throught the sprinklers and ate popsicles yesterday afternoon to try to beat the heat. It reminded me of the times my brothers and I would do the same on hot southern CA days. The first 2 pix are at Lake Britton near Burney Falls. What a coincidence :) Hope yo enjoy these comarisons as much as I have.

Fourth of July Recap

2007-07-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a fun Independence Day. Burney clebrated early on Saturday the 30th. Dave worked really hard on our church's float for the parade. He spent all four of his days off making sure it was just p-e-r-f-e-c-t. Although we did not pay the $25 for the privilege of being officially judged, I am quite sure we would have taken home the big prize. After the parade, we had good naps and then headed to the high school football field for the annual fireworks show. This year was the second annual Karaoke contest. My friend Emily won last year and took home $150. I decided to be bravea nd enter this year. My first song was "Walkin' After Midnight" by Patsy Cline which got me into the second round where I sang "I feel the earth move" which I think is by Donna Sommer. It was a total blast and I had a lot of supporters. I think some people in town were a little surprised by the "nice church girl" belting it out in front of about 250 people. Unfortunately the pix didn't come out very well because the sun was in my face, but you'll get the picture. We finished the night off with a fantastic fireworkds show. Emily was completely thrilled by the big loud lights. She had her mouth open almost the whole time and would say "OOH, Wow, Woah!" She was so much fun to watch. Jonathan has always loved fireworks and he got a big kick out of watching his sister's reactions. I discovered that I have a "fireworks" setting on my new camera and it really made a difference in the pix this year.
On Wednesday (7-4) Dave unfortunately had to work, but the kids and I met up with our friends the Newkirks and the Wilkins at the lake for BBQ and swimming. The kids really loved playing in the water, and despite the sunscreen I generously applied they are both quite brown now. It was over 100 degrees so it was a great way to be cool. Some really hilarious things happened at the lake. First, Jonathan told me he had to go potty. I , half joking, told him to go in the water. My very obedient son walked to the water's edge, pulled down his pants, and peed, into the water. When he heard us all laughing on shore, he turned around to see what was so funny, finishing his business right onto the beach. I sunk low in my beach chair, and asked "who's kid is that?" The other funny thing was when my friend Sommer and I decided to try out the Wilkin's paddle boat. We got a quick lesson from Pastor Frank and off we went with Jonathan in the middle. We did just fine until the boat decide that it did not appreciate being terribly unbalanced. It started to really lean towards my side and took on tons of water. In between all of our laughing, Sommer and I could not figure out what to do. We "argued" about who should jump out first. Fortunately, two knights in shining swim shorts came to our rescue. Pastor Frank and Sommer's husband Jon swam out to our rescue. They informed us we would both have to get out, with Jonathan of course. We were not too far from shore, but the water was terribly murky and we kept losing our shoes. After trippin gover some big rocks and sinking in mud a few times, we finally made it to shore, not too damaged by the whole experience. And we sure have a great story to tell :)
The kids and I spent a quiet evening at home and got to bed early.
Hope you all enjoyed experiencing a little of our Fourth of July Fun.

THE BEAST THAT ATE GRACIE!!!!!

2007-06-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

What a difference a day (and a half) makes!

2007-06-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

My Father's Eyes

2007-06-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

Here are the words to the song I sang in church today. I find these words to ring true about my heavenly father and about my wonderful "Daddy". I love you Dad. Happy Father's Day!

 I may not be every mother's dream for her little girl, And my face may not grace the mind of everyone in the world. But that's all right, as long as I can have one wish I pray: When people look inside my life, I want to hear them say,  She's got her father's eyes, Her father's eyes; Eyes that find the good in things, When good is not around; Eyes that find the source of help, When help just can't be found; Eyes full of compassion, Seeing every pain; Knowing what you're going through And feeling it the same. Just like my father's eyes, My father's eyes, My father's eyes, Just like my father's eyes.  And on that day when we will pay for all the deeds we have done, Good and bad they'll all be had to see by everyone. And when you're called to stand and tell just what you saw in me, More than anything I know, I want your words to be,  She had her father's eyes, Her father's eyes; Eyes that found the good in things, When good was not around; Eyes that found the source of help, When help would not be found; Eyes full of compassion, Seeing every pain; Knowing what you're going through, And feeling it the same. Just like my father's eyes, My father's eyes, My father's eyes, Just like my father's eyes. My father's eyes, My father's eyes, Just like my father's eyes. 

Local Star

2007-06-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Jonathan (all the way on the right) from this week's "Intermountain News".
Last Tuesday a program called KidFit kicked off for the summer at the elementary school. They had programs for older and younger kids. Jonathan's group did Tiny Tunes which is dancing for preschoolers. KidFit meets one night a week for swimming, hiking, etc., to encourage kids to keep fit for the summer. The kids are rewarded for keeping a daily journal of their exercise.
You will also notice George and Aaron in the picture. These are our kids' good friends. Emily, of course, could not be captured on film as she was off tearing the place apart.

Poor Baby!

2007-06-01T22:29:00.000-07:00

Before

After

The tooth root and all

Today, while we were playing outside, Emily slipped on the steps of our slide and hit her mouth hard. At first I thought maybe it was just her lip, but then I noticed her teeth looked loose. It turns out, she knocked one tooth out completely and the other one is very loose and will probably have to come out. We went right to the doctor who told us there was really nothing to do for it but put some numbing medicine on the gums and give her tylenol for the pain. He told us to see a dentist in a couple weeks. We went next door to the dentist to schedule the appointment and she took Emily in right away. She said Emily probably broke some bone in her jaw, but that it should heal itself. She says the loose tooth may fuse itself back in, but most likely she will have to pull it when she sees her on Wednesday. She will do x-rays then and see how extensive the damage is. We are so lucky it wasn't any worse and that it was bottom teeth and not the top ones. She will have to wait for her permanent teeth to grow in for her smile to be complete. The dentist kept saying how sad it is. That's not very reassuring, I must say, but I know she was being sympathetic. The hard part now is that every time she barely touches her mouth, or falls, or anything, her tooth gets knocked again and starts to bleed. Needless to say she cried a lot tonight. Hopefully she will heal fast and we'll be over this trauma soon. I always thought it would be my boy who might have such big owies, but no, it's the little princess :)

Family Funnies

2007-05-26T21:29:00.000-07:00

Emily's personality has really been blossoming lately. She has us laughing a lot of the time.
She did some pretty funny stuff tonight that I thought I would share.
*Jonathan was sent to the corner and was really upset about it so he was standing there crying really loud. Emily went over to him and, at first, just looked up at him like "what is the matter with you?" She then made her way to the wall and laid her face against it and started to yell. Then she went over to him and started patting his back. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen, and she repeated it several times during Jonathan's time out.
*We have a pile of laundry in the living room on the floor (don't ask) and Emily accidentally fell on it. She looked a little dazed, but then got a huge smile and said "na-na" which means nigh-night. When she saw us laughing about it she kept doing it to see us laugh.
*Emily was trying to get Dave's attention so she walked up to him with a toy and hit him on the knee. When he said "ow she started laughing hysterically, and of course had to try it again, and again, and again. This went on for about 10 minutes until Daddy's knee was getting sore. She has never laughed that hard and of course it had us all, including Jonathan, laughing right along.

Jonathan's quote of the week:
"Mom, is Grandma an old girl?" "Well son, she's a girl, and she's older than Mommy." "Oh, is she a...woman? giggle giggle"

And Mommy's big uh-oh of the week:
We went to McDonald's last night and we were standing waiting for ice cream. Emily would not stay in my arms so I let her down and was keeping an eye on her. It was really crowded and the entrance to the kitchen was blocked by a couple of people, so I thought she couldn't get back there. When the people kind of moved, Emily took her chance and headed straight for the kitchen. I headed after her, saying "excuse me, excuse me" to everyone in my way. The one woman that had moved enough out of Emily's way to let her through was now blocking my way to Emily. I said "excuse me" like 3 times. So then, my mother bear came out in me. I grabbed the woman by the shoulders and moved her out of my way. By this time, Emily had gotten hot fries spilled on her, she was ok. I grabbed her up and apologized to the McDonalds workers. The woman grumbled something under her breath and I gave her a dirty look. I was not very gracious. OOPS!

Emily and Pop-Pop

2007-05-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

I like to walk with Grandpa, his steps are short like mine.
He doesn't say "now hurry up", he always takes his time.
Most people have to hurry they do not stop and see.
I'm glad that God made Grandpa, unrushed and young like me.

Walker

2007-05-17T15:43:00.001-07:00

Here she is, the big girl walking all over. The end is my particular favorite part, when Jonathan is trying to take over on camera duty. Enjoy.

#3

2007-05-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

Here it is. Isn't this the most beautiful baby you've ever seen???
So, I didn't need any more proof that I was pregnant: I'm not fitting inot most regular clothes, I'm very sick (not puking though), and sooooo tired. The ultrasound yesterday was wonderful. I always love to see that little flutter of a heart beat. I don't think it matters how many kids a person has, that has got to be one of the best sites ever. The doctor says everything seems fine and normal, but wondered why I am "growing" so fast and feeling so much sicker this time. He also got pretty big eyes when I pointed out the fact that my mom is a twin. He ordered another ultrasound for 5-30, and wrote on the prescription "rule out twins". YIKES!!!! The thought of 3 kids under 4 is overwhelming enough, but the thought of 4 little ones is down right scary. The nurse kept using the word "devestated" when referring to her own situation finding out she was pregnant with her second and was trying to get me to use the word myself. I am not devestated, I am happy and excited, although overwhelmed. God has blessed us with such great kids and I look forward to the next one(s), no matter how gray my hair gets :)

For My Best Friend

2007-05-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

The love between my mother and I can not really be put into words. My mother amazes me with her strength, her character, her love for the Lord, and her passion for her family. I strive to be like her in everything. We are so much alike and I love it when others recognize that. My heart leaps when people say I look like my mom and even more so when people say my own little Emily looks so much like her. Having a daughter of my own has overwhelmed me in so many ways, mostly because I don't know how I will even come close to being the mother my mom is to me. My mom is my best friend and I'm so glad there is a day set aside to be able to express just a little of what is always in my heart. I love you Mom, more than you will ever know.

Cousins, Melting, Wedding bells, Friends, and Fun

2007-05-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the pix of our trip south. It was a whirlwind trip as always, but we got to see several people we hadn't seen in quite a while. I never get to see just everyone I'd like to, but it was nice to see the people we did. The trip was originally scheduled for Dave's Grandpa's 80th b-day party, but it was extended for me and the kids because cousin Corie got married. It was such a fun week.

Dave with Phoebe and Aubrey (4 months old). This is the first time they met their Uncle Dave.

Jonathan with Philip and Timmy playing in Grandpa Richard's truck.

Katie, Charif, Mom, and me at the "Melting Pot" in Thousand Oaks. This is my new favorite restaraunt. Who wouldn't love an all fondue dinner?

Erin and Jonathan at McDonalds play place. Erin is my friend Kelly's little girl. I got a call that she had her little boy just a few days ago. I can't wait to see pix :)

Corie and Justin Gleason. Aren't they a beautiful couple???

Who are these masked children??? It is Jonathan with Madison and Macy, cousin Bonnie's twin girls who were born on the exact same day as Jonathan. They are completely hilarious together. Bonnie and Kim found this costume for Jonathan and were so nice to buy it for him so he could match his cousins. They really are like triplets when they are together. We're looking forward to the next time we can be together.

Happy Birthday Brother

2007-04-11T16:33:00.000-07:00

We share a special bond
that grows stronger through the years.
Looking back on things we've done,
I realize that some of my happiest memories
are of times we've shared.
You give me the freedom to be myself -
there's never a need to pretend.
I'd like you to know there will always be
a special place in my heart for you -
My Brother and My Friend.

I love you so much Ike. I hope your day is great. Happy Birthday.

Sweet Baby

2007-04-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

You may have to turn your computer sideways to watch Emily on her first Easter.

Happy Easter

2007-04-08T23:01:00.000-07:00

We had a fabulous day celebrating Easter. The kids woke up to their baskets before getting ready for church. We headed for church for a fabulous service. Dave stepped up to the plate and volunteered to be in the nursery while I got to sing. There was a yummy potluck after church with ham and all the fixings. After lunch we headed outside for a fun egg hunt. All of the eggs had a Christian theme. Jonathan loved saying "Happy Easter" to everybody. Emily really loved the eggs. After finding one she was perfectly satisfied. We really tried to get the true message of Easter across to Jonathan, so we were satisfied when we asked him tonight what Easter is about and he said "Jesus".

Jonathan's basket had 2 trucks and a motorcycle and some candy.

Emily's basket had a stuffed bunny and some blocks and a little bit of candy.

Short but Sweet

2007-04-01T22:17:00.000-07:00

We just had a wonderful whirlwind trip to Sacramento this weekend. On Wednesday Grandma Becky took a train from San Francisco, where she had a conference early last week, to Sacramento. We picked her up at the train station and the fun began. We went to a hotel with a pool and jacuzzi which is all Jonathan needed. On Thursday we went to the Sacramento Zoo. It was so much fun and the kids really liked it. The weather was perfect and the zoo was small enough that we saw it all in just a few hours. Our favorite part was getting to see the triplet baby tigers. It was fun to watch their mother try to keep up with all of them while keeping her eyes on the onlookers. Another really cool thing was the new surgery center where we got to watch doctors perform gastric surgery on a swan. Friday we went shopping and had the kids pictures taken. Friday afternoon we visited with Grandma's cousin Leona at her house then went to Leona's daughter Bonnie's house for the evening. All of Leona's kids were there and a lot of her grandkids. It was so much fun getting to be with so much family. The best part was Jonathan playing with Bonnie's twin girls who have the exact same birthday as he does. We all got a glimpse of what it would be like to have triplets. The kids really loved playing together and had a very hard time saying goodbye. Saturday morning we took Grandma to the airport and then drove home. It's always hard to say goodbye to Grandma and it took Jonathan (and me) a long time to recover.

A Day in the Life of the Duffields

2007-03-18T22:24:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty typical day in our lives.
Jonathan and I started the day at about 7:00. I was not really ready to be up yet, but we went in the living room where Jonathan watched the Incredibles (of course) while mommy rested on the couch trying to wake up.

Baby sister is up at about 9:30 and happy to be eating her banana and cheerios, and drinking a baba.

Jonathan and Emily love playing together. It's so fun to watch them loving each other and making each other laugh.

Today we built a fort where Jonathan played with his army men.

We're off to run errands.

When we get home Daddy is up. Most days we get to wake him up, but what a great surprise for them to get to climb all over their personal jungle gym.

We went to Alpine for lunch. Jonathan loves the video games. He never actually plays them, but he thinks he does. Emily loves looking at all the people and excitedly awaits her lunch.

After lunch it's nap time. Emily falls asleep really quick after we read a little story about baby Strawberry Shortcake. Jonathan gets a story and some kisses and hugs. He never actually slept, but a little "quiet" time always does him, and Mommy and Daddy, some good. We played our new favorite game hand and foot.

Jonathan is up from his "nap". He got a new game Hi-Ho Cherry-O. He had never played it before, but he caught on really quick. It's a great game for teaching him about taking turns, following the rules, and not being a sore loser.

Daddy is off to work. This is never a fun time for Jonathan and he usually begs to go with Daddy. Today Jonathan and I pass the time by sweeping the walkway and the driveway. We've been losing lots of pine cones this week. Sister wakes up and is ready to be outsiede to visit with our neighbors Kolby and Kaeli. Apparently Emily loves b-ball.

A quick run to the grocery store where we run into our friend Amanda who invites us to a surprise party for her husband tonight. We've only got about 45 minutes, so we buy a few things, including a gift, and we're headed to the party.

Here is Jonathan with the birthday boy Jed. It was a fun time for the kids who ran around like banchees, especially after the frosting loaded birthday cake. The mommies attempted to watch Gilmore Girls, our weekly ritual, while Emily found every little piece of dirt, crumbs, etc. on the floor.

Unfortunately, I left the camera at the birthday party, so we don't have any bath or bedtime pix. It's a bit of a late night for us, so it's right off to bed for both kids. They fall asleep quick, so I have a chance to watch my recorded shows and straighten the house before I get off to bed. We'll start again tomorrow..

Birthday Girl

2007-03-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to sweet funny smart loving little princess Sophia Martin. We are so blessed to have this little angel for our niece and cousin. We don't know when we'll see her again (hopefully soon), but we can't wait. We love you little girl. Have a happy happy day.

Happy Birthday My Love!

2007-03-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my great husband. I love you so much. You are such a hard worker, and such a great daddy to our kids. I am very proud of you. Looking forward to celebrating with you for the next few days.

Snow Family

2007-02-26T22:14:00.000-08:00

We had such a nice family time yesterday in the snow. Emily wasn't too sure about it at first, she'd never played in the snow before. Her little outfit got wet and dirty really quick. Jonathan was so warm in his fabulous snow clothes (new to him this year), he didn't want to come in. Dave shoveled snow and I took pictures. So much fun.

Which boy?????

2007-02-26T21:52:00.000-08:00

Which boy is which? Jonathan or Daniel

#1

#2

My Grammy

2007-02-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

My grandma, Grammy, is truly one of the sweetest most noble women I know. She always stands for what is right and has taught me so much about what a woman of God should be. She loves her family with her whole heart and prays for each of us daily. She has loved and supported my Grampy for over 60 years and is such an excellent example of a good Godly wife. Today is her 85th birthday, and even though she has some rough times, she manages to keep her focus upward to what God has for her. I love her so much.
Happy birthday Grammy.

10 Months Old!

2007-02-19T16:31:00.000-08:00

10 months of pink and frills. 10 months of sweetness. 10 months of Jonathan being a big brother. 10 months of getting to say "my kids". I am so blessed by this little angel.

New pictures

2007-02-16T08:47:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of new pictures for your viewing pleasure. Jonathan was being so funny the other day. He said look Mommy I don't have any legs. Where does he come up with this stuff???? Emily was looking so pretty Sunday at church. Her hair decoration only lasted a few minutes. I am not quite sure what to do with all of her hair. Any ideas?

Raggedy Andy

2007-02-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been two years. I'm loving and missing my Raggedy Andy every day.

Shiner!

2007-02-06T10:19:00.000-08:00

Jonathan got a big owie on Thursday when he was trying to climb in the car. He was wearing his fancy new rain boots and I think they got in the way and he fell out of the car. He only cried a few minutes, but I could tell right away it was going to be pretty bad. We've gotten several funny looks from people wondering "What happened????" The new dentist we saw on Friday asked Jonathan, not me or Dave, what happened. It's starting to look better, but it sure makes for a good story.

The Eyes Have It!

2007-02-05T00:13:00.000-08:00

Ok, I don't know if these two are 3rd cousins, or 2nd cousins once removed. Does anyone else see the resemblence????

M-I-C-K-E-Y

2007-02-01T21:42:00.000-08:00

I didn't know there was a "P" in Mickey Mouse-lol.

After waiting to see Mickey Mouse, Jonathan announced that he had to go to the bathroom. I looked down and it was too late. We would have had to get out of the long line to fix the problem, so we just waited. What do you think Mickey was thinking?
*Scroll down (pass "Duffield Family Fun") for more on our fabulous trip to Disneyland.*

Duffield Family Fun

2007-01-31T22:30:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from our visit down south with Dave's family. Jonathan and Emily had so much fun getting to meet their new cousins Phoebe and Aubree. As you can see, it was quite the adventure trying to get all 10 Duffield grandchildren looking good for a picture-lol.

Disneyland 2007

2007-01-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

We had an amazing time at Disneyland last Friday with Grandma Becky. The weather was beautiful and our longest wait was about 15 minutes. Jonathan's favorite ride was Buzz Lightyear (we rode it twice). We had to do a lot of comforting after Snow White. We should have listened to Uncle Freddy on that one. We learned that just because a 3 year old is tall enough for a ride doesn't mean he's "big" enough. It will be many moons before we get Jonathan on Big Thunder Mountain again-oops. After plenty of yummy treats and fun souvenirs we headed home with hearts full of memories that will last for years. Thank you Mom for an unforgettable adventure.

Grease, You're the One That I Want

2007-01-22T21:06:00.000-08:00

As if Realityjunkie didn't have enough reality shows to keep busy, I've added a new one to my line up. Sunday nights brings Grease on NBC. They are casting for a new Sandy and Danny to perform on Broadway. They've eliminated hundreds and are now down to 12 contestants. It's been really fun, and unlike American Idol, they have professionals auditioning, which is really nice on the ears-lol. I think voting starts this Sunday, so our phone line will definitely be busy.

Max doesn't really look the part, but he has the best voice in my opinion. He also seems really down to earth, which I like.

Juliana seems really sweet and, as you can see, is just gorgeous. She'll need a really good wig to play Sandy, but she has a beautiful voice.

American Idol

2007-01-21T21:39:00.000-08:00

As you may have guessed, Realityjunkie has been quite busy keeping up with all of the reality shows that have started back up recently.
Here is an American Idol update for those of you who have been asleep for the last week-lol. This season has not yet shown any really exciting contestants. There was a navy guy who is on the USS Ronald Reagan. He won an "idol" contest on the ship and his captain insisted he try out for the real deal. He's really good, and the only one I'm really rooting for so far. The judges have been particularly mean this season, even Paula, and it seems like the screening team is putting really bad, almost handicapped, people through for strict entertainment value. It's a little sad, but it is entertaining :{

Christmas

2007-01-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

I realize this is a little late, but here are a few of my favorite pix from Christmas.

Another Fun Test

2007-01-08T20:59:00.000-08:00

You Are Likely a Third Born

At your darkest moments, you feel vulnerable.
At work and school, you do best when you're comparing things.
When you love someone, you tend to like to please them.

In friendship, you are loyal to one person.
Your ideal careers are: sales, police officer, newspaper reporter, inventor, poet, and animal trainer.
You will leave your mark on the world with inventions, poetry, and inspiration.

The Birth Order Predictor

Personality type

2007-01-04T14:28:00.001-08:00

You Are An ESFJ

The Caregiver

You are sympathetic and caring, putting friends and family first.
A creature of habit, you prefer routines and have trouble with change.
You love being in groups - whether you're helping people or working on a project.
You are good at listening, laughing, and bringing out the best in people.

You would make a great nurse, social worker, or teacher.

What's Your Personality Type?

Grandpa

2006-12-31T08:54:00.000-08:00

One year ago today we lost one of our most treasured friends. It is still hard to believe sometimes that he is gone. Grandpa Rueben was such an amazing man and loved our family so much. I am remembering him today and missing him so much.

Here They Are!!!

2006-12-30T22:12:00.000-08:00

Phoebe Jane and Aubrey Elaine Duffield were born yesterday at 8:18 and 8:20 am. Phoebe weighs 7lbs9oz and is 20 1/2in and looks a lot like brother Wyatt. Aubrey is 6lbs2oz and 19in and looks more like brother Coleton. The nurses are keeping color coded bows in their hair to tell them apart. Their Auntie Annie can not wait to get to meet them. Of course, I will be their favorite auntie-lol.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

2006-12-25T08:35:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe, today is the day! We are having a beautiful time already with our family. Isaac, Katie, and Sophia arrived Saturday evening. Mom and Dad arrived yesterday. We had a great time opening stockings this morning. Dave gave me the most beautiful necklace. It's a circle pendant with diamonds and blue stones to represent Jonathan and Emily's birthstones. We
are looking forward to the rest of the week as Freddy and family arrive tonight and we have our family Christmas tomorrow. Merry Christmas to all, and may we never forget our greatest gift, Jesus, sent to earth to give us life.

Christmas Pix

2006-12-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of the pictures we took last Friday at JCPenney. Even though it was one of the most stressful days of my life, the pictures came out great (in my humble opinion-lol). No one would ever know that Jonathan had already wet his pants twice that day and that Emily had an ear and lung infection.

Tangeled in the Tinsel

2006-12-19T10:05:00.000-08:00

"The Birthday Party"

The choir

"S is for the snow that falls, so white and pure and clean!"

I survived my first time directing our church Christmas play this Sunday. It was a compalation of little skits with the main theme being to keep Christ the center of Christmas. I wasn't sure it would turn out, but the kids pulled through at the last minute and the audience seemed really responsive. Jonathan said his line really well and after his skit sat down in the audience. It would have been nice to have hi up there, but it was better to not have him as a distraction like some other little "angels"-lol. We had a lot of fun and I may be wiling to do it again (a little differently of course) next year.

First Tooth!

2006-12-14T16:22:00.000-08:00

Here is Emmy's first little tooth. We first felt it on Thanksgiving morning. It's pretty cute, and now she's ready for steak.

Happy Birthday Baby!

2006-12-05T16:03:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe our little boy is already 3 years old. He has been such a blessing to us and has changed our lives in so many ways. Thank you for all you've done to make me such a grateful, and happy mother. You're the best little boy ever.

Jonathan's my baby
Jonathan's my boy
He is so cuddly
And brings me so much joy
(As written with the help of Gracielou)

Getting Ready

2006-12-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

Dave went to the woods with Mike and Cheri today and found a beautiful Christmas tree for us. It didn't take long for us to get the tree standing and mostly decorated. Jonathan loved hanging all of his little ornaments. We had one little crisis, when the ornament Jonathan made today fell and shattered as he was trying to hang it. I'm not sure who was more upset, Jonathan or Mommy. He recovered pretty fast, and I promised he could make a new ornament soon. We can't wait for the whole family to be here to enjoy our beautiful tree with us.

Bathing Cutie

2006-12-02T21:43:00.000-08:00

Here's the little princess enjoying a moment in the "spa".

Thankful

2006-11-25T21:23:00.000-08:00

We are so thankful for:

Grandmas and Grandpas who love us soooo much,

cousins and early Christmas gifts,

and especially each other.

We had a wonderful time in southern CA this week celebrating Thanksgiving and an early Christmas with the Duffields. We all got spoiled and weren't sure we were ready to come home yet. Now, we can't wait for Christmas.

Childhood Playmates, Lifelong Friends

2006-11-15T21:34:00.000-08:00

Even though Emily and I have seen each other infrequently over the years, we always seem to pick up right where we left off. Emily and I played together as little girls when my mom babysat her. She is the reason I've always loved the name Emily. She is now a mommy of 3 beautiful girls Maddie, Kate, and Abbie. We had a wonderful time today. We met for storytime at a bookstore, had lunch, then went to her house for the kids to play. They really seemed to like each other. Maddie told her mommy "I like your friend Emily" (she was referring to baby Emily-lol). We have a lot in common and could be so "real" with each other. I am so thrilled she is back in Redding after a couple years away. We plan to see each other much more often now. *The babies on the bottom left are Jonathan and Maddie in 2-04*

Handsome Little Man

2006-11-14T15:27:00.000-08:00

Here's Jonathan with his new haircut and Thomas shoes.

This little piggy......

2006-11-14T15:23:00.000-08:00

Duffield Sleepy Heads

2006-11-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

Applying the Scriptures I

2006-11-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

This is the lovely gift we received from the Wilkins (pastor's) family for our anniversary. It is in honor of Dave's upcoming "procedure". It is hung proudly above Dave's chair in the living room. Thank you Wilkins.

7 Year Itch?

2006-11-06T14:34:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe it's been 7 years since we said "I do". We've been through a lot and a lot has changed, but we are stronger for it. Happy Anniversary to my darling Dave. I'm looking forward to what God has in store for us and our family. I love you.

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T22:04:00.000-08:00

We had quite the crowd tonight with Ruthie, Davey, Johnny, Gracie, Hannah, and Caleb with us. It was great fun and we drew a lot of attention with our big group.

Sweet little bug. it was a lot of fun showing her off in her costume.

"Little Wild Man" says it all.

Happy 6 months birthday Emily Anne!

2006-10-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

My little sweetie turned 6 months today. Having a daughter is such a great experience. It seems like such a huge responsibility to know that I'm in charge of showing her how to be a good woman. I feel overwhelmed by that a lot of times, but I pray that with God's help I can show her the right way. My own mom and grandma have been such wonderful examples of what great women should be. I always say that if I turn out to be half the woman my mom is, I'll be doing good. Emily is so blessed to have such a great heritage.

Look Who's Sitting!

2006-10-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

Soooo Big

Stick em up

We discovered that Emily has a new trick. She can't sit herself up yet, but if we prop her she sits for quite a while. She's pretty proud of herself.

Awana Fun!

2006-10-09T11:36:00.000-07:00

Jonathan has been having so much fun being a Cubbie at Awana on Sunday nights. Two weeks ago he earned his vest by memorizing verses and the Cubbie pledge. This week he earned his first badge, he was sooooo proud. He's actually a little young, but they bent the rules and let him in. He's managing to keep up with his 3 and 4 year old buddies. It sure makes this mommy's heart glad.
Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed

Big Brother / Little Sister

2006-10-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

I brought her home today
you’re now a big brother, waiting to play
but soon she'll grow, and you will see
just how much fun, being a big brother can be.
Soon she'll follow you everyday
and she'll repeat whatever you say,
she will always be your friend
her love for you will never end.
There's no greater bond of friendship here
than that of siblings who's love is dear.
So please be patient, very soon she'll grow
there's so much, she needs to know
how you came first, to lead the way
and at her side, you'll always stay.
All about the right things to do
you know she will be watching you.
This is the best way for you to see
how much you really mean to me.
When you can see that love can grow
it's only then, that you could know.

Copyright 2003
Christine Michaels
www.WelcomeBaby.com

Cousins

2006-09-30T16:18:00.000-07:00

We took a trip to Elk Grove Thursday to see Sara and sweet little Christina Joy. It was so fun getting the babies together. They really seemed to like each other.