The Duke Family

Christmas 2010

2010-12-31T16:30:00.003-06:00

What can I say about Christmas break this year? Spent too much, ate too much, lounged too much, didn't clean too much. Sound familiar? The kids resume school on Tuesday and I am hoping that list will reverse itself quickly.

In an attempt to make things easier on everyone, I gave the kids each a piece of paper with the headings, "Something I want", Something I need", Something to wear", and "Something to read", which acted as their Christmas list. Each heading was fulfilled and all were pleased.

However, I hope the true meaning of Christmas was instilled in their hearts. I explained to them over and over the meanings of the season and hope they listened. They must feel and know it themselves. I hope they did!

Dylan in Kindergarten?

2010-09-09T19:13:00.013-05:00

"Whose child is this?" I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play
"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile
"Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should"

"Whose child is this?" I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in
"Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile
"Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school"

"Whose child is this?" I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door
"Ours" said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the little child
"Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever."

First Day of School

2010-08-12T07:56:00.004-05:00

We have moved on from our inactive status and are now back in the blogging world. No sense in trying to play catch up at this point (maybe later), so we'll just start from the most current event.

Jonathan and Emily began school today! Jonathan is now in middle school and Emily is in 4th grade. Dylan will begin kindergarten towards the end of the month (stay tuned). I can already feel a sense of relief knowing that they are in a good learning environment, making new friends, and not complaining of boredom as they did most of the summer. Here are a few pics from this morning.

Happy Fall Y'all

2009-11-06T08:30:00.004-06:00

Another Halloween has come and gone. I truly love this time of year, the smells, the scenes, the food, and the chill in the air. Hope you enjoy these pictures of our little rascals!

Lots to catch up on!

2009-09-02T21:17:00.008-05:00

Our summer vacation in St. Augustine, FL

Jonathan turns 10 and celebrates with a "Nacho Libre" birthday party

Emily turns 8!

Emily is baptized

First Day of School

Dylan starts Pre-K!

July

2009-07-05T18:22:00.009-05:00

Because July is a big month in our family, I thought I would begin by posting our latest ameteur family photo. This is the best I could do. It is hard to get four kids to both look at the camera and smile simutaneoulsy.

We are vacationing in Florida next week, and will have family visiting soon afterwards. Also, three out of the six of us are celebrating birthdays all in one week's time, so be on the lookout for some serious July updates. Love to you all!

Happy 4th Birthday Dylan!

2009-05-25T12:40:00.002-05:00

Our sweet/mischievous Dylan turned 4 last month. I am pretty late in posting the celebrations, but Dylan understands. Late is just how we roll these days! We had a balloon and magic show party at our house with his friends and later went to O'Charley's for dinner. Great times! Love you tons Dylan!

Birthday Celebrations

2009-04-05T19:37:00.003-05:00

So we finally got around to celebrating our poor, neglected fourth child's birthday. We were only two days late, which just proves the fact that lately, we are busy people. However, Timothy wasn't disappointed. Between the yummy cake and presents, we certainly made it up to him. He looks pretty pleased to me. What do you think?

Happy Birthday Timothy

2009-04-03T12:14:00.012-05:00

As You Turn One

Time flies fast when you’re nearing one,
So much to learn, so much fun.
Peek-a-boo, learning to talk,
Eating it all, learning to walk.
Loving to laugh and giggle and play,
Enjoying every moment of every day.
But while you innocently watch each day go by,
You’re unaware of the sighs we sigh . . .
For you’re growing up too fast for us.
We’ve seen it before and we know you must.
Soon you’ll be two, then three, then ten,
And we’ll look at you and wonder and say, “When?”
When did he grow up? How can this be?
Wasn’t it yesterday he looked up at me . . .
And reached for my arms . . .
And smiled that sweet smile . . .
And we prayed,
“Keep him little for still a little while.”

Just arrived!

Proud Parents

All cleaned up

Go No. 2!

2009-03-27T14:51:00.005-05:00

Our Cub Scout Pack had it's annual Pinewood Derby on Wednesday night. Jonathan insisted on designing his car to look like a No. 2 pencil. With a lot of help from dad and the midnight hour, it came out so AWESOME! He did all the painting himself, and I helped with the weights. Overall he had a great race, coming in the top 4, which qualifies him for the district Pinewood Derby. I hear those are pretty brutal, filled with "Derby Dads" (you know, kind of like Pageant Moms). We'll probably skip that event, and just call the whole thing worth it!

Home Renovations

2009-03-14T12:56:00.003-05:00

It has become apparently clear to us that having four children requires a lot of extras, not only mentally and emotionally, but physically. This is why we have decided to convert one of the attic spaces into a bedroom and bathroom. Emily is the lucky recipient of this new space because, let's face it, girls need their own bathroom. Also, once being an adolescent girl, which Emily will soon be, I would have loved a space to call my own and to hide all my "girly" paraphernalia. Hopefully the renovations will be finished by summer. We'll keep you posted.

What is He Thinking?

2009-03-10T14:43:00.006-05:00

Whenever it warms up outside I too get the urge to strip down to the bare essentials - underwear and shoes. Dylan apparently has grasped this concept as well. It usually does not end well when a mother finds a trail of clothes leading to a partially dressed little boy swinging on the playset and collecting the mail. But, in this case I just laughed and grabbed the camera. Kids are clueless and I love it!

!

We're Back

2009-01-15T20:34:00.004-06:00

After a long vacation from the blogging world, I am happy to say that we are back. I'd like to say that posting comes as easily as being a mother of four, but let's be honest, it is just as hard and time consuming. To summarize, I will try harder to keep you updated on our family. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures of our wonderful Christmas holiday. Love to you all!

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-30T19:34:00.003-06:00

This year our family spent Thanksgiving in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with my sister Allison and her family. The cousins were all thrilled to see eachother and spent every moment possible together. The food was excellent, as usual. Jonathan had a minor bike accident, evidenced by the scraped up face. Other than that, we had an excellent break full of late-night card games,lots of movies, and family photos. Thanks Allison and Greg for everything! Love ya tons!!

Halloween

2008-11-03T12:08:00.005-06:00

Aren't my little goblins adorable? Trick-or-Treating and three other Halloween parties made this Halloween one to remember. We truly love this time of year!

Another Tag

2008-10-14T21:37:00.010-05:00

The rules are:

* Link to the person who tagged you (Valerie - http://thebrackenfamily.blogspot.com/)

*Post the rules on your blog

*Write six random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself

* Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them

* Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog* Let the tagger know when your entry is posted

Okay, here goes:

1. Somebody once told me I looked like Mayim Bialik from the show "Blossom". I wanted to die!!

2. I hate my legs! Cankles run in my family. Never will I be seen in shorts or a short skirt. I hear there is a liposuction type surgery for this - I am considering it.

3. I like to pick/pluck things, whether it be eyebrows, fingernails, wierd skin, or gray hairs. I like finding weird things on my body or my kids' bodies and going to town.

4. I have a tattoo on my right foot. It was the stupidest decision (at age 19) I've made so far in my life, and dread it every time my kids ask about it. I just tell them that I let someone draw on me and it never came off, and that is why they shouldn't draw on themselves.

5. I once had a mole removed from an unmentionable location. Don't ask!

6. Watching "The Bachelor" is one of my guilty pleasures. Jason from the last show is up next!

I now tag Heather M., Andra, Renee, Mia, Allison L., and Susan H.

"Four" Tag

2008-10-06T16:37:00.005-05:00

For this tag, I am supposed to post my fourth photo in my fourth photo file, and then tag four people. This is my nephew Matthew at about 9 months I guess. He is now five years old. I now tag Val, Carey, Kaycee, and Janet. You're it!

All Better

2008-10-01T08:53:00.003-05:00

A band-aid can cure any ailment, right? Well, this is the assumption Dylan makes every time he hurts himself. Last night, while taking a bath, he got soap in his eyes. Of course he cried and complained about the burning and insisted he needed a band-aid. I tried to explain that you can't put one on your eye for obvious reasons. He dropped the subject after my explanation. However, a few minutes later, he approached me with the scene in the photo and said, "There, feels better." I love him!!

Timothy

2008-09-28T17:53:00.004-05:00

Take a look at our cute baby! He is growing so fast - almost six months old. I love these pictures of him. Just wanted to share. I hope you think he is as adorable as our family does.

Happy Birthday Jon!

2008-09-16T16:08:00.002-05:00

I know this is a little late, however, I wanted to wish our dear daddy and hubby a happy 35th birthday. Aren't we all getting so old?

Anxiously Waiting

2008-09-16T15:59:00.002-05:00

Whenever Dylan suspects it is about time for the school bus carrying Jonathan and Emily to arrive, I can find him by the window watching and waiting. On this particular day he fell asleep during his anticipation. I could not resist taking these pictures. The Spiderman costume adds a nice innocent touch, don't you think?

First Foods

2008-09-16T15:52:00.003-05:00

We have come upon a baby milestone in our household. Our little Timothy is no longer relying on his mother for all his nutrional needs. He is a little messy, but with practice, feeding from a spoon will be sweet victory.

First Photo

2008-08-22T14:28:00.003-05:00

I finally got around to having Timothy's picture taken. Call it fourth/last child syndrome, whatever it is, I simply did not have the time or enthusiasm as I had with my first child. Maybe enthusiasm is not the right word, I am certainly enthusiastic about Timothy himself, just not for going out with kids in general - it is a lot of work! Anyway, the pictures turned out adorable!

Weird Boy

2008-08-18T14:17:00.003-05:00

Dylan has been acting a little strange lately. On this day, I found him lounging in the baby's swing wearing my shower cap and a set of pretend "white trash" teeth. He has always been silly, however, since the baby arrived, this behavior has escalated substantially. Warning: this behavior is not always silly, it is also torturous and makes me want to pull my hair out at times. We still love him!

First Day of School

2008-08-11T12:54:00.003-05:00

As far as the school schedule is concerned, summer is officially over today. Jonathan and Emily are now in the 4th and 2nd grades. They seemed anxious, excited, and nervous about this day, but I assured them they would each have a great school year filled with new friends, experiences, and knowledge. I hope I am right.

Jonathan and Emily anxiously waiting
Waiting for the bus at our house with some neighborhood friends

Growing So Fast

2008-08-03T16:51:00.005-05:00

Our sweet baby Timothy is 4 months old today! Time sure has passed quickly, despite the lack of sleep and overall exhaustion. He truly lights up our family with his adorable smiles and laughter. We love you Timothy!

Sisters

2008-08-01T13:57:00.006-05:00

We had the privilege of having my two sisters, Allison and Valerie, and their children visit us a few weeks ago. I must say, I have not laughed that hard in a long time. There is something only my sisters possess that causes me to laugh in hysterics. We spent a lot of time at our neighborhood pool, going to and watching movies, celebrating birthdays, lots of talking, and just hanging out. Oh, and all those "essential" diet coke runs. Thanks again, gals, for all the fun and laughs. Sisters are the best. COME BACK SOON!!!! I miss you like no other!

Me, Valerie, and Allison

All the cousins minus Drew and Seth
Blake
Carter and Dylan

Carter, Jonathan, and Emily blowing out their birthay candles

Matthew

Celebration for July birthdays

Nikki

Timothy and Nikki

Happy Birthday Emily

2008-07-30T22:27:00.004-05:00

Our sweet Emily turned 7 years old today. She will have some great memories of this day. She was in charge of all the activites so she decided to start the celebration with a delicious lunch at Moe's followed by a movie (WALL-E). Spagetti and meatballs was her choice for dinner, and let's not forget cake and ice cream. Her gifts were plentiful including lots of new school clothes, 10 pairs of earrings, a family board game, manicure supplies, and wooden stamps. Happy Birthday Emily. You are cherished!!! Don't you love her first baby picture?

Big baby Emily at 10 lb. 2 oz. - July 30, 2001 - El Paso, TX

Emily now - 7 years old

Happy Birthday Jonathan

2008-07-27T22:11:00.007-05:00

Jonathan turned 9 years old today - the last of the single digits! He is growing and maturing so fast. Where hast the time gone? Yesterday we celebrated with our friends Royce and Brandon at Red Robin. Today we celebrated with just our family at home. I made his favorite meal ever - porcupine meatballs. Jonathan also received some very exciting gifts including two new Wii games, a Nintendo DS, some new school clothes, and a new bicycle. Of course we finished off the night with some yummy cake. Happy Birthday Jonathan! We love you so much!

Timothy's Blessing

2008-07-06T20:52:00.005-05:00

Our precious son, Timothy, was blessed today by his father in church today. For those of you unfimiliar with this occasion, it is similar to a christening. He did surpisingly well during the prayer. For those of you who have been in his presence, you know he is a very fussy baby, so for him to stay peaceful for that period of time is shocking. Isn't he handsome in his little suit? We love him tons!!

4th of July

2008-07-06T20:36:00.006-05:00

Plenty of visitors came our way to celebrate America's birthday. Jon's parents, brother James, and his family joined us for some customary Independence Day festivities. Fireworks, a BBQ, and swimming filled the day. Here are some fun pictures from that day. Don't you love Dylan's frightened face?

Dylan looking at the fireworks

Emily looking pretty with her explosives Dylan and Timothy
Ezra, Noa, Ella, and Timothy posing

Jonathan's cheesy grin

Daddy-Daughter Date

2008-06-26T13:04:00.004-05:00

Jon and Emily attended a daddy-daughter date lastnight at our church. This included a picnic dinner and I'm not quite sure what else, except that Emily had a great time with her father. Surely, there will be more of these types of dates since Emily is the only girl in our family. Save a date for me, Jon, okay? Aren't they cute?

Cute Baby

2008-06-26T12:56:00.001-05:00

I just had to post these adorable pictures of our baby, Timothy. He is growing so fast! We love him to pieces!

Camping Trip

2008-06-23T13:35:00.004-05:00

A weekend camping trip with Jon and the kids meant a full 24 hours with just myself and baby Timothy. I got a lot done around the house which includes a list I won't bore you with. I crammed in all things possible with just one child at home. Thanks, Jon, for the much needed freedom, even if it was just one night! Here are some highlights from their trip.

Girl's Day

2008-06-23T12:57:00.005-05:00

Emily had her Murfreesboro friend Addison over for a sleepover and some girly fun last week. They made a list of all the girly things they had to accomplish in two days. On this list was: paint nails, make hairbows, go swimming, put on makeup, make bracelets, and bake cookies. They did everything except bracelets. Thanks, Addison, for all the fun times!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-23T12:47:00.003-05:00

Happy Father's Day Jon! We think you are the best dad around! Thanks for all you do for our family. We love you!

Bad Hair Day

2008-06-23T12:42:00.003-05:00

This picture is for my cousin, Carey, who collects bad hair pictures. I thought this one of Dylan would qualify in her Bad Hair Hall of Fame. If you are wondering about the dazed look on his face, he just woke from a nap.

Jonathan the 3rd Grade Performer

2008-06-01T16:23:00.003-05:00

Some of you may have noticed our absence this last month. May was a busy month for us. School let out, doctor appointments, classroom parties and performances. Oh, and that small task of taking care of a newborn. Here are some highlights from the last few weeks.

Third grade was good to Jonathan. He left with excellent grades and some awesome friends. Here are some pictures from his end-of-the-year performance. Keep in mind, that is him in the red shirt pulling his hair out acting like a goofball as usual. Nice work Jonathan!

Go Emily!

2008-06-01T16:15:00.003-05:00

It is the end of first grade for Emily. Her teacher awarded each child a certificate stating what she thought they contributed to the classroom and the child's personal achievements. Emily was given the award for being a good reader and having a great sense of humor. She is those things and so much more! Keep up the good work Emily! We love you.

Baby Smiles

2008-06-01T16:01:00.004-05:00

Timothy is finally at the point in his little life where he can respond to all of our "baby talk" with a smile. I was able to capture a couple on camera, however, these photos do not do him justice.

Rainy Day Fun

2008-06-01T15:45:00.004-05:00

A lot of rain has come our way lately, and with the kids out of school, that can only mean boredom. Emily is my arts and crafts girl, so she and I decided to get creative. We rolled out a long sheet of paper over our bar, and she and Dylan got to work. I told them to use whatever means of creativity they wanted, just keep it on the paper please! Hours went by without a peep or complaint. Happy little artists have I!

Happy 3rd Birthday Dylan!

2008-04-28T20:30:00.005-05:00

Dylan got a new bicycle!
Party Time
Jonathan, Emily, and the Birthday Boy.
Happy three-year-old!

Dylan's Birthday gifts.

Three is a Wonderful Number to Be!

2008-04-28T20:17:00.005-05:00

Happy Birthday Dylan! We cannot believe you are already three years old. You have become quite the young man. We love your mischevious smile and your silly personality. We cannot imagine our family without you. You are one amazing kid and we love you so much! Have a great year! Here is a recap of your life each year on this date.

Dylan is born
Dylan turns one.

Dylan turns two. Dylan turns three.

A little worried

2008-04-22T12:16:00.006-05:00

Needless to say, my life is a little hectic at the moment. The first picture made me laugh, but cringe at the same time. That could be my mess to deal with in the near future. I am wondering how the summer will play out with two children who bore quite easily, a toddler, and a newborn. Since I love them to pieces, I'm hopeful all will run smoothly. Just look at them - how could it not? Worrying is for the weak, right?

Thanks Mom and Dad!

2008-04-15T20:02:00.004-05:00

My parents left this morning after a week-long visit with our family and to help with the new baby. It is amazing how seven days fly by. You will be sorely missed. Thanks so much for all your help while you were here. Check in on me every now and then to see that I'm still in tact. Come back soon!

Baby Timothy

2008-04-12T12:45:00.003-05:00

Here are the latest pics of our new baby boy. We love him so much and are delighted to have him join our family.

Welcome Baby Boy!

2008-04-04T09:50:00.007-05:00

Timothy Cox Duke

Born April 3, 2008

10 lb. 1 oz.

21" long

Here are the latest shots of the family with him at the hospital

Baby Shower

2008-04-01T10:41:00.003-05:00

A big "Thank You" to all of you who helped or attended my baby shower last Friday. I feel so grateful for your generosity and friendship! You are all wonderful. I thought you might enjoy some pictures from the event.

Some of you have been asking about my condition and when this baby is going to make his debut. Well, as of yesterday, this baby is measuring 9 lb. 15 oz.! I am still two weeks from my actual due date, however, I am meeting with my doctor tomorrow morning to discuss plans for and induction or C-section. I am unsure about which procedure is best. This baby is only going to get bigger, so I can't imagine going on much longer. Any advice on what to do? I would greatly appreciate your input.

St. Patrick's Day Jinx

2008-03-17T14:31:00.003-05:00

I recall another St. Patrick's Day two years ago when our little accident prone Dylan was sent to the clinic for stitches on his cheek(see photo). And here we are again on the same day in 2008 visiting the clinic for another set of stiches, this time on his head. He was quite the brave little boy. He didn't move a muscle during the prodedure. At least it won't leave another scar on his face. Dylan now bears three laceration scars on his sweet face.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

2008-03-17T14:13:00.004-05:00

Aren't Jonathan and Emily creative? To celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday last week, the kids were asked to wear a crazy hat after the book "The Cat in the Hat." I was pretty impressed with their creativity by finding ordinary things around the house to make a hat to wear to school that day.

Toothless

2008-03-06T15:20:00.006-06:00

My teeth fell out and left a space,
So big my tongue could touch my face
And every time I smile I show,
A space where something used to grow,
I miss my teeth as you can guess.
But then, I have to BRUSH TWO LESS!

Jonathan the Cub Scout

2008-02-28T20:15:00.002-06:00

Jonathan had a big night this past Tuesday. At the annual Blue and Gold Cub Scout Banquet Jonathan received a handful of awards. That's me giving him his awards. I am also blessed to be the Asst. Wolf Leader of Jonathan's den. Way to go Jonathan!!

Wakulla Springs, FL

2008-02-21T17:32:00.002-06:00

During our trip to Florida last week, we stopped in Wakulla Springs in Tallahassee to see some wildlife. It was like being in the jungle - swamp creatures everywhere, even in February. The kids were amazed at all the manatees, alligators, and turtles we saw! We hope to do this again sometime.

Disney World

2008-02-21T17:18:00.002-06:00

Our family had the opportunity to attend a business trip with Jon's company to Orlando, FL. What a nice getaway! Disney World was a blast! Being first-timers, the kids were a little overwhelmed with all the activity and fun. The weather was perfect - just like Spring!

Need a Good Read?

2008-01-21T11:17:00.000-06:00

My sister Valerie has gotten me hooked on a new series of books by Stephenie Meyer. She was so certain I would like them, she sent me the first book in the series, Twilight, just to prove her point. At first I thought she was a little ridiculous for liking them so much - afterall, they are about vampires! Okay Val, you are right. They are absolutely fabulous! Go to your local library and check them out! After one week, I am halfway through the second book.

Our New Addiction

2008-01-21T11:05:00.000-06:00

Since the kids received a Wii for Christmas, it was only apporpriate that we get Guitar Hero. I cannot believe how obsessed my family (adults included) has become with this new game craze! I now have to limit the time spent playing, otherwise it would be on all day!

Sledding at Soldier Hollow

2008-01-21T10:58:00.000-06:00

Jonathan, Emily, and Dylan had a blast sledding in Utah. Being pregnant, I was not able to go, but from the looks of these pictures, they forgave my absence. Wish I could have been there!

Merry Christmas

2007-12-10T14:49:00.001-06:00

The Christmas season is here and our family got busy decorating for the biggest celebration of all. We have a lot to be thankful for this year - a healthy family, great friends, and soon, a new baby boy. What we are most grateful for, however, is the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I get such a warm feeling in my heart thinking about all the blessings He has given me and my family. He is our greatest friend and example.

Sunday Walk in the Park

2007-11-18T20:21:00.000-06:00

This afternoon the family took a walk around Winstead Hill Park Civil War Site. We tried our hardest to get the kids to sit still long enough to take a decent picture. Dylan in incapable of sitting still, so most of these shots are candid. He did sit still on his dad's shoulders. It is my favorite shot!

2007-11-15T20:37:00.000-06:00

We had a lot of fun camping at Center Hill Lake, TN during Fall Break in October. The kids found a vine to swing from on our campsite - super fun! We felt lucky to have a pop-up camper to make camp life a little easier. This is a vacation we wil definitely repeat!

2007-11-14T16:38:00.001-06:00

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body. Elizabeth Stone

2007-11-14T15:15:00.000-06:00

We are having a baby! So, I just returned from my ultrasound appointment. It's a BOY! We are thrilled and excited to be having a healthy baby. We are truly blessed! He is due in early/mid April.

Trick- or- Treat

2007-10-31T16:51:00.000-05:00

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays. This year Jonathan dressed up as a knight, Emily a spider princess, and Dylan went as Spiderman! Adorable!