<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171</id><updated>2011-08-17T17:25:19.902-07:00</updated><title type='text'>and then some....</title><subtitle type='html'>This is my blog... it could be interesting, could be boring...but it is about my life and that is most definitely worth writing down....enjoy!</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default?start-index=101&amp;max-results=100'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>207</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-6683054784219830175</id><published>2010-09-15T09:34:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-15T09:37:44.266-07:00</updated><title type='text'>New blog</title><content type='html'>Hello my fellow bloggers. &lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I have a new blog and will no longer be posting on this one. Please add the following blog to your lists of reads ;)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.maurasstories.blogspot.com/"&gt;http://www.maurasstories.blogspot.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I hope to see you all over there. Thanks for keeping up with me!!!!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-6683054784219830175?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/6683054784219830175/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=6683054784219830175&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6683054784219830175'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6683054784219830175'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/new-blog.html' title='New blog'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-866645680439726230</id><published>2010-09-08T18:16:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-08T18:19:21.456-07:00</updated><title type='text'>So Happy!</title><content type='html'>Really what else can I really say? I am so incredibly happy. I love my handsome loving husband. I love my beautiful children. I love my wonderful family. All of them are the light of my life and I am sooo grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to have them in my life. Each one of them makes me a better person just by knowing them!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am in Heaven on earth!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-866645680439726230?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/866645680439726230/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=866645680439726230&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/866645680439726230'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/866645680439726230'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/so-happy.html' title='So Happy!'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-411174543984199213</id><published>2010-08-31T12:02:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-31T12:04:35.472-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Its almost here</title><content type='html'>FOUR DAYS!!!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am so excited to have all my siblings here, I'm so excited for girls night on Friday (me and my sista's) I'm so excited to see his face when I walk down the isle and I can't wait to go on the honeymoon.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I just can't wait to be able to tell the world that he is my husband!!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;YAY!!!!!!!!!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-411174543984199213?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/411174543984199213/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=411174543984199213&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/411174543984199213'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/411174543984199213'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-almost-here.html' title='Its almost here'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1287255076694684488</id><published>2010-08-26T09:00:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-26T09:03:08.264-07:00</updated><title type='text'>COUNT DOWN</title><content type='html'>9 DAYS!!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;we are in single digit days here people!!!! SINGLE DIGET DAYS!!!!!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1287255076694684488?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1287255076694684488/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1287255076694684488&amp;isPopup=true' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1287255076694684488'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1287255076694684488'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/count-down.html' title='COUNT DOWN'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1183283543999490380</id><published>2010-08-24T14:50:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-24T14:53:09.999-07:00</updated><title type='text'>11 Days</title><content type='html'>Only 11 days left people!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm sooo excited!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I love and adore him so much its sometimes hard to breath. I can't wait to be with him for the rest of my life. I can't wait to be able to tell the world that we are married, that he is mine and only mine!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can't wait to be Mrs. Snyder forever&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1183283543999490380?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1183283543999490380/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1183283543999490380&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1183283543999490380'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1183283543999490380'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/11-days.html' title='11 Days'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5023347981292506261</id><published>2010-08-19T11:26:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-19T11:27:20.533-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Thats pretty dang cool</title><content type='html'>I go on Failblog a lot. Mostly is funny/stupid people doing funny/stupid stuff but sometimes they will put a WIN on there...of someone doing something awesome. This is one of those people.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://failblog.org/2010/08/19/epic-fail-video-street-performer-win/"&gt;http://failblog.org/2010/08/19/epic-fail-video-street-performer-win/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;check it out. I think this guy is pretty awesome.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5023347981292506261?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5023347981292506261/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5023347981292506261&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5023347981292506261'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5023347981292506261'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/thats-pretty-dang-cool.html' title='Thats pretty dang cool'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8867520931537655891</id><published>2010-08-10T12:23:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-10T12:35:19.167-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Awesome!</title><content type='html'>The kitchen and sink in particular faces the road. So you can look out and see people walking or cars roaming.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yesterday, while doing dishes, Brian and I saw something Awesome. A dad jogging....with his obviously struggling, too young to be in this kind of condition, over-weight little girl. She had to be around 9-10 and she was easily 90-100 pounds. She was red faces, panting and hating her father from the looks of it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I just thought it was great! how many of our youth are horribly over weight and how many parents not only ignore the issue but contribute to it by allowing poor eating habits and inactivity to keep up, thinking 'the schools will fix it' or 'I don't have the time or money to fix a healthy meal' or 'they are happy...why push it if they are fine'&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-Schools should not take the place of parent...they are a tool not a solution.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-It takes about 30 minutes to sit in line at a fast food restaurant get home, unpack the food and eat it. Takes about 40 minutes to bake chicken, green beans and rice and beleive it or not...probably cost less then a night at McDonalds&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-They are &lt;em&gt;not&lt;/em&gt; happy...they don't' know the difference and it will just keep getting worse.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Breaks my heart to see an elementary school kid breathing heavy just getting to the play ground let alone running around with the rest of the kids. So kudos to this dad...who is doing something about it in his daughters life! I applaud you!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8867520931537655891?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8867520931537655891/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8867520931537655891&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8867520931537655891'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8867520931537655891'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/awesome.html' title='Awesome!'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3796270595844938452</id><published>2010-08-04T19:44:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-04T20:01:52.518-07:00</updated><title type='text'>1st day of school</title><content type='html'>So Monday the 2nd of August my girls started school. Five years ago I knew this day would come. I knew I was going to be a blubber face watching my child take one more step away from me and into the world....little did I know it was going to be timsed by three. Three little cuties I walked to the door and let go of their tiny hands. Three angels I gave a hug and kiss goodbye and three little voices said "I love you mommy" as they happily took on the challenge of starting a new thing. I won't lie....as soon as I got in the car I cried for a solid five minutes before I even turned on the engine. I'm getting emotional just writing this. Its really quiet silly actually but there it is.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomqpsSG3I/AAAAAAAAAS8/mHjp0e3ld2I/s1600/Super+cute.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501752408974433138" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomqpsSG3I/AAAAAAAAAS8/mHjp0e3ld2I/s400/Super+cute.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Juliet, Bethanie and Breana. They really do love each other when they want too! :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomjzXNGaI/AAAAAAAAAS0/PjKAg_zuX38/s1600/Brian+and+Girls+1.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501752291311294882" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomjzXNGaI/AAAAAAAAAS0/PjKAg_zuX38/s400/Brian+and+Girls+1.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Picture with daddy before he left for work.  *side note: can I just say he is just so stinking handsome!!! I can't even stand it. ....ok back to the girls.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomc9mydhI/AAAAAAAAASs/_xOf0e3hyRk/s1600/Maura+and+Girls.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501752173801928210" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomc9mydhI/AAAAAAAAASs/_xOf0e3hyRk/s400/Maura+and+Girls.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Me with my girls. Don't know if you can tell....my eyes are already red. But look at those faces! they are soo excited!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomVJiosyI/AAAAAAAAASk/iLBmhdHhGaY/s1600/so+cute.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501752039566783266" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomVJiosyI/AAAAAAAAASk/iLBmhdHhGaY/s400/so+cute.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;SISTERS!   really? is there anything better?!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomLPa7NiI/AAAAAAAAASc/JhvR0dbr6Vo/s1600/Breana.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501751869346362914" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomLPa7NiI/AAAAAAAAASc/JhvR0dbr6Vo/s400/Breana.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Breana :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomFCNkOnI/AAAAAAAAASU/K7kceFf-UpA/s1600/Bethanie.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501751762721454706" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomFCNkOnI/AAAAAAAAASU/K7kceFf-UpA/s400/Bethanie.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bethanie&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFol9LcYxpI/AAAAAAAAASM/Yr8cREaCtmA/s1600/Juliet.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501751627760584338" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFol9LcYxpI/AAAAAAAAASM/Yr8cREaCtmA/s400/Juliet.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Juliet...she insisted on posing...such a goof.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFol02b_wPI/AAAAAAAAASE/0mbXZv3FNCo/s1600/all+grown+up.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501751484682846450" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFol02b_wPI/AAAAAAAAASE/0mbXZv3FNCo/s400/all+grown+up.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I just love this picture. Bethanie, Breana and Juliet.....My three big girls.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3796270595844938452?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3796270595844938452/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3796270595844938452&amp;isPopup=true' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3796270595844938452'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3796270595844938452'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/1st-day-of-school.html' title='1st day of school'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TFomqpsSG3I/AAAAAAAAAS8/mHjp0e3ld2I/s72-c/Super+cute.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8401219793386380656</id><published>2010-07-30T10:09:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-07-30T10:16:49.961-07:00</updated><title type='text'>wahhoooo</title><content type='html'>One month and five days till I marry the absolute love of my life!!!!&lt;br /&gt;Three days till school starts for the girls and we don't have to pay day care anymore.&lt;br /&gt;About seven months till I'm done with consumer credit.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That will be an extra $1200 a month I will be saving...yes people you read that right, close to Twelve Hundred dollars I am spending currently on day care and consumer credit. I have no idea how I've survived....the Lord that's for dang sure!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can't wait to start being able to save instead of living paycheck to paycheck. I can't wait to be with my love for the rest of always....to buy a house with him, to have babie(s) with him, to raise our family the best way we know how!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm so very glad I have such wonderful parents to use as an example. They are simply fantastic!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm just all around in a great place. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8401219793386380656?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8401219793386380656/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8401219793386380656&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8401219793386380656'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8401219793386380656'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/wahhoooo.html' title='wahhoooo'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3495111810914894784</id><published>2010-07-27T19:09:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-07-27T19:18:51.136-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Why Juliet will never have to eat frogs leg's.</title><content type='html'>background: in our house, you have to at least try whatever is put in front of you before you say you don't like it. Its a rule I will always enforce (side note: I will never make my children eat anything I wouldn't consider putting in my own mouth)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I like to egg my kids on.....ask them why a billion times when they are trying to explain something and what not...Its fun and I'm the mom so I get to do that. Most of the time they will just get frustrated with my game and just laugh or say 'Mooooommmyyyy' in that 'please stop talking' whine. But occasionally they will come up with a perfect answer and stump even them best of them...aka me! ;~)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The following conversation took place last week while driving home:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mom: Aunt Rina is coming over to watch you. And she is getting pizza&lt;br /&gt;Juliet: YAY&lt;br /&gt;Mom: oh but the pizza isn't for you, you get to have frogs legs&lt;br /&gt;Juliet: seriously mom? that's gross&lt;br /&gt;Mom: Yes and how do you know they are gross?&lt;br /&gt;Juliet: cause my mouth told me so&lt;br /&gt;Mom: have you ever tried them?&lt;br /&gt;Juliet: umm..NOOOO&lt;br /&gt;Mom: then how do you know you wouldn't like them if you haven't' even tried them&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(dramatic pause)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet: Because that is how Jesus made me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well you can't really argue with that now can you! And that my friends is why Juliet will never have to eat frogs leg's...at least not at my table. To bad she didn't save that awesome answer for spinach or green beans. :D&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3495111810914894784?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3495111810914894784/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3495111810914894784&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3495111810914894784'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3495111810914894784'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-juliet-will-never-have-to-eat-frogs.html' title='Why Juliet will never have to eat frogs leg&apos;s.'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4717468112453536135</id><published>2010-07-19T15:42:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-07-19T16:01:54.865-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Best thing about sisters...</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TETY7tETP_I/AAAAAAAAAR0/zjWaSFBTcVc/s1600/Beth+sleep.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495755965520363506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TETY7tETP_I/AAAAAAAAAR0/zjWaSFBTcVc/s400/Beth+sleep.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TETYr7iRx6I/AAAAAAAAARs/wEuvtrB3r5Y/s1600/Juliet+sleep.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495755694526285730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TETYr7iRx6I/AAAAAAAAARs/wEuvtrB3r5Y/s400/Juliet+sleep.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495751711793119490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TETVEGssgQI/AAAAAAAAARc/wWpt0ZzotM4/s400/Bre+sleep.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495756061626294130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TETZBTFvX3I/AAAAAAAAAR8/UFjD3d8KxG8/s400/sleep+over.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sleep overs! :D even if it just in &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;each others&lt;/span&gt; room. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4717468112453536135?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4717468112453536135/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4717468112453536135&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4717468112453536135'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4717468112453536135'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/best-thing-about-sisters.html' title='Best thing about sisters...'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TETY7tETP_I/AAAAAAAAAR0/zjWaSFBTcVc/s72-c/Beth+sleep.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1314262984571632605</id><published>2010-07-13T11:22:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-07-13T11:37:20.956-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Beach Day.</title><content type='html'>The Musgroves (family friends) invited us to go the lake on Sat. They went up early and got an awesome spot.  We came up later after my class and the girls got right into the water!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We stayed up there for six hours! It was super nice. Sun was hot, water was cold, food was yum and company was wonderful. I hope we do it again soon!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvxgHhvgI/AAAAAAAAARU/YZoCHvEaSQM/s1600/JBB1.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493458910455119362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvxgHhvgI/AAAAAAAAARU/YZoCHvEaSQM/s400/JBB1.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet, Bethanie and Breana....cute aren't they?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyviotIaII/AAAAAAAAAQ8/VkrdO7yvEc0/s1600/Juliet.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493458655062288514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyviotIaII/AAAAAAAAAQ8/VkrdO7yvEc0/s400/Juliet.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Juliet... who is usually terrified of the water went up all the way to her neck and even paddled out on a little raft all by herself (not to far, but far enough to get a nice dunk if she were to have fallen off - hence the constant presence of arm floaties!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvfXGmcUI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/oLPl06__eEg/s1600/Breana.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493458598797668674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvfXGmcUI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/oLPl06__eEg/s400/Breana.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Breana. :) her little arms are almost none existent with those arm floaties. I kept having flash backs to The Christmas Story and how Ralphy's brother couldn't put his arms down. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I didn't get an individual picture of Bethanie. She seemed to want to be difficult in regards to taking a picture for me. O well...maybe next time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvZdFBvDI/AAAAAAAAAQs/YmdcJg1ceqQ/s1600/JBB2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493458497322466354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvZdFBvDI/AAAAAAAAAQs/YmdcJg1ceqQ/s400/JBB2.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Having a bit of a snack. Gotta stay fuelled for all the beach fun! I love Breana's face (in the middle)...pay no attention to the whale at the bottom of the screen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvJB4845I/AAAAAAAAAQk/rBDpwYPe9Z8/s1600/M3G.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493458215146152850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvJB4845I/AAAAAAAAAQk/rBDpwYPe9Z8/s400/M3G.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; This has to be one of my favorite pictures.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvAmMyojI/AAAAAAAAAQc/kSXTxY17JxI/s1600/BM.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493458070274220594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvAmMyojI/AAAAAAAAAQc/kSXTxY17JxI/s400/BM.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Me and my hunny. I just love this man!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When we got home we grilled up some hot dogs, washed off sand residue, watched a movie and then we all had a really good nights sleep!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Love summer. :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1314262984571632605?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1314262984571632605/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1314262984571632605&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1314262984571632605'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1314262984571632605'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/beach-day.html' title='Beach Day.'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TDyvxgHhvgI/AAAAAAAAARU/YZoCHvEaSQM/s72-c/JBB1.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2109728711040229237</id><published>2010-07-08T16:35:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-07-08T16:45:34.371-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Mommy eyes</title><content type='html'>Juliet is not one of those kids who dances around what she wants to say. She rarely is embarrassed and strait out tells you what she is doing or thinking if asked and sometimes when you don't ask.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yesterday I was drawing a bath ....ha that sounded so early 1900's....anyway I digress, I was drawing a bath for the girls when I walked in the bathroom to check the water for the girls and Juliet is on the potty...of course commanding her sisters to do something (even from the potty with her naked hiney she is bossy!). I tell the twins to go find jammies for after the bath and ask Juliet what she is doing (meaning why is she bossing her sisters around)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Poopin" is her answer. At this I do notice a nasty little oder and say "hecks ya you are thats stiiiiinky!" So then she tells me to "turn on the gross air sucker upper" (meaning the fan).  I hear giggles behind me and with out turning tell the twins to go find their jammies.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They are amazed by my skill to know exactly what they are doing (love those mommy skills) when I hear "how did she know that?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I walk out, flip on the fan, tell Juliet to hurry up. I'm halfway down the hall when I hear "cause she's got back of the head mommy eyes under her hair...now go find jammies" in that little bossy voice coming from atop the toilet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1: Juliet comes up with the funniest things to say.&lt;br /&gt;2: how on earth do children not have more nightmares when we are telling them we have eyes in the back of our heads....The vision that comes to my mind when she said that was terrifying. I wonder how I didn't' go running from my moms head every time she turned around. Crazziness.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2109728711040229237?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2109728711040229237/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2109728711040229237&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2109728711040229237'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2109728711040229237'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/mommy-eyes.html' title='Mommy eyes'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3591146336304500697</id><published>2010-07-01T08:59:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-07-01T09:08:22.938-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Ask and ye shal recieve...</title><content type='html'>My previous post was me freaking out about child care! well yesterday I got a call back from the school letting me know that they have a special program through the boys and girls club. They can be registered there at 5 &lt;em&gt;if &lt;/em&gt;they are registered at Sun Vally Elementary. Awesome... then I get a text from my sister who says she's got a friend who can do it as well. Nice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;so I have a main plan and a back up plan. Yes!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then I start chatting up the school lady...and she tells me that they have uniforms this year! hallelujah! I am all for uniforms. I think all schools should be in uniforms. Yes children should be able to express themselves but if we take away the ability to express through hoochie shorts and baggy pants then maybe these kids would start expressing through art, music or writing. I fully believe on putting everyone on a level playing field, make everyone equal and then go from there. It will be far easier for everyone to come in and know they are wearing the same things and not be judged on clothes, name brands and style.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So all in all....I'm a happy mom so far. We will see what the school year has in store for me. Last year I was preparing one child to go to kindergarten. Now I'm getting ready to see three start their little lives off as big girls.  I won't lie....its going to kill me! I'm going to be a wreck!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3591146336304500697?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3591146336304500697/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3591146336304500697&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3591146336304500697'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3591146336304500697'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/ask-and-ye-shal-recieve.html' title='Ask and ye shal recieve...'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-520796031544122808</id><published>2010-06-28T15:53:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-28T16:00:28.273-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Before/After School Care</title><content type='html'>I'm sure this is yet another reason I should be a stay at home mom....but just can't be that way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Why is it sooooo dang hard to find before/after school programs. Especially for Kindergartners. They are typically 5. 5 is old enough to start school....but apparently not old enough to be able to be watched in before/after school programs. All the ones I've looked up are 6.  And I love my girls dearly but they are all the same age so anywhere I do find that might take them at 5 will cost us an arm and a leg. We are talking about four hours here people! It shouldn't be where parents have to get two jobs just to afford care!!!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am going to talk to a member of our ward who is currently watching Juliet and see if she will be gracious enough to watch them for us. I'm not sure if it will work or if I'm going to have to miraculously change my works schedule to meet this outrageous need.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Lord will provide if I keep the faith......doesn't mean I can't get a bit frustrated along the way.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-520796031544122808?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/520796031544122808/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=520796031544122808&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/520796031544122808'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/520796031544122808'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/beforeafter-school-care.html' title='Before/After School Care'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8967526620921514824</id><published>2010-06-25T08:20:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-25T08:38:09.153-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Juliets Eye</title><content type='html'>Last night I came home from my book club and Juliet kept saying her eye hurt. So I took her in the bathroom and tried to look at her eye. She had it shut so tight I thought I would need the jaws of life to pry it open. I finally have to tell her to hug my waist tight so she'll leave her hands away from her face and pull her eye open.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ok so I'm thinking maybe an eyelash or something....no a huge clump of stuff animal stuffing. I won't lie at first I thought some worm or something had got stuck in her eye. I had an internal battle with the little girl me who wanted to slap at it, scream and run away and the the mother in me who desperately wanted to save my child's eye and whatever other evil might come from this nastiness. Luckily for Juliets face and my ego...mother me won, calmed down and realized it was stuffing and not worms.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I pull out piece by piece...some come out easily some don't. I wanted to pull all of it out at once but one she kept clamping her eye-lid down (I dont' blame her I would too) and two I didn't know if it had started to wrap around anything and didn't want to inadvertently pull her eyeball out (cause then scardy cat little girl in me would have won...hands down!).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I pull the last piece out and then run her open eye under water. It was red and swollen and she said it only hurt when she closed her eye. I explained that it was probably scratched. Then I asked her how the heck she got stuffing in her eye. She still has no clue.   Ya that's my kid!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This morning I ask her how her eye is and she says good, that it no longer hurt. I pulled her to me and started looking for myself. I pull her eye lid open and examine it like a mother should.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Are you sure it doesn't hurt" I ask&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Well if you dont' squish it!" she replies in a heeeeelllllooooo voice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Brian and I both started busting up. Ya...she's def my daughter.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8967526620921514824?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8967526620921514824/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8967526620921514824&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8967526620921514824'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8967526620921514824'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/juliets-eye.html' title='Juliets Eye'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-539906308268138562</id><published>2010-06-18T16:30:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-18T16:33:49.814-07:00</updated><title type='text'>June 18th, 2010</title><content type='html'>Today is a Friday. Nothing unusual about this Friday. It was sunny, warm and all around pleasant. I worked all day. Had lunch with my handsome husband to be and laughed a lot with co-workers&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I feel the need to say its a very important day. Could be important to different people for different reasons. If its not important to you...make it.  :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That's pretty much all I have to say about that.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-539906308268138562?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/539906308268138562/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=539906308268138562&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/539906308268138562'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/539906308268138562'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/june-18th-2010.html' title='June 18th, 2010'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2494200521746311623</id><published>2010-06-14T19:24:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-14T19:56:46.722-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Engagement Pictures.</title><content type='html'>&lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;While my sister was in town, she took some engagement pictures of Brian and I. Here are a few of my favorites. We only picked three for the invites so I'm posting the rest that I really liked.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Hope you like them. :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482824762483899922" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBboEn2RfhI/AAAAAAAAAQU/f81BqqYV7Co/s400/DSC_0373.JPG" /&gt;This is one that I picked for the invites. I love it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbn7_rW8UI/AAAAAAAAAQM/Ycknr75xAHE/s1600/DSC_0367.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482824614261748034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbn7_rW8UI/AAAAAAAAAQM/Ycknr75xAHE/s400/DSC_0367.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; This is the main picture for our invites. :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbn1pAKH7I/AAAAAAAAAQE/ut-o4JCzGHI/s1600/DSC_0358.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482824505095757746" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbn1pAKH7I/AAAAAAAAAQE/ut-o4JCzGHI/s400/DSC_0358.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; I just think this one is darling.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbnveqWNyI/AAAAAAAAAP8/-WoiFNxVHXU/s1600/DSC_0338.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482824399240705826" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbnveqWNyI/AAAAAAAAAP8/-WoiFNxVHXU/s400/DSC_0338.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; I absolutely love this one. We have so much fun together!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbnpL_X_II/AAAAAAAAAP0/KThBDIZoSnw/s1600/DSC_0327.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482824291149413506" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbnpL_X_II/AAAAAAAAAP0/KThBDIZoSnw/s400/DSC_0327.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Kissie face! this one also shows of my bling. haha&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482824180067491762" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbniuLYX7I/AAAAAAAAAPs/o5nB-B4ybbY/s400/DSC_0282.JPG" /&gt;I like this one cause Brian was making fun of me and totally over-exaggerating his face. Probably cause I kept saying "be happy, be happy....be happy hunny"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbncaFAnsI/AAAAAAAAAPk/PglIv7OXZ_g/s1600/DSC_0281.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482824071592844994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbncaFAnsI/AAAAAAAAAPk/PglIv7OXZ_g/s400/DSC_0281.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; This is the one we ended up using on our invites.....or one very similar to it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbnWUm2hTI/AAAAAAAAAPc/T3Nc-B4XSAo/s1600/DSC_0271.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482823967044961586" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbnWUm2hTI/AAAAAAAAAPc/T3Nc-B4XSAo/s400/DSC_0271.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Another one were we are laughing with/at each other. Aren't we cute?! haha.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482823510757279298" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbm7wzZBkI/AAAAAAAAAPE/xaOnIFSox2g/s400/DSC_0244.JPG" /&gt;This is just a cute one I think.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbnQaPLMfI/AAAAAAAAAPU/6Sx5Ox9ob6c/s1600/DSC_0265.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482823865477050866" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbnQaPLMfI/AAAAAAAAAPU/6Sx5Ox9ob6c/s400/DSC_0265.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; I love Brian's "Ya, I got it" look and the way my hair is flying around.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbnJtep41I/AAAAAAAAAPM/bDclXDqvZJ0/s1600/DSC_0263.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482823750383166290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbnJtep41I/AAAAAAAAAPM/bDclXDqvZJ0/s400/DSC_0263.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Almost used this one for the invites....but didn't. Absolutely love it. Totally shows off my eye color. :D and isn't he handsome!!!???!!!!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 6px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 11px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482823510757279298" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBbm7wzZBkI/AAAAAAAAAPE/xaOnIFSox2g/s400/DSC_0244.JPG" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well there you are. Me and my handsome soon to be husband. I can't wait to start my life with him!!!!!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Thanks Didder (Deborah) for capturing those wonderful moments for us.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2494200521746311623?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2494200521746311623/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2494200521746311623&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2494200521746311623'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2494200521746311623'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/engagement-pictures.html' title='Engagement Pictures.'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/TBboEn2RfhI/AAAAAAAAAQU/f81BqqYV7Co/s72-c/DSC_0373.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-576455025513204488</id><published>2010-06-08T15:27:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-08T15:33:23.345-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Getting closer.....</title><content type='html'>The wedding is getting closer (as you can see from my awesome countdown at the top of the screen. hehe).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Things that I've gotten done so far.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Booked Church&lt;br /&gt;Booked Bishop&lt;br /&gt;Booked Photog&lt;br /&gt;Printed up invites&lt;br /&gt;Done engagement pics&lt;br /&gt;Bought Dress&lt;br /&gt;Brides maids have picked out their dresses&lt;br /&gt;Figured out Flowers&lt;br /&gt;Figured out Dinner&lt;br /&gt;Figured out favors&lt;br /&gt;Figured out Center pieces&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Things that still need to be done.&lt;br /&gt;Final cake/cupcake decisions.&lt;br /&gt;Start buying dinner/centerpieces stuff&lt;br /&gt;Plan rehearsal and rehearsal dinner&lt;br /&gt;Have bridal shower/bachlorette party&lt;br /&gt;Buy Brian's ring&lt;br /&gt;Get tux&lt;br /&gt;Get dresses for girls&lt;br /&gt;put together music for reception&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;and I'm sure there are smaller details I still need to figure out and handle. Luckily for me I have some fantastic family who can help me do all this and know that I'm going to get all stressed out and still love me! :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm sooooo excited to be getting married to Brian. He is everything I've ever wanted and needed. I love him sooo much!!!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-576455025513204488?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/576455025513204488/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=576455025513204488&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/576455025513204488'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/576455025513204488'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/getting-closer.html' title='Getting closer.....'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3673977326927620825</id><published>2010-06-03T12:04:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-03T12:09:09.200-07:00</updated><title type='text'>A story by Juliet Duke</title><content type='html'>The following is a story Juliet told to Deborah and I. She simply cracks me up!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There were two birds. The girl bird has stinky feet. The boy bird told the girl bird she had stinky feet. The girl bird said "I don't' have stinky feet...its my shoes". "No" said the boy bird. "Put them on your feet and your feet will stink too" said the girl bird. So the boy bird put on the shoes and they figured out that the shoes made the birds feet smell. So then they became girlfriend and boyfriend because they both had 'snanky feet'.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;no joke...she actually said - stanky- and she held the 'a' for a second or two to put a little umph in it. It was HILARIOUS! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Love her stories.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3673977326927620825?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3673977326927620825/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3673977326927620825&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3673977326927620825'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3673977326927620825'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/story-by-juliet-duke.html' title='A story by Juliet Duke'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5410766395906818801</id><published>2010-05-25T14:26:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-25T14:33:02.479-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Good and Bad of Reno</title><content type='html'>I moved to Reno a bit ago and I absolutely love it here. I love my job, I love the city, I love being in the thick of it. Course its not as big as I would like it to be...but it will do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've always been a big city girl at heart...when I was little I dreamed of moving to New York. I would still love to but that just not feasible in our life plans.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;the down side of living in Reno...besides the traffic in the evening ;)  is missing out on my family. They live in Carson. My sister recently surprised everyone and came into town. I'm used to seeing her all the time when she is here and this time it has been different. I live 45 minutes away so its not like I can just pop on over and then be back in time to get children ready for bed and be in at a decent hour. Cause lets face it, when I get with my mom and sisters....we talk! :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I love them very much and I do miss them tons! but I love it here. Its where I'm suppose to be!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I just hope my family knows that I still love and adore them and I do miss being able to drive around the corner to have a chat or spend lots of time there when some of them come to visit!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5410766395906818801?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5410766395906818801/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5410766395906818801&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5410766395906818801'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5410766395906818801'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/05/good-and-bad-of-reno.html' title='Good and Bad of Reno'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1025287409518294872</id><published>2010-05-18T14:33:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-18T14:41:02.994-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Dunked</title><content type='html'>Brian...the absolute love of my life became a member of the LDS church on Saturday May 15th. He has been coming to church with me since a few weeks after we started dating. He took the lessons on his own and decided to get baptized.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I won't lie, it made me super super happy! I think he has the potential to do great things in our church and uphold the priesthood to its fullest. He says he would like to take me to the temple one day. I hope that is a goal we can achieve someday...because there is nothing more I would love then to be sealed to him and our children forever!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I love the Gospel and the blessings we receive if we do what we are asked to. The joys far out weigh the sorrows and I am so very grateful that Heavenly Father saw me worthy enough to gain an eternal partner such as Brian. I am truly blessed!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1025287409518294872?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1025287409518294872/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1025287409518294872&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1025287409518294872'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1025287409518294872'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/05/dunked.html' title='Dunked'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3083160690005862684</id><published>2010-05-11T15:54:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-11T16:07:15.328-07:00</updated><title type='text'>My girls.</title><content type='html'>So with this new marriage of mine coming up...I will not only be gaining a wonderful partner in life but also two new daughters.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470151721729564674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S-niAkEuoAI/AAAAAAAAAO4/oZiS-zEzC18/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" /&gt;Bethanie, Juliet and Breana.....my beautiful girls. Aren't they cute?! And all 5 by the way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470151633965420882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S-nh7dIIEVI/AAAAAAAAAOw/KqJBTEE1e7g/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt; Breana, Bethanie and Juliet....they love Tata (my grandpa).  Apparently they thought he was cold or something. hehe. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I'm excited for this new adventure in my life. I'm happy to have met my love and to have gained two sweet girls. There will be some tough times (all three of them starting driving lessons and dating around the same time...not looking forward to that so much. hehe) but I think the wonderful times will far out weigh!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3083160690005862684?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3083160690005862684/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3083160690005862684&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3083160690005862684'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3083160690005862684'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-girls.html' title='My girls.'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S-niAkEuoAI/AAAAAAAAAO4/oZiS-zEzC18/s72-c/photo.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-732944058438964146</id><published>2010-05-07T11:52:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-07T11:56:39.604-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Silly Man</title><content type='html'>Brian and I were talking about wedding plans the other day and I got a tad frustrated because he didn't seem excited or like he wanted to help.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I hope you get more excited about this as it gets closer"&lt;br /&gt;"I asked you to marry me, not to be part of the planning"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Good point. He &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;didn't&lt;/span&gt; ask to be part of the planning... he did ask me to marry him and would be perfectly happy doing it tomorrow in the Bishops office. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We are planning on making the wedding super small, the more I think about it the smaller I want it....but it still needs planning! Silly man. I love him!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-732944058438964146?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/732944058438964146/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=732944058438964146&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/732944058438964146'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/732944058438964146'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/05/silly-man.html' title='Silly Man'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2728755344930076205</id><published>2010-05-04T10:02:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-04T10:10:57.200-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Kid day</title><content type='html'>Ever have one of those days you just want to do fun kids stuff all day. Its soo nice here in Reno today...finally, after weeks of teasing sun and then freezing temperatures!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I looked out the window at work and said "man I want to be out there"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Things I wouldn't' mind doing today:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sitting on a swing&lt;br /&gt;Riding a bike&lt;br /&gt;Eating ice-cream bought from an ice-cream truck&lt;br /&gt;Rolling down a grassy hill&lt;br /&gt;Taking an afternoon nap in the warm sun&lt;br /&gt;Running through the sprinklers&lt;br /&gt;Drinking from the hose&lt;br /&gt;playing with side-walk chalk&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;some a few things I remember doing as a kid that just got lost in the growing up process. I don't know why...they are still fun things to do. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;what are some things you would do if you had a 'kid day'?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2728755344930076205?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2728755344930076205/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2728755344930076205&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2728755344930076205'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2728755344930076205'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/05/kid-day.html' title='Kid day'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2289978971076764834</id><published>2010-04-28T20:27:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-28T20:33:21.227-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Just curious</title><content type='html'>I find the following conversation a bit on the annoying side:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"So, your engaged...set a date yet?"&lt;br /&gt;"Yes, December 7th"&lt;br /&gt;"wow, you have a date already? quick"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;um.....just curious. Why did you ask if you didn't think I actually had one? Its like asking a hugely pregnant woman how she's feeling and then be suprised when she says tired or she feels huge. ugg.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2289978971076764834?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2289978971076764834/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2289978971076764834&amp;isPopup=true' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2289978971076764834'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2289978971076764834'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/04/just-curious.html' title='Just curious'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-355698750605088135</id><published>2010-04-25T15:39:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-25T15:55:55.418-07:00</updated><title type='text'>I'm Engaged</title><content type='html'>Ok so most of you already know through Facebook, phone call, e-mail or seeing it first hand....but I have to blog about it anyway! :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Brian, the absolute love of my life, proposed to me yesterday. The day started out with me going to get my wedding dress (yes, I got my dress before I got my ring. but I knew it was coming and I fell in love with the dress so had to get it) Brian went and got the ring while I was trying on my dress for the alterations girl. (course I didn't know all this until later. hehe)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We got home after about a billion more errands and we fell into our routine of the girls playing and Brian and I on our computers. He set up a spot for me at his desk so we can both sit together while we are working on various things.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We had gotten some gelato ice-cream at the store and Brian asked if I wanted some. Sure I had replied...I was busy looking at bridesmaids dresses and flower arrangements. He came back and put he ice-cream at the end of the desk my my chair. I was still enthralled in my search and said I was thinking about tulips for my bouquet. He said 'tulips huh' I said 'ya'&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then I hear "Maura?"&lt;br /&gt;I turn with a "ya baby" and there he was on one knee with my ring in his hand.&lt;br /&gt;It simply took my breath away. My hand went to my chest and my breath hitched.&lt;br /&gt;"will you marry me?&lt;br /&gt;I do have to admit it took me a minute to answer...but only because I was overwhelmed with emotion, excitement, love ....you know pure joy pretty much.&lt;br /&gt;I said yes of course and then we hugged, and kissed and cried....well I cried a lot and he cried a little.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We went outside to take a picture of my ring in the sun. The pictures don't do it justice...but that's just me being partial. :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464211132483108850" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S9THEwlj__I/AAAAAAAAAOo/CdR7QgyhELk/s400/my+ring.JPG" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I'm absolutely in love with it....I"m absolutely in love with him. I just can't even tell you how happy and perfect my life is.&lt;br /&gt;I get to marry the love of my life, I'm going to gain two daughters and a life time of wonderfulness. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is the beginning of something so great!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-355698750605088135?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/355698750605088135/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=355698750605088135&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/355698750605088135'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/355698750605088135'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/04/im-engaged.html' title='I&apos;m Engaged'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S9THEwlj__I/AAAAAAAAAOo/CdR7QgyhELk/s72-c/my+ring.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2042484865695478171</id><published>2010-04-14T08:47:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-14T09:06:44.321-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Um...Moooommyyy?</title><content type='html'>You never know what will come next when you hear the nervous little voice that comes from your child. The 'moooommmyyy?' that is both feeling you out to see how you might react to whatever situation they got themselves into and pleading for the help only a parent can give.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Last night was a classic one. We (Brian, Breana, Bethanie, Juliet and I) were sitting on the couch watching a show after dinner when I hear that fateful plea.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;'yes baby' is my usual answer to it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;" I just pooped in my pants a little bit" is what came next&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"um why?...." as I look at her with wide eyes...I mean the girl is 5. She should know by now when she needs to poo.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I thought it was a fart, but it tricked me and poop came out too"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"well go to the bathroom and we'll get you cleaned up"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;ok I was barely hanging on to my 'mommy' face (trying desperately not to laugh) but what she did next blew all that out of the water. She gets up off the couch and duck-butt waddle runs to the bathroom. Both Brian and I started laughing. We couldn't help it.  I was still laughing when I helped her clean up...heck I'm busting up even now as I write this.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I know that this is probably not something she wants written on my blog to live forever on cyber space....but I just cant' help it. It was hilarious and I'm allowed. I'm the mom. :D&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2042484865695478171?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2042484865695478171/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2042484865695478171&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2042484865695478171'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2042484865695478171'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/04/ummoooommyyy.html' title='Um...Moooommyyy?'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-6103548341712733168</id><published>2010-04-06T08:19:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-06T08:34:30.476-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Juliets 5th Birthday</title><content type='html'>I know it was almost two weeks ago but better late then never! :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tSAFxtXqI/AAAAAAAAAOY/uHoJ6CiRY9s/s1600/whole+party.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457045534993637026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tSAFxtXqI/AAAAAAAAAOY/uHoJ6CiRY9s/s400/whole+party.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Here is all her guests and her after building thier bear. She has a few friends. :) hehe.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tR8NwR5FI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/XMhhkTQnFa0/s1600/Me,+Mom,+Rin.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457045468415648850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tR8NwR5FI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/XMhhkTQnFa0/s400/Me,+Mom,+Rin.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Me, Mom and Rina....oh and Ruth there in the back ground. :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tR1wNRUFI/AAAAAAAAAOI/DZJ2nyqkZcs/s1600/My+3.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457045357404966994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tR1wNRUFI/AAAAAAAAAOI/DZJ2nyqkZcs/s400/My+3.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Here are my three Bethanie, Juliet and Breana course all you see is the back...but the front is just as cute. lol&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457045278097431890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRxIw4XVI/AAAAAAAAAOA/ZmbKOnsFGDk/s400/Love.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457045182825207282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 1px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 1px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRrl2NlfI/AAAAAAAAAN4/JkChAOvKRNI/s400/Bday+girl.gif" border="0" /&gt;Here is everyone putting love in thier bears&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRofRHEQI/AAAAAAAAANw/PtoZhRU2vKY/s1600/Frank.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457045129519370498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRofRHEQI/AAAAAAAAANw/PtoZhRU2vKY/s400/Frank.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Seth couldn't make it so we built him a bear....Frank.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457045680960071634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tSIli0Z9I/AAAAAAAAAOg/4Lft_RyEGs0/s400/Bday+girl1.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRZR7gJnI/AAAAAAAAANo/FrPQLmM4vLM/s1600/Bday+girl.gif"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457044868241041010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 1px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 1px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRZR7gJnI/AAAAAAAAANo/FrPQLmM4vLM/s400/Bday+girl.gif" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;The birthday girl! She has a real tiera from Grampy and Granna....her bangs are barely growing back, but she's still the prettiest March baby I've ever seen!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRSNxuy8I/AAAAAAAAANg/spEP8LyLlxQ/s1600/Tink+3.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457044746867231682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRSNxuy8I/AAAAAAAAANg/spEP8LyLlxQ/s400/Tink+3.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; And here is her Tinker Bell cake.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRNFBiKWI/AAAAAAAAANY/SdT1NsvCSSQ/s1600/Tink+2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457044658618247522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRNFBiKWI/AAAAAAAAANY/SdT1NsvCSSQ/s400/Tink+2.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; I was working on the finishing touches when I realized I forgot to put the filling in! we just brought it with us and scooped some on the side. :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRH5RH_OI/AAAAAAAAANQ/2FxHobo-JyU/s1600/Tink+cake.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457044569563069666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tRH5RH_OI/AAAAAAAAANQ/2FxHobo-JyU/s400/Tink+cake.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Pretty good if I do say so myself. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;She is five now. My darling baby. Not really a baby anymore, its bittersweet. I love that she is growing into a happy, healthy child but time just flys by and I feel like if I blink she will be all grown up and I will have missed it. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Love you bunches babygirl! Love Mommy&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-6103548341712733168?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/6103548341712733168/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=6103548341712733168&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6103548341712733168'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6103548341712733168'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/04/juliets-5th-birthday.html' title='Juliets 5th Birthday'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S7tSAFxtXqI/AAAAAAAAAOY/uHoJ6CiRY9s/s72-c/whole+party.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5657304697225464777</id><published>2010-03-18T10:08:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-03-18T10:21:08.952-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Changes</title><content type='html'>Here are a list of things that have happened in the last few months.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am still dating one of the most wonderful men I've ever had the privilege to know.&lt;br /&gt;I started my new job on the 8th of March and absolutely adore it!!!&lt;br /&gt;I moved out of my house and am renting a room from some very good friends so i can save up money.&lt;br /&gt;Juliet will be starting school in September at Reno Christian Academy&lt;br /&gt;I fit into a size 8/10 shirt. Still 10/12 on pants and dresses...but I was stoked&lt;br /&gt;Juliet is getting bigger and smarter everyday&lt;br /&gt;and I'm pretty much loving life right now.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Changes are hard to handle...even if they are for the best. I still have a little fear of the unknown but Faith it will all work out for the best.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been so incredibly busy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'll try to keep up with my new life and the adventures that are coming my way.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5657304697225464777?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5657304697225464777/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5657304697225464777&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5657304697225464777'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5657304697225464777'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/03/changes.html' title='Changes'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-6180291037271200338</id><published>2010-03-03T08:42:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-03T08:45:45.531-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Me...a home owner?</title><content type='html'>I am going tomorrow after work to look at a condo in Reno. It is near the school I want Juliet to go to and a short distance (thanks to freeways) from my new job and of course its near my hunny. which is a bonus. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Its two bedroom, two bathroom 919 sq ft condo listed for $18,900...not to bad right?! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm so excited. I really hope it turns out to be something I can get into. the payments would be less then rent and I would own it in about 5-7 years. Me? a property owner? craziness!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;wish me luck.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-6180291037271200338?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/6180291037271200338/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=6180291037271200338&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6180291037271200338'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6180291037271200338'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/03/mea-home-owner.html' title='Me...a home owner?'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5954271951302774657</id><published>2010-02-22T18:07:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-22T18:15:36.673-08:00</updated><title type='text'>My turn</title><content type='html'>Last weekend I went to Brian's families get-together. I met his mom, her boyfriend, his grandma and grandpa and his sister, brother-in-law and niece.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We spent the weekend hanging out at his moms house in Fallon. She's got like 60 dogs all pure bred and so cute. We went for a lot of walks and even went on four wheeling a bit. It was fun.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Of course I was nervous out of my mind, but by the end of the weekend I was beyond great. The girls had fun and I enjoyed meeting his family.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Life is good. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5954271951302774657?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5954271951302774657/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5954271951302774657&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5954271951302774657'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5954271951302774657'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-turn.html' title='My turn'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4846211694895984109</id><published>2010-02-12T11:55:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-12T12:03:11.448-08:00</updated><title type='text'>My new favorite candy</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;Ok people, I'm sure I've mentioned before that I love, love, love Lindor chocolates! YUUUMM! but I think they are tied or slightly overshadowed by my new obsession. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;3 Musketeers - Truffle Crisps. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437449430626150290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 162px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 101px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S3WzcsSfJ5I/AAAAAAAAANI/nge72lPZL9Q/s400/3.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Oh my heck are they good!!!! I the nougat has been replaced by a crisp candy (taste like astronaut ice-cream) and then a layer of creamy truffle. heaven!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;They are only 170 calories so not as bad. I try to stay away from them but its my new weekness. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Join the dark side and try one...they are davine. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4846211694895984109?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4846211694895984109/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4846211694895984109&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4846211694895984109'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4846211694895984109'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-new-favorite-candy.html' title='My new favorite candy'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S3WzcsSfJ5I/AAAAAAAAANI/nge72lPZL9Q/s72-c/3.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5704285972972183574</id><published>2010-02-08T10:21:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-08T11:57:42.102-08:00</updated><title type='text'>It was bound to happen</title><content type='html'>Almost all kids try it. Mom does it...so it can't be that difficult right? Scissors, hair...try to make even. Well this is what Juliets results where. She hid it for a good hour cause she wore a headband.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was upset but couldn't help laughing about it later. At least she did the bangs only and not snip off her braid!!! nor did she cut Breana or Bethanie's hair...thank goodness!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S3BWjC7-twI/AAAAAAAAANA/aRyYk9VGiqo/s1600-h/Juliets+hair+2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435939910320043778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S3BWjC7-twI/AAAAAAAAANA/aRyYk9VGiqo/s400/Juliets+hair+2.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Side view...almost looks like a prison photo&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435939762810539298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S3BWada-TSI/AAAAAAAAAMw/8TLFie1P2t0/s400/Juliets+hair.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So mom and I were talking and she looks like her uncle Keith. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S3BWfFNZIWI/AAAAAAAAAM4/WxefqBgk1Fs/s1600-h/Juliets+hair+1.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435939842210472290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S3BWfFNZIWI/AAAAAAAAAM4/WxefqBgk1Fs/s400/Juliets+hair+1.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Silly face even in the depths of getting in trouble. Why does that not surprise me?! Man I love this child!!!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5704285972972183574?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5704285972972183574/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5704285972972183574&amp;isPopup=true' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5704285972972183574'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5704285972972183574'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/02/it-was-bound-to-happen.html' title='It was bound to happen'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S3BWjC7-twI/AAAAAAAAANA/aRyYk9VGiqo/s72-c/Juliets+hair+2.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2483995393517425885</id><published>2010-02-05T09:51:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-05T09:55:45.091-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Apologies</title><content type='html'>I would like to apologize to all my friends and family for my actions lately. I have never been in this situation before and I think while I was excited and giddy, I was causing uncomfortable or ignored feelings.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Although I would have liked to have known about the feelings I was causing everyone sooner...they are out and now the healing can begin.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I will be more aware of my actions and words in the future and try to find a balance that will be ok for everyone around me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I love my family and friends dearly and do not like that I caused annoyance or hard feelings.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Just wanted to get that out there.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;:)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2483995393517425885?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2483995393517425885/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2483995393517425885&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2483995393517425885'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2483995393517425885'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/02/apologies.html' title='Apologies'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3282429443244439587</id><published>2010-01-27T10:49:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-27T11:02:45.663-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Quote of the day</title><content type='html'>I have this nifty new app on my iPhone. Every day a new quote comes up.  I love qoutes. I love how profound, loving, funny or crazy they can be. Today's qoute was great and so incredibly true.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out. &lt;a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/antonchekh161769.html"&gt;Anton Chekhov&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Day to day living. Getting up to early when you fell asleep too late, getting kids ready who are still tired and cranky, trying to battle traffic to get to work on time and work for a company/boss that on occasion appreciates you but for the most part either strives to forget about you or make your day not so great, battle traffic to get home and find the house that you haven't been in all day in need of cleaning, dinner, dishes, laundry, take care of the animals, get the kid in bed, catch up on facebook and then off to lala land to start it all over again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don't know about you but that can wear a person down. I'm glad I have such wonderful people in my life that are able and willing to brighten my day! Its people like that...friends, family, special someones...who make the day to day stuff not only seem not that bad, but well worth the effort.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3282429443244439587?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3282429443244439587/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3282429443244439587&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3282429443244439587'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3282429443244439587'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/quote-of-day.html' title='Quote of the day'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4065234601406398287</id><published>2010-01-25T20:06:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-25T20:15:38.933-08:00</updated><title type='text'>In her head</title><content type='html'>Juliet has been giggling to herself all night. She laughed in the bath, while brushing her teeth, cleaning up the toys and then getting dressed for bed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I thought she was just giggly...it happens to the both of us. We just laugh and nothing and everything sometimes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But when she got in bed and was still giggling. I finally asked her what she was giggling at. She says:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My head keeps telling me funny jokes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;hmmmmm.....I told Brian about it and he said it was both funny and scary at the same time. I have to agree. But notice how it doesn't surprise me...she is my daughter after all. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4065234601406398287?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4065234601406398287/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4065234601406398287&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4065234601406398287'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4065234601406398287'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/in-her-head.html' title='In her head'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8445510831912626962</id><published>2010-01-22T08:26:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-22T08:54:07.929-08:00</updated><title type='text'>waiting...</title><content type='html'>Ever had things go so incredibly right in your life that you want to look over your shoulder because you just know something has to be wrong?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yes I've recently gone through a divorce and it was not a fun time in my life....but so many things have happened to make me smile and be thankful for.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-- Jason and I are still on awesome terms. We talk like friends still and he seems to be in a good place in his life as well. Which makes me happy for him!&lt;br /&gt;-- I'm finally losing the weight that has dragged me down for so many years and I feel so incredibly awesome. I have more energy and self esteem.&lt;br /&gt;-- I've made a new friend. She is wonderful and I can talk to her about anything! I really needed an LDS girlfriend who has been through a similar situation as me and could understand the woman/LDS/young single mother side of it all.&lt;br /&gt;-- I've met and am dating an incredible man. He makes me feel pretty and puts a smile on my face. He's so patient with me and the decisions I've made and want to stick to in my life. He's such a great person, responsible, loving father, funny and treats me like I'm the greatest thing that's come along since his kids. He's wonderful.&lt;br /&gt;-- My cakes are taking off and I was just offered to take overflow request for a mini cruise liner up at Tahoe, starting this summer.&lt;br /&gt;-- Juliet is healthy and happy and growing more beautiful every day. She is such a blessing in my life. I love talking with her and having giggle fits with her. She has been such a strength for me.&lt;br /&gt;-- My family is one of the most supported and loving families you will ever meet and I am so happy to be a part of them. I appreciate what they do for me and the trust they have in me to make the right decisions in my life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm sure there are more but for now, that's all I can think of. :) I just hope it lasts. I'm not going to waste time waiting for it to go away. I'm going to enjoy every second of happiness I've been given!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8445510831912626962?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8445510831912626962/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8445510831912626962&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8445510831912626962'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8445510831912626962'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/waiting.html' title='waiting...'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2281445593004917352</id><published>2010-01-19T14:49:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-19T15:01:50.816-08:00</updated><title type='text'>I'm a lucky gal.</title><content type='html'>Brian and his girls (Breana and Bethanie) came down for dinner on Sunday, since my parents were out of town, I was in charge of dinner. We had breakfast burritos...they were yummy. Anyway, After dinner the four kids were playing (Breana, Bethanie, Eric and Juliet) so Rina, Melisa, Brian and I played a few board games. Then of course the laptops, Ipods and phones came out. So I had Melisa take a few picks....I didn't know she was taking this many until I heard the clicking and grabbed the phone back. But the pictures were cute and so I kept them and now I'm sharing. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S1Y3mVsEEWI/AAAAAAAAAMo/e9-rinxGghk/s1600-h/B&amp;amp;M3.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428587532638228834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S1Y3mVsEEWI/AAAAAAAAAMo/e9-rinxGghk/s400/B%26M3.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; This is the original picture I wanted her to take. Us posing all cute like. :) I obviously thought she was done cause I went in for a smooch.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428587280740183218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S1Y3XrS47LI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/KpLoddVvjFQ/s400/B%26M.jpg" border="0" /&gt;I would have deleted this one...my face is all funny looking but I love the way he's looking at me so I had to keep it. Its now one of my favorite pics.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S1Y3hsgJYDI/AAAAAAAAAMg/YXFt0BbEdJQ/s1600-h/B&amp;amp;M2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428587452862914610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S1Y3hsgJYDI/AAAAAAAAAMg/YXFt0BbEdJQ/s400/B%26M2.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Don't look dad...I'm kissing...eek   J/K ;)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S1Y3c_H9sJI/AAAAAAAAAMY/l-2RW3gOasU/s1600-h/B&amp;amp;M1.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428587371962413202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S1Y3c_H9sJI/AAAAAAAAAMY/l-2RW3gOasU/s400/B%26M1.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; This is about the time we heard the clicking of the camera going off some more. I'm grabbing the phone away from her, but she got one more in. I like this picture because Brian never does a full smile for camera's. He says he doesn't like the way he looks in pictures with it. But we caught him with one. I love it. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2281445593004917352?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2281445593004917352/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2281445593004917352&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2281445593004917352'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2281445593004917352'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/im-lucky-gal.html' title='I&apos;m a lucky gal.'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/S1Y3mVsEEWI/AAAAAAAAAMo/e9-rinxGghk/s72-c/B%26M3.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4480420115760865235</id><published>2010-01-11T08:39:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-11T08:46:41.504-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Dinner with the Parents</title><content type='html'>Everyone knows how nerve-wracking dinner with the new bf/gf parents can be right? Brian, for those of you who do not already know is my new boyfriend and he came to dinner last night. I thought it went very well. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He brought his twin girls Breana and Bethanie and they had lots of fun. He is a quiet person and anyone who knows my family, knows that we are not. We had a good time though. I appreciated my family for accepting him and his girls in and making him feel welcome.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After dinner we went back to my house because the girls wanted to play a little more and Brian wanted to watch the season premier of Chuck. After that was over, Brian told the girls to get their shoes and coats on and all the girls started crying because they wanted to stay with each other. It was nice to see they all got along.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I told  him if he plans on sticking around for a bit that he will need to get used to our family dynamics. He said my family is way different then his but he likes how we all get along and have fun. So right now....I'm a happy girl!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4480420115760865235?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4480420115760865235/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4480420115760865235&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4480420115760865235'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4480420115760865235'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/dinner-with-parents.html' title='Dinner with the Parents'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8755758406369984295</id><published>2010-01-06T11:19:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-06T11:24:21.295-08:00</updated><title type='text'>New Year</title><content type='html'>Its been a crazy 2009. Lots of ups and downs! I think I've grown more in this last year then I have in the last 10 years.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've been crushed, brought down to my knees, humbled and lifted up by this crazy thing called life. I can tell you though out of absolute misery comes the greatest joys! sometimes it takes time to find them or for it to find you and sometimes it comes out of nowhere when you thought you couldn't go any farther, when you thought you might as well roll over and give up because what could possibly be worth any of it. Heavenly Father, in his loving way, shows you just how worth it, it can all be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm happy and I think this is going to be one of the best years ever! Happy 2010&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8755758406369984295?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8755758406369984295/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8755758406369984295&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8755758406369984295'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8755758406369984295'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-year.html' title='New Year'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1430180649817389061</id><published>2009-12-30T11:06:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-12-30T11:16:48.985-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Our trip</title><content type='html'>We had sooo much fun on our trip to Idaho. I miss my sister, brother-in-law and nephew but we plan on going back up in March so we'll see them soon. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;here are some picks from our trip.   These are not in order.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet playing on Aunt Rina's Ipod...she likes them. she wants one of her own.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421108744821500562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/Szulrl_ZapI/AAAAAAAAAMI/7UUyUBzMxsc/s400/juliet+ipod.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet and Eric in front of the Rexburg Temple. So cute.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/Szulnk5NiyI/AAAAAAAAAMA/hl6GkWtlpqQ/s1600-h/JE+at+temple.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421108675807644450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/Szulnk5NiyI/AAAAAAAAAMA/hl6GkWtlpqQ/s400/JE+at+temple.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Seth making a silly face. He's so stinking cute!!!!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzulgpzJFxI/AAAAAAAAAL4/krRPeeKdePw/s1600-h/silly+face+seth.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421108556865279762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzulgpzJFxI/AAAAAAAAAL4/krRPeeKdePw/s400/silly+face+seth.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; me and my cuteness...I'm an aunt for the first time on this side of the family. Makes me smile. :D&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzulbgpWKOI/AAAAAAAAALw/rWGpmCMIt2k/s1600-h/me+and+seth.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421108468508928226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzulbgpWKOI/AAAAAAAAALw/rWGpmCMIt2k/s400/me+and+seth.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet and her Cousin. she loves him. She was so excited to go see cousin seffers (that's what she calls him)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzulVG9-SCI/AAAAAAAAALo/_tLKwwrm6Mw/s1600-h/Juliet+and+seth.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421108358536906786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzulVG9-SCI/AAAAAAAAALo/_tLKwwrm6Mw/s400/Juliet+and+seth.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rina totally passed out on the buss....awesome.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzulMMBEw4I/AAAAAAAAALg/QCw2AiSjiNg/s1600-h/Rina+sleeping.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421108205273269122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzulMMBEw4I/AAAAAAAAALg/QCw2AiSjiNg/s400/Rina+sleeping.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet totally passed out on the bus...could be because I overdosed her on Dramamine...oops.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzulHMUVvKI/AAAAAAAAALY/U5ZfjBltofQ/s1600-h/Juliet+sleeping.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421108119454727330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzulHMUVvKI/AAAAAAAAALY/U5ZfjBltofQ/s400/Juliet+sleeping.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;we had a fantastic time and it was a very special and memorable Christmas!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1430180649817389061?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1430180649817389061/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1430180649817389061&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1430180649817389061'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1430180649817389061'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/our-trip.html' title='Our trip'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/Szulrl_ZapI/AAAAAAAAAMI/7UUyUBzMxsc/s72-c/juliet+ipod.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2373452997639455189</id><published>2009-12-24T11:51:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-12-24T11:53:53.186-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Just because</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;I got a new Iphone and honestly I loooove this thing. It takes the best pictures and I can email them to myself. No more waiting for me to download pics anymore. wahooo. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;So Juliet came to visit me in the office today. here is a picture Rina took of me and her. I think we are pretty dang cute if I do say so myself. :) &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418893119154804914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzPGlNMH2LI/AAAAAAAAALQ/pkGckhGiU0E/s400/Juliet+and+me.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2373452997639455189?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2373452997639455189/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2373452997639455189&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2373452997639455189'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2373452997639455189'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/just-because.html' title='Just because'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SzPGlNMH2LI/AAAAAAAAALQ/pkGckhGiU0E/s72-c/Juliet+and+me.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1937414907750385538</id><published>2009-12-18T07:47:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-12-18T07:50:40.453-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Count down</title><content type='html'>So most people would be counting down for Christmas. Santa, the presents, a big dinner with friends and family...don't get me wrong. I love this holiday, but this year is a tad different.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We are going to be on a plane come Christmas morning. Flying into UT, then on a shuttle for four hours to get to the home of my wonderful sister and brother-in-law and adorable nephews house. Then on Saturday we are going to the temple with them.   Now what can be more joyous then that? I'm so excited I can barely stand it. This is probably going to be one of the best Christmas's ever!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1937414907750385538?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1937414907750385538/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1937414907750385538&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1937414907750385538'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1937414907750385538'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/count-down.html' title='Count down'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8472877907538232490</id><published>2009-12-14T15:20:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-12-14T15:28:45.062-08:00</updated><title type='text'>small accomplishments that mean the world</title><content type='html'>As most of you know, I've struggled with my weight for a very long time! ups and downs, new diets, fad diets, home exercises, gym, life-style changes. You name it. I've done it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well recently I've gone through some major changes in my life and with those changes came the urge to really do something about it. So I've lost some weight. I'm excited about it and hope to lose some more. Yes the number on the scale going down is fun but its the small accomplishments that make all the difference in the world. Here are some that I just love!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can rest my chin on my knee, which means my leg can fold all the way up and in!&lt;br /&gt;I can shop in the regular size section and not have to look for the biggest size there.&lt;br /&gt;I can cross my legs knee over knew and not calf over knee.&lt;br /&gt;If I pick something out of my closet the fear is now 'oh that might be to big' not 'oh man, another thing I won't be able to fit'&lt;br /&gt;I can wrap a towel around me and it covers everything.&lt;br /&gt;When I go out...I actually dance because things don't jiggle as much as they used too. haha&lt;br /&gt;when I look down....I can see my toes. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I know small things that most of us can do already. I'm just excited I'm able to do them now.&lt;br /&gt;can't wait to see what else I can do when I lose more weight.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8472877907538232490?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8472877907538232490/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8472877907538232490&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8472877907538232490'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8472877907538232490'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/small-accomplishments-that-mean-world.html' title='small accomplishments that mean the world'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4749694285649094383</id><published>2009-12-07T14:20:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-12-07T14:43:20.502-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Snow Day!!!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;Last night it started snowing. cool right....well this is what we woke up too and its still coming down! all the schools are closed and the Gov called a snow day, which hasn't been done over seven years. Nice&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412623704690240098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/Sx2AlQTrqmI/AAAAAAAAALE/RtyKZWgu59Y/s400/Picture+35.jpg" border="0" /&gt; &lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This is a chair we have in the back yard. It has not been wiped off the whole night/day its been snowing. :) see how much we got?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412623703567662434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/Sx2AlMICfWI/AAAAAAAAAK8/9NN8mwfnTL4/s400/Picture+38.jpg" border="0" /&gt;Frodo loves the snow. He was nice enough to stop and let me take a picture. Toby was off running like a maniac. They've had a really fun time running around in it and trying to eat it all.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412623697658056402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/Sx2Ak2HFDtI/AAAAAAAAAK0/XhVIAcaJDD0/s400/Picture+36.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;You can see the running tracks the dogs have made. Juliet was out there for a bit but she got to cold and to tired before I could take a picture. Maybe later. This is her first big snow storm. :)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412623226029021730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/Sx2AJZJ9GiI/AAAAAAAAAKs/l6RP-J_N_vQ/s400/Picture+34.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is the front yard...You can see the slight indentation that kinda looks like an L.....that's our walkway. Ya so not shoveling that!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So here we are almost three and the snow is still coming down. I don't know if the Governor will call another snow day tomorrow but it was sure nice to have one today and spend it with my favorite Juliet, play on facebook and catch up on some laundry and dishes. :) Yay for snow days.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4749694285649094383?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4749694285649094383/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4749694285649094383&amp;isPopup=true' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4749694285649094383'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4749694285649094383'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/snow-day.html' title='Snow Day!!!'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/Sx2AlQTrqmI/AAAAAAAAALE/RtyKZWgu59Y/s72-c/Picture+35.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5266996024931981527</id><published>2009-12-02T09:09:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-12-02T09:23:50.842-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Doesn't work that way</title><content type='html'>Yesterday I woke up in the best mood. I was happy the air was crisp, the sun was out. Sure I had to go back to work but it is only a four day week and its good to get back into a routine. I fit into some slacks I hadn't been able to fit into in a while and I was feeling good.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was ready to be on top of the world!....but I guess it doesn't work that way. Throughout the day my mood was slowly deflated with downers and reality checks. Some of them were just need to happens, like being told I needed to do something differently at work, when I thought I was doing well. It was brought to my attention that I needed to look at how I acted in certain situations, which is fine. I'm sure I needed to hear it. I was told I need to be cautious and reasonable in my expectations in other situations, again something that needed to be heard.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But frankly I just wanted a good day, I wanted people on my side...not showing me rational, legitimate reasons for the reality check. I quickly came down from the top of my world and although I deeply appreciate those in my life that tell me how it is and what needs to be done....I just simply didn't want it yesterday. But what can you do? Take it and run with it, so I guess that's what I will do.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5266996024931981527?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5266996024931981527/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5266996024931981527&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5266996024931981527'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5266996024931981527'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/doesnt-work-that-way.html' title='Doesn&apos;t work that way'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4269923746340805710</id><published>2009-11-20T08:52:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-11-20T08:57:38.418-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Review - Two Words</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SwbKP3xn8SI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Rs71Cirh5zs/s1600/NM.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406230776723796258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 264px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SwbKP3xn8SI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Rs71Cirh5zs/s400/NM.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;LOVED IT!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4269923746340805710?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4269923746340805710/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4269923746340805710&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4269923746340805710'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4269923746340805710'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/11/reveiw-two-words.html' title='Review - Two Words'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SwbKP3xn8SI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Rs71Cirh5zs/s72-c/NM.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4976092934221532597</id><published>2009-11-18T12:47:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2009-11-18T12:53:46.861-08:00</updated><title type='text'>A good woman</title><content type='html'>I had this poem forwarded to me...I had to share.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A Good Woman:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A good woman is proud of herself.&lt;br /&gt;she respects herself and others.&lt;br /&gt;She is aware of who she is.&lt;br /&gt;She neither seeks definition form the person she is with,&lt;br /&gt;nor does she expect them to read her mind.&lt;br /&gt;she is quite capable of articulating her needs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A good woman is hopeful.&lt;br /&gt;She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true&lt;br /&gt;She knows love, therefore she gives love.&lt;br /&gt;She recognizes that her love has great value&lt;br /&gt;and mus be reciprocated.&lt;br /&gt;If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A good woman has a dash of inspiration,&lt;br /&gt;a dabble of endurance.&lt;br /&gt;she knows that she will, at times,&lt;br /&gt;have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them.&lt;br /&gt;A good woman knows her past,&lt;br /&gt;understands her present and moves toward the future.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A good woman knows God.&lt;br /&gt;She knows that with god the world is her playground,&lt;br /&gt;but without God she will just be played.&lt;br /&gt;A good woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past.&lt;br /&gt;Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons,&lt;br /&gt;meant to bring her closer to self knowledge and unconditional self love.&lt;br /&gt;Girl Smile....YOU KNOW YOU HAVE IT GOING ON!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4976092934221532597?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4976092934221532597/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4976092934221532597&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4976092934221532597'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4976092934221532597'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/11/good-woman.html' title='A good woman'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-7627898480037786606</id><published>2009-11-13T09:27:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-11-13T09:41:29.807-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Rewards vs Discipline</title><content type='html'>So for the last few weeks Juliet has been......stubborn is what we will call it. Juliet and I are very much alike so we are either best friends or at each others throats. I love her to pieces and I recognize that one: she is growing up and desperately wants to independent (that's how I am) and two: there have been a lot of changes in her life lately that are very hard for a four year old to process. so I've tried to be understanding and what not. But sometimes I get hardheaded too (who me? hardheaded? never right? hehe) and I lose my temper and yell.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;so here is Juliet acting out and me yelling... not the best combination. The daycare told me the other day that she has been acting out at school too, to the point where she has to go to time out on her mat in a separate room. She just doesn't listen and when she does get in trouble it just rolls of her back like she's being told what color the sky is. She just doesn't' care or respond very well to discipline.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The daycare owner told me that for one of her kids she had to start doing the reward system. Stars to be exact. This is the plan we put into place. If she can go the whole day at daycare with out getting on the mat and go at home with out being put in the corner more then two times then she gets a star. If she gets stars for the whole week she gets to go to Gymnastics....if she gets stars for the whole month then she gets to go to a movie or someplace special.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was sceptical....but we've been doing it for about a week and the difference (at least at home) is phenomenal. she listens, she's helpful and all I have to do is remind her about her stars and her attitude turns completely around...which makes me happy and less stressed, which I'm sure helps with both of our attitude problems (yes I have an attitude problem too....imagine that!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don't' know how long this will last but I hope for a while. :) Its making both of our lives a tad bit easier.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-7627898480037786606?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/7627898480037786606/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=7627898480037786606&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7627898480037786606'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7627898480037786606'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/11/rewards-vs-discipline.html' title='Rewards vs Discipline'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-9078385009222399827</id><published>2009-11-06T09:10:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-11-06T09:15:32.376-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Bee's Honey</title><content type='html'>This is a conversation Juliet and I had on the way home from school on Wednesday. She cracks me up!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet: Lara and I squished a bee today&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Me: Oh ya, how come?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet: It was trying to sting us so Lara waited till it rested on the ground and then she sneaked up to it and stomped on it with her foot. Then me and Ty squished it too&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Me: Goodness&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet: Ya all its honey came out&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Me: I don't' think that was honey babe. That was the bee's guts and blood most likely&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(stop for thinking pause)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet: So bee's don't pee out honey.....they make it?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Me: Yes&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet: giggling.....ewww I squished bee guts&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yup.....that's my daughter. Loves the color pink, dreams of being a princess, squishes bugs and picks up mice. Gotta love it.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-9078385009222399827?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/9078385009222399827/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=9078385009222399827&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/9078385009222399827'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/9078385009222399827'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/11/bees-honey.html' title='Bee&apos;s Honey'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-9120611697046399376</id><published>2009-10-29T10:17:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-10-29T10:25:36.316-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Look what the cat brought me</title><content type='html'>We got home the other night and the cat had brought Juliet a surprise. yes, a mouse.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The cat has done this before. He loves her to pieces.....which I'm not sure why because the poor thing gets squished from hugs, dressed up and sometimes left in a dresser drawer for hours all because of her...but he still adores her. so of course what do animals do when they adore/love someone...they bring it barely alive things they've been playing with for the last hour.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This would have been bad enough but my fearless daughter decided she would be proud of what the cat brought and show me. No, not bring me to it.....bring IT to ME! she picked it up (thankfully she knows enough not to touch it with bare hands) she picked it up with a towel and brought it to me saying "look what the cat brought me"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I tried my hardest to not show my surprise, disgust and frankly girl like squeal that wanted to escape.....I guess I didn't do a very good job because one look at my face I guess made Juliet realize what exactly she was holding....of course it picked that very moment to squirm, which made her scream and throw it.....at me! which made me scream...which made her scream harder.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;so there we are two screaming girls in the middle of the hallway with the mouse trying to run away and the cat leaping out from the shadows..and i swore he gave us a 'what the heck did you let it get away for' look as he was pouncing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We finally caught it. I took it outside and across the street. I know I should have killed it but ick. I just couldn't.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;we washed our hands for about ten minutes and had a good chuckle.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-9120611697046399376?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/9120611697046399376/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=9120611697046399376&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/9120611697046399376'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/9120611697046399376'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/look-what-cat-brought-me.html' title='Look what the cat brought me'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3705904230167031057</id><published>2009-10-26T08:44:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-10-26T08:49:07.875-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Family</title><content type='html'>So we've had most of the kids home for the last few weeks and I asked my mom if it feels weird to have them all there. She said no, she absolutely loves it. :) which is nice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Deb and Tyler are here and of course the cutest nephew ever...Seth. (don't you just love that name!). Juliet likes to call him her Seth, its cute.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'll be super sad when they leave but they have family and a home waiting for them in Idaho and we are happy and blessed they get to spend some of their time here for a bit.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I get to hold him every once and a while (D and T are being super good about sharing...its so nice of them!) and absolutely love it (even though I don't get my picture taken with him...... ;~)  j/k didder)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Family is very important to me and I'm glad I have such an awesome one.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3705904230167031057?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3705904230167031057/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3705904230167031057&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3705904230167031057'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3705904230167031057'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/family.html' title='Family'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-7788948856516694200</id><published>2009-10-21T08:21:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-10-21T08:36:26.598-07:00</updated><title type='text'>I'm here I promise</title><content type='html'>Hey all,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's been a crazy month so far and its barely halfway over. I'm just going to give you some highlights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As most of you know. I filed for divorce. Jason and I have allowed each other to grow and we are still good friends but this needed to happen. I will tell you there was no abuse or cheating, nothing dramatic or anything.....just a chapter in my life that did not turn out the way I had planned but what can you say, when do life plans usually turn out? He will still hang around the family as he is great friends with my parents and siblings and why not? he is the father of our beautiful daughter and still a dear person in my life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;on lighter news I am an aunt. First time on my side of the family. My wonderful sister and brother in law had there very first child come to them on October 19th 2009. How exciting is that. It makes me cry a little every time I think about it. I love them so much and can't even express how excited I am for them and for both the families. They have waited a very long time and little Seth (that's his name...oh my goodness isn't it the cutest name ever?) and we are so elated to finally have him in our family. :)   here is a link to Deborah and Tylers blog...they have pictures up of him and Deb is an awesome blogger you can catch up on his amazing story there. &lt;a href="http://deborahandtylerandreasen.blogspot.com/"&gt;http://deborahandtylerandreasen.blogspot.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm officially old.... we went to wal-mart last night and I picked up some cute outfits for my nephew (got to spoil while he's here. hehe) and then Juliet needed a new winter jacket and some more shirts. So we are in the baby/toddler section and I can not find one thing to fit her....when it hits me. She will probably fit things from the jr section. I tried with all my might to find one thing to fit her from the baby section. I just didn't want to admit that my child is growing up so incredibly fast. So over I trudge with a mixed feeling of heavy heart and new excitement. we picked out clothes and yes my friends she fits the xxs in the jr section. Yes she is only four but she is tall always has been. so my baby girl is no longer baby, frankly there is nothing baby about her and I both love it and hate it. She of course loves it because she can now officially shop in the section that has Hannah Tanna (Hannah Montana) clothes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;all right you all. I'm outy for now. I will have more stuff to tell you but I probably need to get to work. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-7788948856516694200?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/7788948856516694200/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=7788948856516694200&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7788948856516694200'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7788948856516694200'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/im-here-i-promise.html' title='I&apos;m here I promise'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-7781117836592898460</id><published>2009-10-02T09:05:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-10-02T09:08:50.560-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Patchwork</title><content type='html'>Patchwork is the title of the book in which I am a featured author.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I have two short stories written under a pen name and they are in as of today.  I hope to pick them up later tonight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm so jazzed. I'm catching up with the rest of my ever so talented family and glad they let me in and showed me the ropes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;books are available for sale, but I will also have a copy that I would be more then happy to let anyone borrow. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;( FYI - there are other authors in the book and I do not know the integrity of their stories, but most of them should be good ones)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-7781117836592898460?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/7781117836592898460/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=7781117836592898460&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7781117836592898460'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7781117836592898460'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/patchwork.html' title='Patchwork'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2619050468217739344</id><published>2009-10-01T12:16:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-10-01T12:25:16.107-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Juliet paid off</title><content type='html'>When I had my daughter back in 2005, I was not on an HMO I had the PPO. Which meant I got 20% of the hospital bill. Ok so that wouldn't have been a problem except my little angel didn't want to ruin her pretty little head so refused to come out!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was in the hospital 24 hours before I finally consented to a C-Section. It was considered an emergency so I had to stay in the hospital another four days.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So 20% of an emergency C-Section, five days in a hospital and all the extra drugs that came with it.....added up to more then we had anticipated about seven thousand more then we had anticipated. I had to take out a consolidation loan for the hospital bills and some credit cards we maxed out trying to keep up on the said bills.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Today I got a letter from Wells Fargo saying that loan is finally paid off! It took four years to pay for her but worth every penny! I'm excited its finally paid off. Now I have my school loans and my car is almost paid off. I'm slowly but finally getting to be debt free and it feels great!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2619050468217739344?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2619050468217739344/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2619050468217739344&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2619050468217739344'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2619050468217739344'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/juliet-paid-off.html' title='Juliet paid off'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2679822464205116746</id><published>2009-09-30T09:19:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-30T09:25:23.595-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Just a tad</title><content type='html'>So just a tad of what is going on in my life lately.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet is still in gymnastics and is getting better and better every week. She got to do the fly yesterday (they strap the kids in and rope them up and swing them back and forth so they can get used to the height and learn how to pose in air) it was kinda cool...looked like fun and she absolutely loved it. She is anxious to start school and that won't even start until next year. She cracks me up everyday!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jason is still driving. He has a student as he is a mentor driver now. Which means he gets paid for all the miles he drives. Its nice. And Jason is not so lonely on the road anymore...so that is a plus.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am working my day job still, I also do the Cake classes on Thursdays, I do cake orders and have now started getting clientele that I don't know...they are being recommended by word of mouth! I love it. I also do the occasional passion party. Its fun.   And I'm officially obsessed with they gym. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am looking into buying a house and my car is almost paid off. I think that is kinda neat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;anyway, nothing to big or exciting lately but thought you might want a catch up.....if not o well you got one anyway.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2679822464205116746?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2679822464205116746/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2679822464205116746&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2679822464205116746'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2679822464205116746'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/just-tad.html' title='Just a tad'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-6178682534005463434</id><published>2009-09-20T15:10:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-20T15:20:33.242-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Breakthrough</title><content type='html'>I have always had an issue with my weight. Up and down, up and down. I would do really well and then I would gain it all back. I've never really gotten the concept of life style change instead of just dieting. So i would always revert back to my old ways and gain it back and then some.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well I have tried very hard lately to do an actual lifestyle change lately. really trying to make conscious choices of what I am eating and I go to the gym at least four times a week.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now here's the breakthrough. I've been an emotional eater. If I'm upset or down, happy or excited. I will eat. Is always been like that. It could be anything from a candy bar to a full fledged meal from a fast food place. But the other day I had a very emotional day...and instead of eating or wanting to eat. All I wanted to do was go jogging. I wanted to run. Can you believe that?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It hit me out of no where. I was thinking man I'm having a bad day and my mind instantly went to "I want to run" Not once did it go to "I wish I had some cake" or "I need a hamburger"....it went to I WANT TO RUN!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Insane. I was very excited about this and hope this is the beginning of a true life change and not another roller coaster. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-6178682534005463434?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/6178682534005463434/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=6178682534005463434&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6178682534005463434'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6178682534005463434'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/breakthrough.html' title='Breakthrough'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8776888372299646708</id><published>2009-09-15T14:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-15T15:00:00.476-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Teaching</title><content type='html'>So I was called to be the RS teacher for 2&lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;nd&lt;/span&gt; Sunday. &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;Ok&lt;/span&gt; I thought only once a month. I can handle it. so yesterday was my first go at it. I was scared out of my mind. I cried right when I got up there.....yes, from the emotion of the lesson (friendship in the church) but I think a lot of it had to do with how scared I was.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Put me on stage in front of hundreds of people and I'm good. Put me in a classroom with a few student teaching how to decorate cakes...I'm grand. Put me &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;in front&lt;/span&gt; of a room full of kids....I do &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;ok&lt;/span&gt;.  Put me in front of a class room with about 30 adults who are waiting to be spiritually fed and I go to a &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;babbling&lt;/span&gt; emotional wreck.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But thankfully, I had &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"&gt;participants&lt;/span&gt; who made the lesson not only fabulous but run over too. :) I am grateful for friends who saw me struggling and helped me out.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I couldn't tell you one thing I said up there...I don't know if anyone &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"&gt;actually&lt;/span&gt; got anything out of the lesson but it was nice to see smiling faces at me and not a room full of blank stares. &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"&gt;haha&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On a different note. Today is my dads B-day...Happy Birthday Pops. You're the best!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8776888372299646708?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8776888372299646708/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8776888372299646708&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8776888372299646708'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8776888372299646708'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/teaching.html' title='Teaching'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-6029280436080949847</id><published>2009-09-11T09:03:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-11T09:37:08.099-07:00</updated><title type='text'>8 years ago</title><content type='html'>Eight years ago...I was up early in my friends dorm room, waiting for her to take her shower so she could take me to the airport. You see my dad had made travel arrangements for everyone to come to Nevada so he could renew his vows to my mom on their anniversary.   but it was sorely spoiled by what happened that very morning.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My mom called and told me to turn on the TV. It was like a scene out of the movie. I think I hung up on her when every channel I changed too was nothing but the World Trade Centers falling to the ground, the anchors voice strong but reverent when reporting that our home land had been hit.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I banged on the door and told my friend to come out...we've been hit was all I could say.  she came out dripping and frantic...I was in tears, memorized by what I was seeing. Who could do that such a thing? All those people!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I knew there was no way I was getting on a plane, not now...so I got in my truck and started making the nine hour drive home.  By a miracle all the family that was suppose to show up did and the ceremony went wonderfully (well accept for someone leaving the ring at home...but we got it ok).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;for the next few days the world watched as our country came to terms with the fact that we had been terrorized that we had actually been attacked. We also came together as no country has or probably ever would. Yes I understand that people perceive Americans to be selfish and self centered...but we banned together like no other and we stood up after being hit and let them know that - yes they did hit us...but no we were not knocked down..nor would we be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is the land of the free and we were not going to be terrorized ever again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So many things have changed since that fateful day. Some for the worse (stereo typing to say for one) but most for the best. We still remember at least once a year that we are a strong nation and will continue to be. I think we have more empathy for those counties that have to live through it everyday! I know I do.....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And to this day I get a lump in my throat thinking about that day and how much this country means to me. How many of my family members are in the armed forces protecting what I hold so dear and about all those precious lives lost. I will never forget how that felt or how I knew in that very moment I was witnessing history. That one day my children and children's children would talk about this day.  It left a deep groove in our nations history. It left a deep groove in my personal history.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;God protect those you fight for us and forgive those who trespass. I'm sure they are praying for the same thing...which is  ironic if you think about it. We all love our homeland with a fierce passion...its at least one thing we all have in common.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9/11/01 - We Remember.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-6029280436080949847?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/6029280436080949847/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=6029280436080949847&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6029280436080949847'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6029280436080949847'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/8-years-ago.html' title='8 years ago'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1253787038550716585</id><published>2009-09-02T16:17:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-02T16:18:06.127-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Honesty</title><content type='html'>Honesty will make the burden lighter! I fully believe that.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What is harder then not being honest...wither it be with yourself or with someone else. I mean you have to remember the lies and then remember why you lied in the first place.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most of the time those lies were told (again either to someone...or to your self) out of love...not wanting to hurt. Well people, guess what? It doesn't work. People are going to get hurt no matter what. You can't protect and shield everyone from everything.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My parents told us when we were younger that if we were just honest with them, they would be in less trouble then if we lied and then found out....and yes they always found out! And its true with life too!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Just be honest! to yourself and everyone around you. It will make the burden lighter and the future clearer. Have faith that those that you love and want to protect from whatever, can make it. that they will understand and love you for your honestly...if not, then were they really meant to be in your life?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Just a bit of wisdom from my oh so impressive 27 years of living. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1253787038550716585?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1253787038550716585/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1253787038550716585&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1253787038550716585'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1253787038550716585'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/honesty.html' title='Honesty'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-6288464399159855325</id><published>2009-08-25T08:08:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-25T08:11:02.179-07:00</updated><title type='text'>catching up</title><content type='html'>hey y'all. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am so busy at work and home is crazy right now. I will catch everyone up on my life very shortly. We went and visited Deborah and Tyler and of course you saw the excitement on the way there....but we had so much fun visiting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We went to the zoo, water park and county fair. We also tried out new eating place and of course hit up the cupcake place....but like I said I will catch everyone up when I get a chance.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;:)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-6288464399159855325?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/6288464399159855325/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=6288464399159855325&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6288464399159855325'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6288464399159855325'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/08/catching-up.html' title='catching up'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5810931772295809432</id><published>2009-08-14T08:37:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-14T09:31:47.202-07:00</updated><title type='text'>My Tire, A Nail and A Cosmic Joke</title><content type='html'>I'm driving to Idaho from Carson City to visit my sister. I'm about 7 hours in and doing well. I'm so close I feel my energy come back up and suddenly the drive doesn't seem that long. Ok only a few more hours and i'm there. yay.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I feel my car go loose. literally loose. the steering wheel felt like it was on a swivel screw. "well this isn't good" is the only thought I had in my head before all heck broke loose. My tire blows out, my cars swerves right. In some insane part of my brain that is still functioning, I think of my snow driving training. let go of the wheel, stay off the break and slightly ease off the gas. It straitens out for a second, knowing I have to get off the rode. I try to steer it to the side....it doest like that. I swerve to the left, make a hard right and then all of the sudden I'm facing backwards and cars a coming at me. I have a half a second to say 'no' out load when I do a complete 360...I'll never think of the tilt a whirl at the carnival the same way again. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now this happens in a matter of seconds and three distinct things are happening with me. One, while trying desperately to get the car to cooperate, I'm saying out load 'please don't flip, please don't flip'...Two, in my head I'm desperately trying to recall how tight Juliets seat belt is...what if we do flip, will she stay in?...and Three I am begging God over and over to please not take me today.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Who knew you could have three distinct things going at the same time...I didn't.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I come to a bone jarring stop in the gravel. My head is pounding, my hands are shaking and  my vision blurs. I hear a soft voice almost scolding voice from the back of the car...."Momma" it says "you broke the car"..."Yes, baby I did" I reply. I take two deep breaths before I get out of the car and grab Juliet out.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A couple stops and slows traffic down for me, a man in a white shirt, tie and really nice shoes (ge looks like a Bishop...it is a comfort beyond believe), he takes my keys and moves me the rest of the way out of the road and a trucker stops and comes over to help.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;by the time I remember I have road side assistance on my borrowed phone, they have the tire almost changed into the donut. I feel like a silly female, when they ask me if I have a spare or where any of the things are I look at them wide-eyed and repeat 'um I don't know' over and over again. When in fact I do know, my father taught us. But I'm to shaken to care and desperately thankful that they came to my rescue.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The trucker takes the shredded tire off the thankfully not bent rim and we see the problem. A six inch nail is stuck traight in. Like it was hammered in. I must have picked it up somewhere and it deflated my tire enough to allow the rubber to heat up to much while driving 75-80 on the free way (yes that is the posted speed limit!).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The state trooper pulls up just as the donut is going on the car. He asks if there are any injuries, how many cars are involved...you know the usual. He also asks for my drivers license and when I hand it to him, I notice how incredibly handsome this trooper is. Which I admit helps the situation a tad. ;)  He checks out the information, talks to the men folk for a bit, bids them good-bye. I thank them over and over again and watch them walk off to their vehicles.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The trooper tells me he wishes he had stickers or something for my daughter. I tell him at this point I'm the one that needs the stickers. Juliet is seems not even effected by it. Which could be good as in I'm doing a good job at keeping calm and so she doesn't think it a big deal or a bad thing as in she's used to this kind of thing happening....cause lets face it, you can't take me anywhere!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I tell the trooper good bye. Let him know I will be stopping in the next town to get a new tire and off I go.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I drive into Burley Id. My sister tells me there are 8 tire places, I find the first one and go for it. Cause it is already 5:30 and things shut down early here. I pull into the wal-mart tire center. They have one person working today and three cars a head of me. He tells me it will be at least a 45 minute wait and the only tire he has in stock for my car is $120.00. 'Ok' I say. I don't have time to price shop and risk places being shut before I get there.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We wait, I make phone calls, update my face book status from my phone and finally my car is ready to go. I hand over the money and off we go.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I get back on the freeway and start heading towards Rexburg. And here comes a bill board...on the bill board is an advertisement for les shwab...what are they advertising? Why they are letting the world know they have a huge sale on tires!  I smile and laugh to myself. Leave it to Heavenly Father to play a cosmic joke on me. He knows that's the kind of thing that will take my mind off of it and get me back into life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am deeply grateful that we didn't flip, that a trucker and a well dressed man helped me. That my tired blew late enough to be close to a town, but early enough to miss heavy traffic and to find an open mechanic. And for Heavenly Father who felt it necessary to spare any pain by keeping me and my precious cargo safe for at least one more day.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5810931772295809432?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5810931772295809432/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5810931772295809432&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5810931772295809432'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5810931772295809432'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-tire-nail-and-cosmic-joke.html' title='My Tire, A Nail and A Cosmic Joke'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1136127781313414272</id><published>2009-08-11T09:09:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-11T09:14:08.535-07:00</updated><title type='text'>A work of art? sure why not....</title><content type='html'>yesterday I made an impromptu decision to take Juliet for ice-cream. By the time I had made the decision it was already kinda late so we didn't stay, we went through the drive through. I got a blizzard and got her a small chocolate Sunday.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;when they handed it to me and I handed it back to her she just looked at it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I asked ' what? isn't this what you wanted?'&lt;br /&gt;she says 'yes'&lt;br /&gt;I asked 'then why are you just looking at it?'&lt;br /&gt;she says ' mom its so beautiful'&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;haha. Yes, she's my daughter -  finds the art in food. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1136127781313414272?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1136127781313414272/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1136127781313414272&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1136127781313414272'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1136127781313414272'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/08/work-of-art-sure-why-not.html' title='A work of art? sure why not....'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3218483753155781927</id><published>2009-08-06T13:25:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-06T13:38:02.813-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Its the small things</title><content type='html'>Sometimes when you have a bad day its not one huge thing that makes it horrid....its the small things. Like waking up late, running out of gas, dealing with annoying phone calls ALL DAY LONG, paying bills with money that's not there, cleaning house over and over (even though you are never home to mess it up!)....all these things piled up on top of each other can get to be just to much.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And sometimes when you have a bad day it can be one huge thing that gets in your way, like filing for divorce, losing a loved one, realising a life goal might just stay a dream or losing your house that can just make your world feel like it will crash.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But on either one of those kinds of days you can also appreciate the small things that make those days bearable, breathable and livable. Like having a friend tell you they see you are in pain and they are there for you, or even a friend that tells you to buck it up and get on with it (whichever needs to be said to you at the time), when the sun comes out or when the rain falls, a joke that makes you chuckle, or your child telling you they love you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Small things that make all the difference in the world. I sometimes forget the small things that are good and focus on the small things that are bad or get overwhelmed with the big things. Stop and smell the flowers so to speak. It really does help. It might not put you in a fabulous mood but it will make the day livable and hopeful for the next and that is what gets me through. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3218483753155781927?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3218483753155781927/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3218483753155781927&amp;isPopup=true' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3218483753155781927'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3218483753155781927'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/08/its-small-things.html' title='Its the small things'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-231874646743640030</id><published>2009-07-31T14:34:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-31T14:45:24.059-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Gripes of the week</title><content type='html'>Just a few things I have to gripe about or they will annoy more, which will just make me angrier, which makes me meaner. so here goes:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. don't ignore me. If I call, text or email you cause I am worried and haven't heard from you in a while.....do me a favor and just say whether you are doing well or not!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. When you ask my my name and I tell you don't repeat it back to me differently. You just heard me pronounce it!  today I had a lady asked me my name. I said 'Maura' she says 'oh Mara, ok thanks.' I just wanted to go through the phone.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Our state is Nevada...NOT Nevawda. Say it like a hick and you'll be fine. Don't try to put some fancy spin on it. We don't like it!!!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4.  Don't get angry at me because you didn't read the fine print when you signed up for your insurance company and now you have to pay out of pocket. I didn't make you sign your name and we are giving you all the help we can. Don't tell me "I'm ruining your life and I might as well come to your house and dig a grave. cause that's where I'm putting you"   Truly...I get that....a lot&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. If I look stressed, or intensely busy...don't come over and make a comment of how my face will stick that way if I don't change it! chances are if I look this way, I'm stressed and BUSY! leave me a lone! or your face will be permanently changed when I pounce you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;aaahhhhh I think that does it for now. I feel much better. :) thanks for listening to my gripes.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-231874646743640030?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/231874646743640030/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=231874646743640030&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/231874646743640030'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/231874646743640030'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/07/gripes-of-week.html' title='Gripes of the week'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2504694577740167418</id><published>2009-07-28T08:07:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-28T08:14:29.808-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Future Fashion Icon?</title><content type='html'>This morning I got Juliet some things to wear from the drawer. I got her new undies, a pair of jeans and a long tank with a flower pattern on it. Ok nothing to big, or special. Just something to wear to daycare.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I asked her to go get her shoes and she said sure, comes back five minutes later and seriously and revamped her whole outfit....and it looked so cute!!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;she rolled up her jeans twice to make them capri's and tucked in her tank to show off her little waist then asked me to put a pink puffy scrunchy in her hair cause it looked like the flowers on her tank.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She looked ten times cuter and it was all her! I don't know where she got her fashion sense but its good. Now she's doing this at four...can you imagine her in high school? and if she's good at it in high school and loves it maybe some day you'll see her name dressing the best of them....but I get ahead of myself. She's four and frankly has a lot of interests and is good at loads of stuff. I can't wait to see what she becomes!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On another note today is my sisters Birthday!!!! Wahoo for didder! Happy Birthday!!!!!! Love ya!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2504694577740167418?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2504694577740167418/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2504694577740167418&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2504694577740167418'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2504694577740167418'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/07/future-fashion-icon.html' title='Future Fashion Icon?'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8765137444669167144</id><published>2009-07-23T10:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-23T10:52:43.166-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Word Vomit</title><content type='html'>Ever have one of those days were every single thing that came out of your mouth you wish you could take back!? I did yesterday.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Either I said something completely rude or the way I said something was uncalled for.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;At work people kept apologizing on the phone for bothering me. When I said they weren't they would reply 'sure sounds like it'. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of my good friends tells me her crazy ex-husband (who she's managed to stay away from for the last 5 years) contacted her and I say "that's funny"...WHAT? how is that funny!? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My sister tells me some awesome news and I throw it in her face.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A guy at works mom died so he will be out of the office and I say to the girl who told me "not like we will notice he's gone".....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ok so I don't know what happened yesterday. Word vomit all day long! I hurt a lot of feelings and spent much of last night and this morning apologizing!  Some of them aren't really talking to me and I don't blame them! I wouldn't want to talk to me either. I so wish I could rewind and erase sometimes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; UGGG. I'm such an idiot sometimes!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8765137444669167144?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8765137444669167144/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8765137444669167144&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8765137444669167144'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8765137444669167144'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/07/word-vomit.html' title='Word Vomit'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-6236415898894537684</id><published>2009-07-20T08:10:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-20T08:25:13.184-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Front row and hard candy.</title><content type='html'>At church our family sits in the front row. So its hard to hide anything that happens...unruly children, bobbing sleepy heads or the fact that one almost has to do the heimlich on a kid.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well that's what happened to me this weekend. Juliet and Eric got a piece of Candy, they were being pretty good. Sharing books and coloring without any huge fights. So all was well. Until Juliet grabbed my arm like she was dying and in fact she was well on her way. I looked at her and her throat was bulging and the veins were popping, her eyes were watery and all you could hear was a desperate choking sound as she tried to take a breath in while her body tried to dislodge the candy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I bent her over a tad and hit her back as hard as I could...twice then I hear her breath in. So I bring her back up....big mistake (course you really aren't thinking to clearly when you see your only child choking to death) as soon as she came back up to take her second breath. In popped the candy back into her throat and thus starts the whole terrifying process over again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;by this point my dad had popped up from his seat by the Bishop and was on his way down. I was getting Juliet in the position to do the heimlich when the candy popped out. She took one massively huge breath in and I grabbed her and piratically ran out of the chapel. Not that we couldn't have stayed there. she was safe, breathing and the candy was out. I on the other hand was not ok and desperately needed to get out before I broke down in front of everyone.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So after my dad checked her I hurried to the bathroom, took her in the big stall with me and held her and cried. She told me I was ok and patted my back. I felt bad that she was the one that had to comfort me after what she had gone through, but I just could not help it. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Afterwards I ran into my good friend in the hallway and she took my mind off it. She always makes me laugh and it was perfect that she was out there when I needed that kind of a distraction.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Scary! I'm glad I didn't have to use the heimlich, but also glad that I had the peace of mind that I knew how to use it and didn't have to rely on someone else to get to her. That was a comforting thought.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-6236415898894537684?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/6236415898894537684/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=6236415898894537684&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6236415898894537684'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6236415898894537684'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/07/front-row-and-hard-candy.html' title='Front row and hard candy.'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-9058267973696301913</id><published>2009-07-17T07:44:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-17T07:54:35.008-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Harry Potter, Real Duels and an Awesome Movie Game</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmCQmXqRkmI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/RafPvSvxjig/s1600-h/harry_potter_and_the_half_blood_pri.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359442545431646818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmCQmXqRkmI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/RafPvSvxjig/s400/harry_potter_and_the_half_blood_pri.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;So of course I went and saw the mid night showing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. and of course I LOVED IT! they did cut a lot from the book and tweaked the ending just a tad but all in all I think they captured what was really important. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Mom bought our tickets earlier in the day but we still got there an hour and a half early to get good seats. They showed it on four screens and had each theatre with a different house flag over it. It was clever. :) We were in Slytherin and we had some very interesting people. There was a group of teenagers who dressed up. They kinda rag dolled it. You know they were dressing up to kinda make fun of the dresser uppers but they totally had fun with it. They even treated us to a real duel in the front of the theatre. One of the boys dressed up as Hermione and won the costume contest. :) &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Because we sat there for a good hour before the movie even started we got to hear all kinds of conversations. Usually after the first minute or so I don't listen anymore cause its not interesting. But the family behind us kept me interested the whole time. they were playing a movie game. You pick a major actor, they picked Harrison Ford and the next person says a movie he played in, then the next person has to say an actor in that movie, then the next person has to name a movie the second actor was in...and so on and so forth, until you get it back to Harrison Ford. Kinda like the seven degrees of Kevin Bacon. Only you can make this game go on for as long as you want. It was simply amazing the movies and actors this family knew and how they were able to connect all of them together. I would probably be out by the fourth movie or actor but they kept it up for a full hour and only stopped cause they knew the movie was coming on soon. Crazy huh?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Anyhow. I can't wait for the rest of the Harry Potters and that should be it for me for midnight showings for a while. :) &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-9058267973696301913?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/9058267973696301913/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=9058267973696301913&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/9058267973696301913'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/9058267973696301913'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/07/harry-potter-real-duels-and-awesome.html' title='Harry Potter, Real Duels and an Awesome Movie Game'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmCQmXqRkmI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/RafPvSvxjig/s72-c/harry_potter_and_the_half_blood_pri.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5539733636031835397</id><published>2009-07-13T12:19:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-13T12:34:06.949-07:00</updated><title type='text'>spices, ants and good friends</title><content type='html'>I helped my good friend move this weekend, I also helped her unpack and organize some of her house. We started in the kitchen cause lets face it you don't feel good until your kitchen is perfect right?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So Crystal (my good friend) was having a hard time trying to decide where she was going to put all her spices. She had 3 boxes of them....kid you not... 3 boxes and not little boxes either. So I ask her how many spices can she possibly need and also whens the last time she rotated them. "what do you mean rotate them?" that's when I knew we had a project.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I explained that spices expire and you have to throw them out. so we sat down and went through her three boxes. Oldest one found May of 2002 and she had like 5 containers of salt! so needless to say we really didn't need to find more room for the spices. By the time we were done she had room left over in her spice cabinet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ants are a problem this year. the little black sugar ants! man are they annoying. I tell her welcome to Carson that they are all over the place and you can get ant poison but she has to be careful to not let the kids or the dogs get it. So she comes up with a 'brilliant' idea.....she is going to get on her hands and knees and Lysol the suckers. Ya ok....like that's going to work. It will kill maybe the first 10 but the rest are out there and they will come. It was fun watching her try to demolish this ant line with a can of Lysol, a big paper towel and a mean look. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By 11pm we were both exhausted, delirious and giggly (ok more giggly then we usually are)...which didn't make organizing any easier.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Crystal and I have become such good friends over the last four years. I couldn't imagine unpacking and organizing going much funner. (funner....is that a word? is now. hehe). I love her bunches and hope for our sanity that neither one of us moves anytime soon.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;good times. ;)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5539733636031835397?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5539733636031835397/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5539733636031835397&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5539733636031835397'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5539733636031835397'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/07/spices-ants-and-good-friends.html' title='spices, ants and good friends'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8120870412046492513</id><published>2009-07-08T08:06:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-08T08:25:35.218-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Divine Intervention or All Me?</title><content type='html'>Ever have a HUMONGOUS decision to make and just didn't know what to do? I'm pretty sure all of us have had to in point or another in our lives. I'm sure we don't get doled out just one either. Many will come our way and we are judged on how we handle them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've had a few in my measly 26 years of being here, and only 9 years of those 26 have been on my own so I can only imagine what is still in store for me and hope that I pass those tests.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I have a friend who is going through something in her life that is not very pleasant, she is losing her house, her husband lost his job and they have to file bankruptcy. Now I have not had the pleasure of owning a house yet but can only imagine how bad it would feel to have to and to go through a financial strain like that. I have been on the low end of the totum pole when it came to money so was able to give her some advice on how to save money....like cutting the cable out, reducing your cell phone goodies so the bill is not so high, things like that. I'm no money guru but I know a few tricks here and there.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I also have a friend who is having some issues in her marriage. I'm no marriage councilor and I doubt I am qualified to give any advice to her but she like to talk to me anyway because I have a clear head and see things differently then most people.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;now me seeing things differently....is that Divine Intervention or all in my head? I've been told by several people that I seem to give good advice. That I seem in tune with life and what path people should take. If that is true and I am in tune with 'life' (or the Lord) then how come it is so hard for me to figure out my life? that's what I want to know.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How come when it comes to seeing things clearly and being in tune to what path people should walk down, why can I not choose mine? why is it fuzzy for me and totally not in tune? And if that is the case am I really helping these people out or directing them towards disaster?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Small questions that will never be answered in this life time. I will continue to help my friends and family in the best way I know how, have faith that I am in tune and am giving them the small bits of advice that can help them live a better life and pray that one day I will be able to see my path clearly. :) wouldn't that be nice?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8120870412046492513?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8120870412046492513/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8120870412046492513&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8120870412046492513'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8120870412046492513'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/07/divine-intervention-or-all-me.html' title='Divine Intervention or All Me?'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-7693776131096175683</id><published>2009-06-29T14:05:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-06-29T14:12:34.151-07:00</updated><title type='text'>New Job</title><content type='html'>One month from yesterday I will have been in this job for one year. Crazy how the time flies. We have a saying in the office here. The days go slow but the week goes fast. And its so true. I can't believe I've been here that long. Especially since I just got a new job.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yup I went from Administrative Assistant III to Administrative Assistant IV, in the same department. It was a 5% increase, which basically means I won't feel the mandatory furloughs (furlough = A unpaid, mandatory day off. We have to take 8 hours per month for the next two years). Which I don't mind the furloughs. I would rather have a day off and not get paid then work the same amount of hours and get a pay cut. So its all good.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;looky&lt;/span&gt; me moving up in the latter. I have no idea when or if I will move up. Not anytime soon. Anything after this I will have to take super hard test and all that goodness. NO thanks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm just glad once they hire someone for my old position I won't have to answer the phones anymore. &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;Woot&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;Woot&lt;/span&gt;! &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;hecks&lt;/span&gt; ya! I HATE phones!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the way it was the fastest interviewing process I've ever gone through. I applied on Thursday, had the interview the following Thursday and was told by the end of the day that I got it. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-7693776131096175683?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/7693776131096175683/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=7693776131096175683&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7693776131096175683'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7693776131096175683'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-job.html' title='New Job'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4518819549063333860</id><published>2009-06-24T07:58:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-06-24T08:08:48.666-07:00</updated><title type='text'>America's Got Talent</title><content type='html'>Have you seen this show? kinda like an American Idol and Star Search all in one. I love it. I usually miss it because I am not home but I got to see some last night.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I love to watch the people who think they are just the coolest things ever and the rest of the world can see they have no talent. Like this one guy says he does impressions so well that it scares him how much he sounds like the people he's impersonating. So when he got up there everyone is expecting this fantastic deal and he totally bombed. I'd feel bad for the guy except when they interviewed him later he was like, its just pure jealousy because there's no way I sucked.....ya buddy ya did!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But the very last group to addition for the night is the reason you want to see the show. It was two brothers and a sister, ages from nine to eighteen. They sang God bless America in acapella and it was just heart breakingly beautiful. There was so much feeling and soul in it and they were good. It made me cry and it made a lot of people in the audience cry. I really hope they make it all the way through!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;tonight is another hour deal where they go to another city (New York i think) and audition. It will be fun to see the good ones and even funner (is that a word?) to see the bad ones. I can't wait......&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;PS. ....thank goodness for DVR!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4518819549063333860?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4518819549063333860/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4518819549063333860&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4518819549063333860'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4518819549063333860'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/06/americas-got-talent.html' title='America&apos;s Got Talent'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5538589974695346808</id><published>2009-06-17T08:23:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-06-17T08:34:41.942-07:00</updated><title type='text'>SICK</title><content type='html'>I don't complain much...Ok maybe I do but this time I really do have a good reason. I'm sick and not just have the sniffles sick....full blown sick. So I thought I would tell you all the things I hate about being sick. That should make me feel better. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348320239115346034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 176px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SjkM672AoHI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/Ftu5GSI7mHI/s400/flu.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. I hate how my nose is stuffy, but only one side at a time&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. I hate how I don't fall asleep until literally 20 minutes before my alarm goes off&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. I hate how I feel like I'm trying to move under water with weights strapped to me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. I hate how badly my muscles, bones and joints hurt&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. I hate how sensitive my skin is&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6. I hate how the previous two make a hot shower a curse and a blessing, while soothing my aches, it torchers my skin...especially when drying off.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. I hate having the seal cough&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8. I hate how load everything is&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9. I hate how badly my head hurts&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10. I hate that I have to go the potty every two second cause I'm drinking water like its going out of style.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;11. I hate the fever chills&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;12. I hate how I have to much to do at work and the fact that I'm the only one in the office for the next two days, so I can't take off. And even if wanted to I need to save my time in case Juliet gets sick!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ok. I'm sure there is more but I'm done for now. Feel free to add your hates to the list.....go on do it. Makes you feel better!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5538589974695346808?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5538589974695346808/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5538589974695346808&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5538589974695346808'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5538589974695346808'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/06/sick.html' title='SICK'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SjkM672AoHI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/Ftu5GSI7mHI/s72-c/flu.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1016368583695041293</id><published>2009-06-15T12:10:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-06-15T12:24:34.332-07:00</updated><title type='text'>cake class</title><content type='html'>This last Thursday was my very first time teaching the Wilton Cake Decorating class.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I signed up about a month ago, which was perfect because the previous instructor was moving. I got all my supplies in the mail. I watched the training video (which I have to say I was very disappointed in - it looked like it was made in the late 80's out of someones living room.....um aren't you a multi-million dollar company? but we'll save that for another day). I prepared everything the night before and right after work drove up there to set up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ok I'm pretty ok in a crowd, I like talking to people, I can make a good joke here and there....but when you have to teach something? that's a whole nother story! I just about pee'd myself I was so nervous! I had five ladies there that night. Two had called me earlier that day and said they would miss the first class. so I have seven students all together.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I start off my introducing myself, having everyone else say a little something about what they want out of the class and on to teaching.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I talked for one hour and forty-five minutes, then I took them down the Wilton isle and had them shop. (side note: I LOVE retail! I'm good at it! so this part was super fun for me).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was able to answer their questions, suggest better ways for the things they were having difficulty doing and I know they walked away excited about the class. I even had one girl ask if we could move the class up to Friday, cause she didn't think she could wait a week to learn more. Another lady asked me what shop I owned and when I explained that I don't own a shop yet but would like to someday, she said I talk and carry myself like I have been doing this for years and already have a shop.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So needless to say, it went wonderfully! I'm very excited and can't wait to do it this Thursday!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yay me!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1016368583695041293?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1016368583695041293/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1016368583695041293&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1016368583695041293'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1016368583695041293'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/06/cake-class.html' title='cake class'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-7957619112396002673</id><published>2009-06-10T08:38:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-06-10T08:43:50.740-07:00</updated><title type='text'>quick update</title><content type='html'>I have been super sick for the last few days. I left work early on Friday and was out Monday and Tuesday. I'm at work today but we'll see how long I last...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I have my last writing class tonight! I'm excited because we are going to be able to publish some of our short stories. How fun is that!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I also start teaching my cake decorating class this Thursday. Super nervous and super excited. but I want to start it and get it going!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I signed Juliet up for Gymnastics. She goes every Tuesday for an hour and absolutely loves it. She can't wait to go again!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, life is life right now. Jason is driving, I'm working and Juliet is growing. So what else can I say. hehe.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-7957619112396002673?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/7957619112396002673/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=7957619112396002673&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7957619112396002673'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7957619112396002673'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/06/quick-update.html' title='quick update'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8586294885534229085</id><published>2009-05-31T19:32:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-31T20:01:12.157-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Cake Class</title><content type='html'>So I am officially the new cake decorating instructor at Micheal's. My first class starts on June 11th and frankly I'm scared out of my mind! I'm excited too but more scared at this point. haha.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So since some of you have asked and frankly I like to show off what I can do, here are a few cakes that I have decorated in the classes I've taken over the last 16 weeks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342182605501007490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiM-xo4ohoI/AAAAAAAAAIk/HffIDOTvdi4/s400/basket+cake3.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342182137680223794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiM-WaHd3jI/AAAAAAAAAIc/aNLiMUnwahA/s400/basket+cake5.jpg" border="0" /&gt;Basket weave cake - the class came just in time for Easter. :) I not only did the basket weave, but I also made all of those flowers and the bird out of Royal Icing...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342182970630176450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiM_G5GNfsI/AAAAAAAAAIs/JAZCRtr-TXE/s400/basket+cake+flowers.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here's a close up of the flowers and notice how smooth the top of the cake is.....all me baby! :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And here is a Package cake (looks like a present. hehe) and the tiered cake with more flowers made by yours truly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342184319685323746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiNAVauBa-I/AAAAAAAAAI0/2C6QRv4abyA/s400/Package+cake1.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342187553357120498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiNDRpFdQ_I/AAAAAAAAAJs/UgE8HwCgLXo/s400/Package+cake2.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342184695310938866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiNArSCJcvI/AAAAAAAAAI8/Xys4Qpezwlw/s400/Flowers1.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342185417016107282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiNBVSmEYRI/AAAAAAAAAJE/vdn8U6cJjoA/s400/tiered+cake+best.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sorry I couldn't figure out how to turn it. haha.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And here is a pic of the cake I did on my last class. I love this one! its one of my favorite. It even looked cute when it was cut into! :) &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342185989940791538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiNB2o59SPI/AAAAAAAAAJM/TcV1--khZYg/s400/DC2.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342186279238847698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiNCHen_TNI/AAAAAAAAAJU/TQMdZvk5d1c/s400/DC1.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342186533228745762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiNCWQz5lCI/AAAAAAAAAJc/F75jYPWsQrY/s400/DC5.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(usually dont' have that much filling in the middle.....don't know what happened with that one. haha. could be the fact that I put it together around midnight the night before. hehe)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This one, I did for my friends daughters birthday. I kinda thought it was cute.&lt;br /&gt;It's a jewelry box. the lid is a slab of melted white chocolate!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342187111251918194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiNC36HXPXI/AAAAAAAAAJk/97YKPH0JEjw/s400/jb+cake6.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She loved it!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;Well those are just a few. I have done three weddings, countless birthdays, special occasions and a couple of graduations. I'm looking forward to getting into baby showers, more wedding and so on and hopefully one day be good enough to do this for a living. I absolutely love it!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Let me know what you all think.....I want real critiques! I can take it. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8586294885534229085?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8586294885534229085/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8586294885534229085&amp;isPopup=true' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8586294885534229085'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8586294885534229085'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/cake-class.html' title='Cake Class'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SiM-xo4ohoI/AAAAAAAAAIk/HffIDOTvdi4/s72-c/basket+cake3.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3880843122654480932</id><published>2009-05-26T08:00:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-26T08:03:56.706-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Memorial Day Weekend.</title><content type='html'>Well I did a lot and nothing at all...haha. Ever have one of those weekends? :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I cleaned my house...twice but it still looks a mess!&lt;br /&gt;I potted some seedlings that where starting to get to big for the starter kit I started last week.&lt;br /&gt;We went to the store.&lt;br /&gt;I played my on-line game.&lt;br /&gt;Went to a BBQ.&lt;br /&gt;Took a nap.&lt;br /&gt;Went to church.&lt;br /&gt;and caught up on some of my shows.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;not in that order but all around it was a nice relaxing but busy weekend. Loved the extra day off! Wouldn't mind having another. :)  Really wanted to go to the movies but just didn't' have the energy or the money for it. Maybe next week!.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. I also hope we all remembered what it was truly about!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3880843122654480932?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3880843122654480932/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3880843122654480932&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3880843122654480932'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3880843122654480932'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/memorial-day-weekend.html' title='Memorial Day Weekend.'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-7883032087564833785</id><published>2009-05-21T08:20:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-21T08:25:08.189-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Anohter midnight showing.</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;Yes, I went to another midnight showing. This time it was The Terminator. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;It was super good. Not as good as Star Trek...but still Awesome!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338298335989842530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 153px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/ShVyDZW7wmI/AAAAAAAAAIU/bicE_CczP8g/s400/Term.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I have a wicked fear of machines and robots. If they are to big or can do to much on their own...they make me skittish. Its an irrational fear, I know but its there. So several times during the movie it freaked me out because the machines were sooooo big. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Hope you get to see it and enjoy it as much as we did!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-7883032087564833785?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/7883032087564833785/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=7883032087564833785&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7883032087564833785'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/7883032087564833785'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/anohter-midnight-showing.html' title='Anohter midnight showing.'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/ShVyDZW7wmI/AAAAAAAAAIU/bicE_CczP8g/s72-c/Term.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-234392925876213248</id><published>2009-05-19T08:20:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-19T08:31:28.140-07:00</updated><title type='text'>um YUUUM</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;We went to the store yesterday. Jason needed supplies before he went back out for three weeks and we needed to get some milk, cereal and other various food stuffs. :) &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;While waiting for Jason to pick out some bread I wondered down the other end of the isle and there on the end was the most amazing thing I think I have seen in a while (well regarding new food stuff) You know that magic shell ice-cream topping? well 1) YUUUM!!!!! and 2) they have a new flavor...... &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;wait for it....&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;wait for it.....&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;CUPCAKE!!!!!!!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337557468015923602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 120px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/ShLQPNFSkZI/AAAAAAAAAIM/Yi-973-G5ig/s320/msh.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Oh my heavens, I broke down and bought it along with a small tub-o-ice-cream and it was sooooo yuuummy!!!!!! I would highly recommend it!. Its just wonderful.....I wonder what it would taste like on birthday cake ice-cream? hmmm.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-234392925876213248?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/234392925876213248/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=234392925876213248&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/234392925876213248'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/234392925876213248'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/um-yuuum.html' title='um YUUUM'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/ShLQPNFSkZI/AAAAAAAAAIM/Yi-973-G5ig/s72-c/msh.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3574537856914395154</id><published>2009-05-14T12:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-14T13:05:31.409-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Recycled Fashion</title><content type='html'>We have very distinct periods of fashion from the 1800-1900, the 20's, the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's all came with a new and unique way of stepping it out...even the 90's had some craze...you know with the baggy pants, backwards caps and short, short skirts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well lately, now that we are in the 2000's, we've had to look back on some of our fashion era's and borrow and sometimes re-event them. For instance in the early 2000's bell bottoms and flower power were big, now we are seeing skinny jeans and big hair. Ok so I think we could have brought back some better points of fashion but whatever.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Today I saw a guy who thought he would just take the last 75 years or so and roll them all in to one outfit. I'm hoping this does not come into craze since I can really only handle one bad fashion comeback at a time! Here is what he was wearing....let's start with the shoes and work our way up shall we:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;he had vans slip ons..and wholey ones at that, he had skinny jeans that were tucked under his bum, held on with a metallic belt, he had green and brown plaid boxers, a chain that ran from his belt loop in the front to his wallet in his sagging bum pocket (I didn't know they sold those anymore!) then he had a white shirt with a skinny black tie, the sleeves where rolled up and I swear he had a box of cigarettes tucked into the sleeve, he had a hemp choker necklace on with a blue flower bead at the throat and his hair was a fluffy version of a Mohawk with a comb sticking out of the side.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ok can anyone name how many eras he was wearing today?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I counted at least five, but some of those things were carried from one era to the other.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All I know is I was not the only one looking at him and I really hope he doesn't think this is going to be catching on anytime soon. Maybe I don't appreciate the 'art' of it all or maybe I really am getting old....or it could be both, but whatever happened to jeans and a t-shirt?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I just can't wait to see what they come up with next....or maybe I can!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3574537856914395154?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3574537856914395154/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3574537856914395154&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3574537856914395154'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3574537856914395154'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/recycled-fashion.html' title='Recycled Fashion'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8694586789512914319</id><published>2009-05-13T12:51:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-13T13:09:06.727-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Name Dropper</title><content type='html'>Ever heard of a name dropper? Ever have to talk to one?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I had a person call me the other day and ask me where their card was. We have already sent out several cards to this member and for some reason they are just not getting to her.  Anyway, I keep telling her all I can do is request for another one to be sent out. I verify her address, make sure there's not special instructions..so on and so forth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;she then tells me she's already talked to her good friend Harry, then she pauses for dramatic effect....and then says, you know Harry Reed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Um and?!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Apparently this upset her that I was not impressed that she was friends with Harry Reed. She then starts dropping other names, like I'm suppose to know or even care who these people are.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I go back to telling her all I can do is to have the card requested again. Then she says that she can have so and so (one of the afore mentioned names I neither know or care about) pick it up from our office and bring it to her. ....&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ok:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;One&lt;/strong&gt;: the cards come from our insurance company in CA, not here...so no can do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Two&lt;/strong&gt;: if these people are as big as she seems to think they are, they are NOT going to pick up her card and hand deliver it to her...its just not done.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Three&lt;/strong&gt;: I don't, nor have I ever, been intimidated by name droppers or by the actual people those names go with. I'm doing my job correctly and if you want to waste their time and send them down then by all means, please do so....I'm not the one that will look bad.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I basically said those few things to her in a round about much nicer way. She finally got the point and will now wait patiently for her card to arrive in the mail.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8694586789512914319?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8694586789512914319/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8694586789512914319&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8694586789512914319'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8694586789512914319'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/name-dropper.html' title='Name Dropper'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5364811865573530426</id><published>2009-05-11T07:43:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-11T07:49:47.905-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Mothers day...</title><content type='html'>I had a great mothers day. I had a sleep study on Saturday night so my parents took Juliet for the night. I was able to go home in the morning and get some chores done. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet kept thinking it was valentine day ( I think because of all the cards that were being passed to me and mom). It was super cute.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then at church we got to hear lovely talks (one by my very own sister. yay Marina), watch the children sing to us, and of course we got a great CD. Juliet made me a flower necklace with noodles on it (she was very excited about the noodles) and I got a bag full of yummy candies. Juliet also got me a $20 gift certificate to Micheal's ( I practically live at that store now, hehe). I haven't checked my mail and I'm told I have a card there too. wahoo.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We had the most yummiest dinner. BBQ chicken and ribs, with grilled peppers, parsley potatoes and steamed green beans....YUMMM, then for desert I made mom a lemon meringue cake...yes a cake. I don't like pies so don't' make them, but her favorite kind is lemon meringue so I made it into a cake. It wasn't my favorite but it was good for lemon. :) mom seemed to like it and I guess that's all that matters right?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;well I hope you all had a lovely mothers day too!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5364811865573530426?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5364811865573530426/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5364811865573530426&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5364811865573530426'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5364811865573530426'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/mothers-day.html' title='Mothers day...'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3668806754349107469</id><published>2009-05-08T08:21:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-08T08:27:16.106-07:00</updated><title type='text'>6 WORDS</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333474829632654082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 175px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SgRPGX69ywI/AAAAAAAAAIE/1AkeJEp1gZE/s400/ST.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I went to the midnight showing of Star Trek last night and absolutely loved it. It was amazing! They way they got younger characters to act and look just like the originals is outstanding. I loved the story line, I loved the special effects, I just simply loved it. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I will definitely be buying this one!!! but it really is one you need to see in the theatre! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;so go see it!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;this is a great year for movies. So you will probably see a lot of reviews on here. I love movies.....I think I've said that before. hehe :) &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3668806754349107469?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3668806754349107469/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3668806754349107469&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3668806754349107469'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3668806754349107469'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/6-words.html' title='6 WORDS'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SgRPGX69ywI/AAAAAAAAAIE/1AkeJEp1gZE/s72-c/ST.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-6169314676311698287</id><published>2009-05-06T08:02:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-06T08:17:49.284-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Another Gym Story...</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;I go to the gym at least four times a week. I take a spinning classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a weight lifting class on Wednesdays and Fridays. I LOOOOVE the weight lifting classes and HATE the spinning classes. My good friend who goes with me is the opposite...so its good that we go together because we make each other go to the classes we each can't stand.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;In spinning there is a group of ladies that all collect in the corner. At first I wondered why they all liked that corner so much...maybe it because there is an extra fan over there, maybe its because they can chit chat while they are biking (although if you ask me, if you are doing the class correctly you shouldn't be able to talk...but that's just me), but neither is the answer to why they like the corner. I figured it out yesterday. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;there is a small table in the very corner behind the bikes. They are able to put their cups of coffee on the table and reach it while on the bike...yes you read that correctly! They sip their coffee while biking...&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SgGp-ct7A6I/AAAAAAAAAH8/ew5QmhncZRo/s1600-h/cof.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332730324109165474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 122px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SgGp-ct7A6I/AAAAAAAAAH8/ew5QmhncZRo/s400/cof.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;does anyone else see an issue with this? or is it just me? aren't' you suppose to refuel with water...not a sugary, caffeinated hot drink? And why are you not working out hard enough where you are able to gossip and sip coffee....this is not social hour, this is sweat until you bleed hour. If you want to drink coffee and catch up, go to a, um I don' t know....A COFFEE SHOP!!!!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;ok. I'm done complaining. I could be just saying this because I'm super jealous that all these woman look fabulous while doing nothing and probably brag to their non gym going buddies that they broke a sweat this morning in spinning, while I'm on my bike, not only breaking a sweat but drenching in it, gasping for air, face read, legs trembling and still chubby. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;its my lot in life and I accept it but doesn't mean I have to like it...or them!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-6169314676311698287?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/6169314676311698287/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=6169314676311698287&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6169314676311698287'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6169314676311698287'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/another-gym-story.html' title='Another Gym Story...'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SgGp-ct7A6I/AAAAAAAAAH8/ew5QmhncZRo/s72-c/cof.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4286759684829976687</id><published>2009-05-04T10:09:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-04T13:15:35.804-07:00</updated><title type='text'>kinda fun....</title><content type='html'>Dear Customer,&lt;br /&gt;I don't really know how to tell you this, but I'm in love with your cat. I think I realized it When you smacked my bum Outside of your office and I saw you Sit on My father. I'm sure you're shamed enough to understand That I get turned on only by garbage men. I'm returning Your toe ring to you, but I'll keep Your glass eye as a memory. You should also know that I Always will remember the pep talks and I'm scratching my bum as you read this&lt;br /&gt;Go milk a cow,&lt;br /&gt;Maura&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dear (someone you recently talked to),I don't really know how to tell you this, but (1). I think I realized it (2)(3) and I saw you (4)(5). I'm sure you're (6) enough to understand (7). I'm returning (8) to you, but I'll keep (9) as a memory. You should also know that I (10) and (11).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(12),&lt;br /&gt;(Your name)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1) What's the color of your shirt?&lt;br /&gt;Blue - I'm in love with your cat&lt;br /&gt;Red - Our affair is over&lt;br /&gt;White - I’m joining the Convent&lt;br /&gt;Black -Our romance is overGreen- Our socks don't match&lt;br /&gt;Grey - You're a leprechaun&lt;br /&gt;Yellow - I'm selling myself for candy&lt;br /&gt;Pink - Your nostrils are insulting&lt;br /&gt;Brown - The mafia wants you&lt;br /&gt;No shirt - Purple hedgehogs want to destroy you&lt;br /&gt;Other -I dislike your eyelashes&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2) Which is your birth month?&lt;br /&gt;January - That night you picked your nose&lt;br /&gt;February -When I quoted Forest Gump&lt;br /&gt;March - When your dwarf bit me&lt;br /&gt;April - When I tripped on peanut butter&lt;br /&gt;May - When I finally changed my underwear&lt;br /&gt;June - When you put cuffs on me&lt;br /&gt;July – When I saw the purple monkey&lt;br /&gt;August - When you smacked my bum&lt;br /&gt;September - Last year when you peed your pants&lt;br /&gt;October - When we skinny dipped in the bathtub&lt;br /&gt;November - When your dog humped my leg&lt;br /&gt;December - When I threw up in your sock drawer&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3) Which food do you prefer?&lt;br /&gt;Tacos - In your apartment&lt;br /&gt;Chicken- In your car&lt;br /&gt;Pasta - Outside of your office&lt;br /&gt;Hamburgers - Under the bus&lt;br /&gt;Salad – As you were eating Kraft Dinner&lt;br /&gt;Lasagna - In your closet&lt;br /&gt;Kebab - With Jean Chrétien&lt;br /&gt;Seafood - In a clown suit&lt;br /&gt;Sandwiches - At the Elton John concert&lt;br /&gt;Pizza - At the mental hospital&lt;br /&gt;Hot dog - Under a street light&lt;br /&gt;Other- With George Bush and Stephen Harper&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4) What's the color of your socks?&lt;br /&gt;Yellow - Ignore&lt;br /&gt;Red - Put whipped cream on&lt;br /&gt;Black - Hit on&lt;br /&gt;Blue - Knock out&lt;br /&gt;Purple - Pour syrup on&lt;br /&gt;White - Carve your initials into&lt;br /&gt;Grey - Pull the clothes off&lt;br /&gt;Brown - bite off&lt;br /&gt;Orange - Castrate&lt;br /&gt;Pink - Pull the pants off of&lt;br /&gt;Barefoot - Sit on&lt;br /&gt;Other - Drive over&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5) What's the color of your underwear?&lt;br /&gt;Black - My boyfriend&lt;br /&gt;White - My father&lt;br /&gt;Grey – The Catholic Priest&lt;br /&gt;Brown – The Montreal Canadian’s goalie&lt;br /&gt;Purple - My corned beef hash&lt;br /&gt;Red – My knee caps&lt;br /&gt;Blue - My salt-beef bucket&lt;br /&gt;Yellow - My illegitimate child in Ghana&lt;br /&gt;Orange - My Blink 182 cd&lt;br /&gt;Pink – Your ‘My Little Pony’ collection&lt;br /&gt;Other --The elephant in the corner&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6) What do you prefer to watch on TV?&lt;br /&gt;One Tree Hill - Senile&lt;br /&gt;Heroes- Frostbitten&lt;br /&gt;Lost - High&lt;br /&gt;Simpsons- Cowardly&lt;br /&gt;The news - Scarred&lt;br /&gt;American Idol - Masochistic&lt;br /&gt;Family Guy - Open&lt;br /&gt;Top Model - Middle-class&lt;br /&gt;Other -shamed&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7) Your mood right now?&lt;br /&gt;Happy - How awful you are&lt;br /&gt;Sad - How boring you are&lt;br /&gt;Bored - That I get turned on only by garbage men&lt;br /&gt;Angry - That your smell makes me vomit&lt;br /&gt;Depressed – That we’re related&lt;br /&gt;Excited - That I may pee my pants&lt;br /&gt;Nervous - The middle-east is planning their revenge on you&lt;br /&gt;Worried - That your Ford sucks&lt;br /&gt;Apathetic - That you need a sex-change&lt;br /&gt;Silly - That I'm allergic to your earlobes&lt;br /&gt;Cuddly - That Santa doesn't exist&lt;br /&gt;Ashamed - That there is no solution to you being a dumb kid&lt;br /&gt;Other - That your driving sucks&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8) What's the color of your walls in your bedroom?&lt;br /&gt;White - Your toe ring&lt;br /&gt;Yellow - Your love letters to me&lt;br /&gt;Red - The pictures from Vegas&lt;br /&gt;Black - Your pet rock&lt;br /&gt;Blue - The couch cushions&lt;br /&gt;Green - Your car&lt;br /&gt;Orange - Your false teeth&lt;br /&gt;Brown - Your nose hair clippers&lt;br /&gt;Grey - Our matching snoopy underwear&lt;br /&gt;Purple - Your old New Kids on the Block blanket&lt;br /&gt;Pink - The cut toenails&lt;br /&gt;Other - Your Hannah Montana underwear&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9) The first letter of your first name?&lt;br /&gt;A/B - My virginity&lt;br /&gt;C/D - Your photo with the mustache drawn on it&lt;br /&gt;E/F - Your neighbors dog&lt;br /&gt;G/H - The oil tank from your car&lt;br /&gt;I/J - Your left ear&lt;br /&gt;K/L - The results of that blood-sample&lt;br /&gt;M/N - Your glass eye&lt;br /&gt;O/P - My common sense&lt;br /&gt;Q/R - Your mom&lt;br /&gt;S/T - Your collection of butterflies&lt;br /&gt;U/V - Your criminal record&lt;br /&gt;W/X – Your sucide note&lt;br /&gt;Y/Z - Your credit cards&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10) The last letter in your last name?&lt;br /&gt;A/B - Love your sweet, sweet bum&lt;br /&gt;C/D - Always will remember the pep talks&lt;br /&gt;E/F -Never will forget that night&lt;br /&gt;G/H – Will not tell the authorites that you stole the whale from the backyard.&lt;br /&gt;I/J – Mocked you behind your back constantly&lt;br /&gt;K/L - Hate your cooking&lt;br /&gt;M/N - Told in my confession today about the moose poaching&lt;br /&gt;O/P - Told my psychiatrist about the bruises&lt;br /&gt;Q/R - Get sick when I think of your feet&lt;br /&gt;S/T - Always wanted to break your legs&lt;br /&gt;U/V - Will try to forget that you broke my heart&lt;br /&gt;W/X - Haven’t showered in a month&lt;br /&gt;Y/Z – am better off without you&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;11) What do you prefer to drink?&lt;br /&gt;Wine- Our friendship is ruined&lt;br /&gt;Soft drink – I’m off to lead a new life as a lemon&lt;br /&gt;Soda – I will haunt you when I’m reincarnated as an Eskimo&lt;br /&gt;Milk - The apartment building is on fire&lt;br /&gt;Water – I'm scratching my bum as you read this&lt;br /&gt;Cider– I have a passionate interest for mice&lt;br /&gt;Juice – You ruined my attempts at another world war.&lt;br /&gt;Snapple/Vitamin water – You should get that embarrassing rash checked out&lt;br /&gt;Hot chocolate – Your Cucumber-fetishism is weird&lt;br /&gt;Whiskey - I love Oprah Winfrey&lt;br /&gt;Beer – Thanks for the Cocaine&lt;br /&gt;Other – you should stop picking your nose&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;12) To which country would you prefer to go on a vacation?&lt;br /&gt;Thailand – Warm tingly sensations&lt;br /&gt;Australia - Greetings to your frog Leonard&lt;br /&gt;France - Love always&lt;br /&gt;Spain - With tears of sadness&lt;br /&gt;China – You make me sick&lt;br /&gt;Germany – Please don’t hurt me&lt;br /&gt;Japan - Go milk a cow&lt;br /&gt;Greece - your everlasting enemy&lt;br /&gt;USA - Best of luck on the sex change&lt;br /&gt;Egypt – Kiss my bumEngland - Go drown yourself&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;some of the choices are a little off but its still fun to see what you come up with. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4286759684829976687?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4286759684829976687/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4286759684829976687&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4286759684829976687'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4286759684829976687'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/kinda-fun.html' title='kinda fun....'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-2349461269937713929</id><published>2009-05-01T08:12:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-05-01T08:20:58.689-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Quick Review</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;Hello all,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I went to the midnight showing of Wolverine last night....and yes, I still went to my morning gym class and came to work. I know what was I thinking? &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SfsTEPKuQgI/AAAAAAAAAH0/8B_WIZ-36TQ/s1600-h/Xm.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330875547435024898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 107px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SfsTEPKuQgI/AAAAAAAAAH0/8B_WIZ-36TQ/s320/Xm.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;It was a great movie. The only problem I had with it was some of the graphics. You would think with the awesome technology we have today making computer graphics look so life like that they could have spent the extra time making sure wolverine's knife figures look real.....other then that AWESOME. The story line was great, the acting was wonderful, there were some really hilarious parts and killer fight scenes (pun intended. hehe). &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I would recommend seeing it. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I am excited for May too. May seems to be the movie month...now that I think of it, 2009 is really an awesome movie year. Some of the ones I am looking forward to are: &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Star Trek&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Terminator&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Ghosts of Girlfriends Past&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Transformers&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Harry Potter&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;UP&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Full Moon ( I'm pretty sure that is coming out at the end of the year)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;these are just a few that I really want to see in the theatre's!!!!! I love the movies!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-2349461269937713929?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/2349461269937713929/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=2349461269937713929&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2349461269937713929'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/2349461269937713929'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/quick-review.html' title='Quick Review'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SfsTEPKuQgI/AAAAAAAAAH0/8B_WIZ-36TQ/s72-c/Xm.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3949010115957522419</id><published>2009-04-28T13:31:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-28T13:53:06.306-07:00</updated><title type='text'>my pickmeup</title><content type='html'>So I hate that I have to get up at 5 in the am to get to the gym, but I do have to say after I am done I feel sooo much better.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am more awake for the rest of the day.&lt;br /&gt;My energy level (while not up to the place I want it to be) is higher.&lt;br /&gt;I have A LOT more patience.&lt;br /&gt;I'm nicer.&lt;br /&gt;I feel like I've done something for me and no one else.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've become pretty reliant on exercises...you could almost say addicted. I still don't' see the results I wish I could have, but I don't' plan on giving up now so maybe someday!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the way. Exercise doesn't have to be just at the gym. If you go for a 15-20 minute walk or take the stairs instead of the elevator, park farther out at the grocery store, do calf exercises (stand flat for 5 seconds then stand on tip-toe for 5 seconds..repeat) while doing the dishes, do crunches while watching your favorite show. Any kind of exercises is better then no exercise and it will make you feel better!.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3949010115957522419?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3949010115957522419/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3949010115957522419&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3949010115957522419'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3949010115957522419'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-pickmeup.html' title='my pickmeup'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8675394520124475557</id><published>2009-04-27T07:59:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-27T08:24:46.630-07:00</updated><title type='text'>What was I thinking?</title><content type='html'>Two weekends ago, my good friend asked me if I would come help her with her daughters sleepover. Juliet and I were both invited and I thought it would be fun time for Juliet cause of all the little girls she could play with and me because I got to hang out with my friend.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It was 18 hours (minus the 6 hours they slept) of pure chaos. Load screaming, minor meltdowns, messes to clean up, snacks to hand out, activities to do to keep them busy...well you see my point.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They seriously went all day! They got there at 3-4 finally went to sleep at midnight and were up at...no joke....6:20 AM.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the time the last girl left. Crystal and I could barely keep our eyes open....exhausted beyond breaking point!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I drove home from Dayton to Carson wondering the whole time how I ever had that much energy and how the hecks I was going to get that energy back. Don't know if I ever will but it would be nice. ;)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pretty sure Juliet will either not have a sleepover until she is 12 and they can entertain themselves or there will be only 2-3 girls...NOT 7!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But it was fun after all was said and done. Juliet had tons of fun and I got to hang out with my buddy!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8675394520124475557?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8675394520124475557/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8675394520124475557&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8675394520124475557'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8675394520124475557'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-was-i-thinking.html' title='What was I thinking?'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4293172539492623848</id><published>2009-04-23T08:53:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-23T09:06:15.765-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Earth Day</title><content type='html'>Yesterday was Earth Day. Disney came out with a movie apply named EARTH. Jason and I took Juliet and Eric to it last night. It was sooo great!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I laughed, I cried (only a little), My mouth gaped open in sheer awe at times and it really made me want to be kinder to our little planet!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Anyone who really knows me knows I am a city girl through and through. Put me in a tiny apartment with the windows facing a brick wall and the streets so crowded that you know for a fact you will probably never see that person again and I'm good. I know its a sickness, but that's how I like it. But I really do marvel at the vastness and beauty of this planet, the way it works and tries to repair itself, the sheer genius that went into creating it. I sometimes can not even comprehend it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am trying to be more conscious of what I do. I am trying to remember to take my bags to the store so I can use those instead of the plastic. I drink out of water bottles like no body's business but I recycle them. I turn off the lights as much as possible and keep the heater at 68.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I know there is more I can do, and I will. I will try to remember that me not paying attention in Carson City NV, is making it harder and harder for the polar bears to hunt every year because the ice is melting faster and earlier, that me not paying attention could cause the one time a year the deserts get rain to fade and therefore lose all those precious animals who so desperately depend on it. that me not paying attention will make my daughters body have to adjust to the thinning ozone and polluted air.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We may have messed it up a lot, but its never to late to try and fix it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I really appreciate that Disney put out such a wonderful movie and encourage every one to go see it (especially this week, cause they plant a tree for every movie ticket sold this week). It really was an eye opener and I'm grateful for it.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4293172539492623848?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4293172539492623848/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4293172539492623848&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4293172539492623848'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4293172539492623848'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/earth-day.html' title='Earth Day'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1277832186646852554</id><published>2009-04-21T12:11:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-21T12:19:33.525-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Favorite Moive Quotes</title><content type='html'>I am a hard core movie fan. I LOVE them. There is rarely a movie I've seen where I though it was a waste of my time. I love romance, and suspense, I love action but most of all comedy!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;but almost all movies have a quotable line, if your lucky several. Like Napoleon Dynamite....I can quote that all day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here are some of my favorite quotes. Hopefully you will know which movies they come from...if not. Maybe I will post the matching movies. hehe.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Kitridge, you've never seen me very upset.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Whatever I feel like, Gosh&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Talk the man Vida, you speak honky&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thomas, looook at my butt, looook at my butt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;don't be jealous because I've been chatting on line with chicks all day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;don't mess with me, I am a mother.....I mean a doctor, I am a doctor&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'll be back&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You're about to be out danced&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So you've met my mother.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Those are just a few. Feel free to add your own. I love movie quotes and love to see what other peoples favorite movies and/or quotes are!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1277832186646852554?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1277832186646852554/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1277832186646852554&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1277832186646852554'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1277832186646852554'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/favorite-moive-quotes.html' title='Favorite Moive Quotes'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-6194525869446719149</id><published>2009-04-17T09:43:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-17T09:55:19.810-07:00</updated><title type='text'>10 things I hate about work</title><content type='html'>I got really annoyed the other day with working so I thought I would write down a few things that drive me absolutely crazy!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. When people introduce themselves on the phone and then go silent like you're suppose to know who they are.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. When people walk by your desk and feel it necessary to comment to about everything or make a 'clever' joke. Didn't ask...don't care!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. When customers feel it necessary  to go into life stories or recent medical procedures that have nothing to do with the question or conversation. Again didn't ask...don't care!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. After you answer the phone with your business's name and then the customer says 'yes, is this...". Pretty sure I just said that!!! PAY ATTENTION&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. When co-workers come to your desk and ask what are you doing? Washing a dog...I'm working what does it look like.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6. When someone tells you what exactly they are going to be doing that day, when you don't' need to know where they are and what they are going to be doing.....didn't ask, don't care (see a pattern?)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. When customers leave a message to be called back and then when you do they hang up on you because they think you are a collection agency.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8. When people ask a question and then don't shut up long enough to let you answer and then start talking over you when you do finally get a word in. Hello ask me a question....LISTEN for the answer!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9. When you explain something and then the customer says "are you sure?". Oh just kidding, you caught me taking 10 minutes out of my life to lie to you just for giggles!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10. When people start of the conversation saying "you people". Ya pretty sure I gave you my name at the beginning of the call. I remembered yours......use mine!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm sure there are more but those are the ones that got to me and usually do. Feel free to add on to the list! :) &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Have a great day at work....No matter where you are!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-6194525869446719149?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/6194525869446719149/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=6194525869446719149&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6194525869446719149'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/6194525869446719149'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/10-things-i-hate-about-work.html' title='10 things I hate about work'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8626835885910342534</id><published>2009-04-15T14:03:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-15T14:07:44.844-07:00</updated><title type='text'>I like my blankets cold.</title><content type='html'>I like my blankets cold....this is what Juliet said when I cuddled up to her while she was watching spongebob. She would rather I didn't lay on her blanket and wrap my arms around her because then I would make her blankets hot. She even took one of them outside the other day to cool down so she could wrap it around her.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I would rather be cold then hot too but I'm pretty sure she misses the whole point of having a blanket, but she is my daughter and therefore a little bit out of her mind. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Crazy kid, gotta love her!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8626835885910342534?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8626835885910342534/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8626835885910342534&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8626835885910342534'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8626835885910342534'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-like-my-blankets-cold.html' title='I like my blankets cold.'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-4868087378062948353</id><published>2009-04-13T10:05:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-13T10:18:11.110-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The mystory of the chocolate eggs</title><content type='html'>So the Easter Bunny filled Juliets basket on Saturday night. I made sure to have the dogs in mine and Rebekah's room so they would not be tempted to test those tasty treats.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;She had a chocolate bunny, a candy house kit, spongebob crabby patty gummies, malt eggs, and of course chocolate covered marshmallow eggs. Now those eggs were hidden in the bottom and some where put on top as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So morning comes. She looks through her basket and then goes on a the hunt for the eggs hidden around. They were mostly hidden in the living room, so we didn't leave the candy just lying around. No dogs or cats came near it and the basket was obviously not disturbed when we came out. But alas ( yes I just said alas ) no chocolate covered marshmallow eggs. Not on top or bottom. No where to be seen. I double checked the Easter Bunnies bag of tricks to make sure they were in fact put in there.....yup, they were but no where to be found.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;so either we have some very strong, picky, intelligent ants or someone in the house slept walked ate all those and put everything back EXACTLY how it was the night before....or I'm going crazy. I know what your thinking...the ants are probably the most probable situation....but I'm ganna go with I'm simply going crazy!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Hope everyone had a great Easter!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-4868087378062948353?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/4868087378062948353/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=4868087378062948353&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4868087378062948353'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/4868087378062948353'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/mystory-of-chocolate-eggs.html' title='The mystory of the chocolate eggs'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-8204118461935059137</id><published>2009-04-12T09:43:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-12T09:45:35.065-07:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt;HAPPY EASTER!!!!!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt;LOVE THE CANDY AND THE COLORED EGGS! BUT LET US NOT FORGET WHAT OUR SAVIOR DID FOR US!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#6600cc;"&gt;LOVE YOU ALL!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-8204118461935059137?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/8204118461935059137/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=8204118461935059137&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8204118461935059137'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/8204118461935059137'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/happy-easter-love-candy-and-colored.html' title=''/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-5382039139226671906</id><published>2009-04-09T16:17:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-09T16:20:21.758-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Gods Cake</title><content type='html'>Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?'&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here is a wonderful explanation!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong: she's failing algebra; her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.&lt;br /&gt;Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says,&lt;br /&gt;'Absolutely, Mom, I love your cake.'&lt;br /&gt;'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers.&lt;br /&gt;'Yuck,' says her daughter..&lt;br /&gt;'How about a couple raw eggs?'&lt;br /&gt;'Gross, Mom!'&lt;br /&gt;'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?'&lt;br /&gt;'Mom, those are all yucky!'&lt;br /&gt;To which the mother replies:&lt;br /&gt;'Yes, all those things seem bad by themselves But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;God is crazy about you! He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.....I hope your Day is a piece of Cake!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-5382039139226671906?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/5382039139226671906/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=5382039139226671906&amp;isPopup=true' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5382039139226671906'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/5382039139226671906'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/gods-cake.html' title='Gods Cake'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1672350445381663227</id><published>2009-04-07T08:56:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-07T09:05:29.388-07:00</updated><title type='text'>How heavy is your life?</title><content type='html'>A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?'&lt;br /&gt;Answers called out ranged from 8oz. To 20oz.&lt;br /&gt;The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.'&lt;br /&gt;'If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.'&lt;br /&gt;'In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'&lt;br /&gt;He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management.. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.'&lt;br /&gt;'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. '&lt;br /&gt;'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work/life down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.'&lt;br /&gt;'Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax; pick them up later after you've rested.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Life is short. Enjoy!'&lt;br /&gt;And then he shared some ways of dealing with the burdens of life:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue&lt;br /&gt;2* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.&lt;br /&gt;3* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.&lt;br /&gt;4* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.&lt;br /&gt;5* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.&lt;br /&gt;6* If you lend someone $500 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.&lt;br /&gt;7* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.&lt;br /&gt;8* Never buy a car you can't push.&lt;br /&gt;9 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.. :-!&lt;br /&gt;10* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.&lt;br /&gt;11 * Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.&lt;br /&gt;12* The second mouse gets the cheese.&lt;br /&gt;13 * When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.&lt;br /&gt;14* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.&lt;br /&gt;15* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.&lt;br /&gt;16* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.&lt;br /&gt;17* We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors,but they all have to live in the same box.&lt;br /&gt;18* A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* * * * Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today :-)! ! !&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;PS. my personal favorite and now my motto is #5.....&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1672350445381663227?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1672350445381663227/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1672350445381663227&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1672350445381663227'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1672350445381663227'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/lecturer-when-explaining-stress.html' title='How heavy is your life?'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-1090267934972729364</id><published>2009-04-01T16:29:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-04-01T16:35:01.305-07:00</updated><title type='text'>April fools on me...</title><content type='html'>I've been doing nutrisystem for about a week now and totally love it! I love how I dont' have to think about it, the meals are portable and small and I can take them wherever. I am even seeing a difference in the way my clothes fit.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I haven't weighed myself and wont' until next week to see how much if any I've lost. but I am excited to see.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jason came into town last night and its kinda tradition for us to go to Round table lunch buffet when he comes into town. so today we went.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I had a salad, a bread stick and two pieces of pizza. More then the nutrisystem meal would have been but not as much as I would have eaten before. Well maybe its because I haven't eaten like that in a while or maybe it was the pizza they had out...I'm not sure what it was but my stomach did NOT like it at all!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've been in the bathroom like 10 times in the last 4 hours. Not fun!!!! (sorry if that was TMI).....April fools on me and a good reminder that even if you don't eat as much, once your body starts eating healthy...it does not like junk!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No more pizza for me (unless it comes from my nutrisystem box or I'm at home to be miserable at home. haha).&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-1090267934972729364?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/1090267934972729364/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=1090267934972729364&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1090267934972729364'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/1090267934972729364'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/april-fools-on-me.html' title='April fools on me...'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724288316210315171.post-3350215318427557991</id><published>2009-03-31T08:32:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-03-31T08:48:25.945-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Snot Head</title><content type='html'>Yesterday I took Juliet to her Dentist appointment. We were a little early so we waited in the car for the office to open. She was being her usual monkey self and was climbing all over the car. She had her feet up on the back of the passenger seat and the other on the back of the back seat. So she was kinda in the air. Well she just thought this was great. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well I guess its dusty up there in the sky of the car because Juliet sneezed. Now she's got mondo allergies, she gets that from both her Grampy and her Daddy. Plus she's been fighting a cold. So you can imagine what came out of her nose.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;for those of  you with weak stomachs skip the next paragraph!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It was green, I mean radioactive green. It was long, coming down to her chin and it was thick it looked like the size of an earthworm. You know the ones that come out after a rainstorm and you think they could burrow through concrete they are so big. Ya that's what was hanging from her nose. A long, earthworm size, radioactive green snot string....and it was nasty!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I bend down to get the tissues from the floor board and when I sit back up Juliet is laughing and the booger is gone.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Where is it Juliet?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;hahahaaa&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Juliet, stop laughing and tell me where it is?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;she keeps laughing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm thinking she either sucked it back in or worse, put it in her mouth (ok even writing that made me gag!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Until I see her little finger still shaking from laughter point at me. I followed her eyes and pointing finger to my hair....ya that's right you read it right. It fell in my hair.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I had to wipe it out and I couldn't go back home and wash my hair before I had to get back to work. Uck it was so gross and yet so funny. Juliet and I laughed about it for a good five minutes. It still makes me gag a little to think about it.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8724288316210315171-3350215318427557991?l=thedukesfamily.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/feeds/3350215318427557991/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8724288316210315171&amp;postID=3350215318427557991&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3350215318427557991'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8724288316210315171/posts/default/3350215318427557991'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://thedukesfamily.blogspot.com/2009/03/snot-head.html' title='Snot Head'/><author><name>Maura</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00696182658335711308</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MnxFDgNrFNM/SmZHHnZfavI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ulBx6eF5-X0/S220/Me+and+Juliet.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry></feed>
