Difficult News

This post is a bit personal, but I want to express our thanks for the many prayers and kind acts of service offered on our behalf the past few days. Last Thursday I went to the doctor for a routine ultra sound and check up on the baby. The doctor was not able to find a heart beat during the ultra sound, we had lost our baby. We were devastated as just a week and a half ago we had been in for an ultra sound and confirmed that things were going well. Something happened during that time and we don't know exactly what. On Friday I went to the hospital and had a D&C done. I'm recovering well.
There are a few things we know that are bringing peace and comfort to us at this difficult time. We know that our Heavenly Father loves our family. He has blessed us with two beautiful children that we now hug a little tighter each day. We know that our Savior experienced the pain and sorrow that we feel at time time. We know The Comforter is real and can bring peace during times of disappointment and heart ache. Heavenly Father had a plan for the spirit we lost. We believe it was spared the trials of coming to earth at this time. We believe we'll one day have the opportunity to raise the two spirits we have lost. We are so grateful for the plan of salvation and that our family can be together forever.

Hidden Message

Can you figure out what we are trying to say?????

Quinn's Video Debut

We just discovered that Quinn has picked up a new skill...reading sight words. Actually, I know he's not reading, but he's at least got a few memorized. Madison has a sight words video she likes to watch (I wish I could say it's all because of my good teaching) and Quinn usually gets stuck watching it too. Little did I know he was actually paying attention! Don't mind the dirty undershirt he's wearing in the video, or the fact that he doesn't have on pants! The backwards hat was all his doing too. Sometimes you just have to take what you can get!

It's Dead

So my computer just up and died a few days ago. The day it died I could smell smoke where we keep the computer. Never a good sign! Hopefully it's something we can fix. Until then Hal has to share his laptop with me! I know he's super happy about it too!

Valentine's Day

Let me start by saying that Hal and I are pretty big Aggie fans. We love our alma mater and enjoy watching Utah State sports...at least basketball that is. Aggie football, well....that's another story. Since Boise State and Utah State are in the same conference, they play each other every year. We used to go to the football games, but every year the Aggies would get destroyed and we didn't find it amusing to watch. So we patiently wait for basketball season to roll around so we can cheer on the Aggies and hope to earn a little respect with our Boise State fan friends.
This year the Aggies played in Boise on Valentine's. We decided to go to the game as a family. The kids loved watching the game, but Madison was concerned that we weren't cheering for the white team. I reassured her that there were plenty of people clapping for them and that we should only cheer for the blue team! Quinn loved to watch the game and really wanted in on the action. If only he could have gotten his hands on that basketball!
Some how Boise State pulled off a win over our Aggies. We were disappointed. The Aggies had previously only lost one other game (to BYU, which is another hurtful loss!). But we still wore our Aggie gear with pride!!

Quinn loves to wear his Aggie hat (even if his face doesn't show it) when Hal has his on.

It was great to spend Valentine's with the people I love most!

We ended off the evening by indulging in this....

And suddenly we forgot about all our worries and troubles!

Whirl Wind Weekend

Our weekend started off with two burrito wraps. I'm not sure how this all came about, but I know it had something to do with Hal! He was the king at doing the burrito wrap when the kids were babies. After seeing how this can still work for older children (all you need is a bigger blanket), I'm starting to think it's not such a bad idea! It's one way to keep them from getting into trouble.

Saturday, Hal rode in St. Al's charity inside ride bike race. Here he is just getting warmed up. It's an hour long ride that they do inside the mall. This is not what I prefer to do at the mall, but we went to cheer Hal on.

Hal and his friend Daren kept those pedals going. No, they did not stop once during the hour long ride. They just kept on going!
Finally, the end of the ride! Hal clocked in 23.9 miles and was even able to walk afterwards! Now his back side, on the other hand, is a bit tender. Sunday he made sure to sit on the cushioned seats at church.

On to the next event... taking the family to Pojos. Now, if you aren't familiar with Pojos, it's basically the same deal as Chuck E Cheese. A germy, feet smelling, mass of humanity all contained in a small space (did I mention the GERMS!!). Hal and I both cringed as we opened the doors and got a whiff of the place. At least I was smart enough to know it would not be wise to eat dinner here, so we ate beforehand. This was our first time taking the kids to Pojos and we secretly hope it's our last! Now I know why my parents very rarely took us to Chuck E Cheese growing up. You have a whole new perspective of places like this as an adult!

Quinn had fun riding in all the little trucks and cars.

Of course we had to go on the merry go round. Madison thought it was great fun. She said she loved riding her reindeer!

And don't I look thrilled to be here! No, I didn't just take a joy ride around by myself. I'm holding Quinn in front of me on my lap. Some how I drew the short stick and got stuck taking the ride.

In Loving Memory

Jennie Rosa Fonnesbeck Duce

April 18, 1917 - January 20, 2009

My dear, sweet Grandmother Duce quietly left this earthly life and is now joyously reunited with her husband and many other family members. Although I feel the loss of her presence and my heart is saddened, I know that I will be with her and my grandpa again. Both my Grandpa and Grandma Duce held special places in my heart. I grew to love and appreciate the kind of people they were and the incredible lives they lived. I'm so thankful for the opportunity I had to spend time visiting grandma in Idaho Falls while living in Driggs the past two summers. She even got to come visit us in Driggs our first summer there (the picture of her holding Quinn was taken during her visit). I have many wonderful memories of my grandma and they bring comfort to me at this time. Until we meet again, I love you Grandma Duce.