A little catching up to do.

I have been so bad about updating lately...here are a few pictures from the past few months of what we have been up to:)

Madeline brings DC Bear home for the weekend and he went to have pizza with us!


Madeline in Chapel


"Shining Like Stars"



Looooong day at school!


Before school



Big girl hair cut



At the Stephen Fite concert with her school.



Guns Up!!


At the Baylor Vs Tech game in Cowboys Stadium...amazing place!



Chapel - She shows courage "when I try new foods"!!



Cousins at the little one's 3rd bday party! So much fun :)




On a really cold morning in December at The Museum of the Southwest.



Working the new game with Aunt Christine!


Dressing up at Oma and Grandad's house


Madeline and Oma : A Portrait


Madeline and Aunt Tracy!


Madeline and Uncle Beau Beau


More Aunt Christine



















This is where a picture of Madeline and her Uncle Charlie would be if he would let her take a picture;)

For some reason I can't find my pictures of Maddie with her Auntie and Cousin so this parting shot will have to do. In case you are curious, it is probably around 34 degrees in this picture and where is my brother's jacket??

Riding her bike in the freezing weather!



First bowling trip! She LOVED it!!!



Bowling with Daddy.

I promise to write more later but now I'm headed to bed:)

Family Photos

We went to Odessa before Christmas and while we were ther we did family photos. I was pretty happy with how they turned out...the photographer (of 2 Angels Photography) did a great job!

Brothers and Sisters

D & D

Cousins!

Just Will and me :)

Charles, Kara, and Cassie

The three of us

My sweet and sassy girl:)

I'm just saying....

....wow! It has been 4 months since my last post!

So what has been going on in the last 4 months of the Duncan world?

September - Madeline has continued to attend Dallas Christian and has loved every minute as have Will and I! She is so smart and of course we are biased but she's growing into a beautiful young girl. It has been so fun watching her grown in her education and develop her own identity. She has become quite the expert at bible stories and goes around singing songs and retelling us her favorite stories. We attended several football games and have been really getting into the groove of the year!

October - This was the month that set us off in the direction of the next chapter of our lives together. Early in the month, Will was told that his position, at the firm he has been with since graduation, was being eliminated in November. This was quite a blow to us because we felt that his position was pretty secure. Unfortunately, the problems with the economy have prevented the architecture industry to be crippled. Although Will has lots of experience, the open job market for architecture is practically non-existent! During the month of October Will applied for the few jobs that were in the metroplex and made tons of cold calls on firms in the area. During this time we were praying overtime for God to show us His plan for our family and to give us peace to trust in Him. Before halloween, Will received a call from a firm in Odessa (the firm he did some summer work for in college) wanting to meet and talk about Will's future plans and the plans of the firm.

November - Will talked with the firm and was told they might have a position for him in the Odessa office if we were interested in relocating. This offer caused the both of us to do some serious thinking and praying!! Were we ready to leave our lives here in the metroplex and start over again? We had lots of prayer time, deep talks, budgeting, and more. We didn't let Madeline or any of our friends and family in on the developments because we weren't sure about our game plan.

The Friday before Thanksgiving was Grandparent's Day at Madeline's school and they do a huge open house and campus-wide presentation just for the grandparents. Madeline was blessed to have both sets of her grandparents attend this special day. The only conflict was that Friday before Thanksgiving was also the day Will was scheduled to interview in Odessa! So with now way to explain his absence so we told the family about the interview. OF course they were supportive and happy for Will's opportunity there.

December - After the interview in Odessa Will returned home and we finished out November by having a Thanksgiving meal at our home with his parents and then headed to Arlington to meet up with some more family! After we were alone and were able to really talk as a couple, we had some serious thinking to do. The pros and cons were enormous and took hours to go over. Here we have a great house, church, friends, and my job. In Odessa we have the comfort of our families being so close and the promise of a stable and secure career for Will. In the end, after a few tears, a few laughs, and many, many discussions we have decided to take the plunge and explore this new chapter in our lives together.

Will begins work on Monday the 4th in Odessa and Madeline and I will remain in Mesquite while the house is on the market. This allows me to continue working and Madeline to continue attending school until the house sells. The decision to move was not an easy one and 2010 promises to be a year of many decisions and the big unknown!

I guess will all the turmoil of the last few months, I haven't been good about continuing my blog. With this decision behind us I feel that I need the cathartic therapy of writing. I promise to be more deligent about the blog again.

I am signing off now but I'll return...I'm just sayin'!

First Home Game!

Let's go, DC Chargers!!!
Friday evening, we loaded up the truck with our lawn chairs and headed to the first home game of the season at Maddie's school. Our boys didn't win but it was a gorgeous night and so much fun!

Maddie Appleseed!

Friday the 28th was "Dress like Johnny Appleseed" Day for the PK4 classes. The kids have been studying the life cycle of the apple, making apple sauce, reading about Johnny Appleseed, and all sorts of apple stuff! Here are some pictures of Maddie Appleseed before she went to school!


I used scrap fabric from my "stash" to make the vest and the seed bag.


The apples in her hair and on the vest are red and green felt...so pretty!


The flannel patches are from an ancient pair of Will's pj pants that had holes deluxe...they went to a great cause!


My and girl and me!

Dear Madeline

Dear Madeline,

This summer has been such an amazing experience for both of us! You have developed the most wonderful sense of humor:) This summer was pretty low-key for both of us most of the time...we loved sleeping late, picking out breakfast and playing outside! Most of our afternoons were spent with reading, coloring and playing together. This summer you took your first swim lessons and although it was shaky at first, you ended up doing beautifully. We also enjoyed many summer mornings playing in the sprinklers at Tanner's house...you are so tanned!!! All in all it was a mellow summer!

(WAIT!!!!)

Did I forget to mention the "ball-bearing" caper of 2009? Oh! Well let me remind you! This summer one of your favorite activities was creating and designing the most amazing marble runs. You really are into this right now! You love building them as high as you can...even having to use the step-stool to reach the tops! Because the marbles that came with the set are plastic and hollow and don't have enough density to pull them through the runs well, your dad and I decided to give you some of your great-grandfather's old ball-bearings. They are the perfect size and have the best heft!

A week and a half ago, you were sitting in the livingroom and you let out a horrible scream! When I got to the room, you were crying and coughing and looked so scared...I didn't know what to do! After you caught your breath you were able to tell me that you swallowed your marble.

Say what?!?!?

A marble you say??? Ok...I can handle this.

I count the marbles to be sure.

Yep! One's missing!

Ok...I call your daddy but no answer.

I call your Nonnie...she says "Take her to the urgent care!"

Your daddy calls, "Call her doctor", he says.

I call, they tell me to bring you in. We head to the doctor's office. He talks to you and checks you out. You were so upset about the whole thing and your cried every time one of the nurses askes you about it:( The doctor tells me that we have to wait it out and that I am on potty patrol.

Oh, yes! I am! Ewwww is all I can say.

This is on a Thursday and by Monday no marble. Your Nonnie takes you for an xray.....still in your stomach.

Tuesday, the doctor calls and says to call the GI specialist. They got us in that afternoon, we met with the doctor...she was so great! She tells us that the ball bearing will not pass because it is too heavy and schedules you for a 6:30 am procedure at the hospital. She will put under anesthesia and go in through your mouth!

As we are heading home and calling everyone, we decided to stop at chick-fil-a because you hadn't eaten all day! You ate and then played on the play equipment and then you ran out to tell me you needed to potty!

Guess what!?!?!?! The marble passed! It was a total God thing! Whew :) The Love of a mother is a powerful thing is all I can say!

Also this summer you started your new school. This year you are in PK4 in Mrs. Withrow's class at DC. You have had 2 days and are acting like you've never done anything else! You love it so far, are having fun, and already learning so many new things! I hope this year continues to be as amazing as our summer.

I love you so much...you are turning into such a wonderful little girl. I am looking forward to watching you grow into an amazing young lady:)








Love,

Your momma!!

P.S. Please don't ever put things into your mouth that aren't food!!!