"It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life's journey will develop."

Monday, December 29, 2008

"My belly at 21 weeks"

Gosh I look awful and worn out in this picture oh well it's all the spunk I have right now :) So I know it has only been two weeks since the last belly post, but holy moly! I swear that it has doubled in size, it seems to feel that way anyhow. Unfortunately for me I keep getting told that I don't have a clue what a big belly really means! At this rate I'm afraid I'm going to be huge though WOW!! I love that it is just my sweet little baby boy growing in there, the feeling is just amazing there is definately nothing like it!! I already am protective of everything and I'm forming those motherly instincts I guess. Pregnancy has totally put my mind in a different place, but let me just say it is a good place to be and wouldn't trade it for the world! Thanks sweetie for all of your support during this new and exciting journey! Well until week 23 who knows how big I will be by then yikes! :)

Friday, December 26, 2008

"Jilliane to the rescue"

Oh where do I start I don't have pictures of this, because Chris had taken the camera to go ice fishing! I can only tell you how funny the story was and let you picture it for yourself :) So our lovely vehicle the Rodeo was having issues, the window on the driver side doesn't roll up all of the way and the back right door wouldn't latch. So needless to say when Chris took the Tacoma for ice fishing on Friday the 26th I was stranded. I had told Jill I would give her a call the day after christmas, once I did it led into me being stranded and stuck at my house all day (fun right). So Jill decided to rescue me and pick me up so I could get my pregnant butt out of the house for a while :) which I really appreciated. I know I would have just been lazy there all day and probably eaten ice cream!! Long story short around 2:00pm Jill picked me up everything was going good until what do you know we are totally stuck in my driveway in her car. We were so deep we couldn't go backwards or forwards uugghhh, so again to the rescue Jilliane (being like my mom) told me no Cari you stay and I will dig us out. So here is where it gets good she had no gloves, no shovel JIlliane starts digging with her bare hands in this nasty snow under her tire. The whole time all she keeps saying is "Cari don't do anything I don't want you hurting yourself, your pregnant!" So I couldn't help but just laugh at this sight. I went and got poor Jill a shovel at least so I wasn't completely worthless. Once I did that I stared at her again doing this next task. I couldn't help it I told her finally to hop in the car and I would push the back while she went forward, she was hesitant but agreed to it. I started to push as she went into drive, and just then my cute neighbor Kim runs out frantically CAARRIII no no no she says don't push your pregnant!! LOL I was starting to feel like a handicap, yet it was very nice of them both :) So to make a long story short 3 women weren't doing the trick to get us out, and we were halfway in the road. So thankfully a truck with a MAN stopped and ofcourse with no effort at all got us out. I truly wish I had pictures of this you would all enjoy Jilliane all done up for the day and digging in the snow for my sake. Thanks Jill it made me feel good that you took care of me and were so protective. I'm learning to really like this pregnant treatment from everyone hehe :) oops did I say that out loud? Well afterwards since that wasn't adventure enough Jill and I just grabbed a bite to eat at yummy La Frontera. We did a little shopping too and then called it a day, getting stuck was exhausting enough. Thanks for not making me be stranded all day Jill it was fun :) and definately was good enough to make The Duncan Family Adventures blog.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

"Christams morning at the Duncan's"

Okay well the same routine went on with getting spoiled by Chris's family always!! They are so darn good to us it isn't even funny. We got alot of gifts there even though we weren't suppoed to, because we had already done our christmas for the year! Our christmas gift to ourselves was our trip to New York yea I know I said spoiled right, that is Chris's family for you! I'm so grateful to have such a grat In-Law family I know that not many can say that, but I truthfully can :) As for the gifts they just kept coming. We got more stuff again for little man cute another couple cute onesies that said "I'm Grandma's Favorite" and "I Love Daddy". Oh my heart really just melts when I see these cute mini clothes, I can't believe he is just waiting in my belly to come out. The best part of the Duncan Family Christmas though was our Niece Dakota getting a new car. I know right what a cute lucky little 16 year old!! I couldn't help myself I was so excited that I got to witness the moment, chris was too so we had to get some of this on video!! Check it out :)


Dakota was so excited and so dang cute :) her smile gets me every time!! Now tell me this doesn't look like a happy girl on christmas morning LOL!As for Chris and I we were given a brand spaking new freezer as well for our garage! That was a nice big suprise gift waiting for us in the garage. We truly are spoiled and I am aware of it, but I am so grateful for it we couldn't ask for more life is good!!!! Merry christmas family we love you all :)
Mike and Jess making yummy breakfast burritos!!
The Morgan's all bundled up and baring the storm to get here :)

"Christmas morning at my parents"






So needless to say we had a great christmas and this isn't close to what we got for little man!! He sure is spoiled though and we enjoyed our morning at my families house! :)

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

"Christmas Eve with the Marcario's"

After we went to Chris's family cabin which is always a blast we headed over to my parents house! My family does things a little more low key and there isn't as many of us. It also makes a difference when you don't have kids in the family at all. Well watch out Marcario's because next year will be a whole new ball game :) We will have a little 7 month old able to crawl and possibly rip those presents open. I can't even wait for that. I guess I need to get to May first and get him here I'm just so excited. Anyhow my mom for our christmas eve dinner made delicious homemade scallop potatoes and spare ribs mmmmm. Afterwards she had delicious brownies waiting, I had to many of those ofcourse. My family on christmas eve wanted to play a good old game of texas hold'em. For those of you that don't know poker that is what it was a poker game! I love going to Chris's family because it is more the kid scene and craziness it's so fun.Then you go to my family of all adults that want to play poker LOL, Chris and I get alot of diversity. Truth be told though I wouldn't have it any other way I love my family and they are so much fun. I don't think I have had a picture in so long with my big brothers, so I some how manged to get them together with me. I got in the middle the big pregnant girl coming through :)

We just relaxed after all the excitement and then headed over to Chris's parents up the road for more fun! You see every year his parents give christmas eve gifts. Traditionally it is always an ornament and pajamas to wear on christmas morning. We went home after that in our new first home. we couldn't wait to get up in the morning in our own place and have some christmas with Dukey! He is our child right now :) but he is so sweet he will still be like a child to us. Until christmas enjoy the rest of the pictures on the side and below.


MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!




"Christmas Eve with the Duncan's"



Well this will be a fun tradition to finally blog about! This is now my 8th year having Christmas Eve with Chris's family at the good old cabin. Man I have been around a long time, I love it though they have such fun traditions. So just to give you an idea of how the Duncan family does it, we try to all meet at the cabin for lunch/dinner around noon. I can't lie I have to be honest I always love the holiday parties with Chris's family, because they make these delicious ham rolls. Just in case you want to know how to make them here you go. Just get some sliced ham lunch meat, cream cheese, and a green onion. Just roll it all inside the ham then cut little slices of heaven, no kidding they are my favorite( I eat at least a plate myself each time). Well enough about that I just had to shed some light on that yummy snack. So moving on we also go sleigh riding if there is any snow up at the cabin, which almost every year there is. This year being pregnant I was a little worried about going sledding, my cute husband was being protective. Then I had cute little Granny that made me brave and told me it was okay to go sledding pregnant. So to help push me along she gave me a little encourgement by going first check it out down below!!So ofcourse this was baby Duncan's first sledding experience, well in the belly at least :) so we got some footage of that too. I know we are already proud parents!!



So as if that isn't enough fun in itself we also went four wheeling in the snow! Thank goodness for the chains on the tires because I am just one big wuss when it comes to anything that could be dangerous. I know I know I sound like my mom, but what do you expect :) As for the other fun tradition which is the main one! We have the cute little kids in the family act out the nativity scene while Chris's Grandpa reads from the bible. It really is fun to do I have been in it my fair share over the years, but there are so many kids now that very few of the adults are in it. Ofcourse chris was pulled into it some how ohhh but how cute he was dressed as a shepard. After the nativity we always give away our homemade ornaments that we make before the party We give them to Grandpa to put on his big tree in the cabin. I love that tradition I think it is fun to look back years later and see what you have made. Those are some of the traditions that Chris's family have brought to my life on christmas, and I'm so grateful for his family. I love that they are a close and loving family like I am with mine. Chris and I couldn't ask for better families :) I will just post some pictures from the party on the left hand side and below for you to enjoy!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
The Finch's
Kami and Zack taking a nap!!
Mike, Jess, and baby Halle so sweet :)Granny Sledding!!! :)

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

"Dinner with the Hunt's"

Well to kick off the nice holiday break Chris and I went and had dinner with our friends Stephanie & Justin (The Hun'ts). We have done this the past few years when they come into town for christmas. So they were kind enough since I'm pregnant this time around :) to let me choose where I wanted to eat. Without even thinking the first place oddly that popped into my head was "The Red Iguana". I guess baby wanted mexican at the moment, and what little man wants little man gets. You see the little story with the Hunt's so everyone is up to speed. They moved for the first time to Evanston, WY then after that out to California, then after that to Portland. They live in Portland now in a cute little town called Beaverton. Chris and I went this summer, in May to be exact to spend a week with them and sight see. They live in such a beautiful place and have such a cute little house. So now that you are up to speed this is why they come into town every year they no longer live in state. They will come back soon though I feel it :) We have visited them everywhere that they have lived except for California wish we would of. They are lots of fun and I have grown to know them even better over the years and really enjoy their company. Back to the Red Iguana though if you haven't eaten there before go and try it. I would say their enchiladas pablamos something like that :) is the best thing to order, not to mention their chips and salsa are delicious. I mean everything is better with salt though right? I basically salt every chip before I eat it, one of my crazy things I do. Any how to the Hunt's we are glad we got to have our anual dinner with you and that you two are doing well. We miss you guys here and hope you come home soon! I swear even though baby is on the way we will try to come visit again, I really did love it in Portland.



We all miss you here!!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

"Marcario family white elephant party"

We usually have a get together every year with my exteneded family for christmas, we do a white elephant exchange! It really is fun to get together with all of them I don't see all of my cousins much through the year. This year we decided to do something a little different along with the gift exchange. We decided to do a cookie exchange as well mmmmm and boy were all of those cookies good! I thought I would take a moment to say a few things about family and what it means to me. I would say that you could not ask for a better family I have the most caring parents around and great brothers and sisters. We are very close and love to stay in touch as often as possible! Family is who will always be there when it is all said and done, and let me tell you that is what it is all about. I just wanted to thank my family for such a fun memorable night!! I love that I can share these memories with all of you on my blog now, I think I have found a new hobby!! Love you all :)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

"The sweater christmas party"

So this is a christmas party that we do with our friends every since 2005. This year we had the big event and Scotty and Jilliane's house they hosted well. Needless to say these parties can go late into the night, but for me I'm the old lasy now that is tired and pregnant!! I love to do fun things though and try my best to keep up, but with crazy friends :) that can be hard to do.. First of all before I go any further you all have to see this video of scotty dancing. Oh my gosh he didn't know that I was filming, but all I can say is I'm sure glad that I was (ENJOY).

Wow if that wasn't entertainment enough huh!! He is probably going to kill me for this, but I love it (sorry scott). Well as for the rest of the night it justconsisted of good times, good food, and laughs. Well and ofcourse great pictures! Next year this time for the sweater party I was thinking about it, and I will have a 7 month old baby!! That is just totally nuts, but so exciting for Chris and I. I would have to say of all the sweaters if I had to choose who won the contest it was definately Rowley wow!! I mean come on it lit up and everything check it out! Well the lights aren't showing that great but you get the point :)

I ofcourse have to show you this cute picture of my Hubby and I too! He is so sweet to me :) there wasn't even any mistle toe and I got him to kiss me (just kidding babe). I had to let someone capture the moment!
I took so many pictures I can't explain them all but feel free to check some good ones out that are on the left of the page! Thanks all for a good night, and a good batch of pictures :) Merry Christmas!!!

Friday, December 19, 2008

"The baby doll story"

Okay so to start this story so you can understand Chris and I were christmas shopping and ran across a baby doll. The reason we were looking for one is to train duke with. He has never been around babies before, but he is the sweetest thing just can't take any chances. Long story short we were at the store and from the picture above you will notice Chris holding a doll, and he doesn't look happy haha. Well we were digging and searching to find the right one that would cry, be life size etc... Well when I went to pull one off the shelf in the chaos of people I wacked Chris straight in the forehead above the eye (sorry sweetie). Oh my gosh I can't help but say this, I just couldn't do anything else but stand there and laugh!! A couple that happened to be standing right next to us laughed too, and the man said " That looked like abuse I saw it". Oh my gosh then I laughed even more poor Chris he looked dizzy after that hit :) So to ease the pain after shopping I used a free meal and got him some Cafe Rio'. while shopping I also couldn't resist these adorable baby's first christmas stockings. So I decided to get a picture with the boy one soooo sweet!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

"Sushi for santa night"

This was what we call "Sushi for Santa" it was a charity event that was held at the Well's Fargo building downtown. This is held every year by Chris's cousins company it's really a great idea. I had no idea how much people really like sushi geeeezzz. Being pregnant and all I could only have veggie rolls or avacado rolls mmmm they were yummy though. I'm not sure I would want raw fish anyways even if I wasn't pregnant :). So here is me enjoying some sushi in front of the window over looking downtown Salt Lake. Chris and I were told that we could bring a guest so we invited my sister and her boyfriend Chris as well ( good name). My sister absolutely loves sushi so I figured she would be the right one to bring! Here is a picture of my cute sister and I..
So although Chris isn't a huge fan of sushi accept for some Dave and Carlye made us try this summer at Typhoon. It was delicious I mean I have never had sushi like that before. So of all the other weird things he eats he decided to chow down on some veggie and avacado rolls with me. He did try some of the raw tuna though YUCK he seemed to be enjoying it :) doesn't he look handsom too...... Needles to say although the sushi was very good we hit up some Mcdonald's afterwards LOL!! I mean baby wasn't feeling all the soy sauce and sea weed :). So I had to get myself a chocolate shake and some fries mmmm those are the best fries! We had a fun night though, this week has been so busy if you can't tell by my blog being filled every single day! Well until next time enjoy the other pics to the left from sushi night!! :)


Wednesday, December 17, 2008

"My belly at 19 weeks"


I don't think I have ever seen a belly like this on me EVER!! This one is a fun one though, I was just on my way out to my work christmas dinner. I had Chris take an updated pick of me so that everyone could really see what my belly looks like now :)

"There are no words :)"

So really I think to myself sometimes that I'm not going to have one child but two!! All I have to say to this is I'm glad I have my silly hubby to keep me smiling and laughing everyday... thanks babe for the good laugh! I know duke tried to show you up by sitting all stern and pretty haha! Everyone enjoy this one....

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

"My Girls night out"

So I already know what you are thinking "who has a girls night at the craft store"? Only me and my friends know how to make the craft store fun that's for sure. So I will explain a little without being detailed so the hubby doesn't know when he reads this. My girlfriends and I went to the craft store to finish up a christmas gift for Chris. I'm not the most crafty person you could say so I had to bring the craft masters along to help me out. I might as well just tell Chris they made the gift for me :) I did it though babe they were just the brains behind it (thanks girls). So needless to say all though we had a purpose there craft stores can tend to get a little boring. After about a half hour had past we decided to have a photo shoot (so much fun). THe girls and I always have a good time when we get together I'm sure glad to have them. Just for those of you that may not know the clan I will introduce. We have got first Carlye the one with the hair up peaking through the jungle (love the goofy face). Then we have Jilliane totally dug the pink camo hat, then again I'm a hat freak. Leave it jilliane though to find the sparkly stuff in the craft store lol. Then we have Skye and her cute daughter Austin. Austin probably thinks we are all nuts when we get together. So in this picture since I'm the pregnant lady I needed a fanning notice how Skye decided to go the more seductive way haha, she's on the right!!
Which would bring me to the ending of the main photo shoot I decided I wanted them all in a jungle shot. I about peed my pants when I saw them all do the action shot peeking around :) I have to say my friends take fantastic pictures (nice photo shoot girls) Thanks for the help!

Afterwards we were so exhausted from modeling :) we decided to get some ice cream at the Marble Slab. Truthfully not much to say about this stop just check out the pictures they speak for themselves lol! We really enjoyed the ice cream.



This is Austin :)!!!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

" How we spent our snow day "

Well I would start by saying this was probably one of the laziest days Chris and I have had in a while. Duke too he is always lazy though :) I thought that it was supposed to be some huge snow storm, but instead the heavy snow started at 11:00am and ended by 1:00pm, at least out hear in Riverton. So instead of cleaning or being productive we decided to not get out of our pajamas all day and nap with Dukey. These pictures were so cute I couldn't resist, Duke and Chris are best buds!! I'm afraid once my little man gets here I'm going to be out numbered by 3 boys now instead of 2 :) Enjoy the pics!!