The Birthday Boys!!!

We begin celebrating the boys' birthdays on Shaun's birthday, April 20. Happy 16th Birthday, Shaun! (He requested a yellow cake with chocolate frosting and Reeses peanut butter candies/cups dotted all over it.)

Exactly, one week later, we celebrate Brian's birthday on April 27th. Happy 18th Birthday, Brian! (He requested a multi-layer german chocolate cake. I was pleased that this one didn't collapse or fall apart!)

Elder Brad Duffy's birthday is celebrated one week later on May 4th. He won't be with us this year because he is serving a Mission in Tijuana, Mexico (at this time he is actually in Ensenada, Mexico). Birthday wishes for Elder Duffy will permeate our thoughts on this day. ( We will eat cake with you when you get home in a little over a year! ) Happy 20th Birthday, Elder Bradley James Duffy!

We Love Annie!

We can't get enough of this little granddaughter! She is absolutely precious!

Auntie Carmen and Grandpa!

We Have A Sweet Little Granddaughter! (Congrads to Nicole and Nathan!)

Pink is a perfect color for Annie Nicole Cope!

Annie Nicole Cope was born on April 17, 2009, weighing in at 7 lbs. 1 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. She is a perfect little girl!

Sleeping peacefully in her bassinet.

She is already quite fashionable with her headband! A little concern with jaundice - she lies on a special bilirubin blanket (ultraviolet light). She glows! Her little foot was pricked every day for 5 days to test for bilirubin in her blood. The numbers were increasing slightly, so thus the excellent precaution with this special machine.

The happy, tired, grateful couple! Annie is a little sweetheart, and I am so thrilled to get to know her this week.

SPRING BREAK!!! (Finding Much Joy in the Journey!)

So, we headed South to Rexburg and Logan stopping halfway in Butte, MO for some delicious Pasties at this diner. Pasties are basically a steak, potato and onion meat pie. The miners (Welch descent) ate them for lunch, as they are a very filling meal. Shaun was in "heaven".

All smiles with full stomachs!

Don, Brian and Shaun took the bikes to Moab after dropping Carmen and me off in Logan!

Let's Ride!

There are no guard rails on the trails, and there are caves (literal huge holes in the ground) everywhere. A little nerve racking but amazing!Grandeur!Carmen and I enjoyed our visit with Bart and Megan. Bart is finishing up his schooling at Utah State in Engineering, and Megan is in her third year teaching first grade. The teachers and staff gave Megan a "baby shower" while we were there. The Principal and fellow teachers couldn't say enough about Megan - they really love her and are going to miss her, and her first graders absolutely adore her. Megan is about 8 months pregnant. She will be a full-time mom soon! Bart and Megan will be magnificent parents! After Logan, it was off to Rexburg! Don made "changing tables" for the grandbabies! This one belongs to Annie Nicole Cope (soon to be born in a week or so!) Don worked so hard for months on these changing table/dressers. They turned out so beautifully!

Nicole is still gorgeous at 9 months pregnant! She's always a good sport and puts on a smile even when she is feeling fairly miserable! She and Nathan will be the best parents also! Nathan is a full-time student at BYU-ID, and Nicole will finish up work in a week or so in the Registrar's office. (She also has her degree in Elementary Education.) We are so proud of Nicole and Nathan! There was plenty of swimming in the hotel pools!

Our "Game Boys"! Can you tell these guys were up until 3:30 a.m. gaming?! They don't look too tired! It was so fun to visit and hang out together! We love and miss you already!

FUN IN THE SUN! (OK, it's not the beach but we will take a Track Meet on a sunny day any time!)

Brian, as a Senior in Highschool this year, is participating in track for the first time and loving it. (On a side note, Don is so proud, being the track star that he was in highschool!) After two track meets Brian is finding that running the 200 meters works best for him. He competes in the 200 and 100 meter relays also.

Checking those cleats!

The handoffs with baton were perfect!
Run, Brian! (He's in the blue and black.) They actually have finished first with this relay team in both meets! Happy, sunny day!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!! (At least it is in process!)

Just a few signs that Spring is on its way to North Idaho! Our daffodils are courageously making an entrance even with some lingering snow on the ground!
Family Home Evening dessert is a yummy peach and raspberry crisp (usually a summer dessert!) Of course, it snowed during the night after these pictures were taken, but we are still hopeful! Happy Spring! Love, the Duffy's

Schweitzer Overnighter! (Taking positive advantage of "OLD MAN WINTER")

A Room With A View!

Brian (in his own words) "skiied his guts out"!

Shaun relaxing! (Skiing is still, unfortunately, on hold for him because of knee surgery.)

More relaxing! Good old-fashioned nap!

Carmen hung out in the hot tub! A bad case of Bronchitis kept her off the ski hill this weekend.

Brian met up and skiied with good friends!
Lunch Break with Tyler and Sam!

Carmen didn't mind lounging "away" the weekend in her pajamas! More hot tubbing! (After a hard day of skiing for Don and Brian!) This was Carmen's fourth time this day in the hot tub! Life is so rough!Finishing up the night with a good game of "Scum"! Shaun won this round, and Carmen wants everyone to know that she was a 'close' second! Making family memories!