And the winner is...

I'd say it was a split 50/50 on the guesses for who was who (probably because none of you had a clue as to who was who), but.... drum roll please..........

Tristen is the top picture and Kalvin is the bottom. The only way I remember is that Kalvin has a bigger double chin (he was two weeks older in the pic than Tristen was) and I used a flash on the picture with Kalvin (I don't have a built in flash on the camera I have now).

It will sure be fun to compare their pictures when he's a little older. :)

Tristen

Kalvin

Guess Who?!

Kalvin and Tristen are going to look very alike! Of course, I am only judging by their first 8 weeks, but go ahead and see for yourself! I dressed Tristen in the same outfit today and took a picture in the same swing. I'll let you guess who is who and on Monday I'll let you know who was right.

Somethings I hope to never do again...

My sister, Rachel, who had been staying with us for the last month was scheduled to fly home July 21. From the day we scheduled the flight home (months ago) I was not looking forward to her departure. I knew it was going to be difficult to let my little helper go and that Kalvin was going to miss her. The flight was scheduled for 8:20 PM and leaving from the JFK Airport in Jamaica, NY (just outside the Big Apple). We made the most of that day by taking a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. The weather was beautiful with few sprinkles of rain and overcast skies to shade us from the sun. On our way to the airport we drove by Ground Zero. It was incredible to see the uneven and bumpy road which I can only imagine is from the towers falling. The buildings close were noticeably resurfaced. I wish we'd had more time to see the city.

When we got to the airport, I thought we had a lot of time so I wasn't rushing. When we finally made it to the Jet Blue check-in I looked at the time and noticed her flight left in 30 minutes! And there were about 10 people in line in front of us to check-in. I knew she wasn't going to make the flight. At that moment of finding out we were going to have to find Rachel another way home, it was as if a switch went on in Kalvin's head that it was time to start terrorising mom. He had a poopy diaper and was laying on the ground scooting away from me and into strangers and their luggage. With Tristen strapped to me, I had restricted mobility and felt helpless. I did what I could to stay calm and took Kalvin to the bathroom to change his diaper. We made our way back to the car as I talked to Duane on the phone and he began looking up other flights for Rachel. Kalvin demanded to be out of the stroller and was walking just fine with us when he decided to take the "walk-alator" (like an escalator but on flat ground) the opposite direction from the rest of us. I called to him and he started to walk back but then decided to run away again. A tall black man came to the rescue and ran over, scooped up Kalvin and brought him to me. That was all Kalvin needed to start acting the way I wanted. It scared him half to death! LOL

We got back to the car and I fed Tristen while Duane looked up flights. Well, to make a longer story a little shorter, the battery in my phone died before we could make any permanent decision on a flight so I drove around town till I found a pay phone. I picked up the phone that was sticky with some kind of scum and phoned Duane. He did not answer and I started to leave a message, but was cut of by some kind of operator because there must have been no microphone on my end (so it couldn't hear me). I turned to leave but felt prompted to try again. I called again and Duane answered; sure enough, I could hear him but he couldn't hear me. I began yelling into the phone and he said he could barely hear me, and thus began our conversation.

The finalized plan was for Rachel to fly home on Southwest the following morning at 6:10. It was about 10:30 PM at this point. After check out a few cheap Motels, we decided to sleep in the car at the aiports parking garage. It was a hard night. I didn't want to sleep too deep for fear that we would miss this flight as well. By 2:00 in the morning, we made our way to the Southwest check-in without knowing that they would be closed till 4:30. We found a couple wheelchairs and made up camp. Kalvin did not sleep at all.

When Rachel walked away down the gangway, Kalvin cried, reaching his hand out to her and calling her name. It was so sad! I immediately diverted his attention to the window so he could see the planes. He got to see Rachel's plane and repeatedly pointed it out to me.

The drive home was long and hard with a few stops for sleep. Kalvin slept the whole way till we got home and then he would not sleep at all, though I begged him to so I could rest. Tristen was an angel!

This morning after Kalvin woke up, he asked "Where Rachel go?" I reminded him that Rachel had gone home and with that he told me, "Ah home. Ah home." meaning he wanted to go home and began walking downstairs and to put his shoes on.

"This is our new home." I told him, but it didn't seem to stick.

So, before moving out here, I remember being warned that people "back east" are not very friendly. I've seen that. One instance that I laugh about is when we were going to drive in a toll tunnel. I paid the toll worker $2.00 in dimes (to get rid of some change) and then handed her a $20 bill. She looked at the bill for a second then said in a very nasty tone, "You can't do that! Either give me the change or the $20!" I laughed after leaving and told Rachel the woman couldn't count.

To come: Kalvin's birthday party with the Mickelson's and Ellsworth's!

Back by popular demand! The De-throning

By request, here is the second video that has sound and Duane successfully in de-thrones Kalvin.


Again, for those of you looking at an email, you must go to the actual blog site to see the video: www.duaneandangiesworld.blogspot.com

Kalvin throning himself

Kalvin has an incredible fascination with toilets. With as many times as I've told him to get his hands off, or to get his head out of it, he continues to be drawn to the visibly germ-filled seat!

Tonight Kalvin and I came home from running a few errands together and he told me he needed to go "Potty". I took him in and sat him on his squishy throne. A few minutes later Rachel went in to check on him. I soon heard small boy cries and by girlie laughter. Could this be Aunt Rachel playing another trick on Kalvin? I jumped up from my seat and ran in the bathroom to see this.

Something tells me this is the last time he's going to stick his head in the toilet! Poor kid!

(Sorry, there is no sound. The volume was off on Duanes phone and it will not record sound if the ring is not on... LAME! The commentary was so funny! Probably the funniest part was when Duane bent down next to Kalvin and said, "I'm so sorry kiddo! I'd give you a kiss, but you're all poopy!")

You can not view this video from the email. Please visit: www.duaneandangiesworld.blogspot.com

Niagara Falls, Canada, Palmyra, and more

Life hasn't slowed down. This last weekend we took Rachel to see Niagara Falls and were able to stay in Canada (thanks to the hard work of my mom sending us everything we needed for her). We kept the trip to Niagara a surprise. She knew it was somewhere special, but not anything more. About 10 miles out from the falls, we put a blind fold on her and she kept her eyes closed as we walked up to the falls.

As soon as we took off the blind fold, she said, "I knew it!". I guess she saw "Niagara Falls" on the GPS and assumed that's where we were going.

Kalvin was a little scared of the loud falls and especially when the fireworks started going off though he had his fingers spread just enough to see out.

After viewing the falls and the impressive fireworks, we tried our luck at crossing the Canadian border with only a copy of Rachels birth cirtificate and Tristens hospital papers and shot records. Duane picked a good line to wait in and we found a nice guy to let us through. After crossing the border, our GPS did not have record of the roads, so we drove blindly looking for a place to stay. After a bit of a search, Duane got us a great deal at the Hilton Hotel. We were on the 42 floor overlooking both the American and Canadian falls in a 2 bedroom suite with a big hot tub that had jets. It was $159.00.

Rachel and Kalvin looking out our hotel window at the American falls. Best Buds!

There was a lot of fog that morning. Here are the American Falls; the Canadian Falls were almost all covered with fog so I've skipped putting a picture of them in.

Kalvin, loving the bubble bath!

Just before the Maid of the Mist cruise. Kalvin didn't know what was coming!

After a half day at Niagra, we left for Palmyra (about 2 hours away). We got there just in time to get to the Pageant but it ended up raining us out by the time it was half over. How sad to leave. It started raining and stopped about 10 minutes later, but they announced that another cell was headed in that direction so we had to leave. :( I was happy to get a little extra sleep that night though.

First Duane took this great video of Kalvin's new favorite song, "Five little Monkeys".

The next morning we slept in and didn't get out till 11:00. We stopped by the Sacred Grove and Duane took some great pictures of the beautiful trees.

Gotta love Duane's face.

Kalvin, daring to look over the edge of the bridge.

I love this picture Rachel took of Kalvin following Daddy, dragging his newest found toy, a big stick.

Our attempt at a family picture in the sacred grove.

The Grandin Bookstore where the BOM was published.

After seeing some of the sites in Palmyra we started for home (3 hours away) since we were all hungry and didn't want to stop on Sunday. We made it home by 6:00 that night and were able to relax a little before bedtime.

Tristen was so sweet to give great big smiles for all of us.

Kalvin loves the stethescope Duane gave him. I found him listening to Tristens stomach sounds though Kalvin thought it was his heart. He kept saying, "heart... heart... heart..."

Duane came over just after I got the picture, and told him where to put the stethoscope to listen.

I have to post this picture because l love it so much. I took it one of the first few days we were here. Rachel and Kalvin were playing outside just after it had rained and the overcast clouds were perfect for taking pictures. In fact, there is no editing on this picture. It is straight from the camera. :)

A few days ago Rachel and Kalvin built a fort and I've been meaning to upload this picture. After putting the fort together, I put on Kalvin's favorite show, Hoodwinked! You can see him an the laptop here with his blankets just behind him.

We'll see those of you who can make it tomorrow evening at 5:30, on Skype at either the Ellsworths or Mickelson's for Kalvin's birthday Skype!!!

A big hello from New York!

We're here! (and alive for those of you back home wondering what happened to us) About a week before Duane arrived in Albany, we found a house that was for sale, but who's owner agreed to let us rent it for 3 months with an option to buy. We were pumped! We had looked for a home to rent, but this was our first lead and couldn't be happier to finally feel like we had a place to move into.

Duane left for the cross country drive with Uncle Dale on June 19. I am so grateful for Uncle Dale's willingness to escort Duane. I knew it'd be a safer drive and they'd get here a little faster. Boy oh boy did Uncle Dale help with the drive! He kept them both motivated and on the move! Duane had alloted 5 days for the 40 hour drive (that's as much as a full time job!) and with Uncle Dales enthusiasm they arrived on the 4th day!

The paperwork was not ready by the time Duane made it up here, so he was working on it as best he could in between having to be at work. I came with my Mom, sister, Rachel, and Kalvin and Tristen, at 2:30 AM (NY time) on Wed. June 24. We were still scrambling to get in the house, but felt like we had little help from our lawyer or real estate agent. We were stayed with the Branch President and his wife, John and Mary Porter. They were to have their son and his family come the next day to stay with them for a month and I really didn't want to intrude on their family. I could hardly stand knowing I was homeless.

The morning after we arrived the bad news came just as Duane was walking into an mandatory meeting. The homeowner changed her mind and wanted to sell her house instead of allowing us to rent it out. I could have died!!! Why didn't she tell us sooner?! I hardly knew what to do. The moving truck was due back in a day and a half and we had no leads! Duane suggested an apartment complex we had only seen online, but knew would be a nice place. My mom, Rachel, both kids and I jumped in the car and drove around the city looking at rentals (thank goodness my mom was here too, to help with the little kiddos). I somehow felt a sense of peace that we would find a place, yet also felt the urgency to find a place quickly.

As we drove around the inner city I recalled what Duane had told me about feeling like rolling up the car windows, locking the doors, and covering my eyes with sunglasses. It felt pretty ghetto. The homes here are amazingly different from anything I've ever seen! In the inner city most are two or three levels and house multiple families. In the outskirts of town, the homes are just as unique to me. I love the nicer neighborhoods. I love that the homes are all so beautiful, but different from each other. Just yesterday we were all in the car driving down one of these beautiful streets and most the homes had long driveways lined with trees. I told him that I wanted a house like that (lined with trees). He reminded me that AZ is a desert, but that I could line my driveway with cactus.

Back to the home search...

So, we looked and looked all day... we got home at about 9:00 that night after a long day of searching. I was exhausted and didn't know what to do next, but Duane stayed up and searched for homes on Craigslist again and picked out a couple favorites. In the morning (before I woke up) Duane called on the CL postings and made appointments to go see two houses. Soon after, I woke up and quickly got ready to go with him. I didn't have time for breakfast before taking Tristen and leaving with Duane to see these homes that were within a mile of the Medical Center. It was raining as we pulled up to the first house.

The two homes we previewed were fairly similar in layout and both built in the 1950's. They were decent for their age, but I could not imagine myself living in either of these homes. If we had chose to move into either of them we would have definitely fulfilled the "Albany" experience, but something inside me couldn't. In the first home the kitchen appliances were probably the same that came with the house in the 50's and the second home was very small and just looked dirty... maybe someday I'll brave the "Albany" way, but I didn't feel strong enough to do it at the time. I thought of the apartment I had looked at the day previous and even though it was much more expensive, I can't put a price on my sanity.

I talked Duane into getting the apartment, but for the next few hours he had to be at work. I dropped him off and took Tristen with me to the apartment complex see about getting the two bedroom apartment that was available the day before. I walked in with a half finished application and a hungry baby and met a woman that I had seen the day before while with my mom. I approached and asked the woman about the apartment for rent. We talked for a few minutes about the situation and then she told me that the soonest she could get me into the apartment was Monday (the day being Friday). I needed the place that day! I told her that if I couldn't get in that day it wasn't going to work for to get into the apartment at all. She didn't seem to mind. Just then I was reminded of a quote my mom read to me from the book "The Secret" the day before (and this is paraphrasing), 'if you want something to happen, make it happen'. And with that I sat down in their waiting room to think about my options and to figure out where I was going to find the hungry Tristen.

About a half a minute after sitting down, a women who worked in the office came to me and offered help in getting my things together. I explained that I HAD to move in that same day because the rental truck was going to charge us $500 to keep the truck till Monday. The manager (the first woman I saw and who did not offer much help) told this woman that if everything was in place by 5:00 that afternoon we could move in the same day. We had three hours. I did all I could and after a few hiccups we were able to get everything together in time.

We signed the lease papers just minutes before 5:00 and immediately informed the elders quorum in the branch (who had been on hold for days waiting for us to get a place) that we needed help that night moving in so we could get the moving truck in by the next morning at 9:00 AM to avoid the $100 late fee. The truck actually was a day late, but Duane called and talked to them the day previous and they told us that if we could get the truck in by the said time, we would avoid ALL late fees.

After signing the papers, I took Duane to the stake center where the moving truck had stayed for a few days and he left to move into our new place. I went to President Porters house to pick up my Mom, sister and Kalvin and to meet Duane at the house. We made a few stops along the way to get a few necessaries for the house and burgers for the Elders Quorum helpers. By the time we got to the apartment the moving truck was 3/4 empty and there were about 7 guys here unloading it! It was the neatest thing to see so much help from someone I'd never met before.

Duane and I found out shortly after signing the lease papers that one of his fellow intern residence lived just under us! And to make it better they have two children also, and they are within one month of our kids ages. In the two weeks we've been here, I still haven't seen the wife yet though... I can't imagine how bored and lonely she must be since her family is in LA. I hope to invite her to the branches mothers group.

We have a six month lease, so by Dec. 26, we will be living somewhere else. We've left many boxes unopened.

Everything is so green! On the road coming into our complex we've seen a deer, and fawn (looked just like Bambi), a possum and tons of squirrels!

Duane had the great idea of going to Boston for the 4th of July to see the Boston Pops. The show was unlike anything I'd seen or heard. The fireworks were timed to fit the music and was incredible. While in Boston we also saw the USS Constitution or Old Ironsides on a little cruise in the bay. For those who don't know, it is the oldest navy ship from the late 1700's. It shot off over 20 canon balls! That was so loud and Kalvin was amazed!

These guys were guarding the USS Constitution

After the canon shootings everyone clapped and boats all around blew their horns. From that time on every time Kalvin heard a boat blow its horn he clapped thinking that's why everyone had been clapping earlier.

Kalvin, eating a NY hotdog with his Boston hat!

We also walked to Breeds hill, AKA Bunker Hill and walked up the 294 steps of the monument. Amazingly Kalvin walked up and down EVERY step himself!!! I was absolutely amazed! On our way up, by step 150, there was a line to get to the top so we had a few brakes (though the line moved fairly quickly) that helped Kalvin I'm sure.

When we got to the top of the Memorial at Bunker hill Kalvin was a little scared looking out the window.

More to come... Blogger is not letting me upload any more pictures of videos right now...