Hello!!!!!!!
I had some time to just sit down and chill (kids are napping) So I thought I would blog a lil.
Well, the weekend before last, I went on a Women's retreat with my church and my mom. It was awesome! We got to go out of town, to Bison Ranch it was a nice long drive and it was fairly calm. I ALMOST made it the whole way without yelling at anyone...however, we were about 45 miles away from our destination and this van passes me and they have a little baby girl, probably around 1 year old standing in the passenger seat hanging onto the window....so of course I FREAKED and I pulled up next to them and yelled at her to put the baby in a darn seat! I know I promised mom I wouldn't do anything like that but I think I had reason...sorry mom!
But you know what though?? They put the baby back in her seat so it worked!!!
Anyhow....
When we got up there I think we were both surprised at how beautiful it was up there, the cabins were gorgeous and the weather was awesome! It was the perfect setting for a retreat!
That first night we had worship and a small bible study and then me and mom took a long walk around the grounds, and she decided to leave a Dr.Pepper trail just in case we got lost! LOL :::wink::: Mom
Overall though, it was a great time and I was able to really spend some quality time with my God and to realize a lot of things about myself. I am making some changes people!! Be patient with me!! I came back refreshed and feeling "pumped" LOL! (inside joke)
One goofy story before I go, sorry Ma I have to do it! Our retreat "theme" was walking...walking with God, walking close to God, walking in his ways...etc... So on Saturday we got a really cute gift, it was a little shoe with candy and scriptures in it, so that night, Mom and I were laying on our beds talking and I said "hey they gave us mints in our shoes..." She gets the saddest look on her face and says "They did????? Did you eat mine?!!!!?" I was like..."what????" She thought that the maids, had put mints in our SHOES like the shoes we wear on our feet!!!!! And that I had gotten up before her in the morning, just to look inside her dirty tennies and eat her mints!!!!!! ROFL
I told her.."I don't know what kind of hotels you usually stay in, but generally, they put mints on your pillow....not your SHOES!"
Too funny!!!!
We had a great time!
This weekend, we had my sisters bridal shower at my house! I know, I know...I can't believe that little Heidi is getting married. She has just two months to go and she will be Mrs. Andrew K. (it is the net so I have to protect last names lol)
Her shower was really gorgeous and she got a lot of stuff to help get her life started with Andrew. Well, I should go, I hear the kiddies waking...Talk to everyone soon.

Hello again, wow two blogs in one week!! AMAZING!!!
Well I am going out of town for the weekend, so I thought I would blog a lil before I go. Hopefully everyone is doing really well. We don't keep in touch much with everyone, besides on the blog its just easier this way!
So, as I was saying I am headed out of town this weekend. My mom and I are going on a womens retreat with our church! It should be a blast!! Its up at Bison Ranch, its about 4 hours from here, and from what I just heard there is a little bit of snow up there!!! Can't wait, its been in the 80's here and I am miserable!!!!! You can tell I am an Arizona native because I HATE the warm weather, I would love to have more rainy, cold days here!! But the warm weather is why all the East Coasters come out here (including my husband)
I'm excited to leave, but I know I'm gonna miss the hubby and the kids!!! I haven't really been away from them too much, but I think I need a little break!
I worry about Chris however, he gets fried pretty easily, he finally admitted last week in front of some friends of ours that I have the hardest job, when I was in the hospital for a few days a couple weeks ago, he had to stay with the girls and he figured out that its a lot harder than just hanging out watching tv and eating bon-bons!!
I think he'll be ok, he has Grandma and his parents to help if he needs it. And he plans to keep pretty busy while I'm gone, which will keep the girls entertained and off his back!! And on top of all that he is a really great dad!
There is a walk for autism that we were going to walk together this weekend, but he's still gonna take the girls and go. That will be nice, they love being outside! He's going with our friends Ronnie and Angie too and they'll help him out I'm sure!
I'm so worried about Chris surviving the weekend, but I should be more worried about my mom surviving the drive up! She has heart problems and HATES the way I drive, I'm hoping she'll make it!! LOL She told me on the phone today that she'll ride up there with me, but there is to be no yelling at other drivers, screaming at other drivers, cursing at other drivers, or getting out of my car to confront other drivers.... I think she's gonna make me sign a contract or something before we go! LOL
I promised her I won't and I intend to keep that promise, unless some idiot really deserves it! (just kidding mom).
Well I should get going. I'm gonna try to get as much cleaning, laundry and bottle making done before I go, make it a little easier on Chris. (Aren't I nice??)
Alright everyone, have an awesome weekend! I will write again when I get home!!! Take care!!

Nik <3

Hi again everyone!

Well, I got the kiddies to bed so I decided to get on here and blog a bit. It hasn't been too long, but I figure I better get it in while I have the time.
We are all doing really well, Chris is working hard (as usual) and the kids are keeping me busy. Getting smarter and prettier everyday!
We also have a new addition to the Duffey family, Chris' sister Heather and her husband Harold, welcomed a little baby girl named Breana Carmen on February 27th. She's a little cutie pie and is doing really well!! We can't wait to meet her (hopefully in May)
We are settled into our new place now, we finally got everything where it needs to be, I know I said before that I would leave it alone for a while, but I am a freak about putting stuff where it goes and getting un-packed, so I lied. Sorry!
The house is gorgeous, there isn't a thing we would change, although installing an elevator wouldn't be such a bad thing!!! We're lazy I know.
We painted the downstairs a few weeks ago. Took 3 times to get the color right. By the time the job was done I think the painter hated me.
I wanted a nice tan color, like the model homes have. I told the guy this...well first he paints my whole downstairs ORANGE then he paints it GREY then finally I send my color blind husband to Home Depot and he picks out the most beautiful tan ever! Go figure!!! So now I know to send Chris. It only took about $300.00 worth of paint to learn that lesson!!! ::::cringe::::
But the house looks great!!
The girls are really growing and changing everyday! Ash is finally old enough to enjoy Kaitlynn's company so they play together a lot and Kaitlynn always keeps her laughing! It's so awesome to see them together. I'm so glad we had girls!!
Well we have one boy, Titus our Rottweiler. I think we got duped and bought a monster, he just turned 12 weeks old and is already about 45 pounds and up to our knees, we're gonna need to get a contract with Puriena and have them make the dog food right in our backyard!! He's a sweet heart though, don't let the breed fool ya!
Well I guess that is about all for now, hope everyone is doing great. Oh before I forget, sometime this month we're getting pictures done of the girls, I know I am crazy for doing it again but the grandmas are getting anxious they need more pictures!!! Pray hard people, PRAY HARD!

Hello everyone!
Ahh, we can finally take a deep breath! We're all moved in to our new place and we're pretty much settled in. There are a few things that aren't in their place yet and I am totally ok with it being that way for a year or two! I can't stand taking stuff up those stairs!!! LOL
We have a beautiful new home, its awesome the Lord really blessed us.
Kaitlynn is doing great, as a matter of fact she is sitting on my lap as I write this, everyone say "HI KAITLYNN!" She is turning into a mini-me. The kid is hilarious. You ask her to do something or tell her something, and she tells you in the nicest possible voice..."No, sorry I can't do that, sorry" At least she has learned if she snaps back in a snotty tone she gets her bottom spanked, so she just says no....very nicely! She is learning to write her name, and is obsessed with the computer, we have 2 in our office and when I am on one she climbs on the other and just types away. Although, she has managed to re-arrange the desktop and change the screen saver and I have no idea how she did it.
Ashlynn is doing good too, she is learning to scoot in her walker. Kaitlynn was walking on her own at this age, but since Ash was so premature, she isn't developing the way normal children do. The Dr. says that we should go by Ash's corrected age, which means, if she was born when she was supposed to be, she would only be 6 and a half months old right now. But since she was so early, she is 8 and a half months old. So she is developing as a 6 month old would. Its very interesting and frustrating all at once. In some areas she is very advanced, but it others she is behind. For instance, she says Hi and waves and sits up well, very normal. But she can't crawl and isn't even close to walking. But that is OK, I am just glad she is here, we can deal with everything else later!
Chris and I are well, we are pooped out from the move, but my parents stayed a week with us to help us get settled, it was very nice!! I have to say I miss having them around. Chris is working hard as usual and they have actually changed his department at work, he had a few things to say about it (none that I can repeat of course!) But it will all work out in the end.
I'm working to start up this ol' business of mine. I got into my first little tiff over it too! I was making announcements for my sister in law, and I ran out of the paper I needed so I headed to Michaels to get more...well I didn't go potty before I left and drank a whole bottle of water...without giving any details...about half way through my shopping I had to use the little girls room. I had grabbed THE LAST two pages of the paper I needed, and purposely asked the lady at the framing desk to watch it for me, while I went to the R.R When I came out, there was this woman going through my paper and things...I walk over and said..."Excuse me miss, but this is my stuff I left it here to go to the bathroom." This lady (obviously from another planet), took a motherly tone with me and looked me dead in the eyes and said..."No...No....I don't think so."
OH MY GOSH!!!!!! All of you who know me, know this is totally unacceptable! However, you should be proud, I composed myself fairly well and got the attention of the framing girl (by yelling) and stated my case, she informed this crazy woman that it was in fact my stack of goodies, and she threw me a look and walked away. I have to say I have mellowed a bit...must be I am getting old LOL.
But, my friends, the moral of the story is...PAY FIRST THEN POTTY. Especially at Michaels, I have seen 60 year old women throw it down in a aisle over wicker baskets on clearance!!
Take care!! I'll write again soon!

Hi again,
It's been a while since I have had the chance to blog! We have been pretty busy around here, between the girls, the dogs, Chris' injury and moving!! Man, and I just got the guts to start my own business too, so I have been pretty overwhelmed to say the least.
So what's new around here?? Well, Chris is having a radiography scan done on the 13th. Because the Dr. found a growth on his tyroid when they did an ultrasound, they are worried it may be cancerous and I guess this scan is the only way to find out if it is. Not only does he have to worry about that, but for a month before the scan he can't take his tyroid medication which leaves him totally wiped out. He's tired all the time, having body aches and just flat pooped out. It's a really crappy thing to go through, so please keep him in your prayers and we will keep you updated.
Kaitlynn is doing well, she is still going to preschool and is loving every minute of it, although I hear from her teacher that she gets a little bossy (who would have guessed it?) But overall she is having a blast and learning a ton!
Ashlynn is doing great too, she has lost 2lbs being on her diet that the Dr. put her on. But she hates the rice cereal she has to eat, so what does mommy do?? Puts fruit in it so it tastes better! Oh well, she is my kid and I love her with a chunky butt, what kind of Dr. puts a baby on a diet anyway?? But she's got two bottom teeth now and is working on her top two.
They're both beautiful and awesome kids!
I feel like I have to get a bit sappy here. So hang in there with me, it will be brief!
I'm getting ready to celebrate my 22nd birthday on Monday, and I just have taken some time to look back on my life. I have accomplished quite a bit over these 22 years, and not in the usual sense of career, money, etc. But in the sense that I have created, with my husband a wonderful famiy and two awesome kids that I adore! Chris and I will be married 5 years in September, and at my young age that is unusual, I am watching my friends go through trying to find someone to love them and trying to make relationships work. And it just makes me grateful that I already have that. I am deeply in love with my husband and I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else.
Not to mention these two blessings that I am able to call mine. We worked so hard and prayed so hard to get both of them here. The Lord gave them to us, there is no other explanation. And I wonder everyday what it is I did to deserve that. I just thank him for his mercy on me, and that he loves me enough to allow me this time with my girls.
We have endured some rough times over the last few years and are still experiencing them now, but with the lords help we will get through it and we will be stronger for it.
Thanks for reading all of this guys and for being such great friends and family! We plan on moving this next weekend so I may not be on for a while, but we will keep in touch! Take care!

Lots of love,
The Duffeys

Hello family and friends!!
Today is Wednesday February 1st! Happy birthday Jess!
Well, life has been pretty busy around here lately. Chris has been in and out of the hospital, with Shoulder/neck problems and they finally figured out the day before yesterday that he has a disk in his neck that is inflamed and muscle damage in his left shoulder from the thyroid storm he had a few weeks ago. So he has been missing a lot of work and not able to do anything at all. I even have to drive him everywhere, which he HATES because in his words "I am the worst driver known to man, and I am lucky I don't have an accident everytime I get behind the wheel." My reply?...."You taught me how to drive buddy!!"
So...moving on!!
The girls are doing great. Kaitlynn has hit this interesting stage of..."I know all, you know nothing" I swear sometimes she just thinks Chris and I are here to feed her, clothe her and help her reach stuff that is too high. It is amazing how much a 3 and a half year old knows about life. And how when you tell her..."Stop jumping on the bed, you're gonna kill yourself" She looks at you like..."yeah ok, and what planet are you from again?" Sometimes I just tell her, "Ya know, why don't you start opening your own fruit snacks and cleaning your own room and hand over your night light since you're so big" and of course, being my daughter she looks at me and gives me a nice defiant "OK" Ahh, it's hard to win battles with this one sometimes, she is DEFINITELY flesh of my flesh!
And little Ash, is fatter than ever and C-R-A-N-K-Y!
She started getting two bottom teeth and all she does these days is yell and cry and bite things. Sometimes, she'll sit there and grab your hand and put it in her mouth and bite down as hard as she can and just yell! It's kinda funny but at the same time hurts like...well you know.
She's sitting up all the time and grabs EVERYTHING! And lately for some reason she is not too happy with Kaitlynn, if Kaitlynn gets too close, or takes something from her she yells and turns red and then cries in frustration, I think pretty soon we'll have to start seperating them! LOL
She's definitely getting her own personality. It's neat to watch.
We all are doing really well though, and Chris is starting to heal and we're trusting that God will take care of us and we'll be fine! He's gonna start physical therapy next week and hopefully with that he will be A-OK. But if not then I will go out and get a job and he'll be Mr.Mom and I'm sure he'll be writing PLENTY of blogs!!
Well this one is short and a little jumbled, Because I am running on two hours sleep and a bottle of green tea. (it's not working!)
I will write again when my brain comes back from it's lunch break! Take care everyone!

Nik

Goodmorning all! Today is January 18th, 2006.
Boy a lot sure has happened lately. Chris was in the emergency room and initially they thought he had a stroke. He was having numbness and pain in his left arm and his chest hurt. It was one of the scariest moments in my life. I have never seen Chris sick, or in that much pain and it got my head running wild, wondering what I would do without him. He spent the night in the hospital and luckily his heart and lungs all look good. But his arm is still hurting so he is going to an orthopedic surgeon next week. And they also concluded that he had a "Thyroid Storm" he hadn't been taking his meds for a while and his thyroid was so outta whack that it caused lots of things to go wrong in his body. He is very lucky that he is ok right now. I'm so thankful that God pulled him through. I don't know what I would do without him, he's everything to me.
Trust me it gets crazier, the following night. My dad had a seizure he stopped breathing during this seizure and was unresponsive when the paramedics took him away. He was rushed to the hospital and within the next few days they realized he had a seizure disorder. And a small vein in his brain, that was seeping blood. This whole thing could have killed him. So we are all very lucky that he is still here. He plans to meet with a Neurosurgeon on Friday and is going to ask them to do brain surgery now and remove that vein, rather than just watch it and take a chance of it rupturing.
Everything that has happened with the men in our lives this past week, has given me a deeper appreciation for who they are and what they mean to me. I don't know where any of us in this family would be without Dad or without Chris. They are a HUGE part of our family and we love them so much. Praise the Lord that he has let us keep them here a little longer! God is good!
So as you go on in your days try to remember them in your prayers, because we all know it works!
Onto a lighter note....
Little Miss Kaitlynn started her first day of Pre-school today, she is so excited. The girl is a social butterfly. She loves other kids and learning and she is just gonna have a blast! She is going to a Christian pre-school so she will get to hear the word too. Which is even better! She is all grown up and we are so proud. When I called to enroll her they said, "well she will be learning her shapes..and I said...she already knows them and then they said well she'll learn her colors...again she knows them... she'll learn to regognize letters and numbers...and again you guessed it! She knows em!! She is sooooooooooo smart and I want to use that to get her to great places in her life! The Lord has blessed us with a great family and wonderful kids and I couldn't be more grateful!
Just a small note on Ash, she is sitting up great on her own, saying dada and holding her own bottle. As Chris and I were sitting on the couch the other night watching her...he said to me "Babe, she's growing up too fast and she won't ever be this small again" I agree. Its crazy how quick they grow up. But it is exciting to watch too. Well that is about all for now. I will write again soon!! Take care family and make sure that the ones you love, know that you do!

Nik

Good afternoon! Today is January 10th. It's taken me a while to blog, I've been pretty busy.
The girls are doing great. Kaitlynn is so smart, and beautiful. We are blessed. And little Ash isn't so little anymore. She's right around 20lbs and is only 6 months old. She is what we like to call a TANK! But she is sitting up on her own now and babbling a lot more. The other night in the car it sure sounded like she said "Dada" But I refuse to believe it! Mama is ALWAYS first dangit!
Hope everyones new years eve was fun. We spent it with our good friends/neighbors Mike and Mandi. She and I had our babies 3 weeks apart so we're both adjusting together its nice! We just hung out in the house with the kiddies and the guys hung out by the fire. We had a nice Champagne toast at midnight..and I even got a strawberry in my glass. (I swear she was romancing me) LOL.
Kaitlynn stayed up until midnight and passed out shortly thereafter. I have a picture of her on my cell phone...crying,trying so hard to stay awake!
Ashlynn and Mandi's son Hayden (who is officially Ash's boyfriend)cat napped all night and were awake when the ball dropped. We even made em kiss at midnight! Sooooooooooooo cute!
Mandi and I already have them married off to eachother but Chris is in serious denial. He says Ash will be a missionary in some far away land and will NEVER marry and just adopt some orphans from whatever country she is in so we have grandkids. And he is convinced that Kaitlynn will kick every boys butt that comes within 5 feet of her. And she'll have lots of big dogs for her home security system/grandbabies for us.
I on the other hand am just praying the rapture comes LONG before either of them are old enough to shave their legs or wear makeup!
But they are two beauties and I am sure they'll make 2 wonderful, christian, hardworking, never had a girlfriend, no tattoos, love my mom,kinda guys great wives someday!
Well hate to cut it short but the tank needs a refill! Talk to everyone soon!

Nik

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!
Hello family!!
Hope you all had a really great Christmas!!!!
Today is December 29, 2005. Our Christmas was great!
We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house and they really blessed the whole family with lots of great stuff. The girls were totally spoiled of course. They got dress up clothes and lots of noisy toys. I think they did it on purpose just for a little grandparent humor...haha. :o) Chris and I got all kinds of different things, and a lot of cute things to put up around the house! I also got some BLING from my mom, she got me and my sister matching necklaces they are really beautiful! They also bought Chris a shirt to wear on his poker nights thats says "I didn't come here to lose" Totally his style LOL. We stuffed ourselves silly with an awesome dinner and then went to the candlelight service at church! It was a blast!
We spent Christmas morning at home as a family. We decided this year to buy K one big gift, and a few small ones. So Chris and I went shopping a few weeks ago and bought her one of those motorized cars. Its a jammin Barbie Jeep. So cute, it has a working radio and all that good stuff.
Anyhow, so we bought her that and a thing of ponies and Chris bought her a Furby (one of the freakiest toys ever invented) That thing talks to you and says he is not your friend anymore if you don't feed him on time. Kind of like Ash lol Anyhow, so we put together this car and hid it in the garage where we usually park our car. And in the morning after she opened her gifts I said, "hey go out to the garage and get a screwdriver so we can open your Furby. (Chris had already been hiding out in the garage with the video camera) So we walk out there, she sees Chris and says, " Hi Daddy, we're getting a screwdriverrrrrrrrrr...AHHHHHHHH my car, oh my car!!!!!" in the highest pitched scream I had ever heard!! She was sooooooooo excited. So we spent the afternoon teaching her to drive it. (In the backyard of course) Let me say this...she's a more horrible driver than her mommy and I am HARD to beat! LOL She was up over the curbing and into the palm trees and running into her swingset. And everytime she hit something she'd go "Awwww MAN!" But eventually she will get the hang of it I am sure. (crossing my fingers!)
Ashlynn opened a few things here at home just so we could take pictures. She couldn't care less, she just drooled over everything we handed her. But hey it's the thought that counts.
We spent Christmas afternoon/night at Chris' parents house. That was a lot of fun!! Chris was reuinted with an old flame...."HONEYBAKED HAM!!" He doesn't even get that twinkle in his eye for me. Only the ham. As he so famously puts it " Ohhhh Honeybaked ham, I love Honeybaked ham!" The presents kept multiplying and the girls got a WHOLE new wardrobe. It was awesome! Between Chris' mom and his sister, we will never have to buy clothes for the girls again. Those two LOVE to shop and they always pick out the cutest things!
We spent the rest of the night downloading ring tones to our phones and watching home videos. It was a lot of fun!!
We were really blessed and had a great time with our families. Hope you guys all had a great holiday and we'll update with photos from Christmas in the next couple of days!!! God bless!!!

Nikki

Hello family, today is December 7,2005! We took the girls to get their Christmas pictures done today. Boy was that an experience!! As I was getting all of their outfits together last night, I realized that Kaitlynn had outgrown her dress-shoes. So I had to leave early this morning to go buy shoes on my way to pick up Chris' mom. Of course getting two small (cranky) children ready on your own tends to make you late. So after I finished fighting with Kaitlynn about where we were going, I was able to get in the car and fly to Payless (about 5 miles away) almost rear-ending two snowbirds on the way I might add.
I couldn't find a parking space because today was SENIOR DISCOUNT DAY at Kohl's Department store. WOOOPEEEEE!! I parked, seriously about a mile away from the store, lugging big chunky Ash in her car seat and trying to hold K's hand at the same time. Arguing with her about how she should hold my hand and not the stinkin' stuffed bunny she brought, who SHOULD have been left in the car like I suggested. :::whew:::
I run into the store grab the sales clerk and tell her "I need a size 9 in kids, something dressy!" and begin to strip Kaitlynn right there in the store and put tights on her that I just ripped off the shelf. And then the clerk is wondering..."Are you in a hurry miss???" DUH!!!!!!! No I usually undress my children and put clothes on them that I haven't payed for, just for the fun of it...makes me feel like I am a contestant on the amazing race. (Here's your sign)
We finally get all of her things payed for and put on, and pick up Chris' mom and Grandma. I am guessing everyone in the whole entire state of Arizona took the day off to do a little Christmas shopping today because the place was PACKED! I thought that was bad until I realized walking into the Portrait studio that everyone in the entire state of Arizona hadn't taken the day off to shop, they took it off to get their pictures done!
We waited over an hour and a half past our appointment time (why anyone still makes appointments is beyond me) finally get in there and both of my children turned into little people I didn't recognize. K-who is usually a HAM in front of the camera wouldn't smile if Cinderella herself walked in and asked her to. And Ash-decided to head butt and kick at anyone who tryed to pose her for the picture. It was amazing how hard taking a picture is. Trying to get TWO different kids to smile at the same time without one of them smiling and the other one picking their nose is an incredible accomplishment. Congrats to any mother and photographer who do it!
But overall we managed to get a few good frames. We'll be sending them out for Christmas, so when you look at these little pictures please remember how much work went into them and have a moment of silence for the sanity I lost in the process!
Next year we are taking pictures of them seperately and pasting them together, Thank you God for Photoshop!!
We're all doing well though aside from today and we will be adding some new pictures soon!! As soon as I find the disk that has them on it! Take care everyone and God bless!!

Nikki