Easter

Happy (be-lated) Easter! I hope everyone enjoyed Easter as much as we did. We started with a few gifts to the boys...(fishing gear and leggos have replaced the traditional baskets!) Next, to our church for a wonderful service! The boys were able to eat after church at our annual Easter dinner. Jay and I saved ourselves for "Nana and Papa's Fabulous Easter Feast" Featuring...Gumbo, beans and rice, HoneyBaked Ham, Collard greens with cabbage (OOOOOH so very yummy!), sweet taters, ooodles of appetizers, wine and even cigars! Top that off with "Straight out 0' NewOrleans flaming Banana's Foster and my goodness was it wonderful! That is why I love Easter. It is the most meaningful day for me, as it remembers my Savior...represents new life (spring!) and is always a time we gather with those we love. Thanks, Nan and Paps for bringing your Illinois Easter to us!

Bella in her beautiful bunny jacket from Auntie Donna and Uncle Kenny!

Her Ralph Lauren Easter dress from Nana. You think she is loved????

"Hey Mom, get more pictures of my brothers next time, OK???" (OK Bug, next time I will...Love, Mom)

Why we live in Colorado

The weather has been just wonderful lately! I just love this time of year....fishing to skiing in a matter of days...sunshine and snow, not too hot, not too cold! We have been taking advantage of the fabulous spring skiing weather. And don't worry, Jay got the OK to ride his motorcycle while we were skiing, so he had his fun as well! So if you are planning a trip to Colorado, March and April are like a run in Vegas... you may hit it big with great sun and skiing, golf, shopping...etc, or you may just bust and not make it over the pass to our neck of the woods because the pass is closed because of too much snow! At any rate, these are a few photos taken by my in those moments where I say..."Yes, THIS is why I live here!" A bit of my Rocky Mountain High from my camera to your house! Along with love from our house to yours! Happy Spring!

The weekend before the skiing pictures to follow...we barbequed at Harvey Gap Resevoir. Windy, but nice!

Just a couple thousand feet up, no more fishing and LOTSA great skiing! James and Cole, prepared for a face full of POWDER!

Now seriously...where else can you see a view like this, get fresh air and exercise, Vitamin D, wind in your face and the feeling of sheer freedom? THIS is why we ski!!!

A day after blue skies and skiing finds us in gray and windy, but comfortable, deck weather worthy of the finest Cubans. (Cigars...I think Papa and Jay are French and Italian) But yes, Nana and I think they are FINE! :-)

Aint NOBODY messin' with the Bear......Nobody!!!!

"Hello, my name is Isabella Grace Duplesys. I am being held hostage in a household with stinky boys who think it is funny to dress me in their gross knit hats. As you can cleary see, the hat does not match my dress. This is unacceptable. I must accessorize while being held hostage. SEND HELP! "

"Oh Nana, Where Art Thou?"

Nana has left us for sunny Florida. Yes, it is true....and yes....she is missed! Papa is working until Thursday, which leaves dad in charge. He is such a great dad, but a 5 month old girl is definately a challenge when you are overcoming a broken leg! Dad is kind enough to let mom work, so he is in charge of the "Whole Shebang!"...and many kisses he will get for it! But Bella feels the effects of not having Nana there every morning for wonderful playtime, hugs, green beans (stage 2!), snuggles and kisses. Nana...............................................Please come home soon! We miss you!

"Oh, Nan...they just don't get it. I need constant attention and love. Come home soon!"

"Hey Nan.... I pooped 3 times for Dad today! Heeee heeee!!!"

"Check out my new bow from Rebecca! Thanks Becca!!!!!!!"

"All right now! Bows and poop aside....Nana, please don't leave me again! Look at this face...How could you leave me??????!!!!!" (xoxoxoxoxo see you Sunday for Brunch! Love BELLA!!!!)

Making Deck Skiing that much more fun!

Wow! The boys played their first real "gig" up on the deck at our FAVORITE ski resort, Sunlight Mountain! It was a blast! A beautiful Colorado day made it all the better! It was for a mini X games type competition day. A bunch of our friends showed up! Eileen, our wonderful friend and her equally wonderful husband Don scored a great big table for us all....and proceeded to adorn it with linens and wine glasses as well as fabulous food! (shrimp, anyone??!!homemade guacamole??!!) The rest of the crew showed up as well... Sheli and Jim, Tina and Clark, and the kids...with more fabulous food and even better company! Top that with our best videographer/photographer/roadie Bob and his lovely wife Sandi (the band chef)... Dylan and Bo's family......Nana (Super Nanny) and Papa...and of course Cousin Frank from Illinois (Happy Birthday!!!)....it was truly a fun day for all! Even Bella bundled up and deck skied with us to the tunes of Arch Angel! I have to say, regardless of the fact that I am not heavy metals biggest fan in the world, they kicked some butt! I really enjoyed watching them! And considering they were called back for an encore, I think many others did as well! ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bo "BadAss" on the drums, and Dylan on the bass!

James in the groove! Poor guy came down with a horrible cold the night before, but that did not stop the shredding!

Cole Monster and Dylan, rocking the house!

Can't think of a title!

Hmmmmm... quiet week in the household. Nothing new to report. Lotsa work, school, preparing income taxes, doing laundry, getting excited for Cousin Frank's visit.....Can't think of anything new to write! So enjoy some pics! Hey, I get bragging rights with 4 such wonderful kids!

Jesse and the bug, snuggling on the couch before church!

James and his sweet smile!

Always the jokester, Coleman making me laugh!

Bella enjoying her Big Girl High Chair!

TGIF!!!

Whew! Long couple of weeks.... Lots of work, little play. Bella has her first little cold (:-(. She is doing well though, lots of hugs and kisses work magic! The boys are practicing in the garage right now and Bear is on the couch watching a movie. Mom is super tired and wondering when 40 will not feel so much like 40!!!! But life is good. Jay and I are enjoying jobs we love, the kids are doing great in school and we are healthy and happy. What more can you ask for?

"All right, fork over the rice cereal before someone gets clobbered!!"

"Cleanliness is next to godliness, you know!"

"So if I hammer my left hand in with my right, I might be able to get the whole arm in?"

"Listen, dahling...you must choose appropriately accessorised clothes or I simply will not be able to face life."

"Really now, have you ever seen anyone as cute as me? You know you haven't...don't even try and say you have!"

Long Time No Blog!

Hello to all! Wow! I never thought I would be at that stage where I don't even have time to think, let alone post a blog! (I always joke and say "I don't even have time to fart!!!") But it's all in a good way! I am enjoying a full time job (that I love!), am getting used to dropping of 3 boys at 3 different schools AND the baby to Nanny Nana's house, all before putting in my 8 hours! And at my "Advanced Maternal Age!" My body is not as forgiving as when I was in my twenties doing this! (my pains have pains!!)... But there appears to be a glimmer of light...., Jay is getting along better. He is able to shuffle-limp on his boot around the house some.....thank goodness! Jesse is doing AMAZING! Not a week goes by when a teacher or someone who comes in contact with him tells me or dad how sweet and wonderful he is! He is a Safe School Ambassador"..(kind of an elementary school body guard!) He assists in keeping his school "Bully Proof". It is an honor to be an SSA and we are SO PROUD of our Bear! The Band (Arch Angel) Featuring the brothers James and Cole Duplesys, along with drummer Bo Sadler and bassist Dylan McGuire MELTED FACES at the last Battle of the Bands. Long story (See the MySpace page) but they came in second.....the great part was many of the crowd boo-ed that they did not win! They are getting a following! AND out of the bands that performed, they were invited to their first "gig"...They will be performing on the Sundeck at our FAVORITE ski-resort, Sunlight Mountain, for a 2 hour set during a snowboard competition on March 8th! Ahhhh, fame! They were asked for their autographs by many a crowd member and the ladies were a-waiting for a glimpse of "Super Stud Action". (and Mom wanted to beat them ALL off with a big stick!!!)I see the future and it is huge! But they will always be my babies no matter what. Hey, I can bake cookies in a tour bus! Yes, Hubby Jay is turning our house into a Thrash Metal Apex - what with practices a few nights a week in our lovely garage that still bears the stink of Cole's hunting catch this past season (go back and catch a glimpse of that picture on the Blog - one of my favorites!!!)

And to sum things up....................., Isabella will like CLASSICAL MUSIC!!!!!!!!!! CAN ANYONE SAY OPERA???BALLET???SOCCER???!!!!!!I'LL EVEN SETTLE FOR MICHAEL BOLTON!!! [well....maybe not...but you catch my drift!!!) Love to all.....Here is a mini photo session with BellaGrace....future Classical Harp Player of America!

P.S. At only four months old, that girl is ONE INDEPENDENT CHICK! I'll be darned if YOU feed her a bottle (because she decided she will do it herself!) Wow..grabbing everything, rolling over, trying to stand, screeching and smiling...... and Naps???? Those are for SISSYS!!!!!

P.P.S. - Send Geritol. Please.

Kisses to all, from BellaGrace!