Snow Shoveling is Hard Work!

The boys were out again to shovel the driveway!

Tyler in his year-round attire of shorts works on the sidewalk.

Justin works at the snow and ice on the driveway as Max supervises.

Tyler, Justin and James work on the neighbor lady's driveway again. While they were still shoveling it started snowing AGAIN!

It just keeps SNOWING!!!

Last night Tyler went out to see how thick the snow was and after he came back in I went to look- and what did I see? Footprints not shoe or boot prints...FOOTprints!!! Crazy kid!


Later he asked me to take a picture of him eating Lucky Charms in the snow. I said yes and followed him out to take the picture. He sat down in the snow in shorts and started eating his bowl of cereal! WOW!

P-D's Famous Coconut Balls

Every year I make Coconut Balls at Christmas time. They are very labor intensive so they only get made once a year. This year Justin wanted to do the dipping of them into the chocolate. He did a wonderful job!


For those of you who may be eating coconut balls this year...he did NOT lick his finger until he was done making them!

All tired out from a long day Justin and Max (who is not allowed in the living room and follows the rules as you can see) take a little nap in the glow of the tree!

The Force was with Us!

Last Saturday we were able to get through the snow to Tyler's favorite comic shop- Atomic Comics- they were having a toy drive as well as a sale. We picked out a nice Barbie and some Hot Wheel cars to bring and were treated to a "welcome" by 2 Stormtroopers, Obi Wan Kenobi and (sorry Mark and Tyler)- whoever this guy is! I'm not up on all the Star Wars characters as I should be, but thanks to Tyler I'm sure I know more than most moms!!!

That's my boy...

After Justin was done sledding and playing in the snow he cleared our driveway and our single neighbor lady's driveway. What a good kid!!!

Snow Days...

No school for the boys today. Snow draws the kids to the big hill at the end of our street..."dead man's hill". Justin tries out his "snowboard style" sledding toy.


Heading up the hill for another run down.

And again...

Justin and Tommy ride tandem. Tommy sitting with Justin standing behind.

The results? a wipe out!

Tough Loss for the Warriors! 3-1.

Justin's team the Warriors had their 1st loss last night. It was a tough game. They led in the scoring at the beginning and then the opposing team took the lead. The Warriors came back nicely but it just wasn't enough. Good game though!

Warrior Basketball

Justin's school basketball team "Warriors" are undefeated with a 3-0 record. The last 2 games have been close and hard-fought wins but they were successful each time. Justin has played well each game as well. Here is his HOME game schedule (home is at Concordia- on 56th St between Pacific and McKinley):

Monday Dec. 15- 4:45pm
Thursday Dec. 18- 3:30pm
Friday Jan. 9- 4:45pm
Tuesday Jan 20- 4:45 NOT HOME but close @ Parkland Lutheran
Friday Jan. 23- 4:45pm
Thursday Jan. 29- TBA- Tournament
Friday Jan. 30- TBA- Tournament NOT HOME but at Mount Rainier Luth. High
Monday Feb. 2- 4:45pm
Thursday Feb. 5- 4:45pm NOT HOME at MRLH

We would love to see you at some games! Join the "P-D" cheering section. Our record # of cheerers is 16 in the P-D group. Help us break our record.

Merry Christmas

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Old Friends

Yesterday I went to the funeral of my good friend Dina's dad. So though the circumstances were not good, I was able to reconnect with two of my dearest friends . Dina (in the middle) and Erika (on the right). Though we have been apart for years when we get together it is like no time at all has passed.

Warrior Basketball!!!

Final score of the 1st official basketball game. We were the "guests". The jump ball went to Justin and he took it to the basket to score the 1st points of the game!


Justin at the free throw line for 2.

Time out strategy...

#30- my boy!

Throwing the ball in.

Defense!

Tis the Season...

It would not be Christmas at our house without Tyler's nutcracker collection. When Tyler was very young my dad, Gpa, took Tyler to the Nutcracker ballet. He loved it! Gpa got him his first nutcracker and even got his name painted on it. From then on Tyler has gone to some production with Gpa every Christmas season. Tyler has also added a nutcracker to his collection every year. He has quite a variety: ranging from the usual looking to Darth Vader (on the left- too dark to really see him) and Homer Simpson, a snowman, santa and a Hawaiian Hula dancer.

So much to be Thankful for...

I am so thankful for my family and for the fact that we are all so close to each other. The picture is kinda dark but this is Justin, Lila, Evan, Uncle Daniel, Tyler, Cole, Noah, Ethan and Abby. My 2 boys, my baby brother and my nieces and nephews.


My mom and dad and my brother Daniel...Daniel is always keeping us laughing.

We also celebrated 3 birthdays. Cole, Mark and Daniel.

Cole and Mark read his card.

Lila and Daniel and one of his gifts. His FAVORITE I'm sure...

The Happiest Place on Earth!

Our 2009 trip to the happiest place on earth has been booked! Thanks Mark and Gwen for taking care of all the details! I can't wait to be able to watch the cousins together at Disneyland!

A Tyler P-D Original

This is the centerpiece that I bought at the MRLH auction on Saturday night...created by Tyler!!


The art class made all the centerpieces for the tables which made my job of "decorations chairperson" very easy. I only had to get flowers to go in them and a few other little details!

Family Time

Last Saturday we had a Duras family dinner at Auntie Ann and Uncle Mike's house. (L to R): Justin, Grandma Nadine, James, Johnathan and Tyler. This was a dinner in honor of Johnathan (James' brother) who has been here visiting from Hawaii and went home yesterday.

A Nice Recovery

This is the 'after shot": after the drainage tube was removed. The swelling has started to go down. When they removed the tube yesterday she said everything looked really good! He still has to finish his antibiotic and go back for stitches removal in a week.


This is the "before shot": before the tube was removed...YUCK!

Get Well Wishes!

My niece Lila made a beautiful Get Well card for Max!


I know he was very happy to get it Lila! It was his 1st card! Thanks!

Max is Home!

James' brother Johnathan and I went to pick Max up this morning. He has a drain in his neck and we have to flush it 2 times a day. I am so glad John was there to see how to flush it because I am too squeamish! Because the drain is constantly draining and dripping Max has to be locked in the kitchen and not out on the carpet. He is not happy with this situation because he is used to being right with someone all the time. He is laying in the kitchen crying as I sit just a few feet away typing this. But he is home!!!

Successful Surgery

When I took Max to the vet about 2 weeks ago his lump was about the size of a golf ball. After 2 days on the antibiotic it started to get smaller and then suddenly started to grow again. The past couple days it has been the size of a baseball. When I got home from work today it was the size of a softball. I immediately called the vet (our follow-up appt was scheduled for tomorrow) and explained what was happening and they wanted to see him ASAP. We were seen right away by the vet and Max had a high fever as well. We left him there at about 5:15pm and by 6pm the vet had called us with the results of the surgery. He is the only vet in the office and there were people in the waiting room when we left so we figure that Max must have been an "emergency" surgery to have gotten it done so quickly! They were able to drain the infection out but did not find any "foreign body" they thought they might find in there and he was still sleeping. We can bring him home tomorrow if his fever goes down! I have one sad, lonely boy here (Justin). Max shadows him the whole time he is home...follows him from room to room and lays down at his feet where ever he stops. He is a fiercely loyal dog! Get Well Soon Max!!!

Maxwell Pagdilao-Duras

Our poor sweet dog is sick! Max has a lump under his chin. I took him to the vet about a week ago and they did a "fine needle biopsy" on it and the results came back the better of the two outcomes we were looking at...it was either a tumor or an infection. It is an infection. We were given antibiotics to give him for 2 weeks. The second day it seemed that the lump was going down but now it has gotten bigger than it ever has been! So if there is no change in the next week it looks like we are looking at surgery. The vet thinks that something maybe lodged in there like a piece of a bone or a stick. If the swelling would go down it could work its own way out but with all the swelling it needs to be removed! Please pray for him! and us!!!

Final Games of the Season for Hawks and Warriors!

Yesterday was the final game of the season for Justin (Warriors) and Tyler (Hawks). Justin's game was at 3:45 at Concordia. They won the game bringing their undefeated season to a close.

Tyler's last game was against his parent's alma mater TBS at 4:00. My good friend from high school (at TBS) Shannon came to the game. This was the first time I got to see her son Ryan. He is a beautiful boy! It was so good to see them both!

Both of the boys had fun this season and are looking forward to next season...not as much as I am though: both my boys will be on the SAME soccer team!!! Get ready Coach "K"!

Happy Halloween!

I just dropped Justin off for a Halloween party. His 1st "boy-girl" party. We went and got his costume earlier today- he chose to be a blind referee (complete with walking stick and glasses). I think he is subconsciously preparing himself for the upcoming basketball season!!!

Happy Birthday Justin (and Gma Carol)!!!

Justin turned 14 on October 11th. Gma's Birthday was October 13th.


Abby chooses lasagna and corn for dinner.

Evan and Tyler are up to something...

Lila and Gpa relax on the couch.

One of Justin's many gifts.

Justin said that he wanted $ for his gifts- Uncle Mark and clan gave it to him all in quarters!

He made out like a bandit!

Justin wanted chocolate cake and Gma wanted lemon bars.

After the party Justin fell down outside while riding his skateboard. Important lesson learned: never run through wet grass and then jump on a skateboard without drying your shoes off!