The Dupler Family

Our Annual Edisto trip

2008-06-14T06:39:00.000-07:00

Yey! Hudson joined our biking fun. He rode his bike, and even though he had to pedal 3 times to every one of our pedals he rode like a champ!

Building a sand fort

Dan and Sam were tempting the crabs with some hot dogs.

Edisto is our "Happy Place".

An early evening swim

The boys caught four minnows in the pond.

Hudson loves his Sam.

The Boogie Boards were a big hit at the beach.

Beginning of Summer Update

2008-05-31T18:56:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened in the last few months, let's get to the pictures............

Baseball season ended, Sam had a great time and Hudson is ready for next year.

The boys had their birthday party together at Kickin' Kids Karate studio.

To start summer off right, we went camping at Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort. Our campsite was 96 steps to the beach. We played on the beach, walked to the top of the Hunting Island Lighthouse, and walked on the marsh boardwalk.

This is our campsite. Behind the campers is the beach.

The lighthouse

Getting ready for the long walk up.

View from the top.

We could see our campsite from the top (it was in the cove).

The boys running the length of the marsh baordwalk.

Out in the marsh

We watched someone catch this blue crab in the marsh.

This is "Fire" (named by Hudson). He ate our hotdogs, can you see them in his greedy little paws?

T Ball

2008-03-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Sam had his first T-Ball game today! He plays 1st Base and bats 3rd for the Cardinals.

Oops, I uploaded the wrong picture.

Here he is:

His first Official At-Bat:

His first Run Scored:

He loved every minute of it!

Tubing in North Carolina

2008-01-27T05:45:00.000-08:00

We hit the sledding slopes at Wolf Laurel yesterday, it was a blast!

2008-01-17T16:46:00.000-08:00

We had a ton of snow last night---almost 3 whole inches!!!!!!!!! School was cancelled and the boys had a great day.

Merry Christmas To All!

2008-01-05T11:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas, New Years, and Basketball

We had a great Christmas visit from Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle Gregory from Kentucky

Game Time

Christmas was extended by 2 days when we all went to Greenville on the 27th. The boys are checking to see if Grandpa's beard is real.

Granny getting the business from Huddie

Go Gamecocks!

Lunch with John Lawrence and Aunt Kim

New Year's sparklers

Huddie eating his favorite food --Banana Bread

Sam's first basketball game

Live action shot

Getting ready to apply some "D"

2007-12-12T07:04:00.000-08:00

We had a fantastic time over the Thanksgiving break. Uncle Mike and Laurie made the trip from Denver to spend time with all of us. It was great getting to know Laurie but we never figured out how Mike could land such a wonderful lady. It could have something to do with his new-found romantic side.

They boys were showing off for both of them so it was a wild few days but a lot of fun. Hope to see you both soon! Here are the Dupler Boys crashing after another round of Thanksgiving leftovers Sam's class had a "Dress Up As A Book Character" day. He is the Spaceman.
Sam getting cozy under the Night Before Christmas quilt that Granny and Grandpa made for them a few years ago

The boys with their cousin, JL

Here is a picture from the bridge over Lawson's Fork Creek

Sam is starting Upward Basketball!!!! Games start in January so there will be many more pictures to follow.

Here is Sammy working on his casting at Thanksgiving in Greenville

Random Videos

2007-11-12T15:29:00.001-08:00

I have a few random videos to show now that it is easy to post them. Here they are......

Pirates part 1

Pirates part 2

Sam's Hole In 1

Karate Kids

Sam's First Award

2007-11-06T18:04:00.000-08:00

Today Sam was given the "Terrific Kid" award by the Kiwanis Club. The Terrific Kids program provides teachers with a tool to reward students for special achievements that may otherwise go unnoticed.

TERRIFIC is an acronym meaning:

Thoughtful Enthusiastic Respectful Responsible Inclusive Friendly Inquisitive Capable

We are so proud of him! That's his little head in the middle row on the left.

Here are a few pictures of the boys on a hike we took on Sunday. We hiked along Lawson's Fork Creek near our house with our neighbor, Mr. Mike.

Here they are on a huge granite slab that we explored for a long time. You can see how narrow the creek is on the left. Mr. Mike told us that in the early 20th century, there was a trolley that traveled over this stretch of the river. Why was there a trolley? It took the mill workers from their homes to downtown Spartanburg. You can still see some of the metal bolts sticking out of the bedrock.

Also notice the boys with the walking sticks that their Grandpa made for them.

Hangin' around at the Chesnee Elementary Fall Festival

Long Overdue Update

2007-11-02T09:19:00.001-07:00

It has been way too long since we updated the blog. Here are a few random pictures since the last update:

2 Power Rangers!

Power Rangers with face paint!

The boys at a Fall Festival

Making cookies with Granny at the Duplers' Annual Halloween Party

Hudson loves making cookies

Power Rangers at the Greenville Boo at the ZooHudson taking a ride at the Fall FestivalMore face paintingThey look like futuristic cowboysHudsons' class at the Pumpkin Patch
Sam and Hudson on the first day of school

Best Buddies

Sam with Ms. Duckett and Ms. Parris

Granny and Grandpa came to school for Grandparents Day Breakfast
Avery's birthday at the Nature Museum

This is from our last camping trip of '07

Slugger
Little Slugger
Panthers Training Camp

Panthers Training Camp

Great day at football practice

Edisto Island '07

2007-06-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

We just came back from our vacation at Edisto Island. Even though Tropical Storm Barry cut the trip short by a day, we had 6 incredible days of weather. Here are a few pictures:

Sam in the kayak in Beaufort the day before we got to Edisto. He told me that is was "exhilarating". Yes, he really said that and yes I had to spell check the word.

The view of St. Helena Sound from our back deck. Amazing sunsets on our side of the island.The boys building "crab houses".

Eating lunch between a morning at the beach and a trip to the pool.

Our main pool at the Village.

The boys at the Sunset Boardwalk.

Here they are searching for shells on a private island. We took a boat ride from Captain Ron to this beach that had thousands of shells on it.

This Angel Oak tree is in the back yard of the house where we stayed last year. Sam calls it the "picture tree".

Another beach picture. The weather was perfect and we stayed at a great condo. Can't wait to do it again!

The Duplers and Williams get (Holly)Wild

2007-05-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

Hudson's birthday weekend didn't stop with his party. On Sunday, we went with Kim, JL, Helena, Ron, Nina, and Kathryn to the Hollywild Zoo in Inman. It was a perfect day and we had a great time. We ate a picnic lunch then went on a safari ride before feeding the goats.

Happy Birthday Huddie!

2007-05-04T18:05:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Hudson had his birthday party at the Spartanburg Swim Center. He had a great time swimming, eating cake and opening presents. He hasn't been in a pool for a few months but he showed no signs of rust, he was like a little duckling!

Avery and Uncle Danny

Emmie and Uncle Greg

Baby Tiny Hot Kendall and Mr. Mike

Baby Tiny Hot Kendall and Ms. Olivia

Look up here!

John Lawrence and Aunt Kim

Swim buddies

Sam gets a sweet kiss from Avery

Party Room

JL likes cake

Mother's Day Brunch with Sam

2007-05-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

Sam invited me to attend a special Mother's Day Brunch at his school this week. Sam and his classmates sang three precious songs and read us a book. Sam painted a flowerpot with bees, butterflies, and flowers and planted the prettiest yellow flower for me. This was such a special day. Between all the kisses, hugs, and sweet songs it was truly the best Mother's Day gift he could have given me.
I am truly blessed to be the mother of Sam and Hudson. They are my lovies.... :)

Easter Weekend and Baptism

2007-04-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

We have had two fun weekends with Granny and Grandpa and the Hawks. Easter weekend was in Greenville and the kids had a great time hunting Easter eggs and dyeing them. Granny always has all the fun activities (most of them involve candy). We took the training wheels off of Sam's bike and he took off like Lance Armstrong.

Sam and Huddie love their cousins Avery and Emmie and had a great time with them. Here is a picture of the two most photogenic girls in the world. Even though we are biased because they are our nieces, they are probably going to be super models. Just look at those faces! If Sam had his way, we would adopt Emmie so he could be her big brother.

On April 21st we were proud to become Avery's Godparents. It was a special day for both girls as they were baptised at a Lutheran church in Charlotte. I enjoy being called Godfather (probably a little too much) and I am taking it very seriously. I ordered hits on the Solozzo brothers and I am planning a full-scale war against the Heads of the 5 Families. I am even thinking about starting an olive oil import business. But that will have to wait until I name a new consigliere.

Viva La Soccer!

2007-04-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

Pele, Maradona, David Beckham, Sam, and Hudson. Soccer legends one and all.

I am coaching the Vikings this year and it has been fun watching the "cluster ball" that is youth soccer. We have 5 more games this season and then it is on to T ball.

Sammy Loses A Tooth!

2007-04-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

The tooth fairy made 2 visits to Sam within 5 days in March. The new teeth are starting to come in and hopefully they come in straight.

1st Post/Journal Entry

2007-04-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

What Up Cousin?

John Lawrence, Hudson, and Sam in a rare moment where they are all sitting still.