candicecrockett

More Cooper Funnies...

2011-11-11T21:07:00.002-07:00

If I don't write all these down right now I'll forget! This guy is so funny these days!
Funny #1
So tonight we are reading the scriptures, New Testament, about the story when the young rich man asks the Savior what to do to get into heaven and he is already a good guy, keeping the commandments- he just can't give all he owns up. Then the part about a rich man getting into heaven being more difficult than a camel through the eye of a needle, etc. So I ask, does that mean that rich people can't get into heaven? The kids shake their heads. I ask, So how does a rich man get into heaven? Cooper says... through the secret door!!! Maybe that's true!! Maybe really wealthy people can buy the directions to the secret door and the rest of us have to be willing to give up all we own!!!

Funny #2
I made banana chocolate chip cookies with my mushy bananas, wheat flour and oatmeal. I was saying how they are nutritious and delicious and Cooper says: How about SCRASWHISH-ISH!! So funny making up his own words to rhyme.

Funny #3
I am not a boy, obviously. So I am sure I can not understand or fully appreciate the awesomeness of being able to pee where ever and whenever I want! It seems like any chance this guy has to drop his pants and pee on something, he takes it!! We were playing outside in our yard and he drops his pants and starts peeing! I asked him why he didn't go inside to the toilet and he said it's because he wanted to pee on the spider webs!Apparently it was a matter of curiosity to see what urine could do to a finely constructed spider web! A few days ago, we were over at the soon to be new house and again, drops his pants! I said, Cooper... what are you doing? He's standing there oscillating like a fan or sprinkler spraying this big rock!! I guess it is fascinating to watch the color of the rock change from light gray to black with each pass... I don't know!! Another time I go into the bathroom, in our house and he is standing in front of the tub, peeing in the tub!! The toilet is less than two feet away, it's not like he just couldn't hold it for another few steps! When he sees the look of horror on my face, he innocently asks what is the matter! I tell him I can't flush the bathtub, so please don't pee in it!!! USE THE TOILET!! Now, everyone has had the need to leave their mark on Mother Nature, even me- but not on a regular basis when the proper means to dispose of such things is reasonably within reach!! I suppose I'll never understand the sense of freedom and power that comes from being able to turn anything into a toilet!! As women, it's a lot harder to be spontaneous with that sort of thing, it requires planning and supplies!! I hope this new found fascination in finding new and different ways to use his special equipment does not last always!!! It's cute now, I try hard not to laugh as to send the message that this is acceptable... but it won't be if he's a teenager!!!
Man... I LOVE this kid!!

False Advertising...

2011-11-11T13:48:00.002-07:00

Cooper is a great eater of fruits and veggies so I was a little confused today when he said he wouldn't eat any carrots with his lunch today. Upon further questioning it was discovered that he was afraid he would turn into a green giant! How could he come to that conclusion?
You are what you eat, right?? After some reassurances that he would not turn into a green man, he ate them all up!

Avery Power!!

2011-11-11T12:30:00.006-07:00

A couple days ago, Cooper chose his "Avery Shirt" to wear. Our nephew Avery has Type I diabetes. He's 5 now. Every year we support him at the JDRF walk. My brother Kendal designed this t-shirt and Cooper LOVES to wear it!! He and Allie were wrestling that morning. She picked him up from behind and Scott and I watched as he put his fist to his chest and said, "I'm turning on my AVERY POWER", as though he now had activated his super powers!!! With all the karate kicking, ninja swinging moves that ensued Allie could no longer contain him and released him from the death grasp!! Notice in the picture that he has painted Allie's blue sparkly FINGERNAIL POLISH on his head and face!! A while ago, at his cousin Max's superhero party Grandma did some face painting. For halloween, I drew a little mustache and a "hairy chest" on him for the pirate costume. He apparently deduced from those experiences that being a super hero meant painting your face!! Funny Kid!!

I realize that Cooper is really into super heroes right now and can make anything a super hero, but besides it being a SUPER cute move on his part- I thought I'd take the opportunity to comment about how I think Avery really is a super hero!!

Like most, I didn't know much about diabetes. I watch Biggest Loser, I see people with diabetes able to reverse that disease in their bodies within a couple months of eating right and exercising. It's a curable condition... right? That's true for Type II. Juvenile Type I diabetes is completely different. Perhaps it is because I love my baby brother and his wife SOOOO much, perhaps it is because I have a child with special needs as well- but when my SIL shares the challenges involved with keeping her boy safe my heart aches with sadness and swells with joy at the same time. Let me explain. EVERYTHING that goes into this boys mouth must be accounted for! I've tried counting calories... it's exhausting! I'm a grown up. What happens when your son wants to go to school and they have snacks? What happens when his friend innocently decides to share a lunch treat with him? What happens if he wants to go play at a buddy's house and the mom asks him if he wants some juice to drink? Juice is healthy right? It's not like she's giving him caffeine or anything! How do you keep him safe? How do you help him have a normal life? How do you teach him to answer questions when other kids see his pump and think he's some kind of alien? How do you ever sleep through the night when you've walked in to find him blue and barely breathing? That's the heart aching part.

Then I see his face, this beautiful face.

This boy is dealing with tough things physically, and perhaps more challenging- socially. I see how he handles himself, I see how he patiently, willingly allows himself to be poked and poked and poked. I see the way he watches his dad's face when Kendal is checking him, the way he trusts his parents. I think this boy is amazing. So amazing that when Wendy asked me to write a song for him, I cried at the mere thought. When I think of how King Benjamin tries to teach his people about how to conquer the natural man and tells them to "... becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father...", I think of Avery.

The words to his song came clearly as I was driving one day,
You didn't ask for this and you can't change it
It is your life, and you just take it
I watch in wonder, as you take it and you fly...
(sorry, tried to upload the song... don't know how)

He flies with it! HE is a happy, normal, totally funny kid!!! Full of sass, just like his mom! Sweet, thoughtful, kind... just like his dad! (just teasing wendy! You are nice too!)

I do hope that Cooper can tap into the same meekness, willingness to take whatever challenge that is given him the same way Avery has. Some days I think I need a dose of Avery power myself!!

Summer days

2011-11-05T21:04:00.007-07:00

It was great to pull out a couple of old trusted friends. First, the backpack. My kids have all spent a great portion of their lives in this thing!! It enables me to have both of my hands available! Now it's Anya's turn!

Next, my beloved jogging stroller! It was like seeing an old boyfriend (which I never had so maybe I should compare it with something I actually experienced...) my heart pounded a little faster when we pulled this bad boy out of storage! I have spent many hours and miles enjoying my time with this guy. I love to run. I love having some time for me- to think, to sweat. The extra weight makes me stronger. Allie's in school full time so now it's Cooper and Anya being conditioned to mom's run time!

It was Allie's first year of soccer. As usual, the youngest on her team and not much experience- but she's a quick learner. Her dad is a natural coach and all the girls enjoyed him!

Love this one of dad tying her shoe!

One night Cooper was throwing up. We let him keep this bowl in his bed in case he didn't make it to the toilet in time! He decided to sleep with his head in the bowl! Funny kid!

Who's who?

2011-11-05T20:52:00.001-07:00

One is Allie, one is Anya... it is amazing to me how similar they are to each other! The great thing about having both these girls in July is that the Halloween costumes and all other clothes should be seasonally correct if they follow the same growth pattern! So cute!!

Another month gone by...

2011-09-28T22:06:00.011-06:00

I know I'm way behind, but here's some of the latest and greatest happenings for August! Allie started 1st grade in August. It was a big deal to go all day every day for her! She just turned 6 about 4 weeks before school started! I think she was most excited to pick her outfit for the first day! Actually, it was getting to eat lunch at school! Here she is for her first day of school, ready to go!

Each child is definitely different!! I was making some bread and left the kitchen for a minute. I could hear Cooper talking to someone in the kitchen. I peeked back in to see who he was talking to. These were his imaginary "guys". "Pam", the tall slender one was the mom. "Dough Enhancer" was the dad (appropriate, eh?!). He was pretending these two were parents and they were having a discussion about who was going to take care of the baby. Cooper was making the different voices for the different characters!! Such an imagination!! He can make fun out of just about anything! True to boy nature... it doesn't take much to entertain him!

Here's our beautiful Anya at around 6 weeks. She has been my angel baby... so good!!! She started consistently sleeping through the night around 8 weeks!!! She has been such an easy baby, not fussy at all Lucky me! I need it at my age!

Allie had her first lemonade/popsicle stand! Grandma Cooper helped her make the sign! Popsicles were 10 cents and lemonade 5 cents. Most of our very generous neighbors and friends gave her large tips!! Her first lemonade stand brought in around $12!! Cooper helped consume a big portion of the product!

Dad's last business trip to Boston also involved a tour of the Cabot cheese factory in Vermont. He brought home this shirt for his very smart little girl! We got a good chuckle out of it because I LOVE extra sharp cheese and Allie actually is extra sharp! Scott brought home some of the most delicious cheese I've ever had! We also got a litle tutorial on maple syrup as well, with some yummy samples on our pancakes that morning!

Cousin Max had a super hero party... it was AWESOME!! Especially seeing Aunt Hauni in a Wonderwoman costume!! Cooper stayed in character the whole party! He kept telling the other kids, "I am Buzz Lightyear, I come in peace!" We don't have many girl superhero costumes around the house so we came up with Super Sparkle Laser Girl for Allie! It was such a great party, the kids had so much fun!

As usual... I have much more to add, but out of time! Hopefully I'll get to September before the end of October!!

Errands to Run... Try to Make it Fun!!

2011-08-09T18:40:00.008-06:00

While daddy is in Boston on business I thought we'd post a few pictures of our day that will make him smile!! I try to be creative and make my "projects" of things to do not so boring for the kids! I finished the mowing and edging in the back yard and came out front to finish up and saw this!!! ( I know this will make you happy Scott!)

We took the kids miniature golfing before Scott left and apparently, Cooper had a great time and wanted to do it again! Then he tried pitching to himself...

When I asked him to clean up so we could get on with the next activity he did this...

He couldn't just put the balls in the bucket, he had to throw them in! Of course! It made me think of the stories Syd tells about Scott and a BYU ice cream bucket! SUCH a boy!!! Love it!!

While Cooper was busy being a boy, Allie was her usual creative self! I found a little bird egg that fell out of the nest. She was quite concerned about the egg and decided to make it a nest! Such a little mother!!

Then we loaded up in the car, stopped at Burger King to pick up lunch because the kids saw a commercial for instruments in the kid meal and Cooper has been asking me for days!!! Then we headed over to the... LAUNDROMAT!!! So exciting... I know! I pulled out a blanket for my sister to use while she was here and it really needed to be washed! I bought Chelsie this nice snuggly blanket, but did not take into consideration that it would not fit into my washing machine! It's been that way for probably a year or more... time to get that off my list of things to do! So we had a fun lunch, the kids had fun putting quarters into the machine and washing the bubbles and playing with the toys there.

Then we headed over to Roberts Craft store to pick up a book for Anya so I can get all her baby momento things into a book and off my counter!!! Allie got to choose the book and they got balloons to bring home!

All that before naptime!!! Now I just have to pump for Anya, feed Chelsie, try to sneak a nap in with the others, take a load to the shed, rotate the food storage, sign a rental contract, fix dinner, clean up dinner, shower kids- including Chelsie, pump again, etc... busy day dad!! Hope yours was not too boring! We wanted to make sure you knew we were thinking of you today!

Choosing the Pain

2011-07-20T14:40:00.010-06:00

Before too much time passes, I wanted to record my feelings about Anya's delivery. Because it is more efficient to type than write, because I can include the photos, because this will one day be printed out in a book as part of our family history- I am doing this even though this is normally a journal entry I would keep for my handwritten, more private journal. Understand I have done a C-section and epidurals, I have no judgements on how people choose to get their babies here. But I had been toying with the idea of a natural delivery for some years now. Every woman I have spoken to about it, whether she enjoyed the experience or not, conceded that the recovery was much faster than with the epidural. I'm all about speedy recovery-

I knew my sister was coming to Utah on the 4th of July. As the 4th got closer and closer, and Anya had not decided to come on her own yet- I knew this was my chance! We all showed up at the hospital on the morning of the 5th. Anya was no longer low and ready to come, even though I had been dialated to a 5 for over a week. The doctor ordered a very low dose of pitocin to try to force her down so the cord wouldn't be the first thing out. We (Scott, Carolyn and myself) had a few hours to sit and catch up and to mentally prepare for what was about to happen.

My mom always told me that all things are spiritual from pulling weeds to doing dishes. All things are there to teach us spiritually. If that is true for weeds and dishes, it is CERTAINLY true for bringing another individual to this life! So, I was considering more than just the physical pain that would come by choosing this direction.

Carolyn said that most people will ask, "Why should I feel the pain if I don't have to?" Valid question. However, I have learned from my own life that some things, some of the sweetest- most rewarding things can only be understood by be willing to go through the pain- all of it. Listening to my husband try to control the emotion in his voice as he shared with me the experiences he had on trek with our youth is a prime example of that. Something very special happened to those who chose to be uncomfortable, chose to sacrifice and chose the pain. Carolyn said that the anticipation of the pain amplifies and makes the pain harder to endure. I know this is true for emotional pain, I just had to translate that to physical pain. She said to acknowledge that the pain is going to be there, let my body work with the pain, feel each contraction bringing that person closer to birth. If I say to myself, "I am choosing to feel this, to feel all of it" the change of mindset changes everything. She told me of her experiences, how amazing it is to work with your body, work with the pain, to feel that child come through you, to witness the miracle of our body- the amazing creation that it is and the ability to bring another life into this world.

I wanted that, all of it.

I knew that Scott could get me through it mentally. There are few people as focused and steadfast as he is when he puts his intentions on finishing something. He wanted to make sure that I was truly committed. If I was committed to doing this, he wouldn't let me quit. He wanted to know that an epidural was not an option for me, so if I got weak and faltered on my commitment he could tell me I chose this. I was thinking of an Amazing Race episode. We love that show. There was a mom and son team, Margie and Luke. Luke is deaf. There was one task in particular where he was in last place, he was having such a hard time completing the task. She was in tears watching him struggle, as I'm sure she has had much experience with in his life. I know as a mother, the instinct is to protect, to spare your child pain. Luke came over crying to her, he wanted to quit. She said the wisest thing to him. She said, "I know how you'll feel if you DON'T finish." That really stuck with me. As hard as it is sometimes in life, that pain can not be as bad as the residual effect of giving up. I told Scott, I know how I'll feel if I quit in the middle- so I won't quit. Game on, Bring it!

He and I had never been through anything like this so my concern was how to get through the pain physically. That's where I knew Carolyn could help me most. All the pieces I needed to have a great experience had come together... so we began!

The doctor came in at noon and broke my water. From about 8 that morning until noon I had been on the pitocin and had been waiting for the contractions to become more intense, waiting for the game to begin!! It is so amazing to me that within minutes of her breaking my water, my body reacted with the increased intensity of the contractions. I learned that women who deliver naturally are given top priority because they can not slow down the human body on its own. With the epidural, they will control when and how fast your baby comes.

I stood up next to the bed for support and rocked back and forth.

As the contractions intensified I was able to recover for a few seconds in the arms of my husband. This is my favorite place in the world to be and it was so comforting to me. This picture makes me cry. I joke often that the first thing that attracted me to him was he was one of two boys taller than me! That is true, but not the only reason! I knew I could be as tall as I want to be and he'd always be taller. I could be as athletic as I wanted to be, as fast, as good at sports, etc and never be better than him. I could be the best I wanted to be and not ever have to worry about him being threatened. I would not have to hold back on trying to achieve excellence for fear of hurting or offending him. I knew that I was strong, but in the moments when I wasn't... he would be stronger. I have allowed this man to know me and take care of me, and for a moment- when I need a break, to be cradled and comforted- it's there, in his arms.

The hard part about the "transition" phase was that the contractions started to come so intensely and so quickly that there wasn't time to recover in between. It was so helpful to have Scott behind me, supporting my belly from underneath. Carolyn told me how to breath through it and by making a low moaning sound to control my breath and get through each contraction.

She told me that it would change when I was close, I would feel the pressure change and know it was time to push. It was exactly like she said. We called the doctor in to check me. Dr. Lawrence said I had two more contractions then it would be time to push. I knew I could last two more contractions.

Laying down was much harder than standing up. Scott was holding my hand. The pressure was so immense I just had to close my eyes. I could hear everyone, I just couldn't open my eyes!!! That took to much energy away from my focus. We got through the two contractions and then it was time to push, just like she said. Scott let go of my hand so he could get his gown and gloves on. Our doctor knows how much each one of these children mean to us, how much we have sacrificed to get them here. She lets Scott be the "quarterback" and be the one to catch them. I am so grateful that she lets him be the first one to receive them into this life. I know they each have been met with excitement and most of all- with love.

As he let go of my hand I felt like a newborn with my arms flailing around, not secure or attached to anything! It only lasted a couple seconds, but it felt like an eternity! Then all of the sudden, I felt my sister's tiny hand in mine. It caught me off guard. My first thought was, "can she handle me squeezing her? Am I going to hurt her?" I am comfortable with the feel of Scott's hand in mine. He has been my rock for almost 20 years now. I know he is bigger and stronger than me, I know I can give it all to him and not crush him. I am comfortable sharing the weight of my burden with him and him alone, I don't give that to anyone else. I don't share my weakness with others or let others take some of my pain. So, I questioned for a moment if she could handle it.

Could she handle it? The answer, YES! It was a different sensation. Her petite, feminine hand in mine. As I began to squeeze with the pain of pushing, she answered with equal strength. I could feel her energy, her commitment, her strength, her belief in me, her fierce love for me as her sister coming through that tiny hand. She is and has always been smaller than me, but she is tough. She has wondered from time to time what she has had to offer me when it seems like I am always the one helping her. When I allowed someone else to be there with me in my weakness, in my need- her true colors came through. She is an amazing woman. She has had to learn to be strong and independent early, much earlier than I had to. She has learned to push the limits of her doubt, the limits of her physical capabilities to such extremes to find out how far she really can go. All of her experience, all of her confidence came through that little hand to me. I felt her strength, just when I needed it most.

Carolyn told me the pain would change from contractions to "the ring of fire". It was just like she said. She told me just when you feel like you can't push anymore, get angry- dig deep and PUSH!!! Then the baby will be here. It was just like she said it would be. Scott said he wanted me to try to describe that feeling of being on fire. I have thought long about that. I don't know how to describe it. Just when I thought I couldn't push any harder, she was here! Dr. Lawrence held up a girl!!! Another girl!!! That makes 4 girls and one boy for us!! I had no expectations, I was open to being surprised- so I was!

Carolyn told me I would feel this rush of euphoria, and I did! I was quite emotional afterward, especially to feel and hear Scott's comment, "You did it! You did it!" I did it!!!

There have been a lot of things I have learned by going through this experience. I have learned that I failed in the past with Allie and Cooper at doing it naturally because I wasn't really committed, I left myself an out. The pain was intense, but I knew it would end at some point- just hang on until it does. Finishing feels so much better than quitting. Hard things will come, pain will happen, but it will be worth it in the end! I feel closer to my sister than ever and I'm so glad she was here to help me get our baby girl here!

It's a Girl...

2011-07-14T12:02:00.003-06:00

Anya Crockett arrived on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Who would have guessed I made it 39 weeks and 2 days!!! Never happened before!! Here's a few photos... I will post more later. She was 8lbs and 19.5 inches long. Perfect size for pushing out! She looked like Allie, she's changing now... but it was like watching a re-rerun of one of my favorite movies!!

The Difference...

2011-06-16T14:50:00.003-06:00

This tiny little piece of plastic has made all the difference. It is essentially the thickness of fishing line. I put a penny in the photo to help with perspective. This is the difference between my first two pregnancies ending at 24 weeks and 21 weeks, and my last three which lasted all the way to 38 weeks and one day for both Allie and Cooper. We have officially made it to full term!!! It never ceases to amaze me how such a tiny thing has made such a HUGE difference in the lives of my children. I will forever be grateful to Kari Lawrence (best OB in the WORLD!!) for helping us to get three (well... two, soon to be three) full term babies here!!! The stitch has been out for 3 days now and no sign of our "Quatro-Cinco" yet!!! I imagine another week or so and we'll have some more great news!!!

Wacky Hair Day...

2011-06-16T14:47:00.003-06:00

At the end of the school year Allie's class does a wacky hair day! This year we went with the birthday cake themed hair! Fortunately, no one lit her head on fire!

Masterpiece

2011-06-16T14:43:00.003-06:00

Cooper had a lot of fun one day with the sidewalk chalk! He did such a great job! One little fact I didn't know about chalk, if you color thick enough and rub your socks in it long enough, the socks will stay permanently neon green despite your use of every stain/color removing product in your posession!! What's a pair of socks when you see a face like that?!!!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

2011-06-16T14:37:00.006-06:00

Christmas you say? Oh no... these are photos from May! This has been a crazy year for weather! As a seasonal allergy sufferer AND pregnant woman, it's been a great year for me!!! I don't think anything was pollinated this year and it hasn't been too hot for comfort yet either!! The kids had a great time building a snow dog! (closest thing to real animal we will have!)

Something to Look Forward To!!

2011-04-28T17:41:00.003-06:00

Our dear friend Monica has been such a blessing to our lives!! She is a mere 4 years older than me, yet she is expecting her first grandchild in June while I am expecting my 4th child in June!! Her baby is 17, she can hardly wait to have little kids around again!!! She was talking to her daughter Vanessa who is in Brazil about the new movie RIO and wanted to go see it for herself!! She needed some kids to take with her and asked to take mine!!! Allie and Cooper have been SOOOO excited all week for their big date with Monica!! Today after school, they opted to wait on the sidewalk for her, the anticipation was too great to wait inside!! I thought it was so cute, I had to snap a quick picture!!!

I am so grateful for this woman in my life!!! She is an example to me of so many great things. She has the most genuine, generous heart! She finds ways to spend her time doing good things for others, serving at the MTC, correcting school papers for Shauna, going to the temple, treating my kids to dates and many, many other unseen things. Someday... when my baby is 17 and I wonder what to do with my free time, I hope to remember her and how she has given her time and talents to the betterment and service of others. She tries new things, like CrossFit, art lessons and Zumba... she hasn't forgotten about improving herself as well as her neighbors lives. I love her!!!

All About Efficencies!!

2011-04-28T17:36:00.003-06:00

This is one thing I hear Scott say often... and he is quite good at finding the most efficient way of doing things! Looks like Cooper is following in his shoes! Why limit yourself to one utensil when you have two hands?

My First Easter Dinner!!

2011-04-28T17:19:00.004-06:00

I'm 39 years old and for the first time in my life... I made the Easter dinner!! Things are finally so crazy and families so big and have their own traditions, that we are not all together with cousins. I love being with extended family... don't get me wrong! But it was so wonderful to be able to invite my parents down to my house and cook for them! My Mom, back when she still cooked, always made a Easter ham, potatoes and cooked carrots. I remember her carrots! She cooked them with honey so they were extra sweet!! I added nutmeg and cinnamon to that and they were DELICIOUS!!! Well, to me and my dad anyway!! He ate the majority of them and what Cooper and Allie didn't finish off their own plates! I included all of those traditions, with my own twist- of course!! (Refer to my food addiction blog if you have questions!) She also used to make a white cake with whip cream for frosting and coconut. All white, to symbolize our Savior. Well, I went with the white cake and coconut, but Allie and I wanted to have a little more fun with the cake decorating! She loves watching Cake Boss, Ultimate Cake Off, Cupcake Wars, etc with me!!! So we decided to make an Easter Egg cake with bunnies!! The kids and Gma Cooper had fun decorating the egg and making the bunnies!!

My favorite part of that night was watching my mom play with my kids while I got the dinner ready. Growing up, she wasn't the one who played with us... it was my dad. She had the kids in the other room playing Duck, Duck, Goose. At our house, when someone is tagged "goose" you have to chase them around the whole house... not just the circle!! Gma Cooper opted to be the one who was it first so her "old bones" wouldn't have to get up and down so much! Allie asked, "How old ARE grandma's bones?" I told her Gma's bones will be 70 this year!!! My mother is amazing! I watched her chase those kids around the house, play go fish, make forts, play I-Spy and make such great memories with my children. It was nice to do the cooking and preparation and just let her play for a change! I think she is beautiful and has aged wonderfully! I hope to be like her... to stay young at heart even when my bones are 70!!

Easter Fun!!

2011-04-28T17:06:00.004-06:00

G-ma Crockett always puts together fun holiday parties!! She put together easter baskets for the kids to find and Gpa Crockett is in charge of hiding all the colored eggs. Syd also does a special grandkid art lesson session on Wednesdays. The previous Wednesday the cousins all dyed the eggs and had a lot of fun! So Saturday, all the kids anxiously awaited the "go" signal!! They were paired up as cousins and had to work together as teams to find all 5 dozen eggs!! Then we let the kids play and feast on egg salad sandwiches, deviled eggs and potato salad!!! Here's some pics from the fun day!! Oh... another great surprise! We got to have MaryAnn and Ryan here from Colorado for Easter!!

What Can I Say... We LOVE Food!!!

2011-04-28T16:33:00.009-06:00

I have just accepted the fact that I am a food addict! I run extra miles so I can indulge and enjoy, I like to express myself creatively through food as well! The following are some examples of how I am passing this addiction to my children!! I love ice cream! I don't buy a lot of it because I have a hard time restraining myself! Here's Cooper enjoying his "hice-cream cone"!!

Over spring break the weather was not as great as we had hoped. We still had fun with food!! We found the recipe in the Friend for "Bunny Buns" and made/decorated those! Delicious and fun!

Since I'm limited in the actual activity level I can do right now, we lined up several Spring Break projects!!! Allie has been wanting her own special pillow case like Chelsie has. So, we went to the fabric store and she picked out what she wanted! Here is the choice!!

Our friend Monica gave her a book of crafts to make so Allie picked out a few to do. We bought some supplies, here's her favorite... the spoon doll!

At the fabric store we saw this fabric and just HAD to make a cute spring dress!!

We also made this cute little thing to organize and hold her big hair bows from Aunt Carolyn and her cute flowers for her new hat. There are still about 10 more small bows in her "hair box"!!! I can't help it!!! I love little girl accessories!!

So back to the food thing, we also made Easter sugar cookies in the shapes of eggs, flowers, bunnies, butterflies, etc with fun colorful sprinkles! We ate and delivered these before I took pictures though. We had a great time and survived the spring break with the limited mom!!

Um... Is this what you had in mind?

2011-04-05T17:31:00.003-06:00

Perhaps it is because I am exhausted. Cooper has been sick and we haven't been sleeping much at night. In this state, it doesn't take much to send me into fits of laughter or tears, depending on the topic!!! So here's the back story... Allie and I have many similarities. She definitely inherited my eye color and my hair. My hair exactly!!! Color, texture, etc. I have had a love/hate relationship with my hair over the past 39 years. I have learned, however, over time and trial what the pros and cons are of my hair. One great thing about our hair is that if you wash it at night and pin it up overnight, it will dry in great, effortless curls. This is what I told Allie as we washed her hair last night after swimming lessons. I pinned it up so she could have great curls today. So, we were getting ready for the day and she said she was going to go take the clips out of her hair and see her pretty curls. She heads off to the bathroom. After what seemed like an unusually long time, I called down the hall to her... Allie, is everything okay? I hear from the bathroom, "Um... I just have one question." She steps out of the bathroom and in her meekest, most polite voice asks, "Is this what you had in mind?"
Her hair is HUGE!!! I busted up laughing uncontrollably!!! You see, what I know... and Allie has yet to learn, is that you can't brush through our hair after this method or it turns our hair into a giant frizzball!!! I have learned this lesson and it is well documented through my painful years of Jr. High pictures!! Allie looked so confused! Her hair was like a clown wig or a lion's mane!! It was standing off her head a good 4-5 inches!! What was so funny to me was picturing her in the bathroom, brushing her hair, watching it grow and grow and knowing that I had told her she would have beautiful curls the next day!! She kept brushing waiting for the "beautiful" part to come! Had she been older and sassier I'm sure I would have heard something like... "THIS is supposed to be beautiful? You are such a LIAR mother!!!" Instead, she tried to be so kind in her questioning of me and my assurances!!! Um... is this what you had in mind??

So, after composing myself (so I wouldn't give her some kind of complex!) we went back into the bathroom to tame the beastly mane! A lot of water and brushing and then- another important hair lesson... great hats are for days such as these!!!! She did not want me to take a picture of the clown wig, so here are the after shots!

Happy Birthday to friends

2011-04-05T17:23:00.004-06:00

We had the Lucas' over for a little Blair Birthday celebration! It was great. Blair and Scott watched some of the games (March Madness), Sara and I got to catch up on our conversation time, the kids love Blair and Sara!!! Blair is a former BYU baseball player and so he and Scott have a lot in common. They both yell at the tv very loudly... even though the game happened 2 hours ago and the screen is not a 2-way window!! It's a great fit for us! We joke about the age difference and how weird it would have been for Scott to be friends with a kid in elementary school!!! But it makes no difference now! Blair is one of the few who consistently has me in tears of laughter!!! Sara has me in tears too... but for different reasons!!! We are so glad to have them in our lives! Allie got to help Sara with Blair's cake. She ran to get her chef hat!!
(Excuse the mess on the counters, we were in a rush and I didn't have time to put the costco supplies away yet!).
Cooper helped with the cake decorating as well!
Cooper made it clear that Sara is HIS girl!! It's true, he has loved that brown eyed girl since he was a baby! It hasn't changed! Happy Birthday Blair, we love you!

Goodbye to Good Friends

2011-04-05T17:14:00.003-06:00

Our next door neighbors for the past 10+ years or so has been the Sekonas. Mason just turned 8, Kennedy 7 and Drew is the new addition about 8 or 9 months ago. We had to say goodbye to them as they moved to California for new jobs. It was a very sad thing!!! Allie and Cooper have LOVED having them as neighbors. Since our houses are so close together, they used their special "paging" system which is to stand at the back fence and yell KENNEDY.... MASON... as loud as possible until someone came out! There have been several spring/summer/falls of these friends entertaining each other. I must admit, with a new addition coming this summer, I think I was the most sad of all!!! It was a great diversion for my own kids to have their friends come over and play!! Jen and Sipa have been great neighbors and friends and we are so, so sad to have them go!!! Hopefully, things will work out great for them- they deserve it!!

Happy St. Patricks Day!!

2011-03-17T13:54:00.007-07:00

Until now we've managed to escape celebrating this "holiday". Thats' right... quotation marks around the word holiday!!! What are we celebrating? What does pinching have to do with Irishmen or leprachauns? I never understood this day!!! I'm sorry Maryann, I know it's one of your favorites! Anyway, Allie- thanks to the peer pressure of school- has discovered this is a day to wear green and pinch people. Thanks to the lack of variety in maternity clothes I have borrowed, I am without green options today. The fat lady's getting pinched a lot today! I'll have to be more careful of who I let influence my child!!!

So, I decided not to spoil her day by being a St. Pattys' Day GRINCH!! We made green clover pancackes for breakfast...

Allie thought they were the best tasting pancakes EVER!!

Cooper was traumatized by the sight of a green pancake!!! He wasn't having ANY of that!! Here's his feelings on the subject...

We made shamrocks to decorate the front door and she made sure her green was visible!!! She was certain this would be her best day ever at school! Happy St. Patricks Day!!

The Shiner...

2011-03-17T13:47:00.004-07:00

Cooper got his first black eye! No worries... the "other guy" was a solid oak table. He didn't have a scratch on him. Cooper lost this fight!

I should have taken more pictures of the color/bruising progression... it was an impressive array of color from his eye to the end of his nose! He rarely cries, especially when he's hurt. He cried for about a 1/2 hour and then wanted me to hold him for a good while after that. I knew it was pretty serious by that. I don't think it's broken... such a tough boy!

Day With Dad

2011-02-24T10:16:00.005-07:00

While many of you were celebrating President's Day, we were celebrating our first official Day with Dad!!! No work for Dad + no school for kids = Funnest Day EVER!!!! (According to Allie!)

We woke up Monday morning with a surprise box on the counter.

Inside the box were clues for activities we could do that day.

Here's some of the fun things we did: Shop for new shoes for Allie's basketball class that starts next week and a new backpack. A few days prior to this her backpack finally gave up after I had sewed the straps back on for the 3rd time. To help her get over the sadness of throwing away her old one, I told her the great news is she could pick a new one! She said her dream backpack would be something pink and sparkly with Barbie on it!!! Imagine her delight at finding EXACTLY what she wanted at Target!!!

She wanted to have a hula hoop contest, so we picked up a couple of hula hoops for the big event!!! We all gave it our best effort, Scott and I are pathetic hula hoopers!!! Allie won by a landslide!! It was pretty fun though!

We went over to the rec center for swimming and basketball (I was spectating on the b-ball part) and then home for dad's famous grilled cheese sandwhiches! We picked up a couple of movies to enjoy later and she chose Panda Express for dinner. With a full, busy day and no naps the kids crashed early. It was a REALLY fun day!!

It was a really fun day!

20 Weeks...

2011-02-22T16:05:00.002-07:00

That's right... 20 weeks means just what you think it does! Most of you have been told personally, but for those random few who haven't- it's true!!! We will be having a new little person join us here in a few months! Official due date is July 7th. Allie and Cooper both came at 38 weeks and one day... so we'll see if we actually make it to July!

We did have the ultrasound, we asked that the gender not be confirmed. We are going to let it be a surprise! I have my suspicions, of course... but we'll see! Right now I'm just glad that everything seems to be going well. It's always ridiculous to try to refer to the baby in some neutral name like Pat or Sam. So for now we just call the baby cuatro-cinco!!! No homage to the NFL's Ocho-cinco... Scott said it one day because this will be our 4th child, but our fifth pregnancy. I thought it was pretty funny!!!

This time around has definitely been harder. Being a high-risk pregnancy means taking it easy. Having three already here makes it very challenging to "take it easy". I had a very bad week after our trip to NY caused some bleeding and cramping. I had to go through the mental process of reminding myself that I am not going to be my normal self for a while now. Tears and pouting for a few days. My husband is so great to remind me that the laundry, the state of the house... NONE of those things are more important. Someday I can focus on those again... for now- LET IT GO!!!

So, I've turned into a giant sloth-ish, sedentary slacker!!! Maybe for some it would be nice to have a free pass for laziness. For me... it's excrutiating!!! The worst part is Chelsie. I can not lift her. She is completely dependent on someone else to move her!!! I love my children, I am grateful for them- immensely. It is just emotionally difficult to stop caring in my usual way for the one who needs the most while we get another one here. Again... occasional tears and pouting over that one. We've got it handled though. Scott comes home from work in the morning to get her on the bus for me (luckily work is only 5 minutes away) and we hired a neighbor boy to get her off the bus for me. We have to alter some things. I can't put her on the toilet... I hope we don't lose her progress there- but her people at school are understanding and supportive and FANTASTIC!!! I am blessed to have so much help and support available to me during this relatively short time.

The great news is... we're half way there!!! Historically for me, more than halfway! I wish our human gestation period was only three months, I could probably handle that much better! Scott says to be grateful I'm not an elephant!!! ( Not because I am quickly beginning to resemble one... but because their gestation period is 24 months!)

Anyway, watch for a new little Crockett to be joining the party this summer!

January 2011 in a flash...

2011-02-08T19:01:00.002-07:00

No pictures in this one... boring post!! We had a great New Year's party with our friends the Bevards! The next weekend was our Cooper sibling party. Rather than exchange gifts with each other as siblings, we pick a day and have a "kidless" party as our gift to each other! It seems so challenging to sit down and have conversations when we are all together due to kids and the need to still be a parent! It's great to just have a night where we can talk uninterrupted, play games and catch up on each other's lives! Damon hosted this year in his new house. We had lots of great food and games. D&K, K&W cheered and danced the victory dance at finally beating Scott at the dice game!! It didn't matter that he came in 3rd... it just mattered that he didn't win!! They've been trying to beat him for years!! We went downstairs to Damon's awesome theatre room for a little Wii competition. That was hillarious!!! Most of us are not gamers and NOT proficient in the hand/eye coordination it takes to be successful at those games! Watching us try to play the game was entertainment enough! It was a great night and if time allowed, I'd do it every month!!

We packed and got ready to fly to Buffalo with Allie and Cooper. Carolyn's daughter Quinlyn was getting baptized and we didn't want to miss her big day!! It was such a short but GREAT trip!!! My kids LOVED having all the cousin play time! The baptism was such a wonderful experience! Carolyn went all out trying to take away the "church gym" feel. She amazes me with her decorating ideas!! Everything was beautiful, from the programs, to decorations, to Quinlyn. She is such a remarkable girl. She is reserved to the casual observer, yet I have never seen her smile so much! I love attending baptisms. Our lives are about making and keeping promises. It never ceases to amaze me how I feel the Spirit so strongly at these simple ordinances. It is evidence to me that our first covenant with God is so important to Him, He pours out His Spirit in abundance. We enjoyed a girl date with just Quinlyn, Allie, G-ma Cooper, Carolyn and myself. We went with Q as she got her ears pierced for the first time!!! She got to pick out a Build a Bear thanks to Gma Cooper. We had lunch together and had a great time with just the girls!! We also got to enjoy a date night with just Matt and Carolyn... thanks to G-ma!! We love being with them and never run out of things to talk about! The following day the boys got their boy-date and went bowling!! G-pa Cooper even went along and had a great time... AMAZING!! Church on Sunday then home early Monday morning. The trip went way to fast, but some time together is better than none.

I spent my 39th birthday traveling home from NY!!! Happy birthday to me!! What could be better than a trip to see my sis for my birthday!! Scott took us to my favorite restaurant- Gloria's for dinner that night. Everyone got very sick after returning home and we spent the remainder of January getting over fierce colds!!!

Happy Birthday to my Boy!!

2011-02-08T18:29:00.009-07:00

Cooper is 3!!! This boy is so much fun!! He is still thoroughly into all things Buzz Lightyear and/or Cars. It is a little sad that he no longer refers to himself as "Pooper". He's now "Cooper" with a C. Well, today he was "George". His dad will tease him sometimes and call him random names. He decided to tease back. When the doctor asked him today if he was three, he said, "No, I'm seven"!! He's growing up fast! He's giant, as expected. Allie was trying to give him a piggy back ride after FHE last night and he pulled her over backwards! She was surprised!!! He's finally getting big/strong enough to give her a run for her money! I had to explain that just like she doesn't realize she is strong enough to hurt sometimes, so is he... try to be patient!

The official stats are in:
Height- 42.25 inches
Weight- 49.38 lbs.

We had a fun party for him. He wanted a Lightning McQueen cake. I found this idea online and copied it. I put the cars on it so he got bonus toys in addition to the cake! It was fun and he was very happy with his cake and toys!! We had a few friends and family over to celebrate!
Scott got some great pictures of Cooper's intense face! Here it is blowing out candles...
Here it is jumping off the couch as "Buzz Lightyear" after saying "to infinity and beyond!!"
Cooper and his buddy Cory and cousin Dayton took turns wearing the wings and jumping from the couch to the bean bag!! Best party game ever!!! Here are the boys...

Happy Birthday to our boy!!

Catching Up... Trip to Disneyland

2011-01-25T11:56:00.008-07:00

I know I'm behind... terribly. It is almost the end of January and I'm still trying to catch up after December. Here's some fun memories from our trip to Disneyland in December. First of all... I will NEVER go to Disneyland in December again. It was so crowded and CRAZY!!! It was still a great trip!
First we went to SeaWorld. The kids love that place! It's much smaller and less crowded (even on a Saturday) than Disneyland. There are fun rides and great shows. The kids are fascinated with all the animals. Always a hit!

Sunday we went to church. The chapel is right next to the Newport temple. It was 82 degrees that day... BEAUTIFUL!!

We relaxed at the beach on Monday! Another record high...81 degrees in December. Why do I live in Utah? Scott dug a "gigorntic" hole (Allie's new word) and buried Allie. He put a bucket on her head and had Cooper find her! He was very surprised to find her under the bucket!

It was a little chilly Tuesday for Chelsie at Disneyland, she's bundled up! Allie and Cooper LOVE meeting the characters! Check out Cooper! He couldn't take his eyes off of Buzz Lightyear!

Wednesday we played around at the hotel and went to see Tangled in 3-D that night. It was such a cute show and the 3-d is pretty amazing! We did another day of D-land on Thursday (more crowded than Tuesday) and headed for home Friday. The best part of the trip is that it was our first family vacation in a long time where Chelsie didn't have a seizure!!! Yeah!!! We had to go slow, take it easy and have plenty of rest between activities... but it worked!

Scripture Bags for Quinlyn

2011-01-07T17:14:00.003-07:00

Sorry everyone, no exciting post!!! I want to get my neice a scripture bag for her baptism and can't send the photos to her mom so I'm posting them here for her to see. I promise more personal updates and photos soon!! Carolyn, let me know your vote! The one that looks like Neopolitan ice cream (brown, pink,cream) is linen on the outside and has a sheer lining. Cute, but not very durable. I think I know what you'd choose- but I decided to let you have a vote anyway!! Love you!!

The rest of November

2010-12-19T20:44:00.004-07:00

Not many photos for this phase. We had one more nice week then 3 weeks of sickness. It started with Cooper, cold with the barking cough... coughing that induces vomiting. I spent several nights with him, as a result... got the cough also. I toughed that out for 10 days and finally went to the doctor to find out it was actually bronchitis, which does not just go away on it's own. I started feeling better, so did Cooper... I thought. So we started potty training. He's been ready for a while now... I just wanted to wait until we were home uninterrupted. Thanksgiving seemed as good a time as any! Out came the big boy underwear

Another cute photo from November is Cooper wearing his first tie to church. He was so excited to be like dad!

I still had bronchitis through Thanksgiving, so now we are into the first week in December. Cooper has some kind of stomach flu that lasts 5-6 days. More vomiting and worse... diarreah. Diarreah does not go well with potty training. After a few accidents, I had to get carpets cleaned. The first friday in December was Scott's company party so we had baby sitters over to watch our sick kids with no furniture in the house and wet carpets! We left the next week for California. Allie had her turn with the vomit and diarreah to start out our trip!!! Oh Joy! We had runny poops on the drive and Allie threw up everything at the Mad Greek on the way to CA!!! More to come on that... Needless to say, November wasn't that great, it did make the end of the year come much faster than I anticipated though!

November 2010

2010-12-19T20:34:00.006-07:00

Scott's birthday is early in November. We decided to head to Park City to spend the weekend as a family to celebrate. Here's Allie's list of things she needed to pack, she wrote this herself...
To add to the fun, we invited some cousins up to play and swim with. The pool was heated, that was FABULOUS!! Allie swam the length of the pool, by herself, in the deep end, without stopping!! The swim lessons are payin off!! These few are all close in age and love to play together!!

Allie and Gavin LOVE each other!!! Scott caught this moment... Gavin's hand on Allie's leg... so cute!

Halloween Parties 2010

2010-12-19T20:13:00.010-07:00

Syd has created great family traditions for this holiday, which I think is a ridiculous, meaningless excuse of a holiday, but since she's made it such a fun family tradition- I'm all for it!! My family has also adopted some of the fun traditions also!
Allie was the cutest witch ever and Cooper was Buzz Lightyear... of course! Our friends Ori and Monica win for best costume as Shrek and Fiona!!

Cooper Side... pinata is always the "hit" of the party, as to be expected! Here's Cooper starting us things off!

We added a new game to the mix this year. We had Jack-O-Lanterns on the table and races to see who could squirt out their candle the fastest! Here are the kids...

Then, the bigger kids!! This was pretty great... four brothers... competition still runs pretty deep!!!

The ladies had a turn too... we kept it nice and friendly though!!
Fun family memories on both sides!!!

October

2010-12-19T20:05:00.003-07:00

Lake Powell in September... Snow in October! The first snow came early. When Allie woke up and saw it, you'd think Christmas had come early! I could barely get her to wait until I got Chelsie on the bus to pull out all the snow clothes! Eating snow and make angels!!

I was scheduled to run my half marathon that weekend... with snow!!! Fortunately, because I am so cheap... I mean frugal and smart, I did not want to pay $50 and run in a herd to get an official t-shirt to say I did it. My friend Suzy Hale and I decided to run it the weekend before, in BEAUTIFUL weather! We had Scott drive us 13.1 miles (probably more like 13.5 because we made a wrong turn and had to back track a bit) up the canyon and we ran home! The scenery and company was great! I don't have a t-shirt to prove it, but I did it and that's good enough for me! Half marathon down, Marathon to go???

Way Behind... here's September!

2010-12-19T19:33:00.006-07:00

Every year, for the past 6-7 years our friends James and Stephanie have invited us to join their family at Lake Powell. We only made it once this year because the other two trips fell on Scott's 20 year High School Reunion and mine. Bummer. This trip has far and away become our most favorite trip as a family, especially for Chelsie! In fact, we took the kids to Disneyland in December. After our long drive to California Chelsie kept saying, "Let's go get on the boat!" To her, long drive = Lake Powell!! Unfortunately, we have not taken many photos of our years there. We decided to take the camera this year and document our fun! We were without Ashley and Kayla, they are getting older and have conflicting activities (like Kayla starting BYU!!). We did get Uncle Matt Harris this year as a bonus!

We hiked to the arch this year and Stephanie and I pulled a "GK" pose in honor of Gardner! Allie and Cooper both jumped off the cliffs by themselves this year!! They LOVE the water, and being on the tube with friends!

Before and After

2010-10-18T21:03:00.007-06:00

My sister Carolyn is the queen of finding "treasures" that are a little beat up and just need some TLC. She has given new life and beauty to many pieces of furniture. I also have friends with projects they do every day, yes... every day to improve the look and order in their homes. I am busy every day. I just don't blog about it. Keeping this in mind, I decided to do before and after photos just to remind myself that my days are not a complete waste... I do actually accomplish things from time to time!!

We inherited this piece of furniture from Scott's cousin. Well built, great condition... just oak... not my favorite.

Scott said he would use it as a computer desk and I was very excited about the possibilities!!! I love my husband, dearly. I understand that he, too, has projects he can't always finish. He has piles of projects, same as I do. His happen to be on the desk, which is out in full view for everyone to see!!! Here's our old set up. Be sure to notice the lovely tangle of computer wires under the desk as well!

I have chosen to give up 1000 of our 3000 sq foot home to renters, there is no room for an office. So I have lived with the mess for a long time knowing someday I would have a house with an office and all this would be out of sight. I mention this so you can more fully appreciate the wonderful feeling as the previous sight has now turned into this...

And now... for the best part... the doors close!!!!!!

Beautiful, isn't it!! I'm so excited!!! I LOVE IT!!! Now I can do some kind of froo-froo decorative thing on top. I'm not so good/confident at that part. Maybe I'll just frame some cute photos of our family.

I also thought I should mention, to remind myself at the end of the day when I feel as though I have nothing to show for the hours I spent at home, that in the past 2 months I have replaced 2 dishwashers, by myself. Replaced a garbage disposal, by myself. Changed the fuse in a dryer, by myself. Fixed a leaky sink, hammered in all the rain gutters around myself, maintain the yards of two properties (with help from a riding mower... thank you Syd for the hours you save me!) This summer we had to replace two air conditioning units, a refrigerator, and get my rental full of girls. It's true... I'm pretty awesome! If things go wrong with Scott I will be able to support myself as a fix-it-girl for hire!! No, really... I need to take it easy with the judgements on myself. I really do manage to get a lot done around here. The laundry piles up, I despise dusting, but my kids are happy. They are learning, growing and have great memories!!!

Pumpkinland!!!

2010-10-18T20:48:00.004-06:00

My friend Stephanie invited us (well, actually she invited Allie and the rest of us decided to come along!) to Pumpkinland! It's just down the street, I didn't even know it was there! It's nice to have an experienced mom give me some great,cheap,fun ideas! We went through the corn maze, posed for silly pictures, saw the animals (chickens, peacocks, ducks, goats, sheep) and pick out a pumpkin to carve! Lots of fun!! Erin is one of Allie's favorite people in this world!! It was fun to have Brandon as well, before he grows too "mature" for such things! We love the Bevards!

Powers of Observation

2010-10-07T07:18:00.005-06:00

I am continually amazed at how much our children learn through observation. A few days ago I was putting Cooper down for his nap. Chelsie and Allie are at school, it's just us at home. He wanted to get into his Buzz Lightyear jammies for nap time. Then he tells me "Read Scriptures, Mom". So he grabs the scriptures (children's version with pictures and paraphrased) and starts to whisper. Why is he whispering? It occurs to me that this is how we do it at bedtime. Cooper has a hard time sitting still and listening to Dad read the scriptures. So while Dad is reading to Allie, I whisper to him to find Joseph Smith, Jesus, the temple, the man with the hat, a triangle, etc. So, we whispered and found some pictures. Then he starts to sing, "Latter Day prophets are number one, Joseph Smith, then Brigham Young, John Taylor came third we know...". We are reading the Doctrine and Covenants. In the back is a page of pictures of all the Latter Day prophets. Every night Allie sings the song while Dad points to the pictures. Little did we know what Cooper is memorizing the song also!! I smiled and felt reassured that our efforts are sinking in.

In another not-so-fine- moment I was at odds with my headstrong 5 year old. She wanted to help Cooper fall asleep which was resulting in more play than sleep. She was really trying, but it wasn't working. I began to offer her some advice to which she got defensive. She was insistent that she could do this on her own! She raised her voice to me, so I in turn- being the mature 38 year old raised my voice at her insisting that I am just trying to offer helpful suggestions. Cooper was laying there in the middle of us. He put his arms out to both of us and said, "Guys, guys!!! Mom, no talk to Allie like that! Allie, no talk to Mom like that! Okay guys? Okay?!" On one hand, how pathetic that my 2 1/2 year old has to be the peacekeeper. On the other, it makes me happy that he knows it is not okay to talk to each other that way. It's not okay for mom, or kids. We are to speak kindly to each other in our home. Though we are not perfect at it, Cooper knows that these are our house rules.

Allie is learning sign language in school this year. She has two deaf children in her class, so the teacher signs everything. She is quite good at remembering signs. She knows the letters, of course, that came very quickly. She has taught Cooper a few signs and letters as well. He still remembers them weeks later. She is a great teacher to him and I'm glad she is the example to follow.

I love that he is all boy, rough and tumble, cars and balls, rocks and dirt! What better illustration than the bloody nose with a smile! He is constantly surprising me and it is fun to watch him grow and learn!

More Allie Moments

2010-09-11T16:51:00.005-06:00

The older she gets, the more I feel like I am watching myself grow up again. We have so many similarities, I understand her well. Sometimes it is frustrating, not because of her... but because I see my own weaknesses staring back at me. But I think she is so amazing, such an incredible little soul sent to teach me and be my counselor!! She is perceptive enough to know my hypocrisy when she sees it and has no problem letting me know! Here are some of her latest and greatest moments:

Counseling Session, #2
Here's the backstory. Scott was working crazy hours, I'm essentially a single parent. I decide to let them take a bath in the big tub even though it is already past bedtime. While they are in the tub I am cleaning up the other messes that are strewn throughout the house. I'm tired (not an excuse... I know), i want to go to bed. There are strict instructions about splashing in the big tub. It's difficult not to, it's like a mini-swimming pool for them! But there is carpet all around the tub (note to self... do not surround the tub with carpet next time) and I don't like it getting all soggy and potentially moldy! I go back to retrieve them from the tub to find Cooper throwing cups of water at Allie, in attempts to splash her!! Cups, multiple= soggy carpet!

In my not so great mom moment I lost it! I yelled at Cooper (I don't do it often) and yanked him out of the tub. He was screaming hysterically as he is not accustomed to being treated this way by his mother. I yelled at Allie to get out of the tub immediately as well. I marched them to their room to get them into jammies and "out of my hair". Allie is sitting quietly on the bed, watching me work with Cooper. His legs are still a little wet so I have to wrestle the pajamas on. I can tell she's debating the urge to speak her mind, she's weighing her options. She knows it could possibly result in another outburst from me but she ultimately decides she can't be silent anymore.

"Mom?"
"Yes, Allie."
"Mom, how you were speaking to Cooper just now... that's not okay mom. You weren't speaking very kindly."
Me... pause, hold my breath, count to ten. I am biting my tongue to fight the urge to turn on her. She's going to tell ME what is okay?? Don't do it Candice, don't do it. You know she's right. Swallow your pride, be a big girl and take it Candice.
"Mom?"
"Yes, Allie".
"You want Cooper to be your friend, don't you?"
"Yes Allie."
"Well, if you want someone to be your friend, then it is important to say you're sorry when you're wrong."
At this point, it is a mix between the urge to scream at her and defend my inexcusable outburst and fight the urge to laugh because I feel like I am listening to a tape recording of myself!! So, I chose to follow my own advice- given back to me by a 4 year old.
"You're right, Allie."
"So... aren't you going to say sorry to him?"
By this time Cooper is in his jammies and a little afraid of the beast he encountered at the tub. I pull him on my lap and tell him I am sorry I spoke unkindly to him and will he please forgive me.
"See Mom, don't you feel happy inside now?"
"Yes Allie, I do."
"Me too Mom."
I sometimes wonder where I would be without this little person in my life. She's like her dad that way. She does things with exactness. If there is a rule in our house, then everyone is to keep it. She is an incredibly obedient, forthright little person. Like her dad, she has the courage to speak up when something is not right, even if it may result in confrontation. And, like her dad... I am a much better person because of her
.

While browsing through the tv menu I saw that "Where the Red Fern Grows" was going to be on. I recorded it so I could watch it later. Even on an HDTV it was still grainy, cheesy music and just as fantastic as I remember!! I told Allie I loved this show when I was a girl and I thought she'd want to watch with me. So, we watched together! At the end of the show, Big Dan dies. We watch as Little Ann loses her desire to eat, to live, with her best friend gone. The familiar lump in my throat is there, 30 years later... it is still there. I'm much older now, so I manage to swallow it back down and keep the tears from rolling. I look over at Allie. She has this look on her face, I'm not sure what is going on.
"Mom?"
"Yes, Allie."
"Mom, I feel kind of sad inside."
"It's okay Allie, come here. When I saw this show the first time, I felt really sad too."
I pull her on my lap and she buries her head in my neck and sobs.

It was a sweet moment for me. Again, I felt like I was watching me all over again. She feels things so deeply. She completely understood the love those dogs had for each other and the love they had for that boy. The kind of love that makes you give your life for another, and the kind of love that makes you want to die when your best friend is no longer there. She is so perceptive, so compassionate. I found myself hoping I could somehow protect her from being hurt. People who aren't going to return her friendship, people who are going to tease her, people who are going to leave her someday... the hurts that have imprinted themselves on me personally and permanently. I know I can't protect her. My only consolation is that I know. I know what that feels like and I will always hold her and let her cry as long as she needs to. I will always believe she is special, I will always love her, I will always know her and why she is valuable. It won't keep her from being hurt, but I hope to be there to help her recover.

Goodbye July #3... Allie's 5th birthday

2010-08-31T17:39:00.009-06:00

It's hard to believe she's 5 already! We had our traditional family swim party. It was a lot of fun, as usual! This year Allie was into butterflies so I made a butterfly cake with fruit,whip cream and jello for color as the topping. Here's the masterpiece!!

Allie's favorite part of her cake was the eyes. Who did she want to get that piece??? That's right, Ori!! If he wondered how that girl feels about him, not anymore!!

Lots of family and friends were there! Like Blair and Sara Lucas, some of our favorite friends!! They are the ones who introduced us to the Speedy Spaniard! Sara makes these cinnamon covered almonds... YUMMMMMMMM!! We made Allie share that present!

Scott's Uncle Mike and Aunt Kathy- that was a great treat to have them in town for our family party!! We love them and don't get much time with them!

A cute photo of my mom and dad...

It was lots of fun in the pool for everyone!! Cooper has turned into quite the little daredevil with his Buzz Lightyear impression off the diving board and being launched by dad!!

20 Year Reunion and the "Not-So-Speedy" Spaniard

2010-08-30T07:54:00.005-06:00

Part two of July's happenings, there will be a part three! I decided to try the Speedy Spaniard again this year, to see if I could improve on last year's time. My husband was not up for the adventure this year, so I asked my friend Matt to run with me. It was probably more like a leisurely stroll for him, since he's at a 7 minute mile pace- but he agreed. Syd came down to cheer us across the finish line and snap a few photos for me! Here we are...

It was not my best performance. I did NOT beat last year's time of 8:32 minute miles so it's not worth mentioning. We did pass that guy in the photo with us, so that made me feel a little better! Matt is such a fantastic person. I think the world of him. Can't believe he's single... someone is missing out on a great partner!!

A few days after that we had my 20 Year High School Reunion!!! I can't believe 20 years has gone by so fast!! If my children say they want to run for school office, I'm going to have some strong opinions to express!!! It may seem great now, but every 5 years after you graduate your going to wish you didn't take that job!! It was a lot of stress and preparation to pull this thing off. I am very glad it's over!! It was surprisingly great though! I wasn't sure what to expect, so I was pleasantly surprised. Compared to the number of graduates we had, the turn out was meager. But it was a nice mix of people and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. I was glad to see that "high school" was finally over. We just sat around and talked, got to know each other again. There were a couple times during the night when I thought, "20 yrs ago, this would never have happened! Me and Justin Grant having a conversation??? Never!!" There are some parts of me that are still insecure! Silly, isn't it!!
I had a revelation that night. I was watching people sit in these groups talking and laughing (until late in the night) about memories. I thought to myself, "where was I? What was I doing?" I don't have a lot of memories of "hanging out", being a teenager and irresponsible. Scott's reunion was a month earlier. He had SO many memories with friends, the same thing happened at his reunion. I felt a sadness. I guess I never realized that I missed something. The weight of responsibilites at home changed so much of my teenage years. I was looking at some photos a friend put on facebook of our senior year. I wasn't smiling in any of them! I thought I was a happy person back then, but I just looked so serious all the time!!! My memories are of making sure younger siblings were off to school on time, that they ate and did homework when they got home from school, that the dishes were done and the house was clean so my mom wouldn't lose it. Crying in my first period English class because I had dropped my mom off at the airport before school and she said she felt prompted to tell me where the will and all important documents were and what should happen with the kids in the event that something happened to her. I was serious, I was concerned about bigger things than the average teen. It's not like I didn't enjoy my high school experience- I did! I loved being involved in sports, music and student government. But the fun that was created was by Cheri and her mom- not me. I don't think Cheri knows how she saved me. She put the fun in my life for me. I'm still not good at making small talk. If you have a concern, something you need help with... I'm there! I'm ready to jump into the deep stuff and get some work done. I realized at that reunion that I am missing something, I know why I missed it- I have a weakness in that area. Skills that were not well developed then. I can do the hard stuff just fine. It's the light and easy that is a challenge for me.

Now, I don't feel sorry for myself. It is what it is. Like I said, just a revelation as to why I have weaknesses in certain areas. I can't go back and re-do things- I don't know that I would. I am what I am because of those things. But it was great insight as to why, even still- I go into social settings insecure. People probably think I'm a snob because I'm quiet and hold back. Scott can have a conversation with ANYONE! I get nervous. So, I'm glad for the revelation. Glad I can still do something about it.

Goodbye July...

2010-08-26T14:13:00.008-06:00

Wow, it's almost the end of August!!! July went soooooo fast! Before I forget too much, here's the month in review.

Lots of fun to celebrate the 4th with both families. Crockett side= Colorado cousins in town!! That is always fun! We went 4-wheeling at the Gardner's cabin and had a great time. Here's Elle's boyfriend (Uncle Scotty) giving Elle and Allie a ride He had his hands on the handle bars while driving, of course!!

Cooper got the first motorcycle ride with Uncle Alan. I think dad was a little jealous, but who better to introduce his son to the thrill of danger than Alan?

I spent some time holding the cutest chunka-monka Emma!!! Aaron and Hauni's newest, isn't she the ultimate in kissability??

We enjoyed a weenie roast. Here are three of our Colorado favorites! I must say I was most impressed with Connor's roasting ability- but more so by his roasting style. He's sitting in this photo, but he was standing for the rest of them. He'd hold the roasting stick between his legs and from the side it looked like he was practicing peeing for distance!! Whatever it takes Con Man!! His dogs were done the best!!

Becca provided the BIGGEST marshmellows I have ever seen. The size of a fist!! Perfect for my "burn and peel" method!

We had a great time playing and riding together. The kids loved the extra long zipline. There was one unfortunate zipline accident involving... Chase... no real surprise there. He's used to getting hurt, I think because he was such a tough guy about it!! Needless to say, the kids had a fantastic time. Here's the proof.... GONZO... before we even hit the paved road!! Thanks Julie and Travis for the memories!!

The 4th was actually observed on Monday. I wasn't sure if my husband would observe it or not, with all the work on his plate these days. I was so happy that he decided to join our family for the Cooper celebration. I don't have any photos, but for history's sake- here's the report. We gathered at mom's for a BBQ. Scott is so much fun, it is really no wonder that he is the favorite uncle to many on both sides (once they get over their initial terror!!) He packed up his water balloon launcher and stopped at Macey's. The guy went CRAZY with fireworks and candy. He made sure to call Wendy and get permission for diabetic safe snacks for Avery. He thought of that all on his own- no prompting from me! He turned what would have been an average party into a BLAST!! He got all the kids together, the teamed up with towels and had to catch the balloons he launched 20 feet into the air in their towels. If they could catch it without popping it, GIANT candy bars were the prize. I was reminded again of one of the reasons I fell in love with him, why I wanted him to be the father of my children. I remember how my dad would come home from work and life turned into a party. My mom had tried to keep order all day, he walks in the door- races us all to the pool and we all jump in with our clothes on!! Scott is like a "pied piper" with kids. He gets them to play together and he's the biggest kid of all!! He made sure every team was successful, without making it too easy!! We waited till dark and the fireworks extravaganza took a while!! At least he did not teach Ryan's boys about fireworks and tennis rackets... yet!! It was so much fun!!

Next I have to post about Allie's 5th party and my high school reunion... I'm out of time... I'll get to it soon!!

Blackberries and Buzz Lightyear...

2010-08-23T18:30:00.005-06:00

No, it's not the long forgotten Ronald McDonald... it's just blackberry season!! If you read the previous post about his own personal buffet at Sunflower Market then you will understand this post!! Grandpa Crockett's blackberries are ripe. They crawl deliciously along the entire fence. Cooper came back to me today from Grandpa's house with his mouth and hands stained purple, his belly stretched to the point of a starving Ethiopian distended belly and deliriously happy!!! I'm sure in his innocent 2 1/2 year old mind, that fence full of berries is for his own personal enjoyment- just as he is convinced the broccoli display at the store is for his own snacking as well!!

Another adorable aspect of this audacious boy is his love of Buzz Lightyear!! I don't remember Allie ever being so "into" a character. Yesterday at the store Cooper tells me (this is actual Cooper language... I will translate)"My no Pooper mom, My Buzz Lightyear!" This means... I'm not Cooper- I'm Buzz Lightyear. He would not respond to Cooper either. He would only respond if I called him Buzz!! He loves to pretend he can fly and shoot with his fake laser on his arm!! He "shot" all the trucks and construction cones on the way to our friend's house last night and on the way to dad's office today! It cracks me up to see him stand flat against the wall, peek around to check if the coast is clear and then come out shooting!! He is hillarious!! He will stand on his dad's belly and say..."To Infinity and Beyond!"" and then jump! They only way to get him to sit still for photos with Dad was to pretend I was shooting him with my laser, and then he shot back! Here's that photo and some other "Buzz" moments

A Month of Firsts...

2010-07-26T15:12:00.007-06:00

Exciting News around our house!! Allie has had quite a few "firsts" this month! The First first... loose tooth! That's right! Not quite 5 and she lost her first tooth! It was excitement and anticipation every day as it got more and more wiggly. She didn't want to rush it because of the horror stories told by her friend Erin of pulling too early and gushing blood in her mouth. Allie was in tears out of fear of that happening! So we waited patiently. I got up early one morning to try and get my treadmill time in before kids were up. 15 minutes into my run Allie was at the door... "Guess what mom!!! I have exciting news!!!" She says her tooth was just "floating around" in her mouth! I'm glad she didn't swallow it! So we read the little book we have on the tooth fairy and put her tooth in a little pouch so it would be easy for the tooth fairy to find! The tooth fairy did not disappoint!!! She was up early the next morning as well and ecstatic to find 4 quarters in the pouch! 4 quarters??!! It must be inflation and cost of living/being a kid, because the tooth fairy never left ME 4 quarters!!! Anyway, she is really excited about it and how much louder her whistling has increased with the new wind tunnel effect the missing tooth has caused!

The next First... first pet and first pet death!!
At our company party earlier this month each of the kids received a Betta Fish. Allie's was blue, Cooper's was red. She decided to name her fish B.Y. It wasn't eating after a few days and I warned Allie this was not a good sign. My sister Michelle was down one day to go swimming with us and Allie excitedly asked her if she wanted to see her new fish! Michelle got the unfortunate luck of pointing out that her fish was dead! I felt so bad for Michelle and Allie!! Allie was crushed. We were heading to Dad's work to take lunch to him so we piled in the car. She crawled up on his lap, buried her head in his chest and sobbed!!! It was sooo sad!! It was a very tender moment for all of us when her dad explained to her where fish go when they die. He asked Allie who else she knew that died and would be in heaven watching out for B.Y. She said Grandma Great, Uncle Eric and her sister C.J. That helped her to feel a little better knowing that loved ones were taking care of her fish now. I am glad her dad was only 5 minutes away and could be there for her on such a sad occasion. We buried B.Y. in the back yard. She wanted us to take a picture to remember him by... sorry for the dead fish picture!

We saw a commercial and ordered Allie some butterflies for her birthday. They came quickly so we gave them to her before her birthday. It is pretty awesome actually. They come in these containers with special food. They come as little eggs, then you get to watch them grow into caterpillars, watch them build their cocoons, watch them hatch out of cocoons and then keep them in this cage for a few days before letting them go. It was exciting to see the progress every day. If you're interested, check out www.livebutterflygarden.com. Anyway... yesterday we invited Grandma and Grandpa Crockett over to eat leftover birthday cake and watch as Allie let her butterflies go! It was pretty great!

His own personal buffet...

2010-07-01T17:31:00.002-06:00

This happened again in the store today which reminded me to write about it! My son loves the produce section of the store! He is a great eater, he loves fruits and vegetables. One day at Sunflower Market he went up to the broccoli display and started taking bites out of it! Didn't bother trying to pick a piece out, he just stuck his face in the broccoli pyramid and started chomping!! Raw broccoli... he loves it! I stopped him from doing that and went on to another section. I was picking some apples and a woman says to me, " I think you'll need to buy those as well..." I turn to look at what she's talking about and Cooper has taken a bite out of one apple in every section! His own little taster's table! So I bought one gala, one golden delicious, one pink lady, etc. I get looks from the cashiers as well when I bring up an empty banana peel! I have to have them weigh one banana and add that to my total! I don't complain, I think it's great that he loves to eat this way and I am certainly not going to discourage the love of healthy things! When we go to Costco for a little dinner he'll ask for pizza. He has a couple bites of his pizza and then eats my turkey wrap! Cafe Rio salad, he's all over it. The more color- the happier he is!! I hope this habit always continues!!

He's starting to speak well and it is very fun to watch him turn into a little person. While changing his diaper the other day he looks up at me and says, "mom... you're humongous"!! It was so cute!! He said it later that night when Scott was home, dad was surprised! Thanks to Allie's extensive vocabulary he's learning well and quickly. He loves puzzles. He's great at all his letters, numbers and shapes. We're working on colors. Allie loves to play "I spy" in the car or "name that tune". Cooper wants to have his turn even though he doesn't really understand how the games work! He's such a fun happy boy!

Dubious...

2010-07-01T17:25:00.002-06:00

A few days ago Allie and I were having breakfast. I made oatmeal, we love it! I add cinnamon, apples and walnuts. Allie actually requested it again for lunch that day. Anyway, she looks at me and says, "Mom... this is scrumptious! Where did you get the recipe?" I told her I just made it up, I just thought of what would sound good to me and made it up. She gives me this look and says, "I'm a little dubious...". I was so shocked!!! I could tell that my surprise showed because Allie apologized immediately as though she had said something wrong! Really??? Dubious??? She's not even 5 yet!!! She heard it somewhere, understood the context in which it should be used and then used it properly!! She is unbelieveable!! I don't know which surprised me more, that she used dubious correctly in a sentence or that she really doubted my ability to come up with a delicious recipe on my own!!

Sweet Sixteen...

2010-05-13T09:56:00.006-06:00

I can't believe this is already here. Chelsie is officially 16 years old. I wish I had more(any, actually) of her baby pictures in digital form. That's a project for another day! I've been a little emotional about this milestone for the past few months now as I've looked at blogs of other friends. In so many ways I feel like I'm trapped in a time warp with her. As I read about those of you going to dance camps, first dates and driving, seeing your children visibly grow and mature into young adults there is a twinge of sadness. Experiencing those things is still more than a decade away for me and that will be with Allie. There are some things I will just never have with Chelsie.

And yet having her in my life has been an extraordinary experience. Allie and Cooper have her to thank for the kind of parent I am to them. I had Chelsie all to myself for 11 years before Allie came. That is a long time to be an only child. It was difficult for her to adjust to another person in the house. It was also difficult for me to adjust to sharing my time with another person. I was so excited for Allie to be here and yet I felt so much guilt at the same time for the joy I was experiencing. I didn't want to miss a single moment of Allie's life, I know Chelsie was wondering what happened to me. She was a wreck, and so was I. It was a painful adjustment period, but we've made it through. Adding Cooper to the mix was a nice, easy transition for all of us!

I just received a phone call from a lady in our Stake who has a sister in her ward with a daughter with special needs. She's left the church for a while because she felt her daughter wasn't being treated well and has expressed interest in coming back. Would I call her, talk to her and help her through this? My heart is overflowing and tears streaming down my face as I think of all I could say to this woman about my experience with my daughter.

I have been acutely aware for many years that I live in the presence of one of God's finest. She has no earthly business being here, except to help refine, humble and teach the rest of us- primarily me. I know that I am often hard on myself because the standard of care I feel she deserves is often so far above what I can actually offer her. Having an angel in my home only magnifies my weaknesses and how far from perfect I am- as I have a perfected being in my presence daily. Here's just one of many experiences to illustrate my point:

One morning Scott and I were having a rather heated discussion. He and I do not yell at each other or call names. However, the room was tangibly tense as two VERY strong willed people were not in agreement and we both felt vehemently the we were right. Chelsie was in the other room listening to music while we were waiting for the bus to arrive. The bus came. I went into the kitchen to get her and put her in her wheelchair. The moment I touched her she burst into tears. I was not yelling, I was saying nothing in fact. But she could feel the anger in my heart regardless of the fact that I was silent. She was inconsolable. I lied to the bus driver and said I didn't know why she was crying. I watched the bus pull away with my daughter still crying. I had ruined her day. That moment, there in the driveway, it was like a slap in the face from heaven. I went into the house, walked past Scott into the bedroom, shut the door and dropped to my knees and begged for forgiveness. I asked Him to let her know that I would make things right immediately with her dad. Which I proceeded to do. Then I went to work in tears. Scott called me a few moments after I arrived at work to let me know the bus driver had stopped back by the house to let him know that Chelsie was fine, she just stopped crying out of the blue for no apparent reason.

I knew precisely why she stopped crying. God answered my prayer and let her know things were fine. I knew then that any right I thought I had to selfishness, stubbornness and pride was a serious misunderstanding on my part. She needs to feel the Spirit with her to feel safe. Any action of mine to take that from her causes her to cry- then and still. You wonder why I'm hard on myself? Imagine living up to that standard! I fail, and fail often... and I hate it. The beauty of God's plan is that He knows that were it only for my own sake, I probably would not change. But for her... I would do anything. An unexplainable, powerful thing happens when you become a mother. The safety and happiness of that being entrusted to us supercedes any selfish desire. I am getting better, that is why I say that Allie and Cooper have benefited from her. I am a much better mother now in my late 30's than I ever could have been in my 20's... all thanks to Chelsie. I don't know that I will ever be able to feel that my meager offering to Chelsie will ever be what she deserves, but because I love her... I keep trying.

I could go on for hours and pages of what I have learned from her, how she has changed me... for the better. At one point, early on I asked the question "what have I done to deserve this?" I still ask the question, but the meaning is different. I do still wonder why I am the one blessed to have this child with me. Would I have ever grown and changed were it not for her? Would I still be that selfish, stubborn girl? I have learned that having the peace of God's Spirit in our home is of utmost importance and to resolve things quickly and calmly to achieve that. Allie and Cooper are learning that as well. I am often amazed and reminded of how puny my faith in God is compared to hers. The joy she feels, even in her limited capacity, is due to the fact that she has complete trust in her Father in Heaven. My joy is equivalent to my faith. She is a giant, mighty spirit trapped in a tiny, crippled body. I know that mine is a custodial relationship, that she is mine for a while to take care of. But when we meet again.... I will pale in comparison to her glory. I am so, so grateful that she is patient and willing to endure this life with me while I learn how to be more like her. I am grateful she came to me. I am grateful for every moment, the hard ones and the moments when the veil is thin and I get a glimpse of who is really in there. I am so lucky to have had her for these last 16 years!!!

Making me Gank!!

2010-04-30T09:55:00.007-06:00

I had to make sure and make mention of this one before I forgot. She came down the hall one morning gagging. She had a hair in her mouth and she couldn't find it to get it out, which perpetuated more gagging. Eventually she got it, pulled it out and said, "Mom, this hair was making me gank!" (Gank, rhymes with tank). I love how she makes up her own words to express herself!! She's such a funny kid!

We got out the guitar yesterday and she wanted me to sing and make up a song while she danced! I love how she really feels the music and her dancing changes with different styles of music. She's got quite an arsenal of dance moves!! She must have got that from her Aunt Carolyn!! I have been known to "bust a move" every now and then, especially if there's a little Bobby Brown Don't Be Cruel or Janet Jackson's Rythm Nation! But I don't think I ever had what she has... such great interpretation of music! She also loves collecting things. I am not a collector. It is challenging for me sometimes to be supportive of another bag of leaves! But I don't want to squash any of the special things about her! Here's a photo of one of her many collections:

She loves making things and we go through a shameful amount of paper, tape and stickers! Here's a "diamond crown" she made for her dad to wear!

She's also turning out to be quite the little artist! I have been genuinely impressed and surprised at her talent at 4. She was watching a new show on Nick called Oomi Zoomi. She was drawing the characters while watching the show. I could easily tell what she was drawing. Her attention to detail and ability to draw what she sees is astounding. She did the same thing while watching the movie Bolt. She drew the little carrot toy... amazing!

We like her... we'll keep her!

Worth Mentioning...

2010-04-27T16:01:00.000-06:00

I realize I have been an especially boring blogger and I do apologize to the three of you that happen to frequent my page every now and then! There is much happening in my life right now that is NOT worth mentioning. I try to follow the good advice like: "if you can't say something nice... or... is it kind, is it true, is it necessary..." Someday the present drama will be over and inconsequential, so it's not worth mentioning here. What IS worth mentioning is that tomorrow marks 17 years of being married! That's right folks, 17! It's hard to fathom that time has passed so quickly. It seems like I was just 17 yesterday. Well, actually I can tell I'm not still 17 today after an 1 1/2 hours of playing basketball. My knees are making sure I am acutely aware that I have aged significantly!!

I first met my husband in 9th grade, a mere 14 years old. It is true that at first the main attraction was that he was one of very few boys taller than me! I was always drawn back to him for inexplainable reasons. I just instinctively knew that he had something that I needed, and I for him. Looking back at what stubborn, arrogant, over-confident ego's we happened to have all those years ago I am constantly amazed at how fortunate I am. I had no idea then of what a fantastic partner and husband he would continually turn out to be. There are so many things about him that I admire, but more importantly- I need in my life. He is such a great "check and balance" for me. He knows the kind of person I hope to become and his honesty has helped me grow tremendously. He is the balance to all of my weaknesses. He is willing to look at himself and gauge if he is the husband and father he set out to be. Our first year of marriage there seemed to be something everyday, sometimes several times a day, that we were resolving. Now, we rarely run into snags. Life is usually tranquil and easy between us. This is not because we are perfected beings, but because of his/our commitment to have nothing between us. Many times in our early years I tried to play the game of "I'm mad... guess why!" Not so with my man. He has insisted on hearing my voice, insisted on me speaking my feelings when my nature would be to put myself aside for the sake of him or "peace". The real peace is knowing I am safe to say whatever it is I feel and to KNOW that he would do all in his power to help me with my needs and dreams. My marriage is so much more than I ever dreamed and I am SO happy in it. I treasure it and count it as one of my greatest blessings. I would take any challenge with him by my side. I know we would come out successful. He is the best asset I have in reaching my goals and I am so grateful God finally shook him and turned his head my way!! Thank you for 17 years, I look forward to what each new one brings!

What is the Point???

2010-03-15T15:26:00.003-07:00

I got my run in while the kids were sleeping. They woke up from a nap and we all got in the shower. Everyone was nice and clean. These pictures are 15 minutes after getting showered and dressed. Notice Cooper's hair is still wet!

Cooper went right from the shower to the little table to color. Apparently he liked the way it looked on his skin better than the paper. I knew I needed to feed them both, so I thought I'd wait and wipe him off later. Good thing I waited! What is stuck to his forehead is cottage cheese. He loved it so much he must have stuck his whole face in the bowl to get every last drop! What else can I do but laugh? When we went out to the bus to get Chelsie our wise bus driver said... "Trying to keep your kids and your house clean while they are awake is like shoveling snow while it's still snowing... pointless!" That's pretty much how I feel! A million thanks to the inventor of washable markers!!!

Allie's First Date... with Dad!!

2010-03-02T17:15:00.003-07:00

Finally, the night of the Daddy Daughter Ball had arrived!!! Allie has been looking forward anxiously to this night with her dad. It was a very fancy event held at her school. She put on her own "makeup" and loved her princess hair and dress. The best part of all was having her dad to herself!! Scott took her to dinner, she chose the upscale McDonalds' for their dining experience! They headed over to the event. They had snacks, made a craft together (a little princess jewelry box) and competed in the dance competition. Allie had been preparing a dance for her and her dad to do. When I asked her if she won, she said they didn't because Dad wasn't following all of her steps!! When Scott asked her if there was anything he could do to be a better dad she said he could stay home all the time!! The good news is, she loves having her dad around! It was a great night for her and I hope one of many in her lifetime with her dad!

Cooper is 2!!

2010-02-15T13:09:00.004-07:00

Time goes so quickly!! It's hard to believe this guy...
and this guy are one and the same!!

I know I say this every time, but he REALLY is so much fun!!! Here are the offical stats at two: 39.5 inches tall and 37.28 lbs. Shocker... he's a giant. He really is so coordinated. He knows just what to do with a basketball. He will say all the really important things like "pass, shoot, basketball, etc"!! I'm being sarcastic! He does love all things boy, but he's also very smart. He can tell me all his letters and now we're working on numbers and colors. I wish I could take credit for this one, but it's all due to the powers of observation. I'm glad Allie is the one he is learning from! He loves all things Sesame Street. He and Chelsie have a lot in common right now!! He loves to chase and be chased! He loves to jump, run and wrestle! My favorite thing right now is how he sings himself to sleep. If he forgets you're there you may hear..."A ba bye, a na night" and "la,la,la la Elmo's World". He is sleeping in a big boy bed and pretends to use the potty! He'll sit at the little table with Allie and color. He's great at puzzles and figuring out how things come together. Yes, he is still a mama's boy and won't do nursery without me yet. I'm his comfort. As long as I'm around, he'll be pretty outgoing. However, he does just fine with our babysitter Mariah and will call for her by name! His dad likes to torture him when we (cooper and I) are snuggling by saying, "that's MY mom". Cooper gets quite defensive and ROARS back at him like a tiger!!! It's pretty cute! We are lucky to have him and LOVING it!! We had just a little family party. Here's his baseball cake (thanks Kami for the inspiration!). He's sitting with Uncle Aaron. He wasn't really interested in blowing out the candles. He didn't finish his cake either. He pushed it away and asked for an apple... love that kid!!

Happy 38 to me!!

2010-02-15T12:29:00.011-07:00

I was in NY with my sis for my birthday, but when we returned my friend Stephanie invited us to her house for dinner. She knows all my favorite things!! She made a beautiful dark chocolate cake. Cooper helped himself before dinner!! That's my boy!!

It all started innocently enough. We had a nice dinner and Ashley mentioned that she was taking a breakdancing class. We insisted on seeing a few moves so we pulled the dinner table back, D.J. Kayla put on some music and the impromptu dance party began!! Here's Ashley showing off her moves...

Game On!!! We all had to get down and try some moves! Here we are doing our best butt spins!!

Allie was feeling pretty "gangster" after all that so she posed for the camera!

My children LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Bevard kids! Cooper wants to copy everything Brandon does. He kept trying to do handstands like B all night! We finally helped him out!

Here's Allie and Cooper with Brandon... he's so good to them!

Allie, being the natural leader and showman that she is, wanted us all to copy her new dance move! So here we are trying our best! It was fun, and very funny! Her face shows the end pose we're supposed to do!

Stephanie's kids are all familiar with and fans of '80's music!!! Kayla's ipod had a fantastic, eclectic mix of 80's hits, Phinneas and Ferb, Mamma Mia and other new stuff I didn't know- but liked! It was great music!! We tried a group wave...

When "Walk like an Egyptian" came on... well... we got a little crazy!

Scott happened to be taking all the photos, but he did plenty of dancing with us! We played a couple rounds of "sardines" which is like hide and seek, but instead of one person finding everybody- everyone looks for one person and then hides together until the whole group is in the same spot! We finally had to go around 9:30pm as our kids were so tired. Stephanie's kids range from 17 to 10. We don't have a house full of teenagers and won't for a while. But if this night was a glimpse into what we have ahead of us in the future... I'm looking forward to it! It was the most fun I've had in a long time! We all danced and laughed together like kids! I'm so glad to have them as friends in our lives!!

What Happened to January???

2010-02-13T13:55:00.006-07:00

Halfway through February already... I find myself asking what happened to January? Well, as it turns out- January was quite eventful around here. We survived the New Year, came down off our sugar high and got kids back to school and a somewhat normal schedule. I got a call from my sister Michelle on the 14th. Things were not looking good for her husband Eric. He had been fighting lukemia (sp?) since last April. He went through chemo, radiation a bone marrown transplant and all the sickness and recovery that goes along with all that. Things had been rough for a week or so and his doctors told her that if he didn't show signs of improvement they were going to have to consider some unpleasant options. She got the dreaded phone call and called my hyperventilating. Time to turn off the machines. They were no longer helping him. She called our family to be together with her at the hospital. We all gathered, all of us but Carolyn who lives in NY. She asked Brandon to give her a blessing to be able to have the strength to take this next step and let Eric go. It was one of the most beautiful things I have experienced. First of all, to have her surrounded by our father and our brothers. Surrounded in love. Then to hear the words of a loving Father in Heaven come through my brother to her... I am in tears now as I think back on it. I have written most of the details of this night in my personal journal as they are a little to private to me to write here. We proceeded to Eric's room for some final words before they turned off the machines. Michelle asked Kendal, our youngest brother, to give Eric a final blessing. I cannot fathom being in Kendal's shoes for such a task. He struggled with his emotions, as did we all in that moment. It was time for us to leave the room, Michelle had a few moments alone with him. She came out of the room and fell apart. As we all stood there holding her up, I thought to myself... how are you able to do this? It was excruciating to watch her pain. I dont' know which is worse, having the love of your life ripped from you with no warning or having to choose to stop hoping, choose to stop trying, choose to turn off the machines, choose to let him go. The doctors turned off the equipment that was sustaining his life and let us back in the room. Again, the details of this moment are too personal to share online- but suffice it to say that as much as I dreaded the thought of witnessing someone pass from this life to the next, I am glad I was there. I am glad I got to experience it as it was incredibly sacred to me. I pray for my sister, she's only 41. That's a really long time to be alone. Here they are at Christmas time...

Then came the funeral. The good news in this was that my sister Carolyn, who hasn't been home for a few years, flew in for the funeral. I love my family. I love being all together. At a time of sadness, it was also a time of laughter and joy. The funeral went well, we all participated in the program. With the heaviness of everything this moment with my sister Carolyn says it all! We gathered for a family photo. Damon and Kathy had already left to get their kids, but here are the rest of us. I think this was the only time Michelle smiled that day...

...Wait for it...

What can I say more??? It was great to have her home!!! Normally I would not share Carolyn with the rest of my siblings, but I had already planned a trip out to NY to see her so sharing was much less painful!! The funeral was on Wednesday. Carolyn left early Thursday morning for home. I flew out on Friday with Allie and Cooper!! It was a great time. I don't have any photos of my trip yet because I left the documentation to the photographer (Carolyn). The trip went much too fast for me, but it was great. The kids had time to play together and get to know each other again. I got to get to know her two youngest. We celebrated my birthday together, we made jewlry and hair accessories together. I went with her to see her teach her dance class and we even ventured over to the mall with 4 of the 6 kids... brave!!! While I was there, my friend Mary Whiting came to visit. She moved from our ward back to PA a couple years ago. She's not really a mushy person, but here's how I know she loves me. She drove 6 hours, in a snowstorm, with two kids to see me for a few hours. Ask yourself, who do I love enough to do that for? Not many make it on my list either!!! Now, Mary is a tough chick- and she'll be the first one to tell you that. But still, that's a lot of time to give up from your life for a few hours with a friend. Thank you Mary... message received!! My time in NY ended much to soon. I really wish I lived closer to my sister. I always feel so empowered and inspired after being with her. There are very few people I let know me like I let her do. Our trip home was awful with delays, missed flights, re-routing, extra hours, lost luggage, etc. But 14 hours later I found myself asking... was it worth it? The answer... a resounding "YES"!!! To hear Cooper roam the house calling for Garrison, to see Allie and Quinlyn in dress ups and putting on a fashion show, to allow them to make memories together... totally worth it! I'll post cousin pictures when I get them from Carolyn. Here's a pic of me and my sis... love this girl...

Needless to say, it was a crazy January. I still have more posts to make... but I'm out of time now.

Fun Family Memories

2010-01-09T17:30:00.005-07:00

One of Scott's favorite ways to extract kisses from his children is to pretend he's asleep and only kisses wake him up (mine don't work in this game, only the kids!!)!! Allie is not into this game very much anymore, she's getting stingy with her hugs and kisses. Cooper, however, LOVES this game! Here he is "waking up" his dad!

Allie got a makeup case from Santa this year, one of the things on her list! It was full of lots of pink and sparkly lipsticks, nail polish and other things. Fortunately, it looks worse than it actually is going on! Grandma Crockett came over to get a make-over! She has only had her toenails painted one other time, but she consented to letting Allie paint her toenails! Here is grandma after her make-over!

Until recently, Chelsie has had our first tv in her room. We got the tv the first year of our marriage so the poor thing is almost 17 years old!! The picture went out on it a few years ago. Being "Crockett's" (also synonomous with cheap) we did not ever buy a new tv for her!! Why? It was perfect for her! She's blind!!!! She doesn't need to see the picture, just hear the sounds! Anyway, Scott's generous Aunt and Uncle gave us one of their tv's. It's giant! We laughed at how silly it looks in Chelsie's room, but the unexpected blessing in the whole thing is that the kids go in her room and watch her shows with her! It is good for her and good for them to interact with her and spend time with her!!! Here is a picture of Cooper chillin' with his oldest sister!

Getting Ready for Church

2010-01-08T19:36:00.004-07:00

We tried out my new clippers I got for Christmas with a little haircut for brother before church. He wasn't very happy about it, but I love my new clippers!!

Here are some pics of A and C before church!! So cute!!

Here's what happens to a die hard boy with no nap and church from 2-5pm!! CRASH!!

Beautiful children...

2010-01-04T20:48:00.008-07:00

Scott finally purchased a camera so we're back in business! Here's some pictures he took of Allie and Cooper the Sunday before Christmas... SOOOO cute!

For my sister out in NY, here are some pics from our Cooper family Christmas party. First, the grandkids...

Because you haven't seen them for a while, I'll name them! Allie, Cooper, Quintin (B's),Brady, Jessica, Will/Darby, Casey, Skylar (all R's), McKinna, Cassidy (B's), Gavin (D's), Kirstin (B's), Camryn (D's). Not pictured is B's youngest, Kaitlin and K's Avery and Landon. Notice K's cheeser pose behind the grandkids... he's still the funny one!!!

Here's Michelle and Eric. He really does look this bad in person, he's not doing well at all. Presently, we're not sure he's going to make it. We were surprised, but happy he was well enough to join us for Christmas.

Here's Colette with their youngest, Kaitlin. Is she a little Brandon in girl form or what??!!

Here's Kathy with her two, Gavin and Camryn

And Jenni with "princess" Jessica!!

Grandma did her traditional treasure hunt for presents, which is ALWAYS a hit with the grandkids! It is a loud, rambunctious, chaotic party... but it sure is fun to be together!! I love my family!!

Things I Love, Things I Don't...

2009-12-09T18:58:00.002-07:00

Let's start with things I don't love. I don't understand it, it drives me crazy!!! There is immeasureable feet of cubic space around me. Why do my children insist on walking right in front of me? Even if I move to the side to try and go around, they move back directly in front of me! This is especially bothersome while carrying armfulls of groceries or worse, their big sister. I can't really see in front of me while holding her, she's awkward and heavy! Few things make me want to scream more than their unexplainable urge to walk right in front of me, as slowly as possible!

Wheh, with that out of my system, on to things I love! I love taking Allie to preschool! I realize one day I'll feel like a taxi cab and I won't love it, but now I do! I love talking to her, especially after school, about her day. We were driving to school Monday, that was December 7th. The topic on her mind that morning: what kind of birthday cake she'd like for me to make for her! Keep in mind that her birthday is the end of July!!! Yet, she's thinking of it in December. I love that. I love hearing all of her ideas and more importantly- how she is so confident in my cake making abilities!! How "perfect" (according to her) her princess cake was, and her flower cake. I hope she always feels that way, grateful for the little things I do. Grateful for my efforts to make her ideas reality! Again, it probably won't last forever so I wanted to mention it.

First Big Purchase

2009-12-09T18:33:00.004-07:00

Allie has been saving her money for our trip to Disneyland we took in November. I thought I better document the first big purchase!!! It took a lot of weeks to accumulate her money, but she worked hard and was excited to spend it! Here she is counting up her hard earned money with dad...

And the grand total is....

She found what she was looking for!!! Allie LOVES soft things, she loves to snuggle with them and ever since she was a baby she would rub her face at night/in her sleep with her soft toy. When she found this lion she was SOLD!! It is a pillow and a pet! The fact that Erin Bevard had one was also a bonus! I thought it would be tough for her to part with her money, she is a Crockett anyway... but NOPE! She was so excited about her first big purchase!

Family Vacation 2009

2009-11-12T11:51:00.007-07:00

I know... it's been a while. It's a long story so let's skip it! Here are some photos from our family vacation last week to California. We loved Sea World!! Lots of fun kid rides and animals. Allie's favorite was the penguins, we went through 3 times! Here we are in a polar bear cave! We tease Allie about being a "polar bear" like her dad because they both seem to be impervious to cold! It was very icy and chilly in the cave! Cooper and I had to hurry out!

They had a pet show and all kinds of animals at Sea World... the kids loved it! They had Clydesdale horses which were a big hit with the kids, here we are as a family

We also went to Disneyland and California Adventures. Lots of fun for the younger two, not so much for Chelsie! Here's Allie with Woody. She LOVED the Toy Story ride! So did Cooper!! Again, not so much for Chelsie.

We did Disneyland for two days. There was so much excitement and stuff to see that Cooper was exhausted!! Here's a funny photo of him completely zonked out, face down!! The only way to get him to rest was to immobilize him and put him in the back pack! It worked great, but he is heavy!! Lugging that kid around for 2 hours on my back, pushing Chelsie around in her wheelchair... what a workout!!! Looks like I need a nap too!

We didn't get to the beach as often as we had hoped, but it was still a good time!

Zip Your Prograsity...

2009-09-01T21:51:00.002-06:00

Yep, that's right folks! That's what I got told by my four year old. "Mom, you need to zip your prograsity"!! What does it mean exactly? I haven't really figured that out yet, but I think it has to do with my occasional cranky attitude! She likes to make up words, and they make sense to her! The other day we were at Grandma Crockett's house playing in the pool. She sprinkled some water on Grandma's hand and told her that was going to "geminate" her hand. What does geminate mean? Apparently it means that if she sprinkles the water on your hand, your fingers disappear! She also likes to make up words in Spanish. When I tell her the correct way to say something in Spanish, she tells me I'm wrong and continues to use her word! She's a funny kid!

It begins in preschool...

2009-08-25T07:53:00.003-06:00

Allie is so excited to be in school. She was ready for preschool last year, but there were some things I didn't want her to learn yet. Sure enough... it's begun. Yesterday as I was making dinner she said, "Mom, you know what Grace Cutler said to me while we were waiting in line for History? She said- 'you're kind of fat' to me". "How did that make you feel?" I asked. "Not very good" was Allie's response. On a funnier note, a couple days ago Jack Ownen (she has two Jack's in her class) said he wanted to kiss her! So boys want to kiss her and girls want to call her fat already, in preschool. Now, I'm sure it was all innocent enough and little miss Grace didn't intend to be mean.

I guess it brings back all kinds of feelings for me. I was a chubby kid, I was also always taller than most everyone. In 5th grade I was 5'7" and began to shop in the same section as my mom. Looking back at my pictures now, I was not fat- not even close. It was too late, the damage was done. By that I mean I had already decided, from feedback of others, that I was fat and they were right. Every time I looked in the mirror I saw what others said, not the truth. Sometimes even still I struggle with it.

I knew it would happen to Allie as well. I guess I just hoped it wouldn't happen in preschool. She's going to be tall and in a few years, she'll hit her growth spurt and stretch right out. Until then, I hope we can help her to have a better perception of herself than I had. She has the right parents to help her with this challenge. We both have had our struggles with being ostracized for size. Eventually it worked out to our favor (for boys more than girls) with sports and such. I hope to be able to help her see her value, that she is precious to us and that different is just different, not an indicator of worth.

Cooper at 18 Months

2009-08-10T12:44:00.002-06:00

I can't believe he's 18 months already!!! He is so much fun/trouble these days! He watches everything Allie does and thinks he can do the same! She is swimming with no life jacket. He's in one still, but he'll put his face down in the water and kick his legs and paddle his arms! He jumps off the side and the diving board just like Allie! Playing outside is a lot of fun! During our "soccer" games he'll run and chase/kick the ball with Allie and me. He's pretty good about putting things away when asked. He climbs much better than Allie ever did. I probably didn't let her... whenever it's too quiet I go looking for "Mr. Trouble", as we call him! He's not much of a talker. He only has about 5 words right now. He is pretty good about communicating non-verbally. He's 36 inches tall and 32 pounds. His doctor noted that out of 100 boys, he's the tallest. We'd have to go to 1000 boys to find some as tall, or taller! No surprise there! He is a mama's boy and a snuggler... I hope that never changes! I imagine it will at some point!! He is such a joy!!! Here's some recent photos of our boy!

One to remember...

2009-08-05T10:41:00.002-06:00

Because I intend to print my blog out, into a book to double as "scrapbooking/journaling" for kids- I had to put this entry in! We are going swimming today. So Allie got undressed and brought me her swimsuit to help her get dressed. She was leaning against the bed, watching me fold laundry. Cooper comes up behind her. He's looking at her naked bum and I can see the wheels turning in his little brain! He's looking at her crack and suddenly- sticks his fingers in there! Allie squeals, of course! Who wouldn't with unexpected wet, cold fingers in your crack! Her squeals spur him on! She's trying to get away from him and he's chasing after her to do it again! We were all laughing hysterically! While not the most sanitary means of entertainment... it sure was funny this morning!

Already Four!

2009-08-03T15:43:00.004-06:00

Happy Birthday to my girl! I can't believe four years has come and gone so fast! I remember seeing her for the first time! I couldn't believe that my prayers had been answered in such a way!

She has been everything I have hoped for... and more! I wanted to try to enjoy every moment of her life and feel like I've been able to do that, for the most part.

I see so much of myself in her, good and not so good. She is such a great girl. She is naturally obedient. If I tell her something is not safe or good for her- she trusts me, she doesn't question me. If she says she will do something, she will.

She is inquisitive, creative, insightful, exuberant, animated and intelligent. She is sooooo ready to start school. I know that's the beginning of the end!!! I'm mostly kidding! So much changes when they go to school and have all the other influences and examples in their lives.

Sometimes I wish I could keep her safe in a little bubble forever! I hope she is able to grow and learn and not have the things I love most about her squashed or taken away... it makes a case for homeschool! She is friendly and open, she is trusting and kind. I worry she'll be hurt by some mean little kid!

I am so grateful that she was sent to our family, that I have the chance to know her and have a part in helping her grow. Lucky, lucky, lucky me! Happy Birthday to my girl!!

Candice... remember this!

2009-07-17T10:29:00.002-06:00

This morning Allie woke up the same time, as usual. Chelsie did not have school and Cooper was still asleep. I wasn't ready to get out of bed yet so Allie crawled in with me. "Mom, let's talk about things!" she said excitedly to me. So we pulled the sheet over our heads and talked in our little "tent". It brought to mind the article I read yesterday by Elder Ballard from the April 2008 Conference, titled "Daughters of God". He quoted author Anna Quindlen, "There is one picture of my three childrend sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day... And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed..."

As we lay in bed this morning, I don't remember all that we talked about- even though it was only 3 hours ago. I do know I just wanted to freeze this moment and keep it forever. I was stroking her hair as she talked, noticing how blonde it has become in the summer sun. Her dark eyelashes are a stark contrast to her blonde hair. Her eyes disappear, as Crockett eyes do, when she smiles. She has about six freckles on her nose and I hoped she didn't end up speckled- like me! Her eyes aren't blue, they have green and gold in them too. She has these tiny dimples at the corners of her mouth. Her face is so expressive when she talks. I was thinking that soon, much too soon, her face is going to thin out and she won't look like a "little girl" anymore. I want to remember her, the sound of her voice as best I can because I know it will pass all too soon. She talks incessantly... sometimes it drives me crazy. I choose not to say anything to her because I want her to feel like she can talk to me... always.

In Elder Ballard's talk he said, "If a child lives with parents for 18 or 19 years, that span is only one-fourth of a parent's life. And the most formative time of all, the early years in a child's life, represents less than one-tenth of a parent's normal life. It is crucial to focus on our children for the short time we have them..."

Why am I so anxious to get on to the next task? Why do I get so caught up with the little things? It is so easy to get distracted by the everyday things necessary to function. This morning was so wonderful... Candice- remember this!

Spiderwebs...

2009-06-29T09:47:00.003-06:00

Yesterday at church Allie was sitting on her dad's lap quietly doing her activities. She innocently looks up at her dad and asks with all sincerity, "Dad, how come you have spiderwebs in your nose?" Scott and I were having a hard time being reverent while we were laughing hysterically!! He officially has begun the "old man hair" phase with the random long ear hair that seems to sprout an inch over night and thanks to Allie's observation... the nose hair as well!!

Leamington with the Lucas'

2009-06-18T16:17:00.003-06:00

Scott and I had a fun weekend with our friends, Blair and Sara Lucas. Sara, the brilliant and beautiful lawyer that she is, is from a very (and I do mean very) small town. They invited us to her home for a weekend of good old-fashioned fun. We left the kids and had a late night s'more roasting, tree-burning, laugh and talk for hours night. We went for a run in the morning to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. Then we went for a long 4-wheeler ride which involved water and dirt, which explains the sunglass lines on my face. No... that is not a tan, that is mud! Our friends, the Martins', brought our kids down to us that afternoon and they got to ride horses and 4-wheelers. Chelsie doesn't like the horse rides anymore, it's too hard on her hips. She did enjoy the 4-wheeler. Allie is convinced that the horse belongs to her and it is really named Lightning!! She got to ride it by herself (assisted, of course). Sara's parents have a little 4-wheeler with a speed governor on it. Scott taught her how to drive it and she had a fantastic time on that! It was hard to get her off!! She was also very excited to see all the new baby horses! We all had such a great time. It was the best of both worlds, adult time alone with our friends and then be able to share in the fun with our kids! Thanks again Blair and Sara... let's do it again!!

Cooper at 16 Months

2009-06-18T15:59:00.003-06:00

I love this boy!!! SO MUCH!!! I love watching my kids grow and how fast they learn. Some of my favorite things about him right now is that he loves to snuggle with me when he first wakes up. He'll lay his head down on my shoulder until he's ready to go. He will give kisses and hugs spontaneously. He is innately attracted to any kind of ball or moving vehicle (scooter, bike, 4-wheeler, etc) and throwing rocks in the street. He is very curious, about everything and we sometimes call him "Mr. Trouble"! He doesn't mean to make trouble, he just wants to see what happens!! He is very observant and tries and wants to do whatever Allie is doing (refer to the first job blog). She is a very powerful example in his life, more than she realizes right now. He loves dirt/sand and he loves eating it! I have tried to prevent it, but he insists... so I give up! His current list of adventurous things to eat includes: chapstick, gluestick, crayons,deodorant, rocks,sticks, grass, woodchips and his favorite snack... rollie-pollie bugs!! When the guy turns out to be 6'9" I'm going to refer him to this list of extra curricular eating!! He is slower than Allie at communicating, but much better physically than she was at this age. He does well with his signs and what he can't sign, he shows me. I love it when I tell him it's time for bed, he will take his bottle and go walk to his bed. He let's me know he's awake in the morning with "Mom!!!" as he stands and yells from his bed! He has the most beautiful blue eyes and such a great laugh. He is growing up fast! Here's some recent photos of him...

First Paying Job

2009-06-18T15:48:00.003-06:00

To earn her own money, Allie takes care of the garbages. She also takes out G-pa and G-ma Crockett's across the street. Allie knows Monday night it's time to do her job! Tuesday, after we take the garbages back to the house, Grandma has affixed a little box to the side of her house in which she places Allie's money and sometimes a treat. Allie LOVES this, and so does Cooper incidentally. He also tries to take in the garbages and check the box! One time Allie had also watched over Grandma's flowers while she was out of town. In the box that Tuesday was an envelope with a thank you note and two dollar bills! Allie's eyes flew open (as large as a Crockett's eyes are able to anyway) and said, "I NEVER got this kind of money before!! TWO DOLLARS!!!" It was so great. I love how Syd tries to make things extra special. She could just hand Allie the money every week, but knows how much more fun it is to go look in your own special box!

A Day At the Zoo

2009-06-18T15:24:00.002-06:00

We took Allie and Cooper to the Hogle Zoo one day and had a great time. Allie was most excited to see... the giraffes! They both enjoyed the zoo tremendously. We ate cotton candy, rode the carousel-twice and had lunch there. My favorite picture is of Allie trying to imitate the grumpy gorilla! Fun Times!

The beginnings of writing...

2009-05-18T14:08:00.003-06:00

Keep in mind, this was in early March. I'm just now getting to it!! I don't want physically keep all the drawings and writings that come daily. I thought I would just take pictures and store them digitally! So here's the story with this photo. Allie was asking me one morning what we had to do that day. She likes to pretend to make lists like her mother! So, I told her we needed to go to Walmart and she asked me how to spell it. I spelled it, she told me to slow down so she would write the letters. So... I did. When she showed me what she had done I was so SHOCKED!!! Keep in mind, the "w" is upside down, at the time her "a's" were not connected at the top so it looks like an "h". The "l" is also upside down. She informed me that she did not know how to do "r" yet, so we practiced that on the next line. This was the first thing she had written that I could see a resemblance to actual writing. By now... she's a pro at writing letters, but here was her first go at it!

Chelsie is 15...

2009-05-17T08:29:00.003-06:00

Chelsie had her 15th birthday this week. I honestly can not believe that 15 years has come and gone so fast. Life with her has been such an adventure! I have lots of pictures of her from when she was little, but not in digital form! So here's a few pics of her these days

Chelsie was my one and only for 11 years. She was not very excited about the arrival of Allie. Her world was completely turned upside down. All of the attention she was used to having... gone! When we introduced her to her sister she kept saying, "Bye Bye sister, I want to go home"! It was a very rough transition for her and for me. I was not used to giving my time to anyone else and we all know how much time newborns require. I still feel, even almost 4 years later, that I still do not give her the time she needs. In my mind I pray she can hold on for a few more years, until Cooper and Allie are a little farther along, and then I can be a good mom to her again! She amazes me. She has been such a powerful influence for good in my life. She has increased my faith, my patience, my compassion, my understanding. I have known for a long time that inside her twisted, tight body is a very wise, very old soul. She is here to change me, to change us. This time is not for her... she knows what she needs to know already. I am continually surprised by what she is able to do. She can do the pledge of allegiance easily along with spelling her name and her phone number. We have been working on, "I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father, who loves me..." and she is picking that up quickly. The vision specialist at her school was receiving an award and each teacher recognized was to bring a student to say a little something about the teacher. Corrine Haney chose Chelsie to come. She prepared a little speech for Chelsie to say. There were more than 100 people in the room and I wasn't sure she would do it... but she did!!! I had to help her in spots, but she did such a great job. As usual, people were so touched. In general, I think people forget about the disabled population. It's good to be reminded every now and then of things greater than ourselves and the mundane, yet necessary tasks of life. She has been such a great blessing in my life. It was fun to have Allie read Chelsie the bedtime story the other night. We are all adjusting, slowly. She's getting to know and enjoy Cooper and Allie as time goes by! Thank you for being my first! I love you Chelsie!

Family Pictures from March 2009

2009-04-02T11:05:00.002-07:00

No, I'm not dead! I wish I could have a great creative post every day and be an avid online journaler. I don't even get on the computer every day! We have been without a camera for a while. Scott sold his and is getting another one, but for now- no camera. Here are some pictures our friend Monica took of our family at Syd's 60th birthday party. For how little time we stood there, I am amazed she could get such a great family photo! Chelsie is actually facing forward! I have a ridiculous "super cheese" grin because I am making the funny sound to cause Chelsie to laugh and be happy for the photo... but whatever it takes for a great family photo, eh?!! Cooper is growing so fast. He doesn't look much like a baby to me anymore. I love the one of him crawling and walking with his dad! I'll post more when we get a new camera! Enjoy the family photos!!

Snowshoe-ing for Stephanie's birthday

2009-02-28T01:22:00.002-07:00

What do you get the girl who has everything for her birthday??? Snowshoeing at Sundance! Saturday happened to be beautiful weather so we borrowed Travis and Julie's snow shoes and ventured out! It was so much fun!! I have to say, the snowshoes are not what I expected. I was picturing something that looked more like a giant tennis racket! Technology has reached all aspects... even snow shoes! It was much easier than I imagined. It felt just like hiking... in snow! James found a rabbit's den. We were standing right by it and didn't see it for the longest time... it was pretty cool! It was a great way to spend the day... followed by dinner at GLORIA'S!!! YUM!!

Cooper's First Birthday!!!

2009-02-28T01:04:00.003-07:00

We were on the cruise for his birthday so we had a little family gathering when we got home! I was inspired by Cabo snorkeling and made him a little "fish" cake. This year has gone so fast. I wish I could slow it down! He's changing so fast! He is definitely a boy. He is such a TEASER... just like his dad! He'll head for the tv or A/C vents...a "no-no". He'll turn back at me to make sure I'm watching and then head for it again. The little grin on his face let's me know HE KNOWS exactly what he's doing! He took his first steps for us last week. I grabbed the video camera and apparently made such a big deal that he refuses to take another step!! I'm finding he doesn't care much for my expectations and doesn't want to be pushed!! He adores Allie. If she is crying or upset he'll follow her cry and join her in her time out until she stops crying! He is quite content to explore and play by himself as long as he can see us close by. He is a snuggler... and I hope that never goes away! He laughs SOOOO easily, he loves to climb on me and "wrestle". He loves to be at the piano with Chelsie and I. He is so much fun, I love getting to know him! He's our little giant at 27 lbs and 33 "tall! Here's some photos to see my "little handsome"!

Our Cruise

2009-02-28T00:44:00.005-07:00

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted! Scott and I took a Mexico cruise Feb 1-8th. We had a GREAT time! Lying in the sun, reading a book uninterrupted, sleeping through the night, never cooking, cleaning or choosing what meal to make- only what to eat! I didn't even make my own bed once! THAT is a vacation!! We had a great time in Puerto Vallarta on the zipline jungle tour, sight seeing in Mazatlan (pig face in the market), and snorkeling in Cabo. Our captain in Cabo got us right next to a school of dolphin and a momma whale with her baby. It was incredible!!! I was on the verge of tears to see something like that so close. We had a great time with our great friends, the Bevard's!

Snow Forts

2009-01-08T15:50:00.002-07:00

Grandma Syd came over yesterday and invited Hauni, Max and Chloe (a girl Hauni babysits). Syd wanted to have a play date in the snow with Allie now that it has warmed up a bit. As usual, she doesn't do ANYTHING halfway! Especially not FORTS!!! Because we have received so much snow, we had a giant mound on the corner of our drive way which Syd turned into an igloo with a piece of wood, covered in plastic for a roof. She made trails through the snow (over 2 ft high) so the kids could chase her! She is such a wonderful Grandma and we are very lucky to have her right across the street! Our playdate ended with hot chocolate and marshmellows on the front porch. Perfect!

Allie-isms, Before I forget them...

2009-01-06T16:59:00.003-07:00

Our language is a confusing thing. There are many rules that do not make sense. I realize this as I listen to my daughter trying to express herself and I am correcting what seems like a logical conclusion. For example: I ask her if she is hungry, she says- "I amn't". Why is it that with I am not we contract I am, instead of the not? If I were to say I can't,shouldn't, haven't- we contract the not on all of those... why not with I am not? And what's up with will not? Who decided to say won't instead of willn't? These things are perplexing. I don't/ do not like to tell my daughter "just because" when it doesn't/does not even make sense to me!! I personally thought her conclusion was completely understandable and justifiable- yet it is not so! I wanted to make note of her I amn't because it's gone away now, and I thought it was very cute!

So yesterday we were working on a project in the kitchen and she says "Candice, will you get me my glue?" Now, she has been calling me Candice rather than mom for over a year now. My opinion is that she really thinks we are equals. Her name is Allie, my name is Candice... why wouldn't she call me Candice? I digress... here's the rest of the conversation:
C: How come you call me Candice instead of mom?
A: Do you want me to call you mom?
C:Yes, I like it when you call me mom.
A: Well how come you never mentioned that before?

This girl catches me so off guard all the time!! Hmmm... why haven't I mentioned that before? She has been more diligent at calling me mom. It's a habit that's going to take awhile, but apparently now that she's aware she'll work on it!! I love my girl!

Conniving, Sneaky, Mr. Wonderful!

2008-12-31T23:52:00.003-07:00

So, the weekend before Christmas I was completely stressed out! I was no where close to completing our Christmas preparations. I had vowed it would not go to the last minute, yet here I was again. To top it off, Scott told me that he had been asked to accompany the scouts on a campout that weekend- even though he was no longer responsible for helping the scouts. We happened to get about 24 inches of snow that weekend. I'm stressing because I will be doing all the Christmas shopping by myself, my husband is planning to drive off in a blizzard to camp out in freezing weather, etc. He came home in a rush, asking me to help him pack mentioning that he and my friend Stephanie "got into it" at work. Just then she walks in the back door. "What are YOU doing here!" he asks. She responds, "you KNOW why I'm here"! Scott storms off down the hall. Steph looks at me with tears in her eyes, shaking. She says she needs me and could I come with her for a minute? I was not planning to go anywhere, but I threw my boots on and got in the car with her. Steph is shaking, holding a letter in her hand. She says, "I know you love this man, but you have to help me understand him!" I'm wondering what in the world is going on. She starts reading the letter about how angry he is with her, he asked her to do something in July and she never did it. He tries to drop everything for her, etc. Then the letter starts in about me, how everyone loves me,etc. I am so confused! I am waiting to hear what the problem is, but after two paragraphs it begins to occur to me that this letter is actually about me. It is the sweetest letter ever written. The exact contents will remain between him and me (and Steph- who read it to me). Stephanie is crying, I'm crying, we get to the end of the letter and I realize that he has purposely stressed me out to set me up for this gift! It took a while to soak in, but Stephanie was there to take me away for 24 hours!! She had $200 and 24 hours and I was not to come home before then or with any money left over. Don't worry about the kids, go to a hotel for the night and sleep uninterrupted!!! THE BEST GIFT EVER!!!! As I said, there was a blizzard so we decided to go to the mall to burn through my money! Keep in mind that I was not prepared to go out. Fortunately I decided to put a bra on that morning. I was in sweats and my big heavy snow boots! Clomp, clomp, clomp through the mall! My boots weigh about 10 lbs each... my legs were tired that night! I had yesterday's hairdo, I had not brushed it that day. I also had yesterday's makeup on! Scott had packed an overnight bag for me so I had no excuse to come home! I have a serious shopping problem, the problem is... I can't stand it! I need serious help with shopping and NOBODY spends money better than Steph!! We shopped and talked and had a great time! I found jeans (after trying on 28 pair), a skirt, sweater and the most FABULOUS shoes!! We went to Gloria's, my new favorite Italian restaurant in Provo for dinner and to a hotel room! The guy asked if we wanted one king size bed or two queens! We laughed at the thought of telling our husbands we shared a king! I opened up my overnight bag and found, instead of pajamas... another hoodie to sleep in! There was no brush or comb in the bag... but he did pack my favorite gum and warm slippers!! We laid in our separate beds and talked until we fell asleep. It wasn't a long sleep, because we had a shopping date with some friends from work at 8am! We went to breakfast and spent the next day until 2pm shopping for Christmas! It was such a great surprise! Scott is exceptional at lying, deceiving, telling half-truths, withholding vital information, or as he puts it- surprising me!! I was overwhelmed, and felt so appreciated! I did get a good deal of Christmas shopping done as well! Here is the picture of me at the mall, thanks to Monica! She happened to catch me in all my glory!

10 Months Old!!!

2008-12-04T17:05:00.004-07:00

I can't believe how fast time is flying! This boy of mine is so much fun!!! And, like his sister, he's giant! Here's the official stats: 26.37 lbs and 31 inches long. His perfectly shaped head is only in the 70 percentile. He laughs so easily! He "commando crawls" all over the house and is just experimenting with the actual crawl. You've got to admit, that's a LOT of body mass to move around! He has been an absolute delight. He is such a good, easy boy! As soon as he figures out how to open the drawers and cupboards... I don't know if I'll still be saying that! I'm so grateful for my "Little Handsome"!

Disneyland!!

2008-12-02T15:56:00.009-07:00

We took the family to California November 9-16th. It was such a great vacation! The weather was FABULOUS!! The coldest day was 72 degrees! We went to Disneyland on Monday. It was everything we hoped it would be for Allie! The magic was not lost on her. Right as we entered the park a marching band was playing. She started dancing to the music and Chelsie was excited as well! We spent Monday meeting all "her friends" and getting their autographs. To help entertain her on the long drive, she wrote special notes for all she hoped to see there! It was very cute to watch the characters read their special notes!! Here is Allie meeting Chip and Dale

We followed her around all day with the video camera, so I don't have many photos of her. Tuesday we went to the grocery store and the beach! The beach was a little chilly. Allie and her dad got in the water! Our friend Blair, a native of the area, said they were crazy!! He called them both Polar Bears... which after putting my toes in- I agree is appropriate! Here's Allie and her dad chasing birds on the beach and building sand castles.

We found a little tide pool with some baby starfish in it. Scott picked one up and showed it to Cooper. His fascination is apparent as you see the next sequence of pictures. He wanted to touch it and eat it of course!! (My sequence is showing up backwards and I'm not going to try and rearrange these pictures... so look last to first for full effect!)

We all put our feet in the ocean. Cooper got his first feel of the beach and of salt water thanks to a surprise wave!!

We spent Wednesday and Thursday exploring the rest of Disneyland and California Adventures. Here's a few pics from that...

Finally, we spent Friday visiting a friend of Scott's from college, Ryan Jensen, at Hunington Beach. It was fun to catch up with him. We came back and swam at the hotel. Saturday we spent on the beach again. The weather was 80 degrees! We sat around in the sun, got sunburned, enjoyed the waves and had a great time. This was obviously the best part for Chelsie. She tolerated the rest, but enjoyed the beach! As we were sitting there on Saturday watching the surfers, a school of dolphin came to play. We saw them jumping up out of the water for several minutes. It was perfect!!! Here's Cooper with his dad watching the waves and surfers , having his first mouthful of sand and Allie as a mermaid!!

And finally, this says it all!!! This postcard perfect picture is one that Scott took of the pier. There was a FANTASTIC restaurant there with real clam chowder and sourdough bread! It was so good we went back again!! Everything went so well, the surroundings are breathtaking. If I had a million dollars I'd move there and LOVE it!!!

Too good to wait...

2008-11-26T19:23:00.002-07:00

I realize I have a lot to update with our trip to California/Disneyland. I haven't had time for all that yet. Allie made a comment tonight that was too good to wait. Here's the scenario... Cooper is sitting on Scott's lap, chewing on a rope. Allie decides she wants to play with the rope and rips it from his mouth! Scott lets her know that is not acceptable, she gets upset and needs a little timeout. Scott invites her back to talk to him when she's finished being upset. So, a few minutes later she comes back out and Scott explains to her how that could really hurt Cooper's mouth and asks her what else she could do to get the rope? She looks at him and says, "I don't have any good observations for that question"!!! Is she really only three??? Who answers a question that way? Not me and I'm almost 37!! She cracks us up constantly!

Halloween 2008

2008-11-04T15:22:00.004-07:00

I'm running out of time, so here's just a few phots from our day. Allie was a ladybug and Cooper was a penguin. We went to Scott's work, the ward trunk-or-treat and then Grandma's house for our annual party! It was such a long, fun day! Syd has the best parties. We have a treasure hunt for the little kids, and Tim does one for the grown kids. Watching Tim watch us figure out his clues is HILLARIOUS! We compete at eating donughts on a string, how many seeds in the pumpkin and how much candy in the jar. The grand finale is the pinata. Syd makes is so reinforced it made it all the way to the last person... me- this year! We go from youngest to oldest taking our turns! I think this is Scott's favorite part of the night! He gets to run the pinata and torture all those who try to hit it!! It is so funny watching him! I love Shauna! She is the youngest, Scott the oldest. She is so competitve and has no fear with him. She was trying to outwit him on the pinata. I hope you can see his face! What I have learned from Syd is that life is about making memories. It takes effort, sometimes a good deal of effort. But making home more fun than anywhere else is possible. We love to be together, and she is a big part of that. I intend to keep her traditions alive in my own home!

Happy 37th Birthday to my Big Handsome...

2008-11-04T15:03:00.004-07:00

Looking through my pictures for October, I saw these of my husband. We celebrated his 37th birthday this weekend. I am so grateful to have him in my life. I thought I knew what I was getting into 15 years ago, but life with him has turned out so much better than I ever imagined! We were recently at a wedding reception for a family friend. We stayed afterward to help clean up. Scott helped put tables and chairs away, then decided to entertain all the children while the women cleaned up the kitchen! They had so much fun with him, swinging them around, rides in the garbage can on wheels, racing Chelsie around the gym floor, etc. Our friend commented to me afterward on what a fun guy he is. I told her that was one of the big attractions to me. I wanted a father for my children like the one I remember from my early years. I wanted someone who loved to play. I remember my dad coming home from work, calling all of us from whatever we were doing (much to my mother's dismay) and going outside to jump in the pool for a swim. He dove in with all his clothes on!! He was so great at creating spontaneous fun!! Having him walk through the door was the best part of the day! I am so grateful my children feel the same way. Especially for Allie. In my experience, that dad/daughter relationship is vital. I am blessed. My daughter will grow up knowing what it feels like to be cherished. Scott is great at fun. He took Allie over to the park one windy night to fly kites. He surprised me one night by renting a motorcycle and we went for a 5 hour ride. We went up the canyon, enjoyed the changing leaves, grabbed dinner in Park City, etc. As much as I enjoyed the evening with him, the sweetest part was the next morning. As soon as he heard Allie out of bed he jumped up to get her. He got her dressed and took her for a ride down to the Provo Bakery for breakfast donughts. He took her on several rides that day before we returned the bike. He was so excited to share that with her. He is wonderful the them, and wonderful to me. I tend to do things by myself- without asking. The more kids we have, the harder it gets. He has stepped up and taken care of them without my asking. He watches for what I need help with. He is just as big a part of bedtime as I am. Every year with him gets better and better... I look foward to our future together!

Brother with Sisters in October

2008-11-04T14:49:00.006-07:00

Here are some fun photos of the kids in October. First we have Allie, the self-proclaimed ROCKSTAR!!!

Next we have Cooper and Allie enjoying tub time together, chillin' on the floor together and playing on the bed together. They really love each other... so far!!

Next we have Allie showing off her "boat snack". She saw this on Curious George and wanted to do the same. She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Curious George. We actually have done several fun things because of that cute little monkey. We made a robot, made boats, painted with our hands, etc. Thank you PBS kids!!

Here's "Chef Allie" helping me with cookies and rolls. We don't always take pictures when we bake, but she is usually wearing her chef hat!

Last of all we have Cooper checking out his sister Chelsie while enjoying Sesame Street after school.

Way Behind...

2008-11-04T13:38:00.008-07:00

We actually did a lot of fun things in October, I'll try to catch up while I have a few minutes! I decided to meet some friends from highschool at Thanksgiving Point. I got to see Lori and Cindy for a few minutes, but it didn't work out quite like I had hoped. Regardless, the kids and I had a fun time. I took Allie to Barnyard Boo!

They had so many fun activities for Allie. She got to toss rings onto the witch's shoe, dig for bones, decorate cookies and treat bags, toss footballs and beanbags for prizes. We looked at all the animals and wanted to ride a pony, but the line was 2 hours long! No Thanks!

Chelsie enjoyed the sunshine and her music. Cooper enjoyed the view from my backpack! It was a great way to spend the day!

A Great Day

2008-10-15T07:41:00.004-06:00

A couple weeks ago, when the weather was still nice, we had a great afternoon. Chelsie gets home from school early on Mondays. We went over to Grandma's to play in her fabulous backyard. I put Chelsie on the trampoline and Allie bounced her. They both were laughing profusely! Allie wanted to play "baby" with Grandma, so she went to the tire swing to have a "bottle" and Chelsie and Cooper had a turn in the hammock. The weather was warm, the kids were laughing and having a great time TOGETHER, which is hard to do. Even though it is a lot of work to do all three of them by myself, I really need to make the effort more often! Here's a great picture of Chelsie and Cooper!

First Haircuts!!

2008-10-07T16:20:00.005-06:00

I took Allie and Cooper to their Aunt Julie (or Julie Kaye if you met her after 1998!) for their first haircuts! Both of them were so great! Julie has plenty of kid experience so everything went just fine! I love it that Julie can't just cut hair and let you leave. She made sure Allie got the special treatment with scrunching AND diffusing! Cooper's hair took about 37 seconds to shave off. Just the leftover "old man" looking hair around his ears! It was fun! Thank you Aunt Julie!!

My Little Counselor

2008-09-29T16:53:00.003-06:00

Let me begin by saying that I am very open about feelings. I want my children to know that they can feel angry, sad, afraid, etc. At one point or another, we will feel these things. Instead of trying to correct the behavior, I encourage them to talk to me about it so we can get to the root of things- then the behavior will change.

Last week was a bad week. I am weakened emotionally by lack of sleep (only the baby is sleeping through the night... go figure!), I have 10-15 lbs to go and really want them off, I am trying to keep my house in order so I feel better, I am making all Cooper's food at this point so I now prepare 5 different things at every meal, I am exhausted!!! I keep thinking I can get up early to take care of my needs (scripture, prayer, exercise) until my night is interrupted. So, I try to get my running in during the day with kids in the jogging stroller. One day last week I got a late start on my run, it was already hot. I had stopped to pick up a dropped toy, stopped to re-tie my shoe, stopped to hear Allie ask for a drink, stopped to answer a phone call (wasn't going to... but it was my mom). Interruption after interruption in a week of interruptions. I had stopped to take my mom's call on a busy road with no sidewalk. Allie was trying to talk to me, my mom was trying to talk to me, the traffic was loud, Allie was tired of waiting and insisted on getting out of the stroller to run around on the busy road. I barked at my mom that I would have to call her back, grabbed Allie and put her back in the stroller with emphasis and angrily pushed the stroller to get us to a safer spot. Allie could sense the mood and was quiet for a few minutes. When we got to the corner she said to me:
Mom, are you angry?
Yes, I am angry.
Well, if you are angry you need to have a time out when we get home.
Great, I would LOVE a timeout
Mom, you need to stop running (yes, another interruption)
Mom, before your timeout tell me how you are feeling.
I am feeling very angry right now.
Why are you angry Mom?
I am angry because any time I try to do anything I am interrupted. I want to be able to finish what I start without stopping sometimes and I can't... that makes me angry!
Well, you need to take a deep breath like this Mom (breaths in deep and exhales)
Mom, you need to take a breath Mom (watching intently until I finally consent and breath in deeply)
Now, how do you feel Mom? Don't you feel better? (Smiling sweetly at me)
Yes Allie, I do feel better! Thank you for helping Mommy feel better!

And it was true, I did feel better. Is she really only three? What three year old has to talk their own mother through a temper tantrum?!! I tried to improve my mood, but things really didn't change for me until Women's Conference on Saturday. I am so grateful I attended that meeting. At first, I was feeling overwhelmed at the request to "increase our offering to the Lord". By the time we got to Elder Uchtdorf I was ready to cry... so I did! His message was for me. My dear friend Sara went with me and caught the tears and ramblings afterward as I tried to articulate my feelings. I am so grateful to be a woman, a daughter of God. I felt that He KNOWS that I am trying so hard to offer my very, very best and my frustration comes when I fall below MY mark. I have been given so much and feel a great responsibility to give back. I just need to switch my focus... again. I have been taught so much by Chelsie. I am taught by Allie, and imagine I will be posting my lessons taught by Cooper here shortly. I have been given some of the most amazing, brilliant, strong, deep souls to guide and influence. I feel such a responsibility to be able to say I have given the very best of me to them. I know I am weak and imperfect. My frustration comes because I know I have the ability to do so much better than I currently am. In talking with Sara I also realized that my own spiritual strength is at an all time low. I went from being the gospel doctrine teacher to Primary presidency. It is not my turn to be taught, it is my turn to teach. So, I need to fight for my own testimony right now, make the commitment to myself to feed my soul, make the time to.

So, my week long temper tantrum is over for now! I feel much better. I think I'm back on track and hopefully can show those closest to me that I am grateful to have them!!

The Perfect Morning

2008-09-17T21:06:00.004-06:00

Last night I neglected to set the alarm clock properly. That's not the perfect part. Scott was supposed to get up to work out... oops! But the perfect part is, I slept the whole night uninterrupted!!! It has been months since I slept a whole night uninterrupted. Because I neglected to set the alarm clock, I didn't wake up until I heard Scott get up. I opened my eyes and it was already light outside. My first instinct was, "Oh CRAP! The sun is up before me... TROUBLE!!" It was around 7. Scott missed his workout partner (because of me) and went back to bed. I stayed awake and read my scriptures unrushed, by myself. I went in and got Chelsie ready for school. No one else awake, no other distractions, just she and I... like the good old days! She went to school so happy after having some good alone time with her mom. Cooper woke up, so we went in wake Scott up since it was about 8:30. He is RARELY still in bed at this time. Just so happens Allie wakes up and comes in to our room. She climbs in bed to snuggle with her dad for a few minutes. Cooper turns on the charm and tries to grab Dad's goatee and Allie's face. Soon they are all laughing and playing in our bed together. I know it doesn't seem like much, simple things really. But this is the joy I hoped for, for many, many years. Kids climbing up in our bed with us, etc. The joy... my heart felt swollen and I thought I was going to cry. I turned off the tears though, everyone else was laughing and being silly! These are the kind of things I wish I could "freeze dry" and open up again at some point in the future when they are too big to climb in our bed and snuggle. It was wonderful!

7 Months! The results are in!!!

2008-09-10T06:58:00.004-06:00

So I took Allie and Cooper to the doctor yesterday for their 3 yr and 6 month visit. Allie's standing tall at 43 inches! You think she's tall... Allie at 7 months was 27.25 inches tall and 20 lbs 6 oz. Cooper at 7 months checked in at 29.25inches and 23.75 lbs!!! It is hard for me to believe he's a good 2 inches taller and 3 lbs heavier than she was! The weather is starting to cool off so I pulled out my box of clothes to find some long sleeve shirts. I can barely snap the 12 mos shirts! We're officially on to 18-24 month size!!! My sister-in-law Maryann has a little boy (Dayton- soooo cute with TONS of hair) six months after I had Cooper. She's getting clothes with tags still on them because Cooper is too big!

He is so much fun!!! It seems like they start to come alive after 6 months. He is such a good, happy boy. I love it that he laughs so easily. Allie can really get him laughing. He adores her already. He loves to watch her and starts cracking up when she calls his name!! He can sit up by himself very well. Once he tips he's not sure what to do. When we put him in the little walker, he can maneuver himself all over the kitchen. He's figured out how to back up when he gets stuck! He loves to be whereever we are. He does not like being alone. He's fine as long as he can see someone and does not need to be held a lot. He has 4 teeth through and more on the way. Once this guy figures out how to crawl... I'm in trouble! He does this cutest thing with his hands. He looks at them, turns his wrists and just watches his hands move! It's like he's figured out he can do this cool trick!

He is such a delight and a joy to have. I was telling Scott the other day, I don't know what we did right to be deserving of our children. They are so good, so easy, so happy and bring me more joy than I thought possible. I am grateful to be the mother, grateful to be the one home with them every day, grateful to play a part in helping them develop and looking forward to watching their lives, personalities and their errands here on earth unfold!

Oh Boy, Here We Go...

2008-08-16T19:02:00.005-06:00

To understand the magnitude of today's "Allie comment" I need to give some background. As we drive around we talk about all kinds of things. One of the topics are stoplights, what red, yellow and green mean, etc. Here's how the conversation goes...
"Green means go, yellow means wait and red means stop."
Mom, sometimes red means go.
No Allie, red ALWAYS means stop.
But Mom, sometimes red means go!
Allie, I'm not going to talk about it anymore. Red always means stop. (otherwise the conversation continues on in this fashion until we pull in the garage)
How come we're not talking about it?
Because we don't agree, you know what I'm going to say.
Yeah, you're going to say red ALWAYS means stop and I'm saying sometimes red means go!
That's right Allie, that's why we're not talking about it anymore. You know what I think.
So, we're on to a different topic and peace resumes in the car.

We haven't had this conversation for a while, probably because she knows it will end as it always does. So today we are driving home from Costco. We pull into the right hand lane and turn right. From the back seat I hear... "See, I told you sometimes red means go!!"

I am in shock at first, then I am laughing out loud! She's right!! Red can mean go if you happen to be in the right turn lane in Utah where it is permitted! So she doesn't understand all the traffic rules, she knows sometimes we go on red. She hasn't even been three for a whole month and she is finding the inconsistencies and flaws in my reasoning!!! Three years old and paying attention to and pointing out my hypocrisies!!! IS THIS NORMAL??!!

I said to Scott, "Oh great, she's already poking holes in my absolutes!"
From the back seat I hear..."What am I poking holes in?"
Dad says, "In Mom's absolutes"
"What's an absolute?"

See what I mean... oh boy, here we go!

Writing to say... no time to write!!!

2008-08-01T14:35:00.002-06:00

I have many things to say... no time to say them in! Cooper's six month pictures, Allies 3rd birthday party, etc. Chelsie is out of school and my dilemma always is balancing time. Nap times used to be my chance to do some of my projects. Nap times are now Chelsie's turn for alone time with me. I know I am a boring blogger right now and nothing new has been posted for a few weeks. It will be a few more until I spend time at the computer! I let a lot of things slide, my blog, my personal progress/exercise, to make sure my kids are taken care of in a way that is pleasing to ME. I know you all have busy lives and somehow manage. We all have the same 24 hours in a day... yet somehow I never have enough time!! If you check back the end of August I'll probably have a new post then. We will have trips to Lake Powell and Colorado (for nephew Chase's baptism)to report on. Oh... we got a new car a couple weeks ago- I'll have to add that as well! See what I mean??? Patience please.... thanks!

Am I getting old???

2008-07-12T09:01:00.003-06:00

Last night we went to see Cheap Trick, Heart and Journey in concert. I've never been a Cheap Trick fan. To me, they are a "one-hit wonder" band. I forget I'm aging until I see these guys on stage. The lead singer is the only one attempting to still look like a rock star. He still has the long, peroxide bleached, straw looking hair to compliment his skin tight black leather studded pants. The other guys SERIOUSLY look like grandpas. The drummer especially. Full on gray hair and full beard, baseball cap, t-shirt tucked into his jeans belted and cinched much too high. The other guy, full wool suit with bow tie, checkered vans and a little ball cap that looked like it belonged to a 10 yr old. All he did was throw guitar picks into the audience who were all working hard to be fully drunk before Journey showed up! Heart was great, looked and sounded the same. They didn't play the songs I wanted to hear. Their best song, "Alone" was a watered down, slow tempoed version. Disappointing. Journey has some all time greats and a couple of the new songs were not bad actually. They found their new lead singer/Steve Perry sound alike on YouTube. He sounded great. Looks: little tiny barely 5 foot, 90lb kid from the Phillipines. He was trying hard, but definitey did not have a "rock star" presence. It was okay because Journey sounded like I expected/hoped they would sound. So I'm people watching, of course. It is so crazy too me the way people are behaving at this point. Most are plastered, girls dancing in the aisles, people making out, etc. There's this woman dancing, by herself. She's very fit, great body, but an old looking face. Scott asks me how old I think she is. I say, she's got to be 40-ish. He agrees. I look over at her again a couple minutes later and realize that 40 is only 3 years away for me!!! Do I look old like that?? Do I have an old face??!! Oh No!!!WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME!!! Now, in all fairness, some people do not look that old. We recently celebrated a friend's 40th birthday. Her oldest son just came home from a mission, she doesn't look 40 at all (Monica Martins- for those who know her). Anyway, I'm a little freaked out about the 40 thing. I am hoping I am not delusional in thinking I still look young!! It was a reality check for me, not fun- the rest of the night... made me feel like a kid again!

Bear Feet

2008-06-24T18:14:00.004-06:00

This morning I thought I'd multi-task, so I ran to WalMart to return something. Allie was still in her pajamas, but had socks on because the breeze was a little cool that early. Inside the store she wanted to get out while I was returning stuff. I told her she needed to keep her socks on because I didn't want her bare feet on the floor. She looks at me and says, "Bear feet?? Bear feet? Bears have bear feet, silly mom!" It was cute!

She calls Cooper her handsome prince! She tells me, "When Cooper gets a little bit bigger, he's going to dance with me"! Thank you Garrison, for the example of a younger brother willing to play older sister games! She loves her brother sooooo much! Here's some cute photos of them together!

4 Months Old!!

2008-06-18T07:57:00.002-06:00

We went in for Cooper's four month visit yesterday. The official numbers are in! He's a whopping 18 lbs and 27 inches long! I compared that to Allie's 4 month numbers and he's exactly where she was. Considering he weighed a pound less than Allie at birth, he's growing nicely! Looks like another Crockett giant in the making! He has been very "drooly" lately and the doctor confirmed my suspicion, his bottom teeth are on the way!! He is the happiest, smiliest, most talkative, most content little person I've ever had! I fall in love with him more every day!!! I know, I'm such a mother!

All her letters!!!

2008-06-13T10:01:00.003-06:00

Big news around here... Allie knows all her letters!! She's known them for a while, but she would miss random ones- mostly from lack of concentrating. Tuesday she got them all right!! We tested her in random order. What's more, thanks to Aunt Carolyn's introduction to the fabulous video "Letter Factory", she can tell you what sounds all the letters make!!! We are very proud of her!! As promised, we took her to get ice cream to celebrate! She wanted pink ice cream! We picked up her cousins Abby and Ben and went for ice cream. Abby is 8, Ben is 5, Allie loves to be with them. I was listening to them talk on the way there and Allie told Abby she loved pink ice cream. Abby says, "I totally love pink ice cream!" Allie then says, "I totally love pink ice cream too!" Scott and I looked at each other and smiled, she's not even three and the word "totally" was funny to hear her say! On the way home Scott let them all ride in the back of the 4Runner together and tried to roll them around a little bit. There was lots of laughter and pink ice cream- it was a great night! Way to go Allie!!!

STOMP!!!!

2008-06-09T12:54:00.003-06:00

Stomp was in town, they come every other year. We took Chelsie again this year and hope to every year Stomp is in town. It is the most incredible, phenomenal show! Because of her blindness, her world is about what she hears. We usually don't take her out in public places because all of the background noise drives her nuts. The first number was the brooms and right off the bat they had Chelsie squealing with delight. She was swinging her head back and forth so hard and so fast she had a MAJOR headache when we got home! It just makes me cry to watch her. She is experiencing pure joy!! It's like she's the only one there and they are making all the noise just for her. The best part is when they play the huge barrels. The noise is so loud you can FEEL it!! It is one of the few things she enjoys and we love to give it to her whenever we can! It is even more captivating for those of us who can see. So much is communicated without any words at all! It was a great night to spend with our big grown up girl!

Allie and the Bear, Allie and her dog house

2008-06-06T11:03:00.010-06:00

My sister Michelle and her husband, Erik gave Allie this enormous bear. It is the same size as she is! She has been insisting on taking her naps with this bear in her toddler bed with her. I don't have Allie sleep in her toddler bed at night, she moves around too much and often falls out of it!! So to have Allie and her bear in her toddler bed is quite a feat! Thank you Michelle and Erik!

Allie loves to pretend. Her new favorite thing is pretending she's a dog! She insisted I feed her lunch under the table in her "dog house". She wanted to eat off the floor, but we compromised and she ate off her plate, on the floor!

Batting Cages

2008-06-06T10:21:00.003-06:00

My brother Damon lives in Minnesota. He and his family came home to Utah the end of April. We had a date night with a few of us. We thought it would be fun to go to the batting cages! I love my family, we have even more fun now as adults than we ever did as kids. Most of the time we have our children with us, which makes it hard to socialize and finish conversations! We were kid-less, which made the date even more fun! Damon's wife Kathy is so great! She is quiet, you wouldn't suspect it- but she is quite competitive! She loves to play games, especially Backgammon- which Scott loves! Damon has trained her well, she's a good player! Kendal has always been the funny one in our family. I didn't think it possible to find a female equivalent of "funniness", but he found her! Wendy cracks us up!! Inside Boondocks are all these video games and such. We found this game that measures how hard you punch the punching bag, gives you a score and spits out tickets accordingly! Wendy was ALL OVER IT!!! Scott won the punching game, of course, but we all had fun trying! We bought little toys for our kids with our tickets. It was a great night with lots of laughs. I wish D&K were closer, their visit wasn't long enough! Here's some photos from our night. I love the one of Kendal and Scott, this is typical when Kendal's around!