10 Years

In the last 10 years, I've grown, birthed, and raised 4 children, conquered depression, supported my husband through a heap of school, taken enough classes to graduate from Institute, moved 4 times, read hundreds of books, learned to enjoy kitchen duties, had 8 church callings, and celebrated 10 wedding anniversaries with Doug, my love.

Our honeymoon wasn't a flashy one. All of our family was in town, which is super rare for the Crawfords. So we decided to spend the days with them and the evenings at a local nice hotel. We got food poisoning right at the tail end, and then started our married life.

Our anniversary dates have been conservative, the Temple and dinner. Nice for sure, it's good to just go on a date alone with the man every once in awhile. A couple of years, my good friend Annie has watched the kids so we could do an overniter, but since we have had 3, and then 4 kididdles, it just seems easier to parent them ourselves.

Each year we like to celebrate what we've accomplished, share what we've learned about each other, and dream of the future. Each year we've said that for our 10th anniversary we'd splurge and go on a cruise. This year has come, we're just as student poor as we've ever been, and it didn't seem prudent, (in these financial times) to take out more loans to finance a cruise. I put it out there though. We're going on a cruise for our 10th anniversary. We're going on a cruise for our 10th anniversary. We're going on a cruise for our 10th anniversary! Doug's response was just in his facial expression, and looked more like "fat chance, hun".

My positive attitude prevailed!

My parents decided to do a HUGE splurge this year for Christmas, (and all 2009 birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and whatnots) and all of us are going on a cruise! My parents, my siblings, my nephews, my nieces, my kids, and my husband of 10 years are all going on a cruise next week! I can hardly stand it I'm so excited!

So, Happy Anniversary to us, Merry Christmas, and Bon Voyage!

Kisses

Doug swears she's been doing this for a month or so...

but I'm just barely enjoying Jennie's new closed mouth kiss. This is one of my favorite milestones by far!

Sophia's First Day of Pre-School

We found out last week that she got accepted!

She got a big girl haircut, a new lunchbox, picked her own outfit, packed her snowsuit and she was off!

Daddy drove her in, and I picked her up, but in 2009, she'll be riding the little school bus. She is loving every second of it!

Too Cute!

Even in beans.

At 14 months Jennie still talks a ton although we don't understand most of her gobbildy gook. Her best word by far is "Peeeeees" usually pleadingly in want for a goodie. She does this super fast clompy walk that is her attempt at a run, but it's just not. Jennie is officially throwing fits all the time already. If she wants the pink sippy cup and I give her the green one, if I break a graham cracker in half when she wanted the whole one, if I give Sophia some lip gloss and none to her, or if Sophia won't share her necklace, she's on her back with legs flying. The fun thing about her is that if I simply say, "Jennie, stop" she'll usually look at me for more instructions, she'll listen to me and then decide if she wants to continue tantruming. Dalton makes her laugh a belly laugh that can pull anyone out of a grump. She lights up her daddy's, and uncle Lew's eyes too. The second either one of them walk into a room she bolts for their legs and wraps her arms around them, and then looks into their eyes with her arms up. She's such a lovey.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I love the snow. I won't drive in it of course, but isn't it beautiful.

Not exactly picnic weather.

Sophia's toileting today earned her a tea party, and instead of the usual water, we were able to enjoy some fresh snow!

Jennie enjoyed herself too.

Santa came...

...to our Ward Christmas Party. Okay so the kids knew within seconds that it was Bishop, but still.

Soph asked for a plastic Barbie head with hair. Check. Thanks Lisa.


Joe asked for a gun. You'll shoot your eye out kid. Not check.


Dalton asked for a Wii. Good luck kid, I thought you asked for building toys. Not check. Check.

Scripture Advent

I just found this advent calendar this morning and I'm so excited to start it for FHE tonight! I love that the FRIEND does all the work for me, all I have to do is follow through.

p.s. it's on page 10 titled "Stories of Jesus, Tell Them to Me"

We are Thankful

This year, we finally did it. Behold our Thanksgiving Tree!

Way back on November 3rd our FHE was on gratitude. I had prepared 40 strips of paper for us to write our gratitude on so we could hang them on our tree as a reminder throughout the month. I was not prepared, however, for the onslaught of thankfulness. The kids went on and on and on, they were grateful for each of their friends, all of our neighbors, every single family member, school, teachers, food, bodies, church, games, our home, clothes, water, candy, toys, unprompted they even said Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. This was one of my favorite FHE's ever, and a definite new tradition, next year, I'll prepare many, many more word strips.

Basic Bread

3 cups hot tap water
2 tablespoons yeast (I use SAF)
1/3 cup oil (I use lecithin)
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon salt (I use kosher)
2 tablespoons gluten flour
6-8 cups of flour
1 tablespoon Dough Enhancer (optional. Add during the last 2 minutes of kneading.)

Add ingredients into mixer in this order making sure to add only the amount of flour needed for the dough to form (too much flour makes dry crumbly bread). Spray the inside of bread pans with non-stick cooking spray. Knead dough 5 minutes for white flour, 6 minutes for ½ white ½ wheat flour, or 8 minutes for whole wheat flour. On an oiled surface, divide dough and form into loaves/rolls, (this makes enough for 4 small or 3 large loaves). Preheat oven to 350°. Let dough rise an inch or so above bread pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove bread from pans immediately and spread butter on top. Enjoy the bread that day, give it away or freeze it.

Tip: if you want to make hearty whole grain bread, you can mix in nuts, seeds, wheat bran, oats, dry milk, potato flakes, whatever you want really, in any combination amounting up to 2 cups just before adding the flour, making sure to still use at least 4 cups of flour.

This recipe takes only one hour start to finish when the kitchen is warm, only 10-15 minutes are hands on really. It's super easy, tastes wonderful, and makes the whole house smell fabulous. I make this once or twice a week while the kids are in school. I buy bread during the summer only cause I don't like running the oven and the A/C at the same time.

Dalton Played Soccer

Last time Dalt played soccer, he was 3 and he hated it. Well that's too strong. He loved practice when every child had their own ball, but when the game began and there was only one ball for two teams full of kids, it just didn't make sense to him. He sat out almost every game when he was 3 and we decided we were done with the whole team sport thing.

This year, his school friends, neighborhood friends, and Joseph were all into soccer so he thought he'd give it a try. As it turns out, he still doesn't like to be in the center of a bunch of kids all kicking at the same thing and mostly hitting shins, but he is a pretty good defender. Coach Isaac said that he understood the natural flow of when he should go up the field and down making sure to cover the whole thing. Progress.

The funny thing about this season was that so few 3rd-4th graders signed up that there were only two teams. They played each other every Thursday night, and the other team won each and every time.

It was a fun season to be with the neighbors, friends, parents and other siblings. Chatting, sharing snacks, and cheering for both teams was definitely memorable. If Dalton wants to, we'll sign him up in the spring.

I lost my girl the other day

We were at the grocery store and I was loading an enormous amount of food onto the conveyor belt. Milk and other cold items first, boxed and canned things next, and then the bananas and eggs so as to pack them perfectly into the bags and then into my trunk. I'm neurotic I know, I get hyper focused on organization all the time. Jennie was buckled in the cart amusing the workers to their total delight when I turned around and Sophia wasn't playing on the bars separating the check stands anymore.

"Sophia" I said without panic, but loud enough to be heard in all directions. No audible response was given, my heart sunk, and I knew that she was gone. "Will you watch my baby" heads nodded and I bolted left, the direction we had just come from. "Brown hair, pink pants, purple shirt" To someone willing to search with me. The spirit told me she was outside, I immediately turned around, ran across the entire storefront to the automatic door and looked out into the parking lot. I saw a grocery store worker next to my van holding the shoulders of my bawling little girl. I ran to her, hair flying, wrapped my arms around her and carried her back into the store to get Jennie, my purse, and our food.

Sophia had wandered off, and the magical doors opened as if to say follow me. Once outside, they wouldn't open again (you'd have to follow the "in" arrow for the doors to automatically open inward). Not knowing what to do, she wandered towards our van. Finding it locked, she just stood there and cried.

While paying, I just held her and tears streamed down my face. I couldn't make eye contact with anyone except to say thank you to the worker who watched Jennie for me. People weren't talking. Music was playing on the overhead speakers, and food was beeping across the scanners, but no one said a word. Jennie even knew to be sober. Another mother with a little girl came up to me and wrapped her arms around us tears also streaming down her face.

I think this all happened in less than 3 minutes.

I loaded the girls into their car seats, loaded our groceries into the van, buckled myself and before I turned the key I had to just sit and sob. I couldn't drive. I couldn't talk. I couldn't handle the idea that one of my children could have been lost to me forever. Everything I experienced Dalton's first bus ride home from school when he was lost to me for over an hour, everything I felt every time Joseph disappeared in a crowd (this has happened with him more often then I can recall), all the love a mother has for her children imploded and exploded on me that very moment. There are no real words to describe how much I love my children.

I am thankful for all of the people who saw a need and responded, she who watched Jennie, he who found Sophia, the cars that didn't run over my little one in the parking lot, the other people who doubtless were searching the entire store for Sophia. I am most grateful for the spirit who told me to turn around, and look outside. He knew where she was, and He knew that I would heed His voice, He likely protected her from harm as well. Thank you.

I Voted

Okay, so I didn't vote for my friends Amy and Erik, but aren't these the sweetest Halloween costumes ever! She's even got a baby boy just about the same age as Sarah's. Awesome!

Doug is 33

Here's a list of what he is and does have that makes him wonderful. Doug is sadly focused on what he doesn't have this year.
1. Doug's eye smile melts me.
2. He is so stinkin' smart.
3. His bachelors in Chemical Engineering makes him an Engineer NOW!
4. Doug will play games with me even though he'd rather do anything else.
5. He reads me to sleep anytime I'm having a hard time settling down.
6. He makes the best darn Chicken Crawford ever. (secret recipe, sorry)
7. He makes the best darn chocolate chip cookies ever. (secret recipe, sorry)
8. He loves the super easy no-bake cheese cake, and I only learned this after trying to make a real home made kind 3 years in a row for his Halloween birthday, (they all cracked by the way).
9. It makes him happy to see me happy.
10. He is goal orientated, and will always be working toward something hugely new.
11. Yeah, after getting a Nuclear Engineering PhD,
12. He wants to get his pilots license, just for fun,
13. and he'll someday learn how to play the piano,
14. and he'd like to be in the 2012 Olympics,
15. as an Olympic Weight lifter.
16. He only snores when he's sick.
17. He beats people up in his sleep, (professors and what-not).
18. He's ALWAYS in the mood for ice cream, even when it's -30 outside.
19. He loves free T-shirts, (and I HATE them).
20. He reads texts for leisure (finance, physics, nuclear, chemical...)
21. His feet, and only his feet, get cold, even in the summer.
22. The rest of his body is a freakin' furnace, which is nice for me in the winter.
23. He rotates all of his clothing for even wear.
24. Everything out of his mouth is sincere.
25. He's not a camper, but I am, and he endured a whole week in Yellowstone just because I loved every second of it.
26. His best friend, (besides me of course) is still his brother Lewis.
27. Dalton lights up when I tell him that he's good at math like his dad.
28. Joseph is proud that he is good at sports like his dad.
29. Sophia's favorite tea party guest is her father.
30. Jennie ALWAYS reaches for dad when he walks into the room.
31. He stands firm in his testimony of Christ.
32. He loves his family fiercely.
33. He is the most accomplished man I've ever loved.

The pumpkins are carved, and I'm all Halloweened out

I was mainly in charge of cleaning. Dalt and Joe did the designing and carving, Soph made lots of messes, and we all enjoyed doing it with our neighbors the Martins.
Here, Joe carves.

All of 'em in the dark


Dalt designed his own skull, Doug's nuclear cooling tower complete with steam coming out the top, and my bat. Joseph did his very own spider, and I did Soph's traditional jack-o-lantern. Jennie's never got carved, and might actually turn into a pie later in November.

Who knew?

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!
You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and appreciate the kind way you always handle things.

I told you we're crazy around here

Ready for Officers Hollow. Soph is the tiger, Joe is the half dressed Batman and Dalt -thank you for being so mellow- is still Harry Potter.


On the shuttle to Spookfest. Soph is now a Princess, Joe a more dressed Batman, and Dalt -thank you again for no drama- is still Harry Potter.


Look what the real face painter did on my sweet Sophia. Did I mention that at the Halloween Carnival I voulenteered as a face painter, well my abilities don't even come close.

Joseph's a Soccer Kid

Okay, so the scan of the originally terrible and way overpriced photo is equally terrible, but can you see his confidence, his excitement, his pride? I can. It was totally worth the fits over uniforms being in the dirty laundry, absolute hatred for the itchy soccer socks, and $36 bucks. Plus, not pictured here is a soccer trophy, the absolute envy of all non soccer players (especially Sophia). Today was his last game, and we'll for sure sign this kid up again.

First of many Halloween parties.

Halloween time is crazy in these parts. So it begins with the kids school Halloween Carnival. Okay, so I didn't get any pictures of the jam packed halls of unrecognizable kids eating way too much candy and being scared to tears by a 15 foot Grim Reaper, but before the festivities I got these.

Doug and Jennie were Sumo's.

Dalton was Harry Potter.

Joseph was a dead shark. Sophia and I were Geisha's.

I've never done homemade Halloween costumes before, and I know for sure that I couldn't follow a pattern, so I just made it up as I went along. We bought Doug's costume (inflation fan and all) a few years ago, but I made all the rest. Sally found the scarf for Daltons costume at DI, and we had everything else to make the perfect Harry. I made Joseph's shark for less than 5 bucks, and the fabric for the geisha's was only $1 a yard (since I didn't know what I was doing, I have tons of leftover fabric... maybe I'll do pillowcases.) Jennie as a sumo was a HIT! Even when we were separated as a family in the crowded elementary halls people would see Sophia and I and say "Oh, you look darling, but have you seen the Sumo dad with the Sumo baby?" Yep, they're mine. I love a party, and it's a good thing cause there are several more before Halloween.

FREE!

If you think you would fit into my maternity clothes, you can have 'em. White blouse, velvet dress, some shorts, a pair of jeans and some cute patterned T's. I'm taking what isn't claimed to DI, one week from today.

Sophia is 3!

Sophia had a WONDERFUL birthday! Everything for her Princess Tea Party was prepared ahead of time, and I felt virtually no stress. We invited 16+ kids, and since they're pretty young, many parents, and babies came too. We played games, colored a petal for pin the petal on the flower, dizzied ourselves, and did our best to pin it on. We ate a little lunch which included Sophia's favorite meatballs, fruit, and tea sandwiches. Vivi pointed out that even though this was supposed to be a tea party, no tea was served, instead, we had apple juice in Princess cups. I didn't have time to frost the cupcakes, so decided to lop some frosting on top of each one just before giving them to each child, and let them frost each cake with their fingers, this was of course a hit! Then everyone was begging for Sophia to open the gifts they brought. I love how children get excited to watch the gift they picked out, or wrapped, or decorated, or wrote a card for, get opened. The sweet little 3 year old didn't disappoint! My friend Joanna hit it on the head when she said little Soph was just like a Mini Miss America. Each gift was opened with a squeal, and gushed over with unprompted thank you's. I've actually never seen anything like it, she was so excited with each new deck of cards or magic wand she couldn't really contain herself. We then gave out thank you bags to each of the kids, and really we lived happily ever after. She spent the afternoon playing with her new toys, and being super obedient, and acting all potty trained, we had macaroni and cheese for dinner, and she went to sleep without her pacifier. Sophia at three has been a delight. I love this girl!

(p.s. I hate posting without pictures. I did just get the e-mail stating that they've shipped my camera back to me... I'm just waiting.)

Sophia

Uncle Lewis did a photo shoot of Sophia the other day. He takes my kids and turns them into monsters, graffiti blurbs and whatnot for his Masters in Photography projects. How could you turn her into a monster? Okay, I know exactly how it happens, but seriously, doesn't she just look so angelic?

Jennie is ONE!

Today, this very day a year ago, I was so happy to see my Jennie out of my belly (seriously!), healthy and perfect for the very first time.



Today, she walks (just yesterday she took an absolutely confident stride to her daddy), talks (ut-oh is her favorite word), has strong opinions (about anything she thinks is hers, especially anything I would call garbage), plays simple games (peek-a-boo and The Gravity Game top the list), loves her siblings, is crazy about her daddy, doesn't care if her face is covered in spaghetti sauce or boogers, eats dirt, is curious about all things poisonous/dangerous/lethal, climbs up slides and onto pillow piles, and is currently babbling to herself contentedly here in my cloffice (thank you Jeni and Ike) trying to put on my shoes over her footie jammies. I did NOT love being pregnant, but I sure do love her. Jennie is just delightful.

Oh, and for Jennie's grand deluge of gifts, we offer... her new forward facing car-seat!

She'll also recieve a cupcake, and some balloons. Isn't it great to be one.

Today we have lots of Conference to watch, Sally (my sister in law) and kids to pick up, but for sure the highlight will be sharing cupcakes with anyone who wants to stop by after the afternoon session of Conference.

p.s. After I develop the film, I'll post real time pictures. My camera is in the Kodak hospital. I miss it so badly.

Purple/Pinkish/Liney Pictures

Hmmmmm. My camera only takes purple/pinkish/liney pictures now.


I could pretend that I don't notice it.


I could try to get away from it.


No matter, they're still purple/pinkish/liney pictures.


I might have to get a new one.


Until then...

My Reader

Dalton finished his first chapter book this past week. He's attempted the Magic Tree House series, the Magic School Bus series, the Flat Stanley's, and so many others I haven't totally kept track, and the thing is that he didn't finish any of them.

Harry Potter had the allure, or the craze that he wanted out of a book I guess. Plus, I told him he couldn't read them till he was older, and then everyone his age started reading them. I found that he had stolen my copy off the shelf, and smuggled it to his top bunk, he was several chapters into it before I caught him, and from there, what could I do?

I am so proud of my little reader, I've even encouraged him to read the second one, so much for holding my ground. Read on Dalton, read on.

Jennie plays...

Peeka

Boo

Joe lost another tooth

It's the one on the bottom, and this time, he was at school and pretty much yanked it out before it was really ready to come. He just can't let it happen naturally, he has to fiddle, push, wiggle, twist, and pull till it's finally out. I've never known a kid to be so vigilant.


He seems happy enough though. I love this kid!

Sophia's First Ballet Class

This school year has been hard for Sophia. She's the only BIG person (just ask her) who doesn't go to school, and it's not fair (again, just ask her). She begged, and begged, and on the day I bought the boys some new school shoes, and she saw ballet slippers in the same section, she and I knew the answer. Ballet.

She's in with a class of 3-5 year old girls, and the teacher Miss Kim said that the first day would be more like a tryout for her, and that the tuition for this session could be refunded if she wasn't ready.

Sophia did beautifully! She let me style her hair (buns and pony's only).


She carried her slippers till we arrived in the studio.


She followed Miss Kim's every move and request with the slower reflexes of a 2 year old, but to her very best ability.


I could tell the whole time that she was trying her hardest to please her new teacher, and prove that she could be with the older girls, and her efforts pushed her through.


She's happy!


I'm sure you'll see more of her leotard collection.

My Grammy

Grammy died today. She's been sick for quite awhile, and the Alzheimer's had really taken over the past 8 or so years of her life. Today's news is a happy reunion for she and my Grandpa.



I'd like to think that I get my love of celebrations, positive attitude, little boobs, and thick hair from her. I undoubtedly got my stubbornness and high expectations from her as well.

Elizabeth Ann Head Nelson (she went by Betty) came from less than nothing, (with her mother having to board her out because they didn't have a home) but they always had each other. She married my Grandpa when they were still teenagers, and worked hard together every single day possible. With her skills learned as a young child, she managed money and people better than any CEO/CFO this century has ever even seen. Together they traveled the world, parented 3 kids, (it's funny calling my papa a kid, but he once was, and well maybe still is) built, remodeled, and sold so many homes I couldn't count them, and served as Rotarians for decades. They are amazing people who taught me to work hard, love family, be honest, and always strive for a better life. I love my grandparents, their heritage is an honorable one, I am proud to be their granddaughter.

I love you Grammy. Kiss my Grandpa for me.

House of...

We had the amazing experience today of attending our Stake Conference in the Conference Center. The rule for General Conference, (and all of the seasonal and theatrical performances at the Conference Center) is that no children under 8 are allowed. For Stake Conference, however, we were encouraged to bring all of our children! I just couldn't pass up this opportunity. We TRAXed down and arrived right when they were announcing the speakers. I had no idea that we would be hearing the voice of our Prophet! Not for the whole world, but for us, me, Sherrie Crawford, (and 86 other stakes... but still).

President Monson commanded us (me) to be/have a house of prayer, fasting, faith, order, and lastly a house of God. Sister Lant counseled us to beware of over scheduling, and focus on serving our family, and God.

Elder Ballard spoke, but well, this was Stake Conference, and like any other Stake Conference, we did have all four kids with us and there were moments of chaos. I had to spend some time erasing the pencil off of the walls, and putting the hat on the dolly, and separating Sophia's hand from my hair, and Jennie's hand from my -now broken- necklace, find the elusive pacifier, hand pencil and paper to the boys, and answer questions to which I may never have the answer (how big is that TV screen? It's not really a TV screen, it's a projector mom. Is that real gold? Why is the prophet so small I can smoosh him with my fingers? How long till it's over? How long have we been here? Have I been good enough for a cheese stick?) I can't seem to remember what Elder Ballard spoke of.

Walking back to TRAX and home was peaceful, no deadlines, no rush, just a restful Sabbath. We are an eternal family, we love the Lord, and we believe that the Prophet today is Thomas S. Monson, he spoke to us today, and we will do our best to follow his counsel.

Sophia was today's photographer

A quiet moment yeilds

Lots of bubbles.

Don't they look guilty.

I do love a clean baby doll.