No Excuses

So I've been sick all year pretty much, and I'm almost out of the thick of sick for good. The tonsils are healing, but the scabs haven't fallen off yet, (which is when the pain officially hits the fan). I'm not yet bored with baby food peaches, chocolate pudding, or Jell-o but I've cried twice from frustration at not being able to communicate what I meant to, through pencil, grunt or otherwise. I do like that Joseph has to read everything he wants to hear from me, and I like looking at my scribbles of half conversation at the end of the day. I love how generous my friends and neighbors have been. I know that even amid the excitedness of having Grant Morgan Nelson (my brother's firstborn) join our family, my family has been able to extend their love to me as well. I can't talk but a few short words, but If you have a story to tell me, or are dying to just gab away, right now, I'm your girl. I'm high most of the time too, so if I do end up commenting on whatever you've just blessed my ears with, forgive the sloppy, confusing reply.

Firsts of 2009

I washed, dried, folded and put away 7 loads of laundry in one day.

I slept through Sophia painting the TV, kitchen counter, and bathroom floor with sparkly red nail polish.

She also was able to enjoy half of a can of frozen apple juice concentrate during my slumber.

I taught Jennie to say, "Obama" and on her own she uses it in the context of "O-crap". Side note: I wish success upon our New President, and I am proud to be an American.

I nearly developed carpal tunnel from making 240 or so crepes.

I learned that when the Killers ask, "Are we human, or are we dancer?" I'm dancer.

I McGuivered a diaper out of a pair of 3T underwear and a winged maxi-pad from our cars emergency kit in the dentists parking lot.

I ate almost an entire carrot cake, almost all by myself.

I had the 3rd or 4th installment of the SEX talk with Dalton, and the 2nd one with Joseph.

I broke my camera all the way.

I fed my family RAMEN for dinner. Maybe you're in the camp that says, "way to go Sherrie for being the sole food provider for over 10 years without serving the cheap deliciousness even once for dinner." Maybe you're in the camp that says, "shame on any homemaker disgracing her table with that cheap shameful load of MSG." Either way, it was a hit with the kids, and I'll not be ashamed to include $20 whole dollars worth of this pre-packaged dinner in our food storage.

I memorized all the words to "Don't Worry, Be Happy"

Solid Gold!

I've tried to put music to this, and can't seem to figure it out. You must watch her dancing though, she'll make you smile, maybe laugh, and you'll have a better day I'm sure of it.

She's not in classes anymore, preschool 5 days a week is enough for any little girl. She misses it terribly though, and we'll put her back in when the time is right.

New Draper Temple

We went to the Draper Utah Temple open house the other day. We first watched a lovely video that helped explain the purpose and history of Temples. They then bussed us to the actual Temple. We walked through a maze of tents to the main entrance, and were immediately struck with the reverence of the building.

The tour was silent. My kids of course weren't silent. My favorite quote was from Joe, "Why doesn't Jesus have any toys in his house?" Good question I thought. Within the celestial room, and while looking at the enormous chandelier Dalton commented, "It just goes up forever." Sophia liked the sealing room mirrors the best, but that was toward the end of the tour, and she was about to turn the altar into a trampoline. Overall the font was the best part, with the oxen that Jennie kept saying, "mooooo" to. They had missionaries prepared at the exit to answer any questions, and refreshed us with cookies and tiny water bottles.

Doug and I both remembered attending the Las Vegas open house as youth. We waited in line for hours, put on booties, walked through, and were more concerned with our exhaustion than anything else. The Church has seriously streamlined the process, and I'd say we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Here's the sad part, my camera broke. It wasn't till later at home when I plugged it in that I realized that it just has a broken screen. So here's the only picture we have of us on the temple grounds.
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Joseph spoke in primary this past Sunday, and for his talk drew the temple, so here's his version. Notice Moroni.

Here's his talk... he wrote it, I typed it, he delivered it at the pulpit with ease. I was so proud of my big boy.

Hi, I am Joseph Crawford. My family is going to the new Draper Temple tomorrow. We are all wearing our nicest clothing. I will be nice to my brother and sisters all day. I am practicing good words. I am listening to my Mom and Dad. I am doing all of these things to show respect for the House of the Lord, the new Draper Temple. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I'm 32!

I like water, and cake, and public radio, and family, and socks, and citrus, and laughing, and down comforters, and fresh skunk scent, and freckles, and pedicures, and friends, and clean laundry, and good advertising, and being outdoors, and Scrabble, and pretty things, and bread, and avocados, and Jerusalem, and friends, and reading, and organizing, and flossing, and Bombay House, and smart people, and rubbing feet, and sunsets, and s'mores, and roller coasters, and dreaming, and swimming...

Two words

First came "Go Away!" and it doesn't sound like a baby is saying it at all, it's clear as day, (not a Salt Lake inversion day, more like a Cabo San Lucas day) and usually spoken/shouted while clinging to one of my legs with someone else on the other. This morning Jennie said it as I was doing her little fountain hair-do.

Second, she says while running, (fast-wide-legged-lomping) towards the door around 5:30pm "Hi Dad". Again it's super clear. Doug even thought it was Sophia once, but no my baby girl loves her daddy, and is learning to speak her mind just like all the other Crawford kids.

Help!

Okay, I've blogged what I'm going to blog in 2008... What's the best way to print it. I've heard of blurb, I've heard of photobucket, I've heard of my publisher, so, which one is the best (least expensive, highest quality)? Do tell!

The New Years/Anniversary/Christmas Cruise to Mexico!

Handed down to my mother (Abuella) was two mink stoles. Since mink isn't worn anymore, and she is always looking for ways to carry on the love from past generations to the next one, she had them made into teddy bears for her granddaughters. Sophia and Jennie both have one to cherish originally from Grammy Nelson, and Mrs. "D". Abuella also loves her grandsons!


Andy helped me with my kids the whole time, at meals, at sea, on the stairs, everywhere. Thank You Andy, you're a great uncle. Here's one of Sophias new favorite people on earth! She and Arianna hit it off! Thank goodness for family!


This incredible Pacific beach was refreshing, warm, salty, clear, and just perfect, can I say perfect again. Perfect.


Doug and I, but mostly Ocean, aahhhh, the Pacific Ocean! Dalton and Abby seemed inseparable on this trip. Hannah and Abraham were nearby most of the time too.


The cousins all buried Joseph. Aunt Yvonne buried Sophia. This sand was the perfect escape from the warm December sun of Cabo.




Jennie loved the perfectly granular nature of this Mexican sand. I loved the girls new Mexican sundresses!


The streets of Cabo,(the drummer is seriously no more than 6 years old). Doug and I with Cabo in back.


Carnival towel art. We loved all of their creations!


Um...is there an appropriate title for this one? The Crawfords in Ensanada. That's our ship in the background!


Thank you Mama and Papa for planning, sharing, giving, and loving all for us. This trip was beyond generous! We felt your love every moment! We made memories, fell in love with Mexico, and you raised the bar for my student poor kididdles! Thank you. Thank you! Thank YOU!

Christmas Highlights

Grandma "C" makes jammies for all of the Crawfords... I think she made 40 pair this year!
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Got the books he wanted, and his favorite author is... Roald Dahl! That's my boy. A sledding tube in Arizona? Nope, we'll have to wait till we're home in Utah to use this one!


Must have come from Santa, mom would never buy a bow and arrow! Waffle maker, yeah!


A music box, Disney princess dress-ups, and Disney princess dolls, doesn't she look happy!


Jennie won't have to steal Sophia's silky anymore. A baby doll all her own.


Hungry Hungry Hippo with Madison (Doug's niece). Me kicking Doug's tail at the Wii.


"Say Harley" (Doug's niece). Aunt Becky (Doug's sister).


Thank you Mike and Stacie for letting us take over your home this Christmas! Special thanks to Nik for letting us take over your room. We had a great time, and made some fabulous memories.

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!