Excuses

Just so you know we are still alive, we are not sick, or out of the country, as a matter of fact we are not even all that busy. So what is my excuse for not blogging???

1. My camera got dropped on Christmas, it is not really working all that well. I may as well not have even taken Easter pix for how well they turned out. What fun is a blog post without any pictures right?

2. I am not creative enough to write a post that will keep your attention without pictures.

If you know of a good camera that will fit in my purse that doesn't cost more than I make in a month of teaching preschool (which is not a lot), and will take decent pix I am open for suggestions. My camera shopping starts now. I will then re-join the blogging world.

Here is just a brief update of us: (Mostly for my journaling purposes, like you really care)

Kallie

• Is very excited for summer
• still doing well in preschool
• has mastered a cartwheel
• wants to be the octo-mom when she grows up

Cole

• plans to be a wwf fighter when he grows up
• Has developed the "boy" smell (you know when boys go outside to play and instantly smell like wet dog even if they have bathed and been smeared with baby lotion not 20 min prior)
• Loves to go to the farm with his dad and his new dog Spice
• Had developed a love for milk (seriously drinking a half gallon a day)

Weston

• Successfully completed another tax season
• Finally talked me into a dog and then a different dog after he didn't like the first one so much.
• Is slightly obsessed with small farm animals ex: goats, ponies, chickens
• Enjoying a little time spent outside working on the farm

Me

• Have developed a slight obsession with couponing
• Trying to come up with ideas for the last few weeks of preschool (any ideas are appreciated)
• cleaning up lots of messes
  
• referring lots of fights
• loving my un-busy life and enjoying my kids so much
  

Can you say Cheese Ball!!

I decided since it has been over a year since I had the kids pictures taken that I would attempt this most dreaded job today. Kallie was totally stoked about this and practiced her poses all morning. Cole was excited as well until it was time for the actual event. Last time I had his pictures taken he was awesome and smiled a ton and we were done in like 10 minutes. Today was a little different, when I told him to give us his best smile this is what we got for the first 20 shots seriously. I then had to get after him a little for being silly which only made him mad. Then he said, '"I am not going to mile for that ole lady mom." It was pretty much over after that, but I got a couple of okay ones. I also didn't realize how badly he needed a haircut until I saw the pictures later. Ooops!!

Seriously what is that face, he looks like he someone just squirted lemon juice in his eyes!
On the up side this is the first time EVER that Kallie has not screamed and cried when getting her pictures taken. She did great!!
My Little girl is growing up so fast!
My Cole Man, good thing he is so cute otherwise I would have let Jenny adopt him by now!!

New Year, New Memories, New Messes

My kids had been in bed for about 15 minutes one evening when the doorbell rang. It was my dad and my brother who needed some technical assistance from Weston. My dad asked if the kids were in bed and I said yes and he just grinned and told me they needed another bedtime story. He went upstairs and climbed in bed right in between them and told them a story. It was so cute and my kids were so excited that they didn't go to sleep for over an hour. So much fun though.

I realize I skipped the Christmas post, those of you who know me and may be thinking it is because I just "love" Christmas nonsense so much you are party right, however this is all my kids wanted for Christmas. Two-ply horses!! This is not really what they got for Christmas, that would be slightly abusive on my part, but my kids spent a whole day riding their toilet paper ponies. The toilet paper was barely useable when they were done, but seriously a whole day of entertainment. Why is it again that we spend so much money on toys and junk for our kids for Christmas when all they really want is a little T.P. ( There is my Christmas vent for ya)
Will my son every grow out of this phase? I secretly hope not because it is pretty cute and funny. About a week before Christmas a package came from the UPS man. I took it in my room and locked the door to open it. The kids were banging on the door and when I came out of the room Cole was pretty upset at me. He apparently really wanted to see what was in the big box because about 20 min later I found him in the closet, he had dumped all the dirty laundry out of the hamper and climbed on top of it and up the shelves and was pulling the box down. I feared for his life so I got him down before I took the picture.
And what would a post from me be without Cole's mischievous grin and his most "handsome" shirt? And yes the picture does not do the mess justice, but if you can imagine what 5 gallons of laundry detergent looks like all dumped out that is what really happened here.

Stop the Mass Reproduction!!

Okay so that was a bit of an exaggeration, but seriously there are a lot of kids in this family. We got family pics with Weston's family a week ago and it seemed to go rather smoothly this year. Usually all the men are whining like little babies and the kids are screaming over each other but we were done in like 20 min. this year. Weston's family is a lot of fun and it seems like there is someone for everyone. How lucky are we that every member of both of our families live within 30 miles of us?!!


And here is my lazy way of sending you all a Christmas Card. Merry Christmas, and in case you are wondering, no he would not take the spurs off of his boots for the picture. Not really a battle I was willing to fight. I would rather have a happy boy for pictures, plus it will be fun to remember the days of the "spurs" because surely this phase will come to end.

Finally an update!!

Three months really? wow!! The truth of the whole "lack of updating is this": I have a serious problem with things laying around. It drives me crazy. I throw everything away and usually wish I wouldn't have within a couple weeks. So when we moved I found a large box of cords, I thought to myself gosh I have lived here for four years and have never needed these before, so why would I ever need them? Right?? Wrong. We got a new computer that does not have the cool little slot for my camera card that the old one had. Since I threw the box of cords away that I am sure contained my camera cord, I have been S.O.L! Lame excuse I realize, but there it is. I finally broke down and pulled the old computer out so I could get all my pix printed. Therefore I hope you enjoy this update, because there probably won't be another for awhile.

Cole is growing up so fast and is so much fun. He goes everywhere with his dad and won't let the big neighbor boys leave him out. (It is a good thing he is so cute and that they think he is a baby still or they probably wouldn't be so kind about letting him play!)

Kallie is a sweet little kid. She is loving preschool and calls me Mrs. Mandi during school. She doesn't act like I am her mom at all just her teacher. It is totally cute. She is doing great in school and is beginning to read small words. We just finished up swimming lessons and will definately need a few more sessions before summer comes. Kallie is a little scared of the water still but did pretty good anyway. She takes gymnastics once a week and is having fun with that also. Mostly Kallie looks forward to 2:30 pm when the school bus drops the neighbor kids off. She plays great with Cole and his little mommy.
Cole has DEFINITELY hit the terrible two's. The kid is into everything. I am serious when I say you can't take your eyes off him for two seconds. My poor new house is getting broke in way too fast. All that white stuff on Cole, ya that happened in a split second when I was standing a foot away. It is a prescription creme for his exema. Not cheap either. I nearly beat the child. Oh yeah and I realize that shirt is hideous, but it is his favorite. Need I say more?
Oh yes and that would be a little bit of corn flakes with his sugar. When I found him he had already eaten the whole top of the sugar mountain. Yummo!!
Halloween was a smash! Kallie is four so what else would she be but a princess!! Cole refused to wear a costume, so he wore his regular cowboy duds and I let him carry his horse, Pete. Which he was thrilled about. He wants to take that horse everywhere we go so this was a special treat. We got loads of candy and yes I ate it all in about 3 days!! Why is it again that I am 15 pounds over weight???

Rednecks, Cowboys, & Girls!

So after being begged and prodded (not really this is totally up my alley) I got a team together to enter the pig wrestling at the Fremont County Fair. We were pretty stoked and were sure we would be the proud winners! Mataia (neice) Me, Brooke Brower, & Hali
And if you were wondering, Yes we are the reigning pig wrestling Champions!! With a time of 13.8 seconds and $70 bucks in my pocket you bet I will be back next year to withhold my title!! Can you say REDNECK??Cole had his second birthday on the 13th. So sad my baby is two. All he wanted was "towboy stuff". He is the ultimate "wanna be". We mustered up a horse cake that Wes said looked more like a giraffe. Rude.

My mom and dad are pretty excited that someone in the family finally wants to be a cowboy. This kid stares out the window all day at the horses and cows. He wants to ride the horse everyday, and he is always sporting the hat and boots. Since the hat and boots were obviously not enough for this young cowboy, Grammy and Gra Gra got Cole all dudded up including real leather gloves, spurs, a cowboy belt and his very own rope, not to mention my dad brought his kids horse out and left it at our house for Cole to ride for a few days! He couldn't wipe this huge grin off of his face.

These were my little brothers spurs from when he was Cole's age. My dad was almost as excited as Cole!Grandma and Grandpa Crapo loaded Cole up with a barn and plenty of cows and horses to go in is new fence. However, obviously noone gave Cole the ultimate cowboy advice: "Never squat with your spurs on"I was out in the garden when Cole came out dressed like this the other day, he never takes his boots and hat off, but he had this cute little pink dance outfit on with them. I am sure he had the help of a bunch of giggly neighbor girls, but I still feel that I should be a little concerned since he screamed his head off when I made him change. He is the cutest little goofball.
Just had to throw in Kallie's cute little mug, her and I went to SLC school shopping with Hali and her girls. Kallie thought she was so big. She loved shopping, swimming and eating tons of junk with the big girls!!

Is it really July??

Is it really July already?? I cannot believe how fast the summer is flying by. We moved into our new home the first of June and are finally feeling settled. We had a crazy rainy month of June but it was filled with wonder and excitement for our kids. Coming from Egin with our closest neighbors a quarter mile away, to Parker (I know we moved a whoppin five miles) where we have two fun families right next door, my kids just can't get enough of having so many kids to play with all the time. I have made eight new little friends all under the age of 12 to hang with. They are so much fun, we have been exploring in the fields, swimming in the canal, chasing chickens, visiting the Stoddard's "farm" playing on the Roderick's amazing water slide and a countless number of other fun activities. I promise I am not a creepy child molester or anything, but I have had an absolute blast playing with all of these kids. Not to mention that my kids are having fun too. I hate when their moms tell them not to "bug" me because they simply aren't. Oh the fun times ahead, and oh how sad for me and my kids when school starts again!!
This is Kallie's favorite part of the water slide. She loves to squirt everyone with the water gun.
She has really come out of her shell the last month. Before she wouldn't go outside without me and now I can't keep track of her. She even jumped in the canal, with only a little coaxing and Shocker of all shockers, she finally after four years learned that it is fun to run out in the road for candy at the parade. (I honestly never thought this day would come. Every other year she has cried the whole time.)
On the fourth the kids and I went boating with the Jensen's and the Roderick's while Wes went golfing. The kids loved it. They both rode the tube and giggled the whole time. The best part was Grandma Crapo rode with them. Cole is an adventurous soul and the main reason that I have played outside so much this summer. I just don't trust him at all. He is not scared of anything and there are so many little ditches and things out here. However he will not be left out of the other kids fun so he and I just tag along.
Kallie and Libbie on the boat. They are such silly girls together.
A bunch of the neighbor kids and cousins lining up to do the surf board slip and slide. (My skills on this thing are extremely sad)

Weston is busy with work and more work. Me and the kids love going with him in the evenings to check cows and water on the four-wheeler. He is loving his new primary calling and we are all enjoying our new ward.

During June, I ran a leg of the Teton Dam Marathon, and then a week later ran a leg of the Wasatch Back relay. Both were a blast, however the Wasatch was unlike anything I have ever experienced. Just imagine 12 hilarious team members, a 12 pAsanger van, 188 miles to run, lots of laughs and 29 hours and 20 minutes later crossing the finishing line. Whew!! Exhaustion, but loads of fun. Aside from playing outside, I stay busy washing and rewashing all the windows the kids touch. I have become slightly anal in this area and realize that I need to relax a little. I am working on getting ready to teach preschool this fall which I am nervous and excited about. And now fans that about wraps up the progess of the Crapo family. Until later.... as Cole would say it...... PEACE OUT!