January 2018

Sammy, Mason & Thomas Crawford heading out for a (very coooooooold) winter campout

As the boys were headed to a campout, Elise and friends were headed to Nepal! (She'll have to do her own post about that adventure!)

Ezra is cute. That is all. 

Ruthie requires many things when she goes to nap--around 20 books, her ponies, stuffed animals, a sippy cup and a bowl (in case she needs to throw up), among other things

Sammy's favorite chicken, Tiny, the bantam araucana

Teaching the cockerel who is in charge

Stephen read this book out loud to the kids--this was our second time reading it together, but the first time was so long ago the younger kids didn't remember the story. A family favorite!

Changing her baby's diaper. She likes to help with Ezra, too...

<3 <3 <3

Ruthie & Tiny

Stephen & entourage

The pigs are getting bigger!

The true and proper way to handle toast

Sammy had a gymnastics meet in Colorado Springs--where my cousin, Heather, lives! We stayed overnight with her, which turned out to be a very, very good thing, because...

...the car broke down. About 10 minutes from her house and 15 minutes from the air force base where the meet was being held. Heather came and picked up the boys while I sat and waited for the car to be fixed (thankfully it stopped working right at the entrance to a fix-it-up shop). 

Ezra and I hung out in the car shop, totally and completely missing all of Sammy's events. :'( My friend kept me up to date by sending me videos and his scores, and whenever I'd get one, I'd announce it to my new bff's at the shop and we'd all cheer for him together. :)

Sammy, however, did wonderfully well! We actually didn't know the results until a few days later--the level 6's (which Sam is) were competing on Sunday, but Sammy got permission to compete with the level 5's on Saturday, so he wasn't there to get his medals.

What Sammy did when we got home from the meet

My "little" 6-month-old puppy, Captain

Ruthie visiting our neighbor's newest calf

Lincoln earned his Bobcat award!

Ruthie "helping" with Ezra

Happy 3rd birthday, Ruthie!!

Sometimes a rare unicorn will make an appearance at our house and give rides in lieu of our normal camel

Oldest & youngest snuggles

Quite possibly the most cool picture I've ever taken--our tom turkey, Brigham, at sunrise

Pearl giving me loves

It's been cold!

Making slime

Trying to get a cool scar like her brothers

Studying hard

Tuesday twinner day!

Let's go get our Christmas tree!

All growing up my family would go to a Christmas tree farm and cut our own tree. That tradition continued when Stephen and I got married and had our own kids, up until we moved to Utah and had to go to a Christmas tree lot (where we got some dinky little tree). Then, for the last 5 years in Minnesota we walked 5 blocks to the Christmas tree lot, pulling and pushing our wagon through the packed snow on the road. This year, tho, this year was a new experience: we drove to the mountains, tramped through the snow and cut a wild tree. It was awesome!!

Next year, however, we are all going to wear snow boots...and wear real coats. Brr! That wind was cold!!

I put lights on the tree while it was on laying on the floor, and as of right now, only the bottom half of it is decorated...we might get the rest of the ornaments up, but maybe not...

Sammy G

Oh, my sweet, sweet Sammy! This is my boy who notices when I'm tired and rubs my back, or is perfectly content just being with me--whether I'm playing a game with him or we are doing the dishes together. He is a sober and steady boy, and always, always takes time. Time to think of an answer or time to let Lincoln try by himself or time to sound out a word. He never rushes me when I say, "In a minute" or asks the same question over and over. He just waits quietly for when I'm ready.

I had the idea a while ago that I should make a point to play a game and read a book with Sammy every day. Just with him. I told him my idea and he perked right up. And then he said, "Can we put it in your planner?" He was so excited when I wrote it down--and really lit up when I put "book & game" on every single day. He didn't know he was that important--because only important things get put in the planner--things that will get done. How simple it is to make him feel special!!

Elise and Sammy made this snowman on Friday. Winter is sticking around this Spring!

Some time after midnight the other night I sensed a small person standing at my door. Sometimes Sammy wakes up with a scary dream but doesn't want to wake me up so will just stand silently by my bed until I notice him (it kind of makes me jump to see a small, silent figure so close to me in the middle of the night!). I got up and asked him if he needed to use the bathroom. He shook his head. I asked him if he'd had a scary dream. Again, he shook his head. I asked him if he needed some water. Another shake. Finally I asked him why he was up, and he replied, "I don't know why I'm here." And turned around and went back to bed.

Sammy is in pre-ballet, and often before class starts he doesn't want to go in, but once he's been in there a few minutes he loves it. The theme for this year's Spring Performance is "Once Upon a Time", and his class of 5 girls and 2 boys (Mason being the other boy) is doing a Peter Pan-themed dance. The boys are Peter Pans and the girls are Tinkerbells. Sammy loves it!

Snow day!!

It finally snowed here!

 

Ice Skating

Minnesota has really been messing with me these past 2 winters. Last winter (2010-2011) was the 4th snowiest on record (86.6" as of Apr. 20th), and this winter we're at 14.4" so far, which is less than half of normal. And we're on average 7 degrees above the normal average. It's supposed to be near 40 for the next 5 days! The lack of snow, while nice because I don't have to shovel my driveway, is rather disappointing. What I got last winter was exactly what I was expecting from a Minnesota winter. This winter is pretty wimpy. 

Where am I going with this? Oh yeah...

Ice skating. It's hard to have an outdoor rink stay frozen with days consistently above freezing. As odd as it is to say, "Sorry kids, we can't play outside because it isn't cold enough", that's what I've been saying. We've only had a few good days to skate, and we're all itching to get out on the ice! Hopefully it will stay cold for my mom's visit in a few days--she wants to go skating, too! C'mon, Minnesota! Bring on the REAL winter!

How Trevor "skates". Isn't he adorable?!?! Well, what little you can see of him, anyhow...

It takes a while to get everybody ready...

YES! He skated (a teeny, tiny bit). I think he could have done more if the skates actually fit him...I need to stop by a couple different thrift stores for skates so small!

Strike a pose

Sammy in his "starfish" pose. He really needs to wear a helmet when he skates! He's graduated to single blades and is still getting the hang of them. It goes a little better for him when he has his hockey stick.

Sammy was about finished with his "skating one last time around the rink" idea. He crawled the rest of the way back!