A Visit with Papa & Mimi

Last Friday my parents came for their first visit since we moved to Idaho!!  This has been the longest I've ever gone without seeing them and to say I was excited is an understatement....I was beyond EXCITED!!  The kids were too......they love all of their grandparents & really do enjoy spending time with them.

Kids trying to surprise Mimi & Papa.....they were so exctied!

What my daddy woke up to Saturday morning....he couldn't be any happier :)

Josh has been gone now for 2 weeks, so having them come in the middle of his trip broke things up and gave us something exciting to look forward to.  Sadly, it rained almost everyday they were here, but they could care less.  They were so thankful just to hang out with the kids...and of course me.  We also LOVED hanging out with them.

The weather did clear up a bit on Monday so I took them to Bruneau Dunes.  The older 2 kids had been before when Gran had visited in October, but the rest of us hadn't.  As you can see in the photos below we had a great time!!

Caleb loved running up and down the dunes

Papa Mitchell, Ethan and Caleb

It was very windy and cold, so Rachel decided to take a break and get warmed up by Mimi

Here he comes......

Mimi shaking the dirt out of Michaels pants...lol

The kids had dirt EVERYWHERE!!

This is the dune they were climbing....they went all the way to the top!

View of the mountains on the way back home

Another exciting event happen while my parents were here......Rachel finally was able to ride her bike without her training wheels!!!  She was beyond excited!  She has been trying so hard for the past couple of months, but could never quite get the balancing thing.  Well, Monday she had a breakthrough and has been riding ever since!

There she goes!!!!

She was so excited she could not stop smiling...

Ethan was happy for her too!  He said now they are bike buddies :)

Papa Mitchell taking Michael out for a stroll

Caleb was having fun outside playing

Daisy watching all of the excitement

It was sad to say good-bye to my parents, but knowing that in 3 months we will be within a 4 hour driving distance made it alot better!!

Now to enjoy the last of our Spring Break and countdown the days until Josh is back home.....




Smiles,
Michelle

TCBY...YUMMY!

Sorry I'm a little behind on my blogging, but with Josh being gone I honestly haven't had the time!  So here are some pics of things we have been up to lately......

Last week, Rachel had an appointment to go get her teeth cleaned!!  She did such a great job...NO CAVITIES!!  Her molars had come in since the last time we visited so they put sealants on them.  Since the office was behind and we ended up being in the waiting room for a little over an hour, they gave all the kids certificates for a free kids yogurt at TCBY!  That totally made the kids day :)  So on Tuesday while Rachel was at dance ( we got hers later) I took the boys to cash in their certificates.

Last Friday night our church hosted a Tinker Bell Tea Party for all the young girls.  They all had to dress up in their fanciest clothes and bring some type of food to share.  Rachel was so excited and couldn't hardly wait to go.  I wish I had more pictures of the actual Tea but I forgot my camera :(.  When we got to church they had all the tables decorated so pretty and colorful.  The ladies at church did such an amazing job!!  They had face painting, games, food, a movie, had flower headbands for them all to wear, etc.   Rachel said it was the best night ever!

Smiles,
Michelle

Cameras & More...

Well, it's day 3 of the new exercise routine and I must admit I am feeling SO much more energized!!  This is with Josh being gone too!  Usually when the little boys go down for a nap I would be so tired that I would end up napping with them too, but for the past three days that hasn't happened.  Another bonus is that I have been sleeping like a baby at night.  That is a miracle within itself.  Usually when Josh is gone it takes me forever to fall asleep. So here's hoping to stick to this routine and be several pounds lighter by the time my sweetie returns!

On another note, I am really, really debating about wether to buy a new camera.  I have a Canon point and shoot camera that takes really good pictures, except indoors. There are so many moments that I am missing out because that.  I keep thinking about all the memories we are going to be making this summer on our road trip back to the east coast ( Yellowstone,  Mt. Rushmore, Chicago, NFL Hall of Fame, etc) and I don't want to end up with crummy pictures.
 So I've been talking to one of my friends who is an amazing photographer and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be getting the new Canon T2i.  It seems to have everything I want and meets the needs that I have.  Thankfully, she is also going to give me some pointers on how to use the thing too :) I'll still keep my point and shoot for everyday photo taking, but I will have this to take those special memories ( sports, dance recitals, special trips, etc.)
Do any of you have a SLR camera?  If so, do you like it?  What kind?

Tired of being Tired!

Do you ever just get tired of being tired?  Before I had our kids I was pretty active...exercised everyday!  I would even wake up at 5:00 in the morning, drive over to one of my friends house and walk 4 miles every morning..then go to work, come home and exercise some more.  Even after having Ethan and Rachel I got back down to my ideal weight.

But after having 4 kids, something really happened to my motivation.  It's not that I didn't want to exercise it's just that I was SO tired all the time.  Now in my head I knew that if I would exercise that I would feel better, but I just could not find the time.  I tried waking up early, but that wasn't happening.  I was just too tired...so I tried working out after the kids went to bed.  Well, that' didn't work either.  By the time they were tucked in, I was so tired all I wanted to do was hang out with my honey and go to bed.  I did lose 10 pounds last year while Josh was deployed ( I exercised at night with my sister), but since moving to Idaho the weight has come back.  A lot had to do with the fact that I just stopped watching what I ate, stopped exercising and I'm homeschooling the 2 older kids while we are here.

But something just clicked in me last week and I have determined that enough is enough...NO MORE EXCUSES ( from my end).  I'm tired of being tired!!  If I don't take time to take care of myself I'm not going to be any good to anyone!

So, today was day one of our new schedule and you know what....it worked!!  I now start homeschool an hour later in the day so that I can workout after the kids eat breakfast ( during this time they are doing chores, etc.)  And I have felt SO much better today too!!  Even though the workout kicked my rear ( I'm doing the Turbo Jam DVD's),   I had so much energy when I finished and felt GREAT!!   I am bound and determined to stick to this.....

So here's to a new, reenergized, active, ME!!!!

ABC's

Age: 34
Bed Size: Queen
Chore You Hate: Laundry and Dishes....never ending cycle :(
Dog(s): English Bulldog
Essential Start of Your Day: At least 15 mins of quiet time
Favorite Color: Red
Gold or Silver: Gold
Height: 5 foot 6
Instruments I Play: piano and trumpet
Job Title: CEO of the Craig Household...SAHM :)
Kids: 4..Ethan almost 9, Rachel 7.5, Caleb 4, and Michael almost 3
Live: Idaho for now...Northern Virginia in July...YIPEE!!
Mom's Name: Sarah
Nicknames: Chelle
Overnight Hospital Stays: 4....with each child
Pet Peeve: Smacking while eating...drives me NUTS
Quote You Love: "If God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it.  Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God.  Painful moments, trust God.  Every moment, thank God."-Unknown

Right or Left Handed: right
Siblings: 2
Time You Wake Up: 6:30
Underwear: yes??? ( don't really understand this one..lol)
Veggie You Dislike: Okra
What Makes You Run Late: I don't usually run late....another pet peeve..like being  on time
X-Rays You Have Had: teeth, kidney stones
Yummy Food You Make: Lemon Lush
Zoo Animal You Like Best: giraffes

Happy Friday!!!

Where does he come up with this stuff....

Lately Caleb has been coming up with the funniest things to say.....here is the latest.

First a little background...Caleb has been completely potty trained for a year now, but for some reason the past week he has started wetting the bed at night.  So we told him if he did it again we were going to have to put night night pants ( pull ups ) on him.  Well, he did so we are....here was his response:

"Mom, let me explain something to you ( with a serious look on his face).....you have a choice, I wear underpants or I don't and I choose I don't.  Pull ups are for babies and I'm not a baby anymore."

Seriously, where does he come up with this stuff!!

WANTED: Your Best Crock Pot Recipes!!!

Ok, ladies, I am in need of help!!!  I LOVE my crock pot, especially on the days when the family doesn't get home until around 5:00 due to all the kids activities ( happens about 3 times a week). However, I am in a crock pot rut...I need some knew ideas ( that have been tried and your kids like).  So far we have chili, roast with veggies, bbq chicken, and meatballs.  That's about it....any ideas out there??  Or do you know of quick dinners to make?  That will help too!!  If so please share!!

Thanks....and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!

Michelle :)

Daddy Dolls!

I received an email today with the neatest website and thought I would share it with you ( if you haven't already heard about it already).  It's called Daddy Dolls.  They make all kinds of things for your kids while their dad or mom is deployed...dolls, dog tags, deployment buddies, mugs, tag blankies, photo pillows, etc.
Here is a description from the website :  www.daddydolls.com

Recommended by Child Psychologists, Our Original Daddy Dolls™ and Hug-A-Hero™ dolls, which feature our Brave Mommies or Distant Loved Ones have helped thousands of children cope with the stresses of separation. Whether you are deployed with the military, traveling for business, or a grandparent living across the country, our Daddy Dolls™ and Hug-A-Hero™ dolls will keep you close to their hearts and just a cuddle away. 

Simply upload or email your head-to-toe photo, and we'll edit out the background to create a custom doll with your image that is soft and hugable. By using an advanced printing technology, combined with our soft micro-fiber fabric, we are able to produce a "no-feel" image that is dyed into the fabric, so it won't peel or crack and is completely machine washable.

Our dolls NOW come in 3 SIZES!; Our Smalls are 12" tall, Larges are 17" tall, and our NEW "BIG Daddy (or Mommy!) is over 3 FEET TALL!!! You can select a One-Sided doll with your image on the front and choice of fabric on the back, or select aTwo-Sided doll (Not available for the "BIG" dolls) with two different images (one on the front, and the other on the back) to double the hugs! All Daddy Dolls™ and Hug-A-Hero™ dolls feature our exclusive Keepsake Pocket™. We also offer FREE text printed below each photo, and voice recorders can be added to further personalize your doll. CURRENT LEAD TIME IS 1-3 WEEKS

I know with my own kids they would carry a picture around of their daddy or watch videos of him all the time.  It made them feel closer to him.  These are way cuter!!! They also have a nonprofit organization that will make them for your kids for free.  All you have to do is apply and see if they have any available slots left!


Hope you all have a GREAT weekend,

Michelle :)

A Salute to the Military Wife...

As part of my morning ritual I wake up before the kids, eat breakfast, and have some quiet time to myself.  Part of that includes checking my facebook page.  I love seeing how all of my friends are doing and catching up with them. This morning however my heart was heavy because SO many of my friends husbands were leaving either this week or next week for deployments.  I know how they feel.....we are proud of our husbands and the job they do, but sending them off is heartbreaking.  I just wanted them all to know that I love each of you and I am praying that God will be your comfort & strength while your husband is gone.  I found this poem online and dedicate it to you all!!   Love you girls!

The Military Wife
---- Author Unknown

The good Lord was creating a model for military wives and was into His sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order. She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both a father and mother, be a perfect hostess to four or forty with an hour's notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must be willing to move to a new location ten times in seventeen years. And, oh yes, she must have six pairs of hands!"
The angel shook her head, "Six pairs of hands? No way.
" The Lord continued,"Don't worry, I will make other military wives to help her. And I will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husband's achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say, 'I understand' when she doesn't and say 'I love you', regardless."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently. "Go to bed and get some rest.You can finish this tomorrow."
"I can't stop now," said the Lord. "I am so close to creating something unique. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave good-bye to her husband from a pier, a runway or a depot, and understand why it's important that he leave."
The angel circled the model of the military wife, looked at it closely and sighed, "It looks fine, but it's too soft."
"She might look soft," replied the Lord. "But she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure."
Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's creation. "There's a leak," she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction. I am not surprised that it has cracked. You are trying to put too much into this model."
The Lord appeared offended at the angel's lack of onfidence."What you see is not a leak," He said. "It's a tear." "A tear?" What is it there for?" asked the angel.
The Lord replied, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and a dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear."
"You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.
The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didn't put it there."