Easter '09

Easter with the Crane Family...


Brittan with his Easter basket.


Brooklyn with her Easter basket.


My little Brooklyn!


Brittan thought it was to bright to be outside.:)


Ready to go to church.





My precious Husband & Kids.





My Amazing Parents!


The girls - minus Chera


The Guys - minus Jaron (Brittan & Keaton were DONE with the whole picture taking thing.)


The girls - Rochenda, Mindy, Me, & LaRona with our Easter plates from mom.





And guess who found the most eggs? This is before he had to share.:)

Easter Tea

This year we did a little something different, the Saturday before Easter we had an afternoon tea at my sister-in-law Rochenda's house. It was so fun that we have decided to make it an annual tradition.

She fixed a delicious chicken salad with breadstick, veggies, chocolate dipped strawberries, and of course, tea. After we finished lunch and tea, Rochenda set up an Easter egg decorating table and the kids colored and decorated the eggs. My children LOVED it! Before long we were all dipping, coloring, and decorating eggs. We spent most of the day there just talking, laughing, and enjoying being together. It was a wonderful way to start our Easter weekend. So, thanks to Rochenda for hosting the start of many "Easter Tea's" to come. (I apologize, I had more pics of the table, etc. but don't know how to import them from Facebook.)





Brittan & Rena ready to eat!


My mom and all her grandkids.





Brooklyn LOVES to color eggs!


Trying my hand at being creative.


A very happy Brittan coloring an egg!

What Do I Know?

First let me explain why I chose these pictures to go with this post. I have been really working on losing some weight. Along with some eating habit changes, I have been busting my tail exercising. My children think that this is great fun and love to join in. When asked by my kids why I was doing my exercises I told them that "I didn't want to be fat". This sparked their interest as to what fat is and then they come out to show me what they would look like.:):)

Although I am a whole lot older than my two children, I realize that my age does not necessarily make me any smarter. In fact, just the opposite is true. I am finding that all that I don't know, my children will school me on. Here are two instances in which I was 'schooled' by my little ones just this week and I had to share them.

Brooklyn was given an assignment for show and tell that required her to find several different objects around the house that were different shapes. Together we wrapped up a little box in yellow wrapping paper, covered it with several different cut out shapes and inside she placed her treasures. Finding things that were the shape of a triangle was a little more difficult than just a circle or a square. I was so excited when she found a crayola crayon that had several little crayons attached to it. It looks like 6 little triangles attached to one main holder. As I was talking to her about it I said, "and just think Brooklyn, you have an extra shape to share with the class. This is the shape of an octagon with all the little triangle colors attached to it." She ever so nicely, but with such confidence said, "Mom that is a hexagon, it has six sides." Did I ever feel stupid?!? I didn't know that she knew that, but have to say right here, "Go, 'Techur'. Keep up the good work!" I was unaware that they learn Geometry in Kindergarten.


Brooklyn showing me what she "looks like fat."

Then there is Brittan and all his wisdom...
Brooklyn's verse for this week is, "You shall have no other God's before me." We were working on it this afternoon and Brittan was right there trying to let me know that he knew it as well. After saying it over and over several times, I asked the kids if they knew what that meant. I was trying to get in a little Bible lesson.:) They both said that they didn't and that they would like for me to tell them what it meant. So, I started going on about how God must be first in our lives before all things. Before loving mom and dad, before loving food, toys, etc. I explained that God made all things and He wants us to be thankful and to praise Him for all these blessings and we do that by placing Him first in our lives. Brittan promptly responded with great enthusiasm, "Well, God made all things, but He didn't make toys...Santa did!"


And Brittan's 'fat' impression.:)

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Not much sleep, but I still LOVE being a mommy!

All that I ever desired and dreamed of being when I was growing up, was a mom. In my mind, there was no greater thing in the world than to have your own baby to hold. No matter what I heard or saw (with 3 younger siblings you get to experience alot)I wasn't to be detoured from my dream. And so at the young age of 27, I became a mom, thus ful-filling my dream. It has been the greatest blessing ever bestowed upon me and I cherish the honor each and everyday.

We have sickness here in our home. Brittan has been sick with some sort of crud since Saturday and he hasn't been able to shake it. The last 3 nights have been sleepless for me and him, and though I am tired I have not once wished a single minutes away. I still wouldn't trade being a mommy for all the sleep in the world. Now don't get me wrong here, I am in no way saying that I want my children to be sick, but when they are...I love how they long to be held, how very sweet and snuggley they are, and even though they don't feel well they still use manners, and tell you they love you over and over again. It is sweetness to me. I hold and softly squeeze, rub and kiss, and hold and softly squeeze some more. I love this time of closeness, I cherish it! Soon they are well, I thank the Lord for this, but then it is back to running and playing and the snuggles are fewer and farther between.

So today, as I am in somewhat of a sleepless daze and haven't accomplished much, I hold and softly squeeze. I do this knowing that it is only a fleeting moment in time that will soon pass and I wouldn't want to miss hearing, "Mommy, your my bestest gill" for any nap that would provide rest for my tired body. Those words alone keep me going for hours. Everything else will still be there tomorrow, but for now I have a little boy that needs held and kissed...rest will come soon enough! If you call and I don't answer just know this "bestest gill" is holding her bestest little boy!

Spring...A Fresh New Start

I am finding myself asking, "Spring, where are you?" but am reminded that, "March - in like a lion and out like a lamb." It is just that my 'spring fever' was tempted with those few warm days a couple of weeks ago and now I can't seem to embrace this cold front with open arms and a smile on my face. I am just ready for Spring, warm sunshine, and new life.

New life...ahhh the refreshing thought. I have taken alot of time thinking and processing that on a very personal level and have started to apply it to myself. I don't want to welcome spring with extra weight or a drabby exterior, so I have challenged myself, along with my unmentioned accountability partner, to start peeling off the old self and replacing it with a new and fresher me.:) Once I set my mind to it, or rather took a good look in the mirror without the disguise of clothes, I was shocked and extremely inspiried to lose my 'side kick' for sure! And by 'side kick' I don't mean a friend, this is truly the worst of enemies. This fella follows me everywhere I go. He causes me to... say excuse me when I carelessly bump into someone...buy bigger sizes of clothing so that he can fit in as well... want to walk out of a room backwards because I don't want anyone to see him, he's got my back no matter where I go, but that's just it, I want to go everywhere without him! I have realized that if I don't kick him to the curb soon, I will only have bigger more unpleasant issues to deal with in the future. All kidding aside, I just want to feel good about myself and have realized that I am the only that stands in the way of that. It takes disicipline and hard work. And although I know that I will never be a size 2 again in my life, nor do I have the desire to be, I do however want to be healthy and in shape. I realize that if it is an extra 20 pounds now at the age of 33, it will be double that or worse at the age of 66. So the time to start is now.

My friend and I decided that we would work on this together. Never in my life have I ever disclosed my weight for the purpose of accountability and weight loss. We decided that in order to really mean business that we needed to humble ourselves and completely confide in each other as to where we are at, where we want to be, and what or where our weakness lie. We wrote out what we would like to change or add into our lives and we are responsible to check in, encourage, and help out each other to finish this journey together. Enter healthier food selections, water, and exercise. Whew...it has only been a week and I find myself thinking this is going to be a LONG road.:) That and the fact that I seem to always have a growling stomach. We e-mailed each other the other evening and the content of the message was, "I'm hungry!" It's true, I feel like I am starving. I think now more than anything my mind knows that I am cutting back and not allowing myself to have certian things so since I am not walking around with a chocolate chip cookie, it says, 'you're hungry." Not helpful, but still I forge on!

Exercise, exercise, exercise, is so key for me. I can eliminate foods, but if I don't really exercise I don't see results. I am not one of those people that can just drop the weight like a hot potato, it takes me a long time and alot of hard work! So perhaps this cold weather is for me, a reminder that it takes the cold days to bring forth the Spring. So when I weigh in this Sunday and report it to my friend and have nothing to say as far as pounds being gone...I know that if I am patient, work through those cold, dreary days, one day I am going to wake up and see new life starting to sprout up out of the ground and perhaps a few pounds less on the scale.

Hang on friends...spring is on it's way and I think that I am going to like the way it looks:)!!!

And it was...A Very Happy Valentine's Day!

Our Valentine's Day was so fun. We actually decided to celebrate our Valentine's Day on Friday since we knew that we would want to spend Saturday working on our house project. The day started out with me helping put on the party for Brooklyn's class. All the children had a fun time playing games and making Valentine's for their mom's and dad's.

Brook kept Brittan for me while I was at the school and they had their own little party at the shop. While we were at the school Brittan told his Daddy that "they had to buy mommy flowers and roses." I really don't know how he knows that you are to do that on Valentine's Day, but he was insistent. Brook drove them into town thinking that they would just pick up something real quick, I had asked for a massage for my Valentine. Brittan has other ideas. He wanted flowers and roses, thus the pics of roses and tulips. You see, tulips are flowers, but roses are roses. I was indeed thrilled to come home to them both sitting on the table.

That evening we went out to dinner at Red Lobster, returned home to watch a family movie, pass out our Valentine's to the kids and Brook (sorry I forgot to grab my camera) and have chocolte covered strawberries, a special request from both of my little ones.:) It was a wonderful evening!

Brook and I did sneak in time Sunday evening to watch Fireproof together. It was amazing. If you have not yet seen it, please take the time to do so. It is well worth your time. It is a movie that we both want to purchase.

I trust that you all had a wonderful day as well. Ours wasn't out of the book spectacular, but it was exactly what I wanted it to be, filled with time with my husband and children and I couldn't ask for more!


Brooklyn diligently working on her valentine for her teacher


Thought that you might want to see what it said so that you would understand the 'gift' that accompanied it.


Brooklyn's Valentine for her teacher, complete with a container filled with chocolate chip cookie 'dough'!!


Brooklyn's class party.


Time to open Valentine's.





Brooklyn & her friend, Benett


Decorating foam crafts and having such a good time.


Not beautiful by any stretch of the imagination, but still my children's favorite 'special treat'!


The "flowers"


The "roses".


My flowers from the little boy who picked them out.:)


The ULTIMATE flower lover! There is truly nothing that she would rather give.


My gifts of love from God! Thank you Lord, for Brooklyn & Brittan!!!


Oh, how wonderful is my husband?!This is exactly what I asked for.:)

Parenting - Have We Just Given Up?

Parenting, what a gift from God. All I ever dreamed of being when I was a little girl, was being a Mommy. I played with my dolls daily until I was well over the age of 13. They were so real to me. I loved taking care of them, dressing them, feeding them, talking to them, reading to them, disciplining them, etc. The only thing that I left out was the part of getting up in the middle of the night. Oh, I am not fooled to believe that I knew all there was to know about being a mommy at the age of 7, I still don't, but I did try to put to good use all the things that I had observed my own mom doing.

I was 27 years old when I had Brooklyn. All the years of playing dolls didn't even begin to touch the surface of what being a parent was/is all about. The reality that I was responsible for this little baby hit me like a ton of bricks. While I was in awe of, and completely thrilled to be, a parent, I also realized the seriousness of the task before me.(I should say we and do mean we, but have no intention of going back and changing this from being written in 1st person)The sole responsibility to raise a God fearing, God honoring, honest, kind, obedient, loving, caring, hard working, happy, Christian child now lay in my hands. I can't come to the end of life and blame anyone else for the mistakes that I have made in raising my children. It is up to me not only to teach, but to live by example.

I have been amazed of late the serious lack of parenting that seems to be the norm in our society! I guess people just believe that children will somehow turn out to be 'good kids' all on their own accord. Sorry, news flash!, parenting is work! Although it is the greatest and most rewarding (in my opinion) 'job' on earth, it is also the one that takes the most diligence and HARD WORK! Prayer and faithful time in the Word are truly a must in order to totally and completely be the parents that God intended for us to be. I am stunned when I hear people say that they just don't know what to do with their child. Well, if something isn't working that doesn't mean you stop trying. First and foremost - the Bible provides the entire basis with which to guide your home and if that isn't in depth enough for you there are many Christian/faith based materials out there for you to read and or listen to. There is no excuse for not parenting!!!

I am blown away with this concept of just letting our children choose, right or wrong, they should be in control of their own destiny. The thought that you should encourage your child to make mistakes each and every day and never try to stop them from making the wrong choice is completely foreign to me. I am not in anyway trying to insinuate that me should raise robots and I do allow my kids to make choices; which socks do you want to wear, the red pair or the blue pair, would you like toast or cereal, would you like mommy to read or play with your toys. I present them with reasonable choices that are going to have an outcome that both of us can be pleased with. But I don't allow them to tell me that they ARE going to have bubble gum and ice cream for breakfast, or that they have decided that they want to wear roller skates for the day (no matter where we are going) or that they don't want to wear a coat outside and it is only 16 degrees. No, if they are feeling the need to make a decision for that day I ask them if they would rather wear the pink or the aqua coat. DUH, people! They are little children, treat them as such. The time will come all too soon when they are old enough to start making choices on their own and after having gone through years of training they will know that you don't wear roller skates to school, they will be prepared and ready to make wise decisions. Tell me that it is a great idea when they are 5 to let them wear roller skates to school because that is what they chose to wear, and I will not only tell you that you are indeed stupid, but will also show you a home where the parents are not in authority. This home, 9 times out of 10, will be a place that is filled with discord, fighting, yelling, unhappiness, and face it - bratty children! I don't mean to be rude, but so many times we try so hard to think outside of the box, when in reality the box is where the children feel the safest and the most loved.

I don't have my children raised and I don't claim to have complete angels, but I do feel that I have good kids. We can go into a store and I am not having to deal with fit throwing and tantrums because we didn't purchase the toy that they felt that they needed. I can snap my fingers and get the response that I am looking for or give the 'look' that says that isn't what you should be doing, but this didn't just happen over night. This has taken years of training up my children. There are still times when more 'correction' is needed, but as my kids get older these times are getting fewer and farther between. Brittan is 3 and he is still in the training years, but Brooklyn, at 6 years old now needs far less correction. She has learned the boundaries and the consequences for stepping out of those bounds. And for as much correction, there is that much more love. My kids know beyond the shadow of a doubt that they are loved and are the most precious gifts that Brook and I have. We spend TIME playing, listening, caring, reading, holding, praying for and with, our children. We want them to know that they matter! We know that what we invest into their lives each and everyday, will pay dividends in the end for them and for us!

I am fully aware that I am preaching to the choir today, but it was on my heart and mind and so I just wanted to share. Guess I felt a little more free to rant since my blog is a closed one.:):) Happy Tuesday!