Bowling is harder then it looks

This week has been quite busy and fun for the kids. First we had Bowling Grandma come visit (that's how we tell the difference because this grandma likes to bowl on the xbox with us when she visits)

True to her name bowling grandma went bowling with us but this time it was for real which grandma found out is much harder then 

the Wii or xbox. Both Noah and Tayton would ask every day until the big event if bowling grandma was coming today. As the score shows I (Jon) took first of course while Tayton about doubled grandma's score. I asked Grandma if she wanted bumper lanes and to use the dinosaur to bowl with too and she declined.

    Thursday I took the kids and their friend Branson to the Tree house museum as part of a field trip for Noah's preschool class. everyone had a good time. I got a little too into it and dressed up like a king. What can I say ;) The kids ran from room to room and were sad when it was time to go.

     Friday I went to work and Tomi took the kids to visit with their cousins. I was not there but Tomi said every one had fun.

     Saturday Tomi watched the neighbors kids as part of a baby sitting trade and Noah and Tayton really enjoyed the company!

     Today (sun) I got to go to church with the family because I didn't have to make a 2nd trip on the railroad. The kids looked so cute in their little church outfits. SO did Tomi ;) I also helped Tomi with her lesson on baptism. I took each kid in her class and did an over simplified version of baptism. we also got to baptize action figures. I am not quite sure of this but I think Optimus prime the transformer is now Mormon.  

Tomi found Tayton hiding on the shelf under the fish tank! You can't take your eyes off these kids I tell you.

Well that is all for the wacky, zany adventures of the Crane house hold. Until next week America!

 

Kiddie Dates

We decided to start a new tradition in our family.   Kiddie Dates!!  Once a month, each of us will take one of the kids to do an activity for a little more one-on-one time with the kids.  This week was our first one.  We had a blast and are so excited to be able to do it again each month. . . maybe more if we can fit it in.  This month, Noah chose to take me to Nickle-Cade.  He loves that place and we had such a good time.  Tons of games to play, a few rides to ride on, lots of tickets and choosing prizes at the end of it all.  Tayton chose to take Dad to McDonald's for an ice cream and then to the dollar store for a few treats.  Jon knew that Noah would come home from Nickle-Cade with a few trinkets, so he wanted to make sure she didn't feel left out when we all got back home.  She chose a cute little stuffed Chihuahua dog with big eyes.  Fitting for her at this stage since her favorite movie to watch over and over is "Beverly Hills Chihuahua"  She always asks to watch "WaWas"  Dad helped her name the dog "Ramone"  You should hear her say it though, it's so funny because it's this low growling, almost creepy sound.  She also go to choose a balloon.  Dang, for $1, those things last FOREVER!!!  That thing is still flying high 5 days later!

We are SO happy that spring is here!  The kids spend every single day outside playing as much as they can!!  The neighbor kids are always knocking on our door to see if Noah and Tayton can play.  Sometimes I have to tell them no because it's nap time or we're just getting ready to leave and you should see those kids little faces.  They stand there looking at me with the saddest looks in their eyes. . . . and after just looking at me for a few seconds, they ask when will the kids be able to play.  I normally give in and say, fine, they can come play for 10 minutes before we have to leave.  That or when nap time is over, Noah and Tayton then get ready and go knock on their door.  We love living in this neighborhood where there are so many little kids to play with and they get along so well.  Jon had the opportunity to take the kids to the park too.  After a winter like this one, we're so glad to be out and about again!!  Doesn't get any better than these nice spring days where it's 60+ degrees outside. This is the perfect time of year, before the heat sets in and then I can't stand it!!  I've put away the winter coats and the boots!!!  YEAH!!

The kids like to help out so much, that we've even bought them little rakes and shovels so they can help me work out in the yard this year.  Lots of fun for everyone and hopefully teach them the value of work.  

Jon's still just working weekends, so today, he got home at about 9 a.m., just long enough to have breakfast with us, then off to bed he went.  When we woke up, I wanted to do a little something special because I knew he was going back to work really soon.  So we had a picnic dinner downstairs while we watched "Wreck-It Ralph"  Very cute show by the way!  It worked out great because we just had time to have dinner and finish the show before Jon had to leave again.  Not exactly special, but it was so fun for the kids and they ate ALL their dinner, for the first time EVER, without bribing, coaxing or fighting.  It was a great night.  

I currently teach the 4-5 year olds in Primary.  There are good days when the kids listen and get what I'm trying to teach them.  There are great days when  mom calls you up and tells you that you're doing a good job because her son came home and could tell them all about the story of Joseph Smith and the first vision.  Then there are those days that aren't so great where I have to move in opening exercising 3 times to keep one little boy from spitting on another and then again to keep the little girl from sitting on and constantly hugging the girl next to her.  There are even days when the little buggers are fond of licking each other.  Those are the days when I'm so grateful for the Noah and his quiet little personality.  He's content to sit and listen and keep to himself.   He doesn't participate much, but I hope and pray that while he's sitting quietly, observing, that he's soaking up the spirit around him and the things his teachers, including me, have to say.  For the past few months, I've spent some of my day every Saturday preparing a lesson for these little people.  It's fun for me because I'm always looking for ways to involve the kids and keep them interested because those little lessons they give me are really meant for 7-8 year olds who can read and have longer attention spans.  Wish me luck.  I pray that Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he called me to that position because I really want to make a difference to these little ones!

Squeals and Giggles

Starting a little early this week on our post because I plan on spending Sunday with family. . . For the first time in more than a month.  Hallelujah, we are finally all healthy.  Yeah!!!  Kind of ironic today that finally we are all healthy yet everyone else we know is sick. So I had yet another opportunity to stay home with the kids because my regular daycare lady's son was sick.  Then of the 8 moms that I called, all were ever unavailable or had sick kids themselves.  The two day care facilities I use on occasion were also full.  Well, actually, one was able to take Tayton, but not Noah, so needless to say, that didn't work out.  So another day hanging out at home.  I swear I've spent more time at home than I have at work lately.

It's been another fun week.  On Tuesday, we took the kids to Hill AFB to go bowling for dollar night.  $1 per game and $1 for shoes.  Way fun and a cheap family night.  Would love it if any of you would would care to join us sometime.  We only had time to bowl one game, but it was so much fun.  I love that you can set the bumpers to go up so the kids don't always bowl gutter balls.  Jon won, of course.  The saddest prt was that Tayton just about out bowled me!  She had two spares right up front and the young airman bowling next to us made a comment about her natural talent and how cute the kids were.

On Wednesday, Jon took the kids to feed the ducks again.  That really is one of our favorite things to do lately.   Fun for the kids and adults.  Jon had to chase a few ducks away, but he wasn't talented enough to catch some like I did.  After the ducks, Jon brought the kids to my work for a few mi uses and we went to lunch together.  We got to many comment about how cute the kids were.  Noah kept hiding his face, but he's definitely a charmer too.

Then on Thursday after dinner, I was cleaning up, so Jon took the kids next door to feed the horses.  You probably saw this on FaceBook, but it's still shocking, sad, and funny.  Obviously horses don't like the high pitched squeal of little kids.

Jon also captured this great giggle moment on video.  If you listed closely, she's laughing so hard, she farts.  Cute!  Tayton is learning lots of action songs like "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" "Wheels on the Bus" and "Firetruck". She loves to sing and it's so adorable.  We are trying to capture a good one on video so we can post it.  The kids are both in these awesome stages.  Noah loves to tease a lot and he's so loving too.  He knew Dad had to go to work this morning, so he comes in our room at 6 am.  Jon tells him to go back to bed, but he replies that he just wants to give Dad a hug and kiss before he leaves.  So he does and then goes back to bed.  Tayton is also I this loving stage where she just loves giving these great big, long hugs.  Love these kids!!

Finally got the taxes filed.  Yeah!  Luckily for us, we are getting a little to put in reserves for the pending government furlough.  Who said government jobs were stable?  Love my accountant by the way.  Here's a little funny he has posted on the restroom doors.

So excited to attend church this week and also to spend time with family.  This past month has made me so grateful for our overall health.  Yes it's been a rough month, but generally speaking, we don't have any major health concerns.  I need to remember this month and remember to never take the small things for granite.

The Plague

I think we're all infected with the plague at our house.  I started out with a sore throat on 13 Feb and it went down hill from there.  The kids then got it and even Jon.  I had to take a whole week off of work to take care of the sick little ones and myself.  Then, just as we thought we  were getting over it, the kids have come down with something else.  This time it is snotty noses and lots of coughing.  Poor little Noah has been having nebulizer treatments for the past two week. 

Jon got bumped back to just weekends again. . . good, bad or indifferent, we're not sure.  It's always nice to have Jon working full-time for the financial purposes, but it's also nice to have him home so we have to do less day care.  Jon was working a great job that had a schedule Monday-Friday, so we had the weekends off together.  The bad part is now he works every weekend, so we don't get to do to much as a family and we try to capitalize on just our evenings together as a family.  

This week, my bad parenting skills came shinning through.  We were all in the kitchen making french toast for breakfast on Sunday when I dropped something.  I said, "Holy Moly" and Noah in turn repeated "Holy Shit!"  Oh my, what have I created?  On the other hand, on Friday night, I had just put the kids to bed when Noah called me back in his room and said, "I need another hug and a kiss.  Because that's what's important to Jesus."  Now how do you argue with that?  So on one hand, I'm teaching my kids on the naughty things to say, but on the other hand, they know what's important.  The other funny we had this week while we were home one day sick. . . Noah wanted Tayton to go downstairs with him to play, but she was content to sick at the counter and finish her lunch.  He kept asking, then yelling at her to come down.  Next thing I know, he's standing right next to her at the table and says, "Tayton, come downstairs with me please. . . . no, you need to look at me.  Now come downstairs."  Well.  Tayton is a little chatty Cathy too.  She gabs and gabs all day long and truly speaks almost in sentences now. .. .little ones, but sentences.  She came to me the other day and said, "I was asleep, now I'm awake."  She's constantly asking us, "What happened?" these days.

Noah sneaks away with our camera sometimes.  These are the great types of shots he takes.  Not bad!

 

 The model train show was this weekend.  Despite being sick, it was still something the kids wanted to do so bad, so we just had to go.  Jon got home early in the morning and needed to sleep, so we decided to go when he woke up.  I then had to hear Noah complaining all day that he didn't want to wait until dad woke up.  He wanted to wake Dad up and go now.  There were a ton of people there, so we didn't stay long, but we still had a fabulous time.  Noah loved the train you can ride on.  Tayton loved the train that took us around a few blocks in town.  Jon and I's favorite was the humongous Lego are they had set up.  Lots of scenes from The Wizard of Oz and the Lord of the Rings.  I couldn't believe the detail.  Too bad none of my pictures turned out very well.   

Noah and Tayton got to run the controls to start and stop and train and blow the whistle

 

 

Riding the Big Train around town

We also went back to feed the ducks.  After the traumatizing experience last time, we made sure we only went to the bridge to feed them.  However, multiple ducks found their way onto the bridge so had to hand catch no less than 8 ducks and throw them over because the kids would run around screaming and jumped up onto the bench because they were afraid that a handful of ducks would attack them.  I think I scarred them for life.  Despite that little hick-up, we had a great time.  The kids have so much fun.  Tayton hasn't figured out how to tear up the bread, so she throws whole pieces over and the duck then get to fight over it.