I Win!!!!!!!

This is seriously not the blog entry that I envisioned I would write after a couple of months of not blogging, but it is one that needs to be shared. So, on that note, I WON! I AM SMARTER THAN MY IDIOT DOG!!!!! I am so much smarter than the dog that it's astounding! Idiot animal!!! So, she's been feasting on the cat poop so much lately that I'm actually shocked she's not dead. In fact, up until yesterday, she would just stay in her cage the entire day, except for when she'd sneak downstairs and eat cat poop. She was so stupid though because she'd leave kitty litter and chunks of cat poop all over the rug. But then of course she'd hide back in her cage because she knew that she did something naughty. Stupid dog. Well, I've also been frustrated because I have been changing the litter once a week, but Meowers is so stinky that he can stink it up in one pooping! I have felt frustrated because I have felt like our house is a giant, delicious litter box! So ... the solution. It's somewhat of a sacrifice, but one I'm willing to make because it has been FANTASTIC!!!!!!! I bought a scooper and litter deoderizer. Up until Meowers adopted us, a scoop has been unnecessary because Kitty has dainty poops that barely stink. We've just changed the litter every couple of weeks. Ahhhh ... the old days. Anyway, now in the mornings I scoop out the poop and then sprinkle a little bit of deoderizer on the litter. For example, Meowers took a GIANT crap this morning, one that I'm sure was making Chrissy salivate at the smell. It stunk. It made the house stink like litter box. Normally I would've closed the laundry room door and turned on the fan, but the smell was going to stay there all week until Chrissy ate it. So I went in there, scooped it and all the other doggy treats out, flushed them, and sprinkled deoderizer. It smells fresh and sweet now, like it just rained. Chrissy had to eat her dog food, the house smells nice, Kitty isn't going to pee on the laundry because she doesn't want to sit in the stink, Meowers has fresh, deoderized litter, and I am happy with the dumb animals. I just hate how it has taken me this long to figure this all out ....

Best Friends and Goodbyes

This year at school Lex has been lucky to have his best friend Spencer Kaltaler in his class. He and Spencer have been little friends for a long time, and this year in school they have been attached at the hip. They rode to and from school together, played at recess together, and Mrs. England even let them sit together. When I would pick them up from school, they would even tell on each other together! Spencer always told me what color Lex's Star was at the end of the day, and Lex would tell me what color of star Spencer earned. They would tell me of the kids they tried to be friends with or help or stood up for together. They were attached.

Spencer's family is moving to China this week. His last day of school was two weeks ago when Fall Break started. Lex has been sad about Spencer moving, but it wasn't very real because he still saw Spencer. This morning was Lex's first day back to school. He has been telling me that he's wanted me to take him to school instead of riding in his carpool, The Brockwell Bus, since Spencer wasn't going to be there. This morning I asked him again if he was sure that that was what he wanted. He told me yes. I then reminded him that Spencer wasn't going to be there in class today but that he was going to have a really fun day with rocks (that's what they're studying this quarter). He looked at me with a surprised, shocked face, like as if it was the first time he had heard that Spencer was leaving. His little face then changed to a sad, trying-not-to-cry face. So I walked over to him, put my arms around him, and he started to cry a sad, sad cry. He usually has a very dramatic cry with coughing and all kinds of drama. This was different. This was pure hurt and sad. So I sat there, holding him, crying with him, and trying to tell him through my sobs that it was going to be ok and that he would see Spencer again. I have never felt such anguish as I did holding Lex and comforting him. I guess this is just going to be one of the many times that my heart breaks so hard for my kids.

Spencer Kaltaler, thank you for being such a great friend for Lex. Lex is going to miss you and your silliness and your encouragement, but you are coming back in a couple of years, and it can start all over again! We love you Kaltalers! Have a safe trip, and we'll see you soon!!!!

Liam Plays Soccer!!

We've put our Liam in soccer this season. He loves it!!! I have to admit that I'm pretty proud of him. He is a very hard little player. He has played 2 games at this point and has even made a goal. It was in the wrong goal, but who's keeping track?! He has so much energy that this has been perfect for him. We've actually discovered something that wears him out!

Counting Blessings

My Lex just reminded me of a very important life lesson today. The poor little man came home early from school because his stomach hurt. As soon as we walked in the door, he ran to the bathroom and threw up. He threw up so hard that his little cheeks looked flushed from all of the blood vessels at the surface! I cleaned him up and had him go lie down on the couch. I got him comfortable, turned on his shows, and prepared for a very long afternoon (i.e. got out extra towels, clorox wipes, lysol spray, etc). He channel surfed for a moment until he found Phineas and Ferb, his favorite Disney Channel show right now. He's recently discovered the Guide button on the remote control and realized that he can see all of the shows both upcoming and on different channels. So after a couple of episodes of Phineas and Ferb, he pulled up the guide to see what was coming on. The line-up was Phineas and Ferb for the next 6 hours! He looked over at me with his pale little face, flushed cheeks and glowing, excited eyes and said, "It must be my lucky day! I was supposed to get sick so I can watch Phineas and Ferb all day long!"

It's funny because just this morning I woke up and my first thought of the day was, "How do I get through another day?" Of course I got up and took down a little extra caffeine and grudgingly struggled through the morning because nothing was going to get put on hold or anything until I could get it together. The lesson that Lex reminded me of is that life is going to be difficult and overwhelming no matter what. I've just got to remember to see the good and happy and wonderful during the bad. Lying down, feeling bad for myself or the situation isn't going to make any of it better. In fact, I would miss A LOT of "good shows" if I did that! I am so grateful to my Lex for subtly reminding me that today is my lucky day!

Our Middle Name Is Emergency Room ....

So, Dad got to come home on Good Friday and spend it and Saturday with us. It was a very beautiful day (a little windy) so we decided to grab some KFC - the normal picnic fare - and go to Freestone Park. We finished lunch, played on the toys, and then decided to go ride the train. On the way to the train, the boys, that includes Dad, needed to have a race up one of the hills. At some point in the race feet got stepped on and tripped over, and there was an enormous wreck of bodies. Poor Liam got smashed somewhere in it all. He sat down on the curb and whimpered that his arm hurt. We knew it was bad when he didn't want to ride the train. We took him to urgent care, and they told us that it wasn't broken but severely dislocated, and they couldn't do anything about it. They told us we would need to go to the ER instead. So, here is Liam in the ER. It turned out to only be a sprain - thank heaven for that!

Naughty Daddy! Don't you know it's illegal to blow up the latex gloves?! Seriously though, after a $75 co-pay and $750 deductible, I think a dumb blown up latex glove is ok!


It makes me sad to see a little body in a big hospital bed! I'm so grateful it was only sprained!

Our 3rd Season! What a Star!

I bet you can't guess which one is Lex! This is his 3rd season of soccer, but it is a new team. The other 2 seasons he was a Lightning Bolt. Now he's a Dragon. He's a very ferocious dragon, isn't he? He is doing so well and having a lot of fun. Last season he would sit in the corner of the field and eat grass, but this season he is really in the game, making all kinds of rocket and growly sounds as he runs. I think it helps that this team is made up of school and church friends. He makes us laugh! Lex told us that he really wants to score a goal this season. So Cort told him that if he makes one, we will buy him a horn for his bike (Liam got one for his birthday. There was a little bit of horn envy going on when this deal was made). If he makes 2 goals, we'll buy him a siren. I'm not sure how we'll mount a siren on his bike ....

The big 4!!!!

Liam turned 4 this year! So, every 4 years our kids get a gigantic, enormous, ridiculous birthday party. This year was Liam's Big One. And it was FUN!!!

This is Liam's pose for his birthday invitations. He's told me that this is his "nice smile."


His actual birthday fell on a Thursday. So we did presents and confetti that morning before Lex went to school.


He has grown like a weed and grew out of his bike! He has been riding without training wheels for a while, and his little bike was just keeping him from rocket warp speeds. This one is bigger and very fast.




Liam decided that he didn't want the traditional birthday cake for his birthday. He wanted birthday doughnuts.

And here's the pinata!!!! It is not a party if there's not a pinata!!! This Spider-Man is taller than Liam. It was seriously the coolest thing EVER!!! The thing itself weighed a good 10 pounds, and then we added 10 more pounds of candy. Liam could hardly wait to start beating him up. I think that should worry me ....

The building of the cake!!! Dad is pure genius! He made a train cake because trains are Liam's most favorite thing in the universe. Dad used Kit Kat bars for the railroad ties and Twizzlers for the tracks. He stabbed Rolos with a toothpick, which became the wheels with axles. Then he placed each individually decorated cake on top. They were so cute!




My sweet Lily enjoying the food.


Here is the Bounceoline (pronounced like trampoline) and Uncle Timmy coming down the slide. It's fun for all ages!

And here's Uncle Stephen having a turn! Silly little kids!


McKina and Bodin's mom with baby McCade.


Uncle Brent and Aunt Amy


What's a party without cotton candy?!?!



The line for the cotton candy. At least they're waiting patiently! It was good stuff!


It was surprisingly cool for April, so here's Papa Crandall keeping warm by the BBQ. It was still warm from the cooking of the hotdogs and brats.


Presents are so fun!


Rustin, Randon, Riley, and Reese's mom and dad.


Is it Rustin or Randon? I never can remember, but he sure is a cute kid! He's getting ready for a piece of cake!



Every party needs a clown too! We were lucky to get several. These 3 decided to take their own silly clown pictures when the camera became available. Silly, silly ladies! Did you really think I would keep these secret?!? (Michelle, Helena, and Jennie - My good, good friends)



Oh yeah!!! The beating of Spider-Man! He had it coming, you know. He was hanging outside the whole time, taunting anyone who walked by. Here is the birthday boy giving Spider-Man his long awaited beating. This looked like a good shot!


Heidi got some air in this shot! She was scary! I think her two older brothers taught her well!


The first lost extremity. He didn't need that arm anyway! He's Spider-Man!


Lex going for it. He was actually the one who loosened Spider-Man's arm. Lex was very excited about that.


And here's Connor! He broke the stick! Luckily we saved him and a couple of the other bigger boys for last. The poor stick really didn't have a chance.


Not to worry though! We had a much stronger, thicker curtain rod to use instead! Here is Bryan finishing the dirty work. He took Spider-Man down right through the middle. When it was done, we let the kids go nuts picking up the candy, but Bryan stood by, cool and collected. He was the man who took down Spider-Man! This one will go down in all history!

The candy gathering frenzy.


Getting ready to blow out the candles on the cake!

Oops! The candles did get blown out, but not by Liam! I love that Liam just stood there and watched as Gavin blew out his candles! That is hilarious!


And here is sweet Lily again, enjoying her food! She's very proficient at eating!


We had an incredible time! There was food coming out our ears, screaming, chaos, crying, only a little bit of blood. It was the best day EVER! We are extremely grateful to everyone who came and made this day this fun! Even though pinatas, bounceolines, and cotton candy are all great, they aren't as fun without so many people to share them with!

Best Friends

I love these little Monsters!!!!!!!




Lex and Liam playing some kind of super hero game. Liam's getting the arm laser beam. Watch out for those - they're pretty bad! I love that they play together and are best friends!

The Queen's Birthday Party

Well, pictures of us eating birthday cake is better than nothing! It was the first day of Spring Break and Mom's birthday - if those aren't good enough reasons to celebrate, I don't know what is! Cortney and me made a yummy dinner of pork and potatoes, and then it was the normal chaos that accompanies any Crandall get-together!



We make the birthday person their very own cake so when they blow out their candles their spit is contained to their own piece!



I love you Mom!

Dress Up

I was downstairs when I heard Lily having a fit in her room. I went up to check on her and realized that all she wanted were her black Sunday shoes. So as I was getting them down, she ran to her closet and wanted one of her "pree" (pretty) dresses. Actually, she wanted her Easter dress, but I wasn't about to let her prance around the house in that. So I got down her Halloween costume. She actually cheered and clapped her hands. I put it on her and her little black shoes. She was in heaven. These pictures are of her posing for the camera, showing her shoes and her pree dress.





These just crack me up! She was running around actually doing "fighting moves" and making "fighting sounds".