Funny Faces

Well I am definitely due for a post, but we have had a fairly uneventful week- just the usual grindstone. There wasn't even a new Grey's Anatomy episode! Ugh! We do have a few highlights from the week though. Brantlee has taken her climbing skills to the next level. She is commonly found scaling bar stools, crawling on counter tops, and plundering through cabinets. She also found a way to get on top of the king size bed all by herself. And her new skills do terrify us - can't take our eyes off her now! Collin is still infatuated with Goliath the Giant. He "fights" him all day long with his toy sword, and he can now quote the story from memory. Lolly bought him a new Goliath book and a video of the Bible story. These grandmothers! What are we going to do with them??

We do have a fun weekend planned, and I hope to post some things Sunday.
I did, however, manage to get some funny shots of my little people being silly this week.

Have a safe, fun weekend. And don't forget to relax and rest!

Ear Issues

A couple of posts ago I mentioned that our Brantlee Bug wasn't sleeping well. We just blamed it on teething or wanting to cuddle in the middle of the night. At her "well baby" check-up yesterday, we were informed that she has an ear infection in the same (left) ear that has given her trouble since November!! This ear hasn't been clear of fluid in several months, and it is now infected again. Poor baby! I really didn't expect to hear that. The doctor gave Brantlee another round of antibiotics and 10 days for the ear to clear up... or she will be referred to an ENT doctor :( It's crazy to think about tubes for a baby who is rarely sick! We also learned that the lil princess weighs 27 lbs and is 30 1/2 inches tall. She is such a squeezable little girl, and I love it!
On a good note, we have finally been able to enjoy some nice, warm sunshine. Now that I think about it, I actually like the insane weather patterns of the South. Just when you think you will be cold forever, you get to break out a short sleeve and play in the yard. Below are some action shots of my favorite people on Earth!

Enjoy your weekend!!!

Meet Jack/The Big 2-7

As of yesterday afternoon, Kyle and I became proud parents once again! Out of the goodness of his heart, Kyle felt compelled to take in a dog that wandered up to his boss's house (not our house mind you). Anyway, the dog is precious and it apparently belonged to someone. We are thinking that someone just put him out. He is very well-mannered, clean, and declawed on the his front feet! (By the way, has anyone ever heard of doing such a thing??? So strange!) He is a dachtsun(sp) and looks fully bred. I will probably take some minimal efforts to find his owner, but for now this pup is living it up at the Crager residence... sleeping indoors and all. Here are some pictures of Jack, his grand entrance into the house, and his first bath.

Now before I go any further, I must note that we also house the creature below...

Daisy, who is not so excited about the new addition. You know that saying "fighting like cats and dogs"? Well, we now fully understand this phrase. Yikes!

And we did probably get a little caught up in the moment here. (I mean, did we seriously need something else to feed? We have a hermit crab, too.) But it's going to be fine, and I really feel like Daisy and Jack are going to work things out soon.

Also, today is my 27th birthday, and I am truly feeling so blessed today by my amazing family and friends. I am inching ever so closely to the big 3-0, and this does NOT excite me. Birthdays just don't mean what they used to!!

But, I am a mother of two, and motherhood kind of cancels out any cool points I might've acquired in my 20's anyway ;) So... bring on the cake!

A New Haircut!

This has been a looooong week... probably because it's the first week in a whole month that both Kyle and I have had to work all 5 days!! Poor, pitiful us! Only kidding ;) But this week has been somewhat eventful. For starters, I agreed to teach another class at LCS- 9th grade English. Kyle's course work for school started Thursday (BOO!). It has been so nice to have his complete mind and attention when he's home, instead of him being focused on all his projects and papers. Brantlee has decided this week that it would be fun to wake up 2 and 3 times a night until she gets to sleep on her Daddy's chest in the recliner. We aren't sure if she is teething or just plain rotten. Regardless, the girl has figured out the system. Collin has been running fever off and on and having some tummy trouble. Maybe a touch of a virus??? Thus far, no one else in the house has been plagued with it.

On a good note, the weather has been much warmer this week, and the kids have finally gotten to enjoy the outdoors again. Daisy, our cat, hasn't noted the weather change and still thinks it's okay to live inside... and Brantlee is loving it!!! Daisy is her new best friend. Fortunately, Daisy is a good sport and lets Brantlee squeeze her, pull her hair, and sit on her head.

Collin and Kyle had a "guys morning out" Saturday while Brantlee and I did some grocery shopping. Collin returned home with his 3rd big haircut. Kyle said he did great and sat so still!! Just to show how desperately he needed this haircut, I've post a few before and after photos.

BEFORE

AFTER

Hopefully more pictures to come after our long weekend!

What we are doing now!

Because it's freezing outside and I have nothing to do around the house (ha! yeah right), I thought I'd have some fun with the camera this morning. Plus, Brantlee is 15 months old today and it's time to note some new things that both she and Collin are learning and doing these days. I am really not trying to be "that mother." It's just that I love, love, love to watch these babies grow and change and learn new things!! And I know I won't remember all theses little things.

Brantlee has certainly stepped her talking up a notch over the past month. Her latest words/ phrases: this/that,"Is this?" (what is this?), ta da!, Daisy (for the cat), "side" (outside), hey there, and my personal favorite... "tee tee" (when she sees anyone use the potty). She shakes her head and says "no no" when we make her do things she doesn't approve of ;) She is one tough little girl and loves nothing more than to be wrestled with and knocked down on the bed. She finds Collin to be hilarious... her best friend and biggest adversary at times. (And the feeling is most definitely mutual with Collin. Let's just say we are working on the whole sharing thing). Her favorite song is "Deep and Wide," which she loves to do the motions to. "The Wheels on the Bus" is a favorite of hers as well. She now has all 4 molars (thank you sweet Lord!).

Collin continues to amaze us with his words of wisdom and imagination. He usually wakes up running into the living room and yelling that a dragon, "Growly Gus," or "the grumpy old troll" is after him. These crazy cartoons!! He just recently told me that he was in my belly when he was a little baby. (I vaguely remember saying something about that in a picture he saw. Apparently it stuck!) He is becoming more and more into drawing and coloring. He is obsessed with a matching game Santa brought him. And he loves to practice his shapes and letters. He has started telling us BEFORE he needs to go potty. That really helps, you know ;) One thing that tugs at the heartstrings more than anything is his love for the Bible story "David and Goliath." We have to read it like once a day.

2010 Begins!

I am soooo behind on my blogging. And it's not that I haven't thought about it or intended to- I have just had some battery issues with my camera. And what's a good post without pictures, right?! Fortunately my mom took some good pictures of the family as we brought in the new year and so forth. Also, it is important to note that ALL schools in the area are closed today for "severe weather." Yes it is frigid, but not quite the Arctic blast we thought it would be. But I am not complaining!! I am TOTALLY fine with staying indoors and sipping hot chocolate all day :) and catching up this blog on the past 2 weeks. (Has it really been that long?? Geez!)

Belated Anniversary Celebration

In August, Kyle and I celebrated 5 glorious years of marriage. After Christmas, we finally slipped off to New Orleans for a couple nights - just the two of us. For some reason, we both just love NO and have since we started dating so many years ago. We stayed at the Bourbon Orleans, ate some awesome food, shopped the French Market, and just enjoyed some much needed time together. It was really so refreshing! The kiddos stayed between both sets of grandparents, and I am sure they enjoyed us being gone even more than we did ;)

Our view from the room balcony

Before dinner at Redfish Grille - our new favorite!

Bringing in the New Year

As usual, we kept NYE low key... but still managed to have a blast with the family. I'm not sure what I should classify as the highlight of the night: the fireworks, mom's gumbo or our pathetic attempts to bowl and ski on the Wii. HILARIOUS! We also celebrated Paw Paw Bob's birthday that night- just a few days early. And of course, January 1st wouldn't be complete without black-eyed peas, cabbage and hog jowl. (We kind of flubbed on the hog part and substituted sausage, but shhh don't tell anybody ;) Besides the fact that my attempt with homemade cornbread that day was a complete failure. Actually- it was unrecognizable, if that's even a word. My sweet in-laws said, "it really wasn't that bad, especially when you eat it with peas." Seriously... I'm fine with the truth. I'll just use a mix next time.

To say the very least- Collin enjoyed the fireworks. And every night for the next few days Collin thought that we were supposed to shoot them just because it was dark.

And Brantlee enjoyed the show too...Even the loud ones! This child has no fear!

So glad K'Lynne was home to celebrate Christmas AND the New Year with the family.

Resolution Time

I know, I know. These things are made to be broken only weeks (or days) after we make them. But maybe if we actually write them down and look back on them throughout the year we will be held more accountable?? Or maybe I should just call them goals?? Whatever, Kyle and I have made some goals for the year:

1) Fresher foods for the family (especially the babies) We eat entirely too much processed food!! I'm not saying we are going crazy with this... but we are committed to be more aware of the frozen pizzas, canned foods, and hot dogs our kids eat.

2)10K here we come!! Since we have all done several 5Ks, it's time to step it up. Kyle and I, along with my parents, are in full training mode for the Crescent City Classic in April. I'm excited! But I am not so excited that I am going to hit the pavement anytime soon... 40 degrees is where I draw the line.

3)And most importantly, we are committed to reading the Bible through in a year. We actually started this plan back in December but will continue it throughout the year. I mean really - it's 15 minutes a day. We have a guide/checklist. And we HAVE the time whether we admit it or not. It's ALL about priorities! Why is this area in my life always overlooked?

We are looking forward to 2010 and seeking God's will in this new year!!

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV