Blogging for memories.....

Years ago I started a blog! I wanted a place to record some memories of our life and family. It was fun and I enjoyed writing about our "happenings". Since then, I have faded away from the blogging world.

LIFE GETS SO BUSY....
Man, I just haven't had the time to sit down, download pictures and write about our events.

NOW...
I am feeling some regrets. I love reading my past posts. Some of the things that happened I had actually already forgotten about!

SO....
I am going to recommit. (I know, I know, I have said that before. I just can't imagine going along and not keeping track of some of these wonderful events. I often stop blogging because I get bogged down by a very special event that I want to blog in a very special way and as a result I end up not blogging for quite awhile. So many amazing and wonderful life changing events have occurred over the years that have not been blogged about so perhaps I will use this post to briefly list them and write more about each event later instead of never doing it at all.

Melinda and Jason were married! What a beautiful and wonderful event. They have since added two adorable little boys in which I had the great pleasure of witnessing each of their amazing births. They live in St. George and love it. We sure miss them and I hope to get down there soon to see them all.

Megan and Weston have moved to Highland and love living here and we of course, love having them nearby. What an experience to have our children, uncles and aunts to their children nephews, all attend the same school as well as enjoy being in the same class together! They too, have added two adorable children (I did get to witness Jonah's birth too) and Peyton (our first grand daughter)

Jesse is becoming very independent and it is bitter sweet that he will be a senior this year in high school. He has some super plans brewing for college, investing and his senior year which I know he will execute and enjoy.

All four younger children have had the opportunity to participate in dance, sports and many other fun events. They are great students at school and I enjoy mothering all my kiddos so much!

NOW.....
you have it in a nutshell! Croxfords have been busy. Life IS so beautiful! Summer is in full force and I look forward to blogging each day about our happenings as exciting or ordinary as they may be.
 

Last Fall I sent these kiddos to elementary school....

Abby

Hallie

Nathan

Joshua

PLUS

 

Jesse

 

Now the year is coming to an end. Preschool Graduation is in two days for Abby, the other four will finish next week. What a bitter sweet moment. I am looking so forward to "hogging" my time with these kids this summer and I have all kinds of fun plans brewin' away, however, at the moment I am sitting here reminiscing how quickly the time goes by and how much I would love to just free the moment and live with it forever!

 

I love the Dr. Seus Quote - "Don't be sad that it's over, be glad that it happened!

 

SUMMER.......

HERE WE COME!

WELCOME 2013

...............a brand new year! How I love the renewal of January! It comes right at the most perfect time. First off, the 3 months prior to January are full of the most exciting holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, of course! I LOVE holidays. My kids LOVE holidays.....so we play and celebrate and party and well, we just have a great time! By the time Christmas comes the highlight of this holiday trio, we are just about partied out......Then comes January. A month of winter, quiet, renewal and peace......a time to sit back, relax, ponder, regroup and move ..............

FORWARD!

I am so looking forward to this year and the goals and dreams I am working on. My goal, breaking it all down 1 month, 1 week and 1 day at a time! I am surrounded by blessings and I want to take time each day to really reflect on my family and the privilege I have to be a wife and mother.

Life really is beautiful.
 

Summer Bucket List....

Now who came up with a name like "summer bucket list"? (just thinking)

Anyway, it's time to "plan" summer! YES! I said "plan"! For the past 6 years we have had to remain pretty darn flexible in order to keep up with all the going ons here! When you have a pre teen and start adding babies, 4 to be exact within a 33 month period, yes, less than 3 years and 4 all in diapers, life as you know it COMPLETELY changes, and I do mean COMPLETELY!

In order to continue with each new day we had to say good bye to many things like -

1.  a clean house
2.  being on time to anything..........ever!
3.  sleeping all through the night...........also, ever!
4.  money
5.  Any kind of simple run to the store to pick up anything but instead found chasing little ones who can quickly spread in all different directions, a major part of any outside excursion
6.  Volunteering for pretty much anything to save  our energy and focus for our kids!
7.  Furniture - and  anyone with small kids can figure this one out in a minute!
8.  Quiet moments - that says it all, because there truly are none!

On the flip side we then said "Hello" to a list of newbies like -
1.  fast food or cold cereal dinners
2.  returning items to the store from innocent and curious tiny shoplifters!
3.  HUGE piles of laundry that only took 2-3 days to accumulate!
4.  stained clothes - especially mine
5.  globs of acrylic paint on the dining room carpet - finding NOTHING that could remove it!
6. Ongoing markers pencils pens decorating walls, floors, and pretty much anything else the little artist - wanna be - could get to before I hunted him down and confiscated his source.
7.  Kids in our bed at night! I know, I have read all the articles out there on returning sleeping kids to bed but let me just say this once.................they don't work and whoever is writing these articles clearly does not have kids!
8.  Pantry raiders! We have learned to put the lids on all containers tightly.

Needless to say, our lives did take a dramatically different direction for quite a few years. And as I sit here writing the many mishaps and changes we have and are still to some extent living through, I have to honestly say I would not trade this time for anything! We have learned to lean on each other, we have learned to find humor in many things quickly now! We have learned that we can live without spending a lot of money on items we use to think were necessities and most of all we have learned how to love each other. Our family is so close, so connected and so there for each other.

Our youngest is going to turn 4 years old the end of July! This summer, is the first summer in a really long time that I feel I can actually set down some kind of a plan. Now the beauty of summer is the relaxed feeling of being able to enjoy minimal committments, absence of school demands, reduction of specific times we need to be anywhere etc. However, I want a sense of some routine, focus for personal development and enjoyment as well as contribution.........So, for the next few days, I am going to give this some serious thought and then after I meet with my family and organize it, I will post my results back here!

I am so ready for summer this year!

"Bake and Take" Sunday.....

Now this one has been a hit! I was trying to come up with an idea for my kids last month to reinforce the monthly value for April that our family had been working on (which was unselfishness and sensitivity) and since Sundays are days I would like to fill with more meaningful activities,

"Bake and Take Sundays" were invented.  Here's how they work -

On the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, we are going to bake something together as a family and then deliver half of it to a person/family of our choice! We divided up the weeks for the next couple of months and assigned each family member one of the weeks. That way we all get to take turns selecting the lucky recipient for that week. Man, was this fun! Definately a keeper.

These guys were pretty excited to be the first ones in the family to choose our goodie and where we were going to deliver them. They picked a special school friend and boy was he excited when we showed up at his house with some yummy warm cookies!

Melting?

So...I was scrubbing the bathrooms and by the time I was done, I was really hot and sweaty! I sat down to rest and Hallie (5 yrs) looks at me and says, "Mommy, are you melting?"

So unresistable! All my kids! I just couldn't be surrounded with any more love and cuteness!

I love my life. It's so full and rewarding! 

Quiet Morning Thoughts....

Another 4 months gone by and boy my life is full! I'm sitting here in the wee hours of the morning (5:00 am) I've been up since 3:30! I went to bed around 10:30 last night and was so excited to get a complete and full nights sleep. (I've been so tired lately) and yet, I just can't sleep! So why fight it?

Outside I hear some birds chirping. It's so dark and morning still beckons me! <---I'm trying out my poetic side!

My life is rich and full. We have been so busy and this winter has been full of many changes for us.

Jesse will be registering this afternoon for his junior year in high school. He has vacillated back and forth about the many choices in classes and what will be fun and benefit his future. I am so proud of him. He has straight A's right now with the exception of one class (he missed for and SEOP) Wow! What a great accomplishment. He saved his money and purchased a long board last week. He is having so much fun with that. His brothers think that is really cool especially Nathan. I can always count on Jesse. He jumps in whenever and wherever he is needed with a willing heart. What more could a mother ask? He is kind and sensitive to others and a whole lot of fun!

Nathan and Joshua love school, Beyblades, stories, wii, long boards, biking, any kind of outdoor play and their family. They are clearly best friends and yet very individual, confident, friendly boys. They had their first dentist appointment last week and boy what an adventure! The whole office fell in love with their curious, inquisitive personalities. They have loved school this year and are learning so many new things. They are not fond of dogs or bedtime. They are funny and love to try new things.

Hallie is so sweet. She loves playing with small toys, purses & bags, babies, running and playing around outside, bugs & cooking with mom. She learning quite a bit too and enjoys being on the computer with her Upstart program. She is very excited for Megan's upcoming new baby due next month. She is always looking around for items for the baby! She loves playing with her siblings and of course, still ADORES HER DAD! She has given the phrase "Daddy's girl" a new meaning. She's the easy one to tuck in at night and goes right to sleep!

Abby is so much fun. She too, loves the great outdoors! She enjoys playing with her sister, loves her big brothers and has Jesse pretty wrapped. She loves visiting "Rocky", Megan's horse, unlike her next 3 closest in age siblings, enjoys dogs and other pets. She continues to keep "Teddy" nearby and still sleeps with him every night. Needless to say he is looking extremely "loved" these days! She loves stories, Caillou, enjoys most foods, She has a darling little voice. She loves driving the "Dune Racer".

Bryce and I are enjoying our children so much. I feel so fortunate to be close to each one of them. I just wanted to write a few things down to look back and remember these special moments in our lives right now. I relish them.

I love living close to Megan and Melinda. We enjoy getting together so much. We have 5 adorable grandsons between them and will be adding our first granddaughter next month. We couldn't be more delighted. Their husbands are just like our own sons and we are so proud of them all. How great to have grown daughters who have become my best girlfriends!

My life is so full and rich! This past winter, Bryce has been working hard on a new business. He has put in many hours and much sacrifice and it has been full of challenges. I admire his perseverance, commitment, vision and attitude! We will be celebrating our 29 anniversary next month and I am still pinching myself! He is my best friend! We LOVE being together and have SO MUCH FUN! He is the most thoughtful, kind, sensitive husband! I feel very lucky be his wife.

I have so many tender feelings in my heart this morning and just felt the strong desire to write a few things down. I could go on and on and on and on! (and probably will in other posts) but this post will get me started blogging again. This blog, after all, is really for me. A way to journal my feelings and thoughts. I never want to forget these precious moments and feelings. I need to write down more often the sweet and funny things my kids say and I will end this post with one from Hallie........

I was scrubbing the bathrooms and sat down to rest. I was so hot and a bit sweaty and Hallie looked at me and asked, "Mommy, are you melting?"

YES, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!

4 months FLEW by.....

Man, so much has happened that I don't even know where to begin in order to "catch up" so I guess I won't even try. When I stop blogging from time to time, it's because I just get too darn busy and then when I think about it, I am telling myself that I have to put pictures in and so on and so I end up putting it off and then suddenly, like this time, I turn around and 4 months have gone by! So, I have decided instead of trying to do a "catch up" I am going to move forward from here, and what better time than 2 days before Christmas? We had the most delightful party with our wonderful extended family tonight! I love parties with family! They are the best. Santa Claus, himself, dropped in for a quick visit and who can even begin to describe in any kind of accurate detail the sparkle in a small child's eyes when Mr. C is around? It's MAGICAL, truly MAGICAL.

I loved the way Josh waited eagerly with anticipation and practically fell of his seat when Santa called his name. I swear he flew right up on Santa's knee bouncing off the wall!

Nathan was all grins and totally squealed with delight when he was asked to come forward. 

Hallie was all so sweet, shy and girly but bravely and excitedly moved forward to chat with Mr C and.....

Abby, oh dear Abby was just plain shocked! She was delighted from a distance and clearly scared as well. Of course, with dear ole Santa waving a gift for her she popped up

S L O W L Y

with a little encouragement from me (I grabbed her hand and led her up) I don't even think she looked at him but did manage to sit on his lap. She didn't move once there! So dang cute!

The party was a definate hit! Great food, family, entertainment and games! I am so weary right now, and with Christmas Eve tomorrow, I better head straight away to bed so ..........

Sweet Dreams!

PS I have to mention that all 5 of my grandbabies were adorable too with Santa and like my kiddos went from shear joy and excitement all the way to YIKES, who is this man in red and what is with all this white fluff on his face?

What a great night!

"The Entitlement Trap"

I love the Eyres! They are an amazing couple with a wealth of knowledge on parenting (after all, they have raised 9 wonderful children) and a willingness to share all that they have learned with so many other people. I have had the great opportunity to hear them speak on several occasions and always go away inspired with new ideas to use in parenting my own children. I am so excited about their upcoming new book,

"The Entitlement Trap"

to be released next month. You can read more about it, as well as an exciting giveaway they are doing, here  and if you want to preorder it and get a great discount, $12 per book instead of $18 when it comes out as I have done, you can use that link as well.

Being a mother is truly my greatest joy. I want to raise children who will learn the power of taking responsibility for their own lives. I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of trying to make things easier for our children because we love them so much and want to show our love for them in many different ways. I am grateful that my own eyes have been opened wider and I see more clearly how damaging and dangerous this attitude of giving our children too much as well as making things too easy, can be. It is far more rewarding teaching our children those concepts of working hard for what we get, waiting and earning our way for the things we desire.

I remember a few years ago stopping by a neighbors house to drop something off and she was doing an assignment for her high school son who was "too busy" to get it done himself!

YIKES!

What is this boy really learning? Teaching our kids true responsibility does take extra time and effort for sure. We may even get some feedback from them that is not very positive (maybe complaining or whining)  and of course, it is often so much easier to just do things ourselves, but having 2 married daughters now and getting their perspective from both the time they were growing up as well as looking back now with an adult's viewpoint, I have learned more than ever how important that extra effort and follow through really is.

Thank you again, Richard and Linda Eyre for your help and support in parenting my family. My husband and I are looking so forward to reading your new book and adding more of your thoughtful and proven parenting insights.
here

July Summer Fun

We had a lot of fun at Draper Days this year! Megan's mother-in-law, Susan Stewart, painted these kiddos faces. Don't they look pleased as punch? (Starting with Hallie on the left and going around the circle clockwise - Hallie, Kolton, Jonah, Abby, Nathan, Micah, Joshua)

Abby became a "rainbow puppy"!

 Joshua was delighted with his results as "Batman"

 Hallie was all smiles from the time she jumped up on the chair to the finish and beyond! She is a "Pink Kitty"!

Nathan was so excited and had to stop Susan's mother all throughout this process to check out her work in the mirror! She definitely satisfied this enchanted little guy! He is "Spiderman"

 Kolton was the first to start off our fun, face painting adventure. He is "Spiderman"

Micah was so careful to hold still! He, too, was "Spiderman" We are surrounded by Super Heros!

We couldn't leave our little Jonah out! His Grandma Susan painted a "spider on him" I couldn't believe he just sat there with a smile on his face and let her! Amazing!

THE GREAT WATER BALLOON AMBUSH!

The kids spent the afternoon playing in the water with water balloons. They had so much fun! Then, came the most brilliant idea! Let's get Daddy when he gets home, so we filled a cooler with water balloons and they sat outside for about 45 minutes waiting for Daddy to arrive. Boy was he surprised! Good thing Daddy is such a great sport. They were thrilled with the outcome!

We spend one morning at Kolton's horseback riding lessons! He was so happy to show us all he has learned. You couldn't wipe that smile off his face! We were all amazed at how well he did!

After the lesson, Kolton helps take care of the horse. He squirted it off with water and helped feed it as well as take off his bridle.

Lucky for us, we all got to chip in and help out!

Nathan enjoyed brushing this horse. Actually, the horse looks as though he is enjoying it too!

 Hallie surprised us all. She is usually very timid around animals but for some reason these great, big horses did not intimidate her and she jumped right in and brushed them as well as fed them. Wow! Imagine that!

The barn was full of adventures too! These helmets are so cool!

 If you don't want to jump on a horse, this is the next best thing!

Jesse amused by the his siblings!

We love to spend time at duck ponds! One of our favorite spots is Glen Park! (I'll post some pictures later of some of our experiences here this month, including what happens when kids get to confident on a large rock by the pond!)

Highland South Stake Trek.....

Ok, now I have to say that Jesse is a good sport! This pic was taken at 5 am Monday morning, right before we left to drop him off at the church.

We are really missing him around here!  I can't wait to hear about this adventure! They went up to Martin's Cove.

"This is the Place, Heritage Park"

We had a great time celebrating pioneer day. We went up to "This is the Place, Heritage Park" which is a pioneer village. They had all kinds of activities going on besides enjoying the quaint pioneer village feel. During a gunny sack race, the kids were photographed by the Salt Lake Tribune and their picture was in the paper. (You can read his article HERE)

Other activities included, breakfast, a flag ceremony complete with a firing of a cannon,

 The Cannon was really LOUD!

We were so surprised and happy to run into Aunt Pam and Uncle Brian! 

 A candy cannon! (not so loud, just really fun!)

You can see how each child has used their shirts to carry their candy loads!

We went on train rides.

Panned for gold.

The look of success!

 Josh was really into this adventure. He found many pieces of which severeal he turned in to receive tootsie rolls! Of course, he kept a few for himself.

Nate had started to get a bit teary eyed because everyone else had found gold but him! But Alas, with the help of Daddy, he found his teeny tiny piece and boy was he happy!

Abby surprised us all by climbing up on a bull!

Of course, she was happy to get back down again!

We explored some of the old buildings. In the school house, the boys were asked to be volunteers.

Josh was thrilled to be asked to help out.

He got to help teach some kind of special alphabet they did during that period of time!

Next, the teacher asked Nathan to come up and help him with a demonstration. Of course, Nate practically leaped off his chair with excitement...........

He became a little aprehensive when he found out he was demonstrating the "Dunce Chair" I love the look of concentration on his face as he tries to balance this "too big" hat on his head!

 

Jesse became the next "helper"! The teacher explained that when a child became 14 years of age which is close to Jesse's age, they, then, became the teacher to the younger students. The students were strictly disciplined to help keep things under control for such a young teacher. Jesse is holding a paddle they used in those days. The holes are drilled in the paddle to help it move faster during this type of discipline! YIKES!

Some of the other activities we enjoyed were making crafts, a bracelet with beads,

and a pioneer yo yo, 

a petting zoo, (Abby liked the goats!)

Joshua is the one leaning over to pet the baby bunny!

The boys loved playing in this water even more than petting the animals!

riding ponies,

and watching a pioneer parade down mainstreet. 

All in all, this was a great day to spend commemorating our great pioneer heritage here in Utah.