2012...the first half recap

Here is a run down of the first part of 2012. I promise to TRY to do better at keeping up with this :)
 No promises though!

January 2012
January was pretty low-key. Just a light dusting of snow (no blizzards this year!) and settling back into our routine from the craziness of the holidays.

 Family fun night at Incredible Pizza with these two hams!

All the snow we got!!!! Yay!!!

February 2012

Bring on the fun! Curry turned 5 on February 1st to kick of the month!! We had a joint Dr. Seuss birthday party for the kids on the 10th so that all of our family only had to make one trip to OK. We had a great time and so did the kids!

 Curry Taylor Crouch....5 years old!!

Happy to be 5!

 Leap Pad for his birthday. Best gift ever!

 My little Thing 1 and Thing 2

 Reading a story to the kids at the party

 Some of the decorations, and the Cat in the Hat decorating station

 Curry with his castle

 Sophie loves Rapunzel!

 Make a wish!

 Curry enjoying his cupcake (and Richard photo-bombing!)

Sophie enjoying her "pupcake" 

March 2012

Sophie started of March with a bang by turning 3 on 3/3!! That won't happen again until she is older than me...weird to think about!

We also enjoyed the nice mild weather and took lots of nature walks around the neighborhood and went on a overnight camping trip. The kids loved being outside, sleeping in a tent and riding their bikes. It was nice to get away for a day and spend time together. 

 Pink birthday donut for my big 3 year old!

Minnie Mouse scooter...she loved it!

 Watching the ducks at our campsite

 Sliding together! So fun!

Bike ride....Curry was a little faster than Sophie :)

April 2012

Hectic!! The only word to describe our month of April. Curry started his 2nd year of T-ball, had swim lessons for 2 weeks, spring program at school, Easter and all that comes in between! Here are some highlights...

 Second baseman...#3....Curry Crouch

 Silly Easter pic!

 My sweeties!

 Swimming lessons (bad pic, but the only one I had)

 Fun at the zoo

 Spring school program for Lake Country Christian School

May 2012

We started off May with a Mother/Daughter banquet at the church that both of our moms got to come for. It was wonderful to have them both here and have our girl time! The boys went to see "Three Stooges" and do who knows what else that boys do! Then we started winding down...the end of T-ball, the end of school, etc. So we decided to take the week between when our kids got out of school and when public school got out to take our "gypsy" vacation to see family before our summer got rolling. When you are married to a youth minister, you don't really get a "summer" because that is his busiest time. 

 Mother/Daughter Banquet

 Two of my favorite girls in the whole world!!! My Granny and Sophie

 SplashPad in Bossier with Aunt Cindy and cousin Whitney

 Curry telling all the kids some kind of story....this boy is destined to be a preacher!

Gators and Friends

 Water slide fun with cousins Hannah and Carter

Sophie enjoyed spraying the big kids with the hose!

June 2012

We had June all planned out, then life happened. We had youth camp June 11-15 and the kids were going to my parents for Camp Mammy and Pappy. However, the week before, my dad landed in the hospital with blood clots in his lungs following knee surgery. So the kids and I were in Longview for a week and dad didn't make it home until after Lucy's first birthday party, and we all left to go back home. So they went to Camp Lollie and Pop instead and their time with my parents was rescheduled. We had a great time at Falls Creek with our youth and were glad to get the kids back at the end of the week!!

Kids Station to give the kids a break from the hospital!

June also begins the youth fundraiser for the church, which is a fireworks stand. So for a little over 2 weeks, that is where Caleb (and subsequently all of us) spend the majority of our time. Who wouldn't want to stop and buy from these cuties?!

July 2012

To begin July, Caleb's Granddad passed away and his funeral was July 2. We made a quick trip back to spend time with family during that time, then we were back to OK for work and fireworks! The kids were with my parents for several days, then went back to Caleb's parents for a couple of days, then Lollie met us to deliver our kids and two more!! Hannah and Carter got to come spend the week with us! We had a great time with all 4 of them and the kids loved having their big cousins here to play with and entertain them! I didn't take enough pics, but here are a few...

 Cowboy or clown....you decide

 Sophie supporting Pop's alma mater...Texas Tech. She's got her Guns Up!

 All of the kids enjoyed playing dress up! 

August 2012

Things didn't slow down just because it was August! Our anniversary was August 2nd (9 years!!) and we celebrated with our AC going out! It took 8 days to get fixed (long story!) and thankfully we have a wonderful friend, who happens to be the church secretary, who let us stay with them until we got back home. What a God-send Kathy and Jack Hensley have been to our family! We were also in the middle of a kitchen remodel at the time, so we would come home to work on that, sweat like pigs, then head to their house for some refreshment! It was a CrAzY week!!!!

Then the weekend of the 18th we headed to Austin for the wedding of Caleb's friend Patrick. We went a day early to visit some friends in Giddings and had a great time. On the way home, we took the scenic route to Longview for a quick overnight trip to see both of our parents. It was a nice visit and a good way to end the summer. 

Which brings us back to the start of school.......

in the next post :)

End of 2011 recap

So....I have really stunk at blogging this past year! So I will attempt to catch up with pictures.

September 2011
We spent a long weekend in Beavers Bend OK with my family. It was so great to all be together and spend time enjoying the cooler weather. The kids really loved the time with their cousins!

October 2011
October was jam-packed too! Over "Fall Break" we took a trip to Lubbock to see Caleb's Papa before he passed away. We had a good time getting to visit with family, sing songs with Aunt Deb and see the Ellis family. We got word the Papa passed away as we were pulling in our driveway at home. We are so thankful for the time we got to spend with him.
Then comes Halloween and pumpkin patches and all the fun that fall brings!!

 Face painting at the pumpkin patch!

My Iron Man and Cinderella!

November 2011
We went to Longview for Thanksgiving and got to spend time with both of our families. We had a great time seeing everyone. I also got to see my cousin from Savannah GA, Sarah, and meet her adorable little man Conor. Loved getting to see them!

 Playing nicely together

Conor, Sophie and Curry ("Morgan" cousins!)

December 2011

Parties, Birthdays, Christmas and more! December is always a busy month for us. Lots of fun and lots of family time though.

Christmas at Home

 We had a "Fancy Dinner" night as one of our Advent activities. The kids loved getting dressed up, eating off the china and using nice manners.

 Sophie opening her gift from Curry

 Curry's gift from Sophie

Great Christmas at home!

Texas Christmas (x2)!

 Lip gloss....her favorite thing in the world!

 New bikes and helmets!!

 Hook 'em Horns!

 Princess dolls. She is telling us all of their names

It's not Christmas without matching PJ's made by Mammy!!

*Stay tuned for a run down of 2012 :)

Changes and Challenges

Wow! It's been 2 months since I posted!! Sorry to the 2 people who actually read this :)

It has been a whirlwind! In August, Caleb went to Kenya for a mission trip for two weeks. During that time, the kids and I went on a "Tour of Texas"...there was no way I was staying here for two weeks alone with two kids!!

Caleb got home on Friday, and on the following Monday, Curry started Pre-K!! I love that OK has public school pre-k for everyone! He really enjoys it. We had a few tears the first few days, but this week has been much better.

First day of school breakfast

Ready to go! Such a big boy!

Then this week, Sophie started Mother's Day Out. Caleb took her on her first day (no pics, sorry!) and said she didn't cry, but was teary-eyed. She told me she loved it!

I took her Thursday, and had to ask for a hug and kiss because she was ready to go in to her room! I think she loves it!

And my challenge for myself for September is to get back into shape! I started the 30-Day Shred, no more soda, and watching my portions. I needed a fresh start...and to be able to fit in my jeans when the time comes!! 

I hope fall brings cooler weather and more time with family!

Life Lately

In a word, since my last post, life has been CrAzY!!!!!

I picked up the kids on a Thursday, then surprised them by driving to Falls Creek to see Caleb and the youth at camp. We spent the night and had a blast getting to hang out and spend time with everyone. 

We drove home Friday during nap time (the second best time to travel....following bedtime!), and got settled back in at home. Caleb got home around 1am (I think...I was sleeping!), so we were all under one roof again!

I had to work on Saturday, so Caleb got some quality time with the kids, which was good because they had really missed him.

Then, as always, on Sunday, I am a church widow. Caleb leaves before the kids get up, which leaves me to get everyone fed, dressed and out the door....all with a smile on our face (at least by the time we walk through the doors at church)! :)  Around 3:30, I got a call from my sister that she was in labor. She had 2 contractions on the phone during our 10 minute conversation, so this was the real deal! I was so excited, and began getting things together, planning to leave the next morning to go meet my new niece. We have our small group on Sunday nights from 5:30 to late. I got a text during small group that she was here!!!! 

My rock star baby sister was dilated to an 8 when she got to the hospital!!! No drugs, no nothing. Dr broke her water, and after 13 minutes of pushing, Lucy Jane Ellis was born!! 

Isn't she beautiful?! I love her so much and I am so looking forward to watching her grow, and to see how close she and Sophie grow to be. Curry and Richard are double trouble....and I expect the same out of these two!

So in order to see her ASAP, we left around 10pm on Sunday and arrived at Matt and Michelle's at 4am on Monday morning. And since our kids slept the whole way, they were up by 8am!!! So we spent Monday between the hospital visiting and hanging out at the house with Richard, then swimming at the hotel that evening. Because I had to work Wednesday and Caleb has church, we left at naptime Tuesday to make the trip home, arriving just in time to bathe and go to bed. 

Then started Fireworks!!!! Our church youth group runs a fireworks stand every year for the 10 days preceding the 4th of July. And it has to be manned 24 hours a day. So Caleb has been there all day every day, except for the 30 minute break in the evening when he gets to come home to shower. If we want to see him, we have to go there. So we have been a little out of our routine.....and will probably stay that way for the remainder of the summer. This is the life of a youth minister's family!

Here is one more pic of Lucy Jane with her Aunt Mindy and Uncle Caleb 

Have a Happy and Safe 4th!

Week of Freedom

I dropped the kids off with Mammy today (my mom). They will be at my parents house for 4 days, then go to Caleb's parents for 4 days. Do you know what that means????

FREEDOM!!!

Don't get me wrong, I love my kids dearly.....but sometimes a girl needs a break! Caleb asked what I wanted to do while they were gone. My first response: Sleep in past 6:30! I have two VERY early risers, so I am looking forward to catching up on my sleep.

Another thing I want to do while the kids are gone is go on a date with my husband. I honestly don't remember the last time we went on a real date, just the two of us. Isn't that sad? So we will make the best of the few days we get with each other.

I also plan to clean out the kids rooms while they are gone. Curry got a bad trait from me....he is a pack-rat. Everything has sentimental value. So this will be a good time to de-clutter. And usually once I am in that "mode"....anything goes!

But most of all, I am looking forward to getting them back next week. I can't wait to hear about all of their adventures with their grandparents and the memories they will make. They are going to be so busy, they won't have time to miss us!

Potty Training Boot Camp

Last Thursday, May 26th, we started Potty Training Boot Camp with Sophie. It has been, in one word, challenging!! She is VERY strong willed and wants to do things her way. Day 1 went well, days 2&3 went pretty well, and then things went downhill! She decided to start bucking herself off the potty, kicking, screaming and anything else to not have to sit there. I was ready to throw in the towel last night!!!

I potty trained Curry just after he turned 2, when Sophie was a newborn. By day 3, he had it mastered! Everyone said that girls are easier than boys, so I thought I would have it made this time. On the contrary! So I was giving her (and myself) one week to get it down. Today, she has it!!!!! She finally told me she does not want the potty seat on, she wants to sit only on the toilet seat. She has had NO interest in the small potty we have. So I am just going with it! No accidents all day (so far), no meltdowns (on either party), and a nice calm house!

Here is a picture of my little potty girl after her first time to peepee on the potty! Thank goodness for iPods!!!!