Colorado Crockers

It seems like the first "big kid" bike should be a big deal. We considered getting her one for her Birthday, but that would be November. Who wants a bike in the middle of winter?! We decided to just get the bike and go for it, even though there is no special occasions. Elie loves it. She rode it to the park right after this video was shot and around the lake the next day. I am glad to say she has improved since this was recorded. Which brings us to a dilemma that Matt and I have been discussing. What if your child really sucks at something, do you encourage them to try and to get better or steer them in a different direction? Elie has some areas that she excels in and, well, athletics doesn't really appear to be one of them. Yes, she is only 4 and she may grow up to be an amazing soccer player yet, but I wouldn't bet the big money on it. As a parent, how do you encourage your children by acknowledging strengths yet not pigeon -holing them? I want to encourage her...

Friday is supposed to be the day I do all my shopping...and I mean ALL, but this week Matt was gone until mid-day Saturday. I do not take all 3 children into the store, I would rather go hungry. We make do without until I can go by myself because I can either stay on budget or shop with children. I usually make at least 5 stops, sometimes more, and can finish in about 3 hours. Since I don't make the money in this family, I do my best to spend it wisely by shopping sales and using coupons. This week at King Soopers (Kroger) I did very well. I saved 48% and almost $100. Doing this also allows me to buy extras for the food pantry at our church. I also plan the weeks menu according to what is on sale, here are the highlights of this week: Coconut Shrimp, Sweet potato fries, salad Pasta with scallops and Bacon, french bread and salad Bean and sausage soup with corn bread Baked eggs, asparagus, bread BBQ Chicken on the grill, potatoes, steamed broccoli Breakfast and lunches will look a l...

My dad turned his garage into a photo studio. He bought a soft box. He has a nice camera. He will soon be "livin' the dream" traveling and taking photos. He needed someone to practice on so of course I volunteered 3 of his 9 grand kids, maybe the cutest 3. These are my pictures, his are way better, but I thought I would give you a peek.

Some days I define myself and what I do by what I achieve. I know this isn't right, a person has value long before they are capable of "achieving" anything, and yet I get sucked into this mind trap often. Being so defined is disheatening because how do you measure when you have done enough to be worthy? Baby is sick today. Actually, she has been sick for the last few days, not sleeping well at night and earning the nic-name "Baby Snort". Nothing warenting a trip to the doctors, only a cold, complete with boogery nose and wattery eyes. She is miserable, wanting only to nurse to sooth her sore throat and snuggle with her mama. I have a to-do list as long as my arm, which really isn't anything new. With a newly fallen foot of snow, I envisioned a productively home bound day. It just isn't in the cards. Instead, after putting the big girls down for a nap, I wraped the baby in a warm blanket and cuddled with her in our bed. She sighed, pleased to be the cente...

Friends are funny things (not funny " haha " ,although some are) When your young you swear "friends forever" but as maturity and real life take effect, you come to see that is not always the case. Very few people are in your life "forever". Some are friends for a season, others are acquaintances , some a buddies for certain actives , the majority come in and out like a wave, leaving a small imprint on your life like a wave in the sand. Some people are not waves that come and go, but deep pools that settle in for the long run. They become a permanent fixture on the landscape of your life, memories are built around them, they refresh your spirit , they know your heart. A true friend is rare and I am blessed to have a treasured few such people in my life. Jenny and I knew each other when we were both young and cool, married without kids, traveling the world, developing careers. We had our first babies within weeks of each other, hers a boy mine a girl. We ...

Matt meets a lot of interesting people in his line of work. Most recently he spent some time in LA with Andy Lichit, producer of "Water World" and "Cable Guy". Apparently, Andy is not only into movies, but food too. He has a restaurant in Park Meadows area called "The Counter". He called the manager here and told him that Matt and I would be coming in and to comp our dinner. So we called our favorite baby sitter (Thanks FAITH!) and went for a great meal sans kiddo's. The Counter is an up-scale design your own burger joint. We ate some fabulous burgers and enjoyed some grown up conversation. Not a bad way to end a weekend.

Friday is shopping day/menu planning day. I did great at King Soopers, saving over 52% ($60-ish) and that included stuff for the food pantry at church. I spent about $30-ish at Sunflower market, but that includes 2 big bags of Kettle Chips that I really didn't need but were on sale. Those things are evil and like crack for both Matt and I. Target kills me every time, I spent over $40 there but that included 2 baby shower gifts and an adorable pair of shoes I have had my eye on that finally went on clearance. I also picked up stuff for the girls Easter baskets. Not too bad, we try to keep it at about $120 a week and I only went a bit over. What are you eating this week? Breakfasts: Baked Oatmeal, peaches, yogurt Omelets with cheese, strawberries Blueberry Coffee Cake, boiled eggs Yogurt with Granola and berries Pancakes, bananas Cereal, blueberries French toast, oranges Lunches: Roll-ups (flat bread, meat, cheese, veggies) bananas Qusadillas, carrot sticks, Hot dogs. cucumbers, appl...

I am not sure if it is my love of short people or how much I enjoy corned beef and cabbage, but St. Pats day always makes me happy. While my youngest is still too small to complain about goofy hats, she will be the mascot. Sorry for the blogging absence, I have been in Little Rock with one of my favorite short people of all (HI JENNY!) and without my laptop. Stay tuned for pictures.

Some days I feel like my children sneak a peak at my to-do list and make their best effort to thwart every attempt at productivity. Can you tell that today was one of those days? I try not to be a whiner, but today I can't help it. Life keeps getting in the way of everything I need to get done. Between Grandpa John passing and a quick trip to California followed by this coming long weekend in Little Rock, my to-do list is becoming a "never will get done" list. The 5 minute increments of time are not enough to do things like fold 4 loads of laundry and clean the kitchen and mop the very nasty floor. Annabelle decided she needed mommy today. She was happy to sleep, as long as I didn't put her down and wanted to eat just about every hour. Addilyn wet the bed at nap time, which she has never done before. Otis peed on the floor and I might just kill him. Eliana complained about every piece of food I served her and the night ended for Addilyn when I refused to give he...

No, my dear blog friends, I did not fall of the face of the earth. I just arrived home today from California and Grandpa John's funeral. I decided not to take my computer with me, as the thought of trying to get three children four and under PLUS my laptop through airport security was enough to make even someone as cool headed as me feel a touch warm. I am sure I wouldn't make it through with everything and I am really starting to like my kids and they would be expensive to replace. Speaking of warm, Elie is running a temp of 102. Addilyn had a fever off and on all weekend too, because the only thing more fun than traveling with 3 small children is traveling with two out of three sick. Oh yeah, and Matt didn't fly home with me, he is still in CA for business. Know what I am doing right now? Drinking a very large glass of wine, I earned it. Always one to be gathering knowledge, I thought I might bless your day with what I learned on this trip: -Open caskets are a terrible ...

Grandpa John (Matt's) passed away this morning. He was dearly loved and will be missed by his 2 daughters, 7 grandchildren and 7 great granddaughters. We will be flying out to CA on Friday for his Saturday memoral. Pray for peace for the family and a safe travels for all.

We all know that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, but did you know that March is adopt a rescued Guinea pig month? And because there history is different than ours, it is deaf history month too. It is also caffeine awareness month and cheer leading safety month, which I am pretty sure are related. Nothing is worse than a dangerous caffeinated cheerleader. Aren't you glad God gave you two eyes? This is eye donation month too, so celebrate by giving one of them to someone in need! It is also play the recorder month and sing with you child month, so bust out one of your favorite tunes in celebration of Irish-American history month. While your waiting on hold celebrating on-hold month, go ahead and google colorectal cancer in celebration of awareness this month, just make sure to do it optimistically because it is optimism month. Celebrate mirth with the world because the next 30 days are international mirth celebration days, just don't forget your kidneys or umbrell...