Bret & Becki

we had a kid

2012-01-13T04:32:00.004-07:00

Let's see, the last time I blogged was in July? That sounds about right considering I was probably still puking up my organs around then. I spent the next 4 months trying to catch up from lost time during my morning sickness phase... I'm actually still trying to catch up. Just when I start thinking about how lame I am for falling so behind in life I say to myself "Chill self, you just made a kid." If that doesn't buy me some understanding what will?

[9 months pregnant and ready for GO time]

So anyway, seeing that our offspring is now a month old I thought I better introduce her to the few (if any) stragglers that stuck around to see if we would ever revisit our so called virtual diary. I ought to condemn this blog and shut it down permanently due to abandonment but seeing that it's the new year and all (or so they tell me, I refuse to consent to a new year until I'm good and ready!) I figured I should give the blog the old 1, 2 routine... you know blog once and then quit because I'm "2" busy. You're right, maybe I shouldn't try to write jokes when it's 3:30 in the morning. Shall I show off the goods instead?

This is Dempsey Bradley Crosby. She was born December 11th 2011 at 3:57am via c-section. She was 7lbs - 4oz and 19 inches long w/ BLUE eyes (one point for me, finally). There's a birth story to tell but who wants to re-live being hacked open like a scene out of SAW IV or something? There's also a story about how Dempsey came to be her name instead of Golden but it's painfully long and HELLO it's now 4am. I'll just save that one for Bret to tell. Her middle name is Bradley after my twin (miss your face twin!). I also call her Cookie because she was nameless throughout our entire 5 day stay at the hospital and you would be shockingly surprised at how much it bothers people when you don't name a baby right away. I nicknamed her Cookie until we could... agree on a more permanent name, by then Cookie had already stuck because she's so sweet and yummy.

[rocking the c-pap like a super model]

[taking our machine free and newly named baby home]

She had some health complications after she was born (another long story I will save for the dad to explain since he was actually coherent for it all) but she recovered quickly and remains to be the perfect baby. There's a lot of life adjustments being made around our house and I'm still getting used to having this perfect little thing to look at and care for each day. I'm dreading the day she follows in the footsteps of her notorious disastrous sister. For now she is still a tiny baby doll and a wee bit of a distraction. It's no wonder I'm more than two months behind in work. Ouch! Actually, I think I shall go snuggle her some more now... neener neener!

[ok now I'm just rubbing it in... can you blame me? I LOVE Cookies!]

Super Hero Hug

2011-07-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's easy to feel safe with heroes like these around...

#3 is a baby

2011-07-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

and that baby happens to be a girl :) I haven't had any time to officially celebrate the good news by making a bundle of frilly accessories and clothes yet but it's certain that I will eventually! Kingston and Bret were a little distraught for a minute because we all were positive the baby was going to be a boy. They've recovered since then and now we just argue over names. Oh joy.

Pregnant

2011-07-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

I think we pretty much told everyone that I'm pregnant with #3 but I guess we've still surprised a few people so here's the official post. My hysteroscopy surgery in March was a success and we got pregnant pretty much instantly after the procedure. 2 weeks after the positive test I got slammed with just about every pregnancy symptom there is including severe morning sickness and TOMORROW we find out the gender. (she's a girl for one more day until proven otherwise.) She most definitely is sticking out and makes my stomach look mutant in the mornings. I'm 4 months along and we are of course over the moon excited. Kingston talks about meeting the baby every day, he's probably the most excited of us all. Kingston and Bret say it's a boy and London and I say girl. You can guess the gender on the sidebar if ya want...

Batter Up

2011-07-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

This one time... before I got sick, we went on a double date! We went out for Thai food and then went to the batting cages (my idea). Turns out I suck at the batting cages but it was all good fun and I'm used to embarrassing myself anyways. Our next outing is going to be BOWLING if I can get the boss to agree to it...

In a Tight Spot

2011-07-09T06:54:00.003-07:00

Literally...

A Hunting We Will Go

2011-07-07T12:06:00.000-07:00

We had Easter at our house... a while ago. The kids LOVE hunting for eggs. It's right up there with trick or treating and Christmas. Every time they spot their Easter baskets in the garage they get worked up. I'm not sure if I enjoyed the big mess from coloring the eggs but it's part of all the fun I suppose. Maybe by next Easter London will have hair and you will be able to tell the two apart.

Easter Pageant

2011-07-06T13:14:00.001-07:00

I've sorta been in a cave for a while and therefor have not posted anything for several months. Now I get to play catch up. Way back in April (that was the last time I posted...) we took the kids to the Easter pageant. We had a bit of a stressful time getting there and it was a bit of a challenge to get Kb and Lo to sit still for that long but we lived through it and by the end of the night we both agreed it was well worth it.

All they do is play

2011-04-28T09:25:00.001-07:00

My kids only want to play and eat treats. I can't get either of them to get a job or pull their weight around the house like load the dishwasher or change the oil in my car. Am I the only one with slacker toddlers or what???

Cheep Cheep Chirp

2011-04-27T00:13:00.001-07:00

The eggs in the nest on our front door hatched and now we have 3 little birds chirping away in their nest. Sometimes if we leave the door open too long they will fall/fly into our house and Bret has to escort them back to their nest. They are adorable but I'm not to fond of the wall of poo they dispersed around the nest. Sick.

Responsible Parenting

2011-04-25T10:44:00.003-07:00

You won't find it here.

Colorful Prophets

2011-04-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

I thought it was kind of touching that Bret planned some activities for the kids to do during conference. It was adorable to hear them try and pronounce all of their names and perk up during each speaker at the sound of topics they are familiar with like FHE. He can be such a tender dad and our kids will be blessed because of it.

Look how cute these paper figures turned out that the kids made. So adorable!

What color is my thumb, you ask?

2011-04-10T17:45:00.004-07:00

So, I've been spending some time in the backyard lately. It's been fun to watch our little garden grow. We've got lettuce, romaine lettuce, green onions, spinach, cilantro, and basil. I just planted tomatoes and squash for the summer. Kingston helped me count out 5 squash seeds for each mound. We've been eating a lot of salads with some grilled chicken, strawberries, pears, feta cheese, of course mixed in with all the stuff from the garden. Yesterday I planted the 3 rose trees. Yes, rose trees not rose bushes. Apparently there is a difference. I must say I'm pretty proud of it, especially since the whole backyard was dirt when we moved in. With the cool weather we've been having it's nice to play with the kids in the yard.

This rose tree above has 20 (yes I counted them all) rose buds either in bloom or on the way. Both Becki and I have stopped to smell the roses a few times. ;)

I wish the grass would stay this lush green all year round. Soon the heat will kill it and bring on the rough bermuda stuff.

I'm not a witch, I'm your wife!

2011-04-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

Oiy, this week has been rough. Life is fantastic and the kids have been great and business is starting to flow nicely now... I on the other hand have felt like Charlie Sheen this week. All sorts of crazy going on up in here. The universe has got me in a choke hold that's for certain bc we are not at one with another at the moment. My poor, pooooor husband. The man could probably use a man date or something that will get him away from me. I'm sure he's realized by now to walk softly stranger bc this girl is a landmine ready to explode and take out whatever appendages I can if I feel like it. Or I might turn into a puddle of tears or a bag of disdain and negativity. He just can't win this week and he knows it. I feel like I've been poisoned or something and I just need to let it run it's course but it could be a side effect from the hormones and junk I had in me. Who knows, I am just anxious to get back to the old me. In the mean time I hope the poor man will forgive me and hang in there.

old news

2011-03-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

... but it did happen.

Always Sweet

2011-03-29T01:50:00.000-07:00

... ain't that the truth!

Greens

2011-03-28T16:41:00.001-07:00

It's all you can eat greens at our house. Our grow boxes are putting out like (enter inappropriate analogy here). I probably need to Google some interesting salad recipes before we get sick of the stuff. Maybe I could sell it on Etsy, it's sort of hand made???

Nesting

2011-03-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

Bret discovered a wondrous little nest development right on our front door. Two little love birds decided my glitter wreath was right where they wanted to start a family. Sure enough, in their perfectly crafted nest are 4 tiny little perfect eggs. I am so excited for them to hatch and hope the family of birds stays in the nest forever. I am all excited and worked up about it. It just makes me so happy! You all must come and visit me so you can see the their perfect dwelling. LOVE.

the backyard and beyond

2011-03-26T17:32:00.001-07:00

The boss has done a fantastic job making our backyard the funnest spot on the block. This time of year in the valley it's almost impossible not to be distracting by the tempting green grass, and the warm sun interrupted by cool dreamlike breezes. If I close my eyes I can almost pretend I am on vacation or somewhere remote, that is until the kids jump on top of me or wreck their little toddler vehicles. Pretty blissful regardless.

Laprososopleicpty?

2011-03-23T01:31:00.001-07:00

I had laprauosptloic (sp?) surgery on Friday. It was pretty AWESOME. Actually it kind of was awesome because medically induced sleep is ALWAYS awesome. I think if there was a street drug for anesthesia I would find a dealer. (I promise I really wouldn't bc that would be wrong, but I'm just saying I would be tempted.) The need behind the much appreciated surgery was a rogue IUD. It's kind of a complicated story but lets just say for a long period of time my IUD had an identical twin floating around outside his home (aka my uterus) and taunting him with an extra dose of hormones and maybe a few unwarranted comments like "you can't find me!!!" and "neener neener boo boo!". I'm no medical expert but I am pretty sure double of any kind of control is no bueno especially when the birth control host (me) has no clue about the second IUD hidden in her abdomen.... but let's not dwell on that tinsy little detail. What's done is done and I am officially and medically birth control free and aside from a few uncomfortable side effects from the surgery I am happy as can be! Happy happy HAPPY!

So that's my big story. I kinda wasn't sure when, how or if I should blog about it because it's pretty personal and some might find it tacky of me to mention plus, there isn't really a casual way to talk about IUD's, birth control and baby making. However, lots of you have been asking and I've never been much of a private person so here you have it for your entertainment.

The good news:
1. I now have something to blame the past two years of my cranky female mood swings on.
2. I know why the last 8 months have been a baby making bust.
3. Problem solved :)
4. We can start trying again anytime we want. (bring it!)

On a serious note. Thank you to everyone who has been understanding and supportive and plain ol' interested in our slightly odd situation. We are blessed with divine friends and family who always come through for us. You rock guys!

Park

2011-03-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

Kingston's favorite part of everyday is going to the park. With any luck there are usually other kids there with whom Kingston can play with. It's so endearing how toddlers are so eager to make new friends without any reservations or judgments. I wish adults were more like that. Could you imagine becoming best friends with someone before you could even pronounce their name. "Mommy! Dis my frwend! HE, heee, he my BEST frwend!" Priceless I tell you.

a day in the life of Lo

2011-03-21T10:35:00.002-07:00

A typical day in the life of Lo may consist of stealing from harmless pedestrians...

Several vehicular high-jacking attempts...

heckling strangers for food...

and many, many falls, trips and tumbles.

As you can see she does well to get attention on her own.

ikea

2011-03-15T23:03:00.000-07:00

A day trip to ikea with my sister, Lo and her cousin equals a super fun play date (Kingston got to play in the kid zone). Thinking about moving in now, it was so much better watching her destroy things that don't belong to me for once.

Good Fortune

2011-03-14T15:15:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I can hardly believe the treasures people donate to Goodwill. Take these hand crafted salt and pepper people shakers for example. They are far to perfect to just throw away. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING??? Too bad Goodwill had the sense to price the set at the steep price of $1 or those beauties would have been mine! Someday I hope to afford myself such luxuries, until then someone else will not believe their fortune when they stumble upon them. Lucky!

The Incident

2011-03-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Who can forget the incident? Just a few days after I purchased a brand new full coverage Benefit lipstick London found it in my purse and had a private art session. That thing was full coverage alright, it fully covered the whole bathroom and my 2 year old. Did I mention I got this new lipstick because she demolished my last one? My first reaction was a fuming "London!!!". Then she started smacking her lips and blowing me kisses and I melted. Second thing I did was of course grab my phone to take some photos. The 3rd thing was damage control. I plopped Lo in the tub and started scrubbing her down and the bright red finger prints all over the walls, cabinets, and counters. Just when I thought I had things under control Lo left a little floating present for me in the bath. SICK!!!! Not my best day but what can you do when your child is determined to live an anything but a quiet life?

Friends

2011-03-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

They may hate each other, they may take each others toys, they poke, punch and prod each other but they will always be friends.

They got it too

2011-03-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

it's a bird! it's a plane! it's a...

2011-03-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

... BATMAN kite!

The young loud things we call our children have been asking to fly their kite for the last week and Daddy was the one who finally made their dream come true. Sadly the excitement of flying the kite lastled a short 8 minutes and then they just wanted to "go to the PAAAARK!!!!"

a 2 year old Lo

2011-03-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

Lo had a birthday shout hooray! She turned 2 which is just wrong if you ask me. She is still tiny and bald as ever so it's almost easy to pretend she is still my little baby but her smart antics and her extended vocabulary can sometimes ruin the fantasy.

For her birthday we got together with some of her cousins and had lunch at Peter Piper Pizza. After the kids were done playing all the games and ransacking the prize counter we skipped over to Jump & Shout which was basically like heaven for everyone involved. The kids were happy to disappear into the giant indoor jungle gym and the bounce houses and the parents were just happy to see the kids disappear ;) Lo got some pretty darling gifts including a unicorn (it's so FLUFFY!!!) and Blossom who is the newest Lalaoopsie doll. Lo Lo calls her "aweshome".

Lo is still spicy as ever but we had a fun day and I was happy we got to spend it with family. You could say the whole day was aweshome!

Already one of "those" days

2011-03-07T10:40:00.002-07:00

Have I Ever?

2011-03-05T22:22:00.001-07:00

Have I ever said that I am thankful for the guy who holds my hand? Probably not because I don't do well with sentimental expressions and those sorts of whatnot's. Aside from being a heartless female I can say that it has meant a lot to me to have him beside me through the good news and the bad the past 5 years, especially these last 8 months of baby issues (those issues being no bun in my oven of course). Not getting pregnant when you're as fertile as I am is a whole new kind of frustrating and a wee bit scary for me. It has been a curious experience to be sure but it has recognizably brought us closer together. I've seen a different side of him as I've gotten more anxious and sad with the growing pile of negative PT's. He is sweet for comforting me and playing with my hair when I cry and he is sexy when he is being a dad to the kids we have already been blessed with. I just feel lucky to have had him here to reassure me this whole time and I hope he never goes away even if I am a silly impatient girl.

Valentines Day 2011

2011-03-04T17:39:00.000-07:00

Did I ever tell you that Bret took me on a mini (much needed) vacation for Valentines? He surprised me that night when he told me to pack my bags because we wouldn't be back that night. *Grin. He took care of the reservations and found us a fab baby sitter and off we went. Goodbye messy house and noisy children HELLO Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort. Good food, better company and nothing but time to enjoy each other. He picked the best place to stay and our room was beyond great. I think my favorite part was relaxing by the pool doing nothing (a thing I did not do once last summer but have every intention of repeating over and over again this summer). So cheers to my super sweet saucy hunkalove husband who spoils me rotten. Love your guts boss baby!

Many Faces

2011-03-03T01:20:00.003-07:00

Really children? That's the best you can do? I gained double digits for you when I carried you for 9 months and let strangers cut you out of my abdomen and those are the most entertaining faces you can conjure up? To say that I am disappointed would be sugar coating it.

London: I do believe that double chin could use some work.

Kingston: How bout you put a little more effort into that eye roll next time.

Honestly, I could really use some comic relief throughout my day but NOOOOO, it's not like I have two toddlers distracting me and making me laugh all day long or anything. Oh wait, yes I do! You expect me to focus with these shenanigans going on around me? Kids are awesome.

Knight

2011-03-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

I went to the Renaissance Fair with a few of my sisters on Saturday. Never a boring moment there. Check out this adorable little (not so little) knight. Awesome! I think I ate more there than I did on Thanksgiving, more awesome! The odd people all around and the whole experience of it all is one of my secret indulgences. Wanna go back already.

Hiding

2011-03-01T09:16:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I wish I could hide in a cupboard as well but somehow I don't think it would be as cute or acceptable. At least I can appreciate that my pipsqueaks can play together and enjoy hiding together even if one doesn't fully grasp the fact that just because she can't see us it doesn't mean we can't see her.

Personality Overhaul

2011-02-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

We have a whole lot of personality boiling over at our house. When I look at the kids it really is difficult to accept that they are growing up with or without me. Bret and I laugh at all of our own characteristics we recognize in them. Kingston loves to sleep in like mommy and London is awake at the sound of a pin drop. London is wildly creative and a free bird like me and Kingston is out right brilliant like his dad when it comes to reading and writing. Kingston is a picky eater like Bret was and London will eat just about anything like me even if it's hardly edible.

One of my favorite things about this stage in our lives is watching the two kids interact and banter together. Kingston has whole heartily accepted the role of big brother and has no hesitation commanding obedience from Lo Lo. London likes to dish it out right back by pestering Kingston's toys or taking his food. In between all the bickering there are some really sweet and tender moments they share together that I feel so blessed to witness. But most of the time it's just a lot of harassment and nitpicking. Then there is the level of stubbornness from all parties of our household. That's great entertainment for anyone not involved. I feel really grateful that my kids can be so independent but still need me and want me around as well. It's working out fabulously with my business and for those not so great moments when I think I am gonna lose it Bret's comes to the rescue just in time.

Both kids have taken a liking to technology (another trait from me). They are more than capable of navigating a phone, ipod, camera or computer. It's a little disconcerting to witness bc they are so young to be so interested in material things but on the other hand they are learning so much and so quickly. Both of them also love to be in the lime light. If their is a camera in site they both start posing and saying "CHEEEESE!". A bunch of cheese-balls indeed and it's adorable. And so with the help of my favorite app and my phone I will be documenting these silly faces for the next month. They kind of got jipped on pictures last year bc I was so overwhelmed with work so I'm deciding to turn the tables and post a minimum of one picture a day with a daily note of the Crosby happenings. Wish me luck! Actually, better to wish me time and organization bc that's what I will be needing to keep it real. Here goes it!

{photostrips taken using the Incredibooth app for the iPhone}

Picking Oranges

2011-02-20T20:47:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday we took the kids to uncle Brian's and aunt J'net's house to pick oranges. It was one of those perfect days with perfect weather. Briand and J'net are always so sweet to let us come and raid their trees when they are ready and ripe. We were greedy, VERY greedy and loaded up our car full of citrus. The kids played in the tree-house and jumped on the trampoline. Brian let them feed the chickens and chase them around the orchard. London helped herself to a carrot from their garden. We also got to take home some broccoli fresh off the stock which was heavenly. It was a lovely day.

We have been enjoying the all you can eat orange menu at our house, plus quitting DP has been a cinch now that I eat 5 to 10 oranges a day. I was bragging to Bret that I am over 14 days sober today (from dr pepper that is). Hooray for oranges and go me! (side note: Bret hasn't had a drop of any kind of soda for 51 days. One of his many strengths is the ability to commit to something and of course he avoids the temptation. Good for him.)

ps. aren't those images cool? I used a new app on my phone and I LOVE it. I don't even need to crop or edit. So cool!

I Remember December

2011-02-13T16:20:00.003-07:00

Thought it was about time to get started on my resolution to post more on our family blog this year. A picture is worth a thousand words so this post is worth at least 12,000 words. I realize this is lazy blogging at it's finest but thought you'd appreciate it against the alternative which is of course a 20 paragraph post explaining all the activities we are doing in the following pictures. You're welcome and happy "reading"!

[Put up the Christmas tree and decked the halls]

[Bret participated in Infusionsoft's annual Beard-off]

[Family night at the Mesa Temple Lights, bundled up with hot chocolate]

[Kingston turned THREE!]

[Saw Brian Regan live w/ Lisa & Barry]

[Learned to play a bunch of new games with the family]

[Kingston and London meet Santa. London ate 8 candy canes.]

[Family trip to beautiful snowy Utah]

[Christmas in Eagar]

[Bret turned 28... or 29 if you're actually counting.]

[Had a New Years party with the cousins]

I'm very excited to start this new year with my family, especially since we are starting it in the middle of February. Can't wait to see what kind of adventures we have this year.

i like them a lot

2010-12-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

...my family and the pictures!

Courtesy of Sierra Studios Photography.

Dialogue 12/2/10

2010-12-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

Bret: Daddy is going bye-bye, I will be right back.

Kb: Oh. Where you going daddy?

Bret: To get mommy a drink.

Kb: Oh. A soda pop?

He knows me so well.

Proof

2010-11-29T15:57:00.003-07:00

Here's some proof we still exist. Hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving!

Reoccuring thought

2010-10-15T22:08:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to the temple. It was pretty great as you could expect. The experience had it's up and down moments. Down moment: we missed the session with our ward. Up moment: we were there together and we still had a great experience. On our way to our car after the session, we passed an extremely old elderly couple. The husband was decrepit and was bent half way over as he walked. The wife was patiently helping him along by his arm and waist as they had to stop and rest every couple of paces. She gave me one of the sweetest smiles I have ever witnessed. The kind of smile that brushes up against your heart and leaves a tender sweet residue with you that lasts for days. I couldn't help but notice the struggle her companion was having just to take a few steps. I also couldn't help but notice the undeniable glee and happiness dancing across her face and infecting the atmosphere around them as they moved at a glacial pace so patiently and pleasantly across the parking lot. As we were pulling out of the parking lot I caught a glimpse of them once more only a few feet away from where they had been when we passed them earlier. He was still hunched over and struggling and she was still vividly smiling as other couples bustled past them. I felt several things from looking at them. I wanted to help him, or make Bret go fetch their car and bring it to them. I wanted to see them 60 years earlier and witness them when they were our age. I wanted to sit with the wife and absorb more of her smile and her presence. I wanted to pass through my day as slowly as he must do and see all the details around him as he might see. But mostly... I hoped to be next to my husband as long as this woman has been next to hers.

And if I am half as happy as she is I wouldn't mind that either!

observations

2010-09-29T21:58:00.003-07:00

i've observed a few trends in the blogging world recently (and when i say recently, i mean it's been going on for a while and i just barely noticed).

1. bloggers photograph what they eat a lot.
2. bloggers take a lot of pictures of their feet.

this observation set cause for me to ponder. thoughts encountered?

1. i have funny looking feet.
2. i need to start eating real food.

this is all i got...

Neener Neener

2010-09-21T00:20:00.004-07:00

We have two kids. Still. The male makes this face whenever the camera points to him. He also likes to tell people "you're bad!" and swing from varies surfaces.

The female (often confused for a male due to the lack of locks) likes doing female things like exfoliating her whole body (see below) and indulging in guilty treats and junk food, ie any food.

I like our kids. I'm partial to the female, mainly because I can relate to her passion for food and her tenancy to squeal or throw a tantrum to get food. Bret likes the male because he participates in boyish behaviors such as tooting and making fun of the uncoordinated individuals on Wipeout. It looks like we will own them for a bit longer so I suppose I should improve on documenting their growth and development.

I said I should, not that I would ;)

Royal Red Robin Burger

2010-08-30T15:11:00.003-07:00

At the end of my birthday escapades Bret took me to dinner at Red Robin and SURPRISE Lisa and Barry were there with our friends Ryan and Bri. I ordered the Royal Burger of course! I love going out to eat, especially the eating part!

I forgot! Brad on a stick came also :)

I love birthdays.

Broken Arm

2010-08-25T22:51:00.004-07:00

"oooouch! OUCH! mommy, my arm... it's broken" That's what Kingston informed me today. Where does he get this stuff? Don't worry, I tickled the broken arm away. Lately King is pretty into watching Wipeout w/ daddy and putting together beginner puzzles, fake sneezing and eating TREATS.

Lo just says "no" a-freakin-lot to everything and allllllll day long but fortunately there are enough "peas" (please) and "ganku" (thank you's) to make up for it. I also call her Miss Messes because she can destroy 2400 square feet in record time. oh goody. London has a toothbrush fetish and a radar for them so if she is near by lock yours up or she'll find it. She also likes making ugly messes, climbing, falling, coloring and TREATS.

Lo got this romper from Polka Dot Posh and got to wear it for just a minute before we exchange it for a bigger size.

Camera is still missing so I only have pictures from my phone. Kingston wont hold still enough for me to capture him without a flash. Looks like we need to face the music and buy a new camera. Frown.

Update

2010-08-24T22:58:00.005-07:00

The update is that our camera is missing and it's too hot to do anything so not much is new ;) We did have our 4 year anniversary last week. I'm finally starting to realize that no matter what I do Bret is going to stick around. Poor thing. Anyways, sorry for the lack of interesting material but I will share this video (big surprise).

Just watch it. Geeze!

The Man

2010-07-29T21:56:00.005-07:00

My Man to be more specific. He's the greatest. Swell enough to get me to blog again (So there, May 28th post.)

Today The Man stayed home for work. Not so The Man could relax but so he could help his panicked, stressed out, whiny, complaining, grief stricken wife with my bizzzz-ness. It was a rough night last night and The Man stayed up later than me for the 1st time in ages finishing what I couldn't face a moment longer. The Man lived through my relentless panicked cries of stress and worry and welcomed me this morning with happy words and cheerful sing song affirmations. The Man fed the kids and called tech support, and spent most the day testing every little nook and cranny of the new site, and even used my hamburger phone even though he hates it. The Man is a determined little genius and refuses to get discouraged which is exactly what I needed today. The Man took me and the kids outside to play in the rain and got soaking wet. The Man made mysterious phone calls which sounded like a suspicious surprise to me. The Man didn't say a word when I had more than 4 glasses of chocolate milk today aaaand a chocolate milk shake aaaand a Dr. Pepper. The Man rubbed my shoulders, fed the kids lunch and dinner, and got them ready for bed. Here I sit listening to The Man read books to my children. His voice impressions and sound effects make me smile. The Man can't help but to do everything whole heartily. I call him "The Man" because he's the only MAN and I love him!

-ily

it doesn't hurt that he's a dish too!

Reading is Good

2010-07-24T17:59:00.002-07:00

I've had this grand idea to read 1 book per month for a while now and I am finally getting around to actually doing it. It's been so easy to convince myself there are other things I'd rather do I guess. BUT NO MORE! I hereby officially commit to read one book per month and then blog about it and give a little review, aka a book report on it. I might even go crazy and read one business-type book AND 1 religious book per month, but I'm only committing to you 1 for now. We'll see though.

My 1st book I read was in June and is called Conquer The Chaos - How to Grow a Successful Small Business Without Going Crazy.

It was written by Clate Mask, the CEO of Infusionsoft (where I've worked for the past 4 1/2 years) and by Scott Martineau, the founder. These guys are class act leaders who I admire and respect very much.

So here's what I thought: Section I called The Quest for Freedom talked about why entrepreneurs revolt against "the man," how and why chaos enters the small business, and that if the small business is to survive, it must grow. I thought this section was a little too much fluff for me, but I'm sure small business owners will identify very closely with this discussion. To me this section was only the appetizer when I was hungry for some meat and potatoes.

Section II titled Mindset Strategies: Achieving Balance was a very pleasant surprise. It presented the idea of investing in emotional capital before and during the process of becoming a small business owner. It says your emotional bank account is even more important than your financial bank account and is ultimately the strength of your business. Wow, what a profound thought that I think many entrepreneurs overlook when they decide to go into business. The inherent chaos that quickly consumes the business can easily dissuade an entrepreneur that has not invested sufficiently into their emotional bank account. You've gotta be in the right state of mind to jump up out of bed every day to face the challenges owning a small business presents. I think this topic was my biggest take-away from the book.

Another Mindset Strategy discussed is called Disciplined Optimism which is 1) an undying belief you will succeed 2) while confronting the brutal facts of your current reality 3) and attacking those facts because you want to, not because you have to. This idea could also be known as the Stockdale Paradox which the book mentions here. It's all about finding the right balance between knowing you'll end up on top, but also understanding there's a steep hill in front of you and it will require hard work to ascend to the summit.

Section III is all about Systems Strategies: Controlling Speed. This is what I thought the entire book was going to be about; the nuts and bolts of putting in processes and workflow strategies to begin to own your business instead of your business owning you. It talks about the importance of centralizing your data, following-up with your customers and prospects, and automating manual and repetitive processes. I was surprised that Clate and Scott didn't tout Infusionsoft more during this section, because frankly, this is exactly what our software is designed to do for a small business. During my years at Infusionsoft, I am 100% confident that using the software to accomplish the 3 systems strategies mentioned above will indeed Conquer The Chaos in a small business.

The last section is a quick reminder to the now Liberated Entrepreneur to not return to the old ways of doing busines and what to do now that you have found your freedom.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to all entrepreneurs who are tired of being overwhelmed by their business. Of course there is much work to be done, but the principles and strategies learned here will definitely give the business owner clear direction and a pathway leading to success.

I read this book with my wife's business Whippy Cake in mind and I am excited for her to read this book (no babe, this little summary does not count) so that we can really start to implement these ideas into her business.

Ok, first review complete! I've already read another book that I will blog about probably next week. This month I'm currently reading Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Anyone care to join me? :)

Why I don't blog...

2010-05-28T18:59:00.003-07:00

that was a tricky title because I am blogging right now so technically I do blog. Got ya!

I haven't been blogging frequently because not much is going on.

Bret works and has been watching the Suns in the playoffs at Barry's house {we don't have cable. sorry Lisa}

I have been working and managing the house and kids. I did have 2 full nights of sleep IN A ROW this week and I made some huge progress at work with the help of some fantastically amazing ladies.

The kids have been working... against my efforts to keep the house clean and be productive.

London is turning into Kingston. Heaven HELP us all! The only difference is she is so clumsy she ends up hurting herself more than anything else. She has become a canvas of bruises from all her falling and bonking but she is still successful in her efforts to leave a trail of destruction and chaos. Awe, so sweet.

Kingston has been attached to me every second of the day with bronchitis, pneumonia and an ear infection. It's incredibly sad but I sure do enjoy the hours of snuggling and cuddling he has surrendered to. All I can say is "My poor baby!"

I hear my patient crying now so that's all for now.

C is for dog

2010-05-23T15:57:00.007-07:00

I know you are all dying too see Kingston play with his alphabet letters.

I love the way he talks... "yetters!"

Video Blast

2010-05-12T15:32:00.005-07:00

Since I work through the internet a lot of youtube videos pass through my in-box. Here are a few of my favorites I've seen recently.

Just saw this one today on my customers blog all the way from Norway. I might be weird but I feel so envious of the individuals who got to participate in the making of this video. They look so HAPPY, it just makes me so happy to watch it, especially the janitor. The pink glove dance has started a trend on youtube and I was happy to see so many people enthusiastic about the cause and eager to make their own videos. Nothing short of AWESOME!

My daddy sent me this one. It's one of those videos where you doubt it can be "that" cool but then the coolness comes out and slaps you in the face over and over again. AWESOME all the way through to the end folks!

This video made it's way all the way around Bret's office at work and then to me. Mother, father AWESOME! When baby number 3 makes a debut I will rally for my own swagger wagon for sure!

and here are some oldies that I just NEVER get tired of....

kumquat

Shameful, but this one is memorize by now.

I like em too.

My little Croissant! You have to click {HERE} to see this one. Best and only good video by MadTV.

I'm stopping now, but you are welcome for wasting your time.

Free to a good home

2010-05-03T12:04:00.005-07:00

Free to a good home:

2 year old male
eats pizza, cereal, milk and treats
very playful
needs obedience training
not housed trained
keep away from small animals and children
comes with soap and toys
diapers not included

just kidding! We love him too much to give away for free. He's at least $100 ;)

Help us Rent our Condo!

2010-04-27T23:13:00.003-07:00

Hey Blog World our condo is for rent. It's available on May 1st (yes, that's this weekend). I posted it with both the ASU & MCC Institute a few weeks ago when we found out for sure that Tami and Ryne would be moving out, but no hits yet. So yeah we really need to get it rented and we would love to get people we know (or people who you know) that promise to be good renters and we promise to be good landlords. Here's some stats and some pics. Please email me at bcrosbyasu@gmail.com if you or someone you know might be interested. We appreciate your help in spreading the word!

2 bedrooms
2 full bathrooms
1000 square feet
new appliances (I'm in a new home and I seriously miss the dishwasher in this condo!)
new Laminate flooring from Home Depot
washer/dryer
storm door
1st floor
10 minutes from ASU & MCC
Super Clean
Super Cute (my wife's words, not mine)
Super Awesome Landlords (my words)
Community Pool
Community Volleyball Pit, Tennis Court, Basketball Court,
Community Big Open Grassy Area
Asking for $750.00-ish (negotiable depending on how cool we think you are)
Pets must be approved (no 800 pound bears please)
If a group of students wants to rent it we are cool with that or a couple could rent it too. Whatev.
Pics:

The Alternative to Junk Punching

2010-04-22T23:29:00.004-07:00

In reference to my previous post and the comments and emails I've received I decided to take a spin around that block once again and dig in a peep deeper. While acknowledging that my desire to look better, be better, feel better will never go away {I assume this is because we were created to progress}, I have since devised a plan that doesn't focus so much on vengeance against Punk Face and New Guy but more so on the deeds that will actually make me a better person and make me feel better about myself in every way. After all, I can compare and contort myself in an effort to aspire to that unreachable satisfaction for my appearance and consumption but I imagine that will only result in more self rejection and insecurities. The opposite of that is doing things for other people. Simply put, the more you do for others the better you feel about yourself. It's so simple that it's actually difficult {for me anyway}. Shall I continue on my rant? I shall...

My Mom used a spoon as an analogy for me once. If I faced the spoon inward on myself my reflection was upside down and contorted. However, if I turned it outward {toward others} the reflection was right side up again and a little more clear. Holy slap in the face, DUH! When we focus on ourselves we loose sight on where we are going and it's hard to see much of anything else and then after a while everything seems like it's upside down and you just don't know what to do anymore and pretty soon you find yourself buying giant bags of frootsie rolls on Amazon.com! Sooooo, using the basic laws of opposition I'm thinking it's not a bad idea to spend a little more time and effort on making other people feel happy and beautiful. It's so easy it's hard people!!! Honestly, raise your hand if you've ever spent the day helping a friend {insert act of service here} and then went home and ate a pound of butter because you felt empty afterward? That will never happen! Doing stuff for other people and making them feel better about themselves {NOT WORSE, girls} only makes YOU a better person. Let's talk about the ELEPHANT in the room. Girls will initially dislike someone who is beautiful and talented simply because she's intimidating and we feel threatened. I sometimes want to laugh {out loud} when I go to female gatherings because of all the look-e-loo glance-a-roo's I see. You know, when one girl looks another girl up and down, and allllll around and then glances away real fast before the victim notices. I don't know about ya'll but I NOTICE, and I notice it e v e r y w h e r e! I'm sure it's partly because the offender is checking out the victims clothes and accessories and coveting the crap out of it all, but we all know she is busting out her mental scale and comparing herself to someone she probably doesn't know very well. I suspect this has happened to me a number of times {sadly, I see it at church the most} and truth be told I think that act is wiggity-wack it needs to hit the road Jack! I mean, at least give me the chance to win you over with a knock knock joke or somethin! But anyways, the point isn't to dwell on how others treat you or what they think about you but to really change the way you think about others and how you treat them.

{I'm not rambling am I? I don't ramble, especially not at 2am. I'm rambling huh?}

Summation:
The road to ultimate beauty, talent, weight loss, accomplishments, acceptance, most original, DIY, shabby chic, retro, leopard print, vintage, bling makeover etc... leads to a dead end, self doubt and selfishness. The happier, friendlier, blissful, light of Christ version of you is not achieved by doing stuff for yourself. And there is absolutely with out question, undoubtedly NO purpose or outcome from comparing yourself to someone else because in the end you will ALWAYS be you, so get used to it because YOU is a really good thing to be!

My Plan of Action:
Do and say anything and everything that is uplifting and helpful to others. More importantly I want to teach my children to be loving and serving.

On the contrary here is a list of things to do if you want to be self loathing and miserable.

talk about yourself a lot and never listen to what others have to say.
go out of your way to be fake-friendly to someone and then talk trash about them behind their backs.
pretend to be a friend to get stuff for yourself.
always expect others to help you but don't waste your time doing stuff for them.
only think about the way you look and what you are wearing.
only talk about the way you look and what you are wearing.
hold a grudge instead of repairing a friendship.
1-up anything anyone says.
spend more money than you have, especially on things that don't matter.
intentionally say things that are belittling or judgmental to others.
intentionally try to make other people jealous.
always ask yourself "what's in it for me?".
try to be like everyone but yourself.
listen to or watch noise all day long.
ignore your kids for less important things.
persuade others to think badly of other individuals.
keep score of what you do for other people and what they didn't do for you.
always blame other people for you problems.
act like everyone is out to get you.
think that you have the worst life ever.
treat your husband like dirt.
encourage your friends to gossip.

This list could easily grow wildly out of control because a certain Bad Guy works hard to make sure it's easier to do the wrong thing at all times. Some of the stuff on this list are things that I have done that made me feel horrible and some of them are things that others have done to me that made me feel horrible. Either way all parties involved wind up feeling horrible. The whole reason I posted anything about this topic in the first place was because ALL of it is a struggle for me. I am so far from being perfect it's depressing but I've finally reached a point where I realized that it is more depressing not to speak up and make some changes. So thank you for your comments and emails of encouragement and for letting me know I'm not the only one who feels this way. After only a few small changes I have already felt so much happier and peaceful and I am actually excited about being me, without feeling guilty or inadequate or anything of the sort and it's pretty much the best feeling ever. So I'm going to bed happy tonight because I know I am going to wake tomorrow and try even harder to be a little better.

{I am so completely sorry for the bad spelling and grammar that lurks within this post. That weakness of mine is certainly magnified in the wee hours of the morning}

What the FRENCH toast?

2010-04-19T08:34:00.008-07:00

You know what bugs me? I mean REALLY bugs me. Comparisons. Who was the Punk Face that said "Hey World! I have an idea, lets get people and more specifically women to compare themselves against each other. Better yet, lets get the media involved so not one woman misses a day without feeling inadequate or UGLY!"

Hey world! Here's my idea, lets find that guy and give him 1 million punches to the face!

Attention Men: now's the time where you tune me out because you can't relate.

Attention Ladies: Ever listen to the conversations you have with your friends? How many times did you say you were going to work out, start a diet, change something about your appearance, remodel/ makeover something in your house etcetera etcetera? Don't you just get annoyed with yourself? Wouldn't it be great to just let yourself be for a day or two? I feel like blogger and typed pad have joined forces to speed up the spread of insecurities, jealousy and my favorite, FRIENAMIES!

I can't help but feel a little sour every time I hear someone say "I don't have any talents" or "I am not as good as so and so". Who the heck IS as good as so and so, show me one person! Yes, I hate to cook and I sleep in like a bear, does that put me in the trophy wife hall of shame? "Hi, I don't scrap book and I never ran a marathon, yes I know, I'm a mutant"

So I say, "Hey world, bite me." I could just sit around and do nothing and refuse to try anything in life but I know there is someone out there who will still be a better blob than me so I won't try because AGAIN with the comparisons.

Introducing New Guy who says "Hey World, Let get the kids involved!" Our poor children don't stand a chance. Not unless they memorize all the "My Baby Can Sign" videos and recite the presidents in order. {Walter, She's 6 months old and can't walk yet. WHAT DO WE DO!?!?!? It's too late Sally, She's a menace to society, we'll have to move and change our names. Noooooooo!} Dear Kingston and London, you better not suck at anything or I will be shamed in the blogging world forever.

My Solution? Lets find Punk Face and New Guy and junk punch em!

My new philosophy: Regardless of what I can and can't do or the abilities of my children I thinks it's my right to be happy the way I am and to be proud of my kids no matter how fat London's head is or how many times Kingston gets kicked out of nursery for being a Ninja. So move along world. Go ahead and do your comparisons and smile at me facetiously as if you're my friend, assuming that you are better than me. I will be over here enjoying life regardless. So HA!

(if you read this and are thinking "wow, she must be really insecure." you would be RIGHT. Yes, I get jealous of other people. Yes, I compare myself to to other girls. Yes, I know people who are my so called "friends". Yes, I am not oblivious to the fact that there are individuals who smile at the thought of making me feel bad. All of which are reasons why I am insecure. {I'm only human} Tired of it much? AbsoFREAKINlutley. Do I feel the need to keep up the facade that I don't care? Not so much :)

Experimenting

2010-04-13T22:39:00.003-07:00

Today I used my engagement photo as a form of ID when using my credit card. It worked. "Hmmm?" I wonder, What else can I get away with while playing dumb and innocent? I shall experiment and report back!

I spy

2010-04-13T08:26:00.006-07:00

... a stinkin cute kid. It's no mystery that I don't relate to my two year old. He is into kicking, punching, ninja chopping, cars, batman, grammar and he is TWO. Yah, can't relate to a single one of those but we still have a lot of fun :) Kingston is teaching me all the best ways to play and have fun, oh goody!

Easter

2010-04-11T21:31:00.003-07:00

Let's see, there were eggs, lots of candy and baskets with little toys. All the eggs were smashed, all the candy was eaten and all the toys are lost. It was awesome!

And now I have two candy grubbers.

Sometimes

2010-04-07T16:07:00.003-07:00

Sometimes I like to sucker punch Bret when he is innocent and unsuspecting. I think it's good for our relationship, especially when things are going perfectly fine. Sometimes Bret likes to creep up on me like a predator and scare the gklrofprlc out of me. I think he secretly likes to keep me on my toes so that I will be prepared should I ever be attacked. Sometimes when we sleep we spoon like college students all night and sometimes I tuck my toes between his feet like a blanket. Sometimes I want to be mad at Bret even if the reason evades me. Sometimes {lets be real, all the time} I change my mind or do something spontaneous that makes Bret "upset" even though he knew I am about as consistent as Christy Alley's weight long before we were ever married. Sometimes I count every minute until Bret comes home to relieve me from our children. Sometimes when our children go to sleep I get them back up to be with them. Sometimes Bret leaves for long hours to play sports at church for his "sanity". Sometimes I think that excuse is getting old. Sometimes I want to hide all of Bret's shoes so he can't go to work :) Sometimes when we play games I have anger problems {towards Bret} but sometimes I play anyways. Sometimes I am immature, sometimes Bret is unreasonable or stubborn but usually both. Sometimes I'm not quite sure how I landed in the perfect life.

Kingston

2010-03-26T19:43:00.005-07:00

I love that turd.

Short and Fat

2010-03-20T07:59:00.005-07:00

This is our new puppy and she is short and fat and covered in hair. We are already in love with her. She lets Lo pick her up and Kingston chase her around the yard frantically. She must think she is so tough because she is not afraid. She has no name yet but still cute to say the least.

A Serious Matter

2010-03-13T18:26:00.003-07:00

When it comes to London FOOD is a serious matter. When she gets her hands on something edible it is all business to her. Her solemn duty is to scarf it down before it has the chance to get away, even if it means gagging and choking it down. She is like her daddy, she can pack it away like a man.

That's my princess.

Ho-hum

2010-03-09T22:17:00.003-07:00

Not much going on here, everything is a little ho-hum actually. Kingston was pretty sick there for several days and Bret and I have been living up to our workaholic stereotypes.

We got to dog sit the sweet Bella for a week and now I REALLY want a puppy. I also painted the studio with the help of a selfless friend {pictures on my whippy blog}. Jessi also gave me Rock Star toes for my first time. Bret is working on the yard still so we can plant some trees, a garden and some beautiful flowers. Both the kids are smarter than I and they make me so happy even when they wear me out.

Our Book of Mormon goal started out really difficult for me. I read about 32 pages in the first 4 days. Since then I have done much better and have cought up mostly. Bret is here to make sure I don't give up and I love him for it. We also have been sitting in on the missionary lessons with our super great neighbors. Each time we get together the spirit is very strong and I am so happy to be a witness of the truthfulness of the gospel. It makes me appreciate what I know and then I want to share it some more. {consider that your warning... you know who}.

God is so perfect. Only he knows everything and can arrange our lives accordingly. I feel comforted knowing he is in control, and thankful. Sometimes I am sad though that I am not different. Like my friends that are on time no matter what and organized, or who never have the desire to complain or think negatively of others and especially like the ones who cook, clean and have time for everybody and of course do it all happily {yes they do exist!}. Not me, I am much more selfish and undisciplined than that. Most of the time I like myself the way I am, but tonight I want to be like them. Ho-hum.

Cover to cover

2010-02-28T14:24:00.004-07:00

Bret had the venturous idea to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover in March. I am excited out of my mind to start. I always think back on the time when Bret and I were NOT together for a few months and how reading the scriptures and praying was the only way to get through another day. Those days were hard but I never felt so good about myself and I KNEW who I was becoming. I loved leaving my whole life in God's hands.

I am a bit of a control freak, so I do my best to manage my life on my own, I work hard to make things work and to get what I want. Case in point: Bret, Kingston, London, house and soon a puppy {sorry babe, it's gonna happen}. I try not to "bother" God with my life and therefore I sometimes try not to ask him what I should do or if He can help. I know this way of living is misguided and life could potentially be so much easier if I just put things in His hands but it feels impossible to let go of control. I know, I am a mutant.

Needless to say I am definitely anxious for the lovely effects of this special book to take over my life and to change my twisted perspective. I'm looking to renew my vigor for missionary work and to redefine the relationship I have with my creator. I'm hoping this month I can be changed forever and I can become someone I love and that my thoughts and feelings towards others will be pleasant and sweet. I'm hoping to get to know the real me, the me I was before I came to earth, the me HE wants me to be.

I struggle with myself and my attitude more than I do with anything else. Most of the time I am just disappointed that I am not a kind person and that I am not sensitive to others around me. I don't want to be negative or selfish. I want to change and I am excited to.

Bret has the best influence on me. I knew from the start he was too good for me and that he would get me back to the presence of God even if he has to drag me by the feet. Sometimes we take turns dragging each other but he is a lot stronger than I so he usually does all the dragging. I like him ;) I've got a few records of my own that testify of the love I have for my companion. Some pages may seem juvenile but I assure you the contents are the reality. The books of our relationship are falling apart and basically not legible at all. There isn't an alluring plot or climax to enthrall you. There are no sparkling vampires and I am absolutely not the apple in any man's eye but I prefer these pages to others entirely even if the grammar is atrocious.

Let her eat cake

2010-02-23T11:34:00.003-07:00

Shye so loving made London's strawberry birthday cake for the party. It was exactly what I wanted and I cannot say enough about utterly delicious it was. It was truly admired and every bite was savored. Y.U.M.

{London was not hesitant at all to dig her fingers into that sweet strawberry goodness.}

{Shye's cakes make me that happy too}

{what I wouldn't give for another piece right now!!!!}

Shye also made mini cupcakes in a jar for all the mommies. Triple Chocolate Pecan Crunch... or something like that. Lots of chocolate = perfection in a jar. Just look how cute they are!!!

Thank you dear Shye!

Tea with the Queen

2010-02-23T11:10:00.004-07:00

Miss Lo turned ONE on Friday the 19th of February and so we had a special tea party in honor of her majesty. This was something I have been waiting for since she was born. My only daughter's 1st Birthday party and I was determined to go overboard for her special day. It was so fun to have something NON work related to put some thought into and I wanted it to be fun for all who attended. Every detail was thought out and planned.

{Queen for a day}

{Lo and her guests enjoying watermelon lemonade and some delicate tea sandwiches, scones and muffins.}

{There was a table for the adults and one for the little girls with tiny appetizer silverware and handmade napkins from vintage material. Each table was adorned with fresh flowers and embossed teapots.}

{All the adorable guest came dressed to impress in their party best. Some had to leave early but each little girl received a vintage tea cup and a collection of pretty things that little girls love}

{To eat we had homemade scones with sweet cream and strawberries, an array of finger sandwiches with party toppers made from vintage images, mini cake balls with pink glitter, muffins, stuffed strawberries and blueberries and two different kinds of lemonades.}

Her sweet cousins and friends brought her the most adorable gifts and she has had soooo much fun playing with her girly toys ever since. I wanted to thank everyone who came and especially for all of your help setting up! It was the sweetest of days. Thank you.

Tah Dah!

2010-02-21T20:07:00.006-07:00

Yes, I finally finished the yard! Well, not the entire yard yet, but finished the sprinkler system, curbing, extending the back porch with the square and rectangle concrete slabs and laid the sod. There's still a lot to go. And I shouldn't say "I" either cuz I had lots of help. Eric Eaves from my new ward hooked it up and helped me put in the spinkler system and let me borrow his tools, I hired a couple Mexicans to do the curbing, Dad gave up a couple weekends to come down and set the forms with me, mix the concrete, pour it, and work it until it set just right, and Barry gave up his President's Day to come unload a ton (literally) of dirt to level it out and to help lay all the sod. Becki and I think it looks so good and King loves to run around in the grass. Lo skips the grass and goes straight to the dirt to get as much in her mouth before we can take her away. I'm so glad to finally have this part done. I show it off to everyone who stops by the house. The next project will be finishing the sprinkler system for the garden boxes, finish the drip line and plant some fruit trees, and we want to do some vines to grow up and cover the back wall. Anyways, we're gonna enjoy it.

Remember When?

2010-02-19T21:50:00.002-07:00

Remember when this commercial used to be funny? Now it just gives me anxiety? Kingston has definitely curbed my hopes for another baby right now.

This one's mine!

2010-02-14T15:22:00.004-07:00

I knew I picked a good one when he took me to dinner at a place I mentioned weeks ago. Especially when he ordered just a hamburger so I could order something special like the lobster! And then he let me cover his face in RED lipstick kisses and post pictures of it on the internet. Tee hee.

So glad he's all mine!

A Real Good Time

2010-02-10T22:11:00.006-07:00

Here is a little story about how I disappeared for several days.

My sister Missi had some sad news. My sister's Carli, Aubrey, Elisha and I felt sad for her too. We wanted to hug her. "Let's go to Utah to hug her!" we say..... Then we spend much time coordinating, bribing and begging to ditch our children and drive to Utah very VERY last minute.

4 girls piled into my toaster for a long drive like this:

we surprised our sister Mihhi (Missi) and made her smile like this:

Then we drove up to Midway and hiked up a hill to my parents cabin in the snow like this:

Wearing Arizona shoes like this:

Then we surprised my parents like this:

Then we called up my twin and surprised him too so we could bond like this:

Then we began to have lots of fun doing things like this:

and this:

and we took fun pictures like this:

and this:

{I'm the only one that actually looks cold but it's just not true}

and we saw pretty things like this:

and this:

and finally on the drive home I slept like this:

and this:

As you can tell it was a week long girls retreat and we had too much fun to blog about. Sorry the pictures are so lame, I must of been too distracted to care. That was the wackiest last minute thing I have ever done and I am so happy all 5 sisters could be with each other for a once in a lifetime experience like this one. I am blessed!

I did learn a few things on my trip.

1st and most important: Snow, cold, ice etc are not my friend. I will stay put in Arizona for the winter from now on.

2nd I might be morbidly obese in a small body. My mom says it can happen {I might be dramatizing my situation}. My sisters are all so fit and healthy and it really makes me want to try it out again. {more on this later}

3rd my twin brother B-Rad is too hot and too much fun to stay single for long. I also think he should live in Arizona by me so we can hang out more.

4th. There is most definitely a such thing as too much junk food. Wherever the line was I rocketed myself across it.

and finally, I miss my Utah family already! Waaaaah. {But I am terribly anxious to hold my babies once more at the same time} I'm so conflicted!

and there you go. I hope to pick up the blogging pace in the next few weeks but you know me, you can't really count on anything I say.

p.s. Isn't it great that our blog is no longer private? You can thank Bret for whining about it so much and my HORRIBLE people adding skills. I apologize to the people who never actually got added. I intended to I promise!

Batman

2010-01-27T23:16:00.004-07:00

Kingston, how do I explain this kid in words? He's a B.O.Y. by nature and capitalizes on that fact in every way. Sure he likes sports like his dad and seems to be naturally coordinated but he has this passion for action. Jumping, climbing, kicking, punching, biting, No Mama!, Gun noises, tackle, tickle, a kiss here and there, throwing, flipping, running, oh yes and recently skate boarding in the house, the fun never ends. There is no communicating with this boy. If you really want him to respect you or listen, you have to join him in wonderland and play along on his boyish missions. Once you have rolled around with him a few times and tossed a few pillows at him he will listen to just about anything you say. He may not live in reality but this kid is a whiz. He knew all the letters in the alphabet and the sounds they make as well as a few easy words like dog and hat before his 2nd Birthday. You can be sure I didn't have a hand in that {Miss can't spell at all here}. Now he is on to numbers, colors and shapes. He is highly motivated by his sticker chart and tweets {he means treats not Twitter}. He is honest to a fault. Thankfully he hasn't caught on to blaming others just yet and will confess to ANYTHING {"Yesh"} with a regrettable sadness on his face as he realizes consequences are coming. He also has an adorable British accent when saying words like "yogurt" and "water". He gets overly excited around other people and especially kids. This is when the outrageous behavior steps up from annoying to abhorrent. But in day to day life he is pretty complacent as long as he has the companionship of his batman. A boy and his batman, a blind blessing to witness each day for sure. Kishes!

Fatty

2010-01-27T22:43:00.005-07:00

Fatty aka Lo. What can I say? How 'bout what everyone else says? "She is so FAT!" It's all in her head, no really her cheeks are what make her seem fat. She is fashionably bald as well. At 10 months she has the same amount of hair as she did the day she was born. Headbands anyone? Oh yes, the bigger the better! She has a thing for paper products including but not limited to books, boxes, magazines, envelopes and wrappers and she will tear them into tiny pieces and eat them up unless stopped! The horror! She also has been experimenting with walking and climbing the stairs. She started a few weeks ago but like her mother is uncommitted to perfecting the art. She's not a cry baby or a whiner but the child has lungs. She is what I like to call an echo. You say "ahh" and she will say "ahh" right back but louder. And when she is hungry it's "AHH AH AHHHH" until she gets that food in her mouth. Now would also be a good time to mention she bites. Not a playful nibble, oh no, more like "are you edible? can I bit off this appendage?" pit bull bite. Chomp Chomp. So don't put your finger or anything with nerves in the trap unless you want it amputated or have an uncanny urge to feel pain. Fatty here also likes to make the rounds. She will open, dump out, pull out and explore everything in reach as a daily routine. {yah, my house is clean. NOT!} I recently discovered she can take the cap off her bottle. Crap! It's a relief when she goes down for bed but I will admit 30 minutes later I wanna wake her up to feel her brightness in my heart again. Dear Fatty, please don't grow up.

Finicky

2010-01-26T23:35:00.003-07:00

Bret tells me I am finicky. Naturally I want to disagree but my subconscious remembers my dad telling me the same thing a time or two. Just because I am captivated by a new interest before I can appreciate the last, doesn't give a man the right! So what if I have too many hobbies to practice in one lifetime. So what if my cell phone turn over is higher than UOP's employees. So what if I can't form proper sentences because my mind is busy conjuring up an idea. So What!

Ok, truthfully? I feel for the man, and my poor parents now that I think of it. They Must think I am like Corky From Corky Romano in the scene where he is accidentally exposed to an entire bag of cocaine and then tries to talk to a class of 2nd graders. {Except I am drug free of course, unless Dr. Pepper counts as an inhibiter.}

Example of my thought process at any given point in a day:

I need to go to JoAnns for buttons, glitter...
I should put glitter on that painting of the nest.
What if I put feathers in the napkin rings for a dinner party?
Tickle kingston for squealing.
Give him batman back.
Lo is stinky.
Lets go through the closets and box up the outgrown clothes.
I should get a label maker.
Look online.
Email, link, this blog, that blog, another blog, link, link, email..
Diaper change.
Put on "NIPE" aka Snipe. {Up}
Get down the letters.
Did I eat?
We need groceries.
I should make a list.
Can't find notepad.
Found Stamps!
I should print labels for x, y, z packages.
I will go to the post office to drop them off.
While I am out I will go to JoAnns because I need buttons, glitter...
Glittered twigs would be awesome for a center piece!

It doesn't seem exhausting until the end of the day when even I can't decipher my own thoughts. I don't question why he never understands me. Who does? But he loves me, and that's all I care about, and glitter.... I should buy a boat!

over and out.

Dear Peter

2010-01-21T20:38:00.003-07:00

Dear Peter,

There is something I have been wanting to say for some time now. I think I am in love with you. I know it's wrong on so many levels but it's just that you bring out such strong feelings in me. I can't help that you smell so good and you're so soft to the touch. Sometime it seems like you know exactly how to meet my needs and not to mention you are ALWAYS there when I want you to be. I know I shouldn't be broadcasting this on this blog for the whole world to see but I can't help it. I compare you to all those other guys and I prefer you to all the rest. I try to resist you but then you had to be all sweet like honey. Even when you are gone it's hard not to think about you because the scent of you lingers to torment me so. I hate how you have this hold on me and what you do to my body. I'm sorry for making you hide in my closet so no one would find you. I just didn't want people to know about us yet. I was scared of what they would think when they found out how obsessed I am with you. I am sorry for being so possessive and not wanting to share you with anyone else. I wish you were more like Jif or Skippy, at least then I wouldn't want you so bad. I hate you! {I will see you again tomorrow}

Forever Yours,
Becki

p.s. I prefer you smooth, when you're crunchy you get stuck in my teeth.

Almost

2010-01-17T15:31:00.002-07:00

I almost got depressed today over a recent disappointment in my life when I read this on Rennai's blog. All better! Thanks buddy.

So sweet he's Spicy!

2010-01-08T22:39:00.004-07:00

Since I checked back into real life after the holidays I have been a maniac trying to catch up. So Bret took it upon himself to make our family dinner {w/out me asking or hint dropping} on Wednesday. {You can be envious, I know I have it good.} Anyways, He made us some Spaghetti with cauliflower and cheese sauce! He had a few bites and mention how spicy the bell peppers were. I pointed out that we didn't have any bell peppers. The sweet guy used an Anaheim Pepper in the spaghetti. I thought it was so adorable he thought it was a bell pepper and it actually tasted great but was however spicy. I love a man who is not afraid to cook with ambition!
I can't leave out the fact that he also did the dishes after wards which is not a part of our "I'll Cook, you clean" arrangement. Aaaaand he has pretty much done the dishes every night since. Something tells me I don't appreciate the man enough and that he can do better but I think it would be rude to tell God he gave me more than I deserve, I wouldn't want to sound ungrateful.

p.s. I know I suck at blogging. I am pretty much starting to loath it, maybe it's just a phase.

What make Christmas a Success?

2010-01-03T20:30:00.004-07:00

What makes Christmas successful? Is it the presents under the tree? Hand made matching pj's from grandma? Sledding in the snow or all you can eat wrapping paper? I would have to say all of the above combined with the knowledge of Jesus Christ and his ultimate gift to us. It doesn't get better than this!

The Givers

2010-01-03T20:10:00.006-07:00

Lisa and Barry were our personal Santa Clause this year. First with the tree and then they dropped this FAT surprise off at our house before we headed up North for Christmas. I don't need to tell you how excited Kingston was because you can see it in his face and from the ginormous fit he performed when we made him get off his newly put together trampoline.

As for us we are overwhelmed by their generosity and thoughtfulness. Definitely not something we could have ever expected. Thanks Santa(s)!!!

Warm Fuzzies

2010-01-01T17:43:00.005-07:00

We recieved a couple of warm fuzzies from some friends and family this Christmas. Starting with this!

Lisa and Barry found this tree for us in the white mountains, chopped it down and brought it home for us. I LOVE how unique it is and will probably look for a lookalike next year. I sense a tradition in the making.

My sister Missi made these stunning organic stockings for us. They are much better than I could have imagined and far better than what I asked for. LOVES to her!

{Lo doesn't have her own wooden monogram yet but I am searching}

We had some other fantastic holiday goodies but I haven't gotten the pics yet so they are coming soon.

Happy Christmas

2009-12-25T13:14:00.003-07:00

We hope you are having a lovely Holiday. LOVES from us!

Sobs

2009-12-19T09:06:00.003-07:00

Cried just as much the second and third time watching as the first. I suck. (Thanks sis for sharing)

A Friggin Cute Family

2009-12-16T07:49:00.001-07:00

I'm allowed to say that about us right?

Our good friend Chris Wilson was so kind to take our family photos last minute and wow were we impressed! Great photos for a FANTASTIC price!

Big2 {continued}

2009-12-14T09:28:00.004-07:00

It's a big shock having a two year old. In a blink of an eye he went from crawling to running and from babbling to talking. I can almost handle the changes until I start thinking about London growing up as quickly too and I just don't want it to happen. I love the baby stages and not the stubborn, defiant "I am smarter than you mom" stage. However, time defies me as well and they grow up non the less. Blast!

Here are some things about Kingston in tribute to his transition into toddler-hood.

1. He knows the alphabet. Not the sing song repeat what you hear. Oh no, he recognizes each letter and knows the sound they make.
2. The kid will not say "Car". Refuses to.
3. If he hears a fart he will undoubtedly smile and shout "Toot" and snicker. So don't try to sneak one by him people, he will call you out. {Thank Bret for that}
4. The first thing he does when he sees another child is usually a kick or a punch and sometimes a full on tackle. {any ideas how to overcome this behavior?} He is frequently kicked out of nursery. I am not sure why he thinks this violent sort of hello is friendly but I'd be truly happy if it stopped.
5. He asks multiple times a day to watch football or the news.
6. He will swindle or barter just about anything for a snack or treat.
7. A lover of dough dough {or play dough}
8. He has a radar for pacies
9. He is a wiz at animals and their sounds.
10. He is well on his way to knowing his numbers and colors.
11. The child is an athlete.
12. He steam rolls over Lo Lo a minimum of 20 times a day.
13. He will eat noonles or an ottdog for every meal.
14. He has a British accent.
15. He shakes his bum bum like his dad.

Life with this kid is never dull and how happy I am to receive a kiss and a hug from this maniac. Loves!

Big2

2009-12-14T01:01:00.005-07:00

My "baby" turned 2 December 7th and it sucked! Actually his little birthday celebration was rather fun but it still sucks that he is growing up :(

We invited some friends and family over for cake and ice cream last minute. I am pretty proud of the cake though. It was inspired by the robot candles Jessi gave me and I love the way it turned out, especially because it was absolutely last minute and unplanned {my favorite way to live}.

Kb was pretty intrigued by the candles and wanted to keep blowing them out.

He played with all his toys for a week straight without bugging me. {Thanks you all for the fantastic toys!}

to be continued...

That's love for ya

2009-12-03T20:51:00.002-07:00

A certain husband of mine was thoughtful enough to go to the store for me {TWICE} to gather some desired ingredients for a salad I simply HAD to have for dinner. Fortunately I am very fortunate to have such a darling man for a spouse. Much Loves!

still thankful

2009-11-24T08:31:00.003-07:00

day 17: I have a beautiful HOME filled with lovely things. We have so much space to love and grow into and I couldn't be more pleased.

day 18: Bret works for the best company with some amazing people selling the best small business software ever. Pretty much a 3 way blessing right there. I heart Infusionsoft.

day 19: I'm thankful for my talents and for a mother who cared enough to teach me and sisters close enough to practice with.

day 20: I am loving it when I get to snuggle with my babies. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!

day 21: I have some pretty spectacular genuine friends who are loyal, honest, kind, and make me happy. A rare find.

day 22: Technology, I am a fan and might not survive without it.

day 23: Eagar, I said it and I mean it. Wish I was there now.

day 24: The gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know it is true and I love the blessings and promises that come with.

day 16

2009-11-17T14:40:00.001-07:00

day 16:

still thankful...

2009-11-15T23:22:00.003-07:00

day 13: Nicholas Sparks. I can't stop reading his books right now.

day 14: Infusionsoft's Outlook integration. Quite easily the most spectacular app known to mankind. Spectacular enough to get me to buy windows to run on my mac. That's right I betray my loyalties to my mac by infecting it with windows' operating system so I can use this fabulous plug-in that makes my job 10x easier. Thankfully I can toggle between windows and Mac OS X.

day 15: Tonight I let myself get carried away searching through old post on our blog and I stopped at a post from London's Birth. I stare at this photo of Bret and I holding this sweet angel sent to us directly from God. I some how saw our family in a different light at that moment. You see, I read these blogs of heroic women who make being a wife and mother sound like poetry and I long to have those same indescribable moments. Though I am far from being a diligent house keeper and I doubt I will ever be able to get out of bed before 7:30, I can say that I do have that ideal family I long for. I look at pictures of us together and think "I want that!" and I have it. That one moment from that one picture makes it impossible not to be thankful for my whole life because it all lead to what I have now. I find myself already missing that tiny little baby and those unforgettable first moments Bret and I spent with her. It certainly makes it hard to wait for our next one.

continued

2009-11-12T08:02:00.003-07:00

day 5: Goofing around with my sisters. We think we are so funny and we desperately wish we were photogenic. My life will be in danger if I post the "other" pics.

{making fun of ourselves}

day 6: Wet eyelashes. There is something so serene and beautiful about them. I can't help but snap a photo whenever I have the chance.

day 7: The Nokia Twist. It could be the single coolest phone I have ever owned! In LOVE!

day 8: Moments like these and fighting the urge to have another. The first weeks are my favorite times in the whole world!

day 9: This book. "nough said.

day 10: This lovely piece I picked up at BlissFest. The husband is sweet enough to let me keep it even though he hates it. That's love.

day 11: kissing this face anytime I want.

day 12: ipods {specifically the touch}. what would we do without them? :)

Crosby Manor

2009-11-08T15:41:00.002-07:00

We hosted a little get together at the Crosby manor.

We had some pretty great characters show up.
{Barry & Lisa as Ketchup & Mustard}

{Sam & Heather as the Mechanic and his Thug}

{Jessi & Kendra as PB&J Sandwhich}

{Chris & Jerrae as Fred and Wilma}

We had a nice dinner followed by dead ducks. Jessi treated us to a Filipino delicacy, Balute, which are duck embryos with chili vinegar. It was pretty gross but almost everyone tried it including Bret and I. Avert your eyes if you have a week stomach.

{yum}

We also played a crime scene game and took photos but I am saving the photos for blackmail later on.

3 Halloweens

2009-11-08T15:30:00.004-07:00

Bret and I had 3 different Halloween parties to go to and some how ended up wearing different costumes to each one. I think that means I don't have to dress up for 3 more years. {doubtful}

At our ward party Bret was a doctor and I was the H1N1 virus {swine flu}

At our party Bret was Kanye West and I was Taylor Swift

and for Trick or Treating and some more friendly parties Bret was a Jock and I was a Nerd

Kingston was a Pirate {or ninja to some}

An Lo was the Pirate's Parrot

and there ya have it. Kingston has since been saying "trick treat" in the effort to get more candy from me.

Mawage. MAWAGE, is what bwings us togetha today!

2009-11-08T15:16:00.003-07:00

I haven't forgotten to post photos from October, just behind a little bit....

Reedy kid got married to Natalie on October 24th in the St. George Temple

{my favorite photo that day}

{Lot's 'O Crosby's}

{closest thing we have to a family photo with all four of us}

{Fly baby}

{Grandpa wasn't payin' much attention :) }

{gonna punch you}

{look a likes}

{"hold Lolo?"}

3 and 4

2009-11-04T23:53:00.004-07:00

Day 3: I'm thankful for this moment. Kb climbed into my lap, gave me a hug and kiss and went to sleep just like this. I just held him and enjoyed the moment.

Day 4: I'm thankful for a husband who is never too cool to dress up and act out on Halloween. Halloween is always a crazy time for us because Bret has to pick the perfect costume that makes him happy and and my costume always has to go with whatever he picks out. Although I hate the process it is always worth it to see him in his element.

{one of Bret's costumes this year was Kanye West which. I was suppose to be Taylor Swift}

TRaditional

2009-11-03T00:07:00.003-07:00

I wanted to post November 1st to start my traditional Gratitude List but I missed it :( Let's be honest, it's not like I will actually be able to consistantly post something every day anyways so count on some of the days being combined in one post.

For day 1 I have been waiting to share my favorite hymn. I don't like to sing usually but I enjoy singing this song because it makes me happy. I whisper the words to my babies when I hold them and it's quiet. I Like the traditional hymn version the most (not the John Rutter version that is more popular) Hope it makes you just as happy as me.

idk what is with the slide show...

day 2: I found this stinkin funny video on a blog I found from another blog and sadly I don't remember who's but you've probably seen it and I don't care because it never gets old to me.

Something inside me tells me I love it so much because I can relate to the behavior.

Last Day

2009-11-02T08:53:00.002-07:00

One more day to enter the whippy cake Giveaway. Click HERE for instructions on how to enter and what you can win!!!

Different Tastes

2009-10-29T17:23:00.002-07:00

I am learning very quickly that my children have different tastes in what they like to eat. Kingston is a junkie like me. London is more organic. Who knew?

Kisses for Mommy

2009-10-28T09:55:00.002-07:00

London has started giving hugs and kisses. I can't help but feel completely happy after a tight squeeze and a little wet nuzzle from my sweet cakes...

We just couldn't say good bye

2009-10-27T14:40:00.002-07:00

My mom had the Shirley Temple collection when I was growing up and I remember watching it while she was working on her many projects. This clip makes me want to go and buy the whole collection right now. I LOVE her.

Shirley also hosted and narrated The Shirley Temple Storybook Collection when she was older in 1958. Call me a weirdo but I NEED this collection for my kids. Are you kidding me with how stinking cute Winnie the Pooh is?

I think I am going to make a Shirley Temple wardrobe for Lo... and maybe buy her a curly wig since she is persistent on being bald.

Who doesn't love Shirley?

A Dandelion

2009-10-27T12:41:00.002-07:00

King was instructed to pick a flower for mommy. I love how he gazed at the flower like he was evaluating it's value to see if it was a worthy gift for his beloved mother. Maybe not, but a thoughtful gift just the same. So then I thought, if my little angel of destruction could make such a sweet gesture than I can as well. So I am praying for opportunities to be kind to others, because it makes me happy.

If he can be sweet then I can too.