Thursday, December 17, 2009

Merry Christmas to all!

A Christmas Prayer
By Robert Lewis Stevenson

Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wisemen.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love over all the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and good desire with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.



May you feel the warmth of our love and have a wonderful Christmas!

{ I apologize for the sideways video. It is a filming error on my part and well, by the time I realized the mistake... I wasn't getting them to do it again ;) }

Monday, September 28, 2009

She can be so sweet and innocent and silly and fun.

But she has a secret.
Somewhere behind her impish smile and cartoon-like voice lies a violent creature.
A creature who daily, at any time, unleashes its terror on the world.
We captured a brief encounter with that creature.
Prepare yourself, it is not for those with sensitive ears.



{The story behind this video is that I had been threatening her that I would video her behavior and show it to her in an effort to get her to stop. Well she tried to hide behind a book. I thought it was hilarious that the book happened to have a pirate face on it.}

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Time flies when you aren't getting any sleep.

We just love our new little guy! Everyone is enjoying having a little baby to hold and cuddle. {Accept for Max who would prefer to ignore him still} We are all anxiously awaiting the day when he smiles out of a response to the person he sees instead of a response to what he feels in his tummy.

His tummy does cause him a little trouble and he spends a lot of his day grunting in his sleep, poor thing. He is able to sleep through just about anything but hunger. His sisters can scream and run and play and the dog can bark like a banshee and he won't flinch. But give him and empty tummy and hes like a grumpy little bear.
Now like I mentioned he can sleep through anything but he has a very sensitive startle reflex when he is awake- I don't understand it. When he we change his diaper we have to be careful to go slow, play music, cover him with a blanket a little and take what ever precautions necessary to keep him calm and feeling secure otherwise, for some crazy reason, he scares himself hysterical. At that point he is crying like a baby goat and is desperate to be held and cuddled.

Sunday was his first day at church. He looked so handsome in the little 'tie' onesie I made for him.


He is really starting to chunk out! He loves to eat and I feel like that is all I do all day sometimes. At his 2 week visit he had already grown 2 inches and gained over a pound and a half. I'm anxious to see his progress at his next visit.


This is him 2 weeks ago, it is amazing how fast they change and grow! I can't believe he is already one month old!




Wednesday, August 19, 2009

11 years of wedded bliss....

August 14, 1998 Garin and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. This year marked 11 years of sharing our love and lives together. We had been so focused on the excitement and anticipation of our new little boy that any celebrating had been forced to the back of our minds. Our sweet little girls didn't want the day to go unnoticed so they threw us an anniversary party. They spent the morning planning and decorating in secrecy for their party. {It was a wonderfully quite morning!} When it was complete we were invited downstairs.

We got to play 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey'


And that was followed by a dance party. We were supposed to have a 'romantic dance' as well but unfortunately Evan was hungry before we could finish. The evening was complete with Garin cooking a wonderful steak dinner for himself and me and then having a quite movie night. I don't think we could have asked for a better anniversary celebration!



Sunday, August 16, 2009

HE IS HERE!!!

EVAN LEE CRUZ
7 lbs 3 oz
19 in

We are excited to have our new little boy home with us. It has been a long nine months in which every doctor visit had at least one of the girls asking if 'Evan was going to come out today'.
Finally, on August 8th 2009 that day came bright and early.
I had gone to bed the night before around midnight without any contractions and resolved to the fact that I was going to be pregnant forever. {But on the other hand I was so grateful my pregnancy and baby were uneventful and healthy after the last week was filled with 3 dear friends experiencing the worst of what bearing children had to offer.}
At 2:30am I woke up from a dream that my stomach hurt and thought I had to go to the bathroom. When I stood up, I felt a pop and a gush of water. At that point I was wondering if I had wet myself or if my water had broke. This was something that I had not ever experienced on my own before. About ten minutes later I started to have contractions and decided we should get ready to go to the hospital. The contractions began to get harder and I thought it was because I didn't have the cushion of water... little did I know things were progressing a little quicker than I was anticipating. We finally headed out and made the 45 minute drive to the hospital. We arrived at 4am. We had fortunately had my In-laws meet us there to pick up the girls. I was in a lot of pain by the time we got there and all I could do was think about getting in there and getting some relief. I walked up to what I thought was the Labor and Delivery desk and realized that after some recent renovations the Labor and Delivery Desk had been moved and that suddenly, I needed to push! At that point I was not thinking clearly at all and couldn't comprehend where all the little signs were telling me to go. Luckily, Garin had caught with me and ran down the hall yelling ' My wife is in labor!' to try to find the nurses.
While he was finding someone I briefly considered lying on the floor and delivering the baby in the hallway myself but much to my relief they arrived with a wheelchair and took my straight to a room. The next few second/minutes felt like and eternity in an alternate world. I remember everything but erratically. By the time I got undressed and in the bed his head was on its way out. Evan was born at 4:09 am, yes nine minutes after I walked through the front door. My doctor arrived about 10- 15 minutes too late, I felt so bad they even had to call him. We spent the next hour getting to bond with him which was nice because after he got to the nursery we didn't get him back for a day and half.

While doing Evan's newborn assessment they found his temperature to be only 95 degrees and his blood sugar was dangerously low. Apparently babies born quickly like he was or in stressful situations have a hard time maintaining these things. He spent the next 36 hours on an IV and glucose drip along with a gambit of test to make sure it was only stress and not another underlying problem causing these dips. It was hard not to get to hold him and cuddle him and just see him even act like a normal baby but eventually he proved himself well enough and we were able to bring him home Monday afternoon.

We have been happy to have him at home and take turns holding him. Everyone is anxious to help with his needs and pick out his clothes. We (mostly Me) have been trying to adjust to no sleep and a new schedule to our day to day lives. It has been nice having Garin home with me this week, I will be sad on Monday when he leaves. And we have lots of wonderful friends helping out where they could (poor Max would have gone crazy with out the Smiths!)



He is a week old now and it is fun to see and learn who he is. He is hungry when he is hungry and lacks any patience when it comes to food. He hates having his diaper changed and gets so upset over it. I said to Garin 'who knew a little boy could be such a drama queen!' We just love our little boy.


Tuesday, June 23, 2009

A little something to fill the summer time.

Gretchen emailed me this link that I thought I would share with anyone out there who's kids love to look for bugs. My girls have enjoyed it so far, although our first find turned out a little tragic. Happy Hunting!


The Lost Ladybug Project

Saturday, May 30, 2009

I haven't posted for awhile because May has been a busy month. We had a nice visit to my parents house and I am hoping to post the pics and stuff in the near future. Since we have been home (2 weeks today) the water heater has broken and needed to be replaced, my computer is going crazy and I don't trust loading my pictures on to it- that's why I'm not posting. And thursday the A/C decided to stop working. Thats the next issue to deal with this week. Throw in all the normal day to day life, Doctor appts and primary stuff and I just want to go to bed instead of do anything else. Plus poor Garin has been having to bust his hiney at work lately so when he is actually at home he is still occupied with more work. Hopefully things only happen in threes and I can relax a little instead of wondering what else is going to break or go wrong!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Things I've Been Up To....

A symptom of pregnancy that I have been dealing with is a constant need to be working on a project. No matter how tired I am I just want to keep working, but it has to be something fun, I'm not itching to do any chores!

This is a 'boppy' pillow that I made with 2 covers. This was super easy and inexpensive. The pillow alone only cost about $3.00 to make and each cover about $4.50. For the pillow, I bought a $3.00 twin sheet and that makes 4 pillows! This I think is a good and easy homemade gift if you have a shower or something coming up. Here is the link to the instructions.
With the leftover fabrics from the 'boppy' covers (Gretchen and I made 5 covers) I made these adorable little booties and some matching burp cloths. The booties I got from Sharon's blog and watched her make some at the craft weekend from a few weeks ago. I love these booties and have a stack of fabric waiting to be made into more. They are also a fun inexpensive gift idea that is easy to make and you could even use scraps you already have. Here is a link to Sharon's blog for the pattern and some that she made.

I have also crocheted two baby afghans. I just did an easy giant granny square with a larger hook so it went fast but I like how they turned out. This is the one I made for my little guy. I have a couple of other crocheting project in my 'queue' but hey are going to have to wait. I have been having a little trouble with some pregnancy related carpal tunnel and after working on these blankets, I had a few really troublesome nights.

Now, beckoning me from my sewing pile, I still have the fabric for a quilt and a 'Moby' style wrap to make. It has been hard for me not to want to just get to it but this week I have to be getting ready for our trip to my parents house. I'm excited for a vacation and some relaxation away from everyday life but I'm dying to craft. I am planning on sewing a hooded towel tomorrow for a friend who just had a baby that lives in Washington so maybe that will appease me.


Monday, April 27, 2009

Super Duper Craft Weekend

Here is a link to all the fun adventures I had in Colorado.
I had such a great time being with {nearly all} the Weber sisters.
I had so much fun; it made the blizzard and air sickness all the more bearable.
Thanks for inviting me ladies!
Craft Weekend

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Claire turns SIX

Where does the time go when our little ones grow up. On Monday Claire turned six years old!

Here are 6 things that are great about Claire:
  1. She is super cuddly!
  2. She gets excited about things she learns.
  3. She has an active, inventive imagination- she never stops talking to whatever is around her. This is a funny 'conversation' I over heard her playing one toy to another: "who are your friends?" REPLY " The Italians" REPLY "AHHAHHH" REPLY FROM ANOTHER MYSTERY GUEST "She doesn't like Italians."
  4. She is mischievous.
  5. She is loving.
  6. She loves the Savior and cherishes the scriptures.
Claire chose an ice cream cake that was made with Funfetti cake and mint chocolate chip ice cream that had to be topped with a big number 6. Her dinner of choice was Gouza! Of course we had to have the Free's over for cake, we can't do anything without them! She got lots of fun presents and had a good time playing.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAIRE-BEAR!


Easter Activities

Of course, the Easter Bunny came bright and early.

On Friday, we colored eggs.

On Saturday, we had the Free Family and the Gerad Cruz Family over for a craft, egg hunt and lunch. We painted easter egg rocks to help us remember the real reason we celebrate Easter.


Luckily, the rain stayed away long enough for us to hunt without getting wet.


Sunday was a beautiful day and not just because they looked so lovely in their dresses. The bright sunny day warmed our hearts as we reflected on the happiness our Savior brings to our lives. Later that evening we had an Easter dinner with some of Garin's Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.





Thursday, April 9, 2009

GRRRR I'm mad a blogger because I'm trying to post and It won't let me download pictures and the other day I had a problem with text. I really am trying to post....

Random Sampler



These are a few of the things we have been up to.

I have been sewing like crazy. I made a 'boppy' pillow {which I will post about after I finish the covers}, a shower curtain job for my FIL, and these cute dolls.


These are Wee Wonderful dolls. I just love them. They are so cute and it is fun to think of new characters to come up with from the original pattern.They belong to Olivia, Amellia and Claire. Livvy named hers and one I made for Daphne 'Pickle'. I couldn't figure it out, forever, why she thought of that name. Then Riley clarified it for me. The original doll pattern is named Olive- Olivia, strangley, can't say it or won't and calls olives- pickles. She is a weirdo. Amellia and Claire keep changing the name of their dolls per their mood or game.


This is a picture of some yummy vampire teeth that Bekah sent us in a fun package the other day. They are made out of chocolate and pretzels.



This is a fun game we made up today called Tushie Tag. Whoever is 'IT' gets to use the tongs and pinch the tushie of whom ever they can catch. This person then becomes 'IT'. Fortunately, their hands are small and can't pinch too hard.





Monday, March 30, 2009

Can you guess what the balloons mean????

YUP! ITS A BOY!!!!!!






Thursday, March 26, 2009

They look sweet, don't they.




So Tuesday, my two youngest were stolen by aliens and replaced with two look-a-likes with an evil design. This is the only explanation I can come up with to explain the events of that day. Now don't get me wrong, anyone who spends even a little time with them will find that the are (to put it nicely) independent, spirited women. Tuesday, they were strangers to me.




The day started out normally. They did their chores nicely and began to play while we got ready to begin school. They were, however, a little rowdy as they always are when the barometer swings. And then it got worse. They became wild creatures that could not and would not be tamed. After an hour of them running insanely through the livingroom, while the older two were trying to study, I banished them to their room. The frustration and irritation was beginning to build.




All seemed calm. Maybe that should have been my warning of what was to come. Riley came to me and said 'Mom they are making a mess in their room with their lotion!' This statement sent me over the edge. I can barely keep up with the day to day task without big messes to clean up. I went in to find pink, glittery lotion smeared on the ceiling above their bunk bed, on the comforter and all over the bed. Claire had pink stained hands. {Of course, it was a kind that stains!} I was so angry, I just started crying and yelling {the kind when you expect the cops to show at your door any moment}. I cleaned it up the best I could and sent them and myself to a time out. I had to lie down because I was so mad that I was having some contractions.


While we were in our time outs- supposedly- they continued on in the reign of terror. (With no help from their big sisters of course) they they played some kind of war game that hairspray was the weapon of choice. I was locked in my room telling on them to dad. When I found out about it Riley had broken into my room followed by a cloud of hairspray. I went out to find the house cloudy and unbearable to breathe in. ( I didn't find out till that night that they also during this battle squirted hair gel all over the unfinished part of our basement floor and three coolers as well as a bag of fish rocks!)


Now they were in for it! I kept my cool as best I could because my sanity level was already in the red. I sent them to timeout again and no lunch. After much screaming, fit throwing, and 'You're the meanest Mom" s I sent them to their room. the big girls went to their room and I had a hour of quiet time. During my quiet time, my little darling devils flooded their bedroom floor with water. It is still damp.


I have no idea what to do at this point but to continue to fight with them to stay in their room while they try sneak out and steal gum out of my purse or pester their sisters or just try to sneak around. At that point Garin had me take all of their stuff away. All they had left was a mattress. They did not like this at all. Olivia was so worried that everyone was going to laugh at her because she had to be naked. That night they cleaned and cleaned so they could have pj's, a blanket and a pillow.


The next morning they returned to me and an empty room which they have been slowly earning back. I hope the aliens got all they needed, I don't think I could survive another day with the replacements they would give me!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Olivia decided that purple marker makes a great shade of lipstick. Thank goodness for washables!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Gift idea...

This is a tile cutting board/ trivet. This is a project I like to make for wedding gifts. It is quick to put together, looks nice and very useful. I love the one I made for myself.

What you need is:
1 - 12 inch granite or marble tile
4 -oak buttons
hot glue or liquid nails

Glue each oak button to the four corners of the unfinished side of the tile.

When the glue is dried, flip it over and add any other items you'd like. It doesn't wrap well so I prefer to just decorate it with a bow.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009


This weekend Gretchen and I threw a baby shower for our friend Ashley. We had lots of fun preparing it, hanging out with friends and eating yummy food. My favorite part was making a diaper cake. I had always thought they were so cute as a gift. I didn't realize how easy they are to make and the possiblities are endless when you decorate them.




Ps - Ashley, I'll get the pictures for you on CD.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

A Friendly Challenge

The first five people to respond to this post will get something from me!
My choice.
For you.
Handmade.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be (nor do I at this point).

The catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they want to receive a homemade gift from me will indeed receive one. Be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!!!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Well, I'm excited to announce that the morning sickness is gone- Hallelujah! so life around here is getting back to normal. I think Garin is almost more thankful than I am. He has been such a trooper. After working 10 hour days he was still willing to come home, make dinner, do laundry, clean the house and wrangle the poor neglected kids. We all wouldn't have survived without him. I really appreciate is awesome-ness.

This past week, Riley and I attended a mother-daughter party for Activity Days. It was a little valentine party. We played a little game, made a little decorative plate with a picture of Christ on it and shared 'candy-grams'. Riley wrote me the sweetest little note:

"dear Mom
I Love you. you are The Rainbow in my Life. I Love you as the sun shine.
I love you forever. You are my favorite person.
Thank you!!!

I loved it, it broke my little heart. She is so loving!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

How did you get that baby....???

This is the question that I have been dreading to be asked from my children. I honestly expected it from Riley or Amellia but lucky for me it was Olivia. The puzzled and questioning look on her face made me intially laugh and then I thought ' Whew, I can say a basic answer and she'll be satisfied' So my reply was that Heavenly Father makes our bodies so we can have babies in them. Olivia's reply to me was 'No, I know how you got the baby. 'member the day we went to play at the park? That's where you got the baby.'

Beware of Parks...

A few weeks ago we went to Rexburg to visit family. I didn't bring my camera but Bekah took lots of fun pictures. Here's a link to see the fun http://craftierlittledevils.blogspot.com/2009/01/more-photos-from-week.html
While you are there check out her project 356, I think it is so cool.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

How do you like my new widget???

Now everyone can understand why I never came back to blog. I'm slowly coming back to life. My posts will still be far between I have alot to catch up on around the house. My poor hubby has been long enduring for me.