Cromar Family

The Hardest Life

2010-04-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

I know I have the hardest life when the worst thing about it is...

1) I get a little crazy that my kids always want me to play with them.

2) I get envious of my hubby's career because I don't get to spend 24/7 with him.

3) I get mad that it is hard to schedule in girl's night with all of my friends.

4) I get tiffed that it takes me 10 minutes to drive to see my mom when I need her.

5) I get tired from being woken up at 5 in the morning to snuggle my 1 year old.

6) I get sore from wrestling two energetic boys.

7) I get annoyed when I have to clean my big house.

8) I get down when I don't exercise enough for my able body.

9) I get stressed when I am behind with my stay-at-home job.

10) I get frustrated that my complete knowledge of the purpose of life gets sidetracked by life itself.

Seriously...I have the hardest life!!!

Thanksgiving Weekend

2009-12-01T14:04:00.000-08:00

A lazy, fun weekend of eating great food, hanging with the cousins, playing puzzles and games, and pretty much sitting on the couch doing a whole lot of nothing. The pictures are the proof.

On another note...I am so very thankful for all the many blessings in my life: family, friends, the gospel, and so on and so on. Too many to list!

I'm Baaaack!

2009-11-16T23:26:00.000-08:00

Hello again my blogging friends!!!

Okay, so the new venture(s) kind of made our family fall off the face of the earth. I can't tell you how sad I am that I have missed blogging about the last year +. I am still short on that slippery bugger called time, but hopefully I will be better from now on. And you may just have to endure the next few posts of past happenings because I want to make sure I get the most important memories recorded.

Oh it feels good!

Two Weeks in "Arizonia"

2008-08-09T13:52:00.000-07:00

So Cromar and I took the kids with us to Mesa, AZ to have training for SS (btw, I can only refer to "the restaurant" now as SS as everytime I mention the full name on our blog then corporate SS gets a notice that someone mentioned their name on the internet and reads everything I write. The first time I met most of corporate SS they knew all about us from our blog.)

Anyway, my question for you all is...Did the good outweigh the bad?

Good: A fabulously free house to stay in (thanks Claude & Ron)

Bad: 115 degree weather

Good: Learning lots and lots and lots and feeling more confident in our decision

Bad: 12-14 hour days

Good: Grandma Joy coming to stay for a week to watch the boys (our savior)

Bad: Nothing bad about that!!!

Good: Beck fascinated with the dessert wildlife...bunnies, baby birds they actually held

Bad: scorpions & snakes (seen up close)

Good: The cute way Myles said cactus, "Tactis"

Bad: Hearing it over and over and over, everytime he saw one

Good: Getting to see our good friends, the Skyles'

Bad: Forgetting my camera at home so I didn't get one picture of our cute boys together

Good: Having the cutest babysitter watch our kids the first week

Bad: On our first day running out of gas due to a faulty fuel gage and being an hour and a half late getting home so she missed her piano lesson.

Good: Getting to borrow my Grandma Mema's car so Joy would have transportation

Bad: Getting Grandma Mema's car stolen out of our garage!!!

Good: Getting to come home and seeing the boys reaction when we walked in. You would have thought we were gone for a year. Myles, "Cool fan. Cool couch. Cool bed." Beck, "Everything smell so good."

Bad: Cromar having an additional 2 weeks of training. We miss him!

Well, you make the decision. We are ultimately glad we did it, but we are ready to be home and open our restaurant!!!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

2008-07-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

Remind me again why we decided to train for our SS restaurant in Arizona in the middle of the summer?

Memory Shmemory

2008-07-15T23:18:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me well, know I have the worst memory (okay almost the worst since I inherited this from my mom.) Almost any sentence directed at me starting with the words, "Do you remember when...?" almost always are answered by me with an astounding "NO!" But now, courtesy of a game on Ashlee Chamber's blog memories can come flooding back. Here is the game...

1. Leave one memory that you and I had together, as a comment on my blog. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

(And just one side note: you don't need to leave any memories about what a brat I was during my high school years. ;) I am very aware and ashamed of this part of my past and know that somewhere, someway I will be punished for this time of my life that revolved around no-one but myself. )

Independence Day

2008-07-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

We had a great 4th of July this year! The only thing that could have made it better was if Cromar didn't have to work. The good news is that he is officially unemployed now...okay just self-employed with no income until Souper Salad starts (coming Octoberish to an Eagle Road near you). I digress...we spent the holiday with great family and fun friends at my parents home. We swam, BBQ'd and had a great view of the fireworks show.

We even had our very own music parade (courtesy of the kids) and a synchronized swimming show (courtesy of my friends Breya, Lindsie, Lindsay and myself).

Both boys loved the fireworks. Well, Myles only likes the "big, big" ones way far away. He kept saying that the "thircle fiworths fabite" (translation: "the circle fireworks are my favorite").

Happy Birthday America!!!

Star Days

2008-07-02T14:56:00.001-07:00

All About the Buhrley's

2008-07-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

Our next door neighbors, The Buhrley's, moved away to go to Endodontics school. How dare they! This post is dedicated to them...

Beck & Eliza

They are the best BFFs. Beck is already sad that he can't go back and forth to each other's house. After I had told him for the tenth time that Eliza couldn't play because she had moved, he said "My summer is ruined."

Myles & Porter

They always had a great time playing together and I never once saw them fight.

Cromar & Matt

The picture below is of their favorite night together. The two of them were so proud that they beat the game "Golden Axe." (Apparently, when they were 12 it was a hard thing to do.) They talked for an hour afterwords about how impressive each of their video game skills were! What an accomplishment!

Krista & Amber

It was (is) such an easy, fun friendship. I know whomever moves in nextdoor has huge shoes to fill! We had an 80's Prom Night farewell party. The pictures are embarassingly self-explanatory.

So Buhrley's, you will be missed! And we will kick out the neighbors in two years to get ready for your return!

Never Gonna Be a Doctor

2008-06-20T23:56:00.000-07:00

I learned something new about my handsome Beck today. The poor boy can't stand the sight of blood. I mean REALLY can't stand it! Myles cut his lip when he tripped over a box and it started bleeding, only a little bit mind you. I was trying to comfort him and give him some love. Then I look over at Beck and all the color has drained from his face (okay, what color there is). And he tells me he is gonna be sick. He has to sit down and I start telling him to breath. And he tells me that "fireworks are going off in my stomach!" He really didn't like it. So I guess I will give up my dreams of my eldest child becoming a doctor...he will just have to go to law school.

Happy Fathers Day!

2008-06-16T07:31:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's in my life that make my world go round!

And a special shout out to my Sugar Daddy Cromar!

More of Beck's Photography

2008-06-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

He even titled them himself!

"Dada Believe"

"The Myles' Bum"

"The Pretty Deers"

"Grandma Joy"

"Papa"

"The Fairy Grandma"

"Grandad Blah"

"The Kale"

"One-eyed Jacy"

"Aunt Karli's Birthday"

"The Becky"

The "Swink"

2008-05-31T20:10:00.001-07:00

Close!

Closer!

Closest!

Too Close!

First Swim of the Summer

2008-05-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

We had our first dip in Grandma and Grandad's pool over the Memorial weekend. Both boys love the water and had a great time. Since then, Myles asks about 10 times a day to go swimming! It's gonna be a fun summer...

That's A Great Idea

2008-05-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

Like I have said before, Cromar tries to invent something about once a month. Well, "Birthday Week" isn't his only great creation. Cromar has made up a game we call "Quiet Mouse." Basically, you just yell "Quiet Mouse" and you have to instantly be quiet and the first one to speak/laugh loses. Well, this game has turned out to be a lifesaver lately. We receive calls at all time throughout the day regarding Souper Salad. And "Quiet Mouse" has saved us on many occasion. And now we have implemented "Eating Mouse" to see who can eat most of their food. So, for all the times I have to douse Cromar's dreams ("No babe, I wouldn't use a spoonatula!!!") I am grateful for his imaginative brain!

Little Brother

2008-04-27T20:48:00.000-07:00

The other day Beck hit Myles while they were playing. I started putting Beck into time-out on the stairs. Being the loyal little brother that he is, Myles kept saying, "No time-out! Beck, no time-out!" When I didn't back down, Myles decided to keep Beck company while he was doing his time. The scene was priceless.

Beck's Music Program

2008-04-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

Beck goes to this cute little music class. It is the best thing for him cuz he has never been too interested in singing and I have been wondering if he inherited my lack of musical talent. He had his program this week and he did such a great job! My favorite part was when they danced to different genres of music and Beck broke into "the robot." He confirmed my suspicions and takes after his mom with more dancing rhythm than vocal abilities. He knew every dance step while mouthing a few of the lyrics here and there. He was so cute and so proud of himself when he got his certificate. I was proud of him too!

Girl's Weekend

2008-04-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

My friends Jami, Krissy, Breya and I went to AZ last weekend for a much needed vacation...without kids (baby Stella being an honorary guest.) We had such a great time shopping, shopping and shopping. And we got some mexican eating, laying out and spa time in there too. I loved staying up late and discussing all the things girls discuss when men and kids aren't around...secrets. My friends are the best and thank you for the laughs and for putting up with me when I was, "on vacation." I am so excited for 40 more years of Girl's Trip memories. Here are some pics of the good times.

Our cute pedis!

Our shopping loot!

A great example of a typical day in AZ!

We found my dad's hats and just had to model them!

Oh and thanks Ron and Claud for the diggs! And for Cromar taking care of the boys!

Bugs & Bufflys

2008-04-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

Even though he wasn't feeling good, Myles decided to go outside today. This is how I found him, not expending too much energy while looking for "bugs and bufflys."

Frow Ups

2008-04-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

Myles has been sick with a bug this last week. It hasn't been too fun for any of us, but it really was so cute when Myles was so worried when he got, "...frow ups on lubby."

The Coolest Soccer Player in the World

2008-04-17T23:31:00.000-07:00

Beck's 2nd soccer season has begun. He is having a blast, yet I still don't think he has touched the ball in the first two games. But he sure does run around alot...and fall down alot. He also loves being on his best buddy Peter's team. And Myles is his big brothers most loyal fan though he would rather be out on the field with him.

Happy Birthday Cromar!

2008-04-13T23:25:00.000-07:00

Cromar turned the big 3-4 on April 6th! And I am going to take this chance to brag about how wonderful he is!

He's a great snuggler!

He should be a professional landscaper!

He knows how to have fun!

He's hilarious!

He can snore with the best of 'em!

He's darn handsome!

He loves to travel!

He's the best teacher!

He's a great sportsman!

He's a loyal friend!

He should be in the WWF!

He's cleaner than most!

He's handy with the buzzers!

He's a great chef!

He's an excellent driver!

But most of all...

He's a great dad, husband & friend!

Happy Birthday, Cromar! We love you!!!

A Happy Two Years

2008-04-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

Happy 2nd Birthday Myles!!!

2008-04-02T21:17:00.000-07:00

Myles is two today! My sweet, handsome is not a baby anymore. We had a fun birthday party with Myles' grandparents on both sides. He had a great time and especially loved his Blues Clues ice cream cake.

Action Photography

2008-04-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

Beck took these pictures with his camera. Scroll down really fast and it will look like action shots.

Cool, huh?

It's Not a Myth...

2008-04-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

that if you eat too much junk food, you WILL throw up. Beck found that out after eating way to much Easter candy! It's true!!!

You can see how Beck and Myles hit the motherload of all Easter candy below.

Dying eggs and Easter egg hunt #1 at our neighbors, the Granthams.

Beck's preschool Easter party where he had Easter egg hunt #2.

Easter morning. Do you see the bunny's footprints?

My cute boys in their Easter Sunday clothes. Beck posing as a future CK model.

Finally, Easter egg hunt #3 at Grandma & Grandad's house.

It's Official!!!

2008-03-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

Yes, we are crazy! We have decided to become owners of a Souper Salad restaurant. We are really excited and nervous about this big change. We have a site picked out on Eagle and Ustick (next to Kohls) and are hoping for a summer opening. We will keep everyone updated on the process and let you all know when you can come munch on some healthy fare. Wish us luck!!!

A Day at the Park

2008-03-03T07:52:00.000-08:00

I don't know who is more happy about warmer days...the boys or Cromar!

A Few Items of Note

2008-02-22T17:51:00.000-08:00

Playhouse Disney Live!!!

My mom and I took "the boys" (Beck, Myles, and cousins Kale and Jase) to see the show. They had a great time and were spoiled by grandma with all the goodies. Beck wanted to come see it again the next day.

A Happy Hair Cut

Myles was not happy the last time I took him to get his hair cut at a salon. This was our solution. Cromar is actually really good at it and the boys are all smiles.

Pirate Puzzle

Beck was very proud of this puzzle. He spent so much time doing it that his neck got sore, hence the warm washcloth on his neck.

FHE

Or as Beck calls it, "Family Home Ening". This was our valentines lesson on Love One Another. We had jello heart wigglers.

Best Friends

I was watching my friend Krissy's kids for our babysitting co-op. Myles was in love with baby Stella. He laid next to her for about 20 minutes and made sure she always had a toy in her hand.

I Will Forever Be Stinky

2008-02-15T22:41:00.000-08:00

I can never take a shower again. My little Myles won't let me.

Imagine Crimescene#1:

Blue crayon completely covering my wall, window seal and (worst of all) my fabric blinds.

Crimescene #2:

My scriptures :(

Myles' Latest Obsessions

2008-02-15T22:12:00.000-08:00

ANYTHING ROUND!

Billiards

Myles loves to play on the pool table. At first it was not my favorite thing for him to play because I did not enjoy standing by the table for minutes on end making sure he didn't fall off. However, I have found that I can read on the nearby couch and keep an eye on him. So in a way we both enjoy pool table time.

Gumballs

For Christmas Myles and Beck received a gumball machine from Grandma Joy and Papa. It is such a cute idea because they also sent "special" pennies. Once those pennies run out they have to call them to get a refill. (This is especially good for Beck since he hates to talk on the phone). Let's just say that Myles can't chew enough gum. He is surprisingly good at not swallowing, but I have had to clean it off of things like the Wii controller, crayons and his lovey. He gets especially excited when he gets a pink gumball!

Balloon

Beck received a punching balloon at a preschool birthday party. Myles looooooves it.

"Wheels" Book

Let's just say I have it memorized and Myles almost does too!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-15T20:38:00.001-08:00

This is Beck, Myles and their cousins Kale and Jase checking out their valentine's loot!

Venting

2008-02-13T14:57:00.000-08:00

Okay I have to vent!!! Mostly because I am mad at myself.

Yesterday, Beck and I went to Target to pick out his valentine cards for his preschool party. Beck has the same cold and bad cough that has been going around. He hasn't been sleeping well and as a result, he has a really short fuse. In short, the trip wasn't that fun and by the time we were leaving he was in full-on bawling mode. So we were leaving the store walking through the parking lot past the handicap spaces. We are passing an old man getting into his car and I hear him look at Beck and say, "Shutup Kid." I could clearly hear him, but luckily Beck didn't hear because he was too busy crying over a gatorade that I didn't buy for him. I flipped my head around and stared the mean, bitter man down. And a million different comebacks raced through my head. And I didn't say one of them!!! I am such a wimp. I wish I could have just stopped right there and told him I know why none of his kids have called him lately or why he won't be getting any valentines from his grandkids or if he doesn't have any kids, the world is better for it or something even worse that my unconfrontational brain can't even think of . I know in my heart of hearts that it wouldn't have benefited anyone by yelling at him, but man I would have felt so much better. In retrospect, I guess I am sad for that man that had to take out his bitterness on an innocent 4-year old. And I do hope he has a family to go home to, then maybe he wouldn't be so sad.

What Too Much Wii Can Do

2008-02-03T23:40:00.000-08:00

If you have been reading my blog you will know that Beck is addicted to Wii Lego Star Wars. Yesterday, he was going on and on about all the characters. He starts telling me about Princess Leah and Hans Solo. Next thing I know he puts his arms around my neck and says, "And then they did this..." And Beck lays a big fat kiss on my lips. But not just his normal short peck, we are talking a long smacker that included head tilting and kissing noises. I had to push him away while trying to hide my laughter. So, thanks Nintendo! All because of you I had to have my first conversation with my no longer innocent 4 year old boy on the do's and don'ts of kissing!!!

I Always Thought I Was RED...

2008-01-28T20:39:00.001-08:00

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Blue

You're blue — the most soothing shade of the spectrum. The color of a clear summer sky or a deep, reflective ocean, blue has traditionally symbolized trust, solitude, and loyalty. Most likely a thoughtful person who values spending some time on your own, you'd rather connect deeply with a few people than have a bunch of slight acquaintances. Luckily, making close friends isn't that hard, since people are naturally attracted to you — they're soothed by your calming presence. Cool and collected, you rarely overreact. Instead, you think things through before coming to a decision. That level-headed, thoughtful approach to life is patently blue — and patently you!

What are you? http://web.tickle.com/rd/50651/color/index.jsp?testname=colorogt&resultid=E

K's Birthday Week

2008-01-18T22:13:00.000-08:00

It was my birthday on the 13th of this month. And if you haven't heard before, Cromar invented something called "Birthday Week." I must admit, this is one of his better inventions (he comes up with one at least every month and I usually spurn his ideas about 12 times a year.) During your birthday week, which is the 7 days preceding your birthdate, your every wish is granted. This is best explained by telling you a little bit about my birthday week. First, Cromar made dinner for me almost everyday. On those days that he didn't cook we were either on a date or I was out with my girlfriends. And if I am out with my girlfriends, then that means Cromar was babysitting. Second, I got to sleep in almost everyday. Cromar took a few days off work, so that meant I had 5 glorious days of blissful self-awakening. Finally, I was free from completing any unpleasant or unwanted normal domestic duty. Translation: no poopy diapers. I know, I know, everyone reading this is thinking how great this is and how much you want to establish this new tradition into your family. But just remember, your husband's birthday comes once a year too!

Family Pictures

2008-01-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

Our good friend, Amy Nelson, took our family pictures this year. I hope you love them as much as we do!

Our Budding Photographer

2008-01-06T19:33:00.000-08:00

Beck got a digital camera from Grandma & Grandad Kennedy for Christmas. I think he is pretty good. What do you think?

Christmas Morning

Christmas Evening (dinner w/friends)

Getting Better

And My All-Time Favorite (self-portrait)

P.S. I am so glad he took these because, per my previous post, these are the only pictures we got of Christmas day!

Doughnut

2008-01-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

Cromar bought doughnuts on his way home from work one morning. He got a special doughnut that he couldn't resist buying just for Beck. It was chocolate glaze with sprinkles, candies AND gummy worms. When Beck saw it, his eyes went wide and he just sat there with his mouth open in awe. Then he said, "I love you dad!!!"

No It's Not Frosty

2007-12-29T22:16:00.000-08:00

It's Smally the Snowman!

Beck and Cromar had a great time playing in the snow. After it took about 15 finger squeazing minutes for me to get Beck's gloves on, I told Cromar, "You better be out there for at least an hour!" They were out for 3 hours. Beck is such a big boy now and loved having a snowball fight with his dad. He actually got him really good a couple of times. In the pictures below you can see Beck getting ready to throw and then Cromar ducking when it hits his leg.

I got Myles all bundled up to go outside and play too. But as soon as I put his snowboots on he froze. Literally! He wouldn't take a step, so Cromar picked him up and stood him in the snow and he still wouldn't move. This is the one time he was excited for me to say it was time for a nap.

Christmas Pictures

2007-12-28T15:23:00.000-08:00

The boys were so excited for Christmas. And when I say "boys" that includes Cromar too. Beck would not go to sleep and he is normally a -hit the pillow and he's out- kinda kid. Beck did wake up once while "Santa" was wrapping presents, so Cromar ran up the stairs in case he peeked. Beck walked right past him into the bathroom, did his business and went right back to bed. We figured he wasn't really awake. Close call though. The boys were so cute in the morning. Myles did the big gasp he has been quite fond of lately. And any of you that have seen how big his mouth is knows that is quite a big "O". Beck could hardly wait for us to get dressed. So here are the pictures. Hope you enjoy them...

Oh, wait! There are no pictures. I pulled a pre-blog Krista and didn't take one picture. Also, we video-taped so it is hard for me to think about both memory capture devices at the same time. Anyway, hopefully I will get to putting some of the video here. If not, just take my word for it that we had the best Christmas ever!!!

Up Until the BIG Day

2007-12-28T14:25:00.001-08:00

Beck's preschool pajama Christmas Party! He got lots of loot!

Our ward Christmas Party. It was also a breakfast pajama party. I rarely get my boys out of their pj's anyway so they didn't think anything was unusual!

And yes, I am the mean mom that makes her kid sit on Santa's lap. Not mean enough, though, to get Beck to do it.

Christmas Eve at my parents house. We had a great dinner, opened presents and then an impromptu X-mas program from the boys!

Our Purchase All Dolled Up

2007-12-28T14:17:00.001-08:00

But what I really should have taken a picture of is how it looks today. I think between my two boys they broke about 10 ornaments. Tis life!

A Funny Thing Happened...

2007-12-07T22:48:00.000-08:00

on the way to get our Christmas Tree:

We were all bundled up and prepared to spend a fun evening picking out our beautiful Christmas tree. I grabbed the camera to be ready for a great picture moment and even popped in some holiday tunes while we discussed how big of tree we were going to get. On the way to the lot, Cromar realized he had forgotten the bungy hooks to secure the tree to the roof of our car. We decided to stop by the store to get some. And this is what we ended up with...

Our brand new artificial tree!

Carol Ware 1923-2007

2007-11-22T11:45:00.000-08:00

My wonderful grandmother passed away just before the Thanksgiving holiday. I was so lucky to spend the day with her just before she passed. She did so peacefully. It was quite an amazing experience. She was waiting for both my mom (who was out of town) and my aunt who lives in Washington to say their goodbyes. My mom got there and then my aunt had been there about an hour when my dad gave her a blessing saying that "...Heavenly Father is waiting for you." After the blessing she took three breaths and died. She was such a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. During this Thanksgiving time I am especially grateful that she has been in my life.

Little Munsters

2007-11-08T21:45:00.000-08:00

Oooohhhh! Scary!

We had a very busy Halloween. This is undoubtedly Beck's favorite holiday. He loved trick-or-treating and would have done it for hours more if we let him. He was very disappointed when I told him he would have to wait a whole year to go again.

In Myles' Words...

2007-11-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

Pickin Punkins

Beck's Life...1, 2, 3 now 4!

2007-10-28T23:49:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th Birthday Beck!

2007-10-28T22:02:00.000-07:00

Beck turned four today!

He had such a fun birthday. We had his big party at The Little Gym and it was a success. Mostly because the kids had the best time playing on the equipment, bouncy and mat (but also because I didn't have to do anything since they ran the party for me)!

Beck also had a fun celebration at his preschool!

A Picture Worth 1,000 Words

2007-10-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

This is priceless!!!

After Disneyland we went to Newport Beach. It was such a fun day. We went to the beach where, even though it was cold, the kids had a blast. Then we went down the promenade where we ate, played cames and Beck got to bungy trampoline. Hilarious!

Sand, Sun & Fun

Playing on the Promenade

Daring Trampoline

The Greatest Place on Earth

2007-10-19T15:10:00.000-07:00

We went to disneyland with my family at the beginning of this month. We had a great time!

The Thrilling Rides

Beck and Myles were so brave on the rides. Beck was just tall enough to go on the "big boy" rides. He was a little spooked by Space Mountain and wouldn't go on Splash Mountain because Bryan told him there was an abominable snowman at the top. He got to the elevator on the Tower of Terror, but didn't quite make it in. Do you blame him though?

The Crazy Characters

I think the characters scared the boys more than any ride did. They both weren't sure what to think.

The Family Fun

It was so fun spending time with Grandma, Grandad, Aunts, Uncles & Cousins.

Even Mom and Dad had a good time.

Sometimes the boys would rather do there own thing. Beck loved getting comfortable to read the disneyland map and Myles just wanted to jump.

Grandma Claudia surprised us all with the cutest pirate ever. Aargh!!!

And the slow disintegration of the makeup throughout the day shown below...

By the end of the day I was getting looks from people wondering what disease my child had that he got to come to Disneyland for "Make A Wish." It also took 2 swimming sessions and 3 baths for the makeup to come off. Hey, but it was fun for him. Only a Grandma can get away with that.

The End

Is there such a thing as too much fun???

Autumn

2007-10-10T23:38:00.000-07:00

I needed a template to match the new season!

Summer 2007 Memories

2007-09-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

Here are a few summer photos that didn't make it into the blog for some reason or another.

Best Dad Ever

2007-09-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

This pictures speaks for itself!

Living Up to His Name

2007-09-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

Beck's first soccer team!

The Big Green Ball

2007-09-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

Havin a blast!

We've Been Hit!

2007-09-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

Some kids from Bryan's 15/16 year old Sunday School class thought this was a fun weekend activity. The worst part was that I was home alone that night since Bryan was working. They rang the doorbell three times at 11:00pm. I was a little freaked, so I called my neighbor, woke him up and made him look outside. This is what we saw. These pictures don't even show it all since I took these halfway through cleanup. Bryan was nicer than I would have been and didn't even punish them the next Sunday with a boring lesson. They love him!

The Saddest, Happiest Day

2007-09-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

We literally raced home from our trip to the Oregon Coast to try to make it to Beck's first day of preschool. Yes, you read it right...his first day!. We barely made it on time and Beck just walked right in without looking back. He is loving it so far and we are so proud of him. His only hiccup has been a bee sting on his third day. But he was so brave and when I got there 5 minutes later he was already telling me that the bee, "...died and I squished it."

Seaside, OR

2007-09-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

Holy moly, I must have had tons of laundry to just be getting to telling you all about our great vacation to the Oregon Coast. We had a wonderful time at Seaside with our friends, the Harris' and Fujimoto's. It was a short, but sweet vacation.

I am not kidding when five minutes into the drive Beck said, "Are we there yet?" Only a few meltdowns occurred on our way to the ocean thanks to video technology. The movie of choice was Tom & Jerry. 8 hours of Tom & Jerry! Unfortunately, the headphones only worked for about an hour of that.

We finally made it to Seaside and to our cute little house that we would be staying in. It was perfect. Three bedrooms for the three families. A cute little yard in front and a hot tub in back. And only a block from the ocean and a 10 minute walk to the promenade.

On our first day we went to Haystack Rock to look at the tide pools. You know THE Haystack Rock...from Goonies. It was fun, but there wasn't a whole lot of wildlife there. The kids were just getting used to the idea of the ocean and played in the sand. Beck kept saying he didn't want me to go into the water or I might get eaten by a shark. Myles, of course, would have just dove right in if we didn't hold him back. The three amigos (i.e. Beck, Alivia and Ali Rae), (i.e. Red, White and Black) had a great time.

The next day, we hung out at the beach flying kites, attempting to fly a frisbee and playing in the sand. And then the dads took the crazies to go crabbing. They actually caught one (at the expense of Breya's finger). But since we Cromars are such seafood lovers we bought more and had a crab feast the next day. It was even better than Red Lobster!

We also walked on the promenade to downtown Seaside to look at the shops and ride the carousel. On our last day we went to the Aquarium. The seals were so cute and we got to feed them after they would perform tricks for us.

Of course, nights were the funnest part of the vacation for us adults. We would try to put the kids down (for some reason they weren't always in on this deal) and then the real vacation started. We became addicted to the domino game "Mexican Train" Breya kicked our butts. We did the hot tub thing and stayed up late. It reminded me that I am too old for that.

I can't fail to mention that Cromar and Jon spent much of the time thinking they could break some sort of soccer volleying record. I think they got to 58.

Finally, as you can see from these two pictures I think the boys had a great time!

Dog Days of Summer

2007-08-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

A typical August day!

Beck has found his love of photography. Guess which pictures are his.
We also planted our first ever garden. We are reaping the rewards from it, but also learning from our failures. Next year we will be the connoisseurs of gardening.
We find ourselves outside in the backyard on most days.

2007-08-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

I know it has been too long!!! I guess there was an August lull in the Cromar household, but now there is so much going on and not enough time to write about it. But there is some great stuff to come. Stay tuned...

In My Sons Eyes

2007-08-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

Beck told me today during dinner, "Mom you are a great fry cook...like Spongebob!"

California Vacation

2007-08-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

We just got back from visiting Bryan's parents in Pleasanton. We had a wonderful time. The boys loved being with their Grandma Joy and Papa. Beck had Papa busy going on strawberry hunts and both boys loved being pushed on the tree swing. Grandma Joy taught Beck how to play the game "Sorry" and Bryan and I got to do some things on our own while they babysat. Joy also took Bryan and I to San Francisco to see the play "Jersey Boys". It was great and they were so talented.

Here are some of the highlights...

Our first outing was to "Super Frank's" it was an arcade for 2-6 yrs. It was perfect for them.

That night we went to "First Wednesday," a monthly booth event in downtown Pleasanton. There was a doggie parade that the boys loved. Beck is slowly, but surely getting over his fear of dogs. He wants to pet every dog he sees (all thanks to Zoe and Issie.) Beck got to play putt-putt and before he started Joy said "I wouldn't be surprised if he makes a hole-in-one!" and he did!!!. Everyone was surprised but us.

On Friday we went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. We had a great time. We went on rides and saw a killer whale show, and all sorts of water animals.

There was a Thomas the Train section and Beck was in heaven!!!

Beck loves the Justice League and Flash is his favorite, but he wasn't so sure about standing next to Wonder Woman. I just love his facial expression in this picture.

Even though we were exhausted from the day before we still decided to go on one more adventure. While Grandma Joy and Myles bonded at home, the rest of us went on a drive along Highway 1. We went to the tide pools, played in the beach and tried to find big redwood trees.

It was a great vacation!!!

Big Boys

2007-07-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

Of course, a week and a half after Myles is sick Beck has to get it too. He had a fever and a sore throat for a few days. He is feeling much better today. In fact he said to me today, "Mom, when you can't swallow, it is good to have a parent help you to swallow." Then I said, "How?" and he said, "They give you medicine!" So I am glad that I am appreciated.

Beck has been busy doing his two favorite things: playing the computer and Candyland. We probably play that game 10 times a day. I just got him a Candyland movie from Netflix and he won't let me send it back. I guess I am going to have to buy it.

Myles is getting so big. He is definitely a toddler now. He and Beck have suddenly decided to be friends and play together. Myles is starting to follow Beck around. Beck even asked to wake Myles up from his nap so they could play. Either he likes his little brother or he was really, really bored.

Myles is suddenly saying lots of words now. In the last few days, he started saying "tank u" and "ere go" (here you go, when he hands you something). I have such mixed emotions when I see them growing up!

Today when Bryan got home from work Myles got so excited. He started running to the back door at top speed and was going so fast he ran right past Bryan and into our mud bench. But he didn't stop smiling and started pushing Beck away so that Bryan could pick him up. We were laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes.

Cute Myles

2007-07-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

Myles loooooooves his backpack. He wore it all day...and nothing else!

Grandad lovin on Myles at Kales b-day party.

Myles and dada listening to some i-tunes.

Cute Beck

2007-07-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

Beck playing on the computer. He could play all day long.

Beck at his cousin Kales birthday party. Huggin on his cousin Jase.

Pancake Face! We have waffles or pancakes every Sunday.

Happy Anniversary

2007-07-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

Bryan and I just celebrated our 9th anniversary. Can you believe it has been that long? We both feel so blessed that we can be so happy together and have such a wonderful, little family. We spent the night reminiscing.

P.S. Thanks Claudia for babysitting!

The Kennedy Girl's Trip

2007-07-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a wonderful girl's retreat with my Mom, Karli and Roxanne. We went to Couer d'Alene and had a great time! We shopped a lot, ate a lot and saw a lot of movies. The best part was all day at the spa. It was heaven and I felt very spoiled. Couer d'Alene is beautiful and we even toured the lake on a ferryboat. We had lots of late night laughs and tons of memories were made. We really could have fun anywhere as long as we are without the kiddies :). But I was glad to get home to see my boys and that Bryan lived through the long weekend.

A Crazy Week

2007-07-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

It really has been a crazy week for us. Myles had a fever for almost four days and we still haven't quite figured out what he has. The fever has gone away, but he is still not his normal, happy self. And now he has a runny nose and a phlemy cough. His doctor said it might be a viral infection, but he is also getting a molar. He just wants to be held all the time and just forget about leaving the room. We all want our Smiley Mylesy back.

Bryan has been working alot which is good and bad. Good because we know Micron needs him in the middle of laying off 10% of their workforce. But bad because we love our family time. And the boys miss their wrestling partner.

I have been taking a lot of pictures for this blog, but I am still trying to figure out how best to download and archive them. So I haven't posted any new ones. I hope to soon as there are some really cute ones!

I am getting ready to go to Coeur d'Alene, ID with the Kennedy girls for a much needed getaway. Bryan will be taking off work to watch the crazies.

Soccer Camp

2007-07-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

6/13/07

Beck had good days and bad days. Guess which kind of day this was. Myles had more fun running free at his big brother's soccer camp.

A New Blog for a Not So New Family

2007-07-11T00:27:00.000-07:00

As all of you know I am not a scrapbooker, nor a picture taker, nor a picture giver, nor a journaler, nor a letter writer, nor a phone person, nor a... I could go on and on when it comes to making, keeping or dispersing memories. But this might be just my cup of tea. I hope for your enjoyment and especially for my little family's that this becomes a new tradition to last a long, long time.

Family Blog

2007-07-11T00:12:00.000-07:00

So my good friend, Breya, told me about personal blogs today. I went surfing and was instantly hooked...