The Crandalls

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Happenings

I’d almost forgotten about this blog, until Alan reminded me that I haven’t posted any family news in forever. So, here I am, posting family news, and feeling very glad that Alan reminded me to do so. There has been so much that’s happened since I posted eight months ago, so I’ll just recap some memorable things that have happened lately.

* Dray has changed so much these last few months! At 3 ½ he loves to jump on the trampoline, play computer games, and draw on his Magnadoodle. He’s pretty much one of the big kids now and wants to do everything they do. His speech has improved in leaps and bounds (he’s been taking a weekly speech class) and we can understand what he’s trying to communicate to us. He recently learned to read simple words (cat, sat, dog, etc..), knows his colors in Spanish and English, and can count to ten in both Spanish and English. He loves to learn! Unfortunately, he won’t be starting Kindergarten until August 2015. I’m looking for an affordable preschool to enroll him in this fall. His favorite foods are pizza, mac-n-cheese, V-8, and Gogurt. His favorite show, hands down, is Team Umi Zoomi. He's a very snuggly and loving kid. He often says, "I will never quit loving you!" and throws his arms around my neck. I love it.

* Alan has done well in school this year. He recently came home with straight A’s, earning a place on the Principal’s Gold List and won an award for reading 2 million words this year. He was able to choose a special prize, and chose a kitten poster for Ellie’s bedroom instead of something for himself. He is conscientious, kind, and hard-working. At a recent school choir performance, a girl in his class came up to me and asked if we were all as quiet as Alan. I informed her that he definitely isn't quiet at home.

* Ellie, who also earned straight As, was recently awarded the 3^rd grade character award. Her teacher read aloud a special poem about her at the end of year assembly. She loves to play Minecraft, gawk at photos of cute kittens, sing, and jump on the trampoline. Last week she sang a solo at the school’s night of excellence (a part of N.Y.C. from Annie.) She is sweet enough to play house and Monster High dolls with Dray every so often.

DISCLAIMER: I feel like I am bragging excessively about my kids, so I must throw in the fact that they fight just as much as any other kids and eat way too much candy. Also, Dray has been chasing family members around trying to toot on them.

* I’ve been kept busy with lots of fun projects lately. Since the end of January I’ve been able to act in commercials for Peter Piper Pizza, University of Phoenix, Everyday Health, VirTra and Arizona Power Supply, as well as act at a live event for Farm Bureau Financial Services. I’ve gone on lots of auditions, and learned a lot of really interesting things on set. I’ll never look at commercials the same way again. Now I understand that a 30 second commercial isn’t just a 30 commercial; it’s hours and hours of shooting, adjusting lights, changing scripts, re-applying make-up, changing clothes, and readjusting microphones. I have to say though, the on-set catering has had some of the tastiest foods I’ve ever eaten (hello parmesan grilled eggplant with basil chicken and buttery rolls! ) I’ve been called in to audition for a movie next week. First movie audition (gulp). Cross your fingers! I never thought that at 35, I’d have such an interesting, fun part-time job! Also, if you haven't already visited the frivolous, superficial style blog that Abby and I created, check out www.wearitworkit.com

* Ken has been busy lately with work, cub scouts, and as a priesthood teacher. He has a thick, Tom Selleck-style moustache that he’s been growing for his Comic Con costume (much to the amusement of his friends, family, and acquaintances.) I can’t spoil his surprise and write who he’s dressing up as, but I’ll post photos of him in costume soon. You will not be disappointed.

In other news, tomorrow is the last day of school and I am so excited! I figure if you have one kid home, you might as well have them all home. Dray is really looking forward to having Alan and Ellie around, and I’m looking forward to not helping with hours of homework every night (and of course, spending time with my older kiddos.)

Alan with his awards from the assembly.

Dray looking mischievous with hands on hips.

Ellie feeling very proud about the t-shirt she was awarded.

Dray kissing Dinah (Abby's cat.)

With a talent agency co-worker after playing a sassy C.E.O.

Dray using headphones as futuristic eye wear.

The kids trying fresh coconut milk with cousins.

snuggle time = happiness

Dray's drawing of Ken

Dray's drawing of Alan

Ellie and Dray getting their faces painted at the neighborhood spring carnival.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Summer Summary

The summer has flown by, as it always does. It's taken almost three months, but fortunately, Alan and Ellie are ready to go back to school. I showed them their teachers' official school websites tonight, which greatly increased their levels of anticipation. Ellie is especially excited that her teacher has a bright blonde faux hawk and a small dog named Pepperoni. Alan likes that his teacher enjoys taking pictures and has a dog named Buster. They both seem like very exciting people. Since the kids are starting a new school, they're a little nervous as well, but I think "Meet the Teacher Night" this week will help to calm their anxieties.
This summer:

*Dray fractured his right pinky finger after pulling a tall table over on himself at subway. A surgery involving pins, a handful of casts and splints, and several hundred dollars later, he still has a crooked (but functional) little finger. He's definitely the most accident prone of all three children. I'm just glad that he's okay.

* We've had lots of fun visits with family this summer, which the kids always love. Alan, Ellie, and Dray especially enjoyed Josh's extended stays.

* Here we are spending family night at Organ Stop Pizza. After a few songs, Dray plugged his ears and said, "It's too loud. Let's get outta hear!" Still, it was a fun evening.

* Abby went on a two week student tour to Europe and had a fantastic time.

* Ellie and Alan were in a summer sport's camp with their cousins for three weeks. They really enjoyed being with their cousins, but didn't enjoys the sports aspect so much. Alan even went so far as to say that, "it was like being trapped in Walmart for four hours every day." Just to clarify, Walmart is his least favorite place to be, ever. He also asked, "Why are you making me kick a ball around for hours? I want to be a scientist!" Ellie also didn't appreciate the athletic part of camp. She made me promise to put her only in swimming and drama camps next year. So, there goes my hopes for future full ride athletic scholarships. ;) Oh well, at least they had something to do for three weeks, whether they loved it or not.

* We spent a fun 4th of July with Crandall cousins in Tucson. Laurel and Bill rented a ranch in Tucson (which was a really great idea.) The kids painted ponies, went horseback riding, played on a water slide, and petted a variety of furry and feathered creatures. We ate tasty barbecue too. It was fun to spend time with family. While everyone else went camping that night, we stayed in a hotel (Dray had to keep his splint clean and dry- which would not have happened while camping.) While in Tucson we visited the Tucson Children's Museum, watched fireworks under A mountain, and went to the International Wildlife Museum. It rained most of the time, which cooled off the air quite a bit. Gosh, I love Monsoon Season. It's nature way of saving us Arizonans from insanity. Just when we feel like curling into a heat-induced fetal position, nature provides us with a brief respite that somehow tides us over until fall.

* The kids and I went to Safford (or Pima, to be exact) for Pioneer Day, where we watched a parade (which consisted mostly of people on horses throwing lots and lots of candy, a couple of firetrucks, and a few floats.) We also watched a great pioneer pageant and some incredible fireworks that exploded and sparkled right over our heads. The weather was around 70 degrees that evening, which felt wonderful. We also spent some time with my brothers. Dray roasted marshmallows and played drums at Chad and Selena's place. The kids rode a dune buggy at Aaron and Erin's house and played with his super well-behaved Labrador dogs. We had lots of country summer fun.

* Ken and I have new ward callings. I'm the ward historian, which I am super excited about. I'll just pretend I'm working at a newspaper again and take lots of pictures. And like always, I'll satisfy my curiosity by getting all up in people's stuff. :) As far as I've read, it mostly involves keeping track of big ward events, important anniversaries, service projects, deaths, graduations, weddings, missionary experiences, etc...

Ken is a Cub Scout leader for the Wolf Den, which is the most recent calling we had in our last ward.

* We are loving our new home and ward, and as always, are extremely thankful for so many things, especially family, our health, and the gospel!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

March Madness (April and May too)

These last few months have passed like a whirlwind. We moved at the end of March into our new home. We love it and hope that we live here forever, both because it's perfect for us and the extreme pain of moving is still fresh in our minds. We hope to have lots of extended family over once the weather cools off and we have a landscaped backyard for cousins to play in. We're right across the street from a park, which has been a paradise for the kids. Now that summer is upon us (108 degrees today, aye aye aye) it's not so much fun, but we do have a community pool that we'll be taking advantage of. Our ward is wonderful. Neighbors are great. We feel very blessed.
Alan is doing great in school, but is beyond excited that the last day of school is Thursday. Ellie has been a social magnet for the neighborhood kids. I had to make a special sign that says, "The kids cannot play right now. Please don't knock or ring the doorbell," for homework time, chore time, and very early Saturday mornings. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but after 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and all weekend the most common sound in our house is often "BING BONG! BING BONG! BING BONG!.............." Ellie is loving it.
Dray is growing up so quickly. He's said so many things that have made me laugh lately. The other day he was holding a toy microphone and told me that he wanted to sing. When he wouldn't start singing after a few seconds I asked him when he was going to start. He responded with, "Mom, my song is still woading (loading.)" His favorite song is "Tonight" by the band "Fun." He asks to hear it repeatedly and sings along in a very cute, loud, and high pitched voice. He knows all of his colors and most of his letters. His favorite activities are looking at books (especially "The Thinks You Can Think" and "Are You My Mother?"), playing with play dough and painting. He and Ellie play really well together most of the time. She's very good at keeping him occupied. His favorite TV shows are Little Bear, Rugrats, and Wow Wow Wubzy. We've noticed that he's a very friendly, polite little guy most of the time. He makes sure to say "please," "thank you" and "I'm sorry," on a regular basis. When we respond with "you're welcome," he says, "you're welcome too!" He is still quite obsessed with outer space. He can name all the planets and frequently wants to talk about the characteristics of each one (Mercury is hot during the day and freezing at night!) He's also very interested in super heroes (his favorite is Hulk.) Best of all, he's very close to being potty trained! We love hims so very much.