Oh, the weather outside is frightful . . .

It's a blizzard! And supposed to last until 6 tonight!

I was snuggled all warm in my bed and Kaytee came and woke me up in the wee hours of the morning because she had to go feed the Stott's cows while they are out of town and she could barely get our front door open. Mike and Alicyn went to help her feed them on Christmas morning so they know what it is like on a crisp clear day . . . just imagine with no visibility and wind blowing so hard you can barely stand up. I couldn't even see Kaytee as soon as she let herself into the field to go get their food - they were sure glad to see her and crowded all around - that would have been a great picture but definitely didn't have my camera then.

When we got back I went to feed and water Meeko - and couldn't find him! We leave the back garage door open so he can go in and out and the wind had blown it shut, leaving him outside at some point in the night. He was a little lump of snow - but stood up to come see me as soon as he heard me come outside.

One big shake and he was pretty cleaned off.

And then we brought him in to thaw out. (Ewww! Our house smells like wet dog!) He was sure happy to get the big chew treat Alicyn and Mike left for him.

Really glad we didn't have to go to work or school today - just snuggle inside our cozy home. Wishing all of you a warm day after Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

We've had such a fun and relaxing holiday! Especially loved that Mike and Ali would come and play THREE games of "Ticket to Ride". They are smiling in this picture but that is just on the outside - the photographer had just beat all four of them - even Kaytee with that gigantic black train circling North America - see all those green trains - those would be mine! Of course they only let me win once.

Kaytee got a shirt proclaiming her true affections.

And here is a message for Arlene!

Brody was so well behaved and fun to have around. Meeko liked having a companion for a while, but definitely let Brody know when he got too exhuberant. Here is Brody's response when Alicyn shoots him. (She missed the first time) It is too bad they had to leave today to get back to work - we had such a fun time with them and miss them already.

Twas the Night Before Christmas . . .

And all through the house
Croft superheroes were stirring,
with Brody the red-antlered reindeer
and our Men of Steel: Kimball and Mike to keep us all warm and safe.

We're Going to Have a Merry Little Christmas!

I am getting so excited for Christmas! I really don't know why since I am pretty bummed that I don't get to see my 3 little grandsons (and their parents) this year and there really isn't anything too exciting in the present department - but just the lights and music and decorations really get me feeling so grateful for how very blessed our family is. Of course having Mike and Alicyn coming is a super big bonus and not having school so I get to spend more time with Kimball and Kaytee is great too. I thought I would post a few pictures of our traditional decorations for those of you who don't get to be here with us.



We have these pictures up all year long and this little corner of the dining room I like to privately think of as my tribute to "strong women" . . .


For Christmas I then add the amazing nativity set that my tough little Alicyn made for me with her bare hands. I have tried bending any of these wires and it has really made me realize how much sweat and effort Alicyn had to have put in to make this for me.

Of course our tree looks the same every year, same location and same old ornaments - minus the ones Jami and Cassidy have taken to start their own family trees. Looks like a lot fewer presents this year with not so many of us here to celebrate, but I just love sitting by it at night and enjoying the lights . . .

and looking at all the different and unique ornaments and remembering where we got them over the years, and most importantly the special people they make us think of.

Stay tuned - I will post again and this time with actual people in the pictures celebrating Christmas together! Yay! I can't wait to see all of yours.

Fall Happenings

So, I haven't blogged in a while because it seems like not much has been going on in my life. But, I found some fun pictures of Kaytee from the past couple of weeks, and since she is my only kiddo left at home, I get to blog about HER (she will be sooo delighted!)

So what has Kaytee been up to?

Working on her Personal Progress for Young Women's - You will have to ask her what this has to do with it.

Giving Meeko a little attention and affection.

Experimenting with new hair styles?!?!?!

Getting all decked out for the big Homecoming Parade and Football Game.

And just being mommy's little angel helping me decorate for Christmas and get the house and yard ready for winter. Although she would much rather snuggle inside with warm, fuzzy clothes and hot chocolate than be outside in the snow - Brrrrrrr!

Precious Moments

I got to spend this last week in California with brand new baby Nolan. He is the so good-natured and easy-going. What a sweet, sweet addition to the family.

Jackson is such a kind and gentle big brother. He is always asking, "Where's baby Nolan?" J and I had a lot of fun playing together - cooking, jumping, throwing water balloons and reading "Spot" books over and over.

Sweet September!

I told Kaytee that what I wanted for OUR birthdays (both September) was a picture of the two of us in front of my favorite part of our house - our window box! The flowers have been so gorgeous this year (Miracle Grow Potting Soil really does work wonders) and I am still really liking our shutters. Kaytee picked out the design and I think they look great.

On her birthday Kaytee got to get up before 5 and get on a bus to head to the lovely city of Rawlins for a two-day volleyball tournament. Dad and I brought down birthday cake for everyone to share and then dad surprised everone with rock-star sunglasses (instead of party hats)!

Then on Saturday, Alicyn and Mike drove over from Laramie to bring Kaytee their present from the two of them and Jami and Tim - A really snazzy new car stereo that will also play her i-pod. And of course lots of hugs and kisses and a really corny assortment of Hannah Montana doo-dads.

Now we just need Mike to come up for a visit and install it (and work with Kaytee on the stick-shift confidence thing).

To top it all off her team came in first place in their bracket! Here she is with her cute team and coach celebrating their victory.

The sweetest thing of all is that the very next day I got to get on a plane and fly to Las Vegas to meet James, my newest grandson. He is so darling and snuggly. Here he is just sleeping on my lap.

And here he is about to crack a smile -- he has the cutest hair and such an alert way about him. Already seems pretty brilliant!

And that is all because of his most beautiful and loving mother. What a blessed little boy to have two such great parents. And how nice they were to let me be a part of their home for a few days.

Happy, Happy Birthday!

What a great week for special people to have special birthdays.

So, a big birthday SHOUT OUT to the wild and crazy Anna Croft of Vancouver Washington who is 9 going on 19 TODAY! Happy Birthday Anna Claire! We had so much fun with you this summer. Hope you have had a great day and have a great year coming up.

Then there is my amazing little sister Marilee who hasn't aged a day since this picture was taken, we just like celebrating how special she is to all of us every September 7th. I love you Marilee and am always so proud of what an amazing mom and grandma you are - you are such an example to me!

Then my very handsome new grandson had his very special Birth Day on September 4. Welcome to the family sweet baby James. Grandma can't wait to kiss you back.

Goodbye to a Loyal Friend

This afternoon we lost a most loyal and dear friend. Maggie was hit by a car a few hours ago. We got her on my birthday exactly three years ago. We will miss her snuggliness, her craziness and her ability to make us laugh. I will miss her keeping my feet warm this winter and Kaytee will miss her TV watching buddy. Dad will miss getting her all excited when he tells her that he has a rabbit for her to chase or that he is going to take her for a ride in the truck. And Meeko will miss the little sister who has kept him young. She has been a good friend to all of us.

Our Visit to the State named after the First US President!

Kaytee and I took our last road trip of the summer and had the greatest time with our CROFT cousins in Vancouver, Washington! Most of you haven't seen them since they were pretty little so here is a little introduction.

Robert and Erin's oldest is 15-year-old Tyler. He and Kaytee will both be sophomores in high school next year and have a lot in common. More than a bit of a competitive spirit - good thing his sport is soccer and Kaytee's is volleyball.

Next is Lauren, 11 years old and so much fun to be around. She is absolutely amazing at putting puzzles together and going into middle school this year.

Last, but certainly not least, is Anna. She is an absolute ray of sunshine and soooo smart. She is 8, (but almost 9 on September 8) and a great soccer player.

Our first day there we crossed over the Columbia River into Portland to visit the beautiful temple grounds.

Where Kaytee and Tyler proceeded to pull Anna in different directions.

Although neither Tyler or Kaytee could go more than a couple of minutes without texting someone.

This was one of my favorite pictures, Robert and Lauren in front of one of the beautiful fountains at the temple.

Once I dropped Kaytee off at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for her EFY week, I got to spend some time relaxing, getting lesson plans ready for the coming school year and visiting some beautiful sights. Here we are at some amazing falls. Washington is so beautiful with so much water and green everywhere - not a lot like Wyoming!

Kaytee's New Do

First some pictures from earlier this week. Kaytee had some friends over to play water balloon volleyball and then they wanted to roast marshmallows and make s'mores. Buuuuut they were too lazy to make an actual bon-fire so they roasted them over a little turtle candle. (sorry Jami - Kaytee thinks it may have been yours at one time.)

I think Kaytee was trying to finish this one off in one bite. Notice the poor little turtle going up in flames - first the turtle went, then the paper plate, then the towel, then out came the hose to put out their "little fire."

Meeko was sure they would want to share - but he was out of luck. Just a kiss, no chocolate.


Kaytee got her hair cut this week and was really unhappy with it when we first got home, but after she got to work with it and straighten it so she didn't look like "someone who is old enough to be married" it is starting to grow on her. Still some issues with putting it up in a pony tail and getting used to the shorter look. To celebrate we took Chantel and her mom to Cody to do some back-to-school shopping - Maurice's and Wal-mart! Look at Kaytee's shirt - she definitely needs something that says "high school sophomore" a little more clearly.

Every street in downtown Cody had these giant bears on display so Kaytee and Chantel had to ham it up with one of them. (Oh, yeah, we hit the dollar store too for new, sophisticated eye wear.)

Saturday Fun

What a glorious Saturday! Jackson is definitely getting to feel more comfortable at Grandma and Grandpas and is getting a little routine down. First thing in the morning he likes to play the keyboard. He is pretty much in heaven with all the buttons and numbers to press and make different sounds and songs.

Then he helps grandma in the kitchen - loves using the big knife to cut up the pineapple and limes for Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad. (Sorry Jami, Kaytee freaked out when she saw this but J and I have an agreement about safe knife usage!)

After all that sticky (and a stinky diaper besides) it is time for a bath. Finds it pretty hilarious to be all wrapped up and waddle around like a mummy.

He spent the morning very loudly expressing his opinion on a number of matters so we chose his clothes for the day as a reminder for all of us to tread lightly! After a nap (and a much happier outlook) he helped Kaytee fill tons of water balloons for the party we were having that night. He loved counting them and identifying all the colors.

After he got to throw a bunch of them at all of us around the patio, Jackson was in charge of the balloons while we played water balloon volleyball.

Whenever a balloon would break Jackson would come running with a replacement to toss in our sheet. Each time he would tell us, or himself, "Good Job!"

Once all the balloons were gone, J took on Kaytee and Ethan in a rousing soccer match. He's so good he can play and hold onto his ice cream cone at the same time!(Of course the best soccer ball we've got around our house is a volleyball.)

Now he was way comfortable with Ethan so he got Ethan to blow bubbles for him to catch.

Jackson and Maggie are pretty interested as Kaytee pours bubbles into a bowl so they can use the really big bubble wand - I think Maggie thinks she is getting a treat.

Especially since all night she followed Jackson around licking her lips and just waiting for something to drop or for him to put his food down low enough that she could get a taste. Jackson spent a lot of time running away from her, especially with his icecream cone, which he declared to be "Mmmmmmm" but hardly ate any of. Then he finally gave in and fed her a whole bunch of gold fish crackers and thought watching her eat them was pretty hilarious.

After all the company left, Jackson honored us with a piano concerto of his rendition of "The Living Sculptures of Pemberly" from "Pride and Prejudice."

Then it was wrestling time with Kaytee.

Which he wanted to do again and again!