The Crafts

The littlest Craft partied hardy last week upon the arrival of her first birthday. We devoured cupcakes, we chased helium balloons, she opened gifts (with a bit too much help from her sisters) and we sang under a pink ball like pom-pom thing hung in the dining room. You know what, she didn't really care. But what one year old does? She had no idea it was her birthday or what a birthday even means. That doesn't, however, mean she didn't soak up every ounce of attention oozing her direction from grandparents, her mom and dad and her sweet sisters. Upon reaching her first birthday Natalie would like to announce the following statistics of interest. *She sports seven teeth... yes seven. That's okay. I like the number seven. *She took her first steps about one week prior to her birthday and hasn't progressed too much since but I'm sure that is coming. *Natalie loves climbing anything she should not. I often find her atop the couch with the television remote in

Matt and I have a commonly used, go-to phrase for the times we really, really don't want to do something. "Future Sarah will worry about that." "That sounds like a problem for Future Matt." Another commonly used phrase among the two of us is, "swallow the frog". When the time arrives for Future Sarah or Future Matt to finally face the dreaded task we "swallow the frog" and get it over with. Each Sunday after church, while the girls are in Sunday School, Matt and I have one hour of time alone. Well, alone with Natalie pulling on our pant legs, but it is the closest we get to alone time nonetheless. After this past Sunday's church service we went home to relax when I started to feel a little odd. Next thing I knew four of the five of us were hit in the face with a stomach bug. It was an ugly Sunday and an even uglier Monday when the kids felt better but Matt and I did not. Add this to the list of things no one tells you before having kids

I just sat down to write a blog post...this very post, as a matter of fact, when I heard my dear sweet Natalie start to fuss in her crib. Oh parenting. You can plan your day all you want but real life plays out different than what is on paper. Okay...so a big thoughtful blog post becomes something rushed. Oh well. I specialize in rushed. Matt and I went to the big city of Ames last night to watch Lucy pull the football away from Charlie Brown yet again. With a win practically in their pocket the Cyclones instead walked away with their shoulders slumped and an ache in their heart. At least Matt and I had ourselves some fun. And today we feel like Natalie in this photo... In case you are unsure what a slumped shoulder Charlie Brown walk looks like, check out this video... Little Miss Natalie thinks she is big stuff lately climbing into dishwashers, emptying drawers and standing on step stools when the first parent looks away. She turns one next week and I think this second ye