The Crafts

The Craft family officially declared the unofficial start to summer yesterday. And we are never looking back...

How was your weekend? In light of graduation month I am going to officially award my weekend with an A++. It was fabulous and simple with plenty-o time hanging around the house and do family things. My brain cannot drum up the last weekend all five of us sat around with each other. Mother Nature really cooperated and we took full advantage of her gift logging several hours outdoors. Soccer, bike riding, porch swinging, playgrounds, t-ball, bubbles, scooters, grilling, visiting with neighbors, books...we were busy in the best way possible. Natalie was too busy running back and forth while chasing a walnut shell to pause for a picture. Per usual, CJ was uninterested in looking at the camera. At least I got a half smile out of her.  And after the photo she used that cone as a megaphone. It was a fun weekend, and occasionally very loud. This summer Natalie is just big enough to climb onto the porch swing by herself.  She is big stuff and is not afraid to tell yo...

When I read about couples getting away for an amazing vacation in paradise I can't help but feel a little grumpy. Sure, I'm happy for them but I also feel a little grumpy. I love paradise. I love being warm on a gorgeous beach. In the words of Tina Fey / Liz Lemon, "I want to go to there." I quote her too often don't I?  Well two years ago (more or less) Matt and I started planning a vacation for the two of us. It is now my turn to bombard you with endless photos of views so tremendous it could make a baby cry...or something like that. Salt Pond Bay  So what did we do in the paradise that is St. John, USVI? Hike, snorkel, explore, relax, swim and talk without interruption from adorable, but highly energetic, little girls. Vacation was amazing. Have I overused that word yet? Outside Concordia restaurant where I was introduced to the most amazing drink, The Painkiller. I have since discovered the recipe. You are welcome here for a Painkiller anyt...

Nearly two years ago to date I was semi-mego prego (read pregnant and feeling like I swallowed a basketball) when I pitched an idea to Matt. "Hey, let's go on vacation. Just the two of us." After Matt lovingly pointed out the obvious road block to my plan I suggested we wait til the spring of 2014. Through 2013, between not sleeping at night and chasing kids by day, we unsuccessfully debated on where to vacation. Matt would rather take up smoking than leave the country so we were limited to the 48 continental States. (He is terrified of being falsely accused and subsequently imprisoned in a foreign country. That is the lawyer in him. And I get it, but I'm also willing to risk it.) After a year we realized the debate may never end. Then Matt asked if he could just book the vacation and surprise me. Sidenote: Matt independently planned our honeymoon and did a super job. Based on past success I agreed to his idea. Shortly thereafter I received a letter with a clue to whe...

This past weekend my mom and I, along with several relatives, took shelter in a church basement while gray clouds swirled and sirens blared loud. Nearly everyone was on their smart phone closely watching radar and texting loved ones. Three young sisters sang "Do Ray Me Fa So La Te Do" from The Sound of Music and between peeking up the basement stairs and finding folding chairs to rest on, we clapped wildly for those talented little ladies. Believe it or not we were all gathered for my cousin's wife's baby shower. They are about to welcome their first baby; a little boy. That first baby brings joy and excitement and lots of worry. Funny how a little time and two more babies put those first days with a newborn into perspective. How easy those days were compared to the busyness of a day with three. Still one baby is plenty of work. And having only one baby leads to lots of extra time for one-on-one snuggles. My oldest baby isn't really all that babyish anymore. She...

Our Easter weekend was really great. Everyone here is exhausted from a lack of sleep overnight and missed naps during the day but it was fun. We traveled hundreds of miles and ate thousands of chocolates. Well, maybe not thousands but close, and they were all delicious. I do not regret a single piece. This picture is completely unrelated to Easter but it is cute. Oh, and this one too.  The girls and I read the Easter story from their kids Bible. And I think they kind of get it.  Our house is kind of a wreck and I have piles of laundry and ironing waiting for me but it was a wonderful feeling to put it all on the back burner. We spent lots of quality time together. Again, I don't regret a bit of it. Easter morning we were all up e-a-r-l-y!!! Here the girls indulged in a little Easter candy at 6 a.m. (These photos were before hair was combed.) Three beautiful girls. We are very blessed parents.

Monday night we attended the theatre. Three of us wore our finest blue jeans, two donned fancy dresses and one wore spaghetti sauce like it was a medal of honor. (In case you are doing the math we did not add a child. Matt's mom joined us for the concert and no, she was not the one in spaghetti sauce.) Long periods of sitting still often turns a sane child crazy. And while our wait was not necessarily all that long Matt had to find ways to entertain himself. I mean, he found ways to entertain Natalie. She was the antsy one. Yes, it was her.  Matt filled the time with selfies. He is not one to take a selfie...ever. But when you have a cute baby on your lap how can you not take a selfie; even if she looks like she'd rather be sleeping. Like McKayla Maroney, Natalie was not amused... I'm sorry you didn't get in on the selfie LeAnn. Next time! So, several selfies later the concert began with a promenade of dozens of 4 to 5 year old kids waving...