Wenatchee Vacation

I'm sure you have all been dying to know where Konrad and I went. (okay, I'm sure you don't even remember that we were going somewhere...)

We spent 3 nights in Wenatchee. Jealous, right? Actually you should be. It was warm. There was a swimming pool. There were tennis courts. There were movies, shopping, and places to eat. It was wonderful :)

We had decided a few weeks back that we really wanted to take a vacation, just the two of us. Originally we were going to go to California because our 3 requirements for the trip were:

1. Sun
2. Pool (not necessarily for swimming, just for laying out next to while reading)
3. HGTV (sad how cable deprived I am!)

But we decided to save our airline miles for our two trips next year (Costa Rica in Feb. and Hawaii in July) so we had to find somewhere we could drive that we could count on it being sunny and warm. Wenatchee it was.

We took a long walk by the river. Played tennis every morning, until my arthritic hands hurt too much to hold the racket anymore (side note: Is there anyone that has arthritis that can tell me what the symptoms are?? My hands just hurt really bad at all the joints...is that arthritis???). Then we'd go sit by the pool and read. Then get ready for the day (around 1 or 2) and go eat lunch. Then we'd either go shopping, to a movie, for a drive (we checked out Lake Chelan and Cresent Bar), then more dinner/shopping/movies.

It was brilliant!

While we were there Konrad and I read the 5 Love Languages book. It was very eye opening and I highly recommend it. Today in church we were talking about having a great Eternal Marriage and I kept wanting to raise my hand and say "read the 5 love languages so you know how to show your spouse that you love them" but seeing as though it isn't a church book, I decided I would throw that recommendation out on my blog instead...Go Read That Book If You Want Tips On Having A Happy Marriage. There I said it.

We read it individually, a chapter at a time. So I read Chapter 1 then Konrad did and so on. It led to some good conversation and entertainment as we tried to figure out the "languages" of different family and friends.

We always have a great time on our "just-us" vacations. Konrad is amazing and I love him. He makes me want to be a better person. He also so patient with me. I can't be an easy person to live with all the time, not sure how he does it!

I did miss the girls b/c at this point they are just fun to have around, not taking much work, especially when there is a pool involved, but it is so important for that alone time with my husband - so I sucked it up and left them behind. :)

I had a hard week right before we left and when I have a hard day/week I don't want to be away from the girls. Not sure why that is, but even going to watch Les Mis was hard for me, I stressed out over leaving them with my parents. And that was just for a few hours. Obviously I survived both (Les Mis and the vacation) as did the girls, so it's all good in the end.

We are coming up on the 6 month anniversary of Ian's death. Crazy to think it's been that long, but part of me feels like it's been forever. It's still amazing to me how kind people are. I still receive random cards, emails, and facebook messages. People are so amazing at helping lift me when I'm feeling down. I've got friends that as soon as they hear I am struggling jump in to see if they can do something to help me feel better. I am still so grateful to have all these wonderful women around me to listen, give advice, and hang out with. Friends are amazing!

Now Enrolling for 2011/2012

Once again, I have had to re-arrange my preschool schedule. I now have a 3 day class and a 2 day class. I currently have openings in my 2 day class.

Class is held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30-12:00.
Tuition is $100 per month.
There is a $35 registration fee.

I'd appreciate you passing on my info to anyone that might be interested!

Thanks!!!!!

Whew...that was a lot of posts!

So I had hopes of being caught up on blogging before I left for YW camp - that obviously didn't happen. Luckily for me - I am all caught up now. If I wasn't so scared of uploading the 1,300+ pictures I took at camp I'd add some to this post, but because I'm too lazy to do that today you can click over to Tami's blog to see a couple camp pictures.

Camp was fun. I again was the photographer and did conservation (service project). This year we had a fun service project. We got to treat some benches and a brand new bridge with linseed oil to protect them from the weather. We also spread some bark on a trail. We worked those girls, but b/c they were busy they enjoyed it.

I had a great time hanging out with all the Stake Leaders and getting to visit with the level leaders during meals. Tami, and me by default, ended up in charge of all the Stake roll calls (every time you meet together in the amphitheater each group of girls and leaders has to make up some cute song, chant, dance, etc to announce themselves). Tami, Jenni, and I had too much fun re-writing some Vanilla Ice (as well as coming up with some dance moves). Tami, Angela, and I came up with a Stomp routine (including brooms and garbage can lids even), we did some artistic ballet and spelled out the word SCRAM (our character for the week was Oscar the Grouch) with our bodies.

The priesthood tricked the Stake leaders, during roll call - totally set us up and soaked Tami (I was saved b/c of my camera. they made up some story of me having to sit in a certain place - right behind the girls and to make sure I captured their reactions...they realized if they didn't make up a story I'd end up soaked with the rest of them and the camera could be toast).

We ate delicious food, walked miles (this end of camp to the next OVER AND OVER AND OVER), hung out and talked, endured the yucky showers and bathrooms (when a "biffy" is deemed better than the regular bathroom stall you know the bathrooms are yucky!), felt the Spirit, and learned so much from those girls.

I did want to share one experience. Probably ranks up there as one of the worst nights of my life. It was during the Faith Walk. Typically the Faith Walk is an amazing experience, one that strengthens testimonies and relationships with our Heavenly Father.

The Faith Walk started the same as always. The girls were enjoying it. I was at the end of the Faith Walk - I was acting as the 4th year leader (to girls who I had when they were 2nd years) and my job was to walk them to the beginning of the walk and once they were finished to greet each of them individually. Once all the 4th years (and 3rd years...there were all mixed up) were finished we were to walk them back to camp to hear one more speaker. As we waited for 38 girls to return (16 of mine, 22 3rd years), we counted over and over and over. Finally we had all 38. As we stood all the girls up and the 3rd year leader started the journey back, one of the 4th years said "Sister Crabtree, so-and-so is not here. She never came to the fire." I immediately ran over to one of the paths (there were two Faith Walk paths) and glanced down it - there was a 2nd year coming. The other path also had a 2nd year on it. I told the 4th year not to worry, I'm sure so-and-so is with the part of the group that already left. I told her I had counted all 16 of them and they were all there. She looks at me and says "there are 17 of us." My heart literally dropped. I had been told there were only 16. Now I am starting to wonder where in the world she was.

I talked to the 1st and 2nd year leaders and tell them to be on a look out for her. She was wearing a blue sweatshirt. Text me if she comes through. I then book it as fast as I can back to camp. I run up to the meeting spot and call her by name. No answer. She isn't there. Again, my heart drops.

I asked the rest of the group when they last saw her. They all saw her up in the field, at the beginning of the faith walk. So I run as fast as I can, up to the field (at this point it's probably 10:30 at night), to see if she is still there. I walk around the group of girls sitting there (they are all sitting so quiet and reflective and I felt like a crazy loud maniac ruining their experience) and quietly call for Miss R. She isn't there. Then I have to figure out what ward she is in (remember I hadn't been her leader since she was a 2nd year...I really didn't even know who I was looking for!). After figuring that out, I had to figure out who was up at camp representing their ward and pulling girls out one at a time for a one-on-one conversation. No one new where her ward was set up. No one even knew what leader I should be looking for. I said a quick prayer and said "Heavenly Father who do I ask first?" Immediately I looked over at one YW leader and said I'll start there. Thankfully it was the right one. I asked her if she had seen Miss R, she said yes that she had.

At this point I know she has been here and that she started the Faith Walk. Once the girls are on the Faith Walk they are surrounded by leaders at all times, even if they don't know it. How in the world did we lose her?

I ran back to camp - leaders are in her cabin searching with flash lights for her. I run to the cabin and tell them that she started the faith walk. We decide that the 3rd year leader will stay at camp with the 3rd and 4th year girls, and I would go with the priesthood and look for her.

I quizzed the girls on a few more questions - what is she wearing, was she still in the field when the last girl was taken on the Faith Walk, etc. After getting answers I started heading back out into the woods. On the way out of camp, I heard a noise over by the YCL cabin, I shined my flashlight over there and there was a GIANT raccoon stealing a girls bag. I'm not kidding. It was slowly pulling it towards the bushes. I had to choose at the moment whether to wrestle the raccoon for the bag or continue on my search for Miss R. I chose Miss R. Sorry YCL who left candy in her bag that ended up being the raccoons breakfast! (on a side note the raccoon stole 3 bags, one of which actually ended up in the woods and hid in a hollowed out stump! Don't leave candy in bags at camp!!!)

I made my way back, with the priesthood, hoping with all my heart that Miss R. would be sitting at the fire with the 1st and 2nd year girls. She wasn't. We again went around whispering her name. No one answered. Now the worst part of all of it. Walking through the woods, shining flashlights in bushes, ditches, under tables, etc looking for a person. I was terrified we wouldn't find her, but also terrified that we would find her.

All I kept thinking was that we were going to have to tell her parents that we lost their daughter. That some how she disappeared into thin air and there wasn't a trace of her. I also just kept thinking "this is all my fault...I lost a YW...in the woods....in the dark...."

Then I start wondering who else is in the woods with us. Did someone take her? Your mind does not go to good places when something like this happens.

At one point, we talk to the last person that saw her. She is 100% positive she saw Miss R, she sent her down the last 20 feet of the faith walk. Where another leader would point her to the ending point, the fire. There is no way she could get lost in that last 20 feet. It just didn't make any sense.

I decide to call Tami, who is up at the start of the Faith Walk, asking her to find the nurse to find out if there are any medical concerns with our missing girl. Could she have had a seizure or something? While on the phone with her, the decision is made by the Camp Director to call off the Faith Walk. We need to get all the girls back to their cabins and have all adults searching. By this point I am in tears. Not only did I lose this girl, I am single handily ruining the whole Faith Walk.

It is now about 12:3o at night. She has been missing for 2 hours. It was torture.

As I am on the phone with Tami, I run back to our Stake Leader to see what she wants me to tell Tami to do. Should they take the girls back or what. As I am walking over to her, I notice that the 1st and 2nd year leaders are getting their girls up and counted. They are pretty sure they have everyone. Then out of the corner of my eye I see my good friend bend down and look a girl right in the eyes. Then I hear her say "Are you Miss R?"

I cannot tell you the relief I felt in that instance. We are still not 100% sure what happened. We checked every single girl around that fire. We called her by name a dozen times. Not one answer. All we know is that she must have been sleeping somewhere around the fire...must have been in the shadows. No one stopped to quiz her after finding her. I just grabbed her and ran back to camp, so we could let her friends know she was safe.

At the exact moment she was found, the people in the field were standing up from the prayer they had offered in her behalf. Literally as they said "amen" and stood up, I yelled into the phone to Tami that we found her.

The 4th year girls bonded. They relied on prayer -without needing an adult to make the suggestion.

The Faith Walk was able to be finished by those YCL's that wanted to finish it.

All the girls were safe.

A few more hours and I calmed down enough to sleep.

Never ever again do I want to search bushes for a missing person. Never ever again do I want to imagine having to tell a parent something happened to their child. I've lost one...I know what that feels like. I couldn't imagine bringing that devastating news to anyone (I know it wouldn't have been me delivering that news...someone else would have had that awful job but still, it was an awful thought!)

I am still not positive what I needed to learn from that experience...those types of things keep happening to me....What am I supposed to learn???? All I know is that I don't enjoy them and I'd appreciate it if they'd stop!

On a happy note...we are trying to plan a trip to Costa Rica. I'm pretty sure it's just for a vacation, but am kinda nervous Konrad is kidnapping us and making us move there :)

On a sad note...we went and visited Ian's grave again today. It's only the 2nd time we've been back. I wonder if it will ever get easier. We are hoping to order his headstone this week - which would make the girls very happy. It really bothers them that he doesn't have a real one. We went after church and I happened to have left over supplies in my bag from my CTR 4 lesson (oh how I miss my preschoolers...I got to teach 3 of them today!) so the girls made him a heart that said We Love you Ian. Then we all signed our name. It was really weird for me to sign "Mom" on it. It broke off one more part of my heart. One more "first".

Let's end on a happy note....Konrad and I are taking a little vacation next week. Guess where? If you guess correctly I'll give you a prize (family/friends who already know the answer can't guess!!!)....I'll give you a couple hints...we are driving there and it is sunny :) Can't wait!

Night everyone!

Samantha is Baptized

Samantha made the decision to be baptized and become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are very proud of her for making this decision to follow Christ's example and be baptized.

We are so grateful for the family and friends that came and supported her. I wish I had been a better mom and had taken more pictures to document that day (maybe one of the Grandpa's did?) Someone make me hire a photographer next time so I at least take a picture of everyone who came!

Sam all ready to get "dunked" :)
Angels? No just Konrad and Sam - not sure why they are glowing :)

too light or too dark...I can't win!

People who participated in the program:

Grandma Riding played the piano and gave a talk on the Holy Ghost

Grandma Crabtree led the music

Mom said the opening prayer

Grandpa Riding and Uncle Doug Dance were the witnesses

Dad baptized Samantha

Grandpa Crabtree confirmed Samantha, giving her the Holy Ghost (dad, Grandpa Riding, Bishop Leder, Uncle Doug D., and Aaron also stood in the circle)

Other people in attendance:

Dance Family

Great Grandma Crabtree

Meldrum Family

Leder Family

Aaron and Kaya Molen

After the baptism we came back for chocolate cake and ice cream. Sam also got to have the last of her 3 birthday celebrations and open some more presents from the Riding side.

Congrats Sam!

Utah: Part 3

Thursday evening, I was checking my email and had received an email from my Grandma Carlson, explaining that my Aunt Carol had passed away. (Carol isn't a blood-relative (her ex-husband was my uncle's best friend growing up and some how they just got included into our family on my mom's side), but in our minds she really was our aunt -- blood doesn't matter!) She is my dear cousin, Kallie's, mom. Kallie is like my 3rd sister - always has been and always will be. After reading the first 2 sentences in my grandma's email I literally threw Konrad's phone on the bed, grabbed my own phone, and ran out the door to call Kallie.

Wow, that was a sad conversation. Complete shock. Complete sadness. Complete devastation.

Kallie is expecting her first baby, due anytime now. She had to get special permission to even fly out for the services. She was left dealing with all the arrangements (her siblings obviously helping as well). I can't even imagine dealing with all that. I was a mess after Ian died (obviously different circumstances, I know...I'm not meaning to compare our losses), my brain couldn't handle even thinking about what things had to be done (funeral, casket, etc)...I can't imagine trying to deal with the grief of losing your mother and making the arrangements, AS WELL as being 37 weeks pregnant!

My heart still breaks when I think of Kallie and her siblings dealing with this loss. My dear cousins, losing their mom WAY too early in life! Love you guys!

Because we were in Utah already we decided to extend our trip. I needed to be there to do whatever I could for the Nelson children. I don't feel like I did enough and wish more than anything I could have stayed the rest of the week and really helped.

With some unexpected extra time in Salt Lake we decided to go to Temple Square and walk around.

yuck, I know! But they (the girls) made us :)

After Temple Square I threw out the idea of going to the Great Salt Lake...we'd never taken the girls there and Konrad and I hadn't been there in years (20+ years for me)

It is a nasty, smelly, dirty, dead-bird-infested, beach. DISGUSTING. The girls loved that it was warm though and I'm pretty sure they could have waded out there for miles and miles. They were amazed by the amount of salt left on their skin after the water dried. We were a mess!

We've turned him into one of us :)

Tuesday, August 2nd, was the viewing and graveside service for Carol. At the viewing I walked in and started talking to Kallie. Then I saw Kimber (my cousin, not my daughter) and Britt come out. I then realized I was waiting for their mom (that would be Carol) to come walking around the corner as well. It was a sad dose of reality when I remembered why we were even there. I will forever miss her smile. Her hugs. Her love. Her care. She was an amazing woman with an amazing testimony. I am grateful she is no longer suffering and can be at peace with our loving Heavenly Father. I like to think she found my baby boy and gave him a giant hug for me. :)

My grandma Carlson came to Utah as well, so it was a treat to be able to see her at the services.

Kallie and I

Love you girl! Can't wait to hear about Baby Millar's arrival! Keep us posted. You're in my prayers!

Sam's REAL Birthday

Sam turned 8 when we were in Utah. She had been looking forward to this day FOREVER!

We started off the day with donuts for breakfast - her dream breakfast :)

Then we blew some bubbles and played outside until it was party time (1:00)

Finally the dads came home from playing Disc Golf and the party could begin. We played the same games we played at her "friend" party (pop the jelly bean, pin the candy in Sam's mouth, and a scavenger hunt for bags of candy).

Pop the jelly bean:

all lined up to put the candy in Sam's mouth:

Present time:

How lucky can a girl get...her entire Crabtree family at her party!

Chocolate cupcakes:

Do you think Sam likes Scooby Doo? She got jammies, a T-shirt, a snow hat, and a balloon :)

We ended the night with s'mores and playing tag outside.

Perfect if you ask me! Happy Birthday Sam! We love you!

Utah: Part 2

We drove from Heber to Eden, Utah. It is gorgeous there! If I lived in Utah, I'd have a vacation home there for sure!

The upstairs TV room:
Holland being cute:

Getting ready for FHE:

"Once I was a snowman, snowman, snowman..."

playing games:

crafting: (thanks to Aunt Britt my girls developed an interest in sewing. Before we left Utah each had purchased a sewing kit and fabric to make all kinds of creations)

Water Play:

Bubbles:

Konrad and Tyler had a pretty good water fight:

more bubbles:

One of Austin's favorite activities is watching things spin - he was spinning this Frisbee over and over:

Slip-n-slide: (Kimber)

Sam:

Allison:

making a fountain pose:

view from the pool:

3 cute girls in goggles:

jumping in:

Austin, Doug, Al, Ellie, Grandpa, and Jaden

Austin and Doug

Tiff and Holland

Kayla

Quinton coming up for air

Great Grandma relaxing in the shade

the coolest cloud ever

Allison

taking a "hike"....everyone is holding on to a rope

Family Pictures:

Us: (the little bear represents Ian - my sister in law, Brittney, made all the Crabtree shirts and wanted to make something for Ian as well so we used Kimber's "Ian-bear" to represent him)

Todd Crabtree Family:

Quinton, Wei, Tiff, Holland, Todd, and Ellie

Miss Holland (who by the way has the middle name of Sara, my MIL's name, which I didn't realize until I heard Tiff yell "Holland Sara!" (in a mad-mom voice) and I thought she was yelling at my MIL...it was pretty funny!)

Doug Crabtree Family

Brittney, Scotty, Doug, Austin, Tyler

Mom and Dad

Gma and Gpa with all the grandkids (minus Kayla) - (BTW - Tami - I'm planning on seeing if you can photoshop her into a few pictures...get your skills ready!)

Brian Crabtree family:

Macie, Jaxson, Brian, Addyson, Jaden (missing Kayla)

On the back of the shirts Brittney put numbers to represent their place in the family Kimber is 1, Sam is 4, Alli is 8, and Ian is 15.

the front view:

The whole family (I love all the toes!):

Coloring our Crabtree banners:

Sam and Allison were really into robots this day....they drew lots of them!

Kimber and I drew everyone in the family (I should have gotten another picture after Kimber colored in all the clothes! oops!)

Kayla - I had to sneak this picture of her :)

The ladies took an afternoon to craft. Tiff brought all the stuff to make the cutest Holiday Planners....anyone looking for a RS meeting craft??? Look no further, they are awesome and easy!

I decided to to Sam's birthday in the next post....stay tuned!