Day 90 of 365

All of my little amigos. Doug has been working for a week or so off and on trying to get this tree out of the ground and today he finally got it out roots and all. So I had to get the kids on it for a victory picture! I will miss having this tree in our yard, it gave some great shade during the hot summer months. However part of the tree was dying and Doug also needed the space for his garage/shed/building that he is putting up in the backyard.

Day 89 of 365

So Miss Cassie has been a bit of a stinker about wanting to walk, she hasn't decided that it is quicker than crawling yet. She cracks me up though since she will walk around with her walker one handed or better yet pull it along behind her! I told her if she could do that than she could definitely walk by herself! We will get her to walk around for a little bit and than she will realize what she is doing and sit down! Yep, she's stubborn...wonder where she gets that from? One person she really likes to walk to though is her cousin Emily, they are about 2 1/2 weeks apart. So when someone is helping Emily walk I can get Cassie to walk over to her (though I think part of it is Cassie likes to go over and "attack" her, so she has that extra motivation)! I'm not worried though, I know she can do it if she wants to....and she will when she decides that she is ready and not a moment before!

Day 88 of 365

She is my sunshine! Her little smile never ceases to cheer me up. She has such a great sense of humor already, I have a feeling it's going to be pretty wicked! In other news, Jaxon started Taekwondo with us tonight. He had been wanting to do it with us for a while and was so excited when we said we would take him with us tonight. After we got there and he got to put on his uniform though, he started getting a little big overwhelmed. Especially when they moved him to the front row so they could see him! He turned back around and looked at Doug and I and was almost in tears! So Doug went over to stand with him and help him out. As long as Doug or I were with him he did okay...though at one time he looked at me and told me he wanted to go home and never do Taekwondo again! After his class session was over I gave him my phone to play on while the rest of us did our class (so we did two class sessions). I would look over at him occasionally to make sure he was okay and he was snuggled up to our instructors playing on my phone! So I think he was starting to feel better about doing Taekwondo and by the time our class was over he was smiling and laughing with one of the other kids in his class. When we asked him after our class if he liked Taekwondo he said "yes" and he wanted to do it again. So I think once he gets to know the people in his class and gets more comfortable he will do just fine!

Day 87 of 365

"Yeehaw! Get along little doggies!" Jaxon has been having so much fun on the horse that he made at preschool today. As soon as we got home today he wanted to get his Sheriff Woody hat on and go riding!

Day 86 of 365

"The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep.... all through the town." Cassie is really getting into her riding toys alot more now that she can get on and off them all by herself.

Day 85 of 365

A girl can never have too much bling (even on their shoes)!


Today I had to say goodbye to another important man in my life. He passed away just a couple days after my Uncle. How do you say goodby to two men who helped shape you into the person you are today?

Etoy was like another Dad to me. We lived basically around the corner from eachother and his youngest daughter and I became good friends. I have a ton of stories and memories of Etoy. He wanted me to play softball for him, I was playing soccer at the time and was happy with where I was at...but he saw something in me and kept working on me until I said "Ok!" I'm glad he kept at me though, I wouldn't trade my softball years for anything. I made so many great friendships because of it and learned so much from Etoy. I not only learned about softball, I learned alot about myself and who I was. Etoy was a strong person, didn't take any bull and would tell you straight out what he thought. He passed away after battling cancer for three years, he was a fighter. I ran into him about a year ago, he was out taking a walk around the neighborhood and I was just leaving my parents house. It was good to have been able to talk to him and I'm glad that I had that moment. So while we celebrated his life today, I will always morn his passing and remember all that he has taught me and the great memories we had.

Day 84 of 365

"My snake charmer". Though I guess that would mean that Cassie was the snake and she's alot sweeter than that! Doogie got to bring home a recorder from school so that he can practice. They are doing "recorder karate", where every time they learn a new song they earn a different color ribbon...kind of like getting a new belt in karate. Doogie is really enjoying it and has been practicing alot. He was playing some this morning while he was waiting for Doug to come pick him up for safety patrol and Cassie was really enjoying it as well!

Day 83 of 365

I love everything about this kid....from the top of her head to the tips of her toes! She always makes me smile, just can't resist her!

Day 82 of 365

My little bug cracks me up! She was enjoying a Girl Scout cookie (a thin mint to be precise) and when she thinks she is getting away with something or is really pleased with herself she'll do this little laugh...it resembles one of the Bwahahaha type laughs. But you just can't help but laugh yourself when she does it since her little face scrunches up just like this!

Day 81 of 365

Yep, that's right folks...Cassie is joining the circus! She'll be the one who rides the horses, standing on their backs! I happened to look over at Cassie and noticed that she was sitting on her ride on toy and I hadn't been the one to put her on it! I knew the boys hadn't done it either since they were outside playing. So I got my camera out and started watching! Pretty soon she started doing this. She would put one foot up then get the other foot up, then she would put the first foot back down over the other side set the other foot down on the opposite side and sit down! Notice the tongue out for that extra bit of concentration! What a little monkey!

Day 80 of 365

"I'm looking at you through my binoculars!" Man, this kid makes me laugh!

Day 79 of 365

Ryann had a blast getting all prettied up at her friend's birthday party. It was held at Monkeydooz (they do kids' haircuts and parties). So the girls could choose to either have their hair done of their nails. Most had their hair done and they all looked great! I know they hold classes for moms (and dads) so I might have to take one so I can learn to do all of these great hairstyles!

Day 78 of 365

Seriously, how could you resist buying cookies from this girl? We had a very busy Saturday of soccer games, Girl Scout cookie booth selling and a birthday party to finish the day with! They did a great job selling cookies. Jayde is quite the sales person!

Day 77 of 365

I'm so glad that he has found a sport that he really enjoys! He could do awesome in so many things, it's just getting him to find the drive to succeed. So I think we hit it with basketball (a sport that his dad and I love as well). I'm looking forward to all the backyard basketball games with him!

Day 76 of 365

I had totally forgotten that today was St. Patrick's Day and just by chance Jaxon was the only one that I had put in green (except for Cassie, but that's only because I hadn't gotten her dressed yet!) Of course he is the only one (besides me) that has green eyes...so I guess he would of been covered there! I think Jaxon is in that between stage....you know that one of being a big kid or being a little one. He wants to do all the things that the older kids do (he especially likes to play legos with his big brother Doogie) but than again he's still sometimes on that "your too little" stage. It's hard for me to believe that he is 5 years old and will be going to Kindergarten next year, guess I just want them all to slow down a bit....they are all growing up way too fast!

Day 75 of 365

All right, I admit it! She's a little bit spoiled, I usually don't lay her down in bed awake. She likes (okay I like) cuddle time. Hey, give me a break...she's my last baby! This is one thing I'm going to be working on (figured I would start with naps first!) now that she's a big ONE year old. Night time will be interesting though since she shares her room with her two big sisters and they've been known to get up and talk to her or even get her out of bed when she is crying!

Day 74 of 365

I love Cassie's smile! She's the kind of person who smiles with their whole face! I love watching her little face scruch up!

Day 73 of 365

I know, I know....more feet! But seriously, little kids have the cutest feet. I love CJ's little chunky feet!

Day 72 of 365

Cassie was so worn out that she conked out and the floor and took a little cat nap before we headed over to her cousin's first birthday party. I just love watching them sleep!

Day 71 of 365

Soccer season has officially started in the Crowe house! Jayde and Ryann had their first games of the season this morning. They both did really well and though they all have some kinks to work out I think it should be a promising season for both of their teams. Ryann is still playing on the same team she started out with and it's been fun to watch all the girls grow and become great little soccer players! Jayde is playing with alot of the girls she played with last year, but this year she has a new coach...her Dad! Her coach from last year decided not to coach again this year so Doug picked up the reigns so that the team could stay together. They all played really well and though I'm not sure who won, I do know that it was a very close game! I'm looking forward to an exciting soccer season!

Day 70 of 365

Jayde and Ryann kept themselves occupied and out of trouble by playing on my cell phone this weekend. They discovered that my phone will do videos so they were having a blast making little movies of eachother and other things and then they would sit and watch them and just crack up at them.

Watching them laughing helped me alot through this really rough week. I know it wasn't easy for them to watch me and their Grandma cry and though we explained to them what was going on I'm not sure just how much they actually grasped. My Uncle was such a wonderful person, so full of life that it has been really difficult for me to come to grips with his passing especially since it just happened so fast. I have so many wonderful memories of my Uncle and I will always cherish those memories of him. I just regret that we didn't get together more often and talk more. One of my favorite childhood memories of him was when I was probably around Ryann's age (though I would have to ask my mom to double check) and he was in town visiting us. Now my Mom swears that it didn't happen this way, but this is the way it happened in my memory. I was sleeping (we used to have bunk beds and I was on the bottom) and my Uncle went to go wake me up, he scared the bejeebes out of me because he was in a gorilla suit! Now while my mom agrees that he did go and wake me up and it did scare the bejeebes out of me he wasn't in a gorilla costume! I on the other hand will always swear that he was! One of my most recent memories of him was just a couple years ago at my brother's wedding. They had their wedding at Seaside, OR on the beach and during the morning/early afternoon before the ceremony we all got together and went over to the aquarium. It didn't take long for my children to figure out that Uncle Paul was a softy for children! They were soon hitting him up for money to buy fish to feed the seals and he was happily handing it out! I'm so very thankful he was able to come to the wedding and that we were able to spend that time with him. My Uncle Paul was a wonderful person and though we didn't get to see him as much as I would of liked, I know that if I had ever needed anything he would of been there in a heartbeat. That was just the kind of person he was. I know he touched many people's lives and he will be so greatly missed. I love you Uncle Paul.

Day 69 of 365

After a long drive down to Salem, OR Cassie was thrilled to be out of the car and moving around. She was having a great time playing in Grandma and Grandpa's room on their bed. I was really digging their bedspread too, I was very tempted to take it home with me!

Day 68 of 365

Poor sick little bug! She's got another ear infection! So glad I took her in today and had her checked out. She would of been one miserable little baby this weekend.

Day 67 of 365

My two big girls! When they are getting along life is good, when they are not getting along.... watch out! They're a pair that's for sure, love my girls!

Day 66 of 365

"The Tongue!" This is Cassie's new thing lately! It seems that little tongue of hers is constantly sticking out!

Day 65 of 365

My little monkey loves to eat! I don't think I have found anything yet that she won't try! I'm hoping she won't turn into one of those picky eaters later in life!

On a side note I would like to wish my Mom a very Happy Birthday! We love you Mom/Grandma!!

Day 64 of 365

I think Doogie has finally found the sport for him. He really loves basketball and he has alot of natural talent. He just needs to work on getting his emotions in check and he is going to be a force to reckon with on the basketball court!

On a sadder note, my Uncle passed away this morning. It has been quite a shock for our family, since it happened so suddenly. I've been having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that he is now gone and I will never see him again. My only regret is that we didn't get together more often. We were always saying that we all need to get together and have a family reunion but it kept getting pushed to the side with all of our busy schedules. I'm grateful for the wonderful memories that I do have of him, he will live on in all of our hearts.

Day 63 of 365

CJ loves Cassie! He is a great big brother to her, though he is starting to get annoyed with her at times when he is trying to play and she keeps trying to take the toys that he is playing with! He than says "Cassie, that isn't very nice!"

Day 62 of 365

Dang, this boy has some long eye lashes! I love this boy!

Day 61 of 365

Spring we are waiting....where are you? Love my little cowgirl, I really need to find a pink cowgirl hat for her that would just complete this outfit! We had a short reprieve from the rain so I took Cassie outside to take a few quick shots and of course the only way I can get her to stay in one place long enough for me to take a picture is to sit her on something that she can't get off of very easy.

Day 60 of 365

Puddle jumping! The boys are definitely getting some wear out of their boots (though CJ will wear his rain or shine)! They will definitely be using them alot this week though since it looks like we are in for some gloomy weather. Gloomy or not, you can't help but smile though when you see your kids out enjoying the rain!