How Cute is THIS Kid?

So football practice started this week. Yes, you heard me correctly, it is never ending! Football is a year round sport and silly you thought it was just played in the fall! Just because we are outta school doesn't mean the football players get a summer vaca! A coach that Ryan coaches with, was in a pickle this week with his wife being out of town, so I babysat Little O while he was at practice! He is just the cutest thing!

His dad dropped him of at thebuttcrackofdawn, 6:45 am, and we hung out until about 10:20 am or so! (practice is from 7-10am M-TH). We started out the morning by watching some Playhouse Disney...oh that brings back memories! And then we ate breakfast and then played with the toys.

After awhile Little O wanted to play outside and since there is a pool in our backyard, I opted for the park down the street. We had lots of fun walking up the stairs, sliding down the slides and running everywhere...WELL he had fun doing all of those things, along with Brendan & Colin, while I chased along behind making sure everyone was safe!

The boys rode their bikes to the park, while Little O and I walked and while we walked, we had the cutest conversation. He is not even 2 and a half yet, but he sure can hold his own in a conversation! I had to really think back, but I am not sure if my boys talked as well as Little O at his age. Our conversation went a little something like this...

Little O: "Stacey, I like to eat at Red Robin. Do you?"

Me: "I do. It is yummy! What do you like to eat at Red Robin?"

Little O: "I eat big fat fries!"

Me: "Oh they have the best fries! Is that all you eat when you are there?"

Little O: "Oh No! I eat chicken nuggets with my fries!"

Me: "Oh that sounds so yummy!"

Little O: "Can we go there now to eat?"

Me: " Oh honey, it is too early; they aren't even open yet."

Little O: "That's too bad!"

Seriously, I felt as though I was talking to one of my kids!

How cute is THIS kid?!

Where's Mom?! 14/52 Pictures of Me!

Are YOU a mom? Are YOU missing from the picture? Most moms, I know are, but here is a great meme that brings us moms out from behind the camera and puts us in the spotlight! Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans is the hostess for this year long picture project. It is lots of fun and just think, after 52 weeks, you will have 52 pictures of YOU in them to pass down. It can be scary, but com'on, give it a try! It's easy, all you have to do is hand over the camera and smile! (or not, it's up to you!) And the best part is, you can join whenever. for me, this will be my 14th week!

Here is a picture of Colin and me at Disney World. This was the Christmas of 2007. I found it in a file that was hidden on my hard drive. This was one of the years that our family followed the University of Michigan and their football team to a bowl game. This year they were in Orlando playing at The Capital One Bowl. It was such a fun trip. We first flew to Michigan to hang out for a few days with the gang from He & Me + 3 and then we flew onto Orlando. While there, we went to Disney World and Universal Studios as well as all the fun game stuff like the pep rally, before game festivites and the game where Michigan beat Florida!! Back to the picture, so Colin and I, along with the rest of the fam, were at Disney World and this is the ride where you get to drive the car. Colin was so excited that he was tall enough to drive me around the track! I love his toothless grin!

It's easy...hand over the camera, say cheese and join the fun!!

WW~ 1...2...3...CUBS!

The Red Wings R.O.C.K!

We may live 2100 miles from Detroit, but we are some of the biggest Red Wings fans around; in fact our oldest son is named after a once upon a time Wings player...Brendan Shannahan; and if you don't know who the Red Wings are then you may want to stop by on another day!!!

The Wings are one of the hardest teams to get tix for when you live there, but now that we live in AZ we have seen them a few times at Jobing.Com Arena! Ryan is an AVID Wings fan, so of course when they went into the play offs, we had to order the channel that shows it...naturally!

Sunday afternoon, all 3 boys bunkered down in the den, since the best T.V. is in there, to watch the Red Wings play the Blackhawks...booo blackhawks!!

Face off
Talking to the Blackhawk player in the penalty box...honey I hate to tell ya, BUT he can't hear you!

S.C.O.R.E.

The house shakes when the Wings score!

In this picture, the Red Wings had just scored their 4th goal; they went on to win the game 6-1.

Better luck Wednesday Blackhawks...you're gonna need it!!

LET'S GO RED WINGS

*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP*

Lord Stanley...here come the WINGS!!

Happy Memorial Day!

I just want to give a shout out to all those that have served or are serving to keep God's country free. I work at a school right outside of an air force base so half of my kindergarten students this past year were military kids. I see it, but I can't imagine the life they lead. You have to be an extraordinarily strong person to be in a military family...my heart goes out to these men & women on this day of honor. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers today and everyday.

Above is a picture of my parents with Brendan & Colin. My dad is a veteran and I can remember writing an essay about my hero; I wrote it about my dad. He served in the United States Army and served in Vietnam before marrying my mom. They were dating when he was drafted and for 13 months kept in connect with letters. He came home on December 5 and proposed to my mom on December 8 and they were married 9 months later in September of 1969. Almost 40 years later and they are still happily married. He doesn't really talk about what happened over there, but I know he remembers; he has friends on the Vietnam Wall in D.C. After all these years, he still has his uniform.

Thanks Dad for serving this country, The United States of America, ONE nation under GOD.

Wishing you and your family a safe and fun filled Memorial Day.

Let's Par-Ta!

Yesterday was Brendan's end of the season baseball party. They had their last regular season game on Friday night, and even though play-offs start on Tuesday, we had the party on Saturday! They had a good season, lost more games than they won, but they had fun none the less and even learned a little! This was the first season for most of the players to be on a kid-pitch team. Brendan played for the Cubs and while on the field was either playing 3rd base or in left field. He knew his strike zone very well and when he wasn't slugging one past the 2nd baseman, he either walked or was pegged with the ball (way too much for my taste, but welcome to the world of kid-pitch!). And he was great at stealing bases too! Next year Colin will join his brother up in the Minors (Colin played coach-pitch on a farm team) and Ryan will be their coach!

This was my contribution to the party. One of the parents opened their home for the party, which was pot luck. The baseball cupcakes were a huge success!

The afternoon started at noon and with lots of jumping...first in the trampoline...

...and then in the pool!

Water gun fights to follow!

And don't forget about the food!

The party continued with Wii, bean bag toss, football, and water baseball! The night ended with, what else, but more jumping!!

Even though baseball consumed most of my spring nights, I wouldn't want it any other way!

Here's to a great season!

I'm Gonna Miss This...

Last year, we started a new family tradition...that on the first day of ANY vacation, we head to IHOP for breakfast at the buttcrackofdawn!! Since our clocks (your brains and bodies, that is) are still on school time, and we are still up at our 'normal school' time, we decided to go and have breakfast as a family at one of our fav places!

Brendan and Colin posing out front..."COME'ON MOM...WE'RE HUNGRY!!"

Colin & Daddy

Brendan & Mommy

I am gonna miss the day when they decide that they are too old and sleepy to join mom and dad for the 1st day of vacation at IHOP. I will miss the laughs and giggles and smiles and yummy food, so for now I will cherish these few days a year when we get to spend that special morning as a family celebrating THE FIRST DAY OF VACATION!!

For more You're Gonna Miss This moments, visit Pam.

Where's Mom?! 13/52 Picture of Me!

Are YOU a mom? Are YOU missing from the picture? Most moms, I know are, but here is a great meme that brings us moms out from behind the camera and puts us in the spotlight! Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans is the hostess for this year long picture project. It is lots of fun and just think, after 52 weeks, you will have 52 pictures of YOU in them to pass down. It can be scary, but com'on, give it a try! It's easy, all you have to do is hand over the camera and smile! (or not, it's up to you!) And the best part is, you can join whenever. for me, this will be my 13th week! OOHHHH! Scary number 13!!

Today is our last day of school...you heard me right...THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! Sweet hubby was so nice to snap these few pics before heading off to his own last day of school! We are so lucky that we are both teachers, for the same district no less, and that we get the same vacas and same time off of school!! This was taken bright eyed and bushy tailed before leaving for school this morning!

I can imagine that Brendan & Colin will never tire for the last day of school to get here! Heck I am thirtysomething and I STILL love the feeling of waking up on the last day of school! (Don't get me wrong, I love the first day of school too!) But waking up...knowing that we have an entire summer of doing whatever it is we want (within reason, that is!!)is SOSOSO AWESOME!! So I know that I won't ever miss them getting excited, cuz I don't think THAT will ever happen!!

Here's to the last day of school...

BRING ON SUMMER!!!

It's easy...hand over the camera, say cheese and join the fun!!

WW~ And the Medal Goes To...

One Last Book Report!

Brendan is in the 3rd grade and throughout this year he has had to do lots of different styles and genres of book reports. I have blogged about some of them, including his cereal box report, his story skeleton report, and his scrapbook page. Some of the ones that I have not blogged on were his sandwich report, his book jacket and his file folder report. Well, here we are in our last week of school (yes, that's right, out last day is this Thursday!) and Brendan's last report was due yesterday. His teacher, Miss L, let the kids choose whatever genre and style they wanted to do for this last hurrah! Brendan choose to do another fairy tale...this one The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
And his style was a board game.

This was a new idea that Miss L threw out there and he grabbed right onto it!

He {we} did a great job...don't you think?!

And the best part...it's playable!

It has a die with cards and you lose turns and move ahead and have lots of fun!

Brendan had an amazing teacher for 3rd grade; I can only hope and pray that his 4th grade teacher is this great! (and hopefully Colin will get Miss L for 3rd grade; she can't get rid of us that easily!!)

On Your Mark...Get Set...GO!

Last week, our school (the boys attend where I teach kindergarten) held it's annual field day. I remember this day when I was in elementary school and it was so much fun. Well, I can say that they boys had so much fun too! The 2 PE teachers set up the entire morning of competition to promote cooperation and fun! There were 12 stations of relays, water games, tug of war and so much more! Unfortunately, I was only able to get a few pics of the boys, since I was with my kindergarteners at the same time! Here is Colin waiting for his turn at the relay!
Here he is running in the recycle relay...where they had to run about 100 yards to a container that had recyclables in it, grab one and run it back to an empty container. Which ever team got all of their recyclables from the far container to the other, won! Colin is so fast!

Here is Brendan with his class in the Hula Hoop Pass. The class had to stand shoulder to shoulder and hold hands. The first person took the hoop and passed it down the chain. Nobody could let go, but the object was to get the hoop from the beginning to the end without dropping hands! Brendan was the last one in the line; it was his job to get the hoop over his head and put it in the pile. Which ever team with the most hoops at the end when the whistle blew...won!

It was a hot one, over 100 degrees, but they were prepared with lots of water and only having it in the morning (the coolest part of the day!)

So until next year...On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!

Happy Birthday Stunt Man!!

So, many of you may know, or may not know, BUT Stunt Man is my God Son. Once upon a time, my family and MiMi's family lived close to one another, attended Gymboree classes together, worshiped at the same church together, basically we were inseparable. Our lovlies (our kids!) grew up together, that is, until we moved cross country. The hardest thing about our move, was moving away from He & Me + 3!!

So ANYWAYS....Stunt Man turns 4 today!! I cannot believe that this little guy is 4 already!

So Stunt Man, from the McCrakens to YOU...

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear STUNT MAN

Happy Birthday to YOU!!

Hope you have a great day, NOW stop growing up would ya!!

I love and miss you more than you know! See you in July!

McCraken Pool Open for the Season!

Living where we live, it gets hot, very hot, early in the year. I don't mind the heat so much because of the low humidity and now that we have our pool, I don't mind it even more!! This will be the 2nd summer for our pool! It is awesome. It literally takes up our entire backyard, but that is OK with us; less yard work!! For the past week, the temperature has been hovering near or over the 100 degree mark. With it being so warm, the pool water continued to rise quickly and this past weekend, it was finally ready for swimming!
On Saturday, the air temp was 101 while the water temp was 85!

The boys had so much fun swimming for the first time this season! They raced and played and laughed! They also played football! We spend most of Saturday afternoon swimming as a family and on Sunday, I spent most of the afternoon (after church) sitting on the step finishing my book! So relaxing!

Pool's open...so if you're in the neighborhood, stop on over! We love company and don't forget your swimsuit!

Where's Mom?! 12 Pictures of Me!

Are you a mom? Are you missing from the picture? Most moms I know are, but here is a great meme that gets us moms out from behind the lens and into the spotlight! Carin from Forever in Blue Jeans is the hostess for this year long picture project! It is lots of fun and just think, at the end of the year, you will have at least 52 pictures with YOU in them! It can be scary, but com'on...give it a try! It's easy, all you have to do is hand over the camera! And the best part is, you can jump in whenever; for me, this is my 12th week!
Here I am with my 2 boys on Mother's Day...the 2 best reasons (most of the time!) for being a mom!! These are the shirts that I bought for them and then forgot to have them wear them to church...oh well; they wore them to dinner instead!

It's so easy...give someone else the camera, say cheese and join the fun!

WW~Hubba~Colin~Icious!