The same day we went to the apple orchard we decided to drive an extra 30 minutes and experience a civil war reenactment. One of the reasons we love living out here in VA is because of all the history surrounding us. Ben and I both love history! This reenactment was awesome. As soon as we pulled up and saw the tents sent up for the union and the confederate sides, the cannons, and all the soldiers in uniform I got excited. It really was one of the coolest experiences.
What a great day!
We had the best day on Saturday. We started it off by taking turns sleeping in and straightening up the house. Then we got in the car and drove for an hour to an apple orchard. I had never been apple picking and had heard great things about it from friends. I’m so happy we were able to go. Hallie had funny picking the apples and of course tasting them. She loves anything that involves food! lol
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We blessed Kyle last Sunday and it was a wonderful experience. My parents were able to be in town and we had many friends and family join us at Church and then at our home afterwards for a little luncheon. We are so grateful for all the people who came. Many people drove quite the distance and rearranged plans in order to share Kyle’s special day with us and we really appreciated it. (We have the best friends!) My fabulous mother threw a wonderful little party full of lots of good food. She is so good at things like that. She pays attention to detail and spoils everyone around her. I wish I would have taken a picture of the food setup she created. It was amazing! Thank you Mom!
Ben gave Kyle a beautiful blessing. He blessed Kyle with health and happiness, a love of learning and a quick mind, a deep faith and a desire to learn and follow true principles. He said that Kyle would have love and charity for the people around him and he would be a light to them as well. He also blessed Kyle to be an example to his sister and his parents. And lastly Ben told Kyle that he was born into a family that loved him very much and that Heavenly Father knew and loved him as well.
It was a beautiful day. We just wish Ben’s family could have been here to share it with us. Crane’s we missed you!!!!
The day finally came when we got to go back to Cox Farm! I had seriously been looking forward to this day since last year. It is such a fun place. I love seeing Hallie happy and having fun.
We started out with the piggies.
Then Hal and Nanna looked for pennies in the hay.
Then it was off to feed the goats. This was Hallie’s third time feeding goats this year. She is becoming a pro!
Quality time with Papa eating kettle corn.
Posing with her favorite princess’ pumpkin carriage.
Again with the slides
Nanna and Papa with two of their grandkids
And last but not least we each got to pick out a pumpkin to take home. Well…Hallie picked them out for us. (FYI: Hal is being silly in the pic not crying.)
Until next year…… 🙂
I just found my motivator to lose 10 pounds!
You see if I wear heels when I’m fat I feel like a pig on stilts….so 10 pounds down and I’ll be wearing these puppies around town! BooYeah!
This weekend we decided to hit up Old Mine Ranch and let Hallie and Kyle experience a little bit of farm life. We went with our friends the Wendorff’s and had fun (although I think we payed too much).
I think the best part was seeing Ben in his “element”. He grew up on a farm and dreams of having our kids grow up on one as well. I really want a lot of land for them to run around and play on but I’m doubting my ability to milk a cow. 🙂 I guess as long as there is a mall close by.
I have to admit that I have a lot more pictures of Hallie when she was a baby than I do of Kyle. Poor kid! It’s not that I don’t take pictures of him it’s just that I went overboard on Hallie. I’ve heard friends say that with each new child you have less pictures. So far I’ve proven that true. Sad I know. I do love him just as much as his sister, but I’m too busy feeding him and then chasing his sister to pull out the camera and catch his cute face digitally. 🙂
I love my little chubs! He has been in so much pain the poor little man. He has reflux really bad and was inconsolable very day. He couldn’t sleep because he was in pain and he would constantly arch his back and spit up. It was pretty bad. Every now and then we would get a glimpse into his personality and discover that he really was calm and happy. He would try so hard you could tell. Darn reflux! After going to the doctors multiple times, increasing the amount of medicine he was on and our families fasting and praying for him we got the miracle we were asking for. He can now be happy like he was trying so hard to be before. He still has episodes where he is in a lot of pain but overall he is leaps and bounds above where he used to be. He now sleeps in his own bed and is getting better every night (knock on wood). He smiles a ton, especially at his crazy sister who he thinks is a rockstar! It’s the cutest thing for me as a mom to watch. I’m glad he loves her already, but then again who doesn’t love her. 🙂
I’m so grateful for a God who hears and answers our prayers. Having two babies in a row with such bad reflux has made me on edge. I’m not as good as the people who never ask “why”. I admit I did. The past two months have been really hard for our little family but things are looking up and I’m extremely grateful. Ohh how blessed I truly am!
This past weekend we went to Breezy Point Beach in Maryland with our good friends/cousins the Gelvins. This beach appealed to us because it was only an hour away and it had a net to keep out the jelly fish. As you can see by the pictures it was beautiful clear water. YEAH RIGHT. But hey it’s the beach and we aren’t picky. It was such a wonderful day! It combined Hallie’s two favorite things: the beach and her friend Gabe. 🙂
Working hard to bring the water to the sand for a sand castle.
Just look at Hallie’s face. She LOVES the water!
Chasing Gabe and throwing sticks in the water then waiting for them to washed ashore.
The new Mr. Crane chillin on the beach with mom.
My new favorite photo. Seriously she is the cutest! This is her first taste of rootbeer. She tried some of Ben’s and never gave the can back. 🙂
Gabe is by far Hallie’s favorite person! She asks for him daily and is at her happiest around him.
Proof that I went too.
Until next summer…beach save us a spot. 🙂
Ben’s cousins came in town for the Boise State vs. Virginia Tech football game. It was the first game of the season and it was held at FedEx field. Ben’s cousin is a super fan and bought us tickets and shirts. We were excited to go for a couple of reasons: we love college football, it was going to be a HUGE game, we had never been to FedEx field (where the Redskins play), and last but not least to get a date night away from both kids.
The place was packed! Around 89,600 people were there. Most of which were Virginia Tech fans and drunk. 🙂 It took over an hour to just get in the field. We felt like cattle. Once we got inside we found our seats-3rd row from the top! lol They actually were good seats because we could see everything. We spent most of the game on our feet. We started losing our voices about 15 minutes into the game so we spent the rest of the night TRYING to conserve our voices and just clap. 🙂
One great highlight of the game was getting beer thrown on us. A fan a few rows down got excited after Boise scored a touchdown and threw his hands in the air while holding a cup of beer. We were lucky enough to get showered in the sweet smelling stuff! Thank you drunk guy a few rows down! 🙂
As I sat there cheering and looking around me I was reminded of my college days. I LOVED college and have so many amazing memories. I reminisced a little and thought how funny it was that I still feel young and Ben and I both still look like college students but yet we have two kids waiting for us at home. 🙂 Just a reminder that I’m getting old. lol
Boise State ended up winning and the crowd was quiet as we went back to our car. haha the big talkers of VT didn’t have so much to cheer about after the game. We had so much fun and were so grateful that Lydon and Tawny took us. Thanks again you guys!! We loved having you visit. (Maybe one day we will make it to Oregon).
