Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Easter Celebrations

This Easter season I tried to help the boys focus on the real meaning of the holiday rather than the Easter Bunny and candy.  For family night we pulled out our egg carton and talked about the Easter Story (although James was not happy that the last one he opened was empty!)

Every night for scripture study we read a part of the story--found here.  And we read the story of the little lamb.  This was definitely the most effective!  William would tell me a part of the Easter story during the week... and when I asked him how he knew about it he'd tell me, "from the little lamb book."

We didn't take all the "fun" out of the holiday though.  Friday we went to our ward party/egg hunt.  All the boys had fun... but especially Alex!  This is the first year that he has been able to hunt for eggs.  Saturday, when we got back from t-ball practice we found that the Easter Bunny had paid us a visit!  (We have a deal with the Easter Bunny... he comes a day early so we can focus on the real meaning of the holiday on Sunday.)  The boys had a blast!




The Easter Bunny brought us the Cootie game... the boys love it!

 

Alex LOVES silly bands!

On Sunday we talked again about Christ as we made resurrection rolls.  (And they were delicious too!)  All in all it was a wonderful Easter!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!






 Happy Easter!

Love,
The Cranes

Friday, April 22, 2011

Red & White

Last Saturday we took the chance to attend OU's Red & White Spring football scrimmage.  It was fun to be back in Norman again.  We stopped by the library to check out Rich's thesis.  William thought it was pretty cool that dad had a book (but wanted to know why he had to give it to the library)... James?  Not so much.


Then we headed out to the stadium.  It was actually my first time there as well!  The boys loved being at an OU game but thought it was weird that it was OU vs OU!






 

The boys lasted longer than we thought they would and we didn't have to leave until half time.  It was such a fun time... we may just have to make this an annual tradition!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Tonight was William's first t-ball game.  He had so much fun--except, he told me, when they lost.  But really I don't think they cared too much!  They were all having such a fun time!
Here's my handsome little ball player in the dugout before the game.



It was fun to watch the boys actually play an actual game.  William did a great job listening to his coach and following the rules.




He hit the ball hard, threw far, and ran fast.




He also made time for his adoring fans.


It should be a fun season!

Friday, April 8, 2011

boys update

I have been a major blog slacker lately!  I don't know what my problem is!  I feel as if life is so crazy right now... we've re-painted, re-carpeted, rearranged furniture, got a new realtor,  packed a little, had t-ball practice, looked for new places to live, prayed that we can sell this house, nursed sick kids better--along with a hundred other things.

The house is silent right now--William is at school, James wasn't feeling well and fell asleep on the couch, and Alex is taking a nap--so I thought I'd do a little blog update on my boys.

A few weeks back, after James said our morning prayers, he announced "I said, 'Bless the angels!'"  (He usually blesses the food... whether we're eating or not... I'm not sure where he came up with blessing the angels).  William then informed him "You don't need to bless the angels, James.  Angels are already blessed."  It's things like this that keep me smiling through all the fighting, crying, and whining (both mine and theirs).


William:


* Has really started reading!  He doesn't really like to do it on a regular basis (it's so much faster if mom just reads it!) but he can sound out some pretty huge words!  For example: Every night we read the "Book of Mormon Stories" and then have William read a verse out of the scriptures.  He has read words (with no help at all) like "according" and "commandments".  It's great!

* Started t-ball... and loves it.  I was hesitant to sign him up because our weeks are usually full anyway and I didn't want to hear whining about going to practices.  But every week he is more than excited to go!  He even thanks Heavenly Father in his prayers that he got to go to baseball that day.  I haven't been to any practices yet... but Rich says that William is one of the best kids out there.  His games start next week and I'm excited to watch him play.

* Is doing great in school.  His teacher has nothing but good things to say about William!

* Is a great helper around the house.  Yesterday, after the boys and I cleaned up the playroom (which was a disaster) I mentioned that I still needed to clean up the living room but I had to make dinner too.  When I peeked my head around the corner I found William carrying toys out of the living room and putting them away.  Sometimes--when he's really hungry--he'll set the table for me while I finish up dinner.

* Is a great friend.  He always has lots of friends and loves to play with them.  He would never intentionally hurt his friends... or their feelings.  I think this is why he especially is hurt when someone purposely does something mean to him.

* As always, is a great big brother.  He takes care of his little brothers and doesn't like when they are sad.


James:

* Loves being in Primary now!  He thinks he is really big and loves learning all the songs.  Of course, every week after church I ask him what he learned about and he tells me the same thing: "Heavenly Father, Jesus, and baby Jesus... and a chihuahua."

* Wants to name our baby crazy things like "Master Yoda."

* Likes to talk like Master Yoda... pretty funny to listen to!

* Is always telling me "Mom, I love you."  I love it!

* Helps out around the house--especially when William is not around or if I ask him to do something for Alex.  He loves to go "the extra mile" and then tell me about it--"Mom!  I went the extra mile!"

* Loves to tease.  I guess it was bound to happen that this Fisher trait would make it through to one of the boys.  I am pretty sure it's his favorite past time.

* When I sing to him at night he sings along with me... especially if it's "I Love to See the Temple"



Alex:

* Loves to do whatever his brothers are doing--whether that means playing with their toys or fighting with lightsabers.   William made the comment the other day, "Alex turned out to be a pretty good fighter!"

* Still likes to throw up when he doesn't get his way.  Worst. Talent. Ever.

* Recognizes super heroes like Batman, Spiderman... and can even say "Star Wars"... you know, important stuff (but he won't tell us what he wants to eat!  Aagh!)

* Loves to play baseball!  He will find anything to be a bat (broom, stick, light saber, sword) and a ball (any size ball, an orange, etc) and try to get someone to play with him.


* Rich described him as "a little bit OCD"... if he wants more milk, he has to walk over to the fridge with you to make sure you are pouring it.  If we're walking to a certain destination, he'll pick up anything he sees along the way--sometimes he winds up with quite a handful! (Just the other day we were walking from the library to our car and he had to pick up rocks along the way!)  If I ask him to pick up his shoes and put them away he can't stand it if James' shoes are sitting their also--he has to be assured that they will be picked up or he'll just do it himself!

* He's a great helper.  He loves to help with laundry or picking up toys.  The best way to distract him is tell him, "Alex, come here!  I need your help!"

*Loves to sing (and do the actions) "Popcorn Popping"



They all love playing outside or with Legos or going anywhere with their dad.  I am lucky to have them all--and to get another in a few months (if only we could think of a name for him!)

Monday, March 28, 2011

General Conference Prep

Every year before General Conference we review and learn a little about the First Presidency and Apostles.  It helps the boys to focus a little better when they recognize the faces, know the names, and know a fun fact about the men they are listening to over the course of the weekend.

I've posted some facts about them in the past but this year I wanted to make our Family Home Evenings leading up to General Conference a little more interactive and perhaps a little more memorable.  Week #1 we covered Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Boyd K. Packer, and L. Tom Perry.  Since President Eyring enjoys baking bread with his family we all made banana bread together.

Week #2 we learned about Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Richard G. Scott, and Robert D. Hales.  Since Elder Scott likes to paint with watercolors we did a little watercoloring of our own.


Week #3 was our final week where we learned about Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, and Neil L. Andersen.  Because Elder Holland and Elder Cook played football, Elder Bednar met his wife while playing flag football, and Elder Cook is a fan of our OU Sooners we went outside and played our our little game of football.  (I think this was the favorite activity by far!)

I love what Elder Andersen has said on the subject: "Some might say it is not the leaders who are important, but the message they bring.  Yet, if our children do not know the names of the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, they most likely will not know their messages either."  And again: "Our challenge as parents is to prepare our homes so that our children might be 'armed with righteousness.'  In the future, a discernible distinction of the true followers of Christ will be the heed and attention they give to the living prophets and Apostles.  As our children listen to these men, they will find their way."  (Both quotes come from "Teaching Our Children to Love the Prophets," Ensign, April 1996, 44).

We are excited for Conference this year!  What do you do to prepare?

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Campout

The boys have been wanting to go on a camp out for weeks now...  and their wishes came true last night.  Rich took them down to Lake Arcadia to go camping!  It seems that they had a fun evening full of hot dogs, s'mores, campfire, stories, games, and adventures.




When asked, James told me that his favorite part was eating hotdogs and William loved throwing sticks into the fire.  I'm glad that they all had such a fun time!