Navy Crandall's

Andrew's blog post.

2010-10-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

I was informed that the last few posts did not feature enough Andrew so I went through some pictures and found some soccer shots that had not been shared and I am dedicating this post to Andrew only!!

Andrew is on the Red Dragon's he is number 11 and had a great kick!
Andrew planning strategy or talking about super heros who knows.
Andrew is always happy.
I love this shot trying to get the right direction.

The parent tunnel at the end. I LOVE his smiling face running through after each game!
A Happy and super cute little Andrew!

Super Post Part Three

2010-10-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

O.K. here is the end-I know I blog so infrequently you are thinking it is the end of me blogging forever, but probably just for 6 months-we went to the airshow last week but left the camera in the car. That is why this post is so sparse.

It took me a few tries but I snapped this wonderful picture of Mike jumping with Shelby in his arms. Note the hair on Shelby. MIke, as you can see, has very little.
At the airshow, we sat under an FA-18 for the shade. It was blazing hot outside. The kids needed something and when Mike got up to help them he turned around quickly and forgot we were sitting under a wing. There is the evidence of the mishap 48 hours later. The wing did not receive any damage.
Are we neglecting her, possibly. Is she the cutest thing ever? Definitely.

Super Post Part Two

2010-10-10T22:03:00.000-07:00

Here is part two. I know what you are thinking-"how could it get any better?" Well we are here to blow your mind!

Went to a Padres game. We sat on the grass, here I have just seriously devoured some nachos. For some, going to a ballgame is about the smells, the crack of the bat or the excitement in the air. For me it is nachos, kettle corn and cotton candy. Did you think Mike was the only one who loved food?
Kids rolling down the hill. Really, Petco Park where the Padres play is an incredibly fan friendly and family friendly place. You can get 5 buck tickets and the grass is great to stretch out and still see the game. The kids spent 20 minutes at this little field where employees pitched them balls and the kids hit and ran the bases. Awesome. We still love Busch stadium but this is a great place.
Shelby really is a girly girl. She lets me do her hair way better than her big sister ever did and she loves to wear jewelry and put on my shoes.
The Daddy super hug.

Super Post Part Uno

2010-10-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

I am terrible at blogging consistently but I guess that is obvious. I know everyone says their kids are the cutest but really, ours are. So without further adieu, here are a plethora (said in an hispanic accent) of pics and a couple stories.

Here I took a very strategically croped mermaid shot of Sydney. That is a lot of hair to get washed and styled each day.
Here Shelby is giving us the what you talking bout Willis face.
Grandpas and Grandmas, try to say no to that face.
Shelby falling asleep with Prince Phillip. "Beauty" as she calls sleeping beauty, is currently her favorite movie. She literally is sleeping beauty.

Ahhhhh. Baby and Daddy.

Fun and Games

2010-07-29T22:16:00.000-07:00

We play video game together as a family. The kids love it, usually. As an aside we do have FHE and we do have family prayers daily-just so our parents don't think we are totally neglectful parents. Here are some fun pictures-for most of us.

Shelby is not loving video games right now. (Above) The kids dancing-below

Shelby enjoying some fake ice cream

Home Again

2010-07-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

While we have been back in oceanside 3 months and Mike has been back about 4 I have not blogged since before he came back but I am rectifying that here. First, a sweet homecoming picture. Then Andrew learned a good lesson about electricity tonight as he stuck a spoon against the prongs of a small appliance we had plugged into the socket in the kitchen. Sparks flew, Andrew jumped and a plume of smoke went up but nobody was hurt. I think it unlikely that Andrew goes playing with the electrical outlets again. The real casualty in this story is the spoon. See for yourself.

I call this the embrace

As you can see below, this spoon has seen better days.

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My favorite part of these pictures is the red crystal-lite mustache worn by Andrew. He was going for a Heath Ledger as "The Joker" look. The chocolate ice cream was actually just dessert and not part of his costume.

Cousin Carson Comes!

2010-03-08T16:31:00.001-08:00

This past weekend Papa brought Carson back to Utah with him for the weekend. My kids were so excited to show him our house and Utah. We decided to make him a sign to welcome him! The kids got to go to the bow and arrow store and Papa got kid sized bow and arrows and they shot them in the garage pretty much all weekend. We had a great time and I always love to hang with Carson he has lots of great things to say and the softest skin in the universe!!!!! Come again soon Carson!

Pictures for Mike

2010-02-23T19:22:00.001-08:00

Here you go sweetheart here are some pictures of the kids for your viewing pleasure!

For readers in addition to Mike, we were skyping this morning and I thought I would take a picture of Andrew chatting with him and I thought the picture was so cute that I had to put it on the blog. This is how we communicate with our Mikey, and daddy these days and we are so grateful for the technology that allows this! I can't imagine sending him to war and not ever really knowing what was going on with him but only through letters. It is great to talk on the phone but to see his face as well is really something special. Shelby calls the phone dada and loves to talk to him on the computer these days. She is going to be in for a real treat when she actually gets to hug him in less than 5 weeks now!! WHOOT WHOOT!!!

The other pictures are of the beautiful flowers I got from my sweaty in Afghanistan, as well as some pictures of the kids with messy faces and being cute!!!

Shelby's Birthday!

2010-01-17T16:57:00.000-08:00

So it happened Shelby turned 1!!! I cannot believe it has been a whole year since she came to us! She is such an amazing little spirit. I have thoroughly enjoyed this getting to know her this year. Shelby knows what she wants and is not going to settle until she gets it. Just like her mommy she is stubborn and it will bring her great success as she continues in this world. Shelby is walking and babbling and giggling and playing. She is a big girl and we are so proud of her height and strength. Mike misses her bunches and he can't wait to see her soon. We are also pleased to announce that she can feed herself and has mastered putting everything and anything in her mouth, I knew it would come eventually. Anyway we love her tons and I am so glad that she is mine to enjoy, she brings great love to our family! Happy Birthday Shelby I love you with all my heart.

Here are some pictures from the big day and a few videos that end with you wanting more!!!

p.s. this is the last of the big events that Mike is going to miss! WHOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Some random shots.

2010-01-17T16:32:00.000-08:00

Here are some random pictures from the last little while.

Mike sent a package from Afghanistan the other day and inside was a dead animal or many dead chinchillas that were made into a blanket. The kids thought it was really soft and fun to lay on but said it was stinky. I am not sure how I will decorate with this.

Shelby standing so proudly and is now officially walking!

Some lovely tulips that Mike had sent to us in time for Shelby's birthday!

Shelby was walking and hugged Andrew so sweet I tried to catch but this was the back end of the hug.

This is what my bed looks like in the morning and I have been kicked out!

If you have ever put Andrew to sleep you will understand 'arm' and is sharing his arm with one of Sydneys bitty twins named 'Chaddy'.

Andrew turns 4 and Disneyland

2010-01-02T11:41:00.000-08:00

So we went to disneyland before Christmas and then I guess I put my camera away because the next pictures were Andrews birthday at Chuck E Cheese. We did have Christmas but I was using the video camera and forgot the camera. Anyway the funnel cake bite was for my Mikey who loves it and so I dedicated that bite to him!!! Andrew had a birthday party in California with cousins at Chuck E Cheese and it was awesome. I would recommend this place for a birthday super easy and affordable. Then we came home on Andrews real birthday and had a party with Grandpa Dave and Grandma Julie. I am so excited that it is finally Jan 2 and the traveling is done and we can get back into a routine and start the down slope of Mikes deployment. We are more than half way hooray!!!! Anyway enjoy the pictures! We love you MIKE!

p.s. While in California we got to go the Warriors vs Celtics game. My dad JP Dustin and I(and Shelby) sat in a luxury box. Chad and my Mom sat down a little closer. If you look to the left of me on about row 3 you can see a green hat and then to the left of the green hat you can see my moms red hair, that is where they sat lucky ducks!!!!

Sydney turns 6 and other things!

2009-12-13T18:54:00.001-08:00

So here are some pictures of Sydney turning 6! She had a great birthday at school and then we went to see Princess and the Frog! Then we had a great Princess and the Frog birthday! My cupcakes were awesome! Notice that the green frogs were sitting in the blue water!!! Then we have had a bit of snow and the kids had a great time playing for about 10 minutes! Then there are some cute Shelby shots she is getting so big!!!

Thinking about Daddy!

2009-11-10T16:16:00.000-08:00

This is purely for Mike because the kids miss him so much and he misses them. They were so excited to talk on the camera and watch it back! I will try and do this more often for you Mike especially and Shelby starts walking!!! Also there are just some silly pics of Shelby and me. I just thought Mike might want to see what I look like. I have changed so much in 2 months!!!

p.s. please don't anybody turn me into Wal-Mart or child services for Shelby's racy photos!

Halloween

2009-11-03T20:27:00.000-08:00

So here is halloween. Again my mom made the costumes and she did a fantastic job. She did not make Shelby's ladybug. Anyway Sydney did not have class parties and was not allowed to wear her costume to school but they did have a big carnival and the kids thought it was pretty fun. Golfing in the library was a favorite and the jump house and slide in the gym were also big favorites although I did not get pictures of the latter. Anyway my kids like to get dressed up but are not into having to work for the candy so as you can tell by their pile of candy they were not out very long maybe 10 houses. I would consider halloween a success minus daddy being gone. Can you believe the amount of posts in the last little while even if they are just pictures.

Snow toys and Halloween

2009-10-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures of the kids in the snow. They were so excited to wake up and see white everywhere and when the sun came out they were so worried about the sun melting it. Andrew got a new marble roller coaster toy that he LOVES and Sydney is displaying it nicely. Also Andrew has his halloween party and school today and my mom who made the costumes this year just finished and drove it up to us. Thank you soooo much mom. Andrew is the night and Sydney is the princess and idea they came up with all by themselves. Also Shelby is displaying her new trick of pulling up on everything!!!!

pictures for Mike

2009-10-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

So I have not posted in a while and things are nuts for me these days but I just caught a minute to put some pictures on here and so these are mostly for Mike. I wish I could post everyday and I really want to and I am going to try but anyway here are some pictures of the kids first day of school and soccer in the backyard and around the house and Shelby eating a sucker and Sydney in her snuggie. We love you Mike and miss you like crazy!!!! Oh and yes Andrew is actually asleep at the computer, he was extremely tired!!!

Fourth of July!

2009-07-05T20:20:00.001-07:00

Happy Fourth of July!!! I have decided that this is by far one of my favorite holidays. I had so much fun getting the kids all decked out as well as Mike and I. I love the music and family time and friends and the fireworks. That being said I only got to do a few of those things but it was still a great day! The kids looked great and I really had a good time putting it together. We went to a BBQ at a friends awesome house and that was great. We missed being with our family and we did not make it to the fireworks but we did watch some great shows on PBS in DC and there was great music and no traffic. Here are some pictures of the kids and a pretty cute family photo. Who knows maybe someday we will get to be on DC on the fourth I think it would be super fun!!!

Riding the Range

2009-07-05T19:58:00.001-07:00

On base there is a stable that we have always been curious about and we finally explored it last friday. There are pony rides for 2 dollars for 2 laps around a large trail. We took our good friends the Asays and got the kids all geared up (disneyland provided the outfits). Sarah and I did not wear proper foot wear so we were not allowed to lead the ponies so the kids took turns walking around the trail with the dads who somehow knew that you need to wear hard soled shoes and not flipflops. I think the kids really liked it, I thought it was fun. I wanted to get on the horse myself but to go on guided tours you have to be 7 so it will have to be a time without the children. Anyway here are some pictures from the fun day or rather hour and a half. It was wild though we signed a paper and then they brought the horse out and said have fun, I am not sure that they knew we have no experience with horses but no one got hurt. We also brought carrots for the ponies and the horse wanted them out of my pocket so that is why the horse is wrapped around me and I am laughing in our family shot picture.

Fort sleep over

2009-07-04T21:41:00.000-07:00

We have a front room that Sydney has named the "do anything room" because the kids use it for dancing wrestling drawing computer you name it so it is the do anything room. Well Mike built a fort with the kids to play in and they decided to sleep in it. Don't they look so cute asleep and I kinds worried about them in the front room alone but then at 6 am the fort was empty and they were in our bed.

I still think they had fun.

Tons of pictures!

2009-06-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

This is just a bunch of pictures from the last month. Mostly of Shelby since she is the newest toy in the house. I still can't believe that she is almost 5 months old and Sydney and Andrew still can't get enough of her and want to hold her and play with her and she is the first thing they want in the morning! Shelby is pretty cute though so I don't blame them!!! There are pictures of new bikes and another trip to Disneyland with friends that I have known my whole life pretty much family! What else there was so many pictures I just uploaded and I was painting finger nails in between. Yes Andrew is wearing nail polish he loves it and we were at the mothers day party and Sydneys school and the kids paint the moms nails and Sydney got hers done so of course Andrew has to as well. Today he is wearing blue at least. I need to get some clear. Anyway here you go things are just the same around here! Enjoy the pictures who knows when I will post again!!!

Catching up!

2009-05-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

So I clearly have not blogged in a while and so much has happened it seems impossible to write it all down so I am just going to post a bunch of pictures and give you a quick summary. We moved back to Oceanside went to disneyland a few times, Mike went to Yuma for training for 6 weeks, the kids and I went to Utah. We are now back in Oceanside and Shelby is getting bigger and Andrew has been in and out of potty training but with all the moving around is still struggling (any suggestions??) and Sydney is just getting cuter and cuter!!! Now that we are back for a while I am going to try and get back into this but this is a start!!!!

Lots of pictures!

2009-01-31T16:44:00.001-08:00

So here are a bunch of pictures and I am not going to elaborate on each one, I am sure you can figure them out! There are Shelby pictures (the best that I can get with my camera) and there is a picture of Sydneys last day of preschool in Pensacola, and there are pictures of Mikes winging ceremony. I got to pin him and it was cool!!! Anyway enjoy the pictures!!!

Shelby is here!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-01-18T13:13:00.000-08:00

Shelby is here and she is spectacular!!! Shelby was born on Jan 15th at 3:00, she weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long! I was induced and started the pitocin at 11:00, they broke my water at 1:00 and then they started the epidural at 1:30ish. I was feeling pretty good and then my mom got to the hospital and then at 2:30 I was at a 5 centimeters and then it started to hurt real bad. The epidural was not working and I was feeling the pressure to push and then all of a sudden the room was filled with people and I was screaming to push! Then in about 2 pushes she was here and was all tangled in the cord! She was looking great but was not making any noise! She soon was making little squeaks but that was it and I have still not heard her cry. She is super chill and loves to sleep and seriously she has not cried yet but makes little squeaks when she needs something! Sydney and Andrew and my dad got to the hospital around 4:00 and were sooooo excited to see Shelby! They were sooo sweet and tender and so excited and loved looking at all her tiny little fingers and ears and nose and tongue!!!!

These are some pictures that Mike took and I will try and get some more pictures from my dads camera when I get the chance. I am feeling great and things are going well! Shelby is doing great and sure loves her sleep we have to wake her to get her to eat but I know that will change soon enough! Thanks to everyone for your love and support!!

Another post to come soon!!!

Shelby is almost here!

2009-01-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

Okay so I thought that I would go ahead and show the world how prego I am! I am 38 weeks in this picture. I am totally ready to go and will be induced on the 15th if I don't go sooner on my own. I am so excited to meet this little girl! We are still thinking Shelby will be her name! Anyway it is true I have gained 50 + pounds this pregnancy pushing to my all time high! I am going to have some work to do after she comes out! It is okay as long as she is healthy! Sydney prays that Shelby will come soon everyday, I truly appreciate her faith!!

The other picture is Andrew playing rock band, we got it for Christmas and he loves it!!! Sydney is showing off her picture from school that she so proudly displayed in the living room and we were having an experiment with her hair, it did not work out. If anyone know the show little Bill, Andrew told Sydney that she looked like April!!!

Well I will keep baby progress posted the best I can! Wish me luck!!!

Andrew turns 3!!!

2008-12-29T18:15:00.001-08:00

Mr. Andrew turned 3 today and I cannot believe it! We had a great day, he got to open presents first thing (unlike poor Sydney who waited all day) and then we played with them. Then we went to a decent (for Pensacola standards) mexican restaurant for lunch where they brought him fried ice cream, after which he gave the waitress and thumbs up and blew her a kiss. Then we went and saw Bedtime Stories, it was a funny show and I would recommend it to all. We came home and has McDonalds for dinner and then cake and ice cream. Andrew requested a blue cake and I made it into a Blue Angel cake! I am so creative!!! Anyway he loved having Happy Birthday sung to him and he is very excited about being 3! I just can't believe that he is going to sunbeams next week!

Andrew is a super sweet little man. He loves to be happy and he truly is happy 90 % of the time and that other 10% well he is a boy and then there are things that go wrong in life! He loves to tease me and everyone when he get the chance his favorite is when I tell him I love him he says, I love daddy, and then giggles! He loves sports and his big sister he even plays princess and tea party with her. I love Andrew so much and he is a such an important part of our family! I know he has lots in store for the future!!! Happy Birthday Andrew I love you!!!!

Here are some pics from today. Sydney was just showing him how to open the presents!!!

If you have to take down your tree on the 21st is Christmas over?

2008-12-21T18:27:00.000-08:00

So over the past few days I have been noticing these weird little mosquito like bugs that flop around and appear to be dying all over the house. Well I just attributed it to Florida weather and the many bugs that live here. Well Yesterday and today it was getting really bad and it occurred to us that they might be coming from the Christmas Tree. Upon further investigation the truth came out and they were in fact coming from the tree. We purchased the tree from Home Depot the day after Thanksgiving and we loved it! It was my best decorated tree yet. We watered it everyday and it is still very much alive but it will now reside in the dump. I couldn't take it anymore and so 4 days early we took down our tree tonight. I am so devastated can you really have Christmas morning with no tree? What are we to do? I am not sure that I have the energy to set up another tree. This Florida Christmas is getting weirder and weirder. So here are some pictures of the tree all beautiful and some pictures we tried to get of the bugs. The dark picture is of the tree skirt all all buggified and now in the garbage.

Anything that you see that is black is a gross bug!

California here we come right back where we started from!

2008-12-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

So we found out that we got the Camp Pendleton spot on friday and we are so excited! This is where we wanted to go from the list that we were given. The major downside is that Mike will deploy to Afghanistan in either Feb or May. He will be gone for 7 months. With baby Shelby coming in Jan we are hoping now that we get the May deployment. We are so thrilled however that we are going back to a familiar spot where we have friends and know the area! The kids are very excited as well as us that we are going to get back to Disneyland!!! It will also be nice to be close to family as well, Pensacola is so far away. Anyway we feel blessed and even with the deployment we know that the Lord is looking out for us!

My baby is 5!!!

2008-12-11T18:48:00.001-08:00

So 5 years ago today Sydney was born and my world changed! Sydney is the a special little girl with all the love in the world to share! She is sweet and nice and everything that a girl is suppose to be! If you looked in the dictionary for the definition of girl you would see Sydney! Sydney is willing to help all the time and wants everyone to be happy! Her teachers at school adore her and she is the example to other kids in many way I am told! She is a great big sister and wears the title with pride! She cannot wait for baby Shelby to get here so she can rock her and sing her lullabies and change her diapers and teach her to walk and all the ways of the world! I love her so much and I am so glad that Heavenly Father gave her to me!

Sydney wanted an art set for her birthday and she is great at opening presents as you can see in the pictures! The poor girl had to wait all day to open these presents because her daddy had a late day and we decided to eat first! When we asked her where she wanted to eat for dinner it was an immediate answer, The Olive Garden! The kids love that place so fine with us! Anyway it was 8:00 before we got home and Andrew is asleep and missed the cake and presents but all the same I think she had a great birthday!!!

I love you Sydney!!!

Christmas Photos!

2008-12-06T18:58:00.000-08:00

I got the kids all dressed up and was planning on getting a picture to put on a Christmas card to send you all and these are some of the shots that I got...

The kids were so silly it made it really hard and so you will see what was chosen when you get me your address so that I can send it to you! (Hint: that was my plea to either email me or comment here your address so I can send you a card)

There is also a picture of setting up the tree and Sydney putting up the star!!!!

Catch up on the past weeks!

2008-11-17T17:03:00.001-08:00

Here are some photos from the past weeks!

The kids got to meet "Boss" blue angel pilot number 1!

Sydney sat in the fire truck at the air show!

Andrew was ready to go to the air show!

Andrew thought it would be faster to drink from both cups!

Andrew tried on Mikes flight boots!

Andrew wanted to be a basketball player for bed!

Sydney eating her pre bed snack of apples and peanut butter!

After the air show I went to So you think you can dance!! It was totally awesome!!!!!!

The F-18 super hornet was super loud. Sydney cried and Andrew cheered!

The F-18 landed in front of us. Sydney was glad it was over!

So there you go some pictures of the last couple weeks!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

2008-11-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

So Halloween is over and I have to say that I am super happy about that! The kids have so much candy now to deal with and they are jumping off the walls but I am glad that I do not have to get them all dressed up anymore and we are done with party's for a while!

Sydney came home after about 20 minutes of trick or treating. She said she was tired and wanted to pass out the candy instead. Mike and Andrew went back out and Andrew was a hit in his costume and would give a salute after receiving his candy! The old guys around here loved it!!!!

Oh and I carved the spider web pumpkin and Mike did the cat! I also did the little one as well!!!

Andrews commitment to his costume.

2008-10-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

Andrew needed a haircut and so did Mike so off they went to the base barbershop, Andrew came back with a Navy haircut! He is going to be a Navy pilot for Halloween and Mike thought that he really needed to commit to his whole costume so here is the hair before and after. I think he should have just been Paul Pierce for Halloween!!!

Playing dress up!

2008-09-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

MIke came home with a new helmet and so that always inspires a fashion show. Here are some pictures of the latest fashion show as well as some lego play and some super hero dress up. You can figure out what the kids used for their capes, I think I was in the shower and Mike took the pictures!

Meeting the Blue Angel Pilots

2008-09-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

Every tuesday and wednesday after we drop Sydney off at school, Andrew and I sit in the car by the runway and watch the blue angels practice their show. Well every wed the pilots go to the museum and meet fans so we decided that Andrew needed this experience. He was really only interested in meeting number 4 that is his favorite for whatever reason but he was very excited and the pilots were super cute with him. We also visited the gift shop and got him a flight suit that is just like his daddy's and also for Halloween. He also got a box of planes that he has been lining up in interesting ways. So here are the pictures from this event.

I couldn't get Andrew to cooperate with taking a picture in his flight suit so this is the best for now.

Looking for a good time?

2008-09-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll, I have two extra tickets to "So you think you can dance" when they come to Pensacola on November 14th. Basically the tickets are bought and paid for, so if any of my friends can come out here about that time you can stay at my house, hang out for a while and see the show. Just call or blog if you want to come. I am skeptical anyone actually will, and I understand, but if you are interested we'd love to entertain our friends and family here in sunny pensacola!

When you wish upon a star!

2008-09-04T19:14:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing Sydney learned from her year at Disneyland it is that wishes do come true! Last night as we were driving home in the car she noticed a bright star in the sky and asked if she could wish on it because "wishes on stars come true". I of course said yes and she wished for a pet butterfly! Now this is not the first time I have heard her wish for a butterfly and she has also often wished for a unicorn as well. Anyway after taking Sydney to school this morning Mike noticed a caterpillar climbing the wall outside our front door. I reminded Mike of Sydney's wish and well we had no choice but to collect the caterpillar and make a home for it! Andrew could not wait to tell Sydney the exciting news and after pure joy on her face she said, "My wish came true it is going to turn into a butterfly." Well after the day the caterpillar is eating the leaves like crazy and seems to be doing well! We will keep you updated on the progress of Sydney's wishing caterpillar!!! Here is a picture of the black hairy caterpillar in the jar that is an apple next to it. If you have any suggestions on taking care of a this animal let me know we cannot let this die! On a side note Sydney learned to spanish word for butterfly in school today, what a butterfly day!!!!

First Day of Pre-school!

2008-09-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

Sydney has a late december birthday and so she will not enter kindergarten until next year. In Florida (another plus to living here) they have a VPK program. It is a state funded program that pays for all pre-kindergarden age children to attend a year of pre-school for free. The child must be 4 by sep. 1. Well being in the Navy we get to go to the private school program on the Navy base. Anyway we got Sydney all signed up and she goes 8:30 to 12 everyday!!! So essentially it is kindergarten. It is a really cute classroom and Sydney of course was super excited! She woke me up at 6:30 this morning and had her clothes all ready and her backpack ready! We walked into the class and she said C-ya mom! Anyway here are a few pictures of her eating breakfast with her backpack on and in her classroom. Andrew was crying as we left because he wanted to go to school but when it was time to pick her up he did not want to go get her!

Andrew called this the Thinking chair!

So when we picked her up she was happy and said she had a great day! The weather was super nasty this morning as well as we finish off with Gustav, I could hardly see 5 feet in front of the car. Sydney said it was the worst first day of school rain ever. I have to agree!

So we are having....

2008-08-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

We had an ultrasound on friday and we found out that we are having another baby GIRL! We are very excited and can't wait to meet this new princess! She is very active and would hardly sit still for a picture! Sydney was of course jumping up and down and has come up with the name 'Sparkle'! I am thinking that will be a no but hey who knows right!! Andrew wants it to be a boy so we will see how he reacts when she arrives in Jan! And yes everything is spot on and looking great!!!!

Like Father Like Son!

2008-08-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

Mike received his flight suit and gear and Andrew wanted to be just like him! Well last Christmas Uncle Steve and Aunt Theresa got Andrew a leather jacket and it happens to look just like daddy's new flight jacket! So Andrew was so excited to look just like his daddy! Here are some pictures of their photo shoot!

The Blue Angels!!!!!!!

2008-08-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Living in Pensacola has one cool thing and that is the blue angels! Pensacola is the home of the blue angels and therefore they practice here at least twice a week during the week. They then travel the country performing at air shows throughout the country. Well we live very close to the NAS and they practice over our house tuesdays and wednesday at 8:30 in the morning. It is extremely loud and they are literally over our house. Andrew LOVES the blue angels in-fact is obsessed with them, however he does not enjoy them 10 feet over our house and he says they are too loud!!! We can smell the jet fuel as they fly over it is a wild experience. Anyhow this morning I took some pictures of the practice session and I tried to get some video as well.

And yes we are still in our pjs at 8:30 in the morning so we watch in our jammies!

Where do I start?

2008-08-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

So I have not posted in a while and since I am such a procrastinator and there is so much to write about it has been hard to just sit down and do it but I think I have a minute so here I go...
The first bit of news is that I am pregnant with baby #3 and I am due Jan. 21 we find out on friday if we are having a boy or girl! Sydney and Andrew are soooooo excited! Sydney wants a girl and she wants to name the baby Sparkle. Andrew wants a boy and I think he might actually understand what is going on but I think he is excited all the same!!!! Mike and I too are excited and I am pretty sure it is going to be a girl based on the miserable first 3 months. I was super sick just like I was with Sydney so that is what I am basing my prediction on. I felt the first kicks yesterday and that is my favorite part of pregnancy so I excited to move onto that stage!!!!
Now onto the second big news in our life...We have moved to Pensacola Florida for Mike to attend Flight Surgery school. Now while it sounds like he is going to be doing surgery on a plane this is not the case. He is actually attending flight school and is going to have 6 months of helicopter and fixed wing aircraft training. Yes that is right he is going to learn how to fly! Then after we complete this then we will be assigned to a flight squadron somewhere in the world where he will be the doctor for that flight squad! So he has to learn to fly so that he can learn what it is like and be able to clear them to fly and make sure they are healthy. Now I did say somewhere in the world this is also true there are many opportunities in Japan and Spain and Italy. There are also plenty of spots in America including Hawaii so we will find out that piece sometime in Dec I believe.
Now how do I feel about living in Pensacola? Well get to map and look and see where we are exactly...it is in the pan handle and we are on the Gulf of Mexico. We are in the deep south and surrounded but red necks and all kinds of culture! It is hotter than H*!%!!! The humidity is awful and we spend our days indoors in air conditioning from our house to Wal Mart! Yes that is the only place we have to shop is Wal Mart!!! I HATE WAL MART!!!!!!!!!!! It is a super wal mart but still I hate it!!!! Anyway I am getting over it and while I am still not ever going to love wal mart I guess I can live with it for a little while!
So there you go that is what has been going on with the Crandalls these past few months! Sorry I don't have any pictures yet but I will try to get some soon!!!! Hopefully not in 2 months either!!!!
Oh and Tropical Storm Fay that could have been a hurricane is not going to hit us so that is another positive.

Locks of Love

2008-05-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

So Sydney has been telling me that she doesn't like long hair and she wants to cut it all off. It has been about a month or so that this has been going on, well I got fed up with doing her hair and so we talked about locks of love. She said this is what she wanted to do so we did it and it is so cute. The hair cut is great and she loved every second of it and felt so grown up. We are going to send the pictures with the hair and Sydney said she wants to write a letter to the little girl who is going to get her hair! Anyway here are the pictures and it was an overall great experience!!!!

ELLEN!!!!

2008-03-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

So yesterday a few girlfriends and I attended a taping of the ellen show! It was a BLAST!!! We were on standby and we ended opting to stay for a later taping so that our chances would be better of getting in! We had a day we met Andy Garcia at a restaurant while waiting he was super nice and took a picture with us on my cell phone. I will try and get that on this blog and then we made it into the show which was awesome and totally fun. The show airs tomorrow and Steve Carrell is going to be a guest but he taped a few weeks ago so we actually did not get to see him but we did see Steve Straight who is the star of 10,000 BC. He was a cutie. Then we went to dinner in Beverly Hills and say David Spade. We did not talk to David Spade but we did get hit on by a lot of old guys it was hilarious and we got drinks and appetizers paid for so that was a plus!!! Anyway it was an awesome day and tons of fun! I will try and get that picture up soon!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

2008-02-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to write a little post and say Happy Valentines Day! It is stormy and rainy and gloomy but I am still happy because I get to tell all the important people in my life that I love them! Mike is amazing and was pretty sneaky today with his gift and Sydney spent all morning writing her name on all of her valentines for preschool and Andrew is well naughty but he is still my little buddy and makes me laugh! I love my family and I am so grateful for them! I fell loved and that is all that I need! To all of my family and friends that I am not with today I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Valentines Day!

Orange Brownies

2008-02-05T15:45:00.000-08:00

Sydney took this picture and it is how I am feeling today!!!

Okay so I made orange brownies today and they turned out so good I am going to post about them! These are Mikes favorite. I got the recipe from Paula Dean. Right now they are cooling and I cannot wait to eat one. I will put the recipe below but I have to warn you they are super good and the whole pan will disappear in one sitting if you are not careful. They are not cholatey so the name is deceiving but they are delicious all the same! I hope yours turn out as good as mine! Happy Brownies!

Orange Brownies
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
I've had the opportunity to make so many new friends in the restaurant. Robin Wilson from Altamonte Springs, Florida, is one of those. Robin recently was one of a hundred finalists in the 39th Pillsbury Bake-off, where she won a side-by-side refrigerator and a trip to San Francisco. As she and her husband were enjoying lunch at The Lady and Sons, she mentioned her Orange Brownies, and she was happy to share the recipe. Thanks, Robin, and good luck to ya in your next bake-off! Get that gold, girl!
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
4 eggs
2 teaspoons pure orange extract
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan and set aside. In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and salt. Add butter, eggs, orange extract, and orange zest and beat with a handheld electric mixer until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set. Remove from oven and pierce top of entire cake with a fork.

Glaze:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stirring until smooth. Pour glaze over cake. Cool cake and cut into squares.

I touched Monica Geller!

2008-01-25T16:31:00.000-08:00

Okay so I have to tell the story on the blog but we were at Disneyland and I have learned to look for the ambassadors (they are the disney employees that take the celebs around and get them on the rides easy and what not) to see who they have and this past time at Disneyland I saw Courtney Cox, David Arquette, baby Coco as well as Patricia Arquette and Laura Dunn( I think that is her name) and some guy that I am still not sure of his name but is an actor. Well as we were waiting in line at the Dumbo ride and first to get on they all came to the back gate and got on just before us so we also got to ride with them on the Dumbo ride. As I was walking with Sydney to the 'pink one' I stopped at Courtney ( who is extremely tiny) and put my hand on her back and told her I was a big fan! She smiled and said thanks! I am also in their home movies, as we were riding David was holding the camera as we were going around so I gave an extra little smile!!! Anyway it is amazing how much attention and hoopla for just a group of people that are taking their kids to Disneyland! I was one of the people gawking so who am I to talk but really they are just people right?

I also have to add that these are pictures from a tabloid website. They only camera we had was Sydney's pink camera that she got for her birthday. I am also not sure who is in the front of the boat but I promise Patricia was there just not in the pictures!

Time to update!

2008-01-25T16:20:00.001-08:00

So I have been told that it is time to post something new since Christmas is over. This is what I think if I just got the Christmas decorations finally put into bins and into the garage there is not reason I should have cleaned my blog as well! Anyway things are good we are still waiting to find out where we will be going this summer and that is hard to be patient for. We are faced with 2 decisions right now and we need prayers for guidance. We know that the Lord has a plan for us and we want to follow but we just need a few more hints on which path to take. We have faith that it will al work out we just need to be patient! Other than that I will brag about my kids,

Andrew counted to 10 all by himself yesterday! We were super impressed. Even Sydney said wow all by himself that is amazing!

Sydney is in preschool and loving it! She goes 3 times a week and loves her teacher Miss Cassie!!!

Mike is having an easy month in Orthopedics and loving the break!

I am doing fine I am exercising on a regular basis for the 1st time in my life! It is a class called stroller-strides. Look it up on the internet it is great! The kids love running with me and I am super sore all the time but I can tell that I am getting addicted Mike is thrilled!!!!!

Anyway there you go I have updated my blog! Here is a random picture just to say that I did it all!!!!

We have also been spending as much time as possible at Disneyland!

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! We got to sleep in this morning until 8 which was a great thing since we were working in Santa's workshop until after 1am. The kids were very surprised and it is now 1:00 and all presents have not been opened yet! I think we went overboard!!! Anyway here are some pictures from last night and this morning! We wish everyone a very merry christmas and hope all are doing well!!!!

That's how I roll

2007-12-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a while since I put a post up but this was too funny. So yesterday Sydney was helping me fold some clothes and she kept rolling them up and throwing them at me so I said "What are you doing?"
Sydney "That's how I do"
(So I have been letting her watch Corey in the house on Disney and all the other teeney shows. Common phrase on the show.)

I started laughing and then she said

"You know that's how I roll."
The funniest thing is that I am not sure she understood exactly what she was saying but she said it is such the right context it cracked me right up!!!

We made it!

2007-11-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

So we made it to Utah without too much disater actually there was none. The kids did sooooo good I was amazed. It was a nice break to get papa and then the next stop was to get Chaddy in St. George that was somthing to look forward too and then of course we were so excited to get to Grandma's house. Sydney ran in and said "I,m here!" We watched movies and the kids had special bags of new things to look at. It was a long day and I am not looking forward to the trip home but at least I know we can do it! Mike will be here shortly and then we can just relax and enjoy thanksgiving!!!!!

How do kids know when it is the worst day to not sleep.

2007-11-16T06:47:00.000-08:00

So I have been up since 3:45 this morning with Andrew who tossed and turned in bed until 5:30 when Mike got up and so we got up as well. We are driving to Utah today and we have to leave at 7:30 to get papa from the airport and while I was worried yesterday that there was no way we could get out the door that quick we are now sitting and waiting with a very CRANKY and tired little boy who will not let me leave his sight! I am exhausted and we have such a big day. I still need to finish packing the car and get the food together and he will not let me go anywhere unless it is into the car to get papa. The time right now is 6:51 and Sydney just woke up I am sure from all the crying and now I have to try and get her to get clothes on. Why did we decide to drive? Hopefully this will all mean that he will sleep in the car right? I'll let you know how it went when we get there!

Primary Program

2007-11-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the primary program and I had no idea that when your child is in it that there is so much to worry about. Sydney was so silly and did not pay attention. She was sitting in the bishop seat and when it was time to stand and sing she would play with her hair or the girl standing next to her hair. Then she kissed the bishops son and he was pushing her off him but she insisted on kissing him. Then she was making binoculars with her hands and shouting to the older kids. Then she was acting like she was leading the music or she was just laying on the wall that separates the stand from the audience. We thought everything was going to be okay when she stared to wink at us in the beginning, we thought that was harmless but it just got worse and worse as the program went on. Let's not forget to mention Andrew yelling and waving to 'nydney' at the top of his lungs and having to be taken out for other outbursts throughout the program. So I feel I need to apologize to the ward for my children who are full of energy and have no understanding of others!!!! All in all it was an okay program and everyone tells me it was the best watching Sydney. You have to love a good primary program! Next year I think we will prepare the kids a little better.

Halloween 2007

2007-11-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

Here is our late halloween pictures! The kids had a blast with daddy ( I stayed home to man the door). Their pumpkins got too heavy so they came to unload but then Sydney wanted to stay home and pass out the candy, she said that was more fun!!! Andrew did monkey sounds and arm motions for everyone that asked and Sydney talked in a really high voice as a princess would. It was good times!!!!

My amazing sister in law!!!

2007-11-09T17:33:00.000-08:00

So I have this amazing sister-in-law who wanted to help me get going on this whole blog thing and look how cute she made my site!!!!! So here I go and I am going to try and keep this going! Thanks so much Kendra!

Mike is on call and I am bored

2007-08-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

So Mike is on call tonight and I was looking at Kendra's blog while the kids were asleep and I thought I should try this. We will see how well it goes with my limited computer skills. This is an old picture but it is one of our favorites since we are all wearing our Ted Drewes shirts from St. Louis. Andrew and Sydney are so much bigger now.