The Crafton Family: October 2008

This post is really old but, since it was never published to the blog and since I am trying to get motivated about updating the blog again, I thought I'd finally publish it, sans pictures! Last Saturday Henry and I took the kids, my parents and sister to "Connor's A-maize-ing Corn Maze" in Hilliard, just northwest of Jacksonville. (Check out the link!) It is a very nice family farm set up in the fall with a pumpkin patch, hay ride, farm animals, etc. I was so excited to be spending some time outside in the nice "fall" weather with my family. Little did I know that the 20% chance of rain meant that 100% of Hilliard would see it! It didn't rain hard or for very long, but it was cold for a while...until the sun came up! We walked around for a bit until the rain stopped and then decided the first thing we should do was get Seth and Hannah on the Cow Train ride. I was excited to be able to take Hannah on this ride, until I saw what I'd have to (attempt to) sit in. It was very quickly decided that Aunt Stacie would take Hannah and Henry would take Seth. (Henry was very sore after this ride as the sides of the "cow" were digging painfully into his ribs. He had the strength to pull the sides apart a bit in order to fit in with Seth on his lap. Even Stacie had no easy time of getting into or out of the ride. Did I mention it was meant for children under the age of 12 and weighing no more than 100 pounds?!?!?) As you will see from the pictures, Hannah had lots of fun, Seth did not! I am not entirely sure why, but Seth is nervous about a lot of things these days. (Halloween should be LOADS of fun considering his fright when it comes to masks! We'll find out in a few days!) Anyhow, the day progressed and we explored the farm, fed the chickens, pigs, ducks and goats, and petted the bunny. We went on a fun (5 minute) hayride and fed a bunch of (huge) cows and ate some homemade icecream. After we were done with that we headed over to the pumpkin patch to take a few more pictures and pick out a pumpkin. Considering it was the end of the day and the kids were exhausted I think we got a couple of ok pictures, although I'm not sure about the devilish look on Hannah's face in many of them. All in all we had a wnderful time and got a really nice (overpriced - WalMart has pumpkins 2 for $6.00!!!!!) pumpkin for the big day. Then, today we went to the Sheriff's Office Annual Family Day picnic. It was the first time we have gone since we had the kids and it was really fun. There were "big jump things" (as Seth called them), a wild train ride, good food and our favorite part, pony rides! No, Henry and I did not have a chance to ride the ponies, but Seth did and LOVED it! We got a couple of pictures, but they really don't do any justice to the smile he had on his face the whole time. After all the that fun who would have thought it would get any better, certainly not us! Well, not us until Seth gave a huge reason to smile. He was winding down, getting ready for Henry to take him up to bed when he pushed Henry forward and put his arm behind Henry's back. It was the sweetest thing i have ever seen! In the past few days he has taken to sitting really close to me when I am getting ready to put him to bed and he'll look up at me and say very sweetly, "Awww Mommy! I love you so much!" I amlost cry every time. It never gets old.

As the title says, no excuses! We have been busy and things for me have been a bit topsy-turvy. The kids are growing like weeds and changing faster than "Quick Change"! I have gone back to work and have been working for about 7 weeks now. I miss my kids terribly and do all I have to do to get through each day. I am trying/hoping to find something to do at home so I can get back home to my babies soon! We'll see what happens! Henry is great. He hurt his shoulder a week and a half ago and is on light duty but he is great! He is working at the Police Athletic League and loving it. We had a nice summer and I didn't take nearly enough pictures of the kids so I'll share the best of the best. PS - As of this email Hannah is cruising along everything, almost standing on her own and trying to walk. She has two teeth and is trying to get one or two more...finally! She has the best personality and really enjoys driving her brother crazy. Seth is absorbing everything these days, so much so that we REALLY have to watch what we say, even when we think he can't hear us. He has come up with a few doozies lately! Of course, like the fantastic parents we are we TRY to hide our laughter while disciplining him and then bust out laughing two seconds later. Not the best parenting ever but if you could just see his sweet face! I'll promise not to promise to try to update on a regular basis. I'll do what I can is all I will say! A few of hannah's classic faces! (June 2008)