We had a great Thanksgiving. My parents have always wanted to drive down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway, aka Highway 1- I didn't know that is what Californians call it, such useful info :) My parents drove to see Candice and Kayle first than everyone came here for Thanksgiving, it was a blast. We played games, ate great food, went hot tubbing, woke up for Black Friday shopping, it was great!!!! The only sad thing- I didn't get any pictures, I was to busy playing. I did take one of the boys and my dad. My parents love buying them adorable pj's. I think these are my new favorite.

Posted in: 2010, candice, millers, thanksgiving, us on Sunday, November 28, 2010 at 0 comments  

  Best buds. My munchkins are the best and so handsome.

 Colby chillin' amongst the craziness.

 Colby with his best bud Caden.
Ethan hanging out with Mom.

Posted in: 2010, colby, darrin, ethan, riss, us on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 0 comments  

 First time down all by himself, his face is priceless.

 A couple more times down and he was a pro, look at that grin.


 Colby, Caden and Sean on the ride. Colby already has the need for speed in him, hands up and ready to go, true Craner!
Caden and Michelle, they are family to us!

Posted in: 2010, colby, riss on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 0 comments  

Darrin is in his busy season at work, at first I thought the busy season was a couple of months but I am pretty sure busy season for him is like 9 months out of the year. This last month has been especially hard, when he is in the field him and Bryan will wake up at 3:30-4 and get done close to 11 or midnight. Yeah, CRAZY hours. My hubby works really really really hard, and the kids and I appreciate everything he does for us. He was going to Vegas again, they do a lot of work in Las Vegas, I decided to be brave and travel with the kids. I have been on tons of flights with the kiddos but I have never driven farther than the beaches and San Diego. I decided to be brave and drive the 6-7 hour drive to Monterey to visit my sister Candice and her hubby Kayle. I am extremely proud of myself that I went and did something like that on my own. That was a long drive but it was nice to explore a new area and hang out with family. I had a great time in Monterey and had a blast hanging out with my sis.

Posted in: 2010, candice, colby, ethan, millers, riss, vacation on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 5 comments  

I wish I had an incredibly awesome story to tell but I don't. I ran into my wall, the corner of the wall and it hurt really really bad. I don't know what I did but after 5 weeks it still hurts. When I am complaining about it( Colby accidently steps on it, a lot) Colby says, "sorry Mommy, Mommy owie", than he gives my foot a kiss better. He is the BEST!

Posted in: 2010, riss on at 1 comments  

( Colby receives stickers after going pee pee in the toilet and in this picture he is covered in chocolate, we took him for ice cream after pooping in the toilet for the first time)


We have been potty training Colby. About a month ago I had my first attempt and after 2 hours I decided this was silly and left it alone. A month ago I was sleeping in on Saturday and I could hear Darrin starting Colby on the potty training process. We figured the weekend would be perfect since Darrin was home.
I don't do so well with #2, I have an amazing gag reflux. After a couple days of being BUTT NAKED Colby was starting to get #1 down, he would have one or two accidents not making it to the toilet in time, but he was getting it #2 was a little different. Every 5th or 6th time he would make it to the toilet for the big dead- all the other times I would throw his underwear away or wash the carpet extremely well.
Week 1- #1 is almost a done deal. Colby stays dry at nap and at bedtime. If he has to go, he will wake up to go potty and go back to bed. #2 not so hot, I think he went maybe three times in the toilet.
Week 2- I was welcome to have Darrin home for a few days to help revive my spirits. Darrin took Colby to Lowes and Colby needed to go #1. Darrin took him into the bathroom and Darrin put Colby on the toilet and must have forgot how small his behind is.....yep he fell in the toilet. Needless to say we went a little backwards with going out in public places and having to use the restroom.
We did discover that Colby keeps going to the bathroom a ton- like 10 times before he actually poops. We found his sign! Which apparently is all we needed. Later that week Grandma Miller came and taught Colby how to go #1 standing up. He gets to see that pee pee makes bubbles, he now loves to make bubbles in the toilet. Now, thanks to Grandma going in public restrooms is okay. We haven't had to go #2 in a public place yet but number 1 is now fun no matter where he is.
Week 4- I don't know what the true definition of potty trained is, aiming and wiping will be in the works for a while but for us I think he is official. He wears big boy underwear and only has the occasional accident on rare occasions. I was SUPER nervous about potty training but I am so glad Colby did such a good job. He is such a big boy!

Posted in: 2010, colby on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 2 comments  

When we first moved here we bought a barbecue for our deck, we always had a good time cooking- a year later we realized it is illegal to have a barbecue on a deck in an apartment complex. Now that we can't use it we only used our deck for our trash can until we hauled it off to the dumpster.


Our deck is now being properly used, we went and bought some outdoor furniture. The weather is always so nice, we now use our deck all the time. Darrin even planted some new herbs and flowers and strung lights for the perfect ambiance.

Posted in: 2010, darrin, home project, riss on Monday, September 13, 2010 at 5 comments