We had a great time, we were able to hang out with family, play games, eat yummy food, relax and enjoy Christmas vacation.




It is now a Craner tradition to have a dinner where the adults are the waiters and the kids are the guests. This year we had a 50's diner. We had a blast. The basement got decked out, we had a milkshake bar, homemade fries and onion rings, hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken nuggets.




























These are pictures of all of the nieces and nephews that were in Utah for Christmas, and below is Tammy and Karli cranking up awesome milkshakes.













Here is Darrin, Brandon and Pat jamming out for the restaurant. They sang a couple tunes for the kids, they get totally into it, it is awesome, should have been there.
















Temple Square Lights

We made the drive up to SLC to see the temple lights. First off, it was freezing! We were all so cold. We are now way to used to California weather. Brrrrrrrrrr, good thing there is a Starbucks on every block. Second, kindof dissappointed in the lights. Maybe I remember them differently when I was younger because I was younger but I swear the lights used to be way better. They still have a lot but now not every little tree is covered. That is the point of looking at the lights! I think I am going to start a fund for better temple square lights. :) Anyways, Darrins oldest brother David and his family met up with us and that was fun. We did get some great picts, I do like the reflecting pool how they had the statue of Joseph, Mary and Jesus, I think that was my fav part.














I wonder if me thinking layering a ton of shirts and jackets and coats is counter productive because I was still freezing! On another note, we had to keep bending down to take take pictures next to Ethan, it was to cold to keep getting him in and out of the stroller. What a trooper!

Posted in: 2010, christmas, colby, craners, darrin, ethan, riss, us, vacation on Friday, December 31, 2010 at 3 comments  

Here goes, I wanted to get GOOD pictures of our family, Darrin had been working a ton so we never had time to get a fam picture. I decided to try all by myself.

WOW, how on earth do you get 2 little boys to pose together, both looking at the camera, and not move. Pretty much an impossible task.











This is about 15 seconds into the photo shoot. They both started jumping up and down on the chair, like it was the best outing ever. So I decided to try another location that might be more boring.......












Nope, stairs are way to interesting.


















I even tried putting them in a decorative basket, nope that didn't work either. The little escape artists.


At last, 100 pictures taken, a mother who you could say is losing her cool, but hey one great picture!

Posted in: 2010, colby, ethan, photo shoot on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 6 comments  

We celebrated his birthday a week, which meant his G & G Craner could be there. I feel bad because I felt sick and after a week of partying at Thanksgiving and getting ready for the holidays it was super fast and easy. I made it up by kissing him a bunch, so he still knows he is loved. I made him a chocolate cake and I was trying to layer it, but it crumbled and broke so luckily Penny was there, and she did an amazing job fixing it. We still had a great time.



Ethan not knowing what to do with real food, especially CHOCOLATE. Yum.














Oh, wait. He figured it out just fine. He even knows how to attack his mommy with chocolate hands! :)











Colby loves when it is Ethan's birthday, more presents for him to unwrap. Ethan likes the taste of wrapping paper! Good thing he was still happy with a low key birthday.

Happy Birthday Ethan

Posted in: 2010, birthday, craners, ethan, us on Monday, December 6, 2010 at 0 comments  

Darrin got back from work and grabbed a bag of chips to start chowing down...... Colby saw his Daddy do that sooooo he went in the kitchen and grabbed himself a bag of chips. He sat right down by him to be just like his Daddy! Cutest thing ever! They are having a good time.

Posted in: 2010, colby, darrin on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 0 comments  

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  

Before heading off to bed, Darrin and I went on our nightly check of the chitlins. This is how we found Colby, he was dead asleep. The picture doesn't even do it justice. His bumb was barely on the bed, he must be a deep sleeper.


The quality might be bad it was with a cell phone.

Posted in: 2010, colby on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 4 comments  

Colby NEVER looks at the camera, so this is a pleasant surprise, I just love the silly faces he makes.

He always makes that face, so I like to copy him and than he busts out laughing.

If you haven't noticed, I made him a quesadilla for lunch, maybe he was making jumps for his cars with it, he was definitely playing and not eating. Silly!

Posted in: 2010, colby on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 1 comments  

Now that Ethan is a little older, and sitting up, they do great during bath time. Of course with 2 kids, how in the world do u get them to BOTH look at the camera? Impossible, I say!

Posted in: 2010, colby, ethan on at 2 comments  

Posted in: 2010, colby, darrin on Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 0 comments  

We have just gotten back from our week in Utah, I love being on vacation. It was really nice to see most of the Craner Fam. Darrin and I miss Utah. Even though I grew up in Boise I often think of Utah as my home. Darrin and I love Utah! Utah has so much family and most of our favorite places. I already want to go back.
I have been reading the most amazing blog. This woman is LDS and she was in a horrible plane crash. It talks about her family and her faith through this major trial. I want to be more like her. She is so inspiring. Reading her blog makes me feel so blessed.
First, I am blessed with not one but 2 amazing families. The Miller fam and the Craner fam. I am very thankful for my families, they mean the world to me.
Second, I am blessed with 2 beautiful boys! Colby and Ethan are not part of my world, they are my world. I am so busy with them, I remember a poem- it talks about how this lady is reflecting on her life and things she would have done differently, not cared about fingerprints of the sofa, dirty faces, etc. Raising my kids I am reminded of that poem daily. I could spend all day, every day cleaning my house to live up to my expectations, instead I have learned to let go and play with my kids, kiss them both a thousand times a day, play cars, cuddle while watching cartoons. I know that soon enough I wont be aloud to kiss them that much, or tuck them in at night, or rock them to sleep. Even though I could still work on having a spotless house all day long, for now I am enjoying my children. My two wonderful boys. Loving them everyday is my number one priority!
Third, I am truly blessed with my amazing husband. Darrin went to bed at 8:30 tonight, he works super hard and super long hours. 4 am to 5 pm, he works that a lot!!!! He never complains about waking up that early. I HATE the morning, I love how he never complains about work. I know I am lucky, I get to be with my children every day. I could not have that amazing gift without my husbands hard work. I appreciate everything he does for me and for our children. Darrin is my best friend. I could spend every second with him. I miss him the minute he leaves my side. My boys are so excited when they see Daddy after work. They get huge grins on their sweet innocent faces and are always showing Dad the new tricks that they learned from the day.
I have day to day struggles, sometimes it feels like I have to break my days down into hours, to keep on going. No matter how hard life seems to get, I know that I always have the full love and support of my family, and the full love and support of my Heavenly Father. I know he loves me and has blessed me with an amazing family.
I feel blessed.

Posted in: 2010, riss on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 4 comments  

We cut Colby's hair for the summer, I know his lovely hair. (I bet my parents prayers have been answered :) We decided the summer weather is too hot for his curly hair, don't worry it will be back.

His hair short makes him look like he is 4. Crazy how hair does that. We rewarded Colby with chocolate pudding, how could he resist.

Posted in: 2010, colby on Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 5 comments  

Colby can NOT part with his binky but especially his blanket. He drags that thing everywhere! I'm always sneaking around washing his blanket, always without his knowledge.

He caught me, that sly little fella.

Colby was taking his nap, so I innocently snuck his blanket from him and threw it in the wash. My plan was working..... Colby woke up a few hours later. He came stumbling out of his bedroom saying "Blankie, Blankie." I told him to come sit on the couch and I would start a Curious George for him while I went to the garage to get his "Blankie." I went downstairs and forgot to start the dryer. Ug, I was caught. I came back up the stairs with no "Blankie". I tried explaining this to Colby, I even carried him down the stairs and showed him his wet blanket and how it was drying. He was not happy! He was crying and did not understand why he could not have his "Blankie". When I finally calmed him down this is the only look I was getting from him!

Posted in: 2010, colby on at 5 comments