Omaha is H U M I D and H O T! We are used to a hot, dry climate, not this. I have to admit this is taking getting used to. When we first moved here there were kids playing everywhere and at all times playing outside. The last 6 weeks here... it is a ghost town, no one is outdoors and kids stay up late and all start playing outside after dinner.

 When we live in our bathing suits, this little guy likes to take it off and leave it. What an adorable fireman!

 Colby and Ethan love when Daddy gets home from work.

 Locked out of our building, the boys didn't mind at all.

 We took a limited amount of toys with us this summer and the boys got very creative. (They are putting legos on the train tracks)

 Grandma and Grandpa got to visit us a lot over the summer, which we all LOVED! Colby and Ethan loved hanging out with their Grandparents.

 Freddy's was this great burger joint that we found and fell in love with, they even had real ice cream, not the gross stuff!

 Colby and his turtle tat from the Zoo, best zoo ever!

 Ethan was the first one out of quiet time and was loving that Dad let him watch the ipad with headphones.

Posted in: 2012, colby, craners, darrin, ethan, us on Monday, November 5, 2012 at 0 comments  

Lately Colby has been obsessed with birthdays. Whenever he finds out it is someones birthday he gets SO excited, and talks about it non stop. He also loves birthday cake. For about a month he would wake up and tell me it was his birthday, or if we were going anywhere, to the store, gas station he thought we were going to a birthday party. I was so excited when his cousin Joseph turned 5 and invited him to his birthday, we had a real party to attend and it was a blast. The party was at a jump house in Pleasant Grove- it had like 15 huge jump houses, with obstacles and lots of fun slides. As Colby would say "AWESOME".

Cousins Christopher, Colby and birthday boy Joseph. We dig Joseph's hair, Colby and Joseph have matching hair so from behind I can never tell them apart.

















Aunt Tammy taking Ethan down the slide. Aunt Tammy won Ethan over that night. His new best pal.


















Us going down the slide as a family.

Posted in: 2011, colby, craners, darrin, ethan, riss, us on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 0 comments  

Bon Voyage... for now. I am a Craner so I know we will be back! My best friend Michelle watched Ethan for us all day so that we could spend the day at Disneyland with Colby before we left California. Ethan wouldn't have lasted but we will definitely come back for his turn.

We are leaving California and turning a new leaf. This was a lovely day to end California with. Colby as the age where he understands he is leaving behind his friends and we wanted to do something special for him. We are trying to explain to him that hopefully we will stay in contact with his friends and can go back one day and visit. He is a very good sport and I hope he can make some more great friends in Utah. We certainly have made some great friends in California and will be greatly missed. I am always scared to start a new chapter but I know that this is a good thing for us. We will really miss California and all of our friends that we call family, even our ward was our California family. We had some really great experiences here and we will miss it.

Posted in: 2011, colby, craners, darrin, riss, us on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 0 comments  

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  

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  

Ethan is blessed. We are so blessed to add him to our family. He was a surprise but I am so grateful Colby and Ethan are so close in age. They are becoming best buds and I can't wait to watch them grow up together. Ethan is a great baby. I am so thankful he is my healthy, handsome boy! Love him!

I am also thankful my husband is a priesthood holder and can bless him. We are lucky and Darrin's parents and my dad were able to come to California for this day, THANKS!

Posted in: 2010, colby, craners, darrin, ethan, millers, riss, us on Monday, February 15, 2010 at 0 comments  

Darrin and I were fortunate enough to take 2 weeks off at Christmas time. We decided to spend the whole time in Utah with Darrin's family. I have to say it was so nice to have Darrin help me get used to having two kids at home. Of course, it was nice having all of the help from family. Thanks!!!! I had a great time in Utah and realized how much I think Utah is my home town just like Idaho. I miss being so close to family. Over Christmas Grandma Craner was able to hang out there the whole Christmas holiday. That was only the second time meeting her, I have a hard time talking and feeling comfortable around others I don't know, but she was great to talk too. She has such a great personality and she is funny. I loved getting to know my Grandma better. Anyone who knows me knows I love hearing stories from their live, she had tons. I was in heaven.

Here is Ethan, he is now the youngest of the Craner Clan so he played baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.

Posted in: 2009, colby, craners, ethan, holidays, us on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 2 comments  

 Most of the Craners came to California to go to Disneyland and finally go to the beach. They normally only go to Disneyland but I told them they are all crazy and need to go to a beach! :) I don't think they loved it but they were good sports about me dragging them down to the sand, salty air and the ocean. Colby and I love the beach!






I forgot his bathing suit but he had a great time, I am sure everyone loved it, saggy diaper and all!

Posted in: 2009, colby, craners, darrin, riss, us on Friday, October 30, 2009 at 0 comments  

Darrin's family has been in town the last few weekends visiting Disneyland, oh wait I mean us. JK. I am impressed at how much we were able to see them during there down time from Disney. We had a great time being able to see family and hanging out with the Craner clan.
The Craners are Disney experts and little did I know but Disneyland has Trick or treating at California Adventure. They close down the park and have Trick or Treat booths throughout the park, it is also nice because no one is there except the people who bought the special Halloween tickets. It was super enjoyable. I thought that it would be fun but Colby wouldn't really understand, oh let me tell you. He is way smarter than I thought. He knew exactly what to do, he loved holding his trick or treat bag and going around getting candy. He had a blast. Darrin and I had a great time watching him. He is just so dang cute in his little monkey costume.

Posted in: 2009, colby, craners, darrin, riss on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 4 comments  

Darrin went to Portland over the weekend to attend his Grandpa's funeral. All of his siblings were able to attend. Darrin drove by his old home and I got to see where he used to live. He lived in this house until he was 7 and then his family moved to Utah.

Posted in: 2009, craners, darrin on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 0 comments