tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57204933518798926432024-03-13T10:37:51.702-07:00The CravensCaroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-84946033570328415652012-04-20T17:28:00.000-07:002012-04-20T17:28:03.138-07:00Catching Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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April started out a bit crazy with 8 days in Indianapolis for CNHP training. It was a long 8 days but I learned a ton and loved it. The food wasn't great and sitting for upwards of 10-11 hours a day wasn't great, but the classroom time went by quickly because I thought it was all so interesting. However, at the end I was so happy to be home. For one day.</div>
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BridalVeil Falls, Yosemite</div>
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I got home late Saturday night and then spent Sunday with the family - very relaxing and good to be home. Then early Monday morning we loaded up and headed to California for spring break. We spent a day at Six Flaggs Marine World in Vallejo, a couple of days in Yosemite - it was cold, then a couple of days in Roseville with my sister, Janice and her family. </div>
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Then home on Friday and up early Saturday for a trip to Idaho Falls for my nephew's wedding. Of course, I forgot my camera. Ugh!!!</div>
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After that I've had a few days to just relax and kick back, clean the house, etc., etc. Vacations are always fun, but I always love coming home and just hanging out here. </div>
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The first of May I'm heading to Seattle/Portland area for a few days and looking forward to that. It will be a fun trip seeing friends and family. </div>
<br />Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-52623918161304084502012-03-15T16:12:00.002-07:002012-03-15T16:22:41.186-07:00Clearly, I'm no Einstein<a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQJGK9wpCMwZtkwzOjN_AQi5vv8kwVTDuhXytHtuxNDVBDCf0ztiw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQJGK9wpCMwZtkwzOjN_AQi5vv8kwVTDuhXytHtuxNDVBDCf0ztiw" /></span></a>Yesterday, March 14th, was Einstein's birthday. My conversation with Trevor last week.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Trevor:</span> Next Wednesday is Einstein's birthday. We are having a pi party. Can you bring a lemon pie to my math class?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Me:</span> Sure. Was pie Einstein's favorite dessert? (This was not intended as a joke or double-entendre, I just didn't get it).<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Trevor:</span> Says nothing, but the look on his face was priceless. This is what I imagine he was thinking, pick any or all of your favorite answers - they probably apply.<br />
A. My mom is incredibly stupid.<br />
B. How did I survive being raised by such a math-illiterate mom?<br />
C. How has my math-illiterate mom survived all these years without me?<br />
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Once I figured it out, we had a pretty good laugh (I didn't really figure it out, Trevor had to remind me we were talking about two different pi(e)s here.<br />
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<br />Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-36750677886270462632012-02-12T17:55:00.000-08:002012-02-12T17:56:25.382-08:00Zack's FarewellI got so frustrated last time I did a post trying to make all my pictures line up that I haven't been back for awhile. So here is an attempt to catch up - sans photos.<br />
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Today we went to Twin Falls, Idaho for my nephew's mission farewell. Zack has made a big commitment to serve a mission and his parents are making a big sacrifice letting him go. Zack's dad isn't a member of the church and wasn't too hip to letting his son spend a lot of time and money on a mission. But he had a good friend at work tell him that a mission would make a man out of him more than anything else. Jim listened and Zack leaves Wednesday for the MTC, then off to Managua, Nicaragua. Shellie, my sister, admitted to me that she always could say out loud that Zack would go on a mission, but she kept a dirty little secret in her hip pocket - Jim, her hubby, would never let him go. So she wasn't too worried about it. Shellie, like most mom's, is going to miss Zack at least as much, if not more, than Zack will miss her. Zack has two sisters, Kelsey and Sydnie who will really miss him. They are going to have to be cheerful and supportive, even when they miss having big bro around to entertain them. This is a very close family and two years is a long time, but they will love having a missionary. Zack should know that he has <i><b><u>a lot</u></b></i> of family supporting him and praying for his success. Such a big family, in fact, that we had to have lunch at the school cafeteria in order to fit friends and family in one place. We love you Zack and wish and pray for your success.<br />
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Sorry to be lame and no pictures, I took my camera, took one picture of two little grand-nieces hugging each other and then put the camera away just so I could gab.Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-61530877666185483982011-12-06T07:30:00.001-08:002011-12-06T08:04:24.413-08:00The Birthday Boy, and His Daughter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We finally made it back to Nicki & Mckay's late Friday night and were planning on going into the city Saturday morning. As luck would have it, that was the day the big snow storm hit the east coast and so we stayed home. We just hung out and watched a lot of football and visited. We didn't realize the storm had been so devasting, it was just pretty from our point of view. Of course, next morning going to church was a different story. It was pretty icy out there. Again, I was so busy just watching the snow storm, I didn't get any pictures. Really, it wasn't any different from the dozens of snowstorms we get in Utah every winter, so I wasn't that motivated to be capturing it on camera.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jMqv5-MBvsk/Tt42Ku5tljI/AAAAAAAABX8/Atv2MTZ1qHE/s1600/IMG_7146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jMqv5-MBvsk/Tt42Ku5tljI/AAAAAAAABX8/Atv2MTZ1qHE/s320/IMG_7146.JPG" width="320" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Sunday, October 30th, also happened to be Kent's birthday. Nicki was so excited to be celebrating his birthday with him. She made him a yummy coconut cake. Nicki and Kent have always had a close relationship and she was really excited to make his birthday cake for him - it's a big deal. And, of course, Kent loved his cake - so much that we made ourselves sick eating too much of a good thing!</span></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jMqv5-MBvsk/Tt42Ku5tljI/AAAAAAAABX8/Atv2MTZ1qHE/s1600/IMG_7146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wcin5_WW1oA/Tt42M5YxKyI/AAAAAAAABYE/hyUAcH7D42k/s1600/IMG_7149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wcin5_WW1oA/Tt42M5YxKyI/AAAAAAAABYE/hyUAcH7D42k/s320/IMG_7149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sunday was our last night with the Dunn's. We left Monday for the airport and a long trip back home. It was hard to say good-bye to the kids, but knowing they will be here for Christmas makes it much easier. Too bad we live so far from each other!Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-76995998809212034712011-12-02T08:57:00.001-08:002011-12-02T10:05:45.733-08:00Maine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our trip to New England was so much fun, but as I am writing blogs to journal it, I realize that (1) we didn't take enough pictures and (2) the ones we have don't do it justice. I can't even remember the name of this little town up the coast of Maine, but it was a beautiful little town. </div>
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We drove across a very low bridge to this island in the back of the first photo below. Just after we got off the bridge, we saw this cute little building (we <i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">loved</span></b></i> the buildings/NE architecture out there), which just happens to be the library. I should get a photo of the library here just for comparison's sake (ours is extremely ugly). Even their libraries are cute! The homes over on the other side of the island were amazing. Again, I was so busy gocking at them, I didn't get any pictures. But the other problem is that there are so many trees, I couldn't have gotten decent pictures even if I had remembered!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">After driving around the "rich" side of the island, we got back on the road and headed even further up the coast. We stopped at this little "lobster pound" for my very first and very yummy lobster roll. Basically it was lobster on a hotdog bun. The lobster was good, but for heaven's sake, if you are going to serve it on a bun couldn't we get something a little fancier than a hotdog bun. Lobster good, bun disappointing. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">When we got to this place, we weren't sure how much further we had to go until we got to Bar Harbor, which was our final northern destination. We had a huge problem reading maps on this trip. Not that we couldn't get oriented, but we could never get our minds to equate the distance, even with the little guide at the bottom of the map. We're just too used to driving in the wide open spaces of the west. We would look at the map and think we had hours to go to get somewhere and just a few minutes later, we would be at our destination. From this lobster pound we were only about 1.5 hours from Bar Harbor - yeah!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMCsh7QSvgw/TtkEIIsRFQI/AAAAAAAABWE/6Wxef_ivpgo/s1600/IMG_7118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GXbGMeLyLpg/TtkDw2NjVrI/AAAAAAAABVs/1H1bmgHi418/s1600/IMG_7109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GXbGMeLyLpg/TtkDw2NjVrI/AAAAAAAABVs/1H1bmgHi418/s320/IMG_7109.JPG" width="320" /></a>Again, crossing another bridge and a too-late picture. We drove over a very narrow highway to get to the kind-of-island Bar Harbor. It is a beautiful little island way up in the northeastern corner of Maine. Used to be the playground of the rich and famous, most notably the Rockafellers. There were tons of these little stone bridges all over the island, but again due to "lookin out my window" I only got one picture. Kent wouldn't back up the highway a few feet so I could get more pictures of the bridges???</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s8XVlEkZy_4/TtkECT1TXfI/AAAAAAAABV0/3Lr61syCxOg/s1600/IMG_7110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s8XVlEkZy_4/TtkECT1TXfI/AAAAAAAABV0/3Lr61syCxOg/s320/IMG_7110.JPG" width="320" /></a>The island was just so beautiful. Home of Acadia National Park. Gorgeous.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jTydvLKIK9o/TtkL64keqAI/AAAAAAAABXk/LORizpDxurc/s1600/IMG_7119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jTydvLKIK9o/TtkL64keqAI/AAAAAAAABXk/LORizpDxurc/s320/IMG_7119.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">This is the beautiful hotel we stayed at while we were in Bar Harbor. This is just the tiny little wing Kent and I stayed in, it was a huge hotel. Our room was right on the end with a beautiful view of the water. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ov2fWqrwlsY/TtkEmTJxbAI/AAAAAAAABWs/SPBD5wkQ7Jc/s1600/IMG_7128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ov2fWqrwlsY/TtkEmTJxbAI/AAAAAAAABWs/SPBD5wkQ7Jc/s320/IMG_7128.JPG" width="320" /></a>We only spent one night in Bar Harbor and then the next morning we headed south again. It took us about three days to drive up to Bar Harbor and we were going to make the drive south back to Nicki & Mckay's in one day. Lots of driving, but again, we were amazed at how quickly we were covering the distance in New England. We finally got to York, Maine, around 5 p.m. York is the southern most coastal town on Maine before you get into Mass. It is a beautiful little resort town so we stopped there for dinner and to look around. Vacation here anyone?</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBP0ctTSq1E/TtkExDVedvI/AAAAAAAABXE/RRiE8sn3A50/s1600/IMG_7135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBP0ctTSq1E/TtkExDVedvI/AAAAAAAABXE/RRiE8sn3A50/s320/IMG_7135.JPG" width="320" /></a>We only saw a few light houses in Maine, which I thought was weird. Isn't Maine supposed to have tons of light houses. This one was really cute, and if it had been earlier in the day, we might have walked out to it, but it was getting late and dark and we still had to get through Massachusetts and most of Connecticut to get to our reservation at the Dunn's. The house in the picture above the light house is not typical of York, but it also isn't unusual. Too much money here on the east coast. Oh, while we were driving around York looking for a place for dinner, we were temporarily detoured around the elementary school as it was their Halloween parade. It was a cute little community with a cute little school with cute little children. I could live here! Okay, more later.</div>
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<br /></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-48578031389286051572011-11-28T07:43:00.001-08:002011-11-28T08:14:00.778-08:00Deerfield, Mass and New Hampshire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh HELL-p! I can't seem to figure out how to post a blog. There are weird spaces all through this blog and a photo that I can't get turned the right direction. Nicki, take a crack at it - you know my password. </div>
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We left Nicki and Mckay's Tuesday morning and headed up to New Hampshire. It was a beautiful drive with lots to look at. We found the Yankee Candle store, which boasts over 10,000 candles. We didn't smell them all, but we did spend quite a bit of time here. Kent was a pretty good sport about it.</div>
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We also spent a few minutes driving around Deerfield, Mass, which is a pretty cool little community. The whole time we were there we kept saying to each other, "We could live here". We really loved New England, we love the architecture, the beautiful leaves, etc. I don't know that it is so much the whole New England thing, or if it's just that it is something different to look at than what we see here in the west. But regardless, it was fun to look and imagine what it would be like. </div>
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We crossed a few beautiful bridges, but since I was busy gocking at them, I usually missed a great picture until it was too late. Obviously, I'm not the best photographer (or maybe I just need a new camera), but we saw some amazingly beautiful bridges and scenery.</div>
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I'm not sure what's up with this picture. I did not have my camera turned, nor was it in this position when I uploaded it from my file, but for some reason, every time I try to post it, it turns. So, look at it sideways! We found a great cemetery in New Hampshire. I'm not sure if all cemeteries out here look like this one or not, but we spent a lot of time here walking around and looking at headstones, really old headstones. This picture, like most of my pictures, don't do justice to what we were really seeing. What can I say,- weird fascination. </div>
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We only saw one covered bridge and it was way up in Northern New Hampshire. It as fun walking around this little New England town, but I have to say I was a bit nervous. There was a kid playing with a switchblade that kept following us. Kent kept telling me he was just some kid killing time, but it felt much more sinister to me that just some innocent kid hanging around. I was kind of nervous and was especially happy to get off this bridge.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3iKT9YggeWg/TtOr_G9t7OI/AAAAAAAABUs/pqduSFxfvgk/s1600/IMG_7088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3iKT9YggeWg/TtOr_G9t7OI/AAAAAAAABUs/pqduSFxfvgk/s320/IMG_7088.JPG" width="320" /></a>The bridge crossed this little river.<br />
We were in Littleton, NH on a kind of chilly day. The town here has a pumpkin festival where people carve their pumpkins, then put them out on little islands or rocks in the middle of the river. Unfortunately, we were here several days before Halloween and there was only one pumpkin out in the middle of the river and you can't even see it in this picture. I thought that sounded like a fun, but cold, pumpkin parade.<br />
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We were just a tad late for the beautiful fall colors, especially the further north we drove. But I did get this great shot with the sun just right. What we did see was so beautiful and breath taking. God put some amazing colors together for us. It was beautiful.</div>
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<br /></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-88231099950210152092011-11-25T16:11:00.001-08:002011-11-25T17:02:19.512-08:00New England - Finally!It took me a while to get all my blogs caught up, but finally I'm ready to post our trip to see Nicki and Mckay. We flew in to JFK late on Thursday night and through phone tag, Nicki found us. We made it safely to their home in Connecticut and crashed. On Friday morning Mckay had to work and Nicki had a couple of classes at school, so Kent and I slept in and just relaxed.<br /><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--J7n_OAnSvk/TtA0xSYK9cI/AAAAAAAABSw/C_9TskysK90/s320/IMG_7045.JPG" /></div><div>After Nicki got home from school, she thought she would give Kent a good scare and told him she had learned how to take blood that day and she needed to practice on him. She came at him with the needle and we (she and I) had a good laugh while Kent was jumping around on the sofa trying to get away from her. We miss out on Nicki's antics at home!!!</div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QpimCqbZoTw/TtAz9M66XhI/AAAAAAAABR0/LYmDtNcp_1Y/s320/IMG_7046.JPG" /></div><div>The whole thing was more than Kent could handle. We couldn't talk him into going shopping with us to Stew Leonard's. Did you see that <i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">STEW LEONARD'S.</span></b></i> I'd seen this place a couple of years ago on the Food Network and when I found out Nicki lives close enough to shop there, I made her promise she would take me. See, there I am in front of Stew Leonard's. </div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QnK-ivPeS1s/TtAz9dKIePI/AAAAAAAABSM/-vtyh1RUbRQ/s320/IMG_7047.JPG" /></div><div>It wasn't quite the rush I thought it would be, but still we had fun. And, it was kind of fun going to a place I've had on my list for awhile!</div><div><br /></div><div>Friday night (I think, maybe it was Saturday) we went to Nicki and Mckay's favorite Greek restaurant. I've been there before with N&M, and the food didn't disappoint. I love their food. </div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DM32KxEoUMU/TtAz-82MEDI/AAAAAAAABSk/5e0swQUIK00/s320/IMG_7052.JPG" /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xc7m3uxf4dI/TtA2kwLYdpI/AAAAAAAABS8/qSOwKoQe7KE/s320/IMG_7051.JPG" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>On sunday we ditched church. Nicki and I wanted to go to church, but the boys begged us to skip it. I felt kind of bad about that, especially since we had just been on the phone with Regan, Kenna and Trevor and told them they should go. Oops! We went apple picking instead!</div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N0znROQVxGo/TtA38J9bimI/AAAAAAAABTU/9D_UMIMvB-o/s320/IMG_7061.JPG" /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Q2ZUcAjbsc/TtA371DtnHI/AAAAAAAABTI/_JBlJzeYHVw/s320/IMG_7053.JPG" /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EH7yZYSCklU/TtA383dhEwI/AAAAAAAABTg/yJHuX11bph4/s320/IMG_7062.JPG" /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWH5_GN3cTo/TtA39P_ks-I/AAAAAAAABTs/hTu1ptxApxk/s320/IMG_7063.JPG" /></div><div>The apples were so crisp and good fresh from the tree, I think I ate at least three because we had to try each kind of apple we picked. It was kind of a nippy day and even though I had stuffed my tummy with apples, I was still ready for fresh apple cider doughnuts! Best ever and I don't even really like doughnuts! That's all for now. More to come later.</div><div><br /></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-37875213916868252352011-11-25T15:40:00.001-08:002011-11-25T16:06:55.189-08:00Backing Up Again!<div style="text-align: left;">This is why it is important to keep updated on your posts. I have to back track a bit and add a couple of events that we thought were important.</div><div><br /></div><div>The end of May Nicki was able to come and visit us while McKay dedicated his life to studying for his exam the first week in June. We spent time making pillow covers and curtains for Nicki &</div><div>Mckay's apartment. </div><div> <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f7Wir2o71yc/TtArgcz4npI/AAAAAAAABLM/TwuHKVclIsM/s320/IMG_6835.JPG" /></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4o6VcARByo/TtArgUcRmFI/AAAAAAAABLA/FPO3Y0zc-UI/s320/IMG_6834_2.JPG" /></div><div><br /></div><div>We also had another "girl party" for those who could come. We had a great time. You will all be spared our "Blue Steel" poses!</div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-raghagRGVQ4/TtAsS88Qv8I/AAAAAAAABLw/4S0Kd4PDhlI/s320/IMG_6837.JPG" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>In the spring of this year we noticed a bird was building a nest on this thing that is on our front porch. This hangs just outside our laundry room window. A little robin would sit on her nest all the time, and if I went in the laundry room too early or late and turned on the light she would fly away. Also, if we were too loud in the laundry room, like slamming the door that goes out to the garage, she would fly away. So Kenna, especially, made it a point to remind us, daily, not to be too loud or not to turn on the light when it was dark unless we really needed to. Usually when I go into the laundry room in the dark, I do need light, so there were lots of time the mommy bird would fly away. Kenna also got really upset if the dogs happened to go out the front door because they would also scare the bird away. After a lot of weeks of tip-toeing around momma bird, the eggs finally hatched. This is what we got!</div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXTJp2Y2GwI/TtAoO-ZDieI/AAAAAAAABKo/QdRuwMKA2Uw/s320/IMG_6938.JPG" /><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_vXjspTEp0/TtAoPJv_f0I/AAAAAAAABK4/XFgVu45R4hs/s1600/IMG_6940.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_vXjspTEp0/TtAoPJv_f0I/AAAAAAAABK4/XFgVu45R4hs/s320/IMG_6940.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679083370894556994" /></a>Anytime the momma bird would fly away, we'd go over and peek at the baby birds. We were surprised at how quickly they tried to fly out of the nest, like within a couple of weeks. They grew fast and I suppose the nest was crowded as there were three baby birds in there. They would fly to the garden, which is just in front of the porch, but couldn't get all the way back up into the nest, so would perch on the railing. We tried all the time to get close enough to pet the bird and get them to not fear us. I got close enough to touch one of the birds once, but as soon as I put my hand on it, it flew away and that was the last time any of us got close.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKH3PS31hc0/TtAoOdENsMI/AAAAAAAABKg/1OzkkNTv8uE/s1600/IMG_6953.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKH3PS31hc0/TtAoOdENsMI/AAAAAAAABKg/1OzkkNTv8uE/s320/IMG_6953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679083358899777730" /></a>We thought they were cute, but when Nicki saw these pictures, she thought they were disgusting. We loved our baby birds. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iz3Z7Q4piQk/TtAoOA5Ot4I/AAAAAAAABKQ/4aC5_4d03Cw/s1600/IMG_6951.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iz3Z7Q4piQk/TtAoOA5Ot4I/AAAAAAAABKQ/4aC5_4d03Cw/s320/IMG_6951.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679083351337514882" /></a><br /><br /></div></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-27773164297495390272011-11-25T14:24:00.000-08:002011-11-25T14:42:44.142-08:00Trevor and Kenna at Youth Conference<div style="text-align: left;">This post and the next one are out of order, "oops". Around the end of June, Kenna and Trevor had a chance to go to Youth Conference down in St. George, Ut. It is so beautiful, and hot, down there. The kids were able to go to the St. George Temple and do baptisms the first day there were there -- while they were still clean.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SX2NQdzaYHU/TtAWlEYPbeI/AAAAAAAABIk/mIIqfeq23zM/s320/IMG_6875.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After that, it was camping in the dirt, hiking in 105 degree heat and finding pools to swim in.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7SqTUJXX6-Y/TtAXZct23_I/AAAAAAAABKE/Sy_4pUv1rME/s320/IMG_6915.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kenna and her friend, Kenzie Gomm - really hot and sweaty!</div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qiYFxpLGoaw/TtAXZJ5VnZI/AAAAAAAABJ0/6DSXTs64I0w/s320/IMG_6919.JPG" /><div>They saw beautiful scenery, of course.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l6vuHoAUbvk/TtAXZF4TDvI/AAAAAAAABJs/Nq6Wo_xYf9E/s1600/IMG_6914.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l6vuHoAUbvk/TtAXZF4TDvI/AAAAAAAABJs/Nq6Wo_xYf9E/s320/IMG_6914.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679064849956671218" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-memBV7B6xtk/TtAXYXu63xI/AAAAAAAABJg/6pol5wNf6GI/s1600/IMG_6913.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-memBV7B6xtk/TtAXYXu63xI/AAAAAAAABJg/6pol5wNf6GI/s320/IMG_6913.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679064837569306386" /></a>A little bonding time for the sibs.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vziGimJAyjs/TtAXYCTQPBI/AAAAAAAABJU/dTedfM77hl8/s1600/IMG_6910.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vziGimJAyjs/TtAXYCTQPBI/AAAAAAAABJU/dTedfM77hl8/s320/IMG_6910.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679064831816121362" /></a>They also had and "opportunity" to work in the cannery down there. None of the kids were looking forward to it, yet, as often turns out, they had a great time <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><b><i>working</i></b></span> and doing some <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><b><i>service</i></b></span> for others.</div><div><br /></div><div>Trevor and his friend, Jackson, at the cannery.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBDVu2mFWds/TtAWlblH7iI/AAAAAAAABI4/EPn1JwWl5jU/s1600/IMG_6896.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBDVu2mFWds/TtAWlblH7iI/AAAAAAAABI4/EPn1JwWl5jU/s320/IMG_6896.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679063962428632610" /></a>Kenna and some of the other girls - loving the hair nets!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2JFxemELeV4/TtAWlRgHhYI/AAAAAAAABIs/xv576Rd2Kiw/s1600/IMG_6887.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2JFxemELeV4/TtAWlRgHhYI/AAAAAAAABIs/xv576Rd2Kiw/s320/IMG_6887.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679063959723279746" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-76482922005997953552011-11-25T14:00:00.000-08:002011-11-25T14:24:21.166-08:00Catching Up . . . Again!<div>So, I am going to update my blog, starting with where I left off - mid summer. The weekend of July 24th we had our McAffee Family Reunion. It was at the same campground where I went to girl's camp when I was in Mutual - Camp Loristica. Kind of fun to go back there and show my family where all the "excitement" of girl's camp happened for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Trevor and Hunter canoeing on the lake/pond. They spent a lot of time in that canoe and loved every minute of it. </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dpHFpc-vB-s/TtASH4ovyMI/AAAAAAAABIM/LPwVIb37VB0/s1600/IMG_6989.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dpHFpc-vB-s/TtASH4ovyMI/AAAAAAAABIM/LPwVIb37VB0/s320/IMG_6989.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679059056785868994" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMHOBzJuavw/TtASG-eNKwI/AAAAAAAABIA/46DKq9VjiiE/s1600/IMG_6986.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMHOBzJuavw/TtASG-eNKwI/AAAAAAAABIA/46DKq9VjiiE/s320/IMG_6986.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679059041172400898" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMHOBzJuavw/TtASG-eNKwI/AAAAAAAABIA/46DKq9VjiiE/s1600/IMG_6986.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">On a dare (which is seldom a good idea) Trevor stripped down to his swimsuit and went into the freezing cold pond late on Thursday night. I think a bet from his older cousin, Tucker, was involved. I don't think Tucker came clean on his bet, even though Trevor spent the required one minute in the water. He did not, however, go in naked, as was originally planned!</span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u4ZzupEdurE/TtASGvUtowI/AAAAAAAABHo/jgxHBgRKDGY/s320/IMG_6973.JPG" /></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n70uXd0x9co/TtASGx0xsSI/AAAAAAAABHw/nlyrPDjafwo/s320/IMG_6974.JPG" /></div><div>The older guys spent a lot of time launching water balloons at any one in the canoe. Thankfully, they were terrible shots. But it was still lots of fun tryin'.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5QYD4ERqx04/TtARKumhmqI/AAAAAAAABHQ/i4k5n7vQtTc/s1600/IMG_7007.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5QYD4ERqx04/TtARKumhmqI/AAAAAAAABHQ/i4k5n7vQtTc/s320/IMG_7007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679058006120176290" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cG6nzNIE0A8/TtARKkMrQYI/AAAAAAAABHE/z3lXNQATaR8/s1600/IMG_7005.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cG6nzNIE0A8/TtARKkMrQYI/AAAAAAAABHE/z3lXNQATaR8/s320/IMG_7005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679058003327402370" /></a>My dad.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K_X0tR_E-PY/TtARKNNh7tI/AAAAAAAABG8/05Qsq-8Vlc8/s1600/IMG_7003.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K_X0tR_E-PY/TtARKNNh7tI/AAAAAAAABG8/05Qsq-8Vlc8/s320/IMG_7003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679057997156970194" /></a>Me & Trevor and Shirlene & Layton. Remember, these are camping pics!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfsoLCQF3NU/TtARJGtugII/AAAAAAAABGw/-xqUQAwrGiU/s1600/IMG_7002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfsoLCQF3NU/TtARJGtugII/AAAAAAAABGw/-xqUQAwrGiU/s320/IMG_7002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679057978233094274" /></a>When the kids weren't in the canoe, they were in Carl and Lanell's camper playing cards with their cousins. I think they learned a few things from the cousins (hopefully good things).<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nr9MetOpu0o/TtARI7kfxnI/AAAAAAAABGk/f41bH7QYZ1c/s1600/IMG_7015.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nr9MetOpu0o/TtARI7kfxnI/AAAAAAAABGk/f41bH7QYZ1c/s320/IMG_7015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679057975241590386" /></a><br /><br /></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-90150700107929588512011-06-22T17:48:00.000-07:002011-07-12T08:39:17.497-07:00I'm Baaaaaaack!Oh, I've been gone for so long. I don't think it is because I've been so busy (although I have, but no more than usual). So far in June we've celebrated our 24th anniversary and Father's Day. Regan's birthday is coming up on Sunday and mine is on Tuesday. So we will be continuing the celebrating.<br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621224285052726818" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-39hoyChSw/TgKZtGld7iI/AAAAAAAABGU/epGwKn-BNRI/s320/IMG_5162.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621224258351315250" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mVbi7Icji4/TgKZrjHWuTI/AAAAAAAABF8/G-xT7e0xq60/s320/IMG_4559.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div>Kenna and Trevor are in Zion's Park this week at a Youth Conference. They are going to hike the Narrows tomorrow. It is 105 there today. I hope they are using sunscreen and drinking lots and lots of water.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621218043399847714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCNmp0HqdTE/TgKUByndPyI/AAAAAAAABFc/W1utrxYHb94/s320/narrows.bmp" /></div><br /><br /><div>Regan quit her fabulous job at the hospital where she has worked for the past year and a half in the daycare center. She loves that job, but is starting cosmetology school on Tuesday.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621218032019585506" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNstXxSMwqA/TgKUBIOMOeI/AAAAAAAABFU/cYSNkW9weVo/s320/beauty%2Bschool.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div>Nicki and McKay are traipsing around jolly old England for the next few days. McKay finished his second year of a big ol' hairy three year test the first weekend in June and celebrated a birthday on June 5th (we are racking up the June birthdays). Nicki will be starting nursing school in August.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 215px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621218026518158386" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kbRsKoLMrvs/TgKUAzujHDI/AAAAAAAABFM/8uicIr_-AI4/s320/england.1.bmp" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621218021472224258" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rlM_SMBVKZc/TgKUAg7gRAI/AAAAAAAABFE/uHZccR6vsC0/s320/England.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div>Kent is (thankfully) busy with work and not so much golf these days as his favorite course is under 6 feet of water on most of the holes.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621218226621842866" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CDleQRjuHRE/TgKUMdK_BbI/AAAAAAAABFs/g7SPJMxOf9I/s320/golf.bmp" /></div><br /><br /><div>I've been busy with gardens (no, this is not mine, but it could be) and slightly busy at work. Could use more clients, but all in due time. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 140px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621218050578605042" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DGXE-SLP4qU/TgKUCNXAY_I/AAAAAAAABFk/Fq8sdd3j-yc/s320/garden.bmp" /></div><br /><br /><div>That is a snapshot of our lives. It's all good.</div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-48044660578394906692011-04-28T06:54:00.001-07:002011-04-28T17:46:41.441-07:00Tuscaloosa<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--E9GByVljMo/TblxvcP9m0I/AAAAAAAABEw/YZIe-piqx_g/s1600/tuscaloosa.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600632671462857538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--E9GByVljMo/TblxvcP9m0I/AAAAAAAABEw/YZIe-piqx_g/s320/tuscaloosa.bmp" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600632674367665170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z2TiZ3GcN8U/TblxvnEhdBI/AAAAAAAABE4/OykX7Z_XkCI/s320/tornado.bmp" border="0" />These images from Tuscaloosa are so heartbreaking. Last night Nicki called me. Her former roommate, Rachael, and her husband live in Tuscaloosa where Dan is going to school. They were right in the middle of this tornado and had such a harrowing experience. Apparently they saw the tornado coming, ran into the bathroom and when it was over opened the bathroom door to see their apartment completely gone. They were standing outside. Then Rachael, a nurse, heard someone screaming for help. She found her neighbor just a couple of doors down (or what used to be a couple of doors down) and she was in pretty bad shape. Rachael tried to stabilize her, but she died while Rachael was working on her. Shortly thereafter, Dan and Rachael's hometeachers came and rescued them. Their car was also demolished. This has been such a traumatic experience for this young couple. Please remember them, and all those who are suffering from these destructive tornados in your prayers.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">update</span>:</strong></span> watch Rachael's CNN phone interview here: </span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2011/04/28/exp.tsr.tornado.survivor.intv.cnn.html">http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2011/04/28/exp.tsr.tornado.survivor.intv.cnn.html</a></span>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-52273963328666989482011-04-21T08:59:00.000-07:002011-04-21T20:24:48.752-07:00Backscatter vs. "Enhanced" Patdown<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPOMwud2rDI/TbBcVdK4YKI/AAAAAAAABEg/KH8IGIH7n9Y/s1600/we%2Bdo%2Bnot%2Bconsent.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 186px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598075860498800802" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPOMwud2rDI/TbBcVdK4YKI/AAAAAAAABEg/KH8IGIH7n9Y/s320/we%2Bdo%2Bnot%2Bconsent.jpg" /></a> I read an article this morning on Dr. Mercola's website. It is very interesting/disturbing. How safe are the backscatter body scanners at the airport? I think we've been sold a bill of goods, again. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 186px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598076031615484370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpDsOW0XqOY/TbBcfaoRwdI/AAAAAAAABEo/J1TzRPgoz74/s320/backscatter1.jpg" /> Consider the fact that Homeland Security Chief, Michael Chertoff is the primary promoter of body scanners <strong><em>and</em></strong> a paid consultant for the companies that sell them. Conflict of interest??? Click <a href="http://emf.mercola.com/sites/emf/archive/2011/04/19/airport-security-scans-what-would-your-doctor-do.aspx"><span style="color:#990000;"><em><strong>here</strong></em></span></a><em><strong> </strong></em>to read the article. It will only take a few minutes. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 184px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 141px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598070684306479538" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hStT6YE9C0/TbBXoKWdmbI/AAAAAAAABDw/9AgnK4HLz0o/s320/enhanced%2Bpatdowns.jpg" /> Also, the "We Won't Fly" campaign calls the patdown of minors a "predator-prep" course for minors. Interesting.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 140px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598070682113373154" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iMtL06cz8Js/TbBXoCLlc-I/AAAAAAAABD4/JNWHN_9y8Pc/s320/cavity%2Bsearch.bmp" />I don't know how to make this image bigger, but the tiny print reads, "<em>Helping your child understand why he may pose a threat to National Security</em>". I laughed at first and it would be funny if it weren't so ridiculously stupid. For heaven sakes, lets not profile anyone who may look like a terrorist, but let's sexually assault everyone else, including children and grannies. Typical of our government - extreme, extreme, extreme, with no allowance for any kind of common sense!Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-86982467997305196262011-03-22T16:39:00.000-07:002011-04-21T20:26:47.557-07:00Weather (I'm Ready For Spring)I saw this on a friend's blog and she saw it in her local paper. Having been born and raised in Idaho, I can testify that it is true. Northern Utah isn't that much different.<br /><br /><span style="color:#333399;">65 degrees above zero,<br />Floridians turn on the heat.<br />People in Idaho plant gardens.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff6600;">60 degrees above zero,<br />Californians shiver uncontrollably.<br />People in Idaho sunbathe.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#009900;">50 degrees above zero,<br />Italian and English cars won't start.<br />People in Idaho drive with their windows down.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#993300;">40 degrees above zero,</span><br /><span style="color:#993300;">Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves and wool hats.</span><br /><span style="color:#993300;">People in Idaho throw on a flannel shirt.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#336666;">35 degrees above zero,</span><br /><span style="color:#336666;">New York landlords finally turn up the heat.</span><br /><span style="color:#336666;">People in Idaho have the last cookout before it turns cold.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">20 degrees above zero,<br />People in Miami die.<br />Idahoans close the windows.<br /><br /></span>Zero,<br />Californians fly away to Mexico.<br />People in Idaho get out their winter coats.<br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">10 degrees below zero,</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Hollywood disintigrates.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">The Girls Scouts in Idaho are selling cookies door to door.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#663366;">20 below zero,</span><br /><span style="color:#663366;">Washington D.C. runs out of hot air (not even possible).</span><br /><span style="color:#663366;">People in Idaho let the dogs sleep indoors.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">30 below zero,<br />Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.<br />Idahoans get upset because they can't start their snowmobiles.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000066;">40 below zero,<br />All atonomic motion stops.<br />People in Idaho start saying, "Cold enough for ya?"<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff6666;">50 below zero,</span><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">H*## freezes over.</span><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">Idaho public schools open 2 hours late.</span><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">It is snowing today and that isn't even unusual for this time of year. </span>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-43559539611844596772011-03-22T15:43:00.000-07:002011-03-22T16:25:52.577-07:00Total Foodie WeekendLast April when I visited Nicki in New York, I ate some of the best food I have ever eaten in my life. Hands down, New York is a melting pot of food for every palate, from every country in the world. I came home determined to try cooking some of the yummy things I'd eaten in New York. So last Friday I took an Indian Cooking class. I learned to make Naan bread (so yummy and easy), Chicken Makhani, Bangalore Chicken Curry and Indian Veggie Patties. All very good, all very easy. Best of all, I learned that with very little know-how, you can cook from a variety of countries around the world.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 198px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 131px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587043507075910722" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rob75xxsD-4/TYkqd9_pjEI/AAAAAAAABC4/13T1EeO1aqc/s320/chicken%2Bmakhani.jpg" /> <div><div><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 169px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 153px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587043648988882482" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3GClJVTD2k/TYkqmOqVpjI/AAAAAAAABDQ/Snnl7fR1v0g/s320/naan%2Bbread.bmp" /></div><div>My next project is gnocchi. I've had it before (not in New York), but I want to learn to make it from scratch. It isn't as easy as it looks. I've watched cooks on the Food Network make it, and of course, it looks so simple and easy. Big lie! I tried Giada's recipe (nothing to it, she promises) and ended up with tiny little pillows of brick in my tummy, not tiny little pillows of pasta. I ran into someone at Friday's cooking class that swears she has a fool-proof recipe, but it involves dehydrated potato buds - not the kind of fresh I was looking for, and probably not what any Italian cook who is worth her weight in pasta sauce would use, but I'll try it. Why don't I just buy it you ask? Well, because I have yet to find it in a grocery store here in quaint little Cache Valley, and I've been looking for about 7 years (no kidding!) only the dried stuff - yuck. If any of you out there have a great recipe (Bonnie) and are willing to share, I'm up for making it multiple times until I get it down. How hard can it be, right???<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587043517742033218" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zhlsw3H1So/TYkqelupqUI/AAAAAAAABDI/xV4vhZ6J6-M/s320/gnocchi.jpg" /></div>Add in a big batch of homemade bread, an apple pie ( as per Trevor's request) and a coconut cream pie (as per Kent's request) and I had a cooking/baking filled weekend.<br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587046872441777458" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--CKWlPD5R5o/TYkth29ZbTI/AAAAAAAABDY/_JAfKpX2olc/s320/bread.jpg" /> <div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587046878999598706" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGHOt29tjQI/TYktiPY51nI/AAAAAAAABDg/_i6Jeuwc0KE/s320/coconut%2Bcream%2Bpie.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587043502444884626" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oLJjYSlI7eY/TYkqdsvhspI/AAAAAAAABCw/RvS1T9_mpeo/s320/apple%2Bpie.jpg" /></div><div></div>HCG diet, anyone???<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-6089778348881105772011-03-10T14:00:00.001-08:002011-03-10T14:03:40.713-08:00My New Favorite American Idol<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EOJpJ_p-ec0/TXlKa3_fXAI/AAAAAAAABCg/MQ7v2uD5y4E/s1600/james%2Bdurbin.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 172px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582575038669741058" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EOJpJ_p-ec0/TXlKa3_fXAI/AAAAAAAABCg/MQ7v2uD5y4E/s320/james%2Bdurbin.jpg" /></a><br />You had to know, it's James Durbin. I love his rocker style and his sweetness. I love that he looks a tad bit like Kurk Russell (look at those peepers) and sings a bit like Adam Lambert. Most of all, I love that he has overcome challenges in his life to pursue his dream. He has crazy, insane pipes, as they say.Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-71797384536908848562011-03-02T10:44:00.000-08:002011-03-02T11:01:48.722-08:00Happy Birthday NickiHappy Birthday to you, Nicki!<br /><br />Today is Nicki's 22nd birthday. I can't believe that 22 years ago I was in a hospital in Connecticutt having our first baby. Kent was in and out of the labor/delivery room watching March Madness, that is until the madness in the delivery room kicked in. Nicki was born with just a skiff of dark hair and we thought she was such a beautiful baby. She was so tiny that when we bundled her up to bring her home, Kent kept checking in the quilt to make sure he had ahold of her. Those first few days were quite the shock to us. I thought I knew all about babies, but I quickly found out my mom knew all about babies and I knew nothing.<br /><br />Through the years Nicki has been such a blessing to us. She is full of surprises, fun and joy. Maybe add in a bit of stubbornness and a determination that is unmatched by anyone I know! From a very young age, it was apparent to me that Nicki would think for herself and not be swayed by whatever or whomever. I always knew she would choose her own path and make her own decisions. I was always grateful for that strengh in her, even when she was at odds with me. It wasn't always easy, but I knew if we could keep her pointed in the right direction, she wouldn't disappoint.<br /><br />Nicki is a natural "oldest child". She is a natural leader and has an abundance of confidence. She has been a perfect example to her younger siblings and she has made our job as parents much easier by setting this great example. She is intelligent, smart, a little sassy (which is fun now that she is out of her teenage years) and always up for some fun. She is a spark, that's for sure.<br /><br />We love you, Nicki and we hope you have the best birthday ever. Here are a few photos that bring a smile to my face and I think they will bring a smile to yours too.<br /><br />Love you,<br />Mom<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a4d7a4d4467304e6a553d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="420" height="330" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a4d7a4d4467304e6a553d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="420" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmilebox.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center">Create a <a href="http://www.smilebox.com/" target="_blank">free slideshow</a></td></tr></table>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-48290893943311491352011-02-28T18:38:00.000-08:002011-02-28T19:36:04.283-08:00Catching Up!As per Nicki's request, this blog is specifically for her and will be mostly boring to anyone else who reads it. However, if you elect to read it, you are going to get a glimpse of our most ordinary lives.<br /><br />We got dumped on this past week. It snowed off and on from Wendesday through Saturday, but by far we got the most snow on Friday night. I know it doesn't look like much in these pictures, but Kent and I moved a ton of snow off the driveway Saturday morning. And it was wet, heavy snow. Yes, we do have a snowblower, and it even works, but Kent claims he loves the workout. It was beautiful, as snow always is before it gets nasty looking.<br />This is what the front of the house looked like.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578935908066797602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MvGO2hsTrSY/TWxcpmD-KCI/AAAAAAAABBI/aq8cgNs3I4E/s320/IMG_6703.JPG" /> Looking over towards Farnsworth's home.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578936384189985106" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VALNuQnJO7s/TWxdFTwlcVI/AAAAAAAABBg/YWs37M5sAfw/s320/IMG_6709.JPG" /> The front yard.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578935912950818178" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bmAQhslwh8E/TWxcp4QaZYI/AAAAAAAABBQ/0Z38JalltiA/s320/IMG_6704.JPG" /> View from the back deck.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578935897087207730" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JuTUAf61Wbs/TWxco9KO6TI/AAAAAAAABAw/YhMSoKkOHJk/s320/IMG_6700.JPG" /> Hansen's red barn.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578935902134287586" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xxgTo26MoZk/TWxcpP9jPOI/AAAAAAAABA4/55yYwn3KyHI/s320/IMG_6701.JPG" /> Dad and Dean, after singing a very inspiring "Happy Birthday" to Claudia.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578940076306141570" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q9jAAZNWGlo/TWxgcN9rEYI/AAAAAAAABCY/tdYIKOEqC3g/s320/IMG_6702.JPG" />So, while Kent and I were out shoveling snow, he decided to take a break and go across the street and talk to Dean. While he was over there, Claudia (Dean's wife), came out to shovel the snow off her front door step. Next thing I knew they were singing "Happy Birthday" to Claudia in a very enthusiastic and off-key kind of way. It was cute and funny to see/hear these two old guys singing with much gusto to Claudia.<br /><br />Kenna and Ringo enjoying the snow (boots) and sun (shorts???).<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578936382620556930" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PTNNF9uti3U/TWxdFN6Z3oI/AAAAAAAABBY/J9mVQFNtDPE/s320/IMG_6706.JPG" /><br /><br /><br />Backing up a bit to Valentine's Day. What is it they say about the best laid plans . . .<br />Nicki gave us a gift certificate to one of the few nice restaurants here in Cache Valley and we decided to save it for Valentine's Day. So a couple of days before, I reminded Kent to make the reservation. I also happen to love making something special for the kids for Valentine's Day. Traditionally I have made them chocolate heart-shaped biscuits for breakfast with whipped cream and strawberries. This year I wanted to change it up a bit and "surprise" the kids. I decided I would make a red velvet heart-shaped cake for after school/work. After I got off work, on Valentine's Day, I went to a couple of grocery stores looking for the red food coloring - none to be found. I was tired and it was getting late, so no red velvet heart-shaped cake for the kids. That would have to wait for later in the week. Then, to my dismay, Kent forgot to make the reservations until Monday morning, so no dinner out. I think we ended up eating mac and cheese, homemade, but still, very lame. We pulled the cake off a couple of days later and had a good ol' time decorating it. It was kind of a family effort, and tons of fun.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578936734391834162" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V2DFxQC1xRc/TWxdZsXNljI/AAAAAAAABCI/k9ywdoPAzDQ/s320/IMG_6698.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578936723309665794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0avvlw8mI4c/TWxdZDFBHgI/AAAAAAAABCA/In8SJzIsN0M/s320/IMG_6697.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578936389247534898" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zVAcDq1IxDY/TWxdFmmZhzI/AAAAAAAABBw/_yaU9onIrfc/s320/IMG_6694.JPG" /><br /><br />Below is a yummy fruit pizza Trevor and I made a week before Valentine's Day. It was just something we have never made before (I know, I must live under a rock). Trevor did the fruit arrangement. For some reason, my kids get way into food arrangements. He loves baking with me. For the longest time (almost up until he turned 6 or 7, he wanted to be a baker, then a librarian when he started school and discovered the library there, and the sweet lady who was the librarian).<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578936736422928002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5DoFtE156Ao/TWxdZz7dnoI/AAAAAAAABCQ/0O0Ycc_vovY/s320/IMG_6691.JPG" /> <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-22729773461867924712011-02-14T19:07:00.000-08:002011-02-14T19:18:33.617-08:00An Amazing Artist<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jke2Vrs6F5k/TVnwJ7zBXwI/AAAAAAAABAo/Doe0w6PPIhw/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573750067308879618" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jke2Vrs6F5k/TVnwJ7zBXwI/AAAAAAAABAo/Doe0w6PPIhw/s320/IMG_1521.JPG" /></a> My neice drew this picture of Nicki and McKay from their engagement announcement. I think she captures them perfectly - not an easy thing to do in person, let alone from a picture. She really got the eyes and facial expressions just right. To see more of her work, click <a href="http://inspiredbyamemory.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">here.</span></strong></a> When I have grandkids (Nicki and McKay, are you paying attention?) I will commission her to do them with Christ. She does amazing work. She just did her neice with Christ and I love how it captures her neice.Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-9732418677374812422011-02-01T14:07:00.000-08:002011-02-01T20:29:04.961-08:00Yippee For Me!<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I started a new job today. I am now working at a chiropractor's office, by appointment only, doing face and foot zone balance treatments. I have my own little office with my own little spa music. I am so bona-fide now!</span></div></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TUiJWzPVZKI/AAAAAAAABAE/pIAFU6jsh0M/s320/face%2Bmassage.jpg" /></div><div>This is what I do</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TUiJWmaqvwI/AAAAAAAAA_8/C-5nPR1s5nA/s320/foot%2Bzone%2B1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>and this too</div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TUiMXAsCzDI/AAAAAAAABAc/WDXmsAx8RN0/s320/relaxed%2Banimal.jpg" /></div></div><div>and this is how you feel when I'm done.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love my job.</div><div>I'm offering free introductory face and foot zones for February.</div><div>Wish you could all come and visit!</div></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-7730193808596501632010-12-01T09:08:00.000-08:002010-12-01T09:29:29.882-08:00Baby, It's COLD Outside!<div><div style="text-align: center; ">For the past week all I've seen out my window is this. We have had snow off and on for days now. I love the first snowfall of the season, but I'm afraid I'm going to be sick of it by the time spring comes again. We have lived here for 7 years and this is the first time we have had snow for Thanksgiving.</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaFBAur_-I/AAAAAAAAA_w/3pfSNJ-6bSk/s1600/falling%2Bsnow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 194px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaFBAur_-I/AAAAAAAAA_w/3pfSNJ-6bSk/s320/falling%2Bsnow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545766243575529442" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">When I woke up this morning it was 29 degrees warmer than yesterday morning. Yesterday it was -8. You do the math.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaDoUdQWEI/AAAAAAAAA_o/252l-sQL32M/s320/frost.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545764719862765634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 184px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Undoubtedly, snow can be beautiful.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaBzdlNiJI/AAAAAAAAA_g/GcxIQ8Gms3w/s1600/snow%2Bscenes.1.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaBzdlNiJI/AAAAAAAAA_g/GcxIQ8Gms3w/s320/snow%2Bscenes.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545762712267360402" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 194px; " /></a></span></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaBb-Nm3fI/AAAAAAAAA_I/pI-bo2YMo28/s1600/snow%2Bscenes.3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 198px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaBb-Nm3fI/AAAAAAAAA_I/pI-bo2YMo28/s320/snow%2Bscenes.3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545762308709866994" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaBbYEFoaI/AAAAAAAAA-4/UKrurIEnfvY/s1600/snow%2Bscenes.4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 183px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaBbYEFoaI/AAAAAAAAA-4/UKrurIEnfvY/s320/snow%2Bscenes.4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545762298469392802" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaBbFnV1oI/AAAAAAAAA-w/G6-OvF68MfU/s1600/snow%2Bscenes.2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 194px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TPaBbFnV1oI/AAAAAAAAA-w/G6-OvF68MfU/s320/snow%2Bscenes.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545762293516981890" /></a><br /></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-27325555019393363982010-11-08T21:26:00.001-08:002010-11-08T22:43:26.118-08:00Party Crashers!<div style="text-align: left;">So, a few weeks ago, I decided I was going to host a little craft party at my house and invite my sisters and nieces that live nearby. Some said they were going to come and some couldn't make it. Our plan was to arrive, have dinner and craft on Friday night, then go to Gardener's Village on Saturday. So, on Friday morning I got a call from one of my sisters (Lanell) telling me that my sister from California (Janice) was coming to the party. She was coming up to Idaho to borrow my dad's chainsaw (don't even ask, but if you do, its a pretty funny story). I asked Lanell if it wouldn't have been cheaper for Janice to<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"> <b>rent</b></span></i> or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><b>buy</b> </span>a chainsaw, but at this point it was about more than borrowing my dad's obviously amazing chainsaw. Anyway, when Janice heard we were all getting together to craft, eat and talk, (our favorite best hobbies), she decided to crash the party. She wasn't invited because I didn't think in a million years she would drive 10-12 hours for a few hours of partying with us. Boy was I wrong. I'm so glad she came. But, we kept it a secret from the rest of the party-goers. April, Lanell, Ashley and Taunya arrived around 5:00, Darcie got there a bit later. Then around 8:30 Janice snuck in the house. The pictures below tell the story better than I can.</div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNjddCYaRpI/AAAAAAAAA9I/ZrTCR8FOpvg/s320/IMG_6557.JPG" /></div><div>You can't tell from the picture below, but April is crying she was so surprised and happy to see Janice.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNjdc1Ew4TI/AAAAAAAAA9A/X65vL0Y33VA/s320/IMG_6556.JPG" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">We were all sitting around feeling bad that the rest of the sisters couldn't make it, when to our surprise around 11:00 Shirlene showed up. She had told me on the phone earlier that she wasn't coming because of the cost and time. She is working on her Master's Degree at BSU and pretty involved with that, and like the rest of us, </span>the money she would have spent on gas could go to so many other places. But then she had a "conversation" with mom that went something like this: "Mom, you wouldn't go if you were me and money was an issue". Mom, "Go be with your sisters". Shirlene "You wouldn't do this if you didn't have the money." Mom, "I have a different perspective now, go be with your sisters". So she decided to come. I halfway expected her to come, especially since I did spill the beans and tell her Janice was coming (it was a little pressure, nothing more). All the same, when she showed up I was so surprised and busy hugging her that I didn't get any photos of her walking in and surprising us all. Here we are working on the cute little pumpkin crafts we made. It was kind of challenging for some of us and we had some pretty good laughs.</div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNjdeJsZcqI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/wrgfTII4Gh4/s320/IMG_6559.JPG" /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNjdd4iOAXI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/_GhhwJ5MlQM/s320/IMG_6558.JPG" /></div><div>Aren't these stuffed pumpkins cute!!!</div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNjjqs4HvLI/AAAAAAAAA9w/ZXHvVzrc3yE/s320/IMG_6581.JPG" /></div><div>After crafting we spent the rest of the night, (literally, we were up until 6:00 am) laughing, crying, talking and making some unforgettable memories. One by one we drifted off to bed for a couple hours of sleep before we were supposed to head south to Gardener's Village. Debbie didn't get there until Saturday morning because she and my brother (her hubby) work the Friday evening shift at the IF Temple. She was also surprised to see Janice and Shirlene.</div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNjdelVzSUI/AAAAAAAAA9g/OQNa_JxfAlo/s320/IMG_6562.JPG" /></div><div>Here we are Saturday morning drinking all manner of herbal teas trying to relieve our suffering-from-sleep-deprivation hang-overs and moving pretty slowly. I'm the one with the incredible bed-head in the bottom left corner. I look better than I feel.</div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNjdqt79LwI/AAAAAAAAA9o/sjkkoS8iR7k/s320/IMG_6563.JPG" /></div><div>Lanell had to leave Saturday morning-ish to go back to Pocatello, where her son was playing in a championship football game, so she couldn't go to Gardener's Village with us. This is a group photo before she left. I'm<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"> still</span></i> in my pajamas!</div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNjb8VVokxI/AAAAAAAAA8o/eR-Hc62iv6M/s320/IMG_6573.JPG" /></div><div>We finally left the house around 2:00 (much, much later than we had planned) and drove down to Gardener's Village. We had a late lunch there and then walked around the many shops and had more fun. The sun was setting and reflecting this beautiful pink on the mountains to the east of us. Unfortunately, my camera wasn't quite up to the task so you can't even begin to appreciate how beautiful it was.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNjb8ztEfLI/AAAAAAAAA8w/E5Uthem3Xrw/s320/IMG_6576.JPG" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">One final group picture before we left Gardener's Village. Back row: me and Debbie. Seated from left to right: Janice, April, Ashley and Taunya, (April's daughters), Shirlene and Darcie, (Debbie's daughter who has <i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">two</span></b></i> buns in the oven due the first part of May, we're so happy for her). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNjb9cI6B8I/AAAAAAAAA84/VkbMBmmN4oU/s320/IMG_6580.JPG" /></span></span></span></div><div>Debbie and Darcie went home Saturday night and April and her girls were going to drive back home also, but we talked them into staying one more night. When we got home around 9:00 p.m., we made a run to Macey's (food store, not department store) so Janice could buy "Snaps". She can't find them anywhere near where she lives, so we always have to do a "snaps" run when she's here. If you don't know, snaps are colorful little licorice tubies that we McAffee's love. Debbie told Janice she thinks they taste like soap, to which Janice replied (think happy, excited voice here), "Ya, they do, and they taste like perfume too". And they really do, but they taste like soap and perfume with lots of sugar on them and we love them. I've actually converted Kent to them too. After the "snaps" run, we went home and watched, or tried to watch "Letters from Juliet", which I liked, but kept falling asleep through it. </div><div>Bright and early Sunday morning April, Ashley and Taunya drove home and Janice and Shirlene went to church with us. Right after Sac. Meeting, Shirlene left. It was so hard to say good-bye to people as they left, but Janice and Shirlene were the hardest for me because they were the last two to leave. Janice left early this morning for her drive back to CA. She drove through snow, rain, sleet, wind and sunshine, and sometimes all of it at once according to her. But she made it through the Sierra Nevadas and on home safe and sound. Thanks you girls for a glorious, albeit, unhealthy weekend. Thanks to all of you for making financial sacrifices and giving up time with your hubbies and babies (young and old) to be together. Love and miss you all.</div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-45075209729918106892010-11-02T13:11:00.000-07:002010-11-03T11:52:26.846-07:00Missing MomYesterday marked two months since mom passed away. I really miss her. It seems like it has been years since I've seen her, talked to her or laughed with her.<div><br /></div><div>Thanksgiving 2008<br /><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNBzSCGWKsI/AAAAAAAAA74/xenl6mknLAg/s320/P1050242.JPG" /></div><div>Dad sporting a nasty owie from a semi rearending them. His face smashed into the steering wheel. Ouch!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNB08LJ3yPI/AAAAAAAAA8A/J4Ip1mjkNKE/s320/P1050298.JPG" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Mackay Dam, Summer 2009</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNBx-2BH33I/AAAAAAAAA6g/jU2JIwx_BrM/s320/IMG_4394.jpg" /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>May 2009 -I promise I did not stick my tongue in a socket just before this picture was taken. What is up with my wild hair???<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNBx-wwqMBI/AAAAAAAAA6o/3-suPBzjE6I/s1600/IMG_5153A.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNBx-wwqMBI/AAAAAAAAA6o/3-suPBzjE6I/s320/IMG_5153A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535049265093160978" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 306px; " /></a></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNBx_csrY8I/AAAAAAAAA6w/EulW5YuTqZg/s1600/IMG_5154.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNBx_csrY8I/AAAAAAAAA6w/EulW5YuTqZg/s320/IMG_5154.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535049276887622594" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 272px; " /></a></div><div>Mom with granddaughters and great-granddaughters, plus Garrett.</div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNB08tt__TI/AAAAAAAAA8I/bOEtal4un0c/s320/IMG_5261.jpg" /></div><div>Mom with daughters, minus Cindy, Shauna, Lanell and Shellie.<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNByAG3GgxI/AAAAAAAAA7A/1TWYmPHLYlc/s320/.jpg" /></div><div>Mom with the latest batch of great-grandbabies.</div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNBx_j76c_I/AAAAAAAAA64/k1is_K2hhVI/s320/2.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">June 2010 - at Hawaiian Temple</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TNB08p2kvvI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/b2lWoVY6KdM/s320/mom%26dad,+Hawaii,+6-03-10,1.JPG" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-87226065897140226662010-11-01T09:51:00.000-07:002011-02-28T19:46:23.164-08:00The Worst of the Tricks!<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TM7wP7AccSI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/GelEviEwRjc/s320/IMG_4767.jpg" /><br />Trevor decided at the last minute to go trick-or-treating with his friends on Saturday night (yes, you saw this costume last year. We are pretty lazy when it comes to putting costumes together. Consider this recycling). He even took a pillowcase with him. I used to have huge hangups about kids trick-or-treating with pillowcases. How much candy does one need anyway? And, isn't gluttony one of the seven cardinal sins!?! Not to mention what all that sugar does to the kids - blissful energy, then the inevitable crash (like all good drugs should do, right?), tooth decay, lethargic thinking, suppressed immune system, and the list goes on.<br /><br /><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">Dumb things I have done in the past in regards to the Halloween loot:</span></i></b><br />1. Not take my kids trick-or-treating.<br />2. Let my kids go trick-or-treating, then make them pick out their favorite <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">10</span></b> items, trashing the rest (this was by far the most sadistic because it never really got trashed, Kent and I ate it. I know, we're sick!).<br />3. Pick out all the bubble gum loaded with sugar and trash that (I have never liked my kids "chomping" on gum, and you will <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">never </span></i></b>see me doing it).<br />4. Allow them to eat as much Halloween candy on Halloween night as they can, then trash the rest (very poor advice from a not-very-bright mom, and I fell for it. Who's the dummy here?).<br />5. Pay my kids for their Halloween candy - actually, I can't remember if I ever really did this, or if I've just fantasized about doing it until in my mind it has become a "real" memory.<br /><br /><br />For years Nicki and Regan have had to take the brunt of our "learning curve" when it came to parenting skills. This is just one example. I think I owe them bags of candy, if they really want to collect!Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720493351879892643.post-91800255675129306112010-10-28T15:17:00.000-07:002010-10-29T09:03:54.206-07:00New Christmas Soap!<div><div>I don't mean to jump the gun, but . . .<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I'm so excited to be offering this new stinking cute "Cranberry Fig" Christmas soap!</span></b></span></i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">(It doesn't really stink, it smells fabulous and oh, so holiday-ish).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span>It will be ready to ship December 1st. Each bar will sell for $5.00, however, beginning Monday, November 1st, I will be taking pre-orders through November 10th and all pre-ordered soap will sell for $4.50/bar. Remember your friends, neighbors, co-workers and family (great stocking stuffer) in a cute and useful way!!! They will love something fun from someone special. To order, click<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"> </span></i></b><a href="http://ittybittysoapcompany.blogspot.com/"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">here</span></i></b></a>, or go to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">www.ittybittysoapcompany.blogspot.com</span>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Note: This soap is fragranced with a fragrance oil.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TMn2hcR8vRI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/gfSNIihqpW0/s1600/CranFigSoap.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 296px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6TKVDiZUWfE/TMn2hcR8vRI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/gfSNIihqpW0/s320/CranFigSoap.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533224671588957458" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Photo by Bramble Berry</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">(Because all soaps are handmade and hand cut, slight variations may occur).</span></div><div><br /></div>Caroline Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15197251841557790229noreply@blogger.com3