Happy 2nd Birthday William!

Here are a few of our favorite pictures of our baby boy! The first picture was how we told Justin's family that we were expecting again... We found it fitting for Caitlin to tell them since she was the one to tell us we were having a 'baby'... (at 6 months old... she said the word baby!)

May 8, 2006

Our little Will....

May 8, 2008

Happy Birthday Wilbur!

Caitlin-isms that make me smile :)

These pictures were taken the other day... i love how her outfit wasn't complete until she had the 'star wand'...
the gloves are so big on her... cracks me up!

I was just sitting her updating my Blog... when Caitlin brings me a bowl... and says

"More pickles, Mommy..."

Then i said... "Oh, more pickles...? You're going to turn into a pickle... Are you a pickle?"

She responds... "No, I not a pickle... I Cake-in"

HA! Kids... one minute they are small little babies... next they are walking around eating pickles and speaking truth...

I love being a Mommy!

Twilight Teazer!!!!

OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK.... (breath Amanda!)

LIKE... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Kate, your amazing... Thanks for sending this to me!

I MUST share with EVERYONE!!!

Really, I can't wait till December!
Twilight

Mix and Match Healthy Dinners

By Amanda Cracroft
Goal is to have ½ of our plate be veggies, ¼ lean protein, and the other ¼ good carbohydrates.
1. Pick a Protein:(Note: we buy these in bulk bags that are frozen from Sam’s or Costco, it’s nice to always have on hand. To thaw: just place fish or chicken in Ziploc bag, and place in bowl of cold water in the fridge.
-Tilapia- usually very thin cut fish, so it’s a quick fix cause it doesn’t need to be cooked very long. Cover the bottom of your frying pan with water, then add small amount of butter bring to a simmer and then add fish. Season with Salt and pepper and cook it for 3-4 minutes on each side until fish ‘flakes’.

-Chicken- Place Chicken in baking dish and spread favorite BBQ sauce on top. Bake 350 for 35-40 minutes. Super good and so easy!

-Salmon or Cod Loins-Thicker fish like these can be baked for 35-40 minutes 350 degrees. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, thyme, and or Citrus Herb*. (Another great secret: mix up a box of Instant chicken or turkey stuffing, and place on top of fish before baking. (they have a new low sodium stuffing, same great taste!) This adds a fun ‘breaded’ goodness to the fish! Or bake Salmon in a Yoshida’s Sweet and Savory sauce and serve with brown rice and veggies! Love it!)

*Spice Islands has a salt free Citrus Herb seasoning that is delicious on all of these!
2. Pick a Side dish:

-Roasted Red Potatoes (or Sweet Potatoes) – wash then cut red potatoes in (bite size pieces, and sweet potatoes in long thin strips) place on cookies sheet drizzle with olive oil and salt, bake 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes (toss with spatula at minute 8 or 10). Squeeze fresh lemon on Red Potatoes after they come out of the oven and serve.

-Steamed Veggies – Again I buy a frozen already mixed veggies, Broccoli Normandy (Flav-0-Pac) I steam them using Ziploc’s Zip N’ Steam microwave bags! A full bag of frozen veggies only takes 6 minutes for perfect steamed veggies!

-Asparagus (or Green Beans) - These are best fresh, but you can use frozen or canned. I love to cook asparagus and green beans on the BBQ, but they taste just as great if you Roast them (like the potatoes.) Can also cook them on the stove top in frying pan (that has a top), lightly drizzle with olive oil. Cook for 4-5 then top with slivered almonds and cook for 2 more minutes.

-Long Grain Wild Rice or Brown Rice
3. Make a Gorgeous Salad That Even a Man Can’t Refuse:
Romaine lettuce mixed with Ice berg lettuce, spinach, sprouts, cucumber, carrots, avocado, tomatoes, craisins, red onion, radishes, red and green peppers… (Really, whatever your heart desires and it doesn’t have to be fancy every time.)

If you read this... you've been tagged! haha!

5 Things on my To Do List:
(I'm trying to decide what to put here... because i have a lot more things to do than JUST 5... (more like 50.) SO, are these the things that 'i can't wait to do' or the 'things on my list that are not done because I really don't have the energy to do them...?' Guess I'll do a little mix of both...

1- Laundry
2- Unload the Dishwasher
3- Organize my craft room
4- Mother's Day and Baby gifts
5- Get milk at the store


5 Snacks I Love:
1- Yogurt, kashi and berries :)
2- Cottage Cheese w/ Peaches
3- Keebler, Fudge Shoppe Grasshopper mint cookies!! (100 calorie, right bites)
4- Apple w/ peanut butter
5- Popcorn! yum!


5 Foods I Love:
1- Cafe Rio's Grilled Chicken Salad, black beans, creamy dressing! :) yeeah!
2- Olive Gardens' Fettichine Alfraido (sp. sorry)
3- Baked (or Grilled) Salmon
4- My Moms Lasagna
5- Pei Wei's Lettuce Wraps


What would I do if I were suddenly a billionaire?
1- Um... Scream!
2- Pay off our house... bull dose it down, re-build a new gorgeous house (that fits the neighborhood, of course!)
3- Travel, Everywhere!!
4- Invest some money.
5- Give money away to people who need it more than I do.


5 of my FAVORITE anythings!
1- My darling Family! (Justin, Caitlin, and Wilbur! Oh, Pepper too!)
2- Beautiful clear days, slight breeze and 72 degrees
3- Chocolate cake with my name on it!
4- Musicals and plays, any and all! yeah!
5- Flowers!!


5 Places I have lived:
1- Monrovia, CA
2- Lititz, PA
3- Beuna Vista, VA
4- Holliday, UT
5- Layton, UT

Favorite Quote:

"Happiness is like Jam, you can't spread it without getting a little bit on yourself!"


who to tag....??

haha, Everyone who reads this... i wanna see it up on your blog... and soon!

YUM-O!

Chocolate Lovers’ Favorite Mint Brownies

Brownies:2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
4 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
2 ½ cups flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup broken walnuts or pecans (optional)

Mint frosting:4 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons evaporated milk
2 cups powdered sugar
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Few drops pink or green food coloring

Glaze topping:
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons vanilla

In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter until fluffy. Beat in eggs until well-blended; then add melted chocolate. Mix dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture along with vanilla and nuts. Spread into a greased 9” X 13” pan and bake at 325 degrees for 30 – 35 minutes, or until no imprint is left when touched. Do not over bake. Mix mint frosting ingredients until creamy and spread on brownies. Refrigerate 1 hour. For glaze, combine butter and chocolate chips in top of double boiler; add vanilla and blend thoroughly. Pour gently over pink or green frosting and spread by tipping pan. Refrigerate.

LINDSEY GRADUATED!!!

Just wanted to share the fun news that Lindsey graduated from BYU last week!! She now holds a degree in Family, Home and Social Sciences!!! Way to go Auntie Lou! We are so proud!!

Lindsey and her special someone, Keith! Cute, Cute, CUTE!!

Justin, Pops-Dave, Linds, Jonny, Nans-Terese, Parker, Nana-Carole, Papa-Lynn

Where Did Panda Go?

Hey Palz...

Sorry for falling off the face of the earth for like a week. I had a nasty case of the flu or food poising on Saturday night and most of the day Sunday... Umm, not my finest day and a half... (You know...it's just hard to bring yourself to do anything but lay flat in bed...) I told my sister I was so sick I didn't even feel like blogging... she said " Wow, you must really be sick!"

Haha...

Monday I woke up feeling like it never happened... well, atually by mid morning Monday... I felt my normal peppy self! Whoo- go me!!

So, stay tuned for a weekend update...

Happy Birthday Ewee!!

Emily- Today is your birthday... WE hope it's the best yet! You are an amazing Mother, Sister, Wife and Friend... you bring Joy to those around you, Especially your family! You are Strong and Beautiful, and Encourage us to be our Best. We are all better people because we have YOU in our lives!

Much LOVE and Best Birthday Wishes: J, A, C, and W

Adams Family- Birthday Girl wearing Red jacket and white scarf- Dec 2004

Emily... Just found out she's going to be an Aunt to Panda's baby!! Aug. 2004

B's graduation dinner- June 2004

A Beautiful Made of Honor, for sister Amy... Feb 2003

HeHe

75%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Happy Brithday to The BEST "Papa John" in the World!

Daddy - Daughter Dance, at my Wedding Reception:August 2002

Panda and Dad, Trying on my Bride's Mid dress for Amy's wedding, Feb 2003
B and Dad, at B's Graduation dinner, June 2004

Papa with Caitlin, June 2005 - sporting the same hair do!

Enoch's Halloween Costume: Oct 2007. He Thinks it's SO hilarious that he's not smiling... i don't get it, But I love you anyway Dad!!

**In High School he'd always try to embarrass me... esp, when i had Friends over. This one time... my buddies and i were hanging out in the basement... and He thought it would be funny to come out wearing his working boots ducked taped to these wooden 'stilts' about 2 feet high... (he made these special shoes so he could hang sheet rock on our basement, I'm still in awe, that he didn't fall and hurt himself.)

The 'joke' was: that you knew it was 'Amanda's' Dad because he was the one with the 'tall shoes' (because i had a bunch of platform shoes... to make me taller... cause in case you didn't notice... I'm pretty short.)

**There was this other time... when Justin and I first started dating... For Christmas break I flew to UT to meet his family and to visit with my family! (Grandparents, Aunt and Uncle, and Sister Amy!)

When we flew back together to the East Cost and my Dad picked us up at the Baltimore Airport... he got there early (as usual!) and parked the car. Then he was waiting for us by the baggage... he saw us.. but decided to have us 'paged' over the loud speaker...

"Will Justin and Amanda Cracroft please report to the baggage area!"

(mind you... we'd only been dating for 2 months!)

All of a sudden... we hear laughing and screaming... Good friends of ours from school were in the air port at the same time... and came running... "You got MARRIED???"

um... no!

I look back on Both of those times, and just laugh! With my Dad around there is never a dull moment!! Happy Birthday Daddy! LOVE YOU!

Yesterday Was Your Day!! (Sorry I'm slow! I'm sure you know that by now...)

Sua with Grandma Adams, Feb 2003

Sua with Caitlin, Feb 2006

Sua with Micah and Enoch, hum... not sure when that is.

Happy Birthday Uncle Sua!!

Sua married Amanda's sister Emily... He's officially the family 'baby whisperer' All the babies LOVE him... They sit play and cuddle with him all day long! And he is such a great dad! WE are so happy to you are part of our family! We LOVE You!! Hope you enjoyed your day!!