My Girls are Growing Up - a Reflection of May 2009

As May has come to an end, it has been a monumental month for the Craven family. Although ashamed to admit that my 4 1/2 year old still even had a passy, we gave it up this month. It was a teary moment for both Jeff and I. Not because we were so attached to it, but because little Bethy was so brave and it marked a milestone -- our little girl was growing up. It was just the first of many moments in her life that we as parents will be so proud of her -- and she won't even necessarily know. We took her to Build-a Bear and had her put it inside a special bear. Then she would have a memento that carried with it something so important to her from her babyhood. Additionally, right around the corner Cindy will be two. I looked at her today with all that spunk and tenacityand realized she is not a baby anymore....she is a toddler. She invents her own games, speaks her own little mind, and asserts herself to all those around her. She is sweet as can be, but adds a little spice to everyone's life:-). We love our girlies so much! Everyday we are so proud of them. Sad to see the milestones pass, but always looking forward to what new experiences they will bring to us!

Vegas

We just got back from Vegas....we had a blast at our favorite little spot Sam's Town. It feels so good to get away - even if only for a few days. We had fabulous weather, enjoyed the pool, and the many attractions. Beth is becoming quite the brave little "swimmer." Cindy prefers to sit on a lounge chair or on a step....quite a difference from the dare devil we had last summer. By the end of the trip they were tired and ready to come home - we should have some great naps and early bedtimes in store!

Beth's First "Real" Haircut

With summer approaching and the impending arrival of Baby Howie.....we took Beth for her first real haircut. Mornings had become a major struggle, and with the heat we thought she would be much more comfortable with shorter hair! So far so good......my favorite quote when she was getting her cut....."Wow Mom....Now I am like Grandma Sally with all of my clips!" She was thoroughly exctied! Here is a during and after shot!

The Men's Den

For all of you that have been wondering how Baby Howie's Nursery would turn out...here are some pictures. Jeff put his soul into this room and achieved amazing results. We were both sad to see Beth's room become transformed (it doesn't even look like the same space)...it was the first room we ever did for our children - and tearing it down brought back many memories. I took pictures of the same corners - looks pretty different. We are both excited as our family continues to grow and change. Beth and Cindy are adjusting pretty well to their shared room -- Cindy thinks it is AWESOME and Beth thinks it is fun some of the time.

May in Beautiful Flag

As each winter comes to an end, I am greeted by the wonderful weather of the beautiful May days we have here in Flagstaff. As we travel around our beautiful town, I hear the echoes of neighbors.....my that was a long winter. Indeed it was, but we made it and are now enjoying the beautiful pre-summer days. Windows open, screen door open, shorts on, flip-flops on...This is definitely my favorite month in beautiful Flagstaff. Our resident nature lover is fully enjoying this time of year too! He once again bought the girls catterpillars that hatched into butterflies over the last month. We let them go in our yard yesterday. Here are Jeff and his girls releasing them into our front yard.

Front Door Birdies

As it turns out, I don't get to have my front door open as much as I would like. A little birdie decided to make a nest in my winter wreath, which will also be up for the foreseeable future. It sure does add to the feeling of spring watching the mama bird care for her babies.