tall, tall, TALL

From Crowell Post

Last week cheery Abby and Gracie came over and whisked Elsie out the door--boots, beanie, mittens and all to catch the fresh snow and build a snowman, "tall, tall, TALL"! It was the talk of the day! We felt so much at home seeing trees, bushes, and everything blanketed in inches of snow. The day felt so cozy.
As the song goes, the sun did come out a few days later and melted our little friend, but to us he'll still be ever "tall," that snowman.

Quite at Home

From Crowell Post

Some really good friends of ours paid us a visit a couple of weeks ago and we were tickled as ever to have them! For those of you who know Angelika {Lika} or "Lee-ka" as Elsie calls her, know she has one of the most generous hearts in the world. Elsie and Spencer {and their parents} felt particularly special with the gifts she brought. Ulrich {Uli} or "Oo-lee" is quite the match--so kind and thoughtful. We always found him clearing the table or loading the dishwasher.

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We first headed to the charming seaside town of Aldeburgh. Strolled up and down the streets dotted with colorful and unique cottages.

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Elsie and I have come to really love fish & chips---Elsie should probably admit it's really the {te-patch} or ketchup she loves. Who needs a chip only dappled in the stuff? Well, not even drenched in it. After all, ketchup is so much better in it's purest form--straight from the tube. Angelika caught some classic pictures of her--in fact most of these pictures are through her lens. She really captured some fun moments.

From Crowell Post

Ulrich and Angelika were ever pleasant to host. They enjoyed seeing a bit of Woodbridge and eating lunch at the Wild Strawberry Cafe. Angelika shared a darling story about Mog, the cat with Elsie. It was nice just to relax and even play a game or two of Ticket-to Ride.

From Crowell Post

Okay, so I was totally conked-out for the second game. Like I said, Angelika is good at capturing moments in the real...or life as it is :)
Next year, we can't wait to visit Angelika & Ulrich in Germany when Nikolaus comes to visit at the beginning of December. We think Elsie and Spencer will be at the perfect age...and uh, I think I'll be at the perfect age :) to enjoy the Christmas markets. Thanks "Uli" and "Lika" for a wonderful visit. We felt quite at home with you here.

Music with Mimi

From Crowell Post

Has it really been a month since Mimi was here?! I can hardly keep up, time keeps on moving so fast! Mimi brought with her music in every step! We loved having her here. Elsie still talks about "shop-een"{shopping} and "nannies"{candies} with Mimi. Our days were filled with making cakes, going on walks, watching Disney movies, and making music. While on the train to London, Mimi would quietly sing the Halloween song, "Ooo, Ooo, this is Halloween!" in Elsie's ear. The smile on her face was quite irresistible. Thank you for making our hearts sing, Mimi!

Giving Thanks

This postcard book carries one of my favorite holidays. Thanksgiving was fun to prepare this year--especially with this incredible citrus turkey brine recipe given to me from my Uncle Steven. Elsie, Spencer, and I piped into fm100 online to some Christmas music while preparing the brine {I know it, breaking the Christmas music rules for a day!}. It was so cozy smelling all the herbs and juices fill the house! Don't be deceived--just as I went to wash and clean out the turkey, chaos began--that's how it goes right?! That was only a foreshadowing for the next day. :) Corey needed to take care of some things at work for the first half of the day, so taming two kids while preparing the food brought a whirlwind through the house. While I went to pick up the sister missionaries, the boiling pot of potatoes dried out, leaving us with "smoked" mashed potatoes and the oven randomly shut off--safety feature?! Had to wait a little longer for the turkey. Well, when all was said and done, we had a nice relaxing, savory meal.
What I love about Thanksgiving most is not only the hearty, comforting food, but talking, laughing, and being around those you love and appreciate so much. I feel like I have so much to be thankful for, my heart can't stop. It was refreshing to have the sister missionaries over for The Dinner. We take so much for granted the gospel in our lives. It is such anchor and gives us a greater understanding of our Savior and hope through Him. Amidst individual circumstances and trials it's nice to feel an overwhelming shared sense of gratitude. For this we give thanks.

Riley Rendezvous

From Crowell Post

We felt very fortunate to have Noah and Allison come stay with us here in Suffolk for a few days. Elsie wanted them to be a part of everything...including getting ready in the mornings and elephant marches like the ones in Jungle Book--to which Noah and Allison wholeheartedly participated in. We went for a lovely stroll in Dedham for some countryside views {in the fine rain--to be expected} and then checked out the Colchester {Britain's oldest town} castle--built on an ancient Roman temple. Elsie wanted to watch the movie inside the castle, but guess the film didn't grab her attention like she'd hoped for---those informational movies, maybe they should appeal to a younger audience who get their hopes up. Thanks Noah, for saving her day and entertaining her through the rest of the film.

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We ventured off to Cambridge--walked across old bridges, down cobble-stoned streets bustling with bikes, and through architecturally diverse colleges. Beautiful place, Cambridge. Again, what would the trip be like with out a whiny two year-old wanting to get out of the stroller and walk all the time accompanied by the constant stopping for a babe? Well, it didn't seem to bother Noah and Allison--they just involved Elsie in everything--games in the car, treats at a cafe, and MANY hand-in-hand walks around the city...oh, and pushed that stroller like it was their own. Beyond helpful.

From Crowell Post

That's what Noah and Allison do--help without asking. They just DO--like clear the dishwasher, wash the dishes, help prepare meals, etc. Here they come on a vacation and end up entertaining a two year-old on more than one occasion and patiently wait for a little babe and his "schedule." Noah and Allison were so helpful, I honestly think I had more of a vacation. The next morning, Elsie woke up asking for "No-ee" and "A-son." We miss you and sure loved having you.

Sunshine to our Souls

From Crowell Post

It's amazing to think it's already been two months since Spencer's birth. We were so grateful to have mom here. We can't thank her enough for all the help she gave during the first weeks of Spencer's life and such transition. It was always refreshing to see her smiling face every morning. She always seems to radiate and bring happiness into the lives of all those around her. I'm almost positive it would have rained--if not poured the day she left; but, she told me she hoped the day would be a beautiful sunny day. And it was. Thank you, Mom.

You-kay, Pen-seh

From Crowell Post

Elsie is the perfect older sister for Spencer. Despite her stepping all over him, nearly dropping him, and nearly pulling his arms off--we know she's just trying to help out. When ever he cries, we almost always hear, "You-kay, Pen-seh" {You're okay, Spencer}.
Corey captured this picture with his iPhone {who needs a DSLR anyway}. It's fun to capture a moment when Elsie says, "Love you. Pen-seh."

Ooo, Ooo....

From Crowell Post

Elsie was all over Halloween this year and Mimi helped make her fairy dreams come true! Elsie loved getting in her "Tinkerbell" costume with the adorable tulle skirt, head garland, wand, and all. She loved handing out candy {we were delighted to have at least 30 trick-or-treaters---as it is becoming a more popular holiday here}, but was a little hesitant with the older ones in their scary costumes.
Her favorite part of Halloween were the "punkins." She would have carried them all if she could have. Definitely an October baby.
The treats in the bucket were a hit...and she was sure to share them with "Pen-sah" {Spencer}--her little mushroom friend whose head was already too big for the make-shift top from a Santa hat. :) We tried. Happy Halloween folks!

Happy Birthday 2 Elsie

From Crowell Pos

The 28th of October brought the celebration of our little Elsie turning TWO! The fact that Elsie arched her back, spilled her water all over the floor, and threw a fit about getting in the car told me yes, she is a two year-old.
Okay, so she was really tired and worn out when that happened--I can't be too hard on her. She really is a sweetie and is very polite about things. She would have me read to her all afternoon if she could. Elsie loves her pizza, "faffles" (waffles in a sandwich maker because we don't have a waffle-maker here), "fizzy" (Orangina), grapes, oranges, and yes...her choice of cereal, bran and oats. Her all time favorite may always be "choc-at."
We were lucky to have Mimi--Corey's mom--here for Elsie's special day. We walked into Woodbridge to shop for "nannies" (candies) to dress up the castle cake (which wouldn't have been here without Mimi). Her eyes just lit up when Mimi walked her into the candy shop.
After some pizza, the birthday song, and a wish or two, Elsie could finally open the gifts displayed since she woke up that morning. Did you ever guess a two year-old could have that much patience? Good, because she opened three gifts that morning and we left the house for most of the day to detour the rest from being opened. :) I do have to say that only an opened three is pretty good.
Oh, Elsie...you really are a good-natured sweetheart and we love you to bits. Happy Birthday, darling girl.

Pretty Bow-ed

From Crowell Post

Elsie decided she was pretty bored with the way mom had been doing her hair, so she hit the new in style: Wear all the pretty bows as you possibly can. There's gotta be at least one of those colors that matches the outfit. I wasn't going to argue--so I took a picture instead. Next time you're bored with a hair style, you might want to consider Elsie's consultation first. :)

Two Weeks

It's amazing to think that Spencer is officially three weeks old already! We took a few pictures of him last Sunday before conference and he was pretty pleased (except for the time when the basket tipped over--boy did he ever give me a scowl). He really is such a good little sleeper--only cries when he needs to eat or have a nappy change. Elsie likes to be a helper in that department. I soon have to tell her that it's not okay to wipe Spencer's little head with the same wipe she's just used for his bottom. Gotta sharpen this learning curve with Miss E when it comes to changing diapers and helping Spencer with the Soothie. We'll get there. We all just love this little guy.

A Sunday Morning

From Crowell Post

A couple of Sundays ago Spencer decided he wanted to have a friendly boxing match with his sister. She thought it was pretty hilarious. He didn't quite know what to think though when she thought it was fun to kiss the gloves coming at her.

Just One Week Ago..

It's amazing to think little Spencer is already one week old. In honor of the huge event, we put a few pictures together recounting his miraculous entrance into this world!

Right at Home

From Crowell Post

Yes, it’s true--Corey and my mom helped deliver this baby boy....in our living room! He was born at 11:40pm on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
I started feeling contractions on Friday morning and thought we’d better head to the hospital. I decided to jump in the shower and get ready to go. Well, the shower seemed to calm things down and the contractions weren’t as strong or steady.
So now what? Well, I decided to go about the day as I normally would. My mom helped me to clean the house (always faster, funner, and cleaner). I was still feeling infrequent contractions.
At lunch time, my mom suggested timing and writing down contractions. So from 12:30 until 4:30--I timed contractions at 10 minutes apart and getting stronger. Every now and again, I’d have some pretty strong back contractions.
Corey and I decided it was time to head for the hospital. My mom prepared some sandwiches in case the babe came in the middle of the night and we were hungry (the hospital doesn’t have food on hand that late).
We took pictures and my mom and Elsie waved us off. I called the hospital to tell them we were on our way. The midwife on the other line asked if my water had broken or if there was any bleeding. She said I could take a pain reliever and might want to wait to come in. After I told her how fast my delivery was with Elsie, she said she thought the hospital could make room for me as they were “quite busy at the moment.” Now way confused, I kept second-guessing myself and asking Corey if we should still go. He told me not to worry about what the midwife said on the phone.
The nurses welcomed me into a delivery suite and after a half-hour or so, they hooked me up to the monitors. We watched my contractions--still 10 minutes apart. Dilation--only a three. Disappointment was an understatement. Although, I dilated extremely fast with Elsie, so a three at the moment didn’t really mean anything.
After about an hour, the midwife suggested I go to a different ward (part of the hospital) to wait things out and see how they progress.
By the time 9pm rolled around, I was tired of being at the hospital. I told the midwives I felt like I could go home; only now they wouldn’t let me go. They worried that if things progressed through the night, my “waters could go” (that’s how they say it here) and then the babe would be there any second.
So, I stayed the night and Corey slept at a nearby hotel to be “right there” (the hospitals here don’t usually accommodate husbands). I didn’t sleep the best with contractions here and there throughout the night. By 6am, I was really ready to go home. After the rounds of nurses, midwives, and doctors--I finally was released at about 11am. Contractions just weren’t as consistent (or maybe I made myself believe this, just so I could be home). Corey picked me up and we even stopped to get a couple of things at the store.
It was nice to be welcomed at home by my mom and Elsie. We had lunch together and all took naps. After a few video chats, my mom and I made dinner and then we all went for a walk. I was feeling stronger contractions now, but again--not consistent. We bathed Elsie and put her to bed. My mom helped me bake a cake for a dinner invitation by some ward members for the next day.
I decided to go to bed early--I was exhausted from the night before. I lost the mucous plug--but knew that really wasn’t a strong indication to head to the hospital again, since you could lose the thing a day or so before you go into strong labor (sorry if that was too graphic). Still had tight contractions and my back ached like nothing else; but I just shrugged them off as not important--especially with what happened earlier. I set all the hospital bags out, “just in case.” Fell asleep.
I woke up from a HUGE pop and knew my water broke. How I slept through some of the strongest contractions and dilation I have no idea. My only rationale is that I was exhausted from the night before.
I leaped out of bed and headed to the bathroom, but froze standing still with a STRONG contraction--so strong, I yelled probably the most horrifying, painful yell. I think I was more bugged over the fact that I now had woken up Elsie than the fact that the entire lower half of my body was trembling. I knew his head was crowning. Corey dropped the spoon from his bowl of cereal (while following the final minutes of the BYU game) and leaped up the stairs and at my side in a heartbeat. My mom came rushing in immediately after. Helping me get my pants on to go to the hospital, my mom guided me through the door and down the stairs. I was breathing so hard I couldn’t even think. I stopped again half way down the stairs, gripped the railing with one hand and the window sill in the other with another strong contraction and said, “Call an ambulance! Call an ambulance!” He scrambled around me and dialed “999” or 911 as we know it at home.
My mom guided me into the living room (at this point I could barely even walk). Clenching both her arms and trembling like I never knew I could, I told her I knew the baby’s head was right there. She threw some large couch cushions on the floor and said, “Alisa lay down right here!” I said, “No, I can’t!”--only because I was having ANOTHER contraction. “Alisa, you NEED to lay down!” my mom said again.
My mom finally said to Corey, “The baby’s head is here! The baby’s head is here!” Once Corey realized there was no way we were going to make it to the hospital, the phone was immediately on speaker and he was right at mom’s side.
My mom instantly unwrapped the cord from around the baby’s neck and the paramedic on the line said to have me push as hard as I could with the next contraction to help the shoulders come through. I never felt so helpless in my life. With all the faith I could ever have and sincerest prayer I could ever offer, I pushed and pleaded with Heavenly Father for help. Miraculously, the shoulders came through along with the legs and everything else.
My mom set the baby on my tummy. Corey scrambled for towels and handed a pile of clean dishtowels to my mom so they could first wipe off the mouth and nose of the baby and then the body--all directed by the paramedic. I told Corey to grab more clean towels from upstairs. My mom wrapped the baby in a nice clean, white towel to keep him warm. “You’re doing lovely. You’re doing lovely,” the sweet paramedic would say.
Corey ran out to wave Andy, the paramedic down. Andy was on his way to another call and was only five minutes away. Relief...for us anyway. The confidence he carried totally overshadowed the anxiousness he really felt because there was no midwife. Walky-talky exchanges were made concluding that the nearest ambulance was an hour away. Andy phoned for a midwife, then clamped and let Corey cut the umbilical cord.
Sarah, the blonde cheery midwife smiled as she walked in! Sigh of relief number two--and for Andy this time, too. She immediately asked if I’d delivered the placenta (a major concern). I was told by Andy to wait until the midwife came as she’d have an injection to speed the delivery of the placenta. Sarah helped situate little Spencer in Corey’s arms, and had me sit on the toilet to see if gravity would help the thing come. Nothing. She suggested we try the injection--which I was against, only because I wanted to see if my body could do it naturally and not be interfered by any medication. As she left the bathroom to get the drug, I felt a contraction. There it was--the placenta. It was much bigger than I thought. It is the oddest looking thing, but tells a lot: Potential complications for the mother due to missing pieces, detects kidney disease, and clarifies the blood type of the baby (which happened to be B-, just like me---thank heavens). No shot this time (or like I did with Elsie).
After delivering the placenta, I felt worlds of relief. Spencer was then measured, weighed, and given a vitamin K shot. He ate like a champ, was bundled up, and given a little beanie from Andy.
While the crew enjoyed the now “Birth Day” chocolate bundt cake my mom and I’d made earlier, I took a nice long shower--at home (and then ate cake).
Said our dearest thank you’s, gave hugs, and watched Sarah leave. There we were--all five of us--at home.
To think a baby had been born only 3 hours earlier--right there in our living room. We all processed the story over the next day. Still am processing it all.
A series of miracles were witnessed that night. A baby’s birth is a miracle in itself. With the given circumstances, every detail went as smooth as it ever could. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to express the deep gratitude and reverence we’ll forever feel in our hearts. Thank you for letting us feel right at Home, sweet Spencer.

From Crowell Post

To the Zoo! To the Zoo!

From Crowell Post

A Saturday or two a go, we made a trip to the Colchester Zoo and oh did Elsie feel right at home! She quickly made the best of friends with all the animals.

From Crowell Post

Elsie's favorite were the lions. This lady lion was quite interested in Elsie...okay, maybe it was the cookie. The lion would paw the glass for seconds at a time and Elsie would throw her head back just laughing away.

From Crowell Post

The tigers were exciting, too.

From Crowell Post

Maybe not as exciting as feeding the elephant.

From Crowell Post

Or even jumping around with the monkeys.
I'm sure we'll be visiting the zoo again sometime soon!

Crabbing

From Crowell Post

Elsie and I drove to Warbleswick with the SatNav (that's what they call a GPS here). Actually, we typed in "Ferry Road" and it took us up and around--past Warbleswick to Southwold. Arriving to the "destination," we realized we were on the opposite side (Southwold) of the river/harbor. I look across the way and see a bunch of people with buckets and strings dangling in the water. Continuing on this "Ferry Road" we found a row boat to take us across the river for 80p (pence). We parked the car, cleared any potential tickets, and headed to the dock. Elsie was way excited to get on the boat (not sure if it was the boat itself or the fact that a dog was going to ride on it with us). Total travel time across the river: 98 seconds. Not bad if you ask me. So maybe the wind had something to do with that. :)

From Crowell Post

We met some of the primary kids who'd already caught buckets of crabs. Elsie sort of leaned her head forward, barely peering into the bucket of crabs. The closer I leaned her toward the water in the bucket, the further she pushed herself away.
Long story short--it took about a half-hour or so before she'd actually really look inside the buckets or nets full of crabs. We learned to put bacon in nylons, tie the nylon to some string, and then cast it into the water.
You have to sit there for a minute or two before slowly reeling the string in. Our little friends from the ward were quick to grab a net and catch our crab before it slipped off the nylon. Elsie and I caught 2 for the day and that was plenty for Ms. E.
The truth of it is, Elsie was more excited about all the dogs on the docks and kites in the sky than the crabs. In any case--it was a gorgeous day and we couldn't believe how packed the harbor was with crabbers (if that's what you call people who crab)!
That's the crab story.

All About Aldeburgh

From Crowell Post

A couple of weeks ago, we headed up to Aldeburgh to hit the famous fish & chips shop. It was worth waiting. The line in the picture was actually much longer than our wait...thank goodness.

From Crowell Post

Before the lanterns were lit up, Elsie had fun clapping to the music and watching the dancers in the center of town.

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Once the clock hands reached 8:30pm, the crowd started pulling out their matches and lighting up their lanterns. It was beautiful to say the least. The crowd paraded down main street to the beach where they were greeted by fireworks. We didn't get to stay for the big show, but hopefully next year we'll get to welcome the parade and fireworks right on the sea side.

Gracie, Oh Playmate

From Crowell Post

Elsie's sweet blue-eyed, curly-blond-haired friend certainly puts a huge smile on Elsie's face whenever we get together. Sally and Abby, Gracie's grandma and mom invited us over for a play date and boy did these girls (well, particularly Elsie) love the stairs. I don't blame them. Who wouldn't want to play on this fun, red, spiral staircase!

From Crowell Post

Like a sunny day, these three ladies always put smiles on our faces and are ever pleasant to be around. We never want to leave them.

Out to Lunch

From Crowell Post

What greater way to test out the British-headquartered restaurant chain than to eat in London itself--especially with some great company {thank you, Burtons}.
Wagamama supposedly = "selfish" in Japanese. We sort of think each of us selfishly indulged in some really great ramen and noodles at lunch that day.

Only, the Music Never Stopped....

From Crowell Post

It was apparent at the Ipswich Primary Campout (maybe because all the chairs were missing or ended up in front of a different tent) that Elsie LOVED the little chairs! Yes, she did like the songs, the fire that went "snap," and even the sugar that made the fire go "woosh"; but, the chairs just won her little heart. She was quite content--especially when she found a perfect fit.

London = Choo! Choo!

From Crowell Post

How delightful it is to meet up with friends in London! We told Elsie we were going to London and she instantly said, "Choo! Choo!" So there you have it. Truth be told it is faster, cheaper, and funner to ride the train into the city than by car. We pulled into Liverpool Station and set off for some sightseeing with Mark & Rachel. We are positive they could have seen more of the sights without us, but we enjoyed every minute of our time with them.

From Parliament and Westminster to Kensington Gardens for a picture with Peter Pan and a walk along the Thames--we'd have to say that summer is truly a splendid time to see London. Of course, it would only be appropriate to top it off with an ice cream cone--and daintily eaten at that. Maybe Elsie is absorbing a little more of the proper English culture than we realized. :)

From Crowell Post

From Crowell Post

With Toy Story 3's debut here in the UK, we thought we'd hit the theater opening night! In previous weeks, Elsie came to just love "Woo-ya," aka Woody. I turned on Toy Story one time--thought it would be a nice deviation from the overly-watched episode of Elmo--while I was cleaning the house. To my surprise, she watched the entire movie and was still sitting her same spot--glued to the screen!
So, we headed to the downtown Woodbridge Riverside Theater for a matinee. It was perfect. Small theater. A handful of people. Yes, only a handful on an early Monday evening (we know this would not have been the case in Utah, let alone the States for a show opening).
It's too bad the 30 minutes of previews zapped Elsie's attention midway through the actual show. I guess the beginning and ending parts of the film will have to do for Miss E. Then again, the fact she was tickled to see Woody, eat almost an entire bag of popcorn, and see a movie with Daddy and Mama was a treat in itself.

Friends with Picasso

From Crowell Post

Elsie has been all over painting these days. She still initially calls it, "ca-la" (color), but then repeatedly says, "paint" throughout the project. Thank heavens for washable paint! Even though the end product is a fine wash of mixed colors, it is still a masterpiece.

Going Home

From Crowell Post

This has been one of our favorite outings yet. Our Stake Relief Society planned a picnic and a session this last Saturday--we decided to make a family trip out of it. After the morning drive to the temple, Corey did some temple work while Elsie and I picnicked with the sisters and then Corey and I swapped. Elsie walked around and chatted with all the sisters as if she were with some dear friends. She said "hi" and waved to anyone walking on temple grounds. It was like she was very familiar with this "new" territory. One of the most relaxing and comfortable feelings was to simply walk around the temple grounds all together. We felt at home.

From Crowell Post

el chocolat

From Crowell Post

A tradition on my mom's side of the family on the Fourth is to have crepes filled with cottage cheese and topped with blueberry and strawberry jam with a dab of sour cream in the middle--creating the patriotic red, white, and blue---for America that is. :) We decided to make a few crepes with some chocolate. What do you say to your kid when they say, "cho-cho, cho-cho" over and over again? I still vote for the traditional family crepe, but it looks like Nutella wins--at least in Elsie's book.

From Crowell Post

Boy did we celebrate! We'd heard from some members that we should check out a grocery store carrying some American goods. We were sort of expecting to see some "Jell-o" brands, Goldfish, or even Fruit Loops; but, what we saw were "typical" American foods all in red/white/blue packaging. We we're kind of surprised as to what was "typical": Package of 6 pre-cooked pancakes, bottled hotdogs, pancake shake-up mix, cinnamon-toast crunch cereal, various spices for BBQ-ing (Cajun, Texas, etc.), flavored syrups for the pancakes, boxed apple and cherry pie mixes, and...well, I think I've covered it. So the pie mixes, cereal, seasonings, and syrups weren't so bad...but the bottle hot dogs and pre-cooked pancakes??? :) We were happy to buy some Reeses--both the Cups and Pieces. Elsie held tight to her package of Pieces until they were gone (which lasted maybe ten minutes).

After our "outing" we came home, grilled some burgers, and lit sparklers with a huge hurrah. Well, we could only find like 4-inch ones. They must have been safety sparklers because a match wouldn't light those little guys--we had to run in the house and use the gas stove to light them. Needless to say, we hope our neighbors didn't think we were crazy Americans--dashing back and forth from the kitchen to the back--all in celebration of something they don't particularly pay attention to. :) But hey, we wanted to celebrate. So, we tried to celebrate big--even if the glory/stars and stripes only lasted for a few seconds.

Happy 4th.

Here's to a Splendid Six

From Crowell Post

Six years? No, this happened yesterday! Corey has never failed to make me smile and laugh in our marriage. We celebrated big by helping at a stake service activity! :) One sister--to whom Corey and I look up to--offered us a couple of extra bottles of water. As she was doing so, she said she'd wished we could have met her "Pete" who passed away within this last year. She said she loved his dry humor and that he was fun to be around, but even more so, he was quite the gentleman. As we walked away, I felt so empty when I thought about what my life would be like without Corey! He always makes me laugh, is always a gentleman, and always makes me want to be a better person. Here's to a truly, splendid six.

At the Beach

From Crowell Post

How we love the beach in Cadiz! Elsie definitely took her time walking towards the water and was certainly skeptical at first. Once she dipped her toes in the water a few times and discovered how to make sand castles with her beach bucket, she was a happy girl. The sandy toes weren't quite her fancy, so washing them off in the water felt nice. She must have stared at the waves for a few minutes or so continually saying, "Wa-wa, wa-wa." When we returned to our friends' home, they asked her what she did that day and of course she answered with, "Wa-wa."
How can anyone forget a day at the beach in Cadiz.

A Visit to Cadiz

From Crowell Post

It was so nice to visit Cadiz and enjoy it all together. Elsie was her normal self and enjoyed talking to every dog we passed on the streets. She would crouch down and bob her little head back and forth telling each dog about how her walk was going. Each dog's owner was so friendly and kind to Elsie. It seems like every Gaditano (person from Cadiz) we meet is friendly. How we love Cadiz! The people smile, the sun shines, and the food is delicious. Cadiz, Cadiz....

I Often Go Walking

From Crowell Post

Elsie just LOVES to go for walks. She simply can't leave without her stroller, i.e., pram, push-chair, buggy, etc. Both baby dolls (at least one for sure) accompany her, if not her doggie. Of course we can't leave out the purse.

a new post

From Crowell Post

The Crowell Family has begun a new post--The Crowell Post. As we've started afresh here in England we wanted to do something new and exciting. So, we've decided to send a postcard every week.
This week's postcard is one of relief. We are settled in...and we love it. We love being settled in and we love it here in Woodbridge. So, it is generally green here, but all the trees, bushes, and plants have really taken color. It is glorious! We have lots of trails around our home and Elsie LOVES to go for walks. There are plenty of dogs, birds, and bunnies to keep her entertained for hours. It really is quite lovely.

April Showers Bring May Flowers...

{A cliche very much true for the Crowells}.

While we were in Spain, we sent our passports to CA to complete all our visa work. Well, while they were in transit, the embassy in CA called Corey to make sure he'd sent all our biometric info. Corey was a little confused as the

{embassy never mentioned biometric info BEFORE we left the States}.

We completely understood we would be able to send our passports to CA from a foreign country, i.e., Spain. We asked the embassy if we could complete our biometric info from Spain--to which they clearly said no. The biometric info needed to be taken care of within our country of residence. Perfect. Now we needed our passports to fly back to the US, but the only problem was they were already arriving to CA.

{That weekend we just prayed our passports could turn around asap}

and arrive IN our hands BEFORE Spain's Holy Week started. This would require a miracle. That Wednesday EVERYTHING would be closing down for the holiday.
For some reason, that very same weekend, Elsie started drooling like CRAZY. At first I thought her teeth were coming in, but there was WAY too much drooling going on. Her mouth was half open and the poor girl would not eat a thing. She would not let me put her down. So, we decided to take Elsie to the hospital. No passports.
We showed up to the after-hours clinic with lots of other little sickies--the perfect place for hanging out for a couple of hours. Anyway, the hospital let us through thanks to our friends/hosts and diagnosed

{Elsie with cankers of the mouth. A virus. I felt horrible.}

They were all under her tongue and spread throughout her lower gums. How did I miss this?! The poor thing could only take ibuprofen and an oral gel to numb the pain.
Well, Tuesday brought Elsie nasal congestion and Wednesday conjuctivitus. Wednesday did, however, bring some good news--the passports were in transit to Jerez (30 min. from Cadiz). We drove to pick up the valuable booklets an hour before FedEx closed. This meant we

{could be home for Easter Weekend!! Most importantly, Elsie could see a doctor.}

Thursday morning I had to pull out the warm washcloth and everything---Elsie's eyes were sealed shut. She needed eyedrops. The only problem was, everything was closed down. I also went to change Miss E's diaper and realized she only had 4 diapers left. Like this was going to fly--literally. So, I took Elsie out for a walk. We looked in EVERY Chinese/Arab bazaar. Everything (pads, T.P., and even diaper wipes) BUT diapers were to be found. Thinking I would have no other option, I ended up buying night pads and thought I could at least put those in her diapers to spare the only four I had. Well, I finally

{saw a pharmacy with it's door half open.}

I poked my head in and immediately saw a package of size 4 diapers. I asked the pharmacist if they were open. He told me they were for sure closed--everything was closed. Like I was some dumb foreinger or something. :) I told him my story. No go. He was NOT going to sell me diapers. Fortunately, another man in the pharmacy (who maybe was helping with inventory or something) told me there were diapers at the gas station.

{Entered the gas station.}

Yay diapers!! Like 20 of them....for 27 Euros. Ya right. I commented to a woman next to me--buying yogurt, baby food, and baby formula--how ridiculous it was to pay that much for diapers. She whole-heartedly agreed. I then told her my story. I was SO relieved to hear that there was ONE pharmacy open and only a 20 min. walk away.

{Elsie and I were off. Bought the diapers. Bought the antibiotic. We were set.}

After 24 hours of travel, we were warmly greeted by family. Elsie was relieved to find herself so comfortable at home.

The next morning Corey and I took Miss E to the pediatrician. Elsie had an

{ear infection in BOTH ears. No wonder the poor girl couldn't get comfortable on the flights! Corey and I were both surprised she didn't scream the entire way.}

Needless to say, we are here at home for a couple of weeks. Our biometric appointment lasted an entire half-hour. :) At any rate, our visas are for sure being completed in CA and will be mailed to us in a couple of weeks. The laptop is STILL in the UK, so pictures may not be coming for a bit. Long story, but I had to write it down before it slipped my mind.

{We had some showers--at times it felt like it was pouring. Flowers are blooming--we're here with family, Elsie is healthy & happy, and we will finally have visas for England.}

March Madness...beginning in January :)

Well, these last few months have really flown by and it´s incredible just how much can happen such a short time.
We had the amazing opportunity of attending an Indian Wedding in Jaipur. It was one of the most royal events we´ve ever witnessed. I have yet to sift through literally thousands of pictures of not only the wedding events, but of the sites throughout the "Golden Triangle"---including the Taj. That will be a HUGE project, but pictures WILL come. :) From India, Corey and I connected in Paris where I continued on to Salt Lake (awesome direct flight via Delta) and Corey on to Venzuela for work.
During the two weeks Corey was in Venezuela, I spent the first week out sleeping as often as I could trying to rid myself of Mr. Jetlag and a "Delhi Belly." It found both Corey and me the last meal we ate---at the airport. :( I spent the second week getting together boxes and suitcases while also delineating between various international moving companies. We figured out tbe best solution the day before we flew out. Thank goodness.
Because the plan was to meet Corey in the UK, my mom graciously flew with Elsie and me to the UK with one stop in JFK. Elsie did really well on the first leg, but was quite awake during the second to England. Naturally she fell asleep an hour before we landed--just as everyone is waking up and the flight attendants come through with breakfast and drinks. Both my mom and I took turns walking up and down the isles, reading book after book, and playing any game we could think of. Ohh Elsie....the little darlin´. She really did quite well, though--at least she wasn´t screaming.

We landed in the London-Heathrow Airport where Corey picked us up along with our 6 pieces of luggage (including some clubs and a Pack-and-Play). We then drove for and hour and half to Melton-Woodbridge where our lovely home was waiting for us. We really lucked out in stumbling upon this charming little place. There are a couple of smaller parks just for children 3 years old and under. It is absolutely delightful. It´s also next door to a couple of golf courses (for all you golf lovers). The town of Woodbridge is very English with some unique little shops. The new library in the center of town is calling for Elsie that is for sure. We can´t wait to get settled in.
For all those who dislike fish & chips, we may have found a little shack that might change your mind. Woodbridge is near the ocean so the cod is fresh and the batter is not nearly as thick as something you might buy in London. Order the fish with vinegar and salt--it makes a difference.
Our stay in Woodbridge was short--one night to be exact for we were off to Cadiz, Spain to attend a friend´s wedding. They were married civilly in the government center and then it was up to Madrid (6 hours away) where our friends were to be sealed in the Madrid Temple. Thanks to Mom DeYoung, we both were able to attend the sealing.
A couple of days later, we sent Mom DeYoung off to Utah and then we flew on to England. After a stop at IKEA (which of course lasted at least 2-3 hours) for kitchen/bed/bath needs and a bite to eat, we headed for "home." We found a fridge and were very excited to fill it. Our first homemade meal tasted like it was sent from heaven. Actually, our first bowl of cereal with milk tasted like the best thing we´d eaten in a long time. :)
So now we are visiting some friends in Cadiz, Spain for a couple of weeks while Corey works on a company project. Needless to say, Elsie barks at every dog we see (meaning multiple in one minute) and loves to eat napolitanas (yummy chocolate pastries) and magdalenas (mini muffins). Elsie loves playing games with our friends´kids--especially peek-a-boo. We felt at home with a nice homemade puchero (tasty soup), rice with meat, and lentejas (lentils). Of course you can´t leave out the fried fish nor the jamon serrano (cured ham). I was quite disappointed--that´s an understatement--then my friend told me I couldn´t eat the jamon serrano because I´m pregnant (3 1/2 months to be exact--and I consider myself lucky with it being March and all, that I went almost my entire first trimester without knowing I was really pregnant)! The weather is perfect--sunny skies with an ocean breeze. Oh how we love Cadiz. There you have it--all madness. :)

This March Madness has surely included some incredible star players:

My husband--who has planned almost every detail you can think of--flights, hotels, car rentals, apartment rentals, places to eat and stay--you name it. He´s a perfect travel agent. He has the MOST patience out of anyone I´ve seen. Not once did he lose his temper--even after we got a 50 pound ticket after going to a Riverdance show on St. Patrick´s Day (a surprise from Corey), backed into a square pillar with our rental car, watched a rock ding the windshield of the same car, broke the only screw to our fridge while changing the hinges from the right to the left side, bonked his head pretty hard on the door frame after picking up a tool, and....well, I know I´m forgetting something. He never got after Elsie--especially as she was a great helper while fixing the fridge. I thought I had patience. I was GREATLY humbled to say the least.

Miss Elsie Jayne--who has hopped back and forth from country to country, flight to flight, new place to new place without much complaining. A couple of times she´s wanted to sleep with us at night insteadof her crib, but she´s dones really well overall. I was worried about her adapting to all of this change. Truthfully, I think she´s adapted to it all much quicker than I have.

Our family and friends--who have give much time to help us get boxes and luggage prepared for shipment. Many helped with laundry, cooked meals, and watched Elsie while I prepared to move. Corey´s parents prepared the nicest meal for Elsie and me just before we left. It was so nice to be with them. Family is everything and we are filled with gratitude.

Through all of this March Madness I feel like the only glue that has held us together is the gospel. It is constant. It is an anchor during waves of dramatic change. Eventhough we´ve gone from place to place, the gospel remains the same. The routine of personal and family prayer has made all the difference. Granted we had a share of missed prayers and they were definitely noted. Attending church has also been such a spiritual boost. Corey found a meeting house every Sunday and boy did it feel like going home every time we walked into a meeting house. The gospel is real. We are so grateful.

It´s been a really "lucky" month! Everything has fallen into place as needed. I feel like Corey is always lucky--it´s a good thing I´m married to him. :) We hope the luck keeps coming for everyone!

"Christmas Time {Was} Here"

Even though the holidays flew by, there were many highlights: Lights at Temple Square, Luminarias at Leavitt's Mortuary {over 6,000 luminarias representing the lives of loved ones passed}, playing in the Nutcracker--always timeless, a tie skirt made by my darling Lori, an Assorted Course Dinner at the DeYoung's {we each drew courses and brought our favorites}, and of course all the festivities on Christmas Eve and Day. It is always a blessing to be around family for the holidays.