the 5th Birthday Party

"The party was just so awesome" said Crewe Palmer to his parents. He didn't even know that he was having party until 1 hour before the party. And even then he went and stood by the car at 9am.  17 kids age 7-1 years old. Bouncing, karaoke, air hockey playing, rock wall climbing, bowling, and more. Followed by pizza and a cake AND by Crewe saying, "I really don't like the middle of this cake."

The Missing

The missing....tooth.

And making cookies. 

Good life.

Crewe turned 2

2005, Crewe turned 5. I still can't get my camera to download. So we will be vintage for awhile. I need my brothers help. annoying. We are getting ready for a birthday party tomorrow. Wish us luck.

Lost Tooth

My computer is having issues and won't let me download any more pictures to my iphoto. AH!!! So until I can figure this out, blogs with out pictures. Suck.

Anyway.......

Crewe lost his first tooth (insert the cutest pictures of him) yesterday. I cried when he came and showed me his prize. He was so excited and proud. I was so overwhelmed at my little boy growing up. I still like to say, "We just had a baby....." and I am referring to him. Crewe will be 5 years old next week. 5. 

We moved to CA when I was pregnant with Crewe.

Crewe learned to walk when he was 16 months old. He also started sleeping in a bed and gave up his pacifiers that same month.

We bought our Volvo in September 2003. It is still the car we drive.

We took Crewe to Europe when he was 6 months old.

We left Crewe when he was 2 and went  to Europe by ourselves.

 

Crewe has more hair than anyone I know. He HATES haircuts and has hated them since his first haircut around 9/10 months.

Crewe is kind, thoughtful and amazing. He is so very funny and has attitude. How can he be five?

Maxine, the Toothfairy came to visit him last night. He came into our room around 5:30am to report that she left him quarters!!! See, he is still such a little kid. The Toothfairy didn't leave him quarters, they were dollars. Good thing he still needs his mom to straighten him out.

what?

This is the cover of one of my favorite books. The Hard cover. Normal.

The paperback is now out and take a look. What the crap?

A Very fun Weekend

I can't get my photos to upload. Ahhhh! So I will post about our fabulous weekend when I can back the blah up with a few shots. Instead check out the updated bookblog here.  And feel free to leave comments.

PS. Crewe is wanting to take a shower right now. He just asked me to come and change the weather for him. 

Do you think he means temperature?

Sorry, To My People

Enjoying Pinkberry***March 2008

I know, I have not blogged. A sin if you want your people to be loyal to you. I know, you may have even quit checking my blog. BUT in the off chance you are reading this......let's chat.

 

We have had a boring week around here. Don't tell Crewe that I said, b-o-r-i-n-g or I would be busted. So I am digging to the bottom of the barrel to give the haps around the Palmer household.

1. We discovered a Pinkberry, rip off, Blush. We went as a family on Saturday and then Rich and I went by ourselves on Tuesday. So good. Around 160 cal and no fat. Oh and it is organic too but I don't really care about that.

2. I read, Breaking Dawn. The last book in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Can I say that I read Twilight before it was BIG and you had to wear a lame (Team Edward) t-shirt to like the book?

3. The kids and I went to Ikea. I had visions of buying frames, lamps, a birthday gift. Instead I bought new laundry bins (the reason for the trip) and napkins. Napkins. Since we were all the way in Emeryville (Oakland) we also went to our favorite cupcake place,  The Teacake Bake Shop and spent $20 on cupcakes. Rich's cupcake is still sitting in the box on the table. What the crap?

4. Baby Dayne is teething. It has been so long since she has been working on teeth that I forgot how awful it is. She has a fever and a crazy runny nose. And is biting. You should see the bite marks on Crewe's back. It looks like he has a crazy latin lover.

5. We are going to the Delta for the weekend. We are staying in the cabin Friday and Saturday night. A first for us, staying over, and we are excited. Friends are coming up on Saturday and  we have plans to read, play games, BBQ and of course wake board. Or in my case, read People magazine on the boat while others ski.

So I will try to blog again when I return from a weekend at the River. 

More MT

I don't have a lot of funny stories or wit tonight. I have been working on this post for days.  So let's just say. Here are more pictures from our trip. I have had a TERRIBLE time recovering from this trip. I have had vacation depression pretty bad. My kids are JUST getting back on schedule but they are still missing my parents. We had a great, great time. Thanks Mom and Dad.

Part 2

1. Crewe took swim lessons in Montana. He did so well and made HUGE improvements.

2. We went to Zoo Montana. They have a tiger, a otter, a bear, chickens, bunnies, goats, porky pine, deer, and a Red Panda.

3. I petted a horse. Me no likey horses.
4. Dayne was deathly afraid of the dogs. It took her 4 days to finally not freak out every time they walked in the room. A few more days, and she would pet them with her feet. ON the LAST day she would pet them. Good girl.

5. Since I keep getting questions about Rich let me expand. Rich did not come to MT at all. The first week were gone he had pink eye so bad that he was at the local hospital clinic twice. Then he had strep and another infection in this throat. Gross. He was banned from work until he was better. So ironically, he had the week off from work. The second week he fully enjoyed wake boarding, riding his bike and eating at Weinerschnitzels. He missed us terribly and is glad that we are home.

Montana Part 1

We Are Back.

The kids and I just returned from 14 days in Montana. We had the best time. I didn't really blog while I was gone, I had a hard time downloading pictures from my mom's computer.  And what is a post without pictures???

Here is a short list of some of our highlights:

1. We went to the ward camp out---in the rain---CAMPING again?

2. 3 movies. My dad and I caught Hancock and later we took Crewe to Wall-E . Crewe also saw Kung Fu Panda with my mom. He now wants us to refer to him as Master Tiger. By the way, I am Master Snake.

3. I got to to dinner and hang out with my friend, Delaine. She is so very cool. She has a crush on her postman. AND his name is Thor. Very cool.

4. So many games of Crosscribs, Marbles, and Tile Rummy. 

5. We got a babysitter 3 times. Ah, adult time. Lovely.

*I think I will post 5 things about our trip for the next few days. Boring for some but a great way for me to remember a GREAT trip.

Project Runway

My dad and I just finished watching the new season of Project Runway. He has NEVER seen the show AND is saying he has never heard of it. WHAT???

So I ask you. Have you seen this show?



PLEASE answer.

WHAT

Well, I did something I thought (more like hoped) I would never do. I went to Girls Camp this week. I only went for the evening with my dad but come on. COME. ON. 12-16 year old girls. 100 of them. All camp singing and such. In the outdoors.

No Thank You.




We are having a great time in MT.

interesting

Take the Quiz here!

You are Marianne Dashwood of Sense and Sensibility. You are impulsive, romantic, impatient and perhaps a bit too brutally honest. You enjoy romantic poetry and novels, and play the piano beautifully. To boot, your singing voice is captivating. You feel deeply and love passionately.

Does this sound like me?

We had a great 4th of July. I was still very much on the train of sickness *. We had been invited to 3 parties but there was no way that was going to happen so we opted out of the first two and spent the day having a little R&R. We did manage to go to Chili's for lunch and had the Chicken Enchilada Soup for the first time (I know, Ethan, you are right). I then convalesced until the last moment when it was time to head to the Jones house for a BBQ. Our friend, Andrew had also just graduated from the Fire Academy so it was a joint party and it was huge.  Since I was still feeling crappy it was easy to take it easy and just sit back. Rich decided that it was 1. too cold 2. too late to stay for the fireworks so we went home. Baby Dayne took a power nap on the way home so both of the kids were still up when the Livermore fireworks started. We headed the park next to our house and enjoyed a family night of freezing fireworks (rich had on his parka---the one he used to wear in UT when he walked Oakley).

All and all it was a great day. My kids looked darling in there patriotic attire. Baby Dayne wore the dress that Rich bought in 2002. Some day we DID have a girl and she WAS able to wear it, 4th of july style.

* Note-to-self. When you call your mom and cry, "I'm dying." Don't do it with a ear dropping 4 year old in the room. Crewe has been concerned about my death all weekend.

Guess who won the When-are-My-Chickens-going-to-lay-eggs contest?

ME!

ASHLEY !

Whoo-Hooo!

I will take my $38 and take everyone to Denny's for a Grand Slam Breakfast.

*PS I am talking about Beef's chickens and his contest. You can read about it here.

The Rundown of past 4ths or a Really Long Boring Post

*****2007****

This post won't be very excititing for anyone but me....maybe rich. I just want to write this down so I can remember. Anywhoooo. I love July 4th. I love the matching outfits, the bbq's, the fireworks. Everything. I also think of it as Rich/Ashley Holiday.

Back in 1997 we spent our first 4th of july together. Sort of. He gave me strep and I went on a date to watch the fireworks with a guy named....jermey(?) I

 drove Rich's car and when the date was done I went over to his house. Rich took me to the throat speaclist when they had to lance my throat.

1998- We did not spend together. Let's not discuss. Except to say, Rich was dating a woman almost a FOOT taller than him. Come on. 

1999- Kayleen was in town. Rich and I plus Kayleen, Ryan, 

and other randoms went out on the golf course to "watch" the fireworks. My brother also blessed his first baby that weekend. I told my best friend Ryan not to mention how big my nephew was, guess what the first thing was out of his mouth? Rich came to a lot of the family fesitivties. We were welcoming him back into the family.

***2006****

2000- Our first year married. We swam in the cold pool at our complex and then went to my sil's familys party. It wasn't the best time. No one would play games with us. Good thing our so cute baby nephew was there so we went to kiss on him. 

2001- We tricked Ethan and Natalie into helping us paint our new house. We were trying to save money on building our house so we decided to paint on our day off from work. It was over a 100 degrees. We drove all over town looking for the correct paint colors. The night ended watching fireworks in the Branberry/car dealership grassyspots.

2002- Back to Branberry/car dealership with Ethan and Natalie. Later in the year Rich bought a baby girl dress for the 4th of july for-a-someday-we-will-have-a-girl.

2003-I was very pregnant and we were living in CA. Kayleen and Trevor spent the day with us. It was the first time I mentioned a name that I heard and liked, "What do you guys think of the name, Crew, Cru or Crue?"

2004- We went to our friends Emily/Dustins house. Crewe fell off the brick steps and got a huge smash. It was very dramatic for my babies first BONK.

2005-Back to the Prussos.

2006- I am thinking we were at the Prussos?

2007- The Kids and I were in MT. No Rich. Boo. But we had a great time in MT and we got to be with Et/Nat, again.

2008-We are not sure what we will do this year. But I do know that Dayne will be wearing a certain dress......

Have a Happy 4th of July!!!!

Strep!!!! Of course I have Strep.  It was the 4th of July 1997 that Rich gave me my first case of strep and then an abscess tonsil. Yeah.

Sickness

Guess who has pink eye?

PS. And me, well. One guess what I have?

Freaking Good

How good do these cookies look? They have a pudding mix in them.....check out the recipe here.

So far this week, Baby Dayne and I both are sick. Fevers, puking, yuck feeling. Oh and Crewe is at Tadpole Camp during the day.

A Very fun Weekend

Our Weekend

Friday

1 BBQ

the kids stayed up WAY TOO LATE

Dayne ate Salt and Vinegar chips

Many laughs with good Friend

19 kids

10 million cookies consumed

Saturday

2 great wake boarding runs

4 HAPPY kids

3 smacks in the head(1 for ash, 2 for mia-ouch)

2 Sandwiches  ordered from Safeway

1 puking dayne

10 million complaints about the wind

Great family help 

3 sunburns

2 People magazines read

a Big order of mexican food

Great friends at our Cabin

Family Talent Show

Let My Love Open the Door.

I love this song from Pete Townshend. I listen to it everyday when I am on the treadmill. It makes me so happy. I also love the scene from Dan in Real Life when at the family talent show they perform this song. I tried to post the clip from YouTube but I am a fool who doesn't have the skills. Maybe that could be my talent at the family talent show. Dare I ask what your talent would be at a Family Talent Show?

Binky Dip

* brother's cute kids. all binky lovers---not now but as babies*

I have this brother who has 4 kids. So he knows a lot about the tricks of parenting. One of his best tricks is a Binky-Dip. Aaron is the master of  the binky-dip. All of his children have enjoyed  the  binky-dipping. 

Definition of a Binky-Dip: Dip the Binky in the drink selection that is on the table. Or in extreme times the sauces on the table or maybe even soups. 

We never did the binky-dip with Crewe and last night we started it with Dayne. However, it backfired. 

We went to Chili's last night for a little family dinner. Dayne was really fussy and we were having a tough time keeping her happy.  Then binky-dip idea came to us. We happily dipped Dayne's pacifier in my Diet Coke.

Later her beloved pacifier fell under my bench. Rich retrieved the pacifier and all was well. As we loaded in car she was crying and Rich handed her a pacifier.

Me: Hey, that is not the pac that was under the disgusting bench on the grimmy floor.

Rich:Yeah, but I dipped in your Diet Coke. It's all good.

Bust It

I have not been blogging because I can't think of anything to write about. We have been good. Life has been busy. We have been swimming, playing with friends, having nights out, ect... But I can form a good story or set of funny lines from my life. So in an attempt to bust out of this rut I will try to pick a picture and post SOMETHING from our daily life. Daily blogging. I will try it for....the next few days? Feel free to get a glazed looked about yourself.

So busy having a Good Time

This week we have:

1. Been swimming almost every day. It is over 100 right now at 4pm.

2. I played BUNCO and sucked. Is there any talent behind this game?

3. Ate pizza 3 times+ 1 more time for the kids. NO.MORE.PIZZA

4. Played with friends and cousins. Thanks for coming over.

5. Sheared Crewe.

6. Tonight we going to play Guitar Hero and Wii at our lovely friends house. 

Life is Good.

70 Years in the Making

This past weekend we celebrated Richard's Grandparents 70 wedding Anniversary. They were married in 1938. Both Dick and LaPriel have college degrees. Both are in good health. They live alone and take care of one another. They have 3 kids, 13 grand kids and  22 great grand kids with 3 on the way. I think.... Plus all the spouses.

We had the best weekend. We stayed at a hotel in Pleasanton on Friday. We had a pizza/pool party and were able to start the catch up with the cousins. We know all of these cousins really well because of a  little thing called, "Cousin Council." Anyone who knew us in Ut, knows of Cousin Council.  Grandpa Palmer paid for us to go to dinner once a month with all of the Palmer cousins. 

Saturday was a big day of more swimming, a BBQ, bounce house, playing and chatting. You know how those Palmers like to talk! Saturday night we brought Dayne home and we went back to the hotel to swim and play. Crewe was a champ all weekend. He loved playing with everyone and swimming.

Sunday we all went to church together and just enjoyed being together.  We came home and had a small family dinner and then FINALLY celebrated Father's Day. We love our dads. I love Rich, he is a great dad. And this was a GReat Weekend. 

What? No comments

The number of comments I have received on the last couple of posts has gone way down. I like the comments as much as the next blogger. So either I am boring or my family has quit reading my blog.

So today I will hit you with a few Crewe stories for your laughing and hopefully commenting pleasure.

***************

Story 1

We were singing the theme song to The Jetsons the other night. Crewe was singing loudly, especially the green part of the song.

Meet George Jetson.

His Boy Elroy.

Daughter Judy.

AND JESUS CHRIST!!!! 

 (what happened to Jane his Wife????)

*********

Story 2

We went to drop off our payment for our storage unit today. Crewe came into the office and said,

"It smells HORRIBLE in here. What is the that smell?"

Me: "I don't know. Be quiet." It kind of smelled like a smoker trying to cover it up with a bad Glade candle.

Crewe: "Excuse me. (to the office worker). What is the HORRIBLE smell? It smells like someone might have peed or even pooped in here!"

Nice.

********

Story 3

As I am taking a big drink from MY water bottle. Crewe: "Can I have a drink of your water?"

Me:" You need to get your own water. You have a cough right now and I don't want your germs."

Crewe: "Just so you know, last night I drank out of your water bottle so my germs are already in there."

 

Leapster Game

Dear Mom and Dad,

We had such a great time with you last week. We loved going to Six Flags, out to dinner, the farmers market, the A's game, preschool and shopping. Thanks for coming. We love you.

Ash, Rich and Kids

Ps Crewe LOVES his new Leapster game. He is taking it EVERYWHERE!

A Quick Rundown

Sorry I didn't have a great story all ready for the camping rundown. We/I had a great time. My kids played and played with all their friends. They were filthy and grubby but so happy. I enjoyed myself A LOT. I froze my ass off the first night and woke Rich up to make sure the baby wasn't frozen to death.  I think I would go camping again, especially with all the great friends that I got to spend my time with. We totally enjoyed the big camp fires, playing games, great food, a nice hike through HUGE trees (there are 2 pics in the past post-- Crewe walking through a tree and Dayne laying on a stump--huge trees), and just hanging out. Thanks guys for making me try something new.

We came home tired and relaxed on Sunday. On Monday night my mom came into town. When we pulled up to the curb, MY DAD was standing there too. I was so delightfully surprised. Last night we went to an A's baseball game. We are heading out to Six Flags this morning. Great times. 

My parents leave Friday at 6am.  Friday at 4pm I am leaving for a girls weekend in Tahoe.

Review:

 Camping life with friends - Enjoyable

Parents here- Fast paced and very fun

Upcoming Weekend-O-Girls

The Camping Weekend

Let me say 3 words in this picture post.  Dirt is EVERYWHERE!