Anna Marguerite Kruzie

Welcome Anna!

Anna Marguerite Kruzie joined our family on Wednsday December 16, 2009. At 7lbs 10oz she is a healthy and happy girl! We are excited to have her here before Christmas. Everything went smoothly, and even though she is only 2 days old it seems as if she has always been with us.

Fall Pictures

Really long post

Lets being by talking about me! I am now into my goo stage a pregnancy. You know where your brain has turned into goo, your body is as shapeless as goo, and your house is so messy that everywhere you turn is goo. I seem to be having a lot of bad days lately which is why I chose this song for this post. The upside is that hearing Alvin and the Chipmunks sing it makes me laugh. In other Kruzie family news this October we enjoyed a family reunion on my side, mine and Nate's 11th anniversary, and of course my favorite holiday Halloween! The kids had a great Halloween. Hunter's school had a carnival that morning and the kids were able to wear their costumes. It was fun for Hunter to see all his Friends dressed up. Later we went to our ward Trunk-or-Treat where there were booths set up with fun games and prizes. Later still we went Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood and really racked in the candy! Hunter said it was the best Halloween ever. Still more fun is up ahead for the Kruzie's. Nate's birthday is Nov 3rd and over Thanksgiving we will have another family reunion, this one on Nate's side. We are looking forward to the fun fall festivities and wish all of you a fun fall too! What is they say Merry Thanksoween?

School Days

Hunter is officially a Kindergartener! He is really enjoying school. His teacher sends home a folder on Monday with worksheets to complete by Friday. Hunter wants to do all of them Monday afternoon. What an over achiever! He doesn't get that from me :)

ShopAtHome.com

Okay ladies who loves coupons? Honestly not me, but recent times have made me warm up to the idea:) I found this great web-site where you can print out manufactures coupons at home to use at any grocery store. You do have to register with the site, so those of you out there who do not like to give out your e-mail address this may not be the site for you, of course you can opt not to receive e-mails and correspondence from them and still get to print out the coupons. I only print out the ones for products that I would buy anyway, but there are hundreds of coupons on this site for so many different products. I just wanted to pass this information along to those who may be interested. Lets all hope that this unfortunate economic downturn will turn upward again soon because clipping coupons sucks! (Am I allowed to say sucks online?)

90% Sure

I had my sonogram yesterday and the the verdict is....drum roll...it's a GIRL! Okay so there is a slight chance it could still be a boy, but the technician scanned the "area" about 5 times and found nothing to indicate it was a boy, so she said it was 90% chance it is a girl. Hunter is very excited, he really wants a sister. We are all looking foward to having this new addition in our home, and now I finally get to buy something pink!

Space Center Houston

Star Wars!!

Houston is not only the new home of the Kruzie family, it also happens to be home of the NASA Space Center. This summer they have a special Star Wars exhibit featuring Star Wars and Indiana Jones memorabilia from George Lucus' personal collection. Being the official Star Wars expert of the Kruzie household Hunter was dying to go. So naturally being the wonderful mother I am I took him :) along with Jackson (of course), my mom, and my nephew Cameron. We saw Luke Skywalker's original lightsaber which Hunter thought was pretty cool, the original costumes of C3PO, R2D2, and Indiana Jones. Besides the museum full of stuff there was also several activities for the kids to do. They went through Storm Trooper training where they blasted guns at moving objects, completed an Indiana Jones obstacle course, rode a space ship simulator, learned how much they weighed on Mars and Jupiter (I weigh 58 pounds on Mars if anyone is interested), and drove the Mars Rover. We also participated in a show where the kids were asked to do silly things on stage to win prizes. Wait did I say kids, I ment me! The MC called up some of the parents and asked them to dance on stage. I did the famous Cabbage Patch and won a Hannah Montana backpack. I will now be the envy of 12 year old girls everywhere:) At the end of the show the kids got to meet some very special Star Wars characters including Darth Vador himself! We had a great time! The Space Center is an amazing place and we didn't even get to see it all! We were a little distracted by all the Star Wars displays. Next time we go we will go on the guided tour and see some space crafts up close and personal.

Summer fun

One of the benefits of Texas is the coast, and we have been taking advantage of it! We have gone to the beaches in Port Aransas and Galveston. We went to Port Aransas on the 4th of July with my side of the family. We had so much fun we wanted to do it again, so we invited Nate's family to go with us to Galveston. Both trips were fabulous (I am a girl so I can say fabulous with out sounding gay right?) The point is it was great and we want to go again soon! We have done some other fun things like going to lake for my family reunion. I still need to download those photos so there will be another post soon. Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Having fun at the beach!

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

We kicked off our summer by going to Six Flags Fiesta Texas with my mom, sisters, and nieces and nephews. We had a wonderful time! Since we went early in the season the park wasn't crowded. We were able to ride rides several times in a row, sometimes without having to get out and get back in line! The longest wait was only about 15 min. They have a fun ride in the kiddie area called Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion. On this ride you sit in the Mystery Machine and it takes you around a Haunted House where ghosts pop up at you and you have guns to shoot them. The more you shoot the more point you earn. By the end of the ride I thought I had done pretty good; I had 580 points, but then I looked at Hunter's score and he had over 1100! I guess that is what playing video games does for you. We also got pictures of the kids in one of those old time western photo shops. It was hilarious to see them all dressed up. My sister and I are both pregnant so there weren't too many rides we could go on, but we were able to go on the White Water Rapids (it's like Splash Mountain). All of us got on one boat so when we looked at the photo that was taken we had to get it. The kids all look terrified! I am in front with my niece Rylee, my sister Hilary and her son are next, than my sister Natalie and her daughter, then my mom and Hunter. Take a look it is sure to make you laugh!(click on picture to enlarge) They may look scared, but they all loved it so much we ended up riding 2 more times. It was a great way to start the summer, hopefully the rest of it is just as fun.

The Official Word

I know that the rumor has been circulating, so I am making the official announcement. We are pregnant! I am due Christmas Eve. Hunter wants a baby sister, but I have to say I would like another boy (that way I don't have to buy anything new). And of course Nate wants another boy too. We are excited, and so far I have been feeling pretty good. We are looking forward to another adventure. I hear 3 can be hard to handle, but I am up for the challenge (at least I better be!)

Happy Birthday To Me!

We had a great time on our trip to Utah! Even the drive wasn't bad. I think the difference between this time and the last was that last time we had to drive seperately in order to get both of our vehicles to Texas, while this time we all rode together. This made things so much easier! I was able to entertain the kids while Nate drove, not to mention all the movies we watched. Once in Utah we were able to spend time with old friends in South Jordan. Hunter had a blast playing with his friends. I regret not taking my camera! I also celebrated my birthday while there by going out with some girlfriends for dinner. It was great to catch up on girl talk and to be able to sit down and enjoy a meal without feeding someone else:) Nate was able to have some fun as well. He spent a couple of days enjoying the Utah weather by golfing with his cousin. All in all we had a fun trip, I am glad I decided to tag along!

Am I Nuts!?!

Nate has some business to attend to in Utah and will be leaving next Tuesday for a week. Well I decided last night that I wanted to go with him. So we are off again on a 2 day drive to Utah with 2 kids (and of course the 2 day drive back). Am I nuts? Probably, but I can't stand the thought of him leaving me here for a week. I haven't had time to make friends yet, I don't know my way around very well, and lets face it I like Utah better than Texas (I make a formal appology to all Texans for that last remark:) I look forward to Cafe Rio, Rubios, 65 degree weather, and seeing any friends who may be able to spare a moment. The trip will be short so I won't be able to do everything or see everyone, but hopefully I can squeeze in a little fun while Nate is working.

Our BIG Move!

Well it took 3, 8 hour days of driving, but we finally made it to Texas. The trip was uneventful except for the 3 times Jackson puked and the one blow out tire we had only miles away from Nate's parent's house. Let me just say, I will never drive with 2 kids on a long road trip again! I guess I should say I will always drive and never fly anymore because Nate says we always end up doing the thing we said we would never do; reverse psychology. I exaggerate, it wasn't all bad. We detoured in New Mexico and went to 4 corners, and Hunter and Jackson loved jumping on the beds in the hotels, ording pizza, and then eating it in bed! The kids did really well. After the 3 day drive Nate and I drove to Houston which is 3 hours from Nate's parent's. We did NOT take the kids! While there we looked for a place to live and found a house in Montgomery, a suburb of Houston. We are just renting, but it has everything we need including a swing set already set up in the back yard. We move in May 1st, so I guess that means we are really here to stay!

An Eggcellent Easter

We had a wonderful Easter this year. Not nearly as bad as the title of this post! We had 5, yes 5, Easter parties! When did we get so popular? Our playgroup here in Vernal is extraordinary and we are very sorry to be leaving it. Thanks to the playgroup we had an egg dying party, 2 egg hunts, and got to see the Easter Bunny! The other parties included Hunter's school party which consisted of a chapel service. Then on Easter Sunday we went to our cousin's the Sinks where we had a delicious dinner and hunted more eggs. Through all the fun and games we did not forget the true reason we celebrate this season. Easter morning the kids and I made Resurrection Cookies which was a fun and enlightening experience. Hunter is at the age where learning about the Savior is exciting and he has so many questions. I am grateful for the scriptures and the answers they provide. I have included the recipe and recommend it to anyone who wishes to bring the spirit of the holiday into the hearts of their children. Happy Easter! Resurrection Cookies ingredients: Bible, tape , zipper bag, wooden spoon , 1 C whole pecans, 1 C sugar, 1 tsp vinegar, 3 egg whites, pinch of salt. Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is a very important step, don't wait until you are half done with the recipe). Place pecans in zipper bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break in to small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19: 1-3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30. Add egg whites to vinegar. Explain that eggs represent life and Jesus gave his life for us. Read John 10:10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it, then brush it into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sins. Read Luke 23:27. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Rea Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by the teaspoon onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mount represent the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was lain. Read Matthew 27:57-60. Put cookie sheet into oven, close door, and turn oven off. (do not bake cookies). Give each child a piece of tape and "seal" the oven door shut. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66. Go to bed. Explain to children that they may feel sad to leave the cookies. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed and they had to leave. Read John 16:20&22. On Resurrection morning open the oven, give everyone a cookie, and have them take a bite. Notice that the cookie is hollow. Explain that Jesus' followers were amazed and surprised to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28: 1-9. I didn't leave the cookies overnight, we did it before church and opened the "tomb" when we got home and the cookies turned out. Hunter loved this, and even Jackson got into it when we were beating the pecans. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the pictures of all the Easter fun! Be warned there are a lot of them, so enjoy!

Funny Story

While preparing to take a shower Nate turned on the water and let it run a while to warm up. While waiting he gathered his necessary items (towel, clothes, etc.) When he returned to the shower he found something very interesting in it. Jackson! He had crawled in to scope out the scene and ended up all wet! He laughed when Nate caught him as if he was trying to play some kind of joke. We all had to come and see what all the commotion was about and of course I had to snap a few pictures :)

Let's Go Fly A Kite!

Spring in Vernal is very windy! Of course I am not sure you could really consider this spring since it was 19 degrees this morning! We still manage to have some fun outdoors. Our playgroup went kite flying and had a great time! For about 5 minutes. Not too long after the kites were in the air the kids grew bored and went to play in the sand. I guess standing around in the wind isn't as fun as it looks :)

BIG News!

After 10 years of living in Utah (except for those 9 months in 2003) we are moving back to Texas. We plan on living in Conroe which is just outside of Houston. Nate has decided to work with his dad and will be building an event center there. We expect to be there by May so that gives us about a month and a half to pack up and move on. Hunter is excited that he will be living closer to his cousins. Nate and I are also looking forward to spending more time with family and hope to get lots of visitors! We will miss Utah and the friends we have made here. Luckily we live in an age where distance doesn't matter thanks to blogs, e-mail, and of course airplanes! We plan on making Utah our offical vacation destination in the summertime; we will need a place of refuse from the Texas heat! For those we are leaving behind we will miss you dearly. For those we are coming to we will be home soon.

The Kickers

The indoor soccer season is almost over. Hunter's team the Kickers did great, they have won every game so far! Hunter has done so well learning the game. Last game he dribbled the ball half way down the court then kicked it to the goal. He almost made it, but the other teams goalie stopped it. Never the less he was very proud of himself as was I! He really loves to play and we look forward to the beginning of outdoor soccer next month.

Fun February Photos

Took me a while, but I finally downloaded some photos!

The windy city and other happening in our family

I just got back for a long moms weekend! Me and my friend Jamie went to Chicago for some time away and had a blast! It was quite unexpected. We had been talking about going somewhere, but we didn't know when or where. Then last Wed Jamie called and said "is this weekend too short notice?" "Heck no!" was my reply. So off we went! We stayed at nice hotel in the middle of downtown. We pampered ourselves with pedicures, ate tons of local food including authentic Chicago pizza that had to be eaten with a fork, went to the top of the Sears tower, and took in some culture at the Chicago Field Museum. The cab drivers were a fun experience. Exactly what I expected meaning a lot of honking and yelling and almost killing us and some poor biker. I tell you it is a little scary when a cab driver gets out his car and starts yelling at you for picking another cab over his. All in all it was a fun trip although I am glad to be back home with my family. I missed them so much! I guess that is the purpose of these trips; to relax, unwind, and be reminded of how much you appreciate, love, and miss your family when you're not together. In other news Hunter won is third soccer game in a row! He is really enjoying soccer and asks everyday if he has a game. We signed him up for outdoor soccer this summer and look forward to seeing him improve his game. Jackson is still a cutie pie. I was a little sad when I got back from my trip because he didn't want to give me a hug. He just kept holding on to Nate and hiding his face from me. Could he have really forgotten me so quickly? No! It only took a few minutes then he was all mine again! Daddy who? Also this month(well I guess last month now) our friends the Haymores came to visit from Salt Lake. The kids had a great time! I don't think I saw Hunter all weekend even though we were in the same house. They camped out on the family room floor and thought it was great to get to sleep in their sleeping bags. The adults played games and talked. I kick b..t at Scrabble! We really had a great time and can't wait to do it again soon.

Soccer Game

Hunter's team won their first soccer game! It was close, but at the very end Hunter's team scored the winning goal making the score 6 to 5! Hunter did well running and kicking the ball (although not always in the right direction;) But at least he didn't keep his hands in his pockets the whole time. All in all he enjoyed himself and that is the most important thing.

Soccer Time!

Hunter has started playing soccer! Of course they have play indoors due to the weather. His team is the Kickers and Hunter is number 11. He was so excited to get his jersey! So far he has only had one practice, and was a little nervous. He kept his hands in his pockets the whole time and I mean the whole time, even while kicking the ball! Afterwards Nate went and got him some soccer gear including a ball, shin guards, socks, and indoor soccer shoes (yes they make them). They have been practicing in the basement for his first game this Saturday. Good luck Hunter!

Happy Birthday Hunter & Jackson!

Hunter and Jackson celebrate their birthdays only 1 day apart! Hunter was born February 2, 2004 (Groundhog Day). Four years later Jackson arrived on February 1, 2008. Time is funny thing. On one hand it is difficult to believe that time has passed so quickly that we now have a 5 year-old and 1 year-old, but on the other hand I can hardly remember a time when we didn't have them. They are such a part of our lives now that it is surprising to realize that they are still so new to our family. We are grateful for our children and wish them both a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a time to remember those we love and why we love them. I want to take this time to say how much I love my husband and my children. Nate is such a loving father and husband and I can't imagine my life without him in it. My children give me purpose and joy and I love them dearly. The song L.O.V.E. that is now playing is the song that Nate and I danced to on our wedding day. This song always brings a smile to my face. I hope it brings a smile to yours.

Snow What Fun!

Yesterday was warm day here in Vernal. It got up to 35 degrees! While that may sound cold it was sunny and clear, and we were all excited to be able to get out of the house. With last weeks temps in the negative and single digits we weren't able to get out much. So to celebrate the warm weather our playgroup decided to go sledding. We had so much fun! Even Jackson liked the snow. The activity was planned to last an hour, but everyone was having such fun that we stayed 'til dark. Even then Hunter didn't want to leave! The weather is supposed to be good for a while so I am sure we will go again soon. Hope eveyone is enjoying this winter season. Lots of Love!