Christmas 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOVE!

The kids got new books for Christmas, and minutes after opening them, we were ALL reading!

(Xander's book came with a music player)

Christmas at the Croft House

All eighteen grandkids!

The youngest, Cameron, played the older Jesus, whom the Wise Men really visited. (Though we still had to try him out in the manger!)

Alexander toted this stuffed lamb everywhere, trying to ride it!

Our kids with their Great Grandma Berneda Croft!

Christmas at the Smith House

We had a little nativity with some shepherds (including Zachary and Xander) in robes, hand towels, and neckties; Ellie was the Angel; Baby Yowan was a lamb; and since we only had one girl, Luke volunteered to portray Mary. They had a fun time! Andrew sported his Santa hat during the party.

After the Nativity, Santa came for a visit. All the kids got in line for their chance to sit on his lap...

...Even Mom took a turn!

A wonderful surprise for Christmas this year was a rare visit from Jen, Sara's foster sister, who had lived with the Smith family for a year. It was so great to see her again after 7 years!

My parents got another surprise visit - from the city Mayor and his wife, who presented them with an award for best Christmas decor for my dad's outdoor Nativity - very nicely lit at night.

Nutcracker Ballet

Zachary performed in Green River's 24th annual Nutcracker Ballet. He played a little soldier who marched around onstage, "chasing" the mice away. In his last scene he'd follow the other soldiers as they carried their fallen on stretchers. For the last performance, he got to play one of the fallen soldiers because the littlest soldier had fallen asleep! The ballet did a total of five performances in one week. It was long hours for Zach, but Mom provided snacks and games. Since he was only in the first half of the ballet, Zachary got to watch the second half of the matinee performance with Mom. He enjoyed it so much that he didn't want to leave for curtain call.

The cast and Director

Zachary with his friend, Liesel, who played the Littlest Clown (and a mouse).

After a performance with G-ma Croft, Mother Buffoon, a Mouse Baron, and a Russian.

Alexander spent a lot of time with Mom and Zach during rehearsals. He always liked to see the Dragon, as it "waited" offstage.

Visiting Zachary near his dressing room during Intermission.

Makeup!

Zachary's G-ma and G-pa Croft presented him with a Nutcracker of his own. Mom painted a Nutcracker ornament to hang on the Christmas tree.

December Activities

Andrew's 1st Piano Recital: He played two Christmas songs - and very well, I might add!

Zach's preschool visited the fire station - Xander joined in the fun.

Elizabeth joined her troup on the Girl Scout float for the Downtown Christmas Parade. Brrrrr!

The Girl Scouts had a flag ceremony - it took 3 girls to carry the heavy pole, but they did an awesome job!

Alexander and Zachary visited with Santa at the library (while Ellie and Andrew watched the Polar Express at their school). [Below:] Miss Wyoming handed out candy canes to the kiddies.

Clifford the Big Red Dog and REAL Dogs

Our local libraries hosted a Love of Reading Week (in mid-November) where the kids met Clifford and each got a new book to keep. They also got to meet the library "reading" dogs who have been in the paper a number of times. These two dogs visit the libraries off and on, and kids get a chance to read to them. My kids and I spent a lot of time petting them, wishing we could have one of our own. But, alas, Steven's allergies are quite bad around any dogs we've held, thinking we might just get one of our own. Now the kids are asking for things like lizards, snakes...

Autumn Leaves

We don't have any trees in our own yard, so the kids really enjoyed the leaves at Grandma's house.

Andrew played in the pile of leaves, but mostly enjoys climbing trees...Out on a limb here, literally.

Elizabeth did most of the raking.

Zach certainly took advantage of the leaf pile.

Alexander had to try out the pile after watching his siblings have so much fun. He even wanted to help rake.

Happy New Year 2010!!!

Well, with the kids in bed by 10:30 and hubby asleep on the floor (worked ALL day long), I figure working on our blog is a pretty decent thing to do with my New Year's Eve. (We did have pizza and a movie earlier.)

So, here's hoping you all had a great Christmas and wishing you a very
Happy New Year!!!

A few highlights from 2009:

The Croft Family Newsletter 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Alexander celebrated his 1^st birthday in February with a Lucky Ducky party. He really is fun most of the time and all the kids love to hug him! Lately he's been acting like he's two already, refusing to be buckled in his high chair or wear a bib. He just wants to be a big kid, and even asks to use the potty – training in progress.

Zachary is so excited to be in preschool this year! He has learned to write his name and draw people. Just the other day they got to play in the snow! His teacher is so fun and really great – he'll be so prepared for kindergarten next year. Zachary had a neat opportunity to be a little soldier in the Nutcracker ballet. The town next to us performs it every year. He enjoyed marching around onstage and once even filled in as the fallen soldier carried on a stretcher when the original soldier fell asleep before the performance!

Elizabeth got bored in kindergarten last year, so we had her tested and she was allowed to skip to 2^nd grade. I was nervous about her missing an entire grade, but she catches on fast and enjoys school. She's always drawing, coloring, or making some craft – usually for somebody else to enjoy. Every week she attends Girl Scouts with friends. She'd love to have a dog for Christmas – no other gifts necessary – but Steven is just too allergic. So she's asking Santa for a hermit crab.

Andrew is doing great in 3^rd grade. Recently he was tested for the Quest (gifted) Program, and was chosen to have lunch with the principal his first month of school. He really enjoyed studying live animals in science class...worms and especially the anoles. He's keeping busy this school year with Cub Scouting and piano lessons. When his homework is done, he loves to play video games, do origami, practice magic tricks, or build with Legos.

Steven loves his job, thank goodness! I've told him we're not starting over, so he'd better love it. Seriously, we feel so blessed in these tough times, as we see others struggle just to find a job. In July Steven gained a new partner in his practice, Dr. Asper. We go to the same church and their four kids are similar in age. His other partner, Dr. Mack will become a dad in February. All three work great together!

I don't consider my life to be especially exciting – it's certainly not as adventurous as it once was. But I am really liking where I'm at now...settled into a nice town, driving distance from most relatives...watching my kids grow and learn...enjoying the mountains once again. Now if we could just get some grass planted I'd be the happiest camper! As many of you know, being a mom is the hardest thing, but I couldn't ask for a better, more fulfilling career.

Our year was filled with plenty of activities to keep us busy. All four kids participated in the ward talent show – Andrew performed magic tricks, Elizabeth read a fun poem, Zachary and Alexander danced to music. I didn't want to feel overwhelmed during the summer, so we took advantage of little camps here and there: Elizabeth chose Princess Camp, Andrew attended a digital photography class, and Zach and Xander enjoyed a little Pirate camp I put together at home. The three oldest participated in gymnastics and got to spend lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa Croft at Cousin Camp. In June, Steven was asked to be the medical person available for IV's, etc. on a Pioneer trek. Along with Andrew and Elizabeth they spent 3 days walking with handcarts from 4-6 miles each day along parts of the Mormon and Oregon trails. Andrew and Ellie were the dirtiest-looking kids when Mom saw them next! Andrew and Elizabeth also played soccer this year. Ellie was upset about not winning as many games as Andrew's team, but if it had been one-on-one, Ellie could have squashed the competition!

During Spring Break, our family headed south to enjoy the warm weather in St. George and Las Vegas. In August we took advantage of the last of the warm weather in Wyoming by spending a few days at Yellowstone with Grandma and Grandpa Smith. Steven and I hadn't been there since our 3^rd anniversary (ten years ago!)

Rock Springs really has been a great place to live...there are plenty of friends for our kids in the neighborhood to play with, and it's great to drive across town in less than ten minutes!

We hope all of you have found peace and real joy this year! If not, come visit and we'll take you for a hike up the mountain in our back yard!

Love, Steven & Sara, Andrew, Elizabeth, Zachary, and Alexander