Territory Days in the Springs

We had a great Memorial Day here in Colorado! We started the day out a little slow, but then heard about a street fair in Manitou Springs (kind of like old Colorado Springs). It was really fun! It is kind of like a state fair with all the street vendors, music and all that fun stuff. The only difference is we didn't have to pay to get in!






The boys were able to get inside a fire truck, even though Matthew wasn't too excited because "he had already been in a fire truck." It looks like it isn't the same if it isn't Uncle Ryan's fire truck =) We all had fun and were going to get something to eat there until we saw the prices! Unbelievable, it was like $7 for a turkey leg, $6 for a funnel cake, etc, etc, etc... We decided it would be fun to go home, eat lunch, then go out for a picnic that night and get Popeye's fried chicken.



So after naps we went and picked up some Popeye's because we had heard everyone rant and rave about how good it was. I am sorry to say that KFC is still the best in our book. From now on, when it comes to fried chicken we will stick with the colonel. Besides all that, we went and ate it at the park. It is a really cool park because within about 50 yards of the park, there are a bunch of hills and forested areas that are very beautiful. The kids wanted to play on the playground, so we let them do that for a bit and they had a blast! We were going to take a drive but it was too late because the kids wanted to watch a movie we picked up for them. It was really fun to spend the day as a family and just enjoy each others company.

We are here...

Well we are here in Colorado and so far so good. We did have some interesting thing's happen as is. First when we left Utah we never planned to what would happen when we arrived here and have no sleeping arrangements .



So when we arrived, luckily my brother and sister in law let us borrow a blow up mattress with no idea when they would get it back. Well we went to sleep and let's just say it was an interesting night and not a very comfortable sleep.



The mover's got here at 8 am and they moved us in all morning. That's when the real fun began of unpacking and trying to get it all done in 1 weekend. Then comes the time to start school and we are heading out the door and not thinking that I needed to listen to the radio for school closing and headed to school in a snow flurry not a storm and it is canceled!! I couldn't believe it. I thought they got snow like Utah but I guess not.



It has been a fun and interesting two months since we have been here, but we feel like this is where God wants us. Everything has fallen into place since we arrived. The place we found to rent feels just like home to us and the neighbors on our street are amazing. They are very close nit and seem to have a lot of fun. Our street probably has about 6 houses on it and all of the young kids on the street are boys (there are probably about 6 of them in addition to our boys. The women on the block go out to breakfast once a month and the guys in the neighborhood do something similar once a month. Our next-door neighbors are very nice and let us borrow anything we don't have (extension cords, lawnmower, he even gave us some fertilizer for our lawn without us even asking). Real "salt of the earth" people.



The kids have been doing really well also. Of course they all miss the family and really miss the grandparents. We had a family home evening and everyone started crying because they missed Utah--it was pretty sad.



Benson is doing really well in school since we arrived. He is in the advanced reading and math classes and actually gets excited to go to his math class! He starts cub scouts this week too, so he is very excited about that.



Matthew and Ethan have joined forces to stress their mom out, color on the walls, and "fix" stuff. Let's just say they are on a winning streak and we will keep it at that. Matthew and Benson have been helping a lot around the house with chores though, so that makes up for it.



Eli is just getting more and more cute. Of course, he is getting a temper as well, so watch out and don't get in between him and any Whoppers either. You may just come out on the losing end.

Jeramie has been called as the Young Men's President (so his life is pretty much meetings--and he camps every once in a while) and Robyn as a teacher for the Young Women which she is real excited about!

We have posted some pics of the new place so check it out. Until next time!!!

Moving to Colorado!

The time has come for us to move--yes the Crabtrees are at it again. I swear we move like it is our job. Jeramie was offered a position with a company in Colorado Springs, CO. He will start working from home as of Feb 15, 2010--actually he is flying out to D.C. for training first then will be working from home. The move comes with bitter-sweet feelings because of the move. The increase in pay is well worth the relocation and will finally give us a chance to get into a house, but it will be hard to be away from family.

We know there are many that have done the same and are still surviving;) but it is still hard to think of the prospect. We are very excited for the opportunity and the challenges it will bring.

Some big benefits to the move is obviously the pay, but also the air is A LOT cleaner than here in good ole Lake City. Colorado Springs is actually in the top 5 places in which people with asthma can live--yes Jeramie passed on his wonderful asthma to Benson, so they will both benefit.



As for the family, we are all doing well! The kids are getting bigger as always and are giving Robyn a run for her money. Ethan had a birthday this week and got a tricycle that he is SO excited about! He keeps looking at it with a gleam in his eye and says so proudly--"mine." The cutest was at his birthday party with the family, one of his cousins wanted to ride it and he graciously offered the prize up. He then proceeded to squeal and scream "yeah" at the top of his lungs. He was so ecstatic that his cousin was able to move his tricycle--the things kids get excited over.



Matthew is getting into everything and has recently turned into the battery expert of the house. He is taking apart everything and checking if the batteries are good. This is an arbitrary judgment on his part and I feel bad for the innocent batteries that are thrown out in vain. He absolutely loves preschool and the friends he has made there. It has been a big help for him spending an extra year in preschool instead of moving on to kindergarten.



Benson is off track right now and I think bursting at the seams to go back to school. He of course loves being at home, but I think he misses his friends at school. He is now dealing with the issues of when to stand up for your self and is asking dad the age old question of "why can't I hit a girl if they hit me first?" Good question Benson, it's just part of the guy code.






Eli is now moving around like crazy. Yes, he is mobile. He doesn't quite have the hang of crawling yet, and instead of the famous commando crawl, he just pushes up the top half of his body and drags his legs along.






Of course, Jeramie and Robyn are just trying to keep up with all the little ones and maintain their sanity :P




**And the only thing that will be said of Jeramie's birthday is he had so many candles he had to ask Ethan for help...

Fall Update

Well, it has been an eventful past couple of months! We had a blast over Halloween, and the kids were adorable! Eli wasn't quite sure about how much he liked his costume or all the scary ones either. I am looking for a different job now, and have interviewed at a couple places. The highest on our list is in Colorado Springs. We are all just a little nervous about the move--okay, it is really just Robyn. She is having a hard time with living so far from her mom and family, which is not at all a bad thing.

We are having a lot of fun here in the Crabtree house! Eli is getting to the squeely stage and is howling away. He is cute as ever and loves to laugh, smile and have fun with the rest of his brothers. Benson is doing very well in school and loves spending time reading, but has found a new talent of dancing (he has really got some moves--although some are the beloved "start the lawnmower" and "sprinkler" moves). He loves to show it off too! Yes, shy little Benson, when he has an audience he just keeps on going. Matthew is taking after his older brother, but he doesn't like to show off too much. We do, however, find him "breakdancing" in the kitchen when nobody is watching. Ethan is just along for the ride I think sometimes. He does LOVE candy and will steal some at any chance he gets, which judging by our carpet and everything he touches, happens all too often--you may as well throw in there his love for drawing too by all the evidence :P

We have had all kinds of "criminal" activity from Ethan. One of the more infamous stand offs was in a narrow little walkway where he had a chair and it blocked the way. He was defending his position with some Pam cooking spray. Benson and David (our cousin) came and told Mom, and she asked them to go get him. Well, they didn't know their own fate! As they would move toward Ethan to grab him he pulled out the can of Pam cooking spray and would spray it at them. Benson and David were not to be out done so they made a big move, but Ethan wasn't backing down, so he unloaded a constant spray of the greasy slippery stuff. Anytime they got close, they would slip. Well, David and Benson came howling in to Mom so she went to inspect. When she walked in there, she didn't remember that it was cooking spray, a.k.a grease, and practically fell on her duff while holding Eli. Luckily she didn't loose her frame of mind and caught herself before any further damage was done. Ethan did his time in the corner for his transgression and we have learned not to leave the cooking spray out anymore.

Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs
Matthew on his Birthday

Benson the Reader (bad hair day)

He can't get into any trouble with that face, right?

Awe!

Just the boys!

Dad's face painting was a hit!

All the boys on Halloween (left to right: Eli, David, Matthew, Benson, and Ethan the chinaman)

Walk Like an Egyptian

Just try to come and get me--ask David and Benson what happens!

Why do people torture themselves like this?

It's a boy!!!!!

Well, the time has come and I better post something or I will be attacked by the masses! We had a baby boy on 29 May, 2009 at 5:48 PM. His name is Eli Alan Crabtree and was born at 9 lbs 12 oz, 21 inches long. He is a very well mannered baby, very calm and will have to be to keep up with his three brothers!

Robyn is doing great and has recovered from the experience well! She is walking around and ready to go home. She will most likely come home Saturday morning. The boys are all excited, but I think Matthew has shown the most interest. Benson is excited, but I think he doesn't know quite what to do. Ethan, well let's just say he is in his own little world :) But he does like to give the baby a lot, and I mean a lot, of hugs and kisses.

Here are some quick pics and we will update more later.