Happy Spring!

We know that Spring has 'officially' been here for a good week but man did we have a mild winter. We've had those late night thunderstorms along with the warm and breezy days for awhile now. Not complaining one bit, we love it! The sky remaining light past 8pm and the windows wide open late at night, we're enjoying it to the fullest! A photo from the new Nikon was promised and what better way to capture the arrival of Spring than miss priss blowing a dandelion (after she made her wish, of course)!

We have a lot that is coming up that we cannot wait to blog about. Today, we rode up to the mountains for an afternoon picnic and hike. It sure was a beautiful day for it. We'll be blogging about it, soon! This Friday, we'll be getting time with miss Riley bug, pictures WILL be taken! (: Did you watch Idol tonight? That Colton Dixon is amazing! Huge fans of Phillip, Hollie and Skyler as well! Will be interesting to see how the votes go and most definitely looking forward to Touch tomorrow night, too. That show hooked us episode 1! We hope you're having a great week and enjoying Spring just as much as we are!

One Year Down..

As I sit back and think of how I felt this time last year, my emotions were a wreck. I had no idea what I was going to experience the next day as tomorrow would soon surface. All that I knew was that our family was being ripped apart. The media twisted the situation and details around to make you seem like some heartless person out to only do one thing who at by dawn the next morning, succeeded. Truth is, that's not at all how it happened and I know without a doubt in my mind you didn't ever mean to hurt anyone. I have so much that I want to say yet so much I'm holding myself back from saying. I know if certain individuals got a hold of my thoughts, things could possibly be harder and tougher for you and I, in no way want to do that. Truth is, I miss you. Every single day I think of you and wonder what you're eating, how you're sleeping, if you're smiling or if you're crying. I wonder what thoughts are running through your mind and I wonder if you truly know just how much you're loved. It tears me apart to think of how your days go, the details of your schedule gives me chills. To know, that whenever a day might seem like it's taking forever or going slow to us, it's multiplied in that feeling for you. The things I heard and the sights I saw 366 days ago today won't ever be forgotten. The look in your teary eyes when you turned to Kayla and I and mouthed "It will be okay" still plays over and over in my head. I see it clear as day. I heard all the details, I watched your tearful, heartfelt apology and I also watched as the lady who I will leave unnamed didn't give you once single glance. I can't imagine how she felt or how any of the family felt but they just have to know your heart and they just have to have heard the details and know that you, my cousin did not mean for things to happen the way they did. They have to know and feel in their heart that it was an accident as the majority of us in that courtroom know without a doubt ourselves. I feel those that should be held accountable aren't and well, you now have given up so much of your own life for the fear of not having one at all. I can't fault you for making that decision, I just selfishly wish things didn't have to have the duration that they were given. Yes, we can still talk to you, visit you and write you while her family cannot and that alone tears me up. Like I said, I can't imagine how they feel or what they're going through. I pray the days are getting easier for them but that doesn't change the fact that I feel in my heart you have been done wrong, too. Simple fact is that both families have suffered, are suffering and will continue to suffer for a long time. I will forever cherish the letters, the short phone conversations, the visits, the hugs and kisses and more than anything, the memories before our family was torn apart. I am proud to say you're part of my family and that I stand by you. I love you more than words can say. Stay strong and know that we'll all be together again someday.

Forever in our hearts, always on our mind. <3 MJC, I love you!

Remain Craver Crew Strong.

March 2011

March 2011

December 2011

*Those of you close to me and the situation will know all the details to this post, those of you who don't please just disregard and know that I needed to just take a moment to type out my thoughts. <3h

C25K

I haven't ever been a fan of running but in the last 4 weeks, that has changed. A co-worker and I meet up during our lunch break which is a great break in the day for us since we work from home. We started out just walking and jogging when we felt like we could. Her and I are pretty much the same body build and at the same fitness level so we don't hold each other back but instead, push and motivate each other. After feeling like we could barely jog for half a minute and not feeling like we were accomplishing much, we decided to start the couch to 5K program.

For those of you who aren't runners but would like to start, I highly recommend this one. It's a walking/jogging program and I will provide information on where you can find the program details at the end of this post if you'd like to give it a try. Starting out, we could barely run a minute without feeling like our legs were just going to give out. Each day, it would get easier. Now, the run time is increasing and the walk time is decreasing. The start of the week is tough but like the beginning, it gets easier. Each completed day we feel so motivated and accomplished that we continue to push ourselves more and more. There have been a couple of 'road blocks' as we say and we've had to miss out on the program for a week here or there because of life issues but what's amazing is that now we're back on it - we can now run a straight 5 minutes. Sounds simple, I know but believe me - from week 1 of barely making it a full minute.. it's a HUGE accomplishment to run a straight 5. All in all, I am now a fan of running and without it.. I get grumpy and just feel yucky.

The program specifics can be found HERE. If you begin the program, I wish you great success and I'd love for you to let me know how it goes. Happy running! <3h

Surprise!

Last night after Kasey got off work, he went by Taco Bell and picked up some tacos. We sat down and he passed the bag to me and when I opened it, the Lauren Alaina CD was on top of the tacos. I am sure I had the most shocked look on my face because I was not expecting that one bit! A couple weeks ago I made the comment just in passing that I have been wanting her CD. He not only surprised me with the Lauren Alaina CD but he got Laekyn the newly released 'Hop' movie, too. She saw it last Easter and fell in love with it. She's gotten a couple 'Hop' stuffed animals since then but has been wanting the movie once she found out it was being released. She was an excited little girl! I know this was short but I had to share our excitement! <3h

Behind A Lens

As most of you know, I absolutely love photography. There for awhile I was doing photo shoots for friends and then life just got hectic and well, my camera began to let me down so I stopped. Sounds silly but that's what happened. I have an Olympus SP-800UZ and it takes absolutely beautiful pictures. It's a 14 MP digital camera with a 30 x optimal zoom. Some of the pictures I took, people couldn't believe how great and clear they were when I was so far from the actual subject. You're probably wondering, if it took that great of a picture then why did I stop? Well truth is, it began to let me down like I stated earlier. I would charge the battery until it was showing it was fully charged and then I'd go to take a photo and the battery light would come on and I couldn't get in over 5 shots without it cutting off. I bought a new charger for it and that didn't solve the issue, either. I just put the camera away and quit bothering with it. After many months of not using it, I've really felt naked (for lack of better word) without a camera everywhere I went. I decided it was time to change that and I bought a brand new one! I didn't go with an Olympus but instead I went with what I wanted ever since I got into photography on more of a just 'snap and shoot' basis.. a Nikon!

Now getting my Nikon was quite eventful. I was tracking the package and after 5 days it was stating it was out for delivery so I stayed home just knowing it was going to be delivered. It wasn't. I checked the tracking and it told me that I needed to contact my local post office because "customer not home or business was closed" which obviously wasn't the case 'cause I had been home. So, the next day I contacted the post office and the lady assured me that my package was there and that a notice was left the day prior (which a notice wasn't left, either). So, I planned to go and pick up my package myself at the post office. During my lunch, my sister stopped by and much to my surprise the mail man pulled up to my driveway and said he had a package for me.. it was my camera!! I was confused too though because I was just told I needed to pick it up. Oh well, I had my camera safe and sound so I was an excited girl!

With all this talk about my new camera, I'm sure you're wanting to know what kind.. I bought a Nikon D5100. It's amazing and I absolutely love it! It's a 16.2 MP DSLR and I have 2 lens for it. I have the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm VR lens. I also got the Nikon DSLR bag which is amazing with all of its pockets. One of the things that is super sweet about this Nikon compared to some of the older models is the vari-angle LCD monitor. Can you tell, I'm just a tad bit excited :) I can't wait to post some shots! <3h

After a good break..

..we're back to bloggin'! So much has gone on and I'm sure everyone was wondering why we went MIA for awhile but really, we just needed a break and so much has been going on. Slowly but surely, we'll be up to date. The first big update is the fact that Kasey is now living back in NC! He worked the Friday he was going to leave and then got on the road afterwards. He was going to drive until he got tired and stop somewhere to sleep only to continue driving in the morning. I would get more and more excited when he'd call and update me on where he was and then (as selfish as it sounds since I wasn't the one driving across states after a hard day of work) I got tired and decided to go to sleep. I asked him to continue to keep me updated and let me know once he got tired and decided to stop. He kept in touch every few hours and then much to my surprise, when Laekyn and I woke up Saturday he had driven the whole way (16 hours!) and was at my door to see us. Laekyn and I were so excited! Needless to say, the next few days for him consisted of catching up on sleep. Ha! Things have been busy but man, they have been wonderful. Look forward to blogging about them and getting up to date on what's going on. Stay tuned! <3h

KONY 2012

Today on Facebook, I found myself in tears as I watched this video..

If you haven't seen it before now, I highly recommend you taking thirty minutes to watch it. I hadn't heard of Joseph Kony until this video and I must say, it hit me hard. I am all for supporting and helping needs for our country but after watching this video, I don't know how anyone could not want to help these children in Uganda, Congo, South Sudan, and Central African Republic as well. I can't imagine the fear they live every single day of being abducted by the LRA and more so, the guilt they feel once they've been captured and forced to carry out brutal tasks to sometimes even their own parents or when the girls are forced to become sex slaves. This has got to stop and Kony has got to be captured! Like I said, if you haven't seen this video or heard of him either, please take time to watch and share the word.

Together, we can make a difference! <3h

More information can be found here.

He Spoils Me..

It's just another Monday, back to work and nothing out of the ordinary planned.. Work's going well, I had a great run on lunch and I just finished eating a turkey & cheese croissant when the doorbell rang. I opened the door to be greeted with a huge bouquet of fruit from Edible Arrangements.

The card read:

To Hollie & Laekyn

Just wanted to say that I love you, forever & always!

Love, Kasey

I was not expecting it at all and it really caught me off guard. After all, it's just another Monday. Kasey continues to spoil Laekyn and I with such sweet, unselfish, thoughtful acts and he never ceases to amaze me! I cannot begin to explain the joy he brings to my life and how much I love this kid (I can call him a kid 'cause he's younger than me, by 15 days).. ha! Seriously though, I cannot express enough thanks for everything he has done and is continually doing to show how much he cares and how much he loves not only I, but Laekyn as well. Wish I could share, it sure is yummy!! <3h

Kasey, I am so thankful for you and I cannot say thank you enough for all of the ways you show how much you care. You said this was to show appreciation for me sticking by you while you're in MO and sweetheart.. I'd rather spend time away from you while you're in another state and we're anticipating the moment we see each other again than to spend a minute with someone else here in the same state. Yes, I know you always say that but it goes both ways. I love you so very much, thank you for loving me!



Mother/Daughter Day!

Here lately, it seems as though Laekyn and I haven't had any good 'quality time' together outside of the normal everyday schedule so it was time that needed to change. Yesterday, I woke up with it on my heart to just spend the entire day with just her and I and what SHE wanted to (minus the fact that I needed to get groceries but I figured we could include that, and that's just what we did).

Our day started with sleeping in, something we rarely ever do. Our bodies are just so used to getting up early so even on our days "off", our internal clock still goes off. Not yesterday though, we slept until almost 9 o' clock!! It felt amazing. Normally on Sunday morning we are in the hustle and bustle of getting to Church on time but like I said, I just woke up with it on my heart to devote the entire day to Laekyn and let her choose what we were going to do. We stayed out of Church (something we also rarely do unless there is a good reason for it but yesterday was the exception to that) and went to lunch. Much to my surprise, she wanted McDonald's.. okay, not a surprise at all. We went to McDonald's and ate lunch and then she played in the play place for awhile. While we were there, we ran into Kasey's cousins Michelle and Madison. Laekyn and Madison had a ball playing together!

Here they are in the slide (with a couple friends they met as well)...



After McDonald's, we made our way to the Dollar Store where we picked up some candy. We then made our way to the theater to see Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. Now, when deciding what movie we were going to see I thought she had already seen it but she kept reassuring me she hasn't so we went to go watch it. The movie was super cute and right as soon as it was over, miss priss leaned over to me with this sneaky little grin and she said "I really had seen this movie before but I wanted to see it again." Ha, she's such a stinker!! After the movie we went and did our grocery shopping which I managed to complete in less than an hour (this is HUGE for me!) Ha ha. She had a ball marking off each item as I placed them in the cart. Once we got our groceries put up, we ventured back out.

This time, to Chuck E Cheese. That place was absolutely packed! We ate pizza and played games because you know, that's what you do at CEC. Along with trying to avoid bumping into everyone you walk by because it's so crowded. Laekyn also did the 'Cupid Shuffle' with Chuck E! We had an absolute ball and before we knew it, it was time to head home and get to bed as Monday was coming way too soon.

Overall, the time we spent together was amazing and it had been way too long since we just enjoyed a whole day to just her and I. I'm glad we made that a priority this weekend and I can't wait to do it again! <3h