Marissa loves to draw and design. She keeps a collection of over 100 pages of different dresses and handbags. Here she shows me her "baptism dress" she designed and tells me she wants to wear it today!  
 

Fun Friends-School and Play

We love friends!
 
 
 
 

One Liners/Letting Go...

Kids say the darndest things....Missy..."Oh, eeewwwhh, Dad don't call mom 'baby' cause that's what the guys call the girls in their music, gross dad!....Janson would not eat breakfast, I told him if he did, he would be strong enough to score a goal, and we would all go see a movie...2 minutes into the game, Janson shoots and scores then stops, turns to me and yells across the soccer field, "Mom can we go see 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' now?!" Chammy.......after studying the instruction paper inside a bobble head McDonald's toy for about 5 minutes said..."Mom, I don't get it."
Journal entry..."Letting Go"...Today Janson began his playgroup/carpool for afternoon kindergarten. It is a great opportunity for us. Between the 5 children in the group, we all switch off and take a day of the week having the kids over, letting them play, and then feeding them lunch before taking them to school. This is a huge step in the long road of letting go and allowing Janson to be looked after by others. I knew it would be a paradigm, Janson has never really been with anyone for more than a few hours other than family and a few babysitters. This was a good lesson in trust and faith. I didn't think much of it until I returned home from dropping him off and reviewing the "instruction manual" for my son with a mom. I walked in the door, went to the fridge, then sat down on the floor and just sobbed. I know he will be absolutely fine, but letting go is so hard. I will always worry about his blood sugars and his medical condition. I was quite shocked at my reaction, and was surprised how this was harder than sending him off to school. I still remember his little face saying to me "it's ok mom, I can do it, just go and don't worry.....I'm gonna play with my friends." My Heavenly Father continues to bless me and to protect my son. I am eternally grateful for the gift of spirit that tells me how and when my son needs medical attention. I pray that I might continue to stay in tune with what Janson needs, even if it is playtime with wonderful friends AWAY from MOM!!

Labor Day Fun

First Day of School

  I can't believe school is already here! We are sad that the summer is gone, yet the kids are so excited to start school with new teachers and friends. Chambray started middle school. This is a big adjustment and so far after making it through the first week, she is still loving it! Marissa loves Bonner, and walked in the first day of 2nd grade as if she owned the place! Janson with 2 full years of school, started a half day of kindergarten like it was nothing. I am so excited to see what this year has to bring! Chambray amazes me with how she just takes things in stride, without stress. She was so calm, cool, and collected this week about the 6 classes, homework, the locker thing, flute, having 6 classes in 5 different wings with 1700 other students, carpool with the 7th graders, and even getting lost the first day. I think this would have just put me over the edge and I would have bawled and bawled my first week. Not Chammy, she just shrugs off the uncomfortableness, overcomes the fear of new things, and laughs about being blond! She's showing her true colors and I stand in awe as she develops into a responsible daughter of God!

One Last Summer Getaway-CAMPING

Picking out lava rock on the road to Pine Valley


This year before school started we went camping for a few days. It was alot of work, really dirty, and quite different than the usual beach trip, but we loved it! Jason and I haven't taken the kids camping since Marissa was just a baby, so this trip was long overdue. I reserved the campsite online, the website said there was "flushable toilets"- well when we arrived they didn't have our reservation, and there were no toilets! Oh well- no problem, the Cribbs Clan love spontaneity- like we always say- change is for the better. Well, we ended up getting an awesome huge family site right next to the creek because of the mistake. And the toilet thing....well my girls learned all about squatting! We even bathed in a pot of heated creek water.- (now that's rouging it)! The kids had a blast...getting dirty, playing in the water, fishing, roasting marshmallows, hiking around, and playing with their little cousins! We were so glad my sister and her family joined us for one night!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Lazy Days

Our favorite day of camping was spent in a lazy day of fishing! We walked across the Pine Valley reservoir and found a beautiful serene spot to set up for fishing. The kids each fished and Jas helped them with their bait. Janson kept catching little trout so fast, as soon as he would cast out he would be reeling in with one! Dad couldn't keep up with baiting each kid's pole! I had it made- since I gave up the annual beach trip, I got special treatment that day! Jas hung the hammock up for me and I read my magazines, catnapped, and literally hung out!




More smores please! This was Janson's first real campfire smore ever! And my first smore since 1985 I think! Yummy!
 

My Little Buddy

"There has to be at least 2 dinosaur musems in my city....that's it ...I will live in Salt Lake City mom!"

Uncle Aidan Comes to Visit

For Aidan's birthday we went to the movies, and after he came over for a visit. The kids were so attached to him! They couldn't stop laughing! Aidan is definitely a kid magnet- my kids think he is hilarious and has the best stories, they are still talking about them! We hadn't seen Aidan in ages- so it so fun to visit and catch up!

Chambray started a daring contest with her Uncle and began trying gross combinations of food- which a few they actually liked! It started with vanilla icecream and mustard, then strawberries, then pickle relish, then when they added a full beef bullion cube- they both about died! As they rose their forks to each bite, they toasted and gave the "Volcan StarTrek sign"!

BYU Sports Camp was from the 4th to the 8th of August. This year Marissa was able to go. Everyday of camp they do a different sport, some days they do 2 sports....(soccer, football, tennis, gymnastics, softball, basketball)... What a fun girls trip! Some of my girlfriends have girls the same age as mine, so we all drove up to Provo together and spent the week. While the 11 and 7 year olds spent all day at sports camp, us girls took our little ones and shopped, played at dinosaur museums and parks, and even went to the parade of homes. At night the older girls enjoyed rollerskating, swimming, and sometimes just hanging out at the house we rented playing and watching movies. Wow, it was a fun filled week!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

JDRF bowling day! The kids and I attended a fun day of bowling and visiting with friends at a JDRF function. It was wonderful to see so many of Janson's friends and to even met some newly diagnosed kids. There are 5 little boys all the same age as Janson who also have type I diabetes. It was refreshing to visit with mom's who experience the same ups and downs as we do, and of course for Janson to bond with kids that he can truly relate to! They all got to hang out and bowl. JDRF rented out "Jillian's" for all the families with children with diabetes in the area! Thanks JDRF! 
 
 
 

 

A goodbye party for Sara! Sara and Ben are moving to LA so we had to say goodbye with a fun luncheon! Kyndra put together a great gift- a book with a picture of us, our message to Sara, and a receipe for her! We also put together a little triva quiz about Sara- I even got some great stories from her sister! I always love an excuse to throw a fablous party for friends, but saying goodbye is always hard! We will miss you Sara.

Braces!

Yesterday Chambray visited the orthodontist and she ended up coming home the same day with a mouth full, literally! After having a couple other consults, Jas and I were so impressed by the dr. and his staff we decided that since we had put off braces as long as possible, that it was time. The office made her feel completely comfortable, they even had a parking spot and a surf board in the waiting room with her name on it! At the end of the exam she was begging to get braces that moment. After Jason and I left, they put on her braces and even gave her a limo ride home in the ortho's Hummer (loaded with X-box and movies)! She thought it was a day from heaven, until of course the pain started! Nothing a little Advil can't cure! My baby is growing up! I tell her she can't keep growing and to stay little, but she doesn't listen! Today I turned around from the driver's seat to hand my just turned 11 yr old daughter, an icecream cone- and I experienced this surreal mom movie thing-I saw her whole life flash before me! There she was, this 30 year old with braces, licking her icecream cone! I hope to savor each and every minute with my children. Chambray is quickly leaving the "little girl" stage and moving into the "young lady" stage, and even though I feel ill prepared for the next phase of her life as her mom, I know with her unprecedented strength beyond her years, she will prevail!