Cruff Family Chronicles

Hi everyone! We went to a couple of Halloween events this past weekend and I have some pictures to share. I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween. We usually wait until the last minute to get costumes and then rush like chickens with our head cut off the night of. When we both worked, it was a race to get home, make dinner, eat, get dressed all before the trick or treaters started coming (we always had some during our meal). So the holiday just stresses me out. We were ahead of the curve a little this year. Avi is wearing Bri's first costume, a ladybug. Bri mentioned wanting to be Elsa but once I told her there would be thousands of those (and that's perfectly ok! One of our good friends made a dress for her daughter and even came up with the pattern!), she wanted to be a vampire. We already had bat wings from the Chippewa Nature Center so we went with that. I told her she's a vampire bat. Surprisingly, she's one of the only few bats I've seen and even at the Nat...

Hi guys! I know I just wrote a blog yesterday but I did warn that I would post another one soon of Bri's swim lessons session ending! Well, to start off, Bri has always loved swimming. There were some times where she was timid and would not do brave things for example, jump off the diving board at Jeff and Michelle's. She would also use 2 floaties at Lori and John's pool. I was a little afraid that she might be late to the game when it came to swimming lessons since I know some people put their kids in when they're babies. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. This is her jumping in today! Lessons went so well! She loves it and looks forward to it every week. I'm so excited we finally found an activity for her! She got her certificate and graduated at Sunfish level which is Level 2! Pretty darn good for her first time. She is also recommended to go to Starfish which is Level 3. I spoke to her instructor and she feels like she is good at this and would real...

Hi Everyone!! I've really missed blogging the last couple weeks. We have all been sick but Avi and I have gotten the worst of it. I didn't want to write because it would have just been complaining about feeling bad and lack of sleep. We are on antibiotics and prednisone so getting better slowly but surely. My sister-in-law Anna and her fiance came into town this weekend for a quick visit. We also got a visit from their Aunt Leslie, Uncle Gregg and Cousin Jennie. It was so great to see everyone. Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of that visit. Sometimes, it's ok to just enjoy the company and not try to capture it all on camera. Today, we, along with Anna, went to Johnson's Pumpkin Patch in Saginaw (Uncle Josh was hunting). It was all of our first time there. It was really nice! It wasn't a go cut your own pumpkin off the vine kind of patch but that's ok. Everything was spread out nicely so you never felt overwhelmed with too many people. It was cold,...

Hey guys! Thanks for all the nice feedback about my blog! Even if you just "like" the link I share, it lets me know you're reading it and I appreciate that :D. I was hoping to title this blog post "Your kids surprise you sometimes!" but unfortunately, that was not the case this evening. Before I start, let me just say, I'm a honest person, always have been. I've been trying to use that more positively than just blurting whatever comes to my mind (just overall being a Negative Nelly. I'm working on it!). I've written happy, go lucky blogs so far and this one will be a little different. Just hear me out! Real talk! I'm a little overwhelmed with this SAHM business. I read an article the other day that made a lot of sense to me ( Being a stay at home parent is a luxury for your spouse ). I won't bore you with all my thoughts about it because that could be a whole 'nother blog post. I will just say that having been both a working m...

Hey all, As you all read yesterday on FB, I was feeling homesick. I am fine, not driving off any bridges! I'm proud it only took 3 months to feel that way. I'm alright now. It was one of those days where I missed my old surroundings, my mountains, my friends, and the food. I made Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas to curb the food craving. I was going to write a blog about it and even took pictures but I feel like I'm not a good recipe writer so, I'm just going to update on us. LOTS 'o' cheese The second week of the girls sharing a room is still rough but getting better. It helps that Bri's cough has subsided but Avi has been getting up early and not really napping. It's a crime against humanity when children wake their parents up early AND don't take a nap. It's all worth it, though. I guess I'll sleep when I'm dead! lol I went paparazzi on them at 6 am-ish Wake me up, get flash photography! At least she likes to ...