Girl after my own heart

I believe in starting readers out young! So it was so fun one morning, as I was getting ready for school, to come around the corner and see my daughter sitting among several books, carefully looking through the books and "reading"! Actually, she had emptied the shelf of its books (which is actually a talent of hers), and then promptly sat down and began reading! Anyone that knows me knows that I've always loved reading! It took me a while to convince Mason to be a reader, but it looks like I've hooked Arie while she's still young!

The many faces of Arie

Arie is now 10 1/2 months old! And she still continues to be our daily delight. She is learning something new everyday-and it's incredible to watch her little brain grow and develop and take in everything around her! She is still quite the showstopper - strangers ask me on an almost daily basis if they can take her picture! Just recently, we think she has figured out that she has muscles in her face, and she loves to squish up her face. Consequently, everyday she's making a new and quite funny face. Thought I'd share just a few of the Arie faces!

BFF's

When I was twelve years old, I went to Girls Camp for the first time. There I met Lara Fulkerson. She was in a different ward, but she had several brothers, so she was quite the popular girl. We became fast friends. Then, at school, I met Emily Allen. She wasn't a member of the church, but after a few of years and visits from the missionaries, Emily joined the church. Since we were in high school, Emily, Lara and I have been best friends. Time, distance, marriage and families have taken us to various places in our personal lives and in proximity, but one thing has remained - our friendship! It's one of those once-in-a-lifetime friendships - no matter where we are or how much time has passed, we just fall into step, one with another! Those two girls got me through my high school years. They helped me to keep my standards high, and were the rock of love and support every high school teenager girl needs. I feel so blessed to have these two amazing women still in my life. They are such an inspiration to me - each in her own, personal way. Lara is now a single mom, with 3 children. She currently lives here, in Antioch, but will soon be off to nursing school, possibly in Utah. She is such a great mom, and no matter how busy and hectic her life as a single parent gets, she always makes time for her children, while supporting a 4.0 GPA! Emily is now a mother of 4children. She lives in Utah and is just beginning a small business of baby blankets and products, for which she makes. Her line is adorable and named after her daughter, Chloe Jane. I'd tell you her website, but I don't know it. You can look up her work on etsy.com, and look under chloejanehomemade. I found and old high school swim pic with the three of us in it. And while time has changed the physical appearances, the emotional attachment remains as strong as ever! Recently Emily came to San Fransisco for a conference, and Lara and I were able to join her in the city for an evening of eating and talking. Just like old times!

Cousin love

Back in May, my sister Lindsay and her son Colby, came for a visit to California. Colby is a month and a half younger than Arie. They don't really interact quite yet; mostly they just tolerate each other and have occasional stare downs! I really wish Lindsay lived closer because I just know that Colby and Arie would be the best of friends! One night while she was here we took the kids for a walk. They are both so photogenic that I couldn't help snapping some pics of the two of them, along with Zach!

Swim, man, Swim!

Zach loves baseball, but Mason loves swimming! And he is a good swimmer - must run in the family genes!! Mason swims in the summer for the Antioch Delta Skimmers - the same swim team I swam for when I was a kid! This is year #5 for Mason, and he's now swimming with the big boys. This is the year when bodies start changing, and kids are no longer stepping up to the blocks looking like little children! And Mason noticed this change at the first meet! No longer is Mason coming in first place - he's finding himself around the fourth and fifth place finisher. Which is good, but not good in Mason's eyes. I always knew that competitive edge would kick in at some point, I just didn't know when. I just wanted Mason to enjoy doing something he enjoyed and that kept him active and healthy. But, this year, Mason has decided to step it up a notch to stay competitive. We went out and bought his first set of fins so he could increase his leg strength (his words) and I can find him at night in his room with hand weights, so he can increase his upper body strength (again, his words). It's weird to watch this transformation take place - but it's kinda cool too. I was way too competitive growing up, and while I'm glad Mason's not there, it's fun to see him grow and change! At the last meet he announced that he wanted to buy a swim cap to help him improve his time! I LOVE going to meets and watching Mason compete. It makes me miss competing myself. I wish we lived closer to where the Masters swim team practice and compete! But for now, I'll just have to live vicariously through my son!

"GIANT" playmaker!

Each of the boys have their "strengths" when it comes to sports - and Zach's is clearly baseball! He's loved it from the moment he first picked up a ball and glove! A couple years ago we signed up and put him on a T-ball team. In case you've never witnessed a T-ball game, firsthand, might I suggest it! Talk about early morning Saturday comedy! Nothing beats a T-ball game for fun! But when Zach played, he just didn't have much patience for it. He'd hit the ball way out into the outfield and just couldn't understand why he was forced to stop at first base when clearly he could run the bases! So, the next year, when it was coach-pitch, he found his stride. He was on the A's (which our family loved) and his coach was Coach Ken. He did so good his first year that his Coach asked him to come back and play for him this year. So, this year he was on the Giants, still coach-pitch, but it was his second year, and he was clearly one of the best on the team. He wanted all season to get that homerun. He would work in the backyard with Dad on hitting the ball with this device that he and Dad rigged up. He even put himself on a special diet, which-as he put it- was because he was "in training"! Of course that diet lasted until the evening when he realized his immediate desire for ice cream overcame his long-range desire for a homerun! But, he's pretty serious about playing ball. On the second to last game, Zach fulfilled his life-long (at least season-long) dream - he got his home-run! He brought in two other runners as well! It's been a great season - and he's done so well that Coach Ken has already asked him to come back for next season and play for him! If Zach has his wish, he'd like to be pitcher - and Coach wants to work with him in the off-season in the pitcher position! Next year the kids pitch to each other, so it's taken up a notch! I have to say, I LOVE watching Zach play - he's really in his element! How grateful I am to have healthy, happy children who love to play sports! I look forward to what next season holds in store . . .

Happy Birthday, Mason!

Quick on the heels of Zach's birthday, is Mason's big day! And this year is a big deal - he turned 12 on June 16th! I can still remember turning 12 and feeling like I had just crossed over onto the verge of being an adult! It's a weird thing to have a tween - I know I don't feel old enough to have a teenager - but unfortunately, Father Time hasn't asked me if I'm ready or not. So, here we go! Breakfast-in-bed with. . .DONUTS! Mason chose his two best friends, Hudson Preece and Evan Howe to go with him out to Aaron's parents and have an air-soft gun war and then do some swimming. The Krey kompound offers lots of fun places to run, hide and shoot at the enemy - (aka, friends with air softs too!) The boys had a blast! That night, Mason wanted to eat at his favorite restaurant - Elephant Bar. Nana and Papa joined us one last time - as they left for Utah the next day. Happy Birthday, Scooby! Thanks for being the leader in our family and teaching your brother and sister the right path to follow in! You are an example to even your father and I. We truly are the lucky ones who were given the opportunity to be your parents! We love you!

Happy Birthday Zach!

Last week a friend called me to make sure I was okay! She was concerned that something had happened cuz I hadn't posted anything since April! So, with a few extra minutes this morning, I thought I'd reassure my audience that the Krey Krew is alive and well. Busy, but alive and well! June has been a busy month! The end of the school year brought some birthdays hot on its heels! Zach celebrated birthday #8 on June 4th! I can't believe he's 8 and going to be baptized! The day began with the traditional breakfast-in-bed: that mornings fare - what else? Donuts! That evening we celebrated by going to the A's game! Nana and Papa were able to go with us, along with our good friends, the Johnsons! Unfortunately, the A's lost - but we got to enjoy the fireworks show afterwards! I tried to tell Zach that we had arranged the firework show especially for him on his birthday - but he didn't really go for that! We didn't get to go to any games last year - so it was fun to finally get back! We had a great night! We now look forward to Sunday, June 27th - when Zach will be baptized a member of the church! We are so happy for you, Zach, and are so grateful you were sent to be in our family! We love you, Z!