The sun will come out....

TOMORROW!
This is a belated post!

In March we went to Houston for Cupcake to receive her birthday present from Gigi and Papa...her first trip to the theater. Naturally our Annie lover would best be suited to see Annie first on the big stage so Gigi went to work scoring FABULOUS seats in Houston's Wortham Theater. It was a special afternoon for three generations: Gigi, Mom, and Cupcake.

Of course when going to see Annie...you should wear an Annie dress, right?! If we had a dollar for each person who told us how cute Cupcake was, we could have re-gained the cost of our tickets and had lunch after. It was a hit! Here's Annie with Gigi:


Also, when we first entered the theater people were clapping and cheering and creating a fuss. Here's the scene we saw:

Cupcake was sure they were clapping because the real live Daddy Warbucks was there. Yes, those are two bald men or Daddy Warbucks look alikes but NO...not the real one. They were in fact the secret service men for President George Bush Sr. and Barbara who were in the house for the show. I think it is pretty amazing that at age 3, on your first trip to the theater, you sit a few rows back from the former President.

During the show Cupcake did great. At one point it was very quiet and in anticipation for what was next Cupcake yelled out "Here comes It's a Hard Knock Life" everyone around us giggled. She also full on sang "Tomorrow" with the cast. I have a feeling this will be the first of many theater memories with my girls. Thanks Gigi for a wonderful afternoon!

Cupcake's birthday questions

We did a little birthday interview so we could remember Cupcake's preferences at age three. Here are the questions, mama's predictions, and the real answers:

1. What is your favorite color?
Mama's guess - pink
Cupcake's answer - pink

2. What is your favorite toy?
M - view finder (we play with that EVERY day)
C - Cat and the Hat

3. What is your favorite fruit?
M - strawberries
C - strawberries

4. What is your favorite TV show?
M - Sid the Science Kid
C - Cat and the Hat

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?
M - peanut butter and jelly time
C- peanut butter and jelly (is she finally not calling it peanut butter jelly time?)

6. What is your favorite outfit?
M - Hello Kitty shirt
C - Princess shirt

7. What is your favorite game?
M - Not sure
C - popsicle memory game (thanks again, Kelli!)

8. What is your favorite snack?
M - raisins
C - cereal bars (Aunt Sheri found these yummy cereal bars and Cupcake loves them...how did I not think of that?)

9. What is your favorite animal?
M - Callie
C - Lion

10. What is your favorite song?
M - "I know you" (Sleeping Beauty)
C - "I know you"

11. What is your favorite book?
M - Pocahontas
C - Tiana (The Princess and the Frog)

12. Who is your best friend?
M - Lily and Eva
C - Lily and Dawson

13. What is your favorite cereal?
M - O's (organic Cherrios)
C - O's and Daddy's (Daddy's is shredded wheat)

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?
M - Run
C - Bubbles

15. What is your favorite drink?
M - Smoothies
C - water

16. What is your favorite holiday?
M - Halloween
C - I don't know

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?
M - Kiki (blanket) and Emy ( pacifier)
C - Hello Kitty

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
M - O's and Daddy's
C - O's and Daddy's

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?
M- Mac and Cheese-a-roni
C - broccoli

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?
M- princess
C- a parent
(melt...total melt)

Here's the video play...in her birthday outfit. 3 is going to be fun!

Holy paint fight!

A friend recently asked me at what age should they start scripture memory with their children. I'm not sure if there is a "right" age. But since my opinion was asked, here is my answer: if your child can memorize anything : twinkle, twinkle, the abc's, or several princess songs (ahem. we know about this), than your child can start to memorize scripture. For us we could have even started earlier...but we're still learning the ropes on the timing of things. We're in month 3 of our scripture memory and part of the success of the memory has been the activities that go with each month's theme. Cupcake loves the activities! Since we're moving towards Easter this month is all about how our Holy Father has offers purity and a cleansing of our sin. How better to see that in a 3 year old way than a paint fight? Right? We got some washable paint and let loose during Cutie Pie's morning nape last weekend. Since it was messy affair, I only have a before and after picture.

Have you ever seen a sweeter Daddy's girl?


And after...
Before we washed clean again we talked about how we all have some mess in us. Then we talked about how the mess gets clean when God is in the picture. In case this is news to you...if you are reading this blog, you've got some mess in you. Don't worry, I'm not judging you. We all do. You also have the right to make that mess right in the eyes of God. I hope you have/will.

After giving Cupcake the hose and letting her clean the mess outside we jumped in the shower to get the rest of the paint off. Cutie Pie woke up shortly after....with absolutely no idea of all that had transpired during her nap.

I wonder what the neighbors think of two highly competitive folks slinging paint on their 3 year old. It was a sweet, messy, memorable,epic, Crack Team Saturday morning.

The power of 3

Dear Cupcake,

You are three. Three years of joy have filled our home. Three years of being a family. Your third birthday means Daddy and I have been married with kids for more years than we were married without kids. Three is a lot of things for us. But most people wouldn't think at age three you could make a difference. But you have. We spend a lot of time telling you about the kind of family we are. For example we are the kind of family that helps others. We are the kind of family that goes to church on Sunday. We are the kind of family that recycles. We are the kind of family that eats healthy. We are the kind of family that values meaningful friendships. I know at age three you must get sick of hearing me talk about the kind of family we are. Yet I know you are able to grasp it and I believe that even at age three you can live it.

When we sent out the invitations for your princess party we had asked your friends to bring a food donation for our church food pantry instead of presents. Even though we've spent time in the past talking about choosing thoughtful gifts to take to other birthday parties, we wouldn't have presents coming for yours. Sure, we could have asked people to bring both...or choose....but that isn't the point. We don't need more toys and we want to flex the muscle now that resists the temptation of worldly materialism.

So, you made a sacrifice. We didn't even compensate your sacrifice by running out and buying you tons of gifts. You got one small one from us. One day when you are older and reading back through this blog I want you to see what your sacrifice brought. This stack of food is a substantial donation. I'd venture to say it will be the biggest donation a 3 year old will make to our food pantry this month. It's not a competition. What it is though is proof that at 3 years old you can make a difference. You have. I'm proud of you. Daddy's proud of you. We love that you are willing to be different than others. You are a powerful three year old. I'm confident you can change the world. I'm confident you WILL change the world...even if it's one canned good at a time. Most importantly I am confident that each of these cans of food will go into a home that really NEEDS them. Whatever toys could have been in this picture instead would be long gone, forgotten, or broken by the time you are old enough to read this blog. So thank you for standing with us. We love that you are part of our family....the kind of family that wants to help others...even when it's a sacrifice on our part.

Princess and the Pea

Our little Cupcake is in the full on princess stage...the one where you act out, sing, dance, dress like, and pretend Princess all day. We eat on Princess plates, do princess crafts, sleep on princess sheets. Daddy is called Prince. Mommy is an "extra" and Cutie Pie is also a princess. So, clearly for her 3rd birthday, we had to do a princess theme. She has really enjoyed reading The Princess and the Pea and so I opted to use this less popular princess for our party. I scoured the web for ideas and threw in some of my own. Our little princess was more than thrilled when it was all said and done!

We asked everyone to come in their pajamas for a Princess Brunch and Birthday party. Here's our little princess in her princess jammies:

Princess Cupcake's little sister was in on the action too. She was VERY sleepy at first since it was her nap time BUT her bed was in use so Papa had to do some cuddling:

Here's the entry way with slippers for the Prince and Princesses:


The princess mantle:

The infamous Princess and the Pea bed:


Pin the crown on the princess:


Mattress stack up! Nana (The Hubs' Mom) was sooooo helpful with this game. She made all of these little mattresses for me by sewing the fabric around tissue packages. She also found the two little princesses and made some peas. Thank you so so much, Nana. The kids liked seeing how many mattresses they could stack but more than that the Dad's LOVED it.


A sweet little Prince!
Princess friends
Cupcake pinning her crown on the princess...err wall:


The crown cake...thanks again to Nana for helping with the kids so I could decorate this pink wonder:

Nana in her pjs with the littlest princess:


A special guest! My cousin Jenny was in town for business and came by for the party. We were thrilled to have her. I remember when she was "my" baby. I always knew I wanted to be a Mommy when I used to hold and play with her and now she is holding my baby. Eep!


Gigi and her niece!

Happy Birthday Cupcake

Happy Birthday, Cupcake!

I'll post more deets later about the party, the weekend, and the birthday girl but here is a picture and video of her birthday lunch at Mesa Rosa. We asked her what she wanted for lunch and she said "chips and dip dip" which means Mexican food. She ate her chips and dip dip and then her quesadilla lunch so she got a special treat for dessert!

Happy Birthday to our cherry on top!

Train ride

Some days I have idea-exhaustion. It's not that I don't have ideas. The curse of a creative person is that ideas are always fogging your brain. But some days I just am exhausted from making ideas happen. On some of those days when I'm having idea-exhaustion we go to the mall.

Cupcake loves to people watch and walk around. She likes to step about two steps into each store, listen to the music, and do a dance that goes with it. Her favorite store is...Wet Seal. Darn you Wet Seal. I imagined my battles against you your all too skimpy clothes would start more around age 10....not age 2. We ride the big carousel. We go to the princess store and look around. The most recent visit Cupcake noticed they had discontinued a certain product. She was horrified the employee was shocked she noticed and offered her a job application. We play close attention to every detail in the princess store. We almost always go to Hallmark too. With big families there is always a birthday, anniversary, or something card worthy on the horizon. Cupcake has a knack for finding cards that have been put back in the wrong place. She pulls them off and hands them to me. I used to try to find their rightful place but if you spend 3 minutes seeking out the long lost home of the card she has, in the meantime, found 6 other lost cards. So we take our pile to the register where they too offer Cupcake a job application. On some visits to the mall we eat lunch at Chic-fil-a. Finally, on the lucky days where Mom can find a dollar somewhere in the Marry Poppins bag....I mean diaper bag she gets to do this:



She really loves driving the train....Cutie Pie loves watching her. It's a great idea on the idea-exhaustion days!

She likes to help

Cupcake LOVES to help. She'll help with anything....laundry, sweeping, diaper changing, eating M&Ms (not that we do that) counting things, putting stamps on mail, and even getting toilet paper for someone who has just used the loo. If you don't want such "help" you'd be wise to lock the bathroom door while in our home.

I'll try to get some videos of all the help I get around here because A) she's sooooo cute! and B) when CPS asks why I thought it was ok to go on a date night and leave my 3 yr old in charge this will hopefully prove I'm not insane.



Just kidding on part B, Mom. Don't worry.

Ephesians 2:10

Our sweet friends Shannon and Marc sent us a calendar for Christmas that lays out a year of Discovering God with Kids. Wow! How do you thank someone for such a great gift?

Each month there is a bible verse and then weekly activities to help children understand God's word. Once a week there are questions for the dinner table that have to do with the verse too. We've been wanting to be more regular with devotionals with Cupcake so this was the PERFECT launching pad.

January's verse was Ephesians 2:1o. Cupcake was a little off at the end but she can tell you all about this verse and it's such a great reminder of the value of each of us!



One of the activities for January included sharing some s'mores. Lucky cupcake! That is more sweets that we normally allow but in the effort to stay on track...and because how can you say no to the yummy treat we went for it. So, here's Cupcake's first s'more:

Somethings she says

A little blurry but still sooo sweet! She has recently been asking for me to put her hair on top of her head...

I always think I should blog a few of the cute things she is saying and then I don't. So before too much time goes by and really for my own memory here's some of the favorites:

She used to (has already grown out of it) call Elephants: "Ef-a-lents"

When she wants to do something she says: "I a ...." So turning a light on "I a turn the light on."

One day she noticed the Hubs and I playing footsie under the table (we're still crazy in love even if we do have a load of diapers in the wash and spit up on both of us). She said: "Why your feet hugging?"

The hubs is always the prince and Cupcake is the princess. While listening to Sleeping Beauty's Once Upon a Dream song in the car Cupcake instructed me not to sing as it was just for her and Daddy. Then when the chorus chimes in she permits me to sing too.

She still calls all dips: ketchup, salsa, ranch dressing, queso, cream cheese, etc. "dip, dip"

When she wants something she says: "Please I have...."

When you offer her food that she doesn't want she very succinctly and matter of fact says :"No Tanks"

She loves to sing. Frosty the Snowman currently tops the list. She also likes to sing the Rug Time song from Sid the Science Kid.

I love her! Even when I occasionally have to ask for a talking time out so I can think straight I still love her. What will I do when her little voice becomes a big voice?!

Ants on a log

I do love re-living or should I say re-eating some of my favorite childhood snacks with Cupcake. Ants on a log is a timeless classic. Someone I know likes to lick the log clean....and not eat the log. Any guesses who that could be?

2012 here we come...

I've been on an unannounced blogging hiatus. I had to choose between getting my Christmas decorations down and kicking the new year off with good habits or blogging. Since I'm pretty sure you aren't seeing any Christmas trees re purposed for Valentines on Pintrest, you know what I choose. While I still can't go a day without finding a tiny piece of fake pine somewhere or a sprinkle that missed a cookie, Christmas is otherwise packed up. We're into 2012 and anticipate it being an epic year for the Crack Team. Isn't every year?

We spent New Years Eve morning at the zoo with our sweet friends. This picture makes us all smile as Cupcake just LOVE LOVE LOVES her bestie. Sadly the plague took over their home for 2012 and we have yet to see them. A few more days of sickies and I'm going over in a space suit with hardcore bleach and taking their germs head on in battle. Our poor friends need a break AND... We miss them!!!
Cutie Pie should be nicknamed weed because she sure grows like one. What is it about numbero dos that makes time fly even faster. She loves this little dress from Aunt Kari and when she wears it she rubs the ruffles and smiles. I'm proud of her for embracing the girly-ness around here. She turned 3 months this week and as soon as I have sometime to get the pictures up, I will.


In the meantime, Happy 2012. I hope your year is off to a great start. Thanks for keeping our blog in your list of things to keep up with as another year kicks off.

Advent Calendar

Christmas with a 2.5 year old has been so much fun! In December we started our advent activity calendar to count down the days. We saw a live nativity, read special Christmas books, made cookies for neighbors, did some preschool Christmas-themed coloring sheets, and so on. Cupcake has really enjoyed her calendar and counting down for her birthday.

One Saturday morning the calendar said we'd do a Christmas craft. Cupcake LOVED making a reindeer family with each of our hands as antlers. Check out her focus:


Even Daddy got in on the action:


Figuring out how it works:

Yay! Our reindeer family has been a fun source of play ever since.

Shhhhh.....

Cupcake and Cutie Pie at the same age:Is it strange that the only similar picture of my girls thus far is one of them yawning? By similar I mean the same pose. I don't even think they look alike in these pictures though there are lots of times I do think they look the same. I guess with all our action and adventure comes some serious sleep too!

Cutie Pie is a sensitive sleeper. It is really hard to get her to sleep during the day without being held because any small noise wakes her...but at night when not a creature is stirring, she is a champ. Cupcake still takes an afternoon nap which is nice because I can often have them both napping at once...if only that didn't mean one was in my arms.

On warnings and jumping ahead

It's a funny thing about life stages...people both want to jump ahead for you and "help" you by anticipating the worst. How does this play out?

When I started dating the hubs....people asked if we were serious. When I finally would acknowledge the severity of my burning love for him....people asked when we'd get engaged (as if I knew?!). Once engaged...when we'd get married. Once married....when we'd have kids. It's always been a little pet peeve of mine. I'm not adverse to goals but I do like to enjoy the moment and savor each stage. There were some beautiful things about just dating the hubs. Of course in hindsight it would be devastating had we stalled out there. But in those moments it was nice to just enjoy dating. Flash forward to the postpartum nurse that took me into care just hours after Cutie Pie's birth. She first asked me "Are you going to have a 3rd to try for a boy?" People are always jumping ahead. They want to be in the know about what is next. I've had to deal with knowing that as soon as we hit a life stage, someone would be asking about the next.

The other side of that is people want to "help" you by anticipating the worst. Now I don't think anyone is assuming the worst or wishing the worst on you. In fact I think in some crazy way they really believe they are "helping." If you somehow anticipate the worst case scenario then you'll endure the hard parts better. Surely you know the old ball and chain warning the minute a man puts a ring on gals finger? Or when pregnant for the first time we got the enjoy every last moment BEFORE the baby comes and you suffer social suicide. And finally, the most recent: Your first born is going to have a really hard time with the second. Be prepared for hatred, jealousy, acting out, and so forth.

I think both of these tendencies really do stem from a place of care. We get excited for what is next in people's life and we want to prepare them for the hard things so that it won't discourage them. However, I just don't really like either. I'd prefer to enjoy the moment I am in. I'd also prefer to focus on all the great things about what is to come. I don't want to waste time planning for a worst case scenario that may not happen.

Perfect example: my firstborn.
There has been no hatred. There has been no acting out. Jealousy has not reared an ugly head yet. Maybe at 5 short weeks into the second born's life I am naive and deceived but for all the worry that people shoved my way about even these first 5 weeks it ended up being a waste. Cupcake has been fabulous. She's loving. She's helpful. She's curious. She's observant. She's patient. She's independent when I need her to be. She's still cuddly and sweet when I have the space on my lap. She's patient. She's proud. I have fallen in love all over again with my Cupcake as I've watched her take on her new role as a big sister.

I was prepared for all kinds of ugliness based on the warnings of others. Shame on me. I slipped into the stereo types and underestimated her. I'm sorry, Cupcake. I should have known that you'd embrace Cutie Pie like you do everything with grace, flexibility, optimism, and an outpouring of love. I'm snapping pictures of your luscious curls and ridiculous long eye lashes today and thinking of how thankful I am that your Daddy doesn't feel like he's wearing a ball and chain, how you did not create social suicide for us, and how having a second child did not awaken a monster within you. I am continuously in awe of and deeply in love with you my precious girl.

Snuggles and pumpkin seeds

Snuggles AND pumpkin seeds...not to be confused as Snuggling pumpkin seeds. In fact, a certain 2 year old prefers to not even touch pumpkin seeds. The hubs and I were certain that getting dirty and digging out some seeds would be a super fun activity for our ever curious 2 year old. It was a perfect Texas-fall Saturday morning with cooler temps and a nice breeze. We picked out the perfect pumpkin and brought it home.


Next, we cut the top off and opened it up to reveal the wonder that is cleaning out the insides. Look closely at this picture. Cupcake is in my lap guiding my hand with hers. Keeping her hand clean while I do the cleaning out. Who would have guessed that pumpkin seeds would be repulsive?! Guess it is kinda gross for a princess!


Later that day when everyone had enough of the pumpkin which meant we got the seeds cleaned out and then gave up, Daddy and Cutie Pie snuggled on the couch while visions of jack-o-lanterns danced in their heads.


I guess half done projects, naps when we can grab them, and random posts like snuggles and pumpkin seeds are our new normal. Can you still hang with the Crack team?

Practicing...

It's coming!!! With eager anticipation of the ultimate night of make believe our little cupcake, sometimes princess, sometimes orphan annie, and sometimes fairy has been doing a few practice runs for her hair style for the big night. She still has darling curls naturally but for this particular night, we're taking it up a notch.


She hasn't see her dress....she doesn't know that her beloved Daddy figure has a locket for her...and really she doesn't even have a full concept of how close it is....ONE WEEK AWAY. But, practicing is fun enough for now and I have to say I love how precious she looks running around like a total maniac in prissy little rollers. I imagine a life full of such juxtapositions. Before you go postal on me with loving the rollers and dolling up my 2 year old...we aren't entering any beauty pageants and I wouldn't do this to her if she didn't herself LOVE it. Let the count down begin....7 days.

For those who are newer Crack Addicts and gasping at our excitement for Halloween, here is a post from last year on why we celebrate. Happy Halloween!

She's here...

Sweet bambina #2 made her entrance to the world last Tuesday evening at 8:55pm. I was not induced...she came on her own....early. I'll get the longer birth story up someday, hopefully soon but didn't want to keep putting off blogging for writing the longer story. So many of you have called or emailed asking for more details so I will get to it...but we've been busy with our tiny bundle of joy.

Our cutie pie was petite, especially for a gestational diabetes baby, weighing in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces. She is an inch taller than cupcake was at birth and while these pictures are a little decieving she looks more and more like her big sister every day. She is a sweet baby who wants to be cuddled as often as possible. She loves hearing voices and will follow a toy with her eyes if you'll play with her. Cupcake loves this! Speaking of Cupcake is doing a great job in her big sister role. I've been so proud of her as she's learning to play gentle and learning that sometime Mommy has to help the baby first.

I'll post more soon but for now here's a look at some pictures from the hospital:


Just back from the nursery with Dad having had her first bath I was THRILLED to see that the nurse agrees on my bow theory. Start them early:


First thing the next morning Cupcake and Gigi came for a visit. It had not even been 24 hours since I had seen Cupcake last but I had missed her SOOOOO much! She came in saying "WOW" and when she peaked in the little baby bed she told her sister "I like your toy" (the bulb). She took a little walk with Daddy to the nursery to see the other babies too like we did on the hospital (She calls it Hos-i-pul) tour. She quickly confirmed when she returned that "her baby was the cutest baby in the whole world!"


Gigi and her girls!
You may remember this sweet blanket from Cupcake's birth too. It kept their Daddy warm when he came home from the hospital and now has kept both of our girls warm too. It was made by Daddy's paternal grandmother.


This is my favorite picture so far. Cupcake loves to hold and squeeze her baby. This was one of the first big hugs. I pray they'll be hugging on each other like this for life!

A look at the belly

I'm not really a maternity photo type girl. And I'm not a put-a picture-of-my-belly-on-facebook for the world to see kind of girl at each week mark either. I'm not against the rest of you people doing it...there is something cute about all these baby bumps. It's just not my thing. Yet a week ago I decided we should take a few pictures where I wasn't hiding the bump so that baby #2 could one day see how she looked in my belly. This go around has been so different than carrying Cupcake. I was much wider and rounder all over and had gained double the weight with cupcake. I had on no wedding rings and my face was round and pink. We took these photos at 38 weeks...I had already had Cupcake by that point.

This time....I just feel different. I am all out front, no swelling, still minimal weight gain (thank you gestational diabetes for a few postives!), I'm still wearing my wedding rings, and it looks like we'll make it to almost 40 weeks. So, I contacted my old boss's daughter who is in college for and is an aspiring photographer to see if she'd take just a few pictures of us. She agreed and we spent last Saturday morning getting some belly shots. I think she did a great job! Check a couple of them out:


We have some others that were great too but I'm holding them back for a little project you'll have to see post-baby.

We are ready! Really number 2 could come at anytime but if not before we'll have her by the end of the week via induction. We've survived 28 doctor appointments over the last 6 weeks. We've all been flu vaccinated, dental checked, eye checked, and I've had my fair share of doctor appointments, blood draws, and so on. With the diabetes I've pricked myself approximately 200 times in the past 6 weeks. I've taken my blood pressure about the same. We've monitored everything closely and I have to say the health pay off has been worth the investment. That's another post in itself. The hubs and I have both had haircuts in the past week. I got my toes polished. The house is clean and ready for Halloween. The fridge is stocked, the pantry is stocked, the freezers are still an avalanche waiting for the first person to fling them open without warning of their fullness. We have done many home projects and craft projects that were on the "some day list." Our bags are packed for the hospital. I have little activities planned and some new books and toys tucked away for Cupcake for post-baby and post-extended family. We've had some really sweet family moments together.

At this point, I'm signing off blogging until we have a new little one to introduce....between now and then we'll be hunkered down and having as many more hugs, kisses, tickle wars, dance offs, tea parties, art projects, and so on that we can fit in before Cupcake becomes a big sister. Pray for us as we make the transition...it's the greatest gift you can offer.

With love for the last time,
The Crack Team 3

Daddy's girls

Have a girl? Having a girl? Girl who has a Dad? Are you a Dad with a girl?

Read this:
http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/50-rules-for-dads-of-daughters

Granted, I'm a Daddy's girl.
Granted, I have a girl.
Granted, I have another girl in my belly.
Granted, the girl I already have loves her daddy.
Granted, I love her Daddy too. Very much.

But I cried my eyes out throughout this article.

Rule #1: 1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.

That is where the tears started for me. Good or bad...? In my case my Dad and Mom just celebrated 32 years of marriage. I grew up in a home where they would kiss...not just a peck...at red lights. My brother and I would scream with disgust. But I took note. They would go on regular dates leaving us to the likes of our favorite babysitter Allyson. To this day I'm still in contact with Allyson and she was dear to us all the while I watched Mom and Dad making time for each other. My Dad sent flowers, gave cards, hugged, rubbed backs, and took lesser jobs for more time with us. He never missed a dance performance...often one of the few Dads there because Saturday was a good golf day after all. He was book smart, street smart, money smart, and not afraid to stand up for things even when it wasn't popular. I had a great Dad and part of marrying my man was finding someone to fill his big shoes.

That man has filled the shoes. That man is creating his own big shoes for our girls' future spouses. And, while we're early in the journey I read through each of these so thankful that Mr. Crack is a great Dad to my cupcake and I feel confident that will continue with number 2. I could gush, brag, drag on the longest post ever about how dearly I love him and how he does all of these things so well. But I'll keep it simple: We are proud of the man, Dad, and husband he is and continues to be. We are so fortunate to have such an amazing husband and daddy.

I'll give one example because I just couldn't resist the cuteness of this video I tried to sneak:

15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.

They dance. Sometimes as prince and princess. Sometimes to just be silly. And sometimes, in true Crack team form: A DANCE OFF!!!