The Good - The Bad - And The Shiny

The best way to describe last week end is The Good - The Bad and The Shiny!
First the Good - We have been looking for a dishwasher for a few weeks. On Saturday morning I went to Lowe's and purchased a nice new dishwasher. Free delivery and haul away of the old dishwasher was included. Doug disconnected the old machine and installed the new one on Monday when it arrived. The machine has room for lots of dishes - it is nice and quiet and has a delay function. This is all GOOD. Even better news. Lowe's has a low price match guarantee - so if the item you purchase is advertised at a lower price they will give you the difference plus 10%. Today in the Lowe's ad all dishwashers were 10 % off. So Lowe's gave me the 10%+10% off . This makes it REALLY Good. We have already washed a full load of dishes.

Now for the Bad - Well the picture pretty much says it all!! Doug was going out to do some Home Teaching on Saturday afternoon. He had been gone for about 30 minutes when he called and said he had been in a car accident and needed a tow truck. The picture pretty much tells it all. The car looks bad. Luckily Doug only had a few scratches and the other car did not have much damage. The insurance company it totaling the car since it is 14 years old and had 168K miles. We are now looking for a replacement car for Doug - one that will transport scouts and camping equipment since he is the new assistant Scoutmaster. I think Doug is almost sold on a Volvo wagon - a safe car and plenty of room for scouts and their stuff.

Finally for the Shiny!! Carson just started middle school band and will be playing the saxophone. We picked up his saxophone and he immediately started making noises with it (maybe this should be noisy instead of shiny). The instrument is very nice looking, bright, lots of buttons, knobs, keys, etc. Just what a curious boy wants and needs. The biggest issue to day was where to keep the saxophone during the school day since band class is his last period. I did assure Carson that the band teacher has a place for students to store their instruments each day so they do not have to carry them around all day. We cannot wait to hear some real music in the next few months.

We are hoping for a nice quiet Labor Day weekend.

Summer Update

So much for blogging this summer!! We did have a lot of fun - but summer was way too short.
June was spent with our swim team the FIVE OAKS STINGRAYS!! Carson & Logan practiced everyday and swam in 5 meets. They did a great job at champs.
We always have a great time with all our Five Oaks friends and we miss not seeing them as much after swim team is over.
In August we vacationed in Denver and Utah. All of our Ostler cousins got together in Denver when Eli was baptized. Paddle boating on Soda Lake was Carson's favorite activity. Logan loved the Butterfly Pavilion where she attracted several butterflies We flew from Denver into Salt Lake City so we could spend time in Utah visiting grandparents and more family. Every day of our vacation was packed with fun - ice blocking, water park, and a trip to Park City really made the trip exciting. We all enjoyed meeing our newest cousing Summer Slye - we hear she is even more adorable now !!

Summer officially started last Wednesday when school let out. Carson graduated from 5th grade and elementary school - so it is off to middle school in the fall. Logan was voted "Happy McSmiley in her 3rd grade class! I think I should have received the award for "Mommy

McWalker" since I walked to school with the kids almost every day! I will miss the walk to school every morning- but I am glad to get a break from packing lunches every morning.

We are right in the middle of swim team. We have practices every day and 2 swim meets this week. It seems that we are living at the pool for the next couple of weeks. Just keeping up on laundry with wet towels an swim suits seems to be the biggest chore I have each day.

Once swim team is over in July we have tennis camp and a trip to Denver & Provo planned. I am really excited for all the fun we are going to have this summer.

February 22, 2009

Wow - I am such a great blogger!! I seem to get around to it about every 6 months. Life just keeps happening - nothing super exciting - just life.

We had a great trip to Utah for Christmas and had so much fun visiting and playing with cousins and family. There was plenty of snow for the kids to play in so we would not need to be wishing for any in NC.

It seems that Logan & Carson have been losing teeth every week. One of them is always saying "I have a loose tooth". The tooth fairy is very poor right now! At least the teeth come out the right way - rather than being knocked out during some dare devil stunt.

Logan had a great time at the "Daddy-Daughter Dance" last week. All the dads and daughters dressed up for a dance at the church on Friday night. Doug said the girls seemed to like eating the food and giggling most of all. After the dance Doug & Logan met Carson and I at the movie theater where we all watched "Corlaline"

I am on the search for a good piano. Doug seems to laugh at me every time I mention it I am very serious about it so hoepfully in the next few weeks we will have a real piano - I may even start taking some lessons too. I might even start blogging regularly now too.

Pictures from our trip to Utah. August 2008

Some fun pictures from our trip to Utah!! If you want to see more pic - just email us and we can send more!!

Summer fun

It is hard to believe that school will be starting in a week. We have had a busy summer with swim team, tennis camp, a trip to the beach, Wet 'n Wild water park day, and a fun trip to Utah.

Carson & Logan worked hard on the Five Oaks swim team. With practice every day for 1 1/2 hours it is not surprising they think the pool is their 2nd home. They both did great at the champs and improved thier best times. Most of all they had fun with all their swim team friends.

We had a fun trip to Carolina beach one weeked. The day started out cloudy and rainy, so we made a detour to the NC Acquarium. It was a blast!! Huge tanks with tons of fish, and a touch tank to feel all sorts of water creatures. Carson bought a beach necklace which he has not removed from his neck since the trip. Logan searched for sea shell and doubled her collection.

Our most fun this summer had to be our trip to Utah. Lots of cousins and something new to do everyday. Hiking to Timpangas Cave - now that was hard work- but the amazing sites in the cave were worth it. During our Lagoon trip we all rode "The Wicked" ! Logan's favorite ride was the swings, and Carson's was the Collossas. The hot tub was full of all the cousins when we visited family in St. George.

Much of our trip was spent helping Doug's parents move from Bountiful to Provo. Doug worked hard to get things set up - but now his parents are safe and happy.

Kaylene had fun being with family, attending her high school class reunion and shopping at Tai Pan.

Now it is time to get school supplies and prepare for school. If we are lucky - we just may have another beach day before school starts!!

Hello from the Crigers

I just set up this blog for our family. I will try to keep it updated and let everyone know what we are up to. If you are lucky - and I am on the ball I will add a picture or two to go along with the entry.

Kaylene