A Trippin' We Have Been

This was a week of adventure and fun, mixed with a little rain, sun, cold, warmth, then hot. Add in some extended family and lots of laughter, mixed with a few tears. And it is a great recipe for Wonderful Memories that we will always treasure.

We love to go Trippin'. It is our way of bonding as a family. Our trips don't have to be as big as this one was - our trips can be a night in the campground just above our house (But I have to admit that these bigger ones have a greater appeal!). When we go on these trips together, we are able to put our stresses and worries behind us and just enjoy being together. I see our kids interact with each other in fun ways that they just don't do often when we are at home. So when we added the "magic" of a vacation with the "magic" of Disneyland - we had double the magic and it was WONDERFUL!

We felt spoiled to get to fly this time. It was so nice to be there in such a short time.

When we got to California, we went to the "Mormon Batallion". It is an interactive museum/visitor center that brings us back in history to when the early Mormon Pioneers were asked to be in the US Batallion. It was a really cool place to visit.

They used Emilie as their "prop" to show us what the men were expected to carry along their treck.

We panned for gold
Then we met up with my two brothers (Jordan and Todd's) families and had a fabulous Mexican dinner. MMmmmm...Mmm....
Two of my nieces (Shayla & Brittany)and great nieces (Brooklyn - Erins babe, and Kara - Brittany's babe). It's so strange to see my nieces all grown up and are now mommies. They are such cute mommies too.

We also spent time at the beach. It was cold that day, but that doesn't stop Utahn's who came from REALLY cold, from playing in the water.

Emi found sand dollars.

"Let's Go Fly a Kite"

Kamden

Jordan and Maxwell

Kamden loved chasing the seagulls.

Ira and Jarin. Jarin is the only one of us who was crazy enough to completely jump in the water and swim.

EmiLou (her nickname) and me

Brayden

Jordan and Maria

It was so fun for my boys to get to be with some of their California cousins. They don't get to see them often enough, and they had such a great time together.

These two also found these clams. We thought about taking them home and making soup - but that sounded like too much work. I guess it was those clams lucky day!

We said our goodbyes to Jordan and Maria (thanks guys), and then we headed to Disneyland where we indulged in a "Character Breakfast". We had never done this before, and thought it would be a fun treat. We got to interact with several of the characters and our kids even danced with a group of them. They had a great time with that.

Notice our shirts that we had made? They are our whole "family". A few years ago, Jarin had named everyone in our family as a Disney character, and he has stuck with those names. Whenever he sees a character on TV or in a picture, he says, "There's Dad"...or "There's Brayden...". So when he asked if we could get a shirt with our whole family on it - I thought it was a great idea. Ira is "Goofy Crawford". I am Daisy. Brayden is Mickey. Emilie is Minnie. Jarin is Donald. Kamden is Pluto.

Emilie and Jarin were chosen to get to be "Younglings" in the Star Wars show at Disneyland. They were taught how to fight Darth Vader and Darth Mal.

I love the look on Kam's face as he's waving to the characters as the parade goes by.



Ohhh...SO SWEET!

Jordan and Maria and their boys joined us for our last two days at Disneyland. It was so much fun to get to be with them.

Emilie has a great way with little kids - they love her and she loves them. It didn't take McKay long to discover this.

My brother Todd and his daughter Karlie also came and joined us for part of a day. It was great to get to spend time with them. I wish we could see them more often - but am grateful for the time we do get to spend with them.

Ours and Jordans families

Our most favorite ride!

Jarin and Kamden look terrified - (and they probably were). But they weren't scared enough to not go on it again...and again...and again...

The four littlest cousins. McKay, Maxwell, Jarin & Kamden

We looked and looked for Buzz - he was a MUST to get to see for these boys. Right as we were leaving...THERE HE WAS! YeeHaw!

This is a sign of a good vacation. Jarin is sleeping on the airport ground. SO not clean - but still SO cute.

Still tired boys at the SLC airport this time. I had to get a picture of their luggage - cuz it was just so much fun (you can see the Mickey on them, right?). They got them for Christmas and they were a great deal at TJ Maxx of all places. LUV IT!

Now we're back home in the cold and snow (well kinda - it's been a pretty warm winter). Back to our regular routine of cleaning, work and school. But those memories will stay with us forever. I'm so grateful for the opportunity we had to be together as a family at the most magical place on earth.

I spoke too soon

In my last post, I commented how I was in very few of those "adventurous" pictures with the youth - and that it looked like a lot of fun that Ira had with them. Well, as it turns out...the ride is just beginning for me. While we were at Disneyland, we got a text that the new bishop needed to meet with us. We knew we'd get our calling - but hoped we'd have a couple of weeks off. The day we got back, I got called to be the Young Womens President. Let me set up the scene so you can find the humor in this.

We were meeting with the new bishopbric. Ira was no longer the bishop, so we were all making jokes and laughing about him sitting on the other side of the table. Then our bishop looks at me and says, "We are calling you to be the Young Womens President". Well, me thinking that we were all still joking, starting REALLY laughing. I knew he couldn't be serious about that one, cuz that is one of those callings which I have always feared. Especially since I haven't really spent much time in Young Womens since I was there myself (and I won't say how many years ago that was). After I laughed myself silly, (and Ira laughed with me) - I looked the bishop in the eye and he wasn't laughing. I said, "You have to be kidding me, so what is it really?" He said, "I'm not kidding". I'm sure he was as taken back by my reaction as I was by him calling me to this.

I don't feel very adequate to be a leader, especially of such remarkable young people. I'm not any good at delegating or making the final decision. I'd rather be told what I need to do and get it done, then to ask others to help me do things. I stress out too easily, and don't know how to relax and have fun as much as I should. I worry too much about the little stuff. The list of my inadequacies could go on and on. However, I have a saying that I've had on my fridge for several months now. When I realized that Bishop wasn't kidding, this quote came instantly to my mind (wish I knew who said it)...

"The Lord doesn't ask about our inabilities or abilities. He only asks about our availabilities. If we show our dependability's he will help us in our capabilities".

So I am available and willing and try to be dependable. So now I'm praying for the capability.

So let the ride begin! :)

It's been a good ride

Our opening song in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday was..."There is Sunshine in my Soul Today". And I found it quite appropriate for the day. You see...Ira got released from being the bishop of the Smithfield 22nd Ward. However, if I am to be completely and totally honest - it isn't all happy/joy - it is a bit of a bitter/sweet feeling (which surprised me that I would feel this way - I thought I'd be doing backflips when the time came to an end). The sweet feeling comes from knowing that this will mean that he now will have a little more time open for his family. And the anticipation with where the Lord wants him/us to serve next. The sweet also includes such tender memories and experiences, along with eternal bonds with ward members. The bitter comes from having these great times and experiences come to an end (I know the great times were frequent for him...not so much for me since I was "manning the homefront" when he was gone). However, the relationships built during this time will never come to an end, including, and especially, the relationship with our Savior - since we both had to rely much more on Him than we ever had before.

During the five years he has been bishop, he had to move our whole ward to a new building, and he also was released as bishop of 12th ward and sustained as bishop of 22nd ward, which was a brand new ward. So he and his two counselors were the only people in our ward who had callings for the first week. And during the next month, it was a marathon for them to get all the other callings filled. Needless to say, we didn't see much of him during that time.

I know it will be an adjustment for Ira when he maybe doesn't feel quite so "needed" when he's at church. But I hope he realizes how much he is needed at home, and I hope that this new adjustment will be smooth for him. I know that he put his whole heart and soul into his callings (as bishop and husband and father) and the people that he has served. I am proud of him for putting his faith in the Lord and doing the best he could do with juggling all his responsibilities.

The youth asked him what he was going to do when he isn't bishop anymore, and his response was: "I'm going to Disneyland!!" So next time I post, it will be after a great week in the sun with lots of fun. Nothing like a vacation to the greatest place on earth to help a transition like this one. :) YIPPPEEEE!

The following pictures are in no particular order. I wanted them to be in chronological order, but it wasn't working out that way - and I'm not about to spend a couple hours moving them all around :)

The 12th Ward youth at Temple Square

Bishop Crawford and his favorite youth in our ward. It was fun for him when Brayden turned 12 and could go on these youth outings with his dad.

This is Ira at the Ropes Course that they brought the youth to. Somehow they have some lesson that goes with this activity.
The group at the ropes course.
Then there are Youth Conferences.
This is the 12th ward Young Womens camp, and their fearless bishop, plunging into the freezing waters of Bloomington Lake (from the rope swing - and notice the snow still on the cliffs). But he would only do it if the girls committed to reading the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. They committed, and some of them finished.

Our ward camp out.
The first bishopbric with the 12th ward. I don't have a picture of the last one - I am going to have to corner them for one.
Bishop Crawford handed out candycanes to the children of our ward after a ward party.
With some of the Young Men in our ward - he's helping Brayden with his Eagle Project.
The next few pictures are when we went to Martins Cove with the youth. I got to participate in this activity too.

We crossed the sweetwater river - Ira carried me across.
The "old" Bishop Crawford and the "new" Bishop Davis (this was right after the wards split - so both wards went).
Our turn pulling the handcart.
Loved those activities we could have some of our family be together.
The two of us plunging into the Sweetwater River.

Our group.

Ira went with the boys on their High Adventure to Green River.



Bishop Crawford giving his daughter her baptisimal interview. (no he doesn't hold all the girls hands - just his two princesses ;) ).
This picture just made me laugh. It was taken right after he had been set apart as bishop 5 years ago. I must have thought that having that calling somehow would make him "all business" - but I was proven wrong (thank goodness).
I think this is my favorite picture of him through his church service. At Young Womens camp, we went to our own quiet spot and read our scriptures.
This was some derby with the young men. I helped him make a bus for his.
A quick nap at Young Womens camp.
Showing the Young Women that your never too old to slip n' slide.
Having a watermelon-seed spitting contest.
One of the campfire games at camp.
At cub scout day camp.

Snowmobiling at Yellowstone with the Young Men.

Bishop Crawford and his two counselors (Roger Douglas and Matt Larsen) at our ward swim party.
Bishop AKA Dad...showing Brayden how to shoot a rifle at the ward turkey shoot.
This last year with the youth in SLC.
Backpacking with the boys to Imogene Lake.



The two of us canoeing at Girls Camp.
Ira with his two counselors (Roger Douglas and Drifty Crossley) at Young Womens camp.
Like the title of this post says...It's been a good ride (yes, even for me...sometimes - you didn't see me in many of those adventurous pictures) :) I know the responsibility was great for Ira, and often weighed heavily on him. But from the looks of these pictures (and there aren't even pictures of most of the acitivites) - I think he had A LOT of fun along the way!