Holiday Spirit & Governor Palin

So the holidays are here, ready or not. As you can see from the previous blog, we took the boys to the North Pole (actually it is called The North Pole City) to see Santa again this year. That man has the patience of Job. We considered ourselves satisfied to at least get one of the 2 boys smiling. We also took some pictures just hanging out around the store: http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=265268476/a=78723632_78723632/t_=78723632

Included in this set of pics is Governor Paylin....oh wait, that is just me dressed for the OU Physicians Holiday Ball. When I was getting dressed Jeff started laughing and said I should put his glasses on and here you have it.

Other news, Colby is a Chunk. He is not even 9 months old and at the doctor's office yesterday he is 21 lbs. He is also starting to stand on his own. I am fairly sure is not going to be walking soon necessarily. However, I don't think he is going to waste his time learning to crawl because that "is not what Q is doing". Big brother hung the moon.

Work as usual is too busy. I am not officially working this weekend, but have too many charts to finish notes on. We don't have any big plans except dinner with Karl (my partner) and his wife, Julie and then the department Christmas party (last in the long line of holiday parties with the exception of our English neighbors having a Jesus birthday party next weekend).

Q helps feed Colby

We are finallys starting to enjoy the benefits of child labor.....

Q likes cooking or is it testing.....

Quinton is cooking with Grandma Patty

Quinton is definitely starting to learn the joy of cooking

(but not from mom or dad.....they never cook!)

Happy belated Thanksgiving & Winter has arrived

To catch you up:

Jeff & the boys went to Bedford, Texas to spend Thanksgiving with his folks. While there, they went to the Gaylord Texan Hotel where they have a yearly exhibit that is all ice.

I spent Thanksgiving with my mother (on her Birthday) at my neighbor's house, Cathy & Ken Ballard. Several other neighborhood families were there and a great time had by all. A humorous note....I had to break into my house after dinner. My mom had driven me to Cathy's after closing my garage. She left before I did and I do not have keys to my own house. Luckily (or concerningly) a window was unlocked.

Jeff returned from Texas with Quinton on Friday. Colby spent a few days alone with MoMo & Papa. We had a great time with Q. We put ornaments on the tree and played with the train around the tree. We played at McDonalds and then at Unpluggits where Q played on a pirate ship and then painted with a brush on an easel. He then finger painted something for Shea for Christmas. He was so sad to leave. However, I had to head to the hospital to operate

On Sunday, Jeff's folks returned with Colby. My mom came by and we all helped Quinton make, bake, and decorate Christmas cookies. That evening Jeff & I headed out for a nice dinner at Red Rock Canyon.

Monday came, and back to work. The usual.

We have uploaded some more pics to snapfish.

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=265204402/a=78723632_78723632/t_=78723632

A couple of them are older from Jeff's dad's camera.

Family Stuff

Work for me (Tasha) has been crazy busy since I last posted. I was the only infertility specialist in the entire city for 5 days as everyone else went to our national meeting. I was originally scheduled to go as well, but clinic has been busy and I elected to stay back home. Not sure, but I may have regretted this. I ended up covering more than I anticipated.

Aside from busy work stuff, we have been up to normal family life. The last two weedends were very exciting cleaning out the garages and "Quintonizing" them. And this weekend I have been on a mission to organize our closet and get rid of a bunch of clothes we never intend to wear again....very exciting. Having said that...I have been enjoying the "boring family stuff". The bad stuff: both boys have colds and can't seem to breath long enough to sleep for a couple of hours. The good stuff: we have Christmas lights up outside and the Christmas tree went up inside today. I am definitely getting in the holiday spirit.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

Quinton

OK, so this happened just about a year ago and Tasha had been wanting to show some of her friends & co-workers so I have been working to get it posted for her.

Meanwhile, over the past week Q-Ball has had a terrible diaper rash that we have been treating with medicines & some good'ole nakedness ... you see where this is going?

Of course, this morning while Q was 'airing out' he told me he needed to go tee-tee. He is pretty good about that but has yet to show any interest in #2. While on the potty he actually went a little bit of #2 in the potty & I told him how proud I was of him. I was worried however how little there was so I took him to his room to change. He was waiting for me to pick out some clothes to put him in for Daddy's Day Out today, when my worst nightmare happened. He had a bad poopy on the carpet in the boys room and it was a mess! Got on his shirt & as I removed that it got all the way up his back & hair. Oof ... anyone that knows me knows this was quite a challenge for me. LOL!

All is better now, Q had a nice bath and Colby finally got his bottle. I need a Dr. Pepper!!!

On with another day of Mr. Mom!

Colby

Happy Halloween & a horse ride

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while. My plan is to at least post after each weekend. I don't really suspect anybody wants to hear about my exciting week at work.

Well, last weekend we had a good time....at least that is what I remember. I wait a week to post and I don't remember what all we did. On Saturday night Jeff & I went to my boss's house (Dr. Mannel) for a work get-together. Overall it was fun, but still work. On Sunday after work, Quinton and I went to the stables with one of the other physicians in the department, Roger Quinn. His wife Joy has 2 horses, one of which is Chico. He is very kid friendly and Quinton went on his first birthday. We had not been back since, mainly because Q had not been much into it at 1. However, after speaking at Dr. Mannel's we decided to go....and I am so glad we did. You will see a couple of videos before this post that Jeff put up. Q started riding alone, holding the reigns with one hand and the back of the saddle with the other. He is so much more inherinly cool than I ever was. After the visit to the stables Q and I hung outside planting plants (and he picked several newly planted plants.

This week was fine except for me getting sick. Both boys had colds and I finally had the same and lost my voice completely Thursday and Friday. So annoying when you have an hour new visit with a patient (and obviously many more appts). I finally sent my acupuncture research paper off for publication and I also had a talk with the residents (on Friday without any voice and it didn't go great).

Finally to this weekend. Friday night was Halloween and it was terrific. I came home not feeling very well from the cold and lack of voice. I dressed up as an Austin Powers type Go-Go girl with the idea of "look good, feel good". Quinton was dressed in scrubs and Colby was Mr. Longhorns (we originally planned for Q's monkey outfit from last year but it was more than 80 degrees and we were afraid how hot he would be) and Jeff was Mr. Mom (you know...himself). We had a get-together in our culdesac and then went trick-or-treating altogether in our neighbohood. We very much seem to live in this little Eutopia.

Saturday was a great lazykind of day. Great morning teaching Q how the sheet on the bed can be a fort or tent. Then Colby hung out outside with me while I planted pansies. The Kosir kiddos were hanging out enternaining Colby and then Q and finally Shala and I gave up on accomplishing much and just hung out drinking a glass of cold white wine (it really was hot today). Now it is Saturday night and I am watching the Longhorns lose to Texas Tech. It is halfway through the 3rd quarter and not looking good. Gotta run because Q has awoken again. Don't forget to set your clock which ever direction.

Here is a link to the latest pics (many of which I can't help but put up): http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=247540163/PictureID=6031618370/a=78723632_78723632/t_=78723632

The Big Birthday Weekend

It has been a fun couple of days. Check out some of the pics: http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=247331454/a=78723632_78723632/t_=78723632Jeff and the kids went to the Orr Family Farm on Thursday. As you can see, Quinton is certainly adapting to his Oklahoma roots (but still bleeds burnt orange). Luckily, the dingo did not eat our sweet baby, Colby. It continues to be interesting watching Quinton at home versus out with other people and kids. He is so full of energy and smiles and talkative at home. However, as you can see from the pics (especially on the train), he just gets serious and very quiet out and about. I hope it is just because he is usually the youngest kid. It will be interesting to see if this means that he will be shy overall in life (like his Daddy:-) but Beavis and Butthead around his close friends (like his Daddy:-).

Jeff's Birthday: On Friday, Jeff's parents came to town and the group drove to Lawton, Oklahoma to eat at a famous burger joint. Then Jeff & I went to a cool movie theater in Moore, Oklahoma. In the upper balcony they serve food and drink (not popcorn) to you throughout the movie. It was pretty slick. And we enjoyed the movie Body of Lies.

On Saturday we hung out at home most of the day trying to complete things that have been on the To-Do-List way too long. One thing Jeff took care of (along with the help of his Dad and me doing some pushing) was to pick up THE ROCK that he bought a week and a half ago. We have lovely tiles with our street address that Patty brought back from Spain this summer that we are going to mount on the front. You know that we have become domesticated when we get excited about buying a rock. We played out in the yard and I decided to see if Colby could wear Quinton's halloween outfit from last year.

Saturday night my mom (Nana or Mimi, Quinton hasn't decided for sure which) watched the kiddos while Jeff & I ate a fancy-shmancy meal at Nonna's. Very tasty, indeed.

Tasha's Birthday: Today (Sunday) we don't have much planned. My mom is bringing us lunch. Otherwise we will hang around the house and play in the yard. Sounds perfect to me! I actually got my b-day gift on Friday night: the new I-Phone. I have been lusting after it for too long. It is all that they say and more. Very slick and much better online interaction than my Blackjack was.

Orange Rules (at least this week)

So in case you were in a cacoon this last weekend, the Texas Longhorns, as an underdog beat OU in a well played game (even better because we won). Jeff was at the game with our neighbors, the OU loving Peters Family. As posted previously, this same sweet family that invited Jeff to the game, also vandalized our yard with OU flags.

I enjoyed watching the game at the Sartor Family House. Following such a glorious win, we were so elated, that we redecorated the Halloween Decorations in the Peters Family yard. The kids (and myself) enjoyed chalking up their driveway with the Eyes of Texas and such. Luckily, I was out of orange spray paint. I was intent on leaving a UT tatoo on the yard (the margarita may have played a role).

On Sunday, Jeff and the boys returned home and we had a great afternoon. Quinton and I hung outside planting panseys (and he chose to "pick" some of the newly planted flowers). We then went to our British friends for afternoon tea. We had a great time and Quinton loved playing outside with all the other neighborhood kids. Here is a link to some more pics (you might have seen the ones at the top already): http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=247288872/a=78723632_78723632/t_=78723632

As far as the first part of this week, I spoke at the Ob/Gyn Society meeting on Monday night. Pretty much old folk, many of which are not in practice anymore. Work is fine, but I am constantly in meetings these days if I am not in clinic. Today (Wednesday) I was in one meeting or another for 7 out of 9 hours. Not enough time to get stuff done that we actually discuss in these meetings. A bit frustrating. Tomorrow, Quinton and Colby do not have "school". Jeff is going with some neighbors to Orr Family Farm (sp?). I am not sure what all this involves, but he was told he would have a good time. I look forward to the pictures.

In case you haven't been shopping yet (I'm just kidding), Jeff's birthday is Friday, October 17th and mine is Sunday, October 19th. We will both be 36 years old (I think). Right now we plan to go our for a fancy-smancy meal on Saturday night. In case you are close to Patty Spiller, her birthday is Friday also (I am sure she will only be 39 years old, maybe 40 at most :-) and then my good Colorado buddy, Melissa will be turning a year older on my same special day, October 19th. Happy birthday to all of us!

HOOKEM HORNS!!!

It's all in the neighborhood

I left for work this morning and it was still dark (already at 7am). As I pulled out of the driveway, I looked at the front yard to check out our Halloween decorations (that I was messing with last night), and what to my surprise? do my eyes lie? There is a banner of OU flags staked across the front of my yard. It seems that my house was "vandalized" with this smear campaign. But have no fear...burnt orange and the Great Pumpkin prevailed and the light of day never saw those OU flags. GO LONGHORNS! As it turns out several other UT households in the neighborhood were likewise effected.

I'm all alone...

Jeff & the boys headed to Texas today. Our neighbors had an extra ticket to Tx-OU Game and were nice enough to invite him. I am on call and couldn't get out of it. It will allow me to take care of a bunch of stuff around the house that has been on the to-do list for too long. Sadly the list is long and I know I won't get to everything. Oh ya.....GO TEXAS LONGHORNS!!! Hopefully it will be a good game (and hopefully we will win). Lucky for me, I am from UT yet get my paycheck from OU. I suspect I win no matter what (that is the silverlining I am trying to look at in the unfortunate event that Texas doesn't win).

On a different note, I have a cute story about Quinton. The other night I was changing Colby's diaper while Jeff put Quinton in the highchair and gave him some goldfish to munch on. Jeff came and got me to spy on Quinton. He picked up a single goldfish and held it in front of his face. He started jibber-jabbering and then said "okay, by-by" and ate the fish. He then did it again and again until he saw us watching and smiling. I sure wish I knew what he was saying to them before he ate them :-)

Other than the to-do list, I think it will be a good weekend. The Sartor Family is having a Texas-OU Football party. It helps that we have a strong Texas group in the neighborhood. And then on Sunday, our friends from across the pond, The Absoloms (spelling?) are having afternoon tea because Hannah's Mum is in from England. I am very much looking forward to this. I will let you know.

Have a great weekend (and I love all 3 of my boys: Jeff, Quinton, and Colby....Sleep tight boys).

Last Hoorah of Summer

OK ... So it was not very fair to say that "everyone" had a good weekend last weekend. Jeff was definitely a little under the weather on Sunday (of last weekend).

This week was pretty busy. I had 3 different powerpoint presentations to give to different groups and it was pretty stressful. I was so ready for Friday afternoon to arrive. When I got home, apparently Jeff was very ready for Friday afternoon as well. Quinton is learning how many of daddy's "buttons" he can push.

Quinton and I went next door and hung out with "the girls". We actually trespassed into Cathy's yard to play on her swing set. For some reason, I got my cell phone out and we had a photo op. Here is a link to some pictures of Quinton and his "next-door-neighbor-big-sisters" (including a few at Marissa's b-day and then the Friday afternoon pics): http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=247131628/a=78723632_78723632/t_=78723632

Saturday night we had a dinner party with Lydia (does the med student teaching with me) and her boyfriend, Ryan and then Roger and Joy Quinn (they took Quinton to see their horses last year). I had a great time and I think Jeff enjoyed it as well (he is much quieter than me--surprise, surprise..and they were "work" friends so there was some shop-talk).

Saturday was the "Last Hoorah of Summer" party at Oasis Craig. We heated the pool and made some last minute phone calls and had quite the party. The only down side was that I let Quinton eat what all the big kids were eating (popcicles and cheetos) and I do not think he showed much reserve (momma's boy). He got "sick" in the middle of the night and the baby wasn't feeling good either (no cheetos for him). Jeff and I were up from 11:30 until 3am (and Jeff even one more time after that) just consoling both boys. Oh well.......back to the grind. All feel better this morning.

Good weekend had by all

With Quinton feeling better we had a pretty good weekend. I had to work later than usual both Saturday and Sunday. However, I came home and played the rest of Saturday with Quinton. And then on Sunday, I went to our neighbors, The Kosir's, for a cookout with both boys while Jeff rested up (upset stomach and body aches but luckily not the same thing Quinton had). All in all enjoyable. Hope things are going well for all of you.

Mixed Feelings

Quinton is feeling much better. Finally ate dinner last night and seems back to his mischievious self. Jeff is sad today because one of his hero's, Paul Newman, passed away. We have signed pictures up in our house of Paul Newman and one of his race cars. However, as Jeff said, he lived a very full life.

Sweet, Sad, Quinton

Yesterday afternoon Quinton was just off his game. I took him to music class because usually getting him outside he acts better. He was really clingy, didn't enjoy class at all. Sadly, on the way home, he lost all his cookies (technically it was a strawberry smoothie and french fries). I pulled over and stripped him down on the side of the highway and pulled a Britney Spears move. I buckled him in the front passenger seat and drove home (I just could not put him back in with all that "stuff"). He still does not feel well and we were up with him in the middle of the night and first thing this morning. The saddest part is seeing a little 2 yo with dry heaves and nothing you can do about it. It is horrible to have no matter what your age, but worse if you don't know what is going on.

Hang in there little buddy and get to feeling better today. The baby is acting a little "off" but no signs of this yet. Needless to say, Jeff & I could both use a nap.

Back to the grind

Jeff & I took a four day weekend while his folks looked after the kids. I am back at work today, wishing I was in Arkansas. We spent Friday night in Tulsa (had never been before). Saturday we ate a wonderful breakfast at Wild Fork in the Utica Shopping area and then spent some money on new clothes for me.

We then drove to Eureka Springs, AR and stayed at a very old Historic hotel, The Crescent. Our first room was contaminated with animal hair everywhere (pillows, bedspread, you name it). They switched us to a much better room, although it was only a queen sized bed (and we are used to having our space). I was afraid of falling off because it seemed 10 feet off the ground in the grand victorian style. We ate at this quaint Italian restaurant, named Emilios that was tucked away in a neighborhood. The coolest part was the waiting room upstairs (the attic converted to a bar and waiting area) had board games. Jeff & I had a very competitive evening of Connect 4 and then Battleship. I may have edged ahead by one game on Connect 4, but he definitley sank my battleship.

Sunday we drove to Branson, MO. Very interesting place. They had a festival of some sort going on downtown with booths of "crap" everywhere. We did not opt for any shows. We ultimately rode go-carts and played put-put. The first go-cart we did was this all wood course that spirlaed up 3 levels. Very bumpy, but fun. The carts were slow. I won this one. However, Jeff killed me when we did the standard run-of-the-mill go-karts. Mine could not have gone any slower. Putt Putt was fun. It was neck-in-neck most of the game. It was like we were in junior high all over again. Maybe at a Church Lock-out. :-)

Monday we drove to Hot Springs, AR. Along the way we hiked in the Lost Valley to a cave with a waterfall in it. We did not make it all the way back in the cave. The water levels were very low and our flashlights were terrible (my fault..Jeff wanted to super cool LED one). We also drove up Mt. Nebo after a long detour for highway construction. Very nice up there and fun road for Jeff to drive (many of the roads in Arkansas were much more fun for the driver than the passenger). Finally, we made it in to Hot Springs and stayed at the large Historic hotel, The Arlington. We ate at Bella Arte--pretty good, not as good as Emilios in Eureka--but nice ambiance.

Tuesday we traveled home via Queen Willamena State Park. It was good to get home and we missed the boys (but enjoyed sleeping past 5:30am).

Wednesday, I am back at work and playing catch-up. Sadly, nobody worked on my to-do list while I was gone. Guess I better get back to it. LaTasha

Pictures of the boys

Welcome to The Craig Family Blog.

We are hoping to get better about keeping everyone posted on what is going on in life. We might even manage to tell you some of the little, not-so-important things that are going on. We are not going to fill the webisite with photos (although I do love looking at pics of these boys). Periodically, I will upload them to snapfish and put a link to them (the title of this blog is a link to pics of Quinton's birthday and such). That way, you can order them if you would like. Or you can go there anytime to see them.

In addition, Jeff has added some wonderful music to listen to. Come anytime, just to hear some nice toons. Who knows what else we will put on here.

Love to all the family. Hello to all the friends. I would love comments or hellos anytime.

Jeff, LaTasha, Quinton, & Colby

Happy 2nd Birthday Little Buddy!