A Rediscovery

I've been feeling a little nostalgic lately. This has led to me revisiting some of my favorite things from my childhood. One of the things I used to love was something that could be found at almost any of the parks I used to visit as a child: the very awesome, giant ROCKETSHIP (complete with a slide stragegically placed the the middle.) This used to be one of my very FAVORITE things, but is almost non-exsitent now because someone decided that playground toys should be safe (what?!?) for our children. Of course, I'm kidding. I also want safe playground toys, but I was super excited to see that one, lone rocketship still stands at the playground in my hometown.

I had been talking to my kids at length about how awesome the rocketship was when I was growing up. Perhaps, I over-talked it a bit, because I think they were a little underwhelmed by my discovery. (Looking back, I'm not sure if it was that, or they were just terrified that it may fall over and kill them.) At any rate, they were not as excited about this blast from my past. However, rocketship aside, the kids loved the rest of the park. It is full of new places for them to discover and has TONS of very tall trees and picnic benches...even a dog park. We have made it one of our new places to go. Always fun to have new places to explore. :)

~Crystal

Mississippi Trip

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We went to Mississippi this summer for our annual trip to visit Brian's parents.  It was a good trip filled with lots of food, shopping, outdoor fun, a visit to the Children's Museum, and even a small visit to the Marlett family reunion.  Most importantly, it was quite relaxing and Brian and I were able to catch up on some MUCH needed rest.  Enjoy the pictures!

Testing

I think I may have figured out how to blog from my phone. If you are reading this, I am one happy girl!! Here is a pic I took last night...
Happy summer, everyone. I'm off to the pool. :)
~Crystal

Family Cruise

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WOW!

Hello, all.  Ummm...I guess we can just say that it's been FOREVER!  Once again, I am trying to get my picture/documenting life in some sort of order.  I really miss my blog.  I feel like it was definitely a step in the right direction and I am in the process of reclaiming it.  This has not been the only area that has been lacking.  Every picture displayed in my house is from at least 3 years ago and we won't even begin to talk about my "scrapbooking".  Let's just say that I finished 2006 yesterday.  

I have decided that I am going to use the rest of the summer to get everything back on track. 

ACTION STEPS:

1.  I have loaded ALL my pictures (FINALLY) on my computer.

2.  My camera recently broke and I hastily bought another one that I was completely unhappy with.  I took said camera back to Walmart and used the money to upgrade my iphone instead.  I will use this as my camera until I can afford to get the camera I really want.  I can now directly upload all of my pictures to Shutterfly no matter where I am.  Awesomeness.

3.  As I mentioned before, I am getting caught up on my digital scrapbooking.  I hope to have all my books finished in the next couple of months.  With 2006 finished, I am only FIVE years behind now.  Progress.

4.  Finally, I am getting this blog back in working order. (Interesting note, my spell check on my blog just said that blog is not a word...that's irony for you!)  I noticed when I was working on my photo book yesterday that I have plenty of pictures, but really wish I had the STORIES to go along with the pictures.  I hope to use this blog as a reference to make even better books for the future that actually have substance.  

Here's to steps in the right direction.  For all of you that used to read faithfully (and have probably all but given up on me)...I hope I'm back for good and better than ever. :)

~Crystal

Nevan's First Tree

Nevan just got her own place and we when we were talking the other day, she told me that she wanted to get a real Christmas tree this year.  In light of my 25 days of Christmas activities, this worked out great for me.  You see, I would love for my kids to have the experience of a real tree, but no mess for me (crazy childhood experience on my part, but that's an entirely different story).  There is a Christmas Tree farm in Tuttle that I had heard of which entails cutting down your own tree and other Christmas fun (hot cocoa, etc.).  I thought that would be the perfect place to go and suggested that we go with her.  Sadly enough, when the day came, I called the farm to see how late they were open and they informed me that they closed at five.  The Christmas Tree farm was not going to happen...

It was okay, though, because we just decided to get a tree from a Christmas Tree LOT (take that, tree farm!)  We actually went to not one, but TWO different lots and bought our own hot chocolate.  The first lot we went to was a boy scout lot down the street and then, just to comparison shop, we went to another lot in Moore.  Oddly enough, after all of our lot shopping, we ended up getting a tree at Walmart.  However, we still got the experience of walking through all the trees and the kids had a really good time.  We finished up the night with some shopping at Hobby Lobby (they had all Christmas decor 50% off!) and we even helped Nev put it all together.  I was happy to be able to spread my Christmas cheer to others. :)  This was a really great night. 

Children's Play and Christmas Dinner

This was a BIG day in the Marlett house.  This was the day that our very shy son had his first speaking part in a play at church.  Not only did he have a part, but he VOLUNTEERED for the part.  Imagine our surprise when he informed us of his decision a couple months ago.  It went a little something like this:

(I get in car after church.  My family is already there.)

Brian: "Chance has something he wants to tell you."

Me: "What, Chance?"

Chance: "I'm going to be one of the hosts in the Christmas play."

Me: "WHAT?!?" (but at the same time trying to sound very positive and casual...) "That's so awesome buddy.  I love it!" quietly to Brian, "UMMM...does he realize that he is going to have to do this in front to the entire church??"

Brian: "yes, yes he does.  They told him if he's the narrator he doesn't have to sing."

Me: (this is making more sense to me now, but I'm still scared and have my doubts) "okay, very good!"

Secretly, I was terrified that it would sound like a good idea to him all through the practices and up to the very day...that is, until he saw all the PEOPLE and realized they would all be looking at him.  Don't get me wrong, he was definitely nervous on Sunday and he wasn't crazy about the whole scenario, but he had a quiet resignation about him and that's when I knew that everything would be okay.  Perhaps he would not go screaming from the church minutes before the play started.  It was going to all be okay...and it was!  He said he was really nervous, but I couldn't tell at all.  He did all of his lines without a hitch.  The program was very cute.  Ava was in the choir and she did an amazing job with all her songs.  When I asked Chance if this was the beginning of many more speaking parts in various plays, he insisted this was the one and only, but we'll see. :)

That evening, after the play, we had the annual church holiday dinner.  I thought these centerpieces made by the kids in the after school program were absolutely adorable. 


Chance isn't such a fan of church dinners.  He would rather have pb&j.  I think he was also still exhausted from his trying morning. :)

Don't ask...I'm not quite sure what's going on here...