General Updates

This entry is just a general update of the family and not too exciting. Mostly I just wanted to get this all down for posterity. :)

I officially started classes again this Tuesday (Monday was Memorial Day). The work load is rough as I am reading about a chapter every other day plus extra reading assignments, quizzes, and cases. I will also have three exams during the next five weeks. The work load is fairly intense, but the subject matter is interesting, so it helps the work not seem too grueling. I have to apologize to my family, and especially my AMAZING husband who will have to bear more of my home duties, in addition to his own work and yard maintenance. How did I luck out to get such an awesome partner!?!

I am looking forward to participating in an externship at Deloitte next week. The two days I am in Las Vegas will help me see what it is like to work in an accounting firm and help me meet a bunch of people who work down in Deloitte's Vegas office. I'm very excited for the opportunity.

My accounting assistant here at SUU (student) graduated with his Bachelor's degree this spring and took a job up at the Tax Commission in Salt Lake. While I am really happy for his career to be progressing, I am nervous about the increased work load. My department is not replacing him due to budget cuts. It's going to be really busy this summer because summer is the busiest time for conferences and events on campus as well as in the accounting department with the end of year closing and new year budgets.

Enough about me, though. Andy is working hard at his job as well as working VERY hard to put in a front yard at our house. He has got a garden set up and waters it frequently. He has dug trenches all over our half acre to move the water to the back so we can landscape the front, he has been leveling out our back yard with the Bobcat we borrowed from my dad and grandpa, and it seems like each new project creates more projects... Hopefully we can get a front yard by the end of the summer.

Cambrie is learning more and more about reading and letters. She knows her letters VERY well and the sounds that go with each. She is starting to sound out words and spells words for me to interpret all the time.

Cambrie, over the last month or two, has been going through some behavior problems at school (preschool/daycare). She is good most weeks, but occasionally is acting VERY defiant and ignoring the direction of her teachers. Unfortunately, this behavior is sometimes exhibited at home as well. I know she is a very independent person and always has been, and I've tried to parent her with this consideration in mind, but lately it seems my tactics are not working. There is a girl at her school who is her friend and I can't help but speculate that some of the behaviors she is exhibiting are learned from this particular girl. If anyone has any tricks or references for parenting "spirited and independent" preschoolers, any advice would be welcome. :)

Calina is talking more and more every day. I understand most of what she says, but she's not to the point where anyone could understand her. She repeats most of the words I tell her, and I think she is doing very well for her age (I'm not biased at all). Calina's independence is blossoming as well. There are times she does NOT want to take her vitamins, to brush her teeth, or to get her diaper changed, but nothing that isn't age appropriate. She is a sweet little girl and has recently learned to give us kisses....it just melts your heart!!

Over and out from the Crosby's.

Gone Fishin'

Last weekend, Andy and I got ourselves out of the city and into the mountains for the first time this spring. We went up the canyon by Paragonah and went fishing at Red Creek Reservoir (Paragonah Reservoir). It was so fun to breath the fresh mountain air and witness nature in all it's springtime beauty. We took up some food and had a picnic dinner at the side of the lake. Although it did try to rain on us, the rain quickly turned to sun and Cambrie, Calina, and I went on a walk up by the stream that feeds the reservoir. This stream happens to be where the resident rainbow trout spawn. We probably saw 500 fish in the stream. Cambrie and Calina were both tickled to death that they could see all these fish and hear them splashing in the stream. We had fun "sneaking" up on the fish so we could get a better look, and then when we would make noise, we would see them swim off in a flash. The little walk we went on was BEAUTIFUL and very fun. There are restrictions on fishing in the stream, in order to protect the spawning trout, so Andy stayed on the lake in his bass fishing boat. He got in a few hours of fishing and got a lot of bites, but no fish. Still, the outing was worthwhile. Pictures to come when I have a minute to download them. :)

Check this out

I found this awesome giveaway on a hair blog. She is giving away a nice flat iron:

http://hairandshare.blogspot.com/2009/05/flat-iron-giveaway.html

Who doesn't love free stuff? The giveaway goes through May 31. :)

Crazy Stuff!

My Grandma sent this video to me. I only wish I could do some of the stuff these ladies can!

Calina update: Little talker

This morning when I was getting the food together to take to work, Calina spotted some mangos on the counter. She was wanting them pretty badly. She spit out her binki and was reaching for them. I picked one of them up and told her, "It's a mango." Carefull to say the word mango slowly and clearly. She said back to me "Mano." It didn't sound perfect, but in her little baby talk she is sounded it out enough for me to understand what she said. Lately, it seems Calina learns how to say a few new words each week. Here are a few things that she can say:

dog (dah or dah-de for doggie)
jacket (daa-det)
drink (dee)
more (moo)
cat (dat)
That (dats)
pappa (pa-pa)
momma (ma-ma)
daddy (da-de)
Cambrie (na-na)...don't know why, but every time she sees a picture of Cambrie, she says na-na
eye (ah)
ear (ee)
mouth (mah)
nose (no)
diaper (da da)
Hi (hi)

I'm sure there's more, but those are the ones she uses every day. It's bittersweet seeing her grow up. I'm excited that she's doing well and talking, but also sad my little baby's growing up.

Cambrie update: I can read

While I was fixing Cambrie's hair this morning, she was studying the light switch. The following conversation took place:

Cambrie: Mom, I can read.
Mom: Oh, really?
Cambrie: Yeah, right here says "no" N - O
Mom: (pretty perplexed) where?
Cambrie: Right here (pointing to the light switch)
Mom: Oh, that's very good Cambrie! But it actually spells "on" O - N

So, Cambrie just read her first word, kind of! I talked to her a little bit about reading from left to right, but she actually saw the letters and sounded them out and figured out what it means...kind of crazy!!