"miss cracroft, miss cracroft..."

i'm not sure when i'll be used to being called miss cracroft,

but it has officially become official as this was the

FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL!

i'm loving 2nd grade, and our class is adorable!

this week we had our students write us a letter so we could get to know them better. i LOVED this one...

           Dear Miss Cracroft,

                You are the coolest, most nicest student teacher ever. I wish Miss Cracroft was going to be my student teacher in 3rd grade. Miss Cracroft and Mrs. Buchman are my favorite teachers. My favorite teacher died, so you are my new favorite teachers.

                                                                                                   Sincerely, Xander

i'm not sure how i feel about my first mug gift. i think that ages me about 20 or 30 years.

...but i do LOVE gifts. :)

this was our getting-to-know-you activity this week... and i'm pretty sure every kid thinks it's "SO COOL" that i have an iPod. i love 8 year olds.

back to school!

"good. great. grand. GET ON THE BUS!"

welcome to the family...

... miss KONA!!

cousin Pepper!!

hahaha... and cousin Caitlin!

umm, she liked to hide under the car when she didn't know anyone... 

glad that phase is over already!

you're lookin at one nervous, but EXCITED new mother!!

here's to the next ten years!

bring on august...

alright, i'm sad that july came and went, BUT there's a lot about august that rocks too... august is the month when all of the fun festivals begin, the races are run, and, uhh, school begins?? (grrrr!) 

this weekend, jonny was a part of the Park City Arts Festival which is by far the most prestigious art festivals in Utah. we are SO proud of him for making it. on Sunday, the whole family went to party with him and show him our support. and we had a BLAST! 

poor Caitlin got woken up from the car drive, so she cuddled up in my arms while we were waiting for the shuttle... she is such a doll!

once we got on the bus, she started coming out of it...

(but notice her grouch face. ha.)

and then as soon as we saw the kids art area, she perked right up.

i wish i had a picture of this fountain - it was incredible! completely kid powered and the perfect way to stay cool on a 100 degree day.

oh hello!

and let's not forget cute will! totally afraid of the water fountain, but completely content just sitting and watching.

and his CUTE nans!

caitles got every single pink SNOWIE flavor, making it a bubblegum, cherry, strawberry-lime treat, and she was pretty proud of that tongue.

and the youngest addition to the nieces and nephews who is a total babe!!

oh, and of course, the entire reason we made the Sunday venture! Jonny did a great job this weekend, and i highly recommend you check out Jonathan Cracroft Photography!

WAY TO GO, JONNY!!!

happy birthday...

...mom-dawg!!!

my vacation partner.

my number one fan!

my lunch date! (zupas!!!)

my play date!

my confidant...

my reality TV partner-in-crime!

and so, SO, SO much more!!

I love you mama!!

(and I think next time we take a picture, we should mix it up a little...?)

i love july...

july truly is the best holiday in Utah because we get to celebrate all month long! rodeos, fireworks, hiking, camping, bonfires, cabins, and...

DEMOLITION DERBYS!

my bro and i got together with a group of friends for the most exciting event that takes place in Utah during the month of july. The Kamas Valley Fiesta Days Demolition Derby! However, after dinner in Park City, we realized that there in fact was another demoderby going on in Heber and, because of our lack of communication skills, most of our group had bought their tickets to THAT derby... so after laughing at each others outfits and eating a tasty meal at El Chubascos, we all went our separate ways to witness one of Americas most brilliant traditions.

here we are, truck and all!

and here is ben, wishing he was the driver of car #54...

on our journey around the arena, we found the D-stroyer! this car was last years Fiesta Days DemoDerb champ!!! brushing shoulders with such fame was overwhelming.

and THIS, my friends, is the driver... 

Ben was star-struck!

my favorite car of the night before...

and after...

(poor bumble bee)

and how could you participate in a demolition derby without basking in the awesome hairstylings of the local folk?

yeah, we had a pretty wicked time!

I'll be sad to see July go.

new shoes...

i love shoes! shoes, shoes, shoes!!!

and today... was a really good day.

"things as they really are..."

elder david a. bednar

"some men and women in the Church today ignore things as they really are, and neglect relationships for digital distractions, diversions, and detours that have no lasting value. some may waste countless hours, postpone or forfeit vocational or academic achievement, and ultimately sacrifice cherished human relationships...

please be careful of becoming so immersed and engrossed in pixels, texting, ear bugs, Twittering, online social networking, and potentially addictive uses of media and Internet that you fail to recognize the importance of your physical body and miss the richness of person-to-person communication."

i adore this man, and you will NOT regret listening to this message!