Simply Craig

My children give me such  MOMFIDENCE. (My spell check just became my enemy.) They have an amazing way of making me feel like I can succeed at just about anything I attempt. When I don't feel like fixing my hair and quickly pull it back into a French braid, my girls somehow see a beauty queen. When I make heart-shaped cheese sandwiches, I'm suddenly the  best cook in the country. My favorite is when I draw stick figures with triangle-shaped skirts, add a few colorful flowers, and my children are convinced I'm a talented artist. As I move throughout my day, I hear,  "You're the bestest mom ever... in the whole world!"  so many times that I lose count. All I have to do is add a necklace to my outfit, and they think I'm ready to be on the cover of one of those magazines they see in the checkout line. If I make homemade pizza, they instantly decide I've qualified for the position of school lunch lady and begin suggesting all the new menu items I should serv...

A trip to the local zoo is reason enough to bring my camera along. This time, though, I experienced the zoo through the lens of my camera in a way I never had before. There is something wonderful about reaching a stage of motherhood where your hands are no longer occupied pushing a stroller, changing diapers, or preparing bottles. Instead of leading the way, I simply got to follow my children as they explored. What a gift that was. I loved watching them discover the animals with the same curiosity and excitement they've always had, only now they were old enough to wander, ask questions, and enjoy the experience without needing to be carried from one exhibit to the next. It made me realize how quickly the seasons of motherhood change. On this beautiful day, I soaked in everything...the perfect weather, the incredible animals, the laughter of my children, and the sweet company of my sister and her children. Of course, I couldn't resist capturing it all with my camera. Here are ju...

As I sat beside Brit today and listened to her read, memories came flooding back. I couldn't help but think of walking through this very same process with each of my other four children. Every one of them learned differently. Some caught on quickly, while for others the process was a little more challenging. I remember the look of frustration that would appear as they tried to decode those unfamiliar letters and blend together sounds that didn't quite make sense yet. Then came the reward. I'd watch their little faces light up as they finally figured out the word, and I'd hear the excitement in their voices as they proudly blurted it out. Reading time became both humorous and entertaining as they discovered punctuation. I loved watching them grasp the meaning of an exclamation point and hearing their voices suddenly become animated with excitement. Today, as Brit read aloud, I watched all those familiar expressions come to life once again. It was now her turn to learn ho...

It's February and love is in the air. It's a perfect time to post this video. There's something so captivating about this video that you'll want to watch whole thing. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face. I absolutely loved it! How about a smile? You deserve it! click HERE Did you find yourself smiling through this mini movie? You know what they say, "A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks."

Dear Beautiful Lorri, I am sorry for hacking into your blog. You don’t know me, but there are many things you should know from me. I am in love with you. I love the way you mother your children. I love the way you work. I love the way you look when you are tired and lay down to sleep. I love the way you look when you are sleeping. I love the way you look when you wake up in the mornings. I love the way you move through the house and know exactly what to do. I love the way you fulfill your responsibilities. I love the way your beauty on the inside far surpasses your exquisite gorgeousness on the outside. I love the person you have become. I love the way you push yourself to be a better everything. I love the way you friendship others. I love the way you shop and always keep your appearance in style. I love the way you serve anytime there is space for it. I love the way you notice a shy and lonely child wherever you are and say just the right thing to make them feel like they’re the only...

It must be Monday. I... Read scriptures. Made breakfast smoothies. Mopped up breakfast smoothies. Kissed four kids goodbye and sent them off to school. Worked out. Washed dishes. Swept floors (twice). Cleaned up the family room (still recovering from Super Bowl Sunday). Organized the pantry. Washed seven loads of laundry (and somehow found clean clothes mixed in with the dirty ones—ugh!). Tidied six bedrooms. Vacuumed ten rooms and two rugs. Arranged a play date. Planned dinner for a sick neighbor. Went grocery shopping. Picked up kids from school. Painted two sets of fingernails and toenails (nope, not mine). Drove three kids to gymnastics. Performed "Pixie" surgery and gave a stuffed animal some much-needed stitches. Bathed two children. Threatened three boys that showers really were not optional. Met with the PC repairman. Made dinner. Listened to four children practice piano. Gave one spelling test. Taught one child how to count change. Pleaded with one child to study spe...