Simply Craig

During these cool winter days, you’ll often find me nestled up in front of the fireplace. It’s my new favorite place to be. One of my boys captured this picture of me sitting in that very spot, reading the January 2011  Ensign . The article invited readers to share which  Ensign  articles had touched their lives, and naturally, it got me thinking... What would I consider my favorite? I sat quietly for a moment, thinking back over the many things I’ve read through the years. And then I remembered one. I had read it exactly one year earlier— “How Can I Develop and Increase in Compassion?”  from the December 2009  Ensign . There were words from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf that deeply touched me. He taught about noticing the heavy hearts and loneliness around us and allowing ourselves to become instruments in the Lord’s hands to answer the prayers of others. Those words spoke directly to my heart. When I finished studying that day, I found a quiet place and knelt ...

When we felt the kids were old enough, we’ve given them a choice at Christmastime: Option #1:  Choose a family vacation.  No presents, only presence.  The trip is the gift. Option #2:  Stay home and receive three gifts each. Our reasoning for the three gifts has always been pretty simple...if three gifts were good enough for the Savior, they’re good enough for our little ones. Mr. B.T.C and I started this tradition because we never wanted Christmas to become all about  getting . And over the years, some of my favorite gifts have been the ones nobody could unwrap...the places we’ve gone, the things we’ve experienced together, and all that uninterrupted family time tucked in between. For the past three Christmases, the kids chose the trip and we packed everyone up and headed for the snow. This year they chose home. Now, in the interest of honest family history, I should probably admit that I  may  have influenced that decision just a tiny bit. We had jus...

I’m fairly certain I have a crush on Santa. So naturally, I stayed up late to bake him one of his favorites...Snickerdoodles. A cold glass of milk, a stack of cookies, and a little something sweet waiting for him by the tree. By morning, not even a crumb was left behind. Apparently, the feeling is mutual.

Our home is overflowing with Christmas cards, cookies, and special treats from so many people we love. I especially love seeing all of these familiar faces gathered together. Each card represents a family, a friendship, and a little piece of our lives. We feel very loved. Thank you for remembering our family this Christmas. Merry Christmas from the Craigs!

The costumes the kids picked this year seem to fit their personalities perfectly. Especially Breeley’s kitty costume. I’m pretty sure if she could have it permanently attached, she would. The girl does love her cats. Britley went sweet and sassy in her little poodle skirt, and Dawson was more than happy to suit up and save the world. And then there were three. Apparently, two of our kids have officially “outgrown” the annual Halloween photo shoot. Somewhere along the way, dressing up and standing in front of Mom’s camera lost its appeal. I suppose this is how it happens. One Halloween you have five little faces lined up for pictures, and before you know it, a couple of them have quietly moved on. Good thing I still have three willing participants. For now.

Wesley doesn’t just work hard in the classroom. This kid, who proudly wore #9 this year, shows that same commitment out on the soccer field. His middle school boys’ soccer team made it all the way to the championship game...and WON! I love watching him find something he enjoys and then give it his all. Whether it’s school, sports, church, or just being Wesley, he has a way of quietly working hard and doing his best. Way to go, Wesley! We are your biggest fans.

I’m leaving town today, so I wanted to put a little something extra in the girls’ lunches. Something that would remind them, right there in the middle of their school day, just how much their momma loves them. Nothing fancy. Just a momma having a little fun with lunch. And, of course,  Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies ( one of their favorites). Because sometimes “I love you” looks like something out of the ordinary tucked inside a lunchbox. I’ve included the recipe for anyone who wants to make an extra-special someone a treat. Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies 2 1/4 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup margarine (I use I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter) 3/4 cup white sugar 3/4 cup dark brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 1 cup Heath bits 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup white chocolate chips  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. Cream together brown sugar, white sugar, butter, mar...

Well, gee golly, take a look at this! It appears we have another gardener in the house. Apparently someone decided my little salad garden needed a little something extra. And really, what garden is complete without a K'NEX flower planted right alongside the lettuce? I think I'll leave it right where it is. Some things are just too cute to weed out.

About two years ago, I stumbled my way through planting my first outdoor garden. Somewhere along the way, I learned something about myself that I didn't know... I  l-o-v-e  gardening! There is something so satisfying about planting a tiny seed, watching it grow, and eventually walking outside to pick something fresh for the dinner table. And because I love a good fresh salad, I've decided...for the very first time, and with a little help from my sister...to plant my own  salad garden . So here we go... I think it's coming along quite nicely, and I'll admit, watching all these little greens pop up makes me a little giddy. My son, however, doesn't exactly share my enthusiasm. After gazing over the garden, he muttered, "Of all the different things you've planted, nothing in there looks good." I beg to differ. Let's just say this poor child is  a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y  missing out. As for the rest of us, we're hoping these little garden beauties can ho...

WHITE BREAD: Add the following ingredients to a Bosch mixer: 6 cups warm water ¼ cup yeast 1 cup sugar ½ cup honey Cover and let sit in the Bosch for  5 minutes . Then add: ¾ cup olive oil ⅛ teaspoon salt Flour—as much as needed until the dough completely pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Don't add all of the flour at once. Start with about  9 cups , adding it one cup at a time and watching the dough as you go. Continue adding flour until the dough completely pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Cover and knead on low for  8 minutes . Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a thin cloth, and allow it to rise for about  1 hour , or until doubled in size. Punch down the center of the dough. Remove it from the bowl and divide into  5 loaves , approximately 23 ounces of dough per loaf. Shape and place into loaf pans. Cover and allow the loaves to rise for another  1 hour . And this time... DO NOT TOUCH! Bake at  350 degrees for 30 min...

Simple and easy. Simple. Easy. And so good. French Toast 2 eggs  4 egg whites  ½ cup milk  ½ tsp. vanilla  ½ tsp. cinnamon  Pinch of nutmeg or sweet spice blend, optional  1 loaf thick-sliced bread (I used homemade) In a bowl, whisk the eggs and egg whites together until foamy. Whisk in the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. You know what to do from here. :) But if you want to turn an ordinary plate of French toast into an  extra-special breakfast , make this syrup. Homemade Syrup 1 cup brown sugar  1 cup whipping cream  1 cup light Karo syrup Blend until smooth. Heat and serve warm over the French toast. Maybe you'll eat every last bite too! It's that good.

You can always count on giggles, squeals, squirms, and plenty of laughter when Mr. B.T.C. is tucking the girls in for the night. Apparently, “tucking in” at our house involves a few tickles, being tossed over Daddy’s shoulder, and eventually...somehow...ending up under the covers. I’m not sure how much settling down actually happens during Daddy’s bedtime ritual. But judging by those smiles, I’m pretty sure the girls wouldn’t have it any other way. I love this man. I treasure watching him  BE  a daddy. Maybe that’s why I find myself reaching for my camera during ordinary moments like this. I want to capture them so I never forget. The squeals. The laughter. The way they look at their daddy. Something tells me our favorite giggle-maker will keep those giggles coming for years to come.  

As we gathered around the ottoman for family prayer last night (our usual spot for prayers, talking, and often lingering together long after prayer was over) our twelve year old son announced, “I have a confession.” He hung his head low and quietly admitted, “I got my name on the board...and two checks today.” The usual chatter disappeared. All eyes turned to Mr. B.T.C. as he gave Dawson the chance to explain himself. Dawson began sharing the details of exactly how his name (and those two little checks) ended up on the board. I tried my darndest to swallow my giggle and concentrate on being the mature, concerned parent. I couldn’t. Neither could anyone else. Before long, the entire family had burst into laughter. You could almost see the worry disappear from Dawson’s face as he realized his confession had become the entertainment for the evening. He was off the hook this time. Only because our little class clown had us laughing too hard to do anything about it. Something tells me those...

Just a few little friends gathered around the kitchen counter and a mama giving baking lessons. We measured, mixed, rolled, baked—and, of course, sampled a little chocolate along the way. There’s something sweet about a kitchen full of little girls learning how to bake together. Lots of tiny hands, smiling faces, and everyone waiting patiently for their turn. Although I’m pretty sure the best lesson of the day was discovering that nearly everything tastes better with a little chocolate on top. Friends + chocolate. It’s a pretty good combination.

We spent part of Labor Day weekend at the Marriott’s Desert Ridge, where the snake and reptile exhibit quickly became a hit with the kids. As you can see, our little Dawson wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the size or the looks of these creatures. The girls even warmed up to the critters. Me? Not so much. I was perfectly content experiencing the whole thing from behind my camera. That is, until one of those creepy crawlers stretched out its enormously long, slithering tongue and touched my leg while I was busy snapping pictures. That was a little closer to nature than I had planned. I realize there are reptile lovers out there, but clearly I’m not one of ’em! The kids, however, thought the whole thing was pretty great. And judging by Dawson getting right down on the floor beside that enormous snake, I think we know which side of the reptile debate he’s on.

When Britley is around, it’s like having a little bit of heaven right in our very own home. She is that special. There is such a sweetness about this little girl. She has a tender heart, loves others so naturally, and has a way of making our home a happier place simply by being in it. Seven years with our Britley and somehow those big blue eyes still get us every time. Happy 7th Birthday, Brit! We love you! 

Saturday afternoon we headed to Saguaro Lake and spent hours out on the water playing and enjoying some family time together. The kids were especially excited to try wakesurfing for the first time. There were plenty of attempts, plenty of falls, and plenty of laughs. The girls gave it a try with Dad right there helping them along, while the older boys took their turns behind the boat. I love watching the kids try something new...especially when we're all together cheering each other on. Dawson was a hoot! He kept us laughing as he attempted to entertain everyone while figuring out this whole wakesurfing thing. Apparently learning to surf wasn't enough—he needed to put on a show while doing it.  As the afternoon went on, the clouds began rolling in and the wind started to pick up, so we decided it was probably time to wrap things up. Thankfully, my sister had remembered to bring her camera. I was able to capture some fun shots of everyone on the water and a few of the beautiful ...

Get up. Get the kids ready for school. Get the menu planned. Get the laundry done. Get that workout in. Get the house. Get a reliable car. Get good grades. Get an enjoyable career. Get the lawn mowed. Get the latest TV...iPod...camera...computer. Get that lesson prepared. Get that appointment scheduled. Get some smiles on those kids’ faces. Are you exhausted yet? No? Okay, a few more... Get that dream vacation on the calendar. Get the bills paid. Get that book read. Get a savings account. Get a new pair of shoes. Get those extra pounds off. Get more money. Okay, I’m guessing you  get  the point.  We spend so much of our precious time  getting. Some of it is necessary. Some of it is good. Some of it is simply part of taking care of a family and a home. But while reading Proverbs the other day, I came across this: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” —Proverbs 4:7 That last phrase stopped me. With all thy ge...

Every summer vacation seems to come with its own story, and this one included just about everything we love about California. Sunshine. The ocean. Long bike rides along the beach. A little surfing for the boys and plenty of swimming for the girls. Our stay at the Pacific Terrace Hotel in San Diego was  F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!  We could walk just about everywhere...restaurants, shopping, ice cream shops, bike rentals, the beach and even carnival rides. With a view of the ocean right outside our balcony, we were perfectly happy to settle in and stay awhile. The kids spent hours playing in the sand, combing the beach for little treasures and running in and out of the water. The boys grabbed surfboards, while Dad took the girls out to catch a few waves of their own. And then there were these two... Bare feet. Fluffy skirts. Dancing along the shoreline as the sun went down. Some of my favorite photographs from the entire trip came from simply standing back and watching them play togethe...