Catching Up

So in the past month a lot has been going on, it's crazy to think that it's almost November already! With the world busy outside my window, here I sit alone in my apartment. Not by choice, by demands...the doctors are saying I have come down with H1N1. Not that any of us would really know, they aren't doing any testing. I have a cough...then I got a fever, so apparently that's enough to say H1N1. What that translates down to me is, I am to remain isolated and not allowed to return to work for 7 days, or longer, depending on when my fever resolves. It's already been a long couple days and I feel myself getting restless, so I hope these books I'm trying to read can hold my attention for another 5 days.

September was a busy month, starting with the sprint triathlon that Matt and I did. I wanted to go as a team, but Matt needed to go individual before he deployed...sadly, that meant I also had to do it individual if I wanted to compete. However, this tri went quite a bit better than the one I did back in May. While it was extremely difficult and I didn't do very well, I finished. I also had my breathing and heart pain much more under control, so that was reassuring.

As most of you could guess by my previous post, the following weekend we had a family reunion for my grandparents 60th anniversary. We had a great turnout that included 4 generations =) Sadly, not everyone was able to make it so hopefully we can have another shot at it before too long. Either way it was great to see the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and all the babies!

The days between the weekends were filled with hanging out with Matt prior to his deployment - it included lots of sushi, big dinners with all the friends and tons of laughter.

Soon after I headed to Dallas, TX for a work conference. It was ok...nothing too exciting to report and Dallas didn't really offer a whole lot to encourage a return trip. My co-workers and I did venture out of the hotel to include visits to the House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, Gilley's (but they didn't have the mechanical bull, and that was the ONLY reason we went...), Texas State Fair (where we saw mini herefords, pig races, dog freestyle dancing and an 1,100 lb pig), and the 6th Floor Museum (where Kennedy's assassin was positioned). We kept busy but the stay seemed to be overshadowed by the attempted bombing of a gorgeous skyscraper 5 blocks from my hotel...needless to say, after that report hit the news, my sleep was a little more than restless.

September was busier than October has been, but where has October gone then? Needless to say it's included lots of meals with friends and even more football. The weeks are filled with work which has been overwhelming at times, but it's going well and the busier it is - the faster it goes. Last weekend was a huge surprise to Miah, Christina and I, as Matt was able to come home on an unexpected pass. Once again, we (not quite all as Matty had his graduation from basic the same weekend) were back together. We ate, drank, played, and laughed while we enjoyed our last time together for quite a while. The time we all shared together didn't make us sad to separate, it just made us more excited to reunite once everyone comes back home.

Now, here I am. H1N1. Home. Alone. It's been ok. Time to rest. Time to reflect. It's been a crazy past couple months. And I'm sure a few insane months will follow. I look forward to see what life will bring. Even though I'm sick, it's been a long time that I've been this happy and content. In some areas, it feels like I've hit rock bottom where it can only go up from here, which I know it will. In other areas, I'm on top of the world and no one can take that away from me.

60 Years

We gathered together
To celebrate with you
Sixty years back
When you joined as two

Look around for a moment
And look at what you’ve done
See how many love you
And how many could come

As we look through the pictures
We can see the past
It’s hard to believe those years
Have gone by so fast

For all of us
You take the blame
But we are all proud
To trace back to your name

The two of you started
Out your family
Who would have thought
Seven children there’d be

Then the numbers
Quickly grew
With fourteen grandchildren
For your family to include

The amount of members
Continues to climb
Seven great-grandchildren and counting
In your family is just fine

You taught us that love
Joined many years in the past
Can make it through much
And forever can last

Just like your relationship
Your family grew
All from a love
That started with two

Together

Couldn't have asked for a better day...

Times get busy, for each of us. And it makes it even harder for families to get together with work and friends and each member's schedules. Last weekend, I decided that we had the opportunity for my parents and I to get together and actually have fun - instead of just going grocery shopping as one. So I called up my parents and invited/told them we were going to have a fun afternoon of hiking at Newton Hills. With hesitation due to the weekend chores and duties that would be left behind mom and dad agreed to go. After a wonderful lunch at the Garden of Eatin' we headed off to hike.

Monkey See Monkey Do

This last weekend I had an amazing trip to Kansas to see my cousin and family. We had a lot of late nights, good food, and plenty of fun. Too much to write about so here are the best candid pics of the weekend:

Works in progress....

Birthday party games and food...

And most importantly - daddy giving some modeling tips to lil miss M...

...priceless

Interpretation

A lot happens in an hour, a day, a week, a month, a year, a lifetime. It's weird to think that each of us remembers how things happen in our own separate way. This really came to my attention while we each were reading my Auntie Mary's beginnings of her novel.

Memories are exactly that, how you remember it, and she made sure to tell that to her sisters prior to reading her writings. With Grandma Gick gone, her children often get into many arguments and battles, ending up in phone calls to other family members asking for the "answer" which still doesn't seem to solve the debate.

With these discussions being brought up frequently this weekend with yet again, another wonderful "family" gathering, it made me think. I have all my moments remembered in my mind and with some on paper. However, very few of those events happened to me while I was alone. It's weird to think that how I remember things, may not be how they really happened - or at least how others think they happened. Even if you keep emotion and personal opinion out of stories to keep it as matter-of-factly as possible, individual interpretation always seems to be different.

I wish Mary luck to her new position as an author =) and expect a signed copy once completed. I also encourage her siblings to write the same stories, but with their interpretation of "what really happened" and it can be a series!

Write on, make your life the most enjoyable story to read, cry to, laugh to, and pass on to others!

Time for Food, Fun and Family

Well, it's crazy to think that Christmas has come and gone for 2008. I got what I wished for: a white Christmas...and oddly enough, so did my brother and sis-in-law in Tumwater, WA (which almost never happens), so they really enjoyed that.

Last weekend my parents and I made the trek down to Wayne America (as people like to call it...although its a lil dinky town in NE) to attend my sister-in-law's graduation for her Masters in Education - Way to go Erin!!! Talk about snow - Nebraska got hammered with snow, the poor college grounds crew had to work like crazy to clear the parking lots and sidewalks for this ceremony to happen, huge snow piles were banked up on each side and in the middle of all the roads. But the show went on and and Erin walked across the stage.

From there, we headed to Fremont to hangout with her family and do our Christmas thing. Ben had to work the day before and after Christmas back at the running store in Washington so they only had a quick "long" weekend to spend with both families. It was a good time with lots of homemade goodies and loud laughter. Surprisingly Ben and I get along a lot better now that he lives so far away, distance really does make the heart grow fonder =) Naw, I always loved him, but that sibling rivalry can get to be a lot when you're living so close...

Below is their finished present:

The best thing of the whole weekend was probably bowling. Erin and I started out strong and strutting our Team Crabtree shirts...but quickly faded when our mom's drastically out shown us - making us take off our Crabtree shirts, no Crabtree would want to claim us with our poor performance. Good time all in all.

This weekend was low key, with lots of fun family time. I got mom to play a little Wii but dad said he was completely content just watching...party pooper....we did some after Christmas shopping and got some great deals.

With all said and done - Merry Christmas to All, I hope everyone's was a blessed holiday!

It's a Crazy Life

Yesterday my parents and I went up to Pierre to see my grandparents and some of his brothers. Family gathers are when I think a lot of things. My newest revelation: isn't it weird what types of memories and things we remember from way back when?
As we were sitting there watching the taped version of Adelyn's vocal concert, grandpa asked my dad what that song the little girl was singing outside the 2nd floor window in Huron when they were cutting down a tree in the yard. My dad replies that it was the Jungle Book song, The Bear Necessities.
That memory has no significant value in life and didn't really help form my grandfather or father into the people they've become. But the memory of it happening, definitely brought smiles and laughter back to the faces of my grandparents, dad, uncles, and all of us as they were telling us the story.
The things our brain holds onto amazes me.
If anyone asks me about my family and reunions, I remember back to camping in Pierre the weekend of the Sturgis biker rally - and playing spoons and cards with some of the bikers underneath the picnic shelter as it POURED. I remember eating watermelon wedges with my cousins that were bigger than our head and having seed spitting contests. I remember watching my cousins Matt and Tim light candles for Sarah's wedding and one of them starting the leaves around the candles on fire. I remember picking oranges off Uncle David's tree for fresh orange juice; and my brother running from the waves on the beach in California and crying when his superman shoes got wet (he was 5 - so not yesterday or anything). I remember Lee's kids and I listening to Chloe and Adelyn tell us "ghost" stories at the campground in Wall as the train went by every 10 minutes...then watching our tent blow away when we all got out in the morning because the wind and storm was so bad (but I distinctly remembering we told my dad and he said, "no the weather and the tent are fine, just go to sleep"). I remember tunneling through snow drifts with my mom's family over Christmas in the church parking lot across from grandpa's.
Obviously there is a lot more to my relationships with my family than these memories - but I think these memories are what make these relationships important. It's not the big things we do with them. It's the fun "blurps" that happen with those people that make you smile, laugh, cry, giggle, sigh, shake your head, or zone out into many more happy memories.
I encourage all of you to allow yourself time to just think, zone out, and remember things in our past that aren't "significant" but make life fun.

Blog Tag

So here's how it goes:

1. Go to your fourth picture folder


2. Go to the fourth picture in that folder


3. Post that picture and write four things about that picture


4. Tag four people with blogs (I'm pathetic with only 3 people and 1 sent this to me...)

My Four things about this picture:

• This was taken in May of last year
• It was Grandpa Owney's (the man that inspired me to play the banjo) Birthday AND the Tinant branding (best day of each year)
• I seriously LOVE everyone in that picture, the best fake/adopted cousins I could have imagined - and that's a mere fraction of all my "cousins"
• Lakeview (LKV) = God's Country

People I'm Tagging:

1. Danielle: http://danielledornbierer.blogspot.com/
2. Moments in Mozambique: http://lsongstad.blogspot.com/
3. Sarahbellum: http://withmuchloveandmanyhugs.blogspot.com/
4. My imaginary blog friend "Joe" hehe

Neglectful

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted. Sometimes I find it much easier to read other posts then to type my own. Other people's lives are usually much more exciting or interesting than mine, or so I like to think.
I've tried to enter some new posts the last week or two but don't know where to start. My mind has been such a mess, such a blur, such a jumble. If I even tried to type anything the first thought wouldn't match the next. Heck, that's probably how it is even on a day my thoughts are "clear."
Why so confused? Well in the last couple months, I've made some important life decisions and changes. I've found it's easy to continue on in life as things are and look for the things that make you happy and cover the not so good stuff. However, what's the healthy thing to do? We need to look at it all and decide what is healthy and what really makes us happy. What makes me happy? Being outside with friends and family that I love. Crazily, shopping with my mom isn't as bad as I thought...as long as we avoid Wal-Mart except for the necessities. Watermelon. Standing in the rain. Camping and fire. Hiking. Taking pictures. FAITH. HOPE. LOVE.
In the midst of my struggles and hard times the last couple months, I've found who have been great friends and support. It's so fun to see the family you've know forever be morphed into friends. I mean this in particularly to my parents. It has always been difficult for me to open up to that friend level with them, sharing some of my biggest struggles and thoughts with them. In this time they have become more than just my parents and I'm so thankful for that. All my family has been so supportive and loving and I couldn't and wouldn't want to replace them for anything.

On the up side...I went shopping with Mom yesterday and I got a little Christmas shopping taken care of. Also, I have to work tomorrow, Monday, but then I get Tuesday off for Veteran's Day. Thank goodness for being a federal employee but more importantly, those soldiers who have served our Country to protect my family and myself.

Where did it go?

I haven't decided yet. Are weekends supposed to be relaxing, productive, busy, on the go, what?
This weekend was a whirlwind of everything!

Friday I wish I would have taken pictures. My parents and I made a mad dash down to Iowa to see family and wish Dale a safe and quick deployment for the Army. He is back at Ft. Brag and we wish him all the best and God's safety. We played beyond balderdash, which we have found to be a GREAT Crabtree game, as many of the members of that family have thoughts and ideas that are off-the-wall enough that it just might work. Dale made a-m-a-z-i-n-g ice cream and Brenda complimented it oh so nicely with wonderful brownies. I hadn't seen Amanda in a long time so it was great to get her back nearby to hug another one of "us," (you know, the less that 5'4"ers =).

Saturday was great to sleep in...well lay in. Friday got to be a late night and with a mind just spinning falling asleep wasn't the easiest and my darn body is so used to getting up early. I still woke up at 7, but stayed in bed until 10 and I can't tell you how wonderful that felt. My lounging in was pleasantly interrupted by my "cousin" Jess, who was in town for her college 5 year reunion. She called to plan a Sunday brunch with her and my parents - yay! Since it was ten, I figured I should get up for the day, and good thing, as my Uncle Ross and his family were in town to go to the musical/play Sweeney Todd. We met for a quick lunch at Applebees before they had to make the 1st act, again, family I haven't seen in a while, and so nice to see their smiles again.

Like I said, on Sunday my parents and I met Jess and her mom, aunt and boyfriend for a nice brunch at Spezia's - an upscale artsy restaurant. Great food, great company and lots of laughs. Nothing can fill the room and be as contagious and Jess's unhaltered laugh.

In between all the meals, I had some nice quality time with my parents, which we haven't had in a while, so it was great to catch up and spend time with them...although all the shopping really started to wear on me. No offense mom, but I'll be happy if I never have to look at another piece of jewelry in at least a little while.

After sore feet, full bellies and tired eyes, the weekend was well worth it. And I can't wait to see what next weekend will bring, I have an extra day, so who knows what I can stuff that full with!

Family Poem

Crabtree Family

Many people have asked
What is a crab tree?
All I have for a reply
Is it’s my family

This is something real important
At least it is to me
Come meet my relatives
Then you will see

Grandma and Grandpa
Live in Pierre
I hope and try to see them
At least once a year

Grandma is a short one
From her we got our height
But also the best cook
With love in every bite

Grandpa is a veteran
From World War II
Now playing cards and cribbage
Is what he loves to do

They had seven children
Who are scattered all around
Though distance keeps us apart
Their love keeps them bound

First is Uncle Chuck
Who was in the Navy
He and wife, Pam are Okies
With son, Paul, in their family

Aunt Deni lives in Rapid
She has three great kids
Sarah, Matt and Tim
They go on dinosaur digs

Then came Uncle David
He married a Kelli
Their children Chloe, Sam
And Collista are twigs on the tree

Uncle Lee had 3 children
With Brenda and Dale in the military
Amanda’s engaged to Tyler
And Aunt Brenda remarried

Glen is the next one
Working with trees for life
He has two children, Ben and Beth
And there is Cindy, his wife

Lyle has found his way to Pierre
Where he enjoys crafts
You know his daughter, Brandy
By their similar laughs

Uncle Ross is the last one
He is far from small
His wife is Joan, and daughter
Adelyn is also very tall

Matt, Sarah, Ben and Brandy
Have families of their own
Their spouses and children have
Helped our tree grow

As time passes with
The seeds that we sow
Our tree is getting bigger
And our family does grow

With marriages and deaths
Our names may change, you see
But that is something in your soul
You’ll always be a Crabtree!


This is my newest creation. I'm not completely sold on all the sections, so if you have any thoughts or ideas, I'm completely open. I'm planning to give this to Grandma and Grandpa either next time I see them or next year for their 60th anniversary, so we'll see.

We're Not In Kansas Anymore

How is it that there are some people in your life that you see everyday but never have a connection with? But then there are the people that you rarely see but when you meet up years later, there is no need to catch up, the second you see each other - you are already caught up.

This last weekend was one of the best trips I've taken that I can remember. My cousin, whom I re-started this blog because of, had moved and started a family and we had not seen each other in probably about 7 years (not just seen, even spoken). Because of the network site that so many people love to hate (facebook), we were re-united. With our recent interactions, my cousin, Brenda, and I concocted a plan to drive to Kansas and bring back the family reunions that we loved so much as children. Luckily, despite the short notice, the trip worked out.

If you ask me what we did last weekend, I couldn't really say. We went for walks and took 3 nights to watch 1 movie. I was introduced to a wine that I actually like and probably gained 50 pounds from the great food. But that's all I can really recall. We visited about EVERYTHING and it was so comfortable, more like sisters than cousins or friends. The time just flew without it feeling like time was passing by. By Saturday night I was wondering where Thursday and Friday went - and sure did not want Sunday to come. We just knew each other and didn't need to play catch up of the last 7 years. And of course, there was plenty of play time with baby (not so baby anymore, but it was my first time meeting her - who is now 3) Maia!!!


Something I feel that made this weekend extra special, is my awesome road trip buddy (Brenda) who will be moving further away to Hawaii. She is joining the Navy so I am SO glad that we were able to make this trip work. While Rob is off to war, Sarah had the time to play and gather with family that hadn't been seen in a long time. And hopefully we offered her some comfort while he is away. We look forward to another visit where we can get to know him, since the only time we really met him was when he was 18 and at his wedding =) Brenda was also able to reunite and revive a family tie before leaving. Now, she can plan on having lots of visitors in Hawaii because I have a feeling that will be our new travel destination.



What was most humorous about our trip? I wonder if there has ever been a study to see if OCD is genetic. Through our conversations and observing our interactions we found so many similarities in our odd behaviors that people often make fun of us for. Sarah can't wait for Rob to see us together so he can really harass the OCD in all of us. Poor little Maia, she already has hints of it also. Notice the block castle and how all the blocks are facing the same way...that was her doing. If we didn't she'd let us know that the block was facing the wrong way. Between how we have to load a dishwasher, clean, eat our skittles, etc. there would have been plenty for onlookers to have a good laugh at.

I learned a lot as well:

• Parenting is nowhere near easy but patience and consistence can teach your child values and morals you would hope they would have, even at a young age
• As hard as it can be, time and distance cannot break love, families or relationships
• Family members can be your best friend
• Nothing can replace a good laugh with good friends over a glass of good wine

Thank you Sarah and Brenda for a great time and being part of my amazing family!

The Old

Isn't it so interesting how things with such little value can hold such a place on our heart. My mom called me the other day to let me know they are having a rummage sale this weekend, long story short - come get your stuff out of our house or we sell it. No, it wasn't that bad, but yes, I do need to clear stuff out of there. After looking through the rows of items they have lined up in the garage, I gained some good house ware items that I was in dire need of, but I just didn't know it until this evening.

As I was going through my closet from high school I found pictures from every event I attended and every one's senior pictures that I had collected. Why is it so hard to throw pictures away, even when you don't speak to or even know the person in the picture with you anymore?

creative old school senior pic...

I came across some presents I had collected over the years (no offense to some people), but they weren't the most practical of things to give, but yet, I just couldn't let them go. For example, I had a cow (my favorite animal) that you hang from the ceiling and he has wings that flap. Now who wants a flying cow in their house....but yet it was a present from a dear friend, and I appreciate that. I also had received a frisbee (still unused), a cow shaped pillow, a soccer ball (unused and now rather flat), etc., all of which still lay in a box in my closet.

Then in the back of my closet, I have a nasty, dusty, embroidered dark blue corduroy jacket. Yes, I was a member of the Blue Plague, better known to most as the FFA. And no, it doesn't stand for Future Farmers of America anymore. They wanted to expand their horizons to include those who don't live on farms and don't want to be farmers, such as myself. Never did I like those jackets and never did I want one. But now, as it comes time for me to throw items out that I don't and never will need again - I struggle to pass on my horrid FFA jacket. I use the excuse that it has my name on it so it won't do anyone else any good (which is true), but I know in my heart and head it's a lot deeper than that. While wearing the most uncomfortable uniform anyone could, my team members and I created a lot of crazy, fun and off the wall memories that only true FFA-ers could. Still, in the pockets I had some of the notes, past-times and "collectibles" that I had saved from over 4 years ago. I just couldn't get rid of the jacket...if it went to anyone, they just wouldn't care for it as much as I do...

In a time where it is so easy to lose touch with so many people, it feels like you are keeping them close to you when you hold on to those items that trigger your happy memories. It's why I still have my grandmothers hair brush. It's the brush that she would brush my hair with after I would sit and watch her brush hers. It's why I have some of my mother's jewelry and my father's trophy. I have a flag my brother had ripped off a banner from one of his cross country meets and jokingly gave it to me as a "souvenir." All of these collections are in addition to the millions of pictures I have between my boxes, computers and memories. With family and friends scattered around the world, sometimes you want to have those memories close, in a form of something that you can hold and take with you. I know many of the items I told my parents that I wanted to keep would mean nothing to many, but they mean a lot to me.