Weeks 41-52

Week 41


October 9, 2011 – Tonight we spent a really lovely evening with the Baesels eating our favorite pizza at Grimaldi’s and then seeing West Side Story with them. Such a great show! Such a great night. Such great friends.


October 10, 2011 – Jack has started intentionally letting bananas go bad in our house just so I’ll make these banana chocolate chip muffins. I’d be mad at him but they’re so darn good that I kind of want to let the bananas go bad too.


October 11, 2011 – We have the craziest conversations on the way to lunch at work. I love my co-workers.


October 12, 2011 – Tonight I finished up a diaper cake for my boss’s friend’s baby shower. It’s not my favorite one that I’ve ever made, but it matches their theme at least. Unrelated: I tweeted only weird Broadway mashup lyrics all day. I don’t actually know why.


October 13, 2011 – I logged on to Skype with Ellyn today and we both laughed because we are wearing the exact. Same. Thing.


October 14, 2011 – Today we drove down to College Station for the weekend to visit with Jack’s buddies (the people in his Corps of Cadets outfit from his class year). We always have such fun with them. Tonight, Jason and Rebekah got engaged at the Century tree – it was so fun and exciting to be a part of it!!


October 15, 2011 – This morning, we got up SUPER EARLY so Jack could watch Drill before the football game, then we tailgated (at 9 a.m.!), watched the march-in, and then headed to Ryan and Wendy’s parents’ house to watch the game. It was a fun day!

Week 42


October 16, 2011 – This morning we went to brunch with all of Jack’s buddies and took one last group picture before heading back home (by way of Susan Menchaca’s house to visit her). We had such a wonderful weekend together!


October 17, 2011 – Oh, today. It’s just been one of those days. To begin with, before I left for work, I discovered that our garage refrigerator went out over the weekend and I had more than 60 pounds of meat plus about a hundred tiny pies plus a ton of other food in there. It was A MESS. Then tonight I was cooking and dropped my sugar juuuust like this. All over the floor.


October 18, 2011 – I finally got my little Iowa charm that I ordered from Etsy. Since I didn’t get a tattoo with the other girls, I wanted a little something to remind me of Sara, so I got this.


October 19, 2011 – These are the kinds of notes I leave myself when I leave work for the weekend.


October 20, 2011 – We’re in Orlando! Jack and I had the best day together. We spent the day playing miniature golf and enjoying an amazing dinner at a steakhouse in town. I love our Orlando trip every year!


October 21, 2011 – We spent a wonderful day together in Orlando once again. Jack won first in forms, first in weapons, and third in sparring this morning (you know, no big deal), and then we spent the rest of our day wandering the Disney Boardwalk together. So much happy.


October 22, 2011 – Today we spent the day at Universal Studios. We rode all kinds of roller coasters and I got all kinds of motion sick but it was still fun.

Week 43


October 23, 2011 – Today we spent another day at Universal Studios, which was fun, until we headed to the airport to go home. Our flight? Delayed. Which meant that we would miss our connection from Atlanta to Dallas. So then we got there with just a few minutes before our flight to Dallas so we ran about 2 miles through the airport with all our luggage, only to miss it by a few minutes. It was rough. THEN, we waited in line FOREVER to get our hotel and meal vouchers, then waited forever for the shuttle, and THEN, when we got to the hotel, they were out of rooms! So we had to call back and get a room at a different hotel. We ordered the crappiest pizza I have ever eaten at 2 a.m. because we were starving and we went to sleep with about 3 hours until we had to be up for our next flight. It was, to say the least, not ideal.


October 24, 2011 – We made it home. Finally. After 24 hours of travel. I think this photo sums up our feelings about how long it took to get home. We are NEVER FLYING DELTA AGAIN. EVER.


October 25, 2011 – Tonight was the Awards Ceremony/Kickoff Party for BikeMS, which is always lots of fun. And even better than that, I got to see my lovely co-captain, Neta again. It’s going to be a great year!


October 26, 2011 – Uh, so, I shouldn’t try frying food. Or, at least, if I do, I shouldn’t heat the oil up as hot as I can get it because I think I’m supposed to BOIL it. Because that? Will fill your house with smoke and a really rancid burnt oil smell. Also, will result in some really black potatoes. Once I cooled down the oil some, I did get two good fries out of it, but I didn’t bother with any more because the smoke was too thick. We literally had to leave the house to eat our dinner. It was ridiculous.


October 27, 2011 – Every time it starts raining, I get this text message from a service I signed up for. Makes me laugh every time.


October 28, 2011 – I don’t know if it really looks like it, but I cleaned the crap out of this shower tonight.


October 29, 2011 – Jack’s parents are in town! Jack and his dad are such good friends. I like seeing that.

Week 44


October 30, 2011 – I got this in an email from Ellyn tonight. It was one of the nicest things I’ve ever been asked, and I’m so excited to be Coen’s godmother!!


October 31, 2011 – Tonight for Halloween, we went to the Wylie community event called “Boo on Ballard” and handed out about a trillion pieces of candy and flyers to thousands of kids. It was crazy and wild, but it was a good chance to advertise for our school.


November 1, 2011 – It was date night tonight! When Jack got home, he took me to Starbucks and we talked until they kicked us out, then went home and sat on the back porch at home and talked there instead. I’m blessed to have a husband who drops everything and chooses me sometimes.


November 2, 2011 – Tonight after work I went to Aubree’s middle school play. HOW IS SHE ALREADY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL? It was really cute – based on The Wizard of Oz.


November 3, 2011 – This? Is one of the many, many reasons I hate the stupid teleprompter. Today it wouldn’t work because I got this message over and over. Thank God for Aaron in IT. I hate the teleprompter. I hate the teleprompter. I hate the teleprompter.


November 4, 2011 – Today I INSISTED that we go to Wing Stop for lunch because Eric is always saying that he doesn’t want to go to Wing Stop because he knows I don’t like wings all that much. But today we went and it was actually pretty good!


November 5, 2011 – Today I went shopping and got a bible for my godson (!) Coen. I’m going to take it to Ellyn when I go through Indiana next week.

Week 45


November 6, 2011 – Jack and I just love going to Macaroni Grill – it’s a fun date place because, you know, they give you crayons, and we’re kids.


November 7, 2011 – Today we tried to change out a graphics card in the computer at the taekwondo school. We were not successful.


November 8, 2011 – The lights are up again in the Shoppes at Legacy – it finally feels like Christmas!


November 9, 2011 – It’s a BOY! I’m getting a NEPHEW!! Devin Crawford. I’m so excited. Shane and Cassandra are so excited too. Tonight I arrived in Boston, and Shane and I leave tomorrow for Colorado Springs.


November 10, 2011 – Today Shane and I drove for 12 hours from the East coast to Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was really beautiful most of the way. It was fun listening to a book and comedy albums, talking, and enjoying the beautiful scenery.


November 11, 2011 – I GOT TO SEE ELLYN TODAY! Shane was so nice to go out of his way on our road trip to let me have breakfast with her and the kids. After that was another 12 hour day and we spent the night in Kansas, where there were virtually no hotel rooms (we were lucky to get one!) because of pheasant hunting. So weird.


November 12, 2011 – We arrived in Colorado Springs today! Shane’s rental house is really nice, and we spent most of the day shopping for Devin’s first ever Bronco’s clothes. It was so much fun!

Week 46


November 13, 2011 – I flew home today from Colorado Springs, and every time I visit Colorado I want to stay forever. I would never get tired of that beautiful view.


November 14, 2011 – It’s back to work today! Today at the school I was cutting gift certificates. I’ve been working a lot of extra hours at the school lately, but I have actually really been enjoying the extra time with Jack.


November 15, 2011 – I finally got some fuel for my crème brule torch! Jack helped me put it in there tonight, and, as I did not make any crème brele tonight, I lit a candle with it. Jack was quite uncomfortable with that idea.


November 16, 2011 – When I come to the taekwondo school, I almost always get a tiny apple juice. They make me so darn happy. I like to say that I get paid in tiny apple juice when I work at the school.


November 17, 2011 – I took the day off work today and spent most of it, well, working. Jack and I got lunch from Firehouse subs and ate together as we worked in the office. It wasn’t quite what I had planned, but it was a really good day together.


November 18, 2011 – Today Eric and I cleaned out the video archive room, and found a lot of things like this – boxes full of blank cassette tapes. Which translates to GARBAGE. It feels good to get rid of trash.


November 19, 2011 – Tonight I went with Jeri and a bunch of work people to the play “The Screwtape Letters” in Dallas, then we went to Dallas Chop House and walked around downtown where there was this lovely tree set up in addition to a craft fair thing. We ended the night with the Wildmans at our taekwondo school. It was so much fun!

Week 47


November 20, 2011 – The look on Jack’s face here doesn’t properly convey just how bad this On The Border dinner was. The food was all messed up. The waiter was slow and awkward. There was an interview/training session going on in the next booth over and we had the pleasure of listening to the ins-and-outs of the OTB menu. It was so weird.


November 21, 2011 – You know how you have those days at work where you find your co-worker laying on an empty desk with your slanket? Just me? Oh. Okay.


November 22, 2011 – Jack got my heater fixed this week so that I can do THIS again.


November 23, 2011 – I sent Jack to the grocery store the day before Thanksgiving. Poor guy.


November 24, 2011 – Happy Thanksgiving! We spent the day at my parents’ house eating and watching football. Perfect, low-key Thanksgiving!


November 25, 2011 – My office!! It’s an office again! I spent the weekend cleaning out the insane terrible awful very bad mess and I am proud to say that I only have current projects on my craft tables now. Feels GOOD.


November 26, 2011 – It’s time for Christmas decor! Jack and I bought a new Christmas tree today (a 9 foot one!) and it is so pretty in our dining room! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Week 48'


November 27, 2011 - We got our Christmas letters printed up today! Now I just have to actually send them out!



November 28, 2011 – I don’t know how he expects me to get anything done in here with this view.


November 29, 2011 – I played this word with Candy in a Words With Friends game. It made me laugh because Alece hates that word.


November 30, 2011 – Today Eric and Owen found a gong app that they sent Jack for his black belt ceremony. When I got to the school today I saw this email exchange on Jack’s computer and it made me laugh.


December 1, 2011 – I made these flower arrangements for the Black Belt ceremony today. I’m kind of proud of them, actually.


December 2, 2011 – Today was the black belt ceremony, and Master Olford came to guest judge. It was such an honor to have Jack’s original instructor here for it, and he even brought this beautiful dragon as a gift for Jack! What a nice man.


December 3, 2011 – I got to see Angela today!! I drove up to Temple this morning so I could spend a short weekend with my buddy. Tonight we went to a little downtown fair and did a lot of shopping and walking around with Angela’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Week 49


December 4, 2011 – It was back home again for me today. On the way home, I stopped at a Starbucks and got a coffee and one of their new brownie peppermint cake pops. Oh my cow. So good.


December 5, 2011 – Jack made us dinner tonight! It included Wolf-brand chili, but still, Jack made us dinner tonight. I have to say though, canned chili or not, his tamale casserole is pretty good. Also good? Not having to cook.


December 6, 2011 – This is what our living room floor looks like before taekwondo belt testings. Such is life as a small business owner.


December 7, 2011 – Tonight was the “Sweet Celebration” at Stonebriar Community Church, and I went with some work friends, including one of my very best favorite people, Debbie.


December 8, 2011 – Um. I think the sparring gear is here.


December 9, 2011 – We went to Nacogdoches today for Jack’s family Christmas, and we spent some time in Lufkin shopping and such. We took a little tour - this is where Jack’s taekwondo school used to be when he was a kid.


December 10, 2011 – Today we spent the day with Jack’s family in Nacogdoches, opening presents and spending time together. We went outside and took a family picture, and after that I had all kinds of stickers on the outsides of my shoes. Jack’s grandfather was so sweet – he picked every last one of them out of one of my shoes. He’s the sweetest.

Week 50


December 11, 2011 – Today we headed back to Dallas (with a stop at Sonic first!), and of course spent most of the day watching lots of football.


December 12, 2011 – I went dress shopping today for this weekend’s staff party. I really liked this one, but it didn’t quite give me The Feelings. Apparently they don’t make dresses in between “I’m 80 years old!” and “I’m a dirty ho-bag!”


December 13, 2011 – I found this unfinished to-do list on my notepad today. So, send reminder… to finish my to-do list, maybe?


December 14, 2011 – I love my husband. Jack picked me up today after work and took me to Anthropologie to see if I could find a dress there. As soon as I put this one on, I knew it was the one – it’s absolutely perfect. It’s even better because Jack bought it for me!


December 15, 2011 – Today we went out for Joel and Jeri’s birthday for lunch. I had the best macaroni and cheese ever… it had bacon and tons of fancy cheese and it was crazy good.


December 16, 2011 – Tonight was our taekwondo staff party, and we had such a fun time. Jack had a limo pick us all up and took us to Chamberlin’s, a fancy steak place. He’s such a good boss.


December 17, 2011 – Tonight it was my turn with my work friends! We went out with the Baesels and the Wildmans to Magianos, where we enjoyed some really amazing family-style dinner and some wonderful company.

Week 51


December 18, 2011 – I spent most of the day making these Christmas cards – they look like Santa and they have a little pocket inside for our letter. They’re cute but I’m glad that I’m done making them!


December 19, 2011 – Today I went through my closet and cleaned it all out – it feels good to get rid of unnecessary stuff, and it also made me feel pretty sheepish for ever having said “I have nothing to wear” after getting rid of this much and still having a full closet.


December 20, 2011 – Today was the annual fruit cake roll at work, and Joel and I won! There’s a running joke going now that everybody who wins the fruit cake roll gets laid off or fired, and Joel is leaving in a few weeks. I guess my days are numbered here!


December 21, 2011 – Well, I guess it’s official. We’re moving offices soon. We got this map of the new building where everybody will be today. The next month or two will be a MESS while we move.


December 22, 2011 – Today I walked out of my office to find my co-workers building a fort with a bunch of boxes the facility people put in our conference room for the move. Because, obviously. That must have been why they put boxes in there. After the fort was built we had a little pretend production meeting in there. I love working with these people.


December 23, 2011 – Today Jack and his dad hung up these World Champ uniforms at the school. They look AMAZING.


December 24, 2011 – Shane and Cassandra are here! We spent the day with them and the dogs for Christmas Eve. We went to Christmas Eve church this evening, followed by Chinese food, as is Crawford tradition.

Week 52


December 25, 2011 – Merry Christmas! I had my whole family in my house today and there was much food and many gift. It was a good Christmas.


December 26, 2011 – Uh, Christmas threw up in my living room.


December 27, 2011 – Today I packed up most of my office stuff at work in preparation for the move in a few weeks. My office looks so bare now!


December 28, 2011 – I’ve been working on this program called BoinxTV for the taekwondo school TVs, and I am having to learn a lot of new programs that I do not understand. I opened one of my layers up in Quartz Composer today and thought I was DIFFUSING A BOMB. It’s insane.


December 29, 2011 – The design for the new TVs is coming along pretty well! I’m really happy with this program.


December 30, 2011 – Today I visited the taekwondo school and got to see the TVs for the first time – they look awesome! My first reaction is that uh, there are a lot of them. But I think they look great in the school.


December 31, 2011 – It’s New Year’s Eve! Tonight we spent the evening at the Baesels’ house with them and the Wildmans for game night. It was a fun, low-key New Year’s Eve. It was a perfect way to end 2011.