This is my grandparents and all the cousins. There is one cousin that was there but couldn't be in the picture, but the baby is still baking in mommy's tummy, so we will have to wait for another picture later this year. This was the start of the Annual McCracken Family reunion. Lots and Lots of family and fun.

Here is Daddy and me in front of the statue of Jesus Christ.

Here we are having the best dinner ever. PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!! Our family keeps growing an growing. They put a bunch of tables together in one long row, practically went from one end of the restaurant to the other. Big families are the greatest.

Here I am sitting with Grandma at the bowling alley, watching the amazing athletic display of my family.

Well, when we went bowling, I had to just sit out. But as I sat back and watched all my other cousins bowl, I decided that I needed a turn to.

Here I am setting up my ball and lining everything up, I have been studying bowling at one of my friends house when we play his WII.

I pushed the ball by myself, with just a little help from Daddy.

I got a strike on my first bowl!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mommy and Daddy were screaming so loud that other people started to stare, but they were so proud at my new found talent. I wish you could see all the pins down, but since the alley was dark, it was too hard to get a picture.

Here I am learning to like the hot tub, with my aunt Shellie.

Shellie, was teaching me that it is okay to get my legs in the water.

I finally decided that no one was going to drown me and decided to enjoy the pool.

I ended up like the pool so much that I stayed in long enough for my feet to get pruney. This swimming thing isn't so bad.

My first piano lesson from my aunt Tawna. I really think that I have some serious natural talent blooming.

All in all, I have had some awesome adventures so far this summer, and can't wait for the next adventure to begin.

Sorry Babe

Yep, that is another picture of our newest sweet baby. We got to have surprise ultrasound early this morning.

As I have written earlier I have been trying to work a little extra (and I mean very little extra) to help save for Tory's last semester. I decided to try an eight hour night shift so that I could see all my old friends and get a little extra money. Well, I have already been having Braxton Hicks for about three weeks and then as soon as I walked into the building they started. As the night progressed, they kept getting more intense. I was trying to be really good drinking water and all of that important stuff. When I sat down for my lunch half way through they went away and I thought everything was good. As soon as I got done eating though, they came back. By the end of the night I had had it. I told my friend across the way what was going on and she being good the friend that she is she "tattled on me" to our supervisor. Well our supervisor immediately called me and told me that she had another nurse coming to replace me and she wanted me to immediatley go to the Labor and Delivery Triage. I negotiated to at least let me stay and finish some charting with my feet up and my glass of water close by. I know that she was really scared because when I was pregnant with Michelle, I left work one night to make sure the contractions I was having were Braxton Hicks and then I never came back since it was actually preterm labor and they had to put me on some really awful stuff to stop the not Braxton Hicks contractions. Well as soon as my charting was done that really good friend escorted me to Triage to make sure I actually went and then sat with me for about two hours while they decided what to do with this crazy nurse from down the hall. As soon as they put on the monitor the heart beat was good. They couldn't pick up any contractions, but they also felt that the monitor was up too high to really pick anything up since I am really not that far along. So they talked with my doctor and he wanted a special ultrasound done to make sure things looked good inside with the baby and started throwing out some technical medical terms that scared the pants off me (understanding the medical language sometimes makes things scarier). So that is how I got that cool picture. The specific things they looked at looked good and the baby was bouncing all over the place, so they sent me home. But of course I was re-lectured on the importance of hydration and nutrition. So as I sit here and blog this experience I am drinking my water from 32 oz bottle and sitting with my feet up. I truly hope that is our last trip to Triage until this baby is term and really ready to enter this world.

My Family

A few months ago Tory asked what I wanted for my birthday and or mother's day this year. I told him what I really wanted were professional family pictures. I have wanted some since Michelle was born, but she has been somewhat fragile and I haven't dared chance her getting sick or not being able to get to an appointment. We have definitely taken our fair share of pictures though, (I think we over 3000 by now) but they aren't professional quality. Well we just happen to have an amazing professional photographer in our family. Tory asked Tammy if she would take pictures for us for my birthday, and to let you know how amazing she really is she said okay, even though she was already 9 months pregnant.



Well here are just a few of the many amazing pictures she took it was the best present ever. Tory even thought ahead and bought a huge frame so that we could blow one up and put it above the fireplace. What a beautiful family I have.

The Marvelous Michelle

Michelle has been tagged by one of her best buds, Tyler. She is supposed to tell you eight things you might not already know about her (since this blog is fairly dedicated to her, we will see if anything surprises someone).

1. She is currently an only child and whenever we ask if she wants a brother or a sister she just answers "Nope." You can only imagine the reaction we get when we ask her if she is excited about the baby to come. She has even offered to give it away.

2. She takes after her daddy when it comes to sleeping-she just doesn't want to.

3. She takes after her mommy when it comes to eating-she just doesn't want to.

4. Her favorite food, however, is salsa, with a close second being chipotle sauce. And maybe you could guess she is a major fan of beans and rice. What do those baby books know anyways?

5. She wants to do everything herself, get dressed, do her hair, wash herself in the bath tub, put together her feeding tubing, fix her ventilator. You know, all normal toddler stuff, right?

6. She is not afraid of dogs, even semi-aggressive barking dogs. She just growls back. But that is another story for another post.

7. She is becoming extremely well educated. Whenever Tory gets out his books to study he has to give her one of his books (not one of hers-she knows the difference) so that she can study too. We have decided that her first word will probably be something like "Neuromuscular-blockade".

8. The last thing is she is not only our Marvelous Michelle, she is our Miraculous Michelle. She is our hero and inspiration.

Well for all those parent's out there who love their children too, here is a tag that gives you an excuse to brag about that amazing little one who has stolen your heart.

When Mommy is Gone

So I didn't think we had any new pictures to show you all, until I got our camera to download one from a month ago and low and behold, all these new pictures were on the camera. I was rather bewildered then Tory started to laugh and told me how he had taken all these pictures while I have been at work. He wanted me to know what fun they were having while I slaved away at work. So here are just a couple of my surprise pictures.



Here they are out on walk one beautiful afternoon. Remember I'm slaving away at work.

Here they are eating dinner, this was probably Tory's idea of a "fruit," orange twizzler is a fruit right. Oh well, at least she enjoyed eating it.
This was Michelle at bed time. Totally passed out, and for the first time ever sucking her thumb. I have been pretty happy that she hasn't been a thumb sucker, but it really is pretty cute.

This last picture, I was actually there for. Tory loves having Michelle's hair done up in different girly ways. What can I say, he loves having a princess and especially a pretty princess. He has been begging me to put her hair in a ponytail for months, but I just didn't think it was long enough. So I finally tried and it went back so easily. Personally, I think Tory wants the ponytail so he can go out and get her a tennis, soccer, or maybe softball outfit. The ponytail is the first step to her sports career. What a funny daddy.

I guess I can now explain, why I am so behind on our posts (other than the fact that I have tried working a little extra to help save for Tory's last semesters, and I am tired beyond all reason). Tory and I have been trying super hard to work on our yard this year. Tory has put together three raised garden beds for us so we can plant some fruits and vegetables. So far we have carrots, beans, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, raspberry bushes, and strawberries planted. We still one more tomato plant, and some pepper plants, onions, thornless blackberry bushes, and some herbs. We are soooo excited. Canning season here we come. We also see some fruit starting to grow on our pear tree, yea. Unfortunately our peach tree blossomed while it was still too cold for the bees and we are not seeing any fruit, oh well. The last funny thing, is we are so sick of dandelions and weeds in our grass. Last year, Tory had to take care of the yard by himself and we were so busy with Michelle and all her appointments our poor lawn got rather neglected. Yes, we tried Weed and Feed, but it just didn't work (and yes we followed the instructions on the back of the package). So this year you will find us outside manually digging up the weeds out of our lawn. It looks like we either have some weird mole infestation or some golfer practicing on our lawn. We just like to joke that we aerating the yard. But it so nice to drive up to our house and not see tons of yellow dandelion heads. The next step is clover annihilation, we are learning some tricks from our neighbors and have high hopes it will work. (If anyone has some great tips or ideas to keep the weeds away, we are totally ready- that is beside the manually digging up method, we have found it to be effective, but our backs are really starting to hurt.) What can we say, we want a beautiful yard some day. We do have a landscaper in our family, we are hoping to entice her to come next spring, and maybe this fall, to design our front yard so it will be something that we can be totally proud of. We will just have to save all our pennies and hope she thinks our yard is worth saving. Well, that is whats up with our crazy family.

Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!!

So this post is a little late, but I hope the women we are celebrating forgive me. So here is Tory's and my tribute to our Mothers. These wonderful women are two of the greatest people ever. Since they raised each of us they have earned their pass to heaven. The fact that Tory and I are still alive is a definite tribute to how amazing and wonderful these two women are. We are just so grateful that we got you as our mothers. We don't know what we would do without you. As we like to say in our home, if something goes wrong we just call in the calvary and they come to the rescue. That is what these two amazing people are to us, our calvary, our rescue.

I don't have any super amazing photos of them, but I think the photos I have below show how super amazing they really are. Plus it shows what we like to think they enjoy doing the most, loving on a grandbaby.

To both of you, we love you and appreciate all you do for us. Thanks for always being the ear that would listen, the shoulder we could cry on, the one that would we could laugh with, the example for us to emulate, the voice to remind of what is right, and once again-the calvary we can call in when we can't go anymore and need rescue. Once again, thank you for everything and we love you.

Oh Baby!

Yesterday was another fun filled visit to my OB. Actually, it was fun because we got to have another ultrasound of the new baby. I am of course very nervous this time around and so as soon as we saw the baby and its little heart beating, I just couldn't stop smiling. It was funny because the ultrasound tech kept trying to get the cute profile picture, but the baby kept moving so that it was facing the probe. It obviously wants to see what is going. It was also very active and wouldn't stop moving so it was very hard for the tech to get the measurements she needed. Surprise, surprise, another super active baby. Well here are the pictures we got. The baby looks more like an alien right now, but hopefully someday it will let us get one of the cute profile views. The last bit of exciting new, is that the baby was measuring so big that they actually moved up my due date to Nov. 9. Wow, a baby that is measuring bigger than expected, I guess all that ice cream is paying off. It is also crazy to think that I am already done with my first trimester, I remember things going a lot slower the first time around.
This last picture is of the baby waving its arms up above its head. We think it already knows Michelle's favorite song which ends with you putting your hands high above your head and saying WOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday

It was recently my Birthday. Not something to get super excited about anymore, or so I thought. But I have one of the greatest husband, daughter, and soon to be baby ever. As soon as I woke up, they again made me a fabulous breakfast, then Tory left to "run some errands". When he came home he told me not to look and then grabbed Michelle, ran to back to the spare bedroom on a "secret mission". They soon came out with the presents and then Tory went to the freezer and pulled out the "errand" he had to do earlier, an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Sorry that I don't look the greatest in the pictures but my birthday party took place around 11:00 AM and I hadn't had the opportunity to really get ready. They just get too excited for parties.

Michelle is such a super helper, she loved helping me open the presents.

Tory got me this beautiful picture frame so that we can have a family picture taken that we can hang up.

We just got Michelle some new markers to let her experiment with her artistic skills. What a cute card she made.


Michelle and the baby got me a rolling scrapbooking tote. I have wanted one for a long time, but they are so expensive. I was so excited to have something to organize my stuff forwhen I go to crops now.

I am definitely one of the luckiest people ever to have such a great family that loves me so much.

How I Made Michelle's Special Onesie

So I have had some friends ask where or how I made this onesie. Well I actually made it myself, for those who really know me, that is an incredible thing I know. I digitally scrapbooked the images on my computer using a free kit I downloaded from Shabby Princess. Then I went to JoAnn's Fabric and bought a product called Quick Fuse: Iron--On Inkjet Fabric Sheets. They were great because they are different from Iron Transfers because you don't have to reverse the image when printing. I cut out the image from the fabric sheet and ironed it on. Pretty easy and definitely a fun way to tell people about the new surprise.

Tagged Together

So Tory and I have been together tagged. I am not sure I will tell anything that everyone doesn't already know, but maybe something will surprise someone.

How did we meet: We were both in the nursing program at BYU-I and so we had about 75% of our classes together, study groups together, and so on.

Where did we go on our first date: We tried to go to a restaurant called the Relay Station in St. Anthony which is North of Rexburg. It was unfortunately closed that Tuesday night so we went out to eat at Frontier Pies (the nicest restaurant in Rexburg at that time). The best part of this story is that Tory and I were in Pharmacology together and constantly betting each other about everything, quiz questions, test scores, what Dr. Buhrley's latest crazy way to teach something would be. So the way Tory asked me to go out with him is that he started making comments about me being too thin and possibly having an eating disorder. I told him that I ate just fine and so he went on to "bet" me that I wouldn't eat dinner that night. I told I would, so he asked me out to dinner to prove it. Pretty silly, but I didn't go a date with another boy after that.

How long have we been together: We started dating just after Valentine's Day of 2002 so we have been together 6 years, but we were married Valentine's Day 2003 so we have been married 5 years.

Who eats more: Well I would say that I am constantly snacking all day, so I eat more that way. But when we sit down for a meal, Tory eats more than I do.

Who said I love you first: That is really easy, Tory did. He told me that he loved in June of 2002 and I was completely in shock since I had never had a boyfriend before or been in love. So everyday for three months he would tell me how much he loved without ever pressuring me to reciprocate his feelings. Then we went to the Homecoming Dance at BYU-I in September 2002 and as he walked me to my door and told me how much he loved me, I told him I loved him too. He made me repeat it since he thought he imagined it, then gave me the biggest hug ever and told me good night since it was almost curfew.

Who is taller: Well if you can't tell by the picture let me explain Tory is 6'2" and I am 5'4", need I say more.

Who sings better: That's a draw. Neither one of us will ever be asked to sing a solo anywhere or even sing in any choir for that case, but we both love to sing all the time, and Michelle definitely cheers us on.

Who is Smarter: Before I ever had children I would say that I was more book smart, and Tory was more practical smart. But as time has gone by I think he is definitely smarter then me in every way.

Who does the Laundry: Well if you look in our bedroom right now you would say no one. For the most part I do the laundry. I am a little OCD about how to organize things to be washed, and dried, and folded. Tory definitely helps out a lot though, he is just one great guy.

Who doest the dishes: Again for the most part me. It used to be a very joint chore, but since I am home most of the time, and Tory is working full time and going through grad school, I willing take charge.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed: Which ever side I sleep on is the right side of course, it is too bad that Tory is left with the wrong side.

Who pays the bills: Tory earns the money and I spend it, not really but I have seemed to take charge of our finances since we got married. Again it started out a very joint job, but this grad school thing really takes a huge amount of his time and concentration.

Who mows the Lawn: Unfortunately that was one job Tory does all by himself. I love yard work and being outside, but so does Tory and it helps him relax and focus, so I kindly hand that chore over to him.

Who cooks dinner: I really wish I could say me, but it really is mostly Tory. I can never think of anything to make, mainly because nothing ever sounds appetizing or worth the effort. Plus he really is a great cook and willing to experiment all the time.

Who drives when we are together: That is definitely Tory. I really enjoying driving when I am by myself, but when other people are in the car I gladly turn over the keys. But mostly it is because I sit in the back seat with Michelle and make sure all the equipment keeps working properly.

Who is more stubborn: That is definitely a draw. Unfortunately not because we are both so calm and peaceful, but because we are both so very stubborn.

Who kissed who first: One guess. Yep Tory kissed me first. I had never kissed anyone before, so the idea of kissing terrified me. He quickly convinced me that it wasn't a death defying feat.

Who propose: Again one guess, I think a pattern is forming. Tory proposed Oct. 19, 2002 on top of the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City looking out at the beautiful LDS Salt Lake Temple. It was a total surprise since I had very successfully avoided the topic of marriage the whole time we had dated. Not because I didn't love him, it such a big decision and it really scared me to think about committing for forever. That was obviously the best decision I have ever made in this life.

Who is more sensitive: I would say that I am the one who bursts into tears the easiest, but I really think that Tory only puts on that super tough Mr. Incredible face because I fall apart so easily. He takes things to heart just as much, you just never know it.

Who has more friends: That is definitely a draw. For the most part we have mutual friends, but our individually balance each other out.

Who has more siblings: Well that is a definite Tory. I have 4 siblings, no small number mind you, but Tory way out does me with 8 siblings (and they are all within an 11 year time frame). Yes I think his mother should be nominated for sainthood.

Who wears the pants: I guess we wear them together, hahahaha. Neither one us does anything without consulting the other person first. We just like to be totally on the same level with each other. There is no hierarchy in our marriage, we work together in everything.

I now tag, Jana, Kimberly, and Tallie--hope to learn something new about you too.

Just a little update

Sorry that I haven't posted lately, just trying to keep up with Michelle and her craziness. She is still her usual goofy self so here is an update on our Little Miss Michelle.

She loves her Mommy so much. While Mommy was taking a shower the other the morning, the fragrance a blueberry pancakes started wafting through the house. When Mommy finally came into the kitchen to see what was going on, this is the the surprise she found. Michelle had made Mommy breakfast, with a little help from Daddy. What a thoughtful girl, they told me it was to help the new baby.

One morning daddy got to go fishing with one of his good friends. Well he always has to wear his "cowboy" hat fishing. Michelle decided that she needed to try it on since was wearing her horsey pajamas.

I think we have a cowgirl in the making. Now we just have to teach her to say "Yeehaw".

Well, I finally gave in and decided that Michelle needed her hair trimmed up just a little bit. It was easier to cut than I had been imagining on Michelle's part, though I had to fight back tears since I kept thinking about how she is not a baby anymore. Daddy and the TV combined were the best distraction and she rarely moved while I trimmed the bottom up.

The only thing that made it worth it is the fact that her hair kept that naturally flip at the bottom. I was so worried that I would cut off the curl around her neck. Tory did make fun of me though becuase I didn't throw the hair away; it was her FIRST real hair cut, we can't throw that away.

Well for those of you who are wondering how this new baby is treating us, let me just say that even though I thought I hadn't forgotten everything I guess I had forgotten enough. NO nausea again (thank heavens), but once again the toothbrush has become my enemy and chewing anything has become very difficult, I gag really easily. I thought that there weren't anymore brain cells left to die, but my ability to concentrate on anything has completely disappeared (maybe that is why I haven't posted anything lately). The other day I was changing Michelle's diaper, I took off her pants put them next to me and then went to grab her diaper. I looked over saw her pants laying there and couldn't figure out why I hadn't put them on her yet. As I started putting her pants on, I noticed her diaper was still wet, OH YEAH, I hadn't changed her diaper yet. And the other day Tory was talking for several minutes before I figured out he was talking to me, which should have been something really easy to figure out since I was sitting right next to him and no one else was around. Pretty funny stuff, I know. However, for the most part, I feel great. I love being pregnant and love knowing we get to be a part of another miracle.

Michelle's April Fools

Michelle had quite the April fools Joke for us this year.

April Fools!!!!

Don't Believe Me . . .

November 12, 2008 HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!

(I guess it is time for our blog to have a floating baby widget.)