Walking to Stop Cancer

Saturday was Yucaipa's Relay for Life. This is the American Cancer's Society's BIGGEST fundraiser. And I was SO blessed to be a part of it. My mom and I co-captained a team for our church called Refiner's Fire. It was a lot of work, being this was out first year on a team, but it was worth it. Our team raised over $3000 and the whole event has already raised almost $52,000 for cancer research. We set up our site Friday night, then Esther and I got there on Saturday morning at 7:30 and we there until late that night (and back again in the morning with Steve for a sunrise church service provided by our church and another church in Yucaipa). At night they have this very emotional candlelight service where people buy a luminaria for $5 and then the bag is decorated to either honor someone who is battling cancer or is a survivor or in memory of someone who lost the fight. They then line the tracks with the bags and put candles in them and then turn off all the lights. As you walk along the track you can read the names and it's really a moving experience. I walked with my mom and dad (both survivors) and I couldn't have been more privledged to have them here with me. One of the girls on our team lost her mom to ovarian cancer 2 years ago and I have a good friend who's mom is battling pancreatic cancer and I was able to spend some time in prayer for them. If any of you get a chance to participate in a Relay for Life, do it. It's a wonderful feeling to know you are being part of a group of people who are trying to stop cancer from claiming the lives of people we love.

Celebrating my mom's 2 years!

This past Friday, Esther and I went with my mom and dad to City of Hope's Bone Marrow Transplant Reunion. Everyone there is either a transplant recipient (or a family member) or a bone marrow donor. It was so touching to see recipients who are meeting their donor for the first time. One man came all the way from China to meet the man whose life he saved. It was VERY touching! There were SO many people there and everyone wears these big buttons that list how many years ago you had your transplant. My mom's button read 2 years (it's actually been 22 months) and it was a great time to just reflect and again give thanks for my mom being here. Sometimes I take for granted that she is here and healthy and doing great. And my dad and I commented on how we need to remember that not only is she here because of God's amazing grace, but also because these doctors are on the top of research and are constantly looking for a cure for cancer. So a shout out to the doctors at City of Hope..you ROCK!!! Thanks for giving my mom another chance at life!

Our baby is ONE!!

Yesterday to celebrate Esther's special day, Steve took the day off work and we all went to the Birch Aquarium at Scripp's in La Jolla, since Esther loves fish. We also had a picnic near the beach and then drove up the coast and got some fro-yo in Carlsbad and took a walk along the seawall. We also bought Esther her first pair of Reef flip flops. Now she is an offical part of the Crandell family!! It was a great day and I continue to feel SO blessed to have this miracle baby. She is so much fun and makes me laugh everyday. I love you, baby and thank you for making me and Daddy's life so much richer. You truly have completed our family!!

Esther's Birthday Party

Well this past Saturday we celebrated our little girl turning 1. It was a small but wonderful affair. Esther had so much fun, especially watching all the other kids play. Thank you all that made Esther's special day so much more special.

We had a slip n slide and wading pool set up for Jo, Kerri and Ryan's kids. They loved it, especially when it was such a warm day.

Esther and Ryan's little boy Elliot were so sweet together. They are about 6 weeks apart.

Esther even enjoyed the slip n slide. She could have sat there for hours, until she fell into it and had to be dried off and changed.

Receiving an adorable Blue Bell Creamery lunch box from Grandma and Grandpa. She is a 1/4 Texan after all!

Esther's first wheels, courtesy of Amma and Appa. The animals better watch out now.

Esther LOVED her cake. She ate it somewhat dainty, such a girl.

Pretty flowers and a pretty girl

It seems like whenever we go to Texas it's in the spring, when the blue bonnets are blooming (concidence?...probably not). As you see we couldn't resist plooping our little girl amist the flowers and snapping away. And I didn't think she could get any cuter!

Austin is a little batty

One of my favorite things about visiting Austin is going to see the bats. There are millions of bats who live in the Congress Bridge (it's actually the largest bat colony in the world). At dusk, they emerge from the crevices of the bridge and come out to eat thousands and thousands of pounds of bugs every night from mid March to September. It's a sight to see and not at all creepy as some people might think. Steve's parents hadn't seen the bats, even though Steve's dad graduated from University of Texas, so it was fun to take them down there and witness a spectacular show. If you make it to Austin, you have gotta see it. You won't be disappointed.


Waiting for the bats to come out and feast.

Meeting the Texas Fam

We just got back from visiting Steve's parent's families in East Texas and Houston (some I haven't even met) and then of course spending time at Steve's parent's house on Lake Travis near Austin (which is our first trip there as a family of 3. So fun to share a place with Esther that has become so special to Steve and I.) We had such a good time. Esther met about 8 of her second cousins and some great aunts and uncles for the first time. The weather was hot and sticky, but well worth the trip.

Steve's parent's house is in this little city called Briarcliff right on Lake Travis and since no one around there has fences, the deer that live there just come up on the lawns usually in the morning and at dusk. It's a sight to see and for Esther a fun treat while she was eating her breakfast.

Now Texas is proud to be Texas, but it's also proud of Blue Bell ice cream. And it's NOT over rated. It's hands down the best ice cream around. We took the tour of the Blue Bell Creamery and although a little boring, ice cream was served at the end so it was worth it. Tried one of their new flavors, Chocolate Covered Strawberries and it's my new fav! And their Homemade Vanilla seems to be a staple in everyone's home. This was taken in front of the creamery.

Esther and her 2nd cousins, Cale and Ashley. Cale took to her right away and kept telling Esther how much he loved her. It was so sweet.

Esther was keeping Aunt Loreene company while we worked on the garden. Esther is stealing some of her ice out of the glass. What can I say, it was hot out there!!

Planting a garden in East Texas. We planted tomatoes, onions, okra, eggplant and cream peas (YUM-O).

Esther helping her daddy drive the boat. She was a natural.