Hiram's Front Teeth

Hiram just lost his front teeth. This is his home video he made about it.

Seth's first Family Picture

We are always attempting to get a good self made family picture since we can't afford to pay for a real photographer. These are at taken at Grandma Crossley in the beautiful springtime in Pittsburgh. Seth is 1 month old, Gordon is 2, Esther is 4, Hiram is 6. Notice his front tooth that is about to come out, and he has lost 3 bottom teeth already.

Hiram- Bubs

Hiram is growing up ! He just turned 5 and when I look at this picture he looks so much older...like a boy now instead of my little baby boy! He is also very creative. He just loves to make something out of nothing. He has eagle eyes for any piece of cardboard or styrafoam, egg carton, string, you name it, that is headed for the garbage and he will intercept it and turn it into a race car/ boat/ or plane faster than you can "packrat". It is so fun to see his creations. Although when garbage day comes there are sometimes tears as one box makes way for the next. He loves to ride his bike and does little tricks ...no hands, no feet, etc. He and his little friend Dylan Betteridge can ride the whole BMX track by themselves for about an hour straight! He practices very diligently on his violin and loves to play so good at his lesson that his teacher falls over with astonishment. (She really does too, for dramatic effect...Hiram thinks it is hilarious). Hiram is my little zest in life.

Esther -Sunshine

Esther's nickname is Sunshine. Chad started calling her that the day that she was born, and she really is true to that nickname. Although she definitely has her not-so-sunny moments she is a very creative, happy, and resiliant little girl. She is a sweet little homemaker, always baking something and bringing me and imaginary treat cupped in her tiny little hands for me to taste. When she tastes her masterpieces she will usually say something like..."yummy, delicious, it takes like cranberries" (it was always cranberries). She is always carrying around "one of her children" (which is a stuffed animal - cat named "Mishu" or a donkey named "Tane"). She pushes them in the stroller, nurses them, takes them to the doctor, feeds them, etc. She is a very good mommy to them. Esther loves her brothers. Her and Hiram play happily, then "screamily" together all day. She is 2, almost 3 on Nov. 27, and she is really excited for her birthday. She says she wants a Mac truck birthday cake like Hiram but I'm hoping she will let me do something more her style since I know she will end up liking it better. Also, her little laugh is like a million bucks!

Gordon -My little teddy bear

Gordon is the sweetest little boy. He just always smiles so sweetly and pats my cheek with his fat little hand to tell me that he loves me. Hiram and Esther can't stay away from him, they always want to help and play with "tubbie" and "Do-Do Bee". They came up with those nicknames all on their own. He is 8 mos. now. He weighs 22 pounds, has two teeth on the bottom and just got his top two teeth. He pulls himself up to stand in his crib, and when he is on the floor he rocks back and forth on his knees. Mobility is just around the corner. I can't hug him and kiss him enough.

Kids Are So Random

Hiram and I had the funniest conversation as we were laying in bed the other night. It went something like this... I feel something wet and squishy in my ear. It can't be water from the bathtub. It's kind of soft and sticky. I know it couldn't be a gummy bear...

ME: How do you know it couldn't be a gummy bear?
Hiram: I didn't eat on.
Me: Oh. (of course) Then I told him about this thing called ear wax.

Here is another one from Esther. We had the missionaries over for dinner the other night. E. Casper was teaching about the atonement and asks Hiram a question " Why do you think the Savior suffered for us? " Hiram is thinking, we are waiting, Esther pops up off the floor and gets right in Elder Casper's face and says "SQUISH!". and then runs away. It was the timing or something and it probably doesn't sound funny to be read but it was hilarious. Talk about RANDOM!

Apple Pickin' and Halloween

This scrapbook created with Smilebox

The Mac Truck Cake

TA DA!

Hiram's 5th Birthday

Hiram has been dreaming of having a "Mac Truck" birthday party since his birthday last year when he had the same plan only he got sick so it didn't happen. So I made a Mac Truck birthday cake (into the wee hours of the morning), and a bullett proof Mac Truck pinata. (Chad finally put it on the ground and whacked it with a golf club). The kids raced little hot wheels on a pine wood derby track and we ate our family favorite...white chicken chilli. He was the happiest 5 yr. old ever!

Our little family is growing. A friend of mine put it well when he said, "before I had kids I had fun, and now I'm happy". We are happy and we try to have a little fun here and there as well.

Laural Hills Hike

This is my once every 2 year post. The Crossley's are doing well. We just got back from an a vacation spanning 3 states (Utah, Idaho and Colorado). The kids had fun meeting lots of cousins and experiencing new places.

We are in the "Burgh"

Well we are now in Pittsburgh. I graduated, passed my boards and am now doing a residency with Centers for Rehab Services/ University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The kids are growing up fast. Esther has become the master scooter moving at moch speed on her belly. Kaisa and I are now burning extra calories trying to keep up with both of them. Hiram is such a talker and loves being outside. Kaisa is such a wonderful mother. It is fun to see her interact with the children. What a wonderful blessing families are. Here are a few recent pictures. Enjoy!

This is for Corrine Hannan

Yes, we are back in business. This past summer we spent some time in Chicago while I was on my physical therapy rotations. Things worked out swell. Kaisa and Hiram had tons of fun going to the beach, the zoo and as many museum's as possible while I tried to learn as much I could at the hospital.
I managed to survive a few triathlons , one in southern Illinois and the other in Kenosha, WA, and enjoyed biking to work every day through the onslaught of cars, buses, crazy taxi drivers and the ever treacherous random door opening.
We are now back in Des Moines, IA and have survived another semester of school (my last didactic semester I might add!!). We have been blessed over and over and among the biggest of them was the birth of Esther Jane.


Here is Kaisa and Hiram with Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline in the background.













Hiram, lovin it at the beach along Lake Michigan.















Our Christmas bundle of Joy. Esther Jane Crossley was born on November 27, 2007. She was 7 lb 12 oz and 21 in long. She was born at 5:13 pm.

Our Family

Hey friends and family. I am in the middle of studying for an exam, but decided to start a blog. Here is a recent picture of our family in Moscow Idaho while I was doing my Orthopedic Internship. Check out Hiram's fish face!