Images of the Arctic Blast at the Ladyfern

We're waaaayyyy behind with blogging so here's a few images of what it looked like around our place during the Arctic Blast. My family back home will think what's the big deal? But, let me tell you, this was a very big deal for Portland. I couldn't drive my car for a week because the snow was so deep in the roads. We lost our power several times. Thus, the picture of Matt boiling water on our camp stove for tea. I guess they haven't had this much snow here in 40 years. Anyway, we survived and it was nice to have a little extra time off work:-)

Matt's second 39th Birthday

Hand-taped tablecloth by Nicole.

We had a great time celebrating Matt’s 40th. First with his mom, who flew in just for his birthday. We did dinner, a movie and enjoyed her famous chocolate mousse pie. Then, we had friends over on Saturday for a sports-themed celebration. It was a good time filled with junk food, sports trivia, and spectacular prizes…ok, not so spectacular but there were prizes. Matt says 40 isn’t so bad.

The prestigious Matthew Craig Trophy was awarded to the winning team

These were a hit. Next time, I will just make tiny pigs in a blanket and nothing else.

An update for those of you who were at the party...sadly, we did finally use wd-40 on the cooler so no more loud SCREECH when someone grabs a beverage...how boring.

How the Craigs do Thanksgiving....

It’s always a little different…but I like it. After Matt did the Turkey Bowl at church, we (and several thousand other people) took advantage of free day at the zoo. We braved the crowds and the rain to see Samundra (I think thats his name), the baby elephant, and he/she is so cute! Then we came home and made a yummy feast for the 2 of us and went to Bendreas to play games and enjoy more dessert. We are thankful for the many blessings in our lives including family and great friends.

weekend with TraJ and Brileen

We rented a cute cabin up at Government Camp and had a relaxing weekend with friends. Some of us needed our coffee before others of us were even awake so we opted to ground the beans outside. We went on a hike, played games, made smores by the camp fire, enjoyed the hot tub and got into the Word. We are so blessed to have such great friends.

Pampered Chef Party

Good food, kitchen gadgets and friends…need I say more.

The Land of Lincoln

A few pictures from our trip back East. Once we rendezvoused in Chicago (Sounds very exotic doesn’t it?) we got to be tourists for 24 hours. Our friend Laura hooked us up with a sweet apartment right on Michigan avenue. Check out the view from our window. We did a whirlwind tour of Chicago including: Millennium Park, The Bean, Soldier Field, Buckingham Fountain (closed for construction), stuffed pizza at Giordano’s and delicious popcorn from Garrett’s (fantastic).
We spent the rest of the week in Rockford where I failed to take a single picture. We had a great time though. We went geocaching with my nieces and nephews and had a picnic and played football in the park.

Also got to introduce some friends to geocaching (puffy vest required). First time 'caching in a cornfield. It was a great time!

Matt's cross country journey to Illinois....

So I dropped Matt off at the train station in Portland at 4pm on Saturday for his journey and headed over to Monica's and went to dinner with her. She took me to the airport the next morning. I arrived in Chicago around 2pm. Karrie and Kate picked me up and we hung for awhile. Then I met up with a Alissa, a friend from high school for dinner. The next day I took the train into Chicago and met up with my friend Laura and we met up with Matt at Union Station at 5pm on Monday evening. I'll let him add commentary about his journey but it was amazing to think about all that I did while he was in a train traveling across the country. Here's what his view was like...

5th Anniversary - September 6, 2008

I can’t believe its been 5 years. We celebrated by loading up our bikes and going to the Mosier Tunnels trail that goes from Hood River to Mosier. It was a lovely day. After that we strolled around Hood River and enjoyed lunch at the Farmer’s market. Then we headed over to Skamania Lodge. They upgraded our room. It was so big we felt like we should invite some friends over to hang out. There were 2 flat screen TVs and 2 bathrooms and a patio. I think it may have been larger than our first home. We had a nice dinner overlooking a beautiful view of the gorge. Enjoyed the pool and hot tub. They even gave us a yummy treat for our anniversary. This was an amazing brownie. We did a little hike/walk on the trails around the golf course at the lodge and can you believe that Matt got bit by a snake? It literally jumped up and bit him. I think he had unknowingly stepped on it. All the places he’s hiked and he gets bit at Skamania Lodge’s golf course. Pretty funny. Anyway it was a great get-away.

RHAPSODY (Ride Around Puget Sound)

I am a bit behind on the blogging....

The day started with the alarm going off at 5am and matt heating up his buckwheat pancakes in the microwave. Once he was fueled up we were off to the starting line. My friend Erin came along to keep me company and help cheer on Matt. We thought while he rode his tail off we would have a relaxing day hanging out around Puget Sound...boy were we wrong....but more on that later.

We met matt at the half way point (90 miles) in Shelton. He was tired but doing well. He was the 6th person to make it that point. There were only about 40 riders doing the ride in one day so he didn't encounter many people on the course. About 350 people were doing the 2 day route. Matt loaded up on more cliff bars cytomax and he was off for another 80 miles. Meanwhile, Erin and I hadn't had any coffee yet so we were desperately looking for a Starbucks on our way back to Tacoma. We pulled off at an exit in West Olympia and noticed that the electrical on the car seemed to be dimming and Erin said it felt kind of funny in 5th gear. We decided to go get gas before Starbucks and ask where the nearest garage was. While the car was filling up, Erin and I prayed. We tried to start it up but no luck. I asked a guy if he knew how to push start a car and if he'd help me push. Still no luck. We prayed some more and I called my dad since matt was riding and didn't have his cel phone on. Just then, I realized there was a tow truck getting fueled up. I thought whoever was driving that might be able to help us out. I went into the gas station and guessed correctly that the bearded, heavily tattooed man with profanity on his Tshirt was the driver of the tow truck. He was very friendly and suggested that it was probably the alternator. He gave us a jump and we were off to the garage. I ran in to see if they had time to look at the car while Erin kept it running. The man said he couldn't look at it for at least a few hours and didn't know if he would even be able to work on it. I explained that I needed to pick my husband up at the finish line in less than 3 hours and he made a few phone calls and found a guy just down the street that could help us.

Amazingly, the other place had the in and out(it was the alternator) in about 1.5 hours. Thankfully, there was a mall right next store so we finally got some coffee. We actually made it back to Tacoma in time to greet matt at the finish line. He was the fourth rider to finish. Unfortunately we only took video footage so I don't have a picture but he was VERY glad to be done. He said it was mentally the hardest thing he has ever done...harder than the marathon, more difficult than the STP (which was 30 miles longer), and more strenuous than an elusive fantasy football title in his rookie season. Imagine that!

Anyway, there were a few more challenges along the way but this is already way too long of a post. We were so thankful for everyone's safety that day. The Lord totally took care of us.

GOOD JOB, MATT!! I'm proud of you!!!

More Matt's Murmurs

I thought I would share some of my favorite sound bites and video clips. I think these are good and I will share a couple every once in awhile. I'm sure some of you have all ready seen or heard these but they still make me laugh. I hope you enjoy them.

1. Carl Lewis butchers the National Anthem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uDc5tQxmJY

2. Ozzy Osbourne signs Take Me Out to the Ball Game (at least that's what it was supposed to be) at Wrigley Field:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LYP7XhLqDI

3. Ms. South Carolina shows her talent by speaking fluently in Gibberish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

Matt's Murmurs - a view into my world

To all my fans,

I realize that all you fortunate people that have been blessed to meet me have put me up on a pedestal. You think, "wow, he's an engineer." Yes, I can definitely relate to Tom Brady, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Michael Phelps. Guys hate me because of the looks, the prestige, the success. Gals swoon as I walk by in my hard hat with my name on the front. But, I thought I would share some pictures with you so that you won't be so intimidated by being around me the next time.

Remember that engineers are just normal guys; we're not all role models for your children. When little Johnny Junior says, "I want to be an engineer like Matt!", you show him these pictures so that he will see that it's not all glamour.

You'll be glad to know that while I was up on my 40 foot ladder, ODOT received several calls that there was a suspicious looking vehicle by the shoulder of the freeway. I am glad that the citizens of Portland are still vigilant.

“ Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.”

....Apparently this is the cavers motto. Matt and I ventured up to the Ape Caves near Mt St Helens. Neither of us had been before but clearly it is a very popular attraction. There were tons of people but when we got to the upper cave we got away from the people a bit. It was interesting because at some points in the cave we would get to this big mound of boulders and I would think ok, we've hit a dead end. There's no way I can get through that but then I figure other people have done it so I start scrambling up the boulders and eventually make it over to the other side and then I'd realize: that wasn't so bad? It seems like a great metaphor for life. Sometimes things seem quite difficult when you look at the big picture but once you start up the hill...it's not so bad.

Brianne's shower...

ok since we have not had time to post much during our summer...I will just refer you to a fellow blogger. I attended a shower for Brianne. While the guys played some video games, the women ate cheesecake and talked diapers. It was a good time...really. Here is Brianne's entry.

Shirley and Blair

Ahh, weddings. Shirley is my dad's cousin. Sadly, her husband Bill passed away a few years ago but the Lord has blessed her (through match.com) with a new husband. The wedding was beautiful and it was so neat to hear about how the Lord brought them together. Congratulations Shirley and Blair.