The Cramer Family

Tammy is an animal person. In fact, she graduated from BYU in Animal Science. The first year of our marriage she worked as Vetrinary Technician for Payson Family Pet Hospital and then as a Vet Tech/Teacher’s Assistant for BYU’s Animal Science Department. I think all this experience and training with animals has given her the patience and understanding to deal with me and our two crazy boys. Because let’s face it, guys can be pretty similar to animals a lot of the time.

So that’s how we ended up with a dog and a cat. Cozmo (the cat) is part siamese and 100% cat. When he is feeling especially gracious he may favor you with a short cuddle session or even a little bit of purring. Don’t let it fool you though, he is only looking for a handout. And even though he has one of the most abnormally large fat-pads that I’ve ever seen, he is ALWAYS hungry.

Tammy told me that if we had a girl she really liked the name Chloe. I wasn’t too fond of the name so when we got a girl dog that was my first choice. That effectively removed the name from any possibility for a child, but we got to have it in the family. Everybody wins right?!? Chloe is a Springer Spaniel with a lot more hunting dog than show dog in her. As she gets older she is getting more calm, but there are still plenty of crazy running, barking and rolling over moments. And she is a shameful beggar, especially after learning that the boys think it’s hilarious to watch her catch food thrown from their trays.

Pets have been proven to lower blood pressure and reduce allergens in children. I’m definately convinced, we love having the animals around and the boys absolutely adore Chloe, especially as a trampoline. But I think this Sherman’s Lagoon cartoon sums it up best.

Pets just make me feel superior, sometimes.

Yesterday we made a family trip to the Hogle Zoo. I had an interview with the head of the Informatics department at the University of Utah. He wanted to tell me that I would be expected to participate in the class and take it for credit. It’s unfortunate that enough people have done the opposite that he would need to tell me this. So I took a trial run on UTA by leaving at 5:23 am to get up to campus by 7:30. And I’ll tell you what, that bus ride made me want to vomit in my own mouth, literally. Yep, turns out that I don’t do to well on hot buses with leadfoot drivers. I made it fine through the first two hours, but at hour 2.5 I’d had enough. Fortunately it was ninja vomit, and I kept it all to myself, which is probably more than anyone reading would ever want to know. But who ever reads?

The zoo was a mixed amount of fun. Overall I’d give it good ratings, however Owen and Braeden where not in the best of moods off and on throughout the day. Both of them are developing such unique personalities which if very good, but it does lead to more fights about different things. The latest point of contention is ownership. Having discovered that attaching the word “my” in front of any object instantly makes it yours, the boys have begun to mark their respective territory. Interestingly enough the actual item doesn’t seem to matter, as ownership of a particular matchbox could be switched several times throughout the day, rather it is the mere fact that “I own something that you don’t” is just soo dang cool.

So throughout the zoo the boys would pick items and say “My (insert item here)” at which Braeden/Owen who didn’t have (insert totally cool, have to have item here) in their possesion would get very angry. So here’s how it goes.

b: Braeden o: Owen

b: Baba?
o: NO, MY BABA!
b:NO, MY BABA!!
me: k, here’s a baba for both of you!
ob(unison): NO, MY BABA!!!

I mean how can you argue with that logic? I try, but it never really gets me anywhere.

So aside from the occasional Brother vs Brother deathmatch stroller fighting, and the brief moment of shear terror when Braeden squeezed through a fence (not into a cage or anything, just past a railing between a path and a 30 million foot drop!!) the trip was a lot of fun. The boys fell asleep on the car ride home so they wouldn’t take naps after that, but all in all I would say it was a very successful trip.

Could have done with out the vomit though.

We got our pictures back from Sam’s Club the other night. On a side note, what a great place to shop, Sam’s Club. I mean, we can go in expecting to only pick up milk and pictures and drive away with a full tank of gas, a 12 lb box of pretzels and a crate of clementines. Oh yeah, and the milk and pictures. Same thing goes for that Wal*mart place. Nothing like the option of buying tires and diapers in one friendly building. But I digress… here’s my favorite picture from the trip. It was taken in Times Square during the middle of the day. The best part about it was the combination of the 5 different pictures into one good panorama by Photoshop CS. You can click on the picture to see a larger version.

Coming from UT let me tell you, that city is HUGE!! Always something going on, and Times Square was the center of it all. We just stood there for an hour or so letting the city wash over us. Managing all the systems involved in that city must be quite the task. There is no way that one person could even wrap there minds around the whole thing, let alone do anything about it. That’s where I’m sure the principal of micromanagement comes into play.

I will be putting more of our favorite pictures from the trip on the next page as I get them up, but for now enjoy the panoramic.

We had zone conference this last week, and we got to meet the new mission president. I had met him so it sortof took the suprise out. Just playing, it was a really good meeting. I am excited for him as a mission president. I extended a hello from Jack Welch, and he accepted it warmly, and during his thema he gave props to him as a person, and missionary. The conference was in Bremen, so it was cool to see my old city again. Things are going really well here. This transfer has been extended two weeks to make it a two month transfer. The president interviewed all of us, and said he didnt like the co-senior setup, so I think something will happen here in the next couple of weeks. I dont even care, there are some people who think that is everything. This is my mission, only between me and the Lord, I shouldnt care what other people think. naja. This week we had some really cool experiences, obviously not as cool as Steve Clark, but still cool. (he is one excited animal) Last monday, after our pday was over, we decided to go out and do some doors. We did doors for about 2 hours, and right as my companion said “this street definitely wasnt inspired” we got let in. I love my companion, he says things so honestly, and most of the time he really doesnt even mean it. But we got let in, taught the man a first, but we were EVERYWHERE. We got out, and started walking home, and talked about what we did wrong, what we could have done better. We used our companionship study the next morning to work it out, and it was good. Latter that day we had the opportunity to do some more doors, and the first klingel, we got let in. We taught a Russian women, and here two kids, it went soooo much better this time. So two days in a row we got let in. Things are definitely going good. Well that is about it, hope all is well there. Glad Grandmas birthday went well, and glad they had fun in New York. Big cities are definitely something to see. Hamburg zum beispiel.

Elder Cramer

p.s. we just got this “introduction to the church” video, and Brett Browns dad has his picture in there. Sortof funny that I am here watching that, and seeing my friends dad. wierd.

One question as well. I remember in elementary school being taught that I was related to William Bradford (the pilgrim) and wondering if I am wrong, and if it is true how am I related? Thanks.

We got back last night from a whirlwind trip of New York City. In two days we tried to see as much as we could in that fantastically huge city, but of course we didn’t even put a dent in the list of things that can be done. I’m so glad that we had the chance to go, but we are definately going to have to go again in the future to see more sites.

Highlights of the trip included

• Seeing the Statue of Liberty
• Visiting Ground Zero
• Going to the Broadway Musical Wicked
• Visiting Times Square
• Spending time in the American Museum of Natural History
• Walking through Central Park
• Eating lunch at Bubba Gump one day and Tavern on the Green the next

It was a very exhausting and quick trip but still sooo much fun. Being the backwards Utah boy that I am it was nice to see a different city. And by different I mean DIFFERENT. It was weird to come back to Provo and have empty streets, and empty sidewalks. We did the JetBlue flights so the first day we were exhausted but we still got a ton done. It definately seemed like longer than 2 days.

And a happy independence day to you!!! Well the day was not to out of ordinary. My companion had a bad headache, and I listened to motab, sounds of Glory. And an appointment with a “former” member. Church was amazing again, and we had a break the fast “pot luck”. It was really cool. I love this ward. I know we will see a lot of success if we work well with the ward. This week was also really good with the work and all. We had a zone activity on tuesday, we greeted the new mission president, sang to him, and left, then we went back to the stake house and saw the film “Luther” together. It was really cool to see the story, and everything behind that man, I dont know how much of it was true, but still a good movie. I have know idea, was that in America? I think that he was definitely an inspired man in a way. He prepared the way for religous freedom. He never wanted that people named, or started a church in his name. He just knew what they were doing wasnt right. I am sure he understands it all now. We had also a tausch, (eric called them divisions) with our zone leader, and it was a great opportunity for Elder McDaniel. He has been a little down lately, not liking the city or the ward (his last city, and ward were “bigger, and better”) So during the tausch he worked with the zone leader, and they got let in, taught a good first. Then after lunch, he worked with the other missionary, and they got let in, then after those missionaries left, we did some more doors, and WE got let in together. That probably doesnt sound that cool, but consider the fact that in the last 4 and a half months I have only been let in twice, and he got let in 3 times in one day! It was amazing. We took a step in the right direction after that day. It was good to hear from Eric, I hope his baptism goes well. We are trying to get one of our investigators ready for baptism for the 24 of July, but he works alot, and it is hard for him to find time to meet with us, and come to church. I hope Mom and Dad, and Tammy have fun in New York. Somewhere where I want to visit, when I get back. Are the boys going with? I cant believe Ryan and Tyson are already back, it just seems like yesterday that Tiffany was in sacrament reading about Jesus. I am sure they have both grown up alot, it probably happens just the last year of the mission . That is cool that you went and sung those songs with Grandma, those are some of my favorite songs, I dont know how you spell patriotic, but those are the songs. We sang them for our 4th of July district meeting, and you really feel the spirit. I hope Grandma is donig well, when is her birthday? How old is TJ brinton now? And I do remember playing mini golf with him at mulligans. I hope all is well, and that everyone is enjoying the weather, and what not. I love the rain here, it rains at least everyday!
thanks for the prayers
Elder Cramer

And two little bittes, if someone is sending a package soon,my black ken griffey jr. baseball glove, says brian visentin on it (husband of non-member from dominican republic, wants to play) and some JOY soap (a member wants it to make bubbles for the primary, an guess it is better there, or something.

The boys are learing to be “Mom’s best little helpers”. Granted, they are the reason that everything can get so dirty, but they are usually pretty willing to help us clean everything up. After dinner they will each grab a broom and start singing “Clean up, Clean up…blah blah gibblededeee”. It’s so cute. Hopefully that is something they keep with them through out there life. It will definately help them us happy. I wish that I was better about seeing things that needed to be cleaned and then just doing it.

We took the boys to the doctor the other day and they are doing great. I don’t like the whole shot thing, but it is for the best. It’s one of those “You have to laugh or you’ll cry” type of things. We got the boys measured and they are going to be basketball players for sure!

• Owen 100% height - 60% weight
• Braeden 97% height - 50% weight

Tall and skinny, let’s hope they keep going that way. I’m trying to get that way myself, and let me tell you, it’s a lot easier to eat a cheesburger than it is to run it off. The nice thing about the gym is the TVs all around. My thing about running has been how boring it was. In the gym I can watch the news while I’m eliptical training, got to love multi-tasking

For Family Home Evening last night we did a lesson on the importance of music. With Owen and Braeden being so young, it is hard to hold their attention for longer than a few minutes. So we used the time to play a bunch of primary songs that we found on the new church music site. What a great resource! You can find any song you want with just a few keywords, then the application actually plays the song in the key/tempo/voice that you want. You can select only certain parts to be played and have the whole thing go at the speed you want. It is a really cool application and yet another great resource for church members to use.

The boys really liked the singing. They are starting to do some of the actions along with us (providing we know what we are doing) and they love to chose which song is going to be sung next. The question “Snowman?” gets a resounding “Yeessssssss” from both of the boys. Very cute.

We’ve found a new form of Cramer Twin Boy addiction. “Blue’s Clues” is the latest show to capture the boys attention. I don’t know what it is about a guy in a sweater, but man it’s great!

Memorial Day has never really meant that much to me before. It was a day to get off school, go to the pool, maybe even barbeque. But having Tammy’s brother Mike over in Iraq right now with his new wife Liz, made me think about the sacrifices that are made so that my family and I can enjoy things like going to school, swimming and spending time together as a family.

I am grateful for the people that have done so much and sacrificed so much so that I can have the freedoms that I do. I’m proud to say my grandfather served in the military and I’m proud to support my brother-in-law in Iraq. I’m so thankful to live in this free land and I thank God to have the abilities and opportunites that I do.

America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.
-Alexis de Tocqueville.

I believe that our strength comes from Americans inherient goodness. We all have differences of opinion and do things our own way but overall America is a good country and I’m glad to live here.