The Quiet After the Strom

This past weekend was much needed. I am completely aware of how much I miss my family. But the only way I had been getting by was with the exciting visits that I have been so grateful for. When my dad came in October, then Grandma in November, with a quick visit with Brit two weeks later. Then the most exciting, Dad and Brit in one weekend mixed with my favorite thing VOLLEYBALL! It was a short and sweet visit and I love spending time with my daddy. He is so easy to talk to and the best company. We spent most of our time eating or watching football in the hotel. Once Brit arrived I was most concerned with when and where can I see her. But I knew she was here for one reason and one reason only, the Big Sky Championship. Which is totally understandable.

When Brit wasn't playing and we were sick of sitting in the hotel, we set out to explore Spokane. Which is what my dad does best. It was so much fun driving around in search for Mt. Spokane and South Hill and a quick and not exciting visit to Cheney in daylight.

Me, I prefer country music while in the car, but my dad likes the oldies and when he is with his girls he is so selfless. He always gives up control of the tuner. And I could tell he didn't enjoy every country tune but he did for me and I thank him for that. Thanks DADDY! Because what I miss even more than my family is a car to drive in and sing out loud in. I think that's why I love driving, mom, not because I wanna drive NASCAR like I told you before. I figured it out, it is all about the music. Will he was nice and let me sing out loud to my hearts desire and told me I have a beautiful singing voice.

Dad and I were on an two meal plan this weekend. Which was not on purpose. It just happened each day without being planned. But we decided that it was sad to miss out on a Grandma Kitty Thanksgiving but the fact that we weren't so full on the edge of being ill, was nice for a change. Other than missing out on a G-Kitty meal, we had some good ones. Like the Red Lion breakfast and the Onion burgers, Yum! Then breakfast at Madeline's and dinner at Lugui's. And a late night celebration at Red Robin, a milk shake and spinach dip. It is going to be a tough three weeks after this amazing weekend of meals, I hate the COG.

Watching Brit's team was so exciting. It makes me want to play so bad. I can not wait till next season. Even though Brit didn't play, it was just a reminder to both of us that our time will come. And when it is our time no one will be able to stop us!! I am happy for Brit, it looks like she will be able to have her own name at UNC. No longer living in my shadow, sorry Brit. Our futures are looking bright and can't wait to share it with you.

Congrats UNC for the big wins and good luck against Washington. When we played them they were ranked 3rd and now they are only ranked 6th. So you have a chance! But anyway, way to be the first team from Northern Colorado to go to the BIG DANCE! I am so happy my sista is apart of a good team, who care about each other.

Now that the big exciting weekend has past. I am lonely now, not lonely because I don't have friends, I do. But there is the this thing with big families. I don't really know how to explain it, but you always feel surrounded by love and they understand you. And after the semester I have had. I need that priceless time with my family. These next three weeks hopefully will go by fast. I have been told they do. But then it is three weeks at home and I want that to go slow. I am not one to count down, but let the count down begin. 17 days mere

me and evel knevil

Yes I know Evel Knevil does not have a mustache but that is the first name that came to mind when I saw my dad with his mustache. It is his alter ego. My first Thanksgiving without my mother and sisters and brother. Because technically I did not eat the meal with Brit, but we did watch her eat some meatloaf that looked and smelled and so I heard tasted like cat food. Yum, that is what I call a MEOW-tastic meal on thanksgiving. It was strange to not drive to Grandma's house and eat her food. Be surrounded by my loud and loving family. Sit around the living room and just talk. Eat leftovers for dinner, breakfast, lunch, and snack. Being away like this and missing one of the best holidays invented, has made me appreciate what I have. And on the day when you are suppose to give thanks and count your blessing, I did. I have so many things to be thankful for.



My amazing close-knit family, whom I love to death. My twin sista, who is very important to me. A college education free of charge. My health, I am a strong and beefy women. And my families health. A home which is not a physical place, but a mindset that is full of love, support, and comfort, we have that and so much more. A long life full of exciting and amazing journeys that linger in my future.

Here is a wimpy glimpse into the interesting thanksgiving, but there best part my dad and I decided is that we didn't get as full as we normally do. So after we ate we didn't feel horribly sick, which was bitter sweet.

Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for all of the people in my life. I am truly blessed.

thanksgiving in spokane

This year I will not be at home, enjoying my Grandma's amazing turkey feast. But I will be in wonderful Spokane with the great company of my father and my lovely twin. She will be joining us on turkey day. But the real reason that I will not be going to California is because Brittany's conference tournament is at Eastern Washington. And that is something that my dad could not miss. So why send Mere home when Dad and Brit are going to be up there anyway! Well so I am here, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I never want to go home, if Brit won't be there. Home is where ever the Crenshaw Traveling Circus is. But being home without Brit is not a place I want to be. When Brit left for college a week earlier then me, it was the longest week of my life. And I know what you are thinking, what about Holland and Morgan? Well they weren't there that week, so I was an only child and let me just tell you that was the worst thing I have ever experienced. Don't get me wrong being alone with my parents was nice but once a sibling of four, always a sibling of four. Quiet can get to be so loud it is deafening. Happy Thanksgiving to all, hope you are full if thanks and turkey! Will post more! Love you all.....22 more days till I am HOME!

me, myself, and i

I would like to just write this down. I would like to thank my lovely room mate for making me realize how lucky I am to have the best parents someone could ask for. The values that have been instilled in me, will forever effect me and put me in a group of human beings who respect others no matter their background, clothes, height, hair color, etc. It has always been obvious that not everyone has the common courtesy that my family has. But it has become quite evident now that I am no longer living with an immediate family member. Although living with her has been tough and down right horrible, I am so grateful for this experience. I have decided to make it a positive on my side of the fence because I knew what I was getting into by rooming with a team mate and I did anyway. But now that I am almost three months into it, which is nothing, I still regret nothing. Even though I vent everyday about all the little things she does that drive me up the wall. She has help me realize who I want to become as a person. Not that I am anywhere close to knowing that life long question, I am only eighteen for god's sakes. I am just a baby in this thing we call life. But I could not be happier with who I am. Freshman year is going to be a learning experience for me and I am so excited for the ride. Thank you mom and dad, I love you and you have been so supportive. I appreciate you two so much and I am so glad we are as close as we are because I would not be who I am without you. So thank you Nikki for being a pain in my ass, I really appreciate it.

NEw MOoN!!!

Today I am in the best mood! First of all I finished a 5 page paper last night that isn't due till Friday, second I told my lovely room mate I have decided that I will be rooming with Kate next year, third I just watched GLEE, fourth I look damn good today, ahahahahha, fifth I get to watch our Women's Basketball team play USC tonight, sixth I get to see NEW MOON tonight at midnight. And yes I know what you guys are thinking, she is related to Stacy, Kathy, and who ever else in this big freakin family is in bed at 6 o'clock every night. But have a little faith my friends, thanks to Gramma I drink coffee now!!! muhhahahah And with one sip I am out of control and ready to make more embarassing videos and no need to worry here is one for your enjoyment now....for only those of you who have seen The Proposal... yup thats me in the green with the glasses having way too much fun in her room all alone on a Thursday morning. :) But any who I am so excited to see my daddy next week...dad when does your flight get in?? and then Brit is here on Thursday and then after that only three weeks till I get to go home!! And I got an A on my math test people...very exciting stuff going on in my life. Your jealous and so sorry you guys this is the coffee talking but be sure to comment! love all

lighten the mood

For those of you who knew Remmy, you are probably crying and are really sad. So while I was looking through my pictures I came across some videos of the Crenshaw Kids being themselves on normal afternoons during school, when we have should be doing our homework but of course I felt is was a time to make my fellow siblings laugh. Even though they loved to torture me and pretend I was not funny. The videos you are about to see are only being posted because of Remmy and I know my family will enjoy them and laugh instead of cry right now. DO NOT JUDGE ME!!! It was high school so I apologize for the acene close-ups and the weird dance moves, all of this was only in attempt to make Brittany, Holland, Morgan, my Mother, and my Father laugh. Hope you enjoy and please be aware of how hilarious these are!! love you and Remmy R.I.P. And no you do not have permission to post these on youtube or send them to America's Funniest Home Videos!!! (unless I get the prize money) By the way turn your computer sideways for two of these videos, sorry for the inconvenience.

REMMY

My adorable black lab, who was the seventh member of our large family. She was the little sister who would go swimming then find you, dry of course, and shake on you. The one who would be the shark under the dinner table, the shadow that followed you where ever you went, at six o'clock in the morning was the only other person awake to watch TV with you before school, the lovable companion who gave you the most pathetic look when we were on our way out the door. As if to say, "I will be very good I promise if you just take me this time!" and the times when we packed for long trips and she was sure we were going camping without her. Man I love that dog she was my mom's best friend, they went for walks every morning and Remmy was the only one not give mom a hard time for talking to herself because she was talking to Remmy. I swear those two would talk for hours, and Remmy understood everything she said. She is in a better place and I will never forget her, I love you Remmy and I miss you. Hope there is a pool wherever you go and you finally get to see a beach. And visit Rock Creek whenever you want.

Watching UNC in person

I was so excited to finally see UNC play in person. I have been watching the via webcam every time they play. I mean yeah I was going to see Brit, but I was really excited to see them play. Just kidding Brit. :) Well it was on Friday and that was the day of the first snow in Spokane. And earlier on in the day I went to the last Mens Soccer game and that is when it was really snowing. I wore my jacket without a hood and I brought no hat. And I always take showers after practice but we had a game on Thursday and didn't need to shower. And I went to the soccer game with my hair up and nothing to cover my head. That was the stupidest thing I could have done. At least if I had my hair down, it would have absorbed the snow. Instead it just sat on top of my head and I had a little snow fuzz hat. After experiencing my first snow I went in to practice with wet hair. I wanted practice to go fast because I wanted to be at the game obnoxiously early. So Kate, Terran, and Kate's friend Kurt and I drove out to Cheney, Washington. It is a twenty minute drive, but my navigator was busy talking to our passengers and listening to country music, so we missed the turn to Cheney which would have cut our drive in half. But it was meant to be, for us to take the scenic route, to bad at 5 five o'clock at night it is already pitch black. And the snow everywhere didn't help. But for those of you who are worried I drove fifteen miles an hour and we made it safely to Eastern Washington University. With about twenty minutes left in warm ups, the most important part of a match for those of us who are either red shirting or don't play. And I got to see my amazing twin sister hit a couple balls, it was so cute to see her smile when I first walked in. And that smile was there the entire warm up and every time she looked at me the smile was bigger! And I loved every minute of watching them play. It was so much fun, even though they lost. I was secretly happy they lost so fast because that meant that I got to spend time after the match in the hotel with her. Because I had a match on Saturday at noon, with pre-game breakfast at 8:30 am. So I didn't mind how long I would stay up, just as long as I got to spend time with her. And it worked out and my room mate came late to the game so she was so kind and took Terran and Kurt back to school, so me and Kate could spend time with Brit. We got Taco Bell and watched The Hangover. It was nice just to be in her company! And today I found out that the hotel my dad and I are staying at for Thanksgiving weekend to watch Brit, is the same hotel Brit's team is staying in! I am so stoked!!! This weekend was a good one and I needed it! And my team beat USF in five on Saturday, it was so exciting not just because we won but because it was my last home game as a red shirt! I will never have to warm up for a game just to warm up. I will be warming up because I will be playing!!!! After our game on Saturday I went to a Mens Basketball game and then, we were going to go out because it was Jessie's Birthday, another freshman on our team. So we went to pre-game it at a dorm and then we were going to go out and party. But I took a drink of a alcohol I have never had before and then all of a sudden I was breaking out in a little rash on my chin and on my cheeks. Once I took a look at myself in the mirror and realized how tired I was. I looked at Kate and said lets get out of here. We made our way to the doll house, the seniors on our team live there. We couldn't leave of course unless we took pictures and I insisted that it be in black and white because I was not digging the way my face was looking. We ended up at the doll house watching Up and then we were in bed by eleven. It was a good night. And now it is only nine days till I see my dad and eleven till I see Brit!! I am so excited, I have to be because if i think about the amazing meal my gramma is preparing at home and family I will be missing I get really sad. I am so bummed I will miss meeting my new little cousin Caleb. Hope all is well! Excited for Christmas Break! (we actually call it that here, instead of "Winter Break" because we are a religious private school). Hahaha

Reunited!!

Brittany and her team were supposed to land in Spokane at 12:35, so I borrowed a friends car and drove safely to the Spokane Airport to surprise her. I figured that we should probably get the teary reunion out of the way to she wasn't crying during her game. Well her flight was a little late coming in and I was freaking out because I didn't put enough quarters in the parking meter. She was the last of her team to make it to baggage claim and I was shaking at that point. Her team walked out and was like why is Brit crying, and then they realized that is was her twin. They were like Brit is going to freak out and her coaches didn't know that I was surprising her. Her team mate Amanda was so sweet and calmed me down. Well once Brit saw me she ran down the runway and we hugged! We cried and a couple of her team mates and her coach cried as well. We had most of the airport watching our cute little reunion. But it was special and was so glad I was able to do it!! Will post more, her game is tomorrow night. love mere

Happiest day of college by far!!

When I first discovered that the University of Northern Colorado was in the same conference as the college twenty minutes down the road from Spokane. I was so happy that i would be able to see my twin sista play volleyball. And this week was the week that they would be coming, Friday the 13th of November. She had informed that she would find out about making the traveling team on Wednesday. So I mentally prepared myself to not stress out till Wednesday. So, today I was texting my sista telling her silly stuff like "Yada and Sippy say hello Brittany!" and then unexpectedly I received a phone call from her. The only thing she said was "guess what?!?!?". And I immediately started to cry and we both started to sob. Yes this sounds pathetic but you need to understand that I have been separated from my other half for four months and prior to these four months we spent almost every moment together. And we have tried to skype, text, call, and me the lame super fan, watch every single one of her games online, to keep up with each other. But college life is so busy and we knew it would be hard but we are going to be much stronger because of it. Except the one time she actually played, Gramma and I thought we wouldn't miss anything if we grabbed a quick meal. Silly us, I will never walk away from a UNC volleyball game online ever again. No webcam for me this weekend! I am going to see her in person! I can not even explain how happy I am, it is the kind of joy that brings happy tears every time I imagine me running to her (in slow motion of course) and in the background "reunited and it feels so good..." And for those of you who sadly won't be there for that beautiful reunion I will have my lovely assistant Kate capture the moment on film. Man, I am so grateful to have another human being who understands me completely and can finish my sentences, be my mirror when there is none to be found, laugh for no reason, talk for hours about nothing but life (remember brit when we would get in bed after 10:00 practices and lay in bed talking for what seemed like hours), be my rock, change my mood, and be my best friend and my sista at the same time. Brittany Anne Crenshaw I love you and can not wait for Friday. You are my bff and my sista for life! "Hows it sista?" Love you, Mere the Bear with Red Hair who uses Nair down There ;)

The most amazing weekend with Gramma Kitty!

November 6 has been on my calendar since the beginning of the school year. Once I began to feel homesick, the first person I knew would be the first one to buy a ticket and come as soon as possible was my amazing grandmother. She picked me up on the Friday the 6th from my dorm, I gave a very quick tour because it was a very windy day here in Spokane. The vehicle that she arrived in was 2009 Purple Cadillac. Needless to say it was a sight to see so I took a picture!! Man I love her. Then she took me back to the Four Star Hotel she insisted on staying in. When we first planned this weekend my mom told me,"make sure that you tell Gramma to stay in the hotel we usually stay in, The Red Lion." But my Gramma would have none of that only the best for my Gramma! We settle in and yes I said settle in. Because of course I would be staying with my Gramma, any chance to get out of the dorms. I'm on it! Then once we were "settled in", we went and picked up my good friend Kate. And went to dinner at a local Italian restaurant. It was delicious, but they gave us so much food and I took advantage and ate my weight in bread and butter. The COG food has not been feeding my need for a full stomach. So this weekend was the time to quench my thirst for food, if you will. I had lasagna, it was so good! Then we went to the movies and saw Amelia, the movie about Amelia Earhart. It was a really good movie. Then we dropped off Kate and went off to our hotel to go to bed. The other thing I was extremely excited about was the going to bed early and waking up early. I have been trying to act like a normal college student, to bed late and sleep in till noon. I hate it, you waste the day. So we went straight to bed at 10, not as early as we would have preferred but it would do. Tomorrow would be our chance to go to sleep early. Saturday was our big day. Out of all of the grandkids, I am the only one who that hates to shop, I have on occasion thrown a tantrum. But I have not shopped in four months, I saved it up for my Gramma's visit because that is what she loves to do. I'm the most conservation grandchild, yes I love the gifts just as much as anyone else, I admit I am very spoiled and I am so grateful to be. But we hit up both of the TJ-Maxs in Spokane, the Nordstrom Rack, and the Nordstroms. We did a little bit of damage, but nothing compared to my sisters or my other cousins. Most importantly Brit. No worries we didn't just purchased things for me but we also thought of others on our amazing day of shopping. Since Saturday was our night in we had an early dinner and watched a movie in bed. It was amazing. The only thing wrong with the hotel was there was no room service and no coffee in the room, this from my Gramma. Anyway we concluded the weekend with breakfast and off gramma went. I just want to say how grateful am I to have such an amazing and loving family. Without them I would not be able to get though this tough time, transitioning to college. Mom, my montra is "I'm so grateful, I love my life". It was that or some really bad words and I felt I needed to be positive. This week has been most incredible, my amazing Uncle has received a job and I am so happy for them. My mom and dad have finally sold our house in Yorba Linda, and yes it will be hard to say good bye to the only home I have know and my amazing friends. We are not moving to Mars, as my mother likes to say, and we are going to visit often. Santa Barbara here we come, I don't think you are ready for the Crenshaw Traveling Circus, but I'm so thrilled. And can't wait to road trip to Alabama to visit my cousins! Thank you Gramma for instilling the values and morals that you hold dear to your heart in me, I am eternally grateful. I love you so much! Can't wait for your next visit, please bring my baby sister next time, I miss her terribly and can't wait to see how gorgeous she has grown at Christmas time. Lots of love and hope my twin comes to Washington next weekend!