We're excited to announce . . .

My new favorite picture . . .

Tanner's constantly drawing something, for someone, but I have to say this is my all time, favorite, picture yet.  I didn't even tell him how to write "Mom."  It's got a place on the fridge for sure.

An afternoon at the park . . .

I've worked super hard this week to deep clean the house and get things back in shape around here.  Tanner's actually been a HUGE help too.  So today we thought it was time for some fun.  We decided to pack up some lunches and head to the park.  This is our absolute, favorite, park.  No one else is ever there and they keep the place immaculate.  The weather was perfect and we had so much fun together.  I debated whether to even bother bringing the camera, but you know me.  Here's a "few" pictures of our trip . . .

Playing in the sandbox.

Everything's more fun with a brother.

Landon took some convincing, but once we got him past putting his feet in the sand there was no going back.

He kept telling us he was building a "Tree House."  We think he meant "Sand Castle."  Ha!

They even have a kid's size table in the pavilion.  How cool is that!?

Some serious sliding.

These two had SO much fun swinging.  Landon ended up with hiccups from laughing so hard.

Teeter-Totter

Motorcycle Man

Goin' for a drive.

And of course we had to ride a dinosaur.

Even more swinging.

Can't get enough of this cutie.

And a quick shot with Mom before we head home for nap time.

Rube Goldberg

For months now Tanner has been collecting stuff around the house so that he and Dean could make a Rube Goldberg machine together. Last weekend Dean sat down and scheduled a time the two of them could do it, and every day last week Tanner would anxiously ask how many days until "Tanner Time."  Saturday finally came and these two got to work . . .

Building the machine.

Testing it out.

Dad and Tanner with the finished product.

And a video clip of the awesome machine in action . . .

Super Dudes

Thanks again to my friend Staci for making the boys these capes. We've had lots of fun being "Soup-man" lately . . .

Spring Break

Well officially Dean's been on Spring Break for the last six days, but he spent at least half that time at the library studying so it didn't really feel like Spring Break. We did however manage to squeeze in a few fun family things between library trips. We took the boys to their very first movie at a theater. Tanner was so excited and kept telling us all that it's ok to laugh but you're not supposed to talk. We got there a little early, and I kid you not, he didn't say a word the entire movie long. When it was over he signed to me that it was done. Ha! I guess he takes these theater rules very seriously. We saw Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax" . . .

Then yesterday we took advantage of our membership to the Phipps Conservatory and spent a couple hours there.  It was Dean's first time and everything was actually lots different than when we were there in February.

The boys had to get a stamp in their passports for each different place we visited.

The fish are always a favorite.

Visiting Holland . . .  We were especially excited about this room because Uncle Scott served his mission there.  Not quite as good as the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands, but we'll take what we can get.

Tanner trying out the wooden shoes.

For some reason this picture cracks me up.  Maybe just the size of the shoes on Landon's little body.

I don't recall seeing tulips open up like this.  They were SO pretty!

Tanner NEEDED a picture with the windmill.

LOTS more kids this time around but the boys still managed to get in some shopping.

A quick stop in France.

Making a wish at the wishing well.

Catchin' a ride on Dad's shoulders.

And after patiently waiting in line they got to show Dad how to control the water fountain.

On the way home we stopped at Primanti Brothers for a yummy dinner.  Dean even fudged on his calorie counting for the day so we could enjoy dinner together . . .

We all wish we had more time together, but it sure is nice when we can squeeze it in.  Hopefully Dean will be graduating in December and things will be at least a little less crazy.  We sure are proud of him and all his hard work, but we do miss having him around!

Easter 2012

The Easter Bunny is nice enough to come on Friday night around these parts so we can wake up and celebrate Saturday morning, and save the more sacred side of Easter for Sunday. The boys were super excited this year, which always makes everything that much more fun.

Tanner found a few eggs.

Landon found a dinosaur egg.

Landon cut to the chase and started right in on his Easter candy.  This kid can pack away candy like no one's business.  I think he's finished off all of his candy and half of Tanner's already.

The Easter Bunny brought fake mustaches.  Doesn't get much better than that!

Family Photo . . . including the boy's new sock bunnies made by Mom.

Funny Faces!

Thanks to a generous Easter Bunny the boys all have "Soup-man" shirts now.

After the egg hunt and breakfast, Dean headed off to the library to study all day.  The boys and I managed to have fun a little without him.  This was our festive lunch . . .

And we played outside for hours and hours.  Tanner's mastered the art of tree climbing.  He can shimmy up the tree and climb back down all on his own.  Can't believe my kid is big enough to climb trees!  Yikes!

And Dad even managed to come home a little early and surprised Tanner with training wheels on his bike . . .

Too bad he biffed it two seconds later and scraped his hand pretty bad.  We've heard nothing but whining about his hand ever since.  Ha!  Oh well it was a nice try.  And of course we had to try and coordinate a bit on Sunday.  Here's us in our Easter outfits in front of the beautifully, blossoming Dogwood tree in the back. . .

HAPPY EASTER 2012