Walked to the zoo

I've walked to the zoo a few times with the kids. Andrew said he'd go to the zoo with us on his day off so I thought it'd be nice to walk. He didn't think so, but I loaded the kids in the stroller anyway. After we got to the zoo and watched all the animals he forgot how much he didn't want to walk there and had fun with us. Until he had to walk home after all the walking at the zoo, then the walk home being up hill most of the way. Needless to say... he ended up being a good sport... after all the complaining. :)

Feeding the birds little bird seeds on a stick. It made Tanner nervous at first with them swooping all over because there was birds everywhere. Then he realized it was kind of fun and chased the birds around to feed them. Thanks to a little girl who gave us the stick.
"Are you peacocking?"

This crazy bird was trying to pop our tires.

Look at the belly on that thing.

Fishing

These little fish love to bit what's thrown in at them which is a good thing. It keeps Tanner liking fishing with Dad, and everyone entertained. Benson just wanted to grab the fish and play with it... YUCK!

Tanner's amazing style

I think I have said before about how Tanner is very particular about what he wears and HE PICKS IT OUT. Well lately it has been very interesting. I don't have pictures of all of them of course, but here are a few.

Notice in the top picture the button snaps hanging down... yeah, it's Benson little onesie romper thing. The buttons obviously would not button up on Tanner. He put it on because there was basketballs on the front.
Sweatshirt, thick pants, snow boots, and a knights helmet.... all on a very HOT summer day. It took him only about 2 hours to change his mind about this outfit. After my persuasion.

Backwards shirt so he could see the pictures and the snow boots. I actually blame some of his cute little friends for the boots. They have rain boots they wear... which is fine. But Tanner doesn't have any so SNOW BOOTS it is!

Crazy child!

Car seats

Benson is turning one and outgrowing the infant carrier so we went and bought a new car seat for Tanner that will turn into a booster. ( I still think he is too little for a booster so we are using the 5 point.) And then put Benson in Tanner's old seat. The first car ride we took was to a lake about 15 minutes away and Benson just clapped, screamed, and smiled the whole time. He was so excited to be able to see us and everything else that is going on outside and in the car. My camera memory was full because of hundreds of pictures I hadn't dumped so it shut the video off right before he really got going. But here is still a glimpse of his first forward facing ride.

Mother's Day

I am so greatful for the blessing of becoming a mother. I have two wonderful boys that I love more than anything. They have made me a better person and I hope I can be the best mother and example for them. My mother is amazing and continues to do so much for me and my family even with hundreds of miles between us. She is my hero! I love you MOM! I also have a great mother-in-law who we will finally get to see again after three long years in July. Also to my grandma's and Andrew's grandma... we love you and thanks for being such great examples!

Fun in May

Benson is getting better about being in a swing. When I first started taking him outside and giving him little pushes he would hold his breathe, his face would turn bright red, and he'd make a low grunt. It was the craziest thing I've ever seen. So I started sitting down in the dirt in front of him making faces and he's relaxed a bit! He's starting to think it's ok and an enjoyable thing.
The big messes begin!

Tanner loves black beans but will only eat them with corn on the cob holders. (The things you stick on each end to hold it.) I think he saw them one day and thought they would be good to eat with?! So he'll sit down with a bowl of beans and poke one at a time to eat!

I love my Benson Boo

The past couple of weeks with graduation for a lot of students and all their dinners, hooding, and everything else I was hit up for babysitting. I had one to three kids every day two weeks ago. Tanner liked it because he thinks he's a little babysitter himself. One of the nights we had these two cute kids who were great the whole time! We had fun times with all the kids coming to play!

Enjoying outside!

Playing around some statues on one of our walks. One of the statues had a serious face. Tanner said, "I don't like that statue, he looks scary." It doesn't stop him from wanting to see them though.
Tanner after getting back from his friend Ben's Star War's birthday party. Ben's mom made Jedi robes and belts for all the kids. They all looked to cute in them. After the party was over there were so many little Jedi's running around on the play ground. I wish I would have had my camera. Tanner had such a blast at the party and proving he could become a Jedi! Thanks G family!

We love our swing!

A couple months ago a firetruck and ambulance came into our complex for a call they received from a woman who lives right across the street from us. Me and the boys watched the trucks out the window because boys love big trucks. Soon we saw a few parents bringing their kids closer to look at the trucks when a firefighter said they could come over and look around. So I decided I'd take the Tanner out too! It wouldn't have been so awkward if the paramedics weren't bringing the woman out on a gurney. Luckily she was OK and there wasn't any big problems. They asked if Tanner wanted to get in the firetruck and of course he did. I asked if I could go grab another kid and a camera and they laughed and said yes! (Note: there was already kids getting into the truck and parents taking picture's of their kids before a went outside.... so don't think I'm crazy and insensitive to the lady they were taking away! lol) Something definitely to remember! And for the following weeks more firetrucks came into our complex and they invited more kids to come and look... so then I didn't feel quite so bad!

Still in their pjs!

The boys love the sandbox and so does all the other kids who like around here. There is usually about five kids crammed in it when it's made for about two! They all have fun though. I'm glad the people before us left it here!

Benson's first bike ride... and he loved it!

EASTER!

Our ward had an Easter Egg Hunt for all of the kids the Friday before and had outside and different rooms in the church sectioned off for different age groups. I had forgotten my camera in the car and had Andrew go and get it. By the time we got to the 3-4 year old room we only saw a couple of eggs left. I felt bad for Tanner because he didn't really get to find any. But as we looked around there was eggs everywhere. Not obvious to 3 and 4 year olds... or within their reach. But it made it fun for all of us. After most of the kids and parents left a few families stayed behind to "search". Many of the eggs required Andrew lifting up Tanner and Benson but it made it fun! I bet we found close to 20 eggs after everyone thought they were gone and so did the few other families!

Benson's first Easter Egg Hunt


We didn't color eggs until the day after Easter because we were busy with everything. The box of colors we bought came with little cars to put the eggs in and race. Tanner loved them, Benson just wanted to throw the eggs around. But it was a fun day of egg racing! Until a few days after and Tanner wanted to race the raw eggs. I stopped him before there was any messes!

Easter Sunday after church I tried getting family pictures but the boys just wouldn't cooperate with me. I had about ten pictures and not one was everyone looking.

The Easter Bunny brought Tanner a Buzz Lightyear that he has wanted forever. He was really excited about it, so I don't know why he is making the face he is here?

The boys in their matching ties. Don't mind Tanner's white socks. I swear I had colored but couldn't find them.

Musical cars!

The beginning of April we found a good deal on a Honda Pilot and decided to go for it since both of the cars we had have 200k+ miles on them. We had been talking about it for a long time, but I thought we were just "talking about it". Looks like Andrew was serious. What I thought was going to be a trip to a park was actually a trip to a dealership. Once we pulled up and I saw the pilot I liked it. Of course a man quickly came out and showed us everything and asked if we wanted a test drive. I said "no" but Andrew said to go for fun, so I did... I like it, then Andrew had a turn. The man asked us to come inside a do some numbers. I thought whatever it 's just a waste of your time. But we ended up leaving with a car a few hours later. Nice trip to the park huh? Andrew tells everyone it was me that did everything. What does it sound like to you?
Since we then had three cars we put mine up on Craig's List. It sold the next day! Big blessing and we really couldn't believe it. Me saying goodbye to my faithful car of 6+ years. Andrew is the one that has been driving it to school. But the Pilot didn't go to him... it went to me. :)
Andrew got his old car! But was happy about it too!

Happy Birthday Andrew!

Andrew turned 28 years old in March. He was at school most of the day with school, studying, and taking a test. Not fun! But once he got home I tried to make the best of the rest of his day!

I stayed up late the night before his birthday writing and hiding 28 different reasons why I love him everywhere you could think. In his pack of gum, taped to the orange juice, in his homework, the shower, they were everywhere. It took him until the day after his birthday to find all of them.

We went to Famous Dave's for dinner with the kids.

Happy 28th Birthday.... now a couple months late!