++Thank Goodness+

Thank goodness for cameras.  Without them we wouldn't be able to capture the little things that our kids do.  The things that they'll stop doing someday.  The things we'll be sure to want to show them when they are all grown up.  Faces like this:

I don't really get it.  But we get it alot from Claire these days.  I think she's pretty proud of it.  That, and her "silly face":

We love you peanut.  Thank goodness for YOU!

++Mother's Day++

Once again this year Wyatt's class put on a Mother's Day Tea for us.  It started with a little program.  I snapped this shot before he remembered that he had decided not to sing and participate.  It's ok.  It will keep me from being one of those stage moms. 

 He did his job as waiter well.  But still too cool to smile for the camera.

 Well, at least one of us had a lovely time at the tea.

 On the real Mother's Day I was treated to breakfast and the most beautiful huge hanging basket that will grace me with colorful blooms all summer long and permission (or a command?) to go purchase a grown-up handbag. 

Thanks for a great Mother's Day...but every day I feel blessed to be mom to you two kids (frowns and all).

++Doughnut Dash++

What's not to love about a 5k sponsored by a doughnut shop?  I ran with a couple of MOPs friends.

 Then it was turn for the Dubs to do his first race.  In keeping with his clothing/costume/name tag phobia, the number had to go on his back.

 This was the big start of the kids race.  I think there may have been more parents than kids.

 The pace was a bit of a saunter.  No comment on how my husband is dressed for winter and my son is dressed for summer.

 Cousin winners!

 Then the excitement really began for the boys.  They spotted the crew disassembling the banners and cones in the chute and decided they needed to help.  Seriously, between the 4 boys, they did about half of the work.

 Gotta love boys.

++It's how we roll++

This is the scene at our house when Daddy pulls into the driveway these days.  Skip the Britney Spears references.  Don't call CPS on us.  They drive at roughly 2mph down our driveway.  Just one more advantage of our crazy-long driveway setup.  I kinda think Claire thinks it's fun...but I'm not sure.  That girl is a ham.  We are in trouble.

++My boys++

My boys are buddies.  I have a feeling that there's a bond there that I'll never quite be a part of.  I'm ok with that.  It's so fun to stand on the sidelines and watch the joy that these two people, whom I love so much, bring to each other.  I don't think it hurts that they both love sports.  And I can never tell who is having more fun when they play together.  Oh--and for the record--I'm not totally lame-o, sometimes I play too.  I never fail to impress when I pull out my mad basketball skills. 

++The Adventures of the Boys Book Club: Wallaby Farm++

The boys' latest adventure took them to the Fall City Wallaby Ranch.  We had an "in" so we had a private and personal tour of the ranch.  Rex runs the show (the farm happens to be in his back yard).  When we got there he spoke to us for about 10 minutes all about the life cycle of wallabies and kangaroos and the whole pouch process (kind of fascinating if you ask me).  The all of a sudden he unzips his jacket and pulls out this:

 She's an albino Wallaby.  I guess they are a rare treasure.  Don't tell but I think they look like overgrown rats.
They also had kangaroos on the property.  I never knew that when they walk they use their tail like a third leg.  Kind of cool. 

 The little sisters get to tag along too.  A certain little sister wore her backpack for the entire tour.

 We got a peak into one of the kangaroo's pouches.  Super cool.  They only let him open it because they trust him.  I guess they can clamp it closed if they want to.

 Wyatt was much more interested in getting up close and personal with the new friends than I was.

 They also had horses (and great mountain views) on the property.

 I could have stayed all day taking pictures of the pokey peanut.

 Wouldn't you love to open up your personal Wallaby farm to this crew?  We sure are lucky to be a part of this fun group.

++Remember Easter?++

Yeah, we did Easter at our house.  It's a favorite of mine.  Gotta love the holidays that involve buying new clothes and then bribing your kids with baskets full of treats and candy to get them to wear the clothes.  Don't worry...we also know and celebrate the REAL meaning of the holiday too. 

We dyed some eggs.

 Claire decided her fingers were far superior to that little metal dipper thing.  For the record...the fingers were pink for about a week.  At least it wasn't blue.

 On Easter morning the kids hunted for their baskets.  Claire found hers right away.

 It took Wyatt a little longer.  It was in his sister's pink tent.  It gives me an excuse to take photos of his cute little tushy (is he getting too old for me to say things like this??  too bad.)

 The children were also lucky that the Easter Bunny fell victim to their incessant begging and got them Pillow Pets.  We all know their mother would never buy into such a shamelessly marketed product.

 I'm not sure what got into Claire.  Might have been a whole lot of sugar and artificial dye.  Does anyone think my son looks like me in this picture?  It's the eyes.

 I think Claire looks like her dad in this one...just kidding. 

 I just like this photo.  Someone was a BIG fan of the jelly beans. 

Happy Easter!