Sandbox

Question. Why did I wait this long to put in a sandbox? They love it.

Here's the book I'm reading.

I'm on page 242. So far its a 7.

Johnny Cash cooking pancakes

Photo taken by Linda Files

Cheese!

I have a ton of pictures of Secily - she is such a willing photo participant! Any time she sees the camera - even if it is not pointed at her, or even turned on - she will stop what she is doing, turn, smile and say 'cheese'. It is a breeze to get good pictures of her.....

smelling the new flowers

swinging in the park

sitting on a park bench (contemplating life, I'm sure)

with Scout

Larson, on the other hand is a little like his father in the photography category......not always a willing participant. It's not that he won't smile, or hates the camera, it's just that he does not have the time to stand still....there is too much to do!! I was lucky this week, and got a shot while he was taking a break from the mud pile in the backyard.

Larson has been pretty hilarious lately - - he is really trying to figure this world out. The other day we somehow got talking about how Ryan & I are married...he thought about this a minute and then asked "am I married?"

We have been working on learning our address which he is doing quite well at - he can pronounce the street name, the city, state, but has a little trouble with the country.....according to him, we live in Africa.

Today at dinner, Larson was talking to Ryan, and asked him a question just as Ryan had taken a bite. Ryan answered a muffled "yes" to which Larson replied "Daddy, don't talk with your mouth full - it's not polite." At least he is listening to us....maybe someday he will apply it to himself! :)

Mini carrots

Without doing any research here's what we think.

Karin thinks mini carrots are grown as regular size carrots and cut
into tiny ones.

I think they're grown small at the greenhouse mini carrot farm.

What do you think?

79 degrees outside

Picnic

3rd grade Sunday school

Mirkes came over for dinner

.. then we looked through my 11th grade English journal. Good times.

Dad's new driver

Nike Sumo Square Driver

Fla-vor-ice

Toy Aisle

One of our kids (and my) favorite things to do is visit the toy aisle. The proof is that such activity often makes the daily prayer. "Thank you for we can go to Wam Rat (wal-mart)"

A worthy design. You don't have to buy the darth vader character, and the darth vader tie fighter. Darth Vader turns into his tie fighter. Genius.

Alternate Universe

Have you ever wondered if there is a parallel world where vegtables rule the planet and their only use for humans is when they need to eat something healthy? If you have then man, you're messed up.

Frisco Mall

Above: This is a vending machine in the frisco mall for dogs. Kill me.

Below: Can you spot my offspring?

Honesty

One thing that people enjoy most about blogs and the Internet is that
they can and will admit their darkest secrets that they would never
confront otherwise. Here's mine:

I know I should, but for some reason I don't hate Cowboy Troy.

Muchos rainado in dallito.

Dressed by Daddy.

Fruit pizza

Valentine

Nothing says happy valentine's day better than a couple of mud angels.

If You'll Just Smile

We are back from our trip & we had a great time. It was so nice to relax & enjoy some great weather!
This was the beach that we hung out on,




and went snorkeling around....
You may be noticing a trend in these pictures....one of Ryan not smiling. My husband has an amazing smile & yet he did not smile in one single picture taken on the entire trip. Not (as you will see) for my lack of trying:
Take 1:
Take 2:

Take 3:

Take 4: Tim & Sarah managed some smiles & took a great picture together - they could use it someday in a photo album, or Christmas card, or slide show....
Take 5: Sarah & I could smile too....(even with the sunburns!)
Take 6: I thought that even though he wouldn't smile with me, maybe he would pull one out for his best friend.... not so.

Take 6: Ryan!(insert exasperated sigh here)

I'll spare you the other 20 smile-less pictures I have of him! How is it that 6 years ago he married into the smiley-est family in the world!? Unreal.

Laundry Room

Here's a money wooden shoe holder that Bob Villa aka Karin's Dad made
for our crib.

Sports

Here's one of my favorite sports moves of all time preceded by a
favorite quote. "Mom no matter what happens, I love you."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VngJrAIzFNE

We're Back.

Timothy Clark Lowry.

Cruise Control

I'll post again on 2/11. We're going on a cruise and apparently we're
not the only ones.

We went to Houston

Leave a Message....

because I won't call you back this weekend!! Ryan & I will be busy, occupying these chairs

And hanging out on the beach.....
We leave tomorrow & I cannot wait!

Everyone in the bed

Perception

To you it looks like a syntax error. To me it says the Chicago Midway
weather took a dive and I have seven airborne flights that need to be
diverted. I bet tomorrow will be a better day.

The News

"It says the Dow dropped 80 pts, the market's heading into a
recession, and they still can't find bin laden..what next a worldwide
shortage of Skittles."

Blue Bell's Chocolate Covered Creepy Bars

Welcome Lucy!

Yeah!! I am so excited - Bryan & Eraina had their baby yesterday....Lucy Larson made her big debut into this world at 1:36 p.m. She is absolutely beautiful! She has a head full of dark hair, the sweetest little nose, and the most adorable squeak when she cries. Bryan & Eraina are doing great - we are so happy for them!
Here is a pic of the sweet new family:

Of course, count on Eraina to look fantastic right after giving birth!!

Bryan & Eraina were able to introduce Lucy to my Dad & to Erik & Yuriko via the computer - it was so fun to "have them in the room with us"!

A pic of the happy new uncle & the happy Grandpa!

Now that they are parents, Bryan & Eraina have so much to look forward to - like Lucy sitting up, crawling, first words, walking....
Things like taking their sweet almost-totally potty trained child to see the doctor, and then having an accident in the middle of the waiting room which results in needing to remove the pants, put on a diaper, and, after the appointment, walk out to the car hoping not to get arrested for indecency.


So much fun awaits!! :)

Lucy Larson

Bryan and Eraina had a girl. Here's Lucy introducing herself to
Grandpa who's only 1800 miles away.