Spring has FINALLY sprung

There are some things we will miss about Illinois. Right now is that little window of time where you are allowed a brief spell of perfect weather. It has been so nice, after that AWFUL winter, to be able to go outside. Austin is loving every minute of the great outdoors. It would have been so easy to leave in the Winter. Now, it will be a little bit harder (not too hard though!)

This is my view all day (Austin is a clingy one)
Discovering the hose

After discovering the hose, Austin had to be stripped naked
Tyler washed his jeep, and used MY hairbrush to scrub it
Brothers sharing a drink
Austin LOVES to chase the neighbors dog

Mike- the seismologist

I always tease Mike about imagining earthquakes. When we lived in California he was always "feeling" earthquakes that no one else felt. We were in California last weekend, and I was just teasing him about his imaginary earthquakes. This morning when we woke up Mike asked if I'd felt the earthquake at about 4:30. I started laughing because I just knew it was another one of Mike's "earthquakes". He swore up and down that it was a pretty big earthquake. and sure enough, when he turned on the news his earthquake sensor was spot on. Not only does Illinois boast horrible weather and tornadoes, now we have earthqaukes to add to the list! (I did feel one of the aftershocks at 10:30ish.)

The Big 5 part deux

Today was Tyler's regular birthday (his term). He got to bring donuts to pre-school. Then we got to spend Grandma's gift card at Wal-mart. He took FOREVER choosing his toys and almost had a head explosion, but he ended up with two transformers and some sort of alien figure. In the afternoon Tyer helped me make his birthday cake. Then, he promptly fell asleep on the couch. I guess it's tough turning 5.

Our big 5 year old

Austin eating birthday cake
Blowing out his candle

A nap after his "rough" day
Baking up a birthday cake


Thank you for the toys Grandma! He loves them so much he mentioned them several times in his prayers.

We actually had a VERY nice weekend here. The weather was great! It was the first weekend in a while that we just relaxed.

Tyler stole our neighbors exercise ball

Austin clung to Mike
Austin loves the neighbor's kitty
Tyler found a ladybug (he was scared of it)

The BIG 5

Tyler woke up Monday morning and the first thing he said was, "4 days."

"4 days?"

"Mom, until my birthday party of course!" Like Duh Mom, what else could possibly be on your mind except my much hyped and anticipated birthday party. Yesterday, THE day finally arrived for Tyler.

I didn't want to throw Tyler a big party this year since he had a huge one last year. It was the guilt of moving Tyler across the country that led to the party. I think we had 19 kids. It went fairly well, and I'm so glad it's over. Tyler got way too many presents, and had a super time!

Here is Tyler with good buddy John

The girls ran from the boys screaming

Bad picture, but here is Austin after getting accidently pushed with a cupcake in hand

Tyler and his friend Aiden

The boys roamed in a giant pack terrifying the girls

Food time

Smiling as only a present opening child can