The Aquarium in Seattle

"I see sarr isshys" (starfish)

Carter the octopus, Halsey and Camden look on.

"Antee Aayin, look at da seal"

Erin and Halsey pose, Carter attempts to catch a fish.

How I know our kids are "from" Vegas

Sorry, tilt your head.

This is how I know our children were born in Las Vegas.

Pure, elated excitement over a tree.

"A tree, a tree! A tree!"

Point Definace Zoo, Tacoma

Pictures totally out of order. Too tired to be witty or formulate coherent thoughts regarding our day. Went to the zoo with Erin, Shanda, the boys, Paula and her girls.

Then to dinner after the zoo with Dave and Elise. 

Cool view of the zoo entrance.

Dave with Cam at Dinner.

Paula and I at the zoo.

Mr. Monkey, aka ooooo-ooo-ahhh-ahhh!

Carter and Halsey checking out the monkeys

Could those eyes get any bluer?

Hand holding. Carter, Halsey and Alyssa.

Carter is done hand holding, the girls were not.

Camden was out.

Kind of like this tiger.

Something was pretty interesting.

 (and the boy in the background thought Carter was pretty interesting too.)

More hand holding at the otter exhibit.

Pictures from our day

Carter's very serious tractor ride.

Cutie Pie Cam, sitting in the field just hoping someone would pick him up.

"Ok, seriously guys, PICK ME UP! or I'm gonna cry"

"That's better, even if I am being carried like a giant sausage"

"Even better, a tractor ride with Grampy"

Carter Kisses

Camden Kisses

"Am I cute or what?"

Carter's "tack toe" ride

Figuring out how to ride all by himself.

Auntie Erin love

Looking for Crabbies

"Got one!"

Dinner with Kalia . . . and her parents too.

Dan and Kalia.

Camden loved just staring at her.

Shanda and Camden.

Shanda and Carter. Carter is mid action of frantically saying "Mommy sit, mommy sit." I had to get a picture first, then I sat.

I seriously can't believe that 10 years ago, Dan, Dave, Jeff and I were basically the "crew." Now there have been 5 additions to the gang.  Michelle, Kalia, Elise, Carter, Camden and a thousand miles have changed things a bit.

So Daddy doesn't forget what we look like . . .

We went to a place called Country Village on Friday. I used to work at a pottery shop there and at that time there was no kids stuff to do. Mostly antique shops and boutiques. Now there is a train, guess who wanted to ride it? Mommy and Camden!  Carter not so sure.

In every picture, Carter looks like a dragged him on and he isn't and wasn't very pleased initially. Of course, after we got off, he wanted to ride "choo choo" again and again.

He actually held onto his little shirt the whole ride, like it was saving him from something.

Camden's happy smile, just look behind the binky!

Auntie Shanda pushes Carter on a very heavy carousel.

Camden and Papa.

For Carter

Carter calls this the "who who" song. He points to the ipod and commands "who who daddy" He literally will listen to it 20 times in a row and still freak out when it ends... "moosic go, moosic go?!"  Don't worry Carter, it's on repeat, give it 2 seconds.

I thought I was sick of it, then he left town to Seattle for a week. Now I listen too it 20 times in a row, and when it ends I think... "carter go, carter go?"

Love you buddy.

Uncle Jeff  aka "Daddy"

A Wedding in our future . . .

Nope, Jeff and I are not getting remarried. Kari, on the other hand, has just announced that she is marrying "Ki-yow" (Carter's version of Kyle). Another April wedding. (Ours is 4/21) A good month to get hitched.  Congratulations are in order. Forget the love birds for now, I am congratulating myself, as Kari has already called to say "help! with planning the wedding" - My absolute favorite thing to do - I am beyond excited. Jeff is apprehensive as it will probably mean hole punching and gluing invitations and a lot of recruiting him for grunt work. Okay, now I can say, "Congratulations to Kyle and Kari" I just said out loud, "Kari Ann Hanks!" That sounds so weird! Go to "Soon-to-be MRS. Kar Kar" blog to see a beautiful ring.

This weekend

A couple snapshots of the boys from this weekend.

Carter in his conductor hat, he played with his trains all afternoon.

Outside today, only 90 degrees, Jeff was doing lawn work and 

Camden was enjoying the activity.

Carter helping his Daddy with the yard work.

Taking a break from the hard work.

Yeah!