Mother's Day

Nate and I flew home the morning of Mother's Day.  Best gift I received was that he slept through the whole plane ride!!

Once we got home it was hot so we decided to open the pool for the season...

 Yeah, the water was a little cold but we all sucked it up and went in.



I'm 8 Months Old!

Chillin' in T-Town (again!)

We were back up in Tacoma again for a very short weekend.  Here are some more pictures of Nate having some time with family.

"Don't I look just like Gramps?"

"Hilarious!!"

Nate looks like he's about to do something naughty to Great Grammie.

He is so close to crawling!

Happy Thursday

Tractor Show

We took the boys to the Antique Tractor and Farm Equipment Show! Just ask Amy if ten years ago she ever thought she would be going to something like that! Jack, of course, went out of his mind  with excitement but it was unseasonably hot (really, really hot) and there wasn't much in the way of shade. We only lasted a couple of hours in the heat but it's already marked down on next year's calendar! We were just glad we made it at all because shortly after we got home everyone except Nathan got very sick with the flu. I'm happy to report that we are fully recovered now.

Mr. John Deere himself!

Making a technical inspection of his die-cast model 1937 John Deere "G" to make certain it was, in fact, just like the real thing behind him. Now he wants Daddy to get an antique tractor too! Daddy is thinking Grandaddy should get one so that Daddy doesn't have to!

Nathan Goes North

Amy had a baby shower to attend in Tacoma for her good friend, Bre, so she decided to do the unthinkable... fly alone with an infant! It was a whirlwind trip: leave on Saturday morning and come back on Sunday night, but they had a really nice time and saw lots of friends and relatives too. Nathan did very well on the plane. Jack and I hung out back in California and pretty much ate at Hooters for every meal- you know, since we were bachin' it. Sorry, no pictures.

A proud Great Grammie and Grandpa.

Nathan and his second cousin, Mikey. The two were highly competitive. "Let's play stoneface."

"Now let's sumo-wrestle!"

"OK, now we'll get technical and play 'operation' on this dog!"

"I bet I can get more toes in my mouth than you!"

(The official ruling was that it was a tie across all categories.)

What's a trip to Tacoma without seeing Great Granny Franny?!?

"I can wear a Mariners hat sooo cool!"

"I can also wear it way up high, just like Gramps..."

I'm 7-Months Old!

Oops! We almost forgot to post Nathan's 7-month picture! He currently enjoys sweet potatoes, mushy peas, and long walks through the park. As you can see, he is sitting up all by himself quite well. Crawling is right around around the corner!

This one is from the blooper reel.

Photographic evidence that two brothers can get along... as long as they are both sleeping!

Diabolical Jack

Right out of a parenting textbook for three-year-olds, Jack is starting to occasionally resist our authority and get a little defiant. The other night was the most extreme case to date, though. He had started out in big trouble, but then it quickly escalated with his back talking. He was sent straight to his room, but it didn't end there because we don't have a lock on his door (yet) and he kept coming out. We started taking away the toys in his room and, by the end, had confiscated nearly every single toy we could find. It was an epic battle of the wits!

Here is the "bad boy toy pile" in our living room.

And here is what was left of Jack's new prison cell.

Well, the story doesn't end there. Since we had no way of truly locking him in his room, we had to stand there and hold the handle. There was lots of fist pounding and crying on his part that lasted for quite some time, but then it got eerily quiet.

We could here him rummaging around in his closet and then heard the battery-operated sounds of his official Buzz Lightyear Space Lazer. (Dang, missed a toy!) I'm not sure if he was talking to his pillow or an imaginary friend, but next, quietly but clear as day he said, "When we see Daddy next, we're going to shoot him with our shrink-ray!" Then (no joke) he actually yelled out in a taunting and diabolical voice, "Daddy, I have a surprise for you!"

Needless to say, when we finally did go back into his room, I made Amy go first! I am happy to report that as I write this I am still 6'4" and Amy is normal sized as well. Jack still talks about the night he "got in REALLY big trouble" but so far he has not threatened to miniaturize us again. I haven't asked him what he had planned on doing after I was shrunken, but it would have been a first degree offense for sure as it was clearly premeditated!

We are happily accepting all thoughts and prayers for our safety as this child continues to get older. Ahhhh! I just remembered- we have two boys!!!

The Carlsons Come for Easter!

Did someone say... Easter Bunny?!?

 At least the kids are looking at the camera...

Gramps made it into the bounce house!

 Before banking, his previous career was in the WWF!





 We managed to stall Jack on the egg-hunt until 6:30 A.M. We were pretty happy with that because he was ready to go at 5:00! (Notice it's still pretty dark outside.)

Got one!!!

Nathan didn't care so much about the eggs...

 ...but REALLY liked his basket!

 Curse you, Easter Bunny!!!

 It doesn't get much cooler than this!

 Maybe one of my all-time favorite pictures!

 Nathan got a funny little stuffed animal. "It feels weird!"

 He just didn't know quite what to think of this bunny rabbit!

 Playing garbage trucks.

 "Dump it again, Dad!"

Jack dropped a wrench on his toe and has been milking his owie for weeks, showing anyone who will look. I thought I'd share it with everyone here, too!