Disaster

This is called not waking up well from a nap.

Easter Sunday

And... Start! In usual fashion, the egg hunt is several minutes in and Kyle is still working to get Tucker to get going. He eventually went out and got a few eggs. We're not sure how to describe this part of his personality -- but it is very much his personality. It manifests in many different ways. Easter Egg Hunts being one of them.

We had a fabulous lunch at Plantation with Carolyn's dear, dear friends. The boys did fairly well... long brunches + young children is not usually a formula for success. This time I thought of it as a road trip and brought toys from the dollar store. Mac was entertained by eating the entire time... as usual.

Easter at Southside Methodist Preschool

Program & Parade.

Tucker & Meaghan... sweet friends.

Hideout

1 refrigerator box has led to many hours of entertainment.

We love these boys.

Clearly I've been having fun with Mimi's embroidery machine...

(Mac's robe from Grace)

Tucker's newest joke: "Mama, guess what? I love John Deere." Then he cracks up!

March Happenings

Everyone was in the St. Patrick's Day spirit this year! Even Tuck... famous for his unwillingness to wear any sort of hat or costume... went to school as the little Irish boy he is!

Betsy & Cia were in town this week. These two had fun, fun, fun!

We did corned beef & cabbage, green mashed potatoes, green snickerdoodles, etc!

Sweet cousins... can't wait to meet our newest cousin in May!

The Cardinals! Tucker is playing t-ball this spring and he was placed on the Cardinals. So fun!

This is his "warm up jacket" - ha! - we have LOTS of Cardinals gear. Thanks to Nan & Pop for this jacket. I think they gave it to him when he was 1 :)

Hilton Head

No words to express our deep love for these people -- Had a blast at the yearly college Hilton Head trip! We are very close to being outnumbered by the children and Tucker spent the long weekend as the "chief." I'm looking forward to these girls starting to tell him what to do!

Grace made all the kids robes. They are amazing! Tucker adores his (it has been used as a discipline tool -- "listen NOW or the robe goes." He walked around all weekend doubling as Hugh Hefner with no shirt on and the robe slightly open at the top!

Breakfast.

Sweet Bo.

The littlest guys -- Mac & Theo.

Waking up Uncle Jem.

Breast Cancer Half Marathon

I ran my first half marathon on Sunday. I was very ready, but it was a HARD day. It started out bad when my shuttle was super late. I arrived within minutes of the race starting. Not much stretching happened. Ouch. I didn't feel great from mile 6 on and I struggled more than I had on any of my past long runs. So that was a bummer, but I did it and now I'll do the River Run (15K)here in a couple weeks.

My training partner, Cherie.

Zoo Field Trip!

Issie, Kyle, Drew, Ben & Tucker

Tucker's buddies from Ms. Patti's Porpoises!

Last Thursday all 4 year olds at Southside Methodist Preschool headed to the zoo. It was too chilly for me, but they had a blast.

Happenings

Jackson's "cave" that Tucker made for him. This dog tolerates an unbelievable amount of abuse. He is Mac's favorite climbing wall, pillow, drum, etc these days!
His life is so tough he thinks he deserves to sleep on the couch (I kind of agree it the least we could do for him... Kyle does not agree.) I found him here in the middle of the day with me in the house. Gutsy move, dog!

Tucker at Daddio's birthday party.

For Daddio's birthday February 10th Tucker was, as usual, in charge of party planning. He wanted a sign at the door when he got home from work, so he made this one.

He wanted streamers hanging from Mimi's ceiling.

Pre-birthday cake photo op.

The frog cake. We went for chocolate bread pudding (the yummiest dessert on the planet maybe) at Stonewood, as well as this cake. The Ryans don't like to be limited to one dessert option. In reality Tucker complained because he doesn't like bread pudding so Mimi got Tucker this cute frog cake. Tucker attempted 33 candles.
A few days before Daddio's birthday was the MUCH anticipated Grand Opening of the beach Chick-Fil-A. The Ryans love dessert and we love Chick-Fil-A. We just had to be there for opening night. The Balls came with us. It was crazy, but the "best"??? part was the cow. Below is the sequence of events that occurred as the one year olds (Mac & Carter Ball) noticed the cow.

1. All smiles. Happily enjoying their chicken.

2. The cow approaches. Mac sees him coming.

3. Apparently NOT a fan. The cow left and both he & Carter kept one eye on where that cow was the rest of the time there.

Other happenings include Tucker's newest creative pasttime. The dinosaur zoo.

He ALWAYS has a plan. All day long he thinks of the next thing he wants to do/make or what we should do/where we should go tomorrow. Just a sampling:

"Tomorrow after school we should go to the children's museum..."

"When we get home I want to make a picture of the carousel from the circus."

"We need to eat at La Nopalera for lunch tomorrow."

"You said we were going to get Go Gurts at Publix. When are we doing that?"

It is hard to describe how the requests come one after the other so fast - especially in the car - and I'm constantly saying "later" and "maybe" and he is recording in his memory every answer so if I give ANY hint that it will happen, he can hold me to it!!

His plans usually involve art projects and eating. Hmmm.... a bit like his mother.