Memorial Day 2009

Memorial Day this year was a super-event filled blast of a day! It is a long-time Tanner tradition to hike up to the top of Pine Top on Memorial Day. This year, we had a few extra kids with us, due to our friends on a nice vacation. So, we assigned each adult a kid or two and headed up the trail...

This was my attempt at getting some food (peanut butter crackers) in those little tummies before the big hike

Here is the whole crew at the trail head. Cami took the picture. We loved having the Clark kids with us this year. They were fun.

Jake led the way for a long time. Can you see him way up there?

Baby James cried for a bit, but as soon as I got him, he slept all the way up.

Devotional and goal-making at the top. Thanks Grandma and Cami for putting that together!

Group shot in front of "the alter", about half way up...gorgeous view!

Brinley was obsessed with pine cones the entire time. She brought this one home and Jake threw it over the fence a few days later. That was not a popular move.

Ice cream at our favorite little Westside Drive-in after a long hike.

Look at those happy little faces! I love them all!

Then we took all those exhausted little kids swimming in the neighborhood pool. Needless to say, they all slept very well that night.

And what wonderful day would be complete without little girl mani/pedies? Just Perfect!

Jake's Zoo Fieldtrip

I had the opportunity to go with Jake's kindergarten to the zoo. I only got to take a couple of pictures before my camera battery died. It was a great trip. The kids had a blast looking at all of the animals, and then it was off to the park for lunch. Jake loved the new lion exhibit, and he said his favorite part was the very long bus ride.

Here are some of the buddies...

And a silly monkey...and that was it!

Another great soccer season

Jake had another great soccer season this spring. At the beginning of the season, Ben refused to coach Jake's team again. His theory was that he didn't want to be "one of those dads" that always coached his son. He wanted to give someone else a shot at coaching the team. So, when nobody volunteered, the Y assigned someone on staff to do it. This woman was very nice, but she admitted that she had never done this sort of thing before, and didn't know very much about soccer. Well, Ben could only handle that for about 3 minutes, and then he was out there on that field. He has a very hands on style, and these are pictures of him "not coaching".

After 2 games, this very nice woman had a schedule conflict that left our team without a real coach. So, Ben stepped up as the "official" coach and asked his friend Ty to coach with him. They did a great job with the kids and it turned out to be a great season!

Here is the team picture

And that is my little soccer STUD!

Jake was a good sport on and off the field. Way to cheer on your team!

Jake scored quite a few goals this year. He always turned to me to make sure I saw, and I loved how Dad was always there to give him a big 5!

There was always quite a cheering section of girls with Grandma, Brinley, Soso, and of course, a very proud Mama

There were many friendships forged at the fields every weekend.

We had an amazing group of parents, who all chipped in to get trophies for the kids and have a sweet little ceremony at the end of the season. Jake was so excited to finally have his first trophy. He's hoping it is the first of many, many more championship trophies...quite a chip off the old block!

Couponing

As most of those close to me know, I have been super-into this couponing thing for a few months now. Here are a couple of my more noteworthy shopping trips...well, the ones I bothered to photograph.

This was an Albertsons trip under $50! I now have cases of that peanut butter and those Dole manderine oranges that I paid literally pennies for.

This was $6 at Walmart. The whole thing is a bit addicting, but I am slowing down a bit these days. I'm running out of room to store my loot, and have been able to cut my grocery budget by more than half.

Easter with Friends

This year we had another hunt with a few of our friends.

Brinley was very slow and deliberate, so she didn't end up with too many eggs.

Jake had a bit of a rough morning, so he missed the hunt, but when he finally arrived with the biggest frown you have ever seen, all of his friends donated some candy. What a blessing to have such wonderful friends! His countenance soon changed and here he is with all of his pals. There is nothing in the world like good food and great friends.

The boys usually talk much more than the girls when we all get together.

I walked upstairs to find Ella single-handedly entertaining all those boys. Look at that smirk...watch out for her, Clarks!

"Daddy, have you any idea what I have been shoveling into my mouth all day?" Thanks to the Homs for hosting a great party!

Easter Festivities

We started celebrating Easter early this year, so we could do some fun activities with all of our cousins before they had to go home.

Tia helping the kids dye Easter eggs...

Take a look at that technique

Maddy had some great techniques to share, too

He gets that intensity from me...but he did end up with some spectacular eggs this year.

Brinley was much happier coloring

Cami helped them make some stellar sugar cookies

The boys loved it

So did Brinley...I'm not sure if she got more frosting on her cookie or on herself

Eliza really enjoyed helping with Baby Soso

So...we tried again to photograph all of the grandkids together in their darling Easter dresses and shirts from Grandma. All ten of them...HA! I don't think we got a good one of all of them together, but there are some great ones of a few at a time.

Cute boys and the babies with Grandma

Brinley was way more into tormenting the cat than posing for pictures, but I did manage to get this great one...I should be a professional :)

After the torture of pictures was over, we all went back to Grandma's for a great Easter egg hunt. Nobody here looks very excited.

Ben, reading off everyone's colors.

Jake found all of his eggs, even in the trickiest of spots. He's a hard one to fool.

Brinley after a tragic spilling of eggs...she recovered quickly. Easter at Grandma's is always the best. Hopefully we are starting some great traditions there, too.