Christmas Eve

Wiley fell asleep in his stroller about 5 minutes before the end of the Christmas Eve service. We had to wake him up to put him into his Canadian-rated fleece unisuit, but then he simply rolled over and passed out again under the coat rack.

Stop Sign

He was very excited about the Graydon-sized stop sign, and rather proud of his lollipop too.

One more aquarium picture

Just who is on display here?

Christmas Play at School

Whoever decided the three-year-olds should play the part of the angels in the Christmas story has kind of a twisted sense of humor...! :)

Aquarium part II

Just kidding - I ended up getting a photo of Graydon and Daddy engrossed with the shark tank. Hmm, not sure how good of an idea the hybrid shark-tank-petting-zoo is?? The staff member who was supervising this tank told people to "only touch lightly behind the head" and to "keep an eye on your fingers if they are in the water".

At the aquarium

We visited the newly minted Austin Aquarium today with our friends from the western outskirts of town. Vincent and Graydon had such a blast that I didn't keep up with them long enough to get their photos. Wiley was fascinated by the large tortoise (or maybe it was just the red glow of its warming lamp?). He liked the fish too, but only from the safety of his stroller.

Wiley's First Slide

More fun at the park today! Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/AX0v4P2heSQ

Typical weekend...

First, survive Costco (yumm, pizza crust), then take a good long nap, and then head to the park to watch Graydon do laps on his bike. It was cold and windy, but that didn't stop us!

Lesson #1 from a Working Mom

Use the restroom before you leave work. When you get home,
"me time" doesn't exist.

It's been Cold in Texas

But that hasn't stopped us from having fun outside (and in)!

I want I want I want!

... to walk!

9' Christmas Tree

... 8' ceiling.

Tractor Ride

Graydon and Wiley got a ride with Daddy on Jess Holman's Ford 8N from the late 1940's. Jess was "Mama Bob's" father, which makes him the boys' great, great grandfather. 

At some point, Kiwi hitched a ride on the (disconnected) mower deck. 

A great day at Port Lavaca

We spent the long Thanksgiving weekend at the airport that Daddy Bob (a.k.a. Robert Lynn Tanner Jr. from whom Wiley's middle name came) built. Graydon was very disappointed that he couldn't go along on the duck/goose hunting, but otherwise has been having a grand time. We still owe him a tractor ride before we head back tomorrow.

Wiley at Cedar Point

Graydon at Cedar Point

Spaghetti Bolognese!

Wiley liebt Maggi-Fix!

Taking Nana's suggestion

Since the weather is so wet and cold, we inaugurated our fireplace tonight. And then decided to move the breakfast table into the play room to eat dinner at the fireside. Mami got the best view!

A major accomplishment

For the first time since many months before Wiley was born (okay, perhaps for the first time since we moved in...) we unearthed the side counter in the breakfast area of our kitchen. To celebrate, I bought some flowers. Now I'm starting to remember why we fell in love with this house... :)

Bobcat Ride!

We helped distribute fresh mulch at Graydon's school playground this morning. The bobcat was a big hit!

Our new floor

Graydon was a big help assembling the giant puzzle.

Fun with balls

So many balls he doesn't even know what to do with them all.

Texans are Hardy Folk...

...except for when it comes to being cold. I got a "severe weather alert" on my phone tonight. This is what it says:

Travis

Freeze Warning in effect from 11PM CST WED until 9AM CST THU

FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CST  THURSDAY

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A  FREEZE WARNING WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO  9 AM CST THURSDAY.  

TEMPERATURE

UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S.  

IMPACTS

DAMAGE TO TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE PLANTS AND POTENTIAL  HARM TO UNPROTECTED PIPES  PETS AND LIVESTOCK.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR  HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER  SENSITIVE VEGETATION.  

Boys on a train

We went to the zoo with some friends from mountain view who moved to Austin only a few months after us. Here is the younger contingent (plus one responsible? adult) on the little train. Lions, tigers, and bears aside, the train always seems to be the biggest attraction!

The perils of mobility

Graydon was reading Wiley a story and Ronja walked out of the room for a minute. Then she heard Wiley start to cry, so she walked back in to find Graydon still reading but without his audience. Following the sounds of distress, they found Wiley under Graydon's bed! There is a similar post of Graydon at this age - going backwards when what you really want to do is to forwards can get you into all sorts of trouble!

Uncle Erik got Hitched!

You might not believe it, but here's photographic evidence!

Early physics lesson

What surprised me was that Daddy thought he could make it work. Thought you had a better understanding of physics than that?!?

Graydon's new sweatshirt

Have to counteract all of the burnt orange influence with some orange-and-black pride now and again... .)

Croissant? What Croissant?

Happy baby

Both in the tub and in his almost-too-small bouncy seat.

Decorated by Big Brother

Mami took a break from hanging laundry on the deck to help daddy in the yard for a few minutes. This is what we found when we returned.

Lady Killer

Halloween 2013

Trick or treating in the neighborhood. Graydon filled his candy bucket all the way to the top!

The "Wiley Pumpkin" Carved it when he had only one tooth - by Halloween, the second one had broken through!

Ronja's contribution to our Halloween decorations

Graydon Feeding Wiley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3BIzjzMlNc

No Teeth, No Problem!

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Neal Tanner