Freezing Rain in Austin!

No wonder they canceled Graydon's 8am soccer game this morning, brrrr. Graydon's excited about collecting ice from the deck, the icicles hanging off the playscape roof and the rosemary bushes in the front. I guess there must still be some Canadian genes in there somewhere... :)

All aboard!

Wiley got a rather large toy train from Uncle Erik for his birthday. Both boys have been having a blast in it and we routinely see it "locomoting" around the house!

Five bucks

They were standing outside of Mami's office this afternoon. A two biggest ones were even sparring a bit.

Final touches on the deck

The deck artists absorbed in their work!

Can you beat this?

Neal and I are working side-by-side on our income tax return and an online defensive driving class, respectively. (Yes, I recently was issued my first *ever* moving violation - I drove straight from what turned out to be the right-most of three left-turn only lanes...). I challenge you to come up with a worse way to spend a weekday night...? My runner-up is what we did last night: income tax return (Neal) and mandatory online corporate training course (me). I'm really tired of online courses...!

A Typical Tanner Weekend

The second half of the deck is almost done! Graydon helped Daddy with demolition last weekend, and Nana and Gramps came to help this past weekend. Daddy and Gramps put in the last boards after dark on Sunday. They still need to be fastened and then the whole second half has to be stained but at first blush the surface is complete! Here's an "action photo" from through our master bathroom window on the second floor: Daddy screwing down boards while Graydon helps Gramps get the next one into position for measuring and cutting. Nana and Mami did their part by finishing the painting job on the railing before the deck boards went in. Wiley obliged with long stints in the back yard. Even Kiwi kept everyone company. Neal pointed out that the surface of the deck is larger than the square footage of the *house* we lived in in Mountain View. Phew!! Go team!

There's Just Something about Mami's Shoes

Wiley has reached the age where Mami's shoes are irresistible. First the new brown work shoes, then the tennis shoe. What fun!

Speaking of milestones, Wiley gave up his Eddies (pacifiers) cold-turkey this weekend. He had been to the dentist on Monday, who reinforced his previous recommendation that the Eddie needed to go. So with heavy hearts we took on that task Friday night. We had an Eddie collecting party and Wiley helped put them all in a box. We told him he was a big boy now and that Eddies were for babies and needed to go. We took the box outside for emphasis. Bed-time and the first night were pretty rough, but he's adjusted pretty well since. Bed-time is still more of a drawn-out affair than it used to be, but at least we're all sleeping through the night again!

DPR is Tasty!

Well, if a 7-months pregnant soon to be three-time mom drinking water from the plant in Big Spring isn't an endorsement of direct potable reuse, I don't know what is.

Ta da!

Boy, the Suburban makes even the Dodge look small! And our Fit might just fit in the trunk! :)

Story Time

Completely self organized.