More Christmas photos to come.

"What's for Dinner?"

If you know me at all, you know I can be a little strange or dark when it comes to what I think is funny. Well, because I have two lovely children and a very patient spouse we were able to send of Holiday cards this year. With the running joke of eating our juicy, sweet and yummy babies, I felt it a waste not to pose my sugar plums amongst the cooking ware. This was the final product. We hope you enjoy.

Love Cory and Camille

What a Goof Ball

This kid is amazing. He just blows be away. I think its all the little things he does. He poses and likes to show off. He can be so quiet and shy sometimes. People just love, love, love him! He says the cutest things ever. He is so good to Malachi and loves to talk to her. She is his willing captive audience. I adore it when he says, "Know what?" When he doesn't feel good I'm still the only person he wants. His thirst for knowledge is unending. That is both good and bad! But overall I think it's his heart. He has a good heart.

Halloween 2009

This year Gabriel went as Death for his Halloween costume and Malachi as a little baby butterfly. That boy scored so much candy! Talk about a sugar high. We went trick or treating with neighbors down the road and went door to door begging for candy. He ate several types of candy, some he had never even tried. Before long he was running down the street with the other children screaming with glee! It was such fun to see him filled with naughty monkey energy, telling people to smell his feet. The candy witch got much scarier this year too. We have gathered information on this and have discovered if you do not give her all your left over candy, your face will fall right off your head! Oh my! It amazes me how creative the child is.

Loves Bugs

• At home
• Lying on the floor
• Blowing on Malachi's belly
• Making her giggle

Black Dog

Gabriel had homework from school to take home the class pet "The Black Dog". Luckily this class pet doesn't need to be fed or watered! His homework was to show what the Black Dog did while she stayed with our family. Gabriel wanted to show the dog the park by our house. I took the time to bring the camera and was able to get a few fun shots. He journal ed about our activity and told Malachi she could hold the puppy as long as she didn't drool on her fur. I thought a great photo-opp would be to put the dog in the basketball hoop. It's a good thing Cory is so tall, otherwise it would have involved a ladder!

The First Day of School

Late, late, late... But here it is! Gabriel started the 1st grade this year. He rides a bus to school, has choir every Monday, takes karate/gymnastics every Friday, is making friends and doing just beautifully!

Candid

He took this photograph himself. We were driving in the car and I hear, {Click... Click... "Hmmm..." Click..}

This is so him.

Every Day Stuff

Whether eating breakfast, going to summer camp, playing at the park, or bowling Gabriel finds joy in everyday life.

Big Brother

Gabriel has been a great big brother to Malachi so far. I'm not really all that surprised since he has always been so good with babies and little children. Those first t few weeks were hard on him, but he never took it out on her. It must be hard to share your parents with someone else after six years. He comes in every morning and kisses her awake, sometimes watching her as I go to the bathroom or leave the room for a moment, and likes to call her Baby-kins. He has such a sweet heart. I am so grateful to have two beautiful children who make may days sunny. Even here in rainy Portland!

Cupcake Madness

Madness indeed! But fun none the less. I had planned a few months before the family reunion to be in charge of one family activity. Decorating cupcakes didn't seem to be to large of a project, one that young and old would enjoy and something I could pull off being nine months pregnant. The previous day on our way to sight see Old Faithful I kept having contractions in the car. Cory, thankfully, stepped up and took a very eager six year old into Jackson to pick up the cupcakes from a local bakery. He and Gabriel also went to grocery store to pick up the last bit of candy and frosting while they were in town. I could not have done this project with out the both of them! Gabriel kept calling it "Cupcake Day!!!" The family had a blast and it was great to see how silly people got. Creativity ran amok as did sugar-high children. All in all I deemed it a success.

• My Super Helper Mr. Trevor & His Amazing Shark... Oh wait! It's a whale.
  
• My creation was a Sad Little Panda that fell over.
• Terra's Kick Ass Flower Cupcakes
• Cory's version of a light bulb. Uncle Todd's reply... "Sure it's a light bulb. If you're high."
• Gabriel and Keegan enjoyed heaping on as much candy and frosting as they could manage onto their cupcakes.
• Claire-Bear's Orange Sweets
• Lauren's sheep on a hill of grass w/ flower's. This girl is talented with frosting!
• Laurissa rocked it with her owl and pumpkin!
• A smiley face says it all!
• Morgan+Stroller+Sleeping Babe=Cupcake Surprise!
• I don't know what it was, except yummy!

Colter Bay

My family traveled to Utah this summer for the Tanner Family Reunion. First we took an airplane ride to Salt Lake City. We stayed with Grandpa Earl and Uncle Trevor at their house for a couple of days getting ready for the reunion. Aunt Kristen's family came from California to visit too. The best part was seeing my cousins Max and Jonas. Everyone grew so much! Next we traveled by car to a place called Colter Bay near Jackson, Wyoming. I was able to play with my cousins and had such a good time! Mom, Dad and I were able to go on a motorboat ride. I really like driving the boat and going super fast. Another fun thing I got to do with my Dad, Grandpa and Uncle was ride horses. My horse was named Acorn. I liked to lead the gang and then make everyone stop behind me. I thought it funny to make everyone wait. I didn't get to lead much, though. There were puppies to play with and snipes to hunt, family to see and fun to be had.

Cartwheel Surprise

This was from the spring, but thought I'd get everyone up to date on Gabriel's new skills.

Playing Catch Up

For spring break Gabriel joined the Portland Children's Theatre Brigade. Most people in our combined families have said he is a natural little actor. Is it strange that I don't see it? I see a future as a stunt man, a nature field guide or just an all around dare devil! I thought enrolling Gabriel would be an easy way to see what may interest his little body and mind. Besides, I am under the belief that you can't know if you like or dislike something unless you've had the chance to explore it. For what they taught him in a week, he seemed to enjoy. He learned to play games like Zip, Zap, Zop and Mirror Image. He also tried to master the ability to turn cartwheels and not land on his face. Not always a success, he is ever a persevering little imp.

School came back in session and with it came swimming lessons. When he first started he didn't like to get his face wet or go underneath the water. Things have certainly changed in a short amount of time. He has just graduated from a penguin to an otter in swimming class. He has now mastered floating on his back, can blow bubbles under the water, swims under and on top of the water and can somersaults while underneath. He is our little dolphin-boy now! Soon he'll be a better swimmer than myself.

Only a few days left of kindergarten and Gabriel is learning how to read at such a alarming rate. It seems to have clicked overnight. His class works with spelling lists called word rings. Cory and I are amazed at how quickly he is advancing and sailing through them. It is so fun to watch him read books and to write little notes to him.

Because the school year is nearing the end it has seemed like one field trip after another for Cory and myself. The Chinese Gardens, The Local Fire Station and Children's Museum just to name a few. We all love his school and how great the teachers are there. The enthusiasm that the staff has is just infectious.

His summer is going to be filled with activities like Science at the OMSI, Animal education at the Zoo, Plants, Nature & Oregon History at the Children's Museum and a lot more camping and travel in his sweet future. Oh and of course a Pirate week with The Little Gym. He is a total goof ball, and so of course is looking forward to that most of all.

The Best Holiday Ever

All of Easter 2009 w/ Gabriel.