Visit with the Cousins

After Thanksgiving, we made a visit to Pittsburgh to see Chris's family. Michael, Shannon, Caroline, and Carter were in from Atlanta so we had all seven cousins in at once! So much fun!

Mom and Dad with their little Indian Girl...


All seven cousins together (Carsyn, Caroline, Brooks, Landon, Tanner, Carter, and Dane) at Mia and Pop Pop's house...


Dane, Tanner, Carsyn, and Caroline hanging out by the piano at Aunt Kamryn's and Uncle Rob's house...


Caroline, Landon, Carter, and Tanner just chilling out...


Carsyn asking Dane, "Is this how it goes?"


Caroline and Carter - they've grown so much since the last time we saw them...


The York family (and hi right back at you, Brooks!)


Caroline and Tanner...


And one silly one...


Dane taking on Carter in Wii Mario Cart. So much focus...


Landon sharing his Super Friends toys with Tanner...


Carsyn couldn't get enough of that piano. Thankfully Mia and Pop Pop got her a little one of her own for Christmas...


Best uncle in the world (Rob) getting the kids ready for some marshmallow roasting over the fire...


Probably a good idea that Brooks backed out of this little adventure...


Tanner waiting excitedly...


Carsyn finally realizing how cuddly Pop Pop can be...


Carsyn enjoying some time with Mia...


The Boy Wonder and the Dark Knight, ready for some more action...


Just too beautiful not to snap...


Tanner and Carsyn hanging out for a show with Mia and Pop Pop...

Scary Dream

Tonight, after going to bed, Tanner called us upstairs.

Chris: What’s wrong buddy?

Tanner: I was dreaming that a monkey was eating me

Chris: Well, don’t worry about it. Monkeys don’t eat people.

Tanner: But they have teeth.

Chris: Well you have teeth, and you don’t eat monkeys.

Problem solved. Funny thing is, there is no way he was even sleeping yet!

Happy Fall!!!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to share some recent pics from Halloween, some tailgating with some great friends, and Tanner's first real Penn State football game...

We had our Trick or Treating on 10/28 (Thursday). Our good friends, the Finkes, came with us through the neighborhood with their kids Ellie and Jack. A co-worker of Chris's was kind enough to let us borrow a ladybug costume for... our "Ladybug"


The four kids before we got going...


As you can see, hard to get all four looking at the same time...


Carsyn and Mommy...


Superman making his way up to a spooky house...


Carsyn was much happier on her feet, trying to keep up with the older kids...


We had to laugh at the couple of houses we went to that had people calling for others in the house to see the cuties. Let's just say that many of these same people saw no problem with Carsyn's endless dipping into the candy bowl...



Tanner and Carsyn later in the night...


We stopped by our neighbor's house for Tanner to see his friend Jacob (Robin)...


You would think that after some chocolate, Carsyn would look a little happier. Maybe it's the thought of it being "all gone."


That Saturday, we went tailgating with the Finkes (PSU was playing Michigan that night). Here's Carsyn, Jack, and Ellie playing on the blanket...


Ellie and Carsyn snacking on chips squeezed in a chair...



Tanner right after tossing the football...


As much as she tried to stay upright, Carsyn just kept sinking in that camping chair...


All good now that the hot dogs are done!


Tanner and Carsyn playing a fun tailgate game...


Chris, in his persistent effort to win a Dad award that doesn't exist, decided to take Tanner and Jacob from across the street to the annual State College Halloween parade in downtown State College. It's a really fun event where they shut down a couple roads and the kids march through town and into the high school football stadium where there is costume judging. Anyhow, with a Superman and Robin in tow, Chris did his best for a makeshift Batman costume. We had a lot of fun!


So, we mentioned during the last post that Tanner got a Wii for his birthday. Well, he's taking a pretty good liking to it, which is good because he can get frustrated with new things, but bad because, well, do you remember what it was like when your parents made you shut off Nintendo before you "finished the board?" Anyhow, had to share this picture with you. Tanner was bowling while Chris was cooking dinner. He was making a lot of "Yes's" and "awesome's", but that could mean anything. Well, it turned out he had every right to cheer. Check out this score. A strike or spare on every frame, including a strike/spare in the 10th. Highest score I have yet seen in Wii bowling. He challenges anyone to beat it!



A last minute opportunity came up to go to the PSU game against Northwestern last weekend. Chris decided to take Tanner to his first real game. He was very excited but stuck pretty close by around the massive crowds...


Entering the stadium...

A view you cannot beat (except when the stands are all the way full!)...



Tanner sipping on his promised hot chocolate...


Getting every last lick of that chocolate...



Finally, back to the candy muncher. Here's Carsyn enjoying a small lollipop at home. She was a drooly mess, but too cute sucking it until it was totally gone...