It is amazing I don't have more pictures of L in the tub - he would spend hours and hours each day in there - and he does some days!

Carter's recent artwork - This year I want to learn to water ski - eek, do they make helmets for that activity?

5 years - wowza!

We've officially been Oklahoma's for 5 years today! This is what C looked like when we moved here and below was our first project. What a crazy time we've had here - there is no where we'd rather be - except maybe Iowa but since that isn't too likely we are happy being Edmond-ites. Thanks to all of the great friends who we've met here for helping us to love it!

C's Jazzy Hair

Carter woke up with a horrible cowlick this morning - poor kid is going to fight his hair all of his life! He was busy while I was combing his hair (something I only do when it looks really atrocious) and I used gobs of product on him and got a mini-spike in the front & he didn't even notice, because he didn't notice and throw I fit, I was forced to try to photograph him! He was crazy with the camera before school this morning - of course I was trying a new setting and it was not the right one but I got some silly pictures.

By the way "Jazzy Hair" is what my mom's hair is after Lincoln has pulled it up & made it crazy - similar to the way it looks after watching a Packer's game while she's pulling it out but we call that Bozo hair - because it resembles the clown a bit too much!

My music & my Katie

So if you ever get sick of my music - brace yourself, it isn't changing! These tunes are from a CD Katie made me when I graduated from college (11 years ago) I put it up on the 10th anniversary of my graduation and had a big, long mental post written to go along with it BUT I didn't get that post written but I still love this music and it takes me back to a very happy time - college graduation, new job & diamond on my hand all in about 2 weeks time.

Anyway, Kate - thanks for the music - every bit which is known by heart and threatening me if I were to change it. For the rest of you now you know why you are hearing what you are hearing on each visit & why a CD case sits on my desk next to a picture of the Pollocks. Its been 7 months since I've seen Katie & 7 months is far too long to go without a little K. Clem in ones life!

It also has one of my favorite quotes ever on it "You are my friend of friends. You are the first one I want to tell when something wonderful happens to me, the one whose voice I want to hear when I am feeling sad. You are the one who knows me, the one who "gets it", the one I can count on not only to listen but to really understand. You are my friend of friends and I love you with my heart of hearts" Jeannie Hund.

Today's project

I feel like it is spring cleaning time - eek! Already? Yep, already. I've done lots of organizing and arranging since Christmas but have moved on to cleaning. I've cleaned each and every blind in the house, the windows and touch-up painted. Unfortunatly the list is much longer but today I got to cross off a BIG one! I've been meaning to paint the pantry for about 6 months but kept putting it off - let's face it, it isn't the MOST fun thing to do but it is done and oh-so satisfying to have off the list. Did you really need to see my repainted pantry - no, really you didn't but Becky did "is it really that bad?" Yep, it was told ya! a

Crossings Basketball

We started basketball this weekend - my camera was obviously not on the right setting for action shots and my pictures aren't great. Carter had a lot of fun - it is so much fun to see how excited 5 and 6 year olds get when they make baskets! We have one serious player on our team - I thought Carter might be upset because he ahem held the ball a lot but he was pleased because he also really likes to win. If you can't find him - he is wearing the dark jersey with a white t-shirt under & has silver/blue bottomed shoes.

The weather was so nice in the last part of the boys' Christmas break that we spent a lot of time outside, in short sleeves - in December and January! Their favorite activity right now is football (only when dressed as the Bears or Cyclones, of course).

Around the house

We came home the other night after a night out to find the boys sleeping together in C's room - cute, cute, cute (they would have never fallen asleep together if we were home!)

Not sure what Kitty was scared of but she ended up on our roof!

Why stampers + 4 year olds = trouble!

Mardi Gras Kitty

Intent cartoon watching in our room!

The boys first drive in the Razr all alone! It is widely agreed that it is a good thing that C is behind the wheel because he's WAY more cautious than L would be!

Grandma getting all 3 boys at the same time!

Tim giving Carter some tick-tock time - Cael assisting!

Samantha and her crazy nails!

The kids rule the dining room!

The old tractor got a little love on Christmas from my dad & Linc. My dad tracked down this tractor a few years ago - my Grandpa was the original owner & he found it nearly 50 years later & brought it to Iowa, got it running & now uses it for grandson rides.

G.G.Ma, D. Don & Smokey

We got a quick Christmas visit in to my Grandma, Don & Smokey (well Babe the dog was there too but didn't choose to visit with us much!). Carter got to deliver an Angry Bird cat toy to Smokey which made his day - he loves this cat! Linc was bummed to not get to visit, but his fever wasn't for sharing! Except with immediate family, of course. And no, Nutty Netty - we don't want Smokey with a bow! She is yours!

Christmas Morning with the Grafs

We had a lovely low-key morning at my parents for Christmas morning. Santa found us - certainly in part to Chynna scoping out the location of the tree on her swing through Iowa. The boys had lots of fun seeing what loot he brought them & some down time to play.

Christmas Eve with the Hogans

We had a lovely Christmas - weather was awesome and allowed the boys to play outside! Yay for burning energy & having fun. We celebrate with the Hogan's on Christmas Eve - the kids had a blast this year with Grandma's gift tags - they couldn't snoop at their gifts since she'd given each kid a reindeer name & wouldn't tell them who they were! The adults had a great time giving Grandma a hard time about loosing her list - since she once changed the tags & lost the list! Everyone loved the mystery & wanted to be Rudolph! This should certainly be a tradition in our family.

This year they were old enough to each take turns opening gifts which was awesome because it cut down on the mayhem and allowed for us to see what they were opening - some of the highlights were Elin's rocker (that I later found Carter sitting in!) - all 6 of the big kids loved helping her open and playing with the little girls' gifts! Lincoln got his coveted bubble gum machine - he spotted it this summer at Toys R Us & talked and talked about it - well, Grandma and Grampy got it for him - he was SO pleased. Charlee cleaned up on her La La Loopsy collection & when opening one of her last gifts Carter announced "more Loopsy - REALLY????" it was comical. Always lots of laughs with the Hogan family!

The first Christmas gift...

Eating breakfast watching the owner's video (they don't yet know they are owners!)

The gift of helmets - what for?

For This!

Cool Razr!

And I just wanted to get them a battery operated one - Papa says - in his best Tim the Toolman Taylor voice - "MORE POWER" ok he didn't say it, but I bet he thought it!