Random Cuteness with Gigi

Me and my Mom -- Evonne (a.k.a. Gigi by the grandkids)

My mom has been visiting and we've so loved having her here! Here are just a few fun shots we got with my cute mommy.

Three generations of cuteness (my daughter Hannah in the back)

The new generation of silliness. =D

Hannah, I don't think Zach is enjoying that pose as much as you are!

Gigi and my "Bigs"

And now for the blooper...I only post this because it really was hilarious and because we were cute in the other photos. You're welcome Hannah!

Add your own caption here...

Our 20th Easter!

The "Before" Picture

We really have been hunting for Easter eggs a LOOOOONG time in this family! I remember our first Easter, before Zach was born, the "Easter Bunny" gave me the cutest stuffed turtle in my basket. I wonder what happened to him? A few years later when the kids started asking what sounds animals make, Ren would hold up the turtle and say, "Hi Chum!" in a low, turtley voice. We still say it for turtles, almost two decades later. =)

Easter hasn't changed much since then. We first and foremost celebrate our Savior's resurrection and emphasize to the kids the true meaning of Easter. Then after church they get to look in their baskets and then go on an egg hunt. The fun thing about having kids both big and little is that the "" like to be junior Easter Bunnies for the "littles." I love how it starts to come full circle. I also love seeing big, manly teenage boys walking around with Easter baskets on their arm. =D

Here's the family with all the treats and goodies. Jonah is in the front looking for his eyeballs.

We don't really NEED any new stuffed animals to join the Byers stuffed zoo, but Easter just isn't complete without a new stuffed bunny.

The "Big" side of Easter. Cody is thinking, "I'm too cool for my basket...too coooool for my basket."

Eli was the egg finding master! 

Cody feeling a little frustrated that being bigger doesn't necessarily make you a better hunter of eggs.

Gideon with his multitude of eggs. He was a very happy boy!

Oh Hannah -- will you ever just smile for me? hee hee

Curty, I think that's a tomatillo, not an egg!

Jonah searching, searching, searching...

My "littles" traipsing through the garden on the hunt for eggs.

Curty stops to smile for the camera so Grandma Byers can actually see his face. *wink, wink*

The whole Byers crew (from bottom left): Gideon, (next row back) Curtis, Eli, (back row)  Jonah, Cody, Hannah and Zach.

I'm Here to Make Much Ado about...Much Ado

It's almost here...The Big Night, the opening of our commonwealth school's play, "Much Ado About Nothing!" Hannah and Jonah play the leads Beatrice and Benedick. Here's a little sneak preview of the hilarity that comes from older sister playing opposite younger-but-finally-as-tall-as-brother.

Cody plays Claudio, the love-smitten wooer of the fair Hero (in this case a name, not a literary archetype). I'm so proud of my hair coloring talents! Each of the twins totally matches his partner. I knew I should have gone to beauty school. ;-)

I can't wait to see what happens when three of my teenagers get to take over the stage. If you're here in town, don't miss it!

Silly Bubbies

Anyone can see that these boys haven't changed a whole lot in the last 13 years, so it's kind of entertaining to get to color their hair for their upcoming Shakespeare play. Jonah plays Benedick and Cody plays Claudio in the upcoming production of Much Ado About Nothing. Their directors want them to look different so this was our solution. What do you think? I think it's quite novel to be able to tell them apart at a glance, that has certainly never happened before. =)

P.S. Do you know which one is which? (scroll down for the answer)

Jonah is on the left -- the "Dark" one and Cody is on the right the "Light" one.

Going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo

Some of the monkeys after playing in the splash pad.

What a perfect day for the zoo! Hanging with our beloved Mitchell family, seeing the orangutans get fed, feeding the stingrays fishheads and scoring free hot dogs. It almost makes us forget the magnificent whining we heard on the car ride to Phoenix. :)

Gid, Lindsay and Eli

Gid, Lindsay and Peter feeding the Stingrays

Curtis, Thomas, Katie and Eli feeding (themselves?) to the stingrays.

Gid doing his stingray imitation. Ha, ha!

Happy Gardening Everyone!

My herbs and flowers with a few peas along the back. Happiness!

I know I must be shifting generational gears when I realize that I love my blossoming tomato plants more than shopping or American Idol. Or is it just the tonic of spring breezes, warm sun and the smell of dill and cilantro emanating from my hands as I merrily putter around my garden boxes? Whatever it may be, age or season, I'm having a ball!

The kids have joined in too. Every day Gideon accompanies me on a tour of the back forty (feet) to inspect the crops. He's especially interested in his wa-kini (Zucchini) plants and was most upset when I thinned the eight little sprouts he planted to two in the same box. He'll understand very quickly when they transform into behemoths producing ten zucchinis a day!

Eli planted peas, alas they went in too late for our freakish seasonal patterns. We might get a few early pods before the sun burns them up. He also planted cantelopes which will be so fun if we don't kill them (always a possibility around here).

Hannah planted wildflowers. Curtis, Jonah and Cody planted a random selection of carrots, cucumbers, onions and peas. Jonah was pretty mad to discover that little green caterpillars find new little pea vines divinely tasty. He picked off dozens of them and Gid relished the sight of green gushy insides squirting on the ground. Yummy!

When harvest time comes I can't guarantee the boys will love the crops as much as the process, but I sure will. Soon enough they'll grow into veggie loving adults with gardens of their own. =)

Tomatoes and onions and Ren, oh my!

First Spring Day at the Lake

Unseasonably warm is not usually what we Arizonans want to hear, especially in the summer. But an occasional 90 degree day in March is kind of an anomaly so we'll take it! Sitting on the cool, grassy banks of the lake while Gid feeds himself and Hannah the bread meant for the ducks is a heavenly reminder of what joyful experiences life holds. Watching the pale naked backs of my boys frolicking in the water completes the experience. I'm not sure what Eli biking in swim goggles signifies but I love it! Happy Spring Everyone!