Spring Break

Spring break included a trip to Arizona and a fun celebration for my Dad's 80th birthday, Easter eggs, pool time, great food, lots of fun with cousins and trips to the beach, etc.

A little tribute to my Dad since he loves puzzles and has done the daily newspaper crossword most of his life...

Bruce, Brad, Mom & Dad & Chris

Cousin fun...Ethan is so happy about all the boys here!

The whole gang (unfortunately we missed quite a few of the college kids and one on a mission)

Coloring eggs...

Wayne's artistic egg photo...

Happy Birthday Momma!

xoxo,
cass

Son of Rambow

If you haven't seen the movie "Son of Rambow", I highly recommend it. It's a cute, quirky British film. Here's Ethan's version....funny but a little disturbing.
(PJ bottoms are a nice touch.)

a rare picture

Having all six of my brothers in one room is a rare occasion and I thought I'd better capture this moment while they were rehearsing. They have a wonderful sound when they sing together because their voices blend so well. They sang the closing song at Grandma's funeral, "Remember me." It was just what she wanted and she would've loved it.

It was nice to all be together for Grandma's funeral and especially fun to be reunited with cousins we haven't seen in years.

Grandma Tyler

After many years of suffering, my Grandma Tyler passed away last week and I am heading to Arizona for her funeral. She lived to be 97 and was funny, quirky and loved life. One thing we know for sure was that she loved her Grandchildren deeply. I've smiled this week when I think of the reunion she is finally having with my Grandpa. I'm sure he can not get a word in!

While putting together the funeral program this week, I came across these great pictures. Love you Grandma!

Happy Valentines!

LOVING the yummy surprises from friends:

LOVING heart shaped paninis and fruit pizza...is it all about the food or what??

LOVING Brynn's artistic photos:


LOVING my family:

We're "vintage"

One day, the girls were describing this cool "vintage" sweater they saw at Heritage. I didn't quite understand what they were describing. Then they came out of the store with it and I had to laugh. It's the middle one below and it looks like some sweatshirt I might have worn in the 80's.

Then, after Brynn received her new DSLR camera for Christmas and we realized it was compatible with some of Wayne's old lenses (from the SLR he got in high school!), he pulled out this baby seen around Cassie's neck:

The girls went crazy. "It's Sooo Vintage!" Hmmm.
I guess Wayne and I are too ;)

Holiday highlights

It's taken me a few weeks to get on track again, but now as Christmas is put away and the 2010 calendar is out and getting full already, I want to make sure we remember our fun times from the end of the year.

4th graders got dressed up for a New Year's celebration. Ethan was looking sharp! (This outfit did not come home in this condition ;)

Lots of cookies baked:

Gingerbread house, made by a few kids who were thinking outside the box.
Cassie called it the "Clarke Hotel", but Brynn and Ethan, after getting a hysterical sugar high from the frosting, decided to call it the "Crazy House."

The sugar high led to lots of this:

Christmas favorites:A new camera

which takes much better shots like this:

a "vintage" Snoopy shirt (I have more to say about what my girls consider to be "vintage"...maybe in my next post.)

Another wonderful Christmas: