Let the messes begin....

Lincoln took over the bathtub, Tatum had to keep scooting to keep clean!

The first year we decorated eggs with Tatum( she was almost 1 1/2 ) we thought there is no way we will be able to contain the mess, so we put her, the eggs and the dye into the bath. A mess, of course, but it was contained and so was she. Every year since we have done the same thing and this year Lincoln got in on the action. We really just let them go at it. Tatum was pretty focused and kept her mess to just two fingers, Lincoln on the other hand looked like and Oompa Loompa by the time we were done.

After the eggs the kids stayed in the bath and surprisingly the dye came off everything.

After Lincoln went the bed and the eggs were dry Tatum spent almost another hour with the finishing touches.
And, of course our we had rainbow colored egg salad!

Ulterior Motive

Description: Surefire way to get in ALOT of trouble: When your wife asks you to watch the kids while she goes out to dinner with her mom...DO NOT take the liberty of shaving a mohawk into your child's head WITHOUT her consent. This will get you into a very large amount of trouble...believe me...I know!

He looks horrified here, doesn't he!?!

So I was not pleased. Ben has been out of school for a week and this is what happens. Okay , so I am not opposed to mohawks but I am opposed to a mohawk on my baby. My little Lincoln. He looks so different to me ( and even seems to be acting different), he is not my little baby anymore and I wasn't ready for that yet.
I am beginning to think there was more to the mohawk than I originally thought.
Exhibit A


Exhibit B

Bunker's Busy Book

If I complete another project this year, it won't matter. I finished the Busy Book. I have had the stuff for about two years now and I just knew it was going to be a major production. It was.
I started bringing the stuff on the patio so the kids could play and I wouldn't feel like I was neglecting them. It's done. I have yet to let the kids play with it, too much work !

The busy book ended up needing it's own bag to transport it!

Spring is here!!!

I love Spring!

Aren't they sweet together!?!
These are the moments that make it all worth it.

Lincoln 15 months

Tatum 3 1/2

We were wrong.

What we thought was causing the reactions. Wasn't. Last night we were back in the E.R. More tests to follow. I hope we get to the bottom of this.

We graduated!!!!

We made it. When we got to the beachhouse(thanks Vines) Lincoln and Ben(appropriately so) crashed. Tatum and I set up a little something for daddy!

We are so glad to have Ben back. He really did a great job juggling family, work, church and school. We are just so glad to have him home in the evenings. Congratulations on all your hard work we are so proud of you and your accomplishments.

So, even though we have accrued a large student loan we did receive a few kickbacks over the weekend.

First, the beachhouse, thank you Vines' for letting us stay.
Second, Disneyland, thanks Mom and Dad for our passes.
Third, a free milkshake. When we were walking around Fashion Island Ben had promised Tatum and ice-cream treat so he went into the food court and took her to Fatburger. Ben was wearing his Tom Waits t-shirt (this is important). Ben ordered his milkshake and the guy behind the counter (middle 30's) was fixated on his shirt. Now, Ben's shirt has received a lot of quizzical looks, one has to know who Tom Waits is to get the shirt. Anyway, the guy behind in the counter in all seriousness yells out "Tom Waits discount." A guy from the back kitchen comes running, literally dropping everything he was doing to check out the shirt. Now, I don't know if they were the owners(doubt it), and I don't know if a 'Tom Waits discount' is official company policy, but I do know we got ben received a 50% on his order that day!
Fourth, a free dinner a Chipotle. We grabbed some take-out on Saturday night at Chipotle. We all l went in to order. Tatum does her own ordering these days. When we got to the check-out and Tatum continued to charm the employees. Her charm and adorableness got her a free dinner!

Where else would we go to celebrate?

After Ben finished his comprehensive exam we headed to Newport for an extended weekend. Ben even took Monday off.

I let Tatum pack her little suitcase with toys for the weekend and what she brought was hilarious. The funniest thing was her pillowcase. She removed the pillowcase from her pillow and brought just the case. Random.

The kids got some new shades like daddy's.

Fashion Island

Balboa Pier
The kids were making me so nervous, Tatum kept poking her head through the railing, I didn't even let Linc out of the stroller. That's as close as he got to the side.

My beach girl
As we were headed to the sand she said, " Where is my uncles?"

When I said we graduated this is what I meant:


Ben had this set up for me before he left to take his test.

"Tricia--
CONGRATS! NEW GRAD!! You made it. I always said that you should get a diploma rather than me! I think you had longer days, more difficult tests and less resources. Thanks for everything! I love you more than you know. Ben"

An update.

I went to the doctor today to have the 50 allergy patch tests removed from my back and checked. So far I am not allergic to any of those 50. I return on Friday to see if any have a delayed reaction. I am still awaiting results on the blood work. Basically, no news yet on the cause of the reaction.