"Help! Help! It's smotherly love!" 
I love how Carson looks in red. As near as I can tell, it seems to be his favorite color.
I don't know what Spencer is doing. He's always goofing, just like his father.
Impromptu story time. I love watching them sleep, read, and watch TV. They have such utter concentration and intense focus.
Isn't summer time great?! I love having popsicle parties on the back porch!
Here's our latest family photo. Not the most charming, obviously. Spencer insisted one Saturday that we all wear orange shirts, so we took our picture together. It might not have been too bad, except it was first thing in the morning (no makeup, no hairdo) and Andy stuck his big, naked foot out in front. Oh well, just don't put this one in the genealogy.
Here's a cute one of the boys in their matching shirts. Yeah, that was way back when we were still wearing long sleeves! This was a rare moment when they were playing Legos together and everyone was still feeling pleasant about it!
It's hard to get a picture of Spencer these days without the neck tendons sticking out. He's a cheezer.
Do you ever have to eat breakfast with your construction hat on? You never know when something might fall from the sky....
Spencer wanted me to make a kitty mask one day. He often asks me to draw things, which stresses me out because I'm not a great artist. Anyway, this was what we came up with. We used a fringed scarf for a tail and Daddy's socks for paws. He liked it so much he took it for show and tell! That was a little embarrassing for me. 
Many mornings I try to make my bed and instead end up with a fort in my room. This was one of those days. They loved it, so I let them have it for a while. I've really relaxed in the last couple of years. Now I have the attitude that if everyone's happy and entertained for a couple of hours, I don't really mind the mess. Whoa! Talk about a 180!
There were lots of kids because two classes went at the same time! Hopefully you can make out Spencer amongst the crowd--he's the small one with the hat and the cute smile! The teacher would stop periodically and ask questions, to which Spencer knew ALL the answers. At one point, he declared with pride, "Everybody says I'm smart!!" Miss Tammy said that's because he is. I agree!
Here he is with one of his favorite pals at school, Ammon. They spent almost all day together. They're such cute little friends. Ammon is only a few days younger than Spencer. Unfortunately he will go to a different elementary school.
Digging for fossils in the sand. He uncovered a whole skeleton!
In the Education Center, making their own dinosaurs out of paper plates. It's still hanging on the fridge. Note the color he chose....
Riding a dinosaur with his other pal, Preston. It's so fun to step back and watch him interact with his peers. I love listening to their conversations. They talk to each other like they're grown-ups, and sometimes even argue a little bit.
It's a giant turtle!! We had a fun day. I love hanging out with one child or the other and being free to give them my full attention. Not that it isn't fun to be with both, but it's a little extra rewarding to have one-on-one time.
He really did have a happy day, but for some reason it was hard to catch a smile!
Opening his present from Spencer. Curious George is WAY cool!!!
Some brotherly affection....
Spencer had to help blow out the candles, but after practicing three times, I think Carson's got the hang of it! (By the way, I don't usually serve half-eaten cake to my guests, but it just didn't seem practical to make a new cake the very next day!)
Mmmmm! He's a man who likes his cake!!
I love Spencer's arms here. It's like he's directing traffic or something. Slippy squishes him way over to one side and he unconsciously conforms to her.
Slippy has really taken a liking to Spencer. Now he's older and more "safe," she feels quite comfortable with him. If it wasn't for Carson, she'd be pretty relaxed!
Cousins on the front step. They all have such a great time together. They're even considerate of little Carson. They let him get in the jumping castle with them and they are careful not to be too wild. 
Carson had fun while I changed my sheets one day. He looked so adorable all wrapped up in white. The pictures really don't do him justice.
FYI: He went in for his 2-year checkup yesterday. He is very healthy and he is now a very average size for his age. I never thought it would happen!! He loves fire trucks, monkeys, and playing outside. He is entering the terrible twos and has quite a nasty little temper. That's okay though because I've already "been through" Spencer and not much gets to me anymore. I'm still not going to let him have cake for breakfast or jellybeans for lunch, no matter how mad he gets!