So here is an update on the Hanks family.
Here's my sweet husband, he's been growing a beard again for awhile. He's had to trim it a couple of times to keep it in control. I like the gray path on the right. JD has been busy busy busy. He is probably the most dedicated math teacher ever. How many teachers are so dedicated to spend 10 hours at work each day. And sometimes more - got to get those kids ready for their AP test in a couple of weeks. He only has one prep instead of 2 and does the math lab after school for an hour. He is definitely a little stressed out. He does still find time to watch most of the Jazz games and we DVR Lost and Parenthood so we can watch those after mutual on Tuesday nights. For spring break - he finally got around to sheetrocking the basement bathroom. (Yes this family of 7 shares 1 bathroom -URG). So hopefully in the next few weeks we will have the luxury of another bathroom. JD worked really hard on it with Josh as his assistant. Also during spring break JD and the kids got most of the garden planted. JD got a new tiller with our tax money and he is loving that! If you have ever seen how big our garden plot is - you would appreciate how much work taking care of it is. My JD is a stud and I appreciate all his hard work and especially his amazing ability to be a great dad. He rocks!
Josh got glasses about a month ago. He's looking so grown up. He is growing tall too. Soccer has started and Josh is doing really well. He and his brothers are also outside every day shooting hoops. Josh is really excelling at his piano. Oh and he's pretty funny too. He's always trying to make us laugh with some silly thing he does. Josh is one smart cookie - he's a thinker like his dad and a jokester too. He's exactly 10.5 years older than Brielle - she was born on his half birthday. Good kid!
Dawson is almost 9. What - how did that happen? He woke up to a tooth under his tongue the other morning. He said it wasn't even loose when he went to bed. At least he didn't swallow it! Dawson got a haircut the other day. He was so funny because he came home and told me how on Mondays he was going to do one fohawk, on Tuesdays 2 fohawks, Wednesdays spikey, Thursdays and Friday I can't remember but he had it all planned out. So far I've only seen the double fohawk once - thank goodness. He is a cute kid. So good with Brielle - he is by far the one that holds her the most (out of the kids). He also is very willing to watch Marissa for us. And he is getting really good at the piano too. He is playing some things by ear just like his dad. I don't know how they do that - it amazes me. Good kid!
Tanner is toothless. Okay not anymore because three have grown in but he has that gappy smile and cute dimples too! He is a 6 year old who acts more like a preteen. He is very athletic. He dominates on the soccer field not only because he is so much taller than the other kids but he has skill too. It's fun to watch him. And he's quite the basketball shooter too. The other night I told him that I was going to put Brielle's portable crib in his room because she was too loud for me and dad and she would wake Marissa up. So he said in all seriousness "Ok. So when she cries should I get up and take care of her?" Pretty cute! JD and I had a good laugh about that one. "Yeah Tanner - Mom and I don't want to wake up to take care of her so you do it!" Oh the things that go through those cute heads! Good kid!
Marissa is definitely a 2 year old. We have been seeing a lot of tantrums lately but also a lot of cuteness too! She is endless energy! She still loves Brielle and is always right there. If Brielle cries she always runs up to her and says "I'm here, don't worry, I'm here" in a cute little sing song voice. Marissa loves to sing. Her "I am a child of God" is so sweet. And she sings along with the radio too. I was listening to my IPOD in the kitchen the other day and she started singing along to a song I didn't know she knew. She LOVES her daddy. When springbreak was over, she woke up Monday morning and waved goodbye to JD and then sat down on the couch and said "I need my daddy." Sweet girl!
Miss Brielle is 8 weeks today. It has flown by. Her eyes are a very pretty deep blue. I'm hoping they stay that way. We haven't been able to get a good smile picture yet - camera shy. But this is sweet. She is smiling a lot now and it melts my heart. I love this little baby. She is the mellowest of all my babies and I am very appreciative of that! She eats regularly and doesn't spit up too much like her siblings did. Yeah! We are loving our little angel! 
So there we have it! The Hanks are hanging in there. We will be blessing Brielle May 2, so more pictures to follow!
