Aunt Jü-dee and Kay-non

Aunt Julie and Kalyn's annual spring visit was especially fun this year because Ryan cracked us up with his nonstop commentary. Our favorite was when he gave them their new names: Jü-dee and Kay-non. Mom thinks we'll use these names forever, even when they are 100 years old. Exactly the same way Aunt Joy and Uncle Mike will always affectionately be known as Joy Joy and Booty Monster.    

One of the best parts of the week was when they taught us more of Nana's funny sayings. We've always thought our Boston family is "the best thing since Post Toasties". But we didn't know potatoes could be cooking in the oven "since Hector was a pup". Or that something could have "more itches and pips than Carter has liver pills" (don't pronounce any of the Rs). 

We spent one day at the zoo. The baby elephants were the most adorable things. Nana would say they were "built like a brick sh*thouse". We think that is a compliment. Right?

They seemed to really like each other, and spent a long time rolling in the mud together.

Mom probably would have stayed there all day to watch them.

We convinced Kalyn to try the tiger roller coaster.

It was so scary.

Scary awesome!

The nasty girl running the coaster wouldn't let Ryan ride because he isn't 3 years old yet. He rode it a million times last month when we came to the zoo and LOVED it.  She didn't care. He turns 3 in 2 short months. She didn't care. He handled the disappointment with poise and grace, screaming and crying all the way past the other people in line. The orangutans seemed to share his sense of despair. 

We were able to console him with a blue snow cone and alternate tiger ride. Rawr!

Dad was glad he took the day off work for this. He likes hanging out with Jü-dee and Kay-non too.

Kalyn's Spring Break

Our best Boston cousin ever came to visit us for her Spring Break! This is how ecstatic we felt every single morning, knowing we would get to see her:

 And this is how we liked to greet her, with a tackle hug:

This year there was a new friendly competition for Kalyn's attention between Ryan and me. I think now he officially loves her as much as I do. 

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

We did our hug shots on the swing before church.

Then we attended the "family friendly" service in the church parish hall. This is nice because all the kids can scream, cry, and wiggle without getting dirty looks from the well-coiffed elders.

Father Zimmerman explained communion for us and why it's an especially important tradition on Easter Sunday.

In the afternoon we had our second annual block party Easter egg hunt.

We loaded up on as much sugar as possible, then ran around for hours. It was perfect.

Spring Pictures

Time for 2014 family pictures!

We met Miss Shannon at a local park at sunrise to take these beautiful pictures. Mom loves the way she captures my pretty blue eyes.

She was especially patient with Ryan, who was not in the mood for pictures today.

It's crazy how much we've changed since our last picture session. We are big kids now!

Mom said it's time to say goodbye to diapers, baby strollers, and baby gates. We're entering a new stage of fun family life.

 

We're looking forward to days filled with homework, sports, and hearing Dad tell us we can never have video games.

This boy is looking forward to the Terrible Threes stage. We'll remind him there is a loving, funny, sweet boy under all that toddler rage. We know he'll get through it.

I'm looking forward to another year at the best age. I am learning so many cool things at school and having such a good time with my friends and family.

Our neighbors will have an "empty nest" this summer when their son joins his big sister at college out of state. Mom can't even talk to them about it because it gives her anxiety. One day we are going leave the nest, too, so she wants to remember this time forever.

Winter Storm Vulcan

The big winter snow storm that came along at the end of the week put a damper on our exciting snow play plans. Freezing wind and 12 degrees is not a recipe for outdoor fun.

We powered through an awesome morning on the Tubing Hill with huge inner tubes. Mom tried to take a picture of us there with her iphone, but it literally froze itself down, simply refusing to power back up. Then we took a field trip to a restaurant with a miniature train running inside.

When we got tired of freezing outside, we jumped into the hotel's awesome amenities. Mom said we should put one of these in our playroom. 

There was even a game room where I got to practice shooting targets and beat Mom at air hockey. 

 

Can somebody explain to me why this half naked girl needed to dance in a sexy way and blow me kisses in between games? It seemed unfair because there were no shirtless boys popping up on any of the other games.  

 

Our vacation ended with a peaceful sunset reflected in the mountains,

leaving us hopeful that one day we can come back to this perfect place.

Snow Patrol

How to prepare your child for a fun day in the cold snowy mountains:

Step 1: Squeeze them into 4 layers of warm clothing.

Step 2: Take a picture, this is the only time you will see them smile.

Step 3: Bribe them with promises of smores at the outdoor fire pit.

Ryan was not interested in those heavy boots and skis. Not happening. And I'll admit, it wasn't love at first sight for me and the bunny slope, either.

But I'm proud to say that I stuck with it, and after successfully going down the hill without wiping out, I felt like an Olympic champion! Mom said she would call me a snow bunny, but I told her Urban Dictionary says that nickname is for European female escorts in ski towns now.

There should be a nickname for Brave Girl, because that's exactly what I was! I definitely deserved the treat of an orange Fanta after attacking that hill. It's true when people rave about apres-ski, it really is the best part!  

I hope I remember this day forever.

And I hope Ryan has a similar Brave Boy experience in a couple of years. Mom said he would be "shredding fresh powder" soon, but I had to correct her again, because Urban Dictionary says that means doing cocaine.