Plimouth Plantation, Mayflower, and Shawn really married well

One of our favorite people, Shawn Marchant, and his incredible wife, Christy, came to visit us from LA. Shawn and I first met in '93 at BYU. I dated Shawn's roommate for a long time. Needless to say, I have long lost touch with that roommate, but Shawn and I have remained great friends (in spite of the fact that over the years I have tried to set him up with EVERY friend I had). Shawn was at our wedding. Mike and I even met up with Shawn once on vacation in London. When we moved to DC, Shawn moved a mile away the same week. During that time Mike and Shawn became great friends. And he was one of the first people to meet our first daughter. We think the world of Shawn and always knew that it would take a very special girl for him to settle down. And boy!! did he find an incredible girl, the best even. Last week we were FINALLY able to meet Christy, Shawn's wife. She really is amazing. Shawn totally scored (and we think so did Christy). We loved having them visit. The girls esp. loved having Christy. What a great visit with two fun and sharp people. I am so glad that after all the years Shawn, and now Christy, are friends.

While they were here we went to Plimouth Plantation and the Mayflower. It was beautiful. I know I am from here but even I still have moments when I think am in awe of both the beauty and history of New England. I truly love being from New England. I am so grateful that my girls will always be able to say they lived in Boston.

amazing friends amazing vacation

We went with our dear dear friends the Choes (seriously love those friends) to North Conway, NH in the White Mountains (home of Mt. Washington which holds the world record for wind speed and some of the most extreme weather on earth. Check it out: Mt Washington) for April vacation. We stayed at a resort that has an indoor waterpark. The children were in heaven. The waterpark was really great. There where so many different sections, even Cakey had fun. This really was one of our most fun family vacations. Thanks Choes, you are a blast!

Riles and Aileen. These two are together all the time.
Playing our favorite family game "Pooh Sticks". From "Winnie the Pooh".

Dennis and Em

Who says there are no mountains in New England? You should see them in the fall.

great girls!

I just had to take a picture of our asymmetrical daughter.

Cakey loves Mia.
Riles was so tired from running all day in the sprinklers and playing with her sisters and the Calderones. She literally fell asleep like this while I cooked dinner.

She is so funny. I had just finished bathing Riles and Cakey. After I got Cakey dressed I went to get Riles dressed quickly. I heard loud laughter from the bathroom. Cakey, full dressed had jumped back into the tub with Em. She was so proud of herself. What a little monkey!

zoo with Naomi and Anika

I'll add some of Jessica pictures later.

When we lived in DC Em and I took classes once a week at the National Zoo starting when she was 1 1/2 yrs old. At the time a new giraffe had been born. Em loved this giraffe. She decided that this giraffe was her pet. And Mike and I loved the idea that she had a pet that not only didn't live with us (besides our apt. in DC was small, definitely not big enough for a giraffe, anyway) but also a pet that someone took care of. Win! Win!

Well, one day Marie and I took Em to the zoo. The zookeeper mentioned to us that the baby giraffe would be leaving soon for a new home. Em was so devastated. Marie asked where the giraffe was moving. The zookeeper said that they found him a nice new home in Boston. We were so excited because in 2 months we too would be moving back to Boston. Em could not believe her luck that her pet was following her to the same new home.

The other day we were so lucky to go visit our giraffe with some of our favorite people, the Welles. It was a great New England Spring Day. Thanks so much Welles!!

spring time and marathon monday

(my mom pointing out frogs to the big girls. My daughters worship my mom)

Spring has finally sprung in Boston. We were so excited to see the weather reach 60 this weekend. Autumn is definitely my favorite season in New England, but I love to watch all the trees and flowers begin to come alive in the spring (esp. after our long long long winters).

We went to a Wildflower Sanctuary this weekend. There were not very many flowers in bloom but it was still beautiful and we were able to see a mother duck and her ducklings, many turtles of all sizes, and frogs and tadpoles. The girls were amazed by the tadpoles. I literally had to restrain Riles from jumping in and catching a tadpole. Sometimes I wonder why I try to stop her when she is feeling so adventurous. I love that about her. Besides I think maybe after the first time she did it and had to drive home wet she probably wouldn't do it again. Or knowing Riles ... maybe not.

There are two unofficial starts to spring in Boston. And neither have anything to do with buds. One being the opening day at Fenway and of course, and most importantly, the Boston Marathon. This year a bunch of our friends joined us as we rooted Sarah, Pat and Jen on as they ran the marathon.

We are so lucky to live near the marathon route. The girls love rooting for the runners. They get so excited for the runners that write their names on the bodies so that they scream their names.

The runners are so inspiring. We are at mile 16, it is the start of the Newton hills. I amazed when the runners run by looking so exhausted but so determined. It is an incredible and inspiring sight, and one of my favorite Boston traditions.

The girls holding up our "Sarah Tanner Rocks" sign

Maddie, Katherine, Em and Riles

Scott cheering on Sarah

Emily and Ryan (and Pat's brother, Thomas) rooting on Pat

A very pregnant Katie

Unfortunately I do not have many pictures of our friends running because they all ran by so fast!!!

our boy

Mike just loves his girls. He loves having all girls. And our daughters think their daddy hung the moon.

circus

The girls and Mike went with our dear friends the Choes to the Big Apple Circus. They had the absolute time of their lives. Both the girls declared it was amazing. They especially were in awe over the acrobats. Thanks Choes for organizing this. We are so glad that we have friends like you!

randomness

Our little princesses! What you cannot see is that Riles is a "Princess Warrior" and she has sword in her other hand. Our little tomboy!

Em always creates such great plays for the neighborhood kids to act out.

Riles always wants us to feel how strong she is. "Feel how big my muscles are!!", she'll say as she holds out her elbows (muscles).

I am always kissing this little thing. Her poor little face probably looks like this most of the day with someone always trying to kiss those gorgeous big cheeks. We just love her. But she is getting too big too fast.

I love our neighborhood! Here is the group with Lisa (I LOVE those Calderones). I cannot imagine better neighbors in whole wide world. And I loved our first warm day in 6 months! Love Love Boston. But, boy, can our winters be harsh.

I just wanted to document this for when all our girls are teenagers. Many Friday nights are "Movie Nights" at our house. Our house is filled with friends and kids and we usually make pizza (although this past one was "pancake night") and then watch a movie. Mike loves it because by Friday he is usually so tired after putting in a million hours all week at the firm. And our girls love it. It has become a tradition. Our friends know that they can always stop by (in their pjs, of course). So girls, when you are bigger, just remember that you used to love being home with Mommy and Daddy on a weekend night!

Em wanted me to take a picture of her new toothbrush. But afterwards, when I looked at the picture, I noticed how big she is getting. It made me so sad. They are really growing up too fast. She is not my baby. She is becoming a big girl. I wish I could bottle this time. I know I will love each phase of our daughters' lives. And so far, I always think that whatever phase we are currently in is my favorite. But it really is going by fast.

Riles with "Petty". I know the picture looks cute but Petty was coming to take her on an "adventure" so she didn't have to go to bed yet. Petty got a time out.

Quotes of the week

"Mommy, guess what??!!," yelled a very excited Riles.
"What?"
"Supaman (translate: Superman) wears tights - just like a gule (translate: girl)!!!! That's soooooo silly," heartily laughed Riles.

"Mom, who do we have a playdate with today?" asked Em as I picked her up from school.
"I forgot," I said.
"Oh well. It doesn't matter. I know someone is coming over today. Someone ALWAYS comes over everyday for a playdate."
No one wonder I feel like I am constantly cleaning all day.