Fun with family

Well, after a few weeks of fun (Caitlin and John and Sam's visit) and not so fun (the awful cold I got after they left), I'm back into blogging. Our time with Caitlin and John and Sam will take up the next few posts.

Here's a family photo gallery.

Our two little ones- both looking quite handsome/beautiful.


And at breakfast.The two guys, at work.

My lovely sister and me.

Our little munchkin.

Sam & Lucy & the Aquarium

Highlights from Caitlin & John & Sam's visit:

-Adventures! The Aquarium, the Children's Museum, Drumlin Farms, all in a few short days...It was especially fun (and surprisingly easy) to be in downtown Boston.
-Playing at a local beach on a rare heat wave (80+) day in April- Lucy and Sam loved watching the fish and playing in the sand and with balls.
-A wonderful family dinner at Grandma & Grandpa's house- Lucy and Sam had a blast with their doting and playful cousins and aunts and uncles.
-Sam feeding "oo-cee" (Lucy) cheerios and giving her hugs and kisses.
-Hearing Sam's French words (encore, bebe...) and his funny smile when one of us tried to speak French.
-John (aka Mark Poppins) cleaning up the disaster of the house every day after the kids were in bed- our house and kitchen never looked this good!
-John and Caitlin cooked the most amazing gourmet meal for us- marinated steak, roasted potatoes, asparagus delicious appetizers, fruit nut and goat cheese salads, and a divine chocolate lava cake dessert with real whipped cream and blackberries. It was quite a meal.
-Reading "yummy/yucky" with Sam (pictures to follow)- he is such a sweet, funny guy, and I loved our time with him.

Grandma came with us to the children's museum. She's so great with the kids, and they love being with her.

Lucy and I on another hot April day before heading to Grandma and Grandpa's.

Lucy earlier on that hot day, sans her dress.

And at the Aquarium, Lucy sporting her Mama's shades.

Sam and Lucy really enjoyed the aquarium. I think Sam's favorites were the sharks and the turtles. Lucy loved watching the penguins, and also the brightly colored fish. We actually got some cool pictures of the jelly fish and tropical fish. We were all amazed by the beautiful diversity of the fish and creatures.

Adventures continued

Another highlight was seeing Caitlin and John interact with Lucy. They are such a sweet and loving auntie and uncle. John is always able to make Lucy smile, and Lucy has really taken to Caitlin.

Here are Sam and I reading the Yummy/Yucky book ("Sandwiches are yummy...sand is yucky. Blueberries are yummy...blue crayons are yucky." and so on) Sam really got into the "ucky" part. We'd both stick out our tongues for it.

Sam does the cutest thing of squinting his eyes in advance when someone takes a picture. Here he is enjoying a banana split.


This was at the Children's Museum- Sam is so sweet with Lucy.

The museum was a big hit with both kids. Sam loved the ball room and bubble room, and Lucy's favorite was probably the big play area, as well as the balls.

Caitlin was a trooper, fitting between the two car seats in our sedan!

Lounging around

Here's a little video of Lucy and her chair- quite a fun toy, in many ways.

Happy Easter!

We had a fun day, even if it was a bit chilly outside. Here's Lucy in her new Easter dress.


We started the morning with Easter baskets before church. Lucy got a bunny from Grandma Judy (saved from last Easter) and a CD from Mimi, along with some raisins from us. :)

Then in the late afternoon we headed to my grandparents' for a family dinner. Lucy had lots of fun playing with her cousins- they were very attentive and sweet with her. We also had an Easter egg hunt- we helped Lucy find some of the low ones hidden just for her.

She liked carrying them around with her.

And putting them in the bag (and then taking them back out- just like Blueberries for Sal).

This isn't in focus, but still shows her great smile!

And a bonus picture from a few days ago- Lucy in the super cute hooded jacket that Mimi and Papa Jack got her from Morocco. Her coat of many colors!

Games and gardens

Are you ready for this week's picture fest?!? Aww, yeahhh...

Lucy had a bunch of fun playing with the balloon from Trader Joe's.


This is a favorite activity of hers- doing "the Ostrich".

Also lots of fun putting anything on her head that will fit.

Lucy and I usually go over to my grandparents for dinner once a week. This past week Matt was able to join us. The next door neighbors have a dog, Charlie, who Lucy really enjoys. She even remembers that he lives there- when we pull up in my grandparents' driveway she starts saying, "Woo-woo".

Grandma showed us around the garden- Lucy likes playing with the dirt and patting the flowers.

My two gorgeous sweethearts.

And a rare picture of Lucy and me (I'm usually the one taking the pictures!).

Feel the beat on the tamborine...

Last weekend Lucy decided to try out dancing for a few days. Her moves remind me of a honeybee- maybe that will be the new dance fad.