Alden is THREE

I cannot imagine our family without this little boy!  He is snugly and affectionate, a complete extrovert and talks nonstop, loves sound effects and books and sports.  He was so excited about turning three and likes to tell me all the fun things he can do now that he's three, like celebration camp and soccer and school.. "Now that I'm three I can go to preschool, and then next year, I'll go to middle school."

We celebrated with a cake at community group the night before.  I asked him if he wanted football or baseball or soccer on his cake, and he came up with tennis. ;)

Going to bed for the last time as a 2 year old.

The girls each took some of their allowance and chose gifts on their own.

A rubiks cube and lacrosse sticks for the little boy who thinks he's 13.

Alden was so excited about the lacrosse sticks from my parents, He kept saying, "This is so cool! It's just like Ethan." Papa had stopped by after a meeting in town and it made Alden's day to play lacrosse with him!   And partway through the day he whispered to me, "Do I get to keep these?"   

We used to have a bunch of questions we asked the kids on their birthday... here's a video of Alden on his new bike answering some:

PA Trip

Alasdair had to work in PA during the kids' spring break week, so we all tagged along.  Easter at Heather Lane with the Orsattis, a DC trip (overnight at the Hanauers, and a day with the Bestors), and then a few more days in Glenside (the zoo with Granny, Smith playground, and a morning with Katie & Joy), and a quick visit with the Wilsons at Chick-Fil-A in CT on the way home.  We had a great trip. :)  I love Pennsylvania in April!

for the last 10 years, someone has been hiding eggs in Libbie's yard on Easter morning

summer fun with friends

Meeting Adelaide!  Smitten.

I snuck away for a little while to meet one-week old Theo :)

The Zoo!

1st Ritas!

Alden & Joy watching squirrels

birthday presents. :)

dress ups

So tired from a fun week that he fell asleep on the couch while we were loading the car. :)

March Moments

A few more March moments

a getaway day with friends!

someone is ready to ski

Emily waits all year for this backyard pond to arrive. ;)

lucky girls at their favorite restaurant

how my dining room table looks most of the time

joy

making essential oil diffusers

visiting lambs at the farm. (my 5 year old touched a sheep placenta. eww.)

And, the Eikhoffs visit!! :)

someone has to teach these girls about makeup..

Family Trip to Montreal

I've been wanting to try travelling more with our kids, and exposing them to different cultures and languages, so when Alasdair had to go to Montreal for work for a couple days we jumped at the chance to tag along.  It was cold and snowy, but we still had a good time. We drove up on a Thursday morning, and Alasdair had meetings all day... so the kids and I explored a bit of Old Montreal, the kids used their three words of French at our lunch restaurant, and we took a caleche tour.  I had so much fun being out of cell phone (and gps!) reception, and just having fun with my kids.  The girls were surprised and delighted when I said yes to the ride in the horse drawn carriage, and that we got the one with the flower decoration. It was also neat to see them start to get the concept that other people really do speak a different language, and take more interest in how to say things.  For dinner we went to a hot chocolate cafe, and had the dessert platter for dinner.  The second day, we had Tim Hortons for breakfast and took the kids to the Biodome.  They were so enthralled by the frog display in the lobby that we knew right away that had been the right choice. ;)  The girls loved following their guidebooks through the four ecosystems and finding animals.