L1's 4th birthday.

For the occasion, L1 wore what he calls his party shirt.  Festive, no? 

His birthday was pretty low key, starting with his favorite dinner.  Macaroni and cheese with hot dogs (I know.  Our fingers are crossed that his palate will improve). 

Then we moved directly on to present opening.  My favorite moment was when he opened the LEGO minifigure keychain and exclaimed, "A keychain!  It is what I've always wanted!". 

Cake was chocolate with orange frosting, with a side of chocolate ice cream.  A little strange, but mostly tasty. 

February break: Splash Lagoon

February break around here has traditionally bad weather.  To avoid sitting around the house all week and going slowly crazy, we instead opted for the insanity that is an indoor waterpark. 

Not usually our type of place, but winter weather makes you do all sorts of things!  Add in the temptation of hanging out in 84 degree temperatures for two solid days, and we were sold.

W1 surprised us by displaying his inner daredevil, going down waterslides on his own.  L1's favorite was the wave pool, where he would have spent much more time if we had let him.  H1 mastered the use of the swim vest, swimming around on her own by the end of the second day.

Our trip was completed by two trips to Steak n' Shake (with one vanilla shake dumped almost entirely in H1's lap), and a visit to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (for, you know, a little bit of an educational experience). 

R1 had a birthday!

To celebrate R1's 30-something birthday (just ask him, he's not sure exactly how old he is, either!), we took the kids to the Rochester Museum and Science center.


Since R1 is a self-professed science nerd, it was perfect.


For dinner, W1 insisted that we blindfold R1 for the drive to the restaurant so that he would be surprised. We ate at Five Guys, one of R1's favorites, and a restaurant we can tolerate taking the kids to. W1 and L1 were delighted to have the option of bacon (!!) on their burgers.

Cherry vanilla cupcakes were for dessert.



Happy Birthday R1!

The many faces of W1

While wading through the very significant number of photos from our Christmas/California trip, I happened across this little series.


I assume R1 was playing with the camera settings, and W1 was the willing model.


Don't pay any attention to the lush greenery behind him. That's California in December.


You know, so warm most days we wish we had packed shorts.


Was he practicing his angry eyes?


And I'll end with my personal favorite.

One tooth down...

In January, W1 lost his first tooth. It had been loose for a while, and the permanent tooth was growing in behind it, shark-style. There was a lot of groaning and complaining and eating of only soft foods, and we were all ready for that tooth to be out. One morning, W1 worked up his courage and pulled it out himself.

Then, all day he queried me on the specifics and mechanics of the tooth fairy. Where she lives, how she sneaks in, how she knows he lost a tooth, what she does with the tooth, etc. And I tell you, I did not have my story straight.


Even though he was a little skeptical, he was willing to give it a try. Into an envelope and under his pillow his tooth went. In the morning, it had been replaced by a crisp new one dollar bill.


Which W1 thinks, to this day, is fake money. He will not be otherwise convinced.

We can't win.

Remember that one time when there was enough snow for sledding?

This winter has been lacking in the sleddable snow department. While my back and my snow shovel are grateful for that, we have missed sledding.


But, there was one Saturday in January with enough snow on the ground. We met some friends at the park and had a great time.

Why is H1 so happy?

It could be that she just ate something very chocolately.


Or it could be that she is excited to meet her baby sister in June!