Happy New Year Welcome to 2011

2010 has finally come to an end and 2011 holds sooooo much promise as we move forward. We had a very busy fall and winter so far. Nonna and Papa hosted us at Disney World for Thanksgiving and Ryan's birthday. Mommy took us up to see Grandma Kathy, for a week, but we had to cut our visit in Stow short because I got sick. Mommy and Daddy kept a pretty low key schedule for Christmas which was good because it still seems like we've been going non-stop. Uncle Chris and Auntie Lauren brought Oliver and Adelaide down for New Years and that brings us up to date. So here is our year in review:

- Mommy played Rugby and Gaelic Football this year.
- Daddy graduated from school.
- Grace is fully potty trained.

 

- Ryan likes to wear panties over her diaper.
- Daddy got a new job.
- Family from Texas and New Jersey came to visit.



- We took a family trip up to Cape Cod.

 

- Mommy and Daddy went to Taylor and Ricky Bobby's wedding.
- We took a family trip to Disney World.



I think that is it. Oh...I almost forgot. Ryan is going to get to be a big sister in May. Mommy has a baby girl in her belly and we can't wait to had her to our author list. Daddy said he will talk to her soon and find out what she is thinking, he'll share more this year, it is one of this New Year's resolutions. Mine is to take up pilates, oh wait, not this year, mine is to teach Ryan how to use the potty and I also want to learn my numbers and letters. Ryan says she wants chicken nuggets.

4th of July

We had a full house for the 4th of July this year, because of a Texan Invasion. That's right our wounder clan of cousins from Texas stopped by to pay us a visit, and the New Jersey cousins took the occasion to make the loooonnnngg journey from the Garden State.

There is so much to say about the visit and about my amazing cousins, but I think pictures might do the best justice.

A few highlights might include our visit into DC, Fireworks, and a picnic in Warrenton.

This is Grace by the way, I know it might start getting a little confusing as I let Ryan do the typing from time to time. I was a little overwhelmed during this visit, it isn't every day that you have 24 cousins to choose from when it comes to play time.

I did find a new way to go down the steps at the Lincoln Memorial. If you go to the side of the steps you will see a granite slide, but if you choose to slide down it make sure you don't get your foot caught on the railing, because it twists you around and does not end up well. I have a few lumps on my head to prove it. Oh, and for the record, Daddy was watching me, or at least he was supposed to be watching me.

Short Story

Once upon a time there was a little girl, for now we will call her Grace. She was a very clever little girl, as clever as a fox. On this beautiful spring day they were over at their neighbor's house having a picnic, when all of a sudden all of the kids disappeared, at least this is what is seemed like to the adults in the backyard because it became eerily quiet.

The kids did not actually disappear, they just went to the front of the house to play. Grace was with her friends having a great time because everyone was older than her, except for her sidekick Ryan of course. Now did I tell you Grace was a clever little girl, not only is she clever, but she is very curious. The events that took place in the front of the house have several different versions, but the one that has the most agreement is as follows. That curious little girl saw something that caught her eye, it looked like a big cozy coup. Grace walked over and without hesitation she got into the drivers seat. She peaked over to see if anyone was looking and then gently slammed her foot on the gas.... the golf cart jumped forward startling the little convict. Grace, in a moment of triumph, was so proud to be driving; when, not a second later, BOOOOOOM. The clever little girl's joy ride was abruptly ended by a brand new car's bumper parked directly in front of her. Grace was fine, the golf cart was fine, but that new bumper was not a happy bumper...

The other children may or may not have been watching the three year old exploring the joys of golf cart living, but by now they all saw that something was amiss. One of the children ran to tell an adult. Then the adults started to filter out front, all of the adults except the clever little girl's Dad. He was in the backyard drinking an adult beverage and pondering about how perfect his life was with a beautiful wife and two very clever little girls. Eventually he heard in the distance some words that took him a bit to put in order, "accident" "golf cart" "Grace".... Ahhh, how nice it was to day dream...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Life has been coming at us full speed!! The winter has come and gone and Mommy is so happy be have February behind us. We had over 40 inches of snow this year, which is just a little bit over my head. Daddy says that Global Warming makes it snow a lot, personally I think that Global Warming stuff is just a bunch of hot air. Since I haven't written much over the past few months I will make a list of the highlights:

1. It snowed....a lot.
2. It snowed....a lot..again.
3. Ryan and I are now sleeping in our own beds (as of February)...Mommy got tired of me sleeping sideways and Ryan's snoring.
4. Ryan is speaking a lot.
5. Ryan and I know how to say hello in Spanish, Swahili, French, Mandarin, and one other way....oh English.

I am sure there is more, but I think that is good enough for now.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

If you find yourself sitting at the bar by yourself it is probably time to go home.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Ryan is TWO!!!!

No No Nooooo... That's right this is Ryan and I am now two. We celebrated my birthday on Sunday, even though I've been making Grace sing me happy birthday all month, Sunday was my real birthday. We had the Kelly's, Robert and Grachnia, Nonna and Papa, and Nicole (who I sometimes call Darlene and other times call Taylor anyway I digress) in town to celebrate. It was awesome...I'm not sure I know any other words to describe it, in fact I don't know if I know awesome yet or not, but I'm trusting Daddy's transcription. I received waaaayyy too many gifts. Dad are you sure you are capturing this right?

Mommy got a new camera, so she was able to take some awesome pics (I think I like that word). Daddy how are you capturing my thoughts, I didn't say that (mmmm I want a hotdog). Ok Ok, that's enough, I think I'll let Grace do the Thanksgiving post, this is creeping me out a little. Check out the pictures Mommy took on the slide show.

I'm too.

I have a very good excuse this time....

I don't have any good pictures, to share with you this time around. Yes, I hear what you are asking yourselves right now, "How can that be, this is the most photographic family I've ever seen in the history of the world?" Of course you are correct. You see Ryan likes to pretend that various non-phone things are actually phones, in this case the camera, when she's done chatting, usually with Papa, she puts them into her purse, which then goes into a backpack, which then gets placed in a secret place, or something along those lines. Just a couple of days ago Daddy caught me with his wallet in the binocular case in the bottom of a backpack in the back of the closet, oh wait we're blaming this on Ryan right? Anyway the bottom line is the camera is missing, so no photos.

Earlier this month we went to Dallas, TX to visit our cousins while Daddy went to China. The cousins are doing great and I am now a fan of the Southlake Dragons....we went to a football game and I was yelling gooo Dragons while Ryan was yelling goo Kelsey (our cheer leading cousin).

We had a great Halloween, you should have seen us, we all looked awesome. Daddy was Superman, Mommy was Wonderwoman, I was Supergirl, and Ryan was Wondergirl. So the Superfamily made their debut in Flower Valley and we were a hit or at least we got a lot of attention. Of course it's not every day you see four superheros walking around.

Ryan is really coming along with her talking and the two of us are like frick and frack, at least thats what I hear. I don't know who this frick or this frack is, but they must be good looking.

Oh by the way, we had our quarterly visit to the ER this week. I earned another 4 stitches surpassing the number of stitches Daddy has gotten in the ER, sissy. He keeps talking about how he was a rugby player, but the facts are just not adding up, eight stitches over a 10 year rugby career is just not possible. This time the stitches were in my foot, no major damage, and hopefully it will be a cool scar.

Oh, I almost forgot...Papa made the Hall of Fame, as a Red Raven.

Toodles. G.