We Dance!

Our kids love to dance, and we do a lot of it in our household. Rory takes her skills very seriously. Aven is still learning to do so. These videos are, in a word, hilarious!

Perhaps at some later date, I'll post some pictures of Mommy cutting a rug!

• Rory and Aven dance for Grandma.
• Rory showcases her ballet.
• Aven rocks hard on the guitar.

Princess, Pool, and Pizza Party

The stage was set. The yard was groomed and decorated. A calm had settled upon the world.

The princess theme had been well executed.

As had the paradoxical sight of inflatable pools sitting atop grass that had once been an in-ground pool.

Insert kids!

Enter Rory ... on the slip and slide!

Rory had quite a fun time.

Aunt Jenny helped the kids make princess and prince crowns.

The boys found plenty to entertain themselves with, including the new car from Nonna and Pops!

Then, it was time for a pizza break.

Before the kids took turns wacking the pinata.

Finally, the princess cake arrived.

The kids sang "Happy Birthday".

And Rory felt quite special as she looked upon her cake.
There were many gifts to open after her guests had departed and her little sister was napping.

Speaking of that little sister, there she is awake from her nap and test driving some of Rory's new presents.

Rory Turns Four

Rory celebrated her "real" birthday with cupcakes and family.
Here, our little fairy casts a magical spell over the fresh-baked cupcakes that she will be taking to school the next day.
Rory was the recipient of many, many gifts and is appreciative of everyone's generosity. One highlight was the rocker outfit sent by her Aunt Sydney.
When Rory wasn't looking, Aven made her move!

Puerto Rico

After a year off due to the economic downturn, the Advisory Board hosted its executive team at the El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico.
We enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing vacation with friends and colleagues (who brought a total of 78 kids!). Unfortunately, Daddy forgot the camera battery, so I had to grab a few shots from the resort website. Our condo was to the right of this picture behind the palm trees.
The resort offered many amenities, including a water park that we frequented regularly. We took the ferry to the island beach, swam in the many pools, and enlisted a babysitter most nights so that Mommy and Daddy could have dinner with friends.
Here is a shot taken by one of those friends who was kind enough to forward it along.

Rory's First Play

Rory's big birthday gift from her parents was a trip, sans Aven, to the Kennedy Center to see the new musical version of Mary Poppins. Rory was very excited by the outing and the chance to see Mary Poppins live and on stage.


First, we had lunch in the Kennedy Center's cafe, where we had Rory's favorite ....

... chicken fingers!

Rory anxiously waited her turn in line.
The show didn't disappoint!
Rory's favorite moment was when, in the final moments, Mary Poppins flew over the audience and directly over Rory's head to make her departure!

Many Faces of Rory

My wacky four-year-old has become a complex little woman.
She's getting taller (39.5 inches), laughs louder (70 decibels), and feels more deeply.
Rory is beginning to form a moral framework (always be nice; tell the truth), which can make it hard to trick her ("Daddy, are you telling me the truth?").
She is anxious to grow up. Reluctantly, I've told her that I'll allow her to turn 4, but I haven't yet decided on 5.

Aven Turns 15 Months

Our "Avi-Baby" is growing! She's a walking, talking, 20-pound, 30-inch bundle of energy and emotion ...
... she's increasingly opinionated, which means the occasional frustration when she can't quite communicate her needs clearly.
One thing is clear: She adores her big sister, which is mostly a good thing. However, she typically wants whatever Rory is playing with, which has led to our first glimpses of sibling rivalry.

At 19 pounds, 6 ounces, Aven continues to be on the smaller side, although she's a little taller (40th percentile) than she is hefty (5th percentile).