Happy Father's Day ...

... to the best Daddy and husband there is! The girls absolutely adore their Daddy ... and watching Randall with our girls make me adore him even more. I love hearing Kenzie's delighted giggle and watching the adoring look in Lexi's eyes each time they see their dad.



Watching my husband with our daughters is just priceless. I love the way they are together.



We had a great Father's Day despite the rainy weather. We had brunch at the Echo, played and danced together at home, took a trip to the running store and bike store where the girls had a blast (no, we didn't buy the girls a bike ... but kenzie sure did look cute in her helmet), and had dinner at our favorite chinese restaurant.

A funny story from dinner. Everyone at the restaurant is super friendly. After we were seated, the hostess/owner came over with a sheet of stickers for Lexi and then she asked whether "the baby" could have some too ... and she was referring to Kenzie ... my older by 2 minutes beautiful girl who just happens to have less hair than her sister. Throughout our dinner Kenzie was waving and "flirting" with an elderly gentleman who was celebrating Father's Day with his family. As he walked by with his walker on their way out, he said, "he is such well behaved little boy"... nevermind the pink floral romper, pink cardigan and pink bib "he" was wearing. Oh how I love you my sweet "baby boy"... someday your hair will grow and people will stop mistaking you as a little boy... I know his because the same exact thing used to happen to me :)

Isle of Palms Paradise: our vacation in many pictures & few words

We had an amazing week. There are so many wonderful memories that I don't want to forget.

Kenzie & Lexi's love for the ocean. It took Lexi a few minutes to get comfortable but once she did she was in love! Both girls had absolutely no fear and would just run right into the water.
Lazy days on the beach with Omi K, Granny, Daddy, Mommy & Sara ... the girls loved that they were surrounded by so many people that love them.

Lexi and Kenzie were fish in the pool. Lexi really wanted to "swim" on her own. Kenzie enjoyed jumping off the edge into the pool. The girls also loved drinking out of straws from "mommy & daddy" cups.

Kenzie lounging with Daddy on the beach. She would just climb up onto Daddy's lap and settle in. Daddy's girl!

The way the girls looked in their sun hats & rompers.

The girls enjoying their first ice cream cone. A fun sticky mess!



Date night in Charleston.

A day trip to Charleston with everyone ... and a visit to the Children's Museum of the Low Country.

And a walk along the harbor and through the beautiful historic neighborhoods ... it was HOT HOT HOT!

Bike rides through Wild Dunes.

...and right on the beach. Lexi would just point to the ocean and say "eh eh eh" the whole time, telling us that she wanted to get into the water!

The girls playing in the sand. Sand on faces, between fingers and toes, in bathing suits and diapers...


Playing in the ocean as a family! I loved the fact that the girls loved the ocean.

The girls dancing to live music on the boardwalk. The first night we were out there the performer started singing "Hey, Soul Sister" and Lexi got a huge grin and broke into dance... quickly joined by her sister
Kenzie being silly and knowing that she is funny. She would do things like balance a cookie on her head and walk around trying to get our attention and giggling. Our little clown!

We can't wait to return!

Unfortunately my camera stopped working about half way through our vacation ... not sure if I should blame it on the sand or the fact that Kenzie pulled my camera strap and the camera came crashing down onto the wood floor (thankfully not on top of her). I will have to post part 2 once I upload my iPhone pics and get the pictures that Sara took.

Happy Memorial Day 2011!

We had a great Memorial Day weekend with Granny and Papa Gene! After the Crawfish Boil on Saturday we enjoyed a more laid back Sunday. It was HOT and therefore a great opportunity for the girls to test out their new backyard pool. They LOVED it! I think they will be spending a lot of time like this this Summer.



Monday was spent getting ready for our vacation ... I hate packing, but at least we have a week of fun to look forward to!

laissez les bon temps roulez...

We hosted our 4th annual Crawfish Boil on May 28th... and let the good times roll. We really lucked out with the weather ... given the amount of rain we had in May it really was a blessing that we had a rain free, sunshine filled day! This year we had 50 some adults and 25+ kids in attendance! A good combination of neighbors, friends and coworkers. It is so fun to see more and more children at the event each year. I loved watching Kenzie and Lexi interact with all of the other kids. The girls were still napping when everyone arrived and when they woke up to find our house and yard filled with people it was a bit overwhelming for Kenzie at first. But once she really woke up and warmed up to everyone she was ready to party :) The girls both enjoyed the fried catfish and shrimp this year and they LOVED the canteloupe, watermelon and crawfish cookies!
Since there were so many kids in attendance this year, I got a crawfish shaped pinata and it was a big hit!

The youngest guest in attendance was little Maddie. She is just precious and I am so glad that Audra and Kyle brought her... it reminded me of how little Kenzie and Lexi were at the Crawfish boil last year. Hard to believe that next year Maddie will be running around with all of the other kids! The party was a bit bitter-sweet because we also had to say farewell to the DeLacy family, as they are moving to London. Kenzie and Lexi are going to miss Lily & Olivia.

Once again we owe huge thanks to Randall's parents as without them we could not pull this off! They drove up the 80lbs of crawfish, 50 lbs of shrimp and 25 lbs of catfish from New Orleans and spent the whole day preparing the feast. Lexi knows to kiss the cook! Thanks Papa Gene and Granny! We love you!

A perfect Mother's Day

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dates all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." Agatha Christie, "The Last Seance"


Life is good. I am happy. I have two beautiful daughters, the most wonderful loving husband, and the sweetest four legged son I could ask for. My family spoiled me today. It was a perfect day!



The girls must have known it was Mother's Day because they slept in until 8:30am :)Randall surprised me with "Surprise Egg" for breakfast ... one of my childhood favorites which I have always talked about but I don't think we have ever actually had together. The girls loved it ... so this may need to become a family tradition :) After breakfast I got to open my presents. Besides the gift of my daughter's themselves, I think Randall gave me the most meaningful gift that I have ever received. He made a photo book documenting the reasons he believes that I am amazing wife and mother ... it was so touching and so fun to look back at photos from our 10+ years together ... I laughed and I cried. On top of that he also started a scrapbook where Kenzie and Lexi each drew me a picture for Mother's Day and he plans to have them add to it each year. I could not have asked for better gifts. I am so blessed :)



After the girls napped we went for a family walk to have lunch in Hyde Park Square and then went to visit Audra, Kyle & Maddie (& Moose of course). Maddie is so precious!

This Mother's Day was particularly special for me, because two of my dearest fiends became mothers this week and got to celebrate their very first Mother's Day! Both Audra and Becky shared the same more difficult path to motherhood with me and I cannot express the joy I feel for them. They are going to be the most wonderful mom's ... Maddie and Small Paul are so lucky!



Later that afternoon, we did some yard work and the girls played in the garden. Randall made a grilled vegetable and smoked mozarella pizza for dinner and we ate out on the back porch. Ahhhh heaven. It was the perfect day ... filled with family and sunshine.



I am so thankful to be a mother! And I am so grateful for having been celebrated today ... in a perfect way!

Running of the Roses

Mint juleps, fancy hats, betting on the ponies ... ahh the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby! Kenzie & Lexi celebrated their 2nd running with lots of other kids, a bouncy house, and even put $5 the pink balloon (with a horses name inside). Their horse wasn't the big winner, but Daddy did win the adult pool ... $78! Lucky day!



Thanks Carrie & Christian for hosting a great party!

April Showers bring May...

Showers! It was the wettest month in Cincinnati history with nearly 14” of rain. It seems like it rained every single day with maybe 2 to 3 exceptions. We had some big storms throughout the month and even had to wake the girls once in the middle of the night to take them into the basement as the tornado sirens warned of impending danger. Thankfully we were all safe and the girls actually thought it was the coolest thing to get to be in the basement in the middle of the night. Besides some water in our basement, we’ve made it through the month unscathed. Our hearts go out to those in Alabama and other parts of the south who weren’t so lucky.

That said, we are ready for the rain to stop! Ironically, Mother Nature teased us with some beautiful weather this past Saturday (on April 30th) and then it started raining again on Sunday (on May 1st). The 7 day outlook shows rain every. single. day. Let’s hope that we eventually get rewarded with the biggest, brightest flowers and days filled with sunshine.

We did take full advantage of the gift of sunshine that we were given this past Saturday. It was a bit chilly in the morning, but we put on the girls fleeces and went for a “walk.” Kenzie & Lexi’s current favorite method of going for a walk involves them walking themselves. We don’t move very fast and usually only make it up and down our street, stopping to collect every stick, rock and leaf along the way…. but the girls have a blast. After their morning nap, we went out to lunch at the Dilly Deli. It was our first outdoor restaurant meal with the girls and they loved it. It was so sunny that we had to put on sunscreen and even ended up putting up the umbrella to get some shade. We then drove out to Burger Farms to pick out some new plants for the garden. Kenzie & Lexi had a great time checking out the goats and chickens, exploring the big tractor and helping us choose some pretty flowers. After their afternoon nap, the girls and I played outside on the back porch and in the yard while Daddy did yard work. We finished the day with dinner out on the back porch. Phew …. A fun filled day. We sucked up so much Vitamin D that it should last us at least through the next 7 days of rain :)

While Sunday was rainy again, we took advantage of a break in the rain to go the first Hyde Park Farmers Market of the season. We got the most beautiful swiss chard and rhubard, and also some delicious whole grain bread. Yummy! Looking forward to weekly trips to the market this Spring/Summer! And the sunshine and May flowers cannot come soon enough!