Riya's birthday

We celebrated Riya's birthday at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Can't believe she is four years old already.

October Fun

The kids had a great time with their cousins at the Pumkin Patch Playground that our local garden center puts on. Lots of slides and fun things to climb on. Riya asks everyday to go back.

Halloween 2011

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Isn't she the cutest cow and he the most handsome doctor you ever saw?!The kids had a great time trick-or-treating and came home with entirely too much candy, but they loved it.

Riya's Birthday

Look who's 3! She was so excited about her birthday she declared everyday her birthday for about two weeks. She was very good to let Landon help her open her presents and she was very happy with her pink cake with sprinkles which I made myself.

Happy Easter

We had the most beautiful Easter morning ever! The kids loved their baskets and had a great time finding eggs in the backyard.

We don't have church until 3:00 (ugh!) so we waited unil Easter to color our eggs. Riya is shirtless because she couldn't be trusted to not stain her clothes. She did manage to spill blue dye all over my tablecloth. That's what I get for leaving it on the table.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Museums and Monuments

During Winter Break we went to the Children's Museum in Baltimore and I took Landon for a day in Washington DC with his cousin and aunts and uncles. Landon loved it all. Riya had a few breakdowns at the Children's museum, but overall we all had fun.

Christmas Morning

We had a great Christmas up in Baltimore at my parents house. Santa came through for both Landon and Riya. Here's Landon sporting a new shirt and a new toy (a cash register). Riya got an art easel for all her creations. She loves the chalkboard. We also did a nativity which both the kids enjoyed. Landon was one of the 3 Kings and Riya was Mary. Evan was a king with Landon and I was a shepherd. We found a pattern and some fabric so next year we'll have more costumes.

WEDDING

Here comes the bride....

Everyone had a great time at Mallory's wedding. Everything looked beautiful, tasted yummy, and was lots of fun. Obviously my flash was off for a couple pictures, but that's OK. We're waiting for the professional ones anyway!

Utah Trip

We went to Utah in April to see Evan's parents and to go do Mallory's wedding. We spent Bob's birthday at the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. Last time I was here they didn't have this huge garden. It was beautiful and the kids had fun. This is the first time Landon and Riya got to meet their cousins!

EASTER

Riya and Landon had a great Easter. Lots of candy, chocolate...what's not to love right?

So much fun to have an Easter Egg Hunt outside on such a gorgeous day. The kids loved it!

Not everyone can look this adorable in plaid leggings, but Riya is a beauty!

Fall at our House

Fall has arrived. We gathered up 22 bags worth of leaves this weekend and there are leaves yet to fall off the trees. We had beautiful weather for working in the yard and the kids had a great time playing in the piles we made.

Happy Halloween

All dressed up and ready to go Trick-or-Treating. Landon was a construction worker and Riya of course was Tigger. Both had a great time and looked adorable!

Happy Birthday Riya!

It's Riya's first birthday, and that means cake! I think she really, really, really likes it, don't you?

Riya's new skill

This began as a video of Landon, but we spied Riya showing off her newest talent. She's growing up too fast!

A weekend at Grandma's house

Here's Riya and Grandpa. Riya is modeling her new sweater with the cute little doggie on the front. She makes everything look adorable.

Landon and Mom enjoying some reading time together. He loves his book about big trucks.

Our Riya has quite an eye for detail - notice how she color coordinates her toys to her clothes.

Riya - Our Happy Baby!

The Fourth of July

Hershey Park

This summer's vacation was to Hershey, PA. Grandma and Grandpa Bettridge and the Bairds (my sisters family) came too. We had a great time, except for the fall like weather in June. Good thing we have an insider at Ralph Lauren (Thanks Carrie and Cody!). We had to make an emergency trip to the outlets to buy the kids pants and jackets. Mom needed a jacket too. We hope to make a trip back sometime and hopefully get better weather.

The kids rode lots and rides and had a great time. We adults got on one rollar coaster before we got rained out. It was a good one too!

Since it's no fun to be at a theme park in the rain we went back to swim at the hotel. This was Riya's first experience in the pool. Isn't she cute in her little swimsuit!

There's a great museum called Hershey Story where you get this cute picture that they send to you electronically. Landon's love of chocolate alone could result in a factory needing to double its production.