Disneyland

It's been a long time since I last went to Disneyland. I think I was 8 or something. And Craig was 12 when he last visited. So when we got the opportunity to go this past week we were very excited. And Brady is just old enough to eat it all up. He couldn't wait to go and asked for a few weeks, "Is it time yet?" He had a ball and, for all the spoiling that Disneyland includes, he was so good!

At the entrance to Disneyland

We just caught Goofy as he left for the day. And I'm so glad we did because this is now my favorite photo.

Brady driving at Autopia. He was so excited to get his own "driver's license." He's been asking us to let him drive our car for a year already. Seriously, who knew it started this young?

Brady with his hero, Lightning McQueen. Can you see how happy he is? After we took the photos he just stood there and stared at Lightning for a few minutes with a big grin on his face.

In line for Its a Small World. I love this ride. Am I corny? Its so good and such a classic.

Brady's favorite ride (which we missed getting a photo of) was the Buzz Lightyear one where you have to defeat Zurg by shooting the targets throughout the ride. We rode it three times during our two day stay in Disneyland. It really was a blast. I'd call our first family vacation a huge success.

Summer Recap: March of Dimes

Thanks to all our friends and family who helped us exceed our fund raising goal for March for Babies this past May! It meant so much to us and is such a help to so many families. Thanks, again!

Summer Recap: Brady's 3rd Birthday

Just in case anyone missed the update for Brady's birthday, because you don't read the Lily Jane blog, I posted it about it here. So, if you haven't seen it yet and you're interested, take a gander. And subscribe to my blog while you're there. :)

Summer Recap: Maine

I do believe it's time for my quarterly family-blog update. Has it been long enough yet? Too long? Oh...well, let's get started then.

A little background information: Craig and I used to always say, back in the dating/just married stage, "let's just go to Maine!" whenever we would get frustrated with life. Why Maine? It is a pretty random place to say, I agree, but here were our reasons: the beach, the weather, gorgeous architecture, and about as far away from everything we were frustrated with as we could get. Well, remembering this, Craig surprised me with a trip to Maine for my birthday! In May we took Brady to an aunt's house and boarded the plane to spend a weekend on our own for the first time since Brady was born. It was wonderful! Maine was absolutely as picturesque and perfect as we had imagined it would be.

We stayed in this amazing bed & breakfast. The food here, and all around Maine, was amazing! The locals are foodies, through and through.

These stairs were originally in a boat. Then they moved them, a hundred years ago, into this house. That's amazing!


I want to live in this beach house. Do you think whoever owns it will give it to me?

We went up to Portland for a day, too, where the Fat Cats bakery has the best whoopie pies.

The famous Walden Pond. It was flooded so this was a close as we could get.

The only picture we actually got with the both of us in it together...Oops.

And we stayed in Boston for a day or two, too. I also love Boston, but for different reasons. It's so much busier than Maine was, but full of history.

We walked the freedom trail. At least some of it. It's pretty long for just one day.

It was an amazing trip. Now every couple of weeks I think about Kennebunkport, Maine and I want to go back again! Road trip, anyone?

The Egg Hunt(s)

I'm usually not one to do a huge amount of Easter egg hunts. I really feel like one, maybe two, is plenty. But this year we did three: one for Craig's work, the annual neighborhood hunt, and a backyard hunt for real eggs. I just don't feel like it's Easter unless some real, hard-boiled eggs are colored and hidden. I say we but, of course, I mean Brady (except for the occasional after-hunt egg pilfering his parents may or may not be known to do).

The work hunt was, well, bountiful. Not only were eggs involved, but a bunch of toys, too. In his excitement he invented a new pose for the camera, which you can see above.

The neighborhood hunt was cold, but so fun. We really live in the best neighborhood and count our blessings every day to have so many wonderful friends around us.

And the last hunt was done on Easter in our wilderness of a backyard. Which actually provided lots of hiding places.

We dyed our eggs using two methods: natural dye (turmeric and chili powder) and old silk ties. They were so fun to make. The turmeric turned out really well, lending the eggs a bright yellow shade. And the ties - especially the one with a small, consistent pattern - worked beautifully.


We were even lucky enough to have family spend the afternoon and evening with us on Easter. I don't think I'll ever tire of having this sweet girl hang out with us. Cutest niece ever, right?