March to the Championship

Rylee was extremely confident this year in Kentucky's ability to win the title. She later confessed she had been giving Coach Cal coaching tips all year long. Clearly, she is our lucky charm. She throws her arms in the air and shouts "Go Cats!" on command and, sometimes, for no apparent reason whatsoever. She was very into the tournament this year and is already working on a new crop of cheers for next year. 

 Here she is stocking the coolers for a day of St. Patty's Day parades and March Madness festivities...

 Wonder whose kid this is... what almost 2 year old gets this excited about BWW?

 New game day tradition: pink horsey pushing (not riding... pushing)...

 ...and puddle splashing

My favorite combination sous chef/cheerleader ready for the national title game!! 

After the big win, she got so excited she busted right out of her diaper!

Dada home!!

After Christmas came and went, we transformed the countdown to Christmas into the countdown to Daddy. Every day we would change the number under the little Santa and, no matter what the number was, Rylee would say "2, 3, Dada!" (she is fond of 2 and 3, what can I say?) Sometimes this was followed by a hearty "YEA!" and sometimes not, but always with big smiles. Other times, she would just randomly say "Dada home!" for no apparent reason, as if she could make it so just by wishing it. We had been talking about it for so long, I don't think she really believed us that he was really actually coming home. But, finally, at long last, February 2nd came and Dada came home! We were all overjoyed, to say the very least. Here is a wee glance at the homecoming festivities. 

Hard at work on her Welcome Home Daddy sign for the airport

 All 3 kiddos with their serious artist faces on

 Mommy's little craft project

 A cruel joke: after 6 months of waiting on him, the airlines made us wait even longer... here is Rylee admiring her handiwork while we waited out the flight delay

3 very happy boys :-)

 Welcome home... zerbert??

 Very happy to see her Mommy and Daddy smooching again

 At his welcome home party, someone brought Rylee.... er... Daddy... this nice gift. She is a Kentucky girl, after all.

 Reacquainting Daddy with the playground (and showing him what a big girl she has become going down the slides all by herself)

 Reminding Daddy how to have a proper tea party and picnic.. simultaneously

First bath with Dada back! Happiness...

PLAYOFFS???!

 I realize, of course, that I am setting my children up for disappointment by turning them into Bengals fans, but hopefully they will see more orange and black in the Playoffs and Super Bowl than I have in my lifetime. This year, at least, the Bungles made it to the first round of the Playoffs. This was a very serious day in our house, as you can see below.

 "Uh, seriously, who called that play?"

 Brendan teaching Rylee how to watch football like a man. I think she's got it down.

 The play was so bad she hid from it

 End of the 2nd half. She was not impressed.

 "Maybe if I get on this horse, I can ride far, far away from this game..."

And after the loss, her dress came off. I'm not sure what to make of that.

Cats, Cousins, and... Cocktails??

A few days after Christmas, it was that time again... New Year's! And nothing says New Year's like warm sunshine and cousinly love in the Palmetto State. So, Rylee and Mommy made the trip south to ring in 2012 with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Alison, Uncle Chris, Avery, and Mason in Charleston. Oh, and let us not forget Max. We had lots of fun sharing toys, ate lots of yummy food (including Rylee's first S'mores, which she called a "cupcake" and really wasn't that crazy about oddly enough), took a trip to the Children's Museum, and even survived our first stomach bug.

 Girl power at the Children's Museum

 Rylee makes friends wherever she goes

 Grandpa explaining the principles of civil engineering

 Water art

 Presenting... the future of the US Women's Team!

Swingin in the yard... just swiiiiiiiingin' in the yard!

Bubbles bubbles bubbles! 

 Kitty love

 Bubbleheads

Cousin board meeting. BYOCereal Bar.



 It's a palmetto, Mommy, duh.

 Is it hot in here or does this car come equipped with butt warmers?

 This started with the adults having some Bushwackers and ended with 3 shirtless kids on the couch with Grandpa... Cheers!

Smooches for Aunt Ali 

 A duet with Grandpa

 I truly believe she would have stayed in this sandbox all week without food or water

 Homemade lemonade popsicles. Mmmmmm...

Higher, Grandma, higher!!

Early morning toy sharing



Clearly, we are going to need one of these at our house.

Christmas Without Mr. Claus

Well, a Daddyless Christmas was inevitable this year. We didn't like it, but we survived. And had the merriest Christmas we could muster. Rylee was much more into it this year and we can hardly wait for next year when she will be extra Christmasy and we will all be in the same country to celebrate together. Not pictured: the torture that was Santa's lap. Here are some highlights. 

 Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree.... who knew you would crash laaaaaater...

 They wrapped her up in tissue like an ornament

 Waiting on a webcam session with Daddy

It is the holidays, after all... 

Stacking Santa fun with Aidan 

 Her unwrapping skills have greatly improved since last year

 Elmo chair from Grandma... BIG hit!

 Christmas Casserole

Sitting at the (appetizer) table with the big girls

 Merry Grinchmas!!

 Fridge Phonics fun

Let's Rock Elmo gets some action