A relaxing April morning in North Hero

Natural light

Have a seat...

Recognize anyone?
The lakehouse

Riley enjoying the view

Finn soooo excited!

Tegan playing it cool

Braden & Cristin tossing rocks into the water

Florida pics as promised...

A beautiful day at Cocoa Beach . . .

In addition to the beach, we did a day of Disney World, another of Animal Kingdom, and spent a day in between each busy day with relaxation days. The house where we stayed had a great playground, a pool, and all the luxuries of home.

Florida Preview

We just returned from an amazing week in Orlando, Florida. We have over 450 pictures to go thru, but here's a quick glimpse of our week....

All five of us at Cinderella's Castle.Braden in his Mickey Mouse duds

Braden really did enjoy swimming. He just didn't enjoy being left alone for the photo op.

Tegan trying on Minnie Mouse's veil.

Tegan meeting her favorite Disney princess, Ariel.

Braden and his friend, Lola during a morning artistic session.

Finn loved all the swimming and all the big kids spent hours each day in the pool.

Finn loving the blue sky, sun, and warm weather.

Tegan, Ella, and Finn ready and waiting for the parents and young ones to head outdoors.

Our Kids...at ONE!

Here's what Braden looks like around age one.

This was Finnegan back in 2006 when he was one.

And Tegan in October 2004 when she was one.

Songs

Here is the only published list of the songs on Braden's 1st birthday party CD.

1. Ziggy Says - Ziggy Marley
2. Brush Your Teeth - Nancy Cassidy
3. Monster Boogie - Laurie Berkner
4. Pinch Me - Barenaked Ladies
5. Octopus' Garden - Raffi /All You Need is Love
6. I've Been Working on the Railroad - Laurie Berkner
7. Just Dance - Lady GaGa & Colby O'Donis
8. Uh-Oh - The Rosenshantz
9. Emphatical Piratical - Capt. Bogg & Salty
10. Yellow Submarine - All You Need is Love (kids sing the Beatles)
11. Lovely, Love My Family - The Roots
12. The Bus Song - Nancy Cassidy
13. Hoedown Throwdown - Miley Cyrus
14. I'm a Mess - Lauris Berkner
15. Shake Your Sillies Out - Nancy Cassidy
16. Bears - Lyle Lovett
17. Mickey Mouse March - Mickey Mouse Club
18. Take Me to Jamaica - Ziggy Marley
19. Down by the Bay - Nancy Cassidy
20. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
21. You Gotta Sing - Nancy Cassidy
22. Ocelot - Phish
23. The Garden Song - Tommy Makem & The Clancy Brothers
24. Family Time - Ziggy Marley
25. There's a Little Wheel-a-Turnin' in My Heart - Laurie Berkner
26. Party in the U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus
27. Birthday - All You Need is Love

We made two birthday cakes, one for the smash & grab, and one for all to share.

The smash & grab...

Who doesn't love wireless headphones?

These headphones are one of Patrick's favorite possessions. A "writing tool" gift from Uncle David a few years back. Here are the kids listening to various fun tracks from Cristin's iPod mix.

Excuse the smushed goldfish on the face...it was morning snack time.

A Snowshoe Trek

We took Braden for his first snowshoe adventure - OK, he was carried. But the rest of us walked in snowshoes. It was a blue-bird winter day. And Jamie K. was along for the walk.

First we met a lone XC skier making her way out of the woods past the barn.

Cristin, Braden (on her back) and Finn walk the VAST snowmobile trails.

Cristin, Braden and Tegan pose atop the bridge. Guess who was down under the bridge?

...Finnegan of course!

Tegan walks ahead, Riley runs back...

A quick stop for some hot chocolate and snacks along the way. We love a good winter picnic.

Braden slept for most of the trek.

Tegan and Riley are getting waaaaaay ahead of us!

We stopped for a few long jumps off the side of the trail.

Jamie soared...

Finnegan took a little walkabout on his own to find some open space.

The views were pretty nice on the way back home.