In our Derby finest (L&H)

May 5 was a fabulous day to drink mint juleps, dress in our southern finest, cheer horses, and hang out with friends.  We continued our annual Derby Day Party tradition, attempting to bring a little class to Seattle — or at least provide a good excuse for a party.  We affectionately call our party Derby Day West since we borrowed the fabulous tradition from our friends Jason and Emily, who have hosted a Derby Day party in Brooklyn, NY (now Derby Day East) for as long as I can remember.  We were regulars at their party and thought it such a fabulous idea that we brought it to Seattle when we moved, since hosting our own was much cheaper than flying cross-country for a julep.  And I needed an excuse to get dressed up since my nice clothes rarely see the light of day in the city of fleece and flannel.

Hadley taking my hat for a spin

Lydia and Hadley

We did our annual trek to the tulips last weekend.  While always impressive to see the fields of tulips, this year was truly spectacular.  The weather was perfect and it’s been a relatively warm spring so the tulips were out in force.  We got some great pics as always, but the real highlight was tramping around in the mud puddles.  The girls were prepared with the right footwear and had a blast.  Splashing in mud, surrounded by acres of flowers, on a warm spring day — not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

Allan, Hadley, and Lydia

Tulip fields

Me and the girls (L&H)

H&L splashing in the mud puddles

Our view

Cousins hard at work at the beach (L&H)

We spent most of the time just hanging out at the pool or beach, although did one outing to a water-park / dophin preserve.  They had a cool program with rescued dolphins — we got to swim with them, shake their fins, pat their bellies, and even give them a smooch on the lips.  No pics from this though since they didn’t allow cameras so they could charge exorbitant sums to buy the pics they took.  Hadley was a bit reluctant, but eventually joined the fun (although no dolphin kiss for her).  The water park was a hit all around (I don’t think I’d been to one of those since I was 10).  They had a smaller kids section and the girls were brave enough to go down the big slides with us.  Although I think Allan had the most fun.

Lydia outside the dophin preserve

Alden and Lydia on the water-slide

A couple big events happened while we were in Mexico.  My neice, Maren turned 5 so we had a big celebration — including a pinata.

Truman, Nisa, Alden, and birtday girl Maren, with birthday decorations and pinata

And we were there over Easter.  Luckily Mexico is on the Easter Bunny’s route and he hid eggs on the beach at our house.

Hadley finding an easter egg the Easter bunny hid in the hammock

Cousins dressed in their Easter finest (H&L)

H&L

And when you don’t put away your Costco purchases fast enough.

H&L

Driving the get-away car. . .

H&L

Lydia and Hadley

We are going to be away for Easter this year (in Mexico — woohooo!!), so are trying to get our fill of Easter activities before we leave.  Our local twin club hosts an Easter egg hunt every year, which is a great event since it’s relatively small and it’s fun to be in an environment where the girls aren’t a minority.  Although it’s gotten better as the girls have gotten older, we are still a bit of a scene most places we go.  Generally, at least one person comes up to us and asks if they Lydia and Hadley are twins or tells us that they are a twin.  The girls were impressed when we told them that everyone at the Easter egg hunt was a twin (or triplet).

Hadley and Allan making a bunny picture frame

It was a fun event, although not nearly as sweet as last year when they were so excited to find eggs and were indifferent to the candy inside.  This year, it was a bit more transactional.  Lydia and Hadley ran around and filled their baskets until they had their 12 eggs and then were ready to go home and dig into the candy.  It was a nice morning though.  One of the first sunny days after a month of torrential rain, and before the hunt they had some crafts and an Easter bunny — who was there for pictures and to frighten little children to death.

Gigi, Hadley, and Allan on the chairlift

We learned when we got to Steven’s Pass that the magic carpet was only for ski school, so the girls went up the chair lift for their first time on skiis.  We all got a bit more hill than we bargained for.  Lydia did great and skiied by herself from my dad to Allan and Hadley stuck close to me.

Allan and Lydia

Me and Hadley

The cross-country trails were beautiful and went along a golf-course, through forests, and by Lake Wanatchee.

Allan and my dad

After-dinner hearts

Hadley and Gigi cross-country skiing (the girls switched coats on day 2)

Lydia and Grandpa

And there was even a great sledding hill in the midst of the trails.

Family sledding pic (H&L)

To celebrate Groundhog Day and their study of winter animals and hiberation, the girls got to wear their PJs to school on Wednesday for a Hibernation Party.  Here are Hadley and Lydia dressed for school — as they girls like to say “that’s silly!”

Hadley, Lydia, and their prize stick

Lydia and Hadley wanted to give their new Camelbak waterbottles they got for Christmas a test-drive, so we headed to the Arboretum on Saturday for a “hike.”  We are very lucky to have the University of Washinton Arboretum just 1/4 mile from our house.  There are miles of trails through beautiful areas that look different every season including Lilac groves, Rhodendrum glens, and winter gardens —  plus ponds, bridges, gazebos, and tons of fun areas to explore.  It’s one of my favorite runs.  Although I’m pretty spoiled with running routes since Lake Washington is only 1/2 mile away.  In my many complaints about Seattle, our location in the city is not one of them.

Lydia taking a break

Back to the hike.  Much to my exasperation (and probably because of it), it took the girls about an hour to get ready to go and then Hadley immediately had to go potty once we got there (even though she told me she potty before we left — fibbing is a new, not so fun stage we are hitting).  Luckily home is just a two minute drive away, so Lydia and I continued our hike while Hadley and Allan went home, and they caught back up to us pretty quickly.  Even though it is winter, there were lots of fun things to see in the Arboretum including two ponds — both with Herons!  And one had a duck-like bird that dove under water looking for food.  Hadley wanted to know where the frogs were so I told her they were sleeping in the mud (I think that’s right, although I could be completely making it up), which she found fascinating.  The highlight though was the stick that the girls found on the hike.  Ah, the simple things.

Lydia (and new waterbottle) checking out the Heron

Close-up of the Heron

Happy Birthday to an amazing father and husband.  We love you!

Lydia and Hadley's first snow man!

Today we got the rare, but fabulous Seattle snow storm!  Growing up in New England, winter meant snow and that’s one of the things I miss most being in temperate Seattle.  My complaints about this climate are it’s never hot enough or cold enough.  So it was very exciting when the air got cold and our constant precipitation actually turned into something fun.  Lydia, Hadley, and I took full advantage (Allan was on his way back from the grocery store, battling the roads and clueless Seattle drivers who immediately panic as soon as a flake hits the ground).  First we went cross-country skiing, then build a snowman (their first!), made snow angels, and finally did some sledding up and down our sidewalk.  Hooray for snow!

Hadley and Lydia making fresh tracks on our street