Easter Break

We had summer-like weather for our two-week Easter Break this year, and we (along with the rest of England) were happy to trade the clouds for the sun and go outside!!

 

Discovery Centre

 
Backyard fun
(Brooke had a hard time deciding between staying warm and playing in the water.  The compromise:  swimsuit over her clothes) 

 
Marsh Farms
(The kids loved coming back this year!) 

 
Easter eve:  Dying eggs and backyard camping with Daddy 

 

We were really spoiled this year with 3 Easter Egg Hunts:  first: our friends Sarah & Simon's garden on Saturday, second: finding the Easter Bunny's basket of goodies on Sunday, and third: our Ward's Primary egg hunt on Easter Monday.

For the first year Andrew enjoyed finding all eggs (not just non-chocolate ones), then trading for the non-chocolate ones.  And also, for the first year, Will enjoyed chocolate! 

 
Easter Sunday
(Having a "blossom-fight" after church) 

 
Scooter rides, bubbles, blowies, and one of the hundreds of rapeseed fields back for Spring  

Serfaus, Austria

Anthony took Andrew and Brooke to Austria for a weekend ski trip:

Colchester Zoo

 
While Anthony skied with Andrew and Brooke, Ashley enjoyed a day out with 2 moms and 5 boys.  Thanks, Katie...we loved it! 

Boys Update

 

Andrew now wears glasses (mainly for school).  He picked out his cool blue frames all by himself and loves how they make "everything bigger!"

 
Matthew caught his pinkie finger in the door hinge on April Fools Day.  He broke the tip of his finger and almost completely severed the tip at the bed of the nail.  1 ambulance ride, 7 hours in the ER, 10 hours in the Children's ward,  1 X-Ray, general anesthetics, a good finger sewing and 13 doctors later...he now wears this nice boxing glove for 6 weeks.   

 
Will is officially 18 months.  He hates nursery and won't go anywhere without his pacifier or little blanket (deet-deet).  He plays the harmonica like a pro and loves to jump on the trampoline. 

Will, 17 Months

Our baby somehow turned into a toddler this winter:

 

 

  

And now that there is an occasional sunshiny day, there is a whole new world to explore!

World Book Day

For World Book Day, Andrew and Brooke dressed up as their favorite book characters:
Captain Jack Sparrow (we're sure he appears in a book somewhere) and Camilla Cream (A Bad Case of the Stripes)

Ski Weekend

Anthony got two boys' weekends in one month. What a lucky guy. Must have a wonderful wife. 

This is how the group got from the chalet up to the lifts every morning

Judging from these photos, it doesn't look like there was very much actual skiing taking place

Big air and big crashes on a kicker built near the chalet

You know it has been a good ski trip if you have to dig your cars out to get home 

Riding Bikes

Boys' Weekend

Visiting the USA, being with family, playing golf. Is there any better way to spend Super Bowl weekend?

Our Chef

Here Brooke is learning a new craft in the kitchen

Crafty Creations

Behold, some of our kids' recent creations. Let us know if you'd like to bid on any of the pieces in this collection.

The Artist

Brooke will sit at the table for hours, coloring and painting

Christmas Card 2010

 

Happy Holidays from our family to yours! 

Anthony & Ashley,

Andrew & Brooke (5), Matthew (3) and Will (1)

Christmas 2010

This year, for the first time ever, we spent the holidays at home! 

 Setting up the Christmas tree, visiting Santa...

Making gingerbread houses

A fondue dinner on Christmas Eve 

Finally Christmas Day arrives! 

 

After Christmas we enjoyed some time in the city, visiting the "fish museum", Big Ben, Buckingham Palace... 

... Harrod's, and the science museum.

Snow!

London got about 5 inches of snow this year, so everything shut down. Anthony was stranded in Zurich for 3 extra days because all the airports were closed.  But once he finally made it home, it made for great fun!

Career Day

Brooke is an aspiring artist and Andrew plans to be a rock climber. For Christmas we're getting Will a stethoscope and a gavel for Matthew (because we also need some doctors and lawyers in the family to support us when we get old).

Skeletons

 A fierce group of skeletons from the Cobra Kai dojo. Watch out or they will put you in a bodybag.

Fall is here!