I had a huge pile of paperwork to go through and bills to pay (not to mention the hundreds of emails in my inbox!) so I gave Currier a big bag of pipe cleaners to keep him busy for an hour so I could get a few things done. This is how I found Rya...
If you look into her eyes, you can actually see her plotting against him!
On our walk today, Currier picked a dandelion and when I asked if it was for me he said, "No, it's for Rya!" It's hard to believe that one day he'll probably pin her down and fart in her face.
Yesterday afternoon we took the kids to the Mount Pleasant Rec Center for a swim. Rya's first pool experience was a success. She stayed in the water for almost an hour squealing in delight.
The aquarium just got some new residents and we were invited to the welcome party. On Friday evening after the aquarium closed we got to see the unveiling of Penguin Planet! It was so cool to be at the aquarium after hours without the crowds. The penguins are on loan from the San Diego zoo and will be here in Charleston for one year. We plan to visit them often and check them out on the Live Penguin Cam.
Dear Rya D.,
This morning we woke to find that a leprechaun had broken into our house last night leaving behind a trail of clovers. We followed the clovers around the house and discovered a card and a prize from the little Irish elf. That's not all the leprechaun left behind—the stinkin', lazy leprechaun used Currier's potty and forgot to flush! Happy St. Patrick's Day—hope yours is as wacky as ours!
Ladies and gentlemen, step right up and feast your eyes on the incredible, amazing and always talented Rolling Rya!
Our friends, Cinnamon and John, had a BBQ at their house over the weekend. After dinner, we put Max and Currier's little sisters, Amara and Rya, to bed and let the big boys stay up to watch the Wizard of Oz in their dinosaur jammies. As always, they had a blast and we look forward to many more good times together.
This evening Currier said, "Oh Mommy, the sky looks so boo-tee-full. Did you get up on the ladder and paint it purple?" I arrogantly replied, "Why yes I did!" Which reminds me of a great book:
Man, this kid is going to need some serious therapy! 
I occasionally stick Rya in the shower with Trent in the morning. Trent sings to her and she LOVES it.
Last night we took Currier and Rya to see Playhouse Disney Live at the Performing Arts Center in North Charleston. Currier is totally crazy about The Little Einsteins right now so he was completely thrilled to see Leo, June, Quincy, Annie and Rocket. Trent and I anticipated an auditorium full of toddlers as a headache, but it was actually a really enjoyable show. Both Currier and Rya behaved beautifully—no whining or crying! They were such a joy that we might just attempt a little side trip to Disney World this spring/summer when we visit family in Florida.
We kicked off their visit with a little Mexican fiesta—fajitas, cervezas, Rebby's famous pico de gallo and of course sombreros, ponchos and maracas!
With the different ages (Hunter is 9, Currier is 2 and Rya is 3 months), it was difficult to coordinate nap schedules and find activities for the kids to enjoy together (+ Hunter and Currier bickered like brothers something fierce!) so Rebby and Hunter went off and did their own thing while Currier, Rya and I stuck to our little routine. Rebecca and Hunter packed in a lot of mother/son time doing some touristy stuff—the Aquarium, the USS Yorktown, the Military Museum and shopping at the Charleston Market.
Rebby and I went downtown Charleston for a little Girls' Night Out. My wonderful husband stayed home with the kids and had chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese while Rebby and I went to FIG, one of Charleston's finest restaurants. We started with a glass of prosecco, shared a citrus salad and onion tart for appetizers, oohed and ahhed over our pork shoulder and trigger fish entrees, and finished with vino and molten chocolate cake with homemade mint ice cream. It was one of the best meals EVER! We were both shocked at how well we behaved ourselves. We giggled at the thought that perhaps we've finally grown up? 
For their final night in Charleston, Rebby, Hunter and I went on the Charleston Ghost and Graveyard tour. We had a good time listening to the ghost stories and trying to spook each other in the graveyard—Boo! It was a fun week with lots of laughs, loving on sweet baby Rya, insane bickering (causing me to flip out and scream "shut up" to the kids—not one of my proudest moments!), fantastic food, flowing wine and beer, hilarious Chris Farley impersonations, good conversation and lots of reminiscing. 
Trent's sister, Kathy, and her family came and spent the long holiday weekend with us. They arrived late Friday evening but not too late for a little happy hour. Currier was already sound asleep by the time they arrived but Rya waited up to meet her aunt, uncle and cousins.
Valentine's Day began with screams of joy as Currier discovered his cousins, Jonathan and Austin, had slept over. The shouting continued when the boys found a table full of Valentine's Day goodies. While the boys snacked on Valentine's Day candy and played with their new toys, the adults sipped coffee, chatted and admitted that maybe happy hour shouldn't have lasted until 1AM. 
Later that afternoon Currier had a birthday party to attend at the aquarium so the rest of the gang tagged along to check out the sea creatures. After a few hours at the aquarium, we headed home for a candlelit steak dinner that Trent prepared for Valentine's Day. 
On Sunday we had a lazy day. We lounged around the house, did a little shopping at Target, ordered pizza, lit off some fireworks, watched a movie and fell asleep in front of the TV.
On Monday before the Rohes hit the road back to Florida, we went downtown and checked out the American Military Museum (per Jonathan's request) and then had lunch at The Harbor Grille. It was a fun weekend full of laughs, love, a few fights* and some good eating. 
Dear Rya D.,
