Visiting the Downeys

Our summer trip began with a visit to my brother Joe in New Hampshire. It was great spending a day with them and catching up. Joe and I played two games of cribbage but don't ask him who won both games. Here are a few pictures.

Joe helping the girls make pizza for lunch

The two dads outnumbered and loving it.

All of the ladies

Random Cuteness

Bailey and Lilly love pushing each other on their little bike. Lilly is in pink, Bailey is in purple.

Now that school is out for Alison we've had some good playdates. The girls played tea party and dress up with their friend Mari. Bailey and Lilly are stylin their new outfits from Aunt Lia.

The flowers in the middle are from our garden. We planted tomatoes, naustriums, basil, chives, peppers, straberries, and sun flowers. We are loving the naustrium flowers that also are protecting our tomatoes from bugs.

Alison has been taking gymnastics this year. We are so happy for her to be learning new things.

Birthday Babies

The babies had fun learning how to open up presents at their party. Alison and Lauren went "shopping" in our basement and found some great toys to wrap for the babies. They loved it.

Our little one year olds.

We are the culprits to the destructive kitchen.

Destruction- this is the phase the twins are in now. This is what the kitchen looks like when I'm trying to cook dinner. I tell Steve that its a miracle dinner is pretty much ready when he gets home.

Here's an example of what the twins like to do. It's like the tag-team; Lilly will take the drawers while Bailey takes the dishwasher. There is no stopping them!

Lilly on her Birthday. Bailey's picture will be posted later.

Happy Birthday Babies

We had a small group of friends come over for Birthday cupcakes and ice cream. Bailey and Lilly loved their first Birthday party. Wow- a year goes by so quickly. Lilly is taking a few steps and Bailey will be on her way soon.

Practicing Walking

Jazz Night at the Laverty's

Alison's Sping Concert

Alison did a great job in her school musical performance. She is the one in yellow with white bows.

Mother's Day and Anniversary

Steve and I celebrated nine years of marriage on May 9, 2009. "Do I hear a niner in there?" What a great nine years it has been. How lucky am I to have a great husband who still loves me even through I can be a bit crazy sometimes, but I guess that comes with the territory now that he is in the land of all women in his life.

We had a great date night while mom and dad, who came for a wonderful mother's day visit,had their hands full. We went out to Georgetown for dinner and then went to the Kennedy Center for a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra. The performance was a bit interesting, since it was contemporary week at the Kennedy. I thought it would be your normal classical performance, but this one could be compared to modern or contemporary art- there is more theory behind it than meets the eye (or, in this case, the ear).

Mother's day was beautiful and dad and Steve did a wonderful job making us feel pampered. They cooked a great breakfast and dinner.

Tracy with the babies.


Classic dad- asleep while the girls watch a movie on Papa's computer.

Mom with Lilly.

Happy Easter!

Bailey with a big smile.

Alison and Lauren helped make a bunny cake with me.

The Easter egg hunt at Jeannine & Leon's church.

Lilly having a ball!

Baby Races

Here is a video of a game we have started to play with the twins. We're teaching our children the finer art of track racing.

Peek a boo

March Madness

It appears that March Madness is living up to it's name in our house. The twins are now mobile and love to cause a ruckus. Here are a few pictures that capture our life.

Our basement got a makeover this week. Things are a bit more organized and all four girls love playing there. Of course, about 30 seconds after this picture was taken, half the things were thrown off the shelf.

Bailey and Lilly can now pull themselves up with the aid of furniture or anything else they can grab. Nothing is safe. Here they are looking out the window- a new favorite past time. It's fun for Steve to come home and see two bald heads peaking over the window sill.

We tried for a group shot and this is the best we got... lots of fidgeting.



Here they are right after a bath. We put them down for 10 seconds and they are off with a trail of towels behind them.

Lilly looking cute

Brownie Bakers

Alison and Lauren starred in their own cooking show. This is a three part series but the other parts are too big to show on a blog. Lauren loves to watch the Food Network with mommy. In fact, we were at the store the other day and Lauren said, "isn't that Ina Garten?" speaking about about a woman who was.... well, looked similar to Ina. Very cute!

the tooth fairy and the crawlers

Bailey is the crawler and Lilly is the jumper. Bailey has discovered life beyond the rug and likes to scoot behind the couch to where Alison and Lauren have their play kitchen and their creative corner. Now nothing is safe from their curious little hands and mouths.

The tooth fairy came this week for Alison's first tooth. She had been wiggling her tooth for a few days and out it came one morning with a little help from mom.

This is our typical scene three times a day.

Watch out here we come!

Aruba Baby!

My mom, my sisters and I ditched all our husbands for a week of R&R in Aruba! We have been planning this trip for a year and saving our pennies. We had an unforgetable time. Thanks to mom for being grandma of the year as she traveled with me, Bailey and Lilly to the island. It was not the easiest trip- we got off the plane and she was covered with baby biscuit mess all over her shirt! However, we had such a great time at the beach, watching chic flicks and playing cards. Trish and I went tubing and screamed and laughed the whole time. It was the best and worst 15 minutes of our lives. Steve did a good job holding down the fort with Alison and Lauren. Also, thanks to all our friends and Papa for helping with Alison and Lauren so mom could go on a vacation. I love you mom, Amy, Jen, Trisha, and Aubs- thanks for the memories. Bailey and Lilly get ready for the sun.

Amy, Aubrey and baby Matai.

Tracy and the babies arrive at the beach.

Under our cabana.

mom and I with the babies in the little pool. Bailey and Lilly loved it!

Beach babes!

Trish and I with Lilly and Bailey. The water was so warm.

This was our view from our room. Nice!