We are all extremely excited about our upcoming vacation… even though it is still very far away. Braydon, in particular, is *extraordinarily* excited — especially about the prospects for superb snorkeling. Braydon is/was an avid scuba diver before he met me… Me being a non-diver, with no time to commit to picking up a new hobby, I have really cramped his style over the years. And now with Kyle and Owen having joined the family, it is 3 to 1 — we three really cramp his style on vacation; it is impossible for Braydon to devote any time to scuba diving since he vacations with three non-divers. He’s not too worried about it — he knows we’ll all be scuba diving together as a family in no time — but still, he misses it. Snorkeling is not the same thing, of course, but it is the next best thing. So, in true Braydon style, rather than sulk or mope about the temporary loss of scuba diving, he focuses intently on the here and now: snorkeling. I can’t imagine that many parents expect their two-year-olds to be able to snorkel in open seas. But Braydon is not like most. He defies status quo. He is convinced that both Kyle and Owen will be snorkeling with him in the Caribbean on vacation this year. There is no reasoning with him. Believe me. So, to prepare K & O in advance for their snorkeling excursions, Braydon has decided that instructing them in an intensive training program in the bathtub is the way to go. He ordered the equipment and it arrived yesterday. He could not wait to get them into the tub tonight for the first session of SNORKELING 101. I stayed out of the way (cooking dinner downstairs) but reports from all three of them were that Snorkeling 101 was “great!” Owen claimed that he had seen “fishes under there!” Kyle noted that his mask was “too tight,” but that it was “fun!” Braydon is sure that he has two very fine pupils and that they will “definately!” be ready for the Caribbean by the time we go. I’m not so sure, but I’m on-board for a wild ride!

By most everyone who has ever experienced any time with them, even strangers witnessing them from afar, my boys are labeled “active” (read: off-the-wall go go go non-stop movement always-into-everything constant-full-throttle-energy SPIRITED-to-the-Nth-degree). Generally I’m highly opposed to labels. But in this case, I can’t blame anyone who labels K & O this way. They are so incredibly “active” all the time that I really can’t argue with the label. They don’t ever, ever, ever seem to get tired out; their energy never seems to expire. Ever. Anyone who has spent any time with my boys — you know what I mean. The director of our daycare (who has run the place for over 17 years) told me one day that Kyle and Owen are the two most “active” children she’s ever had in her care. Seriously. And I totally believe her. I’ve often thought that we should offer some sort of prize or award to anybody who can tire them out. Think you are good with spirited kids?! O.k., try mine! Think you have a lot of energy for your age? O.k., try a day with my two boys! Think you can keep up with active children? O.k., try keeping up with mine! The challenge would be something like this: Spend a day with K & O and try to tucker them out without physically putting them in unreasonable danger. The awards and prizes would be given out based on something like this: At the end of the day did they go to sleep smoothly/easily and sleep for more than twelve hours straight? Since I’m so confident that this competition would kick the butts of the vast majority of people who tried to enter it, I would push hard for the prizes to be big, huge, amazing prizes. Like ‘all-expense-paid-vacation’ kinds of prizes. I, for one, think that anyone who could win at this game (especially anyone over the age of 30) deserves something wonderful and restorative — like a spa trip for two to someplace warm and lovely. I can count on two fingers the number of people who, to my knowledge, have actually entered this competition and won: 1) Braydon, 2) Heather. Yes, folks, we are over 30 and we’re good — darn good — at tuckering out our “Active” (with a capital “A”) kids. Last night, after a very “active” day, we brought them upstairs for bedtime at 6:30. They were in bed and asleep by 7:00. And right now it is 8:19 a.m. and they’re both still sleeping soundly. Shouldn’t we get some sort of prize for that??? Like, a really big, huge, amazing prize?

Late morning P.S. to this post — Just for the record: Owen woke up at 8:40 a.m. Kyle just kept sleeping and sleeping and sleeping. Finally, at 9:20, I let Owen go upstairs to wake up his brother. Who knows how long Ky Ky would have slept?! Just for the record: I’m still waiting for my prize…????? I feel like this is one of those games that is rigged from the start — they let you fantasize about all the great prizes you might win for participating, but nobody ever actually gets to claim anything?!

Saturday was the 2007 EASTER EGG-STRAVAGANZA at Peddler’s Village. We had gone to this last year and had a blast. This year was even better because the boys understand everything so much more. I feel like I wish they could be exactly this age forever.

After the Egg Hunt on Saturday we spent awhile walking (well, Braydon and I were walking… Kyle and Owen were running) around Peddler’s Village. The boys love to explore the winding little paths, look at the meandering streams, run over the little bridges, and check out the windmill and water wheel. At one point we went into a Gourmet Candy Shop where they sell handmade chocolates and other goodies. We let the boys pick out one special treat each. Of course they both chose the same exact thing. Of course. But I was surprised when they chose two different colors — Owen chose a treat wrapped in green foil, Kyle chose a treat wrapped in pink foil. They had absolutely no idea what was to be discovered inside, but they knew enough to know that whatever it was inside that pretty foil wrapping was going to be good good good. They each had an oreo cookie hand dipped in milk chocolate. These treats did not disappoint!

It was a gorgeous day and we finally got to spend some time outside. I have a new video camera and couldn’t resist filming as the boys played simply in the sandbox.

Note: if the video looks cut off, double click on it to watch directly on youtube.

The four of us (as Owen and Kyle say, “OUR WHOLE FAMILY!”) went to the park after daycare today. Here are some photos from Braydon’s cell phone camera…