Quick Update

Nothing major to report. Ryan and Aidan are getting ready to celebrate their first birthdays next weekend. I can't believe they are going to be one already, time flies! They are babbling like crazy, trying to walk (not quite there yet) and praying for hair. We will post pictures of the festivities but we wanted to pass on two recent pictures that Katie and I love.

Mr. Aidan at the park

Ryan with my leftover Starbucks

March & April

Hi everyone. The McClain Bed & Breakfast has been busy. Kate is attempting to compete with my Aunt Gayle and Uncle David (www.beechwoodinn.ws) for the busiest inn in America. We have had many visitors and a lot to report. Before we get to our visitors here are a couple of recent pictures of Ryan and Aidan. They are getting into everything, crawling in every direction but never in the same direction.

Mr. Aidan 10 Months

Miss Ryan Elizabeth

We also missed a couple of holidays. Above is the family at our traditional Mexican feast (Old Town Mexican Cafe) for St. Patrick's Day.

Here is Ryan working to understand the concept of the Easter Egg Hunt and the Easter Bunny.

Now to our company. Our most recent visitor was Aunt Anne (aka Bounce) Anne was here for about a week and spent the bulk of her time cooking and planting Spring Flowers. Bounce is awesome!!!

Before Bounce arrived we had the entire Souder clan come to visit from Jacksonville. That is Suzi, Terry, Megan, Emily, Peyton and Taylor. We had a great time visiting the aquarium, going to the beach and even a trip to Disneyland.

Half way through the day we decided to feed the kids to the shark at the aquarium.

Aidan and Taylor

Before the Souders arrived we had a visit from Grandpa Terry and Grandma Nancy. On the days that we have vacancies Ryan & Aidan spend a lot of time playing with their friends.

Last weekend we took a wagon ride with our friend Gabriel.

We also took a trip to the Wild Animal Park with our friend Taylor.

And we go to the park with our friend Lily.

That is all for now. We will see you soon!

Feb Fun

Not too much to report. Ryan & Aidan are doing well as we constantly check for new teeth and more hair. We are getting ready for a slew of visitors in March. I hope you are all ready to work!!! The twins are learning to feed themselves. So far they are doing well with the cheerios type puffs but as you can see the bottles are not working out so well for them.

Again not working out too well, but for some reason I think this picture is really funny.

This is Aidan during his first trip to a Mexican restaurant.

Ryan on a stroll around the hood with Grandma Jane

Mr. Aidan

Ryan says bye for now. We should have lots of fun pics of all our visitors in March!!

Jackson Hole

We took quick trip to Jackson Hole in January. We did not get any time on the mountain but we had a fantastic time playing in the snow and relaxing in the condo. Here are a few pictures from the trip:

Merry Christmas / Happy New Year

Happy Holidays!! The McClain Family had a wonderful holiday. As was expected Ryan and Aidan were spoiled beyond belief, they received every noisy toy that Fisher Price and Leap Frog have to offer. My ears ring every night after we get them down to bed. The UPS man earned his overtime this year. We even received a full set of packed stockings from Great Grandma & Grandpa McClain. Katie and I had my Mom and Aunt Ginger over for a Christmas morning brunch and gift bonanza. We are heading to Borrego Springs for New Years with our friends Perry and Matt and their daughter Carly. The last time I spent New Years Eve in the desert I woke up in the back of my truck with a beer box on my head (unfortunately that is not a joke- see below.) I have a feeling that this New Years will be a tad more mellow.

The picture above is one of my favorites. I LOVE these ladies. This was taken as we were getting ready for our Christmas card shoot. We seriously took 500 pictures in order to create the perfect Christmas card. Between Ryan, Aidan, Sydney and me 499 of them had some trace of drool.

Ryan opening her first gift - a tummy time mat

Aidan received a pot and pan set to bang on! This was sent by Katie's sister Suzi (yeah the one with 4 daughters) I am guessing it is some form of sick revenge.

This was the biggest hit. Ryan loved her barnyard ball, it kept her attention for at least 10 min.

Grandma Jiggy and Ry Ry

Grauntie Ginger and Aidan

Poor Sydney got the shaft this year. Just a couple of rawhides.

Later that day I gave Aidan a little pep talk encouraging him to grow some hair

The following are just a couple more of our favorite recent pictures - i.e.. no more lame jokes.

Ryan testing the limits of the Bumbo seat

Aidan in the best baby toy ever (the Jumperoo)

Ry Bear

Aidan says bye for now, more soon.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. We would like to dedicate this posting to Katie's Grandmother Mary Malloy Stanley. "Nan" as she was affectionately known by all who loved her peacefully passed last week. Katie and Nan were very close and while she lived a wonderful and long life she will be missed. We had the good fortune of having the time to take Ryan & Aidan to meet Nan a couple of weeks ago. We will always treasure the time and pictures we were able to take with Nan. All four of us were able to make it back to Jacksonville last week to celebrate Nan's life. Here are a few of our favorite pictures of Nan.

Nan & Katie

Ryan, Nan & Aidan

Nan & Grampy

October 26, 1940

Babies Christening

The babies were Christened on November 6th at St. Brigid Catholic Church. Katie's sister Suzi and her husband Terry were able to make it out from Florida and are Aidan's Godparents. My good friend Derek and Erin are Ryan's Godparents and Derek was able to make it down from San Jose to be with us. We want to thank Jane & Ginger for all their help with plannig the reception. It was a great day.

Ryan & Aidan shortly after being cleansed of "original sin"

Jane, Alice, Patrick, Aidan, Ryan, Katie and Ginger

Ryan & Aidan

Patrick, Terry Suzi, Aidan & Katie

Patrick, Derek, Ryan, Erin & Katie

We also introduced Ryan & Aidan to solid foods last week. They really do not like Rice Cereal, and after trying a little for myself I can understand why. It is like drinking sake with out the added benefits. They do like their carrots much better than the cereal.

Aidan wearing 89% of the food we offered him

Ryan

Other than all the excitement life continues to go on at the McClain House. Here are a few more random pictures from the past few weeks.

Ryan in my favorite sweater

They LOVE baby Einstein.