Easter Egg Hunt at Sunrise Presbyterian on Mt Pleasant

Pappaw's church was hosting an Easter egg hunt, and our girls would not be denied sugar before the car ride back to Raleigh.

Hattie's New Favorite Costume: Peasant Cinderella

Ga gives the best gifts. Hattie got to pick this out - a Peasant Cinderella costume - on a shopping trip with Ga while Paul and Kate were running the Cooper River Bridge Run. It's her favorite costume now (and this girl loves her costumes!). Rare is the day it's not worn.

Wild Dunes for Spring Break (Cold Swims, B-I-G Bikes, and Kid Runs)

The Dryden girls spent Tuesday through Sunday at Wild Dunes. It was spring break, and even though the schools were in session (making up for the snow days), teachers gave a wink and a nudge and said attendance counts might not be so strict.

Paul was in Vegas until taking a red eye flight to Charleston overnight Thursday. During the time apart, we communicated with pictures and texts:

Girls: Love you too, Baby!! Safe trip, will be thinking of you....here's a cute pic of the girls trying to be brave and get wet (despite freezing pool temp!). Clara actually got all the way in :)

Pappaw: At the Marina :)

Pappaw: Clara says the water in the pool in March is warmer than the water in the pond in July. 

Daddy: Good morning my loves! Here's the view outside my hotel window. They keep the lights on all night in Las Vegas. How was your night?

Pappaw: Recognize the model in the tree?

Girls: Can't wait to hear about your day, Love! Here's a pic of the girls, looks like we found C's new bike!! Xoxo. Our Tasmanian devil.

Daddy: Look at that big bike! Love that Hattie is wearing her helmet! I'm at airport now but 3 hours until boarding. Love you! Can't wait to see you!

Clara has outgrown the bike she earned just a year and a half ago (here). It happens that Ga and Pappaw inherited a spare bike at the beach that's two sizes up, but Clara was ready for the challenge.

For the second year, Clara signed up for the Cooper River Bridge Kid Run. (Hattie did, too, but wan't quite up for the run...though was happy to take a medal!)

There was a big storm that delayed the start, but Clara (and Emma) stuck it out and ran when time came. Look at the determination on Clara's face. Another Kate in the making???

Hattie was desperate for shaved ice when it was over. We highlight this picture because, well, those shorts (I think) make her look so darn old!

After the full race on Saturday, we joined the Miars for a long lunch at Dunleavy's on Sullivans Island.

Cooper River Bridge Run 2015 - Kate Kills It! Kills It!

Our annual pilgrimage to Charleston continued this year with another running of the Cooper River Bridge Run and time with our friends, the Miars.

Paul thought there was no way Kate could beat him any worse than last year when she hung back with him for the first half, and then trounced him by three minutes in the second half. One interpretation: Kate beat Paul by three minutes in a 10K. Better interpretation: Kate beat Paul by three minutes in a 5K!

Based on Kate's time last year, she got to line up with the competitive runners (right by the Kenyans and Ethiopians) this go round. So while the rest of us were packed like sardines in the normal-people corrals, Kate saw nothing but open road in front of her.

And she squeezed every ounce out of that advantage, posting a personal best in the race at 41:57, for a 6:45 pace. She got 5th (out of 5,000) in her age group and 350th after all.

Wow!

Paul ran about the same time as last year - 47:30, so that 3 minute gap with Kate from last year swelled to 5 1/2! It goes to show that standing still is the same as losing ground when running with Kate.

Hattie - Venturing Out on the Bike

Hattie hasn't been so adventurous when it comes to learning to ride her bike. We've been coaxing her for a few months to try. She summoned up the courage for a few moments today...

Kids in the Hood

The Bowes Come to Town

We got a quick visit today from Jim, Bets and Becca as they winded their way South, going from New York, through South Carolina and down on to Florida.

Church Retreat w/ the Bakers

For the second year we did the First Presbyterian All Church retreat. Rather than staying in Montreat, however, we bivouacked with the Bakers at their mountain place a few miles away. A few scenes from the weekend.

Clara as Quarrelsome Queen

The theme driving kindergarten reading work is called "Letter Land." The kids memorize a character for each letter, and each character has particular memorable traits. The approach helps concepts stick more easily in their brains. Fascinating. It's helped Clara, who turned a corner in her reading early this Spring. She's gobbling down books, even some chapter books. Loving it!

To mark the reading progress, all the Douglas Elementary kindergarten classes held a Letter Land parade, with each kid dressing up as a character letter and marching through the school halls.

Clara was Quarrelsome Queen. She played her role with relish...

Hattie as Batman

That moment your three year old discovers Batman pajamas in the hand-me-down bin.

Hattie's Picture Day at School

Wearing a frocked dress Kate wore around the same age, and looking oh so proud!