Backyard fun

We are finally landscaping our backyard! YAH!! The concrete to extend our patio and create a fireplace area has already been poured as you can see in the picture. We had to move all the furniture back off of the concrete so the "stamping" can begin. Stamped concrete will give the illusion of stones at the end of this process. Claire has enjoyed playing on all the open space and even running around on the rocks. We decided against grass but I am sure Claire won't miss it much being a true Arizona girl! I will post pics once the yard is done. Someday we may add some plants or trees but for now "done" means rocks and stamped concrete! We also want to add a play house for Claire. We have eyed one at Sam's Club that is perfect. She will love it!

Christmas 2008

A chef is born!! Claire loved her kitchen set she got for Christmas. She also fell in love with her "laptop". She is pretty obsessed with opening and closing it and pushing all the buttons. Everything she has wanted to do to my computer but hasn't been allowed!

We had a great Christmas. We had Eric's brother, Bill, fly in at the last minute from Seattle and escape the snow. Tom, Carla and her brother Eric joined us for Christmas Eve church and dinner. The service was held in the park in our neighborhood so we walked down the street and Claire was able to run around and play when she got too antsy. She loved the holiday music! We walked back home and enjoyed some chicken pot pies, salad, and an awesome chocolate wafer dessert that Eric made. We sat out by the fire and drank hot buttered rums. The next day we went over to Tom and Carla's house for Christmas dinner and had another wonderful meal. We went and looked at Christmas lights and a house in their neighborhood that has a train out front and decorates the mountain behind their house with giant snowflakes that light up. It was incredible and Claire loved the lights!

That about sums up our Christmas holiday. We enjoyed family time together and of course Claire made everyone's Christmas that much sweeter. She may not "get it" yet but she sure loves all the attention and hugs from her aunts and uncles. We feel pretty blessed!

Oh! You beautiful doll,

...you great big beautiful doll!!!I know I am her mom so that makes me bias but she is so stinkin cute. I finally broke down at 14 months old and got portraits taken of Claire. It was worth it. She came in fighting and "stress-tested" that dress (and the tights, shoes, and hair clip) kicking and screaming but she recovered and we got some good shots. Can't wait to send the family their copies. I told them they will need to clear some wall space for all of her 5x7 photos I ordered! HA!!

Brrr

It's actually been kind of chilly lately! It's awesome. Winter has finally arrived. Claire was all bundled up in her fur lined hoodie and loving the cool air!
Not much new lately to report. We are spending our holiday here in AZ with Eric's brother and his wife. It will just be a small gathering. We don't do presents for each other anymore which is nice. No stress of holiday shopping. The only person I buy a gift for is Abby (my niece). Kids are fun to shop for. Claire gets the hookup from all of her relatives! It's wonderful. We are currently landscaping our backyard and that is Eric and I's gift to each other! That is how Eric and I do gifts now....we buy something big for the house or a little something we have wanted and that's our holiday or birthday gift.

Happy Holiday Season!!!

Santa

Santa knows his stuff. He rattled off a statistic to me that 85% of kids Claire's age do not like the old fat man! He was right! I think the picture speaks for itself. I feel horrible just looking at this picture. What was I thinking? That she would miraculously smile when the photographer started to jingle some bells and the elf did her happy dance? Um, no...she kept telling me, "NO NO GO!!". Pretty sure this is gonna cost us in therapy down the road! :) I know we will laugh about this someday when she is older. In the years to come I have no doubt she will learn to love Santa and tell him all her wishes for Christmas.

What she's doing now...

Claire is currently fascinated with.... Elmo, Elmo, Elmo!

She loves to say... NO! She has varying degrees of the word no as well. Different tones and moods.

She recently did something so funny/cute when she... said "OHH COOL!" over and over and over for her aunts and uncles. So funny.

The personality trait I see beginning to develop that is rather new is... separation anxiety big time when we leave a room but I know that is temporary. Claire has no fear in most new situations.

Her favorite toy of the moment is... her Busy Ball Popper and Elmo TMX.

Foods she is really liking now... Broccoli, baked potatoes, and Morning Star veggie burgers
I can occupy her easy by... giving her goldfish and an Elmo or Baby Einstein movie.

Claire's favorite time of day is... morning, especially weekend mornings with Daddy. Breakfast and cartoons!

When Claire is in a bad mood, she... cries and stomps her feet. Lately it doesn't take much to send her into extreme crying when we take something from her or tell her no.

She melts my heart when... she says runs back and forth between Eric and I to give us hugs and kisses.

Farewell

I am probably 3 or 4 in this picture with my Grandma. I love how much we are enjoying ourselves just relaxing. I find it even funnier that she is smoking a cigarette! 1981 for ya!

My grandmother passed away on November 30. She was 80 years old and lived a good life. The past couple of years were hard on her without my Pa. So I feel at peace knowing she is with him again and in a better place.

She will be buried in Kermit, TX. I am not traveling there for the graveside service but my mom and brother are attending. I am thinking about them during this time and sending long distance hugs.