Claire READING Hop on Pop!!!

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Claire told us back in August that she wanted to learn to read all by herself. We found the Bob Books and a few other easy first readers and off she went. Over the past few months she has been memorizing every book that we have read together. It's cute and she feels proud that she is reading (memorizing really!). It wasn't until the other day that she brought me a book that we have never read and started to read all by herself. It was a very proud moment. I almost cried. She was really reading! GO CLAIRE! This is just the tip of the iceberg and I hope a long love of reading for her.

Happy 9 month Paige

SHE:

*Is 9 months old!!!
*Is still toothless.
*Can move in a circle on her belly but still doesn't crawl or move forward.
*Loves mum mum crackers and baby puffs.
*Eats almost anything I give her and loves butternut squash the best.
*Is starting to get antsy and grab at things when I take her out.
*Is starting to get some vocal chords and not afraid to use them!!
*Still has the most beautiful hair!!
*Has stranger/social anxiety big time! Perfect timing with relatives and the holidays. lol

We love you Paige!

Paige Baptism

This past weekend we had Paige baptized. We went to Bowie, AZ where my grandma lives and went to the church that holds very special meaning to our family. The Bowie Methodist Community Church dates way back in our history. My grandma was baptized in this church. The original building burned down and was rebuilt (the current church). My dad and all his siblings were baptized and married in this church. We baptized Claire on what would have been my parent's 40th wedding anniversary.

The service was sweet and we enjoyed the pastor and his words of faith. Paige did great having the water poured on her head. Not a tear or upset face. Sweet angel baby. We had a great lunch at a winery in Willcox. I had no idea there was a winery in that area. It was quaint and had the BEST burgers I have ever tasted. Gourmet burgers with amazing salads. I want to go back!!!

Zoo crazy

Claire is such a nut! She decorated her soccer ball and wanted me to take her picture! I love the notebook on it's head. I guess the ball is as smart as she is.

I took the girls to the zoo this week. Just us girls. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, Claire asked where her friends were. So much for the days where girls day with  mom was enough! We walked around and enjoyed a little day out together. All the animals were asleep as usual. They seriously need some coffee because a sleeping cheetah is just plain crazy! I would like to note that Paige's socks fell off. I am not the worst mother ever, she did have some on. We don't really wear shoes yet. I love her feet too much! Also, Claire asked me to take the picture with the goldfish cracker in her mouth. Such a nut! Love her! Even if she does make me crazy with her extreme drama (#donotknowwhereshegetsthatfrom), yelling out in her sleep, and holding her pee until she wets herself lately. What is with the holding of the pee?? She won't stop playing and she holds it then BAM..it's coming out on the sidewalk or the bathroom floor instead of the potty. Our 8 month old sleeps quietly through the night and has never leaked a diaper. This seems reversed somehow?

Happy November and happy cooler weather! It's FINALLY here!!

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween! We had fun trick or treating last night here in our neighborhood. We may have even had more fun greeting trick or treaters at our door and handing out candy. Paige circled the block with us one time and then off to bed she went. We saw this hilariously huge dog and this may be one of my favorite pictures ever. He looks like he is smiling for the camera!! It was so fun to decorate the house this year and do pumpkin carving. I can tell Halloween is going to be one of our favorite holidays at the Cox house!

Pumpkin Carving

Our Halloween festivities kicked off this past weekend with our first annual pumpkin carving party with the family. We had such a great time carving these amazing pumpkins. Claire had help from her uncles and her daddy. Uncle Tommy and Claire carved the cat. Uncle E carved the Mickey as a momento of our Dinseyland trip and Daddy carved the amazing Thomas the Train. We had big bowls of chicken chili (courtesy of Tom and Carla) and it was delish!!! Throw in a few beers and some spiked apple cider and we had ourselves a little party. (yes, claire took her skirt off...the girl really likes to not wear pants/skirts at home.)

Welker Reunion

Doug Welker....my grandpa. My dad was also Doug Welker but the family always called him Scotty for his middle name.

All of the Welker grand kids and our kids. We are in the middle. Eric is kneeling with Claire.

Abigail Welker....does she remind you of anyone?? haha

Great Grandma and Paige

 In early October I attended my first Welker Family Reunion. It was here in Gilbert!! We totally lucked out. The Welkers have always been Arizona based. My dad was born and raised in AZ.  It was pretty amazing to meet all of these Welkers and to be related to all of them! It was wild actually. I didn't even realize my dad had all these cousins. I could tell which cousins really had memories of my dad as a kid by the way they would take my arm or hug me. They would get that look in their eyes remembering the special person he was to them and now seeing his daughter standing in front of them. I have to say that being with all these Welkers really got to me emotionally. I am usually very used to my dad not being around. It's been 11 years after all. You just never know when you will feel hit with an emotion and this day I was feeling  a huge sense of loss without my dad, my uncle, and my grandpa being there. Our little table was a bit smaller than the rest. I have no doubt their spirit was truly there that day and that is what I was feeling.

I got to spend a couple of days with my Grandma and aunt too. It was nice to see Great Grandma and the girls together. They love her....especially Paige. It's so great to have these memories! She is the best great grandma.

There are tons more pics floating out there that I hope to get my hands on someday! There were lots of cameras snapping away that day.