Hey you guys! I have to say you guys since I'm back in Yankeeland. I'm on vacation back to where I grew up. I am having a great time and remembering lots of things I forget while I'm in Texas. Claire and I flew in on July 4th and got to see some fireworks! We've also been in a kiddie pool and had lots of fun with family! Here are some pictures to prove it. I'll post more later!

This week was very busy! I bought a bed for Claire on Ebay and on Tuesday Justin and I went to pick it up. The bed was 4 hours away so we drove Tuesday afternoon, got the bed, turned around and drove back. We got back about midnight and unloaded the bed. The next day we started to put it together. WOW! It took us all day to get the bed together and Justin even got a new power tool called a Dremel in order to complete the project. Even though it was not as easy as we had expected, it still turned out well and Claire has loved sleeping/playing/jumping on her new bed. Once I get her room finished, I'll post some pictures.

Here's something kinda crazy. Last night, Claire was eating dinner and she had beans on her right and rice on her left. I noticed that she switches hands to eat. She ate the beans with the spoon with one hand and the rice with the other. She really does take after Grandpa. I'm gonna have to keep a close eye on that!! Here's my proof!

One hand......


Then the other......



Claire and I are flying up to Michigan on Wednesday to visit, but while we are there, her cousins Maggie and Reese happen to be visiting family down here. Kind of a switch off. Since we won't get to see them much up there, we got the chance to visit with them today. We met at the San Jacinto Monument and had a great time! Here are some pictures!

And she's off.......

We started off the week big. On Monday, Claire kept taking her pants off at daycare. Justin noticed on the webcam, so when I went to pick her up, I asked them about it. She then proceeded to tell me that Claire had been taking her pants off and going to the little plastic potty and sitting on it diaper and all. She would go to the bathroom in her diaper and then ask to be changed. She suggested potty training. Now I had noticed all weekend long she would take her pants off, but I wouldn't let her and pulled them back up. I had never correlated her diaper changes with it. So off to potty training we go. The rest of the week was not really exciting as far as that.

Justin however got a 95% on his math test. I am so proud of him for doing so well in math. His problems take up a whole page and then some. He writes small too! Keep it up!


On Friday, I went a got a little plastic potty for Claire. We came home and set it up in the bathroom. What do you know? The child is ready. All weekend we have been going in the potty and today (Sunday) only twice did she go in her diaper. Those two times were under extenuating circumstances too. Way to go Claire. I just hope it keeps up and stays this easy! I know it won't, but I'm still praying that way!


Ok...now that you managed to get through all the crap (hehe) here are the pictures you've been waiting for.

These are all from Disney World that we took almost a month ago now. My how time flies!

Here are some more since then that I better post now before I forget.
This first one is special. There is a picture of my sister Trish when she's little where she's eating an apple seated this way. When I saw Claire eating animal crackers sitting like this on the couch, I just had to see the family resemblance!


These next two were when we were working on her puzzles. This is a stepstool that my parents got her and her name is the puzzle. We use this to get to the sink, etc. It comes in handy and it's teaching her to recognize her name and the letters in her name.


This face is priceless due to family resemblance again. Reece, our nephew used to make this face all the time when he would get frustrated. Although Claire has never seen Reece do this face (he's grown out of it now) she's still picked it up. What you can't see in the stillshot is that she is shaking with frustration. Oh my!


Today I was on the phone with Grandpa and this came walking into the living room. I bursted out laughing and so this is the explanation Grandpa.


I can get her hair into a ponytail! Finally!!!!


Hope this fixed your picture craze!