Bug Hunting

Claire came home all excited from school today.  She loves school, her friends, and her teachers, but today she was extra happy.....it was bug day at school.  She even came home with some bug-noculars that she had made.  So soon after daddy got home the two of them headed out into the backyard on a bug hunt.  At first she wanted to go on the bug hunt with me and realized it would be more fun with dad.  And lets me honest, bug hunting is definitely more fun with dad!!

 She even put on her swimsuit with a butterfly for her big bug hunt.

I think they ended up getting some centipedes, ants, wasps, and a stink bug.  Other than finding a spider to hold (don't know why she had her mind set on holding a spider), the bug hunt was a success.

Just Lovin' Life

The weather has been great lately and we have been spending every spare moment outside.  We have been planting the garden, going on bike rides, jumping on the tramp, and just being together. 

Claire and Syndey got out the bubble machine and a bubble gun and Crue didn't know what to think about that.

He couldn't figure out why he couldn't hold the bubbles.  It was so funny to watch him. 

We went out to Grandma and Grandpa Holly's to see Uncle Sam's lambs.  Lucky for us we got there right when Sam was about to feed one of the bum lambs. 

Grandma got out Sam's old trike for Crue to play with. 

And Claire quickly took control and Crue chased her down.  Poor kid.

Luke decided to try out Claire's new plasma car.

Birthday Party

Claire has been talking about what she wanted to do for her 4th birthday for probably about four months now.  At first she wanted a Fancy Nancy party with only girls.  From there it changed to a fire truck party with lots of boys, monster party, Fancy Nancy party again, a pink and purple party, and then a few days before her party she settled on a rainbow party with lots of colors.      

Claire was able to bring treats to preschool for her birthday and so we ordered her favorite....donuts.  She was seriously so excited to bring treats and for all her friends at school to sing to her.    

 It was a perfect day for an outside party

 This was the most fun and easiest cake I have ever made.  And her face when she saw it was priceless. 

 She wanted to play musical chairs and duck, duck, goose and she also wanted to have a pinata so that is what we did.  She had a blast with all her friends

 Crue buddy got his share of goodies from the pinata.  When he couldn't hold anymore in his hands he started shoving it in his mouth so he could grab more.

 We got her a plasma car and she has loved it.

Luke and I decorated her door and blew up a bunch of balloons and put them all over her floor to surprise her when she woke up.   

And here is a little bit about you now that you are four years old. 

You love helping me cook.

Your favorite kind of food is Thai and Chinese

You are the ultimate veggie eater. You will occasionally say you don't like something but the next month you are back to eating it again. Broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, peas, corn, beans, potatoes, celery, lettuce, baby corn, bamboo shoots, potatoes, water chestnuts. 

You are obsessive about having your teeth brushed. Nothing brings on a Claire meltdown faster than forgetting to brush her teeth at night.

You love to sing and play pretend.

Every night at bedtime you ask your daddy to tell you about when you were in Melody's belly.

You love going to primary and singing primary songs.

You try to sneak outside in nothing but your underwear so all the cars that drive by can see your "cute tush". Thank heavens we live on a very quiet street. We bought you some new underwear during the winter and I found you on the porch with nothing else on because you wanted all the cars to see your new underwear. 

You like to deliver things to our neighbors....and you has made and delivered some doozies. Your next favorite thing is to mail letters.

Her Great Ideas

Several times a week Claire comes and tells me that she has a great idea.  Some are great and others not so much. 

Not so great idea....

When she dragged this

up this and wanted to ride it down.

I just couldn't see that ending well and had to tell her no. 

Great idea...

"Mom lets leave the boys at home and we can go on a bike ride to the hamburger store and get an ice cream cone....but just us girls."

And so we were off.  I hope she gets more great ideas like that. 

 

Happy Birthday Claire

You are four years old today and you have been looking forward to this day for months.


Four years ago I held you for the first time....

 

And since then we have had this....

Life with you is never dull and we love it that way.  Daddy and I are so proud of you and love you more than you could ever imagine.  You are bright, happy, silly, energetic, mischievous, full of love, and the best big sister ever.  The last four years have been so much fun and we are excited to see what the future brings.  Happy Birthday!!

Now what are we doing???

mud pie making, comparing hair-do's, shoes flying through the air, doing summersaults and other tricks, kicking the ball, landing flat on your bum, showing each other our jersey number, running up the hill, comparing scary faces, planning a birthday party, scoring goals, comparing shoes, running the wrong way.... Kids have the funniest conversations and do the funniest things while on the soccer field.



We had our first game today and the Bumblebees did a great job. I am so proud of them.

Egg Hunt

As tradition calls for we all headed out to Stansbury Island for our Easter family party on Saturday. The weather was perfect. The food was yummy. And great family to hang out with.

My little munchkin was so excited and going to the island was all she talked about for days. Friday night we put her to bed and told her in the morning when Crue woke up we would be ready to go to the island. So what happens, every half hour for the next two hours she would come out of her room saying "Mom, I think it is light outside. Is it time to go now?" or my fav was "Mom, I can hear Crue. He's awake. Let's go."

 This boy LOVES playing in sand.  And he ate his share of it as well. 

Caitlynn, Rilynn, Ben, Claire, Crue, Brianna

We are hiking up the mountain to do our traditional "rolling the tire down the mountain"  and part way up I decide to go wait with my mom instead.  My dear hubby says "Honey, give me the camera so I can take a picture of you."  I hand it to him, he snaps a picture, and then laughs and says "Now I have a picture of you at the exact moment you decided to wimp out and turn around".  Gotta love him!

My handsome boys.

Claire, Syndey, and Jensen

The kids waiting for the Easter egg hunt to begin. 

Mom and Aunt Marilyn...They are both awesome.

That night we had no problem getting these two kiddos asleep. 

As we were tucking Claire in bed that night I asked her what her favorite thing was that day.  I am expecting her to say playing with cousins, sand castles, 4-wheeler ride, or egg hunt.  What does she say..."Ahh, just to breath all that fresh air!!"